barry-mel45 Reviews

M (1951)

Excellent remake of 1931 M.

[9/10 · 18 July 2006]

Saw this movie last night for the 1st time. I was impressed with whole remake of the original except the VHS video picture quality was quite poor!! I hope they hurry up and get this in a DVD format with clearer, sharper images!! The acting of David Wayne as the "baby killer" was great as was Howard DeSilva's "chainsmoking" police investigator and Martin Gabel's crime boss, and look closely for Raymond Burr's tough talking "goon" who is following orders from the crime boss. Really great overall performances from all involved also including Steve Brody, John Miljan (as blind man....where are all the women in this picture except the children!! No leading actress was featured. Photography on location with excellent use of the moving camera was really eye-filling!!! The fat, laughing lady and those floating balloons were part of the tension and irony. Great movie!!

Her Man (1930)

Her Man (1930) Review

[8/10 · 24 February 2006]

It sounds like a great precode film as was explained by reviewer in 2004. I would love to see this old antique. Are they going to make VHS or DVD copies? I enjoy old talkie films made in late 20's and early 30's. I know there were plenty made during this period. This review sounded very interesting. Just to see the great Franklin Pangborn, Marjorie Rambeau, Slim Summerville, Ricardo Cortez, James Gleason, the young Helen 12 trees, Phillip Holmes are really a treat besides all the fancy camera-work going. Sounds like a visual delight. The switching from serious to comedy must have been jolting but the rest of the frolics must have been worth the time. I can't wait until someone gets this one on DVD.

The Glass Key (1942)

Film noir at its Best

[9/10 · 23 November 2005]

What a movie this "Glass Key". I've always been an Alan Ladd fan especially the "young" Ladd of his early pictures. If he stayed that exciting into his later years he would of ranked pretty high alongside the ranks of William Holden, Humphrey Bogart, or James Cagney. His tough guy persona was almost equal to Bogie or Cagney. The Ladd of the 40's was excellent and should be given more credit where credit is due. Everything about the "Glass Key" is first rate noir. Dark shadows, lonely dark streets, sleazy dives and nightclubs. Veronica Lake does her thing with an "airy coolness" and comes across great! William Bendix is a joy to watch. His "clumsy" mannerisms and "ex-prizefighter" and "speech" impediments go along with his funny dialog like "I'm going to punch little baby like a rubber ball". The rest of the cast, Brian Donlevy and all are also excellent. Also a great Victor Young score always does wonders with Film-Noir. I loved it all!!

Madame X (1929)

I really enjoyed this old antique

[8/10 · 20 November 2005]

I really liked this old antique! Even though the heavy theatrics of Ruth Chatterton, Lewis Stone, and Raymond Hackett showed through, it was interesting in getting people's emotions involved circa 1929. Remember this was the early talkie period and the actors were still projecting their emotions, feelings, excitement, etc from the more familiar silent period....talkies were the new medium but feelings, emotions came out from the silent mode. I thought the spoken dialog to be excellent even though stagy. The whole production, photography, lighting, camera work was also outstanding. Overall it was a very good melodramatic, emotional, and provoked much sympathy and feelings. I'm for one enjoy the early talkie period with all its antique, splendid grandeur. Lets dust off more of these films for our future movie and theater historic buffs!!

The Westerner (1960– )

An excellent episode called "The Old Man"

[18 October 2005]

This well done episode of the Westerner with Brian Keith as a laid back cowboy wandering into a Land dispute between a dying old man and his grandson (old man played by that great character actor Sam Jaffe...before Ben Casey fame) against the no good baddies led by that great "heavy" of them all Robert Wilke. It was well acted by all...the old man wouldn't give up his property...Mr. Wilke telling him to give up or die! Brian Keith is as cool as anyone stepping up to help the old man and his grandson...incidentally originally the baddies stole his horse and "Blassingame" was trying to get even! Very well-acted episode of this rarely seen series from 1960-61. I'm glad the western channel has resurrected this old gem of a series from Sam Peckinpah.