SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (Released to Theaters USA 1954)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Seven Brides for Seven Brothers—great music—has a realistic and believable story that more than lends itself to watching and adding to the home video library. Howard Keel, Jane Powell, and Russ Tamblyn are great actors for this film. This film is fresh, creative, and rich...do Not miss this movie, This is what we go to movies to see.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A woodsman/farmer needs to get married and goes to town expecting to get married the same day. He accomplishes his goal but fails to tell his new wife that he has six brothers at home that need cooking, house cleaning, and laundry done.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Stanley Donen for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Jack Cummings for making the film possible. Cast includes Howard Keel, Jeff Richards, Russ Tamblyn, Tommy Rall, Marc Platt, Matt Mattox, Jacques d'Amboise, Jane Powell, and Julie Newmar. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a wonderful film with original, powerful,  and good music and tells a timeless, thoughtfully written story. No surprise scenes here...tastefully written to describe male/female interaction. The acting is great and the pacing very well done. Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (Theatrical Release USA 1954)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì 

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, for its age, has some surprisingly good sea and island photography and good sets built for the depiction of the submarine, both inside and out. The acting works at the good to fair level with James Mason playing the perfect villain and Kirk Douglas as the brash, younger man. It’s great to see Peter Lorre in this movie as well as Paul Lukas. This is a simple adventure film that is adventurous. It shows some remarkable creativity in its depiction of the submarine and the scuba suits. The story has a good conclusion. The film could easily be watched a second time. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Storyline 

This action film is about: A professor and his assistant who go to sea to seek a monster. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Richard Fleischer for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes: Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas, and Peter Lorre. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. While the film is somewhat dated, it still offers good entertainment value. It is intriguing to see a fictional film that plays within technologies that we now take for granted when at the time were more novel ideas for general audiences.  The movie serves as a good, easy-on-the-mind, afternoon watch that can be shared by the whole family. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

ROBINSON CRUSOE (Theatrical Release USA 1954)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì  Robinson Crusoe, unfortunately, lost its entertainment value over time. Children may like its adventure and the scenery; but for the adult, the acting comes in as average, the script weak, the presentation and portrayal of story okay. Know that the movie is losing its color to the point that even some of the credits are fading.  The movie may work as a movie to play in the background while doing other things or even as a novelty background piece during parties.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline This adventure film is about a man who, long-term, survives a shipwreck that lands him on a deserted island.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Luis Buñuel for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Óscar Dancigers and George Pepper for making the film possible. Cast includes: Daniel O’Herlihy, Jaime Fernández, and Felipe de Alba.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Maybe. The film has not survived time well. It may work if there is nothing else to watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers