Fingers at the Window (1942)
Fingers at the Window is a surprisingly good edge-of-your-seat psycho-killer movie! Here's a synopsis from Wikipedia : An axe murderer stalks Chicago. After six murders, the police identify six suspects, all of whom are lunatics not responsible for the crimes. Only one victim, socialite Edwina Brown ( LaraineDay ), has survived; she was rescued by actor Oliver Duffy (Lew Ayres). REVIEWS: Scott Ashlin did a great review/essay 1000 Misspent Hours . RATED: Enjoyable WATCH IT AGAIN: Probably not DO I WANT TO O…
The Night of the Hunter
The Night of the Hunter is one of the creepiest movies I've seen. I'd say it's at least on par with DeNiro's Cape Fear . Robert Mitchum is insanely creepy and evil in this movie, and Charles Laughton's vision of what this movie should look and sound like is downright masterful. Creepier still is the fact that this movie is based on a true story ! Another thought here, for some reason I didn't even realize Shelley Winters was in this one. REVIEWS: Deep Focus Review has an absolutely masterful analysis. I …
Strangers on a Train
Strangers On A Train is just flat out a creepy movie. I "enjoyed" it, even though there was just something that kept me antsy and uncomfortable throughout. I think this may also have been the first movie that I actually realized Alfred Hitchcock had a daughter . I think I read somewhere that when Patricia Highsmith wrote the book, her inspiration was the true-life story of Leopold and Loeb. The Smithsonian has a nice piece about these two freaks who killed a kid just to see how it would feel to commit the perfect crime. L&…
Michael Clayton
Michael Clayton is just flat-out a modern film-noir! There's all the elements...crime, murder, coverup, threats, intrigue, mob, loan sharks... heck, even the score has a noir feel to it. The cast is amazing...George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Tom Wilkinson . Now I know everyone's gaga over Clooney, and the artsy crowd fawns all over Swinton, but for me - Tom Wilkinson stole the show! REVIEWS: Nick's Flick Picks does a masterful review of the movie as does A World to Win . FAVORITE QUOTE: Clayton: "I am not the enemy.&qu…
Make Way for Tomorrow
Are you kidding me? This movie about like to rip my heart out! Make Way for Tomorrow is one of those movies that's all too real, and makes one think about life, family, injustice and love. You know, some kids, when their parents get old just can't take them in. Maybe it's because the care they require is beyond their ability, maybe the kids just can't afford to, or some other real reason. The "children" in this movie are really just self-absorbed, selfish assholes! Sorry, but there's just no other word for t…
T-Men
The other day I was goofing around on my phone and somehow (you know how it goes) I started following links and came across a page for the old TV show Lost In Space . So, as is my wont, I checked it out on IMDB. I had that little five minutes of nostalgia we all get when we come across one of those old things from our childhood. When I checked out the cast I saw June Lockhart, you know - everyone's favorite TV mom from the 50's and 60's (don't forget, she was Timmy's mom on Lassie too). It was a nice, cozy memory of TV …
Ex-Lady
This was an interesting little film. I'm always intrigued when I see things in old movies that we still debate and discuss today. Ex-Lady explored topics such as the empowerment and rights of women (not to be confused with political women's rights), infidelity without embarrassment, open marriage, disdain for marriage, and the list goes on! The main star was Bette Davis, and I gotta say... she really was quite beautiful! I'm not 100% certain, but I think this may actually be my first Bette Davis film. REVIEWS: I don't ne…
The Conversation (1974)
I remember this movie from when I was a 10 year-old kid. It was 1974 and all we heard about in school and on the news (I don't remember wanting to watch the news, but with only three TV channels back then...) and all the talk was about Watergate and surveillance tapes and all that stuff. It was exciting, and scary, for a dumb little kid. I also remember seeing this movie and suddenly having the paranoid reaction that someone might be listening in on dumb 10 year old conversations! Watching it now - probably could prompt even more pa…
The Reckless Moment
There's something just kind of heartwarming about The Reckless Moment . I know that sounds weird considering the movie's about murder, cover-up, blackmail and whatever kinds of mayhem! For being such a low-down crook, Martin Donnelly (Mason) seems awfully reluctant about what he's doing, and is very tender with Mrs. Harper (Bennett). For crying-out-loud, the guy ends up making you wish things could have been different for both of them! Also Like Life has a nice review of the movie, as does Obscure Classics . I almost forgot... …
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I Confess (1953)
I Confess is one of those movies that just gets in your bones. There's something about knowing the awful truth but not being at liberty to say anything! And of course Hitchcock gave it the full treatment. I realize it's completely different than Meryl Streep's " Doubt " but somehow, they just remind me of one another. I think this may have been the first film I saw Montgomery Clift in, and I never forgot it. Great performance! Good reviews can be found at The Hitchcock Report and Derek Winnert . For Christmas I got…
The Big Sleep (1946)
The type of man she hated . . . was the type she wanted ! I can still remember the first time seeing this movie. It was back in the '70s and I was just a dumb kid sitting on the living room floor eating popcorn with the rest of my family. Even back then I knew this movie was special even if I didn't understand a lot of what was being said.
