These are Resurfaced short or quickie reviews written in 2002 or earlier. For more information, please visit this link: Resurfaced Reviews.

The Witness for the Prosecution

Rating

Director

Billy Wilder

Screenplay

Billy Wilder, Harry Kurnitz, Larry Marcus (Play: Agatha Christie)

Length

1h 56m

Starring

Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, John Williams, Henry Daniell, Ian Wolfe, Torin Thatcher, Nora Varden, Una O’Connor

MPAA Rating

Approved

Basic Plot

An ailing advocate, Sir Wilfrid Robarts(Charles Laughton), for the court of Britain returns home after a short stay in an area hospital. Accompanying him is a hospital appointed nurse, Miss Plimsoll(Elsa Lanchester), who keeps him from over-exerting himself and doing things that might prove hazardous to his health. Not long after he returns, a case is brought to him, Murder. Accused is a young man, Leonard Vole(Tyrone Power), of murdering a rich, middle-aged woman. His wife, Christine(Marlene Dietrich), will appear as a witness…for the prosecution instead of the defense.

Review

This is a well-crafted drama from acclaimed director Billy Wilder. Taking some of the screen’s most powerful stars and great actors, to adapt Agatha Christie’s classic novel and successful stage play, Witness for the Prosecution to the screen. Charles Laughton and the superb Elsa Lanchester give bravura performances and some great two-person dialogue. Tyrone Power is debonaire and Marlene Dietrich is stylish. Put these together and you have one of Christie’s greatest works adapted into one of the screen’s best films.

Review Written

Unknown

Mary Poppins

Rating

Director

Robert Stevenson

Screenplay

Bill Walsh, Don Da Gradi (Book: P.L. Travers)

Length

2h 19m

Starring

Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Hermione Baddeley, Reta Shaw, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber, Elsa Lanchester, Arthur Treacher, Reginald Owen, Ed Wynn, Jane Darwell, Arthur Malet, James Logan, Don Barclay, Alma Lawton, Marjorie Eaton, Marjorie Bennett

MPAA Rating

G

Basic Plot

Two banker’s children lose their nanny due to her frustration with them. A change in the wind blows in an assertive nanny who matches the qualifications of the children and not the father. As she helps them magically explore the world around them the father grows increasingly disapproving of her methods, and must eventually deal with his own distance from his children.

Review

A thoroughly delightful film that takes you on dozens of fantastic voyages through partially animated worlds and along the chimney tops of London. From beginning to end, this film is beautifully done and shows in its nearly record 13 Oscar nominations. A few minor problems here and there and the fact that it’s a childrens film keep it from getting a perfect score.

Review Written

Unknown

101 Dalmatians

Rating

Director

Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton S. Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman

Screenplay

Bill Peet (Book: Dodie Smith)

Length

1h 19m

Starring

Rod Taylor, J. Pat O’Malley, Betty Lou Gerson, Martha Wentworth, Ben Wright, Cate Bauer, Dave Frankham, Fred Worlock, Lisa Davis, Tom Conway, Tudor Owen

MPAA Rating

G

Basic Plot

When a dastardly villain has a penchant for fur coats, some young dalmatian pups become her passion and must flee for their lives in this Walt Disney full-length Animated Motion Picture.

Review

The songs don’t stick in ones head as many other Disney films have. The animation is what has become standard for Disney in the 50s and sheds very few new lights on modern animation, but if it works stick with it. Cruella De Vil remains one of Disney’s greatest villains and is rather unstoppable in this film and remains the high point as well as the saviour of the film. Without her, it just wouldn’t be the same. Or as good.

Review Written

Unknown

Alice in Wonderland

Rating

Director

Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske

Screenplay

Winston Hibler, Ted Sears, Bill Peet, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Milt Banta, Bill Cottrell, Dick Kelsey, Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Del Connell, Tom Oreb, John Walbridge (Book: Lewis Carroll)

Length

1h 15m

Starring

Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn, Sterling Holloway, Jerry Colonna, Verna Felton, Pat O’Malley, Bill Thompson

MPAA Rating

Approved

Basic Plot

Disney version of Lewis Carroll’s Children’s story. Alice becomes bored and her mind starts to wander. She sees a white rabbit who appears to be in a hurry. She chases it into its burrow and then a most bizarre series of adventures begins.

Review

Too many songs and an all-too-familiar plot prevent Alice in Wonderland from being the best it can be. The animation runs into trouble and back 10 years. There are no new significant advances in animation in this film and the record number of songs is just too many for such a short film.

Review Written

Unknown