Classic Movie Reviews

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Episode 229 - Only Angels Have Wings

March 23, 2024 by Matthew Johnson in action, drama

“Only Angels Have Wings” 1939 takes place in the fictional South American town of Barranca. There is danger, romance, and drama surrounding Barranca Airways a struggling business with fatalistic pilots, money worries, unpredictable weather, few planes, and difficult human relationships.

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March 23, 2024 /Matthew Johnson
Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, Richard Barthelmess, Rita Hayworth, Thomas Mitchell, Howard Hawks
action, drama
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Episode 228 - Bicycle Thieves

March 10, 2024 by Matthew Johnson in drama, historical

“Bicycle Thieves” also known as “Bicycle Thief” 1948 is an Italian drama that presents a Rome family struggling with unemployment, poverty, and the aftermath of World War II.  This film is unforgettable.

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March 10, 2024 /Matthew Johnson
Vittorio De Sica, Lamberto Maggiorani, Lianella Carell, Enzo Staiola
drama, historical
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Episode 227 - Double Feature: Time After Time & Somewhere In Time

November 12, 2023 by Matthew Johnson in action, drama, historical, science fiction, thriller

Our podcast covers two excellent time travel movies. “Time After Time” 1979 from Director Nicholas Meyer transports us to H.G. Wells and his search for Doctor John Leslie Stevenson known as Jack-the-Ripper. “Somewhere in Time” 1980 by Director Jeannot Szwarc is the timeless love story between Elise Mckenna and Richard Collier.

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November 12, 2023 /Matthew Johnson
nicholas meyer, h.g. wells, malcolm mcdowell, mary steenburgen, david warner, jeannot szwarc, christopher reeve, jane seymour, christopher plummer, john barry, sergei rachmaninoff
action, drama, historical, science fiction, thriller
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Episode 226 - Sextette

November 04, 2023 by Matthew Johnson in comedy, musical

“Sextette” 1978 is Mae West’s last film and showcases her talents and one liners. The movie is a wedding day mash-up of oddball characters, funny situations, antics of ex-husbands, an international peace conference, musical numbers, and a potpourri of stars. Director Ken Hughes created this big budget smorgasbord that sank at the box office.

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November 04, 2023 /Matthew Johnson
mae west, timothy dalton, dom deluise, tony curtis, ringo starr, george hamilton, alice cooper
comedy, musical
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Episode 225 - Blood On The Moon

November 04, 2023 by Matthew Johnson in action, drama, western

We incorrectly said Robert Wise never directed a western.  Mr. Wise directed these westerns - “Two Flags West” 1950, “Tribute to a Bad Man” 1956, and “Blood on the Moon” 1948.  We apologize for our oversight.  The creativity of Mr. Wise is seen throughout “Blood on the Moon”.

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November 04, 2023 /Matthew Johnson
robert wise, robert mitchum, robert preston, frank faylen, barbara bel geddes, phyllis thaxter, walther brennan
action, drama, western
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Episode 224 - The Lion

November 04, 2023 by Matthew Johnson in action, drama

“The Lion” 1962 is a family/adventure film set on an animal preserve in Kenya. Director Jack Cardiff relies on excellent movie making skills to fill the screen with beautiful scenes of Africa and wildlife. Mr. Cardiff‘s experience includes Cinematographer for films such as “Black Narcissus” 1947 (Episode 98) and “The African Queen” 1951.

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November 04, 2023 /Matthew Johnson
jack cardiff, william holden, zamba, capucine, pamela franklin, trevor howard
action, drama
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Episode 223 - Mogambo

November 04, 2023 by Matthew Johnson in drama, action

“Mogambo” 1953 is a romance-adventure film set in Africa. Thank you to Patreon listener Arthur who recommended we include the movie in a podcast. Director John Ford built the film around African locations and music from African tribes. The film has many elements found in the 1932 movie “Red Dust”.

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November 04, 2023 /Matthew Johnson
john ford, clark gable, grace kelly, donald sinden, ava gardner
drama, action
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Episode 222 - The Fog

January 29, 2023 by Matthew Johnson in horror, mystery, thriller

“The Fog” 1980 is a horror-drama set in the California coastal town of Antonio Bay.  Director John Carpenter co-wrote the screenplay and created the music for this exciting story.

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January 29, 2023 /Matthew Johnson
adrienne barbeau, jamie lee curtis, john carpenter, tom atkins, ty michell, hal holbrook, janet leigh
horror, mystery, thriller
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Episode 221 - Cry, the Beloved Country

January 29, 2023 by Matthew Johnson in drama, historical

“Cry, the Beloved Country” 1951 is based on Alan Paton’s 1948 novel depicting several aspects of Apartheid in South Africa.

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January 29, 2023 /Matthew Johnson
alan paton, canada lee, charles carson, joyce carey, sidney poitier, zoltan korda
drama, historical
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Episode 220 - King Solomon's Mines

January 29, 2023 by Matthew Johnson in action, drama, historical

“King Solomon’s Mines” 1951 is the second film version depicting the danger and romance facing a group as they search for a missing husband and lost treasure in Africa in 1897.

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January 29, 2023 /Matthew Johnson
andrew marton, compton bennett, deborah kerr, Kimursi, richard carlton, siriaque, stewart granger
action, drama, historical
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Episode 219 - Bombshell

January 01, 2023 by Matthew Johnson in comedy

Thank you to one of our Patreon members for recommending “Bombshell” 1933 for this podcast.  Director Victor Fleming has created a fast-paced comedy.  Among Mr. Fleming’s many successes are “The Wizard of Oz” 1939 (Episode 144) and “Gone with the Wind” 1939.

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January 01, 2023 /Matthew Johnson
victor fleming, jean harlow, lee tracy, frank morgan, ted healy, franchot tone
comedy
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Episode 218 - Les Diaboliques

November 06, 2022 by Matthew Johnson in drama, mystery, thriller

In “Les Diaboliques”, translated The Devils, Director Henri-Georges Clouzot gives us a prize winning eerie drama that is one of the best in the genre.

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November 06, 2022 /Matthew Johnson
Henri-Georges Clouzot, Véra Clouzot, Simone Signoret, Paul Meurisse, Charles Vanel
drama, mystery, thriller
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Episode 217 - The 39 Steps

November 06, 2022 by Matthew Johnson in drama, mystery, noir, thriller, war, action

“The 39 Steps” 1935 is a spy movie with action taking place in the United Kingdom. Director Alfred Hitchcock packs the film with elements such as an innocent man on the run, a Hitchcock cameo, and the “MacGuffin” plot device important to the drama.

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November 06, 2022 /Matthew Johnson
Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Godfrey Tearle, Wylie Watson
drama, mystery, noir, thriller, war, action
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Episode 216 - Abbott And Costello - Buck Privates & Keep Em’ Flying

October 02, 2022 by Matthew Johnson in comedy, war

The comedy duo of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello fit the bill with their 1941 movies “Buck Privates” and “Keep ‘Em Flying”. With wars raging in Asia and Europe, there were several films in 1940 and 1941 aimed at building support for a United States military buildup.

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October 02, 2022 /Matthew Johnson
Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Jane Frazee, Judy Gray, Andrews Sisters, Martha Raye
comedy, war
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Episode 215 - Secret of the Incas & Raiders of the Lost Ark

August 11, 2022 by Matthew Johnson in action

“Secret of the Incas” 1954 an adventure film that influences“Indiana Jonas and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” 1981. In “Secret of the Incas” Charlton Heston as Harry Steele has a hat, coat, and other things similar to those of Indiana Jones played by Harrison Ford in “Raiders of the Lost Ark”.

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August 11, 2022 /Matthew Johnson
Harrison Ford, Charlton Heston, Steven Spielberg, Nicole Maurey, Thomas Mitchell, Karen Allen
action
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Episode 214 - The Sound Of Music

June 29, 2022 by Matthew Johnson

“The Sound of Music” 1965 is a musical and drama film andamong our favorite movies. The creative talent of Director Robert Wise beautifully captures the von Trapp family story.

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June 29, 2022 /Matthew Johnson
2 Comments

Episode 213 - Seven Brides For Seven Brothers

May 02, 2022 by Matthew Johnson in musical

”Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” 1954 is set in 1850 and brings together wonderful Western themed musical and dance numbers and the horrible kidnapping of six women. Stanley Donen was Co-Director of “On the Town” 1948 (Episode 2) and “Singing in the Rain” 1952 (Episode 20), but as Director of this movie the disconnect between music and behavior smash head-on.

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May 02, 2022 /Matthew Johnson
Stanley Donen, jane powell, howard keel, russ tamblyn
musical
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Episode 212 - Paint Your Wagon

March 28, 2022 by Matthew Johnson in comedy, action, drama, historical, musical

“Paint Your Wagon” 1969 is a western – musical film. Director Joshua Logan faced multiple challenges including remote locations, cast members with differing ideas and styles, a ballooning budget, and studio anxieties.

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March 28, 2022 /Matthew Johnson
Joshua Logan, Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, Jean Seberg
comedy, action, drama, historical, musical
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Episode 211 - Calamity Jane

March 28, 2022 by Matthew Johnson in comedy, western, musical, historical

“Calamity Jane” 1953 is a fanciful western, musical, and comedy involving the lives of Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok and many others in and around Deadwood, Dakota Territory. Director David Butler corrals together quite a group of characters for this light-hearted romp through the make-believe west with many fun songs.

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March 28, 2022 /Matthew Johnson
David Butler, Doris Day, Howard Keel, Allyn Ann McLerie, Philip Carey, Dick Wilson
comedy, western, musical, historical
1 Comment

Episode 210 - Hondo

February 12, 2022 by Matthew Johnson in action, drama, historical, western

"Hondo" 1953 is a 3D western directed by John Farrow with John Ford directing the final scenes because Mr. Farrow had to leave to complete another film.

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February 12, 2022 /Matthew Johnson
John Wayne, John Farrow, John Ford, Geraldine Page, Lee Aker, Leo Gordon, Michael Pate
action, drama, historical, western
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