© 2005

" You've Opened Movie in Review "

Page 3 ~ My Classic Movies

 

The Classic films reviewed here are My favorites. They've been selected due to their entertainment value, cinematography, storyline, special effects, message, directorial style,  actor / actress, or purely because I enjoy watching them again and again. They're in no particular order as to preference or position in my list of Favorite Classic Films.  Enjoy !

 

Index

 Sands of Iwo Jima - 1949

 Captain from Castile - 1947

 Scaramouche - 1952

 North to Alaska - 1960

 Von Ryan's Express - 1965

 My Rating System

 Future Reviews

 DVD/VHS Cover Images

 

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" Sands of Iwo Jima " - (1949)

     4.5/5

Genre: Action / Drama / War...

Runtime: 109 min - (TCM print) Color: (Black and White) This History versus Hollywood film depicts one of the bloodiest campaigns in the Pacific during World War II.

 

This film literally saved the United States Marine Corps. At the time of it's release, the marine Corps was almost disbanded in favor of a joint U.S. defense force comprising all branches. The popularity of this movie helped quash, such talk. In fact, the DUKE was approached by the marines to do a movie to help drum up support for enlistments... this film did exactly that. "John Wayne was probably one of the most under-rated actors in Hollywood. After decades of great performances in films of every genre, it was nice to see him finally win an Oscar for "True Grit.". 

 

Cast overview, first billed only: 
John Wayne .... Sgt. John M. Stryker 
John Agar .... Pfc. Peter Conway 
Adele Mara .... Allison Bromley 
Forrest Tucker .... Pfc. Al Thomas 
Wally Cassell .... Pfc. Benny Regazzi 
James Brown .... Pfc. Charlie Bass 
Richard Webb .... Pfc. Dan Shipley 
Arthur Franz .... Cpl. Robert Dunne/Narrator 
Julie Bishop .... Mary 
James Holden .... Pfc. Soames 
Peter Coe .... Pfc. George Hellenpolis 
Richard Jaeckel .... Pfc. Frank Flynn 
William Murphy .... Pfc. Eddie Flynn (as Bill Murphy) 
George Tyne .... Pfc. Harris 
Hal Baylor .... Pvt. 'Sky' Choynski (as Hal Fieberling)

 

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Index

 

" Captain from Castile " - (1947)

     4.5/5

Excellent Action / Adventure / Drama...

Runtime: 140 min - Color: (Technicolor)

"Set during the period of the Spanish exploration and conquest of the "New World", this classic film has it all... A swashbuckler in the true Hollywood style. Steeped with intrigue, romance, and magnificent performances by Tyrone Power and Cesar Romero, this film is pure entertainment.

 

 

"A superb supporting cast of excellent character actors add to the film's enjoyment. I enjoy watching this film for it's exciting action sequences and sumptuously stunning cinematography."

 

Credited cast:
Tyrone Power .... Pedro De Vargas
Jean Peters .... Catana Perez
Cesar Romero .... Hernando Cortez
Lee J. Cobb .... Juan Garcia
John Sutton .... Diego De Silva
Antonio Moreno .... Don Francisco De Vargas
Thomas Gomez .... Father Bartolome Romero
Alan Mowbray .... Prof. Botello (the astrologer)

 

~ The Critics ~

Panned by many critics as being an elaborate and big budget film that was and remains unexciting and pointless in its attempts to show Cortez' conquering of Mexico, they claim that the plot is ridiculous - with the hero nearly dying twice and brought back to life each time. Powers was considered unconvincing and miscast in this film.

 

See the film, and judge for yourself!

 

* * *

 

Index

 

" Scaramouche " - (1952)

     4.75/5

Outstanding Action / Adventure / Romance / Drama...

Runtime: 115 min - Color: (Technicolor)

"Scaramouche was and remains one of my all-time favorites."

 

Set around the time of the French Revolution, it is a stunningly presented high-adventure story... It has romance, revenge, intrigue, hidden identities, plus the astonishing duel at the end of the film that is without a doubt the most exciting display of swordplay ever presented to movie audiences. Stewart Granger and Mel Ferrer are both excellent as the film's protagonists.

 

This highly implausible story is presented seriously while avoiding any slip into comedy and parody and therein lies the beauty of this film. I have to admit I've always liked the films Stewart Granger has appeared in, and have seldom been disappointed in his work. Authentic looking sets, a marvelous supporting cast, and rich scenic locations make this film a delightful viewing experience."

 

Cast, first billed only: 
Stewart Granger .... Andre Moreau 
Eleanor Parker .... Lenore 
Janet Leigh .... Aline de Gavrillac de Bourbon 
Mel Ferrer .... Noel, Marquis de Maynes 
Henry Wilcoxon .... Chevalier de Chabrillaine 
Nina Foch .... Marie Antoinette 
Richard Anderson .... Philippe de Valmorin (Marcus Brutus)

 

* * *

Index

 

" North to Alaska " - (1960)

     4.0/5

Action / Western / Comedy... Directed by Henry Hathaway

Runtime: 122 min - Color: (DeLuxe)

"Sam McCord (John Wayne) and George Pratt (Stewart Granger) strike gold in Alaska. George sends Sam to Seattle to bring his fiancé back to Alaska, and with that premise the fun begins."

 

 

These two prospectors are now concerned with a second, more pressing ‘mother lode' - this time of the heart. The film is less about rich seams of ore than the veins of romance, with Sam, George and Billy (Fabian) each doing their own emotional ‘prospecting'. When Sam heads South to recover George's fiancé, it turns out that he is being just as adventurous as leading a pack.


Hathaway was brought into the project after Richard Fleischer's departure, and the finished result shows an interesting balance between the veteran's predictably sure touch as well as the improvisational nature of some of the filming. Wayne apparently thought of the film as being little more than a contractual affair, and the great success of the finished product was presumably a surprise.

While some modern viewers may balk at the comedic sound effects added during the two big fight scenes, more reminiscent of Tom and Jerry than a Western, arguably Wayne's great ‘jealousy scene' is one of the greatest sustained moments of comedy in the actor's career. It seems likely that Hathaway recognized this during filming, as he dwells upon this enjoyable moment (George pretending to make out with Angel in the Honeymoon Hut while Sam fumes across the water) as long as possible, giving the scene amplification and timing which would have been impossible to write into a script.


Credited cast:
John Wayne .... Sam McCord
Stewart Granger .... George Pratt
Ernie Kovacs .... Frankie Canon
Fabian .... Billy Pratt
Capucine .... Michelle ('Angel')
Mickey Shaughnessy .... Peter Boggs
Karl Swenson .... Lars Nordquist
Joe Sawyer .... Land Commissioner
Kathleen Freeman .... Lena Nordquist

 

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Index

 

" Von Ryan's Express " - (1960)

     4.75/5

World War II /Action / Adventure / Drama...

Runtime: 117 min - Color: (DeLuxe)

Over the course of his acting career, Frank Sinatra has appeared in films encompassing every genre... Most good, some mediocre, and many that were memorably Outstanding!

 

"While I've seen most, if not all, of Sinatra's films, This is one that I truly enjoy watching again and again and again."

 

~ Still working on this review ~

 

Cast overview, first billed only:

Frank Sinatra .... Col. Joseph L. Ryan

Trevor Howard .... Maj. Eric Fincham

Raffaella Carrà .... Gabriella (as Raffaella Carra)

Brad Dexter .... Sgt. Bostick

Sergio Fantoni .... Capt. Oriani

John Leyton .... Orde

Edward Mulhare .... Capt. Costanzo

Wolfgang Preiss .... Maj. Von Klemment

James Brolin .... Pvt. Ames

John Van Dreelen .... Col. Gortz (as John van Dreelen)

Adolfo Celi .... Battaglia

Vito Scotti .... Italian Train Engineer

Richard Bakalyan .... Cpl. Giannini

Michael Goodliffe .... Capt. Stein

Michael St. Clair .... Sgt. Major Dunbar

 

* * *

Index

 

The following films will be reviewed

in the near future, as time permits.

 

  • 2001 - A Space Odyssey - 1968

  • 20000 Leagues Under the Sea - 1954

  • 36 Hours - 1965

  • A Few Good Men - 1992

  • Alien - 1979

  • Aliens - 1986

  • Beyond Borders - 2003

  • Blackbeard, the Pirate - 1952

  • Blade Runner - 1982

  • Blow Out - 1981

  • Cape Fear - 1962

  • Chain Reaction - 1996

  • Class Action - 1991

  • Contact - 1997

  • Cool Hand Luke - 1967

  • Coyote Ugly - 2000

  • Creature from the Black Lagoon - 1954

  • Dave - 1993

  • Doctor Zhivago - 1965 **

  • Elmer Gantry - 1960

  • Emperor of the North - 1973

  • Experiment in Terror - 1962

  • Far and Away - 1992

  • Fools Rush In - 1997

  • Forbidden Planet - 1956

  • French Kiss - 1995

  • G. I. Jane - 1997

  • Hannie Caulder - 1971

  • Hard Rain - 1998

  • Hatari - 1962

  • Holiday Affair - 1949

  • Inherit the Wind - 1960

  • Julie - 1956

  • Kansas City Bomber - 1972

  • Kelly's Heroes - 1970

  • Kid Galahad - 1962

  • King Creole - 1958

  • Last of the Dogmen - 1995

  • Laura Croft - Tomb Raider - 2001

  • Medicine Man - 1992

  • Murphy's Romance - 1985

  • Name of the Rose - 1986

  • Norma Rae - 1979

  • Pay it Forward - 2000

  • Philadelphia - 1993

  • Planet of the Apes - 1968

  • Pollyanna - 1960

  • Quigley Down Under - 1990

  • Rollerball - 1975

  • Saturday Night Fever - 1977

  • Schindler's List - 1993

  • Serpico - 1973

  • Shakespeare In Love - 1998

  • Soldier - 1998

  • Star Wars - 1977

  • Stargate  - 1994

  • Starship Troopers - 1997

  • Teacher's Pet - 1958

  • Titanic - 1997

  • To Kill a Mockingbird - 1962

  • Tootsie - 1982

  • Twelve Monkeys - 1995

  • Vera Cruz - 1954

  • Victor - Victoria - 1982

  • White Nights - 1985

  • Will Penny - 1968

  • Witness - 1985

  • Zulu - 1964

  • The 13th Warrior - 1999

  • The American President - 1995

  • The Bodyguard - 1992

  • The Bone Collector - 1999

  • The Counterfeit Traitor - 1962

  • The Cowboys - 1972

  • The Day of the Dolphin - 1973

  • The Day of the Jackal - 1973

  • The Entity - 1981

  • The First Great Train Robbery - 1979

  • The Ghost and the Darkness - 1996

  • The Hitcher - 1986

  • The Last Samurai - 2003

  • The Last Valley - 1971

  • The Magnificent Seven - 1960

  • The Omega Man - 1971

  • The Outlaw Josey Wales - 1976

  • The Package - 1989

  • The Pelican Brief - 1993

  • The Thing - 1982

  • The Vikings - 1958

  • The Wheeler Dealers - 1963

  • The Wild Bunch - 1969

  • The Wind and the Lion - 1975

  • The Young Lions - 1958

Personal Note:

The above list of film titles are those that I thoroughly enjoy. Just because a particular film isn't listed doesn't mean that I haven't seen or liked it! There are literally hundreds and hundreds of films that I've watched over the years, and while many of them are worth watching again, those listed here are my top all-time picks.

 

 

       

1964                    2000                     1954                    1992

 

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To Learn More about these and other Great Films,

visit this on-line Movie Database site.

 

My Rating System:

= Outstanding - Oscar Quality

= Excellent

= Really Good 3- 3/4

= Above Average

= Average 2-1/2

= Not Good

= Forget It

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"Waters" World Copyright © 2002-2005 

by C. H. Waters.  All Rights Reserved. 

 Revised: December 06, 2005 08:41 AM.