The Sniper (1952) The Psychology Of A Serial Killer’s Mind!

The fascinating achievement of The Sniper is its ability to take the terrifying nature of the serial killer and portray, in equal amounts, his appalling actions of the murders, intertwined with logical thoughts on his illness and the psychological elements of his mind. Watching now, a film from 1952, you would be wrong in thinking that they would hold back on the darkness of the killings addressed within. Normally we would hear that the individual is either mad, insane or demented, yes that maybe the case but here we get thoughts from the other side. Through the eyes of the killer himself and the mind of a psychiatrist.

Hannibal Brooks (1969) Ollie The Elephant Goes On World War 2 Road Trip

I love the way Oliver Reed can go from the pure brute force anger filled badboy roles to lighthearted comedic sweet roles, Hannibal Brooks is by far the latter. Ollie plays reluctant soldier, Stephen ‘Hannibal’ Brooks, a captured prisoner of war,  imprisoned at the Stalag VII-A camp near Munich. Brooks gets the chance to help out at the local zoo, feeding and shuffling poo, giant poo at that. The bringer of said big poo is Lucy the Elephant (Aida). Brooks is shocked by the sight of Lucy but it’s not long before the two become great friends. Lucy quickly warms to Brook’s sweet, calming nature and obeys every word he says. It’s not long before these two friends will be spending a lot of quality time together.

Strongroom (1962) Low Budget, High Drama British Bank Heist Shenanigans

Huddled up inside their little van, three faces observe the bank from across the road. Eager and nervous to get on with the job in hand, they impatiently count out the leaving bank staff before they prepare to go in. Time is running out, two still to leave, come on let’s get this done. The gun is shown, the stockings are pulled down over their faces, ready, the heist begins.

Tunes of Glory (1960) Kilts, Whisky And A John Mills And Alec Guinness Dance Off

Who’d of thought a film about bag piping and dancing could be so completely captivating. Featuring Alec Guinness as the most Scottish man to ever grace the Inner Hebrides, or Outer Hebrides or anywhere in the whole of bonnie Scotland for that fact. With his fiery orange hair and matching mustache, commanding officer Major Jock Sinclair slams back whisky in eager, boisterous fashion. He might ask for a wee nip here and wee dram there but Jock loves his whisky like he loves the sound of the Highland bagpipes. Like air and water, these are the essential life force for our Jock, well you can also add dancing to that list.

The Night My Number Came Up (1955) Dreams, Omens & Final Destination

Opening with that distinct, recognisable voice of Paddington Bear, Commander Lindsay (Michael Hordern) worriedly confronts an air traffic control officer with news that a Dakota airplane has crashed landed at a certain point over Japan.  The control room officer is convinced that no distress warnings have come in or the fact that the Dakota isn’t even on that flight path. “How do you know this?” he asks, “I can’t say but if I did you wouldn’t believe me but please believe me I know something has happened!” replies the Commander.

Yesterday’s Enemy (1959) Val Guest, Stanley Baker And Rumpole Of The Bailey

Val Guest just impresses every time as I work my way through his varied directed filmography. Enjoying picking around the vast collection of stories he has tackled in his long career. Making sure I hit all the goodies first before I contemplate watching some of the less desirable sounding ones like, well Toomorrow? Also fun fact, can you believe it was Val who started off the cheesy sex comedy series Confessions of a Window Cleaner. Luckily he only made the first one, though he had ventured into saucy land a few years earlier with a slightly naughty one called Au Pair Girls.

Running Scared (1986) Maybe Scared To Ruin Your Teenage Memories?

There are some films in your teenage years that resonate a true fondness in your memory. You remember when you first watched it, that feeling of getting to know the characters as their friendship for each other develops. Invested in their close bond together on the screen, you care for these characters as they look out for one another. This comes across in laughter, bravery in the face of danger, keeping an eye on their partners back, a bond so close they could be brothers, a real bromance. The buddy cop movie is always a sure fire winner in that movie genre cannon. Running Scared ticked all those boxes for me as a youth.

Zig Zag (1970) Desperate George Kennedy Plans Stuff!

Well he’s known for setting up a betting ring in prison between that man Paul Newman and 50 hard boiled eggs. Whenever a passenger jet is in trouble, he’s first on the call list. He’s simultaneously managed to help out Charlton Heston in the air and with an Earth shattering earthquake.  He’s played the hero, a hitman, a thug and even a few sheriffs and army majors. Even getting to show off his deadpan skills alongside Lt Frank Drebin. He surely is a Jack of all trades, who could this diverse guy be? step forward George Kennedy.

The Man in the White Suit (1951) What Obi-Wan Kenobi Got Up To In His Early Years

Way before Obi-Wan Kenobi was having a right laugh bothering Jawas and scaring the bejeezus out of Tusken Raiders on Tatooine he’d grown up in an industrial northern town in England, Earth. Going under the name of Sidney Stratton he had been a keen amateur inventor. He was clumsy and socially awkward in his younger years but this didn’t phase his creative mind constantly coming up with scientific ideas. For Sidney’s inventive imagination and intellect had come up with the idea of creating a fabric so unbelievable that it could change the whole world.

What’s Been Watched This Month – May 2018

I do like a list, hope you do too! Here’s what has been watched in May 2018.