John Rico Movies
Diminutive pop star Prince plays another variation on the suave gigolo in this vanity piece. Set on the French Riviera, the story follows Christopher Tracy as he plays piano in a bistro and woos rich Continental ladies for dollars. Tracy and his accomplice Tricky (Jerome Benton of The Time), compete for the attention of a fabulously rich heiress (Kristen Scott Thomas), much to the dismay of her stodgy father (Steven Berkoff). The rest of the screen time is padded with songs and musical montages. ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi
- Starring:
- Prince, Steven Berkoff, (more)
- 1974
- PG
Set in the City of Light, this crime melodrama chronicles the attempts of a US drug agent to stop a major drug-lord. Though the agent realizes his three predecessors have been assassinated, and that the French government doesn't necessarily approve of the Yank's harassment of a French citizen, he is determined to succeed. Then a Parisian cop quietly suggests that Anthony Quinn himself hire an assassin to kill the drug lord. He thinks about it long and hard, before agreeing to it. Later he is shocked to learn that the assassin is an old war buddy. The hit man then works overtime to cozy up to the criminal and earn his trust. While he is doing that, the agent learns that events have changed and he must capture the drug lord alive. Unfortunately, he must first find a way to call off the professional killer before it is too late. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Michael Caine, (more)
Two girls fall into the hands of sadistic ship-wrecking pirates, then make a deal with the Devil to get revenge in this bloody horror film from cult director Jean Rollin. Filmed in a strange, expressionistic manner, the film once again solidifies Rollin's place as France's master horror stylist, even if his storylines leave much to be desired. It appears to move in a sort of convoluted dream-logic, with artifice taking precedence over coherence for much of the running time. The final revenge sequences are hauntingly effective, and those viewers who can forget traditional expository technique and just go with the flow are likely to find it chilling and memorable. Those simply looking for perversity will find it here too, as Joelle Coeur pleasures herself to the sounds of torture on a deserted beach. Though not for all tastes, Rollin's films certainly offer something different to jaded horror fans. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- 1971
In the fourth episode of a seven-part story arc, Samantha and Darrin are vacationing in Italy when Sam discovers that Esmerelda was the one who caused the tower of Pisa to lean way back in the 15th century. In endeavoring to make up for her past blunders, Esmerelda succeeds only in ruining the Pisa tourist trade. Everything is resolved by yet another "blast into the past," courtesy of Sam. Originally seen on October 6, 1971, "Samantha's Not So Leaning Tower of Pisa" was written by Ed Jurist. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick Sargent, (more)
- 1970
At least Angels Die Hard strives to be something different. The usual motorcyle bums are in attendance, but this time they're the heroes rather than the antagonists. The storyline, concerning a mine cave-in in a small community, bears traces of the 1931 German film Kammeradschaft. Though on the outs with the community, the bikers prove to be heroes as they aid in the rescue of the trapped miners. But don't be lulled into thinking that Angels Die Hard is family fare: it still carries an R rating. The familiar faces dotting the film's cast include R. G. Armstrong, William Smith (what would a biker flick be without William Smith?) and Dan "Grizzly Adams" Haggerty. Filmed in 1970, Angels Die Hard was not given a general release until 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, William Smith, (more)
- 1970
- R
Made on the heels of Paul Mazursky's Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, this cinematic experiment is one of the director's more personal films. With a big tip-'o-the-hat to Fellini's 8 1/2 (to make sure no one misses the references to the film, Federico Fellini appears in a cameo), Alex in Wonderland centers on a young director (Donald Sutherland) who feels compelled to follow his recent box-office hit with another blockbuster. While mulling over this dilemma, the director's mind wanders to his past, his present, and probable future. One of the film's memorable sequences involves a restaging of the Vietnam War in downtown Hollywood. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Donald Sutherland, Ellen Burstyn, (more)
- 1969
The Brain (Le Cerveau) is a tongue-in-cheek caper film with more twists and turns than a rural Oregon highway. David Niven plays The Brain, so named because it was he who mapped out the British Great Train Robbery (it says here). Now The Brain plans to lift a fortune in NATO money, which is being shipped by train from France to Belgium. Complicating matters are a pair of free-lance thugs (Jean-Paul Belmondo and Bourvil), who hope to steal The Brain's plans and claim the money for themselves. A plot device derived from The Lavender Hill Mob involves a 50-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty. An amusing closing-credits bit caps this exhilarating exercise. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bourvil, David Niven, (more)
- 1969
In this actioner, a government agent must stop a South American arms-smuggling operation that has been providing firearms to a fanatical sect in Texas. Along the way he meets a wanderer who helps the undercover agent join the gang. The drifter begins impersonating a sailor and meets a prostitute whose lover receives the smuggled arms. The sailor manages to hook up with the head smuggler. When he finds the agent stabbed and dying beneath a dock, the sailor realizes their whole cover is about to be blown. Still he helps the gun runner move the arms ashore; he then kills the ring leader and his gang, and blows up their ship. When he gets back on shore he finds that the hooker and her boyfriend have been killed. The wounded agent is very impressed with the drifter's good work and offers him more, but the drifter is disgusted by it all and wanders away. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
