Nice introduction to the series, 11 December 2008
"The Case of the Cunningham Heritage" is a nice introduction to the 1954 series creatively titled Sherlock Holmes. Ronald Howard plays Holmes and Howard Marion-Crawford is Watson. Both are more than adequate in their roles and present a nice change of pace for viewers more familiar with either the Rathbone films or the Brett television series. Howard gives Holmes a bit more humanity (for lack of a better word) than I've seen elsewhere. As for Crawford, fortunately he doesn't play Watson as the bumbling fool as Nigel Bruce often did. The pair is very capably joined by Archie Duncan as Inspector Lastrade. The Lastrade role is much larger than what's often found, but the character makes a nice foil for Holmes.
Being the first episode, "The Case of the Cunningham Heritage" is more concerned with character development than anything else. There's a murder, but it's hardly worth going into. The murder and its solution are ancillary to the viewer getting a feel for the characters. I, for one, appreciated this aspect of the episode. It sets a solid foundation for future installments. And, at less than 30 minutes in length, there's not much time for an overly involved mystery anyway.
Overall, not a bad way to get things started. I think a 6/10 is about right for this episode. I'm looking forward to watching the rest of the series.
6/10
"We didn't come here to fight monsters, we're not equipped for it.", 12 February 2008
A group of scientists heads up an Amazonian river in search of the fossilized remains of an unknown link between man and aquatic life. But the team of researchers gets more than they bargained for when they encounter a living example of their prehistoric Gill-Man. After a member of their party is killed, the group decides it best to leave the Black Lagoon. But the creature has become enamored with Kay (Julie Addams), the only female on the expedition, and blocks the scientist's retreat. Will they escape the Creature from the Black Lagoon?
As I think back to the late 60s, Creature from the Black Lagoon is one of the very first movies I can remember seeing. Its appeal to me was immediate and long lasting. The scenes of the creature's hand reaching up on the shore of the lagoon sent chills down my spine. And the four note musical introduction to the first images of the creature very nearly knocked me off the couch. Even at a young age, I knew it was a man in a costume, but that didn't matter. The creature design was awesome – it was frightening and fascinating all at once. The underwater photography was breathtaking. The shots of the creature swimming just under Julie Addams were the stuff of nightmares. Creepy! The underwater fight scenes, the spear-gun, Nestor Paiva, and the hidden grotto – I couldn't get enough of it. To my 5 or 6 year-old mind, Creature from the Black Lagoon was the perfect movie.
I'm not 5 anymore, but my opinion hasn't changed much. The cool thing is that I still get a charge out of that hand coming out of the water, I still jump a little when the creature music blares at his first appearance, and I still love the shots of the creature swimming under Julie Addams. I don't think I'll ever get tired of any of it.
10/10
Now that was fun!, 13 September 2007
From what little I can find on the internet about Gorilla at Large, it seems that Anne Bancroft viewed the movie with disdain and wasn't at all proud of her appearance. Well, as far as I'm concerned, you can have your Academy Award for The Miracle Worker and you can have the incredibly dull The Graduate – who needs them? You can look down on Gorilla at Large, but I'd rather watch it any day over either The Miracle Worker or The Graduate. Why? It's just more fun! Call it cheesy, call it campy, call it whatever you want – bottom line, Gorilla at Large is one entertaining movie. What's not to like? A Technicolor 3-D (though I saw it in 2-D) murder mystery where a gorilla is one of the prime suspects – how cool is that? I mean any movie with a gorilla that is so obviously played by a guy in a suit and a director that has the cajones to have a character put on another gorilla suit is okay with me. Two gorillas for the price of one – can't go wrong with that.
In addition to the dismissive Anne Bancroft, Gorilla at Large has a very impressive cast. The resolute Raymond Burr, the cigar-chomping Lee J. Cobb, a baby-faced Lee Marvin, genre favorite Cameron Mitchell, and the most famous man in a gorilla suit, George Barrows, are all on hand for the fun. I realize that most of these actors were in the early stages of their careers, but what's the likelihood of getting two or even three "names" in a movie. Gorilla at Large has a known name or face at every turn. Amazing!
Overall, I had a great time watching Gorilla at Large. It's too bad Anne Bancroft never saw the fun in this movie.
7/10
"Those eyes! Those HORRIBLE eyes!", 10 August 2007
While monitoring a nuclear test, a plane carrying Dr. Douglas Martin (Peter Graves) mysteriously crashes in the desert. When the wreckage is found, there is no sign of Dr. Martin's body. It seems that Dr. Martin has been revived by a group of aliens living under the desert. They want Dr. Martin to spy for them and help them pave the way for their conquest of Earth.
I really thought I was going to enjoy Killers from Space more than I did. It's got all the hallmarks of a movie that should be goofy fun. But the thing ends up being so damn dull that it's difficult to watch. The problem is that nothing (and I mean absolutely nothing) happens during the movie's entire 71 minute runtime. Watch Peter Graves run this way – watch Graves do an about face and run the other way – watch as Graves changes his mind yet again and heads in another direction. This goes on for what seems like an eternity. It really is one incredibly painful experience.
And what about the aliens in Killers from Space? Could they be any goofier looking? A bunch of fat, doughy, Robert Vaughn-looking white guys with ping-pong balls for eyes – ooohhh, I'm so scared! How utterly ridiculous!
2/10
A true masterpiece, 1 April 2007
I feel so inadequate even attempting to discuss this movie. But I'll give it a try. For those who haven't seen Touchez pas au grisbi, it's the story of an aging gangster named Max (played to perfection by Jean Gabin). With the help of his partner Riton (also played to perfection by René Dary), Max has just pulled off the biggest caper of his career and is now set to retire. But a few of the other local thugs have other ideas. They kidnap Riton and offer to a trade him for the loot.
While that may be the five sentence review of the plot's highlights, the robbery and subsequent kidnapping are hardly what the movie is all about. These are merely devices to push the plot along. Instead, Touchez pas au grisbi is about the never ending friendship between two people. It's about willing to forfeit a fortune if it means saving your best friend. It's about their day-to-day lives, the nightclubs they visit, the women they use, and, in one of the more bizarre moments, even their dental hygiene habits. While it hardly sounds glamorous, it's one of the more compelling movies I've seen recently. Max's life pulled me in to the point that it almost seemed real. Director Jacques Becker lets the viewer really get to know these two guys so that later on when the pair finds themselves in danger, we feel for them.
Touchez pas au grisbi may not be action-packed, but when the violence does come, it's jolting in its abruptness. While the shootout near the end of the film is an obvious example, there's a moment earlier on in the movie that shows how abrupt and effective the violence in Touchez pas au grisbi is. Max has located Riton's girlfriend who he believes to be at least partially responsible for Riton's kidnapping. Up to this point, with a few very minor and brief exceptions, Max has hardly seemed capable of excessive violence. Up to this point, he's come across almost as a kindly Grandfather. But when Max confronts the girlfriend, we see what he is capable of. The rough manner in which he handles everyone in the room, including repeatedly slapping the girl to get the information he's after, is quite shocking. It's a scene that's very nicely done.
In the end, Touchez pas au grisbi is a true masterpiece that deserves all the accolades it has received. I know it's one of the best movies I've ever seen.
9/10
