Tag: 1973

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Movie Review

Torso (1973) Movie Review

Torso – Movie Review

Read my review of the horror film Torso: a string of appalling lust murders at the University of Perugia leaves art students Jane and Daniela in a fight for their lives.

ABC Film Challenge – Horror – T

Director: Sergio Martino

Writer: Ernesto Gastaldi, Sergio Martino (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A string of appalling lust murders shocks the University of Perugia as a sadistic serial killer strangles to death beautiful college girls with a red and black scarf.

Runtime: 1 Hour 29 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Torso starts when art students Jane (Kendall) and Daniela (Aumont) are studying at the University of Perugia. They are learning from the best and preparing for the next stage of their careers. However, a serial killer is on the loose and starts targeting the students.

The students start showing fear as they try to learn who the killer is. However, the only clue is a scarf used to complete the murders. It doesn’t stop the students trying to make the most out of their lives, which gives the killer a chance to strike.

Verdict on Torso

Torso is a horror thriller following students at the University of Perugia getting hunted by a mysterious serial killer. They try to figure out who the killer is, but the bodies keep piling up. It becomes a race to survive before becoming the next victims.

This movie is a slasher from the 1970s, which meant it leaned into two things more often than modern movies. That being bloody and nudity, you can see it would have been perfect for the era, but has shown the signs of dating. It still presents a mystery well worth watching getting solved, as the movie does an excellent job at keeping us guessing. If you are a fan of the era, you will enjoy this movie. However, it wouldn’t be the starting point for anyone testing the waters out.

Where to Watch

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JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Torso is a time capsule to 70s slashers.

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Movie Review

Tales That Witness Madness (1973) Movie Review

Tales That Witness Madness – Movie Review

Dive into the intriguing world of 'Tales That Witness Madness' with this movie review. Explore twisted stories and unexpected outcomes.

Director: Freddie Francis

Writer: Jennifer Jayne (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A psychiatrist tells stories of four special cases to a colleague.

Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Tales That Witness Madness starts when two doctors Tremayne (Pleasence) and Nicholas (Hawkins) explore their cases. The first cast follows a boy who has been raised in a dysfunctional family. He has a connection to a stuffed tiger, which is becoming overly attached which has caused an unlikely outcome.

The second patient Timothy has been given a strange painting, of Uncle Albert. However, there seems to be something strange about the painting causing unease in the shop. It leads to Timothy travelling to somewhere unknown and getting attached to this story.

In the third story, Brian has a troubled past with his wife Bella. He discovers an odd tree and brings it to their living room. It only causes more problems for their marriage as he becomes attached to the tree. The final story follows Auriol whose daughter wants to celebrate a birthday with friends. However, her fears start taking over and the driver doesn’t want to see her travel away.

Verdict on Tales That Witness Madness

Tales That Witness Madness is a series of horror tales told by a doctor about his patients. Each one takes the patient to a time when something horrific happens to them and the doctor’s partner wants to learn more about the research.

This movie takes us down a series of interesting horror movies playing into different fears. With the clearest connection becoming an attachment to an object. They offer something different which brings about different types of horror. While remaining connected to the bigger picture. This has a great cast of names you would know from the 1970s era of cinema and overall, this could be a great addition to any anthology list.

Where to Watch

a
JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Tales That Witness Madness is a great series of horror shorts.

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Movie Review

The Day of the Jackal (1973) Movie Review

ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nomination – Z (Director Fred Zinnermann) – The Day of the Jackal – Movie Review

The Day of the Jackal Poster

Director: Fred Zinnemann (From Here to Eternity, A Man for All Season, High Noon)

Writer: Kenneth Ross (Screenplay)

Writer: Frederick Forsyth (Book)

Cast

Plot: In the aftermath of France allowing Algeria’s independence, a group of resentful military veterans hire a professional assassin codename “Jackal” to kill President.

Runtime: 2 Hours 23 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Day of the Jackal starts in the aftermath of France allowing Algeria’s independence. A group of military veterans have been trying to kill President Charles de Gaulle. Therefore, hiring a contract killer from overseas code-named The Jackal (Fox) to do the job.

As Jackal starts preparing for his job, the authorities learn about the planned assassination attempt. Rushing to discover who is behind it, in a race against time to discover the truth and prevent the assassination.

Verdict on The Day of the Jackal

The Day of the Jackal is an action thriller, that shows careful planning from the assassin’s point of view. Additionally, we get to see how the government are tracking the mysterious assassin although they have little to go on.

Having only seen the remake of ‘The Jackal’ with Bruce Willis and Richard Gere. I was left to understand the basic story from the outside with bigger action. In this original version, there is a lot slower build to the incidents. Where the pacing in the movie will keep everything grounded. With idea of the slowly built-up tension behind everything that is unfolding keeps us on edge.

Edward Fox is great in the leading role, bringing the confident and careful assassin to life. Always showing how prepared his character is for anything that goes wrong. In the supporting cast, we see the actors keeping everything tight-lipped about the truth.

Where to Watch: The Day of the Jackal is available to rent or buy on nearly every available online service. Amazon, Google Play, Chili, Microsoft, YouTube, Apple TV, Sky Store.

Final Thoughts – The Day of the Jackal is a great thriller, filled with intensity.

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Movie Review

ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – W – The Way We Were (1973) Movie Review

Director: Sydney Pollack

Writer: Arthur Laurents (Screenplay)

Starring: Barbra Streisand, Robet Redford, Bradford Dillman, Lois Chiles, Patrick O’Neal, Viveca Lindfors

Plot: In pre-WWII, McCarthyism, a diametrically opposed couple come together only to find out that genuine friendship and physical attraction is not enough to overcome fundamental societal beliefs.


Tagline – Everything seemed so important then .. even love!

Runtime: 1 Hour 58 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Way We Were starts as peace campaigner Katie Morosky (Streisand) sees her campaigns laughed at through the college system, while her attraction to popular classmate Hubbell Gardiner (Redford) will leave her questioning a lot, as he is the complete opposite to her.

As the two move into the real-world they get caught up in an affair, but deep down they are caught in the middle of whether they will be able to continue to stay together with their differing beliefs.

Thoughts on The Way We Were

Thoughts – The Way We Were is a love story that will see the testing relationship between a couple who find themselves constantly clashing over their political views, which will see them pushed to the limits despite the attraction toward each other. The story will focus on the divide created within America in a post-war environment, with the panic over spies and pointing fingers towards anyone that might be seen as different. This will pose an interesting look at relationships and how they have evolved over the years, how couples will have differences and need to respect the others’ opinions. The leading performances from Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford are great showing the natural chemistry they have in their characters, while showing the differences between them.

Final Thoughts – The Way We Were is a love story with plenty of political messages.

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Movie Review

Badlands (1973) Movie Review

Director: Terrence Malick

Writer: Terrence Malick (Screenplay)

Starring: Martin Sheen, Sissy Spacek, Warren Oates, Ramon Bieri, Alan Vint, Gary Littlejohn

Plot: An impressionable teenage girl from a dead-end town and her older greaser boyfriend embark on a killing spree in the South Dakota badlands.


Tagline – He was 25 years old. He combed his hair like James Dean. She was 15. She took music lessons and could twirl a baton. For a while they lived together in a tree house. In 1959, she watched while he killed a lot of people.

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict: Classic

Story: Badlands starts as we meet drifter Kit (Sheen) who moves between jobs with his latest being a garbage man, he meets the 15-year-old Holly (Spacek) on his rounds and the two start hanging out, as he starts a new job as a cowboy.

After Holly’s Father (Oates) finds out about their relationship, he forbids it, which sees Kit kill him and the lovers go on the run, living off the land, until the police start tracking down their criminal activities.

Thoughts on Badlands

Characters – Kit is a 25-year-old drifter, he hasn’t been able to hold down a job for long and now he has lost his latest one, until he meets Holly, where he tries his hand on the latest job, he gets jealous and protective of Holly, killing anyone who gets in their way. Holly is the 15-year-old that takes a shine to Kit, because of his James Dean looks and that he doesn’t just want her for sex, she will follow him to the ends of the Earth if this means they can be together, also telling the story. We only meet a few other characters along the way, with Holly’s father and helpful people that are mostly the victims of Kit’s aggressive behaviour.

Performances – Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek are both wonderful in the leading roles of this film, they show the opposites the two have, while the bond between them feels strong.

Story – The story here follows a drifter that falls in love with a teenage girl and the two must go on the run from the law, moving from state to state. First thing we must address, is the fact that a 25-year-old gets involved in a relationship with a 15-year-old, this is asked more questions than it answers with just how wrong this is. With the two lovers on the run from the law, it does show the rebellious ways of the younger generation through America and just how far they would go to escape what is going to be a slow future. It does have a nice happy feel to everything, despite the darker tone of everything happening.

Crime – The crime side of the film follows Kit start from just being somebody who might steal the odd thing, before turning into a cold-blooded killer that isn’t going to stop for anyone.

Settings – The film takes us through the southern states of America, showing how the open round could offer freedoms the pair want.


Scene of the Movie – The treehouse.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – We don’t seem to have any charges for taking a minor across state lines.

Final Thoughts – This is a nice crime story about two lovers, even though it does have a big creepy side to it, when you look into the ages of the two main characters.

Overall: Love and Crime.

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Movie Review

American Graffiti (1973) Movie Review

Director: George Lucas

Writer: George Lucas, Gloria Katz, Willard Huyck (Screenplay)

Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips

Plot: A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.

Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict: Fun 70’s Comedy

Story: American Graffiti starts in the final day of summer vacation, Curt (Dreyfuss), Steve (Howard), John (Le Mat) and Terry (Smith) are all about to start the next stage of their lives, so before they do they want to spend one last night on the strip of their own town.

Over the night Curt must decide whether he wants to follow through with his college plans, Steve is caught up trying to keep his relationship with Laurie (Williams) together or call it quits before the move, John is facing the reality he isn’t ready to face the future without his friend and Terry is trying to find his cool after getting to look after Steve’s car, trying his luck with the ladies after years of rejection.

Thoughts on American Graffiti

Characters – Curt has always enjoyed his time on the strip, he knows everybody and is one of the most popular guys around, he was due to head of the college, but hasn’t made his mind up yet, despite it needing to be read for his next day, he ends up trying to spend his time chasing a mysterious woman around town all night. Steve has always planned his life out, he is going off to college and he is ready to make his relationship more open while they are separated, here he gets to learn about his relationship even if his best friend might not be joining him in college. John is the friend that has always been known for his ability with cars, he has a reputation around town with the police following him around and now he is starting to see the future where his friends are doing a lot more than him and gets stuck with a younger girl for the night, where he starts to see a brighter side to his future. Terry has always been the butt of most of the jokes between the friends, now he gets Steve’s car to look after he spends the night trying to find himself a woman and impress her with his lines.

Performances – When we look at the cast, Richard Dreyfuss is great through the film showing us a character that can get plenty of laughs and is quick on his feet. Ron Howard brings the character we know him for is always going to be easy for him to play. Paul Le Mat brings the typical bad boy to life that does show how he bought us a level of sympathy to the character. Charles Martin Smith brings the geeky sounding character out which become one of the most popular characters in these teen comedies for years to come.

Story – The story here follows four friends on the last day of summer before college is due to start, we see how the four have a different adventure on this night, which will help them discover what they want next in their lives. This is a story that shows just how difficult life is when you take the next step, leaving school is one of the first and biggest anybody will take, with the uncertainty being there for everybody involved, part of you will want to stay close to what you already had, while other sides of this will see you wanting to see what is next. This story mixes all of this together through the film with little effort and makes you believe these people could be real, while certain aspects will have dated here, with a new generation, back n the 1970s this would have been the idea of the house party in the 80s or 90s and wild adventure the modern youth would be having.

Comedy – The comedy in this film would be right up there with any teen comedies, it would have gotten more laughs for when it was released, rather than the ones you would expect to see now.

Settings – The film is set in one hang out location known as the strip, this will be the location where we get all the hang outs you would expect for teens in this generation.


Scene of the Movie – Terry’s attempts to get boozes.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – The world involved does seem to have dated.

Final Thoughts – This is a wonderful look at teenage life in the 70s it shows us just how close the friendships were, how hard the changes coming were and just what was left for the people in life.

Overall: Beautiful Look at the 70s.

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Movie Review

Rumble in Hong Kong (1973) Movie Review

Director: Mu Chu

Writer: Mu Chu (Screenplay)

Starring: Charlie Chin, Qiu Yuen, Betty Pei Ti, Chin Hu, Jackie Chan, Nan Chiang

Plot: Ho Mei Fong is a young woman in trouble, running from a gang of criminals with something of importance hidden in her purse. She dies in Chien Chen’s taxi while trying to escape, but not before hiding the purse. Chien Chen is now involved whether he likes it or not, along with Ho Mei’s sister, who turns out to be an undercover Hong Kong policewoman. They must solve the mystery of the missing purse and what it contained, while being pursued by the criminals and their hired thugs 


Tagline – Before The Bronx there was..

Runtime: 1 Hour 20 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict: Martial Arts 101

Story: Rumble in Hong Kong starts when Chien Chen (Chin) picks up a woman in distress running from a gang in Hong Kong in his taxi, she is wounded and dies in his cab, hiding her purse before doing so. The gang led by (Chan) comes after him next demanding the purse, leaving him beaten and bruised, before the woman’s sister Jo Mai-Hua (Yuen) arrives to take on the gang and find out what her sister was hiding.

Thoughts on Rumble in Hong Kong

Characters – Chien Chen is an innocent taxi driver, he keeps his nose down can handle himself one on one in a fight, but finds himself being targeted by a gang of one of his passengers, he doesn’t know who to believe either as they are desperate to get what he doesn’t know he has. Ho Mai-Hua is the sister of the victim (I think, this isn’t the best copy the film I have seen) who has become distant from her and is looking for answers about her disappearance. The gang is led by the thugs who will beat up anybody who gets in their way no matter who they are or what they want.

Performances – This is a film where the performances can only be judge on the martial arts skills, the fights all look good for the era without being anything more than they should be, while the basic side of the acting is simple enough. Let’s be honest I only watched this because Jackie Chan was plastered on the poster.

Story – The story here follows an innocent man that finds himself in the middle of a battle between a gang and a policewoman trying to end the battle which to her sister’s life. The story does everything it needs to without doing anything fancy, we know how this will play out without being anything fancy and by the end of the film you will be left feeling satisfied enough by the outcome. This is a story which does follow one person as each chapters get unlocked without showing us too much up front.

Action – The action in the film is martial done to the basic, it never feels like they are as hard hitting as the modern style, but does everything he needs to.

Settings – We are set in Hong Kong for most of this film as we see the different types of people that might get met through the time here.


Scene of the Movie – First proper fight.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – We don’t see enough Jackie Chan, considering he is on the cover.

Final Thoughts – This is a simple martial arts movie with nothing more than the simple stuff being done well, it is being sold on Jackie Chan, who is barely in the film either.

Overall: Simple Action.