saduran Reviews

When Time Ran Out... (1980)

If Only Time Ran Out

[25 December 2002]

This is the film that killed the diaster film. God Newman, Bissett and Holden must have gotten great paychecks to do this film. For the suspense it's not worth watching for the tacky special effects and wooden acting it's a hoot. It's amazing how Mr. Allen;s skills as a producer director vanished as he got older. The Swarm was the last decent film he made. Beyond the Posidoen Adventure and When Time Ran Out killed the genre that began with Airport and included The Posideon Adventure, The Towering Inferno, and Earthquake.

Libeled Lady (1936)

It doesn't get better than this

[25 December 2002]

Man oh Man. Harlow, Tracy, Powell and Loy in one film. There truly were more stars at MGM than in the heavens. This is one of the best screwball comedies of the 30's maybe only out done by My Man Godfrey. The script funny as heck even by todays standards. The acting top of the line. Tracy was great at comedy it's great that MGM allowed him to do one every know and then. Loy is Loy classy, sassy, funny and witty. Powell at the zenith of his game and Harlow glows and steals the film. Harlow marching around in a wedding dress is a hoot. It's hard to believe that within a year Jean Harlow would be dead. If it's on TCM or you see it in a video store grab it and see what a screwball comedy really looks like

The Towering Inferno (1974)

Going Down In A Blaze Of Glory

[24 December 2002]

It was the All-Star Epic to end allstar epics. A dream cast that would be impossible to put together today. McQueen! Newman! Dunaway! Holden! That would be like Hanks! Cruise! Roberts! Eastwood! today. It can't be done again. The story is simple. William Holden owns the worlds tallest skyscrapper, son in law Richard Chamberlain cuts corners on the cost and with the flick of a switch the building is on fire. The mixture of 3 of the hottest stars at the time (mCQueen, Newman, and Mommie Dearest) with a legendary supporting cast Fred Astaire, Jennifer Jones, Robert Wagnre, Mrs. Irwin Allen, Susan Blakely, Richard (Dr. Kildare)Chamberlain, and O.J. (hide the knives) Simpson keep you glued to your screen. Some say this is the best diaster film of the 70's and maybe of all time, but while TTI ranks high I'd put the Posideon Adventure ahead of it. The special effects are great, the acting first rate considering the script and the film today over 25 years later is still a sit on the edge ofr your seat thriller. It's a shame that the studios have yanked the film (DVD) off the shelves. Hopefully they will release a 30th anniversary edition with some bonus material which is lacking in the original DVD release. Don't pay 70.00 and up for the current version but grab it on video used and sit down with a bowl of popcorn with and a large drink and enjoy one of the most under rated oscar winning films of all time.

The Women (1939)

Must See Classic

[9/10 · 21 January 2002]

MGM Had more stars than in the heavens and with this film it clearly had more female stars than in the heavens. Funny, fast and classic comedy with a gaggle of female stars either on the rise or decline. Norma and Joan (Shearer and Crawford) were on their way out of MGM but both give well mannered and watchale performances. Roz Russell, Joan Fontaine, and Paulette Goddard were rising stars and all play their parts to perfection. The sets, clothing, music were all top notch what one would expect from an MGM A production. Somehow this film has gotten lost when one talks about the classics of 1939, but IMO The Women is far more watchable than say Gone With the Wind, or Goodbye Mister Chips released the same year. Grab your popcorn and a cold coke and enjoy.

Destry Rides Again (1939)

This is what a Classic is

[21 January 2002]

No doubt one of the best movies of the 30's. Where some 30's classics Dinner at Eight, Grand Hotel, hell almost anything with Garbo in it are dated this film is so watchable it's amazing it was made 60 years ago. James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich make this film watchable. Both give excellent performances and the film just zips along. Watch it with a double feature with Blazzing Saddles and you will enjoy both more

The Concorde... Airport '79 (1979)

At twice the speed of sound twice as funny.

[10/10 · 15 December 2001]

The last of the Airport Series. I'm not so sure the producers weren't going for laughs why else would they have hired Jimmie JJ Walker, Charo, and Martha Raye. Robert Wagner as the villian and Susan Blakely as the heroine are perfect and seem to take it all seriously. Even with the silly story, cheesy effects, and bad acting it's still better than Airport 77. I'm still waiting for this to be released on DVD.

Laura (1944)

One of the all time greats.

[15 December 2001]

I could go on and on why this film is a classic. I think the best way to sum it up is this movie is over 55 years old and doesn't come off as dated. A lot of the classics from the 30's and 40's are dated but Laura is as good today as it had to have been back then. I've seen this movie over 20 times and every time I see it I am hooked. Perfect cast, writing, direction, art direction and of course music. I can't wait for this title to be released on DVD.

Boom Town (1940)

The allstar epic before there were all star epics

[2 July 2001]

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** Boomtown, 4 of the biggest stars at MGM in one film. Not since the Grand Hotel and Dinner At Eight era had MGM thrown top 4 stars in one films and man oh man is it worth it. The film was made over 60 years ago and I rewatched it last night for 1 umpteenth time and it still holds up. Sure the special effects are dated but i'd rather have this story and those acotrs than all the stars in an Irwin Allen production. Think Tom Cruise and Bruce Willis teamed with Julia Roberts and Sharon Stone tht would be todays equals you're already looking at 60-80 million dollar budget.

Enough of that Gable, Tracy, Colbert, and Lamarr are all wonderful in the film. The story pretty simple... big john (gable) and square john (tracy) go wild catting together. Tracy has a girl back home and gtable thinks he's a chump because of it. Just before they strike it rich, big john meets a lady (colbert) as she arrives into town. they spend the day together. Big john marries the lasy, but wait she forgets to mention she's the girl square john has been writing. Square john takes it like a man and for a while things go well. Diaster strikes Gable loses his shares to tracy and he and colbert go off to make a new fortune. Tracy loses it all rebuilds...Gavle finally strikes it rich again and moves into New York to compete with the big boys. He's aided by seductress Karen(lamarr) who loves big johhn. big john and karen do the hokey pokie, betsy attempts to kill herself, square john vows to bring big john to his knees. he does. big john and betsy go out west to wildcat and are joined by square john happy ending.

Although this all sounds contrived...it works...the film is fast paced each actor givesa solid performance. Gable and Tracy are all manly men and Colbert and Lamarr are stunning as the women who love them. If you don't mind no sex in your movies this is a must have film. an easy way to spend a couple of hours.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

The granddaddy of all disaster films

[10/10 · 10 May 2001]

Although after Airport The Poseidon Adventure truly is the film that started the craze... The Towering Inferno, Earthquake, Airport 75 etc. all owe their getting made to this film...while Airport may have started the genre PS perfects it. Top of the line special effects, decent acting, and an edge of your seat story makes this the king of all disaster films. It's so good that no matter what I'm doing if I flip channels and hot this I stop and watch it.