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Reviews
Shadows of the Orient (1935)
Not as bad as the others say it is!
I don't think I am somebody who will watch ANY old b&w film and enjoy it (tried to watch an early Jon Hall poverty row film earlier tonight, gave up) but Shadows of the Orient isn't terrible. It isn't great, but , it's watchable. The pacing is slow no doubt, the budget tiny, but Esther Ralston, Regis Toomey, J. Farrell MacDonald and Sidney Blackmer are such professionals, they make so-so dialog work. Esther Ralston's character is the typical dumb rich girl, but hey, she is a pilot, which does play a role in the plot. as long as you are not expecting this film to be some great forgotten classic, chances are you will enjoy it.
The Reluctant Bride (1955)
A lightweight but fun little film, and YES Virginia was a Star!
A British film that, with the help of two American stars,(John Carroll, and Virginia Bruce) feels quite a bit like a typical lightweight but enjoyable American comedy of the 50's. The meet cute part is actually fairly serious for a comedy, His John's brother, and Virginia's sister are married, and have 4 children that they rarely see (In fact, John Carroll's character says he hasn't seen his brother in 15 years) so , when the couple appears to be lost on an exposition, John and Virginia, after his failed attempts at flirting with his then unbeknownst to him sister-in-law on a train, decide to do what's best for the children, and go along to get along. Of course, you can easily guess what will happen.... I like the fact that both of the American leads were in their mid to late 40's. It looks in fact to be Virginia's last starring role in a theatrical film. Too bad as she and John Carroll actually make a pretty good team. And to the reviewer above, Virginia Bruce was more than just known for being married to John Gilbert! She co-starred or coupled with in films, Gilbert (of course)Ricardo Cortez , Cagney, Walter Huston, Conrad Nagel,Wallace Beery, Robert Taylor, Chester Morris, Warren William, and Melvyn Douglas just to name a few. So she was NOT some flighty gal that just dated/married famous guys, but was a real actually A list MOVIE STAR!