Hurry Sundown (1967) Unrated but should be PG-13

Consider who is in this movie for a minute- Michael Caine, Jane Fonda, George Kennedy, Faye Dunaway- all superstars. The director was another celebrity- Otto Preminger. The plot is excellent- racial tension between blacks & whites in the South in the 1940's, pride, greed, and sexual tension. So really you had all the pieces for a 5 star movie, but somehow it comes across as a 2.5 star movie (Netflix nation gives it 3 stars). It was fun seeing Burgess Meridith (Trainer "Mic" from the Rocky movies) and Jim Backus (Thurston Howelee III on the Gilligans Island series) in this movie playing the roles they did.

I was so confused the first 45 min of the movie, not sure where Preminger was going. The last 100 min had flashes of brilliance, but not pieced together like it should have been. Dull parts, and great parts. It never really came together as one great movie. Unless you are a huge Fonda or Caine fan, I think you will not like this movie.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

The story of a drunken man living in his own mind, in regards to his glory days as a football player, must spend the day at his childhood home celebrating his fathers birthday. Brick (Paul Newman) must face his own demons while his wife, Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor) stands by his side. Dad, or Big Daddy (Burl Ives) has cancer and is dying; everyone knows but Big Daddy and Big Mama, and they all want the large inheritance. This is a spectacular Tennessee Williams play that was converted to the big screen, well played by Newman, Taylor and Ives. The screen play was great and the acting was well done. This will make it on to my top 100 list. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

An Affair To Remember (1957)

This movie has a lot to offer. Cary Grant makes everything look easy in a movie. He is graceful and doesn't waste any motion. The casting of Deborah Kerr as the lead in this movie is the only thing stopping me from putting this movie in my top 100 list. For the time period this movie was made I think someone like Julia Andrews would have been better. The role required someone with a voice, sophisticated, and pretty. I just couldn't get into Deborah's take on this role for some reason. I love the parity and contrasts in this movie. The ultimate player meets his match. Grant has to become a real person in order to win the love of the one he loves. He learns how to work for a living. The ending is great. I really liked this movie.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Where to start? This is the third or forth Marilyn Monroe movie I have seen and this was probably the best acting she has done. My problem with her is that she seems to be acting in a different movie then the actors around her. Jane Russell comes across as brash and feminist, while Marilyn comes across as, well, blond.

As a whole I enjoyed this movie, and would probably give it a 3 out of 5. I have not seen Jane Russell before in any of her films, but I am not sure I would seek out any at the present time (RIP).

Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946)

This is the 15th of 16 Andy Hardy films in which Mickey Ronney stars in. I picked to watch one of his films because of all the news coverage on him lately. This is the story of Judge Hardy's son Andy returning from the war, and the only thing on Andy's mind is getting married. Well, life has made other comical plans for Andy. It is a cute little film, probably a 2 out of 5 stars, but I was well please with how good of an actor Mickey Rooney was (is).

Jane Russell's passing on 3/1/11

In honor of Jane Russell passing away yesterday, I will be watching "Gentleman prefer blonde's" this week. It was already on my instant queue because I am trying to find a Marilyn Monroe movie that is actually worthwhile. I am trying two more movies and then giving up. This is one of them.

The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery (1960)

Very slow movie, but the reason I watched it is because it is based on an actual event. The director used the real policeman and real bank customers in the movie, the ones that were there that day the bank heist happened. They were asked to act in the movie the same way they did during the real thing. And of course the other reason I watched the movie is because it starts Steve McQueen. The movie is about 4 men who plan a heist and completely botch it. They are psychotic in nature, they are not normal people. I give this 2.5 stars. My favorite parts of the movie deal with the director allowing the characters to portray just how nuts they were. It allows the viewer to predict that people this dumb could never pull off a heist.