Jan Read Movies
- 1953
Blood Orange is an early effort from the British "shock shop" of Hammer Films. Hollywood's Tom Conway stars as a former FBI agent, living in contented retirement in London. Conway's quietude is interrupted when gorgeous model Delphi Lawrence is murdered. Ere the "The End" sign looms into view, Conway learns that the girl's death was tied in with a jewel theft. The film's title refers to the most valuable of the stolen gems. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1953
The philosophies and practices of London policewomen provide the basis of this exciting and interesting docu-drama that centers on three such women. The film is also known as Street Corner. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1949
A persistent case of hiccups causes all sorts of problems for a pretty young socialite in this comedy. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Greek mythology is done up brown by the special-effects expertise of Ray Harryhausen in Jason and the Argonauts. Jason (Todd Armstrong), rightful heir to the throne of Thessaly, is spared from death through the intervention of the goddess Hera (Honor Blackman). The other celestial inhabitants of Mount Olympus watch in amusement as Hera surreptitiously aids Jason in his search for the Golden Fleece. Obstacles to this goal include a giant come-to-life statue named Talos, the screeching harpies plaguing blind prophet Phineas (Patrick Troughton), a set of huge clashing rocks, the seven-headed hydra, and an army of skeletons (this bravura climactic sequence assured Harryhausen's place in the hearts of 13-year-old boys of all ages). Supporting characters include Nancy Kovack as a pre-infanticide Medea and Nigel Green as a pacifistic Hercules. Bernard Herrmann's surging musical score was icing on the cake for this greatest of all Ray Harryhausen creations. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Todd Armstrong, Nancy Kovack, (more)
- 1957
American leading man Lee Patterson (later one of the many stars of One Life to Live) is top-billed in this compact British crime caper. Three thieves from various walks of life combine their forces for a complex heist. The plan is to steal a large cache of loot from a carefully guarded postal delivery; to accomplish this, disguises and "inside men" are vital ingredients. Inevitably the thieves fall out and the best-laid schemes go awry. Mailbag Robbery is ideal viewing for wide-eyed Late Late Show fanatics. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1963
Purporting to warn young people of premarital sex, this British drama is exploitation with a capital 'E.' Set in a conservative peaceful village, the drama begins with the arrival of a sexy Austrian girl who proceeds to seduce every man in sight. One of her victims is engaged. When his fiancee finds out, she has an insecurity attack and lets her beloved have sex with her. This results in pregnancy. Later the Austrian hussy gets raped by her steady because he is jealous of her other trysts. To top it off, she ends up contracting a dreaded venereal disease. Naturally all of those who sampled her ample wares get into quite a tizzy. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
First Men in the Moon is an H.G. Welles cinemadaptation from director Nathan Juran. When scientists in the year 1964 are confused by evidence of a long-ago space flight, nonagenarian Arnold Bedford (Edward Judd) explains all. Back in 1899, Bedford, eccentric scientist Joseph Cavor (Lionel Jeffries) and heroine Kate Callender (Martha Hyer) took a trip to the moon in a home-made space vehicle. Once on the lunar surface, they encountered an alien civilization resembling an ant colony, complete with "queen," soldiers and workers. How they returned, and the aftereffects of their journey, comprise the film's final third. Peter Finch appears briefly as a messenger; he happened to be visiting the set when the actor hired to play the bailiff's assistant failed to show up. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Edward Judd, Lionel Jeffries, (more)
- 1958
There's a bit of Oedipus Rex in The Haunted Strangler, though it's not readily apparent at first. Boris Karloff plays 19th-century novelist James Rankin, who becomes obsessed with the long-closed case of the Haymarket Strangler. Twenty years earlier, a man named Styles (Michael Atkinson) was executed for the Strangler's crimes, but was he guilty? It turns out that the actual culprit was the surgeon who performed Styles' autopsy. Coming into possession of the surgeon's scalpel, Rankin is overwhelmed by mixed feelings of bloodlust and guilt. It is at this point that Rankin realizes that he is truly his own, and London's, worst enemy. Originally released in England as Grip of the Strangler, The Haunted Strangler was distributed by MGM in 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Boris Karloff, Anthony Dawson, (more)
Vivien Leigh plays Karen Stone, a middle-aged actress whose career is in a tailspin. To assuage her hurt feelings, Karen goes on a vacation to Rome with her husband, who dies en route. Her best friend (Coral Browne) compassionately arranges for a young Italian escort (read: gigolo) to keep Karen from wallowing in her grief in Rome. The man hired for the task is sneering, contemptuous Pablo di Leo, played by Warren Beatty. Despite Pablo's rude behavior, the lonely Karen throws herself at him, showering him with expensive gifts and demanding his undivided attention. This being an adaptation of a Tennessee Williams novel, Blanche Dubois --er, Karen Stone must pay the piper for her eleventh-hour surfeit of passion; she is dispensed with by an "Angel of Death" in the form of psycho Jeremy Spencer. More operatic than dramatic, The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone represents the only feature-film directorial effort of experimental-theatre maven Jose Quintero; his assistant was future Bullitt helmer Peter Yates. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vivien Leigh, Warren Beatty, (more)
- 1956
A fine upstanding wife finds it difficult to keep her sordid past as a criminal a secret from her husband and neighbors. The trouble begins when someone robs a neighbor. As the wife suddenly vanishes thereafter, the police immediately label her the prime suspect. Meanwhile, her husband searches the city in hopes of proving her innocent. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1951
White Corridors was based on Yeoman Hospital, a novel by Helen Ashton. Told episodically, the story concentrates on the day-to-day activities in a busy hospital, where research pathologist Neil Marriner (James Donald) conducts experiments in the hopes of curing diseases impervious to penicillin. Marriner is aided in this endeavor by lady surgeon Dr. Sophie Dean (Googie Withers), who happens to be in love with him. After a tragedy occurs for which Marriner holds himself responsible, the film builds steadily to an exciting climax involving a untested -- and potentially dangerous -- serum. The top-rank British supporting cast includes Barry Jones, Moira Lister, Petula Clark, Basil Radford, Dagmar (later Dana) Wynter, Bernard Lee, and, in a minor role, future "Dr. Who" Patrick Troughton. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Googie Withers, Gerard Heinz, (more)
- 1957
In this charming children's adventure, a big game hunter's son doesn't share his father's love of killing; he prefers his animals alive. He dreams of having his very own coatimundi. Trouble begins when one of the rare creatures disappears from the local zoo. A newsreel cameraman is blamed for the theft until the boy steps forward and confesses his crime. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.