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Reviews
Gone in the Night (1996)
heart breaking brilliantly done film!
Cindy and David, a hard working couple with two children are living life happily when its all shattered when they wake up and their 7 or 8 year old daughter has beenkidnapped from her bedroom. The case is incredible because there is really no hard evidence of any kind. The media and the community push for some answers especially when the girl is found brutally murdered not far from where Cindy and David live. There are many layers to the case which drags on for years. Unfortunately, much deception is involved with some police andlawyers involved in the prosecution efforts. Cindy and David Dowaliby and their young son, go through unimaginable and horrendous obstacles before all is said and done. I can only believe their strong faith and strength of character helped them, as well as finding enough good people finding the real truth.
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Sandra charms again!
Just a wonderful fun film. Sandra gets into a real situation when she saves Peter from getting ran over by a train and he remains in a coma for some time. There is confusion and a doctor thinks she is his fiancee. His family arrives at the hospital and before she has a chance to say anything, they hear she's engaged to him and warmly welcomes her to the family. In reality, she has no family of her own and lives alone selling transit train tickets. The family has her share Christmas with them and she enjoys it thoroughly. She also has the chance to get know Peters brother and they fall in love. The world could really use a lot more of these light hearted stories and less murder mysterys. The story is well written.
Bad for Each Other (1953)
Classic great film!
When has Heston ever not made a film great! He once again captures the screen with his personable strength of character guy as a colonel coming home on a break from the Korean war. He has an exclusive engaging relationship with a twice divorced woman who is also wealthy and the daughter of an old family doctor who warns him his daughter is only after his money and she will destroy him. The relationship continues. He is offered to work with another older doctor who caters to the wealthy. The offer seems too good to pass up. However, he is disillusioned with such a job. A critical operation is successfully performed and he is asked to let his partner older doctor take credit for it since the patients has always had deep faith in him. Then things come to a head when he is needed back in the coal mines where has been explosions. Great performances by all!
The Story of Esther Costello (1957)
Wonderful story
I understand there was a libel suit by Helen Kellers people because this story is much like her own. I am sorry to hear that. It doesnt take away from a great movie. Joan Crawford again dazzles the screen with her excellent acting, beauty, and grace, as someone who is wealthy and does charity work in Ireland associated with the Catholic church and her friend a preist. The preist tells her about Esther, a deaf/blind girl who is in the care of an elderly woman, perhaps her mom. Joan,sees the girl is mostly kept in a shabby dirty situation and that the woman who oversees her is an alcoholic and ignores the girl. Joan, (Margarita) takes Esther under her care and her life is never the same.
A Mother's Revenge (1993)
great film!
Lesley Ann Warren and Bruce Davison put in powerful performaces of a busy couple with two daughters, a teenager and i think a 10 year old Wendy. Carol the mom, must stay late at work one day and asks her older daughter Jill to pick up Wendy from school. Jill is late in picking her up. Wendy goes back inside the school and calls her mom, but before the call is completed, Frank, a janitor who Wendy has been friendly with, attacks,beats, and rapes her. Of course this the ultimate crime against the girl and family. Frank has beenin trouble with molestation charges in another state. The school only requires info about employees from a state wide view, so they had no knowledge of such charges. Things heat up when Franks charges against Wendy are dropped due to lack of evidence. Carol, the mom, in reaction to such news, spots a gun that becomes visible when she drops her purse and shoots Frank there in the court room who later dies in hospital. Quite a thriller!
Black Widow (1954)
Absorbing 50s thriller!
Top notch acting from all involved from this colorful who dun it. The story is told thru the eyes of Peter Denver i believe a famous writer or director in the theater who is happily married to Jane. A young lady writer, new to the city,Garner, by chance meets Peter at one of his friends parties. Peters wife takes a trip for a few weeks to tend to her ailing mother. Miss Garner asks Peter if she could have the peace and quiet of his luxury apartment so she can write. Willing to help, he agrees. The story has several layers to it. The mystery presents itself when Peter returns with his wife to his apartment and Garner has hung herself. Interesting!
Small Sacrifices (1989)
Harrowing, intense,brilliantly done
Indeed, its hard to imagine that such a sociopath could exist and such events took place. The movie leaves you with no doubt about Downs and such crimes. I hate that such cruel upbringing and molestation could lead to such horrifying deeds as murdering your own children, and yet there must be something in them when they are born that also plays a part. The characters are very real and great acting by all especially Farrah. Clearly, as she is described, she is a narcissist and her only concern is getting what she wants with no concern for anyone else. She is a master manipulator. Kudos also to the one who played her lawyer, he was superb.
Fun with Dick and Jane (1977)
Love it! Vintage comedy from start to finish!
One of my favorite movies! Fun from start to finish!😁Dick and Jane and son live in a high class neighborhood in the suburbs. He works for a big aeronautics company and she works at spending money. Their son is about 10. They have enjoyed success for some years. Suddenly, his boss played by Ed McMahon brilliantly, fires him and many others saying the company has been running on a loss for a while. They try the normal phase of shock, panic, public welfare, trying for loans. Then they lurch into a zany crime spree of robbing small businesses, then bigger businesses as well as auto theft. A trip with many twists and turns and a surprising end!
Patterns (1956)
Ultimate dog eat dog business world. Excellent film!
Top notch acting by all, gripping realistic power play from the get go. A rare gem of a film. New employee Staples and his wife have come into a great opportunity in a new town. Staples has a job at one of the biggest and most progressive corporations around. A new home has also been provided with all the amenities one could ask for. Staples meets the man that soon he is to replace, although he doesn't realize it at first. The two men share the same interests and values. However,everything becomes painfully clear how the Boss and the company runs things with an iron hand holding no sentiments whatsoever for the aging employee fixing to get pushed out. I greatly admire the Staples character played by Heflin, for we learn he has no room for such sadistic patterns.
Without Honor (1949)
great film!
Much like aHitchcock film, leaves on the edge of your seat. Jane is with her married lover. He tells her its over and he wants to stay with his wife. Janes reaction is extreme and she impulsively grabs a knife and threatens to kill herself. Theres a struggle and lover falls on knife. Jane thinks hes dead, and drags him into the laundry room, wondering what to do next. Then her brother-in-law, who has never liked her, shows up. He says she has always done him wrong by interfering in the relationship he had with his brother. He says he getting back at her because he hired a detective to follow her. He knows about her affair and plans to tell all. Good thriller.
Betrayed by Innocence (1986)
great film! Well done!
I have seen this about twice now and it stands the test of time well since the story remains strong and relevant. Barry Bostwick plays a 40 ish year old man, married with a daughter in college and his wife is a lawyer. He is in charge of making a travelogue movie and is very excited to do so since it is his first. It seems that he and his wife are on different wave lengths. She is very involved with a case and must leave home a short while. Their daughter has just left for college and he feels a bit lost and lonesome, wanting to talk with his wife. A young lady of 16 catches his eye at a friends party. Of course, he has no idea she is 16, since she looks older. She says she takes a college class studying film. He mentions he is working on his film on location the next day.
The girl, Marissa has a father who is a cop. She has no mother and her dad keeps a very tight leash on her whereabouts. In fact, she feels she is drowning because she has little freedom.
There are interesting layers to the story. You wont be disappointed!
The Face on the Milk Carton (1995)
good movie fine performances by all
I always enjoy Kellie Martin, shes great in all shes in. She finds herself a teenager who sees herself as a child on the side of a milk carton which brings about many memories and questions. She knows her parents could never have been kidnappers but she finally must ask them. They tell her that she is actually the daughter of their own daughter who was part of a cult. For fears about the cult, their daughter wanted the Jasmines (her parents) to raise Jenny. Realizing how traumatic and life changing it will be, Jenny and the Jasmines decide to report the truth to authorities. Indeed it a real joy for the real parents, and devastating situation.
Cruel Doubt (1992)
great thriller!
I have seen this several times thru the years and its one of my favorites. Top rate acting put in by all especially Blythe danner and the young guy who plays Chris Prichard. There are many twists and turns to this horrible nightmare of crime. A middle aged couple are attacked in their home, one is killed and the wife survives. Blythe plays the wife who has complete belief her son chris is not involved. However throughout the movie with his history of drug and alcohol abuse, he has some obvious mental trouble. His behaviour is suspicious. The story tells a very strange tale of Chris and two of his friends and their involvement withe the game of Dungeons and Dragons, a role playing game. On almost a dare situation, all three are involved with the murders. Quite fascinating.
The Gift of Life (1982)
Wonderful heartwarming film, well acted
Susan Dey puts in top notch performance as well as all the cast. She plays a hardworking homemaker who also works at a diner in small town America along with her equally hardworking husband who works as a partner with his father-in-law in some type of petroleum business. He has just started the booming business. Together the couple are raising two young daughters. It takes place in the early 1980s and in the news young women are interviewed as being surrogate mothers in the country and in the area where they live. A new doctor has introduced his program of surrogacy. It catches Susan's interest and despite strong opposition from her hubby, she enters the program. As she anticipates, such news causes havoc in her town, family and friends, and both her and hubby lose their jobs as a result. There are many twists and turns in this wonderful film.
The Sullivans (1944)
Heartwarming as well as heartbreaking
Most of the movie chronicles the Sullivan family and their fighting spirit even as boys. They also have an older sister. They really were quite outrageous with some of their pranks! Its entertaining and heartwarming how they really did stick together, working together and doing their schemes together. The parents are wonderful and supportive.
All the kids as well as adults all fit their parts wonderfully. I am always glad to see Anne Baxter as she plays Al's wife. I have never seen her this young. Ward Bond plays the head officer at the War Department. Of course, I have long known the tragic ending. I cannot imagine the pain and loss of losing 5 sons at once. Its truly an endearing and honorable view of their story.
Precious (2009)
Not for faint of heart, but a story that needed telling
One of the most brutal films ever,however it does portray a story which unfortunately is truthful look what happens in too many households. Big applause to "Gabbie" Sidibe and Monique for such fantastic performances as well as to everyone involved with the film.
The film takes a realistic and stark look at a house of horrors full of abuse given by the mom of a Precious, an obese teenage girl. It is not clear how she made it up to junior high, but she doesn't know how to read, and has failed a number of times. However, she has suffered every kind of abuse all her life, one major "reason" is revealed later in the movie. She has one child and another on the way fathered by her own dad.. She's at the beck and call of her mom and does all the cooking while her mom sits and collects welfare.
At the most terrible moments, her escape are fantasies where she dreams of being rich and famois.
She learns of an alternative school which her mom is aware of. Since she has been suspended from regular school, she attends.. The most wonderful part of the film is the friendships that occur because of the alternative school and especially with her teacher.
Big kudos also to Mariah Carey who I was surprised to see as the social worker. She does a great job as becomes "a regular Joe" and beautiful as ever.
A Rage to Live (1965)
Love It! better than soapy, Come my way Ben!
One of my favorites! I saw this a few years ago in hunt of Pleshette movies and she is fantastic in everything she does. You find yourself in the shoes of Grace a very privileged girl. We soon see she has a reputation as being "easy" with the guys. She says she cannot help such urges. I think in todays world, she might could seek help to control such behavior. Perhaps back then, there were such options. It is suggested in the movie. However, to confess to such things is much too much and so she continues. She reluctantly marries because she really does love the guy. He tells her that her past doesnt matter. However, even at her wedding, she gives in to a passionate kiss to an old "friend". Which is another strong vein in the show. In fact it leads to the breakup of that fellas marriage.
It is really Bannon, that really is the hook that does her in.
Being a fan of Match Game, I sought info about Brett Somers and saw Rage To Live was in her experience. Was curious, and watched this film again. She is boy #1's mom that catches her son and Grace in the basement early in the show.
Baby Doll (1956)
Absorbing, funny yet tragic
High drama and high emotions involved in this story based on a classic Tennessee Williams play. I can easily see why the movie was so controversial when it came out in the 50s and probably still causes a stir mainly for what I will call the high "sleaze factor" with two middle aged guys lusting after an innocent girl who is overall immature to be almost 20 years old. She's caught in tragic circumstances to start with in a purely arranged business deal marriage her dad made before he died.
Karl Malden plays an abrasive and loud fellow who is bankrupt in every sense of the word. In hopes of somehow gaining a new start,he burns down his most competitive gin. However, nothing goes well as he must contend with the owner of the gin he burned who is none too happy.
Everyone fills their roles brilliantly especially for newcomer to the big screen Eli Wallace who is quite a sexy fox.
The Young Philadelphians (1959)
brilliant all the way!
It does start off a bit oddly with the guy waiting til the wedding night to call marriage off because he only married to meet the expectation of his mother. Why not be truthful to start witjh? Well, anyway, it lays a big part of the movie down as a surprise factor later on.
Everyone does a great job in their roles especially Newman as the man who has always had to work hard and still tries to meet the social expectations of his mother. He doesnt want to rely on anyone but himself and plans to become a lawyer.
He gets played a sour hand when the girl he loves leaves him thinking Newman has only an advancement in his career in mind. Her wealthy father devised a plan where she and Newman would marry but with the promise of Newman working for her father. In his view the plan is great, but he didnt know how his girl would sree the situation.
The story takes an interesting turn when his friend is accused of murder. Robert Vaughn once again puts in a top notch performance as the friend.
The Catered Affair (1956)
A real gem of a film! supreme acting,absorbing,light but great meaning
Ran across this somewhere by accident and was overall charmed. I love Davis to begin with except for the horror flicks. Payment on Demand also an underated gem, is my favorute although In This Our Life is quite grand.
It is established that Davis and hubby Borgnine are a hard working family of humble means compared to the Hurleys, the famiky their daughter Reynolds plans to marry with small wedding plans of her own. That is the main theme throughout. However, she had sisters who had big weddings, which doesnt matter to her. Shes a sensible young lady.
On the other hand, Davis her mom, can only imagine having a grand wonderful catered wedding. Her one, it seems, last dream she has. After all, it is customary for the brides family to pay most of the costs of such. Few luxuries in life she has had, she reasons. She becomes quite determined that no matter what such a wedding will take place. She does realize, however, that her husband plans to soon become part owner of his own cab company, his dream. Still, the wedding becomes even more special and grand as Davis calculates each detail. While, hubby, comically, can only see dollar signs and his dream being quickly lost.
I am told a play of this story was made for tv, which i would love to see with Thelma Ritter playing the mom which i can totally envision. I havent seen any inkling of such play yet.
Despite the shouts and shreiks about the mounting costs by Bognine, plans continue. However, in view of Davis's serious roles, she uncharacteristically, concedes.
Come On, Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story (1999)
cheesey but i still liked it.
I grew up a Partridge Family fan, but idolized John denver much more than Cassidy. However, i became even more of a fan of Davids after reading his first autobiography about 1994. I became even part of his fan club even as about a 30 year old at the time. (True, not an exciting life) however it took my mind off my impending death of my husband. The nostalgic times were fun for me.
As far as this movie, the David Cassidy movie which came out a few years later i think on NBC, i enjoyed much more especially since i believe they actually used the original songs by Cassidy in that and in this they didnt. The NBC rendition was much more realistic i felt and was very emotional portrayal of David hearing about his dads death in a fire over the radio.
In this movie told by Bonaduce that fact in itself gave a certain shade over the whole thing. In other wordsperhaps can be taken more from a comedic view and/or a question of realism could be asked right from the start being told with his memories. However from interviews with him and other real cast members, the incidents portrayed did happen. A real tragedy the way he was treated by his dad.
I gave the movie 5 stars mainly, because i continue to be a fan even if its cheesey. I thought the actors did a fair job. The guy playing cassidyquite a cutie.
BTW..I LOST TOUCH WITH MY PEN PAL ABOUT 1995 FROM THE DAVID CASSIDY FAN CLUB, SO IF YOU JHAPPEN TO READ THIS ... MAYBE DO A REVIEW OF THIS FILM AND PUT IN AS ALAST WORD ... TRIGGER.
Bad Sister (1931)
Fantastic charming early film!
This story was made twice in the silent era. I am not certain how it went over inthose cases, but my guess is it was pretty fair. For one big thing in this film is it is Bettes first film and she is the nice sister! For such an old film, I found the sound and quality quite remarkable. ZazuPits who plays the outspokewn maid is hilarious! The kid brother is also wonderful as the brat. All the actors put in solid performances. No one had any idea at the time that the young Bette nor Bogart would become screen legends and that fact alone adds a bit of interest overall. I have yet to see a bad Davis film although the Baby Jane being of the horror genre, would never be high on my list.
The Go-Between (1971)
absorbing,great cast, charming
I found it beautiful in every way, the scenerythe sets and story. It seems to start off a little slow as we follow the summer vacation days of a boy to mans story in England. I think the boy is staying with an aunt and uncle and his cousins on a sprawling estate. He quickly becomes friends with other boys close to his age. . One adult relative Julie Christie especially takes interest in him, and showers him with gifts as in tune with his birthday. I have the impression that the boydoes not come from such wealth and that his home consists of only him and his mom.
We find out that Julie Christie has been having an affair with a nearby farmer and they hide their affair because he is way below her in class and social status. The boy becomes the messenger by taking correspondence letters that Jule and the farmer Ted write to each other. The boy gets emotionally involved to an extent because he would do anything for Julie.
Of course all comes a head when the affair is found out.
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
beautiful haunting story... be careful what you wish for!
I think long ago i watched this but didnt remember anything about it. Glad i decided to watch it again even though it took a little while tosee the gist of it. Reminds me of a show from Night Gallery or Twilight Zone. All the actors put in great performances and its sweet to see a lovely young angela lansbury.
The photography, costumes and sets are all truly exceptional especially for it to be a black and white movie. I also read articles about the real painters of the portrits used. Their specialty in painting are quite unique and for all accounts i dare say probably thir macabre paintings are featured for other horror or Halloween occasions. As seen in this movie, They are very talented and love the darker side of things.
The film is a real classic and its no wonder there have been several movies done of it.
The main who plays Dorian is exceptional in his role as the forever non emotional non aging character. It is eerie how his composure and manner remains the same throughout.
The only parts that are colorized in this version are the portraits of the monstrousother worldly character that reflects his true age and soul. This method is very effective.
The Children's Hour (1961)
intense, first rate actors, a real timeless tale
One of the greatest films ever especially with a view of how ground breaking it was for the time it was made. I seldom get tired of watching it. The spiteful child.. hard to watch her underhanded antics. Unfortunately her favorite thing is spreading rumors. She is the one child that should be forever banned from that school and put into a military school It only takes some spying and imagination for one lie to stain the whole school. Indeed, the hateful girl no doubt gets real ideas from the sordid book she reads.
However Aunt Lilly certainly was too free and easy in her opinions and judgmental stories about her niece Miss Dobrie. Her cowardice and failure to appear in court in order to help her niece and/or the school has also a very telling blow.
It ends very tragically. I think perhaps to add a more positive shade to it all, it might have been nice to show a scene from their future with Joe and Hepburn having their own school at a different locale perhaps.
I have seen the Joel Mccray version made in the 30s and it is quite as engaging but without the lesbian theme even though the lesbian account is based on truth and i think The Childrens Hour is quite indelible and powerful and wonderful.