In a Lonely Place (1950)

On the set: Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame & Nicholas Ray

New acquisition: In A Lonely Place (1950)

 

They Live by Night (1948)

 

An escaped convict, injured during a robbery, falls in love with the woman who nurses him back to health, but their relationship seems doomed from the beginning.

Excellent tough and romantic crime drama relentlessly drives its narratives and its heroes into their own doom.

Halliwell*: "Well-made if basically uninteresting melodrama with a draggy romantic interest; its 'realistic' yet impressionist style drew attention on its first release, and it was remade in the seventies as Thieves Like Us." 

Maltin***1/2: "Director Ray's first film is sensitive, well-made story...Set in 1930s, it avoids cliches and builds considerable impact instead."

 

 

New acquisition: Bigger Than Life

 

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Lightning Over Water (1980)

Wim Wenders visits his ailing friend Nicholas Ray to support him on a new film project, but rather documents the last days of Ray's own life.

From memory: Multi-faceted collaborative documentary is rich with cinematic details and insights, but is at times hard to watch due to Nicholas Ray's looming death.

Halliwell (no star): "Unique and uneasy, something for film buffs to chew over."

Roseanna McCoy (1949)

In the late 1800s, the longtime feud between the Kentucky McCoy family and the West Virginia Hatfields has lain dormant -- until Johnse Hatfield meets charming young Rosemary McCoy and falls in love. 

From memory: Dramatic, but average Western melodrama with a Romeo and Juliet kind of plot. 

Halliwell (no star): "Hillbilly Romeo and Juliet saga, a shade too cornfed despite the credits."

Maltin**: "Witless drama..."   

Macao (1952)

An American in exile in Macao, has a chance to restore his name by helping capture an international crime lord.

55 Days at Peking (1963)

Johnny Guitar (1954)

A strong-willed female saloon owner is wrongly suspected of murder and bank robbery by a lynch mob, when she helps a wounded gang member.

Fascinating no holds barred Western with the two female leads calling the cards in a confrontation overheated with an otherwordly hatred.

Halliwell*: "Weird Freudian Western notable for a running catfight between its lady protagonists; the title character is decidedly secondary. Not exactly a good movie, butmemorable because it's almost always over the top."

Maltin***1/2: "The screen's great kinky Western...Simply fascinating with symbolism rampant throughout."

They Live by Night (1948)

Flying Leathernecks (1951)

A Major leads The Wildcats squadron into the historic WWII battle of Guadalcanal.

Mediocre, violent and quite chauvinist flag waver which savours the air battle scenes.

Halliwell (no star): "Empty, violent war actioner full of phoney heroics."

Maltin***: "Solid, if not especially otiginal, WW2 actioner, with good aerial scenes and nice turnby Flippen as crafty sergeant."