Reviews of Classic and Modern Movies in a Flash!
Luther Heggs (Don Knotts) is a type setter for a small town newspaper, but he dreams of being a real reporter and getting a big scoop that will impress the girl of his dreams, Alma Parker (Joan Staley). He soon gets his wish when the seemingly innocent scheduled demolishing of an old house brings up a 20 year old unsolved murder. Luther might have just what it takes to solve the mystery in this hilarious and well done movie.
1hr. 30min.
Hayley Mills stars as determined Mary Grant, whos fathers’ ship was lost at sea some two years ago. Maurice Chevalier also stars as a french professor who finds a note in a bottle, supposedly written by Captain Grant. This note sets in motion a search that spans the globe. Nothing will stop Mary; not earthquakes, flashfloods or a despicable villain played to perfection by George Sanders.
1hr. 38min.
One of Irwin Allens’ (of disaster film fame) first films, this story follows a futuristic sub as it races across the world towards the Mariana Trench, where it must set off a rocket that will save the world from being burned to a crisp by an unexplainable ring of fire encircling the earth. Walter Pidgeon stars as the leader of this intrepid group. Co-starring are Peter Lorre and Barbara Eden as the few that believe the plan will work.
1hr. 45min.
Crocodiles in the conservatory, chocolate cake diets and boxing lessons in the barn are just a few of the common occurrences in the Biddle household. They’re eccentric millionaires led by their father (Fred MacMurry) in his many zany antics, that are only slightly bridled by their mother (Greer Garson).
The last live action film that the late Walt Disney was involved in, this is surprisingly based on a true story and features Lesley Ann Warren in one of her earliest roles.
2hr. 46min.
This is the true story about Elsa, an orphaned lion who is raised and loved by Joy Adamson (Virginia McKenna) and her husband in Kenya. The two are inseparable, but when it becomes more apparent that Elsa can’t remain with her human family, Joy decides to set her free. Which is easier said than done, in this moving drama.
1hr. 35min.
Gregory Peck stars as Sam Varner, a retiring army scout, who through circumstances takes an indian-captive (Eva Marie Saint) and her half-breed son under his wing. It’s not long, however, before he realizes that they’re being tracked by the boy’s vengeful father, who will stop at nothing to get the boy back. This suspenseful western leads to a terrifying showdown.
1hr. 50min.
This film traces the days leading up to the invasion of Normandy in 1944. The Nazis are desperate to know the location of the impending invasion and the Allies want to know exactly what the Nazis do or do not know about it. So, they send in Major Jefferson Pike (James Garner) to find out. Unbeknownst to them, a brilliant Nazi doctor (Rod Taylor) has devised an ingenious plan for getting Pike to tell them everything he knows about the invasion. Eva Marie Saint rounds out the cast, as she plays a concentration camp survivor, who’s being forced to help the doctor with his scheme.
1hr. 55min.
This animated classic traces a fateful year in the life of young orphan Arthur. It’s the year when he encounters Merlin, who will change the boys life forever. Merlin shows Arthur many fantastic things in order to educate him about the world (and himself). Eventually leading him to the legendary moment where Arthur pulls the sword from the stone.
1hr. 19min.
In this adaption of Charles Dicken’s Christmas classic, the lovably near-sighted Mr. Magoo (Jim Backus) takes on the role of Scrooge, who one fateful night must re-live the ups and downs of his life in order to change his future.
Filled with humor and touching moments, this short film manages to hit all the right notes in this tale of redemption.
53min.
A remake of Frank Capra’s own ‘Lady for a Day’ (1931), this version stars Bette Davis as “Apple Annie” a street-smart old lady who sells apples in New York City. Her best customer is “The Dude” (Glenn Ford) who joint owns a night club. One day he and his girl (Hope Lange) find out that Annie has been supporting a daughter, Louise (Ann-Margret), who’s been living in Spain all of her life. Annie has been supporting her, with the pretense that she’s rich. Now Louise is coming to visit, bringing along her fiancé and his father, both of whom are practically royalty. It’s up to Annie’s friends to hatch a plan and help her assume the role of the ‘Lady Worthington’. With this kind gesture, they are each touched themselves in different ways that change them for the better.
This film also co-stars a pre-Columbo Peter Falk and was Ann-Margret’s film debut.
2hr. 17min.