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King of Hearts

starring: Jacques Balutin, Alan Bates, Jackie Blanchot, Robert Blome, Pierre Brasseur

October 03, 2000
"October 1918" is the date for this story. German soldiers are planting explosives to destroy the advancing British soldiers when they occupy a French city. The townspeople hurriedly evacuate the town. The British are warned, they will not march into town. Instead Private Plumpick [some pun?] will be sent in to scout the town and defuse the bombs - by himself! [Believable?] Discovered by the Germans, he flees into a building for refuge and safety; it is the local insane asylum. The result of the German withdrawal is the inmates can wander freely into the deserted town and select new clothes from the abandoned homes. [This slow-paced action doesn't seem too funny to me.] Comedy is in part cultural, and attitudes change. Perhaps the humor is in ... Read More:

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The Go-Between

starring: Julie Christie, Alan Bates, Margaret Leighton, Michael Redgrave, Dominic Guard
directed by: Joseph Losey

February 20, 1996
I just don't understand why it's taking so long for the dvd to be released.
Same goes for the beautiful soundtrack. Has there ever been one?

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Mr. Frost

starring: Jeff Goldblum, Kathy Baker, Alan Bates, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Daniel Gélin
directed by: Philippe Setbon

February 13, 1991
DVD now! or even HD DVD. this is a great film staring one of the world's finest off-beat actors, Jeff Goldblum. what's the hold up?

D

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An Englishman Abroad

starring: Alan Bates, Coral Browne
directed by: John Schlesinger

1994
"How can he be a spy?" says Guy Burgess in Moscow, as he quotes the attitude of his former fellow British upper-class diplomats, "He goes to my tailor."

He's talking to Coral Browne, an Australian actress who was appearing as Gertrude in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet in Moscow. It's 1958. She has visited Burgess in his drab apartment which he shares with his government-sanctioned male lover, an aging youth who speaks no English. Burgess has barely learned a few words of Russian. "I know what I've done to deserve him," he says, "but I don't know what he's done to deserve me."

Burgess, along with Kim Philby, Donald Maclean and Anthony Blunt comprised the Cambridge Four. They were a group of Cambridge undergraduates who, in the Thirties, ... Read More:

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Hamlet (1990)

starring: Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Alan Bates, Paul Scofield, Ian Holm
directed by: Franco Zeffirelli

February 07, 1995
After seeing Olivier's version of Hamlet, I was interested in seeing this version of Hamlet. Admittedly, Mel Gibson was one-hundred percent of my impulse to see this film. I don't usually follow actors when choosing movies; I trust directors more than I trust actors in choosing movies. But Mel Gibson is an exception to this rule: when was the last time the man made a bad movie?-- I can't even think of one.

With this said, I rented this movie and watched it with growing delight and amazement. As always, Mel was Mel--great. Glen Close--great. The actors and actresses, from Mel Gibson, to Glen Close,to Alan Bates, to Ian Holmes, etc., delivered the complicated verses of the Bard's epic tragedy as though those words were their very own words. And those words, though fast ... Read More:

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Arabian Nights

starring: Mili Avital, Alan Bates, James Frain, Tchéky Karyo, Jason Scott Lee
directed by: Steve Barron

July 18, 2000
This rendition of the classic tale is so convincing you feel as though this could have actually happened.

The insane king, the woman who faces death to save him, and of course, the magical tales beautiful woven into a wonderful film. The shots and special effects truly transport you to the time frame of the story.

Filled with action and an incredible acting cast, this is a wonderful movie. The only way this movie could have possibly been improved would have been cutting the un-realistic and long flying carpet scene. Other than that, this is a great adaptation of the book and worth every minute!

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Far from the Madding Crowd

starring: Julie Christie, Peter Finch, Alan Bates, Terence Stamp, Fiona Walker
directed by: John Schlesinger

1990-02
The new DVD is a disaster--still cropped rather than 2.35x1 and lacking the original stereo soundtrack. Warner Bros. has botched a great opportunity to present this beautiful film in the manner it deserves.

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Mr Lucky

starring: Cary Grant, Laraine Day, Charles Bickford, Gladys Cooper, Alan Carney
directed by: H.C. Potter

April 14, 1998
I can't figure out why such a great classic hasn't been put on DVD yet!

Maybe the reason I really like this movie is because it shows what a great actor Cary Grant is! You can't help but like him - even if he does play a crook. Along with the drama, you'll laugh hilariously at the comedic moments - one of which includes Cary learning how to knit. he look totally natural knitting away with all these ladies adoringly looking at him. But the one he falls for happens to be the fundraiser of the organization he is trying to swindle.
Cary is Joe Adams a.k.a Joe Bascopolous, the handsome owner of a gambling ship trying to dodge the draft. His plan: steal the proceeds of a charity ball raising money for the was effort and abscond to South America. But there's one thing he hadn't ... Read More:

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Hamlet

starring: Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Alan Bates, Paul Scofield, Ian Holm
directed by: Franco Zeffirelli

February 06, 2001
After seeing Olivier's version of Hamlet, I was interested in seeing this version of Hamlet. Admittedly, Mel Gibson was one-hundred percent of my impulse to see this film. I don't usually follow actors when choosing movies; I trust directors more than I trust actors in choosing movies. But Mel Gibson is an exception to this rule: when was the last time the man made a bad movie?-- I can't even think of one.

With this said, I rented this movie and watched it with growing delight and amazement. As always, Mel was Mel--great. Glen Close--great. The actors and actresses, from Mel Gibson, to Glen Close,to Alan Bates, to Ian Holmes, etc., delivered the complicated verses of the Bard's epic tragedy as though those words were their very own words. And those words, though fast and often ferocious, ... Read More:

Average Rating:

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Rose (1979)

starring: Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton, Barry Primus
directed by: Mark Rydell

May 14, 1996
I was extremely pleased with this choice of Bette Midler's work. She performed well in this role!