The Secret War Of Harry Frigg - 1968 - USA

The Secret War Of Harry Frigg - 1968 - 5/10

 
Spotty comedy of lowly private assigned to impersonate a general, and get himself captured by Italian forces.
Objective?  Free several real generals held prisoner in a posh villa.
Once there, he relishes the luxury, as well as the lovely countess.
Why Paul Newman chose this turkey is beyond me.
He seems stiff and ill at ease throughout.
One would find better comedy watching Hogan’s Heroes reruns.

Succubus - 1968 - Germany

Succubus - 1968 - 6/10
AKA - Necronomicon Geträumte Sünden

 
Male and female are chained to crosses, while a knife wielding woman carves their flesh.
Hold on, it’s only a decadent cabaret show for jaded sophisticates.
“Tormentor” Lorna is a creature of the borderlands, however.
Apparently slipstreaming various incarnations of herself.
Much of this might resemble six scenes in search of a narrative.
Nevertheless, this is one of Jess Franco’s earliest dream fugues.
(The Acid Party surely inspired David Lynch.)
Perhaps better viewed after seeing a dozen other Franco films beforehand.
The US dub (Terry Vantell) smooths some elements, obscures others.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subscene/71969   (US Dub)

The Mambo Kings - 1992 - USA

The Mambo Kings - 1992 - 6/10

 
Cesar and Nestor hit New York in the 1950’s, determined to swagger into the music scene.
Cesar is ambitious, Nestor wants a quieter life, perhaps a small club.
If the film was mostly Cesar, it would rock harder.
Nestor (Antonio Banderas) is a bit of a wet noodle, pining over his love left behind in Cuba.
Music is hot throughout, propelling  the film and compensating for the soapy bits.
Assante steals the film as driven, yet honor bound, older brother.

Flirting - 1991 - Australia

Flirting - 1991 - 6/10

 
Adolescent misfit Danny is shipped off to a boys’ school where he is even more isolated and bullied.
During an outing, he meets an African girl and they share an unlikely attraction.
Mind you, this is early 1960’s Australia.  She is black, he is white, the result is outrage.
A lot of melodrama could have been milked from this, yet instead it is a gentle comedy.
Probably the best route, as the film is wise and enjoyable.
I kept telling Danny, “Dude, she’s too big for you,”  even though I rooted for them as a couple.
Young talent who went further include Thandiwe Newton, Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman.

She Wore A Yellow Ribbon - 1949 - USA

She Wore A Yellow Ribbon - 1949 - 7/10

 
Similar to “one last bank job”, here a cavalry officer is on the eve of retirement.
When Custer and his men are massacred at Little Big Horn, and it appears a range war is imminent.
Commander Brittles is assigned to “sort matters”, hopefully as peacefully as possible.
Large scale Western benefits from Monument Valley locations, as well as a convoluted narrative.
Instead of events leading inexorably to a huge crescendo, there are more feints and skirmishes.
A good Western, and good John Wayne role.
Too often, I feel he plays a version of himself.  Here, he resembles a tired, wise commander.

Bitter Moon - 1992 - UK

Bitter Moon - 1992 - 6/10

 
Sea voyage.  Two couples.  A pragmatic marriage, and the soured fail
Not that it has failed, as they are still together.
Yet, it is now love / hate.  They have inflicted too much emotional and physical pain on each other.
They share anecdotes, lowlites of their marriage, as the quieter couple hear in horrid fascination.
This is a chamber play of slow poisoning.  Mean spirited and bile bitter.
One gets the feeling that director Polanski revels in dragging viewers into misery.
Know your appetite for this.  I would urge caution.

Last Embrace - 1979 - USA

Last Embrace - 1979 - 5/10

 
After Harry’s wife is killed in a shootout, he spends a few months in a sanitarium.
Then he declares himself ready to return to work.  Harry is some kinda agent.
The agency, distrusting his sanity, orders him whacked.
Meanwhile, he’s received a death threat in Hebrew (Aramaic, actually).
Wait!  A doctoral student has sublet his New York apartment.
Complicated enough for you?  This will only grow more farfetched and preposterous.
A throwback thriller with an evocative Miklos Rosza score, and excellent settings.
The narrative, the plotting, the motivation, all farfetched, to say the least.

Spiral - 2005 - France

Spiral - 2005 - 6/10
AKA - Engrenages

 
A female corpse is found in a junkyard, body mutilated beyond recognition.
Gendarmes and a magistrate try to determine who she was, why she was murdered.
That is the overall arc.  There is also a baby killing, smuggling, corrupt cop, the usual.
Mix of procedural and soap opera, meaning characters’ mini dramas.
Highly absorbing if you like getting lost in characters.
Me?  I couldn’t’ care less and won’t return for additional seasons.

Picture Brides - 1934 - USA

Picture Brides - 1934 - 6/10

 
Brazil.  The women ride the steamer into the jungle where the diamond mine is.
And the men.  Who ordered brides  Specifying blondes..   
They warn one that her peroxide will eventually run out.  “Too late then,”  she laughs.
The men are a mixed lot, from a crafty, brutal overseer to an embezzler on the run.
Pre-Code film is missing eight minutes.  Attempted rape, rape aftermath, and innuendo dialogue.
Alan Hale and Dorothy Mackaill overshadow the others as the wicked boss and sharp-tongued hussy.
If puzzled, consider 1932 was still Depression era, leading many to desperate choices.