Reviews (1)

A Great Early John Wayne Movie!!
John Wayne stars as an engineer struggling to build a rairoad tunnel to reach the mines as his task becomes more complicated when he falls for the bosse's daughter.This is a great early John Wayne Movie!! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Colorful Escapism
One of Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s best films, "Sinbad the Sailor" (1947) is a lavish Technicolor adventure that resurrects the exuberance of his father's swashbuckling classics. The action sequences are worth the price of admission -- particularly Doug Jr.'s acrobatic escape from villain Anthony Quinn (who meets a rather fiery end). Fairbanks is perfect in the title role, with Quinn, Maureen O'Hara and Walter Slezak rounding out an excellent cast. Terrific fun for viewers of all ages!

Unintentionally amusing
Leonard Maltin says that this is a tongue in cheek adventure flick. I think you could enjoy it today if you were, say twelve years old or younger. For more mature viewers, the film can be an unintentional howl. The overacting by Fairbanks is a hoot. Maureen O'Hara as a smouldering Moslem woman is hilarious. George Tobias, as the comic sidekick, is simply pathetic. Anthony Quinn as a heinous Arab villain and Walter Slezak as an Asian are ludicrous. In short, a lot of fun for juveniles and the sophisticated film goer.

Sinbad the Sailor
I would like to purchase on of these in VHS/PAL system, as i live in australia, any leads?

Great, Old-Time, Comical Fun
This movie is a great flick, with the clean comedy of some older movies. Almost all the actors are great! Sinbad and his first mate are funny, and the "heroine" (which she is in the end) is well-acted. Worthwhile for anyone who likes clean fun, sword fights, and a bit of mystery and romance.

A REAL BLAST FROM THE PAST
THIS IS WHAT ALL THE NEW GUYS TRY TO DO AND JUST CAN'T QUITE MEASUREUP TO. THIS IS WHY WE CALL THESE MOVIES "CLASSIC". THIS IS WHY THERE ARE NO MORE GREAT ACTORS AND ACTORS IN HOLLYWOOD TODAY. HOW CAN YOU EXPECT SOMEONE LIKE SEAN PENN OR BRAD PITT TO DO A MOVIE LIKE THIS AND DO ALL HIS OWN STUNTS? FACE IT, FOLKS, WHAT WE CALL ACTORS TODAY JUST DON'T COMPARE TO THE REAL THING FROME A FEW YEARS BACK. WHY DO YOU THINK THEY CALL IT "THOSE THRILLING DAYS OF YESTERYEAR?" ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Colorful Escapism
One of Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s best films, "Sinbad the Sailor" (1947) is a lavish Technicolor adventure that resurrects the exuberance of his father's swashbuckling classics. The action sequences are worth the price of admission -- particularly Doug Jr.'s acrobatic escape from villain Anthony Quinn (who meets a rather fiery end). Fairbanks is perfect in the title role, with Quinn, Maureen O'Hara and Walter Slezak rounding out an excellent cast. Terrific fun for viewers of all ages!

Unintentionally amusing
Leonard Maltin says that this is a tongue in cheek adventure flick. I think you could enjoy it today if you were, say twelve years old or younger. For more mature viewers, the film can be an unintentional howl. The overacting by Fairbanks is a hoot. Maureen O'Hara as a smouldering Moslem woman is hilarious. George Tobias, as the comic sidekick, is simply pathetic. Anthony Quinn as a heinous Arab villain and Walter Slezak as an Asian are ludicrous. In short, a lot of fun for juveniles and the sophisticated film goer.

Sinbad the Sailor
I would like to purchase on of these in VHS/PAL system, as i live in australia, any leads?

Great, Old-Time, Comical Fun
This movie is a great flick, with the clean comedy of some older movies. Almost all the actors are great! Sinbad and his first mate are funny, and the "heroine" (which she is in the end) is well-acted. Worthwhile for anyone who likes clean fun, sword fights, and a bit of mystery and romance.

A REAL BLAST FROM THE PAST
THIS IS WHAT ALL THE NEW GUYS TRY TO DO AND JUST CAN'T QUITE MEASUREUP TO. THIS IS WHY WE CALL THESE MOVIES "CLASSIC". THIS IS WHY THERE ARE NO MORE GREAT ACTORS AND ACTORS IN HOLLYWOOD TODAY. HOW CAN YOU EXPECT SOMEONE LIKE SEAN PENN OR BRAD PITT TO DO A MOVIE LIKE THIS AND DO ALL HIS OWN STUNTS? FACE IT, FOLKS, WHAT WE CALL ACTORS TODAY JUST DON'T COMPARE TO THE REAL THING FROME A FEW YEARS BACK. WHY DO YOU THINK THEY CALL IT "THOSE THRILLING DAYS OF YESTERYEAR?" ... Read more

Reviews (3)

"ahhh, if it isn't Mrs. Nussbaum..."
this is a funny movie, though under-rated. this and what i call the companion movie called "It's a Joke, Son!" starring Kenny Delmar as 'Senator Claghorne' are must-have films for Fred Allen fans (even though Fred isn't in the second film with Delmar, it's based on a character created by Fred all the same.) On this "It's in the Bag" film, the one and only Fred Allen stars as Fred Floogle, a flea circus showman. The film is about a guy who has a wealthy relative who passes away. Fred follows human nature and starts buying expensive things and puts money on stocks. Fred thinks he's inherited his uncle's $12 million fortune but all he gets is 12 chairs after the will is read. angry, Fred has his son sell the chairs. It's only later that a vinyl record surfaces with Fred's uncle instructing him to claim the $300,000 he hid in one of the chairs! Too late...they've been sold to countless people all across town. this causes Fred to go on a wild goose chase tracking down the 12 chairs. This is where the film starts to pick up speed. An array of '40s radio stars make cameo appearances: Rudy Vallee, Don Ameche, William Bendix, and the immortal Jack Benny. Bendix spoofs his "tough-guy" build by being a cowardly leader of a gang of muggers. Ameche and Vallee hit the stage in a night-club but the bass singer is missing. Fred joins them on stage as an imposter who sings a terrible bass section {by this time in the film he's running from the police because they think Fred is working for the Bendix Gang!}. Along the way Fred encounters Mrs. Nussbaum (Minerva Pious, the same woman who played that character on Fred's radio programs) in an eerie segment that allows the viewer to see what "Allen's Alley" would've looked like had Fred went into TV. Jack Benny's scene is the stand-out of course. Cheap jokes are here...Fred acts like he's the president of a Jack Benny Fan Club and needs an item for display. Fred, of course, wants the chair that Nussbaum sold Jack. an assortment of sight-gags follow (including a cash register inside his living room and wax paper to wrap the chair in!). all the while he's being chased by a detective trying to prove that Fred is in ca-hoots with the Bendix gang. Walter Tetley has a memorable role as an elevator operator. The "immediate seating" gag is hilarious as well. Jerry Colonna, the wide mustache maniac side-kick of Bob Hope, has a zany appearance as a psychiatrist who slaps himself across the face numerous time thinking a tsetse fly is swarming his face! Victor Moore plays the campy Chef and others making cameos are John Carradine, Robert Benchley, and Binnie Barnes. Fred finally tracks down the chair with the money but reality sets in...and you'll never believe what happens next...the film is an overall lesson in greed and irrational behavior. Fred Allen was a radio comedian from 1932-1949. He's famous for his topical humor, battles over censorship, battles with network executives, the "Allen's Alley" routine that ran from 1945-1949, and his false feud with Jack Benny. Allen wrote all of the material that made it to the air...he employed several writers but they served as leg-men and joke finders, nothing more. It's said that Allen read up to 100 newspapers for material. His leg-men also scoured the headlines and back-pages of newspapers for potential material. Fred Allen hated TV...we don't really know why but some have speculated that Fred didn't have a face or a delivery for TV. to see for myself I taped a TV game show Fred hosted...i did this on a cassette and i played it back and i was amazed to hear how great it SOUNDED but it didn't feel so great WATCHING it! Due to Allen's inability to make it on TV with a major hit, the TV generation doesn't know him at all. In 1954 Allen headed to the fourth chair on the panel of "What's My Line?". Ironically, Fred died in 1956 of a heart attack amidst his popular run as a panelist on "What's My Line?"...a TV show of all things!! But, "It's In The Bag" might well be the greatest thing to showcase Fred, visually, aside from his "What's My Line?" years.

It's in FRED's Bags!
It's a shame that only a chosen few REALLY KNOW who Fred Allen is. In the 1940's his popularity was that of names we still cite today - Jack Benny, Abbott & Costello, etc.

But in his day Fred's radio program was incredibly popular, as well as his "fued" with Jack Benny. If you love old radio, or old time comedy you will enjoy IT'S IN THE BAG. Fred Allen was, as still is, one of the smartest writers of comedy there was - even today great legends such as Mel Brooks and George Carlin cite his influence.

One drawback with the film is that to get all the jokes you will need to be familiar with "the age" when the film was released since some of Fred's jokes are dated (commentary about crowded theaters comes to mind), but some of the jokes are just as fresh today as they were 56 years ago (commentary on how relatives get in the picture, why do we need to watch credits, psychoanalists, etc.)

In some ways it's a very "da-da-ist" film -as in the vein of W.C. Fields' INTERNATIONAL HOUSE. You can read the film synopsis above so I won't waste time with that - I'll just say, see it for an enjoyable, smart comedy.

One of Radio's better Movies
There have been numerous attempts at fashioning movie vehicles for radio stars:most of them failed to work,or work consistently well,but It's In The Bag is something of an exception.Starring Fred Allen-who had a great face for radio-and featuring cameos from Jack Benny,Robert Benchley,Don Ameche,Rudy Valee,and William Bendix,this is a simple,plot-driven movie packed full with in-jokes and tried-and-tested routines.Mel Brooks would return to the source material - a Russian short story - for the 1970 movie The Twelve Chairs,but the pretentiousness of that version is missing here.If you like Benny(who is on fine form) and Allen(who is at his most appealing,or least unappealing,depending on your perspective)then It's In The Bag is well worth a look. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

What a waste of great actors!!!
The only really bad Deanna Durbin film I have seen so far. The director must have thought "Well, everyone loves the actors and finds them sympathatic, so I don't have to care about anything".

The plot: Deanna Durbin is trying to get a role in a play and does this in such a persistent and importunate way that I could hardly bear it. Of course the writer of the play hates her (as everyone would). Yes, they hate each other and then they love each other suddenly. Nobody knows why. Nobody sees when their minds did change. The director just forgot to explain this, he simply relied on the public's sympathy to his actors. There are nice songs in the movie, but it's obvious how hard the director tried to press them somewhere in. It's just ridiculous.

If you want to see a wonderful movie with Deanna Durbin and Charles Laughton, then get "It started with Eve". That one is really funny and romantic and all that. I highly recommend that one.

A Rose in Bloom
The always wonderful Deanna Durbin turns this mix of comedy and music into delightful and charming fun. It was the second time she and Charles Laughton would work together in perfect harmony to leave us a memory of what makes the movies great. Durbin once more exudes that something 'special' about her that made her the great star she was.

Kim Walker (Deanna Durbin) is a waitress trying to get her big break on stage and with a letter of introduction from the great John Sheridan (Charles Laughton) she might just have found it. The letter, of course, was simply an autograph Kim managed to get before Sheridan goes fishing in Maine. The author of the play (Franchot Tone) doesn't want her in it, even though she sets his heart in motion. When Sheridan returns earlier than expected and gets it all figured out the film really comes to life.

Laughton and Durbin are wonderful together as he feels sorry for her and she begins to win over the wise old Sheridan. When both Sheridan and Paul Taylor (Tone) mistakenly think their dismissal of her has brought her to the brink of suicide they begin to come around. Kim has fallen in love with Taylor and once again the wise old Sheridan will maneuver events on stage and off to bring about a happy ending for his sweet and talented protege from North Dakota.

Durbin's spirit makes this one of her best films before walking away from Hollywood forever. Laughton teaches her how to faint and what becomes their routine of placing her head on his shoulder as he escorts her out the door is fun. Her chasing around Tone singing "Goodbye" as he tries to shake her is fun as well. She also gets to sing the most sentimental and beautiful version of "Danny Boy" you'll ever hear in this light comedy classic.

This is a fun time at the movies, especially for Deanna Durbin fans. She made the transition gracefully from child musical star and became a wonderful light comedic actress who exuded charm and sincerity in all her roles. There has not been, and never will be, anyone to replace her. She was lovely to look at, enchanting to watch, and her soprano voice was heavenly to hear. "Because of Him" is just further evidence that Deanna Durbin truly was the last rose of summer....

Because of Him
Deanna Durbin is teamed up again with two great actors: (Charles Laughton - It Started with Eve) and (Franchot Tone - His Butler's Sister). Wonderful story about a girl who wants to act with the Great Actor-John Sheridan(Charles Laughton). She is very sneeky in getting his ok. The Play's Writer, Paul Taylor(Franchot Tone) will have nothing to do with her or the play. I think that Laughton's teaching her to faint is one of the best parts, and another favorite is when she has to place her head on his shoulder, and walk out after the faint,(2 times.)Deann's singing of "Danny Boy" is grand. You will not be disapointed, especially if you are a Laughton, Tone, or Durbin fan! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A THIRTIES DELIGHT.
A wonderfully told story has Dupree (as Miss Fortune!) playing an elderly woman who is painfully lonely. While traveling on a European train, she meets a rather unusual family of charming connivers. They've just been kicked out of the Riviera, and see this rich, lonely old woman as their next meal ticket...Dupree, however, isn't the easy pushover the con artists were hoping for, and they learn about a little thing called w-o-r-k. The story is told with sensitivity and the right amount of humour: the results are charming & heart-warming. The original ending had Miss Fortune dying, but this proved unfavourable to preview audiences, so the cast was called back to film a more upbeat, happier ending. The photography and music are both excellent and garnered AA nominations.

A con artist family learns a lesson in kindness
Roland Young, Billie Burke, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Janet Gaynor are a family of con artists out to fleece Miss Fortune (misfortune?), a rich old lady, of her money. However, they soon find that her kindness to them causes a change of heart and they decide to reform. Great unknown David O. Selznick comedy also features Paulette Goddard and Richard Carlson as the romantic others for the brother and sister con artists. Well worth a look! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Very Entertaining Movie
This is the perfect movie for a rainy night. Grab a bag of popcorn, a pepsi and the family and sit down and watch this movie. Moving into a new place should be exciting, but this couple gets more than they bargained for when a corpse is discovered in their back yard. Ah, but the husband is a published mystery writer and shouldn't have too much trouble solving this whodunit, or will he? This is a fun movie to sit down and watch with the family.

Best Titanic Movie So Far,
This movie would easily be the best Titanic movie around and it would even beat 'TITANIC' 1997 starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo Dicaprio! Despite it been in black and white. For the Titanic fanatics out there, if u want a movie about the TITANIC that's accurate then this is for you.

Wrong Synopsis
You have the wrong synopsis listed for this movie. There was another movie entitled, "A Night to Remember." It's a 1958 release about the Titanic sinking. It's done in a documentary style. The ship's first officer was played by Kenneth More. In many ways this movie is far superior to the Leo DiCaprio recent version.

A pleasantly unpretentious comedy/mystery
As long as you do not expect something as bright and sophisticated as The Thin Man,this should entertain.A mystery writer (Aherne) and his wife (Young) find themselves involved in a real-life murder mystery.Although Aherne and Young never work as well together as William Powell and Myrna Loy,they still gel fairly well,and the script contains enough sharp lines to make this a consistently amusing and amiable little movie.

1942 MYSTERY-COMEDY
An engaging little story has young married couple Young and Aherne (as a writer) moving into a seemingly tranquil Greenwich Village apartment where strange things begin to happen...The Richard Flournoy-Jack Henley screenplay (from a story by Kelley Roos) works hard at being funny by involving the Troys in a variety of false leads and narrow escapes as Jeff (Aherne) tries to find the murderer himself, but there is a little less menace and less fun in the proceedings. Loretta gives us nervous screams and an air of desperation and Aherne does what he can - they try to give their roles demension and play with aplomb. The script is a bit overwritten, but the supporting cast is fun: Blanche Yurka, Gale Sondergaard, George Chandler and Lee Patrick. In my opinion, Donald McBride comes off best as the eloquently irate and bewildered cop. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great, rare, slapstick comedy
You gotta love this one! With sailers that grown 4 inches, runaway pianos, an old guy that "drinks" tobacco, this one is a classic slapstick from the early 1940s. Despite the heavy dose of comedy, there is a sensitive, romantic side to this film, largely due to the acting of the fabulous Lucille Ball. Wish this film and more of her earlier films were transfered to DVD so we could enjoy them forever!

PRIME VINTAGE BALL COMEDY.
This rarely seen 1941 flick, which was actually produced by the legendary Harold Lloyd is a neat pick for Lucy fans. Edmund O'Brien is a rich rich boy who is enamoured of lovely Ball (as Dot Duncan, a zany stenographer). Lucy, however, has her eyes set on the obnoxious Coffee Cup (George Murphy): an altogether predictable but wonderfully funny twist ensuses. Lloyd was successful at transferring his slapstick techniques to the director (Richard Wallace) and the enjoyable cast which includes Franklin Pangborn, Kathleen Howard, Doodles Weaver and Irving Bacon (he played Ethel's Dad in Albuquerque on I LOVE LUCY). ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A THIRTIES DELIGHT.
A wonderfully told story has Dupree (as Miss Fortune!) playing an elderly woman who is painfully lonely. While traveling on a European train, she meets a rather unusual family of charming connivers. They've just been kicked out of the Riviera, and see this rich, lonely old woman as their next meal ticket...Dupree, however, isn't the easy pushover the con artists were hoping for, and they learn about a little thing called w-o-r-k. The story is told with sensitivity and the right amount of humour: the results are charming & heart-warming. The original ending had Miss Fortune dying, but this proved unfavourable to preview audiences, so the cast was called back to film a more upbeat, happier ending. The photography and music are both excellent and garnered AA nominations.

A con artist family learns a lesson in kindness
Roland Young, Billie Burke, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Janet Gaynor are a family of con artists out to fleece Miss Fortune (misfortune?), a rich old lady, of her money. However, they soon find that her kindness to them causes a change of heart and they decide to reform. Great unknown David O. Selznick comedy also features Paulette Goddard and Richard Carlson as the romantic others for the brother and sister con artists. Well worth a look! ... Read more