The King's Thief (1955)

THE KING'S THIEF (1955)

Starring Ann Blyth, Edmund Purdom, David Niven, George Sanders, Roger Moore, John Dehner, Melville Cooper, Tudor Owen, Alan Mowbray, Rhys Williams, Ian Wolfe

Directed by Robert Z. Leonard

Music by Miklos Rosza

Feature Film: 78 minutes

We just discovered this forgotten film this Summer. Decided to try it because it had Ann Blyth starring. Well, we were instant fans! What an exciting film! Had us bursting with excitement and totally keyed-up until the end. It runs along the same vein as The Three Musketeers, although we all prefer this story. The script is definitely not up to the talents of the cast and the whole movie is not one that would win (or even be nominated for) an Oscar. I would call it a B film with an A cast. It features a lot of the memorable character actors who were big in the 1940s. However, it is pure and simple entertainment. If you are a fan of adventure and swashbuckling movies, this is a fun film.

Living in France, Lady Mary (Ann Blyth) gets news that her father was hanged for treason in England. She returns to her native country incognito to try and prove her father's innocence. Along the way, she meets up with a highwayman, Michael Dermott (Edmund Purdom), who is after the same villain, the treacherous Duke of Brampton (David Niven), who is planning to overthrow the monarchy. When Michael is arrested and imprisoned, it is up to Lady Mary to devise a way for him to escape, then they must put into action a most daring plan so that they may gain an audience with the king (George Sanders) and expose the Duke's nefarious scheme!

The old VHS tape was cropped to fullscreen and had practically no remaining colour, so we were positively thrilled when it was released on DVD this Autumn. Ordered it right away and were not disappointed. The digital transfer is fabulous! Back to the original widescreen and totally restored. The colour is magnificent ad lends even more charm to this Disney-type story. You won't be disappointed with this DVD. IT does not have subtitles, but does include the theatrical trailer. Click here to go to Amazon.com.

Thunder on the Hill (1951)

 THUNDER ON THE HILL (1951)

Starring Claudette Colbert, Ann Blyth, Robert Douglas, Anne Crawford, Philip Friend, Gladys Cooper, Connie Gilchrist, John Abbott, Michael Pate, Gavin Muir

Directed by Douglas Sirk; Cinematography by William H. Daniels

Music by Hans J. Salter

Feature Film: 84 minutes

This is one of Claudette Colbert's most-forgotten films. However, that doesn't mean it should be. This was based on a British play, and is a tense, melodramatic mystery. It features a fine cast with the stars and supporting players complimenting each other very well. The cinematographer was the man who filmed many of Garbo and Norma Shearer's films while he worked at MGM, and he is still a master of the the art of filming in "Glorious Black & White". Actually, every shot is a jewel. The angles and the lighting are masterfully done and are very pleasing to the eye. The music was composed by Universal's Hans Salter, who wrote much of their stock music and scored many films. Actually, the music and the lighting are the two "stars" of this film for me. So fantastic, this is a true work of art.

The story happens in a small English village during a flood, with all the villagers taking refuge in the convent hospital. Claudette Colbert gives a great, solid performance as Sister Mary, a nun who is trying to forget her past. However, her personal problems are overshadowed with the arrival of a convicted murderess (Ann Blyth), who is on her way to be executed. Forced by the water to take refuge in the convent, Valerie and her two guards are stuck for a couple of days in the convent. Sister Mary believes the girl to be innocent and sets about trying to find proof, going against the wishes of the prison guard (Gavin Muir) and the Mother Superior (Gladys Cooper). Since the entire village has taken refuge in the convent hospital, everyone connected with the case is on hand. Slowly, with the help ofValerie's fiance (Philip Friend), Sister Josephine (Connie Gilchrist), and the simple-minded Willie (Michael Pate), Sister Mary starts to piece together the story behind the murder.

The DVD transfer is absolutely wonderful. One of the best black & white restorations we've seen. The audio quality is great and you couldn't really ask for a better transfer. It has tracks (but no scene selection) that are nicely spaced at scene breaks. Also comes with a filmed intro by TCM's Robert Osborne, publicity photo/poster gallery, and a TCMDb article that gives some background about the film. You can buy this movie separately or in the Douglas Sirk Collection. Click on the photos to go to Amazon.com.

Winchester '73 (1950)

WINCHESTER '73 (1950)

Starring James Stewart, Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea, Stephen McNally, Millard Mitchell
Directed by Anthony Mann; Cinematography by William Daniels
Feature Film: 92 minutes
Special Features: Scene Selection, Theatrical Trailer and Audio Commentary with Jimmy Stewart

By 1950, movie legend James Stewart's career was fading and on a down swing. Stewart wanted t film Harvey for Universal International, however, the studio could not afford Stewart's going fee per film. They made a deal that if he would shoot Harvey and Winchester '73, he would get a cut of the profits of both films. The public was not used to seeing Mr. Stewart in a tough-character role, and it was thought that Winchester '73 would just be a so-so film. In the end, the western made more than Harvey at the box office and was the first of many westerns that Mr. Stewart would make for Universal. His career was revived and he made considerable profit from the two films.

Winchester '73 begins with a shooting contest in Dodge City. James Stewart and his buddy, High-Spade (Millard Mitchell), arrive in town. They have been pursuing an outlaw by the name of Dutch Henry Brown (Stephen McNally), who is also in town for the shooting match. The prize: a one-in-a-thousand Winchester 1873 model rifle. Stewart wins, but the gun is stolen from him. The story traces Stewart's search for the outlaw and the path that the guns travels, going from owner to owner. The final shoot-out has you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Can;t really say too much as it would give the story away. The best thing to do is to go see the movie!

This is a fantastic western! One of the best (maybe the best) we have ever seen. The plot is great, the cast is perfect, and there is plenty of action. James Stewart and Stephen McNally play hunter and hunted to perfection. Shelley Winters is surprisingly wonderful as the saloon girl trying to get a real home and John McIntire is the gun runner who comes into possession of the rifle for a short time. The fantastic Dan Duryea is wonderful as an outlaw who is in cahoots with Dutch Henry. The scene where he is confronted by James Stewart in the bar is amazing. The only funny casting is that Rock Hudson plays an Indian chief. . . oh, well.

The Universal 2003 DVD transfer is very nice. A little sign of film wear, but the picture and sound are very good. The disc has scene selection, includes the theatrical trailer, and features an audio commentary by Mr. Stewart. This was the only commentary that he ever did. You can buy this movie separately or it comes in the Jimmy Stewart Westerns Collection. Click on the photos to go to Amazon.com.

Edge of Darkness (1943)

"If there is anyone who still wonders why this war is being fought, let him look to Norway. If there is anyone who has any delusions that this war could have been averted, let him look to Norway; and if there is anyone who doubts the democratic will to win, again I say, let him look to Norway." - President Franklin D. Roosevelt

In 1943, Warner Bros. released "Edge if Darkness", starring Errol Flynn and Ann Sheridan. Set in October 1942, the film tells the story of the town of Trollness in Nazi occupied Norway. It deals with the emotions of the different people in a small fishing village as they try to go about life under German rule, waiting for the day when they will get arms from the British so that they can revolt against the Nazis. However, many of them are active in the underground resistance, doing small acts of sabotage in the town's fish cannery. They are led by the innkeeper, Gerd (Judith Anderson); Karen Stensgard (Sheridan) who is daughter of the only doctor in town; and a fisherman named Gunnar Brogge (Flynn). I can't say anything more about the film without giving away vital parts of the story, and it is such a fascinating film that you will be on the edge of your seat from the first scene all the way through the end!

Superbly filmed and acted, this underrated film is a must for any WWII or Resistance fan. Errol Flynn is surprisingly mild in this film compared to his normal onscreen personality which makes the film a joint effort between the entire cast instead of an Errol Flynn movie with supporting players. Walter Huston is great as the doctor who has to come to grips with the occupation and Judith Anderson really shines with, in my opinion, the best performance in the film.

This movie is available in the DVD set Errol Flynn Adventures. It features Edge of Darkness (1943), Uncertain Glory (1944), Desperate Journey (1942), Northern Pursuit (1943), and Objective, Burma! (1945). They are all restored and come with bonus shorts, newsreels and trailers. Can't beat the quality of the transfers. A must for any WWII film fan!