 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968  G, 139 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Cast: Keir Dullea, William Sylvester, Gary Lockwood, Daniel Richter, Douglas Rain, Leonard Rossiter, Margaret Tyzack, Robert Beatty, Sean Sullivan, Frank Miller, Bill Weston, Ed Bishop, Alan Gifford, Ann Gillis
The story begins millions of years ago during a crisis on Earth when starving apes, seeking water rights, could only shake their arms at the Others across the stream. Then, one day, a mysterious monolith appeared to probe and direct their brains. Over time, the apes learned that they could change their world through the use of tools, which provided means to obtain food. Skip ahead to the year 2001: apes have evolved into humans, tools into weapons, and Earth is again in crisis. Overpopulation has caused another food shortage, nuclear megatonnage threatens the entire surface of the planet, and, once again, a mysterious monolith has been discovered–this time on the moon. And now, mysterious radio signals from Jupiter are aimed at Earth. A space shuttle is sent to Jupiter to investigate. The genius of this film is the awe it inspires in us as the music sets the tone. Johann Strauss' "Blue Danube," for example, accompanies the docking of the space ship. The pace of both docking and ballet are deliberately slow–a perfect match. While the film does not provide a clear narrative, Arthur C. Clarke's novel does. In this case, reading the book before viewing the movie increases one's understanding. The film received an Oscar for Best Special Effects; three other nominations were received, including Best Director.
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Across the Bridge 1957  N/R, 103 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Ken Annakin
Cast: Rod Steiger, David Knight, Marla Landi, Noel Willman, Bernard Lee, Bill Nagy, Eric Pohlmann, Faith Brook, Alan Gifford
Based on Graham Greene's novel, this is the story about unscrupulous British businessman Carl Schaffner (Rod Steiger) who flees to Mexico with Scotland Yard fast on his heels.
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Devil Doll 1964  N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Lindsay Shonteff, Sidney J. Furie
Cast: Bryant Haliday, William Sylvester, Yvonne Romain, Sandra Dorne, Karel Stepanek, Nora Nicholson, Francis De Wolff, Philip Ray, David Charlesworth, Alan Gifford, Guy Deghy, Ray Landor
The Great Vorelli (Bryant Haliday) is a successful ventriloquist and hypnotist whose act includes a unique dummy. When a journalist (William Sylvester) sets out to uncover the duo's past, the truth comes out that Vorelli had killed his partner some years earlier and transferred the partner's mind to the dummy. Now he intends to add a female dummy: the journalist's girlfriend (Yvonne Romain). Interesting.
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The Iron Petticoat 1956  N/R, 87 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Ralph Thomas
Cast: Bob Hope, Katharine Hepburn, James Robertson Justice, Robert Helpmann, David Kossoff, Alan Gifford, Paul Carpenter, Nicholas Phipps, Sid James, Tutte Lemkow
When a stern Soviet officer (Katharine Hepburn) defects to the West, an American officer (Bob Hope) takes her on an eye-opening adventure in the capitalist world.
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A King in New York 1957 N/R, 105 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Charles Chaplin
Cast: Charles Chaplin, Maxine Audley, Oliver Johnston, Dawn Addams, Sid James, Harry Green, Michael Chaplin, John McLaren, Phil Brown, Alan Gifford
There are some funny scenes in this satire on the 1950s' Communist witch hunts, but it is not one of Charlie Chaplin's best films. The king of a tiny country is overthrown, and he and his wife move to New York. There, though he has no money, he is a hit with the status seekers. Then he sees what the 1950s are all about in the U.S.: rock 'n roll and McCarthyism.
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Lilacs in the Spring 1954 N/R, 94 min.
Genre: Family / Comedy / Romance / Fantasy
aka: Let's Make Up
Director: Herbert Wilcox
Cast: Anna Neagle, Errol Flynn, David Farrar, Kathleen Harrison, Peter Graves, Helen Haye, Alan Gifford, George Margo, Scott Sanders, Jennifer Mitchell, Sam Kydd, Stephen Boyd, Sean Connery
Following a head injury during a London air raid, Carole Beaumont (Anna Neagle) is knocked unconscious. She suffers identity problems while unconscious, and she seems to be King Charles' (David Farrar) courtesan Nell Gwyn (also played by Neagle). Later, while recovering at a country home, Carole loses consciousness again and appears to be Queen Victoria (also played by Neagle). Finally, Carole reprises her mother Lillian Grey's (also played by Neagle) life and is married to John Beaumont (Errol Flynn) who helps her find love and success on the stage.
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Paris Holiday 1958 N/R, 100 min.
Genre: Comedy / Action / Romance
Director: Gerd Oswald
Cast: Bob Hope, Fernandel, Anita Ekberg, Martha Hyer, Preston Sturges, Andre Morell, Maurice Teynac, Alan Gifford, Yves Brainville, Jean Murat, Irene Tunc, Marcel Peres, Hans Verner, Paul Violette, Roger Treville
Robert Hunter (Bob Hope) travels by luxury liner to France with Fernnydel (Fernandel) hoping to purchase the script for a new French play. What he doesn't know is that the script contains details about a counterfeiting ring. A member of the ring, Zara (Anita Ekberg), is aboard the ship and mistakenly believes that Robert has the script. Diplomat Ann McCall (Martha Hyer) is also on board and strikes up a friendship with Fernydel. When the counterfeiters close in, Ann arranges for Robert to be sent to an insane asylum to provide safety from them, and, later, Fernydel works to have him released. Funny chases take place–including the one when Robert is rescued from the asylum by a helicopter–in this combination of a French and American comedy.
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Town Without Pity 1961 N/R, 112 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Gottfried Reinhardt
Cast: Kirk Douglas, E.G. Marshall, Robert Blake, Richard Jaeckel, Christine Kaufmann, Stefan Schnabel, Alan Gifford, Barbara Rutting, Hans Nielsen, Frank Sutton
American GIs are accused of raping a young German girl. This is the story of her fellow townspeople's indignation and demand for retribution.
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| 1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2. Across the Bridge (1957)
3. Devil Doll (1964)
4. The Iron Petticoat (1956)
5. A King in New York (1957)
6. Lilacs in the Spring (1954)
aka: Let's Make Up
7. Paris Holiday (1958)
8. Town Without Pity (1961)
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