Hollywood Story (1951)

 

During the 1950s Hollywood, an independent producer unwisely opens a can of worms when he decides to make a movie about the 1929 unsolved murder of a famous silent-film director.

Competent crime mystery with an intriguing Hollywood plot is vivid and fairly suspenseful; a more straight attempt by horror expert William Castle.

Halliwell*: "Adequate potboiler with a reasonably absorbing plot and glimpses of silent stars."

Maltin++1/2: "Loaded with potential that's mostly unrealized. Strongest asset is location filming around Hollywood and the old Chaplin studio."

 

The Godfather (1972)

 

The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.

A flawless epic with mastery to be found in all parts, a true cinema classic.

On re-watching: every new reviewing reveals more fascinating details and more context in the narrative.

Halliwell****: "A brilliantly-made film with all the fascination of a snake pit: a warm-hearted family saga except that the members are thieves and murderers. Cutting would help, but the duller conversational sections do heighten the cunningly judged moments of suspense and violence."

Maltin****: "The 1970s' answer to GONE WITH THE WIND, from Mario Puzo's novel...Pulp fiction raised to the highest level; a film of epic proportions, masterfully done, and set to Nino Rota's memorable music. Absolutely irresistible."

 

Un urlo dalle tenebre (1975)

A priest becomes involved in demonology and exorcisms.

The Godfather (1972)

The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.

A flawless epic with mastery to be found in all parts, a true cinema classic.

I watch the Godfather trilogy at least once a year; nothing to add to my previous comment.

Halliwel****: "A brilliantly-made film with all the fascination of a snake pit: a warm-hearted family saga except that the members are thieves and murderers. Cutting would help, but the duller conversational sections do heighten the cunningly judged moments of suspense and violence."

Maltin****: "The 1970s' answer to GONE WITH THE WIND, from Mario Puzo's novel...Pulp fiction raised to the highest level; a film of epic proportions, masterfully done, and set to Nino Rota's memorable music. Absolutely irresistable."

Call Northside 777 (1948)

A Chicago reporter re-opens a ten year old murder case.

Captivating and superbly cast crime drama, a bit long, but always holds one's interest.

Halliwell**: "Overlong semi-documentary crime thriller based on a real case. Acting and detail excellent, but the sharp edge of Boomerang is missing."

Maltin***1/2: "Absorbing drama...handled in semi-documentary style."

The Godfather (1972)

On the set: John Cazale, Marlon Brando, Richard Conte and Francis Ford Coppola

The Big Combo (1955)

A police lt. is ordered to stop investigating a deadly crime boss, because he hasn't been able to get any hard evidence against him, so he goes after the criminal's girlfriend, who despises him, for information instead.

Cry of the City (1948)

The story of two tenement-bred, Italian-American, childhood-friends who grow up with radically different views on crime, and are pitted against each other while following their chosen paths.

The Blue Gardenia (1953)

A telephone operator ends up drunk and at the mercy of a cad in his apartment, and the next morning she wakes up with a hangover and the terrible fear she may be a murderess.

The Godfather (1972)

 

The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.