Robert Wise (1) (1914–2005)

This fun and flavorful RKO crime film set in Mexico gave William Lundigan better material and a bigger budget than he was used to for his lead efforts, making this one of his best films. Robert Wise’s sure direction and RKO’s trademark attention to detail, even in their mid-budget efforts, turned an average “B” crime entry into a lot of fun. Jacqueline White is pleasant and pretty as the girl Lundigan is chasing. A lovely song in the film is so good it could just as easily have been show more saved for a bigger budget film with more star power. RKO touches like this are only one of the reasons it is my favorite studio for classic films.

Steve Hastings (Lundigan) is an insurance detective more than happy to follow pretty Vickie Ames down to Mexico in search of her brother. The agency is still looking for both her brother and the necklace he may have stolen. Hastings needs to find out if either she or her brother are involved, and if not, just what happened. He starts cozying up to her on the plane and it doesn't stop when they get to Mexico, despite her initial cool reaction. We know, of course, they’ll get together and figure it all out, because we’ve seen this all before, but it’s still enjoyable.

In one unusual reversal of form for the time period, the Mexican cops are not only honest, but helpful. In another atypical twist, even though he’s basically a private detective, Lundigan’s character is treated on the square by the cops in Mexico. It’s a nice touch by Wise which will jump out at those of us who’ve seen a million of these. A little Spanish girl’s doll may hold all the answers when the bad guys appear to have the drop, but the best moment is saved for last, leaving a smile on the viewer’s face.

Nice locations and sets, an abundance of atmosphere, some tight direction from Wise, and a really nice cast of “B” players make this a pleasant surprise all around. By far one of Lundigan’s best films as the hero, and a terrific one for fans of this genre. A “B” to be sure, but a satisfying “B” from RKO. show less

Forget the remake! The 1963 film version of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House is the one to watch. It's in black and white, there's very little in the way of special effects, yet the movie is an ice-cold finger running down one's spine over and over again.

The house that Hugh Crane built ninety years before the movie opens had its 'fatal accident' before the family was moved in. The second one followed some years later. The movie leaves out Hugh Crane's other daughter, so Abigail show more is the one to inherit and live there until her death. Her heir is the next to die. Now the house is uninhabited. It is cared for by the Dudleys, who are careful to leave before it gets dark.

Dr. John Markway wants to rent Hill House and investigate it to see if it's really haunted. He has invited several persons who have been linked to the paranormal in the past to join him. Mrs. Sanderson, the current owner, is a hard sale, but Dr, Markway may lease the house if he includes Mrs. Sanderson's nephew and heir, Luke Sanderson, in the group.

As it turns out, only two persons have accepted Dr. Markway's invitation: Eleanor Lance and Theo (short for Theodora). Theo is a psychic, confirmed by investigation. Eleanor is our heroine. In her early 30s, Eleanor has spent over ten years caring for her invalid mother, who recently died. Eleanor really wants to go to Hill House, but is having trouble leaving the home of her married sister. Carrie is nasty about it. Her daughter, Dora, will prompt some viewers to think she needs a spanking. Carrie's husband, Bud, is sympathetic, but Carrie obviously wears the pants in that family.

Eleanor sneaks away and obtains the car she owns with her sister. She's the first to reach Hill House. Mr. Dudley is prejudiced against 'city folks'. Mrs. Dudley is creepy. Luckily for Eleanor, Theo soon arrives It's easy to see that Mrs. Dudley is put out that Theo would rather chat with Eleanor than listen to the creepy spiel.

Dr. Markway is obviously well-educated and cultured. He's very interested in discovering a haunted house, but he doesn't seem obsessed. Luke Sanderson is a devout skeptic who doesn't want Hill House to be haunted - that would lower its property value.

Hill House has a built-in peculiarity that means anyone attempting to stay in it should memorize the map. (I wonder if its effect would be less on those who have no sense of direction.) If it's not haunted, it's giving a spectacular imitation, starting the first night there. The more we learn about the house, the more we suspect that everyone should spend their nights in their cars outside the gate. Eleanor is the one most affected by the house. It's unnerving to watch her fall under its influence.

Things get shaken up when Grace, Dr. Markway's wife, arrives. Unlike the book, the film version doesn't believe in ghosts. She's afraid her husband is going to ruin his academic reputation. Will Hill House teach her to fear it?

I have been watching this film for over fifty years, since I was ten or eleven years old and I love it. The closing narration still gives me the shivers. It's my go-to Halloween movie. show less

Some think the fifth Star Trek film, Final Frontier, is the worst Trek film ever made. I think Generations and Insurrection are strong contenders. But actually, I think this should be the winner in the race for the bottom. Because this commits the cardinal sin--it's dull.

And the hell of it, it shouldn't be. Interesting things are happening with the central characters. Kirk (although you only learn this in the novelization) got married since the five year mission. McCoy shows up looking like show more a hippie after being shanghaied. Wherever he had been in the intervening years, I'm betting it wasn't Star Fleet. Yeoman Rand became a transporter chief and Chapel went from Nurse to Doctor. And Spock? Spock went to Gol to purge himself of all emotion. This should make for DRAMA! But no, this picture is so emotionally grey, so dull, so drearily boring, such a second rate attempt at 2001. Maybe it's those uniforms... show less

Scientists in a secret lab fight a disease from space.

Wise tried valiantly to make a serious science fiction film emulating A Space Odyssey. Any possibility at taking it seriously, though, is undermined by extreme corniness. Combining Space Odyssey's pace with a B movie level of intelligence is a fairly disastrous recipe. Of course, luckily for me, that didn't stop Wise from using that same recipe again to make Star Trek: The Motion Picture - but that film had enough grandeur and spectacle show more to make it work, while Andromeda Strain is forced to fall back on its half-baked plot to hold your interest.

Concept: C
Story: C
Characters: D
Dialog: D
Pacing: D
Cinematography: B
Special effects/design: A
Acting: D
Music: B

Enjoyment: C

GPA: 2.0/4 show less