I was one of the random reddit users that was recommended your channel. I subscribed because I like your no nonsense style and lack of angle edits. You are a breath of fresh air.
Wow, I love "The Line-Up", mostly because of the unusual take on the how and why of the "bad guy" plot points. "Krakatoa, East of Java" is one of those movies where you think, "How did such talented actors find themselves in such a mess?" "The Unseen" isn't as good as "The Uninvited" but it is a strange, unusually filmed movie. Good Gail Russell not so much for Joel. "October Sky" - Chris Cooper is very good. One of our great unsung actors. As always, your reviews are always fun and informative; bringing back many movies I've seen that I have forgotten. Good work, Jerome!
Really stoked to have discovered your channel through the 10th anniversary blow up. As a huge Godzilla fan, I loved going through your playlist of Godzilla film reviews. It was especially great to hear your thoughts on the new movies after going through all of the old ones in chronological order. I am wondering if you have watched or are interested in watching the Planet of the Apes films. I have seen that you watched the newest reboot trilogy, but I think watching them all from the original 5 movies would make for a fun and very similar experience to your Godzilla reviews. The original 5 are weird and great, and the Tim Burton reboot is fantastic in its own way.
Thanks, and welcome to the channel! I'm glad you're enjoying the Godzilla reviews. I've seen the original Planet of the Apes a couple times, and I've actually been considering watching the full series sometime, or at least attempting it and seeing how it goes. :)
I just watched October Sky. That is definitely one I wish they would have shown me in school. Up next is Sole Survivor, your review caught my attention.
My dad was in high school in the late 50s. He always had a lot of interest in science and engineering, so I knew October Sky was a movie he would like. He did not want to go, but I kind of dragged him to the theater. After the movie was finished my dad was a little choked up and thanked me for making him go. October Sky brought him back to the best of his young memories.
Love your totally enjoyable take on everything you reviewed. Every once in a while I listen to old time radio channels that include The Lineup the progenitor of the movie. Like you, I found Broderick Crawford’s Mob movie weak. Keep your great work!
Thanks for the reviews! I now have a few more to add to my lists-both ones to watch and ones to avoid. The only two I’ve seen are October Sky and Shadow of a Doubt, and I love both. You do such a great job of summarizing these films succinctly and without spoilers.
Weiselberry is back! Great to see you, was kindly recommended your stuff on reddit and glad I was, you have some good takes I haven't seen anywhere else and appreciate your dedication over the years!
Hello there Jerome (K. Jerome?), Hope this finds you in good spirits, I just wanted to extend my genuine thanks for your reviews and views over the years (10?!) - I've thoroughly enjoyed truffling through them (a late night treat), since I stumbled across your channel a while ago. I have a daughter about your age, and spent time and energy trying to expose her to that inexorable magic that only film (movies) can offer. I had limited success with Casablanca and It's a Wonderful Life, but now she has a lovely family of her own, and my influences are futile. My son however, is a huge Godzilla officianado - which I know you enjoy so much. Forgive me for rambling on quite so much, but I do so enjoy your idiosyncratic take on the cinematic arts, my wife and I watch a lot of films (movies) and it's encouraging to know that there are genuine lovers of the cinema out there, all enthralled (well, sometimes). Given your admiration of Joseph Cotten, would you not considera reviewof the 'Magnificent Ambersons' or did I miss it perhaps?? Do keep up the good work, Miss J. I hope all is going well, and continues to do so. Sorry this was all a little long winded, Bob, Liverpool, UK
Another great quick series of reviews! I'm always amazed how many movies and books you review, especially with such quality commentary. I saw Krakatoa in the CineramaDome huge screen theater in Hollywood when it came out. I was in college, it was as you say; even with the huge screen, it was underwhelming.
October Sky was directed by the great Joe Johnston. He co-designed the X-Wing and Millennium Falcon from Star Wars (1977) then went on to also direct Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Captain America. Great movies and a talented man.
Hayley Mills has long been one of my movie crushes. I have most of her films on VHS or DVD. She and her father worked so well together. Dreams looks like something I need to watch. I discovered the quirky wonders of Japanese film around 2010 or so. Su-ki-da and The Taste Of Tea are two favorites. Thanks, Jerome!
I've always liked her too, my favorite is probably Endless Night (1972). Two of my other favorites are British TV productions and both up here on YT; the Thriller episode Only a Scream Away (1974) sporting a lovely short haircut and the Tales of the Unexpected episode A Sad Loss (1983). Incidentally, do make sure to also catch the 'lost scenes' from the Thriller title on TheBlackNun's channel.
As usual, great reviews and I always steal a few haven't-seens to add to my view list (this time: Sole Survivor) And what always puts a smile on my face, the parting...."byeee" 😀
Hi! Hats off to you and your mom for having such eclectic tastes and a willingness to give a wide selection of films a chance to prove that they're any good. I can't say the same about myself, which is why the only ones I saw from your list are Shadow of A Doubt and Evil Under the Sun, both of which have sterling pedigrees. Hitchcock and Christie are more than likely to entertain us! Best moment in Shadow for me is when Uncle Charlie gives this long,dark speech at the dinner table about useless, rich old widows, and when he finally stops speaking his sweet sister says, "I hope you're not going say that when you address my women's club!" Classic! Loved "Evil Under the Sun" too, even more than "Death On the Nile", though that had the better cast. I get a kick out of Peter Ustinov and Maggie Smith together. When they were both much younger they made a delightful comedy in 1968 called "Hot Millions", she was so adorable! He was too, and I'm pretty sure he wrote the script. Anyhoo, I need to branch out!
Hi J, very nice selection and reviews. I did see High and the Mighty a few years back and liked Wayne's understated performance of a regular guy doing his job. As opposed to swaggering across saloons or yelling at cowboys. The rest was kind of a soap opera and I can't remember any of their stories. I rented October Sky back in the day and remember enjoying it since I'm kind of a space nut. I may have had a tiny crush on the blond teacher; Laura Dern gave a great performance (as did Chris Cooper and the others). Thanks for these, have a wonderful week.
I'm new here. I really admired your "The Best Years of Our Lives" review as well as "Citizen Cane" and would like to know if there is a catalogue of all you've reviewed somewhere...Good work!
Thanks! Unfortunately, I don't have a public directory of films I've reviewed, though I do maintain a list for those who support the channel on Ko-fi. I don't have many perks to offer, but that's one I try to keep exclusively for them.
love it! had no idea peter ustinov had played poirot so many times. i thought it was just this and death on the nile! which i think is a tiny bit better? mia farrow is so conniving! it’s great that there are so many ways to watch movies these days. i love tubi a little too much, it’s really fun to let their algorithm play out and select films for you. happy sunday!
Wow. You are really good at this: such interesting, eclectic, concise, 'sensible' & sensitive, intelligent reviews. In so few words, you say pretty much what I'd like to hear about these films. I love that you review older, and less popular performances, and in this video I greatly appreciated how thoughtfully & even bravely you noted that some Tiger Bay viewers nowadays would unfortunately misunderstand Gillie & Bronislaw's bond. I don't know if you discuss more abt the directors, actors, editors/editing, etc., but I'm hoping you do, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on most anything. Thanks for sharing. (Of course, I subscribed.)
Thank you! I try my best to be succinct while touching on as many pertinent points as possible. My solo reviews tend to go into more detail about actors, directors, writers, effects, etc., although how much detail varies. I'm glad you like the variety and the discussion of lesser-known films, and I hope you continue to enjoy the channel!
Hey, Jerome. Here’s what I watched in August. 1. Network …. On DVD 2. Kong: Skull Island …. On DVD 3. Matinee …. On 4K UHD 4. M*A*S*H …. On Blu-ray 5. Kung Fury …. On AppleTV 6. Coraline (in 3D) …. In theaters 7. The Night Stalker (1972) …. On Blu-ray 8. The Trigger Effect …. On DVD 9. Alien: Romulus …. In theaters 10. Shaun of the Dead …. In theaters 11. Predator 2 …. On AppleTV I hope you had a great summer, J. Here’s to a great autumn! 🙂🍷
I was pleased to see your last video got so many views. I hope some new viewers watch some of your older reviews too. Of your selection of movies last month I remember particularly liking Tiger Bay and Shadow of a Doubt when I saw them. Sole Survivor looks interesting so I'm going to check that out some time. Thanks for the recommendation! Here are some movies that I watched in August: Superfights (1995) - on YT Dangerous Men (2005) - on YT Bushwick (2017) Justice Ninja Style (1985) - on YT The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007) Savageland (2015) - on YT The Courier (2021) Return of the Evil Dead (1973) - on archive Thirty Nine Steps (1978) Baby Assassins (2021) - on tubi Strangers on a Train (1951) Barbarian (2022) Django Unchained (2012)
Dear Ms Weiselberry, I saw "The Line-Up" a couple months back. Eli Wallach was very disturbing in that. A few of the things I watched in August include: "Godzilla vs. Biolante" "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" "From Here to Eternity" "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" "Shane" "Asphalt Jungle" "T-Men" (1947) "The Burglar" (1957) "The Stolen Face" (1952) I started a rewatch of the British spy series "The Sandbaggers" (1978-1980) with Roy Marsden, and, based on your review, the 1979 adaptation of "Rebecca".
Don Siegel also directed Private Hell 36, which was co-written by Ida Lupino. There is also a great copy of Charley Varrick that the YT censors haven't taken down yet. The Burglar - great movie!
Now I'm interested in seeing Shadow of a Doubt. In August I also watched a Kurosawa flick, Kagemusha--one of the few I hadn't seen. Some brilliant shots in that one.
Correct me if I’m wrong, JW, but did you more than double your subscribers in a week? If so, way to go Jerome. Not sure how that’s possible but you deserve even more, so whatever you did, keep on doing it.
Enjoyed your review. I watched some of these movies. I likes "Sole Survivor" it told about the ghost crew and the stories of two of the officers investigating it. It has similarities to The Twilight Zone episode "King Nine Will Not Return". I saw "October Sky" in the movies and enjoyed it. The father-son relationship is a big part of the story. The scene where the young man was descending into the coal mine while watching Sputnik go across the sky was poignant, having to give up on your dreams moment. An interesting mid-air drama is "The Doomsday Flight". It is a 1966 TV movie that got banned from TV because of the slew of airline hijackings in the late '60s.
October Sky was a childhood favorite. I would rewind the test launch montage on the vhs over and over. I’ll recommend Edge of the City(1957) and congrats on the 10 years.
This August, I rewatched some favorites; Go (1999), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), and It Happened One Night (1934), while discovering Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948), Suddenly, Last Summer (1959; the first Tennessee Williams film I can say I actually liked), Evil Under the Sun (1982), The Professional (1981), and The Lost World (1925). For fun, I managed to finally watch Troll 2 (1990), The Quatermass Xperiment (1955), and Quatermass 2 (1957). If you're interested in adding to your reading list, I can recommend Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded. It's an interesting look at when Krakatoa erupted massively in 1883. It's a very interesting read that, among other things, goes into how the global press (recently connected via undersea cables) reported the story and how the 19th century scientific community studied the event. It's a pretty interesting read. Thanks for the reviews - you've got Year 11 off to a nice start!
I remember Sole Survivor. You are spot on about it being like a Twilight Zone episode. There were lots of great actors in the cast. The story made an impression on me because it was similar to the real-life story of the B24 bomber Lady Be Good.
Glad you enjoyed "Sole Survivor", I discovered it myself a few years back and funny you should mention the Twilight Zone, there's a slightly similar scenario played out in the classic TZ episode "King Nine Will Not Return" (worth a look as you liked "Sole Survivor"). Intrigued by "The Lineup", will have to check that out!
Hey, JW! Fun blast of mini-reviews. I just finished watching 'The LineUp', based on your review here, and I really enjoyed it. I thought Don Siegel did a good job directing, and I liked the three bad guy stars, and their interactions as they drove around together. The action scenes were excellent, too! 'Shadow of a Doubt' is also MY favorite BW Hitchcock movie. Well, it's a tie with 'Lady Vanishes' and 'Foreign Correspondent'. Adding Tiger Bay and Soul Survivor to my TBW. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I'm so happy you also enjoyed The Lineup! Yes, something I didn't mention in my review here is that the action in the climax is superb. Siegel's direction was excellent throughout the film. The Lady Vanishes is up there! As is Lifeboat, and The 39 Steps, and Psycho, and Notorious, and... :)
You are so right about 'Shadow of a Doubt'. It is such a good film! I saw another film a few weeks ago that stars Theresa Wright and Joseph Cotten, that you would probably enjoy. I was not aware that they had done anything else together besides Shadow of a Doubt. This film is called 'The Steel Trap'. It was very interesting to see them as husband and wife when they are known to you only as uncle and niece. I saw this on TCM, so maybe it is still available through the TCM app, if you are interested. Thanks for sharing what you saw in August!
Yes, The Steel Trap is a great movie! I found it extremely tense, and also, yes, it was interesting/strange to see Wright and Cotten play a married couple. And she was blonde! That might have helped keep it from feeling too weird, actually. My brain never got tricked into thinking they were playing the same people. Thanks for bringing that up!
Okay, I watched Kurosawa's Dreams tonight. I thought some of the segments were a bit heavy-handed in their message, and one or two went on a tad too long, but overall the film was a fascinating watch. The Peach Orchard was my favorite dream, and I would love to visit the village of the watermills (though I've read that the real location is touristy and the wheels themselves were built for the film and don't actually run anything.)
I loved your review here, my favourites, and I think the best films here were "Tiger Bay" (a one-time area of Cardiff the Capital City of Wales) an excellent film with a young Hayley Mills, a great film with her from a couple of years later was "Whistle Down The Wind", which I highly recommend if you haven't seen it, and of course "October Sky" which I think will become a future classic. For me the only thing that I could find was good about "The Unseen" was the photography, as a sequel to "The Uninvited" it's sadly lacking, for me that film has great acting, a good script and is well written. Here's to another successful decade for you, whatever God has planned for you. 🙂
Hi Jerome, I'm new here so I'm not sure what you have and haven't reviewed yet but I'd love to see what you think of: The Court Jester (1955) and Wait Until Dark (1967). The former a musical comedy and the later, in my onion, the perfect thriller. Happy 10th anniversary btw!
I really enjoyed October Sky, as well as the book Rocket Boys that it was based on. I've added Sole Survivor to my Watch Later list, based on your recommendation.
I finished watching Sole Survivor, and found the ending powerful and haunting. I actually had a hard time falling asleep as I couldn't stop thinking about it.
I remember seeing "The Lost City" preview in theaters and laughed out loud at it. At the end, I said : "yeah, like Channing Tatum is gonna save 60 year old Sandra Bullock" and got a laugh from the guys in the crowd.
Always liked Runaway Jury - I agree about it being the Hoffman and Hackman movie. Evil Under the Sun is my childhood Agatha Christie movie, owing to us owning an ancient VHS video copy (back when that was rare) for most of the 80's.
I was into John Grisham for a while and read The Runaway Jury before I watched the movie. I was very unhappy that they changed the case from the tobacco industry in the book to the gun industry in the movie, especially since the characters in the book specifically discussed guns and how it was different from tobacco during the trial.
I think maybe the book was written before the real life trials that brought huge verdicts against the tobacco industry, and the movie came out after that. So perhaps the movie makers wanted to look forward (as the book has done) instead of look back at what was now old news. Just speculation on my part.
Re Soul Survivor. It's funny that you mention Twilight Zone because I was thinking the exact same when you were describing the film! The season 2 episode 'King Nine will Not Return' sprang to mind. Good video!
Movie suggestion, I'm sure you will have seen it, but I couldn't see it in the movies you have reviewed previously. Mask (1985) starring Cher, Sam Elliott and Eric Stoltz. This story meant a lot to me in my developing years, and helped to accept differences in all kinds of people.
Thanks for sharing! Here are the movies I watched recently: The Bikeriders (2024) Crossfire (1947) Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) Bonnie and Clyde (1967) Bob le flambeur (1956) Le Samourai (1967) Guess I was in a crime/noir mood! They're all worth checking out. Cheers.
I'm going to watch The Unseen and Soul Survivor. Despite having heard/read only disappointing reviews of "The Unseen", I'm curious about it and it's one to tick off the list. I really like the sound of "Soul Survivor" and look forward to that one. Thanks for the links (bookmarked for later). During the last few months I've treated myself to four blu-rays: The Cat and the Canary (1939) The Black Cat (1941) The Letter (1940) The Uninvited (1944) Gale Sondergaard is terrific in the first two movies, in which she plays the archetypal 'spooky housekeeper' supporting roles. Both movies are brilliantly entertaining. Gale Sondergaard also plays an interesting supporting role as a quietly vengeful Eurasian widow in "The Letter." An impressive movie and gripping drama, despite a so-so story premise and no moral main character to root for! The movie's strength lies in the direction and Bette Davis' riveting performance. Out of this blu-ray collection, The Black Cat and The Letter were the ones I hadn't previously seen, and The Letter was my first time watching a Bette Davis movie. After watching the blu-ray, I got hold of a copy of the 1929 version with Jeanne Eagels. I found it really interesting comparing the two versions, that a week later I subsequently rewatched them back to back. And I'm really pleased to now have "The Uninvited" on blu-ray, a delightfully charming movie (which is an odd thing to say about a ghost story). The Cat and the Canary was the movie that brought Gale Sondergaard to my attention (earlier this year). I like her acting style and she has great screen presence. I've since gone through all of her movies. As a contract artist, most of her movies were middle-of-the-road affairs, which I haven't found very appealing, and there are some real duds among them ("Isle of Forgotten Sins" is just plain awful). One I thoroughly enjoyed was "Maid of Salem" (1937), her second movie, in which she has only a very minor role and barely appears onscreen. The three I ended up buying on blu-ray are real gems and feature some of her most memorable performances. Those three are standouts, and great additions to my collection. I wish Gale Sondergaard had played more substantial roles in movies of a higher standard than the bulk of her work.
I'd say The Unseen is definitely worth... seeing. (That didn't sound punny until I wrote it out.) Wow, you've been on a real Gale Sondergaard kick! To date, I've only seen the silent version of The Cat and the Canary, but I did see The Letter some years ago. She and Davis are both striking in that. Your first Bette Davis movie! Not a bad one to start with, though her character is pretty awful. I watched some of the silent version also. I suspect the most famous trivia about Sondergaard (which you probably already know) is that she almost played the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. I wonder if her career might have been different if she'd accepted the role? Margaret Hamilton was recognized for it for the rest of her life... but people always saw her as the stereotypical ugly witch, the very image Sondergaard didn't want to be saddled with. Sondergaard's face isn't recognizable to most people today. But maybe she found her career more satisfying than it would have been if she'd taken the part.
@@Weiselberry I've now seen The Unseen :D. I thought it had a great opening and an interesting setup with plenty of intrigue, Gail Russell gave an engaging performance, but the second half didn't really live up to the promise and my enthusiasm for it waned considerably. The father had a very stiff persona, almost robotic, and his voice grated on me. The very ending (final moment) was ridiculous and felt tagged on to please the audience ~ it was really weird, all of a sudden and out of nowhere! It was worth watching though. It was your review of the silent version of The Cat and the Canary that led me to end up watching the Bob Hope one. I've just checked on your reviews and see that was actually two years ago, not earlier this year (time flies!). I must have rewatched it earlier this year. I was so impressed by her in that role that I felt compelled to see what else she'd done, and now I've gone through them all. A bit like your Snowbound reading mission, I'd assigned myself to a Sondergaard mission, lol. There was pain among the joy, and I struggled halfway though, but it was fun overall and I ended up discovering a few real gems. The Black Cat is a movie in the same vein as The Cat and the Canary, in which she plays the same spooky housekeeper role in all but name, only this time she really camps it up, to glorious effect. I had a real ball watching that one. I was very impressed by The Letter and I can see why Bette Davis is regarded as one of the greats. Not having a main character to empathize with or root for holds me back from being able to love it. But it's still a great movie. From Sondergaard's interview on the Dick Cavett show, and reading a few articles, I get the impression she never regretted not playing the witch. I wonder what kind of roles she may have been offered, and what kind of 50s/60s movies she'd have been in, if she hadn't have been blacklisted at the end of the 40s. She made two horror movies in the 70s and was very good in them, although they weren't my kind of movies (a bit too much on the tacky side of 70s horror flicks). Looking forward to seeing Sole Survivor.
Yes, I've liked Joel McCrea in several other movies, but it's almost as if he was sleepwalking through this part. I totally agree about the last scene too. My eyes rolled big time. I would have been fine with it if there'd been some--ANY!--set up, but it just seemed like a sloppily tacked-on cliche, like they did it merely because they figured audiences would expect it. Yes, truth be told, I didn't actually like The Letter that much. It's a good film and well-made and all that, but I also prefer to have at least one character to like and root for. I've only seen the (unrelated) 1934 film The Black Cat, and I really enjoy that one, even though it's got a thematic element I typically avoid. Looking at the 1941 film's impressive cast, though, it sounds like I should add it to my watchlist ASAP!
@@Weiselberry I think there's a chance you'd really enjoy The Black Cat. It's a fun-packed, atmospheric murder mystery story, with excellent production values and a strong cast. It's basically a playful romp that visually emulates the older Universal haunted mansion horror movies. (It looks like a horror movie but it's really a murder mystery, best of both worlds). I haven't seen the 1934 film The Black Cat. I might look into that one.
Have you seen Moonfleet from 1955? I think you'd like/love it. A young boy in an English coastal town in the 1700s falls in with booze smugglers, adventure ensues. I think it's one of Fritz Lang's most underrated/underseen movies. I read the book recently and it was wonderful as well.
Hi, Jerome! I'm once again reminded I need to watch more Joseph Cotten movies. Looking at Joseph Cotten gives me joy XD I'm also noting down Runaway Jury -wasn't personally a fan of political thrillers until I watched State of Play (first the movie, then the original series which I found to be superior even if I thought the movie was good), and then the taste was definitely solidifed by Roy Clarke's The 17 Jewelled Shockproof Swiss Made Bomb (original radio drama from the 70s... now I tend to give a try to the ones that come my way, even if some of them are terrible disappointments (I don't think a movie has ever caused me more rage than Primal Fear) because I find even the so-so satisfying, like The Firm. Maybe I'm somehow growing into a middle aged dad (I'm a 30 year old woman XD). Realizing just now that in a way The Truman Show is a political thriller of sorts (I know I use political in a wide sense as social/legal, but that's the philosophy teacher in me). This month I have discovered the British 80s comedy series Yes, Minister, and have been having a blast with it. Nigel Hawthorne is just great.
Lost City was a conflicting one for me. The action was fun and I liked channing tatums character too. I would say that they dont work as a couple but I have seen long term couples with this same dynamic IRL. I dont think I've seen the other movies so I can't comment.
Yes, I talked about The Mothman Prophecies in this video from 2018: ua-cam.com/video/xinQX6_Vq1c/v-deo.html I also reviewed a Mothman documentary or two.
@@guymatrin Happy to have you here! By the way, I believe this is the video where I talk about the documentary: ua-cam.com/video/X-Ei8xHP0Js/v-deo.html
Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman are pals going back to the 50's. Depending on the source, they were either roommates or just friends trying to make it as actors in NYC at the time. The other friend/roommate from this era? Robert Duvall!
In addition to SOLE SURVIVOR, another good airplane crash survivor movie is the original THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (Jimmy Stewart, Richard Attenborough). In KRAKATOA: EAST OF JAVA, Eugene Laurie had a cameo as the lighthouse keeper. Ironically, one of the most famous scenes in Lourie's THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS is when the Rhedosaurus destroys the lighthouse and its two keepers.
You're awesome! As a fan of "The Invaders" ABC tv series starring Roy Thinnes who found your channel, I salute you. Your episode reviews were enjoyable to the max.
Greeting and salutations, Mizz Jerome! For me, August was a wash. Didn't really watch anything. Alas, things have been a bit hectic 'round these parts. However I do plan on seeing the new Beetlejuice movie. But before that, I'm gonna watch the original. It's such a great movie. It's creative and fun and I had a huge crush on Winona Ryder when I was a kid. Actually, I think I still have a crush on her. She has aged pretty well. Hubba hubba. But anyway, too bad about The Unseen. I love love LOVE The Uninvited. I knew it had a semi-sequel but I didn't know if it was any good or not. I'll probably watch it anyway. My Criterion copy of The Uninvited has a short featurette on the actors and Gail Russell had a rather sad end to her life. Apparently she became a raging alcoholic and died way too young as a result. Lost City sounds almost *exactly* like Romancing The Stone (1984) with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. I highly recommend Romancing The Stone. Kathleen Turner plays a writer of trashy romance novels who god to Colombia to help her kidnapped sister and winds up adventuring with Michael Douglas. It gets pretty wild. Rated R for some ooo la la. *Wink* Kurosawa's Dreams is an anthology? I thought it was a documentary. Aaaaand it's going on the wishlist! Thank you once again for all your thoughtful reviews. There's definitely a few movies there that I'll be checking out soon. Take care and God bless!
Recommendations, if I may: Man in a Swing with Cliff Robertson and Joel Grey from 1974 … also perhaps my fave film: 1973’s The Last of Sheila with James Coburn, James Mason, Richard Benjamin and Raquel Welch (with a script by Stephen Sondheim and Norman Bates!) - these are both hyper quirky murder mysteries … Sheila is a meta take on the world of Hollywood at that time and the 45 minute finale, aboard a yacht, where Benjamin explains everything- with help from a hand puppet - is a 70s cinematic tour de force
Haven't seen every video but sorry about one of your crushes passing away recently - Alain Delon. Don't know if you mentioned it earlier, but I was reminded of it when you mention Airport '79. I've seen all the Ustinov Poirot movies and I think they are all entertaining. I have the lenghthy BBC series but haven't watched them yet. I know I saw at least one a while ago and liked it, but don't remember what one - there are many. Anyway, I can't compare the potrayals. I do enjoy the Kenneth Brannaugh movies so far. They are better quality; however, the Ustinov ones are good for what they are.
I saw The High and Mighty as a teenager! I don't recall the plot (thanks for reviewing it) but the theme song was VERY popular back then on RADIO! HaHa, I am dating myself, aren't I? Loved Shadow of a Doubt. Did you see High Wind in Jamaica, Anthony Quinn, James Coburn? That too has a somewhat disturbing relationship of a young girl and the captain of the boat.... Great theme song that I still remember. Thank you for your analyses always.
No, I haven't seen that one. I just listened to the theme of The High and the Mighty (I forgot how it went), and it IS a pretty melody, so I'm not surprised it became a hit for a time. It's one of the film's stronger elements.
The Lost City seemed like it really wanted to be an homage to Romancing the Stone, but Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum did not have the chemistry that Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner did. They were amazing together and their interactions made the movie fun and engaging. The Lost City wasn't a bad film, by any means, but it is greatly overshadowed by the movie it wanted to be.
I saw Lost City and I enjoyed it though I like Bullock, I just find her fun. Other than that I have watched Shadow of a Doubt and Evil Under the Sun, both of which I've enjoyed.
A recommendation if I may: The Sword and the Dragon (Russian 1960, English dub). It follows the adventures of Russian folk hero Ilya Muromets. Also featured is a Genghis Khan-type character and his marauding horde, a wind demon, and of course a fire-breathing dragon. Interesting special effects for its time. It was a staple of mine growing up in the 60s. It is on UA-cam.
I give a thumbs up to THE MOB because of the closing scene, almost as if it's the cast's ad lib joke or something . Amusing. THE LINEUP is rewatched from time to time because I can't get over how vicious and how patient Eli Wallach's exposure of his Evil Self is. He's never had a better performance or a better role as a villain. ;I wish I could send BLAST OF SILENCE and give you another dose of unpleasant characters doing murderous and unpleasant other activities.
Haha, I watched Blast of Silence earlier this year, and I can understand why The Lineup made you think of it. I talked about it in this video: ua-cam.com/video/fHPmtfnwsd8/v-deo.html
Wasn't that cartoon character (Czech maybe) kind of triangular? Saw one when I was very young (early '70's) & another one on Bill Daily's syndicated variety series when I was a teen. I also wish I could see those again.
I would have said more rectangular? He had boxy pants. But I also remember a prominent nose that was either pointy or bulbous. So... we could be talking about the same thing?
@@Weiselberry Found it! "Surogat", 1961 Oscar winning animated short from Zagreb. He's _sort_of_ triangular, but mainly he's at the beach with all manner of inflatable items, including the bikini girl. I misremembered seeing two different cartoons. I saw the same one twice. Sure glad to finally solve this decades long mystery!
I love watching your reviews of these movies you do a great job. I would love you to review a ghost story Starring Casey Affleck. I think it's a unique movie and a bit of a masterpiece. But it is very very slow movie❤️
Eli Wallach narrated the audiobook of Stephen King's Insomnia. I've really grown to dislike the author, and there's stuff in the book I just hate, but the performance by Wallach really stuck with me.
I was one of the random reddit users that was recommended your channel. I subscribed because I like your no nonsense style and lack of angle edits. You are a breath of fresh air.
Thank you and welcome! I hope you continue to enjoy the videos.
I came here from reddit as well. Maybe not all of us are true to the stereotype.
@@Weiselberry I've been watching quite a few of your videos. As long as you continue being awesome, I'm going to keep watching your videos.
Wow, I love "The Line-Up", mostly because of the unusual take on the how and why of the "bad guy" plot points. "Krakatoa, East of Java" is one of those movies where you think, "How did such talented actors find themselves in such a mess?" "The Unseen" isn't as good as "The Uninvited" but it is a strange, unusually filmed movie. Good Gail Russell not so much for Joel. "October Sky" - Chris Cooper is very good. One of our great unsung actors. As always, your reviews are always fun and informative; bringing back many movies I've seen that I have forgotten. Good work, Jerome!
i love all the work you put into your description box --- even detailing how you watched and enabling us to click! Bravo.
A new Weiselberry video on a Saturday night, doesn't get any better than that. Here's to a great 11th year as well!
Really stoked to have discovered your channel through the 10th anniversary blow up. As a huge Godzilla fan, I loved going through your playlist of Godzilla film reviews. It was especially great to hear your thoughts on the new movies after going through all of the old ones in chronological order.
I am wondering if you have watched or are interested in watching the Planet of the Apes films. I have seen that you watched the newest reboot trilogy, but I think watching them all from the original 5 movies would make for a fun and very similar experience to your Godzilla reviews. The original 5 are weird and great, and the Tim Burton reboot is fantastic in its own way.
Thanks, and welcome to the channel! I'm glad you're enjoying the Godzilla reviews. I've seen the original Planet of the Apes a couple times, and I've actually been considering watching the full series sometime, or at least attempting it and seeing how it goes. :)
Hello, Sister Jerome!
Thank you for an enjoyable, entertaining interlude with a cup of coffee and your exuberance.
I just watched October Sky. That is definitely one I wish they would have shown me in school. Up next is Sole Survivor, your review caught my attention.
Tiger Bay and Shadow of a Doubt are great films! I'm glad you covered them tonight! ❤❤
My dad was in high school in the late 50s. He always had a lot of interest in science and engineering, so I knew October Sky was a movie he would like. He did not want to go, but I kind of dragged him to the theater. After the movie was finished my dad was a little choked up and thanked me for making him go. October Sky brought him back to the best of his young memories.
Thank you for being a genuinely awesome youtuber!
Love your totally enjoyable take on everything you reviewed. Every once in a while I listen to old time radio channels that include The Lineup the progenitor of the movie. Like you, I found Broderick Crawford’s Mob movie weak. Keep your great work!
Thanks for the reviews! I now have a few more to add to my lists-both ones to watch and ones to avoid. The only two I’ve seen are October Sky and Shadow of a Doubt, and I love both. You do such a great job of summarizing these films succinctly and without spoilers.
Weiselberry is back! Great to see you, was kindly recommended your stuff on reddit and glad I was, you have some good takes I haven't seen anywhere else and appreciate your dedication over the years!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the books you have read and the movies you have viewed. I've learned a lot!
Another great video from someone who is rapidly becoming one of my favourite people on the internet!
Aw, thanks!
Hello there Jerome (K. Jerome?),
Hope this finds you in good spirits, I just wanted to extend my genuine thanks for your reviews and views over the years (10?!) - I've thoroughly enjoyed truffling through them (a late night treat), since I stumbled across your channel a while ago. I have a daughter about your age, and spent time and energy trying to expose her to that inexorable magic that only film (movies) can offer. I had limited success with Casablanca and It's a Wonderful Life, but now she has a lovely family of her own, and my influences are futile. My son however, is a huge Godzilla officianado - which I know you enjoy so much. Forgive me for rambling on quite so much, but I do so enjoy your idiosyncratic take on the cinematic arts, my wife and I watch a lot of films (movies) and it's encouraging to know that there are genuine lovers of the cinema out there, all enthralled (well, sometimes).
Given your admiration of Joseph Cotten, would you not considera reviewof the 'Magnificent Ambersons' or did I miss it perhaps?? Do keep up the good work, Miss J. I hope all is going well, and continues to do so.
Sorry this was all a little long winded, Bob, Liverpool, UK
Another great quick series of reviews! I'm always amazed how many movies and books you review, especially with such quality commentary. I saw Krakatoa in the CineramaDome huge screen theater in Hollywood when it came out. I was in college, it was as you say; even with the huge screen, it was underwhelming.
October Sky was directed by the great Joe Johnston. He co-designed the X-Wing and Millennium Falcon from Star Wars (1977) then went on to also direct Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Captain America. Great movies and a talented man.
You have a very kind smile! Thank you for this review, your channel has actually inspired me to start watching films regularly again!
I respect your dedication to the craft!
Hayley Mills has long been one of my movie crushes. I have most of her films on VHS or DVD. She and her father worked so well together. Dreams looks like something I need to watch. I discovered the quirky wonders of Japanese film around 2010 or so. Su-ki-da and The Taste Of Tea are two favorites. Thanks, Jerome!
I've always liked her too, my favorite is probably Endless Night (1972). Two of my other favorites are British TV productions and both up here on YT; the Thriller episode Only a Scream Away (1974) sporting a lovely short haircut and the Tales of the Unexpected episode A Sad Loss (1983). Incidentally, do make sure to also catch the 'lost scenes' from the Thriller title on TheBlackNun's channel.
As usual, great reviews and I always steal a few haven't-seens to add to my view list (this time: Sole Survivor)
And what always puts a smile on my face, the parting...."byeee" 😀
Great job ! Thanks for the links I will check some of these out.
Hi! Hats off to you and your mom for having such eclectic tastes and a willingness to give a wide selection of films a chance to prove that they're any good. I can't say the same about myself, which is why the only ones I saw from your list are Shadow of A Doubt and Evil Under the Sun, both of which have sterling pedigrees. Hitchcock and Christie are more than likely to entertain us! Best moment in Shadow for me is when Uncle Charlie gives this long,dark speech at the dinner table about useless, rich old widows, and when he finally stops speaking his sweet sister says, "I hope you're not going say that when you address my women's club!" Classic! Loved "Evil Under the Sun" too, even more than "Death On the Nile", though that had the better cast. I get a kick out of Peter Ustinov and Maggie Smith together. When they were both much younger they made a delightful comedy in 1968 called "Hot Millions", she was so adorable! He was too, and I'm pretty sure he wrote the script. Anyhoo, I need to branch out!
Haha, yes, that is a great line, coming at the end of that chilling diatribe. :D
Keep up the great work. We all appreciate your videos.
Another wonderful movie review video. Happy anniversary ❤
Hi J, very nice selection and reviews. I did see High and the Mighty a few years back and liked Wayne's understated performance of a regular guy doing his job. As opposed to swaggering across saloons or yelling at cowboys. The rest was kind of a soap opera and I can't remember any of their stories. I rented October Sky back in the day and remember enjoying it since I'm kind of a space nut. I may have had a tiny crush on the blond teacher; Laura Dern gave a great performance (as did Chris Cooper and the others). Thanks for these, have a wonderful week.
Thank you, you saw so many neat things again!
Loved October Sky. Great story. A movie suggestion for you is the TV movie version of The Time Machine done in the 70s.
So glad to see your review of Tiger Bay. It is a really interesting film.
I like how you put the youtube links in the descriptions!
I'm new here. I really admired your "The Best Years of Our Lives" review as well as "Citizen Cane" and would like to know if there is a catalogue of all you've reviewed somewhere...Good work!
Thanks! Unfortunately, I don't have a public directory of films I've reviewed, though I do maintain a list for those who support the channel on Ko-fi. I don't have many perks to offer, but that's one I try to keep exclusively for them.
love it!
had no idea peter ustinov had played poirot so many times. i thought it was just this and death on the nile! which i think is a tiny bit better? mia farrow is so conniving! it’s great that there are so many ways to watch movies these days. i love tubi a little too much, it’s really fun to let their algorithm play out and select films for you. happy sunday!
Have a look at "Seconds" from 1966. Might be right up your alley. "The good things always happen with the rain."
An enjoyably eclectic mix. Here's to the next ten years Miss W.
Wow. You are really good at this: such interesting, eclectic, concise, 'sensible' & sensitive, intelligent reviews. In so few words, you say pretty much what I'd like to hear about these films. I love that you review older, and less popular performances, and in this video I greatly appreciated how thoughtfully & even bravely you noted that some Tiger Bay viewers nowadays would unfortunately misunderstand Gillie & Bronislaw's bond.
I don't know if you discuss more abt the directors, actors, editors/editing, etc., but I'm hoping you do, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on most anything. Thanks for sharing. (Of course, I subscribed.)
Thank you! I try my best to be succinct while touching on as many pertinent points as possible. My solo reviews tend to go into more detail about actors, directors, writers, effects, etc., although how much detail varies. I'm glad you like the variety and the discussion of lesser-known films, and I hope you continue to enjoy the channel!
Thank you honey this old lady found two movies in your reviews I now want to see. 😊
My absolute favorite movie review channel. Thank you so much for what you do!
aw great, a few i had not heard of. thank you!
Great video, JW...👍
Hey, Jerome. Here’s what I watched in August.
1. Network …. On DVD
2. Kong: Skull Island …. On DVD
3. Matinee …. On 4K UHD
4. M*A*S*H …. On Blu-ray
5. Kung Fury …. On AppleTV
6. Coraline (in 3D) …. In theaters
7. The Night Stalker (1972) …. On Blu-ray
8. The Trigger Effect …. On DVD
9. Alien: Romulus …. In theaters
10. Shaun of the Dead …. In theaters
11. Predator 2 …. On AppleTV
I hope you had a great summer, J. Here’s to a great autumn! 🙂🍷
Thanks for sharing your list! I've never heard of The Trigger Effect. Sounds like something my mom might like...
I was pleased to see your last video got so many views. I hope some new viewers watch some of your older reviews too. Of your selection of movies last month I remember particularly liking Tiger Bay and Shadow of a Doubt when I saw them. Sole Survivor looks interesting so I'm going to check that out some time. Thanks for the recommendation!
Here are some movies that I watched in August:
Superfights (1995) - on YT
Dangerous Men (2005) - on YT
Bushwick (2017)
Justice Ninja Style (1985) - on YT
The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)
Savageland (2015) - on YT
The Courier (2021)
Return of the Evil Dead (1973) - on archive
Thirty Nine Steps (1978)
Baby Assassins (2021) - on tubi
Strangers on a Train (1951)
Barbarian (2022)
Django Unchained (2012)
2 new movie picks to my list. Thank you !
Thank you.
October Sky was pretty good.
Dear Ms Weiselberry,
I saw "The Line-Up" a couple months back. Eli Wallach was very disturbing in that.
A few of the things I watched in August include:
"Godzilla vs. Biolante"
"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"
"From Here to Eternity"
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
"Shane"
"Asphalt Jungle"
"T-Men" (1947)
"The Burglar" (1957)
"The Stolen Face" (1952)
I started a rewatch of the British spy series "The Sandbaggers" (1978-1980) with Roy Marsden, and, based on your review, the 1979 adaptation of "Rebecca".
Yes, I watched the Jeremy Brett Rebecca this week too. Very good recommendation from Jerome! Definitely the best version.
Don Siegel also directed Private Hell 36, which was co-written by Ida Lupino. There is also a great copy of Charley Varrick that the YT censors haven't taken down yet.
The Burglar - great movie!
@@Barot8 I've got an original first run poster of Charley Varrick
Now I'm interested in seeing Shadow of a Doubt. In August I also watched a Kurosawa flick, Kagemusha--one of the few I hadn't seen. Some brilliant shots in that one.
Great to see you again jerome!
Correct me if I’m wrong, JW, but did you more than double your subscribers in a week? If so, way to go Jerome. Not sure how that’s possible but you deserve even more, so whatever you did, keep on doing it.
Someone posted her 10th anniversary video to Reddit and encouraged people to check her out. That how I found her.
@@trentc7329 Thanks. It should have happened long ago. She’s a gem.
You can never have too much Joseph Cotten!
I always liked Eli Wallach, such a talent at villainous characters. I haven’t seen The Lineup, will have to add it to my list!
The lineup is good
Enjoyed your review. I watched some of these movies. I likes "Sole Survivor" it told about the ghost crew and the stories of two of the officers investigating it. It has similarities to The Twilight Zone episode "King Nine Will Not Return". I saw "October Sky" in the movies and enjoyed it. The father-son relationship is a big part of the story. The scene where the young man was descending into the coal mine while watching Sputnik go across the sky was poignant, having to give up on your dreams moment. An interesting mid-air drama is "The Doomsday Flight". It is a 1966 TV movie that got banned from TV because of the slew of airline hijackings in the late '60s.
October Sky was a childhood favorite. I would rewind the test launch montage on the vhs over and over. I’ll recommend Edge of the City(1957) and congrats on the 10 years.
This August, I rewatched some favorites; Go (1999), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), and It Happened One Night (1934), while discovering Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948), Suddenly, Last Summer (1959; the first Tennessee Williams film I can say I actually liked), Evil Under the Sun (1982), The Professional (1981), and The Lost World (1925). For fun, I managed to finally watch Troll 2 (1990), The Quatermass Xperiment (1955), and Quatermass 2 (1957).
If you're interested in adding to your reading list, I can recommend Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded. It's an interesting look at when Krakatoa erupted massively in 1883. It's a very interesting read that, among other things, goes into how the global press (recently connected via undersea cables) reported the story and how the 19th century scientific community studied the event. It's a pretty interesting read.
Thanks for the reviews - you've got Year 11 off to a nice start!
Hey, we both watched Evil Under the Sun! Sounds like you had a good month. Lots of great movies in there!
I remember Sole Survivor. You are spot on about it being like a Twilight Zone episode. There were lots of great actors in the cast. The story made an impression on me because it was similar to the real-life story of the B24 bomber Lady Be Good.
Check out the TZ episode "King Nine Will Not Return" which is also based on the discovery of the Lady Be Good.
There was a similar TZ episode, "King Nine Doesn't Answer", with Robert Cummings.
Glad you enjoyed "Sole Survivor", I discovered it myself a few years back and funny you should mention the Twilight Zone, there's a slightly similar scenario played out in the classic TZ episode "King Nine Will Not Return" (worth a look as you liked "Sole Survivor").
Intrigued by "The Lineup", will have to check that out!
I wouldn't take any plane trips anytime soon, with this subconscious collection of plane trouble flicks!
Hey, JW! Fun blast of mini-reviews. I just finished watching 'The LineUp', based on your review here, and I really enjoyed it. I thought Don Siegel did a good job directing, and I liked the three bad guy stars, and their interactions as they drove around together. The action scenes were excellent, too! 'Shadow of a Doubt' is also MY favorite BW Hitchcock movie. Well, it's a tie with 'Lady Vanishes' and 'Foreign Correspondent'. Adding Tiger Bay and Soul Survivor to my TBW. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I'm so happy you also enjoyed The Lineup! Yes, something I didn't mention in my review here is that the action in the climax is superb. Siegel's direction was excellent throughout the film. The Lady Vanishes is up there! As is Lifeboat, and The 39 Steps, and Psycho, and Notorious, and... :)
Some interesting movies I never seen. Thanks.
You are so right about 'Shadow of a Doubt'. It is such a good film! I saw another film a few weeks ago that stars Theresa Wright and Joseph Cotten, that you would probably enjoy. I was not aware that they had done anything else together besides Shadow of a Doubt. This film is called 'The Steel Trap'. It was very interesting to see them as husband and wife when they are known to you only as uncle and niece. I saw this on TCM, so maybe it is still available through the TCM app, if you are interested. Thanks for sharing what you saw in August!
Yes, The Steel Trap is a great movie! I found it extremely tense, and also, yes, it was interesting/strange to see Wright and Cotten play a married couple. And she was blonde! That might have helped keep it from feeling too weird, actually. My brain never got tricked into thinking they were playing the same people. Thanks for bringing that up!
Okay, I watched Kurosawa's Dreams tonight. I thought some of the segments were a bit heavy-handed in their message, and one or two went on a tad too long, but overall the film was a fascinating watch. The Peach Orchard was my favorite dream, and I would love to visit the village of the watermills (though I've read that the real location is touristy and the wheels themselves were built for the film and don't actually run anything.)
I loved your review here, my favourites, and I think the best films here were "Tiger Bay" (a one-time area of Cardiff the Capital City of Wales) an excellent film with a young Hayley Mills, a great film with her from a couple of years later was "Whistle Down The Wind", which I highly recommend if you haven't seen it, and of course "October Sky" which I think will become a future classic. For me the only thing that I could find was good about "The Unseen" was the photography, as a sequel to "The Uninvited" it's sadly lacking, for me that film has great acting, a good script and is well written.
Here's to another successful decade for you, whatever God has planned for you. 🙂
Hi Jerome, I'm new here so I'm not sure what you have and haven't reviewed yet but I'd love to see what you think of: The Court Jester (1955) and Wait Until Dark (1967). The former a musical comedy and the later, in my onion, the perfect thriller. Happy 10th anniversary btw!
That's okay! I've seen both of those. LOVE Wait Until Dark! I talked about it a little in an Audrey Hepburn video I did years ago. Thank you!
I really enjoyed October Sky, as well as the book Rocket Boys that it was based on.
I've added Sole Survivor to my Watch Later list, based on your recommendation.
I finished watching Sole Survivor, and found the ending powerful and haunting. I actually had a hard time falling asleep as I couldn't stop thinking about it.
I remember seeing "The Lost City" preview in theaters and laughed out loud at it.
At the end, I said : "yeah, like Channing Tatum is gonna save 60 year old Sandra Bullock" and got a laugh from the guys in the crowd.
Always liked Runaway Jury - I agree about it being the Hoffman and Hackman movie. Evil Under the Sun is my childhood Agatha Christie movie, owing to us owning an ancient VHS video copy (back when that was rare) for most of the 80's.
I was into John Grisham for a while and read The Runaway Jury before I watched the movie. I was very unhappy that they changed the case from the tobacco industry in the book to the gun industry in the movie, especially since the characters in the book specifically discussed guns and how it was different from tobacco during the trial.
Hm, that's interesting. I wonder what (or who) pushed for the change and how Grisham felt about it.
I think maybe the book was written before the real life trials that brought huge verdicts against the tobacco industry, and the movie came out after that. So perhaps the movie makers wanted to look forward (as the book has done) instead of look back at what was now old news. Just speculation on my part.
Re Soul Survivor. It's funny that you mention Twilight Zone because I was thinking the exact same when you were describing the film! The season 2 episode 'King Nine will Not Return' sprang to mind. Good video!
Movie suggestion, I'm sure you will have seen it, but I couldn't see it in the movies you have reviewed previously. Mask (1985) starring Cher, Sam Elliott and Eric Stoltz. This story meant a lot to me in my developing years, and helped to accept differences in all kinds of people.
Thanks for sharing! Here are the movies I watched recently:
The Bikeriders (2024)
Crossfire (1947)
Odds Against Tomorrow (1959)
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Bob le flambeur (1956)
Le Samourai (1967)
Guess I was in a crime/noir mood! They're all worth checking out. Cheers.
What a coincidence! Of the 20+ movies I watched in August, I also saw Bonnie and Clyde, The Bikeriders and Le Samouraï.
Tiger Bay is awesome!
One of the best performances in The High and the Mighty was Regis Toomey as Tim Garfield, the ground control guy and "Basil Exposition."
So glad someone else agrees with me on "The High and the Mighty". I thought it was one of Wayne's least films and about 30 minutes too long.
I'm going to watch The Unseen and Soul Survivor. Despite having heard/read only disappointing reviews of "The Unseen", I'm curious about it and it's one to tick off the list. I really like the sound of "Soul Survivor" and look forward to that one. Thanks for the links (bookmarked for later).
During the last few months I've treated myself to four blu-rays:
The Cat and the Canary (1939)
The Black Cat (1941)
The Letter (1940)
The Uninvited (1944)
Gale Sondergaard is terrific in the first two movies, in which she plays the archetypal 'spooky housekeeper' supporting roles. Both movies are brilliantly entertaining.
Gale Sondergaard also plays an interesting supporting role as a quietly vengeful Eurasian widow in "The Letter." An impressive movie and gripping drama, despite a so-so story premise and no moral main character to root for! The movie's strength lies in the direction and Bette Davis' riveting performance. Out of this blu-ray collection, The Black Cat and The Letter were the ones I hadn't previously seen, and The Letter was my first time watching a Bette Davis movie. After watching the blu-ray, I got hold of a copy of the 1929 version with Jeanne Eagels. I found it really interesting comparing the two versions, that a week later I subsequently rewatched them back to back.
And I'm really pleased to now have "The Uninvited" on blu-ray, a delightfully charming movie (which is an odd thing to say about a ghost story).
The Cat and the Canary was the movie that brought Gale Sondergaard to my attention (earlier this year). I like her acting style and she has great screen presence. I've since gone through all of her movies. As a contract artist, most of her movies were middle-of-the-road affairs, which I haven't found very appealing, and there are some real duds among them ("Isle of Forgotten Sins" is just plain awful). One I thoroughly enjoyed was "Maid of Salem" (1937), her second movie, in which she has only a very minor role and barely appears onscreen. The three I ended up buying on blu-ray are real gems and feature some of her most memorable performances. Those three are standouts, and great additions to my collection. I wish Gale Sondergaard had played more substantial roles in movies of a higher standard than the bulk of her work.
I'd say The Unseen is definitely worth... seeing. (That didn't sound punny until I wrote it out.)
Wow, you've been on a real Gale Sondergaard kick! To date, I've only seen the silent version of The Cat and the Canary, but I did see The Letter some years ago. She and Davis are both striking in that. Your first Bette Davis movie! Not a bad one to start with, though her character is pretty awful. I watched some of the silent version also.
I suspect the most famous trivia about Sondergaard (which you probably already know) is that she almost played the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. I wonder if her career might have been different if she'd accepted the role? Margaret Hamilton was recognized for it for the rest of her life... but people always saw her as the stereotypical ugly witch, the very image Sondergaard didn't want to be saddled with. Sondergaard's face isn't recognizable to most people today. But maybe she found her career more satisfying than it would have been if she'd taken the part.
@@Weiselberry I've now seen The Unseen :D. I thought it had a great opening and an interesting setup with plenty of intrigue, Gail Russell gave an engaging performance, but the second half didn't really live up to the promise and my enthusiasm for it waned considerably. The father had a very stiff persona, almost robotic, and his voice grated on me. The very ending (final moment) was ridiculous and felt tagged on to please the audience ~ it was really weird, all of a sudden and out of nowhere! It was worth watching though.
It was your review of the silent version of The Cat and the Canary that led me to end up watching the Bob Hope one. I've just checked on your reviews and see that was actually two years ago, not earlier this year (time flies!). I must have rewatched it earlier this year. I was so impressed by her in that role that I felt compelled to see what else she'd done, and now I've gone through them all. A bit like your Snowbound reading mission, I'd assigned myself to a Sondergaard mission, lol. There was pain among the joy, and I struggled halfway though, but it was fun overall and I ended up discovering a few real gems.
The Black Cat is a movie in the same vein as The Cat and the Canary, in which she plays the same spooky housekeeper role in all but name, only this time she really camps it up, to glorious effect. I had a real ball watching that one.
I was very impressed by The Letter and I can see why Bette Davis is regarded as one of the greats. Not having a main character to empathize with or root for holds me back from being able to love it. But it's still a great movie.
From Sondergaard's interview on the Dick Cavett show, and reading a few articles, I get the impression she never regretted not playing the witch. I wonder what kind of roles she may have been offered, and what kind of 50s/60s movies she'd have been in, if she hadn't have been blacklisted at the end of the 40s. She made two horror movies in the 70s and was very good in them, although they weren't my kind of movies (a bit too much on the tacky side of 70s horror flicks).
Looking forward to seeing Sole Survivor.
Yes, I've liked Joel McCrea in several other movies, but it's almost as if he was sleepwalking through this part. I totally agree about the last scene too. My eyes rolled big time. I would have been fine with it if there'd been some--ANY!--set up, but it just seemed like a sloppily tacked-on cliche, like they did it merely because they figured audiences would expect it.
Yes, truth be told, I didn't actually like The Letter that much. It's a good film and well-made and all that, but I also prefer to have at least one character to like and root for.
I've only seen the (unrelated) 1934 film The Black Cat, and I really enjoy that one, even though it's got a thematic element I typically avoid. Looking at the 1941 film's impressive cast, though, it sounds like I should add it to my watchlist ASAP!
@@Weiselberry I think there's a chance you'd really enjoy The Black Cat. It's a fun-packed, atmospheric murder mystery story, with excellent production values and a strong cast. It's basically a playful romp that visually emulates the older Universal haunted mansion horror movies. (It looks like a horror movie but it's really a murder mystery, best of both worlds). I haven't seen the 1934 film The Black Cat. I might look into that one.
Have you seen Moonfleet from 1955? I think you'd like/love it. A young boy in an English coastal town in the 1700s falls in with booze smugglers, adventure ensues. I think it's one of Fritz Lang's most underrated/underseen movies. I read the book recently and it was wonderful as well.
Have you seen Joseph Cotton in 'Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte'? He is fantastic, but so is Bette Davis. It's a B&W '60's melodrama with a good plot twist.
Yes, I have! Very fun, creepy film. :)
Olivia de Havilland is great in that as well.
Hi, Jerome! I'm once again reminded I need to watch more Joseph Cotten movies. Looking at Joseph Cotten gives me joy XD I'm also noting down Runaway Jury -wasn't personally a fan of political thrillers until I watched State of Play (first the movie, then the original series which I found to be superior even if I thought the movie was good), and then the taste was definitely solidifed by Roy Clarke's The 17 Jewelled Shockproof Swiss Made Bomb (original radio drama from the 70s... now I tend to give a try to the ones that come my way, even if some of them are terrible disappointments (I don't think a movie has ever caused me more rage than Primal Fear) because I find even the so-so satisfying, like The Firm. Maybe I'm somehow growing into a middle aged dad (I'm a 30 year old woman XD). Realizing just now that in a way The Truman Show is a political thriller of sorts (I know I use political in a wide sense as social/legal, but that's the philosophy teacher in me).
This month I have discovered the British 80s comedy series Yes, Minister, and have been having a blast with it. Nigel Hawthorne is just great.
The Truman Show as a political thriller? Haha, I think you might have lost me there. :P
Huge fan
Lost City was a conflicting one for me. The action was fun and I liked channing tatums character too. I would say that they dont work as a couple but I have seen long term couples with this same dynamic IRL.
I dont think I've seen the other movies so I can't comment.
Unrelated but I’d really love to see you review the films of James Dean, East of Eden, Rebel Without A Cause, and Giant!
Hello Jerome. Have you seen/reviewed 2002's The Mothman Prophecies? I'd be curious to hear your take on it.
Yes, I talked about The Mothman Prophecies in this video from 2018: ua-cam.com/video/xinQX6_Vq1c/v-deo.html I also reviewed a Mothman documentary or two.
@@Weiselberry Thanks! I'm new to the channel.
@@guymatrin Happy to have you here! By the way, I believe this is the video where I talk about the documentary: ua-cam.com/video/X-Ei8xHP0Js/v-deo.html
Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman are pals going back to the 50's. Depending on the source, they were either roommates or just friends trying to make it as actors in NYC at the time. The other friend/roommate from this era? Robert Duvall!
In addition to SOLE SURVIVOR, another good airplane crash survivor movie is the original THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (Jimmy Stewart, Richard Attenborough).
In KRAKATOA: EAST OF JAVA, Eugene Laurie had a cameo as the lighthouse keeper. Ironically, one of the most famous scenes in Lourie's THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS is when the Rhedosaurus destroys the lighthouse and its two keepers.
I LOVE The Flight of the Phoenix! Definitely a favorite.
You're awesome! As a fan of "The Invaders" ABC tv series starring Roy Thinnes who found your channel, I salute you. Your episode reviews were enjoyable to the max.
Thanks!
Greeting and salutations, Mizz Jerome!
For me, August was a wash. Didn't really watch anything. Alas, things have been a bit hectic 'round these parts. However I do plan on seeing the new Beetlejuice movie. But before that, I'm gonna watch the original. It's such a great movie. It's creative and fun and I had a huge crush on Winona Ryder when I was a kid. Actually, I think I still have a crush on her. She has aged pretty well. Hubba hubba.
But anyway, too bad about The Unseen. I love love LOVE The Uninvited. I knew it had a semi-sequel but I didn't know if it was any good or not. I'll probably watch it anyway. My Criterion copy of The Uninvited has a short featurette on the actors and Gail Russell had a rather sad end to her life. Apparently she became a raging alcoholic and died way too young as a result.
Lost City sounds almost *exactly* like Romancing The Stone (1984) with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. I highly recommend Romancing The Stone. Kathleen Turner plays a writer of trashy romance novels who god to Colombia to help her kidnapped sister and winds up adventuring with Michael Douglas. It gets pretty wild. Rated R for some ooo la la. *Wink*
Kurosawa's Dreams is an anthology? I thought it was a documentary. Aaaaand it's going on the wishlist!
Thank you once again for all your thoughtful reviews. There's definitely a few movies there that I'll be checking out soon.
Take care and God bless!
Recommendations, if I may: Man in a Swing with Cliff Robertson and Joel Grey from 1974 … also perhaps my fave film: 1973’s The Last of Sheila with James Coburn, James Mason, Richard Benjamin and Raquel Welch (with a script by Stephen Sondheim and Norman Bates!) - these are both hyper quirky murder mysteries … Sheila is a meta take on the world of Hollywood at that time and the 45 minute finale, aboard a yacht, where Benjamin explains everything- with help from a hand puppet - is a 70s cinematic tour de force
Haven't seen every video but sorry about one of your crushes passing away recently - Alain Delon. Don't know if you mentioned it earlier, but I was reminded of it when you mention Airport '79.
I've seen all the Ustinov Poirot movies and I think they are all entertaining. I have the lenghthy BBC series but haven't watched them yet. I know I saw at least one a while ago and liked it, but don't remember what one - there are many. Anyway, I can't compare the potrayals. I do enjoy the Kenneth Brannaugh movies so far. They are better quality; however, the Ustinov ones are good for what they are.
I saw The High and Mighty as a teenager! I don't recall the plot (thanks for reviewing it) but the theme song was VERY popular back then on RADIO! HaHa, I am dating myself, aren't I? Loved Shadow of a Doubt. Did you see High Wind in Jamaica, Anthony Quinn, James Coburn? That too has a somewhat disturbing relationship of a young girl and the captain of the boat.... Great theme song that I still remember. Thank you for your analyses always.
No, I haven't seen that one. I just listened to the theme of The High and the Mighty (I forgot how it went), and it IS a pretty melody, so I'm not surprised it became a hit for a time. It's one of the film's stronger elements.
I am so glad you reviewed Evil Under the Sun!
I especially enjoyed the Agatha Christie cameo.
I kid, I kid. Obviously Agatha Christie is not in the film. 😲
Have you covered The Blue Gardenia?
No, but I saw it years ago.
Good movie for golden era.
The Lost City seemed like it really wanted to be an homage to Romancing the Stone, but Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum did not have the chemistry that Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner did. They were amazing together and their interactions made the movie fun and engaging. The Lost City wasn't a bad film, by any means, but it is greatly overshadowed by the movie it wanted to be.
I saw Lost City and I enjoyed it though I like Bullock, I just find her fun. Other than that I have watched Shadow of a Doubt and Evil Under the Sun, both of which I've enjoyed.
A recommendation if I may: The Sword and the Dragon (Russian 1960, English dub). It follows the adventures of Russian folk hero Ilya Muromets. Also featured is a Genghis Khan-type character and his marauding horde, a wind demon, and of course a fire-breathing dragon. Interesting special effects for its time. It was a staple of mine growing up in the 60s. It is on UA-cam.
I kind of remember that sst movie. I'm a child of the 70s by the way.
The Lost City = a reboot of Romancing The Stone genres?
Re: "Krakatoa, East of Java". They could have fixed it with "Krakatoa, Way, Way, Way East of Java".
Hoffman and Hackman were pre-fame student roommates.
I give a thumbs up to THE MOB because of the closing scene, almost as if it's the cast's ad lib joke or something . Amusing. THE LINEUP is rewatched from time to time because I can't get over how vicious and how patient Eli Wallach's exposure of his Evil Self is. He's never had a better performance or a better role as a villain. ;I wish I could send BLAST OF SILENCE and give you another dose of unpleasant characters doing murderous and unpleasant other activities.
Haha, I watched Blast of Silence earlier this year, and I can understand why The Lineup made you think of it. I talked about it in this video: ua-cam.com/video/fHPmtfnwsd8/v-deo.html
Wasn't that cartoon character (Czech maybe) kind of triangular? Saw one when I was very young (early '70's) & another one on Bill Daily's syndicated variety series when I was a teen. I also wish I could see those again.
I would have said more rectangular? He had boxy pants. But I also remember a prominent nose that was either pointy or bulbous. So... we could be talking about the same thing?
@@Weiselberry I specifically remember him being at a beach & this body builder was bouncing a bikini babe from one bicep to the other!
@@Weiselberry Found it! "Surogat", 1961 Oscar winning animated short from Zagreb. He's _sort_of_ triangular, but mainly he's at the beach with all manner of inflatable items, including the bikini girl. I misremembered seeing two different cartoons. I saw the same one twice. Sure glad to finally solve this decades long mystery!
@johnpjones182 Oh! That's not the cartoon I was thinking of after all, haha, but I'm glad you at least solved *your* mystery! :)
I love watching your reviews of these movies you do a great job. I would love you to review a ghost story Starring Casey Affleck. I think it's a unique movie and a bit of a masterpiece. But it is very very slow movie❤️
Eli Wallach narrated the audiobook of Stephen King's Insomnia. I've really grown to dislike the author, and there's stuff in the book I just hate, but the performance by Wallach really stuck with me.