How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) Review

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Broadcast Date: 15th November 1977 - Australia

Production Companies

The Cat in the Hat Productions

MGM Television

MGM Animation/Visual Arts

Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 26 minutes

Budget: $315,000

Plot Summary

It's Christmas Eve in Whoville, and everyone is excited about what tomorrow will bring. Unfortunately, this didn't stop the Grinch from hating the holiday, because he couldn't bear seeing people as eager for it. By stealing all the presents and other goodies, he is determined to ruin Christmas for the people of Whoville.

Voice Cast

Boris Karloff - Narrator/Grinch

June Foray - Cindy Lou Who (Uncredited)

Dal McKennon - Max (Uncredited)

Crew

Producer/Storyboard Artist (Uncredited)/Director - Chuck Jones

Co-Director/Animator - Ben Washam

Based on the Book/

Producer/Songs: Lyrics - Dr. Seuss

Additional Story - Irv Spector

and Bob Ogle

Production Designer -

Maurice Noble

Animators - Ken Harris,

Lloyd Vaughan, Richard

Thompson, Don Towsley,

Tom Ray and Phil Roman

Layouts - Oscar Dufau and Don Morgan

Backgrounds - Philip DeGuard, Bob Inman and Hal Ashmead

Graphics - Don Foster

Production Manager - Earl Jones

Production Executive - Les Goldman

Editors - Lovell Norman and John Young

Songs: Music - Albert Hague

Performer: "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" -

Thurl Ravenscroft (Uncredited)

Additional Music and Orchestra Conductor -

Eugene Poddany

Review

Happy holidays, everyone. During the season, I've been busy making significant edits to my reviews and one analysis (as you may not have noticed). Speaking of which, I watched a Christmas special, which, believe it or not, is the 1966 animated classic HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! It takes me back to my childhood when I first saw it on Cartoon Network. Yes, it's timeless and unforgettable. No one can deny that this rendition is so superior to the live-action adaptation with Jim Carrey or Illumination's CG version. It was the first time I reviewed a holiday special, but I was still unsure whether it was a movie, given its short 26-minute runtime. I couldn't care less that it isn't full-length, unlike the other versions that expanded the story. It is, however, one of the few good Dr Seuss adaptations that are at least incredibly loyal to the original book.

This piece of animation is sublime. Fortunately, former Looney Tunes director Chuck Jones brought this to life, along with the author, who also wrote the songs. I like how he brings his devilish charm to the character animation, and it's a pity that no one in today's generation could measure up to his talent. The late Boris Karloff did an excellent job narrating and voicing the Grinch. The songs and music are spot-on, especially "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch," which is the best.

This special holds a special place among the other Christmas movies. I recommend it to Dr Seuss fans, and I look forward to seeing it again next Christmas. In the meantime, Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Psycho (1960) Review

Psycho

Release Date: 21st September 1960 - Australia

Production Companies

Shamley Productions

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Thriller

Rating: M

Runtime: 109 minutes

Budget: $806,947

Box Office Gross: $50,055,965 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Unhappy with her job as a secretary at a Phoenix,

Arizona, real estate office

and frustrated with her

relationship with a hardware

store manager, Marion

Crane steals $40,000

from her employer and

flees Phoenix to start a

new life. After 36 hours

of paranoia and exhaustion,

Marion decides to spend the

night at the dilapidated

Bates Motel. She meets the

polite but high-strung

proprietor, Norman Bates,

a young man who enjoys

taxidermy and has a

complicated relationship

with his mother.

Marion's journey ends with

her taking a shower when

she meets her grisly demise

at the hands of an unknown

assailant. First, a private

detective, then Marion's

sister and lover, search for

her. It is then that they

begin to unravel the 

identity of her mysterious

killer.

Cast

Anthony Perkins - Norman Bates

Janet Leigh - Marion Crane

Vera Miles - Lila Crane

John Gavin - Sam Loomis

Patricia Hitchcock - Caroline

Martin Balsam - Milton Arbogast

Simon Oakland - Dr Fred Richman

John McIntire - Sheriff Al

Chambers

Frank Albertson - Tom Cassidy

Vaughn Taylor - George Lowery

Lurene Tuttle - Mrs Chambers

John Anderson - California Charlie

Mort Mills - Highway Patrol Officer

Virginia Gregg - Norma Bates (Voice) (Uncredited)

Alfred Hitchcock - Man Outside

Real Estate Office (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Paul Jasmin - Norma Bates (Voice)

(Uncredited)

Jeanette Nolan - Norma Bates (Voice)

(Uncredited)

Ted Knight - Policeman in Hallway

Opening Door (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew

Producer (Uncredited)/Director -

Alfred Hitchcock

Assistant: Mr Hitchcock - Peggy Robertson

(Uncredited)

Based on the Novel - Robert Bloch

Screenplay - Joseph Stefano

Art Directors - Robert Clatworthy and

Joseph Hurley

Costume Designer/Wardrobe: Women -

Rita Riggs (Uncredited)

Costume Supervisor - Helen Colvig

Makeup Supervisors - Jack Barron

and Robert Dawn

Director of Photography - John L. Russell

Camera Operator - Leonard J. South

(Uncredited)

Assistant Director - Hilton A. Green

Film Editor - George Tomasini

Pictorial Consultant/Titles Designer - Saul Bass

Music - Bernard Herrmann

Awards

1961 Academy Awards

Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Janet Leigh

(Nominated)

Best Director - Alfred Hitchcock (Nominated)

Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -

John L. Russell (Nominated)

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -

Joseph Hurley, Robert Clatworthy and

George Milo (Nominated)

Review

On a rainy Halloween evening in 2022, I started watching PSYCHO, often cited as a breakthrough in modern thrillers and one of Alfred Hitchcock's landmark masterpieces. I had never seen it before. I thought it would be a great experience since I was old enough to handle its terrifying psychological themes. What began as a pre-production episode for Alfred Hitchcock Presents became a groundbreaking feature. It's impressive that a low-budget movie could become a milestone.

Almost everything in PSYCHO makes it work, from Hitchcock's artful direction to groundbreaking camerawork to Bernard Herrmann's instantly recognisable score. My only complaint is that the first half drags, but it picks up once the tense atmosphere kicks in. The film packs a few incredibly shocking plot twists, but I won't spoil them since this is my critique. I loved the iconic shower scene, a pop culture staple spoofed countless times in TV shows and films. The acting performances were fantastic, especially Anthony Perkins, who did a great job as Norman Bates.

PSYCHO isn't just a pinnacle of Hitchcock's directing career. It is a suspenseful movie with a mystery tied into the storyline. I say this because it isn't a horror film, as many believe. It is a terrific classic despite the slow first half. I'd still recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it or any classic filmgoer.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Spartacus Review

Spartacus

Release Date: 9th December 1960 - Australia

Production Companies

Bryna Productions (presents)

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Action/Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 184 minutes

Budget: $12,000,000

Box Office Gross: $60,000,000 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
Born into slavery, Spartacus, a defiant Thracian, was sold to Batiatus, who trained him as a gladiator for the arena. Spartacus revolted against his masters and led a slave uprising. He went from town to town as several of his fellow slaves joined their ranks. Under Spartacus' leadership, the slaves made their way to southern Italy. There, they would cross the sea and return to their homes.

Cast

Kirk Douglas - Spartacus
Laurence Olivier - Crassus

Jean Simmons - Varinia
Charles Laughton - Gracchus
Peter Ustinov - Batiatus

Tony Curtis - Antoninus
John Gavin - Julius Caesar
Nina Foch - Helena Glabrus

John Ireland - Crixus
Herbert Lom - Tigranes Levantus
John Dall - Marcus Publius Gabrus
Charles McGraw - Marcellus
Joanna Barnes - Claudia Marrus
Harold J. Stone - David
Woody Strobe - Draba
Peter Brocco - Ramon
Paul Lambert - Gannicus

Robert J. Wilke - Guard Captain
Nick Dennis - Dionysius
John Hoyt - Caius
Frederic Worlock - Laelius
Vic Perrin - Narrator (Voice) (Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Stanley Kubrick
Based on a Novel - Howard Fast

Screenplay - Dalton Trumbo
Executive Producers - Kirk Douglas and Edward Muhl (Uncredited)
Producers - Edward Lewis, Robert A. Harris (1991 Reconstruction and Restoration) and James C. Katz (1991 Reconstruction and Restoration)

Historical and Technical

Advisor - Vittorio Nino Novarese

Production Designers - Alexander Golitzen and Roger K. Furse (Uncredited)
Costumes - Valles

Costumes: Miss Simmons - Bill Thomas
Director of Photography - Russell Metty

Photographer: Additional Scenes - Clifford Stine

Camera Operator - Harry L. Wolf (Uncredited)

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator/

Stunts - Yakima Canutt (Uncredited)

Second Unit Director/Film Editor -

Irving Lerner (Uncredited)

Design Consultant/Main Titles - Saul Bass

Film Editor/Editorial Consultant (1991

Reconstruction and Restoration) -

Robert Lawrence

Sound - Joe Lapis, Ronald Pierce,

Murray Spivack and Waldon O. Watson

Music - Alex North

Awards

1961 Academy Awards

Best Supporting Actor - Peter Ustinov (Won)

Best Cinematography, Color - Russell Metty (Won)

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color -

Alexander Golitzen, Eric Orbom,

Russel A. Gausman and Julia Heron (Won)

Best Costume Design, Color - Valles and Bill Thomas (Won)

—————————

Best Film Editing - Robert Lawrence (Nominated)

Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy

Picture - Alex North (Nominated)

Review

After hearing that Kirk Douglas passed away, I decided to review SPARTACUS as a tribute to his legendary acting. I have wanted to see this classic film because it's from the late director Stanley Kubrick, who directed such masterpieces as Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Shining, among countless others. It surprised me that Kubrick disowned SPARTACUS, since he had no creative control over the film. The movie was self-produced by Kirk Douglas in response to not securing the title role in Ben-Hur, which went to Charlton Heston.

In the all-star cast, Kirk Douglas, Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, and Tony Curtis deliver talented performances. The script was good, the scenery was remarkable, and the soundtrack was incredible. The battle sequences are well-staged and choreographed, especially compared to the fight scenes in modern sword-and-sandal films like Gladiator.

SPARTACUS is a great classic, but not one of the greatest movies. I recommend it to anyone, including cinephiles.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Planet of the Apes (1968) Review

Planet of the Apes


Release Date: 3rd April 1968 - USA


Production Companies
20th Century Fox
APJAC Productions

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 107 minutes


Budget: $5,800,000

Box Office Gross: $32,600,753 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
George Taylor is an astronaut who crashes into an unknown world where apes rule over humanity, using them for sport and experimentation. Soon, Taylor is captured after realising he's one of the hunted. Taylor meets a chimpanzee scientist whose life is now in her hands. He soon discovers the planet isn't as alien as he thought.


Cast
Charlton Heston - George Taylor
Kim Hunter - Zira
Roddy McDowall - Cornelius
Maurice Evans - Dr. Zaius
James Whitmore - President of the Assembly
James Daly - Honorious
Linda Harrison - Nova
Robert Gunner - Landon
Lou Wagner - Lucius
Woodrow Parfrey - Maximus
Jeff Burton - Dodge
Buck Kartalian - Julius
Wright King - Dr. Galen
Norman Burton - Hunt Leader
Paul Lambert - Minister

Dianne Stewart - Astronaut Stewart (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Franklin J. Schaffner
Based on the Novel - Pierre Boulle
Screenplay - Michael Wilson and Rod Serling

Additional Dialogue - John T.
Kelley (Uncredited)
Associate Producer - Mort Abrahams
Producer - Arthur P. Jacobs
Art Directors - William J. Creber and Jack Martin Smith

Set Decorations - Norman Rockett and Walter M. Scott
Costume Designer - Morton Haack

Creative Makeup Designer - John Chambers

Director of Photography - Leon Shamroy

Assistant Camera - Lee Crawford, Thomas Del Ruth and Martin Rohde (Uncredited)
Special Photographic Effects -

L.B. Abbott, Art Cruickshank

and Emil Kosa Jr.

Film Editor - Hugh S. Fowler

Sound - David Dockendorf and

Herman Lewis

Music Supervisor - Lionel Newman (Uncredited)
Music - Jerry Goldsmith


Awards

1969 Academy Awards
Honorary Award - John Chambers (Won)
----------------------
Best Costume Design - Morton Haack (Nominated)
Best Music, Original Score - Jerry Goldsmith (Nominated)


Review

It's been several years since I last watched the original PLANET OF THE APES on DVD. This movie began as a classic franchise referenced in pop culture and was remade countless times, including the recent trilogy. PLANET OF THE APES is an old relic of science fiction, and any viewer should know that this classic is way better than the 2001 remake by Tim Burton. The movie has stood the test of time, though it surprisingly contains an allegory that addresses a long-standing social conflict between science and religion. The ending adds a massive twist to the storyline. You can guess what it is. Unsurprisingly, this movie draws on an obscure novel by Pierre Boulle, the author of The Bridge on the River Kwai. The film's writers, Michael Wilson and Rod Serling, cleverly craft it to make viewers suspend disbelief in a world where apes rule humans.

Other vital components made the film worthwhile from the get-go, including Franklin J. Schaffner's direction and Leon Shamroy's terrific cinematography. The ape makeup design was extraordinary compared to the motion capture used in the recent trilogy. Actors like Roddy McDowall, Maurice Evans, and Kim Hunter were incredible as Cornelius, Dr Zaius, and Zira. While over-the-top, Charlton Heston's performance as the astronaut George Taylor makes me empathise with him as he faces this "upside-down" world. Jerry Goldsmith's score has an appropriately simian, tribal feel, thanks to its orchestration.

The science-fiction genre has never looked the same since those early days. This version premiered in theatres nationwide, and its popularity has continued over the past 50 years. PLANET OF THE APES is a harrowing experience, yet worth viewing and highly recommended for all film buffs, even fans of the classic and newer series.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Viva Las Vegas Review

Viva Las Vegas

Release Date: 20th May 1964 - USA 


Production Companies

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (presents)

Jack Cummings Productions (Uncredited)

Winters Hollywood Entertainment Holdings Corporation (Uncredited)

Genre: Musical/Romance

 
Rating: G

Runtime: 85 minutes

Budget: $1,000,000 (estimated)

Box Office Gross: $9,442,967 (USA)

Plot Summary

Lucky Jackson, a musically gifted race car driver, is in Las Vegas and needs to win enough money to buy a new engine for his race car so he can win the Grand Prix. After meeting a beautiful swimming instructor named Rusty, he considers staying longer. Lucky loses his winnings in the hotel pool, forcing him to stay long enough to earn them back. Now, he also has to win Rusty's heart. Unfortunately, so does Elmo, his slick racing enemy.

Cast

Elvis Presley - Lucky Jackson

Ann-Margret - Rusty Martin

Cesare Danova - Count Elmo Mancini

William Demarest - Mr. Martin

Nicky Blair - Shorty Fansworth
Jack Carter - Casino Performer (Uncredited)
Teri Garr - Dancer (Uncredited)
The Jubilee Four - Themselves (Uncredited)

Crew

Producer/Director - George Sidney

Writer - Sally Benson

Producer - Jack Cummings

Art Directors - Edward C. Carfagno and
George Davis
Set Decorators - Henry Grace and George W. Davis

Costume Designer - Donfeld

Makeup Supervisor - William Tuttle

Hair Stylist - Sydney Guilaroff

Director of Photography - Joseph F. Biroc

Choreographer - David Winters

Film Editor - John McSweeney Jr.

Recording Supervisor - Franklin Milton

Music - George Stoll and
Robert Van Eps (Uncredited)

Review

I wasn't exactly into the legendary Elvis Presley, aka The King. He was one of the great rock 'n' roll musicians. I preferred Michael Jackson and The Beatles to hear their catchy tunes and inspiring ballads. I did listen to a few Elvis tracks and covers from music streaming and a few mixed CDs, namely the title track from one of his lighthearted musical comedies, VIVA LAS VEGAS. I hadn't even seen the movie before watching it in a feature session at Parkes Shire Library during my first visit to the Parkes Elvis Festival. A popular hit film of 1964, which came out with the King's few other musicals and A Hard Day's Night from The Beatles, VIVA LAS VEGAS is a wildly entertaining classic that many fans consider his all-time best movie. The film is jam-packed with flashy musical numbers and a sensational racing climax from start to finish. Several people have seen Elvis sing and dance in films, on television, and at stage concerts, but this is the most fun he had in a feature since Jailhouse Rock.

Elvis and Ann-Margret played up their romantic chemistry. Based on what I have heard, they had an off-screen relationship. Although much of this is true, it works in their favour.

In all, VIVA LAS VEGAS is a bona fide classic and brings out the best in his style of music. I highly recommend this film to any Elvis fan.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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The Great Escape Review

The Great Escape

Release Date: 10th December 1963 - Australia (Sydney) (premiere)

Production Companies

The Mirisch Company
Alpha (Uncredited)

Genre: War

Rating: PG

Runtime: 172 minutes


Budget: $3,800,000

Box Office Gross: $11,973,256 (Worldwide) 


Plot Summary 

Angered by the number of escapes by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, the Nazis relocated them to a high-security "escape-proof" prison camp. However, the prisoners remained undaunted, and this did not stop them from planning one of the most ambitious escape attempts in the history of World War II.


Cast

Steve McQueen - Hilts 'The Cooler King'

James Garner - Hendley 'The Scrounger'

Richard Attenborough - Bartlett 'Big X'

James Donald - Ramsey 'The SBO'

Charles Bronson - Danny
'Tunnel King'

Donald Pleasence - Blythe
'The Forger'

James Coburn - Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'

Hannes Messemer - Von Luger 'The Kommandant'

David McCallum - Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal'

Gordon Jackson - MacGordon 'Intelligence'

John Leyton - Willie 'Tunnel King'

Angus Lennie - Ives 'The Mole'

Nigel Stock - Cavendish 'The Surveyor'

Robert Graf - Werner 'The Ferret'

Jud Taylor - Goff

Hans Reiser - Herr Kuhn

Harry Riebauer - Strachwitz

William Russell - Sorren

Robert Freitag - Capt. Posen

Ulrich Beiger - Preissen

George Mikell - Lt. Dietrich

Lawrence Montaigne - Haynes ('Diversions')

Robert Desmond - Griffith 'Tailor'

Til Kiwe - Frick

Heinz Weiss - Kramer

Tom Adams - Dai Nimmo ('Diversions')

Karl-Otto Alberty - S.S. Officer Steinach

Crew

Producer/Director - John Sturges

Based on the Novel "The Great Escape" -
Paul Brickhill
Writer/Producer (Uncredited) - James Clavell

Writers - W.R. Burnett and
Walter Newman (Uncredited)
Executive Producer - Walter Mirisch (Uncredited)
Assistant to Producer/Second Unit

Director (Uncredited) - Robert E. Relyea

Technical Advisor - Wally Floody (Uncredited)

Art Director - Fernando Carrere

Set Decorator - Kurt Ripberger
Director of Photography - Daniel L. Fapp

Assistant Directors - Jack N. Reddish

and John Flynn (Uncredited)

Special Effects - A. Paul Pollard
Film Editor - Ferris Webster

Sound Effects Editor - Wayne Fury

Composer - Elmer Bernstein


Awards

1964 Academy Awards
Best Film Editing - Ferris Webster (Nominated)

Review

Following the successful release of The Magnificent Seven in 1960, director John Sturges adapted Paul Brickhill's novel THE GREAT ESCAPE to become one of 1963's top-grossing movies. Based on the author's tragic experience in World War II, he was involved in a massive escape attempt devised by his fellow prisoners of war (POWs). Many celebrated it as one of the greatest war movies ever made. I remember seeing it on pay TV when it appeared on the now-defunct Movie Greats channel. It introduced me to Steve McQueen, one of the greatest actors of all time. Its famous motorcycle chase scene is what made me watch the film. I have waited to see this milestone film again, and it still delivers an old-fashioned, edge-of-your-seat experience through its balance of suspense and tragedy. THE GREAT ESCAPE was shot on location in Germany with elaborate set pieces and contained some historical accuracy.

While the film tackles the grim realities of war head-on, it also showcases moments of humour and solidarity among the prisoners alongside the inherent tension and drama. I liked that it doesn't portray the German characters as one-dimensional villains; it depicts them with insight, revealing layers of complexity.

The cast includes McQueen, Richard Attenborough, James Garner, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, and Donald Pleasence. Each actor delivers a stellar performance, including McQueen, who brings a daredevil persona and a penchant for taking risks to his roles. Coburn, an American actor, surprises Australian filmgoers by playing a character with an Aussie accent. Elmer Bernstein's background music complements the film's tragedy and cleverness tremendously.

In closing, it is one of my all-time favourite movies, and THE GREAT ESCAPE is comparable to the other films this year. Anyone who wants to view it can purchase it online on DVD.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb Review

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb

Release Date: 12th June 1964 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures

Hawk Films

Distribution

Sony Pictures Releasing Australia

Genre: Comedy/War

Rating: PG

Runtime: 90 minutes

Budget: $1,800,000

Box Office Gross: $9,822,656 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

A mad general orders a

surprise nuclear air strike

on the USSR, believing

the Reds are polluting

America's "precious

bodily fluids." His aide,

Captain Mandrake, is

furiously trying to find

a recall code to stop the

bombing.

Meanwhile, the POTUS

is on the phone and

trying to convince the

inebriated Soviet Premier

that the impending attack

is a foolish mistake. The

President's advisor,

Dr Strangelove, confirms

the existence of the

dreaded Doomsday

Machine - a secret Soviet

retaliation device

guaranteed to end the

human race once and for

all!

Cast

Peter Sellers - Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake/President Merkin Muffley/Dr. Strangelove

George C. Scott - Gen. 'Buck' Turgidson

Sterling Hayden - Brig. Gen. Jack D. Ripper

Keenan Wynn - Colonel 'Bat' Guano

Slim Pickens - Maj. 'King' Kong

Peter Bull - Russian Ambassador Alexi de Sadesky

Tracy Reed - Miss Scott

James Earl Jones - Lt. Lothar Zogg

Jack Creley - Mr. Staines

Frank Berry - Lt. Dietrich

Robert O'Neil - Adm. Randolph

Glenn Beck - Lt. Kivel

Roy Stephens - Frank

Shane Rimmer - Capt. 'Ace' Owens
Paul Tamarin - Lt. Goldberg
Gordon Tanner - Gen. Faceman

Crew

Screenplay/Producer/

Director - Stanley Kubrick

Based on the Book "Red Alert"/Screenplay - Peter George

Screenplay - Terry Southern

Continuity - Pamela Carlton

Associate Producer - Victor Lyndon

Executive Producer - Leon Minoff (Uncredited)

Production Designer - Ken Adam
Art Director - Peter Murton

Wardrobe - Bridget Sellers

Makeup Artist - Stuart Freeborn

Hairdresser - Barbara Ritchie

Director of Photography - Gilbert Taylor

Camera Operator - Kelvin Pike

Assistant Director - Eric Rattray

Special Effects - Wally Weevers

Film Editor - Anthony Harvey

Assistant Editor - Ray Lovejoy

Sound Supervisor - John Cox

Dubbing Mixer - John Aldred

Music - Laurie Johnson

Awards

1965 Academy Awards

Best Picture - Stanley Kubrick (Nominated)

Best Director - Stanley Kubrick (Nominated)

Best Actor - Peter Sellers (Nominated)

Best Adapted Screenplay - Stanley Kubrick,

Peter George and Terry Southern (Nominated)

Review

Director Stanley Kubrick was an accomplished master of the medium when DR. STRANGELOVE premiered in 1964. Many film buffs lauded it as his greatest triumph next to 2001: A Space Odyssey. It satirises the Cold War set in its time and turmoil. As it turned out, the movie isn't the perfectly ingenious comical masterpiece I hoped it would be. Though it's good to see another picture from Kubrick, it's a showcase of laughter that handles serious topics very well. The set design was perfect, and Kubrick's direction shows that he is a man of broad talent and a natural in comedy.

This film addresses the political issues of nuclear war between the Russian and the American governments. It has a plot that is not taken seriously and touches on some controversial war themes, exaggerating them to the point of being unbelievable.

Peter Sellers was convincingly hilarious in his three characters in this movie, one of which was the titular character who speaks in an over-the-top German accent. Some of the best scenes in this movie resulted from Sellers's improvisation and talents. Even George C. Scott had a fun time playing a crazed general and complimented the film's absurdity and lunacy. It is a debut for James Earl Jones, who was yet to play his most infamous character from Star Wars as the voice of Darth Vader.

Young audiences from the next generation have yet to experience the absurdity and anti-war message of DR. STRANGELOVE. Still, the movie was great, but not one of my favourites. I can relate to its sharp and dark humour.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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On Her Majesty's Secret Service Review

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Release Date: 28th November 1969 - Australia

Production Companies

Eon Productions (made by)

Genre: Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 142 minutes

Budget: $7,000,000

Box Office Gross: $82,000,000 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Failing his usual
intelligence sources, Bond
enlists the help of crime
boss Draco to find Ernst
Blofeld, head of the evil
SPECTRE organisation.
Bond goes undercover
on Blofeld's high-tech
headquarters in the
Swiss mountains.
He meets various
seductive women, but
none as beautiful as Draco's
daughter, Tracy, who
charms 007 with her fierce
independence, biting wit,
and spirit of adventure.

Bond pledges his undying
devotion to her, but there
are more urgent matters
on his mind: Blofeld plans
to unleash horrific germ
warfare weaponry, which
will threaten every living
thing on the planet!

Cast

George Lazenby - James Bond

Diana Rigg - Tracy Di Vicenzo

Telly Savalas - Ernst Stavro Blofeld

Gabriele Ferzetti - Marc Ange Draco

Isle Steppat - Irma Bunt

Yuri Borienko - Grunther

Bernard Lee - M

Lois Maxwell - Miss Moneypenny

Desmond Llewellyn - Q

George Baker - Sir Hilary Bray

Angela Scoular - Ruby Bartlett

Bernard Horsfall - Campbell

Virginia North - Olympie

Catherine Schell - Nancy

Geoffrey Cheshire - Toussaint

Irvin Allen - Che Che

Terence Mountain - Raphael

John Gay - Hammond

James Bree - Gebruder Gumbold

Julie Ege - The Scandinavian Girl

Mona Chong - The Chinese Girl

Sylvana Henriques - The Jamaican Girl

Sally Sheridan - The American Girl

Joanna Lumley - The English Girl

Zaheera - The Indian Girl

Anouska Hempel - The Australian Girl

Ingrid Back - The German Girl

Helena Ronee - The Israeli Girl

Jenny Hanley - The Irish Girl

Crew

Director - Peter Hunt

Based on the Novel "On Her

Majesty's Secret Service" and

Characters "James Bond" -

Ian Fleming (Uncredited)

Screenplay - Richard Maibaum

Additional Dialogue - Simon Raven

Associate Producer - Stanley Sopel

Producers - Albert R. Broccoli and

Harry Saltzman

Production Designer - Syd Cain

Art Director - Bob Laing
Set Decorator - Peter Lamont
Costume Designer - Marjory Cornelius

Director of Photography - Michael Reed

Camera Operator - Alec Mills

Aerial Cameraman - John Jordan

Ski Cameramen - Willy Bogner
and Alex Barbey

Assistant Director - Frank Ernst

Second Unit Director/Editor - John Glen

Stunt Arranger - George Leech

Special Effects - John Stears

Special Effects Technician - Bert Luxford (Uncredited)

Matte Artist and Optical Effects - Cliff Culley

(Uncredited)

Optical and Matte Cameraman - Roy Field (Uncredited)

Visual Effects Unit Cameramen - Robin Browne

and Martin Shorthall (Uncredited)

Dubbing Editors - Nicolas Stevenson

and Harry Miller

Sound Recordists - John Mitchell

and Gordon McCallum

Main Title Designer - Maurice Binder
Composer: James Bond Theme - Monty Norman

Music - John Barry

Lyricist - Hal David

Performer: Song "We Have All the Time in the
World" - Louis Armstrong

Review

It's been a year since I last watched a Bond movie, and I decided to review another one. I currently reviewed a Bond movie, You Only Live Twice, but I'm halfway through the sixth flick of ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, and still, there's work to do in re-watching this underrated classic. It came out as what many consider to be an overlooked film. Since then, everyone who has watched its predecessors has nearly forgotten that this movie existed. However, decades later, they began to like it even more. Some even regarded it as a better film than the entries featuring Roger Moore and the latter two with Timothy Dalton.

I first saw this film as a kid, as it was the first James Bond movie I watched. I wasn't allowed to watch the rest of the series until I was mature enough to appreciate the instalments with their significant plotting and winning combination of action, espionage, and romance. However, I saw a bit of The Man with the Golden Gun, which may or may not have introduced me to the character. It was a unique rarity that a Bond film like this had a tragic ending, which I'll never get over, because I was so young and unprepared for any sad conclusions. I have seen this instalment twice because the latest film, Spectre, has now opened in cinemas. I watched it to get myself in the mood for the upcoming feature.

SERVICE could have been a big start for George Lazenby in his tenure as 007. Unfortunately, his agent persuaded him to decline the role in Diamonds Are Forever because the salary on offer was too low. To make matters worse, this, combined with the lukewarm critical reception of his playing Bond, is one of the reasons he never reprised the role in the later entries. Some moviegoers preferred Sean Connery in the lead when he declined to appear in this picture. The film takes me back to a time of nostalgia, which is significant as it brought me to the series. The action sequences are fun to watch and full of edge-of-your-seat moments. The action takes viewers into skiing and bobsledding and again portrays Bond as a Jack-of-all-trades.

More praise is due to George, who, despite being a non-English actor, was a charismatic secret agent with style, charm, and wit. He still manages to convince us that Bond is still a suave protagonist. Telly Savalas's portrayal of Blofeld is unforgettable. He is not as compelling as Donald Pleasence's interpretation, and the story fails to explain the change in his appearance. Leaving the audience to imagine why he looks so different.

Beyond question, SERVICE is one of the strongest Bond films. It is a worthy instalment, despite the critics' negative reviews and some fan feedback. Please give it another chance, viewers.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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