It's time for another post on what films I've been watching since my last post was about Halloween movies. These are all classic films, i.e.oldies.
Born to Kill--a good movie about two amoral people played by Lawrence Tierney (as Sam) and Claire Trevor (as Helen.). I first saw this film in 2021. It's the kind of movie I'll watch over and over.
Tierney and Trevor are supported by a strong cast. Elisha Cook Junior plays Marty, Sam's only friend who tries to reign in his murderous impulses. "You can't just go around killing people whenever the notion strikes you. It's not feasible." Walter Slezak plays a smart but sleazy detective Albert Arnett hot on Sam's trail for the murders he committed in Reno at the start of the film. One of his victims is Laury Palmer (Isabel Jewell) whose attempt to make Sam jealous by dating another guy succeeds all too well.
Laury's friend and neighbor Mrs. Kraft (Esther Howard) is the client who hires Arnett to find Laury's killer. Howard is brilliant especially in the scenes when Marty tries to kill her and when Trevor scares her into dropping the case. Her anguish over letting Laury down is palpable.
San Quentin--I watched this for the pairing of Tierney and Barton MacLane. Jim Roland (Tierney) is a former convict rehabilitated through a prison welfare league, where inmates police each other and learn useful trades. Nick Taylor (MacLane ) is currently imprisoned and faking his participation in the league until he can make his escape. Taylor's opportunity comes when the warden plans to publicize the league at the press conference with Roland, Taylor, and another recently jailed inmate. Taylor's escape succeeds, and the league's reputation is damaged. Roland decides that since Taylor used the league to escape, someone from the league should capture him. Roland gives himself the job, captures Taylor, and gets married at the end of the film.
I was disappointed in this film. First the title is misleading--only a few minutes took place in San Quentin (this 1937 film is better titled.) Tierney is much better as a bad guy than a good guy. MacLane is memorable as the villianous Taylor.
Detour--A rewatch of a classic, low-budget noir. Al Roberts (Tom Neal ) is hitchhiking across country to reunite with his girlfriend. He thinks he's hit the jackpot when Charles Haskell picks him up who is heading all the way to LA. Haskell is killed in a freak accident, and Roberts thinks it a good idea to assume his identity rather than risk calling the police. Roberts's real trouble begin when he offers a ride to Vera (Ann Savage.) Vera had previously hitched a ride with Haskell and knows Roberts is a fraud and blackmails him. For Roberts, things go from bad to worse. Savage gives a raw and dare I say savage performance as Vera.
The Party--I recorded this because I remember my brother said this was a funny movie (he had seen it years ago.) Peter Sellers plays an Indian actor who destroys an expensive movie scene with his ineptitude. He is then accidentally invited to a party and creates havoc. Seller wears brown face to portray an Indian. This was more acceptable in the sixties than it is today. What I found most offensive is that Sellers' makeup changes throughout the film. He is noticeably lighter in some scenes and darker in others. I'll just add that Claudine Longet is a lousy singer.
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