Thomas F.'s Reviews

Thank God I didn't see this in a movie theater, as I would have been thrown out of the place.

When Billy Crystal tells Robert De Niro to "Hit the pillow," what results is probably the funniest scene I have ever witnessed in a movie since I was a kid and watched Marx Brothers movies on TV. I literally went crazy and laughed so hard that I started to cough. I couldn't stop. I had to stop the video and leave the room. Every time I thought of it in the next few minutes I started laughing and coughing again. Whoever wrote that scene should have been awarded TWO Oscars! Up to that point I had thought the plot was moving slowly and somewhat boringly. That one scene changed my mind about the whole movie. I know that I will remember that scene for the rest of my life.
Review Date: 11/4/2011

Adele is flashy, flirtatious dreamer. Her daughter Ann is a quiet, no-nonsense realist. On the surface, they're like oil and water, but deep down there are two of a kind. "Susan Sarandon is show-stopping" (The New York Times) and "Natalie Portman soars" (NY-1) in this funny and touching story about a mother who knows best and a daughter who knows better!

Funny, I certainly do not remember writing this review. In fact, I have never even watched this movie. I discovered this review when I created my profile and clicked on my listing of reviews.
Review Date: 8/5/2011

I can understand why some other governments were upset when this came out. Their diplomatic people in Iran took great risks to ensure the safety of the six Americans and the movie basically gives them little credit. Plus, the actions of these governments in helping with the Argo operation is all but left out.

Spoiler: I have a comment about the end of the movie. How is it an Iranian militiaman at the loading gate can call halfway around the world to confirm the the existence of the fake movie studio, but an official in a main air port office can't contact either the loading gate or the control tower, and has to run the length of the air port terminal to try and stop the loading of the plane?

Don't forget to read the book.
Review Date: 3/4/2017

The main feature is "Shoulder Arms", in which Army private Chaplin starts off his military career on the wrong foot and ends up in the awkward squad in boot camp. Still the need for manpower gets him sent to France where everyone but him gets letters from home. Whether sleeping underwater in a rain-filled dugout or using Limburger cheese to defeat the Germans in the opposite trench, he does his duty as a soldier. Then, disguised as a tree trunk, he wanders through German occupied France. But lucky him, he meets up with a beautiful French girl who helps him capture the German Kaiser and the Crown Prince, allowing him to win the war single-handed... Or does he? You'll have to watch it to find out.

Also includes Triple Trouble, Laffing Gas, The Rival Mashers, In the Park, Mabel's Married Life, and Face on the Barroom Floor.
Review Date: 10/26/2010

Just a couple bits of trivia viewers of this movie should be aware of.

1) Alexander Hamilton was not Washington's aide at the time of the battle. He didn't take that post until six weeks after the battle. Before that he was a captain of artillery and served in that role at the Battle of Trenton.

2) The Hessians weren't drunk or weary from celebrating on Christmas Eve. Outposts had reported the advance of Washington's troops. As a result, the Hessian troops were awaken and formed ranks in the street, stood there for awhile, then returned to quarters. This happened more than once. But because the American army was late in meeting its schedule, Washington had wanted to attack at dawn, the Hessian commander, finally convinced it was a false alarm, let the troops go back to their beds. Which is where they were found asleep when the American army did attack.
Review Date: 1/6/2018

This set of two DVDs includes 8 movies that are very different from most b-westerns in that the stars mostly portray cowboy heroes in non-traditional settings and roles.

Round-Up Time In Texas - with Gene Autry and Smiley Burnett, is an interesting story of two cowboys delivering a pack of horses to Africa, of all places.

Springtime In The Sierras - with Roy Rogers, has Roy in his usual musical western scenerio, but with two possible lady loves. What Roy doesn't know is that one of them is an outlaw leader.

Branded a Coward - with Johnny Mack Brown, puts Brown in the unusual role of an otherwise brave cowboy, who is frightened of guns. Caught hiding behind a saloon bar after a shootout, he was to prove he is a man to be respected.

Rip Roarin' Buckaroo - with boxer Tom Tyler, is about a boxer turned ranch hand who has to clear his name after his promoter fixes a fight.

Rawhide - stars baseball legend Lou Gehrig in his only film appearance as a rancher who is forced to give money to an outlaw gang. Tired of bullying, he rallies his rancher neighbors to fight the gang.

Colorado - with Milburn Stone and Roy Rogers, is a Civil War drama played out in the far west as brothers on opposite sides (no surprise here) try to derail each other's plot to help win the war. Cameo appearance by President Lincoln. :-)

The Carson City Kid - with Roy Rogers and Bob Steele, has Bob turning to the Dark Side and playing the role of the villain when Roy goes after the man who killed his father.

Man From Hell's Edges - with Bob Steele, is a turn-a-round of The Carson City Kid. This time it is Steele who has to escape from prison to hunt down the man who killed his father.

All of these are entertaining and proof that the B-Westerns of the 30s and 40s were better family entertainment then most so-called Epic Westerns produced today. No blood, no sex, no gratuitous violence, etc.
Review Date: 10/25/2010

Sometimes listed as Volume 14 in The Great American Western series, this set of 2 DVDs contains 8 movies. Most are Roy Rogers flicks, but Buster Crabbe and Tex Ritter star in three of them.

Home in Oklahoma - As many of us know, most accidents happen at home. Or was it an accident when the wealthy rancher died from a fall off his horse? Big city newspaper reporter Dale Evans tries to prove it was murder with the help of small town newspaper editor Roy Rogers.

Stage Coach Outlaws - Buster Crabbe blunders into more than he bargained for when he foils one of the repeated holdups that are plaguing a stage line. So the outlaw leader tries to frame Crabbe.

Fuzzy Settles Down - What's a hero to do when his sidekick decides to settle down? Fuzzy St. John tires of one adventure after another and buys a local newspaper. But he needs Buster Crabbe's help when the local outlaws try to scuttle Fuzzy's plan to use a telegraph to end the county's rustling problems.

Arizona Days - Singing cowboy Tex Ritter helps a traveling show collect admission fees from a bunch of toughs. He is so good at it that a local sheriff hires him as the county's tax collector. Then the real fun begins.

Bad Man of Deadwood - When local justice is ineffective, the only way the good people can beat the bad guys is to break the law themselves and fight back. At least, that is what is taking place in Deadwood until Roy Rogers shows up.

Sunset Serenade - An eastern woman shows up to claim a ranch left to her ward. But a local group of bullies has their own ideas as who will get the ranch. Things seem to be going their way until Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes ride singing into town.

The Lights of Old Santa Fe - Gabby Hayes runs a rodeo owned by Dale Evens, which is losing out to a competing rodeo. Then Gabby hires Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers as headliners. Who can compete against The Sons of the Pioneers? So the other guys turn to sabotage. Bonus: Any movie with The Sons of the Pioneers is worth watching just for them.

Sheriff of Tombstone - OK, how often have you seen this plot? An evil local kingpin decides to take over a town by hiring a gunslinger to weed out the good guys. Then some mild-mannered cowboy rides into town and is mistaken for the hired killer. In this case, it is Roy Rogers who is mistaken for the gunfighter with Gabby Hayes as his murderous assistant.
Review Date: 10/26/2010

Overly sentimental and patriotic.... I loved it!
Review Date: 12/31/2013

This is a love story about Australian academics studying a primitive culture on an island near New Guinea just after World War II begins in Europe. A newly married husband and wife anthropologist team travel to a remote island to study the sexual mores of a group of villages where women have higher status then men.

But their marriage begins to come apart when Evelyn realizes that her husband Philip is deliberately misinterpreting their research to further his own academic ambitions. With the help of an American pearl trader named Mick, she travels to another island to conduct her own research. While she is away, disaster strikes when the village women confront Philip who does not understand the cultural mores in the village, and then war with the Japanese breaks out.

All of this affects the relationship between Philip, Evelyn and Mick. What seemed like a wandering tale of conflict between two cultures finally resolves itself into the best part of the movie and a surprise ending.


Review Date: 7/23/2011

How could any child or even an adult not enjoy this movie? From riches to rags our favorite child star in this historical drama remains a lady throughout. She treats others with kindness although they are cruel to her, demonstrating a wonderful lesson for every child (and their parents). And her never-ending faith that one day she will find her father alive keeps her going until... Well, watch the movie.

BONUS: Cesar Romero gives a wonderful performance as man servant to a retired Indian army officer. His and other scenes throughout the picture draw you back to England in the 1890s when life seemed so much simpler.
Review Date: 10/26/2010

Roy Rogers always said that this is his favorite movie. The movie takes place over several years. It is more of a mystery that an action Western, but if you love horses, you will enjoy this story of how Roy and Trigger became pals!
Review Date: 10/26/2010

I remember seeing this movie when I was a kid and found it fascinating. No, not in the movies, I'm not that old, but on TV. The concept of holding Death prisoner in a tree was interesting, especially as to what happens when people can no longer die. It was somewhat of a learning experience for me.

I have thought about this movie at times over the years, I'm 71 now, but suddenly I was brought closer to it. A book I just read on the behind-the-scenes development of "The Wizard of OZ" showed, in one chapter how props from that movie were used in other movies. The grandfather and grandson in "on Borrowed Time" are shown in the Wicked Witch's fancy hourglass, along with Death. Suddenly, I needed to see this movie again. Since I' haven't had TV for about 30 years, I need to try and obtain the DVD here.
Review Date: 6/30/2018

While I enjoyed this movie, it is basically a film about people who have problems accepting that life can't be the perfect dream they have for themselves. As a result, when life hands them a lemon, they give up trying. I do not think it was a coincidence that the two major roles in this movie came from wealthy backgrounds. It is usually those kind of people who think their grade for "life" should be an easy A. Or as we used to say when I was a kid, "They are passing their present and flunking their future."
Review Date: 7/24/2011

I absolutely HATE horror movies. And Tremors, at least to me, is a horror movie. I see no redeeming purpose in these movies. When there are so many other wonderful movies to watch, why watch horror?

Having said that... The four-film Tremors series (one prequel, Tremors, two sequels) is an absolute delight! I have all four and never tire of watching them. Looking for a good time and a lot of laughs? Watch Tremors.
Review Date: 7/14/2011

This DVD includes four movies:

Aerial Gunner - 1943 - 79 minutes - Two men become foes before the war. Then they find themselves in training together. The tension mounts as one is senior and the other is assigned to his command in the Pacific.

Battle of Blood Island - 1960 - 71 minutes - Two American survivors of an infantry platoon must evade the Japanese troops who control the island. Then when things are just beginning to look up, it turns out that their worst enemy may be their own side.

A Walk in the Sun - 1945 - 117 minutes - a WW II Classic. An infantry platoon lands at Salerno in Italy. Their platoon commander is killed before they hit the beach and other leaders become casualties due to the stress of war. What happens as they trod on to their objective and try to sort things out psychologically reveals how battle and war changed men and made them build defenses inside themselves as they confront their fears. One of the truly great movies to come out of the war. Many of the men, even those playing minor roles, were already stars in their own right, or became stars later. This is a movie you have to watch several times to catch all the nuances that it contains.

Combat! - an episode from the hit TV series - 47 minutes - If I remember correctly, this was the segment where Sgt. Saunders withdraws into himself as he worries about his brother in the Pacific.
Review Date: 6/20/2011

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