John Costello Movies
Having previously portrayed England's Queen Elizabeth I in 1939's The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Bette Davis reprises the role in the Technicolor-and-Cinescope costumer The Virgin Queen. Harry Brown and Mindret Lord's screenplay proposes that Elizabeth's relationship with adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd) was somewhat more than cordial. Raleigh is depicted as a charming opportunist, who deliberate leads the Queen on in order to further his chances of heading an expedition to the New World. Complications ensue when Sir Walter falls in love with lady-in-waiting Beth Throgmorton (Joan Collins). Not to be believed for a single moment, The Virgin Queen works well on a swashbuckler level, with Davis outacting everyone in sight-even such veteran scene-stealers as Herbert Marshall, Dan O'Herlihy, and Jay "Caligula" Robinson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bette Davis, Richard Todd, (more)
- 1952
Not up to the classic 1935 presentation, this is still an excellent adaptation of Victor Hugo's epic novel. The familiar characters of Valjean and Javert and the agonies of injustice are all portrayed convincingly against a backdrop of 18th century France. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Rennie, Debra Paget, (more)
Love Nest is a thoroughly likeable formula comedy with a most engaging cast. William Lundigan plays Jim Scott, an aspiring writer who, together with his wife Connie (June Haver), moves into the basement of an apartment building that they've bought. Scott's hopes to keep financially solvent are thwarted by the everyday travails of maintaining the building and ministering to the needs of the tenants. The episodic plotline settles on the activities of charming con artist Charley Patterson (Frank Fay), who targets tenant Eadie Gaynor (Leatrice Joy) as his latest victim. When Patterson is finally arrested, he generously offers to tell his life story to Scott, thereby launching the latter's writing career in earnest. Love Nest was frequently revived throughout the 1950s and 1960s because of the supporting-cast presence of future sex symbol Marilyn Monroe and TV talk host Jack Paar. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- June Haver, William Lundigan, (more)
- 1949
Bejabbers! Sure an' some heathen has gone and stolen the Blarney Stone. Yes, Top O' the Morning is set in Ireland, or at least Hollywood's idea of Ireland. American detective Bing Crosby arrives on the Auld Sod to investigate the theft of the Stone, while the local constabulary, represented by Barry Fitzgerald (his third teaming with Crosby) and Hume Cronyn, assist Bing in his inquiries. Cronyn turns out to be the heavy of the piece, but Crosby is too busy romancing leading colleen Ann Blyth to concern himself. The "faith 'n' begorrah" business is spread a bit too thick in Top O' the Morning, but not as thick as Barry Fitzgerald's near-impenetrable brogue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, (more)
