MartinHafer Reviews

That Darn Cat! (1965)

The first of quite a few Disney flicks featuring Dean Jones...and certainly not among the best.

[3/10 · 9 July 2020]

Dean Jones made quite a few films for Disney, and "That Darn Cat!" was the first. As for Jones, he was pretty good in the movie. However, apart from that, it's not particularly good nor worth your time....mostly because the characters, apart from Jones, were poorly written and acted.

The film has a strange plot, as it's VERY adult yet the acting and writing seemed as if it was aimed at kids no older than perhaps 10. How is it adult? Well, two bank robbers have taken a hostage and they plan on murdering her! However, using a Siamese cat, an FBI agent (Jones) and his tag-a-long assistant (Hayley Mills) investigate--using the cat to lead him to the vicious crooks(??).

The plot was silly but the acting and characters were one-dimensional and silly....but not in a good way. In particular, the sister as well as her boyfriend were just awful and the characters seemed more like caricatures....just silly and impossible to believe.

Disneyland: Mars and Beyond (1957) Season 4, Episode 12

Mostly I watched to see some clips used at the Sci-Fi Dine-In restaurant at Disneyworld.

[4/10 · 9 July 2020]

One of my favorite restaurants at Disneyworld is the Sci-Fi Dine-In. The food is pretty ordinary but the ambiance....well, it's pretty amazing. You sit in a fake car inside a restaurant that looks like a drive-in theater at night....and they show all sorts of goofy sci-fi clips on the giant screen as you eat.

So what does this have to do with "Mars and Beyond"? Well, quite a few of the clips they show in this restaurant were originally made for this episode of "The Magical World of Disney" back in 1957. And, I wanted to see the rest of the episode...not just the clips used in the restaurant.

The episode is essentially about the history of human concepts of the Earth, the solar system and the universe. Paul Frees narrates and takes you in the first portion of the show from pre-history through the ancient Greeks to the Renaissance to today...all accompanied by weird and minimalistic animations. While the quality of the animations are only fair (with a relatively low cel-count and simplistic backgrounds), they are effective and occasionally amusing. Following this is a lecture on evolution which is a bit boring by comparison and didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the show. Then, the show focuses on Mars during the final segment of the show. Overall, it's a very uneven episode--very fun and interesting at times and a dull lecture at others.

By the way, the ex-history teacher in me objected to the narrator's assertion that the Middle Ages was 'a stupid period'! This is actually a bit of a myth. While knowledge wasn't as sophisticated as it was in the Renaissance, it wasn't as if NOTHING happened for this thousand years period and that folks were totally ignorant!

Blackwell's Island (1939)

Seemingly unrealistic...but highly entertaining thanks to Stanley Fields.

[8/10 · 8 July 2020]

Bull Bransom (Stanley Fields) is an uncultured and obnoxious hood who heads the Waterfront Protection Association....a respectable name for an organization of crooks who shake down the businesses along the docks. Folks there either pay up...or Bransom's men make sure bad things happen to them! While many suspect Bransom is behind all this, local politicians protect him from prosecution. Despite this, a local reporter, Tim Haydon (John Garfield), is convinced that his exposees will lead to Bull's arrest. And, eventually, Bransom's actions do lead to him being sent to prison at Blackwell's Island, New York. But Bull isn't content to do his time and return to his old ways. Instead, he plans on running his old business from behind bars AND live like a king while in jail. Soon, with the help of local crooked officials, Bull does exactly that....arranging murders and living as if he was the warden of Blackwell's Island. The dogged reporter is determined to get the goods on Bransom and soon he punches a special prosecutor just so he can get himself locked up at Blackwell's as well!

The main reason to watch this film is because it's so entertaining...much of it thanks to Fields' bigger than life and exciting role as Bull Bransom. John Garfield is fine in the lead...but he's easily overshadowed by Fields...and rarely is there a more enjoyable mobster in a 1930s film. Realistic? Probably not...but always entertaining.

Quick Millions (1931)

Sort of like an exposee on Jimmy Hoffa...before he even began his career with the Teamsters.

[8/10 · 5 July 2020]

Spencer Tracy stars as Bugs Raymond, a Jimmy Hoffa-like leader of a trucker's union*, just like the Teamsters. Using many illegal tactics (such as selling 'protection', thefts and violence), he rises to the head of the union and makes himself rich as a result. His right-hand man in all this is Jimmy (George Raft) and the pair live like kings after several years of racketeering. Much of it is because they have the goods of various public officials whose jobs SHOULD include putting thugs like Bugs and Jimmy in prison! Is there anyone to stop them or curb their abuses?

It's interesting to watch this film because of Tracy and Raft. Tracy is playing a jerk role--the sort he often played for Fox Studio but stopped making when he switched to MGM in the later 1930s. As for Raft, seeing and hearing him is interesting, as he simply doesn't SOUND like the George Raft you'll see in later movies. His voice is higher and less menacing....and he must have taken some classes on diction and voice following this movie.

So is it any good? Yes. And, it makes for a different sort of gangster film...which were all the rage in the early 1930s. It's gritty, extremely cynical and tough to stop watching. While not nearly as famous as "Little Caesar", "Public Enemy" or "Scarface", all from this same era, it's about as interesting to watch though a bit more subtle and believable.

By the way, at the 55 minute mark, pay CLOSE attention. A guy uses the middle finger...and it's NOT an accident! After all, it was made during the Pre-Code era...and giving the finger is certainly NOT something you'd see in Hollywood films for decades after July, 1934, when the new Production Code was enacted! For another single-digit salute, watch "Parachute Jumper"--where Frank McHugh does the same as he's trying to hitchhike.



*Although the film looks like an indictment of Hoffa and the Teamsters, Hoffa didn't even begin his career with the trucker's union until a year AFTER this film was made! It's almost like the film was written with a crystal ball!!

His Woman (1931)

An interesting film about the old double-standard.

[8/10 · 5 July 2020]

Shortly after the story begins, someone abandons a baby aboard a freighter with a note attached to him. It says that the baby belongs to someone aboard the ship and she was leaving it forever. The Captain (Gary Cooper) at first wants to drop the baby off ashore but soon decides to keep the cute little guy. But he cannot run the ship AND care for a baby at the same time, so he looks for a woman to help with raising the kid. Soon he finds Sally (Claudette Colbert) and she feeds him a line about being the daughter of a recently deceased missionary...when she actually is a bit of a tramp. Despite this, she turns out to be a good foster mother and things seem to be going just fine. However, a crew member recognizes Sally and thinks that because she's had a past that it entitles him to attack her! But the Captain hears the commotion and comes to Sally's defense. In the ensuing scuffle, the evil crew member is knocked off the ship and presumed lost. But this isn't the end to all this....and what happens next, well, you'll just have to see it for yourself.

I really enjoyed this film, though I am sure some might object to it being a bit schmaltzy. What I liked most is that the story attacked the old so-called 'double-standard'...where men are supposed to be 'experienced' and that women, if they have similar experiences, are tramps! I appreciated the message and enjoyed seeing where the film went. Very unusual and worth seeing.

The Reckoning (1932)

It was made on the cheap...and it shows.

[3/10 · 5 July 2020]

The plot idea for "The Reckoning" is decent, but pretty much everything else about this film screams 'CHEAP'! The acting isn't particularly good, the dialog stilted and often scenes seem incredibly artless and lazy. Given more competent direction and a decent budget, this film might have worked. As it is, it's not a particularly enjoyable film to watch.

When the story begins, you'll hear the theme from "Swan Lake"...which also had been used a year earlier for "Dracula"! This jarred me...and I couldn't help but think it was only used because the music must have been in the public domain. As for the rest of the film, it had no music at all...no incidental music and this made for a strangely quiet film.

The plot involves two idiot lovers who are crooks and work for a scumbag named 'Doc'. Doc is a crook and when the pair talk about changing their lives and living law abiding lives, you know that sooner or later Doc will try to ruin them or re-involve them in his various illegal schemes. In this case, he wants to use the pair to help him in a robbery/kidnapping! What's next? Watch the film...or don't.

The film never felt tense or realistic in the least. Slow, plodding and uninteresting...the movie certainly was a tough one to finish.

The Cisco Kid (1931)

Baxter's third appearance as The Cisco Kid.

[6/10 · 4 July 2020]

In 1928, Warner Baxter played The Cisco Kid in the movie "In Old Arizona"....for which he received the Oscar for Best Actor. Baxter played the same character twice more--once in a short and here in "The Cisco Kid". Despite being a white guy from Ohio, his accent was convincing and the character well received, but soon other actors (such as Caesar Romero and Dunan Ronaldo) took on the role in subsequent films.

Like the early Cisco Kid films, Cisco is a bad guy...a thief. Later, he would be a much nicer character...ACCUSED of being a crook but in actuality a law abiding guy. But since he is a wanted man, Sergeant Dunn (Edmund Lowe) is sent to find this Mexican bandit and bring him to justice. Between the beginning of the film and their ultimate showdown, Cisco does do a lot of good...abeit a big amoral good--such as robbing a bank to help a lady retain her ranch.

So is it any good? For 1931, it is...though today it seems a bit slow and overdone. This does not mean it's not worth your time...it certainly is. Plus Lowe and Baxter, two grossly underrated actors, are fine in this one.

Hamilton (2020)

How much you enjoy this is highly dependent on your age.

[8/10 · 4 July 2020]

Yesterday, a bazillion folks tuned in to Disney+ to see the debut of "Hamilton"...a recording of the Broadway show back in 2016. Because it's not a traditional movie-style musical, it's pretty difficult to compare it to a typical film in the genre. It's also a film whose enjoyment definitely depends on your age. I am in my mid-50s....hardly the age to like hip-hop style music in a musical. But, despite this, I did respect what the show was trying to accomplish--to bring America history to the masses AND to make it more accessible to minorities as most of the parts were played by Black and Hispanic actors and actresses. So, while having the likes of George Washington and Aaron Burr played by black actors isn't historically accurate, it does help make history more inclusive....as did the very modern music. And, as an ex-history teacher, I am thrilled about these things even if I wasn't all that fond of the singing. Well worth seeing....and a nice chance to publicize a few nearly forgotten great Americans.

Sea Scouts (1939)

Donald versus the shark!

[8/10 · 4 July 2020]

"Sea Scouts" was made during the finest years for Disney shorts. Like other shorts from this era, they were unsurpassed by other studios...thanks to gorgeous backgrounds and highly detailed animation. "Sea Scouts", simply put, is a gorgeous short...the type you would expect from Disney in 1939.

The first thing you'll likely notice is that Donald's nephews look a tad different--more rounded. This is because it's an early appearance by them and they still weren't as consistently drawn. This is not a criticism...more an observation.

As for the story, Donald is going to take his nephews boating but unfortunately, a nasty shark is lurking nearby and plans on eating them. Can Donald manage to save himself and his little nephews?

This is a well animated and enjoyable cartoon. I particularly liked the way it ended...certainly NOT what I expected!

Don's Fountain of Youth (1953)

Donald devolves all the way to the egg...or so his nephews think.

[7/10 · 4 July 2020]

Donald is taking his three nephews with him on vacation. However, once they arrive in Florida, the boys have no interest in anything other than reading comic books. So, Donald decides to teach them a lesson. He pretends that he drank from the Fountain of Youth and soon he begins acting like a baby. But this isn't enough and soon he places an alligator egg on the ground and the boys think he 'youthed' all the way back to his egg days! Unfortunately, the mother gator isn't thrilled with this plan...so what's next?

This is an enjoyable cartoon with a novel plot. However, it also sports some very poor animation--particularly the backgrounds. While it's not as bad an many late 50s cartoons with super-minimalistic art, it is an obvious step below the great animation the studio was doing just a few short years earlier. Still, second-tier Disney still ain't bad....and the cartoon is definitely funny.

Let's Stick Together (1952)

No friend like an old friend.

[7/10 · 4 July 2020]

The cartoon begins with an elderly bearded Donald Duck picking up trash in the park. Soon a bee talks to the audience and a flashback begins. Now the bee and Donald are much younger and they were friends and business partners. Apparently, Donald sold balloons and his bee friend was needed to pop everyone's balloons...bringing Donald more profits. More jobs follow and soon their relationship begins to wane...thanks to Donald being (as usual) a bit of a jerk. How and why? See the short for yourself.

This is a cute cartoon...not a great one but still enjoyable. Perhaps too cute at times...I like seeing Donald being a jerk and here he isn't that bad...which might explain why it's just a good but not a great cartoon.

The New Neighbor (1953)

Donald and Pete....two Disney jerks!

[9/10 · 4 July 2020]

In this Disney short, Donald Duck has a new neighbor, a real jerk played by Pete. Immediately after moving in, Pete starts throwing trash onto Donald's lawn and then 'borrows' everything in Donald's fridge. Soon, Pete's behaviors are so awful that the easily angered Donald loses his cool and an all out war takes place. You really can't blame Donald too much...Pete is simply awful. And, it is HIGHLY entertaining watching this war get worse and worse and worse...culminating with the local news covering it like a sporting event....and spectators egging them both on to do more!

In the 1950s, many familiar Disney characters seemed to mellow with age...particularly Mickey. However, in this one, Donald hasn't mellowed and the cartoon is violent...exactly the sort of unsophisticated stuff people prefer! A very good and enjoyable outing for the duck.

Film House Fever (1986)

Sort of like an even worse version of "MSTK3000" but without the funny comments.

[1/10 · 3 July 2020]

As I watched "Film House Fever" I couldn't help but wonder if this film cost more than $6.89 to make. And, the more I think about it, $6.89 might be MORE than they spent...it's that bad and that cheap...and has a direct to video look.

"Film House Fever" is a bit like a really bad and unfunny version of "MSTK3000" but instead of watching a single film and make comments, two guys instead watch clip after clip from various bad ultra-violent and soft core exploitation films from the 1960s through the 80s and say almost nothing. The clips are inserted randomly and with no finesse nor style. And, because of the randomness, they really aren't fun to watch in the least and it's all incoherent. It's a shame, as the idea MIGHT have worked had the filmmakers shown SOME skill or sense of humor.

So is there any reason to watch this film? There's only one I can think of....to see Steve Buscemi in one of his first movies. But apart from that, I think you'd be better off just seeing these exploitation films yourself instead of in clips. Or, download the films yourself and make your own clip movie...it certainly couldn't be any worse than "Film House Fever"! Or, better yet, just stare at a photo of Steve Buscemi for an hour....it STILL would be better than this movie.

Alternative Math (2017)

As an ex-teacher, I can seriously relate to this film.

[9/10 · 3 July 2020]

When "Alternative Math" begins, a boy comes to his teacher about his failing grade on a test. Instead of accepting any criticism, the boy storms off. Soon, his parents come to school and demand the boy get a perfect grade. They are not only unreasonable, but verbally and physically abusive towards the poor teacher. Soon after, the principal arrives....taking the parents' side against the teacher. And, soon after that, it gets even worse....as everyone is angry because the teacher had the nerve to say that the student was wrong...which he clearly was.

In so many ways, this film is funny BUT also has a lot to say about modern culture and parenting....or perhaps the lack of parenting. Well made and well worth seeing...and a scary parable about modern society.

The Translator (I) (2015)

Cute and enjoyable.

[6/10 · 3 July 2020]

"The Translator" has a simple plot and is worth seeing. However, it's also a story that might have been told better had the 'French girl' in the story sounded French...which she didn't.

A teen boy and girl are in the school library. It's obvious that the girl likes the guy but the guy is an idiot and begins talking about how he's smitten with the French exchange student who just entered the library as well. He begs his friend to translate for him as he tells the French girl what he thinks of her and the 'friend' agrees. But she's jealous and doesn't want the pair to hit it off, so she deliberately mistranslates everything...making the two hate each other. What's next?

Fool's Day (2013)

Oddly, probably NOT a film I'd let kids see!

[8/10 · 3 July 2020]

"Fool's Day" is a funny short film which stars a bunch of kids. Oddly, however, it's NOT a film I'd show most kids, as it's very violent and bloody!!

When the story begins, it's April Fool's Day and a class of 4th graders is planning on pulling a prank on their teacher. However, they are shocked when the coffee they spike turns out to be explosive....and the teacher's head explodes!! But, being kids, instead of seeking help and admitting what happened, the little jerks decide to hide the body and all the bloody evidence before their guest speaker arrives. What's next? See the film.

This is a good film and my comment above about not letting kids see it stands...at least young kids. After all, you DO see a person's head explode...and that is pretty much all you need to know about that!! Still, it is clever and the payoff at the end is nice. Worth seeing and clever.

By the way, if you DO watch it, pay attention to the janitor...that's Dee Snider, the lead singer for Twisted Sister!!

Cleveland Smith: Bounty Hunter (1982)

Cheap, silly and fun to watch.

[6/10 · 3 July 2020]

"Cleveland Smith: Bounty Hunter" is a super low-budget spoof of "Raiders of the Lost Ark". It's so cheap that it's filmed in black & white and only lasts 9 minutes. However, for fans of Bruce Campbell (and they are DEVOTED), it's worth seeing...as well as if you want to see director Sam Raimi acting along side his seemingly favorite leading man.

So is it any good? Well, it depends on you and your taste. It's very cheap and cheesy but occasionally did make me laugh. Just be forewarned that it sure is NOT sophisticated nor well made! It also is about as politically incorrect as a film can be and will most likely offend a few folks, as it has white guys dressed up like African natives!

The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff (2011–2012)

A lot more entertaining than actually having to see a Dickens story!

[9/10 · 2 July 2020]

"The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff" is a four-episode British series which pokes gentle fun at Charles Dickens and his style of telling stories. Considering that Dickens' stories can be a bit dated to read or dramatize, I was thrilled to see the tales inspire this very weird comedy. It's in some ways like the Blackadder shows...but not nearly as mean-spirited (I actually LIKE the mean-spirited aspects of Blackadder). It's all amazingly silly and enjoyable...but less so if you've never read any of Dickens yourself. I especially like how the show made fun of "Great Expectations", the god-awful story they forced us to read in 8th grade! However, I am sure that Dickens purists would be shocked and hate seeing all this...but as for me, I loved it all.

Museum Secrets (2011– )

Quite enjoyable.

[8/10 · 2 July 2020]

"Museum Secrets" is a Canadian series that is currently on Netflix here in the States. Each episode covers a different major museum around the world...and in each museum you see six artifacts with interesting histories...the sort of stuff you probably never heard before or since. It's all quite interesting, educational and worth your time. My only quibble, and it's a minor one, is that sometimes the show draws conclusions that seem premature and based on limited information. The best example is the object from ancient Egypt whose purpose was unknown and the show seems to think it's a hand grenade!! Huh?! Still, well worth seeing and never dull.

A Shot in the Dark (1941)

When the two main characters have to explain the case at the end of the film, you probably are best off skipping this mystery!

[3/10 · 1 July 2020]

"A Shot in the Dark" is a slickly produced B-mystery from Warner Brothers. And, just like in his film "The Case of the Black Parrot", William Lundigan plays a smartypants newspaperman who helps the cops solve the mystery. But, unlike "Black Parrot", this later film suffers from a poor mystery...so poor that at the end of the film, the two main characters discuss the case and explain to the audience what actually happened! In other words, the film is poorly written and could have been a lot better. Imagine...watching a mystery that really makes no sense and then relying on the characters explaining what you saw! As a result, while I like a nice B-movie, here I cannot recommend it because of the Swiss cheese-like holes in the story.

South of Suez (1940)

Nice blood diamond miners...and one really rotten one!

[7/10 · 30 June 2020]

The plot of "South of Suez" is something you simply cannot use any more. After all, the diamond miners in South Africa and other parts of the continent have developed a horrid reputation for mistreating the workers. However, when the film debuted in 1940, folks didn't know or particularly care about this...and so having a diamond miner being the leading man was not unusual but you won't see in the 21st century.

When the story begins in Tanzania, you see that mine owner Eli Snedeker (George Tobias) is a cruel and vicious man. Soon he and his foreman, John Gamble (George Brent) have a falling out and Gamble is thrilled to stop working for this monster. At about the same time, Snedeker is about to cheat a man out of his mine...and Gamble comes to his aid and becomes his partner. You know that sooner or later, the evil Snedeker will do something to try to exact revenge on Gamble...even though Gamble is a decent and honorable man.

When this film began, I was shocked to see George Tobias playing the vicious Snedeker. Tobias was known for playing 'nice guy' roles as well as the Stevens' neighbor, Abner, on "Bewitched"...hardly the type to be a murderous villain! But Tobias was good in this juicy role.

So is this any good? Yes. The story certainly is unusual as well as interesting...and is much like like "Jubal", which is a reworking of the Biblical story of Joseph! See the film and you might see what I mean. My only quibble was the ending...when one of the characters behaved in such an uncharacteristic manner...that was just poorly written. And, despite what the judge said, a wife CAN testify against her husband...she cannot be compelled to do so but can do it if she wants! Still, despite this sloppy ending, it's worth seeing.

Border Romance (1929)

Mostly forgettable.

[3/10 · 30 June 2020]

"Border Romance" is a B-western whose biggest asset is that the sound, for 1929, is awfully good. As far as the rest of the story goes, it's just okay and is, at best, a time-passer you can find on YouTube.

Bob Hamlin and his buddy wander into a western town. Soon, a baddie attacks the friend and Bob shoots him in self-defense. But the guy was a baddie who has a gang who will want revenge...so the two beat it out of town. But Bob is infatuated with a local señorita...and risks his life to see her. What's next? See the film...or not.

While the sound quality is very good for 1929, films from the very late 20s tend to be a bit flat compared to movies made 1930 and beyond. Much of it is because incidental music is missing in most early talkies and decent dialog writing was still pretty rare. And, the singing at the 22 minute mark is pretty hard on the ears...also more common in early talkies. Because of these factors, the film is most likely a better bet for people who are nuts about movies and have come to expect a bit less from most 1929 productions.

Oh, Yeah? (1929)

Even after 74 minutes, nothing seems to happen in this one!

[3/10 · 30 June 2020]

"Oh, Yeah?" is a very early talkie and it's unusual in that it has practically no plot whatsoever! rail-riding hobos, Dude and Dusty (Robert Armstrong and James Gleason), get jobs with the railroad. And, on their spare moments they romance a couple ladies who work for the commissary. Oddly, despite having jobs and the audience being told that they are working double-shifts at one point, you never really see them work and they ALWAYS seem to be off work. And, amazingly, not a whole lot more happens during the course of the film!!

"Oh, Yeah?" is a slow and meandering film. It even has time for a few musical numbers which seem a bit out of place considering that the plot isn't exactly complicated or developed. Because of this, it's slow going and tough to love this film. The actors seem to try their best but the script just doesn't give them nor the audience much.

Atlantic (1929)

A rousing adventure...with a dozen or so passengers and crew on a mostly empty ship!

[5/10 · 29 June 2020]

I was very surprised that I found this 1929 film on YouTube today.. I had no idea it existed and I was excited to see a talking picture made only a decade and a half after the disaster. However, my excitement turned out to be rather muted, as instead of having a grand scope (as ANY picture about the Titanic should have), it looks amazingly claustrophobic. Despite the ship having about 3300 folks aboard (counting crew and passengers), you mostly see scenes with a small handful of folks in them!! I think this is for two reasons. First, the film was obviously made on the cheap. Second, 1929 was the first year for sound pictures in the UK and like the earlier American films of 1927-28, the sound technology was primitive and they had no idea how to film large rooms full of people. Instead, folks had to stand around hidden microphones and talk...which seems unnatural when you see such movies.

As for the title, apparently the White Star Line had a lot of nerve and wouldn't allow the studio to use the name 'Titanic'. I am no barrister, so I have no idea about British law, but this seems more a ploy by White Star than a legitimate case where a copyright or trademark is involved. The sinking of the Titanic was a historical event and mentioning this and the ship's name seem reasonable...and I am not sure why the studio caved and named the movie 'Atlantic' instead of 'Titanic'...but they did.

One thing that was bad about the movie but isn't the filmmakers' fault is that the print is rather jerky and it jiggles a bit. You probably won't need Dramamine to watch the picture, but it is noticeable and annoying.

Another thing to note is that there apparently were several versions of the movie. In the earliest days of sound, they studios had no idea how to dub films into other languages...so they filmed multiple versions in various languages. Laurel & Hardy did this, the Bela Lugosi version of "Dracula" has another version starring a Mexican count and with "Atlantic", they filmed it in German, English AND as a silent (as most theaters didn't have the technology to play sound films yet). And, after finishing the filming, the film was re-cut and French language scenes were added. I saw the English language version...and have no idea if these other versions even exist today nor where you can find them if they do exist.

The movie is odd in that it just begins on the ship in a small drawing room just before the ill-fated crash. I checked...the print I saw WAS the entire 90 minute picture and the normal introduction apparently just wasn't made. This provided little in the way of suspense and over an hour of the film consists of what happens after the ship collides with an iceberg. And, since it was made with very few extras and cast, the whole thing seems a bit small and anticlimactic. But I do cut the film some slack because of when it was made....expecting the same spectacle as in the Nazi propaganda film "Titanic" (1943) or "A Night to Remember" (1958) or "Titanic" (1997) would be ridiculous. Cramped productions were certainly the norm until about 1930-31....and, in hindsight, it might have worked better had they just waited a year or so to make the movie. Additionally, the film lacks reasonably well developed characters and even for 1929, it was a bit of a disappointment in this regard. So, overall it's a very mixed bag for 1929...and a film that must have impressed back in the day but which became quickly dated as well. Mostly of value to the curious and film historians. I give it a 5 because it is watchable and some of the scenes were well made...but overall, it is disappointing and cramped!

Home Game (2020– )

A docu-series about insane sports played throughout the globe.

[8/10 · 28 June 2020]

Judging by the narrator's accent, I assume that "Home Game" was originally made for British television. Regardless, it was just recently posted on Netflix and is worth your time if you want to see about small, lesser-known ultra-dangerous sports. Each episode covers one sport...such as the nutty Calcio Storico (Florence, Italy), free diving, Texas Female Roller Derby and the Highland Games (among others).

Overall, this is a very interesting series. While I am not a huge sports fan, I did enjoy the shows. the one that I could not make myself watch was free diving. I am a scuba diver and simply think free divers are insane...and death is not too uncommon. Apart from that, I loved the programs...particularly Calcio Storico, as it is so weird and violent, you really won't believe it! Well made and never dull.

UPDATE: I did watch ALL the episodes...even the free diving one. Scary...but worth seeing as well!