the saint and the falcon

While I was hunkered down during Hurricane Sandy, I spent a fair amount of time flipping back and forth between storm coverage and fun things like (the original) Hawaii Five-O reruns, Looney Tunes cartoons, and even an Adam West Batman cliffhanger with Joker, Penguin, AND Catwoman!

Monday morning, I also stumbled across a few gems on TCM.  George Sanders (well before his time as the bad guy on In Search of the Castaways, or providing the voice for Shere Kahn) was the dashing, devil-may care Simon Templar (The Saint) and Gay Lawrence (The Falcon).  The Falcon movies were fun, but I have to say I loved The Saint movies best. 

Now I've got to see if I can find them on DVD...

ten little indians

 

the year: 1965

 

the genre: mystery

 

 

the cast: Hugh O'Brian (Hugh Lombard); Shirley Eaton (Ann Clyde); Fabian (Mike Raven); Leo Genn (General Mandrake); Stanley Holloway (William Blore); Wilfrid Hyde-White (Judge Cannon); Daliah Lavi (Ilona Bergen); Dennis Price (Dr. Armstrong); Marianne Hoppe (Frau Grohmann); Mario Adorf (Herr Grohmann)

 

 

the plot: One of Agatha Christie's best (with a few liberties taken).  A group of strangers, ten in all, are invited by a Mr. Owens to spend a weekend at his remote mountaintop home. After dinner, they learn via a tape recording that they've been invited to the house to pay for their crimes. The accusations are well-founded and, unable to leave the house, the guests are being killed off one by one. The private detective in the group thinks that their host is likely hiding in the house somewhere. Judge Arthur Cannon thinks the killer is a member of the group and he proves to be correct.

 

 

 

don't miss: all the wonderful screaming by Frau Grohmann.  Good thing she was killed off pretty quickly.  And the black and white is a fun touch, too.

 

 

listen for: "How utterly marvelous! You all came to a house party without knowing your host!"
"Well, what about you, Miss Bergen"
"Darling, it happens to me all the time!"
 

 

did you know: I felt much better when I realized that Fabian is *not* Fabio. 

 

 

extra bonus points: if you recognize the two actors from My Fair Lady. 

 

 

also listen for: "Drop dead!"  "That's not funny."

 

 

 

murder by death

the year: 1976

the genre: comedy


the cast: Eileen Brennan (Tess Skeffington); Truman Capote (Lionel Twain); James Coco (Milo Perrier); Peter Falk (Sam Diamond); Alec Guinness (Bensonmum); Elsa Lanchester (Jessica Marbles); David Niven (Dick Charleston); Peter Sellers (Sidney Wang); Maggie Smith (Dora Charleston); Nancy Walker (the Maid); Estelle Winwood (Nurse Withers); James Cromwell (Marcel); Richard Narita (Willie Wang)


the plot: Millionnaire Lionel Twain invites the five most brilliant private eyes to a dinner - and a murder. Exactly at midnight, a murder is set to take place, and Mr. Twain offers a million dollars to the one who can solve the murder. Will the most brilliant minds of our time be able to see through the elaborate set-up staged by a criminal mastermind?


listen for: "Oh, there. Voice come from cow on wall..." "Moose! MOOSE, you imbecile!"


did you know: the screaming doorbell uses Fay Wray's screams from King Kong.


extra bonus points: if you can name all the "real" fictional detectives that this movie spoofs.


don't miss: two of my favorite scenes here.


also listen for: "I don't hear nothin'. What do you hear?" "Double negative, and dog."

a shot in the dark

the year: 1964

the genre: comedy


the cast: Peter Sellers (Jacques Clouseau); Elke Sommer (Maria Gambrelli); George Sanders (Benjamin Ballon); Herbert Lom (Charles Dreyfus); Graham Stark (Hercule LaJoy)


the plot: When rich M. Ballon's Spanish driver is found shot dead, Inspector Jacques Clouseau is the first official on the scene. All evidence suggests Maria Gambrelli, the maid, to be the murderer. But Clouseau, being attracted to the beautiful girl, is convinced that she is hiding something. He has her released from jail and tries to follow her secretly, but things don't work out the way the he hopes and people keep getting murdered - and each time Maria seems to be the killer.


did you know: the audience enjoyed the Inspector Closeau cartoon that played over the credits so much that the entire preview audience applauded and gave the cartoon a standing ovation, and the theater had to stop the movie until everyone settled again.


don't miss: the "synchronized watches" scene. Knowing the dialog was improvised makes it even funnier.


listen for: "Look at that! I've got Africa all over my hand."


extra bonus points: if you know the final body count (including crows).


also listen for: "And I submit, Inspector Ballon, that you arrived home, found Miguel with Maria Gambrelli, and killed him in a rit of fealous jage!"

thin man sequels

The Thin Man series is (I think) a lot of fun to watch. I love the back-and-forth banter of Nick and Nora, the not-too-scary mysteries, Nora's fabulous fashions, Nick's friends in low places, Asta's antics, and how they always gets their man.

And while watching on a rainy day is ideal, these are good enough to watch even if it's sunny outside.


There were five sequels: After the Thin Man, Anther Thin Man, Shadow of the Thin Man, The Thin Man Goes Home, and Song of the Thin Man.


After the Thin Man - back in San Francisco after their holiday in New York, it's New Year's Eve and Nick and Nora are summoned to dinner at Nora's elderly, and very aristocratic, family. There they find that cousin Thelma's husband Charles has been missing for three days. Nick reluctantly agrees to look for him but the case takes a twist when Charles is shot and Thelma is accused of murder. Several other murders occur but eventually Nick gathers everyone into the same room to reveal the identity of the killer. [Trailer here.] Also stars Jimmy Stewart.



Another Thin Man - the Charles' are back in New York with Asta and a new arrival: Nicky Jr. They are invited by Colonel MacFey to spend the weekend at his house in Long Island as he desperately wants Charles to help him out. It seems he has been receiving threats from Phil Church, a very shady character. When McFey is killed Church seems to be the obvious suspect but Nick suspects there is something far more complicated going on. McFey's housekeeper, daughter and various hangers-on may all have had an interest in seeking the old man's demise. [Trailer here.]




Shadow of the Thin Man - Nick and Nora are looking forward to a day of leisure, but when they make a trip to the race track, they learn that a jockey, who was recently accused of throwing a race, has just been found shot to death. With his friend Lieutenant Abrams in charge of the case, Nick has difficulty keeping from getting involved. Then a special state deputy, in charge of investigating gambling scandals, comes to see Nick. He tells Nick that the jockey could have been silenced by a gambling syndicate, and he asks for Nick's help. Soon Nick is fully involved in a complicated and hazardous investigation. (This one is my personal favorite - the wrestling scene is one of the best.) [Trailer here.] Also stars Donna Reed.




The Thin Man Goes Home - Nick and Nora head to Nick's hometown of Sycamore Springs to spend some time with his parents. His father, a prominent local physician, was always a bit disappointed with Nick's choice of profession in particular and his lifestyle in general. With Nick's arrival the townsfolk, including several of the local criminal element, are convinced that he must be there on a case despite his protestations that he's just there for rest and relaxation. When someone is shot dead on his doorstep however, Nick finds himself working on a case whether he wants to or not. [Trailer here.]




Song of the Thin Man - Nick and Nora Charles attend a charity benefit aboard a gambling ship. The festive atmosphere conceals many tensions among those connected with the ship, with most of the friction centering around Tommy Drake, its unpopular, spiteful band-leader. When he is murdered later that night, suspicion falls on Phil Brant, who had argued with Drake earlier in the evening. When Phil and his wife seek help from Nick and Nora, Nick refuses to get involved. But when shots are fired outside his own apartment, Nick begins to investigate, and he soon finds himself in a confusing case with numerous suspects. [Trailer here.}