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The Gun Hawk (1963)
Excellent, unusual, thoughtful Allied Artists western that should be better known
THE GUN HAWK was advertised in theaters as a typical action packed shoot em up western, which must have disappointed the drive-in fans who were expecting that. What they saw instead was a thoughtful, superbly acted character study written by Jo Heims, who would later write PLAY MISTY FOR ME for Clint Eastwood. Rory Calhoun and Rod Cameron both prove they are excellent actors, bring nuanced performances to roles similar to those they had both played in countless B westerns. Rod Lauren, Ruta Lee, and Morgan Woodward provide excellent support. I think this movie got lost in the era between the 50's B westerns and the 60's spaghetti westerns, neither of which does it fit comfortably in, which is a shame. Highly recommended!
Petticoat Junction: Charley Abandons the Cannonball (1964)
Showcase for Smiley Burnette
Of all the actors who were regulars on Petticoat Junction, Smiley Burnette was probably the biggest star. From the 1930's through the 1950's, Smiley was hugely popular as a B-movie western sidekick in dozens of films. He was also a talented singer-songwriter. He had essentially retired in the 50's before Paul Henning lured him back on screen to play engineer Charley Pratt. This is one of the few episodes where Charley takes center stage, and was one of our last chances to see what made Smiley Burnette such a popular star. This is one of my favorite episodes of the series, and Smiley is marvelous! In addition to his comic and musical skills, we also see his dramatic acting skills in a few scenes. The whole cast is excellent, with special mention to the scenes between Smiley and Bea Benaderet, Rufe Davis, and Jimmy Hawkins. This is Petticoat Junction at its best; sentimental without being cloying, showcasing humor, music, and heart. Sadly, Smiley passed away in 1967 at the young age of 55, and the show was never quite the same without him.
Trigger, Jr. (1950)
Very dark Roy Rogers movie. More horror movie than western.
"Trigger Jr" is a very well made film, but don't go into it expecting a typical Roy Rogers movie. I agree with a previous reviewer who noted that a better title would have been "The Phantom Stallion", because that is the character that motivates this movie, and he is presented as an almost supernatural creature in a horror movie rather than as a real animal. He is actually shown as being "created" as a monster by the bad guys who torture him, and send him out to do their evil bidding. There are a lot of horror elements in this movie, including nightmarish visions of stampedes, thunderstorms, and a surprising amount of violence for a Roy Rogers movie, most of which is directed towards animals rather than people. Many of the people in the movie are pretty dark too, including the grandfather who is almost sadistic toward his grandson through most of the movie. Even Roy Rogers and Dale Evans are really subdued in this movie, and there is less comic relief than usual. Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage are nicely highlighted, and all the songs are wonderful. The circus scenes are entertaining, and the photography and direction by William Witney is excellent. The horses are really the stars of this movie.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Six People, No Music (1959)
Surreal Black Comedy with Tour de Force Performance by John McGiver.
This is one of my very favorite episodes of this series. One of the joys of Alfred Hitchcock is his unpredictability, surrealism, and sardonic sense of humor, and all are on full display in this episode, both in the wraparound sequence with Hitchcock himself, and in the actual story. This episode is based on a wonderful short story by playwright Garson Kanin entitled "The Damnedest Thing". (This would actually have been a better title for this episode, but in 1959, it would have been hard to even utter the word "damnedest" on network television!) John McGiver gives a wonderful comic performance as the undertaker. He is in virtually very scene, and his reactions are priceless. Peggy Cass, Howard Smith, and Joby Baker offer excellent comic support, but McGiver is the heart and soul of this episode. Direction by Norman Lloyd is inspired. I think this story is best viewed as a supernatural black comedy rather than the more typical suspense, murder or crime story that made up the bulk of episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents". One of the joys of this series is its unpredictability, and this surreal episode is a prime example of this.
Friend Request (2016)
Excellent movie! Moody, atmospheric, and subtle.
FRIEND REQUEST has just been released in the United States to theaters by a small releasing company without a lot of fanfare. I hope it doesn't get lost in the shuffle between IT and all the highly anticipated upcoming horror movies this fall, because it is really well done. Don't go into this expecting just another teenagers in peril film, because that is not what it is at all. It should also not be unfairly seen as just a knockoff of UNFRIENDED, despite the similar title and superficially similar theme. As much as I like UNFRIENDED, I think this is a better, more subtle movie which works on more than one level. The direction and acting is very good, and the photography is very atmospheric. Although supposedly set it California, this was actually filmed in Cape Town, South Africa by a German production company. I think this helps add an eerie, other worldliness to the movie. There are also some really well done, imaginative computer animation sequences, and I especially liked the musical soundtrack. It is rare that a movie soundtrack stands out to me the first time I see it, but this one does, and it helped add to the atmosphere. The ending theme is really memorable. This is one of the best horror movies I have seen in recent years, and I hope it find an audience.
Trail of Blood (2011)
Ciminally Under-rated Movie
This is a really good movie. I am surprised that it is not better known or more appreciated. Though it may start out like just another "slasher in the woods" movie, that is not what it is at all. The writing is very good, and the story doesn't lead exactly where you think it is going. The acting is also very good, especially Tim Barraco and Trevor Torseth as the main protagonists. The characters are well fleshed out and believable. This is a very subtle movie. There are several threads in addition to the main story that all come together at the end. It is the kind of movie you may have to watch more than once to fully appreciate. The ending in unexpected and powerful. They don't make movies like this much anymore. It seems to me to be a throwback to the 70's, when movies like LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, I DRINK YOUR BLOOD, and THE HILLS HAVE EYES showed that movies could be both violent and intelligent. If you liked those movies, I highly recommend TRAIL OF BLOOD.
The Wizard of Mars (1965)
This is a very underrated movie. Low budget, but imaginative
I like "Wizard of Mars". I first saw it at a drive-in when I was about 12 years old in a double feature with "Dr Terror's Gallery of Horrors". I really didn't catch all the "Wizard of Oz" connections then, but I liked John Carradine and I liked the colorful photography. I didn't really understand the plot, but I found it interesting. Seeing it again as an adult, I can see more of it's shortcomings, but I still like it a lot. David Hewitt's heart was definitely in the right place, and I think he made up for in imagination what he lacked in budget. The plot is pretty ambitious for such a low budget movie, much like Hewitt's "Journey to the Center of Time". The special effects, again though low budget, hold up pretty well, I think, especially the eerie dream like quality of Mars. I find them much more interesting than most of the modern computer generated science fiction special effects that probably cost more for one minute of film than this movie's total cost. John Carradine, as always, is excellent, and the rest of the cast (with the possible exception of Eve Bernhardt who plays Dorothy) are more than adequate. John Carradine, Vic McGee, and Roger Gentry were also in "Dr Terror's Gallery of Horrors". Jerry Rannow, who plays Charlie, is very good, and adds a little humor. They don't make science fiction movies like this anymore. I used to enjoy science fiction movies when they had imagination instead of a lot of noise and special effects, which is about all you see in movies that pass for science fiction today.