Following in the footsteps of the films of the great Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges Mel Brooks has created some magical memorable scenes for his three heroes. The idea of a silent slap-stick film with the gags which appear as text on the screen is genial, even more so as they obviously are not what the actors are saying if their facial expressions are anything to go by ! And who needs sound when there is the great Marty Feldman - the scene in the hospital where he tries to enter the lift but is carried along by the stream of people exiting is hilarious. And the evil team of Engulf and Devour are the perfect baddies. This film can hold its own alongside Frankenstein Junior and like the latter can be watched over and over and over and....hehehehe !
Reviews
17 Reviews
Hollandmädel
(1953)
Romeo and Juliet - Dutch style.
14 February 1999
Romeo and Juliet, Dutch style, with the feuding families or more to the point fathers being respectively cheese and flower barons ! The film also includes other minor love strives between various couples which seem to have nothing to do with the main plot ! Hans Moser's performance does not seem up to his usual standard but nevertheless there are some excellent comic scenes such as the supposed elopement of the star-crossed lovers and almost the entire cast winding up in jail.
Mrs. Miniver
(1942)
Families and war
14 February 1999
The ever so nice environment of middle-class England before and during the war is shown to perfection. The daily life of the people at home while fathers, sons and lovers are fighting is touchingly portrayed as they struggle to maintain normality but tremble with terror as their world is threatened. The minor aspects of war that we tend to forget such as the black market for food, the blackout restrictions and life in the shelters are all treated in this film that was meant to show the backbone strength of the families at home during wartime.
Star Trek: Insurrection
(1998)
yippee ! they're back !
25 January 1999
Who cares if the crew are aging a bit or the jokes are a bit standard - they're back ! and we can drift off with them to yet another planet, yet another dilemma, yet more special effects and humanoid aliens. The story is simple but controversial and Jean Luc is the tower of strength that a captain should be even if Number One is lurking waiting to step into his shoes ! His character is developing with each film as Kirk did many years before. Well done crew and thanks for more hours of tongue in cheek adventure !
The White Hell of Pitz Palu
(1950)
Mountain rescue
25 January 1999
Seems a remake of the excellent Die Weiße Hölle vom Piz Palü (1929) as the dangerous mountain theme is more than similiar as are the scenes shot of the rescue itself. But it is still quite spectacular to see the film techniques used and the mountains. The story revolves around a young couple and older mountaineer who get into difficulties after an avalanche. Interesting to anyone who loves mountains.
The White Hell of Pitz Palu
(1929)
Beautiful but dangerous mountains
25 January 1999
A beautiful frozen mountain landscape is the setting for some of the most spectacular film shots of the era which have not been surpassed even with todays technology - the use of shadow and light is excellent. The story is simple and believable of a young couple climbing in the mountains, she gets killed and he, unconsolable, wanders the mountains for years without her. Many years later another couple come to the same mountains, meet him and agree to climb with him as their guide. Disaster strikes yet again. The filming of the mountain rescue team and the local villagers is very well done. The fear of the families is clearly shown as they wait while their fathers, sons and brothers are risking their lives on the mountain and the psychological effects on the injured climbers as they battle with the elements is more than realistic. Excellent!
Smoke Signals
(1998)
Life on the reservation
17 January 1999
Family problems and life on the reservation - with humour ! The film flicks from the past to the present are excellent and illustrate that we cannot separate past from present - there are always reminders. The young indian's relationship with his father is tenderly revealed throughout the film as are the father's own difficulties with his past. A gem of simplicity.
Die Trapp-Familie in Amerika
(1958)
The singing family hit hard times
17 January 1999
The saga continues with the troubled lives of the sweet family - seems the folksongs are out of step with the new rock and roll era. Sniff ! They should have stopped at the first film - the second is just too much to swallow.
The Trapp Family
(1956)
The true story of the war exiled family from Salzburg
17 January 1999
Romantic story of the lively young novice who falls in love with the Baron and his children. Then, due to the war, they all hit off to America to pursue their singing career. Different from the Julie Andrews version but I can`t say that it is better !
Weg in die Vergangenheit
(1954)
Old friends and a true test of friendship
17 January 1999
What are the limits of friendship ? A distressed wife seeks financial help for her husband from four friends that she had during the second world war. One by one she visits them with her urgent request only to find that money and friendship are not easily given in the same quantity. The actors are excellent and portray the moralistic attitudes of the era to perfection. Paola Wessely as Gabriela and Attila Hörbiger as Franz give convincing performances as friends that can be counted on at all costs. Another good one to add to the list !
Only You
(1994)
Very light comedy about star-crossed romance
11 January 1999
Just the thing for that evening when you are so tired you want to switch off your brain, crunch some chips and watch without having to concentrate on plot or characters ! It's a girl meets boy type of film, going through the usual mishaps before they eventually realise they are right for each other. Light, sweet, occasionally funny but if there are better things on offer - accept them !
Fargo
(1996)
Another days work for the officers of the police force
5 January 1999
What better setting than a remote white wilderness, no, nothingness is probably more appropriate as was clearly shown with the hiding of the cash scene. A real breath of fresh air to the typical thriller of endless violence and complicated plots. This was a crime in an everyday world with people with everyday problems - not glorified superheroes with sophisticated dialogue and stunts. Brilliant idea - well worth several viewings just to catch the mundane conversations (which surely struck a cord with most of us !)
Der Herr Kanzleirat
(1948)
Comedy about bureaucracy and the internal battles of hierarchy
2 January 1999
A simple plot set among the Austrian bureaucrats with a background of summer romance during a lakeside holiday. Moser is perfectly cast in the role of the senior official with a heart of gold - he even serenades the fraulein of his fancy ! A comedy of errors, of old-fashioned ways being overtaken by progress but lightened by romance and humour. Well worth a look even if only to see the fantastic bikinis !
Monsters galore - the outcasts unite to cause more terror
2 January 1999
The wolfman's desperation at again finding himself the terror of the full moon (after four years of peaceful sleep) prompts him to seek help from Dr Frankenstein thus giving us the vision of the two screen monsters together at last. In fact they seem the best of friends, the wolfman gently protecting the forlorn monster from public attack - yes, the village mob is at it again ! However, the young doctor soon puts an end to all that by recharging the monster's energy so we have a ring-side seat at the heavyweight fight. The various roars and expressions of the two are excellent as the stiff armed monster (the sweetly smiling Bela Lugosi) and agile wolf man (the great Lon Chaney with more imaginative hairiness in comparison to his first wolfish screen appearance) growl for territory. Great stuff from beginning to the sudden somewhat abrupt end - did they run out of ideas or money I wonder !
The Battle of the Sexes
(1960)
Cultural and progress clashes lead to war in the Tweed business
1 January 1999
A delicious mix of dry comments, cultural clashes and devious expressions. Sellers is excellent as the mouse-like Mr Martin shocked to the core by the brash Miss Barrows and driven by his devotion to the family to protect tradition at all costs ! The bumbling uncertainty of the head of the Tweed empire could only be achieved by Morley whose portly figure towers over his frail employees as they await his next disastrous decision. Great examples of new not always being better (or not allowed to be !) form the key of the battle until the final hilarious showdown between the American and Scottish way of thinking. Every second is a film treat - should be on everyone's shelves !
The Wolf Man
(1941)
Wooden actors and hairy monsters
1 January 1999
Errie shadows follow the second Talbot son(the broad shouldered giant of a seemingly much younger and smaller Father) as he strides through the woods with the beautiful Gwen to the gypsy camp to have his fortune told. The obviously constant fog swirls around everybody's ankles in the darkness. Lon's two standard expressions, his stiff smile while with Gwen and his wide eyed look of anxiety as he transforms into the hairy beast alternate throughout the film. There is an unforgettable moment as the hairs sprout and Lon's expression clearly says -Oh no, I'm a werewolf ! ! The plot is barely plausible but the strength of this film lies not in the characters but in the portrayal of them by the wooden actors of which Lon is the best. The cream of B-movie actors, Bela Lugosi as - Bela - treats us to a flash of his abundant eyebrows in a brief appearance while the monotonous drone of the gypsy woman as she endlessly repeats sayings about the werewolf is only equalled by her bang on time arrival with horse and carriage as the wolf attacks his victim. Even the beautiful Gwen doesn't bat an eyelid at the news of her best friends murder. A classic to be watched as many times as possible - it only gets better !
A Night at the Opera
(1935)
Verdi would giggle too if he was in the audience
31 December 1998
The combination of Groucho's twitching eyebrows, loping stride and well aimed dry comments are enough to bring giggles from the most serious but the crazy scenery changes and deliberate sabotage of the tenor on the opening night of the opera are the perfect setting for the antics of Harpo and Chico - a must for all opera fans !
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