Movie review - "Sweet Smell of Success"

Movie review number 37

PLOT

This is a 1950s black and white movie set in New York City and centres around JJ Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster) the gossip columnist, Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) the press agent ....... and JJs sister who he's fiercely protective of as his only family member, and her boyfriend Steve Dallas who plays guitar in a jazz quintet.  Hunsecker and Falco are both very corrupt and manipulative journalists who will do (almost) anything to get what they want and the story revolves around JJ using Falco to plant false evidence on Steve Dallas to manipulate JJs sister into dumping Dallas.  What neither of them realise until almost the end is that Dallas has proposed to her, and she has accepted....... and suddenly false drug evidence is planted on Dallas resulting in his loss of a job, and a beating from - no, it couldn't be the Police could it?

This is a brilliant movie with a fabulous script and backing music from the Chico Hamilton Quintet, and works terrifically in black & white.  You need to pay attention though as right at the end, there is a big twist in the story where you realise the kid sister isn't so much of a kid any more....... and who's really manipulating who??

RECOMMENDED

Absolutely!!!  This is compulsory watching!

SCORE

10 squeaks out of 10!!

SCOOBY SNACKS

Classic popcorn and soda movie

Movie Review - "Tough Guys"

Movie review 21

PLOT

This movie stars Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas as two crooks who were the last great train robbers of the USA and spent 30 years in prison for it! On their release, they're met at the prison guards by their (very young!) Probation officer who wrote his university thesis all about them!

They're told that, after 30 years sharing a prison cell, they're not allowed to "associate" and Kirk gets a room in a welfare roach infested hotel and Burt gets a room in a retirement home! The movie then shows how they try and cope with 1980's USA when they last saw it as 1950's USA!!!

Eventually they get sick and tired of trying to fit in and hear that the train the were jailed for robbing is having one last journey before being decommissioned and they decide to rob it again and escape to Mexico!!!!

RECOMENDED

Hell yeah! This is brilliant!

SCORE

9 squeaks out of 10!

SCOOBY SNACKS

Frozen yogurt with jellybeans M&M's (no peanuts) and caramel sauce toppings.

Movie Review - "Trapeze"

Movie review number 10!

PLOT

This movie is set in a Circus in Paris, Europe.  It stars Burt Lancaster (who really DID run away to join the circus!) as a famous trapeze artist who fell off while doing "the Triple" and hurt his leg.  He's now working as a rigger.  Tony Curtis arrives in Paris fresh off the plane from Brooklyn, New York, as a trapeze flier wanting to learn "The Triple" from Burt.  But Burt takes a bit of persuading to be Tony's "catcher".  Meanwhile, Gina Lollabrigida is trying to wheadle her way into the circus as part of an acrobatic act, but then dumps them to become part of Burt and Tony's highflying trapeze act, and THEN starts playing off Burt against Tony!!!  Oh no!!!  Tony thinks she's in love with him when she's actually in love with Burt!!  And then Tony finds out and he's really angry!!!!
But will he do "The Triple"?  And who gets the girl in the end???
NB, for anyone who's ever seen any of the British "Carry On..." movies, watch for Sid James, the snake charmer!!

RECOMMENDED
Oh yeah, this is brilliant fun!!!

SCORE

Beanie gives this 9 squeaks out of 10!!

RECOMMENDED SCOOBY SNACKS

Classic popcorn movie, but only if you leave the lid OFF the pan when popping!!!