kyivguy

Considering that it was made in 1941 without any major studio backing, don't expect very much in the way of professional Hollywood production standards. It would appear that many of the cast members had never been in front of a movie camera. On several occasions members of the cast can be seen breaking the "fourth wall" by looking into the camera. It also looks like several of the cast are reading from cue cards off camera. What was a point of interest was the dialog that called for a 'rallying around the race' as a point of pride. Not one of better "race movies" but worth the time to understand what it was like to be a black actor in 1941.

The direction is abysmal with little continuity of the plot line.

I'm not certain what the reviews that gave this film 9s and 10s were seeing but having watched scores of Japanese cinema this film was not very well made. The camera bounced the moving shots to distraction, there was ambient light reflection on the lens and the editing ruined the plot progression. Watching this film had it not been set in Japan with Japanese actors, I would have mistaken it for a movie by Ed Woods. Kurosawa must have been sorry that he developed the arterial spurting because this film had arteries shooting blood from every part of the body. The sword fighting choreography was abysmal. All in all forget this film.

Warner Studios, an A list cast, resulting in a B movie plot. Forced dialog by great actors can only mean that they were directed poorly. The plot was rather run of the mill with an ending that was typical of American cinema that demanded a neat and happy ending. This is one movie that had I not watched it would have never been missed. I'm not sure why it is a requirement for a 6 hundred character review requirement by Imdb to describe a film that failed to deliver an interesting story. There are very few films that I have found to be as lacking as this movie. I strongly suggest that this is one to leave on the shelf.

Sturgis is on point in this look at the disparity between money and poverty. At no point does he disparage the rich for what they have accomplished while blaming them for the situation that those in poverty find themselves. While Joel McCray initially is clueless as to what it means to be poor while attempting to make a film about the struggles of being poor. Sturgis never points the finger at the well off for being the root cause of being the cause. Unlike today where the Hollywood elite pontificate on what the so called solutions to social issues are while living a life totally detached from the common man, he makes a serious attempt at the character attempting to experience first hand what those less fortunate experience daily. This film is pure genius without being judgemental. It's a pity that Paramount seldom allowed Veronica Lake to demonstrate her range of talent in scripts like this film, Gun For Hire and Blue Daliha.

I am an avid fan of Noir and crime drama. I have seen every early Cagney film and his performance in White Heat is a triumph in acting. His portrayal of a psychopathic killer is the best that Hollywood has portrayed to date. With an outstanding supporting cast this film stands out as a classic for all film watchers. In a homage to Ma Barker and her effect on her sons criminal lives. The sick relationship between Cody and his mother was well written and an insightful look into the effects of psychologically detrimental parenting. All in all this is a film that I have gone back to numerous times over the.

Absolutely brutal, I can't believe that this shlock was on Criterion. Even the nudity couldn't save this waste of film stock. My best guess is that the director Stephanie Rothman had a thing for the blond actress. Her dialog was painful to listen to and I would surmise that she was reading from cue cards. I gave it two stars because it was fun to travel back to the era of bell bottom pants and California Beach blondes. Trying to write a 600 character review of this film should give me screenwriter credits because it would be more script than was spoken by the actors. Unfortunately unlike Plan 9 from Outer Space this film won't make it to a cult classic.

I added a star because Universal took the time to take the Holmes genre to a parody of it self. Set during WWII it was a way of demonstrating the necessity of US UK solidarity. Some interesting continuity errors, the airport shows a supposed airport in the UK London Terminal TransAtlsntic Airways with an airliner that has high wing struts. Cut to a shot of an American Airlines DC 3 at what may have been Douglas field in Long Beach CA. Cut to a DC 3 in the air that miraculously transforms into a Boeing 314 Clipper ship upon landing. Never let stock footage go to waste. The highlight of the film is the passing of the article containing the secret document all over a party from one unsuspecting person to the next.

This movie contains about five minutes of plot line and two hours of automatic weapons fire. As a movie it was mindless, as a video game it might be interesting. All in all would have been better as an Anime.

1942 was an epic year in the US. In February, Japanese Americans including citizens were ordered into detention camps. Italian Americans were considered enemy aliens, until October of that year. The military was still segregated thanks to Woodrow Wilson until Truman issued a desegregation order six years later. African Americans were made give up their seats to German POWs. Despite all of the injustice US citizens of Italian, African, Japanese and German decent fought and died for freedom. Thankfully we've come a long way.

First season was an eight, season two a bit on the in your face about social issues so it's a seven. So far the first two episodes of season three are bordering on the absurd so it's now down to a six. Wow I hope that the writing gets the plot line back on track because I am wearing the fast forward button down to a nub.

Do not miss this series. It takes several episodes to get the plot line but when it happens it grabs the viewer by the throat like dropping through the trap door of the gallows.

I don't believe that people who gave this brilliant documentary bad reviews should be allowed to live. At the minimum they should be forever banned from posting an opinion. These heartless reviewers probably didn't cry when Bambi's father was killed.

Even with the missing film footage the original production is easier to watch and far more entertaining. I think that this may be the lowest rating that I have given to date. Totally unwatchable.

This series began as a nail biter but unfortunately finished as a soap opera. The acting was top notch but the plot line disintegrated into a sappy story about forgetting all of the training for the sake love.

Superb acting, incredible sets, with brilliant ensemble cast. I was thoroughly entertained. As someone who has watched quite a number of Korean cinema,Mr. Sunshine is among the best.

I found this series to be a lighthearted look at the complexities of simply being human. Each character has a life issue that ultimately causes change in the life of another. Well done.

Everyone needs a hero during difficult times and what better hero during the early years of WWII than the brilliant British detective Sherlock Holmes. Released one year after the entry of the USA into the war, Universal like the other Hollywood studios did their part to bolster morale. Like all of the Rathbone/Bruce films a must watch.

However a bit of Cannabis (Chopanga?)is quite harmless. While some Rathbone/Bruce outings are better all are always worth a view. I did miss the ever confused and befuddled D. I. Lestrade.

As a guy who spent 30 years as an Investigator, it was a pleasant change to watch juggling family and work from the perspective of several women. Having spent many a night sitting in a vehicle getting home days later, this series was an excellent look at the fact that being a cop does not excuse one from the same everyday pressures shared by 'civilians', it just adds a bit more to the pile.

Can't help but wonder if female coppers actually hang out in the Loo because we guys generally didn't.

Nicely done I enjoyed all five seasons. I wish season five had gone to eight episodes.

With no plot continuity, half of the movie comprised of stock footage, and coupled with high school drama club performances, Midnight Phantom (which has no relevance to the story) is an unmitigated disaster. I gave it a 2 rating only because of Reginald Denny from The Shadow movies fame.

The 1943 version The Mystery of the Thirteenth Guest has better production and direction. This version with it's stilted dialog and poor editing is rather slow and disjointed.

Sorry but after 30 years as a real Treasury Special Agent the idea that any country would let that quantity of drugs leave their jurisdiction is a pipe dream (pun intended). This film contained as much stock footage and lines on maps as there was actual acting. Columbia Pictures did a better job with the 1950 film Customs Agent starring William Eythe, Marjorie Reynolds and Jim Backus. The best of the lot was the 1949 film Port of New York with Yul Brenner in his first role. Skip this one until you see the other two.

It's 1944 and while the tide of war has turned in the direction of the Allied forces, the prospect of the invasion of Japan was still a deadly reality. Once again Hollywood did its part in the propaganda battle to bolster American morale. A Wing and a Prayer touched all the bases with studio stars, heroic sacrifices and plenty of action. I first saw this film as a kid in the 1950s and I still remember gripping my seat everytime a plane hit the carrier deck. Put into the context of the time it's a good film by a very good Director.

Ah, 1940s formula detective films. While this entry is better than it's predecessors it's only due to Karloff. The overall play bears a strange similarity Abbott Costello meets The Grusomes from Universal Studios. The RKO formula seems to have been if you only have a few weeks to complete and your secondary players are already on the lot then change their character and give them new lines. Overall I miss Ann Jefferies.

Season one despite the ever present psychological Mish Mash was enjoyable as a cop show. Season two was still watchable. However watching Season three was the equivalent to spending eight days in Bedlam Asylum on psychedelics only to realize that you will never return to normalcy.