ToughXArmy Reviews

The Towering Inferno (1974)

Steve McQueen Stars

[9/10 · 15 June 2013]

20th Century Fox and Warner Bros were one of the first to co produce a major film.

The Towering Inferno is et atop a century city skyscraper on the old 20th back lot. Exciting film.

Irwin Allen was producer of this film a giant hit when released. Star studded with William Holden re united with his Love Is A Many Splendored Thing co star Jennifer Jones but in this film Fred Astaire not Holden is the object of Jennifer's attention. Also starring Richard Chamberlain, Robert Wagner, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire and in small role Scott Newman son of the nominal star Paul Newman.

Steve McQueen an original and sorely missed superstar had a supporting role in one of Paul Newman's earlier films and demanded top billing on this film which Newman granted. Steve McQueen it has been reported not only wanted the exact amount of lines Newman had but wanted one more to say he was the unquestioned star of the film.

Faye Dunaway is the nominal female star of the film but Jennifer Jones captured my attention by her fine acting and pivotal role. and Jennifer not Faye was nominated for a Golden Globe.

John Guillerman the Director was also at the helm of one of my favorite George Peppard films PJ

Cimarron (1960)

MGM's Big Western

[8/10 · 15 June 2013]

Anthony Mann a good Director helms this western a remake of the great Irene Dunne hit Cimarron. The story is well known: The great land Rush opening up the Western United States.

Maria Schell so beautiful was given a great promotion by MGM in a film that Elizabeth Taylor would have been perfect. Anne Baxter steals the movie and is wonderful.

Great MGM production values.

Glenn Ford was a very popular leading man in the mid 50's to early 60's making many fine films. I never was a big Glenn Ford fan and this film should have starred Steve McQueen or perhaps even George Peppard then a young MGM contract player.

Battle of the Bulge (1965)

Henry Fonda Excels

[8/10 · 14 June 2013]

Warner Bros released this fine World War II Movie which I enjoyed a lot.

The Cast is very fine indeed with stalwart film work from a cast of professionals such as Robert Ryan, Dana Andrews and Ty Hardin among many other fine actors. The real fine acting is done by one of the finest actors ever in my estimation ever go grace the great silver screen Mr. Henry Fonda.

Congratulations to all for their work on this fine fine film and I recommend this movie to film buffs of the Military and the great men who fought for the ideals of America in The Battle Of The Bulge.

Roger Mantee

Patton (1970)

Great Scott!

[9/10 · 22 May 2013]

George C Scott dominates this film in a memorable portrayal of US General Patton. Once in a lifetime can an actor get such an opportunity. Mr. Scott brings General Patton to life in a bravura performance.

FrankliN Schaffner was a fine Director and he guises the film brilliantly but it is George C Scott who gives one of the greatest male performances I have ever seen. As we all know, Mr. Scott refused the Oscar for which he so richly earned.

A fine supporting cast in this 20th Century Fox film which was a smash hit.

The Lion in Winter (1968)

Ms. Hepburn Wins an Oscar

[9/10 · 24 March 2013]

Katharine Hepburn a star of the American screen since 1930 starred in this film as Queen Eleanor of Acquatine and won an Oscar for her brilliant performance. Peter O Toole is splendid as the King and strong support from Anthony Hopkins.

Terrific set decoration reflect a medieval time in this film expertly produced by Joe Levine and Directed by Anthony Harvey.

Hepburn's peers such as Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Olivia De Havilland, Ann Sothern were relegated to playing in horror movies but Hepburn remained a star of the first magnitude during the entire length of her her great career.

Vertigo (1958)

Superb Kim Novak in Film Masterpiece

[10/10 · 24 March 2013]

Alfred Hitchcock directed an amazing masterpiece Vertigo a film so great one sees new elements every time I see this gorgeous movie.

James Stewart is perfection but the real shout out goes to Kim Novak then the #1 Female star in the world on loan from her studio Columbia. I mention this because Novak at Columbia was showcased and at Paramount where this film was shot Kim was unprotected and vulnerable. Also Hitch's often comment he meant to cast Vera Miles was again something to get under Ms. Novak's skin. There is no way #1 Box Office Star Kim Novak was preferable to the lovely Vera Miles. Kim Novak was surely the bigger star and Kim Novak's performance in Vertigo to me is what makes this film work.

Bernard Herrman's music is memorable and the entire production deserve our most respectful applause.

Bravo Hitchcock, Novak, Stewart, Herrman.

Lincoln (2012)

Daniel Day Lewis is Lincoln

[7/10 · 16 March 2013]

Daniel Day Lewis becomes President Abraham Lincoln in this fine film created by Steven Spielberg. Note that not even Spielberg's firm Dreamworks was solo on this production but also financed via 20th Century Fox and Disney! The film is serious reflection on President Lincoln and the production design commands praise. My only hesistton of this film is the performance of Sally Field who is 30 years older than Mary Todd Lincoln. Ms. Field brings her fine acting skills to the movie just that the age difference is jarring. Who else could Spielberg have cast? Daniel Day Lewis richly deserved the Oscar for this performance

Spieldbeg creates a lasting film classic with this fine film. But it is Day Lewis who will be remembere for bringing Abraham Lincoln to life.

Roger Mantee

Shenandoah (1965)

James Sstewart in Fine Film

[9/10 · 28 January 2013]

Director Andrew McLaglen and Universal starred James Stewart in this fine family film. Co starring are two young Universal contract actresses Katharine Ross and Rosemary Forsyth. Ms. Ross would go on to do John Wayne's Hellfighters and then go onto great acclaim in The Graduate and also Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with Paul Newman. Also in the cast is handsome Patrick Wayne son of the great John Wayne, along with other reliable stars such as George Kennedy and rugged Glenn Corbett and Doug McClure who provide fine support.

Can anyone recall if James Stewart ever gave a bad performance? I surely cannot! Mr. Stewart excels in this film which I thought would have garnered him another Oscar nomination.

How the West Was Won (1962)

Great Americana

[9/10 · 28 January 2013]

MGM then the greatest studio of them all co partnered with Cinerama to produce this thrilling western. Spencer Tracy who was to star dropped out due to his frail health but narrates and provides the great thread to tie the segments together. I wish the great Tracy could have made an appearance in this rousing film. Stars such as John Wayne, Gregory Peck, James Stewart, Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda,and MGM alumni such as Debbie Reynolds star. MGM had a star under contract George Peppard who is highlighted in this Western and became a big International Movie star due to this film. MGM also assigned Russ Tamblyn and lovely Brigid Bazlen to this film. The only player I did not like was Carroll Baker who seemed too young to play George Peppard's Mother. I would have preferred that great tough lady Susan Hayward.

MGM had 3 directors of note on this film such as John Ford, Henry Hathaway and a very under-appreciated Director George Marshall. All three do splendid work.

The runaway train sequence, and the Buffalo stampede are thrilling scenes.

Great Americana

Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)

A Good Movie, Should Have Been A Great Movie

[8/10 · 27 January 2013]

Robin Massie wrote one of the more riveting books I have ever read, Nicholas and Alexandra based on the last Czar and Czarina of Russia,

Director Franklin Schaffner who did such a brilliant job in directing 'Patton' fails here. The movie is pictorially magnificent and the interior set design impressive but at times dull when compared to the riveting book. Michael Jsyston and Janet Suzman able British actors do not have the charisma to play the Caar and Czarina The Empress was German born and since Russia was at War with Germany thought to be a spy Marlon Brando was offered Rasputin but turned down the role. Tom Baker does well but again as in the case of Jayston and Ms Suzman does not have the stature to play Rasputin. The central theme is that the Crown Prince had hemophilia and the mad monk Rasputin involved himself so unduly in the lives of the Russian Imperial family there were rumors that Rasputin and the German born Czarina were lovers! In Massie's book one chapter ends with the words " Day and Night" Rasputin and Alexandra brought down the Russian Empire" so hated was Rasputin that members of the Imperial Family plotted to kill Rasputin.

Legendary Producer Sam Spiegel who produced classics at Columbia such as 'The Bridge On The River Kaw' and 'Lawrence of Arabia' 'On The Waterfront' among other classic films had a star roster of stars who previously starred in his films such as William Holden, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter O Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando etc in his films. Those are the kind of stars that should have been part of this film.

I believe this was the last film Sam Spiegel made at Columbia ending a legendary relationship between studio and film maker that won Oscars for The Bridge On The River Kwai and a true masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

The Greatest Movie Of All Time

[10/10 · 27 January 2013]

Magnificent Film.

Producer Sam Spiegel and Director David Lean made movie history with The Bridge On The River Kwai reunited to film Lawrence of Arabia, in my estimation the finest film ever made.

Sam Spiegel operated his Horizon Films out of London with an great record such as On The Waterfront, The Bridge On The River Kwai, and Suddenly Last Summer. Stars in Spiegel films were such as Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Katharine Hepburn, Alec Guiness, William Holden, etc. David Lean was a great Director with such films such as Brief Encounter and The Bridge On The River Kwai.

Peter O Toole is magnificent as Lawrence, as is Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, and Omar Sharif.

Maurice Jarre deserves great credit for the memorable film score

The Right Stuff (1983)

Movie Masterpiece

[10/10 · 27 January 2013]

Director Phil Kaufmann and Producer Alan Ladd brought to the screen a movie masterpiece in The Right Stuff.

Starring Sam Shephard and a roster of great actors such as Ed Harris, Charles Frank, Barbara Hershey a truly ensemble cast. Two cast members stand out the superb Kim Stanley one of the great all time actresses and Dennis Quaid who is memorable as Gordon Cooper. The ending is one of the best ever of all time. I also want to mention the thrilling score of the film. Memorable!

I love this movie and as a Veteran of our Armed Forces, the greatest in the World, it is a paen to Aemrica and to the valor of the American Military!. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

This Movie should have won the Academy Award, not its competitor Terms of Endearment.