Reviews (20)

Good Movie That Takes Itself Too Seriously
The story: Earth scientists discover another planet in our solar system -- orbiting on exactly the opposite side of the sun from Earth. A mission is hastily put together and, despite espionagic (Is that a word? Should be.) attempts to stop it, it succeeds. However, when Ian Hendry and Roy Thinnes crash-land on the other planet, they find . . . Earth. Except, it's not. It's exactly like Earth, but in mirror-image. Of, course, the people of htraE had launched a mission to the "other" planet (Earth) at the same time, crewed by yrdneH naI and sennihT yoR, and they believe that the two astronauts who just crashed are their own people who aborted their mission, without good reason, and came back. How do Ian and Roy prove they're not naI and yoR?

Commentary: Good acting, good direction, and great special effects, but this movie is grim, bleak, serious, gray, tense . . . you get the idea. Of course, it's trying to be serious, but it becomes 100% and life is seldom 100% serious (there are a few jokes and a few smiles even in "Saving Private Ryan"). The film loses some of its realism by taking realism too seriously. The makers of this film were probably trying to avoid the ... stereotype of many science-fiction movies, but took it one step too far.

Overall: Despite all my gripes in the previous paragraph, I like this film and remember it vividly years later.

Interesting And Unusual Sci-Fi Cult Film From 1969
From the creators of "The Thunderbirds" and "Space 1999" came this 1969 science fiction melodrama of astronauts discovering a mirror image of Earth always hidden from view of the real Earth because it is always on the other side of the sun. Also known as DOPPELGANGER, this is an unusual entry into the sci-fi genre, a strange cross between "The Twilight Zone" and Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. Roy Thinnes and Ian Hendry are the two astronauts who discover the parallel world and soon become entangled in it. The visual effects work of Derek Meddings still holds up surprisingly well after more than three decades of cinematic advances; and while the uneven dialogue means that JOURNEY cannot really compare to "2001" or the more recent CONTACT, this is still well worth watching for its premise, as well as a fine score by Barry Gray.

Kill the editor! This flick is just too slow.
Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969)
This flick supposes that there is another planet in the same orbit as our earth, but on the opposite side of the sun. As such, that seems interesting, and while this film does have some merit, it is just plain too slow.

The Andersons' plots were just plain boring, and all the mechanical complexity in the world could not help. Not one of their series lasted more than two seasons, because anything the Andersons' ever toutched relied upon mechanical intricacies rather than plot or interaction between characters. If only they had not spent so much time showing the spacecraft being positioned for launch, or the elevator going down the shaft, or the sections of the rocket being assembled, their productions would be worthwhile. But for the same reasons that UFO, Stingray, the Thunderbirds, Space 1999, etc were boring and hence, short-lived, this is boring. The fact that they only provided the special-effects for Director Robert Parrish, did not help much. This film was clearly a full half-hour to forty-five minutes too long. Hooray for the DVD player's next chapter button, because fast forward is not fast enough. If not for such drawn out boredom, this would certainly merit 4 of 5 stars. However, its extensive use of mechanical processes as time-killers ruined an otherwise decent flick. Watch the first fifteen minutes, click next chapter until you reach about an hour into the film. Resume viewing at the point where the guy lands on the other Earth, watch it to the end, and you will not miss anything worthwhile, but you will save yourself 40 - 45 minutes of drudgery.

Synopsis:
The premise is that our earth sends a spacecraft to the other earth; however, it returns in only half the time it should have taken for a round-trip flight. Yet, what if our astronaut hero IS on the other earth? If so, how would he know the difference? Like I said, watch the first 15 minutes, and skip the next 30 to 40 minutes. What you will miss contributes nothing to the plot.

5/5 for nostalgia, 1/5 for action, 2/5 for character development, 0/5 for editing, 3/5 for plot.

A Must For Sci-Fi Fans!
This lesser known film starring Roy Thinnes (From TV's Invaders) is actually what I consider a lost gem. It was made at a time where the story was more important that the special effects (though the effect are fairly good for its time).

A scientist theorizes that there is another world in Earth's Orbit directly behind the sun. Since the sun always blocks it from us we can never see it from Earth. Roy Thinnes is selected to go on a mission to get to this world. I don't want to tell the rest of the plot because it will give the rest of the movie away. Let's just say there are some real surprises.

The movie is British and has that good British flavor of acting that was in such TV series like The Avengers.

Gerry Anderson's "Far Side"
In the near future, a routine mission by an unmanned solar probe detects a planet sharing Earth's orbital plane, but orbiting exactly opposite to it. Plans to land an expedition to the mysterious planet are initially shelved because of the cost - but then reinstated and rushed forward when the existence of Earth's twin is discovered by a secret agent (Herbert Lom). Jason Web, a ruthless visionary of space exploration, manages the program as if he's going up. Instead, the two-man crew is headed by a stoic American astronaut named Glenn Ross, a man who seems to have nothing to come back to. Ironically, Ross does return back to Earth - apparently having turned around midway and crashlanding. But Ross is perplexed - his last memories are approaching the mystery planet and landing, having no explanation for his return.

Okay, so there is an explanation [] and on reflection it's not an entirely intelligent one. Actually, the idea of a parallel Earth poses an interesting (likely unintentional) cold war metaphor: scientists and politicians are spurred to expend outrageous sums to conquer and explore a mysterious region or enemy only to find it that the enemy is no different than themselves. Scientifically, it's even less acceptable: everything on this other world is a reverse-mirror image of our Earth, from human anatomy, electric polarity to written language. Luckily, dialog is not reversed though - since the reverse Earth lives within our universe, complete with the same laws of physics - why anything should be reversed at all is a mystery. Instead our hero hits on the twin-earth solution and even sells it to the otherwise immovable Web, though you get the sense that they might have had some reservations about the idea. The thinness of the idea is underscored in the film's unsatisfying climax. The film even junks the promising cold-war undertones after they provided a convenient device for spurring the expedition (Web allows Lom's character to reveal the existence of the other Earth to his foreign masters, knowing that his own superiors will now be forced to pony up the "thousand, million pounds" the expedition will cost).

If "Journey" has a thin idea, it's still a stand-out delivery. Gerry Anderson's vision and Derek Meddings's effects are lovely. Though you know that they're working with models, the exacting attention to detail creates a world you don't want to dismiss as simple elaborate miniatures. Aside from eye-candy, the flick also centers on the strong-willed performances of (vet sci-fi fixture )Roy Thinnes as Ross, and Pat Wymark as the tough-talking Web. For a great piece of glamorous 60's sci-fi, this is your flick. ... Read more

Amazon.com

John Huston was only one of five directors on this expensive, all-star 1967 spoof of Ian Fleming's 007 lore. David Niven is the aging Sir James Bond, called out of retirement to take on the organized threat of SMERSH and pass on the secret-agent mantle to his idiot son (Woody Allen). An amazing cast (Orson Welles, Peter Sellers, Deborah Kerr, etc.) is wonderful to look at, but the film is not as funny as it should be, and the romping starts to look mannered after awhile. The musical score by Burt Bacharach, however, is a keeper. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (84)

The funniest James Bond spoof ever
The "Austin Powers" series sure could take a few hints from "Casino Royale". Whereas the former is predictable and obvious, "Casino Royale" is a good example of that famous dry British wit.

What else could you call it when wealthy Ursula Andress tells Peter Sellers that she gets her newspapers BEFORE they're printed, and he replies, "Well, I suppose you can do anything if you've got money..." Or when Joanna Pettet comments on her estranged mother's oversized bed and is told, "The German army was very large in those days."

I've withheld one star because the movie does tend to have an episodic feel, due to the five different directors who worked on it, and because it drags a bit in places. Still, the witty jokes more than make up for those small flaws. Considering how many hands this movie was in, it's amazing that it works so well. Woody Allen gives his funniest performance as neurotic Jimmy Bond. Peter Sellers is terrific, as usual. And watch out for an appearance by a young Jacqueline Bisset as Miss Goodthighs.

The movie's crowning touch is the music by Burt Bacharach, which manages to be catchy and loopy at the same time.

Finally, one of the best reasons for owning rather than renting this movie is that some of the gags go by so fast (Q's laboratory, the art auction), that you might not catch them all until your second or third viewing. And, like a lot of good humor, some of the jokes just get funnier with repeat viewings.

Somewhat entertaining, mostly dull
Casino Royale isn't a terrible movie; it has its moments, and, truly, has a superb cast. That much can be said for it. There are some scenes with Ursula Andress, especially, that are very funny, and the beginning isn't without its humor. However, in general it is a mess of movie; loosely constructed, making little to no sense, and, what is worst of all, not even all that funny. I had to fight off sleep to keep consciousness during the movie, something I almost never have to do. I actually got to the point where I couldn't wait for it to end. Not the worst film ever made, but save your money. Rent it if you must.

When your castle is blown up, it's back to the spy game....
Great movie! Sir James Bond played by David Niven is forced back into espionage after his hedonistic lifestyle is so rudely interrupted by a British army 81mm mortar team who proceeds to blow up his perfectly splendid castle. Bond prefers a life of luxury to the dangers of espionage but alas, it's back to the good old Walther PPK 7.65mm and the cloak and dagger for 007. As Dr. Michael Lim the Travelling Gourmet, I too appreciate the finer things in life. I think all fans of Bond do too. The music is remarkable. This is THE movie where that immortal and hauntingly seductive song, by Burt Bacharach, "The Look of Love" reaches deep into your libido and psyche, especially when you hear it for the very first time. My old friend, the late Derek Nimmo (of BBC's Just a Minute) fame is in this movie too as a would be Bond under the tutelage of Sir James himself. If you see the current Austin Powers movies you'll see where the scipt writers got many of their ideas from. Beautiful and seductively voluptuous women abound as in all 007 movies. In those days, men were men and women were not pale, anaemic anorexic skin and bone creatures but lovely, curvaceous and meaty damsels. Bring back the real women I say to Hollywood film makers! This spook spoof will put a smile on your lips and cheer you up no end. Certain scenes like when Sir James demonstrates how things should be done are really hilarious. Above all, the classic British ideal of stiff upper lip, always remain calm and unruffled no matter what, and carry on regardless...comes through all the antics, bombs, blondes and bullets. David Niven comes a very close second to Patrick Macnee (The Avengers) when it comes to playing cool, calm and collected English gentlemen. And so, what's next? As Austin Powers would say, "Yeah, Baby, Yeah!!!" By Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet ENJOY!

Bond Spoof and Origins
Charles Feldman's Casino Royale is a colorful psychedelic mess 36 years after its creation. This film was the first James Bond spoof and a precurser of the Austin Powers movies. Unfortunately the film has not aged well.

The jokes seem as dated as the costumes. There is virtually no plot to speak of and the sequences by four directors seem cobbled together by fifth director Val Guest.

The film is fun to watch with its great musical score and vibrant colors but there isn't a lot holding this thing together.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the disc is the 1954 TV movie from Climax Mystery Theatre which featured Barry Nelson as the American spy Jimmy Bond. It was fun to see the true origin of the Bond franchise.

Bottom line rent it for its place in history but don't go in expecting greatness.

Swingin' 60s on Film!
Funny! Despite it's bad reputation, if you are a NON-square, ya gotta check this out. Lots of in-jokes, droll humor and laugh-out-loud stuff. Sure, it's a bit "all-over-the-place" but that's half the fun. The go-go dancing Indians, the cavalry charge into the casino, the Dr. Caligari sets, the pop-art sets and psychedelic FX, the Frankenstein monster... it's all like a mix of The Magic Christian, Monty Python, Blazing Saddles, Austin Powers, The Monkees "Head" and James Bond thrown into a Swingin' Sixties blender. And all those great stars strutting their stuff!! Don't worry about the plot... this is eye candy. If you want a generous 60s fix, just sit back and let this flow over you. All that and the Burt Bacharach score. I'm glad I bought this. ... Read more

Description

A third-rate matador has three days to woo and win a legendary beauty, setting the stage for another fabulously funny Peter Sellers performance. Year: 1967 Director: Robert Parrish Starring:Peter Sellers, Britt Ekland, Rossano Brazzi ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Little Known Sellers masterpiece....
'The Bobo' is one of Sellers' less known films, but shows his great ability to take on a character and run with it. Although his 'Barcelona' accent is far from perfect (contrary to his great vocal renditions of other accents), this film is a delightful romp of a guy who is commissoned to get 'The Girl' (the famous model 'Britt Eckland', who Sellers married) in a 3 day period. He goes from newcomer to suave Ladykiller in those few hours. The second scene, where he introduces our Lady into a Grecian palace scene, replete with 1700's dandy, is priceless...if only we could see the outtakes...from the overly 'dandy' introduction to the manic scenes of Sellers dancing a hip modern beat....
won't give away the final scenes...but this film is a true Sellers gem...

Olympia....aaahhhhh....
Good stuff here. Sellers is delightful in a deliciously obscure little flick that is impossible not to love. While certainly not his best known work, if unaccompanied by hype, THE BOBO is sure to please. Enjoy this unknown gem to the max!!!!

An Odd but Rather Charming Little Film
"The Bobo" is a strange little film. It's intended as a comedy, yet it rarely goes for a big laugh. There are no comic set-ups, no pratfalls, no goofy characters as in a typical Peter Sellers comedy. It seems content to make the viewer smile, and it works on that level. Sellers is amusing and charming as Juan Bautista -- you can't help but like the little guy. The great comic brings a warmth and humanity to a role that could easily have been a stereotype or a caricature. Britt Eklund is stunning as Olympia; her beauty is reminiscent of early Bardot. She's well cast as a spoiled girl who coasts through life on her magnificent looks! The plot is a little mean-spirited, but Sellers brings a touching quality to his role which makes the viewer accept that sometimes good people can do bad things. While this is certainly not classic Sellers, it is a pleasant and pleasing little oddity that serves to show that the actor could create a rather moving character when he didn't have a script full of bellylaughs to work with! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Armies have marched over me
More football games have been lost and more movies ruined by bad time management.... FIRE DOWN BELOW has everything it needs to be a five-star classic - a charismatic cast headed by Rita Hayworth, Robert Mitchum and Jack Lemmon, a colorful and picturesque location in Tobago and Trinidad, and a compelling story of friendship, love and jealousy. Unfortunately, it practically grinds to a halt in the second half.
Felix (Robert Mitchum) and Tony (Jack Lemmon) own a tramp boat and make a living of sorts hiring it out. Felix is a crusty veteran and Tony is a fresh bud sowing some young wild oats. Life is good (if a little ragged) when Irena (Rita Hayworth) walks into their life and they agree to smuggle her to the small island of Santa Nada. Irena has a few secrets to keep and to escape from, and for $1000 Felix and Tony aren't asking many questions. They agree to take her there.
Will Tony fall for the dark-eyed Irena? Will Felix? Which one will she choose? Heck, we could plot this one ourselves and get it right. You can sniff this one out pretty fast, and there aren't a lot of surprises, but with a cast of this caliber it doesn't really matter.
The boys eventually have a falling out over Irena, and within a couple of plot-beats Tony finds himself a hired hand on a cargo ship. Add a little fog and another boat and there's a collision and Tony is pinned in the bulkhead.
And there we sit for pretty much the second half of the movie. Worried about the resolution of the Irena/Felix/Tony conflict, we're pinned under this plot twist way way way too long. Tug boats haul the ship into harbor, the US Navy is asked to winch or cut him out and we're along for each agonizing step. Minus two points for that.
If you're a fan of any of the leads this is worth your while. And it's pretty to look at. The dvd also contains Rita Hayworth trailers.

Boring movie !!!!
This is a boring movie !
A lost oppurtunity of a great pairing between Rita Hayworth and Robert Mitchum !
In the middle of the movie the director Parrish must have lost
his interest in it. After the story begins quite original it
hangs for half an hour in a terribly long scene featuring Lemmon
by himself. Incredible that noone in the cutting rooms saw that this mistaken long scene ruined the film and Rita's comeback in 1957.

THESTARS
IREMEMBERTHISPARTICULARVIDEOGOINGBACKTOMY TEENAGE YEARSTHE THEMEMUSICWITH MITCHUM HAYWORTH ANDLEMMON MADE IT FOR ME AND ONE TO KEEP AND REMEMBER

Max Catto adventure
A very unusual pairing of Robert Mitchum and Jack Lemmon in this broad adventure type of film. Rita Hayworth, of course , causing a problem with the male ego,s in this one...and when viewed in letterbox format is really striking. Herbert Lom is the conscience on the film and look closely for the late Anthony Newly as a bartender with other interests. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Suprisingly Great Film Noir!
I couldn't agree more with the guy from Colorado who wrote the other review on this film, There really isn't much I can add, but If you like movies from this genre, BUY this, It's a forgotten classic. Whoever the actor was who befriended Powell, really adds punch. Outstanding dialoge and magical moments throughout, but the ending is the best (...)

Superb classic
If you enjoy witty dialogue and a tight, fast-paced detective-film noir genre story, with excellent performances by top stars, *THIS* is your movie.

Dick Powell is in top form again (and he's always great!) playing the part of Rocky Mulloy, a bookie who has just been released from prison after serving five years of a life term for a crime he didn't commit. Now he's determined to find out who framed him - and to find the missing $100,000 he was supposed to have stolen.

Nobody wants him to re-open the case, and a cop who is convinced he's guilty is watching his every move, waiting for a slip up that will give him a chance to send Rocky back to prison.

The man who gave him the alibi that got him released from prison shows up and adds a major surprise twist to the story. Although Powell isn't a detective per se, as he was in the equally great "Murder, My Sweet" (another wonderful classic must-have for fans of detective noir films), he has a plan to find out who framed him and why. But then the shooting starts and things get complicated...

William Conrad is superb (if you remember him from the TV detective series "Cannon" or "Jake and the Fat Man," you may be surprised by his appearance and role in this film). Also great: the cop who's hot on Rocky/Powell's trail; the mysterious Marine; the blowsy blonde of questionable morals; and the beautiful Rhonda Fleming as Nancy, Rocky's former girlfriend who is now married to Rocky's best friend, the same best friend who went to prison with Rocky for the same crime but who comes up for parole in six months.

This film is full of unexpected twists and has a great surprise ending.

The brilliant dialogue crackles with understated humor. If you enjoyed "The Maltese Falcon" you'll love this one - and you'll want to watch it again and again, just to savor the great lines and the superb performances.

Definitely an underrated must-have for fans of this genre. And even if you're not a fan, give this movie a try -- it'll make you a fan. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

an authentic feel for the the blues
I saw this years ago on late night German TV and rang the station to get details the next day. They wanted to sell me there own copy for 200 Deutschmarks. This was about 8 years ago but I cannot forget the impressions of that night from this film. I am keen to have this and am overwhelmed to find it offered here.

Pass the grits and gravy
A French film crew travels in Mississippi seeking the roots of the blues. There are elements of travelogue (small town/rural) and historical documentary (interviews that focus largely on the role of the black church in the social and political fabric of the south), but the rest is performance footage of some amazing musical performances, almost half gospel, the rest blues, gospel's secular cousin. The performances are all for small groups (some only for the film crew) and are not slick and commercial--some are rather rough hewn. The filming made me feel "right there" but it was not an immediacy acheived with jerky, blurry images and fuzzy sound. This is quality film work that lets the quality and deep expression of the musical perfomances shine through. Some of my favorite segments: an all female choir, a young man with two drums keeping a furious rhythm at a church celebration, a harmonica player backed up by guitar and drums, and a man playing blues on a cane fife, first solo sitting on his mule drawn wagon while the filmmaker holds the reins, then in a procession accompanied by two drums. Almost all in English with only a few subtitles.

mississipi blues
I'm a brazilian painter.I saw that film years ago in international show of cinema in sao paulo.I liked very much,since that time i've been looking to buy a copy. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

an action packed western, with a top notch cast
A Town Called Hell is a great western in the Spaghetti Western genre. The three main stars Telly Savalas, Robert Shaw and Martin Landau give wonderful performances. My only complaint is the minimal screen time of my favorite actor, Telly Savalas(he does die in a memorable death I must admit). Check it Out! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

an action packed western, with a top notch cast
A Town Called Hell is a great western in the Spaghetti Western genre. The three main stars Telly Savalas, Robert Shaw and Martin Landau give wonderful performances. My only complaint is the minimal screen time of my favorite actor, Telly Savalas(he does die in a memorable death I must admit). Check it Out! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Wrong Royale
The Editorial Review is referring to a different version of Casino Royale from 1967 starring Peter Sellers and David Niven this version is from 1954, it is black & white and stars Barry Nelson. It was originally a live TV movie on CBS Climax. I reccomend this movie to any James Bond fan.

An interesting spoof of James Bond films.
"Casino Royale" is interesting especially after seeing the "Austin Powers" films. You can see many of the Austin comic influences, including Austin in the casino, the fembots, and the music. However, today the movie looks out of date.

VERY ODD
awkward and lumpy, this....thing....is strangely precogniscent of the theatrical Bond films that follow. if you get a chance to see this, pay close attention to the limited menu of special fx....because you've seen them all before; or since? rather weird.

Barry Nelson predates Sean Connery as 007 in"Casino Royale."
In 1954, CBS broadcast a one-hour presentation of "Casino Royale" for its series "Climax Mystery Theatre." This original production, not the 1967 spoof, stars American actor Barry Nelson as Bond (often referred to as "Card-sense Jimmy Bond")and Peter Lorre as villain Le Chiffre. In this production, the American Bond is assisted by British agent Clarence Leiter! This is a pretty much by-the-numbers adaptation of roughly the first half of Ian Fleming's novel, and is merely adequate as far as thrills and action are concerned. Peter Lorre is, of course, the real gem here. For all its shortcomings, however, the original "Casino Royale" is worth watching for its sheer novelty, and the hints of grander things to come.

Excellent
Casino Royale is a superb film ... Read more

Reviews (1)

an action packed western, with a top notch cast
A Town Called Hell is a great western in the Spaghetti Western genre. The three main stars Telly Savalas, Robert Shaw and Martin Landau give wonderful performances. My only complaint is the minimal screen time of my favorite actor, Telly Savalas(he does die in a memorable death I must admit). Check it Out! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

an authentic feel for the the blues
I saw this years ago on late night German TV and rang the station to get details the next day. They wanted to sell me there own copy for 200 Deutschmarks. This was about 8 years ago but I cannot forget the impressions of that night from this film. I am keen to have this and am overwhelmed to find it offered here.

Pass the grits and gravy
A French film crew travels in Mississippi seeking the roots of the blues. There are elements of travelogue (small town/rural) and historical documentary (interviews that focus largely on the role of the black church in the social and political fabric of the south), but the rest is performance footage of some amazing musical performances, almost half gospel, the rest blues, gospel's secular cousin. The performances are all for small groups (some only for the film crew) and are not slick and commercial--some are rather rough hewn. The filming made me feel "right there" but it was not an immediacy acheived with jerky, blurry images and fuzzy sound. This is quality film work that lets the quality and deep expression of the musical perfomances shine through. Some of my favorite segments: an all female choir, a young man with two drums keeping a furious rhythm at a church celebration, a harmonica player backed up by guitar and drums, and a man playing blues on a cane fife, first solo sitting on his mule drawn wagon while the filmmaker holds the reins, then in a procession accompanied by two drums. Almost all in English with only a few subtitles.

mississipi blues
I'm a brazilian painter.I saw that film years ago in international show of cinema in sao paulo.I liked very much,since that time i've been looking to buy a copy. ... Read more