Showing posts with label Cyril Frankel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cyril Frankel. Show all posts

9.8.14

on the fiddle (1961)

aka Operation snafu. Operation War Head.
"You don't know yet, but I'm here to diddle ya!"
Cockney wide-boy Horace Pope (Alfred Lynch) ends up in the army as a way to avoid jail when caught peddling stolen goods. Once in Pope befriends the easy going Pedlar Pascoe (Sean Connery), who is more than willing to join in Popey's scams. But when the two end up in France, all Popey's wheeler-dealing cannot avoid the oncoming Germans.
Charming enough if you like the main characters.

27.11.10

never take sweets from a stranger (1960)


aka never take candy from a stranger.
"You think I should think objectively when someone has tried to corrupt my daughter?"
Peter Carter (Patrick Allen) moves with his wife and daughter to a small town in Canada, to take up his dream job, as school headmaster. But the dream soon turns into a nightmare when it turns out that his employers father, a founding father of the town, may be a Paedophile...
Startingly dramatic turn from Hammer, moving away from their standard horror/adventure fare, as it follows the aftermath of the event, and how the town closes ranks against the disruptive in-comers.

8.12.09

the witches (1966)

aka The Devil's Own.
"After the blow be struck, give me the skin for dancing in."
Gwen (Joan Fontaine) an English teacher in Africa who tangles with the local witch doctor, and suffers a nervous breakdown. Back in England she takes a post at a school in a small village, run by Alan Bax (Alec McCowen) and his sister Stephanie (Kay Walsh). But soon she starts witnessing strange events, and begins to suspect she is surrounded by witchcraft and the coven has selected one of her students for sacrifice.
Adapted by Nigel Kneale from a novel The Devil's Own, the film manages to lack the suspence and unease necessary to make this an effective horror. But saying that it still manages to maintain the viewers interest as a solid low key thriller.