January 31 - February 5, 2026

 

To answer these trivia questions, please email me at scinema@earthlink.net.

Brain Teasers:

By what name is Albert Waterman better known?

George Grimes and Angel Rivera knew that it is Alberto Dell'Acqua.

By what name is Frank Grafield better known?

Angel Rivera knew that it was Franco Giraldi.

By what name is Nick Anderson better known?

George Grimes and Angel Rivera knew that it was Nazzareno Zamperla.

And now for some new brain teasers:

By what name is Lucien Ginsburg better known?

By what name is Philippe Marie Paul Leroy-Beaulieu better known?

By what name is Pasquale Ferzetti better known?

Name the movies from which these images came.

No one identified the above photo.

Can you identify from what movie it came?

George Grmes and Charles Gilbert identified last week's frame grab of Rhonda Fleming and Serge Gainsbourg in LA RIVOLTA DEGLI SCHIAVI, aka REVOLT OF THE SLAVES.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Charlotte Rampling and Dirk Bogarde in IL PORTIERE DI NOTTE, aka THE NIGHT PORTER.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's photo of Sheng Fu, Lung Ti, Kuan-Chun Chi, David Chiang and  Fei Meng in FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS.

Above is a new phot.

Can you name from what movie it came?

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I am interested in knowing what movies you have watched and what you enjoyed or not. So please send me an email at scinema@earthlink.net if you'd like to share. Here's what I watched last week:

Highly enjoyed:

SANDAKAN 8, aka SANDAKAN No. 8 (1974) - In 1972, Yamazaki Tomoko published SANDAKAN BROTHEL NO. 8: AN EPISODE IN THE HISTORY OF LOWER-CLASS. The book created a sensation as "karayuki-san" - the trafficking of young lower class Japanese women into Japanese colonial brothels around the Pacific Rim - was not discussed in Japanese history. Yamazaki quickly followed  up her success with a second book, THE GRAVES OF SANDAKAN. Both books formed the basis for director Kei Kumai's film. When this movie came out in the L.A. area, it was sold as a sex film, which could not have been further from the truth. Tokyo journalist Komaki Kurihara is researching the "karayuki-san", but after World War 2 few remember them. And those that remember them don't want to admit to the memory. In a small village, Kurihara accidentally meets Kinuyo Tanaka, who lets slip that she spent time in Borneo. Kurihara shows kindness to the old woman, so Tanaka invites her to visit her in the decaying old house in which she lives. When visitors arrive at the house, Tanaka introduces Kurihara to them as her son's wife, who has finally come to visit her. Gently, Kurihara takes advantage of Tanaka's lonliness to move in with her. The journalist waits patiently until Tanaka asks if Kurihara wants to hear her story. As a young woman, played by Yoko Takahashi, she lives with a farming family. After the father dies, the mother ends up marrying another man. Her brother is ashamed to be in the new man's household, so he is told that he can live idependently if he goes to work for another man. It is decided that the girl should also find work in Borneo. It isn't until she is in this foreign country, which was a British colony at the time, that she finds that it is a Sandakan or brothel. Stylistically, the film is divided into two parts. The scenes with Kurihara are played like quiet drama, with great feelings kept under the surface. For the flashbacks, the scenes are played with the usual Japanese expressionistic power. Ultimately, the film as a whole is not only compelling, but emotionally moving. This film was nominated as the Best Foreign Language Film at the 1975 Oscars. It lost to director Akira Kurosawa's DERSU UZALA, which was the entry from the Soviet Union that year. Kurosawa expressed great admiration for SANDAKAN 8 and one of his last screenplays was ultimately made by director Kumai - THE SEA IS WATCHING.

Enjoyed: 

A Dark Adapted Eye (1994) - I video taped this off PBS back in 1994, but as I recorded it at the SLP mode, it would not playback very well on my newer VCR. Luckily, there is an excellent copy of this on YouTube and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I am unfamiliar with the novels of Ruth Rendell, aka Barbara Vine, but I understand that screenwriter Sandy Welch made some changes to the material while turning it into a two-part TV movie. I have no qualms about that, though it bothered me that the character of "Andrew" just disappeared from the film. The story is presented in a very fractured manner, jumping from various time frames, but it is always comprehensible and compelling. And the idea of Honeysuckle Weeks in flashbacks growing up to be Helena Bonham Carter is delicious. In the midst of her over 180 movie and tv credits, this may well be Celia Imrie's best role, and she's excellent in it. As this is a story about women dealing with suppression and keeping secrets, the male cast doesn't get to do much, but when you get to look at Sophie Ward, who cares about the men. Director Tim Fywell is mostly known for British TV including 2003's Cambridge Spies.

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. "Great Migrations: Wiz Khalifa & Sanaa Lathan" (2026)

Glenn Gould - Off the Record & Glenn Gould - On the Record (1959) - The Canadian documentary TV show The Candid Eye did a two part episode on acclaimed piantist Glenn Gould. Part One showed the musician preparing for a recording session at Columbia Records. Part Two showed him at work in the studio. These two 30 minute programs told me more about Gould than the more celebrated THIRTY TWO SHORT FILMS ABOUT GLENN GOULD.

Mildly enjoyed:

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. "Caribbean Roots: Liza Maria Colon & Delroy G. Lindo" (2026)

Nurse Jackie season seven (2015) - No happy ending for this story of drug addiction.

SKY DRAGON, aka MURDER IN THE AIR (1949) - I know this is a mediocore movie, and not just because it was made by Monogram Pictures. But I found the mystery intriguing and the pacing attractive, so I didn't fast-forward through it. The screenplay was credited to Earl Derr Biggers and Oliver Drake, while Lesley Selander got a break from making Westerns to direct what became the last of the Charlie Chan series. Roland Winters was no more credible as the Chinese/American detective as anyone else in the series, but the comedy bits here with Mantan Moreland and Louise Franklin are amusing. Keye Luke was his usual self as Chan's "number one son", with Milburn Stone (of Gunsmoke) and Lyle Talbot helping to fill out the cast. The plot involved everyone on a airline flight drinking drugged coffee and passing out while a murder occurred and a cash shipment being stolen. Iris Adrian played a showgirl, so a scene occurs backstage at what seems to be a burlesque house. As a suspect runs away during a performance, Lt. Tim Ryan thinks nothing of shooting after the escaping man. Luckily he missed because the man was innocent. The film ended with everyone being assembled, Agatha Christie like, at the original scene of the crime - the airplane.

Did not enjoy:

THE CROWD (1928) - The title of this film would suggest that the filmmakers intended to pick a person out of the crowd and show their singular humanity. That is not what the film does. It starts off with title proclaiming that the events of the 1900 Fourth of July celebrations were matched by the birth of the baby who would grow up to be played by James Murray. The baby's timid father proclaims that he will give his son every needed advantage to become someone "big" in the world. But the father dies when the boy is 12, but how that impacts the boy is not commented upon. Murray moves to New York City where he gets a job and is single minded on getting ahead. However, his work buddy convinces him to take a night off, and he, of course, meets Eleanor Boardman. Soon they have two children, and as making do gets harder, one chlid dies in an auto accident. Unable to deal with life, Murray soon becomes unemployed, and then unemployable. Boardman leaves him at the insistence of her two brothers. This may be where director King Vidor intended to end the film, but reportedly MGM head Louis B. Mayer insisted on an happy ending. There is some confusion over whether that the ending the film now has was Vidor's original ending or a new one, but it all seems inconsequential. Reportedly, director Vidor conceived THE CROWD as an experimental project, where he could try out various new techniques. Seeing it now, it just plays like a conventional family melodrama.

DANGEROUS WHEN WET (1953) - I was born in 1956, but I never knew about Esther Williams until THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT in 1974. It is striking to think about a woman being a big star before I was born to become virtually unknown to a my newer generation. Williams was a competative swimmer who didn't get to go to the 1940 Summer Olympics because of World War 2. So, she joined Billy Rose's Aquacade where she swam alongside Olympic gold medal-winner Johnny Weissmuller. As Weissmuller was already starring in the Tarzan movies for MGM, it was not surprising that MGM signed Williams to make movies. Imagine having to come up with script ideas for a star whose main talent was swimming. Dorothy Kingsley had an idea about an healthy young woman who lived on a milk farm where father William Demarest got up every morning leading the family in the song "I Got Out of Bed on the Right Side" as they march to the edge of the river for exercises. One morning, Liquapep promoter Jack Carson was unable to continue down the road because cows from the milk farm were blocking the way. Williams climbs out of the river to get the animals to move, and Carson immediately became interested. After the meets the entire family, he decided that having the family swim together would be great publicity for Liquapep. Swim what? Why the English Channel of course. Demarest agreed without realizing how treacherous the currents in the channel were. Williams was training in the channel when she lost direction in an heavy fog. Luckily, rich Frenchman Fernando Lamas (who was actually Argentinan) happened along to get her out of the water. Meanwhile Williams' coach, Carson, picks up French swimmer Denis Darcel who was also training for the channel crossing as a promotion for a competitive elixer. At one point, Williams had a cartoon nightmare featuring Tom & Jerry, who were working together to keep Williams focused on swimming the channel. The stakes for the swimming competition were raised when Demarest confessed that he borrowed against the prize money for improvements for the dairy farm. Of course, Williams won the swim, but not until Lamas jumped into the water to coax her to not quit. The film ended with Demarest and his family leaving their hotel rooms singing "I Got Out of Bed on the Right Side" along with Lamas, sporting a new wedding ring, and Carson taking Darcel by the hand with her now wearing a promotional jacket for Liquapep. The highlight of the film came during a pre-swim party in which Charlotte Greenwood, as Williams' mother, did a dance which proved that she was "the only woman in the world who could kick a giraffe in the eye". 

THE MARRYING KIND (1952) - I didn't know that Aldo Ray was "introduced" by Columbia Pictures in this marital melodrama, that they tried to sell as a comedy. After the end credits, Columbia added a tag "You have just seen our New Personality ALDO RAY. Please watch for his next picture." The fact that he had appeared in four prior features didn't matter, but if you liked THE MARRYING KIND, his next picture, PAT AND MIKE, would have suited you well. I became aware of Ray as a gruff G.I. in 1966's WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR, DADDY?, so the idea of him playing husband to Judy Holliday is a bit of a head spinner. With a screenplay by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin, directed by George Cukor, I expected this to be a comedy. However, it begins with Ray and Holliday bickering in divorce court. As it is the end of the day, Judge Madge Kennedy puts off ruling on the divorce until the next day, but then asks Holliday and Ray to stay later so that they could clear up some details. Rather than a judge, Kennedy acts as a marriage counselor and gets the two to talk about their marriage. After a series of flashbacks, the film goes into melodrama with the accidental death of the couple's first born. Eventually, the two talk about how they helped each other through that trauma and they admit that they still love each other. As they are leaving the courthouse, they see a clerk removing their case from the listing for the next day. 

SUMMER RENTAL (1985) - Over worked air traffic controller John Candy is ordered to take a vacation in Florida with his family. Nothing goes well, but then he makes friends with would-be pirate Rip Torn and decides that the only way for him to get back at rich asshole Richard Crenna is to beat him in a sail boat regatta. What is the name of the actress who keeps showing her new tits and asking everyone if they are alright? The audience never gets a chance to see them so we don't get an opinion. Candy has three children in this film, including Joey Lawrence, who became better known on the TV show Gimme A Break!, and Kerri Green, from THE GOONIES, but I liked her better in LUCAS which was the film she made after this one. The IMDb seems to think that this film underwent various changes in the post production phase, but for me it just isn't funny. It is quite a disappointment from director Carl Reiner.

VALLEY GIRL (1983) - I remember seeing this when it was new, and kind of liking it. Seeing it again, I found it incredibly unconvincing, particularly in its portrayal of Hollywood Punks. A plus in seeing it again was seeing Hollywood Boulevard as it looked in 1983, and it was another film that fractured the geography. After driving past the Chinese Theater, you don't suddenly pass The Roxy. Filmmakers really did like showing the Pussycat Theater as a way of suggesting that Hollywood was sleazy. Director Martha Coolidge did assemble a good cast including reuniting Colleen Camp and Frederic Forrest after APOCALYPSE NOW. I wished that Deborah Foreman and Elizabeth Daily went on to have as good a career as Nicholas Cage and Lee Purcell did. The Plimsouls were seen performing, but you couldn't hear them very well. You could hear Josie Cotton, but would "Johnny Are You Queer?" be heard at an high school prom?

                                                       

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David Deal Enjoyed:

HERCULES VS THE MOLOCH (63)

RING AROUND THE WORLD (66) - Check the Eurospy Guide.

THE MAD EXECUTIONERS (63)

AS IF IT WERE RAINING (63)

WINNETOU I (63)

L.A. STORY (91)

NAKED AMBITION (23) - Very interesting documentary on "cheesecake" photographer Bunny Yeager.

WILD, WILD PLANET (65)

THE BLOODY VAMPIRE (61) - This, and its companion piece, Invasion of the Vampires (61), deserve a proper release.

Mildly Enjoyed:

LADY MORGAN'S VENGEANCE (65)

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Angel Rivera Highly enjoyed:

"THE APARTMENT" (1960)

An office worker loans out his apartment to some of his married "higher ups", so they can have a place to bring women for some extra-marital hanky panky.  He receives a promotion when he lets the married big boss bring his "girl friend" to the apartment. Played by Jack Lemmon, the office worker is shocked when he finds out the girl he likes is the big boss's (played by Fred MacMurray) "girl friend" (played by Shirley MacLaine) and has tried to commit suicide in his apartment. Lemmon finds her just in the nick of time and saves her.. A classic and Oscar winner for best picture for 1960. Great performances from every one  involved and a great soundtrack.  

"THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL" (2011)

Elderly British retirees on fixed incomes move to what they are told is a luxurious retirement home within their means in India but discover the hotel is a bit run down. An ensemble cast of Britain's finest led by Maggie Smith try to make the best of the situation in heartwarming fashion. A real crowd pleaser.

Enjoyed: 

"SHIELD FOR MURDER" (1954)

Edmond O'Brien who I mostly knew as the undercover agent who befriends James Cagney in the classic "White Heat" (1949) and as an old friend of William Holden in the classic western, "The Wild Bunch" (1969). Here O'Brien plays a seasoned cop with a young girl friend played by a 19 year old (at the time of filming) Marla English. O'Brien shoots and kills a bookie for the money he is carrying and states that he had to kill the bookie in self-defense who was resisting arrest. It was interesting to see O'Brien as a "romantic lead", (and a little disgusting as he makes out with English especially as he was 39 at the time of filming.) Also in the cast is John Agar as a cop who had once been a protege of O'Brien, and who now has to go after O'Brien when it is discovered O'Brien deliberately killed the bookie to rob him. Another interesting cast member is a young (24 at the time of filming) Carolyn Jones as a floozy who meets O'Brien when he is on the run. An interesting little film noir.

Mildly enjoyed:

CONQUEROR OF ATLANTIS" (1965)

Kirk Morris (who was born Adriano Bellini, an Italian body builder who had also been a gondolier before starring in films) as "Herakles" in this sword and sandal potboiler about a shipwrecked Greek who ends up in the remains of a lost city of Atlantis and has to rescue a princess and end the reign of an evil "scientist" who is bringing back to life dead soldiers. Kirk Morris with his almost  American teen Idol looks and the princess played by Italian actress, Luciana Gilli, one of the most beautiful of these actresses to be found in these sword and sandal films, make an interesting couple. The film has almost nonstop action and is well made for this type of film.

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Charles Gilbert watched: 

HIS COLT, HIMSELF, HIS REVENGE (1972) Bland SW with Dino Strano exacting revenge for the kidnapping and slaying of his sister. Gordon Mitchell's gang is responsible. One of them has a disgusting habit of probing his nostril.

ASSASSIN.1986) Former U.S government agent Robert Conrad is coaxed out of retirement to track down a rogue cyborg killing off the current crop.of federal operatives. 

WARLOCK (1959) I had thought the title was the name of the main character, but it turns out to be the town where everything takes place. Abe McQuown's (Tom Drake) bilious gang terrorizes the unincorporated western town of Warlock including riding the temporary impotent deputy sheriff Ray Thomson (Walter Coy) out of town in humiliation. The town council sends for famed and capable lawman Clay Blaisedell (Henry Fonda) for the job, but he shows up with a club-footed friend Tom Morgan (Anthony Quinn) and a big wooden marquee sign that says "French Palace". The two set up a gambling hall to draw in the scurrilous residents, among others. Doesn't take long for the duly noted McQuown gang to show up and challenge the new sheriff. One of them, a reluctant Johnny Gannon (Richard Widmark) is so repulsed with his past with the gang he accepts a post as deputy sheriff, meaning opposing his own troublesome brother Billy (Frank Gorshin). A gunfight in the street with Blaisedell leaves little brother dead.  Lily Dollar  (Dorothy Malone) arrives by diligence (stage coach) looking for her husband's killer, knowing it was Blaisedell. Gannon develops a relationship with her causing jealousy in Morgan who knew her from the past. This leads to another conflict that the new sheriff must resolve. Blaisdell winds up shooting Morgan to keep the peace, then resigns as sheriff. But before he leaves town he must prove he is faster on the draw than the one he defended...Gannon. I found the Fonda performance more interesting than his villain in ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. In that film I could not understand why the heroine (Claudia Cardinale) would dally with the bad guy.

 

TERROR IS A MAN aka BLOOD CREATURE (1959) B&W. Francis Lederer, Greta Thyssen, Richard Derr. 

A man shipwrecked on an island discovers that it is inhabited only by a doctor (Lederer), his ravishing wife, and a few natives. The doctor is more interested in his experiments with changing a panther into a man than the philandering going on between his wife and the new arrival.

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