Ride the Wild Surf (1964)

Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)

The world is shocked by the appearance of three talking chimpanzees, who arrived mysteriously in a U.S. spacecraft; they become the toast of society; but one man believes them to be a threat to the human race.

Stalag 17 (1953)

When two escaping American World War II prisoners are killed, the German POW camp barracks black marketeer is suspected of being an informer.

A typical Billy Wilder mixture of humor and drama, an ensemble piece,  highly entertaining, but politically a bit dubious, if not dated.

Halliwell**: "High jinks, violence and mystery in a sharply calculated mixture; an atmosphere quite different from the understated British films on the subject."

Maltin****: "The pinnacle of all WW2 POW films...Wilder brilliantly blends drama with comedy to show monotonous, anxiety-ridden life of POWs."

The Final Countdown (1980)

A modern aircraft carrier is thrown back in time to 1941 near Hawaii, just hours before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

On the surface a silly time-travel story wasting talent and presenting bad special effects; in reality it's a commercial for the U.S. Navy.

Halliwell*: "Quite an enjoyable bit of schoolboy science fiction, but containing no more body than an episode of Twilight Zone. The ending, as so often, is impenetrable."

Maltin***: "Familiar but satisfying fantasy yarn; perfect TV fare although better viewed in widescreen."