Reviews

I have enjoyed this film for many years. Casting a film is an art in itself. And this film is a classic of casting. The Oscar-winning actor Jack Lemmon, is a perfect foil for the fussy Ernie Kovacs. Young James Darren, and Dick York, and the inimitable Mickey Rooney, all make a fine ensemble. Veteran Arthur O'Connell, and all of the rest serve up a delicious film.

This is one of the biggest sleepers of all time, and really never got the recognition that it deserved. I like to think of it as a "Proto-M*A*S*H", as it clearly presents a lunacy of a military hospital, and the goofy characters.

A precious "gem" of a film.

This film was NOT loved by critics. Most critics were unable to shed their political views. There were very few films, supportive of the US effort in Indochina. And regardless of the critical panning, this film was a money-maker. The Duke lost a tub of money on "The Alamo".

This film has some errors, and the special effects look primitive by contemporary standards.

Nevertheless, the Duke felt (correctly) that a film needed to be made, in support of the US war effort. True, the Duke never served in the military, he had medical problems, and he was refused enlistment in WW2.

This film is cute little trick of a film. In the early days of space flights, it was time for a send-up. And the great character actor edmond O'Brien, was terrific as the "hard as nails" security agent. A treat for us Disney fans.

The comic highlight of the film is the "parade of usual suspects", when San francisco beatnik chicks are brought in for review. A real HOOT!

The alien chick is disarmingly funny, and I wish she could have had more films after this one. She was so fine, I wanted to sign up for astronaut training.

The pacing is slow, and the humor is formulaic, but I still get a chuckle out of this minor classic.

I do not think it was possible for Billy Wilder to make a bad film. This one was a commercial problem, but I believe it is a real gem. The film is a near-classic. The characters are portrayed flawlessly. The dialog is crisp, the direction is clean and cinematography just excellent.

No one in the film has any redeeming value. They are all just "ick". It almost makes you glad that newspapers are going out of business all over the USA.

I wish that the film had received the commercial and critical success it deserves.

This film was a delicious treat for me. I cherished the original show, running home after school each day to catch the show. It was a real "retro" feast, with hippies, and a VW microbus, and even Alice Cooper.

I got some terrific "retros" from the plastic ball 8-track player, and the shag carpeting, and the Lava Lamp, how delightful.

The film had some really goofy comedy, and some excellent special effects, which were not even dreamed of in 1969.

I even enjoyed the Carpenters! A "cherry on top", of a delicious film.

Thank You Tim Burton, and Johnny Depp, and all the cast and crew for your excellent work.

"Classic" is such a cliché, but it applies to this film. The casting, characterizations, sets, camera work, etc. all are fabulous. Otto Preminger was a great director (and actor!) who never got the accolades he deserved. He pushed the "envelope" of Hollywood, and had the courage to go head on against the production codes.

Sexual blackmail did not begin with Monica Lewinsky or John Edwards. Politicians are human, and their sexual peccadilloes, are splattered out for all the world to see.

Preminger even used formerly blacklisted actor, Will Geer (Grampaw Walton).

This film proves the adage, that politics makes good theater.

What a film! The genius of this comedy, is two men who are "yin and yang". Neat. clean freak Felix, and slob, nasty Oscar. Classic comedy is the result of "collision", when two opposites collide, and the result is comedy. This is what happens in "The Odd Couple".

Lemmon and Matthau had a chemistry, that was on a par with Tracy and Hepburn. These two classic actors, made many films together, and always delighted audiences.

The film has some classic lines, but my favorite is when Oscar shouts "Go to your room!". Also, when Felix and the sisters are weeping, Oscar bounds into the room with "Is everybody happy?". Again, a classic of "collision" comedy.

I really enjoyed this film. I saw it in Shreveport, LA in 1975. I enjoyed watching and listening to one man, who laughed like roaring thunder all through the film. I enjoyed him enjoying the film.

The story is a bit choppy and uneven. The editing is smooth and clean. The costumes and props are all first-rate. The acting is good, but not great.

The climactic "battle scene" is a whopper. Sort of like something Yakima Canutt would do, except it is on water. Great Second Unit work, to be sure.

It is not really a love story, and the bedroom scenes are stuffy and over-rehearsed. You are not really sure who is in love with whom, but it does not matter.

Robby Benson has a good little role, he went to some good character work.

I want to get a DVD of this film and soon.

I was born in Louisville, on Derby Day, in the year of the Horse. I grew up in horse farm country (Lexington), and I used to work in the horse race business (as a Video Engineer).

I enjoy this film, immensely, because there are not many great horse race films (Seabiscuit, was a near-classic). I really enjoy the location shots, the horse barn, the race tracks, the close-ups of the magnificent horses.

The acting is not great, despite some excellent character actors. The verisimilitude of horse racing, is however, spot-on. The writers obviously did their homework. Seeing the color photography of Keeneland, and Churchill Downs, in the 1950's is always a treat.

There have only been three (3) fillies, to win the Kentucky Derby: Regret, Genuine Risk, and Winning Colors. So, the title horse has to be a filly! The horse race crowd, loves an underdog, look at the enthusiasm for Mine That Bird, who was a 50-1 shot in the 2009 Derby.

Long live the races!!

I saw this film in 1967, at the age of 13. I had been watching "Combat" on TV, and I knew the "Krauts" were evil, and the "G.I. Joe's" were always good and heroic. What a surprise to find out that Americans could be evil as well. I will always enjoy Telly Savalas, as Pvt. A.J. Maggot. He has the most evil laugh, and he is a Bible-reading, avenging angel of the Lord. What an over-the-top performance. When he is walking around the château, saying "Come out you sinners, come out come out, wherever you are!" I always cheer. Go get 'em A.J. !! The cast is superb, the film was Donald Sutherland's big break, he was picked to play the "General", and he ripped into the part, like a pit bull, the perfect touch of comic genius. Even Trini Lopez, was terrific, as a felon, whose only problem, is that the guards won't let him have any strings for his guitar. He gets the strings, and gets to sing "The Bramble Bush".

John Cassavetes (oscar-nominated) is perfectly slimy, as the "little bastard", Victor Franko. Always bitching about the floor,or the hot water, just superb.

The terrific cast includes Robert Webber, as a brightly polished adjutant officer, the perfect counter-point to the undisciplined Major Reisman (Lee Marvin). Robert Ryan, plays a west-pointer, who has the perfect combination of rage and humor.

The technical side of the film is excellent. Superb camera work and cinematography, smooth editing, great close-up work on Telly Savalas. Frank DeVol's score is riveting: drumbeats, and precise military rhythms. We even get to hear Sousa's "National Emblem" march. Robert Aldrich's precise direction, keeps a fine pace, during the first half of the film, mixing some comedy with the efforts of the scum-bags to become soldiers again. The climax builds, and then the successful conclusions.

Ex-football player, Jim Brown, is superb. The Army was segregated in 1944, and Telly Savalas asks "Do we have to eat with n*****s?" and then a riot ensues. We keep waiting for Jim Brown to run. When is he going to run? Finally, he gets to run, blowing up the Krauts. Sort of a reprise to Jesse Owens, showing up the Nazis at the Berlin Olympics.

I never miss a chance to see this film, every time it is run on TV.

This film is the pre-eminent "heist/caper" film of all time. The guys go in for a romp, the cast is excellent. Don Rickles playing "Crapgame", is a master-stroke of casting. My favorite scene is Carroll O'Connor, listening to the radio. The discussion goes: "I'm not holding back for five hours, I'm not holding back for five minutes! I pulling' out, and pushing forward!" I split my sides.

The film takes pokes at the ridiculousness of the rules of war. Captain Maitland, ripping off a yacht, tells the men, that "The penalty for looting is death!" The double standard is pounded home.

Donald Sutherland's character is perfectly realized. His continued references to "negative waves", is hilarious. He even has the calm, to "chill out", eat cheese, drink wine, and catch "rays", during the battle. How anti-war!

I watch this film again and again.

Look, this film ain't a classic. Nevertheless ,it was the type of film, that brought the kids in in the 1960's. I saw it at a drive-in when I was 9. Even at that age, I recognized the Pepsi slogan, and when I kept seeing Pepsi machines in the film, I thought it was sponsored by Pepsi. My first encounter with product placement.

The plot is mindless, the characters shallow, the jokes unfunny. Tina Louise stripping off that gold-lame gown is priceless, though. Nice to know, that Tina Louise, could have had a backup career as a stripper, if she had not cashed in on "Gilligan's Island".

Pamela Tiffin's character has the I.Q. of a soapdish. I still enjoyed this film. I work in telecommunications, and I got a real chuckle out of the two (2!) mobile telephones in James Darren's car. I also enjoyed the bit where Darren calls Bob Denver on the walkie-talkie. Real high-tech stuff for this time period.

A splendid film. And Great fun. I went hysterical at the references to the classic TV series. What a delight to see Kirk, Spck, Bones, Uhura, and all the gang again. I am glad that J.J. Abrams was able to get the the essence of the original show, and give us a real taste.

I am thoroughly delighted to hear of the plans to shoot 2 (?) sequels. No matter, Star Trek will never die, the 5 TV series will be playing on TV until eternity.

I have urged all my friends to see this film, and to boldly go where no one has gone before.

The humanity and humor of the film, came through with excellence. I am delighted with the fine ensemble cast and the obvious respect that the actors had for the characters. I am looking forward to seeing more of Dr. McCoy.

I cherish this film. I first saw it in 1970. I have memorized much of the dialog. I find it ironic, that the stars Marvin/Eastwood/Seberg are not singers, but they do their own singing in the film, with no dubbing. Also- the only professional singer in the film- Harve Presnell (Rotten Luck Willie) has only one song in the film, and it is a smasher "They call the wind Maria"..

The set design, and the props are all fabulous, I especially like the new city.

My favorite character is Homer Fenty, who was coming of age, at the same time I was. I love his introduction to whiskey, cigars, and the other more intimate aspects of life.

One of the most profound statements of religious tolerance, ever uttered on film, is made by "Mad Jack", when he states- "I don't give a good damn, how a man prays, there's room enough in hell for all of us"!

I just saw this film again. I always enjoy it. It is a "time warp" 39 years ago, the hairstyles, the clothing, the airport. I always get a hoot when Van Heflin just strolls on the airplane, with a bomb in a briefcase. I have been flying since 1974, and since Sept 11 2001, you have to strip, take off your shoes, and get wanded. Strange to see the airport procedures of this bygone era.

The ensemble cast is always enjoyable. I like Dean Martin (the pilot) who is married to Barbara Hale (Perry Mason's secretary, Della Street, in one of her few film roles. When Dean Martin decides to divorce her, and continue in the relationship with Jacqueline Bisset (the stewardess), I hope the wife does not get Perry Mason for the divorce! Parry will clean his plow!

This film is over the top. Especially the bikers, who all appear to be recently barbered. I swear one of the bikers looks like Wes Studi, the native American actor.

Did anyone notice, that the actor who plays the sheriff's deputy, who escorts Billy Jack into his cell, is the same actor who played the Sheriff's deputy, who interviewed Rambo in "First Blood"? Notice the actress who is on the street, during the first rough-up scene, is Billys girlfriend from Billy Jack.

This is an interesting film.

The fictional town of "Big Rock" is meant to be "Big Sur", but Big Sur is not a town.

Jane Russell's spoof of herself is a real gas. When she is talking to her daughter, the daughter is looking at an album "Music to Strip by" hoo!

I saw this film yesterday. I did not feel sorry for the principal character. The character, played by Johnny Depp (a good performance, understated). I have no pity for a dope-dealing scumbag. Cocaine is pure evil, and it wrecks lives. Any scumbag who brings this poison into our country is a traitor. He deserves anything that he gets.

I was only sorry, that the dope-head did not get his brains blown out by one of his dope-dealing pals.

I am glad that he is in prison, and I hope he rots there.

This film shows the banality of our drug laws. We will not legalize drugs, and we will not enact stiff penalties on transporting/selling. The result is a society floating on coke.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. But I must say, that I kept comparing the film to the 1989 made-for-TV film, with the late Brad Davis. The plot is minimal, and everyone knows how it will end. The conspirators failed, and Hitler survived the bomb.

But there will never be enough credit given to the brave men and women who stood up to Hitler. And there needs to be more examination of the fact that the Allied governments in WW2, all recognized 'governments-in-exile" of the occupied nations, but no Allied government recognized a 'government-in-exile' for Germany.

The performance of Tom Cruise, is not one of his best, but the character of a decent man, comes through.

I was solidly impressed by the always awesome Meryl Streep. I would pay to hear her read the back of a cereal box. To call me a "fan" of this woman, would be like saying that Tiger Woods plays Golf. There are not enough superlatives to express my admiration for Meryl Streep.

The film is a modest effort, and the story is somewhat loose and uneven. The performances are, however spectacular. Meryl Streep just hammers it home. She has no proof of any alleged improper behaviour by the priest, but her moral certainty and rage is almost like a female George C. Scott.

I am glad that Meryl Streep got her 15th Oscar nomination for her performance. It will definitely not be her last.

This is a rare beauty of a film. (PLEASE release it on DVD). The film is a character study, and a masterful thriller. I saw on TV way back in the 60's and it has haunted me since. The opening scene, on a train, a boy is killed. The star ( the beautiful Ingrid Thulin) looks off in a "thousand-year" stare. She does not react to the tragedy. The camera pans back, and you see the number tattooed on her arm.

The film is shot, masterfully, in post-war Paris. People are just beginning to cope with life again, after the Nazi occupation. The Doctor returns to work, and her Husband (Maximilian Schell,in a career-defining role), hires her to impersonate his wife, whom he believes to be dead.

The gorgeous Samantha Eggar, slinks around the house. Oozing with sexuality, you drool over her character.

After some plot twists, including the fabled bath scene, you are drawn into the plot. The film continues with some nail-biting, and the conclusion is just fine.

I will scour my TV listings, and pray it comes back on!