Streaming Silver Spoon Set (1960) Online

Silver Spoon Set (1960)iMDB Rating: 7.3
Date Released : 5 October 1960
Genre : Drama
Stars : Claudia Cardinale, Gérard Blain, Betsy Blair, Anna Maria Ferrero." />
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Review :

Small Town Claustrophobia

I DELFINI begins with a voice-over by Anselmo (Gérard Blain) whose writing talent has allowed him to see and describe the story's events as they truly are. The subsequent flashback structure for a film of this type is not typical, but it works very well to create immediate viewer involvement. Anselmo, along with his sister, Elsa, and several friends are the "Delfini" of this town (filmed in Ascoli Piceno)-- that is to say they are the "Dauphins", a kind of perceived royal family who are above all the rest because of their wealth and beauty. Led by Anselmo and Alberto (Tomas Milian)--both extremely volatile personalities--the Dauphins live a life of idle luxury, going from one party or love affair to another without finding much meaning in any of it. A couple of them talk of escaping the town, but never make a decisive move. The first important event in the film concerns the return of Marina (Anna-Maria Ferrero) who had been Anselmo's girlfriend. Her much anticipated arrival contains deep disappointment: she does love him, she says, but instead wanting to escape from the town she has decided to use her recently inherited wealth to go into business. Not only does Marina plan to go into business, she plans to partner with Anselmo's father and she invites the son to join them. The young man's hatred for his father is a key factor in his life. He wishes not only to leave behind the town, but his father as well. Thus, a seemingly permanent rift has been created by Marina's news. This is just one of numerous ironies in I DELFINI. Almost nothing in the lives of this film's characters goes as they expect it to go. In the opening sequence, we are shown Fedora (Claudia Cardinale), a working-class girl who longs to join the ranks of the Dauphins, dreaming of their privileged existence. A fortunate romantic alliance with Dr. Corsi (Sergio Fantoni), a lodger in her home, garners an invitation to one the Dauphin's legendary parties. Almost immediately, the doctor sees that Fedora is more interested in immersing herself in the decadence of the Dauphins than she is him. Fedora is swept off her feet (after violent protest) by the handsome ladies' man Alberto and is lost in a delirium of sports cars and illicit sex. After a reckless, nail-biting experience in Alberto's car and a frank motel room discussion, Fedora realizes that Alberto, like most of the other people in this story, is nothing more than a child who refuses to grow up. A disillusioned Fedora must now face a harsh reality: she is pregnant with Alberto's child. Now trapped by the very thing she thought she wanted, Fedora must listen to her mother's insistence that she marry Alberto to save face in the gossip-driven town. Another character, Contessa Cherè (Betsy Blair), is an older, sexually liberated member of the Dauphins. She lusts after Dr. Corsi and even begins an affair with him, only to realize he carries a torch for Fedora. Cherè has her own ironies to reveal. The young people in this film have bad parental models: broken marriages, infidelity, scandal. Perhaps this is at the core of their own inability to escape the small-town mentality that they despise, yet also exhibit in their own ways. Can any of them ever really escape? This ironic and very pessimistic film has something to say about the human capacity for self-dissatisfaction and the frustrated need for real connection to another. The acting performances are uniformly good, especially those of Blain, Cardinale, Fantoni and Blair. Widescreen black and white cinematography is used to good effect for locations and for the often claustrophobic interior scenes that seem to express the characters' sense of entrapment. The film also features one of Giovanni Fusco's more effective music scores.

Watch The Giants of Thessaly Online

The Giants of Thessaly (1960)iMDB Rating: 5.6
Date Released : 7 July 1963
Genre : Adventure
Stars : Roland Carey, Ziva Rodann, Alberto Farnese, Massimo Girotti. In order to placate the angry gods, who have allowed Thessaly to be overrun with barbarian invaders and beset with natural disasters, King Jason takes his Argonauts on a search for the fabled Golden Fleece. Meanwhile, back at home, his scheming regent is plotting to get his hands on the kingdom--and the queen." />
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In order to placate the angry gods, who have allowed Thessaly to be overrun with barbarian invaders and beset with natural disasters, King Jason takes his Argonauts on a search for the fabled Golden Fleece. Meanwhile, back at home, his scheming regent is plotting to get his hands on the kingdom--and the queen.

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Review :

Jason sails on the Argo-ship to the land of Colchis seeking for the golden fleece in this mythological romp

This is one of the best Peplum or sword and sandals film from the history , retelling the legend of Jason in search of the famous fleece for uncharted sea . The film deals about the myth Jason (Roland Carey) , he travels in search for the fabled Golden fleece located in the Colchis . It's based on a poem of Greek poet named Apolonio of Rodas titled ¨The Argonautika¨ (250 B.C) . In order to stifle the anger of Zeus and other Gods and with volcano's eruption included , Jason must retrieve the magical calf housed from distant land of Colchis and bring it toward city of Iolco . Meanwhile , his nephew Adrasto (Alberto Farnese)and underling Antinoo (Raf Baldasarre) have usurped the kingdom , taken his throne and imprisoned his spouse queen (Rodan) named Creusa (she's actually Medea who later to be revenged Jason , killing their sons) . Jason assembles a motley , brave crew formed by a valiant band as Orpheo (Massimo Girotti, father of Terence Hill or Mario Girotti) , Euristeo (Luciano Marin) , among others . Jason has to climb an enormous sculpture where is the Golden fleece . Jason successfully leads his crew of would-be heroes throughout a series of outstanding adventures . They're confronted by a heinous witch named Gaia at an island of women called Lemmos . Besides , he embarks in the ship a stowaway named Atlanta , she's condemned to death but the philosopher , musician Orpheo , a love expert , saves to her(as the poem says , Orpheo actually accompanied the Argonauts though his love for Euridice was much later) . They sail unharmed along sea storm , suffering thirsty , famine and incredible adventures , encountering a giant monster (made by Carlo Rambaldi : ET) and a scheming witch . The film even rips off from Homero's Odyssey , when there appears a giant bearded Cyclops (such as Kirk Douglas in Ulysses by Mario Camerini) and Jason hurls a lance into his only eye .

As usual in Musclemen films here appears the choreographic girls dancing and lots of action with several adventures including spectacular fights , storms , witchery, and some good effects . This elaborate recounting is well directed by Riccard Freda although with little relation with the poem by Apolonio of Rodas . The film contains an evocative and spectacular music by Carlo Rustichelli . Fun for the whole family though it tends toward the ponderous at times but for the most part , it's a marvelous movie . Other adaptations about this classic story are the following : Jason and the Argonauts (1963) by Don Chaffey with Todd Armstrong and for TV (2000) by Nick Willing and with Jason London.

Watch Amours célèbres (1961) Online

Amours célèbres (1961)iMDB Rating: 5.7
Date Released : 3 November 1961
Genre : History, Romance
Stars : Jean-Paul Belmondo, Philippe Noiret, Dany Robin, Palau." />
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Review :

Not so famous!

Outside the first sketch,featuring Lauzun,Mesdames de Monaco,Montespan and La Vallière,and the Sun King in the flesh,these love affairs,notwithstanding the title ,are not that much famous,even for the European audience.This is a rather mediocre program,which boasts a lot of French stars but which does not deliver the goods.

The first one takes us in Versailles ,at the time of Louis XIV,the Sun King.As for the footnotes in history are concerned,you'll always be better off with Sacha Guitry's "si Versailles m'était conté" or "si Paris m'était conté".This sinister amorous anecdote wastes both Jean-Paul Belmondo(Lauzun) and Philippe Noiret (His Majesty).This is the only one which justify the title,though.

The second one is the story of Jenny Lacour ,a courtesan from the end of the nineteenth century who throws acid at her unfaithful lover.Two good actors -Simone Signoret and Pierre Vaneck-cannot save the rather tepid directing.It looks like a poor man's Guy de Maupassant.

The third one is the most entertaining if by no means enthralling:the action takes place in Bayern in the Middle Ages where a maiden (Brigitte Bardot!!!) seduces a prince (Alain Delon).But it's not Cinderella all over again because the young man's wicked father is watchful,and the story will tragically end.Brigitte Bardot is miscast as the lead but nowadays,it's for her that most of the people will see the whole movie.There's a good supporting cast,with Suzanne Flon playing some kind of Godmother -but without a magic wand-,and Jean-Claude Brialy as an invert,the only unusual thing in a routine story.

The fourth one takes us to Napoleon's reign.Rivalry between two thespians (Edwige Feuillère and Annie Girardot)in Talma theater.

The movie made up of sketches is,in France, Julien Duvivier's field.Boisrond is no match for him and his movie can easily be dismissed.

Streaming Das Erbe von Björndal Online

Das Erbe von Björndal (1960)iMDB Rating: 5.9
Date Released : 28 October 1960
Genre : Drama
Stars : Maj-Britt Nilsson, Brigitte Horney, Ellen Schwiers, Joachim Hansen. After all the drama in "Und Ewig Singen die Wälder", the surviving second son and heir, Dag junior, father of the next heir, lays his father in his grave. The former castle estate steward feared to be thrown out with his retarded son Lorenz, but is offered management again, and a new house for him and Adelheids's old aunt Eleonore Barre, the sister of Dag's now in-living father-in-law, Royal ..." />
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After all the drama in "Und Ewig Singen die Wälder", the surviving second son and heir, Dag junior, father of the next heir, lays his father in his grave. The former castle estate steward feared to be thrown out with his retarded son Lorenz, but is offered management again, and a new house for him and Adelheids's old aunt Eleonore Barre, the sister of Dag's now in-living father-in-law, Royal Guards Major Henrik a.D. Barre, who will tend to Bjorndal estate's bookkeeping. Dag is fair for his tenants, while hard for those who try to cheat him, and gives employ to hapless Gunvor, till her husband writes her sprung from jail, so she admits having been charged with the same murder as he; Dag finds and gets rid of her husband who tells him she was unfaithful with the victim, a rich apothecary in the city; paid off to leave for suggesting -perhaps truthfully- her baby is Henriks, showing the treasured ring the major once receives from a royal chamberlain, Gunvor takes revenge by breaking a ...

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Review :

INFERIOR TO PART 1

This sequel to "Und ewig singen die Wälder" is far inferior to part 1. In part 1 one can see that the cast and certainly the director took the thing seriously; for Ucicky thìs film must have been just another of his routine jobs done without much interest (like he did every film in the 50's). The scene that should have been a dramatic moment (a pile of trees in the river is blown up) is very badly managed. Script also not that good; it seems that as much as possible has been put into it which has lead to mediocre storytelling, towards the end things get clumsy. Strictly for the real fans of the Trygve Gulbranssen trilogy; they could regard it as a moving illustration to the book

Watch The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960) Online

The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960)iMDB Rating: 7.4
Date Released : 8 October 1960
Genre : Drama
Stars : Robert Preston, Dorothy McGuire, Eve Arden, Angela Lansbury. In Oklahoma in the 1920s, Ruben Flood loses his job as a traveling salesman, when the company goes bankrupt. This adds to his worries at home. His wife Cora is frigid because of trying to make ends meet. His teenage daughter Reenie is afraid of going out on dates, but eventually makes friends with a troubled Jewish boy Sammy, and his son is a mama's boy. He finally storms out of the house when ..." />
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In Oklahoma in the 1920s, Ruben Flood loses his job as a traveling salesman, when the company goes bankrupt. This adds to his worries at home. His wife Cora is frigid because of trying to make ends meet. His teenage daughter Reenie is afraid of going out on dates, but eventually makes friends with a troubled Jewish boy Sammy, and his son is a mama's boy. He finally storms out of the house when Cora falsely accuses him of having an affair with Mavis Pruitt.

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Review :

American Cinema at its greatest...

One of the most simple yet moving of William Inge's plays is presented here with some of the finest American actors to grace the screen. This is American cinema at its greatest. Anything else I could say would sound even more trite. If you can find this film (it's never been released on video as far as I know) give it a try. I was able to tape it off of Encore once, and I am forever grateful that they aired it.

Watch The Devil's Eye (1960) Online

The Devil's Eye (1960)iMDB Rating: 7.2
Date Released : 17 October 1960
Genre : Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Stars : Jarl Kulle, Bibi Andersson, Stig Järrel, Nils Poppe. The devil has a stye in his eye, caused by the purity of a vicar's daughter. To get rid of it, he sends Don Juan up from hell to seduce the 20 year old Britt-Marie and to rob her of her virginity and her belief in love. She however can resist him and things get even turned around when Don Juan falls in love with her. The fact that he feels love for the first time now, makes him even less ..." />
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The devil has a stye in his eye, caused by the purity of a vicar's daughter. To get rid of it, he sends Don Juan up from hell to seduce the 20 year old Britt-Marie and to rob her of her virginity and her belief in love. She however can resist him and things get even turned around when Don Juan falls in love with her. The fact that he feels love for the first time now, makes him even less attractive to her and Don Juan returns to hell.

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Review :

Funny can be a little slow,still good.

A woman's chastity gives the Devil sty in his eye, so he sends Don Juan back to Earth from Hell to seduce her, but the modern-day woman finds his old-fashioned charm amusing rather than irresistible.No masterpiece but funny and Nils Poppe has some really funny scenes.

Rating:4/5

Watch The Trials of Oscar Wilde Online

The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960)iMDB Rating: 7.1
Date Released : 1 May 1960
Genre : Biography, Drama, History
Stars : Peter Finch, Yvonne Mitchell, James Mason, Nigel Patrick. At the height of his fame (his plays being much celebrated in London in the 1890's), Oscar Wilde angers the Lord Queensbury by having what is whispered and gossiped as a romantic relationship with Queensbury's son, twenty years Wilde's junior. When Queensbury slanders Wilde, the arrogant artist decides to take the matter to court, and brings about his own downfall." />
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At the height of his fame (his plays being much celebrated in London in the 1890's), Oscar Wilde angers the Lord Queensbury by having what is whispered and gossiped as a romantic relationship with Queensbury's son, twenty years Wilde's junior. When Queensbury slanders Wilde, the arrogant artist decides to take the matter to court, and brings about his own downfall.

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Review :

Witty and enjoyable

First of all I like the way the authentic witticisms of Oscar Wilde have been woven into the script. His sarcastic and pointed remarks derived from a keen observation of the morals, pomposity and hypocrisy of late Victorian England make for intelligent and amusing dialogue between the characters.

Peter Finch (Oscar Wilde) delivers lines with a certain flourish, but I think he could be even more flamboyant for such a man was Wilde. John Fraser plays the moody Bosie as Oscar's current lover with a balanced mixture of effeminate charm and petulance. Best acting role is that of Lionel Jeffreys as the Marquis of Queensbury. Make no mistake his character comes through loud and clear. He gives a remarkable portrayal of his utter disgust when his 21 year old son Bosie defies him and continues his relationship with Oscar, a man of middle age and married. All London is gossiping and there is much clicking of tongues. Mrs. Wilde played by beautiful Yvonne Mitchell stands by in utter dismay and disapproval.

The courtroom scene gives Oscar the opportunity to deliver more witty lines and to describe his inner feelings about true love...interesting because one is not too sure what he is about to say next. One gets the feeling that Oscar has chosen the path of self-destruction...or is he just being his theatrical self?

After he does his prison sentence with hard labour he is supposed to look tired and ill, but I fail to notice much of a change in his demeanour. He should be much paler with a worn down look. This would command more sympathy. Oscar's sexual adventures around the streets of London are not discussed to any extent nor portrayed in this film. If they had been given more prominence we would perhaps have felt justified in agreeing with the jury's decision. As it is , the sordid details of his sexual encounters are played down and because the film is presented in this way we feel rather sad that this great playwright both loving and generous should suffer so much at the hands of those who tried to destroy him.

Streaming El analfabeto (1961) Online

El analfabeto (1961)iMDB Rating: 7.1
Date Released : 7 September 1961
Genre : Comedy
Stars : Cantinflas, Lilia Prado, Ángel Garasa, Sara García." />
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Review :

A Very Watcable "Innocent" Film

This story is about Innocencio, played by Catinflas, who cannot read or write. He receives a letter and vows not to read it until he can read or write. The letter states he was to inherit two million pesos due to a deceased uncle, but Innocencio does not know this. In the interim, Innocencio gets a maintenance job at the local bank due to his being honest and also meets Blanca, played by the pretty Lilia Prado, who works as a maid for the rich people in town. They fall in love. By mistakenly dropping the letter he has not read yet, a few unscrupulous bank co-workers look to steal the money he is right to inherit. The draws to this film include the chemistry between Catinflas and Lilia Prado, as well as the general good versus evil theme which is part of the story. While not a great film, its a pleasant light comedy with very likable characters. I recommend it for that, as well as to see Catinflas and Lilia Prado together, who were both very popular actors in Mexican cinema for some time.

Watch Amor bajo cero (1960) Online

Amor bajo cero (1960)iMDB Rating: 3.7
Date Released : 2 September 1960
Genre : Comedy
Stars : Tony Leblanc, Concha Velasco, George Rigaud, Katia Loritz." />
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Watch The Crowded Sky Online

The Crowded Sky (1960)iMDB Rating: 5.9
Date Released : 2 September 1960
Genre : Adventure, Action, Drama
Stars : Dana Andrews, Rhonda Fleming, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., John Kerr
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An navy jet with a defective radio system and a passenger plane get in danger of collision. In flashbacks we learn about the personal problems of the pilots and most of the crew.

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Review :

i'm confused and intrigued at the same time

I saw this movie on television at 2am on a Monday morning. i was so damn tired, but after the initial 10 minutes i could not look away. basically through flashbacks we are told the stories of characters on two planes. how did they get there? what motivates them? will we be told this? no. no, we won't. random thoughts and odd conversations that float around in these characters heads don't do much for the story, but still somehow just manage to keep you interested. the acting is terrible, the story is foul and confusing and the end is laughable. so why did i love this movie? was it because there was nothing else on? yes. that is the answer. if you find yourself in the same situation i'm sure you'll agree.

Watch Sergeant Rutledge Online

Sergeant Rutledge (1960)iMDB Rating: 7.5
Date Released : 18 May 1960
Genre : Western, Crime
Stars : Jeffrey Hunter, Woody Strode, Constance Towers, Billie Burke
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Lieutenant Tom Cantrell is sent to defend Sergeant Braxton Rutledge, a black cavalry soldier, on a charge of rape and murder. The story begins in a courtroom and it is told through flashbacks. This is a story of how a black soldier in the face of danger from the Indians can be so easily mistaken as a criminal.

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Review :

"I'm a man."

I first caught the tail end of this John Ford masterpiece on AMC during Black History month, and couldn't wait for it to pop up on the schedule again so I could see the whole thing. I couldn't believe I had never heard of this film before, and after I did some research and discovered how reviewers in 1960 had dismissed it, I understood why. They went expecting To Kill A Mockingbird and got Breaker Morant instead. Ford was WAY ahead of his time with this one. Woody Strode, who plays the title character, helped break the color barrier in professional football years before Jackie Robinson did so in baseball. And he broke some huge barriers in this film, too. Every young black man -- heck, every young American male today -- should be required to watch this film. As Strode later said, Ford and script writers "put classic words in my mouth." Words that would be echoed three years later by Dr. Martin Luther King in his immortal "I Have A Dream" speech at the Lincoln memorial.

Watch A Mistress for the Summer Online

A Mistress for the Summer (1960)iMDB Rating: 7.1
Date Released : 26 February 1960
Genre : Comedy
Stars : Pascale Petit, Micheline Presle, Michel Auclair, Georges Poujouly. Philippe, a little known artist, has a mistress, Viviane, a woman he does not love. When he learns the bailiffs are about to seize his paintings, Philippe decides to leave alone for the French Riviera and spend, as he regularly does, comfortable and carefree holidays in the luxurious villa of his friend Paule. But, on his way, he meets Manette, a beautiful but poor girl to whom he offers to ..." />
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Philippe, a little known artist, has a mistress, Viviane, a woman he does not love. When he learns the bailiffs are about to seize his paintings, Philippe decides to leave alone for the French Riviera and spend, as he regularly does, comfortable and carefree holidays in the luxurious villa of his friend Paule. But, on his way, he meets Manette, a beautiful but poor girl to whom he offers to become his companion for the Summer. Manette accepts the strange deal in exchange for bed and board. As Philippe always comes in the company of his mistress of the time, the presence of Manette does not pose a problem. But the young woman soon feels ill-at-ease in such a dubious environment. moreover, she realizes that she is falling in love with Philippe, who might not be so cynical as he wants to appear...

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Streaming Zamach Online

Zamach (1959)iMDB Rating: 6.8
Date Released : 5 September 1959
Genre : Drama, War
Stars : Bozena Kurowska, Grazyna Staniszewska, Zbigniew Cynkutis, Andrzej Kostenko
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Set in the occupied Warsaw, the film tells the story of the mission carried out by the student uderground resistance group to execute the hated SS General Franz Kutchera.

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Review :

A rare polish war drama

I am lucky enough to have some pushers who can provide me with rare war films from all over the world. Especially from Eastern Europe countries such as Germany, Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Japan, and so on. From these countries, many movies were never been released more west. I have seen a little batch, thanks to these guys. This one makes me think of another film from Poland too, telling the story of a group of young underground resistant movement against Nazis. Nothing really new if you compare with the other features, not at the same scale as L'ARMEE DES OMBRES, the best film ever about this kind of topic. But the characterization for this one is rather good, the score and filming too.

Worth seeing. And keep in mind that there are many others like this one which we probably never see.

Streaming Concrete Jungle (1960) Online

Concrete Jungle (1960)iMDB Rating: 7.1
Date Released : 13 September 1960
Genre : Crime, Drama
Stars : Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker, Grégoire Aslan, Margit Saad. An ex-con who's taken part in the robbery of a racetrack is caught and sent back to prison, but he won't tell his fellow gang members where he's stashed the loot. The gang kidnaps his girlfriend and has him tortured in prison in an effort to find out where the money is." />
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An ex-con who's taken part in the robbery of a racetrack is caught and sent back to prison, but he won't tell his fellow gang members where he's stashed the loot. The gang kidnaps his girlfriend and has him tortured in prison in an effort to find out where the money is.

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Review :

Knick, Knack, Paddy Whack!

The Criminal (AKA: The Concrete Jungle) is directed by Joseph Losey and written by Alun Owen. It stars Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker, Margrit Saad, Patrick Magee, Grégoire Aslan, Rupert Davies and Laurence Naismith. Music is by John Dankworth and cinematography by Robert Krasker.

Johnny Bannion (Baker) is an ex-con who's taken part in the robbery of a racetrack but is caught and sent back to prison; but not before he has time to bury the cash from the gig. Back in prison Johnny is keeping the cards close to his chest but finds there are big crime forces wanting a piece of his action. With plans afoot to "twist" his arm, and his girlfriend kidnapped, Johnny knows something is going to have to give...

All my sadness and all my joy, comes from loving a thieving boy.

Once tagged as being "The toughest picture ever made in Britain", The Criminal obviously seems tame by today's increasingly over the top standards. Yet it still packs quite a punch and shows the very best of Messrs Losey, Baker and Krasker.

In some ways it's a strange film, the pace is purposely slow and the narrative is bolstered by bouts of hang wringing tension, where periods of calm come laced with a grim oppressive atmosphere, but there's often electricity bristling in the air when Bannion (Baker is magnetic and brilliant as he apparently models the character on Albert Dimes) is holding court. Even when on the outside and feeling the love of a good woman, Bannion exudes a loner like danger, he's tough but being a hard bastard can't break him free from the shackles of his life. We know it and you sense that he himself knows it, and it gives the film an exciting edge not befitting the downbeat tone of the story. Characters here have not been delivered from happy land, you will struggle to find someone here who isn't nasty of heart, bad in the head or simply foolish. Inside this concrete jungle it's a multi cultural hive of emotional disintegration, and at the core stirring the honey pot is one Johnny Bannion. The film makers here are all about pessimism, self-destruction and the battle against the system and the underworld, right up to (and including) a finale fit to grace the best noirs of the 40s.

Losey and Krasker ensure the prison sequences are stifling, the walls close in, the bars and netting are unsettling and close ups of the odd ball assortment of crims and warders strike an incarcerated chord, visually it's an impressive piece of noirish film. But it's not just about shadows and filtered light, the director has skills aplenty with his camera. A kaleidoscope shot has a delightfully off kilter kink to it, while his overhead filming and pull away crane usage for the frosty cold finale is as memorable as it is skillful in selection. Musically the pic begins and ends with the soulful warbling of Cleo Laine, the tune is a Prison Ballad (Thieving Boy), and it's tonally perfect, while Dankworth and his orchestra provide jazz shards that thrust in and out of the story like knowing accomplices to fate unfolding. Set design is superb, especially for the recreation of a Victorian prison which is impressive and makes it easy to not lament an actual prison location used, while the supporting actors are very strong, particularly Magee (Zulu) who excels doing sneaky menace as Warder Barrows.

Flaws? Not any if you don't actually expect the toughest film made in Britain back in the day (though it was banned in some countries!). I do wonder why Baker had to be an Irish character and not just be Welsh and therefore do his natural Welsh accent? And if we are are being over critical we could suggest there are some prison stereotypes that even by 1960 were looking frayed around the edges. But ultimately this is tough stuff, a gritty and moody piece of cinema with class on either side of the camera. 8/10

Streaming The Secret of the Purple Reef Online

The Secret of the Purple Reef (1960)iMDB Rating: 5.2
Date Released : 17 February 1961
Genre : Crime, Drama
Stars : Jeff Richards, Margia Dean, Peter Falk, Richard Chamberlain
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After Robert Christopher and his ship mysteriously disappear in the Caribbean, his two brothers -- Mark and Dean -- travel to St. Kitts to begin their own investigation.

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Review :

CinemaScope on a low budget...

Extremely slight non-adventure from Fox. The beauty of the Caribbean islands is no match for this waterlogged script, adapted from Dorothy Cottrell's magazine serial, about a captain who went down with his ship, and his two brothers who want answers as to why. Begins with a funeral scene so unrelievedly solemn, it sets the movie on Snooze and forgets to wake the audience up. Then-unknowns Richard Chamberlain and Peter Falk (miscast as the heavy) take a backseat to a handsome block of wood named Jeff Richards, who never varies his stern expression. Humorless B-flick with irritating faux-calypso music by Buddy Bregman and absolutely no imagination behind the camera. NO STARS from ****

Streaming My Son, the Hero Online

My Son, the Hero (1962)iMDB Rating: 6.5
Date Released : 18 September 1963
Genre : Adventure, Fantasy
Stars : Pedro Armendáriz, Giuliano Gemma, Antonella Lualdi, Serge Nubret
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Size : 700 MB

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Krios, the youngest of the Titans, may be the least strong of the seven brothers whose strength comes from their mother, earth-goddess Gaia, but is by far the smartest, and thus their natural leader. He arrives on Crete, the kingdom of the mighty king Minos, impresses him as gladiator, gains his trust, falls in love with a mortal girl and discovers both Minos's human sacrifice-cult and a foreign conspiracy to seize power with a hidden army.

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Review :

The Titans arrived!

"Arrivano i Titani" is an Italian-made sword & sandal epic filmed by Duccio Tessari that would also be responsible for some westerns and even giallos.

It's a very entertaining film that tells a story extracted from the Greek mythology: King Cadmo (Pedro Armendariz), by his crimes and presumption, has provoked the wrath of the gods. They warned him through a messenger that the first time his daughter fell in love he would die, and it would be no use killing her, because in the minute her heart stopped beating, he would be no more. So Cadmo brings up his daughter Antiope (Jacqueline Sassard) in reclusion - she is destined to be a priestess in a temple. She has never met a man in her life.

Meanwhile one of the Titans (chained to the rocks in a cave of a mountain because of their rebellion against Jupiter) is released. He is Krios (Giuliano Gemma). His mission is to punish King Cadmo. Krios is divested of his divine powers - he's now a simple mortal and can only rely on his wits to succeed. If he's successful, he and his brother Titans will be forgiven......

"Arrivano i Titani" manages to mix action, fantasy, humor and even a naive sensuality and romanticism. Unlike the American epic films in which pretty women represent either sin or innocence, "Arrivano i Titani" (like other Italian epics) celebrates the joy of the senses - beautiful women and landscapes, ribald humor, action scenes that sometimes resemble circus acts and a joyous soundtrack that looks like a parody of "The Bridge on the River Kwai".

"Arrivano i Titani" was made on a low budget (if you compare it with the American epics), but it's certainly more creative and free than its American counterparts.

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Angel Baby (1961)iMDB Rating: 6.1
Date Released : 14 May 1961
Genre : Drama
Stars : George Hamilton, Mercedes McCambridge, Joan Blondell, Henry Jones. A woman who believes she has been chosen by God to heal people is taken in by a greedy promoter and his shrewish wife to make the rounds of the rural South - she to save souls and heal the sick, he to make as much money as he possibly can." />
Movie Quality : HDrip
Format : MKV
Size : 870 MB

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A woman who believes she has been chosen by God to heal people is taken in by a greedy promoter and his shrewish wife to make the rounds of the rural South - she to save souls and heal the sick, he to make as much money as he possibly can.

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Review :

Inspiring

About 1970 friends and I were on our way back to Sydney following a 2-weel driving vacation to Queensland. We stopped overnight in the small 'bush' town of Bourke (New South Wales). It was there we set up camp for the night and then decided to seek out a movie theater. We found such a theater in a beautiful outdoor garden setting . . .I can't recall its name.

Anyway, the movie showing that night was 'Angel Baby' which we hadn't heard about before. I remember the title not appealing to me at all but the theater setting was gorgeous as well as the night itself. The three of us (me, a friend and 11 year-old Peter) positioned ourselves on blankets on the lawn. Then, for the first time, we saw 'Angel Baby'. It impacted greatly on the 3 of us and we thought about it and talked about it for weeks after. We couldn't get out of our minds the miraculous healing of the cripple boy at the movie's conclusion.

Years later I became a Christian and had the opportunity to see that movie again on TV just a couple of years ago. I'd love to be able to thank the movie cast and particularly Salome Jens for having inspired me (us) back in 1970 and even today. Thanks!