Dir. Ida Lupino. Two old friends are driving down a southern California highway on a fishing trip, when they pick up stranded hitch-hiker, the shifty looking William Talman. This act of generosity is poorly repaid, as William turns out to be a murderous sociopath on the run from the police, hitchhikin’ and killin’ on his…… Continue reading The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
Category: A Movie a Day 1921-2020
A curated list of movies between 1921 and 2020, reviewed one per day. This project started on 1 May 2021.
Affair in Trinidad (1952)
Dir. Vincent Sherman. Rita Hayworth is Chris Emery, dancer, jazz singer and star attraction at the Cari-b Club in Port of Spain, Trinidad. A tragic incident involving her husband draws Chris into the murky world of conspiracy, murder, and espionage. Chris must navigate complicated relationships with law enforcement, extended family, and her well-heeled fans with…… Continue reading Affair in Trinidad (1952)
In a Lonely Place (1950)
Dir. Nicholas Ray. Humphrey Bogart plays Dix Steele, not an overconfident pornographic actor as the name suggests, but a once successful Hollywood screenwriter looking for his next hit. Dix is cursed with possessing both a crime writers’ fascination with the mechanics of murder, and a cruel violent streak that poisons his relationships with his colleagues,…… Continue reading In a Lonely Place (1950)
The Stranger (1946)
dir. Orson Welles. After World War II, investigators from the Allied War Crimes Commission are on the hunt for war criminals. Lead investigator, Mr. Wilson (Edward G. Robinson) gambles that releasing a particular criminal, will allow them to follow his trail, and flush out an even greater villain. This quest leads them from war-torn Europe…… Continue reading The Stranger (1946)
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)
dir. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. The story of British soldier Clive Candy (Colonel Blimp), already a veteran of the Boer War when we meet him, and his experiences over forty years of love and friendship, against the background of both world wars. A remarkable film, full of touching moments, witty dialogue, and some truly…… Continue reading The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)
High Sierra (1941)
dir. Raoul Walsh. Roy Earle (Humphrey Bogart) is fresh out of prison thanks to his underworld pal, Big Mac, who needs his expertise to pull off a hotel jewellery heist. Roy embarks on a road trip through the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges to meet up with some small-time crooks, and their dame, Marie (Ida Lupino).…… Continue reading High Sierra (1941)
Foreign Correspondent (1940)
dir. Alfred Hitchcock. On the eve of World War II, New York City crime reporter John Jones (played by Joel McCrea) is dispatched to London for an exclusive interview with a Dutch diplomat to get the scoop on the likelihood of war breaking out in Europe. Jones becomes entangled in a secret plot, and must…… Continue reading Foreign Correspondent (1940)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)
dir. Alfred L. Werker. The dastardly Professor Moriarty, jubilant after his not guilty verdict for murder, teases an irritated Sherlock Holmes that his next job will be the crime of the century! Preying on Holmes’s intellectual curiosity, Moriarty plots to distract him with an escalating series of deadly mind games. Absolute delight of a film.…… Continue reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)
Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
dir. Michael Curtiz. Two street kids are busted stealing fountain pens, Jerry escapes, but Rocky is caught by the coppers. This defining moment leads Jerry to reform himself and become a priest, while Rocky is sentenced to reform school and a life of crime. Grown up Rocky is played by James Cagney, as the classic…… Continue reading Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
Dead End (1937)
dir. William Wyler. The film opens with a New York City real estate history lesson, about how the poor once lived at the riverside dead end of city streets, until the wealthy recognised the appeal of riverside living and built towering luxury apartments, looking down on the tenements below. Without being too preachy, DEAD END…… Continue reading Dead End (1937)
A Single Paragraph 