In the early 1950's Hollywood made a spate of Civil War based westerns where the main plot line concerned Union and Confederate forces joining together to fend off native Americans.eg Films such as "Rocky Mountain" "The Last Outpost" and "Escape from Fort Bravo". Probably the best example is "Two Flags West".One wonders where they found the time to slaughter 620,000 of each other and is there any historical basis for such an occurrence? Certainly Lincoln did issue a proclamation offering pardons to any Confederate prisoners who were prepared to go west and fight the Indians.They became known as Galvanized Yankees. Here we have Colonel Clay Tucker (Joseph Cotton) excepting Captain Mark Bradford's (Cornel Wilde) offer of freedom from their prison camp if they will go and fight the Indians.The film here doesn't pull it's punches in depicting that conditions in Northern prisons were just as appalling as their Southern counterparts. When they reach Fort Thorn in New Mexico they receive a less than enthusiastic welcome.Their new commanding officer Major Henry Kenniston (Jeff Chandler) is a bitter man who hates rebels and traitors as he puts it.He also has an interest, not returned, in his dead brothers widow (Linda Darnel) There are the usual North/South tensions within the fort but Tucker is an honourable man who tries to do his duty.Kenniston's behaviour is so outrageous that eventually Tucker and his men decide to desert to Texas.Meanwhile Kenniston who by now is almost completely deranged commits murder when he shoots an Indian chief's son.The consequence of this is that the Indians lay siege to the fort. Captain Bradford escapes and rides after Tucker's men and explains the situation to them.Its no great surprise when Tucker and his Confederates decide to ride back to the fort to support the people there which includes women and children. A pitched battle follows which is magnificently staged though some reviews state that it was explicitly violent,perhaps but compared to "Soldier Blue" for example it is fairly restrained. Major Kenniston in a complete change of character agrees to give himself up to the Indians who will then leave peacefully and spare the fort.The scene where he walks through the gates into a mist is brilliantly done and one can only imagine the terrible death he must have suffered. It is a superbly done cavalry western and in all deference to John Ford a complete absence of knock about Irish humour is most welcome. The cast is superb, here we have Cornel Wilde in his last film for 20th Century Fox playing almost a supporting role being expendable.He was at his best as a team player in films like "The Greatest Show on Earth" and "Womens World".Jeff Chandler is a revelation, normally a fairly monolithic presence here he is quite chilling as a completely troubled man who at the end atones for his actions giving his life so that others may live.As for Joseph Cotton though usually associated with lounge suit roles here he is excellent as the decent and honourable Confederate Colonel,and lucky chap ,at he end he gets the girl the lovely Linda Darnel. As an added bonus the supporting cast contains such western icons as Dale Robertson,Jay C.Flippen,Noah Beery and best of all Arthur Hunnicutt. A wonderful western of the type they don't make any more where the premise is that you don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Reviews
19 Reviews
Two Flags West
(1950)
The Blue and The Grey join forces to fight the Indians
15 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Sword of Lancelot
(1963)
Just Wilde About Lancelot.
22 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Cornel Wilde started his career as a matinée idol specializing in romantic and swashbuckling roles,later going on to direct his own films.Some are best forgotten but films like "The Naked Prey" and "Beach Red" are cult classics.Lancelot and Guinevere,his take on the Camelot legend,while not an unqualified success is by no means a bad film,what does however stretch ones credibility is the ages of some of the leading players. Cornel Wilde who played Lancelot, although still fit and muscular looking, was pushing fifty.Likewise his real life wife Jean Wallace who played Guinevere was in her forties.Although still an attractive woman no amount of soft focus photography could disguise the fact.
For reasons best known to himself Wilde decided to portray Lancelot as a french man so he dusted off the accent he perfected in "Centennial Summer" and "The Greatest Show On Earth",one wonders if that was the inspiration for Peter Sellers role as Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther films.Yes its that bad.
The love scenes were considered quite explicit for the time but they come across today as more tasteful than erotic.
The whole film is down to earth with no magic or mysticism and certainly no Excalibur.Merlin spends his time inventing a wondrous new substance called soap.Indeed is it a product placement opportunity for Proctor and Gamble? After this there is precious little humour to be found.
Wilde uses a good second eleven team of British actors such as Brian Aherne,George Baker,Archie Duncan,Adrienne Corri,Reginald Beckworth,Richard Thorpe,Graham Stark and John Barrie.They all do sterling work but not enough to interest "Oscar".Also the editing is a little abrupt at times perhaps due to budget restraints.
Wilde really comes into his own in the battle scenes which are quite spectacular courtesy of the Yugoslavian Army who enter into the spirit with gusto.For those who like looking for goofs watch out for the two extras who thought they were off camera having a crafty smoke with arrows sticking out all over them.The eagle eyed may also notice the odd wristwatch.At the beginning and end of the film there are two particularly bloody hand to hand combat scenes which leave one in no doubt as to the effectiveness of medieval weaponry.For all that by far the best sequence in the film is when Wilde and his men rescue a Saxon village which has been captured by Vikings,it certainly doesn't pull its punches especially in the scene where the village women, who have been violated, watch with grim satisfaction as their attackers are slaughtered to a man.In this reviewers opinion a far superior scene than anything you will find in "The Vikings".
Everybody knows the plot,the doomed love affair,the destruction of Camelot and Guinevere finishing up in a nunnery,all very sad.One wishes they could make a version where they all live happy ever after.Come on it is only a fairy tale.
Finally I would like to doff my hat to the young lady who plays the french serving maid,her heroic cleavage would not be out of place in a Russ Meyer film,it made for a pleasant interlude among all the doom and gloom.It certainly made a big impression on me as a spotty teenager when I first saw the film.
For reasons best known to himself Wilde decided to portray Lancelot as a french man so he dusted off the accent he perfected in "Centennial Summer" and "The Greatest Show On Earth",one wonders if that was the inspiration for Peter Sellers role as Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther films.Yes its that bad.
The love scenes were considered quite explicit for the time but they come across today as more tasteful than erotic.
The whole film is down to earth with no magic or mysticism and certainly no Excalibur.Merlin spends his time inventing a wondrous new substance called soap.Indeed is it a product placement opportunity for Proctor and Gamble? After this there is precious little humour to be found.
Wilde uses a good second eleven team of British actors such as Brian Aherne,George Baker,Archie Duncan,Adrienne Corri,Reginald Beckworth,Richard Thorpe,Graham Stark and John Barrie.They all do sterling work but not enough to interest "Oscar".Also the editing is a little abrupt at times perhaps due to budget restraints.
Wilde really comes into his own in the battle scenes which are quite spectacular courtesy of the Yugoslavian Army who enter into the spirit with gusto.For those who like looking for goofs watch out for the two extras who thought they were off camera having a crafty smoke with arrows sticking out all over them.The eagle eyed may also notice the odd wristwatch.At the beginning and end of the film there are two particularly bloody hand to hand combat scenes which leave one in no doubt as to the effectiveness of medieval weaponry.For all that by far the best sequence in the film is when Wilde and his men rescue a Saxon village which has been captured by Vikings,it certainly doesn't pull its punches especially in the scene where the village women, who have been violated, watch with grim satisfaction as their attackers are slaughtered to a man.In this reviewers opinion a far superior scene than anything you will find in "The Vikings".
Everybody knows the plot,the doomed love affair,the destruction of Camelot and Guinevere finishing up in a nunnery,all very sad.One wishes they could make a version where they all live happy ever after.Come on it is only a fairy tale.
Finally I would like to doff my hat to the young lady who plays the french serving maid,her heroic cleavage would not be out of place in a Russ Meyer film,it made for a pleasant interlude among all the doom and gloom.It certainly made a big impression on me as a spotty teenager when I first saw the film.
The Moonraker
(1958)
Jolly Cavalier v Roundhead swashbuckler
26 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
There are comparatively few films about the English Civil War,the best being Ken Hughs' Cromwell which features Richard Harris as Oliver Cromwell.This gives both sides a fair hearing,although personally I do not believe in the divine right of kings and like Cromwell believe that kings should rule through Parliament.Oliver Cromwell was very much a warts and all character and though still reviled in Ireland turned the Parliamentary Army into one of the finest armies the world has ever known.They were known as the Ironsiders,and were far removed from the incompetent swordsmen that they are usually shown as,e.g.The Scarlet Blade and the film under review here.
By far the most realistic film of the Civil War was The Witchfinder General,an extremely unpleasant violent though realistic film which didn't pull its punches.
The Moonraker is a much gentler film which gained a "U"Certificate and on its own level quite exciting.George Baker plays, as another reviewer puts it. a scarlet pimpernel type character helping Royalists escape to France.Although Baker is no Cornel Wilde he is rather good in the role.There are many other pleasures to be found not least John Le Mesurier's take on Cromwell.The plot concerns the Moonraker's attempts to help the future King Charles 2nd (rather well played by Gary Raymond) to escape to France.They are ensconced in an inn,all in disguise of course,while the Moonraker tries to arrange passage on a ship.Among the other guests is the lovely Sylvia Sims who is waiting for her Roundhead fiancé to turn up,he is scouring the countryside looking for the future King.When Baker puts on the old charm she soon melts.Also present is one Edmund Tyler,a Roundhead secret agent,a thoroughly nasty piece of work and a superb classic villain.Peter Arne,a poor mans Robert Douglas,specialised in such roles,always very hissable.
The chap who saves the day is a cavalier gentleman by the name of Mr Parfitt whose one purpose in life is riotous living,a very loud larger than life man who without giving away too much gives his life so the King can escape.
The wonderful character actor Paul Whitson Jones steals all the scenes he is in.
The climatic sword fight between Tyler and the Moonraker is brilliantly staged and there are no prizes for guessing who wins.
Sylvia Sims fiancé turns up,Colonel Beaumont played by Marius Goring,who unusually for a Roundhead is portrayed as a decent honourable man and when he realises the King has escaped he allows his fiancé to join the Moonraker.He is certain that the Innkeeper,his wife and son were implicated in the plot and in an act of mercy he does not press charges against them.
All in all a perfect film for a wet afternoon to watch while armed with a cup of tea and the biscuit tin.Why don't they make films like this now?
By far the most realistic film of the Civil War was The Witchfinder General,an extremely unpleasant violent though realistic film which didn't pull its punches.
The Moonraker is a much gentler film which gained a "U"Certificate and on its own level quite exciting.George Baker plays, as another reviewer puts it. a scarlet pimpernel type character helping Royalists escape to France.Although Baker is no Cornel Wilde he is rather good in the role.There are many other pleasures to be found not least John Le Mesurier's take on Cromwell.The plot concerns the Moonraker's attempts to help the future King Charles 2nd (rather well played by Gary Raymond) to escape to France.They are ensconced in an inn,all in disguise of course,while the Moonraker tries to arrange passage on a ship.Among the other guests is the lovely Sylvia Sims who is waiting for her Roundhead fiancé to turn up,he is scouring the countryside looking for the future King.When Baker puts on the old charm she soon melts.Also present is one Edmund Tyler,a Roundhead secret agent,a thoroughly nasty piece of work and a superb classic villain.Peter Arne,a poor mans Robert Douglas,specialised in such roles,always very hissable.
The chap who saves the day is a cavalier gentleman by the name of Mr Parfitt whose one purpose in life is riotous living,a very loud larger than life man who without giving away too much gives his life so the King can escape.
The wonderful character actor Paul Whitson Jones steals all the scenes he is in.
The climatic sword fight between Tyler and the Moonraker is brilliantly staged and there are no prizes for guessing who wins.
Sylvia Sims fiancé turns up,Colonel Beaumont played by Marius Goring,who unusually for a Roundhead is portrayed as a decent honourable man and when he realises the King has escaped he allows his fiancé to join the Moonraker.He is certain that the Innkeeper,his wife and son were implicated in the plot and in an act of mercy he does not press charges against them.
All in all a perfect film for a wet afternoon to watch while armed with a cup of tea and the biscuit tin.Why don't they make films like this now?
The Black Shield of Falworth
(1954)
Shakespeare it ain't but none the worse for that.
7 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The Black Shield of Falworth is the film where Tony Curtis DID NOT quote the line "Yonder lies da castle of my fadda",though he does have a rather unusual accent.There again you only have to read Chaucer aloud to realise that ordinary folk did not speak with cut glass English accents so maybe Curtis had the last laugh after all.
Like Cornel Wilde and John Derek Curtis was rather good in these tights and rapier romps.Here he is trying to restore the family honour and in the process stops the evil Earl of Alban,played by David Farrar,from seizing the throne and also wins the hand of the fair lady Anne,played by the lovely Janet Leigh.Amusingly Daniel O'Herelihy plays the future Henry V as a bit of a drunk but its only a cover to find out what the Earl is up to.He manages to do this without resorting to any great Shakespearian speeches.Curtis's best friend,one Francis Gascoigne,fancies Curtis's sister Meg.Don't you love a happy ending where both the hero and his mate get a girl?
All this is played out in glorious Technicolor and in an idealised merry England where mud, muck and the usual unpleasantness do not exist.
While the romantic stuff is par for the course what raises the film to a higher level is the standard of the action sequences.The sword fighting and jousting have a bone shaking reality about them and Curtis proves to be a dab hand at fighting with furniture,tables,chairs etc.A quick mention in dispatches for Torin Thatcher who plays Sir James.He teaches Curtis all the tricks of the trade in training for knighthood.A tough,gruff man capable of using brutality to make his point but fair minded and with a sense of humour.
Medieval England was never quite how Hollywood depicted it,English history lessons might have been a lot more fun if it was.I thoroughly enjoyed this film and the cast all rose to the occasion with the right mixture of seriousness and tongue in cheek.
Like Cornel Wilde and John Derek Curtis was rather good in these tights and rapier romps.Here he is trying to restore the family honour and in the process stops the evil Earl of Alban,played by David Farrar,from seizing the throne and also wins the hand of the fair lady Anne,played by the lovely Janet Leigh.Amusingly Daniel O'Herelihy plays the future Henry V as a bit of a drunk but its only a cover to find out what the Earl is up to.He manages to do this without resorting to any great Shakespearian speeches.Curtis's best friend,one Francis Gascoigne,fancies Curtis's sister Meg.Don't you love a happy ending where both the hero and his mate get a girl?
All this is played out in glorious Technicolor and in an idealised merry England where mud, muck and the usual unpleasantness do not exist.
While the romantic stuff is par for the course what raises the film to a higher level is the standard of the action sequences.The sword fighting and jousting have a bone shaking reality about them and Curtis proves to be a dab hand at fighting with furniture,tables,chairs etc.A quick mention in dispatches for Torin Thatcher who plays Sir James.He teaches Curtis all the tricks of the trade in training for knighthood.A tough,gruff man capable of using brutality to make his point but fair minded and with a sense of humour.
Medieval England was never quite how Hollywood depicted it,English history lessons might have been a lot more fun if it was.I thoroughly enjoyed this film and the cast all rose to the occasion with the right mixture of seriousness and tongue in cheek.
Inn for Trouble
(1960)
You are" inn for trouble" if you mess with Ada Larkins.
29 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Inn for trouble was one of the first TV series to be made into a feature film all be it with a slightly changed scenario. Instead of a South London suburban setting the Larkins now manage a run down pub in the country. It was a "reward" for twenty-five years faithful service at Belchers Brewery. Ada at her most formidable has terrified the management,represented by an affable Leslie Phillips,into agreeing to this.
The plot such as it is makes it clear that the pub,The Earl Osborne,is somewhat short of customers. This all changes when they start selling a superior ale brewed by the current Lord Osborne,played by Glyn Owen. He has an attractive french girlfriend called Yvette (almost compulsory in British comedies of the era) The plot thickens when a rival brewery discovers that a major road is to be built passing the pub which will turn it into an absolute goldmine. After many amusing shenanigans everything is resolved happily to the Larkins advantage.
On one level this is just another routine British comedy but if you dig beneath the surface it is a microcosm of English village life of sixty years ago. Full of wonderful character actors such as A. W. Matthews and with a special nod to Graham Moffatt and Charles Hawtrey who play the well named Jumbo Gudge and Silas Withering who could have come straight out of a P. G. Wodehouse book. Alan Wheatley plays the rival brewery owner who although probably guilty of some sharp practice is not as black as he is painted,certainly an improvement on his Sheriff of Nottingham in the Robin Hood TV series.
Willoughby Goddard steals every scene he is in as the village policeman Sgt. Saunders whose sole purpose in life seems to be catching out anyone drinking after hours. He changes his tune after quaffing a couple of pints of the new improved ale realising that the main attribute of the village bobby is to know when to turn a blind eye.
David Kossoff was a much respected Jewish actor,a great raconteur and now remembered mainly for telling wonderful Bible stories on the radio. In this film he plays Alf Larkins the publican who although having a formidable wife copes very well. They obviously love and are devoted to each other but by golly the sparks do fly sometimes.
Peggy Mount plays Mrs Larkins having played a similar role as Mrs Hornet in the film "Sailor Beware". I must pay tribute to Mrs Larkins,a truly formidable woman in her wrap around pinafore and headscarf,she made Bodicea seem harmless by comparison. She was however a good housewife and there was always a hot meal waiting for Alf and the family and God help anyone who tried to mess with her and her brood. She had raised her family during the Blitz,Hitler didn't scare her so the rival brewery had no chance. Whatever the crisis there was nothing that a cup of tea and a good old cockney knees up couldn't cure. In my youth I spent many days hop picking with my Aunt and I met many "Mrs Larkins" who treated you like a member of the family,a clip round the ear for cheekiness,a hug if you scraped a knee,and a meal if you were hungry. It brings back so many happy memories,a film to treasure.
I may have waffled on a bit but Hey,come on,its my review.
The plot such as it is makes it clear that the pub,The Earl Osborne,is somewhat short of customers. This all changes when they start selling a superior ale brewed by the current Lord Osborne,played by Glyn Owen. He has an attractive french girlfriend called Yvette (almost compulsory in British comedies of the era) The plot thickens when a rival brewery discovers that a major road is to be built passing the pub which will turn it into an absolute goldmine. After many amusing shenanigans everything is resolved happily to the Larkins advantage.
On one level this is just another routine British comedy but if you dig beneath the surface it is a microcosm of English village life of sixty years ago. Full of wonderful character actors such as A. W. Matthews and with a special nod to Graham Moffatt and Charles Hawtrey who play the well named Jumbo Gudge and Silas Withering who could have come straight out of a P. G. Wodehouse book. Alan Wheatley plays the rival brewery owner who although probably guilty of some sharp practice is not as black as he is painted,certainly an improvement on his Sheriff of Nottingham in the Robin Hood TV series.
Willoughby Goddard steals every scene he is in as the village policeman Sgt. Saunders whose sole purpose in life seems to be catching out anyone drinking after hours. He changes his tune after quaffing a couple of pints of the new improved ale realising that the main attribute of the village bobby is to know when to turn a blind eye.
David Kossoff was a much respected Jewish actor,a great raconteur and now remembered mainly for telling wonderful Bible stories on the radio. In this film he plays Alf Larkins the publican who although having a formidable wife copes very well. They obviously love and are devoted to each other but by golly the sparks do fly sometimes.
Peggy Mount plays Mrs Larkins having played a similar role as Mrs Hornet in the film "Sailor Beware". I must pay tribute to Mrs Larkins,a truly formidable woman in her wrap around pinafore and headscarf,she made Bodicea seem harmless by comparison. She was however a good housewife and there was always a hot meal waiting for Alf and the family and God help anyone who tried to mess with her and her brood. She had raised her family during the Blitz,Hitler didn't scare her so the rival brewery had no chance. Whatever the crisis there was nothing that a cup of tea and a good old cockney knees up couldn't cure. In my youth I spent many days hop picking with my Aunt and I met many "Mrs Larkins" who treated you like a member of the family,a clip round the ear for cheekiness,a hug if you scraped a knee,and a meal if you were hungry. It brings back so many happy memories,a film to treasure.
I may have waffled on a bit but Hey,come on,its my review.
Hooray here comes Robin Hood.
12 December 2012
Warning: Spoilers
In the 1950's Disney made several live action feature films of variable quality,some such as Treasure Island, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Great Locomotive Chase were actually rather good but perhaps the best of all was The Story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
For a start it was actually filmed in Sherwood Forest in England and Richard Todd who plays Robin Hood had an impeccable upper class English accent.Peter Finch who plays the evil Sheriff of Nottingham was of course Australian but manages a reasonable English accent.The Merry Men and peasants all seem to have acquired an undefined West Country accent which is personified by James Robertson Justice who plays Little John.Watching the film recently one is reminded of what a big brawny chap he was before he started to get corpulent.
The film itself has all the usual plot elements,e.g.Robin and Maid Marion played by the delectable Joan Rice,the archery contest and of course the usual comic appearance of Friar Tuck played by James Hayter,a part he was born to play.The story continues with the collection of King Richard's ransom which the dastardly Sheriff and his men try to steal disguised as Robin Hood's men.Hooray! The real Robin Hood and his Merry Men come to the rescue in the nick of time much to the relief of The Archbishop of Canterbury and Queen Eleanor the King's mother,a tough old bird played by Martita Hunt.
There is plenty of action,energetic sword fights and last minute rescues all very tastefully done apart from two quite violent scenes.The first when two peasants played by Michael Hordern and Bill Owen who can't or refuse to pay their taxes are taken to the town square and hung up over heated braziers while the Sheriff's men ride around beating them with cudgels.Fortunately for them they are soon rescued by Robin Hood @ Co and become it has to be said not particularly happy Merry Men.The other is when,at the end,The Sheriff is squashed between the drawbridge and the castle wall,a grisly end which serves him jolly well right.
I have nothing but praise for the entire cast,this is a wonderful adventure film for schoolboys of all ages and all in glorious color and brilliantly directed by Ken Annakin.
In the final scene Robin and Marion are married with the blessing of King Richard who turns up at the last minute, yes I know the story is only a legend but I wonder how the couple would have fared in the years to come when King Richard is killed in The Crusades and the villainous Prince John becomes the legitimate King.In history he wasn't known for forgiving and forgetting.
For a start it was actually filmed in Sherwood Forest in England and Richard Todd who plays Robin Hood had an impeccable upper class English accent.Peter Finch who plays the evil Sheriff of Nottingham was of course Australian but manages a reasonable English accent.The Merry Men and peasants all seem to have acquired an undefined West Country accent which is personified by James Robertson Justice who plays Little John.Watching the film recently one is reminded of what a big brawny chap he was before he started to get corpulent.
The film itself has all the usual plot elements,e.g.Robin and Maid Marion played by the delectable Joan Rice,the archery contest and of course the usual comic appearance of Friar Tuck played by James Hayter,a part he was born to play.The story continues with the collection of King Richard's ransom which the dastardly Sheriff and his men try to steal disguised as Robin Hood's men.Hooray! The real Robin Hood and his Merry Men come to the rescue in the nick of time much to the relief of The Archbishop of Canterbury and Queen Eleanor the King's mother,a tough old bird played by Martita Hunt.
There is plenty of action,energetic sword fights and last minute rescues all very tastefully done apart from two quite violent scenes.The first when two peasants played by Michael Hordern and Bill Owen who can't or refuse to pay their taxes are taken to the town square and hung up over heated braziers while the Sheriff's men ride around beating them with cudgels.Fortunately for them they are soon rescued by Robin Hood @ Co and become it has to be said not particularly happy Merry Men.The other is when,at the end,The Sheriff is squashed between the drawbridge and the castle wall,a grisly end which serves him jolly well right.
I have nothing but praise for the entire cast,this is a wonderful adventure film for schoolboys of all ages and all in glorious color and brilliantly directed by Ken Annakin.
In the final scene Robin and Marion are married with the blessing of King Richard who turns up at the last minute, yes I know the story is only a legend but I wonder how the couple would have fared in the years to come when King Richard is killed in The Crusades and the villainous Prince John becomes the legitimate King.In history he wasn't known for forgiving and forgetting.
Botany Bay
(1952)
We are bound for Botany Bay
27 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
In the late 18th and early 19th century Great Britain used to get rid of her low lifes and petty felons by transporting them off to Botany Bay (Australia) in prison ships. A motley bunch who undoubtedly needed a firm hand and strong discipline. In James Mason's captain they certainly got that. On the surface he has a degree of charm and compassion but underneath he is a sadistic psychopath with possible suppressed gay feelings,this 1952 Hollywood could only hint at such things. By comparison he makes Captain Bligh seem like a lovable old softie. James Mason gives an absolutely brilliant performance. He was excellent in these sort of roles.
It doesn't take long for him and the hero played by Alan Ladd to fall out.
Ladd who has suffered a miscarriage of justice has a large chip on his shoulder. Also on board is a young female convict played by the lovely Patricia Medina whose cleavage must have given the censors a few headaches and a good eyeful. She is also big trouble. Mason certainly has it in for Ladd sentencing him to fifty lashes then threatening to keelhaul him. When told that nobody has been keelhauled for fifty years Mason in his best sneering voice says "I don't think its been quite that long". Ladd much to Mason's annoyance survives.
John Farrow,the director,doesn't pull his punches depicting the horror,unpleasantness and cruelty suffered by the convicts. It may have seemed necessary at the time but to modern sensibilities it was not Britain's finest hour,it is the most realistic part of the film. Of course this was an American film financed by American money so lets have a little dig at Britain's colonial past. I'm surprised that the anti British Mel Gibson hasn't remade it.
Be that as it may when they land Australia looks like the Paramount back lot. The good news is that Mason gets his comeuppance thanks to a well directed Aborigine spear. Then HOORAY Alan Ladd's pardon arrives and the benevolent governor allows Patricia Medina to become his bride (no doubt their descendants delight in thrashing England at cricket)
Not a classic but a fine salty saga all in glorious Technicolor.
Ladd is excellent in this type of role. Apart perhaps from "Shane" he is undeservedly a forgotten name now.
This must be one of the few Australian based films made in the fifties that didn't feature that wonderful character actor Chips Rafferty.
Patricia Medina's cleavage is worth a star on its own so I'll give it nine which I think is a fair mark.
It doesn't take long for him and the hero played by Alan Ladd to fall out.
Ladd who has suffered a miscarriage of justice has a large chip on his shoulder. Also on board is a young female convict played by the lovely Patricia Medina whose cleavage must have given the censors a few headaches and a good eyeful. She is also big trouble. Mason certainly has it in for Ladd sentencing him to fifty lashes then threatening to keelhaul him. When told that nobody has been keelhauled for fifty years Mason in his best sneering voice says "I don't think its been quite that long". Ladd much to Mason's annoyance survives.
John Farrow,the director,doesn't pull his punches depicting the horror,unpleasantness and cruelty suffered by the convicts. It may have seemed necessary at the time but to modern sensibilities it was not Britain's finest hour,it is the most realistic part of the film. Of course this was an American film financed by American money so lets have a little dig at Britain's colonial past. I'm surprised that the anti British Mel Gibson hasn't remade it.
Be that as it may when they land Australia looks like the Paramount back lot. The good news is that Mason gets his comeuppance thanks to a well directed Aborigine spear. Then HOORAY Alan Ladd's pardon arrives and the benevolent governor allows Patricia Medina to become his bride (no doubt their descendants delight in thrashing England at cricket)
Not a classic but a fine salty saga all in glorious Technicolor.
Ladd is excellent in this type of role. Apart perhaps from "Shane" he is undeservedly a forgotten name now.
This must be one of the few Australian based films made in the fifties that didn't feature that wonderful character actor Chips Rafferty.
Patricia Medina's cleavage is worth a star on its own so I'll give it nine which I think is a fair mark.
It's Great to Be Young!
(1956)
A nostalgic take on school days.
20 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Its great to be young if this rose colored view of school days is anything to go by.Well spoken,pleasant children in smart uniforms grace the screen.The sun always seems to be shining and ethnic minorities are non existent,Britain in the mid fifties was a vastly different place.Sex never gets a mention in any shape or form except perhaps when one of the girls is caught knitting baby clothes at the back of the classroom."Its for my married sister Sir" she tells a much relieved Mr Dingle (John Mills) Drugs of course are completely off the radar.
The only fly in the ointment is the new headmaster Mr Frome (Cecil Parker) who does not approve of the school orchestra and who not unreasonably thinks that exam results and scholarships are more important than knocking out a bit of Mozart on a violin.This of course leads to an ongoing conflict with Mr Dingle the music master which escalates when Mr Dingle is discovered playing a honky tonk piano (dubbed by Winifred Atwell) in a local pub to raise money for the school instruments.The final straw comes when Mr Frome hears the orchestra playing jazz.They are of international standard which is not surprising seeing that they are dubbed by Humphrey Lyttleton and his band.
Mr Dingle and Mr Frome have a full and frank discussion which finishes up with Mr Dingle being sacked.
The pupils stage a sit in in the gymnasium,all very polite and genteel.The pupils from all the local schools join the protest in support waving banners and shouting "We want Mr Dingle back".
The headmaster, who I personally have a lot of sympathy for, realises that he may have been a little hasty and goes to see Mr Dingle and explains that the situation is getting out of hand and that he only wants what is best for the school.The last thing he wants is to involve the Police and would Mr Dingle return to school and talk some sense into the children.
Mr Dingle agrees,returns to the school and really reads the riot act to the crestfallen children.He asks them what makes them think he wants to come back.
The headmaster says he hopes Mr Dingle will come back,Mr Dingle agrees to do so,everyone is happy,and we all left the cinema feeling good.
This is a wonderful film all in glorious color.Angel Hill School seems to be a wonderful place with acres of playing fields and given the fine weather one would think the children would rather be out playing cricket or football,oh well no accounting for taste.The cast is uniformly brilliant,Jeremy Spencer as Nicky and Dorothy Bromley as Paulette play the leading youngsters and as a matter of interest a young Richard O'Sullivan plays a spotty little oike called Lawson.He plays a mean tuba.Three years later he played another revolting oike in the comedy "Carry on Teacher".In this one they wanted the headmaster to stay.Later again he played a troubled youngster in the film "Spare the Rod",it was no blackboard jungle but for a British school film it was quite harrowing.
Jeremy Spencer,a highly gifted actor,in the early fifties seen as a British version of James Dean, completely disappeared from our screens in the mid sixties,I was a big fan of his and I hope he is still around,he must be about seventy six by now,I hope all is well with him and that he has led a happy life.
The only fly in the ointment is the new headmaster Mr Frome (Cecil Parker) who does not approve of the school orchestra and who not unreasonably thinks that exam results and scholarships are more important than knocking out a bit of Mozart on a violin.This of course leads to an ongoing conflict with Mr Dingle the music master which escalates when Mr Dingle is discovered playing a honky tonk piano (dubbed by Winifred Atwell) in a local pub to raise money for the school instruments.The final straw comes when Mr Frome hears the orchestra playing jazz.They are of international standard which is not surprising seeing that they are dubbed by Humphrey Lyttleton and his band.
Mr Dingle and Mr Frome have a full and frank discussion which finishes up with Mr Dingle being sacked.
The pupils stage a sit in in the gymnasium,all very polite and genteel.The pupils from all the local schools join the protest in support waving banners and shouting "We want Mr Dingle back".
The headmaster, who I personally have a lot of sympathy for, realises that he may have been a little hasty and goes to see Mr Dingle and explains that the situation is getting out of hand and that he only wants what is best for the school.The last thing he wants is to involve the Police and would Mr Dingle return to school and talk some sense into the children.
Mr Dingle agrees,returns to the school and really reads the riot act to the crestfallen children.He asks them what makes them think he wants to come back.
The headmaster says he hopes Mr Dingle will come back,Mr Dingle agrees to do so,everyone is happy,and we all left the cinema feeling good.
This is a wonderful film all in glorious color.Angel Hill School seems to be a wonderful place with acres of playing fields and given the fine weather one would think the children would rather be out playing cricket or football,oh well no accounting for taste.The cast is uniformly brilliant,Jeremy Spencer as Nicky and Dorothy Bromley as Paulette play the leading youngsters and as a matter of interest a young Richard O'Sullivan plays a spotty little oike called Lawson.He plays a mean tuba.Three years later he played another revolting oike in the comedy "Carry on Teacher".In this one they wanted the headmaster to stay.Later again he played a troubled youngster in the film "Spare the Rod",it was no blackboard jungle but for a British school film it was quite harrowing.
Jeremy Spencer,a highly gifted actor,in the early fifties seen as a British version of James Dean, completely disappeared from our screens in the mid sixties,I was a big fan of his and I hope he is still around,he must be about seventy six by now,I hope all is well with him and that he has led a happy life.
The Final Test
(1953)
Are we going to see any excitement today?Oh good lord I hope not.
14 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Don Bradman's last Test Match was Terrance Rattigan's inspiration for his play "The Final Test".In the film version we have Jack Warner playing the veteran cricketer Stan Palmer who is playing in his final Test Match.Palmer is past his best and not worth his place in the side (he is out LBW second ball) but he is a living legend and the crowd rise up as one and give him a standing ovation.
Palmer,a widower,is hoping to get a coaching job at Eton.He is fond of Cora the barmaid at his local pub.He sometimes helps behind the bar.He hopes to marry Cora but as she has a bit of a reputation he wonders if she will be a suitable wife considering his new job.Cora as played by Brenda Bruce comes across as a charming attractive lady,Palmer should consider himself a lucky chap.
He also has an eighteen year old son played by Ray Jackson who can't stand cricket.He promises to watch his Dad at the Oval but slopes off to keep an appointment with poet/playwright Alexander Whitehead played by Robert Morley.
Jack Warner became a national treasure playing veteran policeman George Dixon in the film "The Blue Lamp" where he is shot and killed.He was resurrected and played the part on TV for twenty five years.But as a cricketer he is horribly miscast,he was pushing sixty and was quite frankly portly.In real life he would have been lucky to get a game with Limpsfield Chart seconds.John Mills would have been ideal in the role,a muscular wiry man in his mid forties.Stan Palmer comes across as a bit of a self righteous prig.Brenda Bruce's Cora might have gingered him up a bit.
Having said all that Rattigan was a very good playwright and fair play to Warner and Stevens the father and son strained relationship is well acted and makes for good drama.
There are many delights to savor,several Test cricketers of the day have cameos,Dennis Compton,Alec Bedser,Jim Laker,Godfrey Evans,Cyril Washbrook and Len Hutton who has quite a few lines of dialogue which he delivers with a mixture of his native Yorkshire and a kind of strangled home counties posh,priceless.The Director,a tolerant Anthony Asquith,gets them all to speak clearly and to avoid falling over the furniture,great stuff lads.
The film has a brilliant opening when an American senator played by Stanley Maxted arrives at Victoria Station on a fact finding mission.He is greeted by newspaper placards screaming "England facing heavy defeat/no hope for England/England's last stand".He is a bit worried until a taxi driver explains that England are playing Australia in the final Test at the Oval and are facing a heavy defeat.He decides to go to the Oval to see what all the fuss is about and finds himself sitting next to a typical English gentleman played by the wonderful Richard Wattis."Morning Buddy" says the senator "are we going to see any excitement today?" to which a horrified Wattis replies "Oh good lord I hope not" then good naturedly explains to him what is happening.
The best bit of the film has to be Robert Morley's larger than life portrayal of Alexander Whitehead.When young Palmer comes for his interview he at first refuses to see him,he is sulking because of bad reviews of his TV play the night before,an opus entitled "Following a turtle to my father's grave" I think I would have given it a miss as well.Then he goes from pompous snob to excited overgrown schoolboy when he realises the identity of young Palmer's Dad.When he finds that young Palmer can get him into the Oval they jump into Whitehead's car and rush off to the game at breakneck speed telling the young man that his father has been his (Whitehead's) hero since childhood and that his biggest regret is that he was an absolute duffer at cricket.They find themselves sitting next to the American senator and Mr Wattis just in time to see Stan Palmer's duck and subsequent ovation.The senator says that he has learned something of the English character that day and he is deeply grateful.A nice little nod to Anglo/American relations.
Whitehead gets invited round for dinner that night and its a job to know whether he or Stan Palmer is the most nervous.The ice is soon broken and in an amusing scene Whitehead almost wrecks the room practicing cricket strokes with a poker."Oh I say I'm most frightfully sorry".
Father and son are soon reconciled and there is a quietly happy ending.I cannot think of a more quintessentially English film.Like the good senator if anyone wants to know what makes the English tick this film is a good start.Morley spent the rest of his life appearing on chat shows saying that he really didn't like cricket much and funnily enough to this day nobody believes him.
How does one rate this film?I have been a little harsh on Jack Warner who makes the best of rather a staid character.Any film which contains a Richard Wattis cameo is always worth a star in itself as is anything with Robert Morley.I think 9 is a fair mark.
Incidentally in 1953 when the film was made we were actually playing the Australians and at the Oval we won The Ashes back after a gap of twenty years.You have to be an Englishman to appreciate the significance of it.
Palmer,a widower,is hoping to get a coaching job at Eton.He is fond of Cora the barmaid at his local pub.He sometimes helps behind the bar.He hopes to marry Cora but as she has a bit of a reputation he wonders if she will be a suitable wife considering his new job.Cora as played by Brenda Bruce comes across as a charming attractive lady,Palmer should consider himself a lucky chap.
He also has an eighteen year old son played by Ray Jackson who can't stand cricket.He promises to watch his Dad at the Oval but slopes off to keep an appointment with poet/playwright Alexander Whitehead played by Robert Morley.
Jack Warner became a national treasure playing veteran policeman George Dixon in the film "The Blue Lamp" where he is shot and killed.He was resurrected and played the part on TV for twenty five years.But as a cricketer he is horribly miscast,he was pushing sixty and was quite frankly portly.In real life he would have been lucky to get a game with Limpsfield Chart seconds.John Mills would have been ideal in the role,a muscular wiry man in his mid forties.Stan Palmer comes across as a bit of a self righteous prig.Brenda Bruce's Cora might have gingered him up a bit.
Having said all that Rattigan was a very good playwright and fair play to Warner and Stevens the father and son strained relationship is well acted and makes for good drama.
There are many delights to savor,several Test cricketers of the day have cameos,Dennis Compton,Alec Bedser,Jim Laker,Godfrey Evans,Cyril Washbrook and Len Hutton who has quite a few lines of dialogue which he delivers with a mixture of his native Yorkshire and a kind of strangled home counties posh,priceless.The Director,a tolerant Anthony Asquith,gets them all to speak clearly and to avoid falling over the furniture,great stuff lads.
The film has a brilliant opening when an American senator played by Stanley Maxted arrives at Victoria Station on a fact finding mission.He is greeted by newspaper placards screaming "England facing heavy defeat/no hope for England/England's last stand".He is a bit worried until a taxi driver explains that England are playing Australia in the final Test at the Oval and are facing a heavy defeat.He decides to go to the Oval to see what all the fuss is about and finds himself sitting next to a typical English gentleman played by the wonderful Richard Wattis."Morning Buddy" says the senator "are we going to see any excitement today?" to which a horrified Wattis replies "Oh good lord I hope not" then good naturedly explains to him what is happening.
The best bit of the film has to be Robert Morley's larger than life portrayal of Alexander Whitehead.When young Palmer comes for his interview he at first refuses to see him,he is sulking because of bad reviews of his TV play the night before,an opus entitled "Following a turtle to my father's grave" I think I would have given it a miss as well.Then he goes from pompous snob to excited overgrown schoolboy when he realises the identity of young Palmer's Dad.When he finds that young Palmer can get him into the Oval they jump into Whitehead's car and rush off to the game at breakneck speed telling the young man that his father has been his (Whitehead's) hero since childhood and that his biggest regret is that he was an absolute duffer at cricket.They find themselves sitting next to the American senator and Mr Wattis just in time to see Stan Palmer's duck and subsequent ovation.The senator says that he has learned something of the English character that day and he is deeply grateful.A nice little nod to Anglo/American relations.
Whitehead gets invited round for dinner that night and its a job to know whether he or Stan Palmer is the most nervous.The ice is soon broken and in an amusing scene Whitehead almost wrecks the room practicing cricket strokes with a poker."Oh I say I'm most frightfully sorry".
Father and son are soon reconciled and there is a quietly happy ending.I cannot think of a more quintessentially English film.Like the good senator if anyone wants to know what makes the English tick this film is a good start.Morley spent the rest of his life appearing on chat shows saying that he really didn't like cricket much and funnily enough to this day nobody believes him.
How does one rate this film?I have been a little harsh on Jack Warner who makes the best of rather a staid character.Any film which contains a Richard Wattis cameo is always worth a star in itself as is anything with Robert Morley.I think 9 is a fair mark.
Incidentally in 1953 when the film was made we were actually playing the Australians and at the Oval we won The Ashes back after a gap of twenty years.You have to be an Englishman to appreciate the significance of it.
Quantrill's Raiders
(1958)
History but only as Hollywood tells it.
5 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
On one level this is quite an entertaining western in glorious Technicolor and Cinemascope with good action sequences directed in a no nonsense fashion by Edward Bernds who works in the confines of a limited budget.
Steve Cochran plays a rather colorless hero (one wonders whether Rory Calhoun turned the part down) but where the film benefits is in the presence of Leo Gordon,one of the great western villains.In this film he plays William Quantrill as a thoroughly nasty piece of work without any redeeming features whatsoever.
Don Siegal, who directed Gordon in "Riot in cell block 11" was quoted as saying that Leo Gordon was the scariest man he ever met.Incidentally that film was made at San Quentin where Gordon had been imprisoned for three years for armed robbery.It says a lot for his character that he completely reformed and became a successful actor and screen writer,he was also happily married for fifty years.
The plot supposedly tells the story of Quantrill's raid on Lawrence,Kansas in August 1863.It trashes history to such an extent that one cannot take it seriously and as for the firearms used we are talking 1880's rather than 1860's.If one wants to see an accurate film based on the Civil War in Missouri I would recommend Ang Lee's "Ride with the Devil".
William Quantrill has always been seen by Hollywood as a cold blooded killer whether played by the likes of Walter Pidgeon,John Ireland or Brian Donlevy.Leo Gordon's version is even nastier.Types like Billy the Kid and Jesse James have on occasion had their characters whitewashed.As another reviewer has suggested perhaps its time to re-evaluate Quantrill
Quantrill was indeed a colourfull character,a violent man who lived in violent times.In his defense he held a genuine Captains commission in the Confederate Army and he did try to maintain a modicum of discipline even hanging two of his followers for raping and murdering women.In that respect he had a certain decency.He was eventually replaced by the likes of Bloody Bill Anderson and Archie Clements.Members of his gang included the James and Younger brothers.
On the other side of the coin Jennison's Jayhawkers and James Lanes Redlegs who supposedly fought for the Union committed just as many atrocities.As the James Lane character says in "The Outlaw Josey Wales" to the victor the spoils.
Enjoy the film on its own level,Leo Gordon is always worth watching.
Steve Cochran plays a rather colorless hero (one wonders whether Rory Calhoun turned the part down) but where the film benefits is in the presence of Leo Gordon,one of the great western villains.In this film he plays William Quantrill as a thoroughly nasty piece of work without any redeeming features whatsoever.
Don Siegal, who directed Gordon in "Riot in cell block 11" was quoted as saying that Leo Gordon was the scariest man he ever met.Incidentally that film was made at San Quentin where Gordon had been imprisoned for three years for armed robbery.It says a lot for his character that he completely reformed and became a successful actor and screen writer,he was also happily married for fifty years.
The plot supposedly tells the story of Quantrill's raid on Lawrence,Kansas in August 1863.It trashes history to such an extent that one cannot take it seriously and as for the firearms used we are talking 1880's rather than 1860's.If one wants to see an accurate film based on the Civil War in Missouri I would recommend Ang Lee's "Ride with the Devil".
William Quantrill has always been seen by Hollywood as a cold blooded killer whether played by the likes of Walter Pidgeon,John Ireland or Brian Donlevy.Leo Gordon's version is even nastier.Types like Billy the Kid and Jesse James have on occasion had their characters whitewashed.As another reviewer has suggested perhaps its time to re-evaluate Quantrill
Quantrill was indeed a colourfull character,a violent man who lived in violent times.In his defense he held a genuine Captains commission in the Confederate Army and he did try to maintain a modicum of discipline even hanging two of his followers for raping and murdering women.In that respect he had a certain decency.He was eventually replaced by the likes of Bloody Bill Anderson and Archie Clements.Members of his gang included the James and Younger brothers.
On the other side of the coin Jennison's Jayhawkers and James Lanes Redlegs who supposedly fought for the Union committed just as many atrocities.As the James Lane character says in "The Outlaw Josey Wales" to the victor the spoils.
Enjoy the film on its own level,Leo Gordon is always worth watching.
Safari
(1956)
Victor Mature versus the Mau mau - Victor wins.
29 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
A controversial film when first released in 1956 for using the Mau Mau uprising as a background for a Victor Mature adventure.Fifty six years later with the gift of hindsight the film can be viewed from a modern perspective.The Mau Mau,once considered terrorists,are now seen as freedom fighters.The truth is somewhere in the middle.Atrocities were committed by both sides.In disputes like this it is always the innocent who suffer.While Safari condemns the Mau Mau as cold blooded killers, in a slightly condescending way it emphasizes that most Kenyans are decent loyal citizens.The film should be viewed as a product of its time with the attitudes and sensibilities of the period.What is more controversial today is its glorification of big game hunting. Victor Mature plays big game hunter Ken Duffield who comes back from a safari to find that his family,including his son,have been massacred by the Mau Mau led by one of his house servants,a very harrowing scene.For his own safety his big game licence is revoked.Sitting in a bar in Nairobi drowning his sorrows he is approached by millionaire aristocrat Sir Vincent Brampton (Ronald Culver) who is accompanied by his dogsbody Brian Sinden (John Justin).Sir Vincent is obsessed with shooting a man eating lion called Hatari.He is an obnoxious money will buy anything type who gets Duffield's licence restored so he can lead the expedition. Duffield sees it as an opportunity to get his revenge on the Mau Mau.Also going along for the ride is Brampton's "fiance" Linda Latham,played by the delectable Janet Leigh. It is a long journey in which Duffield finds peace of mind and justice not vengeance is served.The successful outcome is due in no small part to the young native lad Adongo played by Juma, and the head boy Jerusalem played by Orlando Martins,a cheerful trumpet playing character,just the sort of bloke you want by your side in a fight. Victor Mature once stated that he was no actor and he had over seventy films to prove it.Come on Vic, in adventure and biblical films you had a certain monolythic grandeur and unlike Charlton Heston you never took yourself too seriously. Ronald Culver and John Justin are British thespians of the old school who have a look of slight bewilderment wondering what they are doing in this film but they are professionals and certainly don't let the side down. Juma and Orlando Martins are also a big asset and talking about big assets Janet Leigh is unbelievably glamorous,her wardrobe is certainly eye catching.Talk about the "Perils of Pauline",whatever her predicament she never looks less than immaculate.She takes the obligatory swim in the river,all in the best possible taste,and her bath scene would raise a few eyebrows.Never less than cheerful she is no shrinking violet always ready to roll her sleeves up and get on with it. A word of praise for Hatari the lion for the best performance in the film.He may have finished up in trophy cabinet but he gets his ten cents worth in first.He certainly makes Sir Vincent wish he had stayed at home. All filmed in glorious technicolor and on location the scenery and wildlife on view is a definite plus.Directed by Terence Young who knows his stuff it compares well with films such as "King Solomon's Mines" and "Mogambo".It is definitely superior to "Beyond Mombasa" which roughly deals with the same subject except the Mau Mau are called Leopard Men.It starred Cornel Wilde who ten years later made probably the greatest African adventure film of all "The Naked Prey".Considering the risqué scenes with Janet Leigh and the harrowing and explicit violence the Censors gave it a "U" certificate,surprisingly "The Naked Prey" got an "A" certificate,today they would be lucky to get a "12" rating. As a last thought John Justin played a character called Brian Sinden,in "Mogambo" Donald Sinden played a similar character.Possibly an "in" joke?
Rocky Mountain
(1950)
General Lee dealt the hand I can only play the cards he gave me
24 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Errol Flynn was the hell raisers hellraiser lucky to survive to 50.However up to the early 1950s he could just about pull him self together to swash a reasonable buckle in such films as "Against all Flags" and "The Master of Ballentrae", even as late as 1955in the "Dark Avenger" there was still a trace of the old magnificent Flynn,then the rapid decline.Rocky Mountain was the last western Flynn made and it's not bad at all his lived in face was just right for the character he was playing a war weary Confederate cavalry captain called Lafe Barstow who in March 1865 is under orders with 7 troopers to travel 2000 miles to California meet up with local outlaw Cole Smith and his men and start a war there,mission impossible from the start. things start to go wrong when they go to the rescue of a stagecoach under attack from a Shoshone war party they save the life of the driver and his young female passenger(Patrice Wymore) Things get even more complicated when her fiancé(Scot Forbes)a union officer is captured when he comes to her rescue.The plot then has many twists and turns,Forbes character escapes and is presumed killed when there is the sound of gun fire,with the Shoshone gathering for a mass attack Flynn and his men in an act of Southern chivalry decide to act as decoys to draw the Shoshone off allowing Miss Wymore and the stagecoach driver to make their escape the ruse works but Flynn and his men they find themselves trapped in a box canyon."they have seen our backs now let them see our faces"then with the Confederate banner flying they charge head first in to the Shoshone and are heroically slaughtered. Flynn's demise is similar to his death in"They Died With There Boots On"Forbes has escaped but turns up to late with the Yankee cavalry,They are buried with full military honours and while the Confederate flag is flown from the highest butte the Warner Brothers choir sing a moving version of Dixie it is a truly awesome scene,Warner Brothers recycled it in all there t.v. westerns in the next decade when I
first saw this film as a lad the whole cinema audience stood up and cheered(we were all English for goodness sake)this is a fine film with many pleasures not least FLynn's boys Slim Pickens,Guinn Williams utterly reliable, Sheb Wooley who forgets his southern chivalry when he makes a pass at Miss Wymore he redeems him self at the end. Dickie Jones plays a 16 year old he has a nice moment when he tells Miss Wymore of the time at Gettysburg when General Lee(the most beloved of American generals) graciously excepts a skillet lid of black eyed peas,"Thank you son that's elegent"Flynn mentions that he has a large plantation back home were the cotton fields extent as far as the eye can see does that make him a slave owner ha also says that his Lady died a long time ago,A natural death or a war crime the film dosen't elaborate on either point,indeed the causes of the war are not mentioned Flynn is excellent his charismatic officer is similar to the one he played in "Operation Burma"As a last thought the Confederate cavalry in films such as "The Last Outpost"and Two flags West" seem to spend all their time rescuing the Yankees from rampaging indians who are attacking their forts, it's a pity the yanks can't re turn the compliment here.
first saw this film as a lad the whole cinema audience stood up and cheered(we were all English for goodness sake)this is a fine film with many pleasures not least FLynn's boys Slim Pickens,Guinn Williams utterly reliable, Sheb Wooley who forgets his southern chivalry when he makes a pass at Miss Wymore he redeems him self at the end. Dickie Jones plays a 16 year old he has a nice moment when he tells Miss Wymore of the time at Gettysburg when General Lee(the most beloved of American generals) graciously excepts a skillet lid of black eyed peas,"Thank you son that's elegent"Flynn mentions that he has a large plantation back home were the cotton fields extent as far as the eye can see does that make him a slave owner ha also says that his Lady died a long time ago,A natural death or a war crime the film dosen't elaborate on either point,indeed the causes of the war are not mentioned Flynn is excellent his charismatic officer is similar to the one he played in "Operation Burma"As a last thought the Confederate cavalry in films such as "The Last Outpost"and Two flags West" seem to spend all their time rescuing the Yankees from rampaging indians who are attacking their forts, it's a pity the yanks can't re turn the compliment here.
Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies
(2012 Video)
Don't give up the day job Mr Lincoln.
28 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Henry Ford said that history is bunk and this film certainly lives up to this premise.In 60 years as a film fan I don't think I've ever seen such a load of old cobblers,on the other hand it was strangely entertaining,laugh out loud funny with a genuinely chilling climax. Here we have Abraham Lincoln seeing off zombies having already sorted out the vampires in a previous film.What's next,cursed Egyptian mummies,werewolves or even helping Dr Who to sort out the Daleks. Abraham Lincoln himself was fond of telling a tall story so I think he would have been quite amused at the idea. Not going to dwell on the so called plot too much but a film that depicts Lincoln,Stonewall Jackson,Pat Garrett,a young Teddy Roosevelt (bully for you son) Lincoln's ex girlfriend Mary Owens and A.N.Other (I'm not giving this one away) joining forces at Fort Pulaski to destroy zombies shows imagination at least. The ending is quite startling,the more discerning viewer might suss it out but it certainly caught me on the hop. How can one rate such a film,one for being such a load of old rubbish or ten for the sheer cheek and audacity and the laugh aloud moments.I think I will rate it somewhere in the middle and add an extra star for Bill Oberst Junior's convincing take on Lincoln.Was it just my imagination or did he sound very like Robert Duvall?What the heck give it another star for good old Stonewall Jackson's joke shop beard.
Run of the Arrow
(1957)
Run of the Arrow, much more than a run of the mill film.
24 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Samuel Fuller's near masterpiece.The film starts on Palm Sunday 1865 at Appomattox.Confederate Private O'Meara shoots down a mounted Union officer.While rifling through his pockets O'Meara realises he is still alive.In an act of mercy he takes him to a Confederate dressing station.Close by General Lee is surrendering to General Grant.O'Meara is about to shoot Grant when the surgeon tells him he had better shoot Lee as well because the shame would kill him.He then hands O'Meara the bullet he has extracted from the wounded officer telling him it is the last bullet fired in this war (historically incorrect).Back home his friend has the bullet remade and presents it to O'Meara. O'Meara is an unreconstructed Rebel and his Mother suggests a rope is the only answer for him. O'Meara played by Rod Steiger sports an accent that can only be described as Hollywood Irish,strangely his mother played by Olive Carey has no trace of an Irish accent at all.He decides to head west where there is no Yankee jurisdiction incidentally riding the horse he has "liberated" from the Union officer.He meets up with an elderly renegade Indian,Walking Coyote,played by J.C.Flippen in a scene stealing cameo,who tells O'Meara that he could have been a chief but he couldn't stand the politics.In five minutes screen time O'Meara learns the Sioux language,tribal history and customs. Unfortunately they are captured by the Sioux led by Crazy Wolf.O'Meara is about to discover another old Sioux custom,that of being skinned alive,when Walking Coyote invokes The Run of the Arrow where you are given an arrows flight start made to run barefoot and then hunted to the death.The Indians agree.Walking Coyote drops dead from a heart attack on the run but O'Meara is made of sterner stuff.He's a hefty fellow but he has a turn of speed that an Olympic champion might envy.This is not far fetched as Confederate infantry men were known for their speed of march,usually barefoot,not for nothing were they known as foot cavalry.He loses his chasers and is rescued by a beautiful Indian maiden called Yellow Moccasin and her young companion Silent Tongue,a dumb Indian boy. Yellow Moccasin takes O'Meara to the Indian village where he informs the chief,Blue Buffalo played by Charles Bronson,that he has survived the run of the arrow which Crazy Wolf begrudgingly confirms.O'Meara is told he will never be harmed by the Sioux.He then collapses with a fever.Yellow Maccasin volunteers to care for him and in a steamy scene (in more ways than one) uses body heat to sweat the fever out of him and also during the process he loses some of his inner demons. A fully fit O'Meara marries Yellow Moccasin adopts Silent Tongue as his son and is accepted into the Sioux nation while remaining a Christian.Blue Buffalo remarks tolerantly "Same God, different name". The U.S.Government want to build a fort on Sioux land so a big meeting is called between Sioux chiefs and U.S.Army officials.The General in charge played by Tim McCoy (in his last film role) humorously remarks to O'Meara that he has never shaken hands with an Irish Sioux before,O'Meara replies he's never shaken hands with a Yankee General either.Terms are agreed on the proviso that the Sioux have a representive to ensure the treaty is kept.Thats O'Meara's job. The officer in command Captain Clark played sympathetically by Brian Keith tells O'Meara that Appomattox was not the death of the South but the birth of the United States and when one of his troopers saves Silent Tongues life at the cost of his own by pulling him out of a swamp he remarks "We Yankees are human".Sadly this is not the case with the second in command played by Ralph Meeker who by coincidence is the same officer that O'Meara shot at the beginning of the film.Is he grateful? is he hell.He's more miffed about his horse.Captain Clark is then killed by renegade Sioux led by Crazy Wolf.Lt.Driscoll now in command and a bit of a glory hunter decides to build the fort in a forbidden area ignoring O'Meara's warning.O'Meara is beaten unconscious.When he comes to the Sioux are attacking,a brilliantly staged bloody scene. Driscoll has been kept alive and is suffering unmentionable tortures being skinned alive.O'Meara,in an act of common decency and using the same bullet shoots him again this time killing him instantly and saying "They had a right to kill him but not like that" He realises he can never truly be a Sioux and that he owes his allegiance to the United States. He,his wife ,his adopted son and the surviving troops are allowed to leave unmolested. The voice over repeats the earlier statement "Appomattox was not the death of the South but the birth of the United States" then a caption comes up which says "The end of this story can only be written by you". O'Meara,funny Irish accent and all is magnificent,he may be a blowhard about Yankee injustice but in reality he is an honourable,decent and humane man.Likewise Blue Buffalo comes across as a religiously tolerant man and you can sense his approval over O'Meara's act of decency. Mixed marriages with happy endings were a rare occurrence in films of the time,eg James Stuart's Indian wife gets killed in the film "Broken Arrow".Indian wives were more likely to be raped and killed by white bigots (off screen) their husbands then seeking bloody revenge.Richard Widmark's film The Last Wagon was a classic example. One hopefully happy ending was in the 1968 film The Undefeated where Rock Hudson's Confederate Colonel's daughter has a relationship with John Wayne's Union Colonel's adopted son a full blooded Indian,with full parental approval.
The Square Peg
(1958)
Double helping of Wisdom
29 August 2012
Warning: Spoilers
On one level The Square Peg is just a typical Norman Wisdom knock about comedy but dig a little deeper and its quite a clever satire on small town politics.Norman plays a cocky little road mender who makes himself a thorough nuisance outside an army camp with his stop go sign.He's been told by his boss Mr Grimsdale,played by the great Edward Chapman,"Pitkin,the war's going to be won on the home front keeping the arteries of the nation open" The exasperated military see it differently and call up the entire town hall staff (His Worship the Mayor will hear about this) There is a hilarious scene with Campbell Singer as an exasperated sergeant teaching Pitkin bayonet practice."Come on Pitkin buckets of blood" Forget about Pitkin's infatuation with Honor Blackman who plays a secret agent we will cut to the quick with Pitkin and Mr Grimsdale coming out of the pub,jumping into the wrong lorry which is full of paratroopers,and finding themselves landing in France where they start digging up the french roads causing more chaos.Pitkin goes into town to buy milk where it is discovered he is a dead ringer for the local German commandant.The French resistance persuade him to dig his way into the castle and release all the prisoners.The commandant is General Schreiber,a thoroughly nasty piece of work who has a weakness for a large female opera singer played by Hattie Jacques and enjoys singing duets with her. I can give no higher praise than to say that Danny Kaye in his prime could not have been funnier.The scene where Pitkin,disguised as the general duets with Miss Jacques is sublimely funny. Pitkin of course gets caught,is put up against a wall to be shot,then falls down the hole he dug to get into the castle,makes his escape,cue happy ending.The last scene sees him as the new Mayor with Mr Grimsdale as his obsequious minion. Yes the plot is absolutely ridiculous but there are so many funny scenes along the way who cares? Norman Wisdom of course became a knighted national treasure who ended his acting career making welcome guest appearances in the long running TV series Last of the Summer Wine.
Hangman's Knot
(1952)
Don,t let the facts get in the way of a good story.
3 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Robert.E.Lee only surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia so in Nevada which was in the far West robbing a Union gold train a month later would still have been a legal military operation.Also using dynamite was an anachronism as it wasn't patented till 1867.And where did Scott and his men get their spanking new Henry rifles from? In reality if the South had had such weapons the outcome of the war may have been vastly different.However when did Hollywood let the truth get in the way of a cracking good story and this certainly is one.Scott was one of the great westerners,tall and rugged always seemed to be about forty five years old.Rarely a take your shirt off merchant one of the exceptions being Carson City which showed what a fine physique he had.His quiet good natured characters were a pleasant contrast to John Wayne's extroverts.Lee Marvin has a typical role as a loose cannon obviously suffering from the traumas of war.His fist fight with Scott (or his double) was very well staged.Marvin played a similar character in "The Raid" in which his commanding officer solves the problem by shooting him out of hand.The plot concerns Scott and his men robbing a Union gold shipment not realising that the war is over.They hide out in a staging post surrounded by some drifters who are after the gold for themselves.Among the passengers is the lovely Donna Reed and yes Scott gets the girl,who worries about a twenty four year age gap? The action sequences directed by the great Yakima Canutt are far superior to the average western of the time.It is the only western directed by Roy Huggins,why he never continued to make main stream films is a mystery to me,he was lost to television.Scott made some outstanding westerns directed by Andre De Toth and Budd Botticher,this film is by far the best of the rest,a thoroughly entertaining western.
McLintock!
(1963)
McLintock- in glorious bad taste.
21 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Perhaps not the film for those with a humour bypass or with political correctness issues but for the rest of us we can have a good old belly laugh at a movie that doesn't and isn't meant to be taken seriously.McLintock is an interesting character,on the surface an overbearing womanising drinker but underneath a good natured man with a heart of gold.He is tolerant of his daughter's choice of husband (a hard working but penniless young dirt farmer)He is also determined that the local native Americans have a square deal even though he has had some dust ups with them in the past.He enjoys a game of chess with the Jewish store keeper,a much valued friend who in the past gave McLintock and his then young family credit to survive a bad winter.If the film reflects Wayne's politics its done with a good humour.Unusually for a Wayne western nobody gets killed.Apart from a few punch up bruises the only injuries suffered are several punctured posteriors courtesy of Maureen O'Hara's hatpin.The plot concerns McLintock's estranged wife coming home to collect their daughter and to get a divorce.Like"The Quiet Man" the issue is settled by Wayne's character chasing our Maureen all around the town causing all sorts of mayhem then giving her a good spanking.He did the same to Elisabeth Allen in "Donovan's Reef".Oh well,if it works go for it,I wouldn't try it on my darling wife mind you.Old favourites Chill Wills and the delectable Yvonne de Carlo make welcome appearances,likewise the cameo from Leo Gordon was sublime.Gordon was one of the great western badies nobody had more shades of villainy,not even Lee Marvin.His previous appearance with Wayne was in "Hondo"He really surpasses himself,a loathsome horrible piece of work.Here he plays more stupid than bad as the worried father concerned with his daughter's whereabouts.Trying to hang the native American he holds responsible is not a good idea.She then turns up with a young cowboy in tow all fluttering eyelashes and feigned innocence.The rest is pure magic.Wayne grabs Gordon's shotgun repeatedly poking him in the stomach with it saying the immortal words 'Pilgrim,you've caused me considerable inconvenience,I haven't lost my temper in forty years,there was a time I would have hit you,I'm not going to now,the hell I'm not'The rest is history.With a nod to political correctness I'll give it eight stars,the hell I will make that ten.
At Sword's Point
(1952)
Magnificent Musketeer Movie
15 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Of all the films I saw as a lad this is the one that made the biggest impression, a good old fashioned hero and heroine and a his-sable villain tons of sword fighting a spot of torture (just the thing for a bloodthirsty schoolboy) and the obligatory happy ending.Seeing the film sixty years later it holds up remarkably well. Cornel Wilde was the best swashbuckler of all,far superior to Errol Flynn.Firstly Wilde was an Olympic class fencer and secondly unlike Flynn he kept in fantastic shape.Technicolor could have been made for Maureen O'Hara with her red hair and lovely complexion.Never more than a discreet show of cleavage,she didn't need it.A dab hand with a rapier but no lady when dispatching baddies.Dan O'Herilhy as Aramis Jnr plays the best friend of the hero with a good grace and has a couple of nice scenes as does Alan Hale Jnr as Porthos Jnr.The scene where he goes berserk in the torture chamber is a highlight,it certainly made a big impression on me as a ten year old.Robert Douglas specialised in villains.Here as the Duc de la Valle he is on top form as a thoroughly nasty piece of work.Like Basil Rathbone he was a world class fencer but on screen they never won a sword fight.Rathbone was even defeated by a hypnotised Danny Kaye in The Court Jester.Gladys Cooper as Queen Anne adds a touch of class.The rest of the cast fit in nicely.As for the plot La Valle wants the throne of France by marrying the Queen's daughter and bumping off the boy King.The sons of the Musketeers ride to the rescue.A scene from The Rogues of Sherwood Forest is inserted into the action,perhaps Robin Hood and his merry men are helping out.It is not meant to be taken too seriously,sit back and enjoy,what more could you ask for,superb fencing scenes,Wilde and Douglas's climatic duel is a humdinger.A spot of torture with Wilde being branded with a hot iron but never mind he gets Maureen at the end as compensation.Villains thwarted wrongs righted and all in glorious Technicolor.A quick word of praise for the director Lewis Allen for making a potential sows ear into a silk purse and all on a budget that wouldn't pay Errol Flynn's bar bill.A wonderful wonderful film,10 out of 10,OK?
Gideon of Scotland Yard
(1958)
John Ford's tribute to Scotland Yard.
12 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Not classic John Ford by any stretch of the imagination but I watched for the first time in years on t.v. This afternoon, and it certainly brightened up a wet afternoon. There are some lovely comic moments such as Andrew Rays young rookie policeman booking Jack Hawkins(Gideon)for speeding then in the final scene getting caught him self with Gideon as a passenger, by then he is son in law material. Miles Mallison as an eccentric judge and John Le Mesurier as a prosecuting council have delicious little cameos, so much so that they might have drifted in from another film set. How I cheered when Jack Watling's timid vicar suddenly floors the toughs in his church who are threatening him, it turns out he is an ex wartime para. Michael Trubshawe plays the typical British police sargeant. Jack Hawkins is of course his usual irrascible but dependable self. What a success rate,three murders solved in one day. Always a pleasure to watch Anna Lee as the long suffering wife who in one scene tells her daughter played by Anna Massey never to marry a policeman,too late her eyes are already set on the young officer. Fortunately they showed the ninety minute colour version not the truncated sixty minute black and white version shown in USA but if one is going to be overly critical the editing is somewhat choppy and I wonder if they wrote the script as they were filming. Neverless the film rattles along and is never boring,there's not a weak link in the cast. If John Ford is not exactly at his peak he's by no means off form.9 out of 10 seems a fair assessment.
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