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20,000 Years in Sing Sing, a review by Antares

20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932) 3/5 - Of the films I've seen starring Spencer Tracy made prior to his Oscar winning role in Captain's Courageous in 1937, he comes across as trying too hard put a specific spin towards the characters he's playing. It comes across, at times, as awkward or amateurish and it is full display in the Michael Curtiz film 20,000 years in Sing Sing. I can't quite put my finger on it, but he doesn't seem believable for a second as the tough hoodlum sent to prison by a back stabbing accomplice. The film itself, is pretty straightforward and doesn't deviate from the prison films of the time. The only saving grace has to be Bette Davis as Tracy's love interest Fay. This was probably her first starring role and she makes the most of it. Nowhere to be seen is the grande dame persona she would emanate in future films and it is refreshing to watch her in her unfettered glory. This is the Bette Davis that I like, not the Margot Channing diva that she would become just a few years later. I also have to give a nod to Arthur Byron as the sympathetic warden. When people write about the films of the golden era, they all tend to mention the main stars. But what makes most of these films golden, is the supporting cast of great character actors. This is something that I feel is sorely missing today from mainstream films. Today, all of the supporting cast are all so plastic, interchangeable Stepford facsimiles. Actors such as Byron, Thomas Mitchell, Donald Meek, Roscoe Karnes and Gene Lockhart gave film making it's rich depth.

(From Antares' Short Summations on October 9th, 2013)

Gorgo, a review by Rogmeister

Gorgo (1961)  Directed by Eugene Lourie
Cast: Bill Travers, William Sylvester, Vincent Winter, Bruce Seton, Joseph O'Connor, Martin Benson
DVD Extras: Behind-the-scenes mini-documentary, photo gallery, theatrical trailer

A volcanic eruption in the North Atlantic brings to the surface a 65-foot prehistor monster.  Two treasure divers capture the creature and take him to London where he is put on display in a circus.  Little do they realize that the creature is merely an infant and that the creature's mother (all 200-feet of her) will soon be on the way to reclaim its young.

To me, this is a kind of American (or British, to be more accurate) take on the Japanese rubber suit monster movies (such as Godzilla) and they even go so far as to have a youngster who has a special feeling for the destructive creatures.  This is a pretty decent film in that context with lots of destruction.  This DVD came from VCI and the quality is okay but not pristine.  It's a decent print though some night scenes are occasionally a bit hard to make out but overall a pleasant experience.  Interestingly, there is no leading lady in this movie but apart from that I had a good time and the movie, at 76 minutes, moves quickly.   

(From Roger's Random Reviews on July 18th, 2009)

Angel Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

9. Harm's Way
Original Air Date: 1/14/2004
Harmony finds herself in over her head and desperate to keep her job after she wakes up in her bed next to a dead man with vampire bites on his neck.

Guest Stars:
Danielle Nicolet
Jennifer Haworth
Stacy Reed
David Gangler

My Thoughts:
This is a fun episode played more for comedy then anything else.  Which is a nice break from how they been playing it lately. And I must say I got a kick out of the Vampire cat fight... fighting with chopsticks!

My Rating:

(From Angel Marathon on March 23rd, 2010)