I Married a Monster From Outer Space
1958
Starring:
Tom Tryon as Bill Farrell
Gloria Talbot as Marge Farrell
Peter Baldwin as Officer Frank Swanson
Ken Lynch as Dr. Wayne
length: 78 minutes
After celebrating his last few hours of 'freedom' in the bar (he's getting married the next day), Bill Farrell takes leave of his buddies and heads home. As he drives along the dark country road, he nearly hits a body sprawled across his path. Jumping out to investigate, Bill sees a scary face (if you can call it a face) and a monster-like hand reaches slowly out towards him...
Marge, Bill's fiance, is nervously pacing the room in her wedding dress. Bill is late--quite late. Thankfully, Marge does not end up jilted, and they are married.
But Bill is not quite the same as he was before. He stands out on the balcony on their wedding night, wondering what the thunder is. Suddenly, lightning illuminates his face and (thank goodness Marge did not see this!) beneath it is that of an alien! (cue spooky music)
What happens next? Will Marge find out the truth about Bill?? Do aliens take over the Earth???
I guess you will find out when it plays again.
I found this movie quite interesting. The aliens were not as poorly-done as may be expected in a '50s sci-fi thriller, and part of it was rather....icky, shall we say? The acting was decent, and there were no nasty parts like you find in modern sci-fi movies.
According to my research, it's basically a remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, which I have not seen but is rather well-known.
TCM does not have this movie on DVD or VHS, but they are playing it on April 25th at 4:00 CST! If you have a chance, go ahead and watch it.It is available on:
Ebay
Amazon
Netflix
Happy movie watching!
~Kiwi~
Monday, April 20, 2009
Movies Playing on TCM
Two of the movies I have reviewed on here are scheduled to play on TCM later this year.
The Shop Around the Corner will be played on June 23rd at 7:00 p.m. CST.
Stanley and Livingstone shall play July 16th at 7:00
This will be re-posted as a reminder closer to the actual play-dates.
~Kiwi~
The Shop Around the Corner will be played on June 23rd at 7:00 p.m. CST.
Stanley and Livingstone shall play July 16th at 7:00
This will be re-posted as a reminder closer to the actual play-dates.
~Kiwi~
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The More the Merrier
The More the Merrier
1943
Starring:
Jean Arthur as Constance 'Connie' Milligan
Joel McCrea as Joe Carter
Charles Coburn as Benjamin Dingle
Richard Gaines as Charles J. Pendergast
length: 101 minutes
The movie opens in WWII Washington D.C., when lodging is hard to get. Mr. Benjamin Dingle is searching for a room which, after much finagling, he is able to get from Constance Milligan. He rents half her apartment from her, and she sets up a very strict schedule. Which he immediately wreaks havoc on, to the point of head-on collisions in the hallway!
A day or two later, Mr. Dingle rents half of his half to a young man....without telling Miss Milligan!
The rest of this movie was mishap after misunderstanding after comedic confrontation! We found it hilarious, and very like a P.G. Wodehouse story.
I strongly suggest you check it out!
This movie was re-done in 1966 as Walk, Don't Run starring Cary Grant, Samantha Eggar, and Jim Hutton, but I haven't seen that one yet.
The More The Merrier can be bought on DVD from TCM for $24.99, and you can watch it on their cable channel on April 19th....if you'll be up at 4:00 AM.
It's being sold on Ebay in VHS, DVD, and LaserDisc forms from $6.99 (on LD) to $24.99 on VHS.
Amazon has it, too. New starting at $17.97, used starting at $18.00.
You can rent it at Netflix, as well.
So go find it!
~Kiwi~
1943
Starring:
Jean Arthur as Constance 'Connie' Milligan
Joel McCrea as Joe Carter
Charles Coburn as Benjamin Dingle
Richard Gaines as Charles J. Pendergast
length: 101 minutes
The movie opens in WWII Washington D.C., when lodging is hard to get. Mr. Benjamin Dingle is searching for a room which, after much finagling, he is able to get from Constance Milligan. He rents half her apartment from her, and she sets up a very strict schedule. Which he immediately wreaks havoc on, to the point of head-on collisions in the hallway!
A day or two later, Mr. Dingle rents half of his half to a young man....without telling Miss Milligan!
The rest of this movie was mishap after misunderstanding after comedic confrontation! We found it hilarious, and very like a P.G. Wodehouse story.
I strongly suggest you check it out!
This movie was re-done in 1966 as Walk, Don't Run starring Cary Grant, Samantha Eggar, and Jim Hutton, but I haven't seen that one yet.
The More The Merrier can be bought on DVD from TCM for $24.99, and you can watch it on their cable channel on April 19th....if you'll be up at 4:00 AM.
It's being sold on Ebay in VHS, DVD, and LaserDisc forms from $6.99 (on LD) to $24.99 on VHS.
Amazon has it, too. New starting at $17.97, used starting at $18.00.
You can rent it at Netflix, as well.
So go find it!
~Kiwi~
Monday, February 2, 2009
Stanley and Livingstone
Stanley and Livingstone
1939
Starring:
Spencer Tracy as Henry M. Stanley
Cedric Hardwicke as Dr. David Livingstone
Lesser Roles:
Nancy Kelly as Eve Kingsley
Richard Greene as Gareth Tyce
Walter Brennan as Jeff Slocum
Charles Coburn as Lord Tyce
Henry Hull as James Gordon Bennet, Jr.
Henry Travers as James Kingsley
Hassan Said as Hassan
approx. 101 minutes
This is the story of Henry M. Stanley, a reporter for the New York Herald, who was sent to find Dr. David Livingstone in 1870. Livingstone had been reported dead by the London Globe, but it was without evidence. James G. Bennet wanted Livingstone to be found alive or proven dead by Stanley. Thus begins his journey deep into the heart of Africa. He travels to Zanzibar, and from there on into Tanganyika (now Tanzania).
What was nice was that this part of the movie was filmed in Africa, not on a fake-looking set.
Stanley and his team travel past antelope, lions, giraffes, and hippos, and are even attacked by some not-so-friendly natives!
When the reporter finally finds Dr. David Livingstone, he is living happily in a small village with the Africans. Livingstone has taught them some English, at least enough to sing some hymns, and is a 'circuit preacher,' traveling a hundred mile-circuit to spread the gospel.
Well, now that he has found Livingstone, how is Stanley to prove he is alive, especially since Livingstone refuses to leave? I guess you'll find out when you watch the movie.
We watched this yesterday afternoon for history class. I really enjoyed watching the trek through the real African wilderness, with the animals in the background. The movie remains somewhat true-to-life, with just a few minor deviations.
The DVD is available HERE for $14.95, but is not on TCM or Netflix.
Enjoy your Safari!
~Kiwifruit
1939
Starring:
Spencer Tracy as Henry M. Stanley
Cedric Hardwicke as Dr. David Livingstone
Lesser Roles:
Nancy Kelly as Eve Kingsley
Richard Greene as Gareth Tyce
Walter Brennan as Jeff Slocum
Charles Coburn as Lord Tyce
Henry Hull as James Gordon Bennet, Jr.
Henry Travers as James Kingsley
Hassan Said as Hassan
approx. 101 minutes
This is the story of Henry M. Stanley, a reporter for the New York Herald, who was sent to find Dr. David Livingstone in 1870. Livingstone had been reported dead by the London Globe, but it was without evidence. James G. Bennet wanted Livingstone to be found alive or proven dead by Stanley. Thus begins his journey deep into the heart of Africa. He travels to Zanzibar, and from there on into Tanganyika (now Tanzania).
What was nice was that this part of the movie was filmed in Africa, not on a fake-looking set.
Stanley and his team travel past antelope, lions, giraffes, and hippos, and are even attacked by some not-so-friendly natives!
When the reporter finally finds Dr. David Livingstone, he is living happily in a small village with the Africans. Livingstone has taught them some English, at least enough to sing some hymns, and is a 'circuit preacher,' traveling a hundred mile-circuit to spread the gospel.
Well, now that he has found Livingstone, how is Stanley to prove he is alive, especially since Livingstone refuses to leave? I guess you'll find out when you watch the movie.
We watched this yesterday afternoon for history class. I really enjoyed watching the trek through the real African wilderness, with the animals in the background. The movie remains somewhat true-to-life, with just a few minor deviations.
The DVD is available HERE for $14.95, but is not on TCM or Netflix.
Enjoy your Safari!
~Kiwifruit
Thursday, January 15, 2009
I just wanted to remind you that Stanley and Livingstone is playing tomorrow at 8:00 pm, CST on the Turner Classic Movie channel.
Enjoy!
~Kiwi~
Enjoy!
~Kiwi~
Monday, December 22, 2008
The Shop Around the Corner
The Shop Around the Corner
1940
Starring:
James Stewart as Alfred Kralik
Margaret Sullavan as Klara Novak
Frank Morgan as Hugo Matsuchek
Lesser roles:
Joseph Schildkraut as Ferencz Vadas
Sara Haden as Flora Kaczek
Felix Bressart as Pirovitch
William Tracy as Pepi Katona
Inez Courtney as Ilona Novotny
length: about 100 minutes
Alfred Kralik is the head clerk at Matuschek and Company in Budapest, Hungary. While the employees are waiting for Mr. Matsuchek to arrive at the shop and unlock it, Alfred reveals to Pirovitch, a coworker, that he is corresponding by mail with a young lady whom he has never met and only knows as 'Dear Friend'.
The first thing Mr. Matsuchek does when he opens the shop that day is to show Alfred his latest purchase for the store: a cigarette box that plays "Otche Tchorniye" (Russian, perhaps? Translated, it means "Dark Eyes") when you open it. Mr. Matsuchek loves this little invention, but when he asks Alfred's opinion he's rather annoyed. Alfred thinks it's ugly and cheep and there's no way they'll be able to sell them all.
Several days pass, and they sell no cigarette boxes, when in walks Klara Novak, looking for a job as a clerk. The head clerk, Alfred, tells her there is no opening, but she won't take 'no' for an answer. When a customer walks in, Klara takes over and sells one of those difficult cigarette boxes in five minutes flat. Mr. Matsuchek sees that and hires her on the spot, to Alfred's dismay.
These things are hard to end: I'd much rather just tell you all about everything that happens in the movie! But that would spoil it, so I'm stopping here before I give it all away.
I enjoyed The Shop Around The Corner immensely. It's a slightly comedic, slightly romantic movie, and I always like Jimmy Stewart.
FOR SALE:
TCM has it available HERE and they are also playing it on January 28, at 2:00 pm.
HERE is the EBAY page with many DVDs and VHS recordings from $2.99 to $24.99.
AMAZON is selling it HERE starting as low as $13.07.
And NETFLIX also has The Shop Around the Corner HERE.
Enjoy the movie!
~Kiwifruit
1940
Starring:
James Stewart as Alfred Kralik
Margaret Sullavan as Klara Novak
Frank Morgan as Hugo Matsuchek
Lesser roles:
Joseph Schildkraut as Ferencz Vadas
Sara Haden as Flora Kaczek
Felix Bressart as Pirovitch
William Tracy as Pepi Katona
Inez Courtney as Ilona Novotny
length: about 100 minutes
Alfred Kralik is the head clerk at Matuschek and Company in Budapest, Hungary. While the employees are waiting for Mr. Matsuchek to arrive at the shop and unlock it, Alfred reveals to Pirovitch, a coworker, that he is corresponding by mail with a young lady whom he has never met and only knows as 'Dear Friend'.
The first thing Mr. Matsuchek does when he opens the shop that day is to show Alfred his latest purchase for the store: a cigarette box that plays "Otche Tchorniye" (Russian, perhaps? Translated, it means "Dark Eyes") when you open it. Mr. Matsuchek loves this little invention, but when he asks Alfred's opinion he's rather annoyed. Alfred thinks it's ugly and cheep and there's no way they'll be able to sell them all.
Several days pass, and they sell no cigarette boxes, when in walks Klara Novak, looking for a job as a clerk. The head clerk, Alfred, tells her there is no opening, but she won't take 'no' for an answer. When a customer walks in, Klara takes over and sells one of those difficult cigarette boxes in five minutes flat. Mr. Matsuchek sees that and hires her on the spot, to Alfred's dismay.
These things are hard to end: I'd much rather just tell you all about everything that happens in the movie! But that would spoil it, so I'm stopping here before I give it all away.
I enjoyed The Shop Around The Corner immensely. It's a slightly comedic, slightly romantic movie, and I always like Jimmy Stewart.
FOR SALE:
TCM has it available HERE and they are also playing it on January 28, at 2:00 pm.
HERE is the EBAY page with many DVDs and VHS recordings from $2.99 to $24.99.
AMAZON is selling it HERE starting as low as $13.07.
And NETFLIX also has The Shop Around the Corner HERE.
Enjoy the movie!
~Kiwifruit
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The Prisoner of Zenda
Prisoner of Zenda
1937
Starring:
Ronald Colman as Major Rudolf Rassendyll and King Rudolf V
Madeleine Carroll as Princess Flavia
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as Rupert of Hentzau
Raymond Massey as Duke Michael
Lesser roles:
C. Aubrey Smith as Colonel Zapt
David Niven as Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim
Mary Astor as Antoinette de Mauban
Length: about 100 minutes
Major Rudolf Rassendyll is vacationing in 'Ruritania' (a fictional country in Europe), when he meets the soon-to-be king, Rudolf the Fifth while fishing. They find that they are distantly related, which explains their strikingly similar appearances.
Rudolf the Fifth invites Major Rudolf back to his hunting lodge, where they drink, drink, and are merry for some time on into the night. Rudolf the Fifth [this is hard, writing about two people with the same name!] tells the Major about how he rather dreads the coronation on the following day. He's sure his (evil) stepbrother, Michael, is going to do his best to keep Rudolf from being crowned King of Ruritania. They drink and drink, until Rudolf (the Major), Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim and Colonel Zapt, the King's guards, finally fall asleep. Rudolf the Fifth takes one last drink from a new bottle, then drops to the floor.
The next morning--Coronation Day--Major Rudolf is rudely awakened by a pitcher of water in the face. Captain von Tarlenheim and Colonel Zapt have found the king lying on the floor and are sure Michael is behind all this....which, of course, he is.
So what do they do? The man who is to be crowned that day has been drugged, who knows when he'll wake up. If Rudolf the Fifth doesn't arrive, Duke Michael will find a way to crown himself king.
Hmmm. I wonder....
I enjoyed this movie. It has good acting and the plot is easy to follow, most of the time, except when the Rudolfs get mixed up. No mushy love scenes. A lot of action and sword fighting, a few deaths (nothing gruesome).
1937
Starring:
Ronald Colman as Major Rudolf Rassendyll and King Rudolf V
Madeleine Carroll as Princess Flavia
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as Rupert of Hentzau
Raymond Massey as Duke Michael
Lesser roles:
C. Aubrey Smith as Colonel Zapt
David Niven as Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim
Mary Astor as Antoinette de Mauban
Length: about 100 minutes
Major Rudolf Rassendyll is vacationing in 'Ruritania' (a fictional country in Europe), when he meets the soon-to-be king, Rudolf the Fifth while fishing. They find that they are distantly related, which explains their strikingly similar appearances.
Rudolf the Fifth invites Major Rudolf back to his hunting lodge, where they drink, drink, and are merry for some time on into the night. Rudolf the Fifth [this is hard, writing about two people with the same name!] tells the Major about how he rather dreads the coronation on the following day. He's sure his (evil) stepbrother, Michael, is going to do his best to keep Rudolf from being crowned King of Ruritania. They drink and drink, until Rudolf (the Major), Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim and Colonel Zapt, the King's guards, finally fall asleep. Rudolf the Fifth takes one last drink from a new bottle, then drops to the floor.
The next morning--Coronation Day--Major Rudolf is rudely awakened by a pitcher of water in the face. Captain von Tarlenheim and Colonel Zapt have found the king lying on the floor and are sure Michael is behind all this....which, of course, he is.
So what do they do? The man who is to be crowned that day has been drugged, who knows when he'll wake up. If Rudolf the Fifth doesn't arrive, Duke Michael will find a way to crown himself king.
Hmmm. I wonder....
I enjoyed this movie. It has good acting and the plot is easy to follow, most of the time, except when the Rudolfs get mixed up. No mushy love scenes. A lot of action and sword fighting, a few deaths (nothing gruesome).
TCM: This movie is for sale on TCM.com, but you have to buy it either with the 1952 version here, $16.99, or with The Three Musketeers (1948), Captain Horatio Hornblower, The Prisoner of Zenda (1952), and Madame Bovary (1949) right HERE, for $50.99.
Netflix: available HERE.
Ebay: you can buy the double-sided DVD with both the 1937 and the 1952 versions on it for between $10.99 and $17.75. There are also the same two movies on laserdisc for $21.21 to $40.00.
Amazon: Once again, there are the two versions being sold together for from $8.78 to $39.99, or the same five-DVD set offered by TCM.
Aparently you can't get one movie without the other. I have not seen the 1952 movie, and so can not recommend it to you at all.
Happy movie watching!
~Kiwifruit
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