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calumgordon
Reviews
The Wolf Man (1941)
Not a patch on earlier Universal classics
A hotchpotch of actors, not to mention accents, and a generally limp direction, fail to overcome an obviously low budget, poor script and a lack of atmosphere or suspense. Claude Rains, although clearly bored, gives his usual professional performance, but Lon Chaney Jr struggles in the title role, despite managing to win the sympathy of the audience. Ralph Bellamy is ludicrous as a local flatfoot and Bela Lugosi is wasted. The coupling of Rains and Chaney as father and son is laugh-out-loud ridiculous and the Wolf Man himself resembles a rather cute teddy bear who cowers behinds trees and walks on his tiptoes. (And for all fans of Carry On films, the image of Jim Dale playing the same part immediately springs to mind - only he was scarier). Evelyn Ankers as the love interest, is the only actor to emerge with real credit. A real duff compared to James Whale's superb Frankenstein duo of the '30s, or even the original Universal Dracula, although at 70 minutes most viewers (and all horror fans) will see it through to the end.
The Avengers (1998)
Hugely enjoyable
I've just seen this on DVD, nearly 10 years after it was made. It cost me a pound, and, aware of it's dodgy reputation my expectations weren't high. But........it's great! Incredibly stylish, amazing sets, great acting and as light-hearted and witty as the original TV series.
The two leads are excellent, and contrary to what has been claimed, do indeed have a wonderful chemistry between them. I would argue that Ralph Fiennes is incapable of giving a bad performance, and Uma Thurman is rather wonderful too. Their dialogue is very well written with quips a-plenty. Sean Connery is hilarious, and obviously relished his role as the baddie, and Jim Broadbent is equally amusing. The plot is wafer thin and zips along splendidly. I wasn't aware until I read other comments here that the film was butchered by studio executives. If that is indeed the case, I add my vote for a Director's Cut. 90 minutes was definitely too short.
The initial failure of this film at the box office was undoubtedly due to its subtlety. Understatement and tongue-in-cheek humour have never been a premium on the other side of the pond, and I imagine that in Blighty the TV series is seen through such thick lensed rose-coloured spectacles that any movie version was bound to be heretical.
Which is funny - granted that Diana Rigg played the sexiest TV character in history and that Patrick McNee was perfect as John Steed, but anyone who actually watches these old episodes will be aware of their surrealness and complete inability to take themselves seriously (hats off to the writers). These are exactly the elements that the movie version captures so well. Hats off to Mr Chechik, the director (and Canadian - significant?) After so many turgid and gloomy blockbusters (Bourne trilogy, new Bond - entertaining but not exactly a barrel of laughs) it was fantastic to discover this lost classic. Watch it!