Romance and murder walk side by side in this psychological drama from Spain. A serial killer has been plying his grisly trade in a small town in Spain, murdering young girls and leaving their bodies in a nearby forest. A police inspector is sent in to investigate – his first case outside tumultuous Basque County in 14 years.
Read More »
Pagliacci (1948) Mario Costa, Tito Gobbi, Gina Lollobrigida, Onelia Fineschi, Drama, Musical
The fiery performance, conducted by Giuseppe Morelli with the Rome Opera Chorus and Orchestra, knocks all recent digital efforts into a cocked hat. A few cinematic liberties seem permissible to me and this is surely one of the best films of an opera.
Read More »
Oi fotografoi / The photographers (1998) Nikos Koundouros, Michalis Iatropoulos, Katerina Pavlaki, Manos Vakousis, Adventure, Drama
In a nonaligned country, where a civil conflict is raging, a team of photographers follows a mercenary war lord, whose men wreak havoc among enemies and innocents alike. The story is a modern version of the tragedy Antigone, in a time when TV and the other media present unrelieved visions of war and bloody mayhem.
Read More »
Flame Of Blood / Hono-o no Gotoku (1981) Tai Katô, Bunta Sugawara, Mitsuko Baishô, Tomisaburô Wakayama, Drama, Action
The story is set in Bakumatsu and revolves around the Bunta Sugawara character, a yakuza (of course 🙂 but instead of a modern yakuza/gangster, he’s a gambler/bakuto). After he kills someone and gets wound, is saved by a blind woman (Mitsuko Baishô), who took care of him.
Read More »
Secrets of an Actress (1938) William Keighley, Kay Francis, George Brent, Ian Hunter, Drama, Romance
A romantic drama film about a love triangle between a stage actress, her financial backer, and his friend.
Read More »
The Real Buddy Holly Story (1985) Richard Spence, Sonny Curtis, Paul McCartney, Larry Holley, Documentary, Music
The complete video biography of rock’n’roll legend Buddy Holly, produced and hosted by Paul McCartney. This entertaining and enlightening show is the most definitive biography of Buddy Holly ever assembled, featuring interviews with members of The Crickets and many of Buddy Holly’s family and friends who knew him best. Includes rare performances and Paul McCartney performs several of Buddy Holly’s songs.
Read More »
Nord / North (1991) Xavier Beauvois, Bulle Ogier, Bernard Verley, Drama
The story of a dysfunctional family in Northern France. Dad is a mean abusive drunk pharmacist, mom is addicted to pills and has incestuous desire for her son, the son is skipping school to fish and daughter is mentally handicapped.
Read More »
Alibi Ike (1935) Ray Enright, Joe E. Brown, Olivia de Havilland, Ruth Donnelly, Comedy, Romance, Sport
Rookie pitcher Francis “Ike” Farrell comes seemingly out of nowhere to help the Cubs go for the pennant. His idiosyncratic ways, which include excuses and alibis for everything, drive his manager and fiancee crazy in this baseball farce.
Read More »
Flag in the Mist / Kiri no hata (1965) Yôji Yamada, Chieko Baishô, Osamu Takizawa, Michiyo Aratama, Crime, Drama
When her only relative, her elder brother is accused of robbing and murdering an old woman loan-shark, pretty, young Kiriko (Chieko Baisho) travels from her home in Kyushu to Tokyo to get Japan’s top lawyer to defend her brother.
Read More »
Fanatic / Die! Die! My Darling! (1965) Silvio Narizzano, Tallulah Bankhead, Stefanie Powers, Peter Vaughan, Horror, Thriller
Patricia Carroll arrives in London to get married with her fiancé Alan Glentower. However, the stubborn Pat decides to pay a visit in the country to Mrs. Trefoile, the mother of her former fiancé Stephen, who died in a car accident. Once there, the religious fanatic Mrs. Trefoile insists to Pat to stay overnight to go to the mass on the next morning.
Read More »