Briguy-14 Reviews

Children of Divorce (1927)

Worth seeing for the three lead performances

[7/10 · 16 August 2007]

Although the message is ridiculous (it is better to kill yourself than to divorce your spouse) this soapy film is definitely worth seeing for the performances of the three leads. Clara Bow is absolutely delightful - at her coquettish flapper best. This is one of her few roles that does have a tragic conclusion. Cary Grant and Esther Ralston are also quite good.

This comment was originally submitted 7 years ago and apparently deleted. Due to spoilers perhaps??? I don't think I gave away too much. AND there has yet to be another comment posted on this extremely rare film. I would think that someone might want to read about it, since it is never shown and unavailable in any format. Please keep that in mind before deleting.

Another interesting item about this film: A young Hedda Hopper plays a supporting role, years before she became the gossip queen of Hollywood.

Long-Term Relationship (2006)

A "Happy Ending" replaces any common sense

[5/10 · 16 August 2007]

Interesting to read all the varying comments posted here regarding this movie. I think viewer reaction really depends on how much of a sucker you are for a romantic comedy that does away with reason and believability in an effort to come up with a happy ending.

One person mentioned that the director/writer/producer only read "Directing For Dummies" before he helmed this. I wish he had read "Screenwriting For Dummies" too. I think the major problem lies not in the direction but in his script. The development of the central relationship doesn't make sense. Supporting characters disappear for a good portion of the movie, only to reappear at the end.

There are a couple of laugh-out-loud funny lines - mostly delivered by actor Artie O'Daly as Eli. Some would say the character he plays is stereotypical, but he's a good actor with great comic timing & almost steals the movie. That said, other dialogue (and performances) are cringe-worthy.

Questions regarding political and sexual incompatibility in the central gay relationship are raised - which is good - but the solution, according to this film, is to just go ahead and get married! The Republican character doesn't offer any objection. Nothing is worked out. Just slap a happy ending on it. It's a shame. What we're left with is another gay indie film in which a writer/director/producer would have benefited from collaborating with someone to come up with a better finished product.

Return of the Boogeyman (1994 Video)

The absolute worst... and not in a good way.

[1/10 · 28 November 2005]

The ENTIRE MOVIE is flashbacks from the first Boogeyman movie as well as, inexplicably, footage from another Uli Lommel / Suzanna Love film Brainwaves. It is framed with some more current (from the early 90's anyway) footage that is boring, poorly acted and cheaply shot. Not only is the film almost completely flashbacks, they REPEAT the same flashbacks throughout the film. So you see the recycled footage over and over again, as if you hadn't seen it already. As if the originals weren't bad enough. I've never seen a movie so padded.... Someone was milking the last dollar out of these films. Total ripoff. And talk about padding... why do I have to write 10 lines about this trash? If I can convey that it's garbage in 2 lines, that should be enough.

World and Time Enough (1994)

Nice try, but.... dreadful.

[2/10 · 5 April 2004]

Movies like this one give me hope - if Strand would release this movie - and it somehow got a good review in one or two outlets ... well, then. I guess there is hope that I'll be able to get a movie made and released after all.

Surely friends of the filmmaker wrote the IMDB comments. This film looks like a school project. In that realm, filmmaker Eric Mueller deserves an A. It's technically ok. The script is ok. The acting is ok. But it's just not a good movie. According to the quote from Out magazine which appears on the boxcover, Kraig Swartz (who speaks directly to the camera) "steals the movie." I wish he would. I wanted him to. But I didn't believe him for a minute - and he's a playing a stereotypical screaming mensch.

Too many gay romantic comedies have a writer/director at the helm who would have benefitted from a collaborator to keep him in check. This is a prime example.

Parting Glances (1986)

The definitive gay 1980's movie.

[9/10 · 5 April 2004]

If you're looking for the best movie about being gay during the height of the AIDS epidemic, skip "Longtime Companion" and watch this film. Funny, sad and true to life. Well written, well acted....check out Kathy Kinney and Steve Buscemi at the beginning of their careers.

The movie is never preachy or sappy. And there are some Bronski Beat tunes used to very nice effect.

The true crime is that AIDS claimed writer / director Bill Sherwood before he could make another film. This was his only movie - a perfect example of how this disease has robbed the world of a generation of talented individuals.

East Lynne (1931)

Mediocre melodrama, although Ann Harding is charming.

[7/10 · 21 June 2001]

It's a rather unremarkable film, with a laughably cliched tragic ending. Ann Harding is charming, though, and has some wonderful scenes here. Look for a pre-Our Gang Wally Albright as her young son. Worth a look, but hardly a lost classic.

Sins of Rachel (1972)

Awfully wretched, but good for some giggles.

[2/10 · 31 March 2001]

Well, this isn't quite the bottom of the barrel, but it's pretty close. Leading lady Ann Noble wrote this herself. It's a twisted tale about a portly has-been cabaret singer who is mercifully murdered. The only reason you might care to find out who did it is to thank them. She's a shrew who makes a pass at her gay son - but don't be fooled - that makes the movie sound more interesting than it is. The entire cast seems to have graduated from the Ed Wood school of acting. Any pleasure derived from watching this film is purely unintentional on the part of those involved. And... the credits say that it's filmed in "Texturetone", which apparently means that the print is really scratchy and the lighting doesn't match from one shot to the next

The Bachelor Father (1931)

Not such a bad Marion Davies talkie

[7/10 · 31 March 2001]

This is one of the better Marion Davies talkies - and one of the few to allow her to exhibit her skill as a physical comedian which was so endearing in her silent films. OK, so she does a clunky tap number, but even Ruby Keeler's dancing from the era does not hold up for younger generations. The problem here is the script. The story falls into unbelievable melodrama in the last reel. It's quite stagey, and is obviously adapted from a play... but not well enough. Still, there is some snappy dialogue and slapstick throughout. Worth a look.

The Red Mill (1927)

Another comedic gem of a performance from Marion Davies

[7/10 · 19 February 2001]

This is yet another movie that should be shown to anyone who might doubt the talents of Marion Davies. She is delightful in this performance, with some wonderful bits of physical comedy. Director Fatty Arbuckle surely deserves the credit as well. The supporting players are also quite good, but make no mistake - this is her film.

Beverly of Graustark (1926)

A must-see for Marion Davies fans.

[7/10 · 6 February 2001]

Marion Davies is absolutely adorable as Beverly, an American college girl who must masquerade as her cousin, Prince Oscar of Graustark, lest he lose the throne. There is some interesting chemistry as she (in male drag) falls in love with her bodyguard... and he certainly seems to be smitten with the young "prince" too! Anyone who doubts Marion Davies talents as a comic actress should view this film.

Going Hollywood (1933)

Not the finest moment for all involved.

[3/10 · 29 January 2001]

If I hadn't seen this in a double feature with a good Marion Davies film (Show People), I would have sworn that she was virtually talent-free. Her acting, singing and dancing are all pedestrian, and there is absolutely no chemistry with co-star Bing Crosby. Of course, the story itself is boring. The rest of the cast, including Patsy Kelly, is wasted here, too.

Hoopla (1933)

Classic Clara Bow!

[7/10 · 13 June 2000]

It's a tragedy that this should be Clara Bow's final film. She certainly had many years of good work ahead of her. She lights up the screen whenever she appears. She has wonderfully dramatic as well as comedic scenes here. Unfortunately, as much cannot be said about other cast members performances. Her final "snake hips" costume is the most revealing onscreen apparel of her career.