October Movies

October was mainly a month for classic horror (no surprise) and film noir. Other than one documentary, I saw nothing that was newer than 1973. I finished up the Universal Monsters box set and signed up for Warner Archive Instant streaming service. Here are the details of the films I saw last month: 

Impact (1945) Arthur Lubin

Walter Williams (Brian Donlevy) is so busy with work, he not only doesn’t know his wife (Helen Walker) has a lover (Tony Barrett), he also hasn’t a clue that they’re both trying to kill him. As with all noir films, things never turn out as planned, as Williams - presumed dead after a car accident - starts over again in a small Idaho town. And as we also know from noir, you may be done with the past, but the past is never done with you. 

Although Donlevy be not be your typical leading man, he handles the role nicely, despite the fact that the chemistry between Donlevy and Marsha Peters (pictured above) is something of a head-scratcher. The final courtroom scene is rushed and contrived, but Impact is still an enjoyable film noir with a certain amount of charm. (Viewed in the Film Noir Collection, a 10-movie set that’s cheap, but has pretty lousy video quality) 

3.5/5

On Dangerous Ground (1951) Nicholas Ray

City cop Jim Wilson (Robert Ryan) needs a change of pace, otherwise he’s going to continue bending the rules and might possibly kill his next suspect(s). Wilson’s captain (Ed Begley) sends him to upstate New York to investigate a murder, hoping the cold weather will cool him off. What Wilson discovers is a blind woman (Ida Lupino) who may hold the key to the murder. 

Ryan - a noir mainstay - and Lupino are very good in this “tale of two settings” film. This one should be discussed more in noir circles. (Netflix rental)  

4/5

Beat the Devil (1953) John Huston

Previously reviewed here  (Also a part of the Film Noir Collection set)

4/5

Black Sabbath (1963) Mario Bava

A film and a director recommended by my good friend Kelly, previously discussed here

(Amazon Instant Video)

3.5/5

The following four films are all discussed in this post on the Universal Monsters box set:

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) James Whale (rewatch, 2nd x)

5/5

The Wolf Man (1941) George Waggner (rewatch, 2nd x)

4/5

Phantom of the Opera (1943) Arthur Lubin

2/5

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) Jack Arnold

3.5/5

Doctor X (1932) Michael Curtiz

Doctor X marks my first film as a Warner Archive Instant  subscriber and it was a great initiation. Read more about the film here. (Warner Archive Instant)

4/5

Mile... Mile & a Half (NF 2013) Jason M. Fitzpatrick

Interesting, gorgeously photographed journey of five friends - all of them involved in some type of creative endeavors in their normal lives - who hike the 211-mile John Muir Trail in California. The film actually gets more interesting as the journey progresses and the band of friends encounter other hikers. (Netflix streaming) 

4/5

Cry Wolf (1947) Peter Godfrey 

Sandra Demerast (Barbara Stanwyck) pays a visit to her deceased husband’s uncle (Errol Flynn), but is she looking for sympathy or money? (Or both?) Atmospheric and compelling, Cry Wolf unravels a bit at the end, but otherwise a good way get your film noir fix. It’s too bad this was the only time Stanwyck and Flynn made a movie together - they would’ve made a great onscreen pair. (Warner Archive Instant)

4/5

The Innocents (1961) Jack Clayton (rewatch, 2nd x)

This shamefully neglected horror classic get the Blu-ray treatment thanks to Criterion. More on this film here. (Criterion Blu-ray)

5/5

The Exorcist (1973) William Friedkin 

My wife and I went to a party last weekend and watched this in the host’s backyard, the chilly air creating an appropriately creepy atmosphere. To tell you the truth, I don’t think I’d ever seen this film all the way through before. This was the newer version with added scenes that seemed a little too obviously added and most of the conversation that evening wasn’t about how scary the movie was, but more along the lines of “Was that in the original?”

4/5

The Freshman (1925) Fred C. Newmayer, Sam Taylor

It’s almost impossible not to love Harold Lloyd, even when he’s clearly trying too hard to be the most popular man on campus. The laughs are plenty and Jobyna Ralston is lovely, but I think I still prefer Safety Last! over this one. (Hulu Plus streaming)  

4/5 

Movies Purchased in October

The Innocents (1961) Jack Clayton (mentioned above) [Criterion Blu-ray]

Eraserhead (1977) David Lynch [Criterion Blu-ray]

The Old Dark House (1932) James Whale [Kino DVD]