“The dove of peace was a pigeon. A dead pigeon.” Dr. Heinrich Bernhardt is in Paris, post-war, to attend a secret UN conference focused on German reunification. Elsewhere, a mysterious message has been found — “9850,” “21:45,” the letter “D,” and “Sulzbach” — attached to a dead pigeon. The police are unable to figure out the coded message but know that it’s some sort of … Continue reading Second Looks: Berlin Express (1948)
“We must try to learn what it is these horrors want.” Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr) has applied for a job as a governess, her very first position of this type. Luckily for her, the wealthy bachelor in need of her services (Michael Redgrave) seems unconcerned by her lack of work history. Left to raise his niece and nephew after they were orphaned, the man will … Continue reading Second Looks: The Innocents (1961)
Fred C. Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) is having poor luck down in Tampico, Mexico. When he’s hired on at an oil field and meets a fellow American named Curtin (Tim Holt). Together, the men stand up to the fella who hired them, Pat McCormick (Barton MacLaine), when he tries to keep the money he owes them. Soon, they’ve got a plan to put that money to … Continue reading Second Looks: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
This review was written for the Barbara Stanwyck filmography project, my quest to watch every film the actress ever made! For more reviews from this project, visit the dedicated index. Julia Sturges (Barbara Stanwyck) has boarded the Titanic with her two children, Annette (Audrey Dalton) and Norman (Harper Carter). She plans to take them to her hometown in northern Michigan and raise them in a … Continue reading Second Looks: Titanic (1953)
Bob Merrick (Rock Hudson) is a daredevil. Notorious for pulling off dangerous stunts, he’s an adrenaline junkie. One day, while driving his speedboat too fast on the lake, he crashes. In the small town of Brightwood, there’s only one resuscitator, so it’s brought to the scene of the crash from the house of Dr. Wayne Phillips, the head of the local hospital. Bob survives thanks … Continue reading Second Looks: Magnificent Obsession (1954)
Hollywood Canteen is a famously star-packed variety show with appearances by Jack Benny, the Andrews Sisters, Joe E. Brown, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, John Garfield, Paul Henreid, Ida Lupino, and more! When it isn’t busy offering up its plethora of star cameos, the film follows Slim Green (Robert Hutton) and his pal Sgt. Nolan (Dane Clark). The fellas are on leave for three nights, and … Continue reading Second Looks: Hollywood Canteen (1944)
Cathy Timberlake (Doris Day) isn’t having the best day. Struggling to find a job, she is headed to the unemployment office to pick up a check when she’s nearly smushed flat by a passing limousine. She survives, but her outfit doesn’t, splattered with mud. Philip Shayne (Cary Grant), the man in the limo, later spots Cathy from his office window and sends one of his … Continue reading Second Looks: That Touch of Mink (1962)
On the second day of Christmas, TMP brings to you… Bing Crosby’s baby blues! That’s right, we’re spending one of our days of Christmas with the “other” blue-eyed crooner, not known as “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” but known for singing the song “White Christmas” many times — including in the film of the same name, which we’ll be taking a look at today. On to the show!… … Continue reading Eight Days of Christmas, Day 2: Second Looks – White Christmas (1954)
Eight men in New York City have come together for a noble purpose: to compile an encyclopedia of all human knowledge. Professor Bertram Potts (Gary Cooper) has decided his latest contribution will be to research modern American slang for addition to the encyclopedia. The men work slowly but diligently, in a house they share, which is kept up by Miss Bragg (Kathleen Howard). Their financial … Continue reading Second Looks: Ball of Fire (1941)
Lyn Lesley (Anne Bancroft) is a singer, working at the McKinley Hotel in New York city. Her boyfriend, pilot Jed Towers (Richard Widmark), is set to arrive in town any minute, but “excited” would not be the way to describe her mood. She mailed him a letter saying that she wanted to end their relationship, and she’s nervous to have that conversation with him in … Continue reading Second Looks: Don’t Bother to Knock (1952)
