Sounder (1972) Cicely Tyson

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Lonne Elder III (screenplay), William H. Armstrong (novel)

Stars:

Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Kevin Hooks

A family in 1933 Louisiana is poor and have a hard time getting food for their children. The father (Paul Winfield) is sent to jail for stealing food. As the sheriff (James Best) takes him to jail a deputy shoots the family dog, Sounder, who runs away. The fathers son (Kevin Hooks) goes on a trek to find his daddy, who was put in a work camp. Sounder is a powerful film that depicts life in the south during the depression. The story is more about a boy who wants to better himself with school, then it is about Sounder. Cicely Tyson is wonderful as the mother and very convincing in her part, in fact everyone in this film does a first rate job. Sounder is a film the whole family can enjoy and it teaches good morals. ★★★   

Paul Winfield & Kevin Hooks

The Mummy's Tomb (1942) Lon Chaney Jr.

Director:

Harold Young

Writers:

Neil P. Varnick (story), Griffin Jay (screenplay) 

Stars:

Lon Chaney Jr., Dick Foran, John Hubbard

Steve Banning (Dick Foran) tells the story of his expedition to find the Mummy, which was kept alive by a high priest of an obscure sect. Banning ends up destroying the Mummy, or so he thought. Thirty years forward we have a new high priest and he has sworn revenge on all Banning's for desecrating the Mummy's tomb. The priest takes the Mummy to Mapleton, Massachusetts to fulfill its evil purpose. The Mummy's Tomb is a continuation of The Mummy's Hand (1940). The new high priest is competently played by Turhan Bey, who looks really evil. Isobel is played by the beautiful Elyse Knox, who in real life is the actor Mark Harmon's mother.  Lon Chaney Jr. is excellent as the Mummy and the makeup looks realistic. This may not be as good as The Mummy (1932) but its still fun. ★★★

Lon Chaney Jr. with Elyse Knox      

Spencer Tracy Biography

Limelight (1952) Charles Chaplin

Director:

Charles Chaplin

Writer:

Charles Chaplin (original story and screenplay)

Stars:

Charles Chaplin, Claire Bloom, Nigel Bruce

Chaplin plays the Great Calvero, an ageing music-hall star who is washed-up. Calvero comes home drunk and finds a young woman trying to kill herself. He takes her in and through his kindness and wise words restores her health and confidence. In the process it gives Calvero the strength to go back to the stage. Limelight is an unforgettable film, that you can tell Chaplin poured his soul into. The movie gives a feeling that life is hard but worth living. Calvero states, "What do you want meaning for? Life is a desire, not a meaning. Desire is the theme of all life!", and "Think of the power that's in the universe! Turning the Earth. Making the trees grow. Well that's the same power within you! If you'd only have courage and the will to use it!", lines like that really make you think about life, what a wonderful movie. ★★★★     

                                                      Claire Bloom & Charles Chaplin