as long as they're happy (1955)

"She's not brazen, dear. She's blonde. You must get yourself some glasses."
Teenager Gwen (Janette Scott) tricks the singing star Bobby (Jerry Wayne) into visiting her house. He in turn is charmed by her kooky family and they challenge the father, John (Jack Buchanan), to become more spontanious.
A charming ensemble cast make an endearing comedy from what is a hodge-podge of ideas in this pre-rock and roll screwball farse and watch out for Diana Dors as an It girl.

the yellow balloon (1953)

"Think what the police will think about it?"
Young Frankie (Andrew Ray) is accidental involved in the death of a friend, and a crook (William Sylvester) exploits his guilt using it to blackmail the kid.
Nice thriller that unerringly builds the tension to its conclusion.

eye of the devil (1966)

aka 13.
"I thought it was the most frighening place, almost like you were back in the middle ages."
A French winemaker (David Niven) is under pressure due to a series of disasterous harvests. His family start to worry about him, especially when they find him employing pagan rituals in a desperate attempt to save the crops, pressured into it by the local witch (Sharon Tate).
A star studded cast, including Deborah Kerr, David Hemmings, Donald Pleasence and Flora Robson, cannot make up for an uneven, and only mildly chilling horror. Best remembered as a precursor to The Wicker Man - using essentially the same central plot device.

battle for the planet of the apes (1973)

"Stop! Stop! Caesar forbids yoooooou!"
Ten years after the apes takeover of the planet, and Caesar (Roddy McDowall) is having problems maintaining peace between the apes and man; hindered by militant gorilla and human factions intent on fermenting civil war, in order to snatch power for themselves.
The fifth and final film of the series is befuddling but entertaining, don't expect it to explain the actions of the previous films, in what looks more like a pilot for the tv series.

yield to the night (1956)

aka Blonde Sinner.
"Supposing I had never met Jim, none of this would have happened, or would it?"
Mary Hilton (Diana Dors) kills a woman in cold blood, and ends up on death row. As she awaits her end her story unfolds. One where Mary falls for Jim (Michael Craig), but he is obsessed and tormented by Lucy: a rich and aloof young woman who dangles him on a string. Finally Jim cracks, committing suicide, and with Lucy showing no remorse for driving him to this, Mary determines to find her...
Dors, an actress accustomed to bombshell parts, is finally given something to get her teeth into, and doesn't betray the trust placed in her, delivering an understated and chilling performance. A classic performance framed by assured direction.

the weak and the wicked (1954)

aka Young and Willing.
A well to do woman, Jean Raymond (Glynis Johns) is sent to prison for fraud. Once inside the various inmates, including Betty Brown (Diana Dors), relate their tales of hardship and misery. How will she take to the repressive Victorian prison, or the open prison to which she is sent to see out her sentence?
What was a true life critique of prison life, in the book, is made into a lighter and at times comedic film, with cameo's such as Sid James as an inveterate shop-lifter. An opportunity missed, but it still makes for an entertaining 90 minutes.