Reviews

I first saw this film as a child in 1959, in a movie theater in New York City. Now in my 70s, it remains one of my favorite movies. I think it's one of the great science fiction/exploration films, imaginatively produced with great acting and literate script. (My friends and I used to quote from the film, as children.) I was moved by the film to read Jules Verne's novel; I enjoyed it but prefer the movie.

I've been a fan of science fiction and horror films all my life and have followed how both genres have changed over the decades. One of the great assets of "Journey" is its commitment to character development and mood. It doesn't rush right into the sensational and action aspects of the story, the way movies do today; it allows us the time to get to know the characters and their milieu.

The cast is excellent, from James Mason and Arlene Dahl to Peter Ronson and Thayer David. Pat Boone is very good. He was a heartthrob when the film was made and evidently demanded the opportunity to sing. I think that works and love his rendition of Robert Burns's poem, "My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose," set to music by James Van Heusen. The supporting cast excels as well. Edith Evanson shines, in a small role as the hotel keeper in Iceland.

I took my first trip to Europe in 1970 and have been traveling there ever since, for work and vacation. On that first trip, the first place I visited was Edinburgh, Scotland, as a result of my childhood memories of this film. "Journey" continues to offer me engagement and enjoyment, each time I view it. I never dreamed, as a boy of ten, that I might one day actually own the movie!

"Journey" is one of those rare films that immediately falls into the 10 out of 10 category for me.

"King of the Zombies" is a fine film. It not only has a coherent, engaging script, it actually adheres to the then current zombie literature, e.g. you musn't give anything salty to a zombie (read Seabrook's "The Magic Island;" or anthropologist Andre Metraux's "Voodoo in Haiti.") It has a great cast, with Mantan Moreland giving a funny but actually wise performance: he's the first one who realizes what's going on. (He even mentions "haints," the ghosts/evil spirits of the Carolina coast.) The film also features a terrific performance by Madame Sul-Te-Wan as Tahama. For her earlier work, Madame was the first African American to receive a film contract from a major studio. Also in the cast is Lee Whipper as Momba. Whipper was the first African American to join Actors' Equity and was also one of the founders of the Negro Actors Guild of America. Other cast members of note include Marguerite Whitten, who is sort of the "straight man" to Moreland in the hilarious dining room scene. (Samantha: "You ain't no zombie. Zombies can't talk." Jeff: "Can I help it cause I'm loquacious?")

It's easy to make fun of this film, or bring up political incorrectness, but it's filled with humor and mystery and was also actually nominated for an Oscar for Best Musical Score. It does indeed have a great score. I first saw the film on television as a child, and the theme has stayed with me ever since.

"King of the Zombies" puts George Romero and other defilers of zombie lore to shame. As Mantan Moreland, who has the last line, says, "If there's one thing I wouldn't want to be twice, zombies is both of them!"

"Tortilla Flat" is a good movie. In some ways, it reminds me of "Juarez," another film in which John Garfield plays a Latino. The similarity is that both are good films that have contained within them really terrific scenes. I guess you could say that in these films, the parts are in some ways greater than the whole.

For me, the best scenes in "Tortilla Flat" revolve around Frank Morgan, who plays a sort of tramp (homeless man) who goes around with a bunch of dogs. Like Mr. Morgan, one of the dogs seems to have appeared in "The Wizard of Oz" -- yes, I think Toto is in "Tortilla Flat." Not surprising, since both films were directed by Victor Fleming.

But the most extraordinary scene is that in which Frank Morgan has gathered his five dogs, in the midst of the majestic Redwood Forest, and relates to the dogs the story of St. Francis. As he is telling the story, the dogs actually have a vision! As the vision hovers, and the dogs react, Morgan averts his eyes. When the vision passes, Morgan shouts to the dogs: "Did you see him? Did you see him? It was St. Francis! What good boys you must be to see St. Francis!"

I know of few other films that depict pure religious experience so effectively. It raises this good film onto another level.

This quiet, thoughtful gem of a movie depicts the life of a boy and his family in the north of England in the mid 1950s. It reflects, perhaps, the childhood of the filmmaker, Terence Davies, and the importance that movies can have on one's development. The sounds and images of the film are stunning. They include Nat King Cole's "Stardust Memories;" an audio excerpt from "The Ladykillers" -- "Mrs. Wilberforce, I understand you have rooms to let...;" -- and a lengthy scene consisting of an overhead tracking shot -- kids in school, church, and the cinema. The audio for that scene is the song "Tammy," sung by Debbie Reynolds.

"The Long Day Closes" depicts in a particularly effective and evocative way, the cinema as a place of worship and a source of inspiration.