“One Hundred & One Dalmatians” (1961)

One Hundred & One Dalmatians

Also Known As: 101 Dalmatians

Brief Description:

When a litter of Dalmatian puppies are abducted by the minions of Cruella De Vil, the owners must find them before she uses them for a diabolical fashion statement.

Date: 1961

Genre: American animated adventure comedy film

Running Time: 1 hour 19 minutes

Cast: 

Rod Taylor (Pongo)

J. Pat O'Malley (Colonel/Jasper/Mechanic)

Betty Lou Gerson (Cruella De Vil/Miss Birdwell)

Martha Wentworth (Nanny/Queenie/Lucy)

Ben Wright (Roger Radcliffe/Man)

Cate Bauer (Perdita)

David Frankham (Sgt. Tibbs)

Frederick Worlock (Horace/Inspector Graves)

Lisa Davis (Anita Radcliffe)

Tom Conway (Quizmaster/Collie)

Tudor Owen (Towser/Percival Fauncewater)

George Pelling (Danny)

Ramsay Hill (Television Announcer/Labrador)

Sylvia Marriott (Countess)

Queenie Leonard (Princess)

Marjorie Bennett (Duchess)

Mickey Maga (Patch)

Barbara Beaird (Rolly)

Mimi Gibson (Lucky)

Sandra Abbott (Penny)

Thurl Ravenscroft (Captain)

Bill Lee (Roger Radcliffe's singing voice)

Max Smith (Pongo's barks)

Bob Stevens (Narrator)

Paul Wexler (Car Mechanic)

Mary Wickes (Freckles)

Barbara Luddy (Rover)

Lisa Daniels (Perdita)

Helene Stanley (Poodle dog owner)

Don Barclay (Truck Driver)

Dal McKennon (Barking Dogs)

Jeanne Bruns (Radio Singer)

Director: Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske, & Clyde Geronimi

Production/Distribution Company: Walt Disney Productions & Buena Vista Distribution

Based On: The Hundred & One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

Wikipedia Page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

Aw, I love the 1950s London aesthetic!! Also, the snowstorm made me more incredibly sad than I've felt for characters in a long time. Also, the marriage scene is GORGEOUS.

Characters: 4/5

Roger, though he shows spine when Cruella shows up, wasn't my favourite. Anita's sweet though, like Perdita. Pongo was definitely my fav, and I enjoyed meeting all the other animals—dogs, cats, and cows. 😉 Naturally, the villains are awful; but Nanny is fun! 

Plot: 4/5

Nice and exciting! Even though I'd already seen the film once and read the books several times, I was still excited by the chase and watched anxiously for the dogs to get home. Also, the scene where they almost lose a newborn pup and Roger keeps it alive was so surprisingly sweet and poignant 💙 

Romance: 4/5

Cute :) 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Smoking—I can't think of anything else. 

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Cruella wants to kill the dogs; Nanny gets knocked around. 

Overall: 4/5

Overall, this was a fun little vintagey Disney film that I quite enjoyed! 

“Treasure Island” (1972)

Treasure Island 

Brief Description:

Young Jim Hawkins has an unforgettable encounter with pirate Captain Long John Silver and his murderous mates.

Date: 1972

Genre: historical adventure film

Running time: 1 hour 34 minutes 

Cast: 

Orson Welles as Long John Silver

Kim Burfield as Jim Hawkins

Lionel Stander as Billy Bones

Walter Slezak as Squire Trelawney

Ángel del Pozo as Doctor Livesey

Rik Battaglia as Captain Smollett

Jean Lefebvre as Ben Gunn

Maria Rohm as Mrs. Hawkins

Paul Muller as Blind Pew

Michel Garland as George Merry

Aldo Sambrell as Israel Hands

Director: John Hough

Production company: National General Pictures

Based on: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Wikipedia page

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

Having loved the book, I was eager to try this film and see what I thought of it. The aesthetic and setting was on point—I really enjoyed the island and the ship! 

Characters: 4/5

Jim Hawkins was adorable (I hadn't realized what a little kid he was!). I loved Dr. Livesay in the book, and I loved him here. I liked the Squire most of the time, though he also drove me crazy; but I was surprised by how much I loved the captain! As for Silver, I struggled a lot. Though Tubi has captions, they weren't very good, and I only got about 1 in 10 words he said thanks to his mumbling, so I missed out on a good deal since he's the main character. Ben Gumm was well done though, and so were the other sailors. 

Plot: 4/5

I honestly don't remember the book's plot very well, but what little I did meshed well with the film's plot. I really enjoyed the adventure/swashbuckling aspect and it certainly had my adrenaline and my heart going. I had to take a few breaks towards the end!! 

Content: 3/5 (medium)

Some language; drinking.

Violence: 3/5 (medium)

On-screen murder; habitual violence. 

Overall: 4/5

While probably okay for older kids, it's not quite as family friendly as I expected. But I enjoyed it; it made me want to reread the book; and I'm sure I will rewatch this! 

“North & South” (2004)

North & South

Brief Description:

The love story of Margaret Hale, a middle-class southerner who is forced to move to the northern town of Milton.

Date: 2004

Genre: British television serial historical drama book adaptation

Running time: 3 hours 52 minutes

Cast: 

Daniela Denby-Ashe (Margaret Hale)

Richard Armitage (John Thornton)

Sinéad Cusack (Hannah Thornton)

Brendan Coyle (Nicholas Higgins)

Tim Pigott-Smith (Richard Hale)

Pauline Quirke (Dixon)

Jo Joyner (Fanny Thornton)

Kay Lyon (Mary Higgins)

Tom Charnock (Williams)

William Houston (John Boucher)

Emma Owen (Edith Lennox)

Lesley Manville (Maria Hale)

Anna Maxwell Martin (Bessy Higgins)

Brian Protheroe (Mr. Bell)

Jane Booker (Mrs Shaw)

John Light (Henry Lennox)

Will Tacey (Mr. Latimer)

Lucy Brown (Ann Latimer)

Tim Faraday (Watson)

Rupert Evans (Frederick Hale)

Caroline Pegg (Mrs Boucher)

Travis Oliver (Captain Lennox)

David Crellin (Slickson)

Spencer Wild (Tom Boucher)

Director: Brian Percival

Production company: BBC

Based on: North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Wikipedia page

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

I have heard about this show from several friends in the most glowing terms, and I am so happy I finally watched it, because it's amazing! I loved the book so much and this show complements it so well. I absolutely love the setting and gorgeous outfits; I could watch this over and over to enjoy the background. 💙 

Characters: 5/5

Daniela Denby-Ashe is a perfect Margaret Hale. She's so beautiful and innocent and sweet, and yet so fiery! I never thought of John Thornton as broody, but Richard Armitage plays him so well. Sinéad Cusack makes a most striking Mrs. Thornton; Brendan Coyle is the most charismatic and loveable Nicholas Higgins despite the character's flaws; and Mr. + Mrs. Hale are better than in the book, while Dixon is so sweet. I hated Fanny SO MUCH but the Higgins girls were sweet and so is Mr. Bell!

Plot: 5/5

I honestly don't really remember the plot of North & South but I think this changes the story just a tiny bit. I really don't care, though. It captures the reality of Victorian England well and mixed grief, humour, and sweetness so well. 

Romance: 5/5

While I HATED the misunderstandings and pride that kept them apart so long, the last few minutes of the last episode made up for everything. I never understood why everyone talks about The Hand Flex™️; but the Offering a Hedge Rose when she was grieving the fact that they were missing is The Sweetest Thing Ever and I grinned like a fool over it 💙 this story reminds me of Pride & Prejudice, kind of like a sort of retelling! Also, either this book or Jane Eyre has a very mouthy kiss. I forget which. 

Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

Just like the book, there's a lot of great thoughts about the mills and strikes. 

Content: 5/5 (low)

I think there's a few instances of swearing. 

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Mild violence when a mob tries to attack Thornton; a man is found suicided by drowning; mention of children starving.  

Overall: 5/5

This was such a beautiful experience and I love it so, so much 💙 

“Jane Eyre” (1983)

Jane Eyre 

Brief Description:

A young governess falls in love with her mysterious employer, but a terrible secret puts their happiness at risk.

Date: 1983

Genre: British television serial adaptation

Running time: 5 hours 11 minutes

Cast: 

Zelah Clarke (Jane Eyre)

Timothy Dalton (Mr. Rochester)

Carol Gillies (Grace Poole)

James Marcus (John)

Shady (Pilot)

Jean Harvey (Mrs. Fairfax)

Colin Jeavons (Briggs)

Damien Thomas (Mason)

Joolia Cappleman (Bertha)

Eve Matheson (Leah)

Morag Hood (Mary Rivers)

Blanche Youinou (Adèle)

Elaine Donnelly (Diana Rivers)

Kate David (Bessie)

Sian Pattenden (Young Jane)

Judy Cornwell (Mrs. Reed)

Andrew Bicknell (St. John Rivers)

Robert James (Brocklehurst)

Lockwood West (Wood)

Mary Tamm (Blanche Ingram)

Anne Dyson (Hannah)

Director: Julian Amyes

Production company: BBC 

Based on: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë  

Wikipedia page

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

This was my first time watching a Jane Eyre adaptation, and I was a bit anxious because JE is one of my top favourite books in the world. But within the very first episode I knew I'd absolutely love this. It was so detailed (11 episodes of ~30 minutes each) and captured the surroundings and atmosphere of the book SO well—especially the clothes and hair! 

Characters: 5/5

Jane is perfect. While not strictly pretty, she's little and fairylike and strong and passionate (and speaks french well enough to understand!). Rochester is a little bit too handsome, but he's brusque and impassioned and is big enough to emphasize Jane's smallness. Adèle (and her nurse!) is a french girl with a perfect accent, of course; and Mrs. Fairfax is so sweet. The other characters all play their parts well (St. John is perfect, but his sisters aren't pretty enough in my opinion) and overall I have no complaints for a single character here. 

Plot: 5/5

It follows the plot of Jane Eyre almost perfectly, and made me want to reread the book SO MUCH because of how accurate it is! 

Romance: 4/5

I would have preferred fewer kisses between Rochester & Jane, but otherwise it's good. (Either this show or North & South have a very mouthy kiss that made me uncomfortable. I forget which, unfortunately.)

Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

Less God than in JE, but still a lot more than I expected! 

Content: 3/5 (medium)

Several instances of swearing; Mason's shirtless following his attack for several minutes.

Violence: 3/5 (medium)

The scene after Mason is attacked is pretty gory. 

Overall: 5/5

I lost my heart to this adaptation and I already want to rewatch it 💙 

“The Mystery of the Thirteenth Guest” (1943)

The Mystery of the Thirteenth Guest

Brief Description:

Thirteen years after a dinner party in which the thirteenth guest failed to arrive, the remaining guests are being murdered one by one, and their bodies being placed at the same dinner table in the appropriate seats they occupied thirteen years prior.

(from Archive)

Date: 1943

Genre: American crime/mystery comedy thriller

Running time: 1 hour 1 minute

Cast: 

Helen Parrish (Marie Morgan)

Dick Purcell (Johnny Smith)

Tim Ryan (Lt. Burke)

Frank Faylen (Speed DuGan aka McGinis)

Jacqueline Dalya (Marjory Morgan)

Paul McVey (Adam Morgan)

John Duncan (Harold Morgan)

John Dawson (Tom Jackson)

Cyril Ring (John Barksdale)

Addison Richards (D.A.)

Lloyd Ingraham (Grandfather Morgan)

Robert J. Anderson (young Harold)

Shirley Jean Anderson (young Marie)

Mike Donovan (Desk Sergeant)

Lester Dorr (Carter)

Dick Gordon (Uncle John)

Herbert Heyes (Dr. Sherwood)

Donald Kerr (Photographer)

Wilbur Mack (Coroner)

Richard Neill (Uncle Wayne)

Dick Rush (Cop)

Fred Toones (Valet)

Director: William Beaudine

Production company: Monogram Pictures

Based on: The Thirteenth Guest by Armitage Trail

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

I watched this years ago and remembered really liking it, so when I watched it again I allowed my little sisters to watch over my shoulder. 😉 The setting is creepy and dusty and reminds me of Great Expectations, which is fun. 

Characters: 4/5

The only really likeable characters in this whole thing are Marie, Johnny, and Harold, who's an adorable little brother. Burke, though the typical 1930s/1940s American cop in his loudness and rudeness, isn't over the top (especially in comparison to Bill Street) and I enjoyed his banter with Johnny, as well as Speed's comedic relief. Everyone else is pretty nasty, as Grandfather Morgan stated... 

Plot: 4.5/5

Honestly I feel like this should be creepy, but it's got too much comedy to be very creepy. Mostly it's just baffling. I enjoy the whole hidden room aspect, and the murder system itself is very interesting. 

Romance: 4/5

Tiny but cute thread of romance between Johnny & Marie. 

Content: 4/5 (low)

1 kiss. 

Violence: 4/5 (low)

A masked killer; attempted strangling; people die onscreen (very staged).  

Overall: 4.5/5

Overall, I'm still a fan. It's fun! Apparently there's a 1930s version, so I want to watch that too at some point.

“Mr. Wong, Detective” (1938)

Mr. Wong, Detective

Brief Description:

When a chemical manufacturer is killed after asking detective James Wong to help him, Wong investigates this and two subsequent murders.

Date: 1938

Genre: American crime film

Running time: 1 hour 10 minutes 

Cast: 

Boris Karloff: Mr. James Lee Wong 

Grant Withers: Capt. Sam Street 

Maxine Jennings: Myra Ross 

Evelyn Brent: Olga/Countess Dubois

George Lloyd: Devlin 

Lucien Prival: Anton Mohl 

John St. Polis: Carl Roemer

William Gould: Theodore Meisle

Hooper Atchley: Christian Wilk

John Hamilton: Simon Dayton 

Wilbur Mack: Russell 

Lee Tung Foo: Tchin

Lynton Brent: Tommy 

Grace Wood: Mrs. Roemer

Frank Bruno: Lescardi

Ed Cassidy: Ambulance Doctor

Wheaton Chambers: Chemistry

Herbert Evans: Wilk's Butler

Director: William Nigh

Production company: Monogram Pictures

Based on: the James Lee Wong series by Hugh Wiley 

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

This is apparently the first Mr. Wong film, and it's much better than “Mr. Wong in Chinatown”—though to be honest that's not saying much. Personally, I enjoyed the scenes in Wilk's house and Dayton's office. Wong's house was interesting too. 

Characters: 3.5/5

Mr. Wong plays a much more convincing and interesting detective here. While still using his calm and politeness to soothe victims and disarm villains, he does a lot more sleuthing and expresses more of his deductions aloud. Captain Street is still heavily unlikeable but at least a little toned down in comparison to “Mr. Wong in Chinatown.” (He also has a new first name, and a new fiancée. Headcanon: His name is Samuel William Street and Myra dumps him after this film. He and Roberta had one date in the other film and she calls him "Bill" to annoy him). The multitude of villains made for plenty of different, interesting characters (Lescardi and Russians felt real stereotyped, but also added a faint  WWII flavour at the mention that they wanted the poison gas for their country's armies). Myra was nice enough but it annoyed me that she was so snippy with Street for working late. You're literally about to marry a detective, honey, and he's in the middle of a massive murder investigation. Like... he deserves to be snipped at for how he talks to you (though I'll grant that he did apologize at one point, which is more than he ever did for Bobbie) but it's not his fault he's missing your date night. 

Plot: 3/5

The plot started out straightforward but began to crumble towards the end. The third death didn't make any sense and no one really explained it (and if Wong understood by then how it happened, why did he do nothing?). It also wasn't well explained what the different villains did or how they did it. I did not enjoy the interrogation scenes (not that any scene with Street in it was any good... yes, I really hate the character that much) and there were too many dark scenes where someone poked through a room and you weren't sure who and what they were doing. That said, the final climax with the poison gas was somewhat interesting. 

Romance: 3/5

Myra & Street don't seem to have a healthy relationship going on, but anyways, the only slightly romantic thing that happens is a kiss on the cheek. 

Content: 4/5 (low)

I honestly can't recall; possibly, but I don’t remember and I don't care to watch this again to find out. 

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Murder; threats.  

Overall: 3.5/5

An improvement on the first Mr. Wong film I watched, though contradictory; I won't rewatch it, but I'd like to watch the rest of the series out of curiosity. 

“Bulldog Drummond at Bay” (1937)

Bulldog Drummond at Bay

Brief Description:

Bulldog Drummond goes up against a gang of foreign agents who kidnap an inventor to steal the plans for a top-secret robot aircraft.

(from Wikipedia)

Date: 1937

Genre: British mystery film

Running time: 1 hour 18 minutes

Cast: 

John Lodge as Drummond 

Dorothy Mackaill as Doris 

Victor Jory as Gregoroff 

Claud Allister as Algy 

Richard Bird as Caldwell 

Hugh Miller as Kalinsky 

Leslie Perrins as Maj. Grayson 

Brian Buchel as Meredith 

Jim Gérald as Veight 

Maire O'Neill as Norah

Annie Esmond as Mrs. Caldwell 

Frank Cochrane as Dr. Belfrus 

William Dewhurst as Portside 

Wilfrid Hyde-White as Conrad

Director: Norman Lee

Production company: Associated British Picture Corporation

Based on: Bulldog Drummond at Bay by Herman C. McNeile

Wikipedia page

(Watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

I watched this years ago and finally got around to viewing it again. I honestly had no idea what to expect, beyond the fact that it's a Bulldog Drummond film, and I had vague memories of a Bulldog film where he's caught in a castle dungeon...? Anyways, I enjoyed the various settings—the castle, the Scottish countryside, and the British club. 

Characters: 5/5

John Lodge is an awesome actor—and actually one of the few leading 1930s men I actually find handsome. Dorothy Mackaill was fascinating as Doris, and the two villains were just scary enough. Algy annoyed me, being way over-the-top stupid, but Reginald Portside was interesting. 

Plot: 5/5

A period magazine said this film could be "confidently relied upon to keep the unsophisticated on the edge of their seats" and I'd be insulted if I wasn't busy feeling sorry for whoever thought they were too sophisticated to enjoy this film. Personally, I really enjoyed it. With a hunted scientist being pressed to divulge his top-secret discoveries, a pacifists club used as a cover, the British Intelligence and a civilian detective, a near-death experience, a castle fire, and a delightful twist, this film delivered so many fun clichés, alongside with plenty of humour and drama.

Romance: 5/5

I can't say much because #spoilers, but it was such fun! 

Content: 5/5 (low)

Drinking & smoking; maybe some lying.

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Mild violence against pretty much everyone; several scenes where the scientist is threatened and at least one where he's about to be tortured. 

Overall: 4.5/5

I'd give this 5 stars but I'd like to keep that for my top favourite films. But I love this one and I will definitely watch it again!