Barker57 Reviews

Record Breakers (1972–2001)

Top Telly for Kids

[8/10 · 31 May 2022]

My memory of this series is its 1970s heyday with Roy Castle and the McWhirter brothers. Castle was a natural entertainer with a great rapport with children, who responded to his sense of fun and can-do attitude.

The premise of the series was to celebrate world record feats, whether great Olympic athletes or men who built models of the Titanic in matches. Castle himself broke a couple of records on the show, memorably breaking the fastest tap dancing mark.

Ross and Norris McWhirter were the twins who had an encyclopedic knowledge of world record facts and also owned and edited the Guinness Book of Records itself. Tragically Ross was murdered by the IRA on his doorstep in 1975, who objected to his criticism of their murderous campaign. As a 12 year old this was truly shocking (and remains so).

The series was a must watch and I am sure is fondly remembered by many of us of a certain age.

Carnaby, M.D. (1966)

Breezy Fun

[7/10 · 30 May 2022]

Having watched this again recently after many years, I was pleasantly surprised. It was silly and good natured with some genuine laughs.

Headed by the generally under rated Leslie Phillips and with some amusing support turns by Fenella Fielding and Arthur Haynes. The latter was said to be a huge radio and TV star of the time, but now almost totally forgotten. Worth noting also the catchy Kiki Dee theme song.

Ok it is formulaic and wouldn't make anyone's greatest film lists, but it left me with a smile on my face and sometimes that is good enough.

Charley Varrick (1973)

1970s At Their Best

[9/10 · 20 September 2021]

Walter Matthau was a star character actor, particularly in comedies and as an occasional villain. But here I believe he is at his very best playing the aponymous Charley Varrick as an appealing and laconic anti hero.

Without spoiling the plot, it starts as a heist movie that develops complications when Charley and co steal from the wrong people. You route for Charley all the way, particularly with a scary Joe Don Baker (excellent) in pursuit.

The 1970s was a decade of great thrillers including Dirty Harry, Taking of Pelham 123 and The French Connection. But for me Charley Varrick is one of the very best, if you haven't seen it yet then do seek it out.

The Singing Ringing Tree (1957)

Terrifying

[8/10 · 29 July 2021]

In the days of only 3 tv channels (1970s) British kids were treated to an eclectic variety of European television productions. Always dubbed, often in black and white and endlessly repeated. Much of it was excellent and fondly remembered by many.

However The Singing Ringing Tree was essentially a hammer horror movie for children made in East Germany. For those of us who saw it when very young, it become the stuff of nightmares filled with evil dwarf wizards, spoilt princesses made ugly by spells and a kind hero Bear. The production was all studio bound, but with a strange psychedelic atmosphere. I loved it.

Tenet (2020)

Too Complicated

[6/10 · 11 May 2021]

I am a big Christopher Nolan fan, particularly Interstellar, Inception and Dunkirk. All of which were outstanding films with a richness and complexity that required your full attention throughout.

But oh dear, although Tenet seems to inhabit the same universe as Inception, it has cranked up the complexity and incomprehension to 11 (out of a scale of 1 -10). No I did not understand everything that was going on and much of the narrative and set pieces made little sense. This was not helped by insufficient exposition and a dialogue of mumbling by some of the lead actors.

Many commentators have lauded the difficulty of understanding as a key positive of the film and multiple screenings are necessary. But hey why should that be the case? I also can enjoy opaque and elliptical movies - Last Year in Marianbad and Blow up, come to mind. But Tenet is not an arthouse movie and do filmmakers have some duty to their audiences? Inception gave just enough explanation to let you in, Tenet simply doesn't.

It could have been another classic Nolan film with a bit more consideration for the audience and I feel sad this wasn't the case.

Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)

A classic of it's time

[8/10 · 24 February 2021]

Ok, let's accept it may be cheesy in parts. But overall it has excellent atmosphere and there are many great character actor performances. 5 stories, with something for everyone. Being a jazz fan, my favourite is the Roy Castle voodoo segment. It includes the great Tubby Hayes in his prime and although mainly played for laughs, the music certainly stays with you and reflects the era fantastically well. In the end you either like these films or you don't, I know I do.

The Ipcress File (1965)

A Classic

[10/10 · 3 October 2020]

A truly great British film. Everything works - Michael Caine's spot on cockney spy Harry Palmer, a joker, insubordinate but clever and tough ; a roster of top notch character acting support, particularly Nigel Greene as Harry's unimpressed new boss ; John Barry's score and one of his very best, which adds so much atmosphere and menace; a fiendishly complex plot, with the requisite number of twists. Produced by Harry Saltzman, who also co-produced the James Bond films, but was firmly pitched as the anti-Bond - realistic (well not really) and grubby. A film of the sixties certainly and has a lovely sense of the era, but has not dated and remains an absorbing and exciting watch.

Clapper Board (1972–1982)

Top notch Children's TV

[9/10 · 27 September 2020]

A classic ITV series from the golden era of children's television. Racing home from school to catch the 4.25 showing on a Monday, happy days. It was an intelligent film programme that introduced a whole generation to film history and film production, yet kept it interesting and fun for a young audience (8 to 16 I would say). No doubt it was the catalyst for many a future career in the industry, as well as encouraging many would be film buffs and BFI members. If some obscure online channel were to repeat all over again, I for one would happily settle back with a cuppa and a jammy dodger.

Ein Unbekannter rechnet ab (1974)

Pointless remake

[3/10 · 25 September 2020]

An oft filmed story and by far the worst. There are few redeeming features unfortunately - the acting is hammy and in some cases dubbed, the music is distracting and often seems unconnected with the action and the photography tries to be arty but often feels like you're watching some scenes from a great distance. Oliver Reed often wears a smirk at what's happening around him and frankly who could blame him.

Alien 3 (1992)

Alien v Brits

[7/10 · 24 September 2020]

Although the curse of the sequel is apparent, it is not as bad as early critics depicted. It has it's own nihilistic atmosphere which sets it apart and the roster of British character actors marooned on a distant prison planet provides an interesting backcloth for the ensuing mayhem. By all accounts it was a troubled shoot with the director disowning the version finally released and certainly it compares poorly with Alien and Aliens. The action and shock sequences, for example, needed a better edit. But it remains markedly superior to the following sequel Alien Resurrection, which was appalling. So if you keep your expectations in check Alien3 is worth a look and best enjoyed on it's own merits outside the wider Alien series.

Waterloo (I) (1970)

Almost a Classic

[8/10 · 15 September 2020]

A fine film that's worth a repeat viewing. I was fortunate to have seen it on release aged 8 and then again 40 years later. Both times hugely enjoyable, but no surprise the historical context and excellent performances meant more at 48. It has a particular 'European co-op' feel to it, typical of the time, but the wattage of the 2 Stars are firmly rooted in the North American tradition. The only shame is the valiant attempt at historical accuracy do not extend to a better explanation of the course of the battle itself, which remains episodic and unconnected to each other. Perhaps picking holes in a movie that tells the casual observer far more about a famous military battle than most.

This Island Earth (1955)

Drive-In Classic

[6/10 · 15 September 2020]

It's what the mid west drive-in theater was built for. In fact it's not too bad, a lot of invention in the plot and a brisk narrative. Vic Morrow as the sinister/ benevolent alien is the stand out performance. Of it's time certainly, but a minor cult classic that's worth a look