Go Naked in the World (1961)

Notes: 1/19/11

Captures the moment when a man grows up and everything between him and his parents becomes awkward, but everything with his lover feels like the best thing ever.

Franciosa might be too old for this role?

The romance and family feuds didn't work so well, but Franciosa's reaction to the truth about Gina is pretty good. I think the story is better than the execution and that the acting is just adequate.

Review: C

Modern-day story of 'Camille' focuses more on the upscale family life of Anthony Franciosa, than the scandalous life of Gina Lollabrigida. The ages of the actors is a bit questionable, making one ponder others who might better serve these roles. Ernerst Borgnine is the most blustery as the Franciosa's difficult father. Unfortunately, Lollabrigida is rather dull and Franciosa only registers in scenes with his family. Colorful production is just alright, but might have been more interesting with a different cast.

Atlantis, the Lost Continent (1961)

Notes: 1/19/11

Opening narration raises interesting questions. Was there really an Atlantis?

Lots of shirtless Anthony Hall make this movie difficult to get bored with. So far, at least.

I like John Dall, but why does he clothe Anthony Hall with a salmon bathrobe? I have nothing to stare at anymore!

Edward Platt is a strange choice for the high priest. He doesn't do much but make faces.

Disaster time! LOTS of stock footage.

Review: C-

Special effects (and stock footage) highlight this George Pal production concerning the downfall of the mythical continent of Atlantis. Not the greatest of its genre; some of the acting is lazy and the editing is slightly sloppy. Anthony Hall (aka Sal Ponti) runs around without clothes on for much of the movie, giving it a much-needed spark. John Dall and Edward Platt add some class in supporting roles, but both appear to be running on auto-pilot. Film is mostly silly, but not as bad as one might expect.

Days of Thrills and Laughter (1961)

Notes: 1/19/11

Robert Youngson continues his compilation series.

Clips range from bawdy comedy to elaborate action.

Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, Fairbanks, Pearl White, etc.

Great opportunity to educate people on early filmmakers and stars.

Houdini! What a thrill to see pieces of his silent films.

Terrific opportunity to see clips from The Perils of Pauline.

“No successors; but only moving shadows.”

Review: B-

Robert Youngson continues his series of silent era compilation films by focusing on the thrilling stunts and hilarious gags that make silent films a one-of-a-kind experience. Film works as an opportunity for younger audiences to discover the great gags of lesser known comedians like Charley Chase and Snub Pollard, along with Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy. Even more enjoyable are clips from the films of Harry Houdini, allowing viewers to marvel at the legendary magician and escape artist.

Underworld U.S.A. (1961)

Notes: 1/19/10

Samuel Fuller! I'm intrigued.

'When will he come out?', 'When he's dead.'

Change of pace role for Cliff Robertson. Gritty.

Richard Rust was also in Homicidal. Pretty good looking.

Beatrice Kay does a good job. Looks like Sylvia Sidney.

Can't believe they killed the little girl.

Film noir wasn't as popular in 1961, but this movie and Fuller stay true to the form.

Review: C+

Samuel Fuller creates another gritty crime story with an effective Cliff Robertson as a man out for revenge on the mob who killed his father years ago. Supporting cast helps keep the film memorable and interesting. Overall, the film is a minor effort in the film noir genre that lacks the proper suspense and excitement to really score.

The Explosive Generation (1961)

Notes: 1/19/11

A little reminscent of those silly rock 'n roll movies.

Funny to imagine that teenagers lined up for these types of films.

This is much better than a silly rock 'n roll movie. I like the basic plot. Sex education = taboo.

Definitely spotted Beau Bridges in the class.

Promising start, but the film ends up losing steam in its mid-section.

Interesting time capsule. Can't imagine all the fuss that sex education caused.

Review: C

Teen drama works only as a time capsule from the era just after the squeaky-clean 1950s and the sexual revolution of the late 60s. William Shatner plays a teacher who introduces sexual behavior into his curriculum, causing uproar among parents and townspeople. Loses steam somewhere in the mid-section, deflating a promising depiction of a bygone era.

The Young Doctors (1961)

Notes: 1/18/11

Phil Karlson is an curious choice to direct a melodrama about doctors, but he definitely supplies a gritty realism that elevates the material.

Love story with Ben Gazzara and Ina Balin is OK. Cute interaction scene on a bus.

Pretty well made medical drama with little fluff and some fairly nice moments.

Fredric March elevates this from being hokum and Gazzara make it feel authentic.

Review: B-

Well-made medical drama given an authentically gritty feel by director Phil Karlson. Fredric March leads a talented cast as an aging doctor faced with changes in the medical world, including the hiring of a much younger doctor in his department. Ben Gazzara is effective as March's new colleague and Dick Clark shows early acting promise as doctor whose wife is having a baby.

Claudelle Inglish (1961)

Notes: 1/17/11

Uninteresting soaper.

Constance Ford is a scene-stealer. Liked her in A Summer Place.

Not classy enough to be Peyton Place and not sexy enough to be God's Little Acre.

A stale melodrama with good actors, but little entertainment.

Not entirely sure why this was nominated for Costume Design, but I guess it's authentic.

Ending = annoying

Review: C-

Stale melodrama attempts to be sexy, but lacks any kind of spark or personality in its characters or story. Diane McBain and Chad Everett are each rather unremarkable as young lovers. Arthur Kennedy and Constance Ford stand out as the parents of McBain's title character. The ending reinforces the frustrating feeling that the film causes as it plods along.

Town Without Pity (1961)

Notes: 1/17/11

Narration seems out of place. Kind of a lazy form of storytelling.

Rape story and German flavor make this stand out a bit.

The music is awesome. Dimitri Tiomkin. Seems a but out of place though. Great title song!

The girl's father is an interesting character.

I like that all involved are both sympathetic and despicable.

Probably could have been done better. Good story, but not as engrossing as it could have been.

Review: C

The title song, while rather out of place, is the best part of this courtroom drama about four American soldiers accused of raping a German girl. Kirk Douglas does well as the conflicted defense attorney and Christine Kaufmann is memorable as the girl. The story and characters have so much promise, but the film itself turns out to be rather lazy and uneven. Too bad.

The Big Show (1961)

Notes: 1/17/11

Nice cast assembled. Circus theme could be fun.

Good actors, but script and direction are lacking something.

The girls are kind of boring.

Esther Williams is definitely beautiful, but she's not swimming, so....

So much draaaamaaa in the movie. Nothing interesting though.

Robert Vaughn was good at playing a creep. – And holy shit! Crazy death (?) scene.

Review: C-

Particularly uninteresting family drama concerning betrayal among a family of circus performers. Cliff Robertson and Robert Vaughn play brothers at odds. Their relationship is the only thing that stands out in a story that also involves a nowhere-near-a-pool Esther Williams as a love interest. If the script and direction had just a bit more focus, the film could have been more exciting. Instead, it's rather forgettable. 

Ada (1961)

Notes: 1/16/11

Susan Hayward is brassy. She is such a commanding presence.

Lots of confrontation scenes between Hayward and Wilfrid Hyde-White

Dean Martin is an interesting choice for the politician.

Story of a strong woman defying the odds and he reputation. Not all that interesting.

Martin Balsam has a good supporting role.

Ralph Meeker was handsome, but he's sort of a dick in this movie.

Review: C

Susan Hayward is the sole reason to watch this uninvolving soaper about a hooker who struggles to gain respect when she marries a politician. Dean Martin is an odd choice for her husband, but he's always a welcome presence. Still, it's Hayward's show and she makes anything watchable.

The Parent Trap (1961)

Notes: 1/6/11

Opening credits are cute. 

Ricky Nelson reference. I love the pop culture allusions. Very 1961.

Impressive split-screen effects. It really does seem like there are 2 of Hayley Mills.

Leo G. Carroll has a funny bit as a Reverend.

Let's Get Together duet scene is fun

Review: B

Hayley Mills plays twin sisters in this entertaining live-action comedy from Disney. Impressive split-screen effects add to the fun, while the colorful supporting cast, particularly Una Merkel and Charles Ruggles, offer some welcome warmth. Mills is very likeable and Maureen O'Hara, who plays her mother, is quite beautiful.

Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

Notes: 12/30/10

Love the talented casts that Frank Capra always assembles.

Love Bette Davis! Love Glenn Ford!

Ann-Margret's film debut.

Bette is terrific in the letter scene. Pleading for the letter and reading the news.

Peter Falk is great with the wisecracks. Memorable sidekick character.

Bette Davis is the emotional centerpiece. When the plot strays a bit from Apple Annie, the film loses its verve. When all the characters are together, the film works quite well. When the focus is just Bette, the film is unforgettable.

Review: B

Frank Capra's final film is a glossy remake of his 1933 film Lady for a Day. Bette Davis is moving and heartbreaking as Apple Annie, a beggar who gets a make-over in order to impress her worldly daughter. When the film's focus veers away from Davis, it becomes less entertaining, despite a colorful ensemble of character actors. Peter Falk is quite amusing as the wise-cracking Joy Boy. Ann-Margret makes a charming film debut. Capra is a master at assembling his casts and this film benefits greatly from the direction he gives these performers. In all, a very well-made comedy with almost enough heart to be a classic.

King of Kings (1961)

Notes: 12/24/10

I'm kind of surprised to be liking this type of movie. I did enjoy Ben-Hur and Spartacus so I guess this is along those same lines.

Strange to watch Jeffrey Hunter play Jesus Christ. He's good though.

Harry Guardino is awesome as Barabbas.

Not flashy or overdone. Pretty straightforward and expertly handled.

Must be awesome on the big screen.

Memorable final shot. Cross shadow.

Review: B+

Majestic production values elevate this sweeping depiction of the Christ-tale. The cinematography and music stand out, along with the vivid storytelling and memorable narration by Orson Welles. Not always particularly involving, but certainly not boring. This is perhaps the most succint telling of the life of Christ, with expert performances and fine direction.

On the Double (1961)

Notes: 12/16/10

Melville Shavelson directs. This looks promising. I get him confused with Frank Tashlin.

Was a bit skeptical about a Danny Kaye movie but this looks fun.

Doubles. Clever title.

Variation on The Prisoner of Zenda. One of my favorite stories.

Funny and entertaining.

Dana Wynter is quite pretty

Danny Kaye is very talented.

Review: B-

Funny showcase for Danny Kaye, allowing him to play a dual-role. The film is a slight variation on The Prisoner of Zenda set in World War II Scotland. Dana Wynter is beautiful and quite good. For fans of Kaye, this is a definite pleasure, while others will still find this comedy quite entertaining.

Blast of Silence (1961)

Notes: 12/15/10

Train coming out of tunnel. Great way to begin.

Narration is interesting. It actually creates tension and keeps the plot moving.

The character Ralph is awesome. Authentically seedy.

Very good performance by Larry Tucker.

Bare little film noir has quite a neat little style and exciting music

The love story is a bit of a bore. Luckily, it's not a distraction.

Life to death. Cold black silence.

Review: B-

Stylish suspense film relies heavily on narration to tell its story, while incorporating film noir elements to create tension. Spare production benefits from authentically seedy NYC settings and a memorable performance by Larry Tucker. Some of the story isn't always as involving as it could be, but the artistry is clear and that makes this worth seeing.

Ahoy, Cinema Adventurer!

One of the main reasons I don't blog more is that I often get too focused on the content of what I want to write about that I forget to just write until a theme develops.

Not sure why I created a blog called Slept Like a Blog and thought that it might allow me more creative freedom. With a name like that? Seriously?. I kept the blog and changed the name to Cinema Adventurer. I look at this blog as a more in depth take on my Adventures Through Movies. There is so much to document about this adventure of mine that I feel the need to, first of all, patent the title (both the project's and mine, of course).

I feel that if I want my adventure to be studied and replicated, I need to gain some credibility. Sharing what I like and what I follow in the world of film and other arts allows me to develop my own voice. Perhaps this blog will make some kind of impact. Perhaps a book deal!

A New Level of Adventure

I've put a lot more emphasis on the appreciation and discussion of films in my recent movie-watching adventures. For my 1961 films, I've taken notes throughout my screening that sometimes border on the perverse. I've summarized my notes on the film and thoughts on the experience into a tiny review. A grade is assigned to the film based upon my own personal movie ranking. Somehow I have found a great way to enjoy watching movies and also get the opportunity to share it. The feeling I get from writing about movies becomes a passion all its own. So much dynamism.

Taking films seriously is one way of describing my adventure, but really I think I've found another. Experiencing the passage of time through film, but 50 years before, is astonishing. Watching films grow as I grow and considering how my parents grew, for example, or how American grew. The adventure is very much a life experience. It's so worthwhile.

And, of course, I think this adventure is FUN. The research I do, and all that I learn and discover, is, ironically, the most fun. I also get a kick out of the order I watch movies and how I go about tracking them down. So many are from Netflix or YouTube that it allows me to watch movies without the aid of my Dad's film collection, which I once depended on. There are still at least 30-40 films per year that are only available at my parents' house. I like watching titles that I don't really enjoy, only because it reminds me how good certain other films are.

1961 has given me some pretty cool movies to sit through and write about. I will continue with the mini-reviews and then, perhaps, more content relating to the year in film.

The Curse of the Werewolf (1961)

Notes: 12/9/10

Lots and lots of backstory and characters who pretty much don't matter.

I don't think I like that I'm a third of the way through and I haven't seen Oliver Reed yet.

Oh ok so tranformation scene...could be cool...but we don't see it.

83 minutes in and we finally have a transformation scene! Nice make-up!

Leon's love interest is way too dull for him.

Pretty cool bell tower finale. I'll give it that.

Review: C-

The only Hammer horror film featuring the werewolf myth is, unfortunately, rather pointless. Most of the characters disappear or are reduced to mindless roles. All is forgiven when Oliver Reed is onscreen proving what a marvelous presence he is (Those dreamy eyes!). The make-up effects are impressive, as is the bell tower finale, but both prove to be missed opportunities thanks to a lousy screenplay.

Il Posto (1961)

Notes: 12/6/10

Opening scene gives a terrific sense of what this family is like. In less than 2 minutes.

Shot of brother walking towards the camera that's following him while the younger brother runs away from him towards the house. Cool.

Very personal. Everything Domenico goes through is something I can relate with. His experiences take me back to my own experience doing the same thing. Wonderful characters and interactions. Perceptively amusing and heartbreaking.

Review: A-

A young man comes of age as he enters the working world, meeting various people and learning tough life lessons along the way. Wonderful Italian film is perceptively amusing and heartbreaking as we follow Domenico from his family's Italian village to his new city job in Milan. His relationships with his family and coworkers are so beautifully portrayed, showcasing memorable characters and interactions that are instantly relateable to the viewer. Brilliantly subtle direction makes this an excellent film for anyone who's ever had a job. 

General Della Rovere (1961)

Notes: 12/4/10

The prison cell scene with the writings on the wall is unsettling.

Air raid outside of prison. De Sica commands other prisoners to have courage.

Interesting character study. Bardone's experiences in the German prison cell bring out shades of growth in the character. He is finally a man among men.

The ability within us to be a respectable human being. A hero. This is a redemption story.

I should watch more of Rossellini's films

Review: B

Character study of con-artist who must perform a con for the Nazis. The talented Vittorio de Sica gives a performance that anchors the film with feeling and emotion. Roberto Rossellini looks at WWII Italy over a decade after the war had ended and sees both flawed and heroic characters in the mix. Some nicely written scenes make the film move along through various setpieces. A well-told story.