Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Magnificent Seven, 1960

Directed by John Sturges
Written by William Roberts
Starring Yul BrynnerSteve McQueen, and Horst Buchholz

Really good Western with fine performances all around. Purists may complain that it's watered-down Kurosawa, but it's a total pleasure just the same. I particularly enjoyed Steve McQueen, James Coburn, and Robert Vaughn. Also, see this for the cha-cha version of the music.

The Magnificent Seven on IMDB


Saturday, May 19, 2012

Macao, 1952

Directed by Josef von Sternberg
Written by Bernard C. Schoenfeld and Stanley Rubin
Starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell and William Bendix

It's a middling-to-pretty-good adventure/thriller/romance (with some songs, as well).

Robert Mitchum's in fine form as usual. Jane Russell is fine, though doesn't seem as tough or street smart as she's supposed to be. William Bendix is amusing in the early scenes, where he has more comedy. Brad Dexter's bad guy is a little bland. Apparently, von Sternberg was replaced as director by Nicholas Ray midway through and Ray had Mitchum and perhaps Russell write some of the dialogue; the better scenes are theirs according to them.

Macao on IMDB.