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Reviews
Counterspy (1958)
Based on a true events. Missing Diver.
This story is alleged to be based upon events from 1956 in Portsmouth Harbour. It is so secret that the British Goverment are not allowing the events to become public until2057.
This story is skirting around what happened. But it is not claiming to be based on the events of what happened in 1956.
A British diver a commander in the RNVR, was, it is alleged approched by the CIA, to inspect a Russian warship when it arrived in Portsmouth. It is a matter of record that they met up in the Keeples Head close to the Navel Base to sort out the details. This USA tv pilot was made in Britain in late 57 or early 58. It is worth a watch for anyone interested in the story.
Dial 999 (1958)
For its time
This is a good series from 1958 shown on a Sunday evening around 5.30pm on ITV in the UK.
These days people may well laugh at the acting and stories, but for 1958 it was a good show. As an example one story has our hero DI Mike McGuire chasing an armed gang into a factory workshop where there are people at work on machines or benches all around them. The armed gang open fire but not one workman moves away from his bench, they are all too busy to stop work because some criminal is discharging a firearm. Not worried about health and safety these lads. Mind you this was made around 1957 so the workmen would have all been ex-servicemen used to being shot at in the not to distant past by the Germans or Japanese.
Another episode entitled "The Barge Burglars" a young Harry Fowler is the leader of of smash and Grab gang. However the interesting thing is their getaway choice, not legging it , not a car, not a bike, its novel rarely they go catch the water-bus on the canal. London has many canals and years ago there was a public transport water-bus system so the public could get around London just using the canals, and that is how the gang would get away timing each robbery just before the canal water-bus barge was due. Hard to believe these days but it worked then.
There are a few episodes of Dial 999, on Youtube and maybe Dailymotion that you can watch for free. Now and again you will also find people selling them on e-bay or iOffer websites.
Cancel My Reservation (1972)
Bob No Hope
This I am sorry to say this is the worst Bob Hope movie I have ever seen. The film is about ten years too late for his style of comedy to be considered funny, with both the storyboard and the production values best described as poor.
At first I thought it was a TV movie but no it was a cinema release and I must say I was surprised. The studio executives must have wanted to chuck money away.
In this film Bob Hope is a very old Bob Hope, and it is no surprise to learn that this finished his movie career, although his co star a very good looking Eva Marie Saint, went on to appear in many more movies, TV movies, and TV mini series.
If you are a Bob Hope fan, then watch it especially as it his last movie, but if not, then do not bother.
Man of the World (1962)
Mr Sophistication
Craig Stevens was never used to his maximum potential in TV and in the movies. He was without doubt the "Gary Grant of TV" .Good looking and sophisticated with easy charm. He was in the Gene Barry mould.
If some bright spark producer could have come up with a decent series for him it could have run for years. Instead of this, he was once "Peter Gunn" has finished its run, just a jobbing actor appearing as a guest star in many forgettable TV series although his British series "Man of the World" was cut short by an actors strike here in the UK where it was made. "Man of the World" had the potential to be that long running series but for one reason or another it was cancelled. I think it was ahead of its time and if it had been made say 10 years later it may well have been a success. If you get a chance to see "Man of the World" then take it I do not think you will be disappointed.
Rio Conchos (1964)
Remake maybe?
The film is not bad, has a decent cast and a reasonable story but is a bit slow at times. The film looks like a remake of a 1960 John Wayne/Stewart Whitman (in both movies) action western entitled "The Comancheros" The plot in both movies is is very very similar.
I would recommend that if you can you watch them both to see which one you prefer.
The Saint (2017)
The Saint 2017
This TV movie is what it says on the can, A TV movie so its not a big budget all starring blockbuster. It is made in the Charlie Angels mould. Instead of Charlie you have Patricia, instead of the Angels you have Simon Templer (The saint) The film does try a bit to hard with lots of action set pieces and Buzz talk between the two stars.
A working mans James Bond is how I would describe Mr Templer. The two stars: Eliza Dushku and Adam Rayner are good all they need is a decent but less busy script. Not a film for purest s. In my time I have watch every Saint episode ever made as well as every episode of follow up series "The New Saint" however this film is for today's audience and should not be compared with these previous two British series.
The film is Too much, too quick, but promising. I hope they make a series or maybe a few more special TV movies. They need just to learn to pace the movie, keep the buzz between the stars, and only have one villain an episode.
It was a neat trick having both the previous TV Saints in this film. Sir Roger Moore and Ian Ogilvy.
Watch on TV-yes, pay to watch it-No.