2025:

January 2025

Red Riding: The Year of our Lord 1974 (2009)
Watched: 01/01/25     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Young girls go missing; reporter uncovers complex network of corruption.
6-word review:  Stylish but very slow; implausible ending.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Andrew Garfield

Diabolique (1955)
Watched: 01/02/25     Provider: Mometu
10-word summary:  Cruel man's mistress and his wife together plot his murder.
6-word review:  Tense, intricate thriller. Keeps one guessing.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot

High School Big Shot (1959)
Watched: 01/03/25     Provider: Mometu
10-word summary:  To impress class minx, high school nerd plans big-stakes robbery.
6-word review:  Depressing, clichéd, melodramatic. I loved it.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Tom Pittman, who was killed in a car accident before the film's release

Before and After (1996)
Watched: 01/03/25     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Idyllic family's son accidentally kills girlfriend; everyone's thrown into turmoil.
6-word review:  Terribly acted, unrealistic potboiler. Streep sleepwalks.
Rating: ★
Note:  Starring Meryl Streep, Liam Neeson

Penny Serenade (1941)
Watched: 01/04/25     Provider: Mometu
10-word summary:  Ecstatic with their long-awaited child, devoted parents face unthinkable tragedy.
6-word review:  Teary-eyed melodrama with many outstanding moments.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Cary Grant, Irene Dunne

Naked Alibi (1954)
Watched: 01/04/25     Provider: Local Now
10-word summary:  Disgraced detective trails cop killer, falls for his sultry dame.
6-word review:  Top-notch thriller. Grahame steals the show.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Sterling Hayden, Gloria Grahame

Big Time or Bust (1933)
Watched: 01/05/25     Provider: Pre-code Hollywood
10-word summary:  Wife of carnival performer finds Broadway success; insecure husband's jealous.
6-word review:  Trite and predictable; cheesy macho ending.
Rating: ★★
Note:  Starring Gloria Shea, Regis Toomey

Anatomy of a Psycho (1961)
Watched: 01/06/25     Provider: Classic Movies & TV
10-word summary:  Hoodlum becomes increasingly unhinged after murderer brother's electric chair execution.
6-word review:  Well-done, very low-budget drama. Fantastic finale.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring cast of little-known actors

Breaking the Ice (1938)
Watched: 01/06/25     Provider: Classic Movies & TV
10-word summary:  Accused of stealing, Mennonite boy skedaddles, becomes singing sensation, atones.
6-word review:  Charming episodic musical dramedy; talented cast.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Bobby Breen

The Estate (2022)
Watched: 01/06/25     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Greedy cousins swarm bitchy aunt's deathbed hoping to inherit millions.
6-word review:  Talented cast outshines raunchy, bombastic script.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring an ensemble cast

Strangerland (2015)
Watched: 01/06/25     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Teenage siblings disappear from remote Australian town; parents desperately search.
6-word review:  Kidman's powerhouse performance anchors suspenseful film.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Nicole Kidman, Joseph Fiennes

It's Love I'm After (1937)
Watched: 01/08/25     Provider: Classic Comedy Channel
10-word summary:  Lovestruck fan pursues thespian who's in tempestuous relationship with costar.
6-word review:  Delightful comedic romp for dramatic actors.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring Bette Davis, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
Watched: 01/09/25     Provider: Classic Comedy Channel
10-word summary:  Widow falls for ghost of sea captain inhabiting seaside cottage.
6-word review:  Charming romantic fantasy. Music, scenery excellent.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison

Lonely Wives (1931)
Watched: 01/09/25     Provider: Mometu
10-word summary:  Lookalike lawyer and comedian trade places; try seducing other's wife.
6-word review:  Fast frothy farce. Rapid racy rants.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Edward Everett Horton

Pieces (1982)
Watched: 01/10/25     Provider: Classic Movies +
10-word summary:  Boston coeds are being murdered and dismembered; police frantically investigate.
6-word review:  Trashy slasher, comically gory, ludicrous ending.
Rating: ★½
Note:  Starring Christopher George, Linda Day George

Heartaches (1947)
Watched: 01/10/25     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Hollywood crooner receives death threats. Murders of associates rattle him.
6-word review:  Very watchable. Nice old Hollywood scenes.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Kenneth Farrell, Chill Wills

The Night Porter (1974)
Watched: 01/10/25     Provider: Classic Movies +
10-word summary:  Years later, concentration camp survivor resumes sadomasochistic relationship with tormentor.
6-word review:  Downbeat, twisted, disturbing. Not for all.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring Dirk Bogarde, Charlotte Rampling

Cry of the Werewolf (1944)
Watched: 01/11/25     Provider: Mometu
10-word summary:  Gypsy queen protects werewolf identity from scientists at all costs.
6-word review:  Subdued film. Foch the main interest.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Nina Foch

The Driver (1978)
Watched: 01/11/25     Provider: Classico
10-word summary:  Targeted by cops and fellow criminals, getaway driver foils both.
6-word review:  Restrained performances and outstanding chase scenes.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Ryan O'Neal, Isabelle Adjani

Appointment with a Shadow (1957)
Watched: 01/12/25     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Alcoholic reporter given exclusive scoop. Nobody believes truth he discovers.
6-word review:  Conscientious alcoholic character study meets noir.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring George Nader

The Captive City (1952)
Watched: 01/12/25     Provider: Classico
10-word summary:  Small-town newspaperman exposes intricate and far-reaching network of criminal corruption.
6-word review:  Earnest documentary-style drama with no-nonsense performances.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring John Forsythe

The Other (1972)
Watched: 01/12/25     Provider: Classico
10-word summary:  Strange tragedies befall farming family. Are supernatural forces at play?
6-word review:  Idyllic setting. Horrifying events. Ambiguity throughout.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring an ensemble cast

The Big Chase (1954)
Watched: 01/14/25     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Rookie cop misses daughter's birth while nabbing armored car robbers.
6-word review:  Exciting extended chase; crooks are vicious.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Glenn Langan, Adele Jergens

Erin Brockovich (2000)
Watched: 01/16/25     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Brassy lawyer's assistant discovers corporate wrongdoing, initiating multimillion-dollar class-action lawsuit.
6-word review:  Entertaining and relevant. Julia is great.
Rating: ★★★★
Note:  Starring Julia Roberts, Albert Finney

The Nevadan (1950)
Watched: 01/17/25     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Marshal, outlaw, greedy rancher—all three search for stolen gold.
6-word review:  Builds nicely to well-done three-way shootout.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Randolph Scott, Forrest Tucker

While the City Sleeps (1956)
Watched: 01/19/25     Provider: Classico
10-word summary:  Amid various romances, bickering media executives attempt finding serial killer.
6-word review:  Unfocused melodramatic corporate, soapy, implausible, psycho-noir.
Rating: ★★
Note:  Starring all-star cast

Macon County Line (1974)
Watched: 01/19/25     Provider: Classico
10-word summary:  After wife's murder by drifters, vengeful sheriff's out for blood.
6-word review:  Stereotypical redneck characters; good twist ending.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Alan Vint, Max Baer (Jr.)

The Man Who Wouldn't Die (1942)
Watched: 01/19/25     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Posing as heiress's husband, wise-cracking detective solves blackmail, murder case.
6-word review:  Amusing screwballish mystery, nonsensical but enjoyable.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Lloyd Nolan, Marjorie Weaver

The Bride Wore Black (1968)
Watched: 01/20/25     Provider: Classico
10-word summary:  Wedding-day groom murdered, his wife tracks down and kills killers.
6-word review:  After slow start, gets real good.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Jeanne Moreau

The Suspect (1944)
Watched: 01/20/25     Provider: Classico
10-word summary:  Middle-aged man, falling for young beauty, understandably kills shrewish wife.
6-word review:  Intriguing period noir. Tormented Laughton's great.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring Charles Laughton, Ella Raines