As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.

Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.

“Murder is always a mistake. One should never do anything that one cannot talk about after dinner.” —Oscar Wilde

Crime and Punishment. This classic 19th Century novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky has inspired 25 films. Its theme has probably inspired many more. The cat-and-mouse game between the culprit and the detective is standard fare for today’s movies. The act of murder and the psychology surrounding it continue to fascinate film goers. Here are some films that fascinated me:

Murder Most Foul (1964): In this Agatha Christie story, Dame Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple stars as a holdout on a jury. Her probing questions and exquisite eye will set the record straight.

Murder, My Sweet (1944): Dick Powell stars as Phillip Marlowe in this Raymond Chandler adaption. Powell is hired to find a gangster’s moll who may know where some money might be. Claire Trevor also stars.

Dial M for Murder (1954): Ray Milland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings are the mélange a trois in this Hitchcock offering. Milland plans the perfect murder, or does he? If you must watch the later version, please watch this one first.

Murder, Inc. (1960): During Prohibition a group of gangsters in Brooklyn formed the organization Murder, Inc. What chance does a lonely police officer have? Henry Morgan certainly tries. Watch for a young Peter Falk.

Murder in the First (1995): Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman and Christian Slater star in this prison film set at Alcatraz in the 30s. The question: Does prolonged solitary confinement promote extreme violence?

Little Murders (1971): Alan Arkin directs this very dark comedy starring Elliott Gould, Marcia Rodd, and Donald Sutherland. The movie is set in New York. The quirky story is by Jules Feiffer.

Murder by Death (1976): I told you about this one last month. It’s worth mentioning again. The funniest movie about murder there is.

Murder by Decree (1979): Christopher Plummer stars as super sleuth Sherlock Holmes. He’s supported by a great cast consisting of Donald Sutherland, John Gielgud and James Mason. Plummer is trying to find Jack the Ripper. Will the great man fail?

Witness to Murder (1954): How would you feel if you witnessed a murder and no one believed you? Barbara Stanwyck finds herself in this position. George Sanders and Gary Merrill costar.

Anatomy of a Murder (1959): This is a tour de force for James Stewart as an attorney defending Ben Gazzara. Lee Remick is Gazzara’s wife. A great movie.

A Murder of Crows (1999): I admit that I chose this film because I love the title. The movie’s not bad. Cuba Gooding, Jr., Tom Berenger and Eric Stoltz make up the cast. Plagiarism is the game.

Murder on the Orient Express (1974): Albert Finney as Poirot has his work cut out for him as a slew of characters are suspects in the murder of Richard Widmark. Widmark has a true knack for making enemies. The all-star cast includes Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, and Vanessa Redgrave. Sidney Lumet directed.

Murder by Numbers (2002): A light-weight murder mystery starring Sandra Bullock as a police detective. Ben Chaplin is her partner in this cat-and- mouse-themed tale. Hard to believe Bullock in a serious profession.

Sunset Murder Case (1938): The famous stripper Sally Rand stars as, guess what, an exotic dancer. She wants to find her father’s murderer. This film was originally titled Sunset Strip Case, but the censors forced the change. Pretty tame title, I think.

Slight Case of Murder (1999): William H. Macy plays a movie critic of questionable morals afraid of consequences of his lover’s accidental death. Enter sleazy private eye James Cromwell with thoughts of blackmail. Poor Adam Arkin, as the law, has to deal with this web of deceit.

Murder Cruise (1940): Crafty Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) follows a murderer aboard a cruise ship. No question the culprit will be caught.

(It has come to my attention that a crime is being committed: Tom Cruise is being considered to play Jack Reacher. Reacher is a recurring character in the popular Lee Child books. He has gravitas and height, 6feet 5 inches. Cruise has neither. Cruise can barely play Cruise. I am outraged at this casting. Anyone else?)

As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.

Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.

One last job and I’m out.

How many times have you heard this? And groaned because you knew something really bad was going to happen. The really good heist movie fools you along the way. The plots in the heist movie are more important than the actors. All you need are competent actors to tell the story. I love heist movies for their complex plots, dastardly betrayals, and clever twists and turns. Listed below are some of my favorites:

Heist (2001): Gene Hackman as the man-with-the-ultimate-back-up-plan stars in this cleverly plotted film. Buddies Delroy Lindo, Ricky Jay and Rebecca Pidgeon (his wife) must do one last job for villain Danny DeVito and his nephew Sam Rockwell. David Mamet wrote and directed this entertaining romp.

Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973): What’s a man to do? Robert Mitchum finds himself between a jail sentence and his bank robbing friends. He decides to become an informant for the police to stay out of jail. This classic also stars Peter Boyle.

The Bank Job (2008): This London bank heist film contains murder, scandal and corruption. Jason Statham has a lot on his hands.

The Usual Suspects (1995): Ah, this is possibly my favorite in this genre—great plot, good acting and a big surprise. It’s no wonder it won an Oscar for screenplay. Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Pete Postelwaite and several good actors keep you guessing. Who is KEYSER SöZE anyway?

The Killing (1956): That great non-actor Sterling Hayden masterminds this one-last-heist of a race track. This early Stanley Kubrick film also stars Vince Edwards and Elisha Cook.

Inside Man (2006): Clive Owen pulls off the perfect bank heist, much to the consternation of Denzel Washington. This Spike Lee film is a joy to watch.

The Asphalt Jungle (1950): This John Huston film garnered 4 Oscar nominations. Sterling Hayden, Sam Jaffe and cohorts rob a jewelry store, then greed causes a falling out. Watch for a young Marilyn Monroe.

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968): Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway play a cat-and-mouse game. McQueen as a bored wealthy man steals for the fun of it. Dunaway is the insurance agent trying to catch him out. Great music, chic clothes and little twists make this a good watch. The 1999 remake with Pierce Brosnan is okay but much softer.

Take the Money and Run (1969): And now for something completely different. As a failed crook, Woody Allen is hilarious. Focusing on a series of misfortunes, this mockumentary chronicles Allen making his way through life.

The Italian Job (1969): Michael Caine and Noel Coward are out for Chinese gold but get stuck in traffic. The result is a magnificent display of precision driving. The 2003 remake was a pale imitation.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975): Al Pacino needs money for partner John Cazale’s sex-change operation. A bank offers a solution, so on a hot day Pacino sets out to rob it. The pesky press stick their noses in. Confusion galore.

The Town (2010): Oscar winners Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner spearhead a bank heist. They get away, but only Affleck really wins, or does he? Good mood, acting and locations make this a better than average film.

The Anderson Tapes (1971): On a holiday weekend, Sean Connery, Christopher Walken, Martin Balsam and friends rob a posh apartment house in New York. In an era before ubiquitous surveillance cameras, the gang doesn’t realize that they are being filmed. Dyan Cannon provides the love interest.

Ocean’s Eleven (1960): Frank Sinatra and his rat pack rob a Las Vegas casino. Not a very good movie, but kind of fun.

Ocean’s Eleven (2001): The pretty-boy pack led by George Clooney rob a Los Vegas casino. Better than the original, but Julia Roberts was totally unnecessary.

Ocean’s Twelve (2004): The pack goes to Europe for a series of heists.

Ocean’s Thirteen (2007): The pack returns to Los Vegas for another robbery. They should learn to spend their money more wisely.

Oceans Fourteen (?): Whatever.

As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.

Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.

A horse walks into a bar and sits down. The bartender looks over and asks, “Why the long face?” Now, some of you will smile indulgently, some of you might chuckle, some of you might laugh, and some of you might say, “What?” This is my elaborate way of illustrating that humor is, like beauty, in the mind of the beholder. In writing about comedy in film, I will try to incorporate various types of humor. Please feel free to send your comments about your favorite comedy.

In addition, almost any movie starring the Marx Brothers, Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Billy Crystal and Cary Grant will be entertaining.

I’m splitting comedy into five categories: witty, amusing, laugh-out-loud, just-plain-crude and foreign.

Witty

The Thin Man (1930s) series. To me, this is the most witty, charming, entertaining series ever. The banter between William Powell and Myrna Loy is the height of sophistication. I used to dream about being able to come up with lines like those. I know Hollywood is flirting with making new ones, but I will never see them. How do you improve on perfection?

Next in line is Mae West. Her movie with W.C.Fields, My Little Chickadee (1940), is famous for the pairing of two great comedic actors. It’s a wonder the studio could contain them both. Although I used to think this duo starred in many films, this was their only one together (maybe the studio couldn’t). Mae West and Cary Grant made two memorable films together. She Done Him Wrong (1933) is famous for the one-liner: “Why don’t you come up and see me sometime?” delivered with obvious innuendo. In I’m No Angel (1933), she drawls out, “When I’m good, I’m very good. But when I’m bad, I’m better.”

Cary Grant stars again, this time with Rosalind Russell, in His Girl Friday (1940), about the fast-paced world of newspapers. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with the banter, but this is a film worth watching again and again.

In an unlikely pairing, Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort in Harold and Maude display bittersweet wit. This cult classic strays into the laugh-out-loud category and should not be missed.

Amusing

The amusing film displays a broader humor but is shy of laugh-out-loud status. It usually provokes a smile.

No Time for Sergeants (1958): Andy Griffith as a more-than-just-naïve army recruit hooks up with Nick Adams and Bruno Kirby to drive the brass crazy.

When Harry Met Sally (1989): “I’ll have what she’s having” —a great line delivered by none other than Carl Reiner’s wife lifts this romantic comedy above most others. Add Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan (before her disastrous face enhancements) and you’ve got amusing.

Some Like it Hot (1959): “Nobody’s perfect,” chimes Joe E. Brown to an alluring Jack Lemmon at the end of the film. Billy Wilder’s romp brings some very good comedic acting to the screen. The movie also stars Marilyn Monroe (which never hurts) and Tony Curtis.

Love and Death (1975): Woody Allen’s version of War and Peace is delightful. Great writing and Woody as Napoleon with Diane Keaton as the reluctant maiden earns a spot on this list.

Laugh Out Loud

The Odd Couple (1968): This Neil Simon movie starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau is hilarious. I remember laughing so hard my stomach hurt. It has aged well (or I have) and can still be watched with great enjoyment.

Murder by Death (1976): Another Neil Simon has a cast of Hollywood all-stars: David Niven, Maggie Smith, Peter Falk, Alec Guiness, Peter Sellers, James Coco, Elsa Lanchester, Eileen Brennan and author Truman Capote. “Tacky, really tacky,” responds Maggie Smith after learning what necrophilia means. And no one delivers a line like Maggie.

Mel Brooks’ films History of the World, Part I (1981), Young Frankenstein ((1974), The Producers (1968), Get Smart (1965) are among his best but the list goes on and on for 2000 years.

Leslie Neilson left behind his ingénue roles to become one of the wackiest actors of his time. Movies such as Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995), Airplane ((1988), and The Naked Gun series are all LOL films. And “don’t call me Shirley.”

Just Plain Crude

Most of the films in this category I couldn’t watch in their entirety. But I saw enough to realize they weren’t my kind of humor. Since they’re so prevalent nowadays, I must be in the minority.

Borat (2006): All the hype indicated that this was a funny film. I rented it and was so bored by what I saw, I stopped it before I fell asleep.

Pecker ((1998): This film hosted so much gratuitous nonsense it got sent back to Netflix immediately.

Hangovers I and II: I don’t understand why II should have been made. Didn’t the first one go far enough in crudity?

Dumb and Dumber((1994): Jim Carrey (who should be banned from making any movies) and Jeff Daniels (who can actually act) are together in dreck. Shrek would have been a better vehicle.

Foreign

It’s always fun to see what the rest of the world thinks funny. In these cases, I totally agree.

Johnny Stecchino (1991, Italy): Roberto Benigni in a very funny case of mistaken identity.

The Castle (1997, Australia): Australian actor Michael Caton stars in a funny, sweet and uplifting movie about a man’s home and property rights. Please see this movie.

My New Partner (1984, France): Phillippe Noiret plays an old-fashioned Parisian cop who is saddled with a fresh-from-the-provinces partner Thierry Lhermitte—and the corrupting begins. This is a funny and perfect little movie (it actually has an ending, which is a novelty in French films).

Kitchen Stories (2004, Norway): A funny and sweet film about a government worker sent to the farm of a Norwegian bachelor to follow his movements.

The Monty Python group (England) consisting of John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, and Graham Chapman) is an institution. Their movies such as Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983) display a deep understanding of what it means to be funny. For some reason, which I completely fail to understand, they are not universally appreciated.

As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.

Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.

“You have just entered the twilight zone.” This phrase from the television show would be appropriate for watching almost any science fiction movie. You know that what you’re watching can’t be real, but you sure enjoy the ride. You might be scared; you might be amazed; you might be delighted; sometimes you might laugh.

The Star Wars and Star Trek movies are my favorites. The stories and the technology were superb. I can watch them again and again.

When I started researching this genre I found way too many movies that I liked. So, I tried to pick some lesser known and offbeat movies. I might have to revisit this genre.


Here are the ones I picked:

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951): The original film is best. Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal star in this not-so-subtle plea for world peace. Here the aliens clearly have the upper hand as they have Washington, D.C. in their sights.

Forbidden Planet (1956): Leslie Nielson (way before he was a comic genius) as a starship captain who finds a paradise planet in a galaxy far, far away. Walter Pidgeon plays a doctor who has uncovered secrets that may or may not be helpful.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 and 1978): Both versions are well done, but I prefer the original. It’s darker and scarier. The term “pod people” has wormed its way into popular culture.

Them (1954): This is a film inspired by the atomic bomb. Radiation has mutated ordinary ants and other creatures into huge monsters. James Whitmore is the hero who battles them. This problem was of real concern at the time.

The Blob (1958): Another atomic-era film this time starring Steve McQueen. Our hero must battle a huge gelatinous blob. Scream, scream.

The Fly (1958 and 1986): Both versions are good, but here I prefer the second one. An experiment involving “beam me up, Scotty” matter transference has gone horribly wrong. Jeff Goldblum stars. Help me!

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): An unassuming power outage leads to an amazing and wonderful encounter. Richard Dreyfuss and Teri Garr co-star.

Dune (1984): A big, sprawling book leads to a big, sprawling film full of drama, intrigue and rather large worms. The battle is over power and spice. Kyle McLachlan and Sting star.

Planet of the Apes (2001): Charlton Heston, Mark Wahlberg, and Helena Bonham Carter star in this very clever and well-made film. The ending is perfect.

Illustrated Man (1969): This Ray Bradbury tale is fascinating and thoughtful. Before it was trendy, Rod Steiger was tattooed completely. Each tattoo has a story. Claire Bloom co-stars.

The Stepford Wives (1975 and 2004): Ira Levin is known for clever, spooky, delightful stories. Remember Rosemary’s Baby? In this tale, Katherine Ross and Paula Prentiss wonder about the wives of Stepford. They are perfect in every way. Eat your heart out Martha Stewart. I didn’t see the later version. No need to.

Marooned (1969): A precursor to Apollo 14, this film stars Richard Crenna, Gene Hackman and James Franciscus as astronauts sent to a space station to see how future astronauts would handle long space travels. Something goes wrong and David Jansen must rescue them.

The Thing from Another World (1951): In this version, James Arness and Kenneth Tobey star in a movie that scared me for years. A huge humanoid is found frozen in a block of ice. What will happen when he defrosts? Oh, my.

Angry Red Planet (1959): This movie is about an expedition to Mars--and a second mission to Mars. The cast is unremarkable, the dialogue less so, and the cheese is evident everywhere. Still, as a teenager watching this film in ’59, I loved it. The weird monsters and the red overlay during the Mars scenes captivated me.

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976): Considered a cult classic but not a great film, the “Man” is interesting to watch. David Bowie as the innocent alien is thrust into our world of sex, booze and rock and roll. Eventually he starts to forget his mission to take water to his dry and dying planet. Can we corrupt everyone?

Quintet (1979): This film starts nowhere and ends in the same place. The earth is frozen. A once-great city is reduced to a ruin in which inhabitants play a life and death game called quintet. Director Robert Altman sends Paul Newman into this situation. An international cast includes Vittorio Gassman (Italy), Bibi Andersson (Sweden) and Fernando Rey (Spain). If you’re a fan of Altman and Newman (I could watch him reading the telephone directory) you might want to see this. If not, ignore it.

The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954): Julie Adams and Richard Carlson travel to the Amazon. They stumble upon a black lagoon from which rises a scaly monster. The monster kills a bunch of people but our hero saves the damsel. Loved this movie.

As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.

Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.

It’s July and time for those silly summer movies. It’s time for light-hearted fun and thrills. From what I’ve been able to find, the idea of summer films started in the 70s. Before that, all genres of movies were released anytime of the year. The following list is based on what might have been.

I think the all-time great summer movie is Jaws. Released in 1975, it ruined ocean swimming for an entire summer—maybe for even longer. It starred Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw engaged in an epic war with an aggressive Great White Shark. The soundtrack is still used to instill terror.

The Seven-year Itch (1955): Tom Ewell is a book editor whose family has gone to Maine for the summer. Marilyn Monroe distracts him. Remember that white dress. Who doesn’t?

Summer Stock (1950): The famous barn show. The film stars Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. Good music and great dancing--innocent fun.

Summertime (1955): This movie starring Katherine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi is a tale of a forbidden love. It is set in romantic Venice. What lonely spinster could resist Brazzi?

A Summer Place (1959): This sappy movie with its sappy soundtrack was a big hit. The adult stars were Richard Egan, Constance Ford and Dorothy McGuire, while the youngsters were Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue. There’s enough passion for several summers.

State Fair (1945): This post-war musical stars singer Dick Haymes and Jeanne Crain as brother and sister who find love and romance during a state fair. Music is by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Summer of ’42 (1971): A typical coming-of-age film set during World War II. Jennifer O’Neill and Gary Grimes star.

Blue Hawaii (1961): Elvis Presley just wants to have fun after serving as a soldier. Mama Angela Lansbury wants him to go to work on their pineapple plantation. Presley ignores her and sings and dances his way through the movie. Typical Presley film is good fun for a summer’s day.

Men in Black (1961): Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith star as government agent and cop, respectively, assigned to stop an alien attack. Also starring are Vincent Donofrio as a villain, Rip Torn, Linda Fioretino, and Tony Shalhoub. This is an entertaining and funny film.

Rear Window (1954): Poor James Stewart has broken his leg and is confined to a wheelchair in this thrilling Hitchcock murder mystery. Fortunately, Grace Kelly is on hand to keep his spirits up. Raymond Burr is the heavy—literally.

Meat Balls (1979): In this cult classic, wild and crazy guy Bill Murray plays a caring camp counselor who works with shy camper, Chris Makepeace, who in turn helps Murray with a female camp counselor. If you like Murray, this could be good fun.

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983): Chevy Chase and family are determined to get to theme park Wally World on their vacation. Of course, nothing is easy and they encounter goofy characters and mishaps along the way. Do they make it? Rent the movie and see.

Independence Day (1996): A blockbuster summer movie that is actually good. Pilot Will Smith and mad scientist Jeff Goldblum team up to save the earth from total annihilation. Fast action and stunning special effects make this a movie worth seeing.

And, don’t forget the Gidget movies.

Some of these oldies might look good to you, especially if you consider the current crop of summer movies, such as Transformers, The Tree of Life, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, Thor, Hangover II, and The Green Lantern, which I don’t expect to see. The kids’ movies Kung Foo Panda II and Cars II look pretty good.

As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.

Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice.

It’s night and the only light comes from a flickering hotel sign. Rain has slicked the streets. A shot is heard. Cut to a dim, shabby room. The body of a man lies bleeding on the worn carpet. Standing over him is a beautiful blonde with a gun in her hand and a smile on her face. The director yells, “Cut, print.” Another film noir classic has been born.

What is film noir? The definitive answer is still being discussed. Strictly speaking, it is a dark film. Dark in the way it is photographed and dark in the story it presents. The term was coined by French critic Nino Frank in 1946. Hollywood was unaware that its stylish dark films had been dubbed as film noir by him until much later. For purposes of this blog, I will limit myself to a narrow definition: a film that is shot in black and white; a story that has as its hero (or anti-hero) a tough, flawed, cynical yet vulnerable cop, private eye, drifter, or insurance salesman; a heroine who is just as tough with not a sentimental bone in her beautiful body. Add some shady-looking villains and some money (or a black bird) to die over and you have the makings of a film noir.

Some examples of my favorite films noir:

The Maltese Falcon (1941): Probably the perfect noir. John Huston directs the Hammett story. Bogart stars as Sam Spade. Mary Astor, Sidney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre fill out the cast. Truly “the stuff that dreams are made of.”

Double Indemnity ((1944): Fred McMurray plays an insurance salesman who falls for the bad and beautiful Barbara Stanwyck. The problem is how to get rid of the lady’s husband.

Out of the Past (1947): Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and Kirk Douglas are the trio in my favorite noir. Be prepared for the unexpected.

Touch of Evil (1958): Charlton Heston plays (of all things) a Mexican detective on a honeymoon with Janet Leigh. But soon she is abandoned in a sleazy motel room while Heston and Orson Wells do their thing. Watch for Marlene Dietrich in a cameo role.

The Big Sleep (1946): Aah. Bogart and Bacall star in Raymond Chandler’s story of blackmail. The dialogue is the best thing.

Pickup on South Street (1953): Richard Widmark and Jean Peters in a political noir. There are secrets being passed. Who will they end up with? Richard Kiley costars.

Murder, My Sweet (1944): Adapted from Raymond Chandler’s novel, Farewell, My Lovely, this noir stars Dick Powell and Claire Trevor. Powell as Phillip Marlowe is hired to find Velma, who hasn’t been seen for way too long. Why do they want her?

Kiss Me Deadly (1955): Things get steamier in Mickey Spillane’s novels. This noir, starring Ralph Meeker as Mike Hammer, has our hero delving into matters he probably shouldn’t. Cloris Leachman plays a pivotal role as a hitchhiker who ends up dead.

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946): Oh, those pesky husbands. This time it’s Lana Turner who needs to lose hers so she can keep hunky John Garfield. Even Hollywood was shocked by this noir from a story by James Cain.

Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950): Dana Andrews as an insecure cop, Gary Merrill as a gangster, and Gene Tierney as the love interest in a complicated tale of murder. Andrews and Tierney are together again after starring in the terrific Laura (Otto Preminger won the Oscar for Best Director).

Gilda (1946): Glenn Ford, Rita Hayworth and George Macready star in this noir set in South America. Beautiful Hayworth vamps her way into a dangerous trio with Ford and Macready. Her song numbers set the tone.

Human Desire (1954): Sultry Gloria Grahame falls for Korean War vet Glenn Ford. Oops, she already has a husband she’ll need to get rid of. But he knows a thing or two about murder.

There are literally hundreds of films noir available. Go hunt them down. You’ll find English ones, French ones and Spanish ones. These are but a few of my favorites

But beware, there are a lot of fakes out there, such as Arson, Inc. and Loan Shark. If it has a happy ending, it’s not film noir.

As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.

Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. I hope to hear from you.

To complete the two-part series on Westerns, this month I will talk about villains and sidekicks. These actors seldom win any prizes but put in just as good performances as the heroes. They provide comic relief. Sometimes they act as moral compasses to the heroes. Without sidekicks and villains, there are no Westerns. So, let’s hear it for those nasty varmints and those trusty sidekicks.

Those Nasty Varmints

Jack Elam. Who can forget that face? Leering and ogling, scruffy, clothes full of trail dirt, you knew the first moment you saw him that he was up to no good. He lost the fight in several classic Westerns, such as:
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). Only Henry Fonda was a worse bad guy.
Rio Lobo (1970). With John Wayne, Dean Martin, Walter Brennan, and Ricky Nelson, how could he win against this crew?
The Far Country (1955). James Stewart must become devious to regain his herd of cattle. Elam and his cronies don’t make it easy.
The Way West (1967) Poor Elam has to face Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum and Richard Widmark in this wagon train story.
Check him out in The Comancheros, The Battle at Apache Pass, The High Lonesome, and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.


Bruce Dern. He will forever live in ignominy for shooting John Wayne in The Cowboys, one of a very few films in which Wayne died. He was almost the dirtiest, scruffiest, nastiest villain you could ever meet.
The Cowboys (1972). Wayne is forced to use young boys to drive his cattle. Dern tries to stop him, but in killing Wayne he has to take on these hardened youths. Shame on you, Bruce.
Posse (1975). Marshall Kirk Douglas captures bandit Dern, but Dern doesn’t stay caught.
Will Penny (1968). Aging cowboy Charleton Heston (in one of his best roles) must fight nasty Dern and his cohorts. At the end of a cattle drive he must find work. And there is a woman involved, of course.

Eli Wallach. He didn’t make a lot of Westerns, but he was certainly nasty in the ones he did make. For some reason, he was cast as a Mexican bandit. He was ruthless and provocative in both films.
Magnificent Seven (1960). This is one of my all-time favorites. Fabulous cast. Stirring music. Good villain. Wallach is head of a gang of bandits who prey on a small Mexican village. That is, until Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen round up a small group of fierce fighters to protect it.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). This is a classic with the best shootout ever filmed. Clint Eastwood plays the good; Lee van Cleef plays the bad; and Eli Wallach plays the ugly (although he is rather bad also).

Jack Palance. His most memorable role as a Western villain was in Shane. He had a villainous face, which made it easy for him to play a varmint. He was not only a varmint, he was a really scary one.
Chato’s Land (1971). Charles Bronson plays an Indian; Jack Palance leads a posse determined to get him. Don’t make a mistake, Palance is the villain here.
Shane (1953). Alan Ladd is a retired gunfighter who’s given a home by Jean Arthur. Jack Palance is the evil gunfighter sent to kill him. Who can forget the sad but appropriate ending?

Lee van Cleef. This swarthy, hawk-faced actor was born to make Westerns and to be the bad guy. He had an intimidating presence that made you glad it was only a movie. He was in For a Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly with Clint Eastwood. Another spaghetti Western was Death Rides a Horse (1968).
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). In this classic Western, van Cleef rides with Lee Marvin, who as Liberty Valance poses a threat to peaceable James Stewart. The man who shot Liberty Valance may not be who you think.

Those Trusty Sidekicks

Gabby Hayes. The grandfather of sidekicks, George “Gabby” Hayes must have made more than a hundred movies. He sidekicked for Wild Bill Elliott, Roy Rogers and John Wayne, among others. With his loveable personality, he often stole the show.
Tall in the Saddle (1944). John Wayne and Gabby take on tough Ella Raines to solve a murder.
Return of the Bad Men (1948). Gabby as a bank president and Randolph Scott as a former Texas ranger have to clean up the bad guys in Oklahoma Territory. Robert Ryan plays the Sundance Kid (very differently from Robert Redford). Look for Jason Robards in a minor role.
Roll on Texas Moon (1946). Gabby teams with buddy Roy Rogers to help sort out a battle between cattlemen and sheepmen.

Walter Brennan. He plays his sidekicks as crusty old guys. He is still loveable.
Rio Bravo (1959). Brennan plays “Stumpy,” a crippled aide to John Wayne. Together with Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson the crew must fight off the bad guys who are trying to free one of them from the jailhouse.
The Westerner (1940). Brennan won an Oscar for his portrayal of Judge Roy Bean. Gary Cooper plays a mysterious drifter who rides into trouble in Texas.

Andy Devine. The big guy with the high-pitched voice. He could whine with the best of them, but he sure provided the comic relief.
Stagecoach (1939). This classic also starred John Wayne (Ringo Kid), Claire Trevor, and John Carradine. A bunch of mismatched travelers must put aside their differences and fight the Apaches.
When the Daltons Rode (1940). The Daltons enlist the help of Randolph Scott to fight off developers. Devine plays the town comic. The girls like him and he has a penchant for pies.
Grand Canyon Trail (1948). Andy and Roy Rogers must find a way to salvage a failing silver mine or Roy will go broke.
The Gallant Legion (1948). Andy teams with Wild Bill Elliott (a Texas Ranger) to help Texas become a state.

Other sidekicks of note include Arthur Hunnicut (El Dorado, 1966), Pat Buttram (Apache Country, 1952) and Ben Johnson (She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, 1949).