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Reviews
Rock All Night (1957)
Nothing much here
Unless you like the Platters.
The well meaning but totally outlandish story is about a smaller guy who gets to look like Superman and James Bond for a change only in the cheap setting of a 50s Bar/hangout.
The unrealistic way the story unfolds doesn't give you anything to bother about. So if you enjoy the fantasy that every bad guy eventually get their just desserts via a smaller loudmouth righteous tough guy who bullies and dominates them for a change, not only gets away with winning every argument and fight he starts with those, but acts like a total superhuman in the process, then you might like it a bit.
Due to the main character's absolute omnipotence against the other impotent characters, the appeal of a smaller guy as a saving the day and the helpless loses appeal. It's too convenient to the story to make the hero look too powerful and the villains look too meek.
It's a cheap looking fifties movie shot around the music of the time. It wasn't meant to be more than light drive in background fare. Acting was adequate for the paper thin plot and it's corresponding characters.
It could easily have been better if it had a bit more substance and dimension to the characters and story. But I guess that never is the intention at all in making such a movie.
A Man Could Get Killed (1966)
A typical light, fun and comical 60s movie.
I didn't really wanted to add much to the other reviews. If you've watched and just kicked back to many sixties films of this type, and find joy simply soaking the unique sights and sounds of the time that showcases some of the performers of that era, here's another offering to entertain you similarly. You can add it to the many rollicking Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, Rock Hudson, Peter Sellers, Carry on... flavor of comedies that were quite popular then, a time that weren't real for many of us born after.
The remarkable thing is, some people get the impression the actors and crew involved were having as much of a good time off camera as they were having on camera or enjoying themselves as much as the audience that enjoyed it. Not so, according to many involved who spoke about their experience making the film years after. Sandra Dee has expressed that she never wanted to make it in the first place and regrets having spent four miserable months on the picture. The first director was dismissed for having 'trouble' with the actors. James Garner was reportedly disappointed with the result. He and Tony Franciosa didn't get along well during filming either. Their fight scene in the movie was said to be quite non fictional.
In fact, Garner admitted he punched Franciosa because the guy abused and never pulled his punches against stuntmen, or tried at all to feign it as necessary. It's almost like implying Franciosa was displaying a misplaced sense of machismo and bravado on the set. Franciosa was known at the time for not being able to control his hair trigger temper.
Regardless, the fact that they were able to convince so many people they weregenuinely having great fun, getting famously along, and convey a light hearted comical movie lay testament to an actor's ability to act if nothing else.
Just a few additional information about the film that isn't mentioned on this site for those interested.