Reviews

(1977) The People That Time Forgot SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURE

Adapted from the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs that continues where the last has movie "The Land That Time Forgot" left off with former Ben McBride (Patrick Wayne) part of an expedition to track and find Bowen Tyler (Doug McClure) and Lisa left stranded. The entire expedition was sponsored by a newspaper agency with the only catch that photographer/ journalist Charly (Sarah Douglas) comes along with them. The ship taking them to the Antarctic is called "Polar Queen" as they plan to use a sea plane to go the rest of the way. Coming along with McBride is of course Charly the photographer; the expert of dinosaurs/ professor, Norfolk (Thorley Walters) and McBride's friend and mechanic, Hogan (Shane Rimmer). There first dinosaur encounter is a Pterosaur as it eventually dies by gnawing at the plane's propeller, bringing the plane down. There first cave person experience is a cave girl, Ajor (Dana Gillespie), and we find out she herself has interacted with Tyler himself as she was using his knife, except that she is not quite sure whether he is still alive or not.

Using the same toys used on the first movie, it was still entertaining enough since there was so many things that was going on that made the experience to be unpredictable and unexpected. Actress Dana Gillespie was also a standout to look at as the bikini clad cave girl, that is reminiscent to Rachel Welch's infamous "One Million Years in BC" from 1966.

(1974) The Land That Time Forgot SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURE

Adapted from the book by Edgar Rice Burroughs with the set up that takes place during WWII, with Captain Von Schoenvorts (John McEnery) ordering his crew on a U boat to blow up an American supply ship. We then see two different life boat survivors of that supply ship reunite. Leading that crew is Bowen Tyler (Doug McClure) with the only lady survivor is Lisa Clayton (Susan Penhaligon). And while they are on the raft, they manage to hijack the same U-boat who blew up their supply ship. And after a few skirmishes later, they manage to blow up the Nazis supply ship, ending them to get lost in the Antarctic and while going underneath an iceberg, going through a cave manage to stumble onto an environment where the dinosaurs and cavemen roam.

(1992) All Ladies Do It/ Così fan tutte DUBBED EROTIC COMEDY

Edited, co-written and directed by Tinto Brass that has a young wife, Diana (Claudia Koll) flirting with some French guy, Alphonse (Franco Branciaroli) on the dance floor while her husband, Paolo (Paolo Lanza) was sitting nearby watching a women naked exhibition. And as soon as she goes into the bathroom, it is during then Alphonse follows her always complimenting her rump. And just when he is about to make a move on her, is when her husband knocks on the door, shouting her name to come out. As soon as Diana acknowledges her husband's presence calling her behind the door, she pretends to finish using the toilet, only to drag Alphonse behind the door, only so her husband would be unable to see him. Paolo tells her he is bored and wants to leave, and while he was driving she then tells him, she was about to make out with a French guy had he not knock onto the door, and she tries to motivate him to reenact that moment. It was at that point, he believes she was only making it up only to get an arouse out of him. And when she succeeds getting that from, they make out during an area where prostitutes were hanging out. They would then make out some more at their place of residence as she is telling him some more stories he believes she is making it all up. We then see Diana go to her place of work, as she takes transit with two different guys standing opposite side of her, only so each of them can grope her whenever the bus makes a disruption. When Diana realizes this was happening, she would then make adjustments that ended up one passenger unintentionally groping the other male passenger by moving herself to a different aisle, and this time on front of a priest. By the time she gets off, then viewers get to witness what kind of work she does and it happens to be a clothing store. And of course, her boss also appears to be in on groping his female co-workers. One of them eventually makes out with him, until she receives a telegram about her aunt passing away. By the time she goes to seek what her aunt's will consisted about, she then makes out with a former flame, Marco (Marco Marciani) before she decides to go and see the French guy, Alphonse again. And upon taking her upstairs to his main bedroom, we then find out he is clearly a fan of woman's rump kind of guy, as he has plenty pictures and statuettes plenty of women's behind. After this was done, Diane and her husband make out some more after watching some of her aunt's provocative black and white news reels as she filmed herself on her affairs with other people. And as soon as her husband, Paolo spots a hickey on her, he then did not want anything to do with her accusing her of cheating at the same time. And this is when those nuances end is when she sends over her best friend to convince him to take her back in a pretentious kind of way.

Anyways there is a ton of nudity, some of the scenes are just as ridiculous as the others that kind of suggests the writer/ director Tinto Brass must have receive a ton of letters or read many to come up with so many unlikely nuances. And all of the silliness was amusing up to a specific point when she does not mind cheating on her husband Paolo, but the movie does not address whether she would not mind if her husband was cheating on her with other women. Diana obviously prefers to be married to someone who wants an open marriage when her husband wants to be with only woman.

(1969) The Doll of Satan/ La bambola di Satana (In Italian with English subtitles) THRILLER/ MYSTERY

Co-written and directed by Ferruccio Casapinta that has a young man being scolded by a servant, Edward (Manlio Salvatori) and then by governess, Miss Carol (Lucie Bomez) for bringing groceries late before some place else viewers see an old man being dragged away. We then see a niece, Elizabeth Ball Janon (Erna Schurer) coming to visit to a castle after finding out she is the last remaining relative after her uncle's recent unfortunate departure. At this point viewers are oblivious how he died, he is just is. And coming along with Elizabeth is her fiance, Jack Seaton (Roland Carey) and a couple of friends of theirs of Blnache (Beverley Fuller) and Gérard (Giorgio Gennari), and a friend of the family, Mr Shinton (Domenico Ravenna). Meanwhile, Elizabeth already got a buyer interested into buying the castle as he has a villa next door, his name is Paul Reynaud (Ettore Ribotta). And sometime during the night, Elizabeth's drink gets spiked so that she can get assaulted by the unknown intruder, viewers often wonder how come her fiance is not sleeping in the same room with her. Living in the castle with them is mentally disturbed, Jeanette (Teresa Ronchi) and a painter, Miss Claudine (Aurora Batista).

I agree with one reviewer who said it was like watching a Scooby Doo cartoon, but only some parts of it since the ending ended up with the bad buy wearing a mask that happened in many of the cartoons, and that their was a reason for the main bad guy for wanting to own the castle that has valuable minerals that is buried underneath it. But spiking a lady's drink with the bad guy continuing to assault her would not be like the cartoon at all and the nude scenes of Elizabeth;s breats. And for some weird coincidence both were released on the same year, except that "The Doll of Satan" was released months before the first Scooby Doo cartoon had aired.

(1996) Maximum Risk ACTION

Again, this is yet another high budgeted action movie directed by another Hong Kong filmmaker by the name of Ring o Lam that is synonymous better at making better action movies than the average Jean Claude movie as of late. It is like JCVD brings filmmakers down as soon as they begin directing movies starring him whether it'd be John Woo, Tsui Hark and Ringo Lam. Anyways, the point is this movie has more action than the last 10 current movies Jean Claude has been in. It is unfortunate Ringo Lam is much more appreciated in Hong Kong than he is for his Hollywood movies.

(1997) Double Team ACTION COMEDY

I don't get the low rating here for Van Damme for he was never about the acting anyway, and this movie has more action sequences than many of Van Damme's own movies. Also a plus is the fact that it is also directed by Tsui Hark. As a fan of action movies, this is way better than Bloodsport, Death Warrant, Kickboxer as they only consist of fights and no stunts. Scored low in the audience Tomato score of 25% and much lower by the critics of 11%. Anyways, besides a higher budget than Van Damme movies as of late, some of his straight to DVD movies have higher ratings than this.

(1946) A Stolen Life PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA

Adapted from the novel by Karel J. Benes that has Kate Bosworth (Bette Davis) missing her boat ride and managing to convince skipper nearby, Bill Emerson (Glenn Ford) to take her to the island instead. As soon as Kate finds out he lives at a lighthouse with a lighthouse keeper, Eben Folger (Walter Brennan), she would then find a way to pursue him by going through him. And it was during that time, after Kate expresses interest in him is when her twin sister Patricia or Pat also played by Bette Davis pursues him as well. And just when viewers presume we know Patricia, we don't. As soon as on an unfortunate accident, Katy presumes the identity and role of her sister Pat, we find out she may have been a floozy who is the opposite of Katy.

One of the things that was not determined was whether the twin sisters can be determined by fingerprints, despite unable to tell them apart. Viewers are aso left with what both sisters did for a living if the sister Katy was a painter and does it on her spare time, viewers are oblivious what Patricia did for a living.....or that that she just lives from other people's money. I also thought the movie was heavy on melodrama despite arising curiosity.

(1973) Lisa And The Devil/ Lisa e il diavolo DUBBED PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR

Co-written and directed by Mario Bava that has Lisa Reiner (Elke Sommer) partaking with a traveling group. And as a result of hearing some chimes she then decides to follow it, leading her to inquire a price for a small musical carousal wheel with figurines. Except that according to the seller, it had already been sold to Leandro (Telly Savalas) who is not only buying that but is also buying a painted male mannequin statuette of some sort. Leaving the hardware store disappointed, is when she loses her way back to the traveling group. And after she is being ignored by a few residents living around the area, the only person willing to help her is Leandro. Only that as soon as he points her the way she is then confronted by an unknown assailant. When she pushes him away, he falls down the steps and she runs away. It is the middle of the night, and she tries to hitch a ride with a couple, Francis Lehar (Eduardo Fajardo); his wife, Sophia Lehar (Silva Koscina) and their driver George (Gabriele Tinti). And as soon as the car breaks down on them, they coincidentally also happen to stop on front of the estate where Leandro appears to be living in. And when the mother of the estate, (Alida Valli) tries to deny their stay for the night, it is during then the mother's son, Maximillian (Alessio Orano) intervenes and convinces his mother to agree to it, letting them stay at the cottage nearby. We are then find out what kind of role Leandro had with them and that is to be servant and provider.

What did not make sense is the fact that the wife purposely ran over her own husband who obviously did not kill her lover. That scene was kind of dumb, that resulted to viewers to be less sympathetic and makes her more deservedly to be killed quickly. And this is another one of those movies where the killer can be two places at once, once we find out who the killer is that has remnants of "Psycho", "Twilight Zone" and "Carnival of Souls" to which this is the lesser equivalent version that asks more questions than it answers such as viewers do not know when many of them had died or Leandro's actual role in this.

(1982) The Scorpion with Two Tails/ Assassinio al cimitero etrusco DUBBED HORROR/ THRILLER

It has Joan Barnard (Elvire Audray) while in NYC having the same recurring nightmare/ proclamation regarding her ritual and her husband, Arthur Barnard (John Saxon) who happens to be an archeologist. And after a brief call from her husband, from Italy to NYC, he informs her he is bringing back 12 crates, it is there he is killed right on the spot by having his neck twisted. As a result of wanting to know what happened to her husband, she feels more than obligated to take a trip to the same archaeological sites her husband had visit ed. It was at this point we are introduced to many characters from the Contessa Maria Volumna (Marilù Tolo) and her goons as well as the racket Joan's dad, Mark Mulligan (Van Johnson) is involved in which happens to be heroin.

By looking at the big picture, this is supposed to be the horror equivalent of Raiders of the Lost Ark made one year prior to this one. There is not a single nude scene and the lead actress Elvire Audray herself at that particular time could have been mistaken for a Taylor Swift look-a-like. The most boring thing about this movie is the fact there are way too many characters. Viewers are kind of oblivious before have suddenly appear out of nowhere, whether he is related to Joan's husband or part of the group itself. And by the time viewers find out who the killer is, it made even less sense.

(1940) I Love You Again COMEDY

Adapted from the novel by Octavus Roy Cohen that has penny pinching, Larry Wilson (William Powell) on a cruise attempting to avoid a drunk, 'Doc' Ryan (Frank McHugh). And as soon he falls into the ocean, Larry would fall into the ocean as well. Upon both of them being saved, Larry would get accidentally knocked unconscious by an oar. As soon as he wakes up, he then thinks his actual name is George Carey and not Lawrence as his ID has said his name is supposed to be. But because he saved Doc's life, he agrees to stick by him as long as he is guaranteed a percentage of what was promised to him. And once he gets off the cruise ship, it is during then he meets his wife, Kay Wilson (Myrna Loy). What George did not know is that Larry was supposed to grant his wife Kay a divorce as she got tired of his penny pinching ways. Kay is also supposed to be engaged to her current fiance, Herbert (Donald Douglas).

If it was not for the appeal of it;s leading actors of Powell and Loy as their personas are still fun as "The Thin Man" movies the comedy routines come very natural to them. This is the ninth of fourteen movies, William Powell and Myrna Loy collaborated together and the fifth of six movies both William Powell and Myrna Loy collaborated with director WS Van Dyke.

(1961) Black Gravel/ Schwarzer Kies (In German with English subtitles) CRIME DRAMA

Co-written and directed by Helmut Käutner that has gravel dump truck driver, Robert Neidhardt taking advantage of a situation slipping out and stealing some gravel after a dog had been killed. But before he throws the lifeless dog to be buried by the gravel itself, he would then steal it's collar while the crowd are paying attention to the fight between one of the workers and the soldiers. And while driving along the empty gravel road, he would then notice a major, John Gaines (Hans Cossy) and his wife stranded in the middle of the road and he decides to stop. And it was not until he stepped into the major's car Robert sees someone he recognizes, and she happened to be an old flame, Inge Gaines (Ingmar Zeisberg). And for the price of 10 dollars during Robert was towing the major's car back to the base of Sohnen, the rope breaks out, and they both agree Inge would ride with Robert back into town and call for a toll truck/ mechanic. And during their conversation, she then informs him she is looking for her dog to which it just happens to be the same one that was killed at the opening. Except that he has plans to use the dog's collar as a ruse to meeting her again as they had a history together before she met her current husband as he has a girlfriend, Elli (Anita Höfer) he does not care too much about. Robert is also friends with Sgt Bill Rodgers (Peter Nestler) and his girlfriend Anni Peel (Edeltraut Elsner) are going to cross paths again under unfortunate circumstances with a guy named Eric Moeller (Heinrich Trimbur). And another guy, Otto Krahne (Wolfgang Büttner) who was a part of his racket but has decided to move to Canada.

While watching this reminded me of another movie called "Night and the City" starring Richard Widmark when the center person, Robert gets himself into trouble and digs himself into a bigger hole.

For a movie such as this I think I prefer the much more ambiguous ending that was intended than the one the director had intended if according to Eddie Mueller is correct. The gravel itself could have been symbolic and metaphor since viewers are not clear where a particular two people had been buried other than the dog.

(1965) Libido DUBBED PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

Co-written and directed by Ernesto Gastaldi and Vittorio Salerno that opens with a passage taken from Sigmund Freud before it showcases a young child witnessing his father murdering a woman. It is 20 years later, and that young child grew up to be Christian Coreau (John Charlie Johns) on the passenger side sitting next to his wife, Helene Coreau (Dominique Boschero) while she is driving behind the administrator of family affairs, Paul Benoit (Luciano Pigozzi) and his trophy wife, Brigitte Benoit (Mara Maryl also credited as co-writer). As they are driving up to the same villa where Christian had witnessed his father murdered that woman. And by the time they go inside, Christian already made up his mind he wants to sell, except that according to his executor he would need to wait a couple of months for that to happen. For it is just a matter of time before someone is going to get killed with fingers pointing to Christian as the culprit even though his father supposed to have committed suicide by jumping off a cliff and into the rocks and ocean after that incident, his body was never found.

What this is, is the lesser equivalent of "Les Diabolique", and not a very good one at that as there are some inconsistencies to which a simple camera/ photo would have resolved everything.

(2015) Far From the Madding Crowd DRAMA/ ROMANCE/ VICTORIAN

Adapted from the book by Thomas Hardy that has Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts) losing much of his entire flock of sheep as a result of a new shepherd dog going off a cliff. He then seeks other employment working for Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), and it was at this point she is then pursued by other wealthier men other than the one she is actually in love with, which is her maintenance man, Gabriel.

After I seen and liked Carey Mulligan's performance in "An Education", I was curious about her character in this movie which I thought the two are somewhat similar. Both this version and the the 1967 version are enjoyable with some differences.

(1967) Far From the Madding Crowd DRAMA/ PERIOD PIECE/ ROMANTIC

Adapted from the novel by Thomas Hardy that has Gabriel Oak (Alan Bates) purchasing another shepherd dog, only for him to lose his entire flock of sheep. He then seeks for other means of employment, working for Bathsheba (Julie Christie) as a maintenance man / helper. It was at this point, Bathsheba goes through a series of relationships many of whom she is not in love with.

Upon watching this one, I was comparing this version with the version made in 2015 starring Carey Mulligan. And both are similar in specific scenes similar in others, both are exceptionally good but are still different, especially the beginning.

(1967) Danger! Death Ray/ Il raggio infernale DUBBED ACTION ADVENTURE

It has a bunch of goons kidnapping an important scientist Prof. John Carmichael (Tor Altmayer) of the "death ray" laser machine with Frank (Ted Carter) to be the person kin charge, as they pose as gov't agents. And then upon their escape, Frank manages to be the last person standing as his other two goons are left behind to help both of them getaway by escaping into a helicopter, flying on top of a submarine. It is during then we are introduced to the star of the movie, Bart Fargo (Gordon Scott) where he is asked to take his vacation short in exchange for a longer one. He agrees and upon seeing the video of the abductor himself, he recognizes Frank immediately, and as it turns out he is only a small fish that's supposed to lead to bigger fish who is for a short while supposed to be a guy named Scarface (Carlos Hurtado). But as it turn out, the two people who were responsible for the kidnapping is the couple of Mr (Albert Dalbes) and Mrs. Carver (Sylvia Solar).

And if there is any film I'd like to see redone, it might have been this one, that with a bigger budget and much more credible scenarios it would have garnered a higher rating. I mean, anyone should be able to tell that toy models were used for both helicopter, car and submarine scenes. The beginning was kind of dumb that showcases how incompetent police are to which none of them did not do a good job blocking the road the bad guys were driving through. And the bad guy who manages to make a final phone call to his boss before he die was phony as anyone could have made it. Anyways, some of those toy model scenes may have worked for a black and white movie but not for a movie made in color, leaving just the jazz score the only thing that is nice to listen to.

(1971) The Fourth Victim/ La última señora Anderson DUBBED THRILLER

Adapted from a short story by C. B. Gilford co-written and directed by Eugenio Martín that showcases a young lady lying on a pool floating device and she looked emotionless with a cigarette dangling on her finger. And by the time the time the cigarette hits the floating tube she was lying on, she would then sink into the pool, and it was during then the housekeeper, Felicity Downing (Miranda Campa) would go up to find wealthy owner, Mr. Arthur Anderson (Michael Craig) and both of them would go to it before removing her lifeless body out of their and into the bed, wiping her down, and after the do doctor write down his medical findings. The next scene would then have both Arthur and his loyal housekeeper at the funeral and it was during then, he is approached by Scotland Yard inspector, Dunphy (José Luis Lopez Vazquez) to whcih he reveal to viewers that this happens to be the third wife who died over the last three years. And that Arthur himself had benefited financially from them as a result of life insurance. And when Arthur went to trial, and the housekeeper Felicity committed perjury by claiming that his latest wife heavily overdosed on medication, part of the reason she had drowned, it was sufficient enough to find him innocent by the jury. And that is when Julie Spencer (Carroll Baker) comes in, moving into the mansion next door to which the first time he caught his attention is when she uses his pool. Will Jule be the "fourth victim"- hence the tile after Arthur's first three wives all had died in unexpected circumstances.

Anyone were to watch the ending of this movie would not be able to make sense what just happened. Like, on one hand it was supposed to be whether Arthur Anderson had anything to do with the deaths of one of his three wives. And then it was like, it just shifted it's focal point to a crazy woman and the lady who presumed another lady's identity. It is as if producers intervened and did not like the ending that would have made more sense since at the opening, it did appear to look like the drowning death was staged to make it look like she died of a drowning when she was already been dead for awhile. Anyways, it is unusual for murder/slasher movie to end the way that it did even though it may have cheated viewers watching it. It was also unusual to see an funded European movie where Carroll Baker is not naked in this.

(1973) Death Smiles On A Murderer/ La morte ha sorriso all'assassino DUBBED GOTHIC HORROR

Cinematography, co-written and directed by Joe D'Amato that has Franz von Holstein (Luciano Rossi) mourning we find out her name is Greta (Ewa Aulin). Viewers are oblivious what the relationship is like even with the brief flashback. And then it takes viewers back during the time when she is taken in by a brother, Walter von Ravensbrück (Sergio Doria) and her sister, Eva von Ravensbrück (Angela Bo) after she is knocked unconscious during a horse carriage mishap, conveniently on front of their estate. Dr. Sturges (Klaus Kinski) is then examines her and he recommends her to stay with them until she regains her memory. And by the time both of them become attracted to her, it is during then Eva becomes jealous and locks Greta up. At this point, I became baffled about what happened. Did Greta turned into a cat or that as a result of the doctor conducted some experiments on her, she was able to come to contact with all those who conspired against her, she exacts retribution to them including others who had nothing to do with her murder in the first place. This movie did not do anything for me for the first few times I tried watching this dubbed, I fell asleep. If it was not for the few brief nude scenes of actresses Ewa Aulin and Angela Bo it would not be worth watching at all.

(1975) Cross of the Devil/ La cruz del diablo )In Spanish with English subtitles) HORROR

It opens with Alfred Dawson (Ramiro Oliveros) having the same repeated dream of a lady calling out his name while a group of Knights of Templars are circling around her while they are on their horses It was during then his wife, Maria (Carmen Sevilla) walks in. At one point, I thought they were the same lady since both of them have reddish hair but as it turns out, it's another lady named Beatriz (Emma Cohen) . And besides her bringing her journalist, husband Alfred some books- one in particular that grabbed his eye are the mythical and history of the Knights of the Templars, she also brought him his mail. The one he reads out loud is the one written by his sister, Justine Carrillo (Mónica Randall) claiming that her husband, Enrique Carrillo (Eduardo Fajardo) was disappointed with the fact that she had a miscarriage. And it was at this point he decides to go and visit her Madrid, Spain, except that his wife wants to come long with him. While this was happening, we are then shown Alfred's sister, Justine crossing paths with her husband's secretary, Cesar del Rio (Adolfo Marsillach) as she does not appear to approve what he does and believes he is deceitful. And by the time, both Alfred and his wife, Maria arrive at the Carrillo estate, he then goes on an investigative rant as soon as he sees his sister had been murdered.

Some of the questions the movie did not answer is the fact who's the guy with the pigeon holed mask spying on them since it was obviously not Enrique Carrillo's secretary, Cesar del Rio! And I do not recall the last time anyone smokes Keif can also lead to murder. The ending made even less sense that does not explain anything.

(1956) Time Table CRIME THRILLER

Produced, directed and starring Mark Stevens as he plays insurance investigator, Charlie Norman. It showcases a carefully planned train robbery of a million dollars concocted by three different people of a former doctor, Paul Bruckner (Wesley Addy) and his wife, Linda Bruckner (Felicia Farr) and a guy named Lombard. This is when Charlie comes in, it is when both him and his wife, Ruth Norman (Marianne Stewart) were planning a vacation to Mexico. It is when Charlie's boss, Sam Hendricks (Raymond Bailey) asking him to postpone the vacation to help and aid authorities on this one particular case with a promise of a reward. And along with this case, he is then paired up with his long time friend, Joe Armstrong (King Calder) to which we find out later more people were also involved to which part of their getaway also involved a helicopter/ plane. It is during then viewers find out that Charlie was the ringleader and that down the line, his accomplices involved other people such as Frankie Page (Jack Klugman) and Al Wolfe (Alan Reed).

I was involved until the last 30 minutes to which it felt it was very rushed and that Mark Steven's ran out of money. I thought the scene when Ruth was calling out his name when her husband Charlie was going on the run with Linda was dumb. If she was really in love with her husband, she would not have done that.

(1964) Hush.....Hush, Sweet Charlotte PSYCHOLOGICAL CRIME THRILLER

Adapted from the novel " "What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?" by Henry Farrell who is also credited as a co-writer, produced and directed by Robert Aldrich. It has Charlotte Hollis (Bette Davis) continued to be scarred regarding a murder that has supposed to have happened many years earlier. Charlotte returns back to the scene of the crime after staying away from it so after so many years as she inherited the estate.

The tone are somewhat the same as "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane!" both are entertaining enough, and although both Olivia de Havilland and Joan Crawford are memorable both movies are directed almost the same way as not everything is how it appears to be.

(1962) Whatever Happened To Baby Jane PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA THRILLER

Adapted from the novel by Henry Farrell of the same name, produced and directed by Robert Aldrich that opens with Baby Jane Hudson (Julie Allred) as a young child being pampered by her dad, at the same time he belittles his other daughter, Blanche (Gina Gillespie). The movie then jumps many years later, and are older this time it is Blanche (Joan Crawford) who becomes the respected theater actress while her sister, Jane (Bette Davis) falters. Leading to an unfortunate car accident that left Blanche in a wheelchair and her sister Jane to look after her. And throughout the rest of the movie, show cases Jane torturing and tormenting Blanche while she is held up and confined into her own room.

The acting performances of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford makes this worth watching as not everything that has happened may not be what it appears to be. A winner of five wins out of eleven nominations including Best Actress in a Leading role for Bette Davis. The first of two movies Bette Davis somewhat plays the same character using the director Robert Aldrich.

(1955) Cast A Dark Shadow PSYCHOLOGICAL CRIME THRILLER

Adapted from the play "Murder Mistaken" by Janet Green that has young fortune hunter, Edward Bare (Dirk Bogarde) or Teddy for short who's already married to wealthy, Monica Bare (Mona Washbourne). And upon coming home from the fair, lawyer and executor in charge of Monica's estate, Phillip Mortimer (Robert Flemyng) is already waiting for her at her residence and has been questioning her judgement in terms of her will. While Philip prefer Moni to keep the family fortune in the family, she prefers to leave it all to her current husband, Teddy. Except that Teddy does not realize that until after he had murdered her to which Philip had revealed to him that Moni left all her money to her sister Dora Macintosh who lives in Jamaica. And it is during that time he ends up seeking for another potential victim, and it is there he meets a widow, Freda Jeffries (Margaret Lockwood), and trying to convince her to buy the estate he was left with. Down the line, he also meets another lady, Charlotte Young (Kay Walsh), who happens to be looking for a house to buy, we find out later is not actually who she says she was but is actually Dora Macintosh herself doubting the examination regarding her sister, and presuming she was murdered.

Reminiscent of "The Heiress" but almost from the point of view of the fortune hunter himself brilliantly played by Dirk Bogarde himself with veteran actress Margaret Lockwood playing off one another.

(1948) This Was A Woman PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

Adapted from the play by Joan Morgan that showcases the Russell family of Sylvia Russell (Sonia Dresdel) her husband, Arthur Russell (Walter Fitzgerald; their adult son, Terry Russell (Emrys Jones) who is close to be a certified doctor and the adult daughter, Fenella Russell (Barbara White) who is already in love with Terry's best friend, Dr. Valentine Christie (Julian Dallas) who happens to be a biochemist. One day the family housekeeper, Mrs. Holmes (Marjorie Rhodes) decides she needs to take some time off to visit relatives and that she is leaving her 22 year old daughter, Effie (Celia Lipton) to take her place. And one of the first anti social examples the mother, Sylvia does is take their beloved family dog, Ace to a veterinary clinic and pay it to put it to sleep. And then as soon as the daughter, Fen announces her engagement to Terry's best friend, Valentine, Sylvia then tries to fill her head with paranoid thoughts. At the same time offer him to live with them after their marriage at the same time. And because the new housekeeper, Effie is single, Sylvia would then try to manipulate both Valentine and her together just so the daughter would have so much distrust with her new husband who does not give him any affection.

I was able to watch it straight through as the rest of the family had been tolerant of the mother's unethical and strange practices. And while I was watching it I could not forget about another movie that consists to have a somewhat similar scenario called "The Little Foxes" directed by William Wyler with the difference is that the time periods are different. Also, the mother Sylvia is a little more ruthless with the hero, Terry refusing to fall for his mother's lies, excuses and manipulation.

(1956) Eyewitness THRILLER

The set up has a wife, Lucy Church (Muriel Pavlow) arguing with her husband, Jay Church (Michael Craig) over an expensive purchase. Before she leaves, she then tells him she does not want it there when she comes back, and decides to go to the movies by herself. And after she uses the phone, it was during then she catches Wade (Donald Sinden) attacking the manager, and while his partner, Barney is chasing her through the corridor. The manager then wakes up from his attack before Wade decides to use a gun on him. By the time Lucy makes it to the street, she is then struck by an oncoming bus knocking her unconscious. For the next hour or so has Wade attempting to sneak onto the premises of the hospital, and making several attempts to end Lucy's life with obstacles thwarting those attempts with coincidences.

It is a little outdated, as it looks as if this was during the post war era when all the patients are placed on the bottom floor along with other patients, with anyone able to look through windows of hospitals. For hospitals these days have a right to their privacy and do not have windows where others are able to see them.

(2004) The Bodyguard (In Thai with English subtitles) ACTION COMEDY

Co-written, co-directed and starring Phetthai Vongkumlao as he plays the bodyguard, Wong Kom escorting his boss, Mr. Chot (Surachai Chantimatorn). And as soon as Mr. Chot exchanges business contracts, Wong Kom notices two suspicious security cameras on the ceiling and he manages to save his boss after they were firing guns towards him. It was during then several waiters were also part of the conspiracy and were pulling guns and are also trying to assassinate Mr. Chok as well. Wong Kam manages to save him up until a specific point, it is when four cars all coming at them on all four directions as both of them were attempting to run away. For some strange reason all four cars went off a ramp and crash at the same time while they were on the air, except that viewers can see no jumping ramp nowhere to be found. And from that one gun shot that it looked like was on his shoulder, Wong Kom's boss unable to make it with strong resentment from Mr Chok's adult son, Chaichol Petchpantakarn (Pipat Apiruktanakorn) and we find out he now inherits all his businesses and wealth. And at that point, I presumed he or his uncle was behind the assassinations but as it turned out, it was one of the board members, Songpol (Wachara Pan-Iom). To which after the father's will was read, he would then make a call to Artit (Yingyong Yodbuangarm) to capture Mr. Chok's only son, Chaiocol alive. And that does not happen until after he is being driven to an underground highway, and he is then blocked with goons going after him after executing all his bodyguards. Chaicol as a result of stumbling onto a bridge falls into one of the garbage trucks. He is then nursed back to health by the slums part of Thailand taken in by the family of Aunt Jam (Apaporn Nakornsawan) and he falls in love with the daughter who looks to be the same age as him, her name is Pok Pok (Pumwaree Yodkamol) to which none of them have no idea who he is and that he is a wealthy.