Where Is My Closeup?

With A Little Help From Charlie I am perhaps not as sporty or as energetic as I could be, while others enjoy playing football, tennis or even the lazy sports such as golf or darts, while some relish taking hiking holidays, walking through national parks or climbing mountains I prefer the rather less challenging pass time of putting my feet up and watching a film, does picking up the remote count as exercise? Anyway not all the films I watch are the latest blockbusters, I indeed watch my fair share of 'oldies' and have found that many of them aren't really well known or represented on the internet, some have no photos on the movie bible IMDB, Internet Movie Data Base, so on my own little crusade I have started adding screenshots onto the site and I thought I would share some of these with you. 

The Cassandra Crossing 1976 a thriller, disaster movie (interesting combination) about a train travelling across Europe where passengers have been infected with a deadly disease resulting in no country allowing the train to stop and so a route is planned to bring it to an infection control camp but first however they have to cross (drum roll please) The Cassandra Crossing, a disused bridge. On board are Sophia Loren, Richard Harris and Ava Gardner all hamming it up over the impending doom and cliched romances.

Death Becomes Her 1992, a comedy staring Goldie Hawn, Meryl Streep and Bruce Willis. The film tells the story of two aging women who share a love interest, Meryl Streep plays an aging actress who would do anything to stay young, while Goldie Hawn plays an old friend who has found fame writing a book about doing just that, staying young but she has a secret, when Meryl Streep takes a potion that will keep her young forever, her husband Bruce Willis, an ex lover of Goldie Hawn kills Meryl Streep in a fit of rage it turns out that the potion keeps his wife alive. Meryl Streep kills Goldie Hawn who has also taken the potion, the two now dead but still alive women need Bruce Willis to keep them looking alive let alone young but he has a different idea about eternal youth. A good, camp comedy that should keep you entertained, the special effects won an Oscar and fans of all the stars plus those who enjoy a decent comedy should watch the film.

The Fuller Brush Girl 1950 a comedy starring Lucille Ball in her pre I Love Lucy Days, the film is about a sales girl who gets into all kinds of trouble as she knocks on people's door trying to sell makeup, murder and mistaken identity follow and ensure Lucy has to go on the run and track down the real killer. I never realised just how good Lucille Ball was at slapstick and she helps make this quite a funny film.

Gold Diggers Of 1933 1933 a comedy about Broadway performers during the Great Depression of the 1930's who find work in a new production, featuring Ginger Rogers minus Fred Astaire, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell. The famed choreographer Busby Berkeley created memorable routines with dazzling Art Deco backdrops.

Hunted 1952, also known as The Stranger In Between tells the story of a young man who befriends a little boy whilst on the run for murder. Dirk Bogarde stars in this good Film Noir thriller which moves along at a reasonable pace and is added by good performances from all involved. The blossoming friendship between the young man and the boy makes a likeable and pleasing contrast to the darker side of the movie and although the ending is a bit of a let down it still makes for an interesting watch.

The Interrupted Journey 1949, is a British Film Noir, thriller starring Richard Todd and Valerie Hobson. The film tells the story of a man who is on a train with his mistress, having second thoughts about leaving his wife he pulls the emergency cord, forcing the train to brake, which is then involved in a terrible crash causing the death of his mistress, an investigation into the cause of the crash forces him to go on the run and evade the police. The film is largely forgotten today which is a shame as it's a decent effort and good example of British Film Noir. Richard Todd plays the character with such a conviction that you feel sorry for the character even though he is in the wrong. The ending maybe a bit of a let down but at a duration of only 1hr 20mins this short journey is enough to keep you entertained.

The Iron Giant 1999, this Disney film tells the story of Hogarth, a young boy living with his mother in America 1957 during the Cold War, one night he discovers an alien robot, a big alien robot! At first he is scared but soon realises that his new iron friend is actually quite tame, although he does have the power to be very destructive. When word gets back to a government agent of the strange things happening in a little town in Maine he investigates, fearing the worst he calls in the army to destroy the robot. The film has a charming story line and the old fashioned animation as apposed to computer animation adds to this feeling, it is now regarded as a 'classic'  for good reason, the plot keeps you entertained, the voice overs play their character well and there are a few laughs as the bond between the boy and the robot grows. The film was a box office flop when released which most people now agree is a shame, so if you haven't seen it yet, it's a good way to spend just under an 1hr 30 mins.  

A Kind Of Loving 1962 A British drama about a young man who starts dating a woman after they meet at work, she is unwilling to sleep with her boyfriend, when she finally does she becomes pregnant. The couple marry and live with her domineering mother, this tests their marriage and they must decide what to do. Starring Alan Bates who puts in a good performance which keeps the film interesting and moving along and June Ritchie who plays the young woman who is trying to please her man but under her mother's thumb.

High Spirits 1988 A comedy about tourists staying at a supposedly haunted castle in Ireland, the staff try to prove the legend intact until the real ghosts show up. With an impressive cast including 1980s megastar Steve Guttenberg, Peter O Tool and Daryl Hannah and  featuring Beverly D Angelo and rising stars Jennifer Tilly and even Liam Neeson, this fun film should of been a big hit, it wasn't!

Make Mine Mink 1960 A British comedy about a trio of women and an old army officer who bored with their daily lives decide to start stealing fur coats and give the profits to charity. A fun film and plot are helped by the performances of all involved including Terry Thomas and Hattie Jacques.

No Sex Please We're British Made in 1973 this British comedy farce is not as saucy as it's title suggests, which works in its favour a puts it a points higher than the smutty sex comedies of the decade. Life for a newly married couple is turned upside down when an order of pornography is sent to their flat by accident when the address of the porn shop it was intended for is incorrectly wrote down. The film could quite easily have been an instalment of the long running Carry On series but stars Ronnie Corbett, Beryl Reid, Ian Ogilvy and Arthur Lowe.

Paddington 2 It's rare that a sequel will not only be as good as but even better than it's original but that is what happened when Paddington 2 was released in 2017. The sequel sees Paddington taking on different jobs to save up the money to buy his aunt a present for her 100th birthday, the book that he hopes to buy however is stolen for the secret message it contains. A fun, family film featuring an array of British talent that should keep you entertained throughout, maybe a bit sickly sweet in places and the plot is a little predictable but just remember it's for children!

Rebecca 1940, a mystery thriller from the iconic director Alfred Hitchcock that features all the atmosphere and twists that you would expect from his work. Starring Joan Fontaine who plays a young naive young woman. who after a whirlwind romance marries the wealthy and brooding Mr De Winter played by Laurence Olivier. After their return to England and his large country manor Manderley it soon becomes apparent that he is mentally haunted by his deceased first wife and that the second Mrs De Winter will have to live in her 'shadow'. His devotion to his first wife however is nothing compared to that of  Mrs Danvers her maid and she soon sets about intimidating and trying to force the new bride to leave. Hitchcock certainly knew how to tell a suspenseful tale and this should keep you entertained right till the end, with great performances from all involved, it's no wonder why Rebecca is a classic.

The Running Man 1963, a British thriller starring Alan Bates, Lee Remick and Laurence Harvey, faking his own death for the insurance money a couple move to Spain to start a new life, when an insurance man turns up and forms a friendship with the wife the couple become suspicious of his intentions. An interesting film that leaves you guessing just what or how much the insurance man knows and whether the couple will get away with the fraud.

What A Whopper 1961 A British comedy starring 1960s singer Adam Faith as an author who while trying to get a book published about the Loch Ness Monster fakes a sighting of it to drum up interest. The film also features a whole list of British comedians including Carry On stars Sid James and Charles Hawtrey.