"Once Upon a Time in Mexico" is a neo-western action film about a man name El Mariachi who is hired by a CIA officer to kill a corrupt general out to assassinate the President of Mexico. Director Robert Rodriguez ("Spy Kids" 2001) put together a film that [..]
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
The Great Depression era has been vividly depicted in the drama film "The Grapes of Wrath." The story follows the trials and tribulations of the Joad family from the eviction from their Oklahoma farm to their journey west and eventual arrival in California, "the land of milk [..]
Torrid Zone (1940)
"Torrid Zone" is an adventure film about the owner of a banana plantation in Central America having problems with employees, stirred up by a local revolutionary. The supervisor who can handle them is quitting to return to the U. S., but is distracted by an attractive singer, [..]
Rebecca (1940)
The Best Picture of 1940 is....."Rebecca." Suspense is the name of the game in this romantic psychological thriller film. Laurence Olivier plays Max DeWinter, who marries an American woman (Joan Fontaine) after a whirlwind romance in the south of France. The story takes quite a turn when they [..]
The Facts of Life (1960)
Bob Hope and Lucille Ball play friends who get on each others nerves but consider having an affair in the romantic comedy "The Facts of Life." This project has a more serious tone than most of Hope's or Ball's movies, capably directed by Melvin Frank, who [..]
G. I. Blues (1960)
"G. I. Blues" is Elvis Presley's first movie after he was discharged from the Army in 1960. Art imitates life in the film's storyline where Elvis plays an officer who hopes to open up a nightclub after leaving the service. Director Norman Taurog ("Visit to [..]
Cinderfella (1960)
The comedy of Jerry Lewis is running on all cylinders in "Cinderfella." In this different adaptation of the Cinderella story, Lewis does his usual zany comedic scenes along with singing and dancing. Director-screenwriter Frank Tashlin helped Lewis by keeping the film on track with high [..]
Psycho (1960)
Director Alfred Hitchcock ("North by Northwest" 1959) pushed the limits of acceptable filmmaking with "Psycho." Unprecedented depiction of violence and sexuality made its way into Hitch's patented suspense-filled story telling. Today this motion picture seems very mild. The plot centers on an on-the-run embezzler taking refuge in a [..]
The Millionairess (1960)
"The Millionairess" is a romantic comedy about a wealthy young woman who must marry a man who meets particular requirements in her father's will, or else forget about it. She falls in love with a doctor who is not up to snuff, and the comedy proceeds from [..]
Spartacus (1960)
"Spartacus" is an epic historic movie about a slave who leads a rebellion against the Roman Republic in 71 B. C. Expert direction by Stanley Kubrick ("The Killing" 1956) and a marvelous screenplay by Dalton Trumbo made this a top-rate film with outstanding production values. [..]