On the Waterfront

1954  NR  DRAMA  1h 48min

CAST— Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, Pat Henning, Eva Marie Saint, Leif Erickson, Tony Galento, John Hamilton, Nehemiah Persoff

MUSIC— Leonard Bernstein  DIRECTOR— Elia Kazan  BASED ON— Articles by Malcolm Johnson

     Marlon Brando gives an award-winning performance in this powerful film concerning the influence of a corrupt workers union. Brando plays an ex-prize fighter, now working on the loading docks of NYC. He and his brother are affiliated with the local union, a den of murderous thugs. When a local dock worker is murdered for squealing on their racket everyone clams up when approached by the investigative committee. But Brando begins to develop a conscience after falling in love with the victim’s sister. Will he have the courage to stand up to the union, and if so, at what cost? Wonderful, realistic performances shine through in this highly acclaimed drama that classic film buffs shouldn’t miss. Oscar-winner for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Brando), Best Supporting Actress (Eva Marie Saint), Best Story & Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction-Set Direction, Best Editing. Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.

OUR RATING— ** ½

     On the Beach

1959  NR  DRAMA  2h 14min

CAST— Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins, Donna Anderson

MUSIC— Ernest Gold  DIRECTOR— Stanley Kramer  BASED ON— On the Beach (novel), by Nevil Shute

     A dark science fiction drama that may raise a few eyebrows. The Earth has been laid desolate by nuclear wars, the fallout claiming billions of lives. The one area that got a reprieve is the Australian continent. Now, sensing that their end is fast approaching, the citizens try to live normal lives but severe anxiety and depression have a firm grip. Gregory Peck plays a naval submarine commander whose men have all survived due to seclusion aboard their vessel. When docking on Australian shores Peck tries to lead a normal life despite his knowing the tragic ending of his American family. Peck hands in a typically understated performance, as does naval officer Anthony Perkins, who has more than enough on his plate. At times absorbing, at times dreary and depressing, though the powerful message contained herein still applies some fifty odd years later.

OUR RATING— ** ½

     On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

1969  PG  ACTION  2h 20min

CAST— George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Gabriele Ferzetti, Telly Sevalas, Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Desmond Llewelyn, Catherina von Schell (Catherine Schell), Bessie Love, Joanna Lumley

MUSIC— John Barry  DIRECTOR— Peter R. Hunt  BASED ON— On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (novel), by Ian Fleming

     Wait a moment. Who has had the audacity to fill the shoes of the legendary Sean Connery, THE 007? Oh, it’s George Lazenby (he’ll barely make it though this one, just you see). So let’s see the newbie in  action; car chases- check; wooing ladies- check; the fact that he’s a drunkard is a given (so far so good). Let’s get down to the story: M has relieved 007 from his duties concerning Blofeld. Devastated, Bond takes a leave of absence from MI6, falls in love with a spirited, willful daughter of a crime lord whose empire stretches all of Europe. But Bond cares not about this frivolous matter; all he cares for is the woman. But the other side of the page is a darker one: it seems that Bond has indeed tracked down the illusive Blofeld, somewhere in the Swiss Alps. After speed skiing and bob sledding to death the audience is probably ready to say goodbye to Switzerland (not to mention Bond’s God-awful kilt). Be prepared for an emotional and rather shocking ending to this pretty mediocre film. And remember: “The World Is Not Enough”.

OUR RATING— **

PRECEDED BY— Dr. No (1962), From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Live Twice (1967)

FOLLOWED BY— Diamonds are Forever (1971), Live and Let Die (1973), The Man With the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983), A View to a Kill (1985), The Living Daylights (1987), License to Kill (1989), GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999), Die Another Day (2002)

Trailer Unavailable

     On Golden Pond

1981  PG  COMEDY-DRAMA  1h 49min

CAST— Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, Doug McKeon, Dabney Coleman, William Lanteau

MUSIC— Dave Grusin  DIRECTOR— Mark Rydell  BASED ON— On Golden Pond (play), by Ernest Thompson

     A wonderful, touching portrait of age and love, of beauty and serenity. Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn give exceptional performances as a longtime married couple who are graced by a visit by their bitter daughter (played by Fonda’s daughter Jane Fonda). She brings along her dentist boyfriend and his thirteen year-old son. Planning a trip to Europe, they dump the kid on her parents and away they go, leaving them with a boy who “knows it all” but has experienced nothing. What begins as a tentative relationship soon becomes genuine affection for the three of them as they enjoy a wonderful summer vacation that turns out to be more than any of them expected. Henry Fonda’s performance as the crotchety grandfatherly type is played to perfection and the lush New Hampshire landscape provides plenty of organic eye candy. Hepburn and Fonda fans as well as fans of classic films in general should definitely check this one out. Oscar-winner for Best Actor (Henry Fonda), Best Actress (Katherine Hepburn), Best Adapted Screenplay.

OUR RATING— *** ½

Trailer Unavailable

     One Million B. C.

1939  NR  SCIENCE FICTION  1h 20min

CAST— Victor Mature, Carole Landis, Lon Chaney, Jr., John Hubbard, Mamo Clark, Jean Porter

MUSIC— Werner R. Heymann  DIRECTORS— Hal Roach, Hal Roach, Jr.

     Another tale of boy-meets-girl. Boy-loses-girl. Boy-finds-girl-being-attacked-by-giant-iguana. We’ve heard it all before. In this ludicrous prehistoric adventure Victor Mature plays a native of the savage Rock People who is cast out of his clan. He finds his way to the gentle Shell People, who accept him as one of their own. He eventually kidnaps shell-girl Carole Landis and off they head back to the Rock People, facing dangers unknown, and so on, and so on… You get the point. This culture clash of the stone age features many a super-imposed, larger than life-sized reptile (and a horned armadillo for good measure) but lacks the panache of, say, The Flintstones. Not much story, certainly no dialogue (apart from obligatory grunting), but the viewer may still be entertained by sheer silliness. AKA Cave Man, Man and His Mate, Tumak.

OUR RATING— * ½

REMADE AS— One Million Years B. C. (1966)

     One Hundred and One Dalmatians

1961  G  ANIMATED  1h 19min

CAST— Rod Taylor, Lisa Davis, Cate Bauer, Ben Wright, Fred Warlock, J. Pat O’Malley, Betty Lou Gerson

MUSIC— George Bruns, Mel Leven  DIRECTORS— Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi  BASED ON— The Hundred and One Dalmatians (novel), by Dodie Smith

     Old school Disney feature focusing more on story and talented animation than on song routines and frivolity. Somewhat morbid in premise, the film is nevertheless considered a family classic. A pair of married Dalmatians birth a litter of fifteen puppies, all to be lusted after by fur-crazed madwoman Cruella De Ville. Cruella has been stock-piling Dalmatian puppies for the ultimate fur coat. When her plan to buy the fifteen pups fails she relies upon two bumbling henchmen to do her dirty work and steal them. The Dalmatian parents soon recruit nearly all the dogs of the English countryside in their journey to find their missing children. Family films usually stay miles away from plot devices that include skinning adorable, innocent puppies, but Disney decided to take the risk, much to their advantage. Go figure.

OUR RATING— ** ½

FOLLOWED BY— 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure (2003)

REMADE AS— 101 Dalmatians (1996)

Trailer Unavailable

     Once Upon a Time in the West

1968  PG  WESTERN  2h 45min

CAST— Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards, Gabriele Ferzetti, Paulo Stoppa, Frank Wolff, Jack Elam, Woody Strode, Lionel Stander, Keenan Wynn

MUSIC— Ennio Morricone  DIRECTOR— Sergio Leone

     In his follow-up to the Dollars trilogy director Sergio Leone once again asks the mysterious stranger to do the dirty work. Charles Bronson plays this particular stranger who protects a recent widow, a bitter ex-prostitute of New Orleans. It seems that everyone is out to get her; Jason Robards as the outlaw who was framed for the murder of her family, and Henry Fonda, the despicable gunman who actually did the deed. The question is “why her”? Could it be that the land she possesses is prime land for the railroad to roll through, and if an upstart town were to spring up it could mean massive amounts of dollars for everyone involved? A somewhat slow moving tale, interspersed with action and prime drama. Beautifully directed with a fine score and memorable performances by Bronson and Fonda. A slight disappointment; nominally entertaining. Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.

OUR RATING— ** ½