cougarblue Reviews

The Last Time I Saw Archie (1961)

98 minute break from your troubles

[6/10 · 23 June 2012]

"Archie" stars all the really great character players from the time period. People whose names you might not know, but who's faces and the voices were quite familiar, make up the Army Air Force unit. Don Knotts had been working on the Andy Griffith show for under two years when this was released so he wasn't as well known as he would later become, Joe Flynn had been in sitcoms since they began later to appear in many Disney movies for kids, while Robert Mitchum was an A List star and Jack Webb had been on radio for 25+ years along with TV's Dragnet before producing and directing series. Webb was the director and producer of "Archie". Of the military comedies, (Francis the Talking Mule, Your in the Army/Navy Now, "Archie" would be one of the best with a decent enough story, fun actors and humorous situations, mostly based on the chiseler (Mitchum's character) and the fall guy (Webb) interacting with each other and a bunch of extremely beautiful girls. Martha Hyer plays Webb's love interest while a gorgeous Vietnamese actress plays Mitchum's steady. Neither of the two girls would appear dated by today's standards, the beauty holds out. And that is the movie, high jinks by Mitchum, as he pulls the wool over the other members in the unit with Sad Sack Webb left holding the bag, and the women. It's fun, a good escape and don't miss the airplane crash with Mitchum running out of runway, you'll die laughing.

Amelia (2009)

As an ad for orthodontics it's excellent

[3/10 · 11 June 2012]

You take one of histories richest characters and flatten out her personality, giving you the film "Amelia". So much potential in making a new movie about the life of Amelia, this film could have been terrific given the new information about her ill-fated flight and the evolution of computerized effects, but sadly Swank and Company offer us a meandering portrait of a fascinating person that cannot decide if it wishes to be a triangular love story or an historical account of the life of Amelia Earhart. Very disappointing was my first reaction while I waited for something other than the measured, even and unemotional acting by Swank, along with Gere's lame attempt to portray the swarmy, manipulative Mr Putnam. The only drama in this two hour film is contained in the last 5 minutes as Amelia tries to communicate with the Navy ship which was to assist the round-the-world flight with navigation, as her fuel supply is running out. Even that part could have been played with more intensity. The older films on this rich character do justice to her life and accomplishments, this movie does not. Oh, BTW, Swanks teeth look like a refrigerator showroom baring testament to the work of a fine orthodontist.

Separate Tables (1958)

A Diamond hidden from our view

[9/10 · 22 April 2012]

I love this film, every character is played strongly by wonderful actors having fully developed interesting personalities, each with their struggles, handicaps. And one thing in common, they are lost, lonely people waiting for their lives to end in a run down hotel. Deborah Kerr's mother in the film would tie in a contest for worst mummy, with Mrs Vale, Betty Davis's mother in another jewel Now, Voyager. Both mothers for purely selfish reason's seek to reduce their daughters to immature square pegs unable to function in the round world so they may serve as fawning servant/ companions through the elderly years of their mummy's. David Niven (The Major) is wonderful as the Desert Campaign self-convinced hero from WWII, who has an unfortunate morals problem, Rita Hayworth returns to see her long time ex-husband for reasons that are complicated. Burt Lancaster playing the husband who is driven mad by the manipulative actions of his ex-wife tries to break through her thick veneer looking for any real emotions, all the while both are engaged to others, Lancaster to Mrs Cooper the hotel manager. The other characters are just quirky enough to break up the intensity of the main players. Rod Taylor is a student trying to bone up during a holiday break from school but his playful girlfriend will not be ignored, we have two elderly women taking up the balance one a confused woman who agrees with everyone the other an earnest horseplayer, and a former boy's school teacher who blames England's problems on the lower classes and their public educations. Yes, the class system is in full bloom at the hotel despite that fact that all find themselves only able to live at a less than top drawer, cheaper end hotel. You'll love this find

Touch of Evil (1958)

What Happened Orson?

[5/10 · 22 April 2012]

I know that the studio was very unhappy with the initial rough cut of the movie and decided to re-edit and even re-shoot a number of new scenes which then changed the story. Wells was clearly irate and sent a 58 page memo to the studio asking them to re-think their editions and changes. The DVD I bought claims to have incorporated Wells suggestions. What changes they kept, or what changes they left in will never be known unless its possible to get a hold of the Wells first copy then compare the two. I love Film Noir, the Asphalt Jungle is my favorite and in my top 10 favorite movies of all time. Im less than critical with any amateurish acting, economy sets, etc If the story of good I'll likely love the picture, Hammer films are the exception. The Touch of Evil was a disappointment my first thoughts were: This is the most disjointed mess I have ever seen with characters having complete reversals in their outlook and opinions, dialogue that makes no sense, scenes that don't contribute but take away from the plot. The deputy is the staunchest defender of his boss Wells, denying every word against the guy or planting evidence charges but then has a Saul of Taurses in the a desert moment becoming Paul, and becomes so concerned with how corrupt the Sheriff really is that he wears a wire to try and convict the man. Dennis Weaver the dim, very strange motel clerk goes off like a broken record when Vargus (Heston) comes by to look for his wife, however what he repeats ad nauseam is that "he ain't gunna clean up that mess" in the room Mrs Vargus was staying in, saying nothing regarding the obvious question Vargus asks, where is the woman! The whole border deal gets lost, you never know where they are and what the significance of the good guys/bad guys being on one side or the other means. Girl of Shanghi is looked at as Orson Wells worst, even given he forces his soon to be ex-wife and the star of the movie Rita Hayward to bleach her beautiful red hair, maybe as a control or last slap in the face gesture. I would place Touch of Evil In that spot. I don't know if the disjointed way the pictures flows has anything to do with the Wells vs the studio fight, it could have been a much better picture with some A List actors in Leigh, Wells, and Heston.

Above and Beyond (2006)

I wanted to like this film so badly.....

[3/10 · 27 February 2012]

The subject this film is based upon has no much potential for making a first class, exciting and meaningful product, but here it fails to live up to what might have been. One of my favorite documentaries is "Flying the Secret Sky", dealing also with shuttling desperately needed bombers to England. It features interviews from the actual pilots, while being a documentary I give it a 9, heads above "Above and Beyond" which I rate as a 3. It could have been a good picture but it suffers mightily from HORRIBLE dialogue and abysmal casting. Attempts to build sexual tension between the airport tower controller and the female lead, who left rural Newfoundleand for Montreal, but now she's unhappily forced to return to work closely with her ex steady, fall flat. The way she deals with the ex and with her nasty, uber controlling, mother just seem clumsy and unrealistic. The bratish and very corny dialogue doesn't help. In some ways the screenwriter feels the need to educate the viewer by illustrating the characters quirks over and over, laboriously. as if the audience has an average IQ just above an orange. Lord Beaverbrook is a lecherous old man who likes to hang up on a caller who is begging for clarification in order to carry out an assignment. We get to see him preform the little trick time after time. The RAF project director who is on the opposite end of the phone is as sullen and wooden as a cigar store Indian, a completely unpleasant character. We see Beaverbrook buttoning up after bedding a secretary a bit too often, WE GET IT. The female lead is a pitiful actress who spits out the predicable and simplistic lines like a 3rd grader in a school play, with a bitchiness that doesn't work. Her appearance, this is a 3 hour film after all, is distracting, she is a combination of Olive Oyl. with Clark Gable Asian Elephant ears, playing the role of a sex- tease with is supposed to be drop dead beautiful and unresistable, twisting the boys around her pinkie finger. The part calls for a Julie Roberts-type, we get Popeyes main squeeze, instead. Avoid this little mini-series, the lines will put you in a stuper, the characters are distracting and very unlikable. If you wish to delve into the topic get a copy of Flying The Secret Sky, it's exciting and keeps you glued to the screen, the real life pilots are charming, humble despite their accomplishments having shown extraordinary courage. Because I love flying and I've studied WW II extensively I wanted to like this movie but I found I couldn't just watch it and relax letting myself be entertained. Everyone is PO'ed at each other, their words snotty without a glimmer of wit. If I never see the female lead in another project, I will be grateful. Folks don't quit your day jobs, you'all can't write, direct or act.

The Key (1958)

Enlightening chapter on little known WW II operations

[8/10 · 12 June 2008]

If I were to explain to someone this film's plot in a nutshell, some church lady and maybe others will label this film as some kind of a pinnacle of adultery. In reality any sexual content is needed to add to the hopelessness faced by those who heroically undertook to save the lives of the English, Danish, Swedes, Americans, surviving Nazi attacks on North Sea shipping. You compare the brave men facing extremely high odds of losing their lives in the rescues to the first Marines on the Normandy beaches on June 7, 1944, seen in "The Longest Day", or the B-17 pilots engaged in daylight bombing as portrayed in "12 O' Clock High". This is a war film only slightly just as "Barefoot in the Park" is not a movie about a park. The Key is not listed with all the other WW II movies, because it's less war than a study in how one copes with certain death. Ms Loren is at her best playing the girl who goes with the apartment, Trevor Howard, the British steady in almost every WW II classic is superb. The next holder of the "Key" is Sunset Blvd.'s William Holden, playing the same brooding, sullen, character we are used to. I'm close to adding Mr. Holden to the list of actors playing themselves along with Dean Martin, Burt Reynolds, Gig Young, and many others. However at the end, you are victim of a huge surprise, when a battle battered, nearly drowned, Holden unexpectedly returns to the apartment, to find the next in line already holding court. He breaks with his type casting at that point and you're treated to a great ending. Not wanting to reveal the entire idea behind the key, I'm been very vague, but as I added the characters and the roles they played, I've created more confusion than I intended. Let me try to do a short outline on The Key. A rescue boat captain rents an apartment near the South Hampton docks, which includes the beautiful Sophia Loren. Knowing his life has "the same length as a lit match", he copies the key forcing it on a close friend, so that friend, (also a rescue boat captain) may take over the apartment in the occasion of his death. The process repeats itself three times when Trevor Howard becomes the key holder, and the film picks up here. On the very day the Howard character has set to marry the Ms. Loren character the film becomes a hanky grabber. You may only be able to catch this great movie on TCM, but if you are a fan of Loren, Howard or Holden, DO NOT miss it. You will be touched, saddened, then given a good dose of hope.

A Ticklish Affair (1963)

In the Navy

[7/10 · 31 March 2008]

The 50's were great for the innocent, light, sexually tease, brand of movies. It could be Doris Day, (and normally was) or some other picturesque actress, add in a simple story of man chases woman until she catches him, and you have 90 minutes of perfectly good escape. Shirley Jones isn't new to acting, yet she has a hard time adding emotion to her words, either appearing to be too blasé or going overboard, but who cares, she looks spectacular, in short-shorts even. Without the out of focus facial look Doris insisted upon, you get to see just how beautiful Ms. Jones was and is. I still don't know what Doris looks like after seeing all her movies. Gig Young plays a smooth talking, got the world under control, Navy Commander, with the "I don't want to get married, and if I did, I want my own kids" by-line. Shirley is a widow with three boys having a "I wanna stay in one place, I'll never marry into the Navy again" by-line. You combine the two with some great character parts, Red Buttons who is always great, and Edger Buchanan who is just fun as the father-in-law, and boy's grandfather. Carolyn Jones is just plain creepy, in every movie, a perfect Adams wife, but not the best friend/sister-in- law. Eve Arden would have been wonderful. I love Gig Young, but knowing the guy *died of alcoholism, I'm starting to think part of that on-screen smoothness was due to a few scotches he knocked down in the trailer. If you can pick up a copy when it comes out in DVD do so, or catch it on TMC. Its well worth it. *Before someone feels a need to correct me, I'm aware Gig Young's life ended in a very tragic shooting (murder/suicide). To those who knew Gig, it was alcoholism that perpetuated the incident resulting in the death of his wife and then Gig's. He had been an alcoholic for more than 20 years.

Christmas with the Kranks (2004)

Cancel the Kranks, keep Christmas

[2/10 · 23 December 2007]

The movie tries so hard to be funny but with the very stilted characters and terrible writing the tension never builds, the movie simply isn't funny. The sole bright spot is halfway through when the Kranks decide to un-cancel Christmas, and attempt to make everything right awaiting the daughters unexpected trip home. Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen vs a flock of mean and vengeful neighbors along with police officers, because they aren't decorating their house is supposed to be hilarious, but only comes across as unrealistic. You don't warrant arrest and destruction by not decorating your house, that needs to be convincing for the movie to work but it doesn't. See The Christmas Story, Home Alone, and any other Christmas movies, but skip the Kranks. For those who love classics, don't miss The Bishops Wife, Holiday Inn (not White Christmas the re-make), and Christmas in Connecticut.

Five of a Kind (1938)

Curious in our time, fascinating in the 30's

[3/10 · 26 July 2007]

The five little girls born before the age of futility drugs, were the pride of Canada. They created interest as lively as Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, or Lindsay Lohan would today albeit in a much more positive way. It wasn't too strange to picture children in this "circus" sideshow, as it would be today. QuintLand opened across the street from the home which was the birthplace of these little girls. The movie uses Wyatt, for the kids name and Luke as the name for the guardian/doctor who cared for the quints until the father was able to gain court approval to have them returned home. The film is just a vehicle to show off the girls watching them dance, sing, "play" the piano, and basically do anything they wish to do no matter how disruptive or destructive. They are typical very spoiled, little girls, don't expect to see any extraordinary talents. The story is completely pointless, you went to see the film to see the quints, and that was enough back then. Now this movie seems slow, and boring. Caesar Romero plays the charming weasel with his tricks to torment a newspaper radio/reporter who wins a contract to carry quints reports over the air for her New York newspaper, Caesar does all he can to gum up the works and embarrass Christine Nelson, ace reporter, even coming up with a fake "sextuplet" birth in the US, which Christine then reports much to her sorrow. But all is well the two become kissy-kissy at films end. There are as many misconceptions about the girls are there are details. They were taken from the parents after birth, returned 9 years later, but the parents while losing physical custody never lost their ability to see their offspring in the "sanitized theme park". The province of Ontario did not charge anyone to observer the girls, in order to offset the criticism of using the girls as human zoo animals, which they indeed were. Sorrow followed the return to the parents, the father would sexually abuse all the girls for many years and they wrote two books illustrating the bitterness they felt towards all concerned. Ontario did settle suits by the girls against the province, in the amount of $4 million. As of 7/2007 only two girls survive at age 73.

The Glenn Miller Story (1954)

Glenn Miller by Jimmy Stewart

[9/10 · 21 June 2007]

I doubt that any role Jimmy played, was any more natural than to portray bandleader Glenn Miller. He takes the role and runs with it. June Allyson playing Jimmy's wife a role that became very natural for her is also very effective. These two must have had such a strong friendship because their ability to take on a married couple role is sweet and convincing. The music is fantastic, Frank Morgan is excellent in the buddy role, and while the life of Glenn Miller ended abruptly at 40, adding a sad ending to the movie, there is a bittersweet quality since we know the music will go on forever. It's been more than 50 years, Major Miller died long before I was born, yet my iPod is loaded with 72 great songs by the band. Don't miss this great film, and while you're at it, follow-up with the other big band portrayals, (Orchestra Wives, Benny Goodman Story, Tommy Dorsey Story, etc). You will be humming and tapping your heels to Moonlight Serenade for a long time.