Thurston
Striker
They’ll never remake burns like this, though.
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SMB Film Thread 2025
- Thread starter Fletch73
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Doogie Hauser
Midfield
Completing my triple bill of weekend
British B movies…
The Third Alibi (1961)
Laurence Payne is a musician banging his wife’s half-sister (Jane Griffiths). He gets her up the duff and decides to ask his wife (Patricia Dainton) for a divorce. She refuses. Payne and Griffiths concoct a plan to murder Dainton and create the ‘perfect’ alibi.
Superior B picture that really makes the most of its premise. The latter half is very contrived and absurd, yet it all fits nicely together in the context of the scenario. I laughed out loud at a particular moment in the last ten minutes. It’s so corny. Yet bloody great. I loved it.
All the major players are above solid. Payne puts in a measured and frantic turn. It’s interesting that he was a novelist in addition to the acting roles. John Arnatt is super as a quietly slick and efficient police officer. Patricia Dainton is excellent as the wronged woman. I’ve seen her in a few things and she was a refined, capable lead. Dudley Moore is in his first role, uncredited in a small scene.
Co-written and directed by Montgomery Tully, this film bears his trademarks: economical, pacy and modestly enjoyable. It’s only 66 minutes (and on Amazon Prime) and firmly of its era. As usual with quota quickies of that era, the Radio Times Guide to Films gives it 1/5 and slates it. The reviewers in that ‘tome’ are clueless. They have no appreciation of context or provenance, and have such a joyless, miserable view of the world of British B films.
I give it 7/10. It was a cracking way to spend an hour - even a few drinks to the good it held my interest.
British B movies…
The Third Alibi (1961)
Laurence Payne is a musician banging his wife’s half-sister (Jane Griffiths). He gets her up the duff and decides to ask his wife (Patricia Dainton) for a divorce. She refuses. Payne and Griffiths concoct a plan to murder Dainton and create the ‘perfect’ alibi.
Superior B picture that really makes the most of its premise. The latter half is very contrived and absurd, yet it all fits nicely together in the context of the scenario. I laughed out loud at a particular moment in the last ten minutes. It’s so corny. Yet bloody great. I loved it.
All the major players are above solid. Payne puts in a measured and frantic turn. It’s interesting that he was a novelist in addition to the acting roles. John Arnatt is super as a quietly slick and efficient police officer. Patricia Dainton is excellent as the wronged woman. I’ve seen her in a few things and she was a refined, capable lead. Dudley Moore is in his first role, uncredited in a small scene.
Co-written and directed by Montgomery Tully, this film bears his trademarks: economical, pacy and modestly enjoyable. It’s only 66 minutes (and on Amazon Prime) and firmly of its era. As usual with quota quickies of that era, the Radio Times Guide to Films gives it 1/5 and slates it. The reviewers in that ‘tome’ are clueless. They have no appreciation of context or provenance, and have such a joyless, miserable view of the world of British B films.
I give it 7/10. It was a cracking way to spend an hour - even a few drinks to the good it held my interest.
Secret Visage
Striker
You were indeed correct.I watched it yesterday. It’s abysmal
All I’ll say is Nintendo Power Glove
Speakeasy
Full Back
Black Book
I saw the trailer a few weeks ago and I thought it looked a bit shit. Also thought it was gonna be an all action/car chase/shootout type action thriller, but it really wasn't that at all. Much more 'cerebral', and all the better for it.
Really tightly plotted, sharply scripted modern spy thriller. Short and sweet at only 90 mins, had me hooked from the first minute to last. Fantastic performances all round. Thoroughly recommended.
9/10
I saw the trailer a few weeks ago and I thought it looked a bit shit. Also thought it was gonna be an all action/car chase/shootout type action thriller, but it really wasn't that at all. Much more 'cerebral', and all the better for it.
Really tightly plotted, sharply scripted modern spy thriller. Short and sweet at only 90 mins, had me hooked from the first minute to last. Fantastic performances all round. Thoroughly recommended.
9/10
Speakeasy
Full Back
Obviously, that was meant to say Black Bag, not Black Book! (It's very early!)
I was totally ready to give it a chance as I normally find something to enjoy in those types of flick, but the med fella and his glove was too far even for me.
Fletch73
Midfield
I thought you meant this, which is, also, an excellent film:
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League Wan
Winger
Watched Back to future 2 last night and it's took all these years to realise the music sounds the same as on Predator. Sure enough it's the same bloke. Couldn't get past that and thought it didn't really go with Back to the future
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Aye Alan Silvestri soundtracks all sound the same. Super Mario Bros with Bob Hoskins is another.
Fred Army
Striker
Moana 2
Hugely inferior (and unnecessary) sequel to Disney's best animated non Pixar movie in years.
Watchable but a pale shadow of the original.
5/10
Fight or Flight
Completely ridiculous action flick that knows exactly what is and makes no apologies for it.
I enjoyed this: brainless fun.
7/10
Hugely inferior (and unnecessary) sequel to Disney's best animated non Pixar movie in years.
Watchable but a pale shadow of the original.
5/10
Fight or Flight
Completely ridiculous action flick that knows exactly what is and makes no apologies for it.
I enjoyed this: brainless fun.
7/10
Fletch73
Midfield
The Inquisitor [1981] 9/10
A wealthy man, suspected of murdering two girls, agrees to be questioned by Inspector Gallien on New Year’s Eve. What begins as a routine interview soon becomes a harsh interrogation.
80 minutes of Lino Ventura stoicly interviewing entitled Michel Serrault. A great cameo from Romy Schneider. I love one-location movies.
A wealthy man, suspected of murdering two girls, agrees to be questioned by Inspector Gallien on New Year’s Eve. What begins as a routine interview soon becomes a harsh interrogation.
80 minutes of Lino Ventura stoicly interviewing entitled Michel Serrault. A great cameo from Romy Schneider. I love one-location movies.
zebediah
Striker
Also a 9/10 imo
I miss Verhoeven. Last film I saw of his was a rightheadfuck - Elle.
I thought you meant this, which is, also, an excellent film:
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It’s a bit of a strange take on rape revenge
Aye, first 20 minutes are canny
I always knew IGN had a decent article in them somewhere.
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Monty Pigeon
Striker
Lone Star (1996) 8/10
I'm a big fan of John Sayles, and I rated this as one of my favourite films ever when it came out. First time rewatching it since then...and it hasn't stood the test of time. The racial tensions on the Texas border are as relevant as ever, but it's a lot more soap opera-y than I remember.
The Devil's Brigade (1968) 6/10
From the director of The Wild Geese. A renegade brigade of Canadians and Americans is put together for action in WWII. There's deep antagonism between the two nationalities (apposite now), but eventually they become a formidable fighting unit. The film takes an age to get going, and the battle scenes fall flat. William Holden plays his usual self. Dana Andrews - once a big star - gets a couple of lines in a bit part.
While the City Sleeps (1956) 7/10
Dana Andrews in one of his last starring roles. The alcoholism that destroyed his career shows through. Fritz Lang makes a decent job of it, but the story about three rivals at a newspaper jostling to track down a serial killer, is hokum.
I'm a big fan of John Sayles, and I rated this as one of my favourite films ever when it came out. First time rewatching it since then...and it hasn't stood the test of time. The racial tensions on the Texas border are as relevant as ever, but it's a lot more soap opera-y than I remember.
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The Devil's Brigade (1968) 6/10
From the director of The Wild Geese. A renegade brigade of Canadians and Americans is put together for action in WWII. There's deep antagonism between the two nationalities (apposite now), but eventually they become a formidable fighting unit. The film takes an age to get going, and the battle scenes fall flat. William Holden plays his usual self. Dana Andrews - once a big star - gets a couple of lines in a bit part.
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While the City Sleeps (1956) 7/10
Dana Andrews in one of his last starring roles. The alcoholism that destroyed his career shows through. Fritz Lang makes a decent job of it, but the story about three rivals at a newspaper jostling to track down a serial killer, is hokum.
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Oli Wagkz
Striker
Agreed. Although the bairn loved it. It missed not have Lin Manuel Miranda doing the tunes.
Set up for 3rd. Oh and the live action remake of the first one is out next year as well.
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