Luana Alcaniz Movies
The Rally: Sturgis Uncensored documents the one week motorcycle extravaganza held every year in Sturgis, SD. The film features footage of bicycles as well as images of attractive biker women who tend to wear very little clothing. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Based on the Nobel Prize-winning novel by Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago covers the years prior to, during, and after the Russian Revolution, as seen through the eyes of poet/physician Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif). In the tradition of Russian novels, a multitude of characters and subplots intertwine within the film's 197 minutes (plus intermission). Zhivago is married to Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin), but carries on an affair with Lara (Julie Christie), who has been raped by ruthless politician Komarovsky (Rod Steiger). Meanwhile, Zhivago's half-brother Yevgraf (Alec Guinness) and the mysterious, revenge-seeking Strelnikoff (Tom Courteney) represent the "good" and "bad" elements of the Bolshevik revolution. Composer Maurice Jarre received one of Doctor Zhivago's five Oscars, with the others going to screenwriter Robert Bolt, cinematographer Freddie Young, art directors John Box and Terry Marsh, set decorator Dario Simoni, and costumer Phyllis Dalton. The best picture Oscar, however, went to The Sound of Music. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, (more)
- 1938
Sucedio en la Habana (It Happened in Havana) had to be the most ambitious Cuban film of the 1930s: in any event, it was one of the most successful. Mixing equal portions of music, comedy and romance, director Ramon Peon follows several festive protagonists on what amounts to a guided tour of Havana's celebrated nightspots. The huge cast consists of practically every "big name" of the Cuban stage and screen, and also calls upon the talents of a veritable battalion of songwriters. Indeed, one critic noted that the opening credits alone took four minutes to roll across the screen! Despite a huge budget and an all-star cast, the film is surprisingly shoddy at times; particularly badly handled are the song solos, which feature some of the clumsiest lip-synching ever captured on film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Luana Alcaniz, Juan Torena, (more)
- 1934
As a struggling young artist in the Philippines supports herself by reading poetry in unsavory bars, she falls in love with an American who has been temporarily blinded due to a beating received from some hooligans. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
- 1930
A Devil with Women is the best way to describe soldier-of-fortune Jerry Maxton (Victor McLaglen). At large in South America, Maxton romances anything in skirts, though he seems most attached to fair senorita Rosita (Mona Maris). Unfortunately for his libido, Maxton must contend with a band of Mexican bandits who, as capper to their other misdeeds, kidnap the heroine. Racing to the rescue are Maxton and his new pal, wastrelly rich man's son Tom Standish (a surprisingly clean-cut Humphrey Bogart, in his third film). Legend has it that A Devil with Women was supposed to be the opening volley in a McLaglen-Bogart series; thank heaven this didn't happen, else Casablanca would have starred Ronald Reagan after all. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victor McLaglen, Mona Maris, (more)
