Lorimar Productions
8 August 1980
War Drama
DVD
D+
I appreciate that this has more banter than action. Not particularly good banter, but shrug. This is based on James Leasor's novel Boarding Party, and directed by Andrew V. McLaglen.
Showing posts with label David Niven. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David Niven. Show all posts
Sunday, December 4, 2022
The Sea Wolves
The Sea Wolves
I appreciate that this has more banter than action. Not particularly good banter, but shrug. This is based on James Leasor's novel Boarding Party, and directed by Andrew V. McLaglen.
I appreciate that this has more banter than action. Not particularly good banter, but shrug. This is based on James Leasor's novel Boarding Party, and directed by Andrew V. McLaglen.
Sunday, July 10, 2022
The Pink Panther (1963)
The Pink Panther (1963)
United Artists
December 18, 1963
Crime Comedy
DVD
C+
DVD
C+
I grew up watching the Pink Panther movies, both the '60s originals and the '70s revivals (after a seven-year gap), but I honestly couldn't have described them beyond memorable opening cartoon credits (leading to the TV cartoon, which I of course also watched), attractive European women, and bumbling Inspector Clouseau, played by Peter Sellers. So it was interesting revisiting the movie that launched it all, because it does contain those elements, but it's basically a standard '60s caper comedy that I'd give a C or less to if not for that silky yet playful Mancini score that I can hear echoes of on the soundtracks of everything from Bikini Beach to Down with Love. Anyway, Sellers does establish his iconic role, but he's onscreen less than David Niven. Blake Edwards directed and co-wrote, which is probably why there's a lot of suggested sex and that very amoral double ending.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
United Artists
October 17, 1956
Historical Comedy*
DVD
C
I gave this a half hour because I kept thinking that it would, well, go somewhere. But after about six minutes of Edward R. Murrow doing the prologue, including clips from Méliès's A Trip to the Moon, we get to the actual story but even that takes another twenty minutes or so for set-up. I still might've stuck it out but the inclusion of buying a not-in-the-book balloon, when one is available for rent, just annoyed me. So I missed all the cameos that are supposed to be later and am just tagging the people I recognized in the first half hour. (No, that doesn't include Catinflas.)
S.J. Perelman co-wrote the screenplay. Michael Anderson directed.
*I guess this could also count as adventure, but I didn't see anything adventurous, or indeed anything that would justify "Todd-A.O.," in the first half hour.
 |
| Supporting Ebert's rule that no good movie except The Wizard of Oz features a hot-air balloon. |
October 17, 1956
Historical Comedy*
DVD
C
I gave this a half hour because I kept thinking that it would, well, go somewhere. But after about six minutes of Edward R. Murrow doing the prologue, including clips from Méliès's A Trip to the Moon, we get to the actual story but even that takes another twenty minutes or so for set-up. I still might've stuck it out but the inclusion of buying a not-in-the-book balloon, when one is available for rent, just annoyed me. So I missed all the cameos that are supposed to be later and am just tagging the people I recognized in the first half hour. (No, that doesn't include Catinflas.)
S.J. Perelman co-wrote the screenplay. Michael Anderson directed.
*I guess this could also count as adventure, but I didn't see anything adventurous, or indeed anything that would justify "Todd-A.O.," in the first half hour.
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