“King Solomon’s Mines” 1951 is the second film version depicting the danger and romance facing a group as they search for a missing husband and lost treasure in Africa in 1897.  A 1937 movie was first to depict the story.  For the 1951 film Directors Compton Bennett and Andrew Marton built the movie with much of it filmed in Africa.

Deborah Kerr is Elizabeth Curtis who must locate her husband missing while looking for treasure.  Allan Quatermain played by Stewart Granger is the well-known safari guide who agrees to lead the search.  Richard Carlson is Elizabeth’s brother John Goode, Kimursi as Khiva works with Quatermain and is from the Kipsigi Tribe, and Siriaque is Umbopa a member of royalty who wants to become King.  Enjoy the wildlife, scenery, and adventure.

Here’s the IMDB page for “King Solomon’s Mines”

Up next is “Cry, the Beloved Country”

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Thank you to one of our Patreon members for recommending “Bombshell” 1933 for this podcast.  Director Victor Fleming has created a fast-paced comedy.  Among Mr. Fleming’s many successes are “The Wizard of Oz” 1939 (Episode 144) and “Gone with the Wind” 1939.

The talented Jean Harlow plays Lola Burns.  Lola is “fed up” with the never-ending stories orchestrated in the press by Publicist E. J. “Space” Hanlon played by Lee Tracy.  Lola’s father played by Frank Morgan and her brother played by Ted Healy create chaotic situations made more unpredictable by those large shaggy dogs engulfing Lola and her entourage.  Then mix in Franchot Tone as the wealthy and romantic Gifford Middleton to maybe carry Lola away from this wildness.  All this adds to our enjoyment of the movie. Madcap fun indeed!

Here’s the IMDB page for “Bombshell”

Up next is “King Solomon’s Mines”

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In “Les Diaboliques”, translated The Devils, Director Henri-Georges Clouzot gives us a prize winning eerie drama that is one of the best in the genre.  As the story unfolds both the mistress and the wife of a mean and controlling husband work together to accomplish his murder.  The movie takes manytwists and turns leading to one of the best finales in film.

Véra Clouzot plays the husband’s wife Christina, Simone Signoret is mistress Nicole, the dreadful husband Michel is played by Paul Meurisse, and a private detective and retired senior police official Alfred is played by Charles Vanel.  His character seems like a forerunner to television’s Columbo. The excellent cast includes a well-placed student who adds to the mystery.  Enjoy what one reviewer called “a pip of a murder thriller…”

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“The 39 Steps” 1935 is a spy movie with action taking place in the United Kingdom.  Director Alfred Hitchcock packs the film with elements such as an innocent man on the run, a Hitchcock cameo, and the “MacGuffin” plot device important to the drama. These and other elements often appear in current films.

Robert Donat is Richard Hannay the innocent Canadian thrust into espionage operations designed to steal plans for an advanced, silent airplane engine. Joining Mr. Donat’s excellent performance is Madeleine Carroll as Pamela the woman who eventually realizes he needs her help, Professor Jordan played by Godfrey Tearle is the spy group’s leader, Wylie Watson as Mr. Memory who memorizes the engine design, and a cast of interesting people.  Join us in following Richard Hannay’s many narrow escapes.

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The comedy duo of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello fit the bill with their 1941 movies “Buck Privates” and “Keep ‘Em Flying”.  With wars raging in Asia and Europe, there were several films in 1940 and 1941 aimed at building support for a United States military buildup.

“Secret of the Incas” 1954 an adventure film that influences“Indiana Jonas and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” 1981.  In “Secret of the Incas” Charlton Heston as Harry Steele has a hat, coat, and other things similar to those of Indiana Jones played by Harrison Ford in “Raiders of the Lost Ark”.  Moreover, Harry uses a shaft of light in the tomb as does Indiana in the Map Room at the Nazi dig site.

Nicole Maurey as Elena Antonescu and Thomas Mitchell as Ed Morgan add to the action in Peru.  Meanwhile Indiana travels the world in search of the Ark.  His adventures also include Marion Ravenwood a former lover played by Karen Allen and a host of heroes to ne’er-do-wells.  Enjoy the action.

We recorded this in 2021, the 40th anniversary of Raiders Of The Lost Arc 

Here’s the IMDB page for “Secret Of The Incas” and “Raiders”

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“The Sound of Music” 1965 is a musical and drama film andamong our favorite movies.  The creative talent of Director Robert Wise beautifully captures the von Trapp family story.  We have reviewed many films directed by Mr. Wise including “The Andromeda Strain” 1971 (Episode 38), “Run Silent Run Deep” 1958 (Episode 117), and “West Side Story” 1961 (Episode 118).  His films are excellent.

The movie centers around the life of Maria played by Julie Andrews, Captain von Trapp played by Christopher Plummer, and the von Trapp children. The first half of the film showcases the family and the music while the second half presents the horror caused by the annexation of Austria into the Third Reich.  In addition to being a marvelous film it received five Academy Awards.

Here’s the IMDB page for ”The Sound Of Music”

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”Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” 1954 is set in 1850 and brings together wonderful Western themed musical and dance numbers and the horrible kidnapping of six women.  Stanley Donen was Co-Director of “On the Town” 1948 (Episode 2) and “Singing in the Rain” 1952 (Episode 20), but as Director of this movie the disconnect between music and behavior smash head-on.

Jane Powell as Milly marries Adam Pontipee played by Howard Keel.  Milly gains the respect of the Pontipee brothers.  Russ Tamblyn plays the youngest brother Gideon who eventually exhibits greater common sense and maturity than any of the other brothers.  In 2004 the movie was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant”.  Join us for this collision.

Here’s the IMDB page for ”Seven Brides For Seven Brothers”

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“Paint Your Wagon” 1969 is a western – musical film.  Director Joshua Logan faced multiple challenges including remote locations, cast members with differing ideas and styles, a ballooning budget, and studio anxieties.  Mr. Logan needed his director experiences from films such as “South Pacific” 1958 (Episode 11) to complete this movie.

Events occur at a gold rush mining camp full of lonely, wild miners.  The huge cast is led by Lee Marvin as Ben Rumson the grizzled and hard drinking man of the open country, Clint Eastwood as “Pardner” the new best friend of Rumson, and Jean Seberg as Elizabeth the woman loved by both Rumson and “Pardner”.  The film features over twelve musical numbers and both Mr. Marvin and Mr. Eastwood did their own singing.  Please enjoy this crew.

Here’s the IMDB page for “Paint Your Wagon”

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“Calamity Jane” 1953 is a fanciful western, musical, and comedy involving the lives of Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok and many others in and around Deadwood, Dakota Territory. Director David Butler corrals together quite a group of characters for this light-hearted romp through the make-believe west with many fun songs.  In part the movie was inspired by the box-office success of “Annie Get Your Gun” 1950.

Doris Day plays the wildly energetic Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok is played by Howard Keel, Allyn Ann McLerie is Katie Brown an aspiring song and dance performer who captivates in every scene, and Philip Carey is the upstanding Lieutenant Daniel Gilmartin.  There are many other excellent cast members including Dick Wesson as Francis Fryer.  Return with us now to this 1953 version of the west.

Here’s the IMDB page for “Calamity Jane”

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