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allan-broadfield
Reviews
London After Midnight (1927)
Second hand opinions.
Reviewers can pontificate as much as they like about whether this is, or not, a good or bad film, but it's all guesswork as none of you seem to have seen it and are only basing your opinions on second hand accounts. I imagine that, if in the possible event a copy of 'London after midnight' was found, we would all be thrilled to bits. What our opinions would be after that would be anyone's guess. As to the TCM reconstruction, how would you have done it? The studio stills are presumably all that is available to work with. I too was frustrated, but mainly because I can't see the actual film. Incidentaly, it isn't an impossibility that this film will be found, just don't hold your breath.
The Middle (2009)
Comparisons are odious
I am amazed that there are some reviewers who didn't think 'Everybody loves Raymond' was funny, but it does prove the point that comedy is a personal thing, though I think these particular reviewers must have no sense of humour whatsoever, or are just plain barmy. I admit to being just plain barmy myself, and possibly a prejudiced witness as I would willingly watch Patricia Heaton read the phone book and what's more buy the T shirt and the DVD box set. Other disgruntled reviewers have suggested that 'The Middle' is a rip off of 'Malcolm in the middle', It certainly has some similarities, perhaps the title was an unfortunate decision, but I think it can hold it's own and the dialogue and general performances are pretty sharp and witty. I hope it goes from strength to strength.
The Sign of Four: Sherlock Holmes' Greatest Case (1932)
The critics choice
Arthur Wontner was for many years considered 'the critics choice' as Sherlock Holmes, in England at least. Although Basil Rathbone et al had not yet appeared this claim was not unchallenged, as previous nominees for the top position in this part had also been considered pretty weighty; in the silent era Eille Norwood had made over forty films as the great detective in Britain, John Barrymore followed, Clive Brooke and Raymond Massey appeared in early talkie versions of the character and William Gillete was wowing audiences with his stage version, personally OK'd by Sir Arthur himself. Being a Londoner I could understand the cockney accents,unlike some of the reviewers though these were seldom portrayed correctly even in British films; in those days characters were either 'posh' or 'common', with little in between. I like the quiet scenes in 221b Baker street rather more than the action sequences in 'Holmes' films, though the chase across the Thames was good in this film, and the fight a little less inspiring as it had been sped up in the manner of some films of the time. Yes, there were some brilliant portrayals of Holmes in later years but I still have a soft spot for Arthur Wontner, who incidentally probably looked more like the original Sidney Paget drawings in the Strand magazine than anyone else. It's a pity that this particular series of films is so badly represented in these dire copies, several generations away from the original. I can assure the manufacturers of the 'Wontner' DVD's that there are decent prints of these films out there if you can be bothered to look.
The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes (1935)
Excellent Holmes
I am afraid that I am a complete sucker for the Arthur Wontner series of Sherlock Holmes films. These films aren't presented in a very good form, in fact the copies of each of these Wontner titles have awful soundracks, soft focus and very flat contrast, seemingly copied from the worst scource possible. It is a pity that we should be subjected to this third class sort of presentation, as I have seen them on British television in a much more acceptable form, so a liitle bit of effort could have produced the goods! I am quite ellated that one of the two missing Wontner films , 'THE SLEEPING CARDINAL', has been found alive and well in the states...I suppose it is a bit too much to expect that this will be be an improvement in picture quality.
A Christmas Carol (2004)
the best scrooge?
As Chistmas approaches,our family digs out the festive films,and the works of Charles Dickens usually figure heavily in this process. I love Kelsey Grammar's work, and was looking forward to this version of 'A Christmas Carol', but was disappointed. The musical numbers were rather forgettable and overlong, and several key points from the story seem to be missing in favour of lengthy dance routines. I would have liked more dialogue, as every scene had a song. I would recommend the 1970 'Scrooge' directed by Ronald Neame, which has a better balance between story and music, and the numbers are quite catchy. Sorry Kelsey, I feel very guilty about this. Couldn't you have fitted Niles in there somewhere? PS. Ref, 'Scrooge'---Alistair Sim still rules!