Hitchcock, a western, Bourne....

....on this weeks list of films watched:

The Paradine Case (1947) Gregory Peck, Alida Valli, Louis Jourdan, Ann Todd, Charles Laughton, Ethel Barrymore. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock for David O. Selznick, who interferred all through filming. The most controled of directors was forced to shoot many extra scenes he did not want and finally let David take over some parts altogether. What they edited down is what we have, and while I love it, I feel it is not a Hitch film but a Selznick studio film. David was promoting Valli as another Garbo. Beautiful cinematography and the loving camera lingers on Valli and Jourdan - they are stunning. I think Peck is very good as a young lawyer who has made a name for himself as a top defense attorney. He becomes mesmerized by his new client, Mrs. Paradine, accused of murdering her blind husband because she is in love with his valet, Jourdan. Did she or not? Good old fashioned murder mystery. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039694/

A Foreign Affair (1948) Jean Arthur, Marlena Dietrich, John Lund, Millard Mitchell. Billy Wilder directed and used location shots of bombed out Berlin. Devastating. Marlene sings 3 songs in her special way. Lots of funny moments while making a point about post war Germany and our boys in uniform as an occupying army. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040367/

Magnificent Seven(1960) with Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen. Yul was the big star; Steve up and coming. Lots of silly rivalry. The director had to appease both to get a good performamce as the good guys in the film. Eli Wallach, as Calvera, the terrorist, stole the show. Story of a down and out group of hired guns who go to a small village in Mexico to get rid of the outlaw band, preying on the farmers and stealing all their food. Very exciting final showdown with the bandits and the hired guns all losing, but as the old man says " it is the farmers who win; they are like the land - always here. You are like the wind that blows over and is gone." Favorite western; wonderful music score. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054047/

To Sir With Love (1967) Sidney Poitier, Judy Geeson, Lulu. Story of new teacher in a school in London's East End poor area. Students have to work or take care of younger children at home while both parents work. No discipline and no interest from the students. Until Mr. Thackeray loses his temper over one disgusting incident and rushes out to the teachers lounge, and says something about "the kids" and it dawns on him that these students are already doing duty as adults so should be treated as such. When he goes back to his classroom he throws the class plan in the waste basket and thus starts his new teaching style. Just talking and answering questions about anything they bring up, etc. Great film. The title song Lulu sings at the class party near the end of the film always makes me tear up, just like "Sir." 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062376/

Little Children (2006) [b][color="#800080"]Last rental was "Little Children" with Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson. Lots of nude sex. :O Story of suburbanites bored with their life, and a man who has been released from prison after serving his sentence for child endangement, and a cop who is leading a group of vigilantes trying to make the guy suffer. Very unpleasant film, and I really didn't like anyone as the characters are written. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404203/

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, David Strathaim. Visited Jason again last week. He was running as usual. From the agency that trained and used him, as usual. Strathaim good as our cold blooded villian out to get him. Allen her usual quiet, competant self as Pam Landry. Love when Bourne calls and talks to her from a lookout post. Music just perfect. Why they don't have her the second lead, I don't know. Now that would be interesting. At the end when Bourne falls into the black river and the ripples get larger and larger as the last credits are playing, I almost give up......but thank God, he surfaces and swims away! Will we see him again? Come on Matt - you know you want to. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0440963/

Watchmen (2009) Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson. Those are the only actors I had seen before in other films. I was hopeful for a good film by director Zack Snyder, who did such a great job on "300", but alas, this is just a mess. I went to sleep half way through, and woke up with 15 minutes to go. I could not get into the story because none of the first characters we are spending time with are at all interesting. I admit I don't read comics and knew nothing about this one until the chatter started about filming it with Zack as director. Whether it was the writing or directing - this film is only for those who love the genre. The big blue man with the blinking blank eyes was the most interesting character even with his jewels hanging out. LOL 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409459/

Have got some of my tapes from years ago out to watch and see if I really want to keep them. May replace those I love with DVDs. May not. Time will tell.