Tony-Curtis Movie Reviews

Whether you are a Sci-Fi fan or not, buy this DVD ! The star line-up of actors, writers, and directors explaining their parts in the various films outlined is worth the price of addmission. You'll be surprised-and perhaps amused-at some of the faces, and the films they worked on. But be warned: You'll want to race right out and buy everyone of George Pal's films after you view this great DVD. Hats off to Arnold Leibovit.

The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal is truly worlds of wonder! Arnold Leibovit, producer of this marvelous documentary, has done a wonderful job at encapsulating the colorful life and career of producer/director George Pal - from his meager beginnings as a cartoon artist, through his years of creating the stop-motion animated short films, fancifully named "Puppetoons", and into his wonderful works of feature motion pictures. The documentary guides us with affection through Pal's career, by way of interviews with the cast, crew and peers of his films, and includes interviews with Pal himself. His work touches a cord within all of us - the child that lives within and is dazzled by science and fantasy, prophetic visions and flights of fancy. All who have known or worked with him remember Pal with delight - "He was a sweet, sweet man; ...a gentle man.", as Tony Randel puts it when telling of his experience of working with Pal. This was a sentiment felt by all who have had the honor of knowing and working with Pal. This documentary thoroughly captures the whimsy and kind heart of a man who not only was a dreamer, but was one who inspired us to dream. People like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg only stand on Pal's shoulders, and continue the line of imaginative filmmaking which he started. The contemporary term "eye candy" can so easily be applied to this documentary, for it is a treat to see this montage of works by the master that started it all. Thanks George! And thank you Arnold Leibovit, for giving us this special and delightful glimpse into the life and works of a man who will never be forgotten! The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal was obviously a labor of love!

During the science fiction and fantasy boom of the 1950s, few names could compare with George Pal. In many ways the pioneering visionary in the ways we view outer space and fantastic creatures on the screen, he turned out a string of masterpieces as both director and producer, using his experience with puppeteering and special effects to bring previously unimaginable sights to stunned audiences around the world.

This informative and extremely entertaining documentary takes a thorough look at Pal's career, from his early days in Hungary and Germany making European shorts with various types of puppets combined with simple techniques involving painting and glass. His transition to Hollywood following the rise of Naziism allowed him to bring his Puppetoons to audiences of impressionable children, but the move to live action proved to be even more fruitful. His groundbreaking Destination Moon presented a heightened new realism for cinematic space travel, and he soon realized that science fiction could become a trememndous box office draw. His literary adaptations remain loved by audiences today: The War of the Worlds, The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao, The Time Machine, tom thumb, and his last film, the pulpy Doc Savage:Man of Bronze.

The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal assembles a who's who of Hollywood filmmaking, combining actors who worked on Pal's productions (such as Rod Taylor,Tony Randall, and Barbara Eden) to admirers like Joe Dante and Ray Harryhausen (who worked with Pal along with animation legend Willis O'Brien). The clips from Pal's early works are especially tantalizing and could have gone on much longer; "Sleeping Beauty" in particular looks like a dazzler. Unlike standard Hollywood biographies, this one keeps up a rapid pace and keeps a steady flow of fascinating clips and home movies to provide a solid, well rounded portrait of a man who loved entertaining people in any way possible.

The Image DVD looks quite good for a mid-'80s documentary, with strong colors and no noticeable compression flaws. The contrast level and clarity vary wildly from clip to clip, for obvious reasons, but such is the nature of an archival beast. The mono audio also gets the job done quite well for its age. The disc also includes a host of Pal-related extras, such as promotional material for many his films from Destination Moon to Doc Savage, as well as more interview footage deleted from the final cut, some additional home movies, some warm and intriguing comments from Puppetoon veterans, and a peek at the newsreel premiere footage for Brothers Grimm. In short, no fantasy film buff should be without this disc, and hopefully his entire catalog will one day be available to perfectly complement this love letter to one of the 20th Century's most significant creative talents.

Put ol' Blue Eyes in a vehicle where he never sang and usually you got a rather forgettable performance. In such cases, it was best to put him in a role where, as the old country song went, all he had to do was "ack natcher'ly". You'd never know that from this effort, though--where he played an Army officer competing for the love of a beautiful French girl (Natalie Wood) with his dreamboat sergeant (Tony Curtis). Curtis' looks and charm sweep the girl off her feet, but it's clear that Sinatra has more to offer her in what really matters. But the balloon really goes up when Wood's mother reveals to both men that her late husband was African-American, making their daughter a mulatto. This causes Sinatra to do some soul searching centered on the fact that his upbringing had a certain amount of racism in it that he'd never really questioned until now. As for Curtis' reaction, I don't want to give too much away. Except for the fact that this film shows Sinatra--a man whose main talents were in another branch of entertainment, holding his own with two of the American screen's best talents.

I had been wanting to see this movie for a long time. I rented it the other day, and I'm so glad I did. This is Frank Sinatra at his best. He is wonderful as the loving, tender Sam. He's so sweet to the beautiful, yet fragile Monique, the girl he deeply loves. This movie is one of honor, character, integrity, and true love- traits all seen in Sam. This is also a very bold movie, especially for the 1950s. Sam's undying love for Monique is lovely, even after she tells him her father was a Negro. He ponders this, but his love for Monique stands strong. This has become one of my favorite movies. It's a touching story about true love, and I highly recommend it.

I have always loved this movie. It is a wonderful drama and the cast is over the top with talent. One other, very important reason I love this movie, is that my dad is in this movie. He plays a German officer. He helped authenticate the military uniforms warn by the actors. For helping do this, the director offered him a bit part....my dad is a decorated veteran of 2 campaigns. WWll, and Korea! So it has always been a family joke that dad defected during the war...
Sincerely,
D.L.

I have been looking for this movie for years. I was so glad when it was finally released on DVD. This is a powerful story with a strong cast. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoyed OZ or other prison shows. And also to anyone who understands that the judicial system is sometimes flawed.

I was introduced to Short Eyes purely by chance while flipping through Leonard Maltin's movie guide which gives the film ***1/2 stars. After tracking down an out-of-print VHS tape of it, I finally saw this powerful 70's prison drama based on the play by the newly appreciated latino playwrite Miguel Pinero. Pinero's vision is so pure because it's clearly the work of a man who'd been behind bars often himself. The dialogue is amazingly real (and very profane for its time) and the overall feeling of the film is dark, gritty and stark, very much like an episode of Oz, only twenty years before that TV show aired. Shot on location at an abandoned men's prison in New York it's stage origins are only really apparant during one brief dialogue scene between Pinero (acting in his own work) and Davis (the incarerated child molestor who inflames the hatred of the other inmates).

For me the comparison that really makes me appreciate this film is with The Shawshank Redemption. That is a good film but it's also clearly the work of a man (Stephen King) who had never been behind bars for any length of time. While in that film there are two or three stereotyped baddies in the entire prison who force the hero into sex, in Short Eyes it's made very clear how long, long periods behind bars with no access to women begins to grind on many of the inmates and their desires, even men who wouldn't consider themselves to be "gay". The scene where the youngest, "prettiest" inmate Cupcake is harrased in the showers by an older guy who all but forces him into sex feels completely real, like it's the way something like that would really happen. The fact that Pinero himself (who wrote the original play) was bisexual certainly accounts for the films (virtually unique) honesty in this area.

Benjamin Bratt played Pinero in a pretty good film of the writers life the other year. That's definitely work a look but it's Short Eyes that will make you realize why he was the talk of New York at the time.

Miguel Pinero is the most underated playwright of modern American theater. His play short eyes shows us the ugly underbelly of American society through the eyes of convicts. It is a play filled with ethnic anomosity racial rivalaries and a rigid moral code which allows no devation. Truly this film version of the stage play is worth looking at. Bruce Davidson performace is complelling and the rest of the cast never miss a beat. It is not for the faint hearted.
Most unfortunate is that Mr. Pinero is no longer with us but some might remember the Miami Vice episodes he penned

I have been looking for this movie for years. I was so glad when it was finally released on DVD. This is a powerful story with a strong cast. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoyed OZ or other prison shows. And also to anyone who understands that the judicial system is sometimes flawed.

I was introduced to Short Eyes purely by chance while flipping through Leonard Maltin's movie guide which gives the film ***1/2 stars. After tracking down an out-of-print VHS tape of it, I finally saw this powerful 70's prison drama based on the play by the newly appreciated latino playwrite Miguel Pinero. Pinero's vision is so pure because it's clearly the work of a man who'd been behind bars often himself. The dialogue is amazingly real (and very profane for its time) and the overall feeling of the film is dark, gritty and stark, very much like an episode of Oz, only twenty years before that TV show aired. Shot on location at an abandoned men's prison in New York it's stage origins are only really apparant during one brief dialogue scene between Pinero (acting in his own work) and Davis (the incarerated child molestor who inflames the hatred of the other inmates).

For me the comparison that really makes me appreciate this film is with The Shawshank Redemption. That is a good film but it's also clearly the work of a man (Stephen King) who had never been behind bars for any length of time. While in that film there are two or three stereotyped baddies in the entire prison who force the hero into sex, in Short Eyes it's made very clear how long, long periods behind bars with no access to women begins to grind on many of the inmates and their desires, even men who wouldn't consider themselves to be "gay". The scene where the youngest, "prettiest" inmate Cupcake is harrased in the showers by an older guy who all but forces him into sex feels completely real, like it's the way something like that would really happen. The fact that Pinero himself (who wrote the original play) was bisexual certainly accounts for the films (virtually unique) honesty in this area.

Benjamin Bratt played Pinero in a pretty good film of the writers life the other year. That's definitely work a look but it's Short Eyes that will make you realize why he was the talk of New York at the time.

Miguel Pinero is the most underated playwright of modern American theater. His play short eyes shows us the ugly underbelly of American society through the eyes of convicts. It is a play filled with ethnic anomosity racial rivalaries and a rigid moral code which allows no devation. Truly this film version of the stage play is worth looking at. Bruce Davidson performace is complelling and the rest of the cast never miss a beat. It is not for the faint hearted.
Most unfortunate is that Mr. Pinero is no longer with us but some might remember the Miami Vice episodes he penned

Shelley Winters has said that this movie began in chaos and ended in catastrophe. Sinatra at the time was divorcing his wife Nancy for filmland beauty Ava Gardner, and tensions on the set were palpable. Sinatra was distracted and angry, giving Miss Winters the brunt of his explosive temper; at one point she walked off the set and remained homebound for two days. None of this shows in the finished product, which was panned at the time of its release and thereafter mostly forgotten, even among Sinatra afionados. Frankly, it's one heck of an entertaining movie, expertly written, acted and directed and based not-so-loosely on the Hoboken crooner's rise to fame. Sinatra doesn't need to stretch his abilities much as the brash, cocky singer who's fast with his fists and ready to mouth off to anyone who ticks him off. Raymond Burr, prior to his Perry Mason role, was usually cast as brutish heavies; he's excellent as the nightclub-owning gangster who shakes down Sinatra. For Sinatra fans, Burr fans, rags-to-riches fans, '50s film noir fans, this one's a must. A forgotten 5-star gem!!

Saloon singer Danny Wilson (Frank Sinatra) is always getting into trouble due to his quick temper and has to rely on his friend and pianist Mike Ryan (Alex Nicol) to get him out of these many scrapes. Danny is sacked from various singing jobs and his career is going nowhere when he meets Joy Carroll (Shelley Winters). She introduces him to crooked club owner Nick Driscoll (Raymond Burr) who can see that Danny has star quality and potential. Unfortunately, Driscoll is a hoodlum and gangster and ties Danny to an unfair contract which gives Driscoll 50% of all the singers future earnings. Danny and Mike reluctantly agree to these outrageous terms of the contract just to get started but soon have cause to regret it when Danny becomes successful.

"Meet Danny Wilson" was directed by Joseph Pevney in 1952 when Sinatra was going through a difficult period and finding it hard to get work. Personally, I enjoyed the film very much (in spite of the negative reviews it received at the time of its release) and it was in fact almost a mini biography of Sinatra's own life story. This was Sinatra's last film before giving his Oscar winning performance in "From Here to Eternity" which deservedly put his career firmly back on track. Alex Nicol and Shelley Winters give good support and Raymond Burr makes the most of his villainous part.

The film contained a marvellous selection of songs including: "All of Me", "She's Funny That Way", "When You're Smiling", "That Old Black Magic", "I've Got a Crush on You" and "How Deep is the Ocean". Sinatra puts all his songs over with confidence and style and in this film proves once again without question (to me) that he was the most outstanding and talented singer in Hollywood (and a pretty good actor too!).

Some favourite lines from the film:

Frank Sinatra (to Alex Nicol): "25 measly bucks to sing your fool head off all night for a bunch of creepy stiffs!".

Shelley Winters (to Sinatra): "Nice girls can't go in a bar and drink alone - and I'm a nice girl".

Raymond Burr: "Personally, I'm a Crosby fan". Sinatra: "That should make Bing very happy".

Winters (to night club audience): "Ladies and gentlemen - meet Danny Wilson!".

Shelley Winters and Sinatra seem to work well together and share a duet titled "A Good Man is Hard to Find" so it is hard to believe that the two stars did not get on during the filming as has been alleged in some recent biographies. To sum up although "Meet Danny Wilson" is not one of Sinatra's better known films it is nevertheless very entertaining with a brilliant performance by Sinatra and the songs are really fabulous. Don't miss it. Clive Roberts.

When I saw this movie had not been reviewed I just couldn't resist. This is a wonderful family flick for all ages and boasts a "who's who" list of very funny character actors from the 1960's. Tony Curtis is outrageously funny and charming as Steve McClusky, a Nevada casino manager who winds up caring for Penny, a 5 year old orphan with amusing results. Suzanne Pleshette as a romantic endeavor never looked better. And Phil Silvers' portrayal as the loveable tough guy Uncle Bernie can't be topped. The "chase" scene thru Disneyland is pure fun. This movie truely is a family classic!

This is a wonderful A&E biography of a wonderful actor "Tony Curtis".Tony,we all love you!!

A wartime Italian Nurse fall in love with 2 men(George C. Scott and Tony Curtis)and marries man after the other man is assumed dead later but reappears years later.It's a nicely done 1960's romantic comedy!!

In this Vietnam-era movie with an all-star cast that includes Tony Curtis,Ernest Borgnine,Brian Keith,Ivan Dixon,Suzanne Pleshette,Don Ameche and others.Warrant Officer Micheal Nace(Brian Keith) gets assigned to a large Army Base assigned as a community relations specialist who is reunited with his 2 long time Pals Sargent Shannon Gambroni(Tony Curtis) and Sargent Raymond Jones(Ivan Dixon).There has been a long time feud between the soldiers and the small town just outside the base.So Nace decides to throw a party to unite the 2 sides.Tensions reach a boiling point when Shannon is arrested for indecent behavior while hitting on the local Sheriff's(Earnest Borgnine)prospective girlfriend(Suzanne Pleshette).Nace and Jones commandeer an old WW2 Tank and crash their way through the town jail to rescue and free their friend and set the record straight once and for all especially with the bigoted,brutal Sheriff which makes this film probably the best Military versus Civilian Comedy/Spoof ever!!

Burt Lancaster, a former man of the curcus finally gets to do a film about his first love.

Curtis is fine along with Thomas Gomez and Minor Watson. Its a love triangle of course but with the added touch of the great dierctor Carol Reed.

This is a wonderful movie, one of my favriotes actually. I can't tell you how many times I have watched it. It never gets old. It has inspired countless people to learn to fly on the trapeze, Some of todays greats inclued. If you have never seen this movie you're missing out. The first time I saw it was sitting in a circus ring after a show. Where will your first time be?

In those times this was a great movie its was a very in joyable and the outfits where greatand the actors were perfect for the movie then.