A few reviews . . (film or TV) — Page 135

Mordach: Death In The Mountains - 2023 - 7/10
AKA - Mordach: Tod in den Bergen

The corpse is found in the Bavarian stream.
Initial suspect, the Turkish man, waiting to board the train.
Thing is, he is with the Federal crime unit.
Yet, his DNA is found on and in the female victim. And is gun is missing.
He is tasked with assisting the local investigation, despite being the prime suspect.

Fear not, suspects soon emerge, along with motives, lies, casual betrayals.
German thriller, broken into two parts, has strong plotting, no romance, mix of character types.
Outdoor Bavarian mountain scenery is used often and wisely.

Page Miss Glory - 1935 - 6/10

Small town girl Loretta arrives in Gotham, finds work as a maid at the upscale Park Regis.
There, she cleans rooms for two hustlers who fabricate a beauty to win a high paying contest.
They tell curious reporters the beauty is reclusive, while interest and attempts reach a fever.
Turns out, with the right makeup, glamorous gown, maid Loretta might just trick the nosy.
Romance is weak, Dick Powell still cast as a youthful dunce.
Marion Davies and screwball Patsy Kelly make a great comedy pair.
Outdone by Mary Astor and Pat O’Brien swapping barbs and one-liners at a furious pace.
Only in the 1930’s films do you get this staccato dialogue.

Page Miss Glory - 1936 - 6/10

Celebrity Miss Glory visits small town Hicksville, a one-cow burg.
Waiting and waiting and waiting, bellhop Abner snoozes and dreams of being in the gleaming metropolis.
Glorious Art-Deco design, packed with sight gags.
Fantastic Merrie Melodies cartoon from Tex Avery makes perfect prelude or after-dinner mint to 1935 film.

Hands Across The Table - 1935 - 6/10

Regi is a manicurist in a swank hotel.
One of her repeat clients is a wealthy pilot, who unknowingly has entered the friend zone.
Instead, her mendacious self latches onto the rich playboy, Ted.
Turns out Ted lost his fortune in the 1929 Stock Market Crash, however.
Ever since, he has behaved like a goofy, feckless fool to hide his poverty.
Audiences of the day sighed over Ted and Regi (Fred MacMurray and Carole Lombard).
From my modern vantage, I can foresee they may be doomed.
The real couple is Regi and the wheelchair bound pilot (Ralph Bellamy).
The hotel is a heady Art Deco construct; one wonders if that was Depression era aspirations.
The current print is well restored.

The Ignorant Fairies - 2001 - 7/10
AKA - Le Fate Ignoranti

After the abrupt death of her husband, Antonia discovers he had a secret life.
A secret family, of which she had been unaware.
They are aware of Antonia, however. The wife, who kept him apart from them.
Story is one of different worlds bumping into each other.
Of outcasts and outsiders, and Antonia accepting and being accepted.
Borders on touchy-feelie, and one late “moment” is ridiculous.

The Masks Of Death - 1984 - 6/10

Sherlock Holmes comes out of retirement to solve a series of baffling wharf deaths.
Until the Home Secretary asks him to suspend the inquiries and investigate a locked-room death.
Time is 1913, the cusp of the Great War, and the death is of a prominent German figure.
The mystery is a bit of a muddle, the sets are lean yet serviceable.
An excellent supporting cast bolsters Peter Cushing in one of his final films, and his last starring role.

Look Both Ways - 2005 - 6/10

Meryl, an anxiety ridden illustrator witnesses a disastrous train accident.
There, she meets Nick, photographer, who has learned he has cancer.
Both are damaged, no – say, limited individuals, who are trying to navigate their problems.
Quirky Australian comedy mixes offbeat romance, spontaneous animation inserts (of ways to horribly die), and a refreshing, hopeful tone.
Always refreshing to see characters with a clear view of themselves, with few delusions.

Von Ryan’s Express - 1965 - 6/10

“Messerschmitt!”
Big ole WWII flick isn’t half bad, and is one of Sinatra’s finest roles.
Huge group of Allied POW’s escape from a prison camp in Italy.
Hijack a freight train and thunder towards neutral Switzerland, SS in pursuit.
From there, this becomes cat and mouse.
Sinatra’s character, Colonel Ryan, is not exactly likeable, and is called Von Ryan by fellow soldiers.
Plenty of action throughout in steely macho adventure.
The ending? Sinatra insisted.

Warning Shadows - 1923 - 6/10
AKA - Schatten: Eine Nächtliche Halluzination

Perhaps a high-water mark in Expressionistic cinema, but this may prove tedious for many.
A successful man suffers a young wife with a roving eye.
Suitors arrive at a house party: three older man, and a youthful stud.
Whom the flirtatious wife clearly has designs on.

Then there is the puppet show by a practitioner who may be using actual magic.
Aside from opening cast introductions, there are no inter-titles. No dialogue, no comments on actions.
Audiences must infer everything in this garish, if slow, blend of horror, melodrama, surreal.

Parting Shots - 1999 - 6/10

Harry receives the news – six weeks to live.
Advised to get his affairs in order, he does just that.
By killing those who wronged him, stole his life savings, destroyed his career, etc …
Black comedy has been trashed and reviled in England, but it is not that bad.
This boasts an absolutely fabulous cast, although the lead, Chris Rea cannot act, has no charisma, no presence.
Honestly, he is worse than wooden, whereas the rest of the cast is having a lark.
For mystery fans, the look is sunlit cozy, à la St Mary Mead.

Hollywood Censored - 2015 - 7/10
AKA - La Censure à Hollywood

This starts in the Pre-Code era, during the Depression.
To gain back audiences, film studios juice up films with sex and violence.
The Legion Of Decency and similar Catholic groups until Will Hayes and Joe Breen tighten the production code.
Documentary focuses on the period from mid-30’s to mid-50’s when the Code was most stringent.
And how studios creatively maneuvered around it.

Banter and innuendo replaced risqué situations. That and a final comeuppance.
As for violence, well, the States have always been extremely comfortable with bloodletting.
Sex, intimacy, not so much. The doc is in English.

A Pair Of Silk Stockings - 1918 - 5/10

Molly and Sam (Constance Talmadge and Harrison Ford) quarrel over money.
For her, money is for spending and enjoying. For him, let’s be sensible.
He tries to play a joke, it backfires. Tries another, and it backfires spectacularly.
Stuffy Silent comedy is hurt by unlikable characters across the board.
Despite those shortcomings, the 20 year old Talmadge and Ford have a charming rapport.
Akin to a sophisticated drawing room comedy (ala Noel Coward), it is too slow.
Print I saw was fairly battered, perhaps cut.

Prisoner C33 - 2022 - 8/10

He refers to himself simply as “C33” to avoid malice and retribution.
His prison cell is beyond grim, “It needs a woman’s touch,” he tells his visitor.
The visitor? Something of a fabrication, his younger self. Healthier, stronger, glorious.
Banter is a barrage of quotes, clever phrases, epistles, brilliant lines.
The dialogue sparkles and bubbles like fine champagne.
Prisoner C33 and visitor are Oscar Wilde, the ruined man and the legend.
Toby Stephens magnificent in this one-man show.
Theatre junkies, Wilde fans, well worth your time.

Death Curse Of Tartu - 1966 - 3/10

The preliminary guide has disappeared, the campsite is a mess.
Several of the archeology students are concerned and wonder what they should do.
“I know! Turn on the transistor radio and let’s twist!”

One thing for sure. They are trespassing on an old Seminole burial mound.
Cursed, by the way, from long gone medicine man, still haunting the site.
Ineptly acted, unless one appreciates screeching, with glacial pacing.
Most of the meals – oops, victims – are either stupid or arrogant, so good riddance.

Beach Girls And The Monster - 1965 - 3/10

Zelda sees a listing for this at a nearby Mexican theater and exclaims, “Look, Jon Hall, Ramar!”
While surfer dudes catch the waves, beach bunnies keep getting slashed by a monster.
A monster who trudges the sand in a rubber suit, mind you.
The narrative is paper thin in this film of mostly surfing, dancing, music, murders, mystery.
Neither shocking nor satisfying.
Jon Hall’s last role (he also directs).
Zelda, a true Ramar fan, enjoyed more than I.

Horror Island - 1941 - 5/10

Aaarrr! Ahoy, mateys, reckon there be pirate’s gold out there on Morgan’s Island!
Young Bill, a college boy, owns a deserted rock off of Florida.
He acquires half of a treasure map that may, or may not, be authentic.
Who cares! He charts a vessel and ferries paying suckers on treasure hunts.
Typical B-film from Universal has assorted characters mixing mysteries, scares, yucks and romance.
The atmosphere stand outs. Solid choice for lovers of cheap quickies.
A favorite video of mine for late night dates, this usually yielded good results.

Unwelcome - 2022 - 5/10

The city is too tough, too perilous, too much for Maya and Jamie.
Then, blessed saints alive, Aunt Maeve dies, leaving them a country home with woodlands.
There comes a price. Locals warn them to leave a daily portion for the wee folk.
“What, leprechauns!” scoffs Jamie.
More troublesome are the builders, shunned by the locals, who Jamie hires.
Two thirds in, this is a fair, slow burn horror flick.
Before nosediving straight into laugh out loud absurdity, making me think of Troll 2.
Dismal ratings warned me, the fool and his naïve hopes.

Mothra - 1963 - 5/10
AKA - Mosura

Pint sized twins telepathically summon giant caterpillar to rescue them from greedy tycoons.
After what seems like ten hours later, said insect metamorphosizes into a gigantic moth (reference title).
Then proceeds to devastate Tokyo. Before that, talk-talk-talk-talk-talk-talk.
Big pile of whiffle. This put me to sleep decades earlier. So why rewatch? I need a brain transplant.
Watch any Godzilla instead. Shoot, watch Gamera.

It Came From Beneath The Sea - 1955 - 5/10

Our creature being, what appears to be, a gigantic octopus.
Blame radiation from nuclear testing in the South Pacific again.
Said radiation is also killing the natural prey, so Ole Octi starts heading towards people snax.
Arriving at San Francisco, where the producers flat drop the ball.
Look, there are tasty sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf, squealing turistas jostling the Embarcadero.
Best, hundreds of convicts, eager to fight, out on Alcatraz!
Yes, yes, there is military business, with torpedoes and explosions, but this remains kinda dull.
Watch with a couple of six-packs, maybe a jumbo order of fish n chips.

The Raven - 1963 - 6/10

Splendid cast, silly movie.
Rival magicians need no prodding to start bickering, arguing, finally dueling in a preposterous battle.
Richard Matheson, tasked with penning a script based on Poe’s poem, rewrote it as a comedy.
One watches for the stars: Karloff, Price, Lorre. Also for Lorre’s ad-libs and one-liners, which upset Karloff.
If you are in the mood, this nonsense may tickle.

The Ghost Bride - 2020 - 6/10

The Pan family are having hard times financially.
One solution is for daughter Li Lan to marry a recently deceased man from a wealthy family.
Down in the Underworld, dead son Tian Ching couldn’t agree more.
He lives a luxurious life, but wants an attractive consort.
Wait! Then there is a Heavenly Guard, trying to bring the corrupt son to Judgment.
Attractive costumes, imaginative sets, but the story is young fantasy.
Juvenile at times, awkward, swoony romantic. Better for young teens.

Frankenstein - 1910 - 6/10

The good doctor discovers the secret of Life, which grows similar to a mushroom farm.
Too much time is spent of the creation, and Herr Frankenstein’s jubilant reactions.
Earliest version of Shelley’s novel is still worth a watch.
The creature, dressed in rags, is more agile than later tellings (and closer to the original).
Camera work very static, but the story moves along.
Library Of Congress offered a recent restoration, still battered, but better than others…
https://slate.com/culture/2018/11/frankenstein-1910-restored-library-of-congress-edison.html

From Dusk Til Dawn - 1996 - 6/10

Following a botched robbery, the Gecko brothers race towards Mexico.
With them, hostages.
So where do they hide? Titty Twister truckstop, a lair of vampires.
Horror actioner is off the charts mayhem.
Bullets, buckets of blood, a frightening beautiful Salma Hayek.
Add Clooney for the females, Tarantino for his fanclub.
Runs outta steam late, dissipating the energy and frenzy.

ThirTEEN Terrors - 2014 - 6/10
AKA - Phuean Hian… Rongrian Lon

When she drops a book, the student looks into her desk and sees the head.
Seeing the head means she is cursed to die!
Thirteen stories set in the high school realm.
Pranks gone bad, casual curses that turn deadly, bullying.
Actors are youthful, most are OK with primal emotions.
Jump scares predominate, sometimes the director belabors a point.

A favorite episode is set in Dance class, where the girls are anxious about the mannequin.
The doll does seem to get around a bit.
And why, oh why, oh why, do students break into school at night?
Viewers with long memories will recognize the sly nod to classic Twilight Zone.

Talk To Me - 2022 - 7/10

Horror outing, a variation on the Ouija board, is more than a little depressing.
Mia and friends play “talk to the hand” game.
In this case, the hand (ceramic or stone) is a portal to the afterlife.
And all the sadness, resentment or hatred that may lurk there.
Nevertheless, youth is fearless.
Mia, however, is profoundly damaged. Emotionally bereft, grieving without release.
She is also a jinx, a pariah, infecting others in her circle.