West Side Story

West Side Story

Mirish Pictures etc.

October 18, 1961

Musical

DVD
C-

A lot of silly dancing.  This is of course inspired by Romeo and Juliet.  Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise co-directed.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Paramount

December 8, 1979

Sci-Fi

DVD

D+

I was never into any of the versions of Star Trek, although I probably watched a few episodes of the original series in syndication when I was a kid.  Anyway, I was either bored or thinking What? Why? with this today.  Robert Wise directed, about eleven years after Star!, the last Wise movie I reviewed.

Star! (1968)

Star! (1968)

20th Century Fox

October 22, 1968

Historical Comedy, Musical

DVD
C-

The music isn't that memorable and the structure is choppy, so even Andrews's charisma can go only so far.  Robert Wise directed, in the midst of a busy career, including the superior Sound of Music.

The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music

20th Century Fox

April 1, 1965

Historical Drama, Musical, Romance

DVD
B-

I watched this often as a child (it's where I first heard of pink lemonade) and a few times as an adult.  The songs (well, the famous ones) remain catchy and the movie doesn't drag as much as some three-hour movies do.  But, well, I've never fallen in love with the film.  And this time I'm going to say it's because of Christopher Plummer.  I don't know if it's his acting, or the direction, or the writing, but I just don't buy his character, especially his dramatic turns, like changing his whole personality in the course of one song.  That said, the kids are pretty good and Julie Andrews is marvelous, and there's the scenery and set design.  So, yeah, B- and I'll probably watch it a couple more times before I die.

This is based on the book by the real Maria Von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, and directed by the prolific Robert Wise.

Run Silent Run Deep

Run Silent Run Deep

United Artists

March 27, 1958

War Drama

DVD
D+

The personal element helped this be a little less boring.  This is based on Edward L. Beach's novel and directed by Robert Wise.

I Want to Live!

I Want to Live!

United Artists

November 11, 1958

Drama

DVD
C-

I didn't care about the story but there's no denying Hayward's charisma.  The versatile Robert Wise directed.

The Hindenburg

The Hindenburg

Universal

December 25, 1975

Historical Drama

DVD
C

I enjoyed this more than I expected, although not enough to give it more than a quarter hour.  And the best part was the opening with the newsreels of course.  This is based on the Michael M. Mooney novel, and directed by Robert Wise.

The Haunting

The Haunting

MGM
22 August 1963

Horror

DVD
D+

I didn't care about the backstory or the modern set-up.  This is based on the Shirley Jackson novel The Haunting of Hill House, and directed by Robert Wise.

Born to Kill (1947)

Born to Kill (1947)
RKO
May 3, 1947
Crime Drama, Romance
DVD
B

This is one of those movies where I don't "like" anyone in it but I found them nonetheless fascinating to watch.  In particular, Claire Trevor as new divorcée Helen Trent manages to convey a wide range of emotions and motivations in one complicated and corrupt woman.  Lawrence Tierney, who was apparently typecast, as Sam Wilde is the more obvious sociopath, while her rottenness takes awhile to fully be exposed, and even then there are hints that she could possibly be redeemed.  (This is based on a book called Deadlier Than the Male, but RKO went with a more ambiguous title.)

I tagged as many people as I recognized (some of them, like Ellen Corby, in tiny roles), but of course I have to mention Esther Howard as Mrs. Kraft, a boozy old dame with a good heart.  Robert Wise did a fine job of directing, although this is very different than Sound of Music and other of his movies I've seen.