Cleopatra tells Hollywood’s version of one of history’s great opportunists, Queen Cleopatra, the last ruler of ancient Egypt. The casting of a star of Elizabeth Taylor’s magnitude, would seem to make this film work. It doesn’t. Even with a veteran actor like Rex Harrison, playing Julius Caesar, it doesn’t succeed. Richard Burton tries hard as […]

John Wayne could lift most films in which he was featured, even flat ones. It’s a testament to his acting and his star power. He helps The Sons of Katie Elder, but its not a flat film. This movie has the elements of a good Duke film. There’s a mandatory fight scene, a few bad

Humphrey Bogart played in more than a few quality films. The African Queen is one of them. He received a well deserved and overdue academy award, for playing Charlie Allnut. He is paired with Katherine Hepburn, who plays Rose Thayer. The film is directed by Walter Huston, and was adapted from the novel of the

Shirley Temple was one of the biggest stars of the 1930’s. Her performance in Heidi, based on the novel by Johanna Spyri, shows why. She sings and dances, and is a pretty good actress. It’s the heartwarming story of an orphan, who is put into her grandfather’s custody; when Heidi’s Aunt Dete gets a job

What would happen if there was a world where The Beatles didn’t exist? That’s the question Yesterday, a film directed by Danny Boyle poses to the audience. The film stars Himesh Patel as struggling musician, Jack Malick, and Lily James as his supportive girlfriend/manager, Ellie Appleton. One day, while riding his bike home, their is

This film stars Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra. It was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. It’s based on the broadway musical about likable gamblers, named Sky Masterson and Nathan Detroit. The musical is based on a Damon Runyon story. Marlon Brando plays Sky Masterson and Frank Sinatra plays Nathan Detroit. Nathan Detroit has the distinction

This film is Stanley Kramer’s tribute to slapstick comedy. It stars Spencer Tracy and a few stars of early television. These include Milton Berle, Sid Caesar and Phil Silvers. It also stars Jonathan Winters, Mickey Rooney , Buddy Hackett. Terry-Thomas, Ethel Merman, Dorothy Provine and Edie Adams. A person might think, how can this many

Tom Holland is back in as Spider-Man. He keeps this movie going, making you believe in the wall crawler. He shows the true hero side of Spider-Man in this movie. What makes this movie go is his understanding of his superhero calling, as well as his teenage angst. He shows this particularly well, when he

This will be an ongoing series featuring lesser known films, that have merit. It also will discuss stars who are known for more famous films, but have a good performance in the spotlighted film. Clark Gable was an established star when he played Col Ulysses Delby (Lee) Johnson, a doctor who goes off to war.

John Wayne made many films. Many of them involved action. This is definitely one. It is also one of his best. It also stars Forrest Tucker. It was directed by Alan Dwan. Wayne plays Sgt. John M. Stryker, a tough Marine sergeant, who’s tasked with getting his company ready for battle in the Pacific theater.