Reviews
The Mask of Diijon (1946)
Stay to the End
Erich von Stroheim plays Diijon, a retired stage illusionist who mistreats his young wife. When he attempts a comeback he is over-confident and makes an embarrassing error.
Diijon then learns hypnotism from a how-to book and sets out to avenge himself on those he feels have wronged him, including his now estranged wife and the man who is making a play for her.
There are plot holes galore, but the ending is top stuff.
Well worth a watch.
Panama (2019)
There is a very small cast and a li ited set. It is almost like a stage play . Despite this, the story of divergent paths is well worth a look.
There is a very small cast and a mlnlmal set. It is almost like a stage play. Despite this, the story of divergent paths is well worth a look .
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Poirot: The Big Four (2013)
A Bit of a Let-Down
Mild spoilers
There is much speculation about a coming war. A Peace party is having its day. There are rumours of a Big Four manipulating events. There is a train derailment and there are riots in India. A Chess Master is killed when he attempts to move an electrified chess piece. There are other murders blamed on the Big Four.
As others have said, the style and tone are not that of Agatha Christie and although David Suchet is as usual excellent as Poirot, the parts for the characters Hastings, Japp and Miss Lemon are disappointingly minimal.
Please Murder Me! (1956)
Obscure Film -- Unique Ending
The story is told in recorded flashback a la Double Indemnity.
Raymond Burr plays a lawyer who defends his lover who has been accused of murder.
Burr brings looming veritas to the role.
Angela Lansbury plays the lover with restrained evil.
The court room sequence is very good. Perhaps Raymond Burr is practicing for his later role as Perry Mason.
John Dehner puts in a good performance as the prosecuting counsel.
The climax is a stunner.
Although it seems a cheap production, the camera work and lighting are effective.
The background music, though not outstanding, supports the action and atmosphere.
Il ladro di Bagdad (1961)
A Blue Rose for a Blue Princess
Many reviewers have expressed a quiet affection for this film. And rightly so.
Steve Reeves does well and seems to be enjoying himself.
I liked the quest for the blue rose: the seven gates with the strangler trees, the cloak of invisibility, the dangerous lady in white, etc.
The special effects were credible considering that the film is more than fifty years old
I enjoyed the pearls-from-shooting-stars ruse.
Carlo Rustichelli's score supported the action without resorting to Arabian Nights clichés.
A colourful, entertaining film reminiscent of those Saturday matinees.