tjm199 Reviews

The War Lord (1965)

Let My Castle Go!

[7/10 · 9 October 2023]

As with most of Heston's films he is his normal character. What you have seen before is what you get. Whether it is in Roman Judea, Ancient Egypt, or in a submarine, he is the same. Wooden, tortured (perhaps constipated?), filled with anger. Don't get upset if you expected something else. Rosemary Forsyth matches his woodenness and as one of the other reviewers said, she has the personality of a sack of rocks. Guy Stockwell is obnoxious, which is one way to play the character. Personally I didn't care for his performance. In real life he wouldn't have lived beyond the age of 15. Richard Boone is perhaps the best character and actor in the movie. Steadfast, loyal and always keeping Chuck's best interest in mind. The music is too similar to Ben Hur for my taste, but I guess that is up to the viewer. The fight scenes are enjoyable and very well done. But it all comes back to Heston. Love him or hate him, this is his film all the way. His best performance is probably in "Touch of Evil" with Orson Wells. A Mexican police detective, complete with darkened skin and a cheesy moustach. It's a hoot!

It's always interesting (and fun) to see the many ways people connect Heston's movies with his most well known line from The Ten Commandments--"Let my people go!" In Grey Lady Down it's "Let my submarine go!", The Omega Man is "Let my zonbies go," Soylent Green--"Let my cannibals go," El Cid--"Let my paella go," Touch of Evil--"Let my tequila go," And this movie--"Let my castle go!" Give it a watch if you can but it is hard to get ahold of.

SOS Pacific (1959)

Idea re-used for TV show.

[6/10 · 6 September 2018]

I haven't seen this movie but would like to, if I can find a copy. I feel I have seen it since I remember an episode of "77 Sunset Strip" that used the same plot. In the hip for it's time tv show, Stu Bailey (Ephram Zimbalist, Jr.) is escorting a prisoner back to Los Angeles from someplace in Asia when the plane is brought down in bad weather. The cast of characters is a bit different than the movie. There's the pilot, of course, a man who is divorcing his wife for his secretary. Of course, both secretary, wife and their teenaged daughter are on the same flight. The disaster naturally brings the divorcing couple back together and the secretary goes with the Pilot, I believe. Jacques Bergerac was the criminal in the tv show and did a decent job. Of course Ephram Zimbalist and Jacques save the day and the bomb does not explode. Another example of just how much Hollywood can recycle anything.

The Saint (2017 TV Movie)

Don't waste your time on this black hole.

[1/10 · 11 March 2018]

I have always been a fan of the Saint. I loved the books, the movies, the 60's tv show and I can almost give the Val Kilmer movie a pass. But not this. It is just so bad. The direction is awful, the acting is terrible but the script and plot line is just inexcusable. There are so many plot holes and they are so big you could steer the Titanic and the iceberg through several of them. So many idiotic scenes and so such stupid dialogue it is appalling. There is a "twist" towards the end that is so predictable you can see it coming before the movie even starts. Simon Templar is apparently the strongest human alive. He can lift dozen gold ingots that weigh at least three hundred pounds. With one hand.The film just shouldn't have been made. Leslie Charteris must have been rolling in his grave. In fact, he's probably still spinning.

Perversion for Profit (1965)

Thankful it's not 1965 anymore

[2/10 · 31 December 2012]

Wow. I just caught this on TCM and at first I couldn't stop laughing. Putnam's pompous and self righteous delivery was especially funny at first then it became extremely irritating. As a former deejay and radio talk show host, the delivery was making me nauseous. Of course, the problem is, that in 1965 this vocal delivery was not than unusual. Thank goodness we don't talk like that today. The production values were lower than low. The announcer (who obviously thinks he is the voice of God) stands in front of a map of the U-S and holds cue cards for the camera. As for the content, once again it started off hilarious but about half way through the repetition became annoying. I became tired of being preached at and told all things sexual were bad, evil and the work of Satan. Not to mention communists. His "facts" were incredible. The problem is they were probably just accepted as facts by many people. For instance, did you know that moral decay caused 16 out of the 19 most successful civilizations to decline and fall apart? Not the strength of their enemies, but moral decay. Who knew? Such a slippery slope. I'm very, very glad that our viewpoint on these things have changed over the years. I don't think I would like to live in a society that viewed the world in this way. I do feel almost cheated though as several of the reviewers mentioned it was 60 minutes long and the version I saw was only 30 minutes. Shucks. If you get a chance to see this go ahead and give it a look see. If you have to pay for it, don't bother. But if it's free, go for it. 12/31/2012

People of Russia (1942)

Nice piece of propaganda

[4/10 · 29 December 2012]

Quite interesting piece from 1942. That's the important thing, the year this was done. It shows how the Soviet Union has tried to change from a rural, farming country to an industrial power. The main reason for this to be made was the war, of course. Hollywood was trying to drum up support for the war and that means make our allies look as good as possible. It's interesting that in this film, Hollywood makes the Soviet Union and Stalin as a force for good. Within ten years, Hollywood would do a complete about face and start making the communists as bad, evil and the work of Satan. But take it for what it is and enjoy. There is some interesting shots of children in a school, women working on the street, a parade float honoring ball bearings (I kid you not) as well as a short tribute to Stalin himself! It's good for a laugh if nothing else.

The Falcon's Brother (1942)

Not too bad but could be better

[5/10 · 30 October 2012]

Wow, I really enjoy "The Falcon" movies and this has it's good moments. It also has some very bad moments. George Sanders is good for as long as he is in the movie. Tom Conway also does a good job as the Falcon's brother, Tom. Suave and smooth go hand in hand with Sanders and Conway. There is a real problem with the supporting actors, especially Don Barclay as "Lefty," the Falcon's side kick. The actor is just terrible, a droning monotone, complete lack of facial expressions and a delivery that shows the actor just walked through his lines. Cliff Clark as Inspector Donovan mugs his way through all of his scenes and Jane Randolph as reporter Marcia Brooks is entirely too predictable and annoying. But then so is her character. Mind you, I don't expect Academy Award material from these "B" movies but the first three "Falcon" movies were much better. Well, the first and third movies were better than this. I haven't seen the next movie with Conway, where Conway takes over the role of The Falcon but with the name of Tom Lawrence. The ending is also a bit abrupt and unsatisfying. All in all there are much better examples of these "B" movies. But there are worse ones as well. If you really want to see all of the movies, don't miss this one. It would leave a gap in your knowledge. One thing I really enjoy is seeing character actors doing bit parts that are quite often uncredited. Keye Luke in this one and Hans Conrad in several of the Falcon and Saint movies. Good stuff.