THE HUSTLER

THE HUSTLER - 1961

RATED - NR but probably PG-13.  Almost every scene involves alcohol and adult topics.  There is no foul language, sex or nudity.  There is some minor violence, mostly partially hidden or off screen.

RATINGS - 115 Amazon (4.5/5), 337,363 Netflix (4.0/5), 24,464 IMDB (8.2/10)

STARRING - Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George Scott, Piper Laurie and Myron McCormick.

AWARDS - Nine Academy Award Nominations including BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS and two BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR. BAFTA BEST PICTURE award and several Golden Globe nominations including BEST ACTOR.

THEMES - Relationships, justice.

STORY - The film opens with a typical scene in a day of the lives of 'Fast Eddie' (Newman) and Charlie (McCormick).  Another small town stop pretending to be salesman with car trouble on their way to a sales award convention so they need to spend a few hours at the local pool hall while their car is being worked on.  They go into their routine to 'setup' the locals for the big hustle and at the end of the day the locals are a few hundred dollars lighter.  The ultimate goal is to 'hustle' the mighty one, Minnesota Fats (Gleason) who hasn't been beaten in 15 years.  The big match lasts 36 grueling hours and several bottles of booze.  The cocky, swaggering Eddie has met his match but it wasn't the pool skills that did him in.  Can he recover or is he the 'born loser' that Bert Gordon (Scott), the 'Fat Man's manager and professional gambler, accuses him of being?  Sarah (Laurie) enters the picture and can two 'born losers'  rehabilitate each other?  The acting is outstanding by all five main characters and the settings in seedy bars, bus stations and pool halls genuinely gives the feeling of life in another world where day to day survival is fueled by alcohol and nicotine and petty pursuits. Can anyone pull themselves out of this environment or are they destined to be 'born losers'?  Human nature at its most raw and vulnerable. One of Newman's great performances along with Gleason, Scott and Laurie.  A classic!!! 

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB/TRAILER

THE ROBE

THE ROBE (Special Edition) - 1953

RATED - NR but probably PG for non-graphic violence. Family friendly for 10+.

RATINGS - 116 Amazon (4/5), 82,158 Netflix (3.6/5), 2,431 IMDB (6.7/10).

STARRING - Richard Burton (Marcellus Gallio), Victor Mature (Demetrius)

AWARDS - 1954 Academy Awards for BEST COSTUME DESIGN COLOR & BEST ART DIRECTION COLOR & nominated for BEST PICTURE, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY COLOR & BEST ACTOR (Burton).

THEMES - Forgiveness, spirituality, relationships, truth.

STORY - THE ROBE is the first film ever released in CinemaScope, a major innovation in film at the time, basically wide screen instead of a box shaped picture on the screen. It is the story of Roman Tribune Marcellus Gallio, who falls into disfavor with the Emperor and is assigned to the 'pesthole' of the Roman Empire, Palestine. He brings his personal slave, Demetrius, with him. His first assignment is to carry out the Crucifixion of a man named Jesus. Marcellus has never driven spikes thru a man's wrists and ankles before. At the Crucifixion site, he wins the robe of Jesus by throwing dice. Something about the whole experience starts to drive him mad and he is sent back to Rome to recover. He realizes he must recover the robe and get to the bottom of who is this man Jesus, called Messiah & Son of God by His followers. What happens to him as a result of this search is at the heart of the film. This film has a much broader base than just simply those who profess to follow this man who claims to have risen from the dead. It is an intriguing story and the movie, the set and the music were all excellent. The picture quality in the special edition is sharp and almost as good as today's quality (it's available in blu-ray). Fun to see Richard Burton and Richard Boone (Pilate) in their younger days. Also, the insights into life in the Roman Empire at that time are interesting. Well worth spending an evening viewing this classic. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 04/04/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TURNER CLASSICS, TRAILER

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL - 1951

RATED - G (Some fairly mild violence by today's standards)

RATINGS - 360 Amazon (4.5/5), 25,714 IMDB (8.1/10), 366,729 Netflix (3.9/5).

AWARDS - AFI TOP 100 THRILLS, 1952 GOLDEN GLOBE 'Best Film Promoting International Understanding' and nomination for 'Best Musical Score'.

STARRING - Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Sam Jaffe, Hugh Barlowe and Billy Gray.

THEMES - Peace, justice, understanding, nuclear war.

STORY - This classic science fiction, the defining film of the genre for many people, is about a humanoid that travels 250,000,000 miles from another planet with a message for the people of our planet. He lands in Washington, D.C. with his guardian robot and attempts to connect with world leaders to make his message known. There is mistrust by those in power of someone they are unfamiliar with and powers they have not seen before. They are not willing to give him the opportunity to speak so he must attempt to get his message out through other channels. Are there people who will listen to his message of how to prevent Planet Earth from self destructing or being destroyed from outside forces? Will anyone take him seriously? You have to remember that this was made during the height of the Cold War and nuclear war was on the radar screen of almost every citizen. Watch the newsreel that coincides with the release of the movie to see what was going on in the world at that time and it will help to put the movie into context. While there is action and some violence this is also a movie of relationships and how people react to something/someone they're not familiar with. A classic still worth watching today with good entertainment value as well as plenty of food for thought. You can play it online at Netflix. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/28/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, TCM

TORA! TORA! TORA!

TORA! TORA! TORA! - 1970

RATED - G

RATINGS - 208 Amazon (4.5/5), 177,964 Netflix (3.8/5), 8,252 IMDB (7.5/10).

AWARDS - One ACADEMY AWARD for Best Visual Effects in 1971 plus four nominations.

THEMES - War, relationships.

STORY - TORA! TORA! TORA! is the Japanese signal to attack and this epic film co-produced by American & Japanese interests shows both sides of the story as it builds to the climatic attack on Pearl Harbor which ultimately brought America into WWII. The film does a terrific job of alternating back and forth between the Japanese and American stories so that the viewer gains a good understanding of the circumstances on each side as well as the sequence of events leading up to the attack. The story, by most accounts almost documentary like, is very accurate in depicting the mistakes made by the U.S. military in being caught off guard but it could have been much worse had any of the aircraft carriers been in port which were the real Japanese targets, knowing they had to try to defuse America's air superiority in the Pacific. In the end the Japanese realize they may have won the battle but 'they had awakened a sleeping giant' which they will now have to deal with. The battle scene is spectacular and even more so when you consider it is before computerized graphics and deservedly won the Oscar for visual effects. This is a history lesson that is both entertaining and family friendly. The commentary and additional documentaries with the special addition are excellent. Highly recommend. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/16/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE LAST HURRAH

THE LAST HURRAH - 1958

RATED - NR but probably G/PG.

RATINGS - 15 Amazon (4/5), 8,591 Netflix (3.6/5), 815 IMDB (7.4/10).

STARRING - Spencer Tracy, Basil Rathbone.

AWARDS - Nominated for 1959 BAFTA Best Foreign Actor (Tracy).

THEMES - Politics, relationships.

STORY - The films begins with Mayor Frank Skeffington (Tracy) coming down the staircase of his large home and stopping to put a fresh flower in the vase under the picture of his deceased wife. He is soon joined in his large home office by his loyal staff who prepare him for the day's activities and getting ready to run for a fifth term. Soon he opens the door and one by one visits with the hundreds of people that have lined up outside his home to see him, a daily event. He's an old time politician, taking in every event in the city that concerns his people. He's got the people on his side but not the establishment whom he regularly 'blackmails' to get things done for 'his' people. They decide to go after him in this election and put up their own candidate backed by the local paper. It's a fresh, young man who knows how to use the 'new' medium called TV. What follows is classic Tracy with humor and drama as the contest turns into a horse race. The film is widely thought to be based on the life of Boston mayor James Curley. If you like Tracy, politics and a good story, this is worth the time. If, as they say, all politics is local, then this is a classic political film. Terrific acting by all involved and a heart wrenching ending. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/06/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM(Spoilers)

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)

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 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.

A PATCH OF BLUE

A PATCH OF BLUE - 1965

RATED - NR but probably PG for minor violence & language.

RATINGS - 52 Amazon (4.5/5), 61,259 Netflix (3.9/5), 1,903 IMDB (7.9/10).

AWARDS - 1966 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Shelley Winters) plus 5 Academy nominations. 1967 BAFTA Best Actor nominee (Sidney Poitier).

THEMES - Racial reconciliation, relationships, love, justice.

STORY - Imagine, you're 18 years old, blind, uneducated and virtually a prisoner of your own home. Your father is gone, your mother is abusive, demanding and overbearing and your grandfather is a hopeless alcoholic. Salina (Elizabeth Hartman) is that young woman, who is confined to a dumpy, small apartment and for practical purposes, is the personal slave of her mother(Shelley Winters) and 'ol granpa'. She knows her way around the apartment without hesitation and cooks, cleans and washes their clothes. She also strings beads to earn money and has a daily quota. On a rare day, someone takes her to the park and leaves her until night when 'ol granpa' picks her up on his way home from the bar. One day, she's noticed by Gordon (Sidney Poitier) who befriends her. They eventually become friends. She remarks one day that 'friend' is her new favorite word and asks Gordon what his is. He replies 'tolerance'. While Salina is color blind (literally) Gordon is struggling with his own racial feelings. His brother, a doctor, belittles him for helping a white girl. 'Let Whitey take care of their own', he says. This is a story about friendship, racial prejudice and what it means to be truly color blind. This movie was made in the middle of one of the most racially charged decades of our history to put it into perspective. The story builds to an emotional climax when the mother discovers she's been seeing a black man. Another gem with Sidney Poitier. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 04/25/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

THE QUIET MAN

THE QUIET MAN - 1952

RATED - NR but probably G/PG. Very family friendly with some Irish pub scenes and good old fashioned brawl the only negatives for younger children. Netflix recommended for 8+.

RATINGS - 253 Amazon (4/5), 215,021 Netflix (3.9/5), 11.264 IMDB (7.9/10). TV Guide (5/5)

STARRING - John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara

AWARDS - Two Academy Awards including Best Director (John Ford) plus 5 Academy nominations. AFI TOP 100 Passions, AFI TOP 100 Laughs nominee, AFI TOP 100 Movies nominee.

THEMES - Love, family, forgiveness.

STORY - The film begins with American Sean Thornton (John Wayne) getting off the train in Castleton, Ireland and asking directions to Inisfree, the little village he had been born in. We learn that he is an ex-professional boxer wanting to forget the tragedy of his last fight in which his opponent was killed. He quickly falls in love with his 'spinster' neighbor Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O'Hara). As an American he is not familiar with the ways of courting in Ireland and soon learns the hard way that the direct approach does not work. He goes about winning her hand over the opposition of her stubborn brother who does not like Sean. When her brother discovers he has been tricked into giving permission to Mary Kate to marry Sean, he withholds the dowry he has promised. Sean does not care but it is a matter of extreme pride to Mary Kate that she produces the dowry she is owed and promised. She challenges Sean to fight her brother for the rightful dowry. It is then that Sean must confront the demons of his past that only one person in the village knows about. A delightful comedy romance, they truly don't make these anymore. With Wayne and O'Hara, two bigger than life stars, how could they? Great entertainment and a wonderful look at another culture. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/15/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD

ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD - 1951

RATED - NR but probably G/PG. 'Guffy' McGovern uses a lot of apparent profanity but it's all garbled electronically so you can't understand it which makes it sound rather silly.

RATINGS - 17 Amazon (4/5), 2,242 Netflix (3.6/5), 504 IMDB (7/10).

STARRING - Paul Douglas, Janet Leigh

THEMES - Redemption, nice guys finish first, family.

STORY - 'Guffy' McGovern's the roughest guy in baseball and he manages the worst team in baseball, the Pittsburgh Pirates (many actual scenes from the old Forbes Field). When the local paper assigns the Home Economics reporter (Janet Leigh) to cover the Pirates to try and find a different angle since they're losing all the time and nobody is following the team, she confronts McGovern about his attitude and he replies, 'Dogs have fleas, managers have sportswriters'. After being thrown out of a game for the umpteenth time, 'Guffy' can't find his pin and goes to look for it on the field after the game. It is there sitting on 2nd base under the stars he encounters an angel and his life is changed. No more bad guy. Amazingly the team's fortunes start to change, also. It becomes even more mysterious when Janet Leigh writes an article about a young, orphan girl who has been praying for the team. 'Guffy' wants to find this girl but Leigh won't reveal who she is. He tracks her to the orphanage and in one of the most poignant scenes in the film tells the Sister in charge that he's 'looking for a little girl'. The Sister rushes into the classroom and announces to the classroom full of 8 year old girls that a man is here who is 'looking for a little girl'. One little girl wearing thick glasses quickly takes them off and hides them, telling her friend, 'people looking to adopt don't like children with glasses'. Your heart goes out as you wonder how many times she has had her hopes up that the next person 'looking for a little girl' would pick her. It's wonderful family film with enough baseball for real fans. It has cameo appearances by Ty Cobb, Joe Dimaggio and Bing Cosby, who was part owner of the Pirates at that time. Conspicuous by their absence, there are no African-American players in the Major Leagues at that time. Dwight Eisenhower called it his favorite movie. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/02/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER

ADAM'S RIB

ADAM'S RIB - 1949

RATED - NR but probably G

RATINGS - 44 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,602 IMBD (7.6/10), 97,549 Netflix (4.0/5)

STARRING - Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy

AWARDS - 1 Academy Award nomination, AFI Top 100 Laughs.

THEMES - Male/Female roles, equality, justice.

STORY - The story begins with Doris Attinger (Judy Holliday) waiting outside her husband's (Warren Attinger - Tom Ewell) office to follow him when he leaves to what she believes will be a romantic tryst. We get an idea of her motive when she drops her purse and a small revolver spills out. Her hunch is right, and after reading the directions how to use the weapon, she closes her eyes and starts shooting, wounding but not killing, her husband. The story shifts to a stylish apartment building where a servant is bringing breakfast to the bedroom of Adam (Tracy) and Amanda (Hepburn) Bonner. They scan the lead stories as they eat and prepare for work, noting the attempted murder story. Adam arrives at his office (Assistant District Attorney) and discovers he has been assigned to the case which he assumes will be a 'slam dunk'. He calls to tell Amanda, an attorney in private practice, the news and rub it in how he will put this one away quickly. Amanda hangs up on him, determined to defend this woman, believing women are treated differently than men and that this woman was justified in her actions. The movie shifts to the courtroom where the action and the fun begins. Each night the trial carries over into their personal life. A little dated now, it was somewhat shocking in 1949 that a woman could, heaven forbid, compete in the 'men's domain'. Where are there inequities today that need to be corrected? The chemistry between Tracy & Hepburn is at its best and makes for a very funny, romantic comedy that deserves its place in AFI' Top 100 Laughs. Enjoy! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 01/12/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER

HIGH NOON

HIGH NOON - 1952

RATED - NR but probably G/PG. Family friendly.

RATINGS - 153 Amazon (4.5/5), 21,913 IMBD (8.3/10), 283,562 Netflix (3.9/5).

STARRING - Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges.

AWARDS - 4 Academy Awards including Best Actor (Cooper) plus 3 nominations, AFI Top Thrills, AFI Top 100.

STORY -Stars Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly (her first role) and Lloyd Bridges and is arguably the best western of all time. Will Kane (Gary Cooper) has just said his wedding vows with his new bride (Grace Kelly) and is about to turn in his badge as sheriff and leave the town he had singlehandedly cleaned up, with his pacifist Quaker wife. As they're about to ride out of town in their buckboard limo, three tough hombres ride into town and let it be known that Frank Miller is arriving on the noon train-it's now 10:40 AM. Will leaves but just out of town turns around and comes back. He can't leave now. He's responsible for arresting Frank Miller and sending him up to prison. He was supposed to be executed but instead he's paroled and coming back to get even. Will believes he can round up a posse to defend the town during the next hour as the film progresses in real time. The plot is simple but the acting is terrific and the scenes are tight and tense as he tries to recruit help as well as keep his new bride. All this leads up to the showdown at HIGH NOON and the final, climactic scene-a great one. More than just a good western, there are some underlying themes of courage (and lack thereof) as well as the issue of pacifism and 'standing by your man'. This is the role that got Grace Kelly's career on track. One interesting note-on Netflix there's a commentary on issues for parents to judge whether a film is suited for children and what age. Under the category of SOCIAL BEHAVIOR it says "Women are exceptionally intelligent and respected". Apparently that was not the norm for films back then. Everyone should see this at least once. Recommended for ages 10 and over. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 01/05/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER.

REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT

REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT - 1962

RATED - NR but probably PG for some boxing violence & adult themes.

RATINGS - 25 AMAZON (4/5), 757 IMBD (7.8/10), 20,270 NETFLIX (3.8/5).

STARRING - Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney, Julie Harris

THEMES - Loyalty, friendship, love, gambling, hustling.

STORY - The film begins in the ring with the aging heavyweight boxer Mountain Rivera (Quinn) getting pounded by the then real life Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali). Once ranked as high as 5th in the world, he has been reduced to a sure win for those on the way up and a payday for his manager. It's all he's ever done and he's not prepared to do anything else in life. The doc tells him this is it. Another blow to the head and his eyesight may not survive that one. His manager (Gleason) and trainer (Rooney) have other ideas. Mountain is their paycheck and besides, Gleason just bet (and lost) that Mountain wouldn't last 4 rounds against Clay. He needs to keep the franchise going because he isn't prepared for anything else, either. Mountain tries the unemployment office where the case worker (Harris) takes a personal, as well as professional, interest in helping this 'mountain' of a man who is lost outside the ring. The scene when he takes her to the bar where he always hangs out and tries to treat her like a 'lady' is a classic. Gleason, meanwhile, is being pursued by the mob to make good on his bet. Rivera is caught in the middle of this tragedy as friendship and loyalty are put to the test. This is NOT an uplifting, all ends well story. I can't imagine a better cast for this story written by Rod Serling (Twilight Zone) for TV six years earlier.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

GOING MY WAY

GOING MY WAY - 1944

RATED - NR but almost certainly a G. VERY family friendly.

RATINGS - 24 Amazon (4.5/5), 2,073 IMBD (7.5/10), 12,674 Netflix (4.0/5).

STARRING - Bing Crosby & Barry Fitzgerald

AWARDS - 7 Academy Awards including BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTOR (Crosby), BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Fitzgerald) & BEST MUSIC, ORIGINAL SONG and 3 additional nominations. FYI: Fitzgerald was nominated & a finalist for BOTH Best Actor & Best Supporting Actor. He could have won both. Rules were changed to prevent this in the future because of this movie.

STORY - This isn't a Christmas movie but it's sure a good time of the year to watch it. The film opens with the elderly Father Fitzgibbon (Fitzgerald) meeting with the St. Dominic Church bankers and being told they are turned down for a loan for a new furnace and if they don't get caught up with their mortgage payments, they will foreclose. Shortly after, the new assistant, young Father O'Malley shows up. What Fitzgibbon doesn't know & O'Malley doesn't have the heart to tell the crusty old priest is that O'Malley is really sent to replace Fitz who has spent 45 years at St. Dominic. O'Malley sets about to get the church out of the financial crisis while letting Fitz take the credit. There are a number of side plots such as the gang of young men that O'Malley turns into a (surprise) boys choir. Just when you think everything has turned out rosy, tragedy strikes and tests the faith and spirit of everyone involved. This is a wonderful, feel good movie with lots of entertainment and good Bing Crosby music, including the Academy Award winning song SWINGING ON A STAR. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/9/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES

ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES - 1938

RATED - NR but probably PG for some non-graphic gangster shooting and violence.

RATINGS - 22 Amazon (4/5), 5,017 IMBD (7.9/10), 25,504 Netflix (3.9/5).

STARRING - James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart & The Dead End Kids.

AWARDS - 3 Academy Award nominations including BEST ACTOR (Cagney)

THEMES - Forgiveness, faith, the brotherhood of gangs, consequences of crime & sin.

STORY - "What do ya hear? What do ya say?" The words of greeting by Rocky Sullivan (Cagney) to everyone he meets. Is there anyone with more self confidence combined with an endearing smile than Cagney. He must have driven his teachers crazy growing up. The movie starts with scenes of Rocky and Jerry Connolly (O'Brien) growing up in a tough part of town. Both are prone to get into trouble and eventually Rocky (who can't run as fast as Jerry) gets caught and ends up in reform school, where he only gets better (at being a criminal) and leads to more crime and longer stints in various prisons where he continues to hone his criminal skills. Jerry, meanwhile, has become a Catholic priest and is serving the parish in his old neighborhood. Rocky looks up Jerry after getting released for the 4th or 5th time, not because he has any intentions of going straight, but he wants to take over the organized crime in that neighborhood, which he believes is owed him by Humphrey Bogart, the head of crime in the city. Bogart doesn't see it that way and doesn't want any partners so he tries to eliminate Rocky. Rocky, meanwhile, has become the Pied Piper for a gang of kids (The Dead End Kids) that Father Jerry is trying to lead down the straight & narrow. The battle is on for the lives and souls of these young men. Can Rocky take over the crime in the 'hood'. Can Father Jerry win back the love & loyalty of these kids from the charismatic Rocky? A terrific story that leads up to one of the most poignant endings in any movie. Did Rocky end up a coward or a hero? People have been pondering that question since 1938. 'What do ya hear? What do ya say?" You decide. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/8/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

HOLIDAY INN

HOLIDAY INN - 1942

RATED - NR but almost certainly G. Very family friendly.

RATINGS - 33 Amazon (4.5/5), 2,451 IMBD (7.5/10), 90,722 Netflix (3.9/5)

STARRING - Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire

AWARDS - 7 Academy Awards including BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTOR (Bing Crosby) & BEST MUSIC SONG plus 5 nominations. AFI TOP 100 Movies nominee.

STORY - Bing , Fred and Virginia Dale have a love triangle/musical act that is very successful and demanding. Bing is ready to retire and be a gentleman farmer in Connecticut. He assumes Dale, who has led both men on, will come with him, get married and settle down. Wrong! -as they say. He takes off and leaves Dale & Astaire to their own career. One year of farming is enough for Bing and he decides to turn the farm into the HOLIDAY INN, a rural nightclub which will only be open only on holidays. He discovers a wonderful new song and dance partner in Marjorie Reynolds. By this time Dale has dumped Astaire and he shows up unexpectedly at the Holiday Inn quite drunk, looking for work and dances a number with Reynolds. Later, he comes back and tries to find her, only remembering what a great time he had but not recognizing her. Bing does everything to hide her-he's already lost one girl to Fred. Lots of fun and laughs as they go round and round. Every holiday brings a new set and new act so there is lots of music and singing including the premiere of WHITE CHRISTMAS. There is one scene that caused a lot of stir and that was the act celebrating Lincoln's birthday in which white actors painted their faces black and gave tribute to Lincoln as freed black slaves. Is controversial in some circles even today. Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire-what more can you say. A terrific classic. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/2/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

THUNDER ROAD

THUNDER ROAD - 1958

RATED - PG for some non-graphic violence. One car is blown up & two others crash and burn.

RATINGS - 41 Amazon (4.5/5), 824 IMBD (6.7/10), 11,476 Netflix (3.4/5)

STARRING - Robert Mitchum, Gene Barry

THEMES - Justice, family, crime.

STORY - Lucas Doolin (Mitchum) returns from the Korean War to take over the family moonshine business. He hauls the stuff while his dad makes it and his little brother keeps the car running. Success in the business depends on a car that can outrun the Feds. Not only are the cars equipped with racing engines, you can turn the switch and drop some oil on the road behind you for anyone chasing to lose control. Lucas is the premier 'runner' in his territory, an area that not only are the Feds (led by Gene Barry) trying to clean up but an organized crime competitor is trying to take over. Lucas is definitely the cool dude and, apparently, this was a popular drive-in movie in the South for many years. Mother Doolin keeps the family in line and while they may make a living of crime, she makes sure they are in church on Sundays. In an early scene she & the two sons sit down to eat and they forget to pray so she asks Robin (Mitchum's son in real life) to pray. He prays, 'Thanks for the food, thanks for the meat, it's getting late, let's eat'. Furious with his irreverent attitude, she gives him a back hand slap to the head and knocks him off his chair. If you're a Robert Mitchum fan or just looking for some 'cool' entertainment, this is a classic. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/1/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER

THE CAINE MUTINY

THE CAINE MUTINY - 1954

RATED - NR but probably PG for mature themes.

RATINGS - 75 Amazon (4.5/5), 7,169 IMBD (8.1/10), TV Guide (5/5)

STARRING - Humphrey Bogart, Fred MacMurray, Van Johnson, Robert Francis, Jose Ferrer, E.G. Marshall, Lee Marvin.

AWARDS - 7 Academy Award nominations including BEST PICTURE & BEST ACTOR (Bogart), AFI Top 100 nominee, BAFTA nominations for BEST FILM & BEST ACTOR (Ferrer).

STORY - Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same title by Herman Wouk. The story starts and ends with the personal life of Ensign Keith who is graduating from officers school and at the same time trying to juggle a love triangle between himself, his mother and would-be fiancee. He is assigned to the Caine, a minesweeper stationed in the Pacific and based out of San Francisco. The ship is tired as is the crew and the Captain. In 18 months they've never been asked to do anything remotely connected to the war. Discipline is almost gone and, needless to say, this is not a 'cherry' assignment for an Ensign who is a Princeton grad and comes from a well connected family. While we follow the personal life and loves of Keith, the story is really about three of his fellow officers, Captain Queeg (Bogart), Lt. Keefer (MacMurray) and Lt. Maryk (Van Johnson) in what turns into a serious psychological drama and courtroom battle over whether Queeg was mentally ill while in command of the ship during a severe storm during which Lt. Maryk, with support from fellow officers, took over command from an unwilling Queeg. A great look at how the military functions and what is 'truth' in the courtroom. Where are the lines between incompetence, lack of courage and mental illness? A sobering ending to an outstanding film. A genuine classic. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/24/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER

CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT

CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT - 1945

RATING - NR but almost certainly G. VERY family friendly.

RATED - 83 Amazon (4.5/5), 875 IMBD (7.3/10), TV Guide (4.5/5)

STARRING - Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet.

STORY - Elizabeth Lane is the Martha Stewart (don't carry the analogy too far) of her day. The public and her publisher know her as the famous food writer for Smart Housekeeping magazine who lives with her husband and new baby on a farm in Connecticut. Her agent and would-be suitor know her as the single woman living in a Manhattan bachelorette apartment who can't cook a lick and whose famous recipes are supplied by her restaurant owner uncle. The facade works well until...Jefferson Jones (Morgan) is rescued from his sunken destroyer after staying alive partly by the sweet dreams of Lane's recipes on the little life raft. His nurse at the military hospital has marriage on her mind and thinks a real home Christmas experience would be the catalyst for a proposal. She used to care for the grandchild of Mr. Yardley (Greenstreet), the pompous, wealthy publisher of Smart Housekeeping and contacts him about setting up Christmas with Lane and her 'family'. He readily sees the potential boost in circulation, never mind that he might be doing something good for a war hero and 'tells' Lane she should be expecting Jones and him for the Holidays. The fun AND romance begins. Just an aside as to how morals have changed in movies. The housekeeper at the farm they 'commandeer' for the charade quits when she see Lane and her boss go into the bedroom together (it was all innocent but she doesn't know that) and she will not be a part of anything immoral. Lots of fun, romance and, of course, Christmas spirit. Good anytime of the year but especially fun now. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/23/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD