Stephanie Farrow

 

Bio:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0268530/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Invasion, U.S.A. (1952)

 

A group of people at a bar witness the unfolding events of a Soviet invasion of the USA.

Cold war doomsday fantasy does the best with its low budget, but summed up it's mostly mediocre in all departments.

Halliwell (no star): "Ludicrous, dangerous, hilarious low-budget exploitationer composed mainly of rubber rocks and old newsreels."

Maltin*1/2: "Hopelessly cheap and ineffectual..." 

 

Jacques Rivette

 

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Rivette

New acquisition: M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder

 

Fanchon the Cricket (1915)

 

The Day Mars Invaded Earth (1962)

 

Martians replace a scientist and his family to pave way for their invasion.

Very cheaply made sci-fi thriller is not particularly exciting, but does its best with its low budget - which is not much.

Maltin*1/2: "A how-low-can-you-go budget results in a "space invasion" movie shot on one piece of property and with Earthlings and Martians played by the same few actors!" 

 

 

 

Fanny Brice

Als Hitler das rosa Kaninchen stahl (2019)

 

A Jewish family had to flee from the Nazis from Berlin. First, they flee to Zurich. From there it goes to Paris and finally to London.

Well-made, but a bit frumpy adaptation of the well-loved book by Judith Kerr is endearing with a good cast and excellent period detail.

8½ (1963)

 

On the set: Federico Fellini

Prime Time (2021)

 

On New Year's Eve 1999, an armed man enters a TV studio during a broadcast, takes the host hostage and makes one demand: to give a message live on air.

Above-average TV closed-room drama is suspenseful and profits from good performances. 

 

Marilyn Nash

 

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Nash

My Favorite Brunette (1947)

 

Shortly before his execution on the death row in San Quentin, amateur sleuth and baby photographer Ronnie Jackson, tells reporters how he got there.

Light-weighted, silly, but basically entertaining spoof of a Noir plot keeps the jokes coming, but is hardly a convincing parody of the genre.  

Halliwell*: "Pretty fair star vehicle which half-heartedly spoofs Farewell My Lovely."

Maltin***: "Better-than-usual Hope nonsense...Two very funny surprise cameos at beginning and end of film." 

Vargtimmen (1968)

 

The Color of Money (1986)

 

Fast Eddie Felson teaches a cocky but immensely talented protégé the ropes of pool hustling, which in turn inspires him to make an unlikely comeback.

Skillfully made continuation of the classic The Hustler is not among the director's best works, but is interesting and exciting enough to hold one's attention, due also to the excellent performances by Newman and Cruise.

Halliwell**: "Slackly told but consistently enjoyable adventures of Fast Eddie Felson in his older age." 

Maltin***: "Sharply made, nicely textured sequel...Hardboiled script by Richard Price, flamboyant camerwaork by Michael Ballhaus,, and top-notch performances by Cruise and especially Newman make this a must-see...though film's second half is protracted and disappointing, with a hoped-for climax that never occurs."