The Third Man [1949]

starring: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard, Wilfrid Hyde White
directed by: Carol Reed

September 25, 2006
The Third Man.......classic film, not only of the noir genre but a blueprint for story telling in the celluloid format.
As a movie I felt underwelmed by the third man, feeling it all a little contrived and even cliched.
When asked to appreciate the significance of the setting and cinematography....yes, very effective tools in enhancing the aesthetic of the narrative. But hardly engendering any sense of empathy for the characters. Orson Well's turn as Harry Lime probably one of the most ... Read More:

Used Price: £4.49

Oliver! (Special Edition) [1968]

starring: Mark Lester, Oliver Reed, Harry Secombe, Ron Moody
directed by: Carol Reed

November 12, 2007
Simply put, Oliver! is one of the greatest musicals of all time. It is filled with memorable songs - "Food Glorious Food", "Oliver!", "Consider Yourself" and "Oom-Pah-Pah" to name just a few - and equally memorable characters.

The film is a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel and much like the story of Oliver Twist itself, it is a perfect family film. There are some frightening moments - the villain Bill Sykes played by Oliver Reed is scary enough on his own - but overall, the film will ... Read More:

Used Price: £3.95

Our Man In Havana

starring: Alec Guinness, Burl Ives, Maureen O'Hara, Ernie Kovacs, Noel Coward
directed by: Carol Reed

December 26, 2005
This film is inspired by Cold War. Jim Wormald ( played well by Alec Guiness) is an Englishman selling vacuum cleaners in Cuba just as the revolution started. Hawthorne (played by the great Noel Coward)is a British intelligence officer, looking to spy on Cuban affairs and recruits Jim to help him.

Then comes many comic momments. I enjoyed this film - but it is perhaps a little long.

Used Price: £5.75

Oliver! [1968]

starring: Ron Moody, Shani Wallis, Oliver Reed, Harry Secombe, Mark Lester
directed by: Carol Reed

February 06, 2006
You know this classic story by now of the boy who asked for more...Oliver Twist played touchingly in the best version on celluloid by Mark Lester...He is one of many workhouse orphans lead by the authoritarian Mr Bumble (Harry Secombe) who decides to sell Oliver to a local Funeral Director in the form of (Leonard Rossiter) of Rising Damp fame. Oliver escapes from here after a fight only to find himself making his way to 19th Century London where he befriends "The Artful Dodger" (Jack Wild) a steetwise pick pocket who ... Read More:

Used Price: £6.00

The Way Ahead [1944]

starring: David Niven, Stanley Holloway, James Donald, John Laurie, Leslie Dwyer
directed by: Carol Reed

May 17, 2004
Great film. One can only imagine the frame of mind of those originally watching it during the war. Brilliantly avoids the trap of portraying characters as heroes, they're just normal flawed fellows... who you don't necessarily like, until they're the tight knit fighting unit we see at the end. Isn't propaganda clever?
David Niven is fantastic - a role model for every Englishman.
The rest of the cast are exceptional too. The last shots, soldiers advancing bravely through the smoke, was surely lifted for the opening ... Read More:

Used Price: £3.95

The Agony And The Ecstasy [1965]

starring: Charlton Heston, Rex Harrison, Diane Cilento, Harry Andrews, Alberto Lupo
directed by: Carol Reed

March 26, 2007
Charlton Heston (BenHur,El Cid,)Stars as Master Sculptor Michaleangilo in this classic epic from 1965 Based on Irving stones novel and directed by Carol Reed.I think this movie has been forgotten about and doesnt get the true recognition it truly deserves.

Used Price: £4.75

The Greatest Stories Ever Told - The Agony And The Ectasy/The Bible/The Robe/Demetrius And The Gladiators/Francis Of Assisi/The Greatest Story Ever Told/The Song Of Bernadette/The Story Of Ruth

starring: Charlton Heston, Dolores Hart, Pat Boone, John Wayne, Jennifer Jones
directed by: Carol Reed, John Huston, Delmer Daves, Michael Curtiz, George Stevens Jr.

March 26, 2007
I'm not particularly a fan of "classic" movies, but I do like a good spiritual movie. And this collection has at least two which _cannot_ be missed: "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and "The Song of Bernadette". Second best (from a spiritual point of view) but definitely worth having are The Robe and Francis of Assisi. And I was suprised by how good "The Story of Ruth" was, a film I'd never heard of. Of course "The Agony and The Ecstacy" is just a great great movie, secular or spiritual. Demetrius and the Gladiators is a good follow-up to The Robe. ... Read More:

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Odd Man Out [1946]

starring: James Mason, Kathleen Ryan, Robert Newton, Cyril Cusack, Fay Compton
directed by: Carol Reed

August 28, 2006
I had never seen this film before although I have always been fond of James Mason. But this is a magnificent film to add to my classic film collection. Mason's performance, especially the scene in the artist's studio, is superb and the ensemble cast is especially good. How did Robert Newton manage to play a drunk whilst not being his usual drunken self?

And the lighting....the crisp black and white imagery beautifully directed by Carol Reed contributed to the sense of hopelessness and impending doom.

I suppose it was set ... Read More:

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Oliver ! / Annie (Special Edition 2 Disc Box Set)

starring: Oliver Reed, Mark Lester, Harry Secombe, Ron Moody, Albert Finney
directed by: Carol Reed, John Huston

November 12, 2007
I had never seen this film before although I have always been fond of James Mason. But this is a magnificent film to add to my classic film collection. Mason's performance, especially the scene in the artist's studio, is superb and the ensemble cast is especially good. How did Robert Newton manage to play a drunk whilst not being his usual drunken self?

And the lighting....the crisp black and white imagery beautifully directed by Carol Reed contributed to the sense of hopelessness and impending doom.

I suppose it was set ... Read More:

Used Price:

Alec Guinness - In The Frame Collection (Our Man in Havana/HMS Defiant/Cromwell/Bridge on the River Kwai/Murder by Death/The Prisoner)

starring: Alec Guinness, Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, Mark Dignam, Burl Ives
directed by: Carol Reed, Lewis Gilbert, Ken Hughes, David Lean, Robert Moore

October 29, 2007
I had never seen this film before although I have always been fond of James Mason. But this is a magnificent film to add to my classic film collection. Mason's performance, especially the scene in the artist's studio, is superb and the ensemble cast is especially good. How did Robert Newton manage to play a drunk whilst not being his usual drunken self?

And the lighting....the crisp black and white imagery beautifully directed by Carol Reed contributed to the sense of hopelessness and impending doom.

I suppose it was set ... Read More:

Used Price: