Drama > 1950 Drama

"I AM big! It's the pictures that got small!"

Advantages: Great story, performances and screenplay
Disadvantages: Erm... genuinely trying to think here... not enough action? Basically none.

When I bought Sunset Boulevard (or is it Sunset Blvd.? I still don't know) I didn't really know much about it, other than that it was a "classic" and that the average rating from the staff of IMDb is 9.5/10, and that's good in anyone's books. It tells the story of Joe Gillis (played by William Holden), a screenwriter who's a bit down on his luck. His latest film idea isn't too popular, and there are a couple of debt guys on his back, looking to ...
...an old, dilapidated mansion on Sunset Boulevard. Crumbling and decaying, it puts Joe in mind of Miss Havisham and her abode. He hides the car in the garage and goes to leave… However, the house is not empty. It is home to Nora Desmond (played by Gloria Swanson), a former silent movie queen, who these days isn't doing anything but sitting at home getting fan mail, and writing a script for her next movie, Salomé. She invites Joe inside, and on discovering ...

l-m-n-o-p 01.09.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Sunset Boulevard (DVD)

Big eyes, a shaven head and a conspiracy

Advantages: The eyes
Disadvantages: The shaven head

...Caton-Jones Everything about Scandal is wonderful – from the soundtrack, highlighted by Dusty Springfield and the Pet Shop Boys on Nothing Has Been Proved, to the Pathe videos of the pre-Swinging 60’s UK to the playing of the stars… a veritable feast for the eyes and ears, but most importantly of all the mind… I could watch films like this again and again (and probably will)… Think of Michael Caine in Alfie or The Italian Job and you will recognise ...
...Please Me’s number one…”), when scandal was rife, when it was more disgraceful to lie to the Commons than to actually be found to be having an affair. Love, Love Me Do… I certainly will. John Hurt towers over this movie, in one of his greatest ever performances, but he’s given an excellent run for his money by McKellen and JW-K, but really it’s not the cast who are the real stars, but the scenery, the location, the atmosphere, the material, an ...

dave27 06.04.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Scandal (DVD)

Watch It For The Babe!

Advantages: Good cast, very good acting, a classic film noir
Disadvantages: A bit slow at first, slightly disappointing

Now the kids are back at school and college, I can catch up on watching some of those DVDs I haven't had chance to see yet. The one I chose to watch today was a black and white film noir from 1950 - The Asphalt Jungle - and yes, I admit I bought this classic film for one reason - Marilyn Monroe! But more on her later. The film is directed by John Huston and its stars include Sterling Hayden as Dix Handley, Louis Calhern as Alonzo D. Emmerich and ...
...seen the film before, but had an idea of what to expect. However, I did find it a bit confusing and hard to get into initially. It seemed quite difficult to work out who was who and I found I really needed to concentrate to follow it. The basic plot involves a gang committing a heist and stealing a million dollars' worth of jewels. The robbery itself takes up a very small amount of the film, with quite a large build up explaining who else becomes ...

KarenUK 06.10.2008 · Read full review
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Review of The Asphalt Jungle (DVD)

About Eve, and Margo too

Advantages: Superb performances, compelling story
Disadvantages: It's black and white, and some won't take the opportunity to watch this fantastic film

...her on as an assistant. All is well until Margo realises that Eve has a great ambition - she wants to be as big, if not bigger, than Margo herself. Eve tentatively begins to make progress as an actress and clearly has talent...much to Margo's fury. But can she ever be as famous as Margo? And was she just using Margo to further her career? Or is Margo just a jealous old has-been, scared of losing her fame and fortune? Margo Channing is played by the ...
...and that everyone is fawning all over her, reminding her of how talented she is. When Eve threatens to take some of that fame away from her, we see a very different side of Margo. She drinks too much, snaps at everyone and even drives her lover away. Yet underneath it all, it is clear that Margo is a vulnerable, frightened woman, and it is very difficult to feel much in the way of hate for her. Bette Davis manages to portray all of this beautifully. ...

sunmeilan 24.05.2009 · Read full review
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Review of All About Eve (DVD)

This movie will pull you in

Advantages: Surprisingly good. Gripping story and good performances, Peter Lorre in creepy minor role
Disadvantages: None

Starring: Mickey Rooney as Daniel 'Dan' Brady Jeanne Cagney as Vera Novak Peter Lorre as Nick Dramoshag This 1950 film is a real oddity: a Film Noir in which the hero is played by, of all people, Mickey Rooney, and in which the femme fatale is played by James Cagney’s sister, who looks just like James Cagney in drag and therefore maybe not quite so palatable as a feminine temptress as we would like! This is the first film I know of where Mickey Rooney ...
...family comedies such as the Andy Hardy series, where he played endearingly silly young characters, to a cocky Jack-The-Lad type with a fondness for worldy-wise dames. In this story, he plays Daniel, a garage mechanic in a beachside town. He has a pretty happy-go-lucky life, until he gets tangled up with temptress Vera whose escalating financial demands propel the besotted Daniel into an increasingly downward spiral of trouble. We start by seeing ...

thereddragon 06.04.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Quicksand (DVD)