Change Your Image
Movie_Palace
Reviews
The Canterville Ghost (1944)
You silly ghost
Is this a faithful adaptation of the Oscar Wilde classic? Don't know, never read it. This is though, a silly and entertaining movie that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
This was my first introduction to Margaret O'Brien and she won me over with her sweet charm. As a platoon of U.S. soldiers hold up in the haunted Canterville castle, they are excited by the news that they are to be welcomed by Lady Jessica de Canterville herself. The boys are surprised when Lady Jessica happens to be a 3-1/2' tall 6-year-old. She plays hostess to the GI's and tells them of the residing ghost. Their disbelief is soon tested by the late night antics of Sir Simon (Charles Laughton), who has inhabited the castle in his ghostly form for over 300 years. He has been condemned to this state of purgatory for his cowardice which can only be relieved by a blood descendant performing an act of bravery in his stead.
Having seen Charles Laughton in 'The Private Life of Henry VIII', 'Mutiny on the Bounty' and 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame', I was surprised to see him in this role as a clumsy, silly ghost. As usual, he is wonderful. A master thespian who can handle comedy as well as drama.
I highly recommend this film to anyone young or old who just wants an hour and a half of amusement.
Three Wise Fools (1946)
What a cast!
A wonderful, entertaining film with an all-star cast. Every scene seems to introduce another classic movie star. While the story centers around Margaret O'Brien, Lionel Barrymore, Lewis Stone, Edward Arnold and Thomas Mitchell, other familiar faces include Harry Davenport, Jane Darwell, Ray Collins, Cyd Charisse, Warner Anderson, Barbara Billingsley, Billy Barty and Jerry Maren. Humorous and fun, Margaret works her endearing charm on the three crusty old birds who have become the new men in her life.
I agree that films such as this deserve to be made available for DVD purchase, most likely in a best of Margaret O'Brien set. Unfortunately for us classic film buffs, the sales numbers would pale in comparison to those for the latest CGI fantasy-action product that can be cross-marketed to toys, video games, theme parks, TV series' and numerous movie sequels. Thus the expectation for a DVD release by the corporation owning the film rights is minimal. They are only interested in profit margins. Long live TCM. And may there some day be a TCM II!
Razorback (1984)
The Boar War. Eerily entertaining.
With the premise of a hog gone wild, one could easily dismiss this as a ridiculous movie idea. But the director uses the desolate Australian Outback as the setting for a strange legend that has its share of believers among the local inhabitants. While you may witness the wrath and destruction, you are spared from seeing much of the terrorizing beast. It is the suspense of "there's something out there" that much of the story is built upon.
The feeling of being lost and alone in a bizarre place, threatened by the unknown, is personified by Gregory Harrison's character. A stranger in a strange land. His search for answers to the disappearance of his wife leads him to discover an eerie world.
I was particularly taken by the two Aussie brothers Benny and Dicko, the local weirdos. Whose parents may have been related, if you know what I mean. They ride around in a meat hook laden truck and reside underground in a cave. Nice boys.
There is a subplot that develops that I won't go into here. It deviates from the Pig Plot in an attempt to broaden the story. There is a creepy pet food plant included that Stephen King would enjoy.
It is the images of this odd and unusual place with its peculiar characters that make this an interesting indulgence.