“The Fox & the Hound” (1981)

The Fox & the Hound  

Brief Description:

A fox named Tod and a hound named Copper vow to be best friends forever. But as Copper grows into a hunting dog, their unlikely friendship faces the ultimate test.

Date:

Genre: American animated buddy drama film

Running time: 1 hour 23 minutes 

Cast: 

Mickey Rooney (Tod)

Keith Mitchell (Young Tod)

Kurt Russell (Copper)

Corey Feldman (Young Copper)

Pearl Bailey (Big Mama)

Jack Albertson (Amos Slade)

Sandy Duncan (Vixey)

Jeanette Nolan (Widow Tweed)

Pat Buttram (Chief)

John Fiedler (Porcupine)

John McIntire (Badger)

Dick Bakalyan (Dinky)

Paul Winchell (Boomer)

Director: Ted Berman, Richard Rich, & Art Stevens

Production company: Walt Disney Productions

Based on: The Fox & the Hound by Daniel P. Mannix

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 3/5

Cute little American southern backwoods setting. :)

Characters: 3.5/5

Copper and Tod are nice enough fellows, and I like Widow Tweed, especially when she faces off Amos. He’s pretty nasty but the ending gives me hope for him. ;) Big Mama is nice, and D & B are so much fun. XD

Plot: 3.5/5

Meh. The first time I watched this, I was super disappointed because I thought it was a super sweet, sad film. It’s a comedic, dramatic film. The second time, I enjoyed the comedy but still felt the drama was through the roof, especially for a kids’ film. Though I understand why it’s there. I really like the subplot of Dinky, Boomer, and Squeaks though. 

Romance: 3/5

They’re cute. 

Theme/Message/Topics: 4/5

Letting go of friends after a certain season, even best friends… that touched me though. 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Mild language (gosh, darn, etc). 

Violence: 3/5 (medium)

Amos, Chief, & Copper are hunters; guns, traps, skinning, attacking, etc, galore. Plus a wild bear fight at the end. 

Overall: 3/5

It’s fun enough, it’s just not my favourite and I don’t know if I’ll rewatch it. 

“The Man Who Invented Christmas” (2017)

The Man Who Invented Christmas 

Brief Description:

In 1843 London, author Charles Dickens finds himself in financial trouble after writing three unsuccessful novels in a row. Desperate for a hit, Dickens relies on real-life inspiration and his vivid imagination to bring Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and other classic characters to life in “A Christmas Carol,” forever changing the holiday season into the celebration known today.

Date: 2017

Genre: Christmas biographical comedy-drama film 

Running time: 1 hour 44 minutes 

Cast: 

Dan Stevens (Dickens)

Ely Solan (Young Dickens)

Mark Schrier (Presenter)

Patrick Joseph Byrnes (Stage Manager)

Miriam Margolyes (Mrs. Fisk)

Morfydd Clark (Kate Dickens)

Justin Edwards (John Forster / Ghost of Christmas Present)

Cosimo Massimo Fusco (Signor Mazzini)

Jasper Hughes Cotter (Walter Dickens)

James Heffernan (Charley Dickens)

Aleah Lennon (Mary “Mamie" Dickens)

Ella Mai Delaney (Katey Dickens)

Donna Marie Sludds (Maid)

David McSavage (William Hall)

Ian McNeice (Edward Chapman)

Miles Jupp (Thackeray)

Pat Mooney (Garrick Club Waiter)

Anna Murphy (Tara / Ghost of Christmas Past)

Jonathan Pryce (Dickens’ father)

Ger Ryan (Dickens’ mother)

Sam McGillicuddy (Young Charles’ Brother)

Rory O’Neill (Young Charles’ Brother)

Nancy Quinney (Young Charles’ Sister)

Alanna Manning (Young Charles’ Sister)

Glynis Casson (Society Lady)

Amelia Crowley (Mrs. Grimsby)

Bill Paterson (Mr. Grimsby)

Derek Hanna (Toothless Man)

Derek O’Sullivan (Grave Digger)

John Delaney (Grave Digger)

Christopher Plummer (Scrooge)

Gerard Lee (Cleric)

Stephen Ball (Clerk)

Martin Philips (Pawn Broker)

Donald Sumpter (Haddock / Jacob Marley)

Kevin McCormack (Bailiff)

Aideen Wylde (Charlotte Wigmore)

Simon Callow (John Leech)

Katie McGuinness (Fanny Dickens / Mrs. Cratchit)

Marcus Lamb (Rev. Henry Burnett / Cratchit)

Pearse Kearney (Henry Jr. / Tiny Tim)

Paul Kealyn (Warren’s Foreman)

Richard Coombs (Punch / Judy)

Michael Judd (Pie Man)

Eddie Jackson (Scam Artist)

Anthony Morris (Newsagent)

John Henshaw (Butcher / Mr. Fezziwig)

Annette Badland (Butcher’s Wife / Mrs. Fezziwig)

Linda Gough (Charwoman)

Jack Gunning (Cratchit Child)

Christina Martina (Cratchit Child)

Ava May Taylor (Cratchit Child)

Adam Dolan (Warren’s Factory Boy)

Cameron Simpson (Poll)

Degnan Geraghty (Christmas Tree Vendor)

John Colleary (Constable Copperfield)

Sean Duggan (Mr. Grub)

James Daniel Wilson (Grip the Raven)

Desmond Bird (Lover)

Fabiano Roggio (Ghost of Christmas Future)

Franco Moscon (Nobleman)

Mark Quigley (Middle Class)

Roisin Whelan (Maid)

Samantha Kelly (Minor Role)

Séamus Hanly (Audience Member)

Valeria Bandino (Tart)

Director: Bharat Nalluri

Production company: Parallel Films & Rhombus Media

Based on: The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford

Wikipedia page

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

Another film I watched in March with friends, and it stayed with me for weeks. I LOVED THIS. The 1843 aesthetic is ON POINT! The flashbacks to the past were super well done and the home & warehouse fit the scenes so well (and I want Dickens’ study). 

Characters: 5/5

Okay, Dickens was the absolute best. Dan Stevens CARRIED this film. He was the perfect Dickens. Such an amusing guy—such a writer—and yet very deep and complex. I never expected the analyzation and exploration of his childhood traumas, and how it would affect not just his relationships but his life habits and his writing. The writing portrayal here was absolutely legendary. I have never seen writing portrayed so well in any film, maybe even any book! So many little things, like not being able to find the character until you had the right name… or how books stall because they hold a message you are figuring out yourself just then… it was amazing. So amazing. 5/4ths of my favourite part of the movie. (Yes, I mean 5/4ths). 

All the other actors were great and played splendid supporting roles. All-around amazing cast. 

Plot: 5/5

It was fantastic. Hilarious. Deep. So, so writerly. Historical. Just checked all the boxes and made me understand Dickens so much better. I don’t remember much about it anymore but I know I loved it. 

Romance: 4/5

I felt like the romance between Dickens & Kate was a little lacking—he was very dismissive—but he realized his issues and did try to work on them. 

Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

The messages of forgiving, especially one’s parents for the past, and understanding people’s personalities—amazing. I don’t recall others but I remember being VERY well satisfied with the messages. 

Content: 4/5 (low)

I don’t remember anything but these are the few notes I have: 

Language (Da**ed; Bl**dy; G**’s teeth; G**’s sake; D**il ; G**). Champagne, mentions of fairies & ghosts, drinking. 

Violence: 5/5 (n/a)

I can’t recall. 

Overall: 5/5

I need this film. I need to rewatch it every year. I. love. it. so. crazy. much. I cannot wait to rewatch it someday—hopefully soon!!! 

*To be updated upon rewatch. 

“I Heard the Bells” (2022)

 I Heard the Bells

Brief Description:

Known as America's Poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow leads an idyllic life...until the day his world is shattered by tragedy. With a nation divided by Civil War and his family torn apart, Henry puts down his pen, silenced by grief. But it's the sound of Christmas morning that reignites the poet's lost voice as he discovers the resounding hope of rekindled faith.

Date: 2022

Genre: Drama biographical family film 

Running time: 1 hour 50 minutes 

Cast: 

Stephen Atherholt (Longfellow)

Jonathan Blair (Charley)

Rachel Day Hughes (Fanny)

Zach Meeker (Ernest)

Carl Anderson (Josiah)

Jacob L.T Bates (Civilian on Porch)

Jared Frederick (Massachusetts Infantryman)

Jeremiah Hornbaker (Man at train station)

Daniel Stargel (Sumner)

Wes Wise (Richard)

Director: Joshua Enck

Production company: Sight & Sound 

IMDb page

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

Okay, so to be honest I watched this ages ago, back in March, with friends, and forgot to write a good review then. So I may have forgotten things. But I do remember I loved this! The setting was sooo 1850/60 and beautifulllll…. I loved the houses (and their details!) and the dresses, and the beautiful churches… it was amazing. 

Characters: 5/5

To be honest, I struggled with Longfellow’s character after he gave up on his kids. I realize the reason and empathize with him but he was their father. I felt a couple times that he could have exerted himself a little at certain places. I also felt the actor over-dramatized him at times? Be that as it may, he was a fantastic portrayal of a writer and this made me want to study up about him. And his arc was well done overall.

Fanny was the sweetest, prettiest, most amazing thing ever. <33 Enough said. 

Charles made me mad (hello, oldest sibling, YOU CAN’T JUST RUN FROM YOUR DUTY) but I couldn’t help linking him, overall. But my favourite was Ernest. HE WAS AMAZING. <33 Just an all-around amazing son and brother. Very, very responsible. 

Plot: 5/5

I don’t remember the plot all that well, but I remember absolutely LOVING the adorable home/daily life scenes (my heartttt) and then the drama ramped up during the Incident (which wasn’t too drawn out or too awful on screen, and fortunately I knew it was gonna happen or else I would have been SHATTERED) and the war and Longfellow’s depression and then the CLIMAX and the ending was sososososo well done and wrapped up perfectly and touched so many threads and YESSSSSS. 

Romance: 5/5

Fanny & Longfellow are the cutest thing ever. <3 

Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

UGH YES! Okay, I need to read Longfellow. First of all, I love I Heard the Bells and The Children’s Hour and several other of his poems, which I already knew. But this one introduced me to some new ones, like “the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts.” The messages on hope and forgiveness and Christmas and Christianity and salvation were all EPICCCCC and beautifully woven in. 

Favourite Quotes:

The world need poets, not politicians. 

Look not mournfully into the Past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the Present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy Future, without fear, and with a manly heart.

Content: 5/5 

none! 

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Mild war violence & wounds, nothing graphic. 

Overall: 5/5

One of my top favourite films ever and I need my own copy so I can watch it again and again. <33

*Review to be updated when I rewatch!

“Wanted for Murder” (1946)

Wanted for Murder

Brief Description:

A classic Gothic thriller about the psychotic grandson of a Victorian-era hangman who copies him by strangling women and tries not to kill his new girlfriend.

(from Tubi)

Date: 1946

Genre: British crime film 

Running time: 1 hour 42 minutes 

Cast: 

Eric Portman (Victor)

Dulcie Gray (Anne)

Derek Farr (Jack)

Roland Culver (Conway)

Stanley Holloway (Sullivan)

Barbara Everest (Mrs. Colebrooke)

Bonar Colleano (Mappolo)

Jenny Laird (Jeannie)

Kathleen Harrison (Florrie)

Bill Shine (Ellis)

Viola Lyel (Mabel)

John Salew (Walters)

John Ruddock (Glover)

Edna Wood (Miss Kemp)

George Carney (Boat Rental Agent)

Wilfrid Hyde-White (Guide in Madame Tussaud’s)

Director: Lawrence Huntington

Production company: Excelsior Productions

Based on: Wanted for Murder by Terence De Marney & Percy Robinson

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

Another classic 1940s films. I love that setting so much. And of course it’s London, and during the war, which is referenced slightly through things like soldiers everywhere, some of them foreign; or rationing, which causes people to finish unattended food, drink, and smokes. 

Characters: 4/5

Victor is… complex. I feel very sorry for him and like it’s not quite his fault. But I also think he refused to get any help, and he knew he was getting deeper into it. So I don’t know. I think it’s acted out quite well though. I quite liked Anne, and she was very fair and nice and honest, which is a huge relief! Jack is a great guy too, and was understanding of Anne’s wishes (something Victor wasn’t!). Conway was a great portrayal of the dry, clever inspector, and Sullivan was an amusing sidekick that wasn’t too dumb—Ellis, too. And I liked Mabel and Mrs. Colebrook, too… they were also well done. 

Plot: 4/5

You find out pretty early on who the bad guy is, but it’s very fun to see the cat-and-mouse game the Inspector and villain play—specially the coat scene. I enjoy the bits of humour scattered throughout, but it’s a more serious, sad film… the ending is pretty perfect in my opinion, but I do feel so sorry for Mrs. C! 

Romance: 4/5

Jack & Anne are the cutest! :) 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Smoking, drinking.

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Brief attempted onscreen murder. Partly onscreen murder (non-graphic, only choking heard). Mention by a guide at Mme Tussaud’s that someone “murdered her rival and the poor little baby.” 

Overall: 4/5

It’s rather a long film, but I haven’t much more to say that that… I like it, but it’s too saddening to rewatch often. It’s fascinating, though, hearing about the villain’s father and how they were both so heavily affected by their predecessor… 

“Lured” (1947)

Lured

Brief Description:

British police are after a serial killer who lures his female victims through newspaper personal ads and sends cryptic poem clues to the cops.

Date: 1947

Genre: American film noir 

Running time: 1 hour 42 minutes 

Cast: 

George Sanders (Fleming)

Lucille Ball (Sandra)

Charles Coburn (Temple)

Boris Karloff (Druten)

Sir Cedric Hardwicke (Julian)

Joseph Calleia (Moryani)

Alan Mowbray (Maxwell)

George Zucco (Barrett)

Robert Coote (Detective)

Alan Napier (Gordon)

Tanis Chandler (Lucy)

Ethelreda Leopold (nightclub singer; voice dubbed by Annette Warren)

Director: Douglas Sirk

Production company: Hunt Stromberg Productions

Based on: Pièges, a.k.a. Personal Column, 1939 French film

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

This is one of the best 1940 thrillers I’ve seen. The atmosphere is excellent. It’s humorous, romantic, suspenseful, and complex. I’m not a fan of the taxi-dancing and nightclub setting, but I love the 1940s aesthetic and feel, and the opera & rich homes as well. 

Characters: 4/5

Sandra is really a very fun female lead. She’s a very realistic girl, clever, strong, feminine, sassy—and very American. ;) I’m not a fan of her profession and some of her choices, but as a character she’s very well done. Fleming isn’t the best of male leads I’ve ever come across—he’s a playboy for sure—but he does thoroughly love Sandra (and came to her defence!) and I really enjoy his acting, so much so I’ve hunted up other George Sanders films. Julian did his job splendidly… I love Temple, he’s so grandfatherly and one of the best police inspectors I’ve seen in films… Maxwell and Moryani were  c r e e p y… so was Druten… My favourite person was hands down Barrett—he’s such a fatherly chap! I’m gonna watch many more films with George Zucco. 

Plot: 4.5/5

While the film does have some content and stuff I am not a fan of (see below), I really really enjoy it. I love how the mystery was handled here. Things weren’t explained too fast, and they made sense and were actually quite detective-y, and I wasn’t at all sure who the bad guy was until the very end, the first time I watched. I remembered who this time, but I still had plenty of suspenseful moments!! I love the bits of humour and the running joke about Barrett’s crosswords. I also loved seeing Sandra as an undercover policewoman. I love films that are mysterious and suspenseful without being freaky or gruesome, and Lured hits all the right boxes. 

Romance: 4/5

Okay, so Sandra & Robert are just romantic. Sue me. 

Content: 3/5 (medium)

Smoking, drinking, one euphemism, long kissing (between Fleming & his first girlfriend), low-necked dresses and shorts, a shot of a model in her undergarments, a couple shots of a showgirl in a skimpier outfit, belittling comments by Sandra’s boss and Fleming about/to women. Sandra & Lucy work at a taxi-dance place (aka, men come and pay so much to dance a dance with them). The inspector asks Lucy to show him her knees when he recruits her (to make sure she’s attractive enough for the spot). Sandra tells Barrett Maxwell is interested in her but “not that way, he hasn’t even held my hand yet.” 

Violence: 3.5/5 (low to medium)

Off-screen murders; scene where the killer tries to strangle Sandra.

Overall: 4.5/5

Again, one of my favourite classic mystery/thriller films!

“Thomas & Friends: The Great Discovery” (2008)

Thomas & Friends: 

The Great Discovery

Brief Description:

Thomas rediscovers the long lost original station which in its day was called Great Waterton and he also becomes jealous of a new tank engine called Stanley.

(from IMDb)

Date: 2008

Genre: family animation 

Running time: 1 hour

Narrator: Pierce Brosnan

Director: Steve Asquith

Production company: 

Based on: the Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry

IMDb page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

I have to admit, Sodor is super cute. And I love railways, and the English countryside and houses. And everything is so old-timey and cute. <3

Characters: 3/5

Thomas is an idiot. Except he’s meant to be a kid, so he’s realistic. He’s still an idiot though. Sir Topham Hat has no excuse. He’s also an idiot. Why on earth did he think he was making good decisions, putting and removing the trains in charge?? Like how did he not realise this was gonna make problems between Thomas and Stanley??? Anyways. I love Stanley. He’s so sweet.  

Plot: 3/5

Well, it’s a cute film. Kinda. It’s just really boring and drawn out, and very one-track (pun intended). It’s for kids, I get it… but… it’s still pretty boring for a kids’ film. My siblings liked it better than I did though, so I don’t know. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I got annoyed at Thomas’s brattiness and the conductor’s stupidity too much to enjoy everything else, maybe. I liked the little songs scattered throughout though. They use nice, big words. ;) 

Theme/Message/Topics: 4/5

Good themes of actions have consequences, letting go of being in charge, not getting jealous, not worrying about your place being filled by someone else, and making friends.  

Content: 5/5 (low to none)

Some music I didn’t care for; maybe a euphemism or two? 

Overall: 3/5

I don’t know, I feel disappointed. I thought I’d like this more. I’ll give it another shot though, and see what I think that time. 

“Conspiracy” (1930)

Conspiracy

Brief Description:

After spending years helping her D.A. brother build a case against a drug gang, Margaret Holt kills its leader and goes into hiding at a home for women.

(from Tubi)

Date: 1930

Genre: American pre-Code mystery melodrama film

Running time: 1 hour 8 minutes 

Cast: 

Bessie Love (Margaret)

Ned Sparks (Clavering)

Hugh Trevor (Howell)

Rita La Roy (Nita)

Ivan Lebedeff (Miller)

Gertrude Howard (Martha)

Otto Matieson (Marko)

Jane Keckley (Miss Towne)

Donald MacKenzie (McLeod)

George Irving (Uncle Mark)

Bert Moorehouse (Victor)

Walter Long (Weinberg)

Director: Christy Cabanne

Production company: RKO Pictures

Based on: The Conspiracy by Robert B. Baker & John Emerson

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched on Tubi) 

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

So apparently Conspiracy has always been considered a bad film. Well, it’s one of my favourites. This is so much better than “Alias Mary Smith.” I love the 1930 setting, and I love the Neighbourhood Home, and I LOVE Clavering’s house… 

Characters: 5/5

I also love Margaret. She’s such an intriguing character, the traditional weak, nervous, faintish damsel in distress, absolutely unable to hide her true emotions, yet surprisingly strong in moments of conflict. I just loved her. I also loved Howell. I don’t usually like irreverent young men, but he certainly isn’t fresh, and he means well, and everyone else tolerates and likes him, so… yeah. Besides, he actually made me laugh aloud twice. Mr. Clavering was so much fun—always insulting everyone and having such a tender heart; and he was so clever and eccentric and just amusing. I liked Miss Rose & Victor & Uncle Mark—briefly as they appeared—and Nita + Miller + Weinburg + Marko are good villains. Martha was clearly the stereotypical dumb black character thrown in for comic relief, which decreases my enjoyment of the film for sure. But I enjoyed her humour. (Laughed aloud at “HALLELUJAH!”) And MacLeod was a great take on the stereotypical police captain—not dumb, and very genial. 

Plot: 5/5

The film is certainly melodramatic, but I like it. Margaret Holt kills in self-defence and flees, trying to stay ahead of the police. She manages to for a while—but then the true crime writer, Mr. Clavering, discovers her trail and takes it up unwaveringly… all unknowing that his new stenographer is Margaret. I loved seeing Jack trying to take care of her and rescue her brother (and include her uncle!), and I enjoyed all the ups and downs of humour and thrill as Margaret gets closer and closer to being caught. The ending is epic and SO much fun, as well as suspenseful! And did I mention I love the humour? 

Romance: 5/5

Jack & Margaret 4 ever. ;) 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Smoking, a kiss or two, low-necked dresses (particularly Nita’s), some mild language, racism (although since Mr. C. insults everyone I find it hard to tell if he’s being racist or just lovingly insulting as always, and same with Jack).  

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Non-graphic on-screen murder; threats. 

Overall: 4.5/5

Again, I’d enjoy the film more if Martha was done better; but overall I love it and it’s one of my favourite classic crime films!

“The Bridge of Sighs” (1936)

The Bridge of Sighs

Brief Description:

An assistant D.A. sends a framed man to jail for murder, unaware that he is the brother of his girlfriend— who takes a huge risk to set him free.

(from Tubi)

Date: 1936

Genre: American crime film 

Running time: 1 hour 4 minutes 

Cast: 

Onslow Stevens (Jeff)

Dorothy Tree (Marion)

Jack La Rue (Lacy)

Mary Doran (Evelyn)

Walter Byron (Arny)

Oscar Apfel (Judge)

Maidel Turner (Mrs. Blaisdell)

John Kelly (Tommy)

Paul Fix (Harry)

Robert Homans (Homicide Captain)

Selmer Jackson (Adams)

Bryant Washburn (Neselli)

Kathryn Sheldon (Mabel)

Director: Phil Rosen

Production company: Invincible Pictures 

Wikipedia page

Watch on Tubi

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

I love this film! I totally forgot about it and as usual the first few lines threw me off. ;P It’s along the same lines as “Alias Mary Smith” but much better. There’s more of a ’40s feel to this one (AMS feels more ’30s) and I love the prison setting—so unusual. 

Characters: 5/5

I love Jeff! He’s such a great leading man, and actually very polite and respectful to Marion and everyone else (except the Captain, but he loves it). Marion is also a great leading lady—resourceful, clever, strong-minded—able to control herself well and play her part. I kept expecting her to go all fainting and damsel-in-distress and she never does, which is rather refreshing, even if I don’t hate the damsel-in-distress trope. Harry is a sweet boy, Lacy and Arny are good gangsters (I hate Army because of his evident flirting), and Evelyn is an interesting character. So are Tommy and Harry—I totally did not pick up on who they were last time I watched this. I would have liked more about the Judge though, and how he got Marion into YKW. And I like Adams too, briefly as he shows. And did I mention I love that old Irish captain? 

Plot: 5/5

This is one of the films that has me on the edge of my seat and keeps surprising me with the twists because it doesn’t go like most 1930s romance mysteries. I love Marion’s love for her brother, and Jeff’s fight for justice—and the microphone box, because it’s so cool. The humour is great—not too harshly American (sorry, but American humour can sometimes be a bit too abrasive for me)—and… I can’t say more because I’m afraid of wrecking the plot, but it’s just really awesome! 

Romance: 5/5

Jeff & Marion have such a sweet romance, even if it’s so briefly shown. <3

Content: 5/5 (low)

A kiss or two, some drinking & smoking. 

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Gun threats, a man is murdered (non graphic). 

Overall: 5/5

Again, one of my favourite classic mystery films. It’s so much fun!