Episodit
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“Only Angels Have Wings” 1939 takes place in the fictional South American town of Barranca. There is danger, romance, and drama surrounding Barranca Airways a struggling business with fatalistic pilots, money worries, unpredictable weather, few planes, and difficult human relationships. Director Howard Hawks creates excitement much as he did with “Red River” 1948 (Episode 71), “The Thing from Another World’ 1951 (Episode 59), and many other excellent films.
The cast includes Cary Grant as Geoff Carter the Manager and lead pilot, Jean Arthur as Bonnie Lee the piano player-entertainer, Richard Barthelmess is Bat MacPherson a hated pilot who redeems himself, Judy MacPherson played by Rita Hayworth in her first major role, Thomas Mitchell as “Kid” Dabb best friend of Carter, and many others. Fasten seat belts for this movie.
Here’s the IMDB page for “Only Angels Have Wing”
Watch the full movie for free on YouTube here.
And listen to the Lux Radio adaptation here on YouTube.
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“Bicycle Thieves” also known as “Bicycle Thief” 1948 is an Italian drama that presents a Rome family struggling with unemployment, poverty, and the aftermath of World War II. Director Vittorio De Sica captures this subsistence life with exceptional use of black and white cinematography, melancholy music, on location street scenes, untrained actors, and devastating events. The movie won an Academy Award (Special Award) as did Mr. De Sica’s 1946 film “Shoeshine”.
Lamberto Maggiorani plays Antonio Ricci who is hired to hang outdoor wall posters in an assigned area, and he must have a bicycle for the work. Antonio’s supportive and strong-willed wife Maria is played by Lianella Carell. Enzo Staiola is masterful as Bruno, Antonio’s 8-year-old son. The large supportive cast enhances this drama of everyday life. This film is unforgettable.
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Our podcast covers time travel movies.
“Time After Time” 1979 from Director Nicholas Meyer transports us to H.G. Wells and his search for Doctor John Leslie Stevenson known as Jack-the-Ripper. Malcolm McDowell is H.G. Wells, Mary Steenburgen plays Amy Robbins who assists Wells, with Jack-the-Ripper played by David Warner.
“Somewhere in Time” 1980 by Director Jeannot Szwarc is the timeless love story between Elise Mckenna and Richard Collier. It unfolds at the Grand Hotel on beautiful Mackinac Island, Michigan. Christopher Reeve plays Richard Collier, Jane Seymour is Elise McKenna, and Christopher Plummer plays William Fawcett Robinson Ms. McKenna’s manager and Mr. Collier’s nemesis. “Somewhere in Time” has unforgettable music composed by John Barry with Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for added beauty.
Enjoy!
Here's the IMDB page for Time After Time
Here's the IMDB page for Somewhere In Time
Here's a YouTube playlist of 10 memorable scenes from Time After Time
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“Sextette” 1978 is Mae West’s last film and showcases her talents and one liners. The movie is a wedding day mash-up of oddball characters, funny situations, antics of ex-husbands, an international peace conference, musical numbers, and a potpourri of stars. Director Ken Hughes created this big budget smorgasbord that sank at the box office.
Mae West is Marlo Manners/Lady Barrington the new bride of sixth husband Sir Michael Barrington played by Timothy Dalton. Sir Michael is also a secret agent. Dom DeLuise plays Dan Turner trying to hold everything together while also performing a search and dancing. The ex-husbands include Tony Curtis as Alexi Andreyev Karansky, Ringo Starr as Laslo Karony, and George Hamilton as Vance Norton. The cast includes Alice Cooper as Alice Cooper/Waiter and many cameo appearances. What a film!
You can watch Sextette on YouTube here (at least as of this posting).
https://youtu.be/swS-9j3BuAE
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We incorrectly said Robert Wise never directed a western. Mr. Wise directed these westerns - “Two Flags West” 1950, “Tribute to a Bad Man” 1956, and “Blood on the Moon” 1948. We apologize for our oversight. The creativity of Mr. Wise is seen throughout “Blood on the Moon”.
Robert Mitchum as Jim Garry rides into a conflict involving Robert Preston as Tate Riling who has a scheme to profit from a cattle swindle effecting John Lufton played by Tom Tully, reservation food prices, and U.S. Government purchasing costs. Aiding Riling is corrupt Government Agent Jake Pindalest played by Frank Faylen. Lufton’s two daughters Amy and Carol played by Barbara Bel Geddes and Phyllis Thaxter disagree over the motives of Riling and Garry. Walther Brennan as Kris Barden is excellent.
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“The Lion” 1962 is a family/adventure film set on an animal preserve in Kenya. Director Jack Cardiff relies on excellent movie making skills to fill the screen with beautiful scenes of Africa and wildlife. Mr. Cardiff‘s experience includes Cinematographer for films such as “Black Narcissus” 1947 (Episode 98) and “The African Queen” 1951.
William Holden is Robert Hayward a Lawyer who travels to Africa at the request of his former wife to help face the challenges of their eleven-year-old daughter and her attachment to King a lion played by Zamba. Capucine plays ex-wife Christine and Pamela Franklin is their daughter Tina. Trevor Howard plays John Bullit the grizzled manager of the game preserve and relatively new husband of Christine. Bullit deeply loves Africa and the movie captures that and much more.
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“Mogambo” 1953 is a romance-adventure film set in Africa. Thank you to Patreon listener Arthur who recommended we include the movie in a podcast. Director John Ford built the film around African locations and music from African tribes. The film has many elements found in the 1932 movie “Red Dust”.
Clark Gable is Victor Marswell the experienced guide who leads the safari to ultimately observe Gorillas in their natural setting. The safari group includes Grace Kelly as Linda Nordley who falls in love with Marswell, Donald Nordley the husband of Linda played by Donald Sinden, Ava Gardner as Eloise Kelly who also loves Marswell, and a large supporting cast. Mr. Gable also played the lead in the “Red Dust” film. Enjoy this adventure drawn from an earlier time.
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“The Fog” 1980 is a horror-drama set in the California coastal town of Antonio Bay. Director John Carpenter co-wrote the screenplay and created the music for this exciting story. A luminous, eerie fog rolls into town bringing with it the ghosts from 100 years ago seeking revenge for their brutal murder and theft of their gold.
Adrienne Barbeau is Stevie Wayne the radio host who early on deals with the fog, Ty Mitchell plays Stevie’s son Andy, Jamie Lee Curtis is Elizabeth Solley a hitchhiker swept up in events that also engulf her friend Nick Castle played by Tom Atkins, Janet Leigh plays Kathy Williams who is nervously coordinating the town’s 100-year anniversary, and Father Patrick Malone, at the core of this vengeful tale, is played by Hal Holbrook. Happy Halloween?
Here’s the IMDB page for “The Fog”
Up next is “Magambo”
Support us over on Patreon!
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“Cry, the Beloved Country” 1951 is based on Alan Paton’s 1948 novel depicting several aspects of Apartheid in South Africa. Director Zoltan Korda persevered to make this film with intertwined stories of race relations, poverty, beliefs of diverse people, murder, a trial, status quo, yet a glimmer of hope. The movie, made in South Africa over 70 years ago, is a testament to strength and commitment.
Canada Lee plays Stephen Kumalo the black minister searching for his son and other family members lost in the depths of Johannesburg, Charles Carson is James Jarvis and Joyce Carey is Mrs. Jarvis the white farm couple whose son is murdered during a robbery, Sidney Poitier plays Reverend Msimangu assisting Mr. Kumalo in his quest. This exceptional movie is timely in today’s world!
Here’s the IMDB page for “Cry, the Beloved Country”
Up next is “The Fog”
Support us over on Patreon!
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“King Solomon’s Mines” 1951 is the second film version depicting the danger and romance facing a group as they search for a missing husband and lost treasure in Africa in 1897. A 1937 movie was first to depict the story. For the 1951 film Directors Compton Bennett and Andrew Marton built the movie with much of it filmed in Africa.
Deborah Kerr is Elizabeth Curtis who must locate her husband missing while looking for treasure. Allan Quatermain played by Stewart Granger is the well-known safari guide who agrees to lead the search. Richard Carlson is Elizabeth’s brother John Goode, Kimursi as Khiva works with Quatermain and is from the Kipsigi Tribe, and Siriaque is Umbopa a member of royalty who wants to become King. Enjoy the wildlife, scenery, and adventure.
Here’s the IMDB page for “King Solomon’s Mines”
Up next is “Cry, the Beloved Country”
Support us over on Patreon!
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Thank you to one of our Patreon members for recommending “Bombshell” 1933 for this podcast. Director Victor Fleming has created a fast-paced comedy. Among Mr. Fleming’s many successes are “The Wizard of Oz” 1939 (Episode 144) and “Gone with the Wind” 1939.
The talented Jean Harlow plays Lola Burns. Lola is “fed up” with the never-ending stories orchestrated in the press by Publicist E. J. “Space” Hanlon played by Lee Tracy. Lola’s father played by Frank Morgan and her brother played by Ted Healy create chaotic situations made more unpredictable by those large shaggy dogs engulfing Lola and her entourage. Then mix in Franchot Tone as the wealthy and romantic Gifford Middleton to maybe carry Lola away from this wildness. All this adds to our enjoyment of the movie. Madcap fun indeed!
Here’s the IMDB page for “Bombshell”
Up next is “King Solomon’s Mines”
Support us over on Patreon!
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In “Les Diaboliques”, translated The Devils, Director Henri-Georges Clouzot gives us a prize winning eerie drama that is one of the best in the genre. As the story unfolds both the mistress and the wife of a mean and controlling husband work together to accomplish his murder. The movie takes manytwists and turns leading to one of the best finales in film.
Véra Clouzot plays the husband’s wife Christina, Simone Signoret is mistress Nicole, the dreadful husband Michel is played by Paul Meurisse, and a private detective and retired senior police official Alfred is played by Charles Vanel. His character seems like a forerunner to television’s Columbo. The excellent cast includes a well-placed student who adds to the mystery. Enjoy what one reviewer called “a pip of a murder thriller…”
Check us out on Patreon at www.patreon.com/classicmoviereviews for even more content and bonus shows.
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“The 39 Steps” 1935 is a spy movie with action taking place in the United Kingdom. Director Alfred Hitchcock packs the film with elements such as an innocent man on the run, a Hitchcock cameo, and the “MacGuffin” plot device important to the drama. These and other elements often appear in current films.
Robert Donat is Richard Hannay the innocent Canadian thrust into espionage operations designed to steal plans for an advanced, silent airplane engine. Joining Mr. Donat’s excellent performance is Madeleine Carroll as Pamela the woman who eventually realizes he needs her help, Professor Jordan played by Godfrey Tearle is the spy group’s leader, Wylie Watson as Mr. Memory who memorizes the engine design, and a cast of interesting people. Join us in following Richard Hannay’s many narrow escapes.
Check us out on Patreon at www.patreon.com/classicmoviereviews for even more content and bonus shows.
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The comedy duo of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello fit the bill with their 1941 movies “Buck Privates” and “Keep ‘Em Flying”. With wars raging in Asia and Europe, there were several films in 1940 and 1941 aimed at building support for a United States military buildup.
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“Secret of the Incas” 1954 an adventure film that influences“Indiana Jonas and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” 1981. In “Secret of the Incas” Charlton Heston as Harry Steele has a hat, coat, and other things similar to those of Indiana Jones played by Harrison Ford in “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. Moreover, Harry uses a shaft of light in the tomb as does Indiana in the Map Room at the Nazi dig site.
Nicole Maurey as Elena Antonescu and Thomas Mitchell as Ed Morgan add to the action in Peru. Meanwhile Indiana travels the world in search of the Ark. His adventures also include Marion Ravenwood a former lover played by Karen Allen and a host of heroes to ne’er-do-wells. Enjoy the action.
We recorded this in 2021, the 40th anniversary of Raiders Of The Lost Arc
Here’s the IMDB page for “Secret Of The Incas” and “Raiders”
Check us out on Patreon at www.patreon.com/classicmoviereviews for even more content and bonus shows.
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“The Sound of Music” 1965 is a musical and drama film andamong our favorite movies. The creative talent of Director Robert Wise beautifully captures the von Trapp family story. We have reviewed many films directed by Mr. Wise including “The Andromeda Strain” 1971 (Episode 38), “Run Silent Run Deep” 1958 (Episode 117), and “West Side Story” 1961 (Episode 118). His films are excellent.
The movie centers around the life of Maria played by Julie Andrews, Captain von Trapp played by Christopher Plummer, and the von Trapp children. The first half of the film showcases the family and the music while the second half presents the horror caused by the annexation of Austria into the Third Reich. In addition to being a marvelous film it received five Academy Awards.
Here’s the IMDB page for ”The Sound Of Music”
Check us out on Patreon at www.patreon.com/classicmoviereviews for even more content and bonus shows.
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”Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” 1954 is set in 1850 and brings together wonderful Western themed musical and dance numbers and the horrible kidnapping of six women. Stanley Donen was Co-Director of “On the Town” 1948 (Episode 2) and “Singing in the Rain” 1952 (Episode 20), but as Director of this movie the disconnect between music and behavior smash head-on.
Jane Powell as Milly marries Adam Pontipee played by Howard Keel. Milly gains the respect of the Pontipee brothers. Russ Tamblyn plays the youngest brother Gideon who eventually exhibits greater common sense and maturity than any of the other brothers. In 2004 the movie was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant”. Join us for this collision.
Here’s the IMDB page for ”Seven Brides For Seven Brothers”
Check us out on Patreon at www.patreon.com/classicmoviereviews for even more content and bonus shows.
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“Paint Your Wagon” 1969 is a western – musical film. Director Joshua Logan faced multiple challenges including remote locations, cast members with differing ideas and styles, a ballooning budget, and studio anxieties. Mr. Logan needed his director experiences from films such as “South Pacific” 1958 (Episode 11) to complete this movie.
Events occur at a gold rush mining camp full of lonely, wild miners. The huge cast is led by Lee Marvin as Ben Rumson the grizzled and hard drinking man of the open country, Clint Eastwood as “Pardner” the new best friend of Rumson, and Jean Seberg as Elizabeth the woman loved by both Rumson and “Pardner”. The film features over twelve musical numbers and both Mr. Marvin and Mr. Eastwood did their own singing. Please enjoy this crew.
Here’s the IMDB page for “Paint Your Wagon”
Check us out on Patreon at www.patreon.com/classicmoviereviews for even more content and bonus shows.
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“Calamity Jane” 1953 is a fanciful western, musical, and comedy involving the lives of Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok and many others in and around Deadwood, Dakota Territory. Director David Butler corrals together quite a group of characters for this light-hearted romp through the make-believe west with many fun songs. In part the movie was inspired by the box-office success of “Annie Get Your Gun” 1950.
Doris Day plays the wildly energetic Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok is played by Howard Keel, Allyn Ann McLerie is Katie Brown an aspiring song and dance performer who captivates in every scene, and Philip Carey is the upstanding Lieutenant Daniel Gilmartin. There are many other excellent cast members including Dick Wesson as Francis Fryer. Return with us now to this 1953 version of the west.
Here’s the IMDB page for “Calamity Jane”
Check us out on Patreon at www.patreon.com/classicmoviereviews for even more content and bonus shows.
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"Hondo" 1953 is a 3D western directed by John Farrow with John Ford directing the final scenes because Mr. Farrow had to leave to complete another film. The movie was shown in 3D, but many smaller theaters showed it in the traditional format. The story takes place in 1870 when the Army invalidates a treaty obligation that leads to a conflict with the Apache Nation.
Hondo Lane played by John Wayne is a dispatch rider and scout for the Army who arrives at the remote Arizona homestead of Angie Lowe played by Geraldine Page and her young son Johnny played by Lee Aaker. Leo Gordon is Ed Lowe who has abandoned his family. In this first rate film Michael Pate gives a strong performance as the Apache leader Vittoro.
Here’s the IMDb page for “Hondo”
Check us out on Patreon at www.patreon.com/classicmoviereviews for even more content and bonus shows.
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