the long memory (1953)

"Funny what tricks your memory plays on you isn't it."
Falsely imprisoned for murder on the testemony of a number of people, Phillip Davidson (John Mills) has only one thought once he finishes his sentance, revenge. But trailing him is Bob Lowther (John McCallum), the inspector who originally put him away, who is just as determined to get to the bottom of the case.
Fine use of little known parts of London, such as the marshes, add a distinct flavour to this fine crime drama.

it happened here (1965)

"Germany and England, united in strength."
The second world war continues, Germany far from being defeated have managed to take over Britain. Pauline (Pauline Murray) moves to London and tries to take up her pre-war occupation of being a nurse. But to do so she has to join the IA, a German government organisation. This makes her a collaborator, something she is loathed to be, but what is she to do? She has to work to eat.
The realistic feel of the film lends itself to drawing you into the premise of Britain as occupied country, and posing the question, 'what would one do if put into this position'?

diary for timothy (1945)

"And it was on the 3rd of September 1944 that you were born."
A psuedo documentary about Timothy, a baby born in the dying days of world war II, explaining to him about the war, and how it has affected those around him.
This film finds Jennings at the height of his powers, producing a propaganda film trying to lead the country into the post-war era, and the continued sacrifices that would be made in order to rebuild for the future. For Timothy's future.

village of the damned (1960)

"People, especially children, aren't measured by their IQ. What's important about them is whether they're good or
bad, and these children are bad."
The inhabitants of a small English village suddenly fall unconcious for a few hours. Then wake, apparently none the worse for their experience. But then all the women fall pregnant and unnaturally quickly give birth to blond-haired children. The children as well as looking alike, all seem to share a telekinetic link. Moreover they rapidly start to develop anti-social tendencies and frighten the authorities. What are they to do with children that seem to be able to read people's thoughts and can make them do their will?
A fine thriller starring George Sanders and Barbara Shelley, that builds tension slowly and inexerably.

undead or alive (2007)

"I thought cowboys were supposed to like being alone."
An army deserter (James Denton) and a cowboy (Chris Kattan) fall foul of a corrupt lawman. On the run they stumble into real trouble and a town full of zombies. Their only help may be a relative of Geronimo (Navi Rawat), who is looking to revenge his death.
A buddy comedy, with a fistful of jokes, most of which fall flat, makes for an ok zombie/western spoof, but nothing more.

zombie town (2007)

"We sure don't want those things spreading."
Smalltown Vermont, and Jake LaFond (Adam Hose) is confronted by his town being taken over by parasites that zombify all those they infect. With a town full of zombies and unable to get out of town, its Jake, and his ex-girlfriend Alex (Brynn Lucas), against the hoard.
Standard issue zombie flick, with just enough humour, and likeable characters, to keep things interesting.

the beyond (1981)

aka E tu vivrai nel terrore - L'aldilà. Seven Doors of Death.
"Woe be unto him that opens one of the seven gateways to hell, because through that gateway evil will invade the world."
Liza Merril (Catriona MacColl), a young woman inherits an broken down old hotel in the Louisiana swamps. She decides to spruce it up and reopen the place, but a series of accidents soon make her realise this is less of a gift than she thought, and may in fact be built over one of the seven gates of hell!
A goblin-esque score by Fabio Frizzi lifts this stylised, atmospheric and gory horror.

king kong (2005)

"And lo, the beast looked upon the face of beauty, and beauty stayed his hand. And from that day forward, he was as one dead."
New York in 1933 is in the midst of a depression and Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) finds herself an out of work vaudeville act. Until she bumps into Carl Denham (Jack Black), a scheming film producer who needs a size 4 actress, and she fits perfectly. Convinced to join him and his film crew, she finds herself on Skull Island, kidnapped and presented to Kong, a present of the tribe...
A masterful version of the film, adding another level of pathos with a back story and state of the art cgi.

king kong (1976)

"There is a girl out there who might be running for her life from some gigantic turned-on ape."
A petroleum exploration unit comes across an isolated island laden with crude oil, hostile natives and an even more hostile giant gorilla. When Dwan (Jessica Lange) is kidnapped and left as sacrifice to Kong, Jack Prescott (Jeff Bridges) having hit it off with her, decides that no gorilla is going to come between them, even a giant one.
Twisting the tale slightly, this is a fairly faithful retelling of the original kong, with added special effects. Though this doesn't add up to a better picture, it does prove to be an entertaining adventure.

king kong (1933)

"I see you've put on the "Beauty and the Beast" costume!"
A film crew travels to a tropical island in order to to shoot in an exotic location shoot and discovers more than they bargained for, a wild tribe. Then the tribe take a shine to the nubile blonde co-star Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) and kidnap her to sacrifice to their god Kong, a giant gorilla. With the gorilla captivated by Ann, the rest of the crew determine to rescue her...
A thrilling classic in the monster movie genre, brought to the screen by Willis O'Brien.

double agent 73 (1974)

"Toplar's agents are everywhere. Don't trust anybody."
Agent 99 uncovers the identity of drug kingpin Toplar, but dies before telling anything more than that Toplar has a scar. Agent 73 , Jane (Chesty Morgan) is sent in to continue the search...
Cheesecake flick that sets out to exploit the extremely large chest of the heroine. This could have been made as an example of how not to direct a film, but despite itself, or probably because of Wishman's peculiar style, it becomes a must see, just like a car wreck, you just cannot turn away!

adventures of a plumber's mate (1978)

"Do you mind switching it off."
Sid South (Christopher Neil) has acruied some serious gambling debts and tries to stay one step ahead of the loan sharks. Add in a sub-plot of some gold disguised as a toilet seat and you have the makings of a very unfunny british sex farce.
All I can say is this is a lackluster comedy that does no one any favours.

the first of the few (1942)

aka Spitfire.
"I want to build a fighter, the fastest and deadliest plane in the sky."
R.J. Mitchell (Leslie Howard) is an idealistic plane designer with dreams conquering the air. Only not everyone shares his desires. Geoffrey Crisp (David Niven), relates his story and that of the pinnicle of his design theories, the spitfire fighter plane.
This fictionalised account of Mitchell's life was Howards last on screen role, and very much a propaganda film, to bolster Britain's flagging morale, and as such plays a little fast and loose with chronology as well as the facts. But what the hey, we were at war and needed to win. Spitfire, the US version of the film was a re-edit, bolstering Niven's onscreen prescence.