Promises & Betrayals - 2002 - UK

Promises & Betrayals - 2002 - 7/10
Britain And The Struggle For The Holy Land

 
The seeds for ongoing conflicts over Palestine, sown during the Great War.
Britain, double-dealing to gain and appease allies made promises to Arabs and Jews and the French.
The focus of the one hour doc is on Britain, leading to the misery which persists today.
Overall, this stays on point.  World War events touched on, as are the Ottomans.
Mostly, this details politics: promises and lies.
Essential in understanding beginnings and miscalculations.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/download/3365671

The Cockleshell Heroes - 1955 - UK

The Cockleshell Heroes - 1955 - 6/10

 
WWII.  The Wehrmacht has overrun France and controls a vital port in Bordeaux.
A small force is assembled to infiltrate and destroy.
Using canoes or kayaks.
Yes, there were many of these stories, only this one is based on true events.
Aside from one or two soldiers, most are just faces.
Two officers, José Farrer and Trevor Howard, stand out.  Christopher Lee has a bit.
Music is too loud, intrusive and jaunty.

The Easiest Way - 1931 - USA

The Easiest Way - 1931 - 6/10

 
Ma and Pa have five kids - five mouths - to feed, ages ten to twenty.
Pa used to work as a longshoreman, now he finds excuses.
Laura, the oldest, quits her department store job to be a model.
Successful, too, catching the eye of the big boss who woos her and makes her a “kept woman”.
No, the word mistress is never used, although she has a nice apartment, limousine, furs, jewels.
Later on, a moral dilemma.  The poor, honest guy or the older, rich man?
Remember, this was the Depression.  Folks were starving to death, freezing in winter.
Pre-Code drama with great MGM cast, and bleaker than their usual fare.

A New Leaf - 1971 - USA

A New Leaf - 1971 - 6/10

 
Snob-to-the-max Henry discovers he has squandered his wealth on a lifestyle.
Choices are now: poverty – get a job – suicide – marry a rich girl.
Suicide is the choice until he meets Henrietta, clueless and gauche.
Never mind, Henrietta has cash without end.
Henry opts for marriage, followed by a quick murder.
Elaine May’s first directorial outing seems a loose connection of scenes.
The humor is deliberately awkward and forced, screwball, often skin crawly.
It is sweet, however.  Her next film, Heartbreak Kid would deliver a more savage bite.

Horror Hospital - 1973 - UK

Horror Hospital - 1973 - 6/10

 
Jason, on break from the music scene, heads to a woodland retreat.
Enroute, he meets Judy, who is going likewise to meet an aunt.
Once there, the vibes are bad, dude.  Like Bummer City.  Ain’t no way out either, man.
Horror spliced with mad science, with a scene chewing Michael Gough.
Funny at times, and Vanessa and Robin make a sexy couple.
(Why, oh why, did no one ever cast Robin Askwith as Rolling Stone Brian Jones?)

Black Lizard - 1968 - Japan

Black Lizard - 1968 - 7/10
AKA - Kuro Tokage // 黒蜥蝪

 
The female criminal mastermind wants that stone, the Star Of Egypt.
Moreover, she even warns the wealthy jeweler of the upcoming theft.
Who swiftly obtains the resources of Detective Akechi.
From there, move / countermove, each relishing the competitive match.
Overly talky at times, but the dialogue is florid and heady.
Gorgeous to watch.  Story by Edogawa Rampo, script by Yukio Mishima, directed by Kinji Fukasaku.
Perverse film, highly entertaining, depending on your tastes.

In Blind Daylight - 1971 - USA

In Blind Daylight - 1971 - 5/10

 
Famed actor Anthony leaves the doctor's office, still blind, yet now capable of navigating the world at large.
He quietly returns home to announce his progress.
And overhears his wife and best friend making bedroom noises.
From there, he plots murder, which, step by step, we follow.
Sluggish thriller seems patterned after Blind Corner (1963), albeit with less snap.
Suzanne Pleshette and Stella Stevens wasted.