Shameless Self Expression

In the New Mexico desert, cops find a little girl wandering around in a daze and talking about ‘them’. Meanwhile, nearby caravans and buildings are completely obliterated. An investigation eventually uncovers a nest producing giant ants, presumably the super-sized side effects of nuclear testing being done. Police sergeant James Whitmore and FBI man James Arness receive help from father-and-daughter scientists Edmund Gwenn and Joan Weldon in how to solve the crisis. Fess Parker, Dub Taylor, William Schallert, Willis Bouchey, Douglas Spencer, Leonard Nimoy, Ann Doran, and Dick York all have tiny roles.   If you see only one giant ant movie, make it this 1954 classic from director Gordon Douglas ( “In Like Flint” ). In fact, the first act of the film is so incredibly strong and so eerie that you’re completely hooked possibly before you’ve realised you’re even watching a giant ant movie. The stunning B&W cinematography by Sid Hickox ( “White Heat” , “Distant Drums” ), sparse ...

A musical, somewhat racial version of “Romeo and Juliet” with white Tony (Ansel Elgort, wooden) and Puerto Rican Maria (Rachel Zegler, luminous) falling in love, whilst the rival gangs they’re connected to – The Sharks and Jets are involved in a fierce rivalry. Ariana DeBose and David Alvarez play Anita and her Shark leader beau Bernardo, the latter being Maria’s brother. Playing the Mercutio of the piece (re-named Riff) is Mike Faist, whilst Rita Moreno plays Valentina, a new character who is the widow of drug store owner Doc (and thus essentially serves the same function), a friend of the Jets.   As you probably know, I’m allergic to most musicals. I have zero interest in the original “West Side Story” , and very much prefer my Shakespeare with as little singing as possible. I only saw this 2021 Best Picture nominee because it was indeed an Oscar nominee and it comes from Steven Spielberg ( “Duel” , “Jaws” , “Raiders of the Lost Ark” , “ET: The Extra Terrestrial” , “Minority...

The village of Durward is plagued by a series of killings by a breed of vampire that appears to drain life – not just blood – from their victims. Dr. Marcus (John Carson) enlists the aid of sword-wielding vampire hunter Captain Kronos (Horst Janson) and his hunchbacked colleague Prof. Hieronymous Grost (John Cater) to put an end to the killings. Shane Briant and Lois Dane play a snooty aristocratic brother-and-sister pair whose late father Dr. Marcus was acquainted with, and whose elderly mother (Wanda Ventham) still holds a grudge against Dr. Marcus over the death of said late father. Caroline Munro plays a gypsy girl whom our heroes welcome into their fold. Ian Hendry turns up briefly as a black-clad baddie at a tavern who dares to pick a fight with Captain Kronos.   Somewhat underrated 1974 Hammer outing from writer-director Brian Clemens (who wrote the underrated “And Soon the Darkness…” as well as Hammer’s “Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde” ), has elements of traditional Hammer...

Leticia Roman arrives in Rome from the US and in addition to being mugged and her elderly Aunt passing away on Roman’s arrival, she also witnesses a brutal murder of a woman. However, when she tells a policeman, the body seems to have vanished and the police take her for a crazy person. She decides to investigate the matter herself, with nice guy doctor John Saxon the only person even willing to humour her suspicions. Valentina Cortese plays a friend of the dead Aunt who happens to live nearby the site of the murder.   Slow-moving, but solid Mario Bava ( “Black Sunday” , “Black Sabbath” , “Kill, Baby…Kill” , “Hatchet for the Honeymoon” ) film from 1963, that nonetheless could’ve been even better than it is. In addition to the slow pace (the first act should’ve been pared down a bit), the narration is completely unnecessary and unwanted. It also only turns up after 30 minutes randomly. Weird. Visually, though? This thing’s a masterpiece, stunningly shot in B&W by the directo...

The frightened citizens of the title town hire gunslinger Henry Fonda as the local lawman to rid the town of a gang of bandits led by Tom Drake and DeForest Kelley. Anthony Quinn plays Fonda’s travelling companion, a club-footed gambler and gunman who hopes this will be a short-term stay. Fonda’s romance with a local gal (played by a bland Dolores Michaels) stands in the way. Richard Widmark plays one of Drake’s men, who starts to have second thoughts, whilst Dorothy Malone plays a woman with a grudge against Fonda and Quinn who hooks up with Widmark.   Popular with some critics, this 1959 western from director Edward Dmytryk ( “The Caine Mutiny” , “Mirage” , “Broken Lance” ) underwhelmed me a bit. Henry Fonda has a nice, quiet authority to him and Anthony Quinn walks off with the film has his gambler-gunslinger companion. It’s one of Quinn’s best turns and he shares good chemistry with Fonda as well. For his part, Fonda has a couple of speeches he delivers perfectly . In suppo...