Incredible film-making, bravo for real classics. What a truly lavish and gorgeous film this is, thematically it pulls the emotions in different directions, and as a story it's as sharp as a tack. Boasting a quite incredible performance from Charles Laughton as the tragic bell ringer Quasimodo (no nomination Academy, are you flipping sure?), and sets that are simply out of this world, this film to me defines classic cinema. Into the mix we get a radiant Maureen O'Hara as Esmeralda who lights up the screen in every scene she is in, it's a very special performance in view of it being her first lead US turn. However, really the film's triumph lies with its script, a very aware piece of writing encompassing political goings on and the corruption of the church set around the hunchback's tragic love. The make up of Laughton leaves an indelible image when brought into focus with the great detail of the surroundings, and the score is mightily appropriate. All in all this film cost 2 Million Dollars for RKO Studios, one of their most expensive outlays, but they were rewarded in spades as the film was a monster success and here in the modern day age of cinema the film still stands up as a benchmark for great movie making. 9/10
The is a wonderfully evocative version of the timeless Victor Hugo story of love, desire, cruelty and brutality in 1490's Paris. Charles Laughton turns in a tour de force performance as the physically and mentally disabled "Quasimodo" who is feared, loathed and ridiculed by the local population. When a wandering gypsy girl "Esmerelda" (quite possibly Maureen O'Hara's best ever performance) is found guilty of murder he rescues her and gives her sanctuary in the high bell tower of Notre Dame cathedral. Here she is easy prey for the already infatuated "Frollo" - superby depicted by Sir Cedric Hardwicke. What follows is the stuff of great literature adapted with adroit skill and sympathy by Sonya Levein (screenplay) and directed by William Dieterie. The use of light and shadow, Alfred Newman's nimble score and an authentic set (recreated in California) make this by far the best rendering of this story on film.
An equal rights crusader, journalist and activist: Gloria Steinem embodies these and more. From her role in the revolutionary women's rights movement to her travels throughout the U.S. and around the world, Steinem has made an everlasting mark on modern history. A nontraditional chronicle of a trailblazing life.
Movie Star Rating : 6.7 Read More
Yrjänä's farm is plagued by infertility and the lady of the house decides to get a child by any means to continue her famous family. She's in conflict with her husband and with the church.
Movie Star Rating : 5 Read More
Maureen Trant and her younger sibling Dani share a strong connection, but local boy Court Foster threatens to throw their bond off balance. Dani and Court meet first and have a flirtatious rapport - but when he meets Maureen, he falls hard and they begin a passionate affair. The new couple try to keep their love hidden from Dani, but she soon learns the truth, disavowing her sister. But a heartbreaking accident later reunites the girls.
Movie Star Rating : 7.3 Read More
Forced to give up his dreams of art school, Zach works dead-end jobs to support his sister and her son. Questioning his life, he paints, surfs and hangs out with his best friend, Gabe. When Gabe's older brother returns home for the summer, Zach suddenly finds himself drawn into a relationship he didn't expect.
Movie Star Rating : 7.7 Read More
Set in the year 1969 in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Kyoko Noma is a loving female high school student who takes part in campus protests. One day, she meets university student Wataru Domoto in the tea cafe Mubansou ("A Cappella"). Kyoko falls in love with him, but they get involved in an incident that leads to a shocking ending.
Movie Star Rating : 5.4 Read More
This 1940s drama presents a story of class conflict and its influence on romance. Robert Bradley leaves the shipyards to work in his uncle's furniture business but soon finds himself at odds with the old man. So he becomes a servant for the destructive Thormans, and falls for the lady of the house, Sarah. But in 1913 this upstairs/downstairs romance can only lead to disaster.
Movie Star Rating : 6.5 Read More
The story is about the social problems faced by Japan's indigenous Ainu, mostly centered on the reactions of the characters to their oppressed state.
Movie Star Rating : 6.5 Read More
Luis, the son of the greater of the farm owned by Don Pedro, is accused of stealing a large amount of money. Stolen money has really Joseph son of Don Pedro, forcing Louis to confess to the robbery, threatening to take the farm to his parents, older may not work elsewhere. With this move, Joseph not only is cleared of any suspicion but also with a clear path to reach dew, until then girlfriend of Luis.
Movie Star Rating : 4.4 Read More
The story of the breakout of the German battleship Bismarck—accompanied by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen—during the early days of World War II. The Bismarck and her sister ship, Tirpitz, were the most powerful battleships in the European theater of World War II. The British Navy must find and destroy Bismarck before it can escape into the convoy lanes to inflict severe damage on the cargo shipping which was the lifeblood of the British Isles. With eight 15 inch guns, it was capable of destroying every ship in a convoy while remaining beyond the range of all Royal Navy warships.
Movie Star Rating : 6.9 Read More
Professor David Ash exposes false spiritulists and mediums. He is invited to Edbrook to resolve the fears and torments within its secretive family. Soon after arriving Ash begins to doubt his own senses, and watching the strange behaviour of its residents does not make his task any easier. In time, he finds there's more to Edbrook than even he can debunk.
Movie Star Rating : 6.1 Read More
Blood for Dust 2023 - Movies (Apr 19th)
Rebel Moon - Part Two The Scargiver 2024 - Movies (Apr 19th)
Asphalt City 2023 - Movies (Apr 19th)
Late Night with the Devil 2023 - Movies (Apr 19th)
Problemista 2023 - Movies (Apr 19th)
Ghostbusters Frozen Empire 2024 - Movies (Apr 19th)
The Christmas Break 2023 - Movies (Apr 19th)
The Christmas Detective 2023 - Movies (Apr 19th)
Meet Me in Paris 2023 - Movies (Apr 18th)
Never Alone For Christmas 2023 - Movies (Apr 18th)
Peppermint and Postcards 2023 - Movies (Apr 18th)
The Braid 2023 - Movies (Apr 18th)
A Royal Christmas Surprise 2023 - Movies (Apr 18th)
Civil War 2024 - Movies (Apr 18th)
The First Omen 2024 - Movies (Apr 18th)
All You Need Is Death 2023 - Movies (Apr 17th)
The Dive 2023 - Movies (Apr 17th)
Bad Hombres 2024 - Movies (Apr 17th)
Immaculate 2024 - Movies (Apr 16th)
An American Bombing The Road to April 19th 2024 - Movies (Apr 17th)
Red Island 2023 - Movies (Apr 16th)
Bargain Hunt - (Apr 19th)
The Spiderwick Chronicles - (Apr 19th)
Passenger - (Apr 19th)
After Midnight - (Apr 19th)
Big Little Crimes - (Apr 19th)
Deadliest Families - (Apr 19th)
Four in a Bed - (Apr 19th)
TNA iMPACT! - (Apr 19th)
So Help Me Todd - (Apr 19th)
Selling Houses Australia - (Apr 19th)
WWE The Bump - (Apr 19th)
The Last American Vagabond - (Apr 19th)
The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle - (Apr 19th)
Deal or No Deal - (Apr 19th)
Horrible Histories - (Apr 19th)
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen - (Apr 19th)
Franklin - (Apr 19th)
Summer House - (Apr 19th)
David Lomas Investigates - (Apr 19th)
Theresa Caputo- Raising Spirits - (Apr 19th)