The Lineup (1958)

 

In San Francisco, a psychopathic gangster and his mentor retrieve heroin packages carried by unsuspecting travelers. 

Leave it to Don Siegel to turn a regular police investigation story into a tough, tense thriller skillfully photographed on real locations with a highly suspenseful ending.

Halliwell*: "Energetic, polished movie version of a popular TV series, San Francisco Beat." 

Maltin**1/2: "Cult favorite with fans of director Siegel, despite the fact that it's a pretty ordinary police procedural."

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

On the set: Dana Wynter

Hell Is for Heroes (1962)

Small squad must hold off German attack.

Tightly directed, tough war drama with good cast doesn't really add much to the genre, but is quite watchable.

Halliwell*: "Fairly routine anti-war film with a strong cast and effectively-directed moments battling a generally artificial look."

Maltin***: "Tough, taut WW2 film...Takes its time getting started but builds in intensity to a riveting climax. Only incongruous note: young Newhart, who even interpolates a variation on one of his telephone monologues into the story!"

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

When seeds drift to earth from space, mysterious pods begin to grow and invade a small town, replicating the residents one body at a time. 

Strangely, I keep reading that this quite efficient horror thriller is a remake of the old classic, but it actually is a straight continuation which even includes the ending of that movie re-staged with the same actor.

On rewatching: excellent sci-fi horror, one of the best of the 1970s.

Halliwell: "Flashy updating of the 1956 classic, mistakenly set in a big city and confusingly unravelled, with nobody for the audience to empathize with. Its nicest effect is to have Kevin McCarthy appear in a cameo."

Maltin***: "Chilling remake of 1956 classic with many new twists and turns; unfortunately, it runs out of steam and offers one climax too many."

Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

Three daring men make a possible successful attempt at escaping from one of the most infamous prisons in the world.

From memory: Upright, concise and dark reconstruction of a still mysterious escape also gives a realistic portrayal of prison life on the island.

Halliwell*: "A dour, terse, depressing prison movie which makes an uncomfortable star vehicle and not very much of an entertainment, but does preserve a certain integrity right to its ambiguous ending."

Maltin***: "Straightforward, methodical telling of true story...Vivid and credible throughout."

The Beguiled (2017)

The unexpected arrival of a wounded Union soldier at a girls school in Virginia during the American Civil War leads to jealousy and betrayal.

A remake of Don Siegel's movie of the same title with all the good parts left out; the intention of transforming the story into an example of feminine solidarity backfires by omitting all racial, erotic and social subtexts.

The Beguiled (1971)

While imprisoned in a Confederate girls' boarding school, an injured Union soldier cons his way into each of the lonely women's hearts, causing them to turn on each other, and eventually, on him.

Unusual misanthropic psychodrama, effectively staged in a Southern period setting and with some good performances.

On renewed viewing: Despite the sexual tension and amiguities of the plot the movie is very straightforward in its approach.

Halliwell*: "Eccentric melodrama which does not really work despite its credentials and patient work all round."

Maltin***: "Offbeat, methodically paced story...Unusual Eastwood fare, but for patient viewers. a rich, rewarding film."

The Beguiled (1971)

While imprisoned in a Confederate girls' boarding school, an injured Union soldier cons his way into each of the lonely women's hearts, causing them to turn on each other, and eventually, on him.

Unusual misanthropic psychodrama, effectively staged in a Southern period setting and with some good performances.

Halliwell*: "Eccentric melodrama which does not really work despite its credentials and patient work all round."

Maltin***: "Offbeat, methodically paced story...Unusual Eastwood fare, but for patient viewers. a rich, rewarding film."

An Annapolis Story (1955)

Two brothers, enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy on the verge of the Korean War, fall in love with the same girl.