My better half celebrated a birthday this week and ordered some movies. We ended up having a very nice weekend viewing session.
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE
from 1945 directed by Rene Clair featuring Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston and Louis Hayward.
This version of the many time told tale was quite fun, Walter Huston (Father to John and Grandfather to Angelica) was great as the boozing Doctor. The sets were wonderful and the way it filmed in black and white could never look as good in color. Truly enjoyable right to the end. I knew the ending going in and I was still glued to the TV.
THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD
1965
Starring Richard Burton and Claire Bloom this is an early novel of Le Carre and has a brief appearance by favorite character Smiley.
Theplot run down is pretty simple, older spy wants to retire, they ask him t do one more job. He ends up taking it on and pretends to turn and go over to the Russians. It doesn’t end pretty…
All in all a good movie, but it moved a bit slow for me. I did enjoy seeing a younger Richard Burton though and he was quite good.
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION
1957
A wonderful film from Billy Wilder based on a Agatha Christie story. Barrister recovering from heart attack takes on a murder case. I can;t say much more with out giving things away, but i can say that it’s a joy to watch and the acting was wonderful. Tyrone Power was terrific as was Marlene Dietrich. Twists and more twists make this a really clever and enjoyable movie.
SHADOW OF A DOUBT
1942
A Hitchcock film witch is supposed to be his favorite. It is damn good but Not my personal favorite. It has all the Hitchcock suspense and nerve wracking scenes that are his hallmark.
A man on the run comes to stay with his sister and her family. At first everyone is excited, but soon the daughter suspects her Uncle may be hiding from the law.
Extremely well done and MacDonald Carey was wonderful as was Patricia Collinge.
We rounded off the weekend with:
THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR
1975
Top notch thriller based on the book Six Days of the Condor by James Grady. This is back when there were no blurry lines about what a thriller was, unlike today when every book on the market is called a thriller.
Robert Redford works for a part of the CIA reading books, he sends in things that may be pertinent. He comes back from lunch to find everyone dead and he’s now on the run.
Wonderful spy craft as Redford tries to find out who is behind this and why he’s in danger. It moves fast and is really great.
It was a really nice way to sepnd a weekend.
Jon