50s

The Desert Fox

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The Desert Fox. 20th Century Fox 1951.
The Desert Fox. 20th Century Fox 1951.

Before watching the movie:

Every story has at least two sides. Erwin Rommel fought on the side of the Nazis, and was a major opponent in Patton, but was himself a distinguished military leader with an interesting story to tell. Though how much of it is accurately told here is debatable, as for obvious reasons this movie apparently focuses less on killing Allied soldiers and more on a plot to assassinate Hitler that Rommel may not have actually been involved with. Even less than a decade after the end of the war, that’s as close as the rest of the world wants to come to celebrating a Nazi officer, which they wouldn’t even dream of doing today.

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Dial M for Murder

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Dial M for Murder. Warner Brothers 1955.
Dial M for Murder. Warner Brothers 1955.

Before watching the movie:

I’ve had this physically on my shelf (or thereabouts) for over a year, and it’s high time I got to it. A classic, obviously. The evocative title is frequently referenced and parodied. But what is it? Nobody seems to go into that. There’s a telephone, and a murder, and that’s about it. The box says there’s a love triangle, and a murder arranged by telephone, but it’s still pretty vague. I expect somebody overheard on a party line, but otherwise, I’ve got nothing.

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Niagara

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Niagara. 20th Century Fox 1953.
Niagara. 20th Century Fox 1953.

Before watching the movie:

According to the box, this is a departure for Marylin Monroe. As opposed to her typical lighter fare, here she’s taking a dark turn as a woman plotting to kill her husband. While I think the term is never used on the cover, this sounds like a noir in the style of Double Indemnity.

I’m looking forward to seeing her playing a femme fatale. It seems to suit her more than the giggling, often airheaded bimbo she always plays in her comedies. I know she knew how to control a room with her sexuality, she even built a career on it. I always watch her other movies waiting for her to drop the act and get exactly what she wants because she knows people will give it to her, and that looks like what happens here. Or at least, she tries.

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Journey to the Center of the Earth

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Journey to the Center of the Earth. 20th Century Fox 1959.
Journey to the Center of the Earth. 20th Century Fox 1959.

Before watching the movie:

It seems like this is Jules Verne’s most-adapted story, and it’s widely different from version to version. That’s probably because from what I remember of the book, there isn’t so much plot as an excuse to go on a low-tech sci-fi adventure. Exotic locations, exciting science, and fights with dinosaurs. If anyone else had been doing what Verne was doing at the time, we might consider him a pulp author.

So coming into this, I’m mainly expecting some high-budget, relatively innocent excitement. The blockbuster movie of the 1950s. I’m also interested in seeing how much of the parts of Verne’s book that aren’t “dinosaurs underground” still remains.

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Carry On Sergeant

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Carry On, Sergeant. Peter Rogers Productions 1958.
Carry On, Sergeant. Peter Rogers Productions 1958.

Before watching the movie:

In the last few months, I’ve become aware of the British cultural phenomenon of the Carry On franchise. While this may not be the most typical of the series, it’s the first, and so would have the most to do with the “Carry on” name.

Also, it’s an opportunity to see William Hartnell in the sort of role he was known for before Doctor Who redefined his legacy and allowed him to escape his former typecasting.

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At War With The Army

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At War With The Army. York Pictures Corporation 1950.
At War With The Army. York Pictures Corporation 1950.

Before watching the movie:

This looks like another variety film loosely connected by a thin plot. But it’s just intended to be fun, so that doesn’t matter as much. And it’s set in WWII less than a decade after the fact.

I’m not sure I’ve seen anything by Martin and Lewis as a team, just one or the other separately. They sing to some extent. The songs might be interesting despite not being what I’m here for.

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House on Haunted Hill

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House on Haunted Hill. William Castle Productions 1959.
House on Haunted Hill. William Castle Productions 1959.

Before watching the movie:

What’s more Halloween than a haunted house? A haunted house owned by Vincent Price. Well, it’s probably not so much haunted as the scene of seven deaths and soon more, but “haunted” is in the name. Suspense, horror, death, probably jump scares, but I doubt much gore.

I hadn’t known the more recent movie of the name was a remake until I came across this in the collection of classic movies loaned to me by my grandparents. I haven’t seen the remake either.

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Beat the Devil

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beat the devilBefore watching the movie:

Another movie from the collection loaned to me by my grandparents.

Apparently there are some crooks trying to get out of an Italian port to get to Africa. I think I can see the humor potential here, but it wouldn’t have caught my attention if the booklet hadn’t noted that the director intended the movie to spoof The Maltese Falcon.

I’m interested in seeing Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre spoofing their types.

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D.O.A.

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D.O.A. Cardinal Pictures 1950.
D.O.A. Cardinal Pictures 1950.

Before watching the movie:

How often can a murder victim solve their own murder (aside from ghost stories)? The idea doesn’t seem quite as unusual as it’s hyped up to be for this film, but probably more of that is from 60+ years of speculative fiction covering the territory than from promotional overhyping.

Doctors tell the man there’s no antidote for the poison he took, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the investigation into the crime leads him to one. I’ll be interested in seeing how the film handles the process of his dying. I picture a poisoning victim as someone too ill to run around town questioning people.

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Road to Bali

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Road to Bali. Paramount Pictures 1952.
Road to Bali. Paramount Pictures 1952.

Before watching the movie:

I feel I know so much and yet so little. I know that the “Road to” movies staring Crosby and Hope were a staple, and I’ve seen a few of the Family Guy “Road to” episodes starring Brian and Stewie, which are supposed to be homages. I wouldn’t be surprised if this series was the genesis of the “road movie” genre. It’s easy to guess that the plot will be light and servicing some fun antics, exotic scenery, and more singing than I’d necessarily want in a movie.

But beyond that, I’m not sure. I worry that the exotic locale might be treated in a way modern audiences might find embarrassing. I probably should have chosen the first movie in the series instead of the sixth out of seven, but this was what was available (and thanks to my grandparents for the loan of the set I found this in).

It’s June, summer is here, and it’s a time when it’s a bit more okay to have more fun than originality. I don’t think this movie could go too far wrong.

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