Westerns started making a comeback in the 1990s. The Quick and the Dead is one of my favorite Westerns. It has a bit of everything. Ordinarily, I’m not a big Sharon Stone fan. Here, she’s tough and she’s vulnerable, often at the same time. In my opinion, it’s her best role, which allows her to … More The Quick and the Dead (1995)
That name sounds familiar, right? If you were around during the 1960s or early 1970s, you knew of her television and film appearances, and her recordings. You might also remember here from the trial of causing the death of her boyfriend. Since, she’s lived out of the spotlight. Let’s look at her career, because she … More Claudine Longet
A broken-down cargo plane crashes in the Sahara Desert from a sand storm. Without a working radio, and limited supplies of food and water, a group of men are faced with certain death as they are stranded in the desert. Water for 10 days. The storm pushed them off course. Someone has to take charge, … More Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
Films of 1967 nominated for Best Picture. Back then, five films are nominated. Four really good films were nominated, the fifth is a mystery. Here are other studio and foreign films from 1967: In Like Flint Hombre Barefoot in the Park You Only Live Twice The Dirty Dozen Up the Down Staircase The Flim-Flam Man … More Best Film Nominees (1968)
Dame Diana Rigg was much more than just an actress, but we knew her primarily from her stage, television and film roles. How many of us were ga-ga at Mrs. Peel on The Avengers? Once we saw her, we never forgot her. Smart, brassy and confident, Mrs. Peel knocked down stereotypes. In that period, it … More Remembering Diana Rigg
These two music festivals, two years apart, capped an incredible musical decade and showcased young musicians pointing the world in a new direction. These events were the watermark on the music of the 1960s. Although two years apart, these films are quite different. One is about the music, the other is about the experience. Monterey … More Monterey Pop and Woodstock
One of Humphrey Bogart’s most famous films, and the one where he flirts with Lauren Bacall whenever they are on screen. This has always been Casablanca Lite, in my book. Both films have heavy atmosphere, quirky characters, a piano-playing pal, Nazis, a world-weary American who doesn’t want to dirty his hands with current politics. To … More To Have And Have Not (1944)
Here is a fifty year old film staring Jack Lemmon and Catherine Deneuve that very few people remember. Is this a classic film? No. It was one of Lemmon’s very stylish 1960s films that were a bit edgy and an effort at satirizing pop culture and morality. Hits and misses. Lemmon’s box office success and … More The April Fools (1969)
Agatha Christie. Hercules Poirot. Murder. “There’s evil under the sun,” Poirot says. Peter Ustinov returned as Poirot, his second of four outings as Poirot. EMI Films shelled out a reported $10m to make the film, an impressive budget at the time. The cast, costuming and locale look very expensive. Guy Hamilton returns for his second … More Evil Under the Sun (1982)
If you are going to see one Russell Crowe film, this is the ticket. It is not one of his many fine dramatic roles (Cinderella Man, A Beautiful Mind, The Insider), it is light, romantic comedy. This is a Cary Grant or James Garner role. It might be light and frothy, but you still have … More A Good Year (2006)
