lampton Reviews

Holiday on the Buses (1973)

How do they pull?

[1 February 2001]

Holiday... marks the epitome of early/mid 70s low brow humour. The British industry was in a dire state and the majority of films churned out were things like this. Anyway, the film is excellent. Stan and Jack, the world's oldest swinging batchelors, somehow pull every young bird around which gives hope to us lesser mortals because if they can (especially Jack) then we all can. There's plenty of innuendo, wearing of flares and cravets on view and it all amounts to a classic film. If only things were like that now...

The Final Conflict (1981)

If you don't like the film, listen to the score.

[20 June 1999]

A fairly good end to the trilogy, although it's a shame the threatened armaggeddon never comes off (as in the later novels). Sam Neill puts in a good performance as the Devil's son and is surrounded by decent character actors. However, how Jerry Goldsmith didn't win an Oscar for the score, I will never know. It's absolutely amazing and proves music really can improve a film (just imagine a score-less Psycho, for example).

The Exorcist (1973)

What was all the fuss about?

[20 June 1999]

On finally watching The Exorcist, it left me wondering just why the hell the film was banned on video in Britain. It is extremely tame compared to many films and so it is good to see the film being actually available (A Clockwork Orange, please take note). The film itself seems to have been butchered in the editing room and would benefit with previously cut footage being restored for later prints, thus extending the viewing time and making the film into a classic, rather than the flawed masterpiece it currently is.

Interlude (1968)

Undiscovered masterpiece

[10/10 · 20 June 1999]

Interlude is an amazing piece of work. Expertly cast and directed, with a fantastic central performance from the late Oskar Werner, it is undoubtedly an undiscovered masterpiece and one in which should be much better known than the multiplex crap which usually fills the cinema screen.

Being There (1979)

Best Sellers.

[10/10 · 1 December 1998]

Peter Sellers in one of his final films and again demonstrates his immense skills as an actor. It was one of the crimes of the century that he didn't win an Oscar for his performance.

Robbery (1967)

Classic Sixties caper movie.

[10/10 · 1 December 1998]

Robbery is based upon the 1963 Great Train Robbery and is a far better account than 1988's "Buster". Stanley Baker and George Sewell take top honours in a brilliant crime film and one which is criminally underated.