This is my progress so far: with pithy little comments, so I can remember what I saw. I think I will update this every couple days as I watch more old classics. Mostly movies I have never seen of or even heard of before.

8/21 Larceny, Inc. 1942 My first experience with a Edward G. Robinson mobster film. This light hearted comedy stars Robinson as an ex-con who buys a luggage store next door to a bank, with designs on robbing the bank vault. Everything goes smoothly until the store starts making money and the ex-cons try to go straight. Wonderful moment when the soda jerk turns out to be Jackie Gleason in one of his earliest film roles.

8/22 The Cincinnati Kid 1965 The original poker movie. The story has been told hundreds of time. Youngster aims to unseat the king. Whether the background is pool, boxing or poker the story resonates in a timeless way. Here Edward G. Robinson is ‘The Man’, a traveling poker playing God. So famous that people willingly sit in and lose to him for the honor of having done so. For a movie made in 1965, it is surprisingly canny with its knowledge of big bet poker, and the psychology of those players who are able to put it all on the line with no fear.

8/23 Little Caesar 1931 film starring Edward G. Robinson as a small town hood who moves to the big city (Chicago) with designs to take over the rackets there. I quite enjoyed this movie, and though the acting seemed rote and dated, stiff even, the mobster played by Robinson has become an archetypal portrayal of the role. Mimicked and mocked the world over from Bugs Bunny to modern gangster films.

8/23 The Cassandra Crossing A 70s era disaster picture starring a bevy of famous and notorious actors. Including Sofia Loren, the most beautiful women in history, and OJ Simpson. The premise is a terrorist assault on a military research hospital results in a terrorist being infected, escaping and secreting himself on a train, infecting everyone with a deadly virus. Pretty weak altogether.

8/24 Operation Crossbow. 1965. War movie which has as its foundation the hunt for a new german rocket installation, and the crack team sent to destroy it. Very entertaining spy, espionage flick. Surprisingly violent, taking an unflinching look at the true cost of running a black operation, and the unanticipated casualties inflicted on the way. The final act is standard big action fare. George Peppard is the head of the infiltration team, and plays his role with confidence and panache.

8/25 Key Largo 1948. Bogart, Robinson, Edward G. Robison. Dir. John Huston. Exceptional movie starring a host of the biggest names of the day. A very good movie about a Mobster (Robinson) who takes over a small hotel in Key Largo and holds the owner and his daughter hostage while they plot their getaway to Cuba. Robinson’s on screen introduction is classic, and unique, and the plot, while straight forward, and not particularly nuanced is entertaining. The Edward G. Robinson marathon continues.

8/26 The Prestige. 2008. Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale. Absolutely first rate, wonderful movie that reaches extreme heights of dramatic awesomeness!! Not the most coherent review, but the underlying story of two rival magicians who continue trying to outdo each other as their careers cross back and forth over the course of several years. Christian Bale’s character causes a tragic death of Hugh Jackman’s wife, and their blood feud is started. Great sci fi movie masquerading as a period character study.

8/28 Tight Spot. 1955. Edward G. Robinson appears in this gangster picture as (surprise) a DA who needs to protect the female prisoner (Ginger Rogers) targeted for death by a gangster (Lorne Greene) she may testify against. After an earlier stool pigeon is murdered on the court steps, Ginger Rogers is sprung from jail and discovers her perilous fate. The story develops much more as a character piece, with Rogers discussing her past, dining indecision or just chatting up her guardian, Brian Keith. And being slowly convinced to do the right thing. Rogers is 44, and really looks her age. Eh…decent, but not all that good.

8/29 Office Space. A wonderful, under heralded. Now a cult classic, it was nearly unnoticed when it came out in 1996. Anyone who has ever had a job, or worked in an office will relate to this movie, with its useless jobs, meaningless busy work, and guys desperate to find a way out. Great movie.

8/29 Juno and the Paycock. 1930. Very early Hitchcock film, his second with sound. It generally concerns some Irish fellows who talk a lot about uninteresting things.

8/30 The Formula 1980. ‘Thriller’ starring George C. Scott and Marlon Brando about the existence of a Nazi formula to make synthetic gasoline. Murder and mayhem follow as various groups try to gain control of this valuable commodity. Scott is a police Lt. investigating the murder of a friend. The movie is long, slow and meandering, with the pace and soundtrack more akin to an ABC murder mystery than a proper film. Brando is very compelling in his two scenes, but altogether, not particularly thrilling, unfortunately.

8/30 Brother Orchid. 1940. Edward G. Robinson retires as head of a protection racket to take a Continental vacation (and learn ‘class). Upon his return (5 years later, swindled out of his fortune), he finds that Humphrey Bogart (costarring as his lead henchman) has taken over the gang, and aims to keep him from resuming as boss of the crew. His now rich ex-girl friend accidentally sets Robinson up to be killed, and the injured Mob Boss finds a safe haven in a monastery, where the brothers cultivate orchids. Entertaining enough.

9/1 Fury. 1936. Directed by Fritz Lang, his first Hollywood film. Spencer Tracy stars in this well heralded film about an innocent man lynched by a mob for kidnapping a child. He vows his vengeance upon the mob. Very intense story focusing both on the plight of Tracy, and the mob mentality that overcomes the town. After Tracy’s miraculous escape the movie shifts to a courtroom where the DA charges 22 people in the lynching murder of Tracy. Griping, riveting film, a must see for it’s focus on mob law.

9/1 Lady in Cement. 1968. Frank Sinatra plays small time PI Tony Rome for a second time in this mystery. Sinatra, scuba diving to find supposed Spanish treasure happens upon a beautiful (and naked) woman, feet anchored in cement, at the bottom of the sea. Her death leads to Raquel Welch, and mobsters, and Hoss from Bonanza. All tied into the death of the Lady in Cement. Of course, Rome is framed and has to run from the cops, and etc. All in all, a breezy late 60s flick, with an in her prime Welch.

9/2 The Laughing Policeman. 1973. Walter Matthau, Bruce Dern and Louis Gossett Jr star in a serial killer flick. Matthau plays a detective whose partner is gunned down in mass murder on a city bus. At least one fellow cop is a suspect, and the movie focuses on the unfolding investigation to determine who the murderer is, and why. Directed by Stuart Rosenberg, who got his start in TV before directing movies such as Cool Hand Luke. It took place in San Fran, so there is gratuitous gay bashing.

9/3 Soldier of Fortune. 1955. Clark Gable, a soldier of fortune (and perhaps a govenment operative) stars in this story of a woman (Susan Hayward) whose husband disappears in China, and is accused of being a spy. The wife searches HK for someone who can help him find her husband. Clark Gable is that man, and seems to be of a mind to help her, so he can prove her husband is dead, and he can bag the girl. The story is quite entertaining thriller from a pre 007 era. Interesting how all the outdoor scenes are filmed backgrounds instead of on location in China.

9/4 Nightmare. 1956. Kevin McCarthy –of Invasion of the Body Snatchers fame - is a man who has a very vivid nightmare of himself killing another man. He wakes in his own bed, covered with blood, holding a house key from his dream. Approaching his detective brother in law (Edward G. Robinson) his nightmare is dismissed, and he tries to get on with his life, but doubts nag him. During an idyllic trip to the country side with ERG, he stumbles on the house where the murder appeared to have happened. Atmospheric, smoky dream sequences, McCarthy’s voice overs, and the unnerving atmosphere lead to wonderfully disorienting movie. The question, as always in movies like this is who is the puppeteer? A gem of a movie.

9/5 The Star Chamber. 1983. The beginning of this movie makes you angry as hell, as the smarmy defense attorney gets a multiple murder off on a technicality. The Judge (Michael Douglas) grudgingly goes along, angry that his hands are tied. A senior judge (Hal Holbrook, playing a character he would reprise to some degree in The Firm) entices Douglas to ‘do something about it’. Another murder leads to another defendant getting off scot-free, and Douglas can hold out no more. How Douglas handles being Judge, Jury, and by extension Executioner follows. This is a bit too simplistic, and purposefully inflammatory for the viewer, making us sympathetic to his frustration. A mediocre movie with a really good cast of supporting actors includes James Sikking, Yaphet Kotto, Sharon Gless.

9/5 Jewel Robbery. 1932. William Powell and Kay Francis star. A nifty comedy about an elegant jewel thief who meets a baroness (Francis) during a jewelry store heist in Vienna. He loosens up his targets up by introducing them to marijuana, which induces them to give up their loot. Wow. 1932, no less. Powell is a debonair robber in the grand tradition, he chats with the owner, and the beautiful baroness. You can see how future debonnaire thieves, like David Niven in the Pink Panther owes a debt to this role. No muss, no fuss. Reasonably fun. Especially all the guys smoking pot and getting whacked out and hungry.

9/8 Curse of the Fly. 1965. Lucious widescreen black and white, with a young woman in underwear galavanting around outside. As the young lass makes her escape from a mental hospital, she is picked up on the road by Martin Delambre, relative of the original Fly scientists. As usual, there are side effects and unexpected consequences of teleporting. Failures, mixed species, and etc, including a scarred father, a deformed first wife, and a son Martin harboring recessive Fly genes. Slow, ponderous and plodding. Mediocre at best.

9/9 Blowup. 1966. Michelangelo Antoniori’s first American film follows a young hip photographer as he shoots glamorous models in his flat and etc. During a photo trip to the park, he photographs a couple of lovers including Vanessa Redgrave who doesn’t take well to being photographed, and demands the pictures. It moves slowly in the beginning, serving to exaggerate David Hemmings largely aimless lifestyle. Once he starts developing the film, it begins to take on the atmosphere of solving a puzzle. The viewer is asking, what is he seeing, what is Hemmings looking at/for in the knot of brush by the fence? What is missing, though is a sense of menace, or threat, but this scene works wonderfully, cutting from picture to picture, in complete silence. Telling a story with static, not moving pictures. Perception vs. Reality. Can you create something from nothing. Shockingly, near the end we see the Yardbirds with Jeff Beck, and JIMMY PAGE!!!! They play a song sort of like ‘train kept a rollin’. It ends in a very surreal way. Decent film, if slow.

9/9 Out of the Past. 1947. “I don’t wanna die, but if I have to, I wanna die last” Film noir, starring Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas. Jeff Bailey (Mitchum) is a gas station owner who is secretive about his past, obviously fearing that something will catch up to him. A stranger recognizes him, telling him he needs to go see Sterling in Lake Tahoe. Mitchum is young and rugged, ready for action, as he flashes back to gambler Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas) hiring him to find a dame who shot him and stole his 40g’s. It was directed by Jacques Tourneur famous for his directing work with Val Lewton on the RKO horror films. This historical classic is almost the definition of the convoluted, dreamlike storyline and its chiaroscuro cinematography (thx wiki!). Extremely entertaining.

9/10 Topkapi. 1964. Classic heist film. The thieves’ goal is the theft of a jewel encrusted dagger from Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. Directed by Jules Dassin, and starring Peter Ustinov and Maximillian Schell. Surprisingly slow build up. Not nearly as interesting as I had expected, based on hearing that it was an exciting heist film. Their plan for the heist, and the actual theft are exciting and quite intense, a cunning plan, requiring both brains and brawn. The twists are easy enough to see, but perhaps that is due to the benefit of having seen many of this type of film over the past 40 years. There are other, better films of this genre, Thomas Crown Affair for instance, and hopefully one or both of the next couple films in our AMAD adventure.

9/11 The Thomas Crown Affair. 1968. A favorite movie of mine from back when I worked at the video store. I has been 20 years since I last saw it, and my main impression was how beautiful Faye Dunaway was backing the day. This, to me is the classic bored rich guy heist film. Steve McQueen plays against his normal rough hewn screen (and real life) persona, to play a bored millionaire, who plans and carries out the perfect bank robbery. Faye Dunaway is an insurance investigator who will do anything (and I mean anything) to catch him. A fun movie.

9/12 Detour. 1945. Classic film noir about piano player Al Martin suffering a severe case of ennui when his gal heads to Cali to find here future. On a whim, he decides to hitchhike to Cali to be with her. Al is picked up by a rich man in a convertible, and after the driver's natural death, it all goes wrong, fast. His fate is sealed, when he magnanimously picks up a his own hitchhiker, a classic femme fatale (Vera Savage). Quality of the print is somewhat hazy, owing, I suspect from the very cheap production values, flipped scenes, 20k and 6 day shoot!

9/12 Union Station. 1950. Nancy Olson is a secretary who, suspicious of two men on a train with guns, informs a RR detective (William Holden). Together they discover that her employer’s daughter has been kidnapped, and set about to try and solve the crime. It is convenient that the police need Olson in the plot (she needs to ID the kidnappers). A tense, exciting crime caper, winding around 1950s NYC, including a stockyard, (of all things) and spending much time in the huge and cavernous Union Station. Quite entertaining.

9/12 Sunrise. 1927. Directed by F.W. Murnau (famous for directing Nosferatu) this noir-ish movie is about a married farmer who falls for an evil dame. A very early, silent, noir styled movie. And there I was saying I had never seen a silent film before!! So where does the score come from on a silent film? (This film is one of the first with a soundtrack of music and sound effects recorded in then-new Fox Movietone sound-on-film system.) When I watch these movies I am surprised by how ‘modern’ the story is. A femme fatale in 1927 is encouraging a farmer to kill his wife, and come back to the city with her. Every bit as cunning and evil as a modern villain. This movie captured the first Best Actress Oscar, as well as 2 others. Heralded as an all time great movie. Pretty impressive.

9/13 Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round. 1966. Heist caper film starring James Coburn as a con man/thief aiming to rob the LA airport, and do so while a Russian diplomat is visiting. The airport is swarming with cops, FBI, state department security, and all attention is on the guest, not the cash. Coburn is great, at the height of his career as a confident, easy going con man effecting a similar suave persona as Flint . The movie progresses as Coburn travels the country robbing folks to raise money for the caper and encountering lots of beautiful women. Then sets up a complex convoluted theft. Wicked twist at the end. Very entertaining.

9/13 Cops and Robbers. 1973. Heist film with cops playing the role of petty thieves. Joe Bologna is one of a pair of Cops who decide to find another, more lucrative way to make a living. Fed up with low pay, and dangerous jobs, Joe, and his partner, begin dreaming up ways to make a huge score. They come across as regular guys, largely incompetent, and in way over their heads trying to negotiate with mob bosses and hit men.

9/13 Witchcraft 1964. Starring Lon Cheney Jr. and directed by Don Sharp (of previous AMAD Curse of the Fly). Developers uncover the 300 year old grave of a witch who comes back to life and terrorizes a village. The Lanier family have been feuding for centuries with the Whitlocks, ever since Lanier’s killed the a Whitlock woman accused of being a witch. Complicating things, a young Whitlock and Lanier are in love and want to marry. The film quality is very good, with lush and crystal clear b&w. A great movie now all but forgotten.

9/14 Boeing Boeing. 1965. Tony Curtis is an American playboy, in Paris, who is juggling 3 international stewardess girlfriends by coordinating their travel schedules. Careful manipulation leads to a bachelors paradise. Unfortunately, new jets, faster jets, are introduced which results in flight times decreasing, and the perfect plan starts to fall apart. Jerry Lewis plays the straight man, his best friend who arrives in time for the hi jinks, and together they try to survive as all three girls arrive together in Paris. Thelma Ritter plays the fed up maid brilliantly. Brilliant farce.

Anyone else who wants to join in do so.

I've never heard of this, I'm going to have to check it out.

Great thread. I love that when it comes to era, your selections are all over the map.

Thank my DVR and turner classic movies and fox classic movie channel.

I watched Detour this morning cuz I was home for a couple hours. And it is fun, cuz htere are so very many movies, and even actors and actresses that I have never heard of. And I have seen a LOT of movies.

I applaud your choices. Eclectic and thematic. I also like working my way through an actor's catalog. There are a few from your list that I will have to check out.

Great thread, and some great films, several of which I haven't seen but will make a point to see after reading your reviews.

Todd you're awesome, I don't care what Rob says. I've been meaning to start a thread just like this, since I've become a movie a day machine myself the last couple of months, but I kept forgetting. I'll post back with my list shortly. It's mostly old stuff, 1933-1967 era.

I openly blame AICN, and love that column.

Brief thoughts about each film. My bias towards all things Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn is simply impossible to ignore.

The Children's Hour - somewhat ahead of its time film about two women running a boarding school who are accused of being lesbian lovers. Falls over itself a time or two and seems dated in some respects, but still enjoyable, if a bit depressing.

People Will Talk - Cary Grant woos an unwed mother in this not as funny as it wants to be film.

The Awful Truth - Very funny Cary Grant Irene Dunne divorce romp.

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town - preachy but classic Gary Cooper film about how terrible the big city is.

Arsenic and Old Lace - I might be alone, but I think this is the funniest Cary Grant has ever been. Totally over the top but it works here.

Two for the Road - Charming and innovative tale of a married couple winding their way through their past on a trip through Europe. It'd be worth the cost of admission just for Audrey Hepburn in the pink short shorts.

Indiscreet - Cary Grant is endearing as a man who hates the idea of marriage. The dance scene toward the end (when everyone but him is aware that he's not well liked at the moment) is a classic.

To Catch a Thief - One of Hitchcock's best. Cary Grant plays an ex jewel thief out to clear his name after a string of robberies done in his style.

Some Like It Hot - Dated and not as funny as it's hyped up to be. Still some hilarious moments though.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House - I wanted to like this more, but aside from the bit where they get locked in the closet and another part where the woman is choosing the paint colors, it's not awesome.

Wait Until Dark - Hitchcock style thriller starring Audrey Hepburn as a blind woman being terrorized by three criminals. Very good performance.

The Bucket List - Nicholson and Freeman play old men wanting to enjoy their last days to the fullest. Very enjoyable.

That Touch of Mink - Doris Day/Cary Grant by the numbers, so lots of fun!

Move Over, Darling - The released version of Marilyn Monroe's last film, with Doris Day in the lead now. Would have worked better with Marilyn, based on the clips shown in the special features.

The Misfits - Great, great movie about an aging cowboy facing the end of his era and fighting with all he has against it. Clark Gable's performance was fantastic.

Love in the Afternoon - A too old Gary Cooper seduces and woos a young Audrey Hepburn. Billy Wilder drapes Cooper in shadow most of the time to hide his age. Still a powerful emotional finish though, and recommended viewing.

Houseboat - By the numbers Cary Grant again, this time with Sophia Loren. Entertaining, as anything Grant is featured in must be.

Paris When it Sizzles - all over the place William Holden and Audrey Hepburn comedy. I really enjoyed it as they acted out various movie scenes for the script Holden's character is writing with gusto. The movie was a dud when released and not too many people like it, but I found it hilarious.

Thoroughly Modern Millie - Over the top Carol Channing performance eclipses a mostly dull Julie Andrews musical. Skip it.

Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation - saw this one as a kid and remembered it as a really funny movie. It has its moments, but doesn't ever take off. Not slapstick enough to be that kind of movie, but too slapstick to be anything else.

Roman Holiday - Gorgeous Audrey Hepburn's first major role. Perfect movie.

Breakfast at Tiffany's - Remove Mickey Rooney's offensive racial stereotype of a Chinese man from this one, and it's one of the best movies ever made. Audrey Hepburn shines as Holly.

Something's Gotta Give - Nicholson again, in a hilarious role as an aging womanizer.

Sabrina - Watchable only as an Audrey Hepburn vehicle. Bogart is WAY too old for his role as her suitor.

The Pursuit of Happyness - Will Smith's finest performance I'd say, is in this biopic.

Pillow Talk - Classic Hudson/Day comedy, must-see.

Air Force One - blech, doesn't hold up at all.

I Want to Live! - True life biopic of a woman on death row in California in the 1950s. The execution scene is allegedly as true to life as was ever filmed up to that point.

The Glenn Miller Story - Nonfactual romanticized Jimmy Stewart vehicle. If you like big band music, give it a watch, otherwise look for other Stewart movies.

Rebel Without a Cause: Special Edition - Actually haven't finished this one yet.

Vertigo - Awesome film, needs no description. If you haven't seen Hitchcock's best film yet, then get to it.

Kiss Me, Stupid - Mean-spirited and hateful "comedy" by Billy Wilder starring Dean Martin and Kim Novak. Skip it.

Singin' in the Rain - worth watching just for the dance scenes. Fantastic choreography and Syd Charisse is stunning.

Charade - My favorite Hitchcock film that Hitch never did. Perfect stars (Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant), loads of fun, some real dramatic tension.

Dial M for Murder - Suspenseful, exciting, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the screen goes black. Classic Hitch.

I'm No Angel - Mae West utters the classic "come up and see me sometime" to Cary Grant in this old time comedy. Worth seeing just for West's uberconfidence and hubris. She's a real magnetic personality and hard not to enjoy.

What a Way to Go! - Shirley MacLaine is excellent in this comedy about the untimely deaths of four of her husbands due to success and wealth.

Harvey - Is he real or isn't he? Jimmy Stewart comedy about an imaginary 7 foot tall rabbit who advises him about his life.

Desk Set - Terrific Spencer Tracy Katherine Hepburn comedy. Features the UNIVAC and is partly sponsored by IBM.

The Lost World - Silent film notable to me only for the O'Brien (King Kong) special effects.

I Was a Male War Bride - Hilarious romantic comedy for the first 2/3s, then falls utterly flat as Cary Grant shuttles around the world trying to get to the US as a husband of a female US Army officer.

Regarding Henry - Jackass lawyer Harrison Ford shot in the head and becomes a nice man.

Lover Come Back - Doris Day and Rock Hudson worked so well together, this film flies on their chemistry. They made 3 films together, all are worth watching.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - Inspirational film about a young idealistic senator. The final speech at the end is wonderful and more politicians should take it to heart.

You Can't Take It With You - Frank Capra film about an eccentric old man (Lionel Barrymore) and his crazy family juxtaposed against a prim and proper wealthy family. Hilarity ensues and lessons are learned.

The Man Who Knew Too Much - Suspenseful Hitchcock goodness. The scene at the end at the Albert Hall is as gripping as you can imagine cinema to be.

Holiday - Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant are stellar and have outstanding comic presence together.

Bringing Up Baby - See above. This time with a leopard!

It Happened One Night - An all-time classic, Clark Gable's first breakout role was also his best acting performance until his last part, in the Misfits.

The Seven Year Itch - Marilyn is magnificent. This movie never gets old for me.

I killed it.

Yes.

No you didnt.

Yes he did.

No he didn't.

I've never seen Vertigo, I feel shame.

Next installment-

9/12 Union Station. 1950. Nancy Olson is a secretary who, suspicious of two men on a train with guns, informs a RR detective (William Holden). Together they discover that her employer’s daughter has been kidnapped, and set about to try and solve the crime. It is convenient that the police need Olson in the plot (she needs to ID the kidnappers). A tense, exciting crime caper, winding around 1950s NYC, including a stockyard, (of all things) and spending much time in the huge and cavernous Union Station. Quite entertaining.

9/12 Sunrise. 1927. Directed by F.W. Murnau (famous for directing Nosferatu) this noir-ish movie is about a married farmer who falls for an evil dame. A very early, silent, noir styled movie. And there I was saying I had never seen a silent film before!! So where does the score come from on a silent film? (This film is one of the first with a soundtrack of music and sound effects recorded in then-new Fox Movietone sound-on-film system.) When I watch these movies I am surprised by how ‘modern’ the story is. A femme fatale in 1927 is encouraging a farmer to kill his wife, and come back to the city with her. Every bit as cunning and evil as a modern villain. This movie captured the first Best Actress Oscar, as well as 2 others. Heralded as an all time great movie. Pretty impressive.

9/13 Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round. 1966. Heist caper film starring James Coburn as a con man/thief aiming to rob the LA airport, and do so while a Russian diplomat is visiting. The airport is swarming with cops, FBI, state department security, and all attention is on the guest, not the cash. Coburn is great, at the height of his career as a confident, easy going con man effecting a similar suave persona as Flint . The movie progresses as Coburn travels the country robbing folks to raise money for the caper and encountering lots of beautiful women. Then sets up a complex convoluted theft. Wicked twist at the end. Very entertaining.

9/13 Cops and Robbers. 1973. Heist film with cops playing the role of petty thieves. Joe Bologna is one of a pair of Cops who decide to find another, more lucrative way to make a living. Fed up with low pay, and dangerous jobs, Joe, and his partner, begin dreaming up ways to make a huge score. They come across as regular guys, largely incompetent, and in way over their heads trying to negotiate with mob bosses and hit men.

9/13 Witchcraft 1964. Starring Lon Cheney Jr. and directed by Don Sharp (of previous AMAD Curse of the Fly). Developers uncover the 300 year old grave of a witch who comes back to life and terrorizes a village. The Lanier family have been feuding for centuries with the Whitlocks, ever since Lanier’s killed the a Whitlock woman accused of being a witch. Complicating things, a young Whitlock and Lanier are in love and want to marry. The film quality is very good, with lush and crystal clear b&w. A great movie now all but forgotten.

I watched this one a while ago and I agree, great movie.

Lots of baseball and football yesterday.

9/14 Boeing Boeing. 1965. Tony Curtis is an American playboy, in Paris, who is juggling 3 international stewardess girlfriends by coordinating their travel schedules. Careful manipulation leads to a bachelors paradise. Unfortunately, new jets, faster jets, are introduced which results in flight times decreasing, and the perfect plan starts to fall apart. Jerry Lewis plays the straight man, his best friend who arrives in time for the hi jinks, and together they try to survive as all three girls arrive together in Paris. Thelma Ritter plays the fed up maid brilliantly. Brilliant farce.

Saturday I watched "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer" (1947), another Cary Grant vehicle. In this one, he is forced by a series of events to pretend to date a 16 year old girl (Shirley Temple!) Other than Grant's comic performance, particularly in the middle of the film dressing/acting like a teenager of the time in an attempt to embarrass Temple's character, this movie was not particularly good. I was disappointed as I'd read some good reviews. Next up, assuming we have power again someday, "The Apartment".

Righteous Kill -A cop movie starring Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro in multiple scenes together for the first time, only recommended for their biggest fans. The acting skill they bring, and the thrill of seeing them together, can't make up for a weak script, by the numbers "Cops track killer of bad guys who escapred justice but killer might be one of them" plot. 5.5 of 10, with an extra point added for the solid cast which also includes Brian Dennehy, Donnie Wahlberg and John Leguizamo. Wife didn't care for it

Swiss Family Robinson-an old fashioned, though well made Disney movie, with some cool animals and fun action. The tree house still delights as it did when I saw this 25 years ago. The movie is slow paced for today, a bit of sexism (gender roles), but I liked it. Several familiar faces in the cast. Wife thought it didn't hold up. 6 of 10.

Dirty Harry-Eastwood snarls his way through this movie of a cop who doesn't follow all the rules while chasing down a killer. Controversial in its day with the new Miranda/Esposito Supreme Court Cases, and no doubt a hit with audiences because of the massive increase in crime coupled with the idea that criminals had more rights than victims, today its a bit tame. Cops who break rules in the movies while still being good guys we are supposed to root for are routine, the killer only kills 3 people, and there is little blood. The politics on this have settled. Still, a solid, entertaining movie with a strong star performance from Eastwood, and a weak villain IMO. 7 of 10. Wife thought it was ok.

Jailhouse Rock-it's simple. It's silly. and yet, it has some cool dance/song numbers. Elvis shows real (albeit never to be realized) promise as an actor/movie personaltity. One can't help but wish the Colonel had allowed him some movies that might have allowed him to grow. 6 of 10. wife loved it

Viva Las Vegas-Elvis's most successful movie at the box office, and perhaps his last big hit before he descended into self-parody. The plot is paper thin "Grand Prix car racer wants to win the big race, loses money to buy the right engine, meets girl who thinks racing is too dangerous", the ending abrupt and sudden. It's a short movie that moves well enough. I thought it was just ok. The wife thought it lots and lots of fun. Silly songs, two renditions of the title track and Elvis looking great and Ann Margaret looking as gorgeous as any woman has ever looked onscreen (but what's with the funny faces when she dances?") Definitely lacking the edge of Jailhouse Rock with Elvis having fun and loads of chemstry with Margaret but simply being "Elvis". 5 of 10.


Casablanca-It's a perfect old movie with few of the problems many old movies have. The black and white is effective, Bogie is perfectly cool yet world weary, the lines are well known, but a kick to hear. If you haven't seen it, see it. It's worth it. Most enjoyable. 9 of 10. Wife is meh about it

I didnt think you watched black and white movies Rob.

The Apartment is a great movie. Casablanca is an all time great movie. Especially if you try to bring yourself back to 1941, when the future of the world was in the balance.

i watch b/w movies. I just dont usually watch non english movies.