Category: 1960s

El Cid: Charlton Heston embodies the legendary Spanish folk hero in all his nobility in Anthony Mann’s magnificent medieval epic

El Cid(1961), produced by Samuel Bronston and directed by Anthony Mann, depicting the life of legendary Eleventh-century Spanish hero, Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar is one of the greatest screen epics ever made. Charlton Heston plays Rodrigo aka El Cid in one of his most popular film portrayals and Sophia Loren plays his wife Doña Ximena. Don … Continue reading El Cid: Charlton Heston embodies the legendary Spanish folk hero in all his nobility in Anthony Mann’s magnificent medieval epic →

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Hang ‘Em High: Clint Eastwood combines his ‘Rawhide’ persona with the brutal violence of Sergio Leone’s ‘Dollars’ trilogy for his first Hollywood feature Western

Hang 'Em High(1968), directed by Ted Post, was Clint Eastwood's first American Western. Eastwood, who started out by starring in the American Western Television series, Rawhide, had by then become an international sensation with Sergio Leone's European-made 'Man with no Name' spaghetti Western trilogy. "They made two mistakes – they hanged the wrong man and … Continue reading Hang ‘Em High: Clint Eastwood combines his ‘Rawhide’ persona with the brutal violence of Sergio Leone’s ‘Dollars’ trilogy for his first Hollywood feature Western →

The Sons of Katie Elder: John Wayne and Dean Martin reunited after ‘Rio Bravo’ in this old-fashioned revenge-Western

The Sons of Katie Elder(1965), directed by Western veteran Henry Hathaway, and starring John Wayne and Dean Martin, is an entertaining, old-fashioned, atmospheric Western in which 4 brothers take revenge on an evil entrepreneur who killed their father and stole their land. Most famous in John 'Duke' Wayne's filmography for being the first film he … Continue reading The Sons of Katie Elder: John Wayne and Dean Martin reunited after ‘Rio Bravo’ in this old-fashioned revenge-Western →

Lawrence of Arabia: David Lean’s magnum opus is an astounding mix of cinema-art and popular entertainment, with Peter O’Toole giving one of the greatest screen performances ever

Lawrence of Arabia(1962) is the great British director, David Lean's magnum opus, and features Peter O'Toole as T. E. Lawrence, along with a great supporting cast of Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn and Jack Hawkins. The film, based on Lawrence's autobiography, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, depicts Lawrence's adventures during WW I ,when he lead … Continue reading Lawrence of Arabia: David Lean’s magnum opus is an astounding mix of cinema-art and popular entertainment, with Peter O’Toole giving one of the greatest screen performances ever →

The Night of the Generals: After their star-making turns in ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif reunited in this strange, lurid and lavishly mounted World War II Thriller

In his 1967 production, The Night of the Generals, movie mogul, Sam Spiegel, reunited Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif after their star-making performances in 'Lawrence of Arabia'. This strange, genre-bending, all-star cast WWII drama, directed by Anatole Litvak, was a box office disappointment at the time of its release, but remains a very interesting watch … Continue reading The Night of the Generals: After their star-making turns in ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif reunited in this strange, lurid and lavishly mounted World War II Thriller →

The Comancheros: John Wayne directed much of this wildly entertaining Western that was legendary director Michael Curtiz’s final film

The Comancheros(1961), a very entertaining, big-scale Western, was legendary director, Michael Curtiz's final film. John Wayne, who stars in this film alongside Stuart Whitman, took over the directorial duties and completed the film after Curtiz became afflicted with cancer. Another one of those rollicking, large-scale Western adventures made at a time when John 'Duke' Wayne … Continue reading The Comancheros: John Wayne directed much of this wildly entertaining Western that was legendary director Michael Curtiz’s final film →

Von Ryan’s Express: Frank Sinatra leads a group of Allied POWs to freedom in this interesting and entertaining variation on the WWII prison escape Adventure

Von Ryan's Express(1965), directed by Mark Robson from a novel by David Westheimer, is a WWII Action\Adventure thriller featuring Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard in lead roles. The film provides an interesting variation on the 'Prison Escape' drama template, with Sinatra's character hijacking a prison train to lead a group of Allied POWs to freedom. … Continue reading Von Ryan’s Express: Frank Sinatra leads a group of Allied POWs to freedom in this interesting and entertaining variation on the WWII prison escape Adventure →

The Wild Bunch: Sam Peckinpah’s magnum opus is an epic tragedy about the wild men of the old West who find themselves out of place and out of time in a new West

The Wild Bunch(1969), directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Ben Jonson, Robert Ryan and Warren Oates in lead roles, is a violent, seminal Western that set benchmarks in American Cinema. "We're not gonna get rid of anybody! We're gonna stick together, just like it used to be! When you side with … Continue reading The Wild Bunch: Sam Peckinpah’s magnum opus is an epic tragedy about the wild men of the old West who find themselves out of place and out of time in a new West →

In Harm’s Way: Otto Preminger’s sprawling World War II drama rides on the charisma of John Wayne and Kirk Douglas

In Harm's Way(1965), directed by Otto Preminger from James Bassett's novel, and starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas in lead roles, is a war-action drama set during the early days of United States' participation in World War II. Like other Preminger films, this is a sprawling drama encompassing multiple sub plots and flawed heroes. "I … Continue reading In Harm’s Way: Otto Preminger’s sprawling World War II drama rides on the charisma of John Wayne and Kirk Douglas →

Dark of the Sun: Rod Taylor and Jim Brown lead a band of mercenaries into war-torn Congo in this dark, raw and ultra-violent Men-on-a-Mission Actioner

Dark of the Sun(1968), directed by the legendary cinematographer, Jack Cardiff, and starring Rod Taylor and Jim Brown in lead roles, is a gritty, brutal and the most violent 'Men on a Mission' war action-adventure ever made. I was surprised to see the great British cinematographer, Jack Cardiff, credited as the director of the 1968 … Continue reading Dark of the Sun: Rod Taylor and Jim Brown lead a band of mercenaries into war-torn Congo in this dark, raw and ultra-violent Men-on-a-Mission Actioner →

The Train: Burt Lancaster and John Frankenheimer created the most dynamic, sophisticated and thought-provoking World War II Action picture

The Train(1964), directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Burt Lancaster and Paul Schofield in lead roles, is a brilliant WWII action thriller that details the attempts of the French underground resistance to stop the Germans from stealing valuable pieces of French paintings in the days leading up to the liberation of Paris. I love films … Continue reading The Train: Burt Lancaster and John Frankenheimer created the most dynamic, sophisticated and thought-provoking World War II Action picture →

Ice Station Zebra: Patrick McGoohan steals the show in John Sturges’ taut cold war thriller adapted from the Alistair MacLean bestseller

Ice Station Zebra(1968), directed by the great action director, John Sturges, is an adaptation of Alistair McLean's eponymous adventure novel set during the cold war, and features Rock Hudson, Jim Brown and Earnest Borgnine in key roles alongside the great British actor, Patrick McGoohan, in a scène-stealing performance. The first time i saw Patrick McGoohan … Continue reading Ice Station Zebra: Patrick McGoohan steals the show in John Sturges’ taut cold war thriller adapted from the Alistair MacLean bestseller →

North to Alaska: John Wayne at his romantic-comic best in this rollicking Western adventure

North to Alaska(1960), directed by Henry Hathaway and starring John Wayne, Stewart Granger and Capucine in lead roles, is a highly enjoyable comic-Western set in turn-of -the-century Alaska, and showcases Wayne's talents for comedy and romance to the fullest. Big Sam left Seattle in the year of ninety-twoWith George Pratt his partner and brother Billy … Continue reading North to Alaska: John Wayne at his romantic-comic best in this rollicking Western adventure →

The Dirty Dozen: Lee Marvin leads a dozen cutthroats into battle against Nazis in this hard-hitting WWII Actioner

The Dirty Dozen(1967), directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Earnest Borgnine and Robert Ryan, is a violent action film set in the backdrop of WWII, and the first of the countercultural war movies which critiques the military top brass. "One: down to the road block, we've just begun. Two: the guards … Continue reading The Dirty Dozen: Lee Marvin leads a dozen cutthroats into battle against Nazis in this hard-hitting WWII Actioner →

The Appaloosa: Marlon Brando is driven by atonement, pride and revenge to reclaim the eponymous equine from John Saxon in this baroque, eccentric Western

The Appaloosa(1966), starring Marlon Brando, Anjanette Comer and John Saxon, and directed by Sidney J. Furie, is a visually innovative, psychological Western that details the physical and psychological duel between two men, an American and a Mexican, to possess the titular stallion. Matt Fletcher: I'm having a little trouble getting started, Father. Priest: You are … Continue reading The Appaloosa: Marlon Brando is driven by atonement, pride and revenge to reclaim the eponymous equine from John Saxon in this baroque, eccentric Western →

The Stalking Moon: Gregory Peck rides again as the noble, stoic hero in this chilling Western that plays more like a supernatural thriller

The Stalking Moon(1968) reteamed Gregory Peck with his "To Kill a Mockingbird" producer-director duo of Alan J. Pakula and Robert Mulligan. The film, also starring Eva Marie Saint and Robert Forster, is an off-beat Western that plays more like a supernatural thriller I sometimes wonder about the destiny of certain movies. Some good films are … Continue reading The Stalking Moon: Gregory Peck rides again as the noble, stoic hero in this chilling Western that plays more like a supernatural thriller →

For a Few Dollars More: Sergio Leone’s second Western with Clint Eastwood is bigger and better than the first one, and gave Lee Van Cleef his breakout role

For a Few Dollars More(1965) is the second film in the so called "Dollars" trilogy of Euro-Westerns directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood as "The Man with no Name". This is a bigger, better and more successful film than their first film, A Fistful of Dollars, and it provided veteran character actor, Lee … Continue reading For a Few Dollars More: Sergio Leone’s second Western with Clint Eastwood is bigger and better than the first one, and gave Lee Van Cleef his breakout role →

The War Wagon: John Wayne and Kirk Douglas lend their beefy charisma to this breezy Western that subtly parodies genre conventions

The War Wagon(1967), Directed by Burt Kennedy, is a tongue-in-cheek hybrid of a traditional Western, buddy comedy and Heist movie that brought macho superstars, John Wayne and Kirk Douglas, together for the last time. John Wayne (as Taw Jackson): Did you know why Pierce wanted you to kill me? Kirk Douglas (as Lomax): Sure, so … Continue reading The War Wagon: John Wayne and Kirk Douglas lend their beefy charisma to this breezy Western that subtly parodies genre conventions →

Dr. No: Sean Connery’s hypnotic charisma ensures that the first James Bond film remains a most satisfying watch

Dr. No(1962) is the first of the glossy, action-packed spy thrillers featuring the character of James Bond created by Ian Fleming. The Bond film franchise would go on to become the most popular and durable film franchises in movie history. Sean Connery, who played Bond in a total of 7 films, would go on to become … Continue reading Dr. No: Sean Connery’s hypnotic charisma ensures that the first James Bond film remains a most satisfying watch →

Hour of the Gun: James Garner is terrific as a cold & brutal ‘Wyatt Earp’ in John Sturges’ hard-hitting Western

Hour of the Gun(1967), directed by John Sturges and starring James Garner as Wyatt Earp and Jason Robards as Doc Holliday, is a quasi-sequel to Sturges' own Gunfight at the OK Corral (1957). This is a more gritty, revisionist take on the story that concentrates on the aftermath of the famous gunfight "This Picture is … Continue reading Hour of the Gun: James Garner is terrific as a cold & brutal ‘Wyatt Earp’ in John Sturges’ hard-hitting Western →