Author: VHS Tracking
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Murder By Contract (1958)
My favourite moment in Murder By Contract (1958) was when Claude (Vince Edwards), the cool out-of-town contract killer wearing a suit and a pair of shades, is picked up by two hoods (Philip Pine and Herschel Bernadi) who will oversee his assassination of a jury witness. Claude wants to tour the sights of LA. “I’d… Read.
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Let The Fire Burn (2013)
While previously familiar with the story thanks to The Dollop podcast episode on ‘John Africa’, the leader and creator of MOVE, one of the main sources of information for the podcast would have no doubt been this documentary, Let The Fire Burn (2013). The focus of the film is on a small organisation called MOVE,… Read.
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Battles Without Honor And Humanity (1973)
Taking up Lewis Rice O’Donnell’s strong recommendation, I was looking forward to experiencing the Yakuza Papers series of films. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku (of Battle Royale and Doberman Cop), Battles Without Honor And Humanity (1973; Jingi Naki Tatakai) is the first film, which follows the journey of ex-soldier Shozo Hirono (played by Bunta Sugawara) and… Read.
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Red Desert (1964)
Michelangelo Antonioni is a divisive auteur and I can understand why some people don’t like him – wealthy people being bored in slow narratives where nothing much happens. But I really like L’Eclisse and The Passenger as absorbing portraits of alienation. Red Desert (1964; Il deserto rosso) was advertised as Antonioni’s first film in colour,… Read.
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The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1965)
Richard Burton is perfectly dour and weary in the title role of the John Le Carre adaptation, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1965). Shot in black and white by cinematographer Oswald Morris and directed by Martin Ritt (who made Hud and Hombre), the film is set during the Cold War and follows… Read.
