GJF118 Reviews

Who's Minding the Mint? (1967)

Overlooked Comedy Gem

[23 August 1999]

Like other reviewers here, I have always wondered why this wonderful film has been forgotten. Not only is it a great parody of the 'anatomy of a crime' films that were popular in the 1960's, it showcases some marvelous comedy talent. One little quibble: the title is a misnomer; the conspirators do NOT break into the US Mint. They break into the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing (the facility in Washington, DC which prints our paper currency).

Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)

Camp Classic

[6 July 1999]

I just saw this film over the past weekend for the first time in many, many years, and was pleasantly surprised to see it hold up, but perhaps not as it was originally intended. Instead of watching it as a gothic horror film, I saw it as a very campy film with unintentionally hysterical moments throughout. (I normally watch older films and try to accept them on their own terms, but this one seems to be beg to be taken this way.) Definitely a fun film to watch, complete with several plot twists along the way.

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969)

Terrific ensemble of character actors from the mid 1960's

[10/10 · 9 November 1998]

This film was actually an outgrowth from a story on the TV show "60 Minutes" which followed a high-speed tour through tourist highlights in Europe. The humor holds up very well, and the film now provides a wonderful chance to see some marvelous character actors from the mid-1960's back when they were still in their prime.

The Boy Friend (1971)

Fun Musical; not frequently seen

[28 October 1998]

Twiggy (modeling phenomenon of '60's swinging London) showed a surprising capacity for acting, singing and dancing as an understudy thrown into subbing for an injured star in a run-down production of .... the Boy Friend. The realistic depiction of a touring production on the skids contrasts with the Hollywood-extravaganza version of the show as seen in the imagination of a Hollywood director sitting in the audience. Wonderful performances from Tommy Tune and Glenda Jackson (small hobble-on as the injured star). The film is sweet and not frequently seen.

The Producers (1967)

First 40 minutes must be among the funniest ever filmed.

[9/10 · 28 October 1998]

The first 40 minutes or so of "The Producers" must rank as among the funniest sequences ever filmed. The film does lose a bit of steam as it comes to its conclusion, but it would probably have been impossible to sustain the same level as the plot plays its way out. Zero Mostel's performance is sheer genius, only matched by Gene Wilder's quiet comic masterpiece. The quirky bit players (look for the concierge guarding her building) just add to the crazy atmosphere.

A Place to Stand (1967)

Atmospheric evocation of the province of Ontario

[11 August 1998]

This film was produced for the Ontario pavilion at Expo67, the Montreal World's Fair. It has no story line, and the only words used are the lyrics to the title song, which are sung in both English and French. The film uses a large, wide-screen format but makes frequent use of multi-screen images of various sizes and formats projected onto the single large screen (my favorite being a small screen which followed a character walking across the larger screen). The film evokes the various regions of the province throughout the year, and presents a winning image of Ontario to the world. Magnificent photography coupled with a catchy title song.