Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)

In a totalitarian future society, a man whose daily work is rewriting history tries to rebel by falling in love.

Accurately gloomy and defeatist adaptation of Orwell's classic dystopian novel has some good post-war settings and a good cast; the pessimistic vision, unfortunately, is as valid as ever nowadays.

Halliwell*: "Pointless, perhaps, to make a prophetic film in the year it was supposed to be prophesying, but this version adds a few twists to Orwell's nightmarish original and is well if sometimes confusingly made."

Maltin***: "Appropriately grim, well-cast version...Superior to the 1956 version, though the oppressive gloominess of  the second half does wear you down. Seedily impressive production design."

Odd Man Out (1947)

A wounded Irish nationalist leader attempts to evade police following a failed robbery.

Very comparable to Reed's later masterpiece The Third Man, this a brilliant existentialist drama that fascinates with its Expressionist photography, the Belfast settings and a great cast, especially James Mason in the lead role.

Halliwell***: "Superbly crafted but rather empty dramatic charade, visually and emotionally memorable but with nothing whatever to say."

Maltin****: "Incredibly suspenseful tale...Watch this one!"

The Blue Lagoon (1949)

Two children are shipwrecked on a desert-island and fall in love while growing up together.