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Reviews
World Without End (1956)
Science-Fiction as Purposeful
Spoiler alert, there are plot revelations exposed here!! There is much about this movie that has been well described by other reviewers. I will just add my take on the script from an intentional & sociological viewpoint. Getting past the bad spider scenes (Eight-legged Freaks is truly years ahead of WWE's predators) & the interesting space ship, this movie is about mankind. I saw Earth vs the Flying Saucers when I was a kid & comprehended only mechanical ships, not the human logic & relationships also portrayed (though I did understand what I saw in what I value as the greatest of the older, as well as, some more modern Sci-Fi films, Forbidden Planet). As in F.P., World Without End looks at the ethical challenges that help mankind grow. Although there seems to be no religious inferences in this film, versus some of the other 50's & 60s sci-fi pieces, (Them or Day the World Ended, for example) the title has a Biblical ring which may resonant with some.
The space team of Marlowe, Leigh, Dark & Taylor grasp the problem of the underground society rather quickly. Due to defensive isolation, humankind has wilted into a society of wimps. Humanity will end with a sniffle or sigh if the robust pioneering spirit & seeking of a better (not necessarily a more materialistic) life of humans is not rekindled. There is some balance between the space team & the futuristic earth group, led by Everett Glass as Timmek. Although the isolated lifestyle & concentrated interaction of the futuristic council leads to errors in judging their ancestors from the past, the 4 astronauts are patient & graceful toward the underground group, & lucky due to Deena's honest intervention, until they finally are given the opportunity to rebuild society.
This film has more to offer in reviewing our own present situation of life. Our politically correct culture will be the death of us if we do not boldly pursue our own origins & purpose...until the end.
The Great Race (1965)
Great Race
I saw this as a "mature" teenager, probably played it again when i showed the movies at NC State U in the 60s & saw it again about 3 years ago. I still remember Jack Lemmond calling MMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAXXXXXXXXXX in so many scenes. The movie as a whole may be only a 6 to those who do not love movies, & the late Tony Curtis did a good job, but Lemmond & Peter Falk had the plum parts & delivered such great performances, not only funny but believable in the movie sort of way. "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956)may have started this genre, in which a "race" theme of some kind starred many Hollywood names in cameo roles. "It's a Mad,Mad,Mad,Mad World" (1963) may have been the best produced of the this genre but I believe The Great Race to be the funniest. The same year "The Great Race" came out also saw "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines", an air race flick but not as hilarious. I will try to see it again Sun night on TCM & will still laugh even if I watch with a more critical eye!
Temple Grandin (2010)
Temple Grandin
I want to comment on this film even though I only saw half of it on an HBO free weekend on DishNet. I knew nothing about the film or plot but Danes passion & narration of her autism quickly involved me & my wife in the film. We watched the rest of the film without a word but at the end, we immediately made plans to tell others esp our daughter-in-law, who works with autism (My wife works with slow readers & I minister in jail & poor economic situations.) It did not seem to be a "poor victim" movie but a grand victory over a physical & emotional mountain. Maybe there was a PETA thread in "Temple" or a leaning toward a "tear-jerker", but Danes did not go overboard with her affliction and gradually learned to endure, survive male chauvinism, ignorance & other misconceptions of the 60s. I look forward to purchasing this film, & I do not buy many.
The Actress (1953)
A Play
The Actress was truly a PLAY. You could tell this from the outset but after a while, the acting of the players overcame the stilted or cramped feeling of a playlike movie. Eventually I began to think of small , warm scenes of earlier life such as My Town & The skin of My Teeth. Jean had not been acting too long & I wondered if she relied on her memories of being a youth who day dreamed about being an actress. Tony Perkins truly shows a "first" movie appearance. Teresa Wright, as the mom, is very reserved, letting the father, Tracy, be the leader of the family, although sometimes wrongheaded.
A fairly good movie. If you are interested in getting copies of old movies, write me at jn1010life@yahoo for more info. I found a place that copies old movies legally if they are public domain.
The Wrong Box (1966)
disappointed
somehow i missed the wrong box. in college i showed the on campus current films as well as classic films. but for years i have heard about wrong box or read about it. For the last few years, esp since i ran across IMDb, GREAT SITE, i looked for it in film houses & still could not find it. A few months ago i found a place that printed public domain films & bought a copy. ugh. Maybe its the years or too much anticipation but i was very disiappointed in the film. It had its funny moments but i felt the plot plodded along until the search for the box. Peter Sellers was wasted.Caine , Mills & Richardson, Cooke & Moore all did a good job of acting but there did not seem to be enough coherence in the plot to interest me. I will not say DON'T SEE IT because it may be someone else's cup of tea. I'd rather watch Peter Sellers in The Party. IF you would like to purchase my copy(seen once-DVD, reg. view I think), contact me at jn1010life@yahoo.com