‘Arts’ Archives
Movie corner Rewatch Bogart”'s last movie
By HOWARD McQUITTER II oldschoolmovies.wordpress.com howardmcquitter68@gmail.com “The Harder They Fall” (1956)  **** Columbia Pictures A hard-hitting boxing movie where the mob has an iron-grip on the boxing business and like another film of the same era called “Set-Up”(1949), it features much reality about who controls boxing in the 1930s-1950s. At the time, boxing along with baseball, is America”'s most popular sport. “The Harder They Fall” is Humphrey Bogart”'s last film (he died on Jan. 14, 1957, from esophageal cancer) but he is still on top of his game as an actor. I saw this movie when I was a boy, and have seen it several times since then, most recently three weeks ago. The director Mark Robson (“The Seventh Victim” 1943, “Peyton Place” 1957, “Valley of the Dolls” 1967) is joined by Philip Yordan who writes the screenplay and also produces Bogart”'s last [...]
Movie corner ”˜Stan and Ollie”' delightful
By HOWARD McQUITTER II oldschoolmovies.wordpress.com howardmcquitter68@gmail.com 2019, Sony Pictures 4.5 out of 5 A delightful, modest biopic about Stan Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Oliver Hardy (John C. Reilly), the best comedy duo in Hollywood at its golden age. Director Jon S. Baird (“Filth” 2014, “Cass” 2008) and writer Jeff Pope put together a very fine biopic about Stan and Ollie in phases of their careers. The first is when both comedians worked for Hal Roach Studios in 1937, at the height of their careers; the second phase, fast-forward to 1953, their popularity and money has greatly waned. The lion”'s share of the film is spent in the latter period. Stan and Ollie (nicknamed “Babe”) go on tour in Great Britain attempting to rekindle their fame even after the two men split for many years. They start in Newcastle before bouncing around in Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, England; then to Glasgow, [...]
Movie Corner February 2019
By HOWARD McQUITTER II oldschoolmovies.wordpress.com howardmcquitter68@gmail.com 10 Best Films of 2018 1.) “Roma” (R) ”“ In the early 1970s, a maid (Yalitza Aparicio) working for a well-to-do family in one year has unexpected challenges. Director: Alfonso Cuaron. Running time: 135 minutes. Language: Spanish in English subtitles. Drama. 2.) “Green Book” (PG-13) ”“ An Italian American from Brooklyn leaves his bounce job to be the driver to an African American classical pianist. drama/Comedy/Bio-graphy. Director: Peter Farrelly. Running time: 134 minutes. 3.) “Bohemian Rhapsody” ”“ (PG-13) Who ever thought someone would be playing Freddie Mercury(Rami Malek) of the rock band “Queen”? Biography/Drama/Music. Director: Bryan Singer. Running time: 134 minutes. 4.) “BlacKkKlansman”(R) ”“ Colorado Springs, Colo., in the early 1970s, hires its first Black police officer (John David [...]
