jfdvet Reviews

Masters of the Air (2024)

Twelve O'clock Low

[4/10 · 14 March 2024]

I saw the first episode of this series and found quite a lot of over dramatization and stereotyping in the performances. Not to mention the multiple car crash music video combat scenes that seem to be a common part of action films these days. Make no mistake, the show is well produced and technically recreates the period accurately. There are some scenes that do indeed well depict the terror of aerial combat. But they are overshadowed by the wooden performances and sometimes absurd situations. I'm pretty much of the same opinion of this series as that of "Oppenheimer". Not bad, sometimes even good, but to me just not as inspiring as it could have been.

There were too many random scenes and situations which kept me from fully understanding who the characters really were. It jumped from scene to scene and again reminded me more of a music video than a history. There's also too many sub plots as well, like German spies, POW camps, and the last minute insertion of the 332nd Fighter Group, aka the Tuskegee Airmen. This is the biggest inaccuracy in the whole series. The 332nd Fighter Group did indeed provide bomber escort, but with the 15th Air Force in the Mediterranean theatre, and not in the UK.

The 1997 movie "The Tuskegee Airmen" by the way, is a far better retelling of their heroism than this series.

There's also this obsession film makers have with depicting air combat from the Second World War. This subject has pretty much been burned over. Instead we need to see more movies about air combat from Korea and Vietnam. In the past fifty years, there are to my knowledge, only two films that were made covering the Vietnam air war ( BAT 21, Flight of the Intruder), and only one about Korea ("Devotion".). There were just as many heroic and inspiring acts from these air wars which equal of those from WWII. Their sacrifices need to be honored as well.

Personal note.

I had a cousin who was a navigator in the Eighth Air Force. He was assigned to a B-24 squadron and was fortunate was enough to survive his tour, but at a great cost. He had three aircraft shot out from under him. One was from a belly landing, another was so shot to pieces it couldn't fly again, and the third was ditched in the English channel, ironically on their last mission. Because he spent so much time in the water waiting for air sea rescue, my cousin contracted polio, which put an end to his flying career. However, he did remain in the Air Force as a Paymaster, and went on to serve 20 years on active duty, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

The Trial of Christine Keeler (2019–2020)

Bland Retelling of the Profumo Affair

[4/10 · 12 February 2024]

The Profumo scandal is an important part of British history and also that of the Cold War. In the end it brought down a Government. However, this particular re creation, while it has its good moments, does not succeed well.

The viewer is jerked around with its flashback moments and the dialogue often appears stilted, and there are too many distracting subplots. The story moves along every which way and because of this, and no one gets to the opportunity to understand the characters well. Indeed, there are moments when the pace of the story appears to come to a dead halt.

Contrast this with the 1989 movie "Scandal", which in spite of its age holds up better. The storyline is far more solid and follows the chronology of the real life events. The character development is excellent, and the viewer gets a far better view into the real tenor of the times.

Not to mention that Joanne Walley had a closer resemblance to Christine Keeler then the female lead in this series.

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

OK, but not a Classic

[5/10 · 15 August 2023]

Plusses

The production values are excellent.

Generally depicts the period accurately.

Good special effects, especially the recreation of the Trinity shot.

Shows that like everyone else, scientists have sex lives.

Occasionally asks some profound questions.

Minuses

Quickly jumps from scene to scene.

Excessive use of flashbacks.

Fair amount of overacting, especially by Robert Downey jr,,

The music and sound effects often drown out the dialog.

At times tends to ramble on and on with no end in sight.

Distracting surrealistic sequences.

My general conclusion- OK, but not a classic.

By comparison, " Fat Man and Little Boy" is overall a better film on the subject.

It pretty much mirrors my view of the recent remake of "All Quiet on the Western Front".

Generally good but can't compare to the original.

PT 109 (1963)

A Genuine Profile in Courage

[7/10 · 3 August 2023]

This week marks the 80th anniversary of an ordeal where a young Navy Lieutenant saved his shipwrecked PT boat crew from starvation, thirst, and capture by the Japanese. That boat was PT-109, the young officer, Lieutenant (jg), John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the premiere of a unique motion picture, the first one ever made about a sitting President during their time in office- PT-109.

President Kennedy himself required only three things from Warner Brothers, the films producers. First, that the movie be as historically accurate as possible. Second, that proceeds from the film be awarded to the families of surviving members of the crew, and third that JFK have the final say as to who played him in the film. So much that he would take time off to review the audition shots himself.

Many actors auditioned for the starring role, among them Warren Beatty, Peter Fonda, and Jeffrey Hunter. Even Ed "Kookie" Byrnes, who played a hipster on the popular TV show "77 Sunset Strip", auditioned for the part.

Interestingly Ed Byrnes was one of the better auditions, looking much like and sounding like young JFK himself. However, Warner's President Jack Warner ( Who was personally supervising the production.), soon received a call from the White House. An annoyed New England accented voice on the other end of the line told him- "Jack, I don't want Kookie playing me!"

To everyone's amazement, leading man Cliff Robertson was Kennedy's choice, which surprised most people because Robertson in no way looked and sounded like Kennedy, and was of Scots extraction. Robertson later said this was the greatest mistake JFK ever made. Nevertheless Kennedy decided on Cliff Robertson because of the air of command he projected.

Filming began in 1962 on Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys, with complete support from the US Navy. Because there were no existing WWII era PT boats at the time, former Air Force crash boats were modified to resemble Elco type Motor Torpedo Boats. The physical travails the production endured also mirrored those of the actual PT crews. The cast and crew worked in oppressive heat and humidity, and suffered from swarms of biting insects, enormous cockroaches, and armies of annoying land crabs, not to mention an occasional crocodile. Much of the film's budget was spent on insecticide, sunscreen, and calamine lotion.

The film premiered on 19 June, 1963 to mixed reviews, but nevertheless did well at the box office until being withdrawn from exhibition following the President's death. It later received wider viewing on television. While dated by today's standards, the movie nevertheless does hold up as a historical document of the a time when a President inspired a nation through his own personal example.

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)

Reflections on the Rhedosaurus "The Beast "at Seventy

[8/10 · 9 June 2023]

"I feel like I'm leaving a world of unknown tomorrows for a world of countless yesterdays." Cecil Kellaway as Dr. Thurgood Elson

The theme of Dinosaurs attacking a big city is a familiar one in popular culture, with the number of like movies and TV programs being too many to count. The early days of cinema indeed had features with beasts destroying cites, ("The Lost World", "King Kong".), however in mid 1953 there came a science fiction feature that set the tone for many that followed. This summer marks the 70th anniversary of the premiere of a film that can indeed be called the first of its kind - "The Beast From 20000 Fathoms."

It all began with two separate stories. In the early 1950s Independent producers Hal Chester and Jack Dietz began work on a science fiction film based on a story titled "Monster from the Deep" about a prehistoric beast that ravages a city, which was later changed to "The Beast from 20000 Fathoms." At about the same time, Science Fiction writer Ray Bradbury published a short story in the Saturday Evening Post of the same title, later changed to "The Foghorn". Its theme was about a dinosaur that comes hears a foghorn, comes ashore and demolishes a lighthouse. When Chester and Dietz found out about this coincidence, they immediately contacted Bradbury and subsequently bought the rights for the story, fusing both tales into the final script. Ray Bradbury himself was also credited in the opening titles and helped to promote the film during its opening.

This motion picture was in all sense's groundbreaking, because for the first time audiences saw a prehistoric monster that genuinely appeared to be actually alive. But for all the impact it had on cinema, "The Beast" started out as an independent low budget feature, with total costs coming to around $200,000 ( 1953 US Dollars.). French film director Eugene Lourie was chosen to both direct the film as well as supervise the art direction. To keep expenses down, many shortcuts were implemented.

For instance, the interior shots used props and sets from other film productions. The Brontosaurus skeleton from the classic RKO comedy "Bringing up Baby" is shown in a number of scenes. Another cost saver was the use of archival footage, especially during the film's opening sequences. Location filming was kept to a minimum, and the entire film was shot in black and white. In many respects "The Beast" can be considered a classic example of how to make a marketable feature with minimal assets. But even more important, this was the first time that movie audiences around the world saw the work of that master of special effects, Ray Harryhausen.

When Dietz and Chester began their production, they first sought out special effects artist Willis O'Brien, well known for his work on "King Kong". O'Brien turned them down, but recommended a young assistant named Ray Harryhausen, who had previously worked with him on the animated feature "Mighty Joe Young." Harryhausen immediately accepted, and quickly set to work. "The Beast" itself then went through a number of changes. Originally envisioned as being turtle-like with a shell and a beak, Harryhausen decided to make the beast more reptilian in appearance. The creature's head was modeled after that of a Tyrannosaur, the body modeled with scales, and it walked on four legs rather than the usual two. Looking at Harryhausen's creation, the body and appearance suggest a predator from the Triassic era instead of the Jurassic one. The creature in some ways resembles a cross between a Tuatara, a lizard-like reptile from New Zealand, and a Komodo Dragon. The fictional dinosaur was then christened with the name of "Rhedosaurus". The name's origins are obscure, but many believe that the name came from Ray Harryhausen's initials, something he emphatically denied to the end.

In order to make the monster convincing, Harryhausen had to devise special effects techniques that had never before been attempted.

He created new types of armatures on the model so as to make the movement more fluid and lifelike. Innovative methods of matting, lighting, and back screening were developed so as to sandwich the image of the beast with the real life images and make it appear to actually be in the scene. With the film's tight budget, only one model was used, yet with the meager resources at his disposal Ray Harryhausen pulled off a miracle in the field of film special effects.

About the only flaw that can be said about the dinosaur sequences is that there are a few scenes where one can see that this is a model on a set. However, these small errors are overshadowed by convincing scenes of the Rhedosaurus creating mayhem in New York and elsewhere. One of the best being the monster's nocturnal demolition of a lighthouse in a terrifying recreation of Ray Bradbury's story.

While in no way an epic film, the performances are competent and a cut above the standard B-movie script. The casting is also better than the usual low budget feature. Swiss actor Paul Hubschmid ( Cast as Paul Christian), takes the starring role as nuclear physicist Dr. Tom Nesbitt. Former fashion model Paula Raymond plays the female lead as paleontologist Dr. Lee Hunter, and action film actor Kenneth Tobey is cast in his usual role as a military type. Veteran character actor Cecil Kellaway guest stars as Dr. Thurgood Elson, Professor emeritus of Paleontology.

Of all the film's cast it is Kellaway who stands out the most. He projects a heartwarming grandfatherly demeanor while at the same time dominating every scene he's in. His inquisitiveness and quiet authority makes Kellaway's character's film's most interesting, that is, outside of the dinosaur.

Something that makes this movie stand out in contemporary time is the female lead being cast as a scientist. For 1953 American audiences it was somewhat unusual to have an intelligent career woman cast as a serious character in a science fiction feature. While physically attractive, Paula Raymond's character is nonetheless independent, inquisitive and readily contributes her assistance to Dr. Nesbitt in finding the Rhedosaurus.

This motion picture was also a product of its time, when the fear of nuclear annihilation was on the mind of many people in this country and throughout the world, The beast is brought back to life by being freed as the result of a nuclear test, and the revived Rhedosaurus is close to unstoppable, mirroring the concern about whether humanity could keep this new force under control. In the end it takes a rifle grenade of radioactive isotope fired by future Spaghetti Western star Lee van Cleef to finally dispatch the beast.

When the picture was completed, the producers originally pitched it to the studio that spawned 'King Kong"; RKO pictures, who subsequently turned it down. Warner Brothers was next, and their reaction was overwhelmingly enthusiastic, purchasing the film and all rights to it for the sum of $ 400,000. "The Beast" first premiered in June, 1953, and had the distinction of being that summer's sleeper hit, grossing for over $5 million for Warner's. Indeed, this film was the seventh most profitable picture exhibited that year. It also provided the inspiration for a Japanese production company to begin work another film of a prehistoric monster set free by the atom bomb, later titled- "Godzilla".

There's also something about "The Beast" that appeals to me in a way I can't put into words. I remember well the effect it had on me when I first saw it on TV at age five. The dinosaur just seemed so REAL. To put it simply, I was awestruck. There was something about this movie that just resonated with me. If anything, I felt sorry for the Rhedosaurus coming back to its old haunts and his now being out of place. And in the years that followed I've never passed up a moment to see it on TV or on video. In so many ways my seeing this movie is what set off my lifelong interest in dinosaurs and paleontology in general.

The final word on "The Beast" is best said by Ray Harryhausen himself.

"Hollywood is noted for glamorizing its actors, and I succeeded in glamorizing a dinosaur as well."

McQ (1974)

The Advantage Always Lies With The People On The Inside

[7/10 · 15 February 2023]

By the 1970s American culture was going through many changes and motion pictures followed the trend. The success of such films as "Bullitt", "Dirty Harry", and "Death Wish" showed that the Classic Western was losing its popularity to the Loner Cop action film. So much that even the epitome of the Western star, John "Duke" Wayne, took note and made the decision to do a law enforcement themed feature.

To many of his fans, that John Wayne had not played a cop before was a bit of a mystery. Crime themed movies certainly suited his hardnosed, blunt action-oriented persona. He was even offered the title role for "Dirty Harry", which had been written with him in mind. Finding the script too harsh and violent, Wayne turned it down. He soon came to regret his decision after the after the film's smash success. "How'd I ever let that one slip through my hands?" Wayne later said. Chastened, he accepted reality and jumped feet first into the genre by making two cop themed movies in near succession, "McQ" and "Branigan".

"McQ" is the better of the two, primarily because of its character development, dark moody theme, and the refreshing change of pace of being shot in Seattle, Washington. Wayne co produced the feature and recruited a first class film crew behind the camera, headed by veteran action film director John Sturgess.

The film does not disappoint, with excellent photography, good production, a fine supporting cast, and great soundtrack score by Elmer Bernstein. Good guy Eddie Albert does surprisingly well as a real jerk of a police Captain, and Coleen Dewhurst especially stands out as a jaded waitress. Al Lettieri, the well-known villain from "The Godfather" reprises this role as drug lord Manny Santiago. His character, with its calm voice, fine manners and brutal menace is way more disturbing than the blustering loud-mouthed Tony Soprano of later years.

Perhaps the most telling scene is McQ's confrontation the Drug Kingpin. Both have found themselves to have been taken advantage of by the police, and for once both cop and criminal share a moment of common ground. "The advantage always lies with the people on the inside!", Santiago proclaims. That statement more than anything else, reflected the realities of the time.

Overall, the Duke gives a competent performance as aging detective Lon McQ, sometimes even breaking away from the one-dimensional stereotype many thought him to be. In many ways the character's agonies in the movie mirrored Wayne's own. At the time of the filming, America was going through many trials, among them the withdrawal from Vietnam, rising crime, inflation, and of course the Watergate scandal. The world that Super Patriot John Wayne once stood up for was slowly eroding around him, and he like his character was feeling alone and disillusioned.

Though no way a classic film, "McQ" holds up well and features some fine action scenes and car chases. Wayne's using an Ingram MAC 10 submachine gun to deal with the bad guys also gives the film an original touch. Altogether, this picture is quite entertaining and shows that a veteran star like Duke Wayne could indeed stretch himself into doing new action film roles.

Personal note- I myself fam-fired an actual Ingram MAC 10 during my military service. Its rate of fire is astonishing and not something one would want to be on the receiving end of!

Aliens (1986)

A Great Disappointment

[3/10 · 4 February 2023]

After watching this sequel, the best thing that I can say about "Aliens" is that it did have some interesting plot turns and some imaginative special effects. The figure of the Alien Queen was especially well done.

But with all that said, the best way to describe this film would be- Disappointing.

After the suspense filled story that was the original, with its excellent character development and well-cast ensemble of performers, this sequel falls way short. Instead of people the audience can identify with, we get a group of comic book caricatures. What was a masterpiece of Science Fiction suspense is turned into just another multiple car crash music video movie for 14 year olds. The film begins with a believable plot line, but soon degenerates into comic book silliness. Director James Cameron apparently wanted this to be another variation on the "Terminator" theme. And as a former U. S. Marine myself, I find this "Colonial Marine" business to be almost insulting. The characters in the platoon all seem to be futuristic stereotypes from Hollywood war films. I also found Bill Paxton's character to be especially annoying.

With all that said, this reviewer will rate this film at three stars mostly for the excellent special effects and production values.

To sum up once again, a great disappointment.

Conspiracy (2001 TV Movie)

A "Deep State" at Work

[10/10 · 20 January 2023]

As today marks the 82nd anniversary of the Wansee Conference, its appropriate to say that in my opinion this is one of the most frightening motion pictures ever made. I have rarely seen any feature which so accurately displays what Political Scientist Hanna Arendt referred to as the "Banality of Evil". Indeed much of the script was taken from the actual minutes of the meeting. The participants act as if this is just one more bureaucratic issue or business proposition. Not a drop of blood is spilled, yet the cold blooded indifference that's shown is far more terrifying than any Hollywood horror film.

Kenenth Branagh is outstanding as SS General Reinhard Heydrich, who chaired the Wansee Conference in real life and was the most feared member of Hitler's inner circle. Heydrich was the embodiment of the perfect Nazi, not just in his blond Germanic looks but in the absolute cold indifference of his morality. As head of the SS Sicherheitsdienst (Security Service) Heydrich had power enough to destroy any opponent. It was even said that Heydrich was the only one of Hitler's inner circle of whom the Fuhrer was genuinely afraid.

But what's even more disturbing is how the film relates to our own era, for it shows how a "Deep State" actually works. A change in National policy is covertly done by a select group of unelected and unaccountable individuals who manipulate law and institutions to enact a policy which is both illegal and immoral. People are looked on as mere statistics, morality is ignored for "expediency", and outrageous measures are taken for the sake of "National Security". While the Wansee Conference is an extreme example, it is a valuable window into showing just how a power elite functions, and also acts as a warning to those who believe that ends justify means.

"Gentlemen, we have accomplished something".

Reinhard Heydrich at Wansee.

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

Well done, but can't compare to the original

[6/10 · 5 November 2022]

While the production values are excellent, this version still can't compare to the Lewis Milestone original. It did not have the character development and narrative of the 1930 film, and instead goes from scene to scene so rapidly and randomly that the viewer never fully sees the gradual erosion of idealism that the original version has.

It is the gruesome depiction of combat that in my opinion is this film's greatest strength. Nothing is held back in depicting the absolute filth that soldiers on both sides had to endure in the trenches. The random violence and sheer terror of trench warfare is intelligently done and is no way gratuitous. The strain that these men endured in this living hell is shown so convincingly that by films' end the viewer understands the disillusionment of the "Lost Generation."

Personal note- As a former Marine, I myself felt a lot of empathy with many of the ordeals that the Infantry of that day had to face.

Man in a Suitcase (1967–1968)

From the point of view of an Intelligence Veteran.

[10/10 · 14 October 2022]

In my view, this series is the best dramatization of the covert world. It lays bare the ugly realities of life in the intelligence profession, where there is no glamour, no good or evil, no flag waving patriotism. Just a cynical struggle where rules are just words and loyalties are conditional.

This classic TV show also strikes a deep personal note, for the reason that I myself had similar experiences during my military service. In my own comparison with the character of McGill, my fall from grace was not so dramatic. To put it bluntly, I declined to falsify and cover up certain things. And while what my seniors were asking was illegal and unlawful, for all intents and purposes it meant the end of my military career. After receiving an Honorable Discharge, I nevertheless found that like McGill, my bad reputation proceeded me, and for all intents and purposes I was locked out of any professional career path. The Empire had indeed struck back. And again, like McGill I had to struggle through life working at whatever employment I could find, with no clear future in sight.

Fortunately, I had the miraculous opportunity to meet a fine lady who saved me from my plight and I'm now leading a happy productive meaningful life.

I do hope and pray that McGill shared the same fate.

Operation Petticoat (1959)

A Military Comedy with an Inspiring Backstory

[8/10 · 5 September 2022]

Military themed comedies are an old staple in film, most of them being lighthearted silly farces with little much for a storyline.

While seeming to fit this description, "Operation Petticoat" breaks that trend, because its story is based on actual events from World War II. Set in the Philippines at the outbreak of the war, the film is based on the story of US Navy's Asiatic Fleet, which conducted a heroic stand against the Japanese with a cobbled together force of mostly obsolete warships. Among these were a number of submarines that had been sent from Hawaii and the West Coast as reinforcements.

The fictional USS "Sea Tiger" is modeled after an actual submarine, the USS Sea Dragon. On 8 December, 1941, the Sea Dragon was heavily damaged in the Japanese air raid on the US Naval Yard at Cavite, when another submarine moored alongside her, the USS Sea Lion, blew up and sank. Sea Dragon barely escaped being a casualty herself but was nevertheless in a sad condition. Beating the odds, Sea Dragon's crew performed what many in the submarine service considered a miracle of improvisation and in a matter of days got the sub repaired and ready for sea. Sea Dragon later assisted in the evacuation of vital personnel from the Philippines to Indonesia and Australia. Because of the damage to her hull, Sea Dragon's paint began to peel off, giving her an almost chequered appearance, with spots of red lead often showing through. This unusual paint scheme on some occasions helped her avoid detection by Japanese ships and aircraft. After her escape, USS Sea Dragon went on to have a successful career in the Pacific theater, sinking over 43,450 tons of Japanese shipping.

The producers of this film also had full cooperation of the US Navy in the making of this picture, where Naval Station Key West Florida doubled for Manila, and three veteran WWII submarines, the Queenfish, Archerfish, and Balao, stood in as the fictional Sea Tiger. The film's technical advisor, Vice Admiral Lucius Chappell, was himself an Asiatic Fleet submarine veteran who had commanded the USS Stingray. It should also be said that costar Tony Curtis had himself been in the Navy during WWII, serving on the submarine tender USS Proteaus.

This backstory of real heroism and genuine sacrifice are what makes "Operation Petticoat" one of the better military comedies, entertaining yes, but inspiring as well.

Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident (1976 TV Movie)

Gary Power's Final Testament

[8/10 · 18 July 2022]

This motion picture was the first dramatization ever done of the 1960 U-2 incident, and in spite of its age holds up well. Based on U-2 pilot Gary Power's autobiography "Operation Overflight", it premiered 45 years ago with '70s TV superstar Lee Majors in the title role. At the time, Lee Majors was one of the most popular stars on television with the series "Six Million Dollar Man". Apparently, he wanted to stretch his talents to try a new kind of role that had a lot more depth than his usual action series parts. The producers of the film probably also saw that having Lee Majors in the title role could potentially attract a huge audience.

In his performance as Gary Powers, Lee Majors tries hard, often succeeds, but there are still moments when he comes across as somewhat awkward. What really makes this film watchable are the fine performances by the supporting cast, including veteran TV actors Noah Beery, David Opatoshu, and Nehemiah Persoff. It is Persoff's character which really stands out. As Power's Soviet Interrogator he pursues his role with a calm, cool menace which is truly frightening.

The technical side of the movie helps out to give it a real sense of authenticity. Even though the special effects seem dated, they were state of the art for the time, and do succeed in showing the dangers of flying these hazardous spy missions. One thing the producers of the film got right was using the correct model of U-2 that Gary Powers flew at time. ( Something that "Bridge of Spies" did not.).

Finally, it should be known that Gary Powers himself acted as technical advisor for the film. His young son, Francis Gary Powers junior, himself had small part in the movie. He later reprised his Father by acting as technical advisor for the later "Bridge of Spies".

Soon afterward Gary Powers became the aerial traffic reporter for KNBC in Los Angeles, with the byline "The Spy in the Sky". Tragically, a year later, on 1 August, 1977, the former U-2 pilot was killed when his helicopter unexpectedly crashed as a result of a faulty fuel gauge.

A sad ending for history's most famous aerial spy.

Speaking as a Cold War veteran myself, I consider this film in so many ways to be the final testament of Francis Gary Powers.

Go Tell the Spartans (1978)

The Best Vietnam War Film

[9/10 · 30 June 2022]

This film is little known but deserves way more attention. It is set in 1964 during the early phase of the Vietnam war, and stars Burt Lancaster, Marc Singer, and Craig Wasson as part of an Advisory Group caught in a frustrating no win quagmire.

Based on the book "Incident at Muc Wa", this is a more low keyed production than most Vietnam themed movies. One of the film's pluses is that the production went to great lengths to depict the correct uniforms, weapons, and equipment of the era, including using a period UH 34 chopper in some scenes. Most of the location shooting was done in the Sacramento River Delta of Northern California, which stood in for the Mekong.

The headaches that advisors faced, both military and political, as well as the growing futility of American involvement, is well presented. The action scenes are not exaggerated and have no Hollywood heroics. There's also a lot of ironic humor in the script to give the story some much needed pathos.

One of the ironies about this picture is that " Go Tell the Spartans " was released in the summer of 1978, over a year before "The Deer Hunter", and "Apocalypse Now" eclipsed all other Vietnam related movies.

This film uses both allegory and historic fact to tell a brilliant piece of storytelling. Indeed, the entire American commitment in Vietnam, from beginning to end, is encapsulated in this one story. From this Marine veteran's point of view, it is by far the best motion picture made to date about the Vietnam War.

I do highly recommend it.

Sinking of the Lusitania: Terror at Sea (2007 TV Movie)

The "Anti Titanic"

[8/10 · 8 May 2022]

Over a century ago, there was a time when warfare between nations was expected to be fought with some semblance of chivalry, and noncombatants were to be protected from harm.

Any semblance of that finally came to an end on 7 May, 1915.

Based on true events, this docudrama tells the story of one of the most pivotal events of the First World War, the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. This was the other British liner that went down tragically, but whose death could not have been more different. While not as lavish a production as the James Cameron movie, "Lusitania" nevertheless gives the viewer a reasonably accurate picture of the ship and its end. The performances are good, the story pretty much follows the historic record, and the special effects are convincing enough in depicting the death of the doomed liner. One of the movie's best scenes intersperses actual film footage of the Lusitania leaving New York on her final voyage, a sobering and haunting moment.

There's also an important backstory, namely the reason why the Lusitania was attacked in the first place. Both Lusitania and her sister Mauretania were listed as auxiliary cruisers in the Royal Navy registry. The ship was also loaded with munitions, in violation of international law. Through their agents in New York, the Germans were aware of this. There was also the fact that Winston Churchill, head of the Admiralty, wanted to create an incident at sea to bring America into the allied cause.

There are of course, some flaws in this production. For instance, the actor portraying Captain Turner in no way resembles the real person. The late Ian Holm would have been a better choice. However ,the main criticism of this motion picture is sometimes it gives the impression of being "Titanic" meets "Das Boot".

But when the torpedo strikes the hull and the contraband munitions explode, all similarities come to an end, and the mayhem that was the sinking is shown. People are drowned, pulled under, and meet other horrific ends. Unlike the Titanic, the band did not play on, the lovers did not unite, there was no nobility displayed by the passengers, and the Captain did not go down with the ship. This is where this film truly becomes the "Anti-Titanic". But even this cannot fully bring forth the nightmare that was the Lusitania. To make a comparison, the Titanic took two and a half hours to go under, while the Lusitania, a ship 90 percent the Titanic's size, went down in just 18 minutes. The percentage of loss of life was significantly higher, with 1200 souls lost out of 2000 aboard, including 120 Americans.

The international condemnation of Germany that followed this horrific loss of life was near unanimous. Like a prairie fire a wave of shock and indignation spread throughout America, and none other than former President Theodore Roosevelt declared the Lusitania's sinking to be a "barbarous act of piracy". President Woodrow Wilson however, decided to err on the side of caution. Nevertheless, the fuse was lit for America's eventual entry into World War I.

Sirens (1994)

A Charming Erotic Masterpiece

[9/10 · 12 December 2021]

The theme of sexuality and eroticism is a hard subject to depict well on film. It usually comes out as either cliche' or exploitative. In order to succeed, an erotic movie has to seduce its audience, and this film does indeed do that.

Set in Australia during the 1920s, the film is based on a real life character, the artist Norman Lindsay, whose frank paintings were considered quite a scandal in their day. The film makers did everything they could to ensure authenticity, shooting most of it on the actual Norman Lindsay estate in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales.

The central theme is a conflict between the fading Victorian Morality, and the rebelliousness of the new 20th Century. Hugh Grant plays Anthony Campion, a liberal minded Anglican cleric, with Tara Fitzgerald as his polite but inhibited wife Estella. Sam Neill plays Norman Lindsay as a sensualist rebel who does everything he can to fly in the face of convention, reveling in the public outrage that's thrown at him.

His trio of models includes famous fashion model Elle MacPherson, ( Who had to gain 20 pounds for the movie.), Liz Fisher as an anarchist who advocates free love, and Portia de Rossi as a somewhat flighty maiden. The cast seems to work quite well together and make for an amusing ensemble.

There is however, a more somber theme to this story. Reminders of the of the First World War are shown throughout, including an amputee war veteran, former ANZACs drowning their sorrows, and Liz Fisher's character being a war orphan. The old morality has been literally blown apart and a new one comes to take its place.

Overall production values are excellent, and the scenes nudity and sex are quite appropriate and intelligently done. Elle MacPherson baring her body is especially lovely. Sirens also has something not seen much in erotic films these days, a sensuality that invades the whole story, bringing the viewer into a warm tender embrace. I'll note here that my late conservative Republican Mother just adored this film, and considered it one of her favorites.

I would recommend this film to any adult couple who want a magical evening of seduction.

The Arrow (1997)

An Overlooked Cold War Classic

[9/10 · 19 September 2021]

I don't often say this about a motion picture, but this is an unsung classic. It tells the story of the Avro Arrow, the most advanced fighter aircraft of its day, designed, built, and produced in Canada. And about the politics that eventually destroyed it. The performances are good, and feature Dan Aykroyd in a surprisingly effective dramatic role. What I like most about this movie is it really works at giving one a sense of the tenor of the late 1950s, when the most amazing breakthroughs in aviation technology occurred, and engineers thought anything was possible. This movies' special effects are also first rate, well integrating stock footage with effects shots. It should be noted that radio-controlled models were used in the flying sequences instead of CGI. And it actually works in giving these scenes a more realistic flavor.

I will add that the film's opening is truly awe inspiring.

Quest for Fire (1981)

The Ordeal of Film Making

[10/10 · 9 August 2021]

For the last three decades, movies about prehistory have become increasingly popular with the viewing public. The advent of CGI special effects for instance, has made long extinct creatures seem alive again. And in the process, greatly enhanced knowledge of the prehistoric world. However, when it comes to early humans, Hollywood falls short of the mark. Paleo humanity are usually caricatured as dimwitted clods in silly Neanderthal Comedies like "Caveman", and "History of the World Part I". And then there are the Stone Age Soap Operas like "One Million Years, B. C.", and "Clan of the Cave Bear", which go out of their way to project contemporary values on prehistory.

There is however, at least one film that made an attempt to give audiences a genuine look at how our early ancestors may have lived. And it premiered forty years ago

"Quest for Fire" is based on a novel by the same name, written in 1919 by Belgian author J. H. Rosny. Its story revolved around the struggle of early humans and the very thing necessary for survival- fire. During the mid 1970s, French director Jaques Annaud took an interest in making this story into a motion picture. For many years, Annaud had filmed hunter gatherer tribes in Africa, and decided to use both the book and his own experiences as a basis for a new look at stone age humans. The production became one of the most innovative and ground breaking motion pictures of its time, and during its production almost came to a disastrous end. Indeed, the very filming of this motion picture was itself an ordeal for all involved.

From the beginning, the theme of this film sounded so far out that it took a great effort for the producer and director to get approval from studio executives to finance the picture. But even afterward, bad luck seemed to follow the production. Just before shooting began, there occurred an industry wide strike in Hollywood, forcing the production company to move shooting to Canada. Director Annauld had originally planned to film in Iceland, but an unexpected volcanic eruption there put an end to these plans. The production often had to cut corners to keep within budget, and many times it appeared that funding delays would ultimately doom the entire project.

Both director Annaud and producer Michael Gruskoff decided to make the film as believable and authentic as possible. The production company was quite thorough in referencing the scientific knowledge available at the time. Their research included enlisting the help of famed anthropologist Desmond Morris on how prehistoric men and women may have acted and lived, right down to body movement and facial expressions. Author and linguist Anthony Burgess was also brought in to create an archaic language for the cast to speak, complete with vocabulary. The word "Fire" for example, was "Atra", in the movie.

For the leading parts, Canadian actor Everett McGill was cast in the starring role. And co starring in his first performance, was renowned character actor Ron Pearlman. Rae Dawn Chong ( Daughter of Comedian Tommy Chong ), was put into the female lead almost as an afterthought, but later became an important character in the story.

In his casting for the film, director Annaud was quite selective in his choice of performers. He carefully chose actors who, in his opinion, looked "prehistoric" in their features and demeanor. This was followed by intensive training in character development, including movement, vocalization, and expression. The immersion was so thorough that near the end of filming, the cast members came to personally identify with their stone age alter egos.

To keep authenticity, all shooting for the movie was done entirely on location in Canada, Scotland, and Kenya. In doing so, the cast had to endure conditions so harsh that the actors' genuine physical suffering is evident for all to see. It was just as difficult for those behind the camera, as harsh weather conditions constantly interrupted the shooting schedule. Many cast and crew members suffered from frostbite and exposure, or by contrast heat exhaustion during the filming in Africa. The production company also had to deal with constant intrusions by venomous snakes while they were in Kenya.

This motion picture' was made before the era of CGI, and great effort was made into creating authentic makeup effects. Indeed, this film pioneered many makeup techniques used in today's productions. Before filming, each cast member went through many hours of sessions where numerous pieces of latex were attached to their faces and bodies. The innovative makeup was also applied to the non human members of the cast. Circus elephants for example, stood in for Woolly Mammoths, and were quite convincingly caped with fur-like makeup. Lions stood in for Sabertooths, but their long tails make them not as convincing. Wolves and Bears also make their appearances, with humans in the role of prey. But what really makes this movie such an enduring treasure is the art direction. One gets the impression of stepping into a living painting by the great paleo artist Zdenek Burian.

Despite the setbacks, and by some divine miracle, the film was completed and ready for exhibition. And to the unexpected surprise of many in the industry, "Quest for Fire" turned out to be a sleeper hit for the year 1981. Indeed, it was the uniqueness of the film that made it so interesting to audiences. Nothing like this had ever been seen before in theaters, and in time the movie received worldwide praise. Some contemporary critics even compared this film to being like a prehistoric version of "Star Wars".

While an extraordinary cinematic achievement, "Quest for Fire" is not a movie for the feint of heart. It pulls no punches in showing the harsh world that was prehistory, and many scenes are quite graphic in their depiction of stone age life. While in no way exploitative, the film nevertheless has many moments of disturbing violence and gore, including some scenes of cannibalism. There's also a lot of graphic nudity and no holds barred sex. For instance, Rae Dawn Chong's character wears nothing but body paint throughout the movie.

While at times difficult to watch, these uncensored elements are an essential part of the story and important in showing the hardscrabble world of our ancestors.

With all that said, this reviewer recommends that parents preview this film before showing it to viewers under the age of 14.

In spite of its age, as well as new discoveries in Paleo Anthropology, "Quest for Fire" still holds up well. So much that today many educational institutions use this film as a teaching tool in paleontology and anthropology classes. It can easily be found on DVD and online. The recently reissued DVD features audio commentaries by director Jaques Annauld, producer Michael Gruskoff, and cast members Ron Pearlman and Rae Dawn Chong. These make for quite an entertaining backdrop to the film's plot.

Overall, "Quest for Fire" marks a milestone not just in the depiction of prehistory, but in the history of cinema itself.

Pork Chop Hill (1959)

The Reality of the Korean War

[9/10 · 6 August 2021]

Based on a bestselling book of the same name by noted military historian Brigadier General SLA Marshall, "Pork Chop Hill" is from its very beginning, grim, intense, and brutal. The film's storyline was based on true incidents and the characters modeled after actual people. It was made just six years after the armistice, had extensive technical support from the military, and for its time was quite frank in showing the realities of the war in Korea.

The movie depicts one of the final battles of the conflict, occurring in 1953 just before the armistice. An infantry company is ordered to take a hill that has changed hands between both sides, and company commander 1st Lieutenant Joe Clemmons ( Ably portrayed by Gregory Peck.), has the thankless job of carrying it out. This movie also shows the burden of command that Lt Clemmons has to bear in carrying out his mission. And for its time, "Pork Chop Hill" was rather groundbreaking in its frank depiction of combat. While not as graphic as today's war films, this was the "Saving Private Ryan" of its day. The film's harsh images, the intensity of action, and the cruel randomness of death were quite disturbing for 1959 American audiences, and still are today.

What can be said about "Pork Chop Hill", is that while the heroism and sacrifice of the men involved are honored and celebrated, the futility and horror of the fighting are also emphasized.

And unlike films of World War II, there is no celebration at film's end.

The men's survival is their only victory.

Executive Action (1973)

The Film That Frightened the Establishment

[9/10 · 10 July 2021]

Speaking as someone who was alive at the time of the assassination of President Kennedy, this motion picture really resonates with me. I in fact remember watching previews for this film on television when it came out . However, just before I was to see it, the film was suddenly pulled from exhibition and disappeared. It then stayed in the vaults and out of public view for thirty years.

This begs the question-Why?

"Executive Action" premiered in November of 1973, during the tenth anniversary of the JFK assassination. The film itself received very limited distribution, and, like the Oliver Stone movie, was widely panned by the critics. But unlike "JFK", this movie went down into the memory hole.

Why was this done?

At the time. America was in the throws of domestic and international crisis. The investigations into the Watergate scandal were in full swing, as well as the Yom Kippur War. With all that going on, the last thing the powers that be wanted was something that could adversely influence domestic order and foreign policy. With the now known ties of the media and entertainment industry heads to the National Security Establishment ( ref: Operation Mockingbird"), it was quite a simple thing to just let this movie "disappear".

So what was it about this movie that bothered our Nation's Establishment?

This film appeared three years before the Congressional investigations of the Church/ Pike committee and JFK /MLK Committee revealed the crimes of the CIA and other agencies. The Congressional hearings did indeed find that there were indeed a number of illegal covert assassination programs, as well as black ops that went rogue. However, life did imitate art, and the Congressional investigations suddenly ended before anything of real value was discovered.

Having myself been in the Intelligence World during my military service, I'll say that this movie got closer to the truth about how our 35th President was murdered than we can believe. Even though the characters are fictional, the basic theme of the movie holds true. That rogue elements from within this nation's National Security Institutions took it upon themselves to remove our Country's head of state by extralegal, unconstitutional means. In other words, an act of treason.

"Its not what they report on, but what they don't report on that really changes things." Roger Ailes Founder of FOX news.

Mr. Lucky (1959–1960)

An Adult Themed Show Ahead of its Time

[9/10 · 20 April 2021]

I recently got the DVD set of this classic TV show which I haven't seen in 60 years. Back then I had a genuine fascination with Mr. Lucky and his adventures. It may have been the dark edgy atmosphere, the mystery surrounding star John Vivyan's character, or the strong chemistry between the cast members themselves. Above all, it was Henry Mancini's magnificent music that really made the show a hit.

One point that needs to be mentioned is the reason why the show went off the air. Those of us who were alive back in 1959 recall that America was a very different place when it came to public mores, and for its time, Mr. Lucky was quite daring for a television show. Its protagonist was a complex character with a shady past, a professional gambler running a barely legal casino outside the three-mile limit. Along with all the gambling, there was lots of excessive drinking, smoking, partying, and overt sexual innuendos in the dialogue. Not to mention that Lucky and his lady friend Maggie had an "open relationship" when it came to commitment.

Soon CBS and sponsor Lever Brothers received flak from viewers in the South and Midwest concerning the show's alleged "immorality". This is partly why the show's format was changed mid-season from a casino to a swank supper club. However, this was not enough to placate viewers in the Bible belt. Thus, in spite of the shows' strong viewership and high ratings, Lever Brothers refused to renew its contract. Because the show was so hot, CBS was unable to find another sponsor. And so, to the great regret of its audience, Mr. Lucky was subsequently canceled, its last episode airing in September of 1960.

Back then Mr. Lucky was considered to be way too much over the top and paid the penalty for being ahead of its time. Today a show such as this would be a hit on TV but also probably be rated PG because of all the smoking and drinking.

For myself however, seeing this classic TV show once again and hearing the beautiful Henry Mancini score brings back warm memories of a simpler time, when television was indeed real entertainment.

And now, as Andamo ( Ross Martin) would say- "That's it and that's all!"