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Reviews
The Blue Parrot (1953)
Low-budget trivia
It isn't for nothing this film has such a low score and, although it might have some academic interest to see some early British actors who later achieved greater fame, it has no intrinsic value to justify more than ten minutes watching it.
The script and direction are virtually non-existent and all the acting (except Richard Pearson) is dire.
The use of an American character, who has no reason to exist other than to attract American budget money, is absurdly not played by an American, and would be scoffed at by American audiences - even more so than Dick van Dyke was in 'Mary Poppins', by British audiences.
And this ersatz 'American' is the worst part of the film. The second worst part is that we have no concern or sympathy for the murdered victim, and wonder why Scotland Yard would even be interested - let alone the FBI as well. One would think this was the only murder the police had had that month.
But the most unbelievable aspect of 'The Blue Parrot' is that anybody in the British film industry at that time would have believed they had a winner on their hands.
Finally, just look at the 2-wall sets: the foyer of the club, for example... and the 1-wall corridor outside 'Annie Oakley's' room...
There is no worthwhile reason to consider viewing this film.
IMHO...
Bazi (2005)
Unexpectedly wonderful...
I came across this by accident on YouTube and, as it had English subs. I just gave it a chance - sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't - this time it was a total surprise. The only reason I only give it a nine is because at 60 mins. it's too short - I wanted more - but, on second thoughts, it doesn't need to be any more, so maybe it's worth a ten...
Bazi (aka 'The Play') is the story of a morning in the life of a slightly spoilt, bored little girl (an only child), of about 8 (I think). We see her playing alone in the yard, giving a dolls tea- party, every now and again going inside the house to whine about her lonely life, but her mother has her own problems, and continually either tries to make amends or, more often, banishes the girl back to the yard - or threatens to send her to her room. For most of the film we never go outside these two areas. There is one heart-breaking (but beautifully executed) scene in the mother's bedroom, and another from above the high garden wall, seeing partly into the yard next door. The mother admonishes the child, who uses the same dialogue and attitudes to admonish her dolls and imaginary friends, as the mother uses towards her, and also uses to whine about being admonished by her husband...
Because of the girl's honest and almost heart-rending plea for a friend to play with the mother finally accepts that sometimes innocent children know / understand more about social intercourse than their parents. I dare you not to shed a little tear at the end.
This largely unknown little gem is just soooo beautiful, and almost heart-breaking in the masterful performance of the little girl, Melika Emami, who is in every scene. A lucky, ultimately heart-warming, and wonderful find... Do try it if you get the chance.
Before Morning (1933)
It's not, 'Elvis'...
In answer to a previous reviewer, the opening line is clearly: "Good evening, Albert."
I agree the film is in a very poor state, though it's not surprising nobody bothered to preserve it - the direction, staging, and acting, along with photography and editing are appalling, even for it's age - there were hundreds of decently, and professionally made films at that time - this is not one of them.
I expect it worked better in the more intimate environment of theatre but it's transference to the screen leaves a lot to be desired... Even many silent movies were more exciting than this.
The gaps in the delivery are almost big enough for the 'prompter' to get the words in... :)
Bank Alarm (1937)
Hopelessly inept...
I am a life-long lover of 'B' movies, especially those from the 30's but this one is so inept I'm amazed it wasn't shelved into oblivion.
Being a low-budget job is no excuse for the dreadful writing, non-existent direction, the camera shots that simply don't match, the poor editing, the always-smiling or laughing performances... and the pathetically acted 'funny-man' who provides the foil for the Thin Man-like leads in place of the latter's dog...
Believe me, the dog did better.
Bank Alarm... by the way, despite being mentioned in the opening scene, has absolutely nothing to do with alarms, and actually very little to do with banks...!
There is only ONE scene in the film worth mentioning, set in a jail... which I won't spoil for you... and that's it...!
There are hundreds of films of this genre and period, and 10 minutes from any one of them will provide more satisfaction than this entire film. Trying to defend this rubbish by saying it's 'low-budget' and a 'B-movie' is grossly insulting to all the good (even excellent) films in this category.
Even if you just like slapstick, and are under 9-years-old you can do better than this.
Such a disappointment.
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