The short month. The Olympics, hockey, spring training camps opening and trying to cram as many episodes of Impractical Jokers as is possible every time number 2 son Kirk comes home on weekends from college in a zany attempt to clear out my overloaded PVR. What does that mean? It means newer movies took a substantial drop for the month but me and the boys laughed so hard we may have popped a hernia watching the hijinks of those four jokesters. My wife says it’s a guy thing so gentleman, if you haven’t seen this show, it comes with my highest recommendation.
On to the line up…..
The Doberman Gang – Brando’s Pick of the Month
Hornet’s Nest – Rock Hudson WW2 actioner
A 5 Pack of VHS Horrors with Perkins, Demi, Carradine, giant crabs and deep sea monsters
Stick – Burt Reynolds acts out Elmore Leonard
Cattle King – A little time spent with Robert Taylor
Diabolically Yours – Alain Delon thriller with Senta Berger
Mother Lode – Heston stars in and directs this underrated thriller
Fist Fight (2017)
I got a kick out of this one and that’s in large part to the two actors cast in the lead roles and the crazy plot they’ve been dropped into. Ice Cube stars as one scary high school teacher alongside Charlie Day as the meek English teacher with little in the way of a spine. When Day doesn’t back up Ice’s story after accusations of turning violent in the classroom resulting in his dismissal when the day will come to an end, Cube throws the gauntlet down and tells Charlie they’re to meet in the schoolyard at 3 o’clock for an old fashioned fist fight. Crazy comedy scenarios ensue and while it’s no classic, I laughed and that’s really all that matters.
The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell – Gary Cooper tangles with military protocol
The Boy Who Cried Werewolf – Long overdue but I caught up with this puppy dog like Lon Chaney
Mr. Music – I still love the films of Bing Crosby though I do pretend to be a Bronson like tough guy
Maniac – It’s never a dull time when Oliver Reed is involved
Slumming with George Zucco – a cinematic pleasure
The Train – Amazing Burt Lancaster flick revisited thanks to Number 2 son Kirk’s desire to see it. A MUST SEE!
Pit Stop – A great personal discovery on this low budget Jack Hill racing flick
Cabo Blanco – The “lost” Charles Bronson film
Play the Game (2009)
Andy Griffith’s final film casts him as a grandfather who ‘s widowed and living in a senior citizens home. His grandson is a ladies man and decides to give Gramps a few lessons on how to win some of the widowed ladies attentions. Before we know it, Andy is a regular Don Juan and scoring with more than he can handle. It’s a family affair when we stop to consider the film also casts Rance and Clint Howard. Ron’s father and brother who of course harken back to the days of Mayberry and the show I still count as my all time favorite.
Deliver Us From Evil and A Cry In The Wilderness – A pair of George Kennedy telefilms
Buckskin – Barry Sullivan oater from the 60’s
Buffalo Bill – A fine Joel McCrea effort highlighted by Maureen O’Hara’s beauty
Rounders (1998)
Again it’s number 2 son Kirk looking to see some of his favorite character players all appearing in one film. It’s one of those movies that poker players never get enough of and though I’ve pretty much retired from the game, there was a time when I like most guys who dabble fancied themselves a player. How’s this for a cast….. Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Famke Janssen, Martin Landau, John Malkovich, Jon Turturro and Gretchen Mol. Small timer that I am, I did retire with more than I started with. Just in case you’re wondering.
The Black Cat – Basil and Bela ….. works for me
Operation Petticoat – Cary Grant and Tony Curtis produce a winner
Diamonds Are Forever – Connery as Bond never grows old
Comments? What’s your score on this selection? How many have you seen?
Back to the movie room and who knows what.
Mike's Take On the Movies 
I’ve still got my eye on Mother Lode and Pit Stop. “Pit Stop” is on YT so I will most probably get to that much sooner.
The Train is brilliant isn’t it. I had a John Frankenheimer catch up moment about 5 years ago where I sat and watched a few of his I hadn’t yet seen, The Train, Manchurian Candidate and Seven Days In May. All 3 fantastic.
I miss catching up on the Olympics, was a nice routine watching the days events at dinner time. Shocker on your boys and Germany in the hockey!!
Yes the Train is a magnificent film that really does get better with each viewing as do the other two. I’m quite positive you’ll love both of those films when you catch up to them. Once we lost to the German’s I was hoping they’d go all the way. A good Cinderella story.
Yeah it’s always best when you get knocked down by an underdog to see them go all the way. It’s like the stars were aligned and there was nothing else that could of been done.
I’ve seen a few from the list – Stick, The Boy Who Cried Werewolf, The Black Cat, Diamonds Are Forever – but by a longshot The Train is my favorite of the bunch. What an outstanding film! It was on my list of films to watch and review this year, so we’ll see if I’m able to get to it. The commentary by Frankenheimer is cool, too.
Yes the Train is a special film that’s like wine (though I never drink it). I just hear it gets better with age. Like The Train.