FOYLE'S WAR

FOYLE'S WAR - 2002

RATED - TV-PG

RATINGS - 76 Amazon (5/5), 159,370 Netflix (3/5), 831 IMDB (9.0/10).

STARRING - Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle Weeks, Anthony Howell.

AWARDS - Nominated for several British TV awards.

THEMES - Justice, relationships, ethics.

STORY - This is a BBC made for TV series about Chief Detective Christopher Foyle (Kitchen) set in 1940 England in a small coastal community. Foyle would rather be defending his country somewhere but he must stay home solve the crimes (often related to war activities) that still occur on the home front. The chemistry between Foyle and his driver, Samantha Stewart (Weeks), and his assistant, Sgt. Paul Milner (Howell) is outstanding, as they go about solving crimes in this WWII environment which affects everyone in England. If you like WWII, detective mysteries, and character driven shows this is almost perfection. I can't recommend this highly enough. Aside from some violence around the crime scene, there is almost nothing to deter family viewing. This is about real people living out real life in a war-plagued country and they do it in a most entertaining and satisfying way. Try one and I think you'll be hooked. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/23/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

STATE OF THE UNION

STATE OF THE UNION - 1948

RATED - NR but probably G/PG for adult themes.

RATINGS - 24 Amazon (4.5/5), 6,638 Netflix (3.7/5), 869 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Van Johnson, Angela Lansbury. Directed by Frank Capra (IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE).

THEMES - Relationships, Justice, Honor.

STORY - The story begins with Kay Thorndike (Lansbury) rushing to the side of her dying father, Sam Thorndike, newspaper publisher baron. He challenges her to remain ruthless and get back at the Republican Party which he feels betrayed his chance to be president. Kay decides the best way to get to the White House is by backing (with all her personal assets and the newspapers she controls) her good friend and wealthy aviation manufacturer Grant Matthews (Tracy). Rumors have linked Matthews and Thorndike romantically because he is unofficially separated from his wife Mary Mathews (Hepburn). A public image of a happy marriage is important to a successful campaign and Thorndike and company set about to get the marriage back on track, at least for the public. Matthews knows that Mary is no pushover and will not be manipulated for the sake of his campaign. Yet Mary believes in him and knows that at the core his ability to be honest and his business skills are what the country needs, especially someone outside the influence of the Washington insiders. She decides to wholeheartedly back Grant's run for the nomination all the while fighting back the rumors of his unfaithfulness and the influence of the ruthless Thorndike. This begins the tug of war between Mary and Thorndike as to how the campaign should be run - total honesty and openness or politically shrewd playing all sides. It would be hard not to have an entertaining film, especially about such a hot topic, with the stars involved and under the direction of Frank Capra. A lesser known gem of Tracy and Hepburn, this is a great time to pull it out and watch. Maybe there is still a Grant Matthews lurking out there that we could nominate. For aviation buffs, there is a great scene where a couple of Grant's test pilots pull up alongside the campaign plane and challenge him to a little game of 'chicken' in the air. The picture quality is excellent. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/23/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM (Spoilers)

1968 WITH TOM BROKAW

1968 - 2008

RATED - NR but probably PG for brief scenes of drug use.

RATINGS - 6 Amazon (3.0/5), 255 Netflix (3.4/5), 46 IMDB (7.7/10)

STARRING - Tom Brokaw as commentator and various celebrities as themselves.

AWARDS - Nominated for an EMMY.

THEMES - Change, crisis, turmoil, tragedy, triumph.

STORY - This History Channel documentary with Tom Brokaw as host highlights the most turbulent year of, arguably, the most turbulent decade in our country's history. It is hard to dispute the statement that America changed dramatically during the sixties and 1968 seemed to be the year that everything changed. There were two major assassinations, a riot at the Democratic convention, violent protests on college campuses, and a very contentious presidential campaign with the sitting president, Lyndon Johnson, opting not to run again. Drug use was rampant among the 'hippie' generation. But there was also the 'silent majority' who continued to pursue their version of the American way. These views clashed in often violent ways stretching the ability of law enforcement to contain them at times. Not to mention the race issue inflamed by the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. Did I mention feminism and the rise of the women's liberation movement? And for good measure add a resurrected politician named Richard Nixon into the mix. It was fitting that the year should culminate in one of the greatest achievements of mankind, the Apollo 8 Space Mission to the moon. 1968 is not just a year in the past, it is an experience that still influences society today among those who experienced it and those influenced by them. If you missed the sixties, this is a good place to start in understanding what happened. Plenty of good archival footage from actual events. The low ratings of some people seem to have more to do with what's missing than what's included. Unfortunately a 90 minute documentary about 1968 will inevitably leave out some important events or different perspectives. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 08/16/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

49TH PARALLEL

49TH PARALLEL - 1942

RATED - NR but probably PG

RATINGS - 19 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,920 Netflix (3.5/5), 1,399 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Laurence Olivier, Raymond Massey, Anton Walbrook & Leslie Howard.

AWARDS - Academy Award for BEST WRITING, ORIGINAL STORY and nominated for BEST PICTURE and BEST WRITING, SCREEN PLAY.

THEMES - War, propaganda, relationships.

STORY - First of all, this Criterion-restored version is a great quality picture, clean and crisp. Second, it is a movie with an ulterior motive, that of getting the then-neutral USA into the war. While I don't think it detracts from the entertainment merits, some people do. The story begins with a German U-Boat somewhere in the northern part of Canada. It destroys a Canadian cargo ship and then refuses to help save the survivors. The commander decides to head for Hudson Bay to lay low for awhile until they can escape. They send a small crew ashore to steal supplies they will need. While the U-Boat is surfaced, it is spotted by the Canadian Air Force and destroyed. The stranded crew on shore must try to navigate their way to the 49TH PARALLEL (the line dividing the US and Canada) and the neutral U.S. where they can find freedom. The propaganda enters in when they encounter Canadian citizens in their journey and enter into debates about the merits of democracy versus the white supremacy worldview of 'The Fuhrer'. There are some surprising turns and twists and a satisfying ending. A very interesting aspect of WWII and how it affected Canadians. There were some 500,000 Germans living in Canada at the time and apparently some 850 were interned for being Nazi spies as well as subversives and saboteurs. There are several interesting extras along with the Criterion edition. Enjoy. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 08/16/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM

THE SOUTHERNER

THE SOUTHERNER - 1945

RATED - NR but probably G/PG

RATINGS - 10 Amazon (4.5/5), 2,158 Netflix (3.2/5), 552 IMDB (7.6/10), Leonard Maltin (4/4).

STARRING - Zachary Scott, Betty Field. Directed by Jean Renoir.

AWARDS - 3 Academy Award nominations including BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SOUND and BEST MUSICAL SCORE. Winner of BEST FILM at the 1945 Venice Film Festival.

THEMES - Perseverance, the American dream, justice, relationships.

STORY - Why would someone in 2008 watch a B & W film made in 1945 about a 1930's family who are dirt poor trying start their own farm? First, this is a Jean Renoir film and many think he is the best director ever, certainly in the top five. Second, this is a film most of us can identify with at some level. It's about wanting a piece of the American dream, about starting your own business (farm) and creating something based on your abilities and desires. It's about trying to beat the odds, the odds like nature, no money, opponents and limited resources to make it. It's about having faith in yourself and in a higher power that gives purpose and meaning to what you do. Is there justice in this world for those who work hard and live a moral and upright life? You may or may not think so after watching this film. It's another reminder of what makes this country so great are the opportunities that it gives; though not are all equal, they are there for those with the courage and perseverance to follow a dream. Though the film quality is a little poor and Beulah Bondi as Granny Tucker is a weak link in the movie, it is definitely worth watching this little slice of Americana. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/09/2008.

LINKS - Amazon, IMDB, TCM

THE BEDFORD INCIDENT

THE BEDFORD INCIDENT - 1965

RATED - NR but probably PG for adult themes.

RATINGS - 44 Amazon (4.5/5), 16,139 Netflix (3.6/5), 1,306 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Sidney Poitier, Richard Widmark.

THEMES - Cold War, Nuclear War, Justice

STORY - It's during the height of the Cold War and a U.S. Naval destroyer, The Bedford, is racing through the icy waters of the North Atlantic as it tracks a Russian sub below. So the film opens and then a Navy helicopter comes into the picture keeping pace overhead with the destroyer. Two men, a black photojournalist, Ben Munceford (Poitier), and a Navy medical doctor, Liet. Cmdr. Chester Potter (Martin Balsam) are lowered onto the deck. Both men will come to wish they had not left the helicopter as they are introduced to Captain Eric Finlander (Widmark), the destroyer's skipper. Finlander is obsessed with pursuing and confronting this sub which has violated territorial waters. He knows he is pushing the sub beyond its limits to stay submerged and something will have to give sooner rather than later. As Mumceford, who is doing a feature on Finlander (he stood up to the Navy after a 'Cuba' affair and was subsequently passed over for Admiral) and Potter observer the Captain and the crew, they can see that not only is the sub reaching the breaking point of being submerged but The Bedford's crew of over 200 sailors is also being pushed physically and psychologically to the limit by constantly being called to 'GQ' (full alert) with very little rest. The tension and friction build to the breaking point on the ship as they continue to pursue relentlessly the cornered sub. This is a little known but powerful drama about the Cold War. One wonders how many of these incidents happened or nearly happened in real life. How many Cuban Missile Crises and Bedford Incidents have there been that brought the world to the brink of nuclear disaster? Poitier and Widmark are at the top of their game. Just a footnote - Wally Cox does an outstanding job playing the 'Radar' of the ship. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/06/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM(Spoilers Here)

THE AFRICAN QUEEN

THE AFRICAN QUEEN - 1951

RATED - NR but probably G

RATINGS - 35 Amazon (3.5/5), 56,170 Netflix (4.2/5), 25,786 IMDB (8.1/10).

STARRING - Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn, Bert Morley, directed by John Huston.

AWARDS - 1952 Academy Award for BEST ACTOR (Bogart) plus 3 nominations including BEST ACTRESS (Hepburn). AFI TOP 100 Movies & AFI TOP 100 Passions. 1952 BAFTA BEST FILM nominee & BEST ACTOR nominee.

STORY - The one word that best describes this film is CLASSIC. Put Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn on the same screen, add the directing of John Huston, and it's almost inevitably a classic. The film takes place in 1914 during WWI in German Central Africa. The prim and proper Rose (Hepburn) and her brother, the Rev. Samuel Sayer, are Methodist missionaries from England who have been there for 10 years. Charles (Bogart) is the hard drinking steamboat operator who delivers the mail up and down the river and keeps the natives supplied with cigars. The Germans attack and destroy the village where they live and Rose's brother is killed in the attack. Charles happen upon the village right after and helps Rose bury Samuel. Rose convinces Charles that they should retaliate against the Germans by sinking a German U-Boat Charles knows is patrolling the lake at the end of the river. To get there they must navigate a dangerous and treacherous river guarded by a German fort as well as many natural hazards. There couldn't be two more opposite personalities as they make their way toward the lake in the 30 year old flat-bottomed African Queen. A true classic. It's amazing that there still is not an American version of the DVD. You can buy import version thru Amazon. I watched that version and it shows fine although it's a little annoying that you can't turn the English subtitles off and there are mistakes in the translation. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/02/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.