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January 2024

Norma Rae (1979)
Watched: 01/01/24     Provider: Own
10-word summary:  Determined woman helps organize fellow millworkers' fight for better conditions.
6-word review:  Sally Field's excellent in outstanding film.
Rating: ★★★★
Note:  Starring Sally Field, Beau Bridges

I Dismember Mama [a.k.a. Poor Albert & Little Annie] (1972)
Watched: 01/02/24     Provider: Fawesome TV
10-word summary:  Mother-hating institution escapee goes on murder spree, befriends little girl.
6-word review:  Slow, creepy, sleazy. Title's best part.
Rating: ★
Note:  Starring Zooey Hall, Geri Reischl (a.k.a. "Fake Jan" and today, Jan 2, is "Fake Jan Day")

Working Girls (1931)
Watched: 01/04/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Indiana sisters move to New York; find jobs, heartache, romance.
6-word review:  Stagy start, gets better, Wood's good.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Judith Wood, Dorothy Hall; directed by Dorothy Arzner

The Beachcomber (1954)
Watched: 01/05/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Missionary and ne'er-do-well fight to save islanders from cholera epidemic.
6-word review:  Colorfully cliché-ridden, good performances, exciting climax.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Glynis Johns (R.I.P. 10/05/1923 - 01/04/2024), Robert Newton

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)
Watched: 01/06/24     Provider: Own
10-word summary:  Powerful woman's long-held secrets come out when childhood friend arrives.
6-word review:  Atmospheric, bleak. Stanwyck seethes. Unnecessary subplot.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Kirk Douglas

Good Grief (2023)
Watched: 01/07/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Recent widower and two friends take soul-searching trip to Paris.
6-word review:  Truthful observation on grief's mixed emotions.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring Dan Levy, Ruth Negga, Himesh Patel; also written, produced, and directed by Dan Levy

The Price of Fear (1956)
Watched: 01/08/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Man who's framed for two crimes falls for deceitful dame.
6-word review:  Well-written twisty noir. Oberon poses throughout.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Merle Oberon, Lex Barker

Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
Watched: 01/09/24     Provider: American Classics
10-word summary:  Lovers commit perfect murder with one mistake; everything goes wrong.
6-word review:  Stylish thriller combines romance, suspense, irony.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet; jazz score by Miles Davis; Louis Malle's directorial debut

The Pusher (1960)
Watched: 01/10/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Cop's daughter becomes addict; he detoxes her, nabs her dealer.
6-word review:  Fast-paced, gritty, moody melodrama. Low-budget gem.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Kathy Carlyle, Felice Orlandi

Step Down to Terror (1958)
Watched: 01/11/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Charming serial killer returns to hometown, plans murders, woos sister-in-law.
6-word review:  Bland heroine. Predictable plot. Stylish car.
Rating: ★★
Note:  Starring Charles Drake, Colleen Miller

Call Her Savage (1932)
Watched: 01/11/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Undisciplined heiress doesn't fit in, life spirals, finally learns why.
6-word review:  Racy, unrestrained precode melodrama. Builds nicely.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Clara Bow, Gilbert Roland

The Houston Story (1956)
Watched: 01/11/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Engineer plans to steal oil from pipeline, enlists mob's help.
6-word review:  Convoluted caper. Against-type vixen Hale's good.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Gene Barry, Barbara Hale, Jeanne Cooper

It's Alive (1974)
Watched: 01/12/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Woman births mutant that goes on killing rampage terrorizing L.A.
6-word review:  Watchably cheesy, unanswered questions, poignant finale.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring John P. Ryan, Sharon Farrell

Sea of Love (1989)
Watched: 01/13/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Burned-out undercover cop falls hard for sensuous, possible serial killer.
6-word review:  Efficient enough thriller, way too slow.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Al Pacino, Ellen Barkin

Beyond Mombasa (1956)
Watched: 01/13/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Drifter investigates African uranium-mining brother's suspicious death, romances beautiful anthropologist.
6-word review:  Entertaining, if embarrassingly dated; beautiful scenery.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Cornel Wilde, Donna Reed

Manhattan Tower (1932)
Watched: 01/14/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Interwoven stories involving eventful workday of NY corporation office employees.
6-word review:  Dramedy with likable characters; justified ending.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Mary Brian, James Hall

Accused of Murder (1956)
Watched: 01/14/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Cop attempts to clear chanteuse he's smitten with of murder.
6-word review:  Crime drama without surprises. Ralston's terrible.
Rating: ★★
Note:  Starring David Brian, Vera Ralston

The Quare Fellow (1962)
Watched: 01/16/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Guard questions capital punishment, becomes involved with doomed prisoner's wife.
6-word review:  Solid acting, ironic humor, stark realism.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Patrick McGoohan, Sylvia Syms

Fourteen Hours (1951)
Watched: 01/16/24     Provider: Own
10-word summary:  Cop tries talking man off skyscraper ledge. Enthralled crowds watch.
6-word review:  Suspenseful, multilayered film. Great performances throughout.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring Paul Douglas, Richard Basehart, and ensemble cast with many familiar faces

The Monster of Piedras Blancas (1959)
Watched: 01/17/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Townspeople fight against prehistoric sea monster that's terrorizing fishing village.
6-word review:  Rubber-suited monster, bad acting, seaside scenery.
Rating: ★★
Note:  Starring Les Tremayne, Jeanne Carmen, Don Sullivan

Night Monster (1942)
Watched: 01/17/24     Provider: American Classics
10-word summary:  Someone is mysteriously murdering paralyzed man's houseguests on foggy night.
6-word review:  Fun spooky-house mystery with over-the-top denouement.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Nils Asther, Irene Hervey

Behemoth the Sea Monster [a.k.a. The Giant Behemoth] (1959)
Watched: 01/18/24     Provider: Plex
10-word summary:  Atomic testing resurrects dormant radioactive sea monster that destroys London.
6-word review:  Enjoyable special effects. Monster's best actor.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Gene Evans, John Turner

The Horror of Party Beach (1964)
Watched: 01/18/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Radiation waste turns shipwrecked skeleton into radioactive, multiplying, murdering mutants.
6-word review:  Awful mixed-genre mess. Campy at best.
Rating: ★
Note:  Starring really bad actors

You'll Never See Me Again (1973)
Watched: 01/19/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Couple argues, wife disappears without trace, husband becomes murder suspect.
6-word review:  Suspenseful. Surprising turns. Happy ending disappoints.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  TV movie starring David Hartman, Jess Walton

Runaway Daughters (1956)
Watched: 01/19/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Three overprivileged, pouting teens escape to L.A., learn harsh realities.
6-word review:  Slow start, second half not bad.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Adele Jergens, Lance Fuller

Used People (1992)
Watched: 01/20/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Free-spirited Italian widower pursues bitter Jewish widow with dysfunctional family.
6-word review:  Great cast highlights insightful 1969-set dramedy.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Ensemble cast

Cape Fear (1962)
Watched: 01/20/24     Provider: Own
10-word summary:  Attorney's family stalked by sadistic criminal he sent to jail.
6-word review:  Suspenseful psychological thriller. Sleazy Mitchum's great.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen

Fright (1956)
Watched: 01/21/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Psychiatrist must convince woman she isn't Austrian prince's lover's reincarnation.
6-word review:  Far-fetched, humorless plot. Fleming's quite good.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Eric Fleming, Nancy Malone

The Madonna's Secret (1946)
Watched: 01/21/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Famous painter's models keep being similarly murdered. Is he guilty?
6-word review:  Brisk suspense, nice visuals, unexpected ending.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Francis Lederer, Ann Rutherford

The Proud Rebel (1958)
Watched: 01/22/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Confederate veteran struggles with son's shock-induced muteness and Northerners' hatred.
6-word review:  Action, drama, cinematography. A dog! Wonderful.
Rating: ★★★★
Note:  Starring Alan Ladd, Olivia de Havilland

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1962)
Watched: 01/23/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Car-troubled anguished woman finds herself trapped in bizarre man's home.
6-word review:  Overwrought, melodramatic psychobabble, blah, blah, blah.
Rating: ★½
Note:  Starring Glynis Johns, Dan O'Herlihy; little resemblance to original 1920 silent German film

Nyad (2023)
Watched: 01/23/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Story of first person to swim from Cuba to Florida.
6-word review:  Well-acted, feel-good film about overcoming obstacles.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Annette Bening, Jodie Foster

Queen Bees (2021)
Watched: 01/24/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Woman adjusts to retirement community living, finds friends and romance.
6-word review:  Good to see older actresses working.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Ensemble cast

Some of My Best Friends Are... (1971)
Watched: 01/24/24     Provider: Roku Channel
10-word summary:  Diverse gays gather—mixing humor, drama, pathos, fears, self-loathing, escapism.
6-word review:  Fascinating, flawed, groundbreaking 1970s gay microcosm.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring Candy Darling, Gil Gerard, Rue McClanahan, and others

A Very Natural Thing (1974)
Watched: 01/25/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Leaving monastery for NYC, man seeks ideal romantic gay relationship.
6-word review:  Insightful look at 70s gay culture.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring Robert Joel (McLane), Bo White

Dumb Money (2023)
Watched: 01/28/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Small-time investors make big money causing a Wall Street frenzy.
6-word review:  Underdog crowd-pleaser. Good performances and humor.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Ensemble cast

The Postcard Killings (2020)
Watched: 01/28/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  NY detective relentlessly pursues daughter's bizarre killers across northern Europe.
6-word review:  Few surprises in effective investigative thriller.
Rating: ★★½
Note:  Starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Cush Jumbo

Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)
Watched: 01/29/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Imprisoned ex-boxer must kill drug lord's enemy to save wife.
6-word review:  Vaughn good in dark, brutal film.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Carpenter

Nighthawks (1978)
Watched: 01/29/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Teacher frequents gay pubs and discotheques at night seeking connection.
6-word review:  Realistic portrayal of at-the-time gay life.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Ken Robertson

Strip Jack Naked: Nighthawks II (1991)
Watched: 01/30/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Director's journey making Nighthawks, reflecting on society's gay awareness, attitudes.
6-word review:  Highly personal memoir. Worthwhile Nighthawks continuation.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Directed by Ron Peck

The Hidden Room [a.k.a. Obsession] (1949)
Watched: 01/30/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  London psychiatrist devises plan to murder adulteress wife's latest lover.
6-word review:  Intriguing, complex noir. Black humor bonus.
Rating: ★★★½
Note:  Starring Robert Newton, Sally Grey

Jerker (1991)
Watched: 01/30/24     Provider: Own
10-word summary:  Men's playful phone sex conversations develop into intimate, heartbreaking relationship.
6-word review:  Poignant love story, uncensored and unforgettable.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Based on stage play by Robert Chesley

The Curse of the Living Corpse (1964)
Watched: 01/31/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Wealthy dead tyrant returns for revenge on ungrateful family members.
6-word review:  For fans of really bad films.
Rating: ★
Note:  Starring Roy Scheider

She (1935)
Watched: 01/31/24     Provider: Local Now
10-word summary:  Explorer searching for immortality mistaken for 500-year-old Queen's reincarnated lover.
6-word review:  Excellent effects, spectacle scenes. Corny dialogue.
Rating: ★★★
Note:  Starring Randolph Scott, Helen Gahagan; popular quote: "She who must be obeyed."

February 2024     |     Back to top

All Man: The International Male Story (2022)
Watched: 02/01/23     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Documentary of how mail-order catalog revolutionized the idea of masculinity.
6-word review:  Heartfelt account of unexpected cultural phenomenon.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: Narrated by Matt Bomer

Young Americans (1967)
Watched: 02/01/23     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Documentary-ish of wholesome musical teen troupe traveling around entertaining America.
6-word review:  Entertaining, amusing, optimistic. Definitely innocent era.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Vicki Lawrence and some unknowns; 1969 Best Documentary Oscar winner that was revoked when discovered it was released in 1967

The Night of the Iguana (1964)
Watched: 02/02/23     Provider: Own
10-word summary:  Fallen minister encounters three very different women, struggles finding peace.
6-word review:  Good performances, dry humor, adult themes.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: Starring Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, Deborah Kerr; based on Tennessee Williams' play

A Hatful of Rain (1957)
Watched: 02/03/23     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Injured war veteran becomes addict during hospital stay, struggles coping.
6-word review:  Stagy at first, second half great.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: Starring Don Murray, Eva Marie Saint, Anthony Franciosa

Choose Me (1984)
Watched: 02/05/23     Provider: Own
10-word summary:  Three previously unconnected lives unexpectedly intertwine, each complex and adrift.
6-word review:  Stylish, dark, funny neo-noir. Bujold exceptional.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: Starring Geneviève Bujold, Lesley Ann Warren, Keith Carradine

Donkey Punch (2008)
Watched: 02/06/23     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Hedonistic shenanigans until accidental death turns revelers against each other.
6-word review:  Sexy fun quickly turns predictable gorefest.
Rating: ★★½
Note: Starring Ensemble of unknowns

The Borgia Stick (1967)
Watched: 02/06/23     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Fake married syndicate couple fall in love, try breaking free.
6-word review:  Suspenseful, well-acted crime story holds up.
Rating: ★★★
Note: TV movie starring Don Murray, Inger Stevens

The Man in the Net (1959)
Watched: 02/06/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Man suspected of killing unstable wife helped by local children.
6-word review:  Ladd's lethargic. Jones's histrionic. Kids lively.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Alan Ladd, Carolyn Jones

Guns Girls and Gangsters (1959)
Watched: 02/07/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Sultry Las Vegas singer forced to help with armored-car robbery.
6-word review:  Tension slowly builds to chaotic climax.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Mamie Van Doren, Gerald Mohr

Beware! The Blob (1972)
Watched: 02/07/24     Provider: Plex
10-word summary:  Piece of frozen 1958's The Blob thaws, grows, and reterrorizes.
6-word review:  Please forgive respected actors who appear.
Rating: ½★
Note: Starring ensemble cast; directed by Larry Hagman

Filling in the Blanks (2023)
Watched: 02/08/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  54-year-old discovers he is result of sperm donor, its effect.
6-word review:  Light-hearted take on potentially life-changing situation.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Documentary of film maker Jon Baime's personal story

Baby Doll (1956)
Watched: 02/09/24     Provider: Own
10-word summary:  Slob with childlike bride feuds with slick cotton gin owner.
6-word review:  Black comedy overshadowed by at-the-time sensationalism.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Karl Malden, Carroll Baker, Eli Wallach; banned by the Catholic Legion of Decency

Monster from Green Hell (1957)
Watched: 02/09/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  African scientific expedition investigates radiation-exposed giant mutated killer wasp monsters.
6-word review:  Mostly boring except for wasp attacks.
Rating: ★½
Note: Starring Jim Davis

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
Watched: 02/11/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Recent widow wants singing career, becomes waitress, falls for rancher.
6-word review:  Nice drama, comedy mix. Sometimes believable.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson

The Explosive Generation (1961)
Watched: 02/11/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Students protest suspension of high school teacher who discusses sex.
6-word review:  Earnest treatment of then-sensitive school subject.
Rating: ★★½
Note: Starring William Shatner, Patty McCormack

Devil Girl from Mars (1954)
Watched: 02/11/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Martian woman travels to Earth to acquire men for breeding.
6-word review:  Dominatrix-looking alien highlights hilariously bad charmer.
Rating: ★★½
Note: Starring Patricia Laffan

The Most Hated Woman in America (2017)
Watched: 02/12/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Life, kidnapping, murder of Madelyn Murray O'Hair, American Atheists founder.
6-word review:  Ho-hum treatment of a true story.
Rating: ★★
Note: Starring Melissa Leo, Josh Lucas

Down Low (2023)
Watched: 02/13/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Newly-out, brain-tumor-dying, gay man meets free-spirited masseur, has adventurous night.
6-word review:  Black comedy gets way too silly.
Rating: ★★
Note: Starring Zachary Quinto, Lukas Gage

Missile to the Moon (1958)
Watched: 02/13/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Astronauts encounter rock men, big spider, exotic women on moon.
6-word review:  Terrible acting, cheap sets, campy dialogue.
Rating: ★½
Note: Starring Cathy Downs, K.T. Stevens

Diva (1981)
Watched: 02/19/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Opera diva's fan becomes accidentally involved in high-level police corruption.
6-word review:  Visually beautiful. Great soundtrack, story, characters.
Rating: ★★★★
Note: Starring Frédéric Andréi, Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez

Easy Rider (1969)
Watched: 02/19/24     Provider: Own
10-word summary:  Drug-dealing bikers' doomed episodic, southern cross-country trip to Mardi Gras.
6-word review:  Dated and obvious. Some still-relevant commentary.
Rating: ★★½
Note: Starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper

My Blood Runs Cold (1965)
Watched: 02/20/24     Provider: Own
10-word summary:  Dreamy drifter convinces spoiled rich girl they are reincarnated lovers.
6-word review:  Wordy thriller. Joey pouts. Exciting finale.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Troy Donahue, Joey Heatherton

Falling for Figaro (2020)
Watched: 02/20/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Successful banker leaves career and boyfriend to pursue opera-singing dream.
6-word review:  Funny, heartwarming, minimal schmaltz. Just delightful.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: Starring Danielle Macdonald, Hugh Skinner, Joanna Lumley

Kronos (1957)
Watched: 02/22/24     Provider: MOVi Thriller Horror Sci-Fi
10-word summary:  Scientists must destroy alien machine that's absorbing all Earth's energy.
6-word review:  Intelligent script, appropriate effects, stiff acting.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Jeff Morrow, Barbara Lawrence

The Rocket Man (1954)
Watched: 02/25/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Precocious orphan receives truth-inducing ray gun from mysterious space man.
6-word review:  Hokey small-town story with good cast.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring George "Foghorn" Winslow, Spring Byington

The Astounding She-Monster (1957)
Watched: 02/25/24     Provider: MOVi Thriller Horror Sci-Fi
10-word summary:  Alien crash lands on Earth, kills people with single touch.
6-word review:  For bad film connoisseurs. Nothing astounding.
Rating: ★
Note: Starring Shirley Kilpatrick, Robert Clarke

The Emperor Jones (1933)
Watched: 02/26/24     Provider: Classic Television Vault
10-word summary:  Egotistical, unscrupulous Jones escapes prison, becomes self-appointed Caribbean island emperor.
6-word review:  Robeson's commanding performance's reason to watch.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Paul Robeson

Deluge (1933)
Watched: 02/27/24     Provider: Classic Television Vault
10-word summary:  Natural disasters destroy most civilization. Survivors apocalyptically struggle rebuilding lives.
6-word review:  Great special effects. Melodramatic precode story.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Sidney Blackmer, Peggy Shannon

Murder in Mississippi (1990)
Watched: 02/28/24     Provider: Own
10-word summary:  1964 murders of civil rights workers by the Mississippi KKK.
6-word review:  Excellent film. Powerful, disturbing true story.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: TV movie starring Tom Hulce, Blair Underwood

Wuthering Heights (1939)
Watched: 02/29/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Beautiful narcissistic couple's obsessive love ruins everyone's moody unfulfilled lives.
6-word review:  Music, cinematography, outstanding. Most performances great.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Laurence Olivier, Merle Oberon

Wuthering Heights (1939)
Watched: 02/29/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Beautiful narcissistic couple's obsessive love ruins everyone's moody unfulfilled lives.
6-word review:  Music, cinematography, outstanding. Most performances great.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Laurence Olivier, Merle Oberon

March 2024     |     Back to top

The Children (1980)
Watched: 03/06/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Bus drives through radiation-leak smoke turning children into murderous zombies.
6-word review:  Cringingly misogynistic. Slow with predictable outcomes.
Rating: ★★
Note: Starring Gil Rogers, Gale Garnett

It Grows on Trees (1952)
Watched: 03/06/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Frugal housewife's money-bearing trees cause family and national economy mayhem.
6-word review:  Cute but unremarkable, dated comedy-fantasy film.
Rating: ★★½
Note: Starring Irene Dunne, Dean Jagger

Red Rocket (2021)
Watched: 03/08/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Washed-up adult film actor returns home, plans to revive career.
6-word review:  Rambling, smug, unlikable except the dog.
Rating: Abandoned

Monstrosity (1963)
Watched: 03/09/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Doctor attempts transplanting old woman's brain into beautiful young body.
6-word review:  Low-budget silliness. Mostly dull, occasionally campy.
Rating: ★½
Note: Starring Marjorie Eaton, Frank Gerstle

Murder, My Sweet (1944)
Watched: 03/10/24     Provider: Own
10-word summary:  Gumshoe searching for ex-con's ex-girlfriend drawn into jewel theft, murder.
6-word review:  Well-written, albeit convoluted plot. Classic noir.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: Starring Dick Powell, Claire Trevor.

Between a Frock and a Hard Place (2015)
Watched: 03/12/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary:  Discusses iconic attitude-changing film based on real Australian drag queens.
6-word review:  Revealing interviews and great movie clips.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring the cast and crew of the film, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), as well as the people who were its inspiration.

Prayers for Bobby (2009)
Watched: 03/19/24     Provider: Xumo Play
10-word summary:  Mother's religious homophobia causes son's suicide. She becomes gay advocate.
6-word review:  Poignant, infuriating, great acting, important message.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: TV movie based on a true story, starring Sigourney Weaver, Ryan Kelly

So Young, So Bad (1950)
Watched: 03/23/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Idealistic psychiatrist tries to change cruel practices at girls' reformatory.
6-word review:  Stereotypical inmates, predictable plot, still fun.
Rating: ★★½
Note: Starring Paul Henreid, Anne Francis

When Worlds Collide (1951)
Watched: 03/23/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  World's end imminent, scientists build evacuation rocket ship, people panic.
6-word review:  Super special effects, great hokey entertainment.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Richard Derr, Barbara Rush

On Dangerous Ground (1951)
Watched: 03/24/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Jaded cop pursues murderer, falls for killer's gentle blind sister.
6-word review:  Unusual noir-turned-heartfelt-melodrama, good performances by all.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: Starring Ida Lupino, Robert Ryan

Shirley (2024)
Watched: 03/25/24     Provider: Netflix
10-word summary:  Shirley Chisholm first-ever Black congresswoman, her trailblazing 1972 presidential campaign.
6-word review:  An important story. King is flawless.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: Starring Regina King

The Man Without a Body (1957)
Watched: 03/27/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Man with a brain tumor grave-robs Nostradamus' head for transplantation.
6-word review:  Interesting premise, too slow, fun ending.
Rating: ★★
Note: Starring Robert Hutton, George Coulouris

Alice (2022)
Watched: 03/28/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Slave escapes isolated Georgia plantation, discovers it's 1973; she's pissed.
6-word review:  Powerful, if rushed. Palmer's performance fierce.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Keke Palmer, Common

April 2024     |     Back to top

Moon of the Wolf (1972)
Watched: 04/01/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  Louisiana sheriff tracks a werewolf that's responsible for grisly murders.
6-word review:  Fun, fast-paced, suspenseful; wraps up nicely.
Rating: ★★★
Note: TV movie starring David Janssen, Barbara Rush (R.I.P. 01/04/1927 - 03/31/2024)

No Night Is Too Long (2002)
Watched: 04/03/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Toxic triangle develops when paleontologist's lover falls for his sister.
6-word review:  Engrossing thriller. Stylish, unexpected interwoven plot.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: TV movie starring Lee Williams, Marc Warren

Outpost in Morocco (1949)
Watched: 04/04/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary:  French soldier falls for warring emir's daughter during violent rebellion.
6-word review:  Costumed adventure has moments; Raft miscast.
Rating: ★★½
Note: Starring George Raft, Marie Windsor

The Passenger (2023)
Watched: 04/05/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Burger worker shotguns coworkers, takes a hostage; past tragedies exposed.
6-word review:  Well-acted offbeat thriller; empathy for killer.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Kyle Gallner, Johnny Berchtold

The Passenger (2020)
Watched: 04/07/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Naive man elicits psychotic friend to obtain adulterous wife's confession.
6-word review:  Monotonous, no character development, muddled plot.
Rating: ★
Note: Starring Luke Nadimi (as Luke Christian), Isaac Money

Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989)
Watched: 04/08/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary:  Overlapping joyless stories set in bleak neighborhood during factory strike.
6-word review:  Mostly unlikable depressive characters, well-done production.
Rating: ★★½
Note: Starring Stephen Lang, Jennifer Jason Leigh

Money Madness (1948)
Watched: 04/11/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary: Bank robber hides loot, marries girl, kills aunt; schemes fail.
6-word review:  Pre-"Beaver" Beaumont's good as slimy crook.
Rating: ★★½
Note: Starring Hugh Beaumont, Frances Rafferty

An Ideal Host (2020)
Watched: 04/20/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary: Perfectly planned dinner party goes terribly wrong; guests become aliens.
6-word review:  Promising beginning black comedy becomes awful.
Rating: Abandoned
Note: Starring Australian unknowns

Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)
Watched: 04/20/24     Provider: Prime Video
10-word summary: Troubled former pilot must save sabotaged first flight to moon.
6-word review:  Amusing gag-filled rehash of original Airplane!
Rating: ★★½
Note: Starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty

The Night the World Exploded (1957)
Watched: 04/21/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary: Scientists study unexplained massive earthquakes threatening to destroy the Earth.
6-word review:  Low-budget scientific mumbo-jumbo. Well-used stock footage.
Rating: ★★
Note: Starring Kathryn Grant, William Leslie

Gangs, Inc [a.k.a. Paper Bullets] (1941)
Watched: 04/21/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary: Wrongfully imprisoned woman vengefully rises to criminal heights upon release.
6-word review:  Routine. Interesting for woman crime boss.
Rating: ★★½
Note: Starring Joan Woodbury, Jack LaRue

Elephant Walk (1954)
Watched: 04/22/24     Provider: Own
10-word summary: Naive tea planter's wife endures neglect, flirtation, Cholera, and elephants.
6-word review:  Lush melodrama. Fabulous climactic elephant stampede.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: Starring Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Finch

The Night Digger (1971)
Watched: 04/22/24     Provider: YouTube
10-word summary: Hot enigmatic handyman beguiles middle-aged woman dominated by harridan mother.
6-word review:  Offbeat, moody, oddly fascinating, perfectly cast.
Rating: ★★★
Note: Starring Patricia Neal, Nicholas Clay

A Shriek in the Night (1933)
Watched: 04/23/24     Provider: Tubi TV
10-word summary: Rival reporters mix sleuthing with romance while solving apartment-house murders.
6-word review:  Ginger's annoying, badly coiffed. Skip this.
Rating: ★
Note: Starring Ginger Rogers, Lyle Talbot

Up the Sandbox (1972)
Watched: 04/24/24     Provider: Own
10-word summary: NYC housewife evaluating life's choices, decisions; fantasizes about exotic adventures.
6-word review:  Sometimes-confusing sequences. Barbra's radiance is fantastic.
Rating: ★★★½
Note: Starring Barbra Streisand, David Selby