SAMTHEBESTEST
Joined Feb 2014
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Ratings3.5K
SAMTHEBESTEST's rating
Reviews2.8K
SAMTHEBESTEST's rating
The Lodger (1944) :
Brief Review -
An obsessive tweak to the climax of Alfred Hitchcock's silent film. Have I just given away the spoiler? OMG, maybe yes, but does it really matter since the original novel has been adapted so many times on the big screen? Based on Marie Belloc Lowndes' novel, this Jack the Ripper tale is akin to all the previous adaptations, but since I have seen Alfred Hitchcock's silent version and because it's quite popular, I will discuss it while making comparisons here. While women are being brutally killed in the Whitechapel district, Mr. Slade takes shelter at Mr. And Mrs. Bonting's house as a tenant. Mrs. Bonting's niece, Katty, is a beautiful young girl and a stage singer. Slade's eyes immediately show both love and hate toward the femme fatale since his artist brother was ensnared by one such dame. With murders increasing in the town, Mrs. Bonting grows suspicious that Slade is the serial killer, but she is proven wrong by her husband and niece. Is he the real killer? You might remember the climax of Hitchcock's The Lodger: A Story of London's Fog (1927), so don't expect a similar ending here. It has been altered, perhaps for the better. I don't know; it was predictable for me, though. The film is led by Laird Cregar, and he carries the show beautifully. That serious attitude, intense talk, and pretty scary face-he looked quite deadly. Merle Oberon appears breathtaking in every frame, but I couldn't quite connect with her attitude. Was she flirting, trying to be smart, possessive, or showing off? You can't really guess because the character doesn't expose itself enough. George Sanders was good, and Sara Allgood was excellent as the lady of the house. Overall, a fine adaptation by John Brahm, with a new twist, but I think a few things could have been improved.
RATING - 6.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
An obsessive tweak to the climax of Alfred Hitchcock's silent film. Have I just given away the spoiler? OMG, maybe yes, but does it really matter since the original novel has been adapted so many times on the big screen? Based on Marie Belloc Lowndes' novel, this Jack the Ripper tale is akin to all the previous adaptations, but since I have seen Alfred Hitchcock's silent version and because it's quite popular, I will discuss it while making comparisons here. While women are being brutally killed in the Whitechapel district, Mr. Slade takes shelter at Mr. And Mrs. Bonting's house as a tenant. Mrs. Bonting's niece, Katty, is a beautiful young girl and a stage singer. Slade's eyes immediately show both love and hate toward the femme fatale since his artist brother was ensnared by one such dame. With murders increasing in the town, Mrs. Bonting grows suspicious that Slade is the serial killer, but she is proven wrong by her husband and niece. Is he the real killer? You might remember the climax of Hitchcock's The Lodger: A Story of London's Fog (1927), so don't expect a similar ending here. It has been altered, perhaps for the better. I don't know; it was predictable for me, though. The film is led by Laird Cregar, and he carries the show beautifully. That serious attitude, intense talk, and pretty scary face-he looked quite deadly. Merle Oberon appears breathtaking in every frame, but I couldn't quite connect with her attitude. Was she flirting, trying to be smart, possessive, or showing off? You can't really guess because the character doesn't expose itself enough. George Sanders was good, and Sara Allgood was excellent as the lady of the house. Overall, a fine adaptation by John Brahm, with a new twist, but I think a few things could have been improved.
RATING - 6.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
I Wake Up Screaming/ Hot Spot (1941) :
Brief Review -
Got mystery and noir elements right; stability in the thrill is missing. I Wake Up Screaming, also known as Hot Spot, is a murder mystery with multiple layers rather than just one. The film follows an intriguing story of a sports promoter, Frankie Christopher, who introduces a waitress, Vicky, to high society people to help her become successful. Before you realize what happens after that meeting, Frankie finds himself in an interrogation room being grilled for Vicky's murder. Vicky's sister, Jill, testifies in Frankie's favor, but one of the cops isn't convinced of Frankie's innocence. Frankie and Jill begin a new affair and then try to search for the real killer while the cop attempts to pin the murder on Frankie regardless. Who is the real killer, and why does the cop want to hang Frankie? The mystery unfolds in a thrilling manner towards the end, featuring a couple of twists that may or may not be predictable to you. Nevertheless, it is mysterious and intriguing enough to make it onto your watchlist; it's just the thrill factor that lacks stability. Those twists are quite common in the 40s noir films, and therefore I believe they could have done something different and better. Victor Mature stands out as the best performer, followed by the gorgeous Bette Grable. Laird Cregar as Ed Cornell is notable as a deadly character and is the main USP of this film. Carole Landis looks stunning in the beginning, and Alan Mowbray's accent has always been charming to me. I never knew that H. Bruce Humberstone could make such good films in the early 40s. Considering the time, it's a very good movie, but I still feel that there are aspects that could have been better and less preachy. Overall, it's a solid entry in the film noir genre with a murder mystery theme that feels like it's been running for too long.
RATING - 6.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Got mystery and noir elements right; stability in the thrill is missing. I Wake Up Screaming, also known as Hot Spot, is a murder mystery with multiple layers rather than just one. The film follows an intriguing story of a sports promoter, Frankie Christopher, who introduces a waitress, Vicky, to high society people to help her become successful. Before you realize what happens after that meeting, Frankie finds himself in an interrogation room being grilled for Vicky's murder. Vicky's sister, Jill, testifies in Frankie's favor, but one of the cops isn't convinced of Frankie's innocence. Frankie and Jill begin a new affair and then try to search for the real killer while the cop attempts to pin the murder on Frankie regardless. Who is the real killer, and why does the cop want to hang Frankie? The mystery unfolds in a thrilling manner towards the end, featuring a couple of twists that may or may not be predictable to you. Nevertheless, it is mysterious and intriguing enough to make it onto your watchlist; it's just the thrill factor that lacks stability. Those twists are quite common in the 40s noir films, and therefore I believe they could have done something different and better. Victor Mature stands out as the best performer, followed by the gorgeous Bette Grable. Laird Cregar as Ed Cornell is notable as a deadly character and is the main USP of this film. Carole Landis looks stunning in the beginning, and Alan Mowbray's accent has always been charming to me. I never knew that H. Bruce Humberstone could make such good films in the early 40s. Considering the time, it's a very good movie, but I still feel that there are aspects that could have been better and less preachy. Overall, it's a solid entry in the film noir genre with a murder mystery theme that feels like it's been running for too long.
RATING - 6.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Kiss of Death (1947) :
Brief Review -
A gripping film noir in the crime genre. Kiss of Death may not be a great film, but it is definitely underrated considering the low hype surrounding it, or perhaps it has the acclaim of which I am unaware. The film centers on a jail convict who refuses to make a deal with the district attorney, saying no to "squealing." When he learns that the promise of his family being taken care of is unfulfilled, he decides to become a stool pigeon. This time, he has nothing to lose but much to gain, as the DA grants him parole, allowing him to live with his daughters and a new wife. However, his stooling does not help much, and the gang leader is acquitted. He must now save his family from danger while also assisting the police in catching the cunning criminal. How will he do that? Kiss of Death lives up to its title as death ultimately plays a significant role in the climax when I enter the film noir realm. It is a crime film, but you feel sympathy for the main character because his character development is beautifully done. Somewhere, you also acknowledge that he deserves some punishment, which he receives at the end, only to set things right. Perhaps that aspect could have been better executed; I dislike it when things are done illogically just for the sake of a happy ending. Nevertheless, the film kept me hooked and invested for 100 minutes with its captivating narrative and intriguing setup. The dark tone here is not overly annoying or intense. One must overlook some flaws here and there (for instance, the man's wife is dead, and before he can mourn the loss, he has a new girlfriend who is quite young). Victor Mature, Richard Widmark, and Brian Donlevy's performances are worth your attention. Henry Hathaway's direction is fairly good, if not great. Overall, it is a fine film but could have been better.
RATING - 6.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
A gripping film noir in the crime genre. Kiss of Death may not be a great film, but it is definitely underrated considering the low hype surrounding it, or perhaps it has the acclaim of which I am unaware. The film centers on a jail convict who refuses to make a deal with the district attorney, saying no to "squealing." When he learns that the promise of his family being taken care of is unfulfilled, he decides to become a stool pigeon. This time, he has nothing to lose but much to gain, as the DA grants him parole, allowing him to live with his daughters and a new wife. However, his stooling does not help much, and the gang leader is acquitted. He must now save his family from danger while also assisting the police in catching the cunning criminal. How will he do that? Kiss of Death lives up to its title as death ultimately plays a significant role in the climax when I enter the film noir realm. It is a crime film, but you feel sympathy for the main character because his character development is beautifully done. Somewhere, you also acknowledge that he deserves some punishment, which he receives at the end, only to set things right. Perhaps that aspect could have been better executed; I dislike it when things are done illogically just for the sake of a happy ending. Nevertheless, the film kept me hooked and invested for 100 minutes with its captivating narrative and intriguing setup. The dark tone here is not overly annoying or intense. One must overlook some flaws here and there (for instance, the man's wife is dead, and before he can mourn the loss, he has a new girlfriend who is quite young). Victor Mature, Richard Widmark, and Brian Donlevy's performances are worth your attention. Henry Hathaway's direction is fairly good, if not great. Overall, it is a fine film but could have been better.
RATING - 6.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.