nightwalker

I must disagree with Fred, respectfully. I think it's WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS, 1956, with Dana Andrews and a really good cast.

I'm not sure, but it could be ESCAPADE IN JAPAN, 1957, with Teresa Wright & Cameron Mitchell as the parents and Jon Provost (Timmy!) as the boy.

You might be thinking of THE HOUSE WITHOUT A CHRISTMAS TREE, 1972, starring Jason Robards, Mildred Natwick & Lisa Lucas.

> {quote:title=Film_Fatale wrote:}{quote} > Personally I think they actually get better (at least up to the 3rd one) in terms of yahoo-minded escapism. You might be right about that, at least concerning the second one. > What is most interesting about the *Rambo* movies, imho, is trying to guess what about them made them so appealing to a large segment of the moviegoing public. Once in a while, a movie like that makes for an enjoyable change-of-pace for me, but by no means would I care to subsist on a regular diet of them. So I can sort of understand their appeal.

You're quite welcome. And welcome to the boards.

> {quote:title=Gutsman wrote:}{quote} > I havent seen any Rambo movies. Are they worth seeing? Or should I just read the book? The movies are ok, but they get progressively worse. The first one is the best, although Sly's dialogue is at times very difficult to understand. I haven't seen Rambo, 2008, however. The book is worth a read and allows the reader more of an understanding of what makes the character of John Rambo (and possibly other Vietnam vets) tick, both before and after the action starts. The book also maintains more of a feeling of reality to it, as though it could happen. This is most definitely not the case with the movie, in which, to give one example, all credibility goes out the window when Sly jumps off a mountain and sustains only minor injuries! (Admittedly, it's a thrilling sequence.) There is also a sequence which takes place in a cave of bats which is actually much better handled in the book than in the movie. The book's ending is quite a bit different from the film's, too, indicating that senseless tragedy is not limited to war. I would recommend it.

The movie you are looking for is NO MAN OF HER OWN, 1950, from a novel by Cornell Woolrich. However, Ethel Barrymore isn't in it.

THEY GOT ME COVERED, 1943. The bad guys are Nazi spies, though, not Communists.

You're quite welcome. And welcome to the boards.

IT HAPPENED TOMORROW, 1944, with Dick Powell.

I didn't say it was a plan. I merly said that I understood there was a feeling on the part of the Academy members (or voters) that they would do this.

> {quote:title=CineSage_jr wrote:}{quote} >> > If LORD OF THE RINGS is truly a trilogy, the fact that the first two films were not deemed worthy of winning the Best Picture Academy Award should probably have disqualified the third from consideration for the Oscar. True, except that I understand that there was some feeling that, since RETURN OF THE KING was going to be released, the Academy would wait until then to honor all 3 films.

Since the line is spoken by the same actor in a film from the same studio, I would be inclined to consider it merely an in-joke.

Bronxie and FF: Thank you, ladies!

Hey Bronxie: This film is available from MGM DVD. See my comments on Moira's thread under "Films and Filmmakers" above.

Hi, Gidge, and welcome to the boards. One possibility would be RIDE THE WILD SURF from 1964. It stars Fabian, Peter Brown and Tab Hunter as three guys who go to Hawaii for a surfing competition. While there, they meet and fall in love with, respectively, Shelley Fabares, Barbara Eden and Susan Hart. Even if it's not the one you're looking for, it's still a fun movie and worth checking out.

Hi, Moira. I can offer some thoughts on THE GHOUL, but be advised: SPOILERS AHEAD! I did not see the film today, so I can't comment on the print, but if, as you say, it was "pristine", it was probably the same print used when MGM released the film on DVD back in 2003. This print is, indeed, the best this film has looked in years or probably ever will look. Oddly, the case makes little mention of the fact that this film was considered lost for some forty years and Karloff's name isn't even mentioned on the front! As to the film itself, I would say that it's England's answer to the Hollywood horror film in general and Karloff's 1932 opus THE MUMMY in particular. It also seems to have been made with the idea of cashing in on the extreme popularity that all things Egypt were enjoying at the time by casting Karloff as Professor Morlant, an Egyptologist who intends to utilize a stolen Egyptian jewel to enter the afterlife upon his death. The first part of the film is atmospheric but a bit slow as it sets up the plot, introducing us to various characters. Because the "Macguffin" here is a valuable jewel, there is some doubt that Karloff's instructions concerning its disposition in his tomb following his burial will actually be followed by his manservant. Several other characters intent on possessing the jewel for themselves are also introduced, and this portion of the film consists largely in meetings of various cast members in shadows, darkened streets and deserted countryside locales. At all events, Karloff promises that if his instructions are not followed, he will rise from the dead to wreak vengeance on whoever is responsible. As one might expect, this is exactly what happens, and this is when the film itself also "comes to life." In addition to Karloff, the film boasts several fine performances by other always-welcome presences, including Ernest Thesiger as the club-footed servant Laing. Those who recall his enjoyably effeminate prissiness as Dr. Pretorious in 1935's BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN will probably find his turn as the Scottish-burred manservant of questionable loyalty something of a change of pace. Sir Cedric Hardwicke also delights in his role of the perpetually dour Broughton, Morlant's solicitor, a character at least 30 years older than Hardwicke himself was at the time. Ralph Richardson also delights in his film debut as a local cleric. One quibble: you mentioned Karloff's makeup, Moira, and you're quite right about it: it does make his Mummy makeup by Jack Pierce look "well-rested." The problem: Karloff looks just as bad before his death as after! In other words, there's no real reason for Karloff to look this way. He seems to appear as he does just because it's a horror film. BIG SPOILER -- Don't read the next paragraph if you don't want the ending given away!!!!! Lastly, I must take exception to the casual, offhand way the entire film is dismissed by a minor character near the film's conclusion, who negates all we've seen by commenting that Professor Morlant was resurrected not by the Egyptian hocus-pocus, but because he was in a cateleptic trance when buried! A cheat ending to rank (and I do mean "rank") right down there with the similar denouement of 1935's MARK OF THE VAMPIRE with Bela Lugosi. All in all, though, it's a well-made little chiller and definitely worth a look, quibbles notwithstanding.

This is one of the methods Boris Karloff uses to exact revenge on the members of a jury that condemned him to death in THE MAN THEY COULD NOT HANG, 1939.

DAY THE WORLD ENDED, 1955, with Richard Denning and Lori Nelson.

Sounds like WONDER MAN from 1945, with Danny Kaye. That movie was in color, however.

It could be ALL MY DARLING DAUGHTERS, from 1972 with Robert Young as the father, who was a judge. There was a sequel in 1973 called MY DARLING DAUGHTERS' ANNIVERSARY.

Hi, Kathy: I'd like to add a recommendation for a film entitled THE HANGING TREE, from 1959 with Gary Cooper. It's not available on DVD in the USA, but it was released on VHS some years ago, so if you have access to a video store that still handles them, you may be able to find it. It's another in the "man with a past" genre, as Gary Cooper portrays Joe Frail, a doctor in a mining town. Doc Frail is revealed to be a man of seeming contradictions as he forces a man he saves from a lynch mob to become his bondservant, yet treats a little girl in the town and accepts a kiss from her as payment in full from her impoverished parents. The main story begins as a young woman (Maria Schell) is found blinded and nearly dead from exposure in the wilderness. As Dr. Frail, which may not even be his real name, treats her, we begin to learn more about his mysterious past and whether or not he will, ultimately, be able to escape its reach, a theme this film has in common with the better-known film noir OUT OF THE PAST. To reveal much more would spoil a really great movie, so I won't! But there's a good supporting cast, including Karl Malden in a fairly showy role and George C. Scott in his debut. At this point, the film may be hard to find, but it's worth the trouble and is highly recommended.

It could be 1943's THE MAN FROM DOWN UNDER, with Charles Laughton as the older man and Richard Carlson and Donna Reed as the youngsters.

> {quote:title=daneldorado wrote:}{quote} > I'm guessing: J. Carrol Naish. You are correct, Dan. Interestingly, although Naish was Irish, the only time I know of when he played someone of Irish descent was when he played General Philip Sheridan in John Ford's RIO GRANDE. The board is yours.

That I will believe.