MOVIE CAPSULES

K - P

Killdozer (1974) A big bulldozer develops a mind of its own and goes berzerk, terrorizing hard-nosed construction engineers on a remote island. Portions of it feel like a (sanitized) Mamet stage play, as Clint Walker, Neville Brand and Carl Betz sit around in a tent bickering over what the hell to do next. This is my favorite 'evil vehicle' movie ever, by far.

The Killers (1946) Based on a story by Ernest Hemingway and directed by Robert Siodmak. Burt Lancaster plays a boxer mixed up with gangsters in this film noir that tells its story neatly out of sequence. Also stars Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, Albert Dekker and William Conrad. Score by Miklós Rózsa includes the dum-da-dum-dum motif later used in Dragnet.

The Killing (1956) Early Stanley Kubrick -- taut tale of a tricky horsetrack heist, told in an inventive time and viewpoint shifting structure. Sterling Hayden stars as the man with the plan, along with Vince Edwards, Ted de Corsia, Joe Sawyer, Jay C. Flippen, always fascinating Timothy Carey, always nervous Elisha Cook, and Marie Windsor as a dame who's Trouble with a capital T.

King Kong (1933) The one that wrote the book for the giant monster genre. Directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack (previously nature documentary filmmakers), and brought to life by the soulful stop-motion animation skills of Willis O'Brien. Many antique movies can suffer from a draggy or stagy quality, but not this one -- well-paced. Stars Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot and lovely Fay Wray. Fine faux exotic score by Max Steiner.

Kiss Me Deadly (1955) Ralph Meeker stars as Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer in this tough tale of thugs, government conspiracy and radiation. A real atom-age detective story. Great pacing and a two-fisted, no-nonsense attitude. A big influence on the French New Wave gang.

Kronos (1957) Not the recent Mexican vampire film, this is the story of a gigantic, energy-sucking cube that comes to earth to absorb all of our power (so in a way, it's also a vampire film). Part of the 50's giant monster trend, but with a very unique monster.

Land Of The Pharaohs (1955) Another sand-logged CinemaScope epic from the 50's, this one directed by Howard Hawks. William Faulkner contributed to this tale of pyramid building and royal court conniving. Memorable for an early appearance by Joan Collins as (what else?) a scheming bimbo.

The Land Unknown (1957) Navy scientists and a female journalist discover a lost prehistoric jungle in Antarctica. Nice sound-stagy atmosphere.

The Las Vegas Story (1952) Vincent Price, Jane Russell and Victor Mature form the triangle in this tale of dirty dealings in the glitter gulch. Hoagy Carmichael also appears and performs.

The Last Man On Earth (1964) Vincent Price in the title role, as the only man untouched by a wind-borne plague which has turned the rest of the earth's population into slow-to-die vampires. Like Charlton Heston's The Omega Man, this is based on Richard Matheson's book, I Am Legend. I think I prefer this version. It may lack the camp (and generous portions of ham) that Omega Man serves up, but it's more atmospheric, shot in black 'n' white and of course, VP trumps Chuck any day of the week. He does a much better job of conveying the hopeless grind that his life has become. Chuck's too gung ho about the whole thing.

Laura (1944) Popular murder mystery directed by Otto Preminger. The cast includes Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Judith Anderson and the omnipresent Vincent Price. Oft-covered theme song by Johnny Mercer.

Little Fugitive (1953) A small and charming low-budget film from New York City. A young boy thinks he killed his big brother (he didn't -- it was only a prank) and takes it on the lam to Coney Island. All shot on location, and what an evocative time trip it is -- both for the sights you see, and its gentle sensibility. Imagine a less-pessimistic Truffaut transplanted to Noo Yawk. The child actors aren't cutesy -- just kids. The score is all solo harmonica -- getting some very interesting effects at times. And all of that real-life footage of Coney Island. A sweet, yet gritty film.

Lord Love A Duck (1966) Unique, ahead of its time, Southern California satire written and directed by George Axelrod (writer of The Manchurian Candidate). Roddy McDowall plays a sociopathic teen genius who has placed his wide-ranging talents in the service of self-centered teen queen, Tuesday Weld. Fame, angora sweaters and a doofus husband are soon hers, not quite in that order. Filling out the eccentric cast are Ruth Gordon, Harvey Korman, Lola Albright and many more. At times somewhat disjointed, with blatant fakiness and self-reference. In a good way. Love the drive-in church, especially that girl alone on a motor scooter, parked next to Roddy's T-bird. I'd like to know her story too.

The Loved One (1965) Based on a novel by Evelyn Waugh, adapted by Terry Southern and Christopher Isherwood, and directed by Tony Richardson (Tom Jones), this is one of those movies you must see. Robert Morse plays a British poet/plagiarist, who comes to Hollywood to visit his art director uncle, John Gielgud. Unfortunately, Uncle hangs himself after being fired by the movie studio. Morse is left with the task of handling the funeral arrangements at Whispering Glades cemetery (based on Forest Lawn). Many things branch off from there. Let me just list some of the amazing cast: Jonathan Winters (in two roles), Robert Morley, Lionel Stander, James Coburn, Liberace, Anjanette Comer, Rod Steiger (as Mr. Joyboy), Tab Hunter, Milton Berle, Dana Andrews, Margaret Leighton, little Paul Williams, Alan Napier, Elizabeth Ann Roberts, Roddy McDowall and the proverbial many more. Originally advertised as the movie with something to offend everyone. Terrific b&w cinematography by Haskell Wexler delineates highly unique situations. If you've never seen it, you don't know what you're missing.

The Loves Of Hercules [Hercules Vs. The Hydra] (1960) An Italian production, starring Mickey Hargitay as Hercules, with wife Jayne Mansfield in two roles (one good, one evil). Despite the excitement that implies, it's still sort of a sleepy movie, plagued with the lackadaisical plotting and pacing common to these sword 'n' sandal productions. Still, there are some nifty details scattered here and there.

Loving You (1957) As tended to happen to him in many of his movies, Elvis becomes a rock 'n' roll star. In this one he starts off working in a gas station.

Mad Love (1935) Peter Lorre's first American film. A story of rejected affections, unconventional surgery and misplaced body parts. An early horror classic, directed by Karl Freund. Also stars Colin Clive (Frankenstein) and Frances Drake.

The Mad Magician (1954) Vincent Price plays a magician who takes show-biz competition just a tiny bit too far. Originally presented in 3-D.

The Mad Monster (1942) From poverty row, George Zucco plays a mad scientist with the usual plans for world domination. He begins by turning his hapless handyman into a werewolf in bib overalls. A film to soothe your shattered nerves.

The Magic Christian (1969) Essential British satire starring Peter Sellers as Sir Guy Grand, the world's richest man -- who has devoted himself to testing the limits of mankind's greed. Ringo Starr plays his adopted son and assistant in mayhem. Groovy soundtrack featuring Badfinger. Cast includes Goon Show veterans and soon-to-be Monty Pythons. Among many other wondrous things, see Yul Brynner in drag, singing a torch song to Roman Polanski.

The Magnetic Monster (1953) A neat little 50s sci-fi piece focused on science geeks debugging a problem with a radioactive isotope that threatens to overwhelm the planet. Nice concept that sidesteps the rubber monster syndrome. Takes an odd turn at the end as the producer saves money by splicing in effects footage from the 1934 German film, Gold. Stars square-jawed Richard Carlson and pipe-smoking King Donovan.

The Maltese Bippy (1969) The success of Laugh-In got Dan Rowan and Dick Martin this feature, which unfortunately shares little with Laugh-In other than Dan and Dick. A middling horror spoof, with lots of red herrings, counterplots and Dan fearing that he's become a werewolf. Though unlike most examples of the breed, it actually manages a strong, funny ending rather than just petering out. And Julie Newmar certainly makes it worth watching. Also starring Carol Lynley, Fritz Weaver, Robert Reed and plenty of vet character actors. A few nice swingin' 60s music cues by Nelson Riddle.

The Maltese Falcon (1941) Humphrey Bogart stars as Sam Spade, caught in the middle of a fight to possess a priceless statue. A study in mid-century cool. Also starring a rather humorous Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Mary Astor and (with his spring wound a bit too tight) Elisha Cook, Jr. Directed by John Huston.

The Man Called Flintstone (1966) Fred Flintstone's contribution to the mid-60's spy glut.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) An excellent Cold War paranoia piece with serious political satire on the side. Adapted from a Richard Condon novel by George Axelrod (Lord Love A Duck) and directed by John Frankenheimer (Grand Prix). Frank Sinatra does a fine job playing a Korean War vet who gradually realizes that he and his platoon were brainwashed by the Red Chinese, and his buddy, Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey in a terrific performance) has been programmed for a special mission. Visually very clever and loaded with nuance. The brainwashing flashback scenes are really something else. Also starring Angela Lansbury, Janet Leigh, John McGiver, James Gregory, Henry Silva, Leslie Parrish and Khigh Deigh. Score by David Amram. One not to be missed.

The Mask (1961) Aka: Eyes Of Hell. The legendary partial 3-D film. A psychiatrist comes into possession of a ceremonial mask. When he puts it on (and you don the glasses), he sees bizarre 3-D scenes from another world, which gradually drive him nuts. Suggestion of an addictive drug subtext would not be out of line. My favorite part is the low, booming voice intoning, "Put the mask on NOW!"

The Masque Of The Red Death (1964) Roger Corman cranks it up and tries to be Ingmar Bergman. And you know what? The results are pretty impressive. A lushly photographed Poe adaptation featuring Vincent Price (who else?) as an evil prince living it up in his castle while the plague ravages his kingdom.

The Maze (1953) Parlor horror with the standard 'woman's new husband is summoned away to his ancestral home and strangely changed' plotline. Of course, she investigates. This one has a wacky payoff you've NEVER seen before.

Meet Danny Wilson (1952) Frank Sinatra plays a singer who gets mixed up with gangsters. Where did they ever come up with that idea? Also stars Shelley Winters, Raymond Burr and Alex Nicol.

Mesa Of Lost Women (1952) One of those precious minimum budget horror movies that attains hallucinogenic power. An isolated desert mesa, giant spiders, spider women who look like they wandered in from the late-70s LA punk scene, Jackie Coogan (Uncle Fester) as a demented mad scientist, femmes fatale, an obsessive-compulsive flamenco score (also heard in Ed Wood's Jailbait), a psycho hijacker and an overriding sense of doom all bubble and boil together in this bleary celluoid stew. Watch it unfold like a fever dream.

Modesty Blaise (1966) Monica Vitti stars as the British comic strip super-spy femme-fatale. An unjustly neglected work from the swingin' spy years. Chock-full of pop/op art design sensibility, with Ms. Vitti blasting her way through a constantly changing wardrobe. Terence Stamp has a good bad attitude as Modesty's faithful sidekick, Willie, and Dirk Bogarde has droll fun as the fey criminal mastermind, Gabriel. Modesty and Willie even get in a couple of musical numbers! James Bond never managed that.

Monkey Business (1931) The Marx Brothers in their prime. This is the one with the ocean liner stateroom scene. Co-scripted by S.J. Perelman, directed by Norman Z. McLeod.

Mon Oncle (1958) Jacques Tati takes his Mr. Hulot character to an urban setting, interacting with his old-town neighborhood and his sister's ultra-modern house. Lots of long shots, long takes and slow-build sight gags.

The Monster Club (1980) Another British horror anthology. In the framing story, Vincent Price and John Carradine hang out in a monster night club. The Pretty Things and other bands perform tunes onstage, and a stripper takes it all off.

Monterey Pop (1967) D.A. Pennebaker's documentary of the 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival. Hippie ground zero, for both good and ill. Hendrix torches his geetar, Big Brother and Janis Joplin are wonderfully sloppy, The Who remind me of assembly line workers rushing to quitting time, and Otis Redding is transcendent.

Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975) The Python crew free-associates on the theme of Camelot. Their first true feature film.

Monty Python's Life Of Brian (1979) The Python crew addresses theology.

Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life (1983) In their last (probably) feature, the Python crew presents a series of vignettes surveying life, death and other anomalies.

The Mouse That Roared (1959) Peter Sellers plays at least three roles in this gently satirical cold war fable. The tiny Alpine duchy of Grand Fenwick declares war on the U.S. in anticipation of post-war financial aid after a hasty surrender. But things don't go quite to plan. With Jean Seberg, William Hartnell (Dr. Who) and Leo McKern (Help!).

Mr. Hulot's Holiday (1953) Totally charming comedy by Jacques Tati, a master of visual comedy. With minimal dialogue and maximally effective use of sounds, this is a low-key series of silly episodes at a seaside resort. Sometimes feeling like a great children's book you don't quite remember, this is a perfect movie for a quiet summer night. Nice Franco-jazz score too.

Murder, My Sweet (1944) Directed by Edward Dmytryk, Dick Powell plays Philip Marlowe in this adaptation of Raymond Chandler's Farewell, My Lovely. With Claire Trevor, Otto Kruger, Anne Shirley and Mike Mazurki. Powell is no Bogart, but he does okay. He spends a lot of time getting knocked out in this one ("a black pool opened up at my feet, and I dove right in") -- includes at least one cool dream sequence.

Mysteries From Beyond Earth (1975) One of the many cheap UFO/occult pseudo-documentaries that bred like rabbits in the mid-70's. This sort of thing is always good for relaxing.

The Naked City (1948) An influential police procedural directed by Jules Dassin, produced (and narrated) by Mark Hellinger. Barry Fitzgerald leads a team of police detectives working to solve a murder during a summer heatwave in New York City. Shot entirely on location during a heatwave in New York City, and loaded with terrific location footage. One of those movies that lets you indulge in time travel.

Night Of The Lepus (1972) Big bunnies make big trouble. Cast includes Stuart Whitman, Janet Leigh and DeForest Kelley ("He's a rabbit, Jim. A big rabbit")

The Oblong Box (1969) Vincent Price stars as a man who thinks his disfigured brother is dead. Not quite. Voodoo meets Victorianism. Christopher Lee has a small role as a body-snatcher employing doctor.

Ocean's Eleven (1960) The Rat Pack's big caper comedy. Frank, Dino, Sammy and the boys hatch a plot to rob all the casinos in Vegas. A terrific artifact, but strangely uninvolving, with the exception of Dean Martin's ever-friendly screen presence. By contrast, Frank Sinatra comes off as a sort of cold fish in this one. Tons of cameos and a few songs from Dino and Sammy. Plus you get to see Las Vegas circa 1960.

The Old Dark House (1932) A year after helming Frankenstein, James Whale directed this 'old dark house' story. A storm strands travelers in a creepy house with a creepy family. Boris Karloff plays the brutish butler. Something of a satire of the genre. Cast also includes an energetic Charles Laughton as Sir William Porterhouse. "Have a potato."

The Omega Man (1971) Another fat slice from Charlton Heston's early 70's sci-fi binge, this is yet another film based on Richard Matheson's book, I Am Legend (also see Vincent Price in The Last Man On Earth). Heston is the last normal man on earth, who spends his days killing the light-sensitive mutants who try to kill him at night (as he hides in his heavily over-decorated penthouse apartment). In an amusing twist of subtext, the ultimate patriarch becomes a sort of nurturing mother for a new generation of non-mutants. In his spare time, Chuck likes to watch the Woodstock movie -- who'da thunk it?

The Omegans (1968) Ingrid Pitt (The Vampire Lovers) and Keith Larsen star in this murky jungle horror shot in the Philippines, involving an artist, his cheatin' wife, a radioactive river and a mutated tribe. Directed by Billy Wilder's brother, W. Lee Wilder (Killers From Space, Phantom From Space).

One Million B.C. (1940) Not the Raquel Welch version (so forget that fur bikini). This is the original version. Hal Roach produced and directed with Hal, Jr. Supposedly D.W. Griffith was also involved. The cast includes Victor Mature and Lon Chaney, Jr. You have probably already seen the effects footage, which was used as stock footage in many later dinosaur movies.

Orpheus (1949) Jean Cocteau's stylishly influential adaptation of the Greek myth. Shifts it into the modern French poetry scene, with motorcycles, rumbles and blank verse cribbed from a car radio. With Jean Marais, Maria Casares, Francois Perier, Roger Blin, Marie Dea, Juliette Greco. Death is a lovely maiden. 1980s music videos would have been nowhere without this movie to crib from.

Our Man In Havana (1960) British comedy starring Alec Guinness as a vacuum cleaner salesman who gets sucked into spy games in Cuba. Great atmosphere. Also stars Ernie Kovacs, Maureen O'Hara, Burl Ives, Ralph Richardson and Noel Coward. Directed by Carol Reed. Adapted by Graham Greene from his own novel.

The Outlaw (1943) Yes, this is the western directed by Howard Hughes and featuring Jane Russell in the Hughes-designed bra. Some sources say Howard Hawks actually did most of the directing. With Walter Huston as Doc Holliday.

Pajama Party (1964) Another AIP beach movie. This one stars Tommy Kirk as a bumbling Martian who's come to prepare the way for a Martian invasion. He gets distracted by Annette, who's sans-Frankie in this one. And speaking of another Frankie, Elsa Lanchester (The Bride Of Frankenstein) co-stars as Aunt Wendy. Also, a young Teri Garr has a small dancing role. Like the rest of this series, it has its moments here and there, but it's no threat to the epic Mars Needs Women.

Le Petit Soldat (1963) Aka: The Little Soldier. Nitty gritty spy story from Jean-Luc Godard, with French versus Algerians on neutral Swiss ground. Not a nice bone in its body, and a handy de-glamming tool if you should happen to overdose on 007 movies.

Pier 5, Havana (1959) Cameron Mitchell breezes into post-revolution Cuba searching for a lost friend, but winds up battling a ring of anti-Castro terrorists and reuniting with ex-girlfriend, Allison Hayes (in his spare moments). Shot on location. A reliable little b-adventure made a real curio by the course of history. Directed by ever reliable Edward L. Cahn (see The Four Skulls Of Jonathan Drake).

The Pink Panther (1964) Peter Sellers stars in the first Inspector Clouseau film. Directed by Blake Edwards and featuring the classic score by Henry Mancini. Also starring David Niven, Capucine, Robert Wagner and Claudia Cardinale. And of course, the first of those cartoon title sequences that begat the cartoon tv series.

Planet Of The Apes (1968) Charlton Heston chews the scenery down to a stubble as a lost human astronaut stranded on a world ruled by apes with lots of tedious laws. With Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter and Maurice Evans under lots of rubber appliances.

Point Blank (1967) Lee Marvin is out for revenge against his back-stabbing partner in crime, John Vernon. A very 60s crime movie, in a very tough style. Marvin is monolithic. With Angie Dickinson as his slap-happy love interest. Directed by John Boorman (Zardoz).

Popeye (1980) Robert Altman's bizarre musical based on the comic strip, scripted by Jules Feiffer. Features Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall (born to play Olive Oyl!), Ray Walston (My Favorite Martian), Paul L. Smith and Paul Dooley as Wimpy. Music by Van Dyke Parks and Harry Nilsson.

Pop Gear (1965) Aka: Go Go Mania. A collection of Brit beat combos lip-synch their hits on strangely sterile studio sets. Some (even then) aging live footage of The Beatles brackets the show, geeky DJ Jimmy Saville throws in oddball intros. With The Animals, Spencer Davis Group, The Nashville Teens, Herman's Hermits, The Honeycombs and the usual many more.

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) Lana Turner and John Garfield star in this film noir standard as rather neurotic adulterers. Based on the novel by James M. Cain.

Prince Of Darkness (1987) John Carpenter flick about scientists trying to cope with a big mason jar full o' Satan in the basement of a church. Cast includes Alice Cooper as a street person.

The Producers (1968) Mel Brooks' classic farce of a Broadway show designed to flop. Yes, it includes the er, immortal ditty, Springtime For Hitler. The terrific cast features Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn and Kenneth Mars. Priceless performances, all.

Descriptions © 1998 to 2001 M.Ace