I recently watched these films:
New to me:
Off TCM:
Song Of The Gringo (1936) Tex Ritter, Joan Woodbury, Fuzzy Knight. Tex Ritter was good looking but was no actor and not much of a singer but back in the '30's my Dad would have loved this film and when we got our first TV in 1952, would have been riveted to his chair as long as they showed any western. Acting laurels go to Woodbury and Fuzzy. Both were competent. I had to laugh at the way the director framed the raining scenes with just a vine across the frame blowing in the wind and lots of rain and thunder. I'm sure kids in the audience didn't give a hoot and my Dad wouldn't either. I rate it a 5/10. And that's being generous.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028283/
HBO:
Edge Of Darkness (2010) Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone. Fairly good suspense film about a homicide detective whose daughter becomes involved in activist activies that get her killed. He goes rogue and digs through layers of corruption finding out who did what. Not original but keeps your interest so I give it a - 6/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226273/
DO-Overs:
TCM:
Mogambo (1953) Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly. In the early 1950s, Hollywood was trying to find some formula to get people out of their living rooms watching TV and back to the theater, so took their top stars to Africa on safari. That'll show those upstarts! This was a big hit and is one of the better uses of the great grasslands, and uplands, of Africa and the animals who live there. The gorilla scenes are marvelous too, but the attitude that shooting animals and/or catching them for display in zoos, is backward. Gardner steals the film from goody two shoes Grace. Grace may have gotten a prince in real life, but Ava got 'The King' of films in this movie and, according to bios, in real life. There is no music score. Only the chants and sounds of Africa. So effective and one of the first films to use the system. Remake of Red Dust which also starred Gable with the blond bombshell - Jean Harlow. Earlier film was fun, but this safari is for me. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046085/
HBO:
Regarding Henry (1991) Harrison Ford, Annette Benning, Mikki Allen, Bill Nunn. One of the better films about overcoming a disability and what it takes. A successful, hard charging attorney goes out for a pack of cigarettes and is shot by a robber at the store. After months in the hospital regaining consciousness, more months in rehab learning to speak and walk, he returns to his home and then his office. Each step takes him to seeing a new person that he was and now must find how to make it himself again. Mikki, as his daughter, is wonderful. As is his physical therapist played by Nunn. Benning is the one false note. She is too intense and as one of her early frantic performances, i see where it all began. She still is giving her all with her neck tendons tense and ready to ping if touched. Ford and Mikki are great together. She never makes another film, I see, on her IMDb profile. We'll always have this nice film to remember what a sweet child she was. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102768/
Robin Hood (2010) Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, William Hurt. Like it better on rewatching. Guess I had to get used to the drab costumes and houses. Upgrade from 6 to 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0955308/
HOT! in the old town these days. Thanks be for air-conditioning!
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