BOY ON A DOLPHIN (Released to Theaters USA 1957)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì  Boy on a Dolphin—suitable—works best in the era it was made mostly because the storyline is no longer unique as it would have been in the 1950s. Look for Clifton Webb, Alan Ladd, and Sophia Loren, and some terrific, authentic scenes of Greek's ocean waters and Grecian architecture from that time period.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  One man wants to make money for himself; the other man wants to benefit Greece with an artifact from a sunken ship.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Jean Negulesco for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Samuel G. Engel for making the film possible. Cast includes Alan Ladd, Clifton Webb, Piero Giagnoni, Sophia Loren, Alexis Minotis, Jorge Mistral, and Laurence Naismith. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Maybe. It is a bit difficult to see the relevance of the film. It is what it is.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ARABESQUE (Released to Theaters USA 1966)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Arabesque—potential not realized—cannot hold the initial interest generated in the first scenes throughout the movie.  It tries to be like a 007 James Bond story but doesn't quite get there. While Gregory Peck's professionalism carries the story, Sophia Loren's lack of maturity makes her struggle in her initial scenes. She stabilizes during the latter half of the movie. The movie earns a watch as light afternoon entertainment.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Decoding hieroglyphics and unraveling the meaning of the words against a spy background while endeavoring to know who is good and who is bad is the major theme of this movie.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Stanley Donen for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Stanley Donen for making the film possible, Cast includes Gregory Peck, Sophia Loren, Alan Badel, and Kieron Moore.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a suitable espionage thriller but needs improvement in portrayal and storyline.

 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

HOUSEBOAT (Released to Theaters USA 1958)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Houseboat—suitable, not spectacular—has a sense of likableness that that one cannot deny and the family theme is very well done. This is a clean and decent Cary Grant film that is very watchable.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Tom Winters is a lawyer, a widowed father to three children, and needs to get a new home. A set back with the mover necessitates looking for a different home than the one he had chosen and he moves into a houseboat.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Melville Shavelson for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Jack Rose for making the film possible. Cast includes Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Martha Hyer, and Harry Guardino.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It is a 'Disney-styled in spirit' story and serves as a good fill-in-some-time movie. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers