Sunday, February 28, 2010

Feb 28th
Everyone Says I Love You**
US 1996. Miramax/Sweetland Films. 101m.

A New Yorker working in Paris tries to woo a glamorous neighbour, but also has a soft spot for his ex-wife.
Allen in rare sentimental and self-indulgent (as opposed to neurotic) mode; an engaging musical comedy for "non-singers", quite sweet and charming, and to be simply enjoyed on that level only.

Written and Directed by: Woody Allen.
Producers: Robert Greenhut, Jean Doumanian.
Starring: Woody Allen, Goldie Hawn, Alan Alda, Julia Roberts, Natasha Lyonne, Drew Barrymore, Edward Norton, Lukas Haas, Gaby Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Tim Roth, Billy Crudup.
Photography: Carlo di Palma.
Musical Direction: Dick Hyman.
Choreography: Graciela Daniele.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Feb 20th
The Wrong Man**
US 1956. Warner Bros. 105m. bw

A family man is mistaken for a serial burglar and spends a nightmarish time under arrest and on trial.
Soberly suspenseful Hitchcock documentary thriller, sluggish in its detail but with powerful moments, veering away slightly from its down-to-earth atmosphere when focusing on psycho-analysis.

Written by: Angus MacPhail, Maxwell Anderson, from his book "The True Story of Christopher Emmanuel Balestrero".
Producer: Herbert Coleman.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock.
Starring: Henry Fonda, Vera Miles, Anthony Quayle, Harold J. Stone, Esther Minciotti, Nehemiah Perssoff, Richard Robbins.
Photography: Robert Burks.
Music: Bernard Herrmann.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Feb 11th
Bejewelled
GB TVM 1991. TVS/PWD/The Disney Channel. 90m.

Museum family jewels travelling across the Atlantic fall into the wrong hands.
Naive family comedy thriller with semi-familiar faces and your average Disney folksy view of Britain.

Written by: Tom J. Artle. from the novel by Marian Babson.
Producers: John price, J. Nigel Pickard.
Director: Terry Marcel.
Starring: Emma Samms, Denis Lawson, Dirk Benedict, Jean Marsh, Jerry Hall, Frances de la Tour, John Bird, Chris Langham, Trevor Peacock, Jude Magri, Aeryk Egan.
Photography: Ken Brinsley.
Music: Ken Thorne.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Feb 8th
The Spaceman and King Arthur*
aka: Unidentified Flying Oddball
GB 1979. Walt Disney. 90m.

A NASA scientist and his android travel by space shuttle back to the time of Camelot and foil a plot by Mordred to overthrow King Arthur.
Updated sci-fi remake of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court following the space fantasy craze of the 70's, but also with some endearing comedy moments and good action sequences.

Written by: Don Tait.
Producer: Ron Miller.
Director: Russ Mayberry.
Starring: Dennis Dugan, Kenneth More (his last cinema film), Jim Dale, Ron Moody, John Le Mesurier, Sheila White, Rodney Bewes, Robert Beatty, Cyril Shaps, Ewen Solon.
Photography: Paul Beeson.
Music: Ron Goodwin.
Art Direction: Albert Witherick.