The Strange One (1957)

 

 

Students faced with an ethical dilemma about the dehumanization associated with the tradition of hazing, at a military college in the Southern United States, take matters in their own hands.

 

Unusual military academy drama with some debut performances of Actors Studio including an especially vicious Be Gazzara is clearly stage-bound but suspenseful.

 

Halliwell*: "A weird and unsavoury but rather compelling melodrama which unreels like a senior version of Tom Brown's Schooldays." 

Maltin***: "Bizarre military school account of far-out Gazzara's peculiar hold over various underclassmen."

Norma Rae (1979)

A young single mother and textile worker agrees to help unionize her mill despite the problems and dangers involved.

From memory: Good political drama is more well-intentioned than effective, but is well staged and Sally Field is excellent in the title role.

Halliwell*: "Well-intentioned and well-acted pamphlet of political enlightenment with an inevitably ambivalent attitude."

Maltin***: "Field is excellent in Oscar-winning performance...Entertaining, though entirely believable..."

Elvis (1979)

Biographical movie about the famous rock singer Elvis Presley.

From memory: A simple, straightforward TV biopic is actually pretty good, and Kurt Russell does convince impersonating "The King".

Bloody Mama (1970)

Machine gun totin' Ma Barker leads her family gang (her sons) on a crime spree in the Depression era.

The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)

The true story of a disillusioned military contractor employee and his drug pusher childhood friend who became walk-in spies for the Soviet Union.

An otherwise interesting story is treated mysteriously indifferent. It's not ever clear what the point's supposed to be.

On renewed viewing: Good performances, well-made, but one still wonders about the protagonists' (and the director's) motivations.

Halliwell (no star): "A true case is made to seem not merely impossible but uninteresting by flaccid cinematic treatment."

Maltin**1/2: "Much food for thought, but we never get to share Hutton's feelings, and that keeps this well-made film somewhat aloof. Standout: Penn's performance as a desperate, amoral, drugged-out kid."

Splendor in the Grass (1961)

A fragile Kansas girl's unrequited and forbidden love for a handsome young man from the town's most powerful family drives her to heartbreak and madness.

A melodrama about sexualanxieties among adolescents is well staged, but some of the performances are over the top and the topic is quite dated by modern standards.

Halliwell*: "Impressive though curiously unmemorable addition to a nostalgic young sex cycle which was already played out; production and performances well up to scratch."

Maltin***: "Sentimental sudster..."