Their Love was a Flame that Destroyed!

Starring: Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, Leon Ames, Audrey Totter, Alan Rood, Jeff York

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"With my brains and your looks, we could go places." - Frank Chambers to Cora Smith

Why watch this? Desperation breeds action, often to terrible consequences.

Plot Summary: A drifter named Frank Chambers starts working at a rural California roadside diner and immediately enters into a passionate, illicit affair with Cora, the young and unhappy wife of the older owner, Nick Smith. Craving a new life and financial freedom, the lovers plot to murder Nick and seize the diner, but their amateur attempts at crime are met with suspicions from local authorities.

Carey Wilson, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer;
Loew's Inc.

Stealing. Cheating. Killing. Who Said Romance is Dead?

Starring: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, Samuel L. Jackson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"We're gonna have a little Q&A, and at the risk of sounding redundant, please... make your answers genuine." - Vincenzo Coccotti

Why watch this? This violent cross-country chase combined a Tarantino script and Tony Scott's brutal action direction.

Plot Summary: Clarence Worley is a comic book enthusiast who falls in love with and marries Alabama Whitman, a call girl hired to spend the night with him. Their whirlwind romance takes a dangerous turn when Clarence confronts Alabama's former pimp, leading to violence and an accidental acquisition of a suitcase full of cocaine. The young lovers then embark on a chaotic cross-country journey to California, hoping to sell the drugs and start a new life, all while being pursued by mobsters seeking their stolen property.

Morgan Creek Prod., Davis Films; Warner Bros.

A storm of fear and fury in the sizzling Florida Keys!

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, Claire Trevor, Thomas Gomez, Harry Lewis, John Rodney

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"It's better to be a live coward than a dead hero." - Gaye Dawn

Why watch this? ... heard of Bogey and Bacall? This was their last film together.

Plot Summary: Visiting Key Largo, former GI Frank McCloud encounters notorious gangster Johnny Rocco and his men who have taken over a hotel and are awaiting a hurricane to pass. Frank, along with the hotel owner and his daughter-in-law, find themselves prisoners of the ruthless Rocco as a storm brews both inside and outside the establishment. Despite Frank's initial reluctance to engage, Rocco's escalating cruelty forces him to confront the dangerous situation.

Jerry Wald; Warner Bros.

Nothing Is What It Seems.

Starring: Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan, Jake Wood, Tom Fisher, Aaron Johnson, Eleanor Tomlinson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I thought we might end this evening with a discussion of the soul. All of the greatest religions speak of the soul's endurance before the end of life. So what then does it mean to die?" – Eisenheim

Why watch this? This is a well-done mystery with an incredible magician at its core.

Plot Summary: In turn-of-the-century Vienna, a gifted magician named Eisenheim reunites with his childhood love, Sophie, who is now engaged to a ruthless, powerful Crown Prince. Eisenheim uses his spectacular stage illusions and apparent supernatural abilities to challenge the social constraints and the corrupt authority standing between them. As the jealous Prince attempts to expose and destroy the magician, a local Inspector must choose between his duty to the crown and his admiration for Eisenheim's craft.

Bob Yari Prod., Contagious Ent., Miracle Pics,
Stillking Films; Yari Film Group Releasing,
Freestyle Releasing

It's a highly dangerous comedy!!

Starring: Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, Burgess Meredith, Brian Dennehy, Dudley Moore, Rachel Roberts, Eugene Roche, William Frankfather

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"That's right, honey. You've attacked... an innocent dwarf." - Lt. Tony Carlson

Why watch this? I can watch Chevy and Goldie all day.

Plot Summary: Gloria Mundy is a mild-mannered librarian who becomes embroiled in a murder plot after picking up a hitchhiker. She finds herself pursued by mysterious figures and a seemingly clueless police detective. As the situation escalates, the two must uncover the truth behind the conspiracy before it's too late.

Edward K. Millkis, Thomas L. Miller;
Paramount Pictures

You don't know what you've got 'til it's...

Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit, David Clennon, Missi Pyle

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"We're so cute. I wanna punch us in the face." - Amy Dunne

Why watch this? One of the best psychological thrillers ever. And Rosemund Pike - that lady can bring it!

Plot Summary: When his wife Amy disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne becomes the prime suspect in her vanishing. As police pressure and media scrutiny intensify, the facade of their perfect marriage crumbles, revealing a complex and troubled relationship. The investigation unfolds with mounting suspicion and unexpected revelations, leaving viewers to question Nick's innocence.

Regency Enterprises, TSG Ent.;
20th Century Fox

Is Anyone Really Who They Seem To Be?

Starring: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau, James Coburn, George Kennedy, Dominique Minot, Ned Glass, Jacqeus Marin, Paul Bonifas

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Of course, you won't be able to lie on your back for a while but then you can lie from any position, can't you?" - Reggie Lampert

Why watch this? It has been called "the best Hitchcock movie Hitchcock never made"

Plot Summary: After the suspicious death of her husband in Paris, Regina "Reggie" Lampert, garners a lot of interest from many individuals including the local police inspector, three extremely tough henchmen, a CIA Administrator, and a suave, charming American. The focus is centered around $250,000 dollars in gold that went missing during World War II. Apparently her late husband double-crossed his cohorts, and they're ready to collect.

Stanley Donen Films; Universal Pictures

He's a washed-up loser. But sometimes losers can be heroes...

Starring: Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Valerie Perrine, Willie Nelson, John Saxon, Nicolas Coster, Allan Arbus, Wilford Brimley

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You ride off with somebody else's twelve million dollar horse, did you think we wouldn't notice?" - Hallie Martin

Why watch this? I love movies about somebody who has had their fill of corporate greed.

Plot Summary: Sonny Steele, a washed-up rodeo star turned corporate spokesperson, rebels against his handlers and the company he represents by running away with their champion racehorse, Rising Star. He discovers the horse is being mistreated and drugged for promotional appearances, so he sets out to return the steed into wild. A determined TV journalist, Hallie Martin, follows in pursuit, hoping to get the exclusive story.

Universal Pictures, Wildwood Ent.,
Rastar Films; Columbia Pictures

A scandalous romance between a thrill-hunting heiress and a notorious man of mystery!

Starring: Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis, John Williams, Charles Vanel, Brigitte Auber, Jean Martinelli, Georgette Anys

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Doesn't it make you nervous to be in the same room with thousands of dollars worth of diamonds, and unable to touch them?" – Frances Stevens

Why watch this? This is "Hitchcock Light" - a delightful romance with a nip of suspense.

Plot Summary: When a string of jewel robberies plagues the French Riviera, retired cat burglar John Robie becomes the prime suspect. To clear his name, Robie sets out to catch the impostor mimicking his signature style. His investigation leads him to encounter a wealthy American heiress, Frances Stevens, who finds herself caught up in the pursuit of the elusive thief.

Alfred Hitchcock; Paramount Pictures

To erase the line between man and machine is to obscure the line between men and gods

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Sonoya Mizuno, Corey Johnson, Claire Selby, Gana Bayarsaikhan

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Isn't it strange, to create something that hates you?" – Ava

Why watch this? This is a superb story about artificial intelligence and the risk it may pose.

Plot Summary: Caleb Smith is a young programmer who wins a competition to spend a week at the remote estate of Nathan Bateman, the reclusive CEO of his company. Upon arrival, Caleb discovers he's been chosen to participate in a groundbreaking experiment: administering a Turing test to Ava, an advanced humanoid AI created by Nathan. Caleb's task is to evaluate Ava's consciousness and determine if her intelligence is indistinguishable from that of a human. This leads to unforeseen revelations and a complex examination of artificial intelligence and humanity.

Film4, DNA Films; A24

On the other side of drinks, dinner and a one night stand, lies a terrifying love story.

Starring: Michael Douglas, Glenn Close, Anne Archer, Stuart Pankin, Ellen Latzen, Fred Gwynne, Ellen Foley, Meg Mundy

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Well, what am I supposed to do? You won't answer my calls, you change your number. I mean, I'm not gonna be ignored, Dan!" – Alex Forrest

Why watch this? If you are a married man, this film will keep you married.

Plot Summary: A seemingly happily married lawyer has a one-night stand with a sultry woman, Alex, he meets through work. He believes it to be a fleeting encounter, but she harbors a different view and refuses to let their affair end. Her obsession escalates into increasingly dangerous and threatening behavior, putting his life and family in jeopardy.

Jaffe/Lansing Prod.; Paramount Pictures

Her voice became his passion. Her love became his obsession. Her refusal became his rage...

Starring: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver, Ciarán Hinds, Simon Callow

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God, give me courage to show you you are not alone!" - Christine

Why watch this? It wowed Broadway audiences for years. This film version is exceptional.

Plot Summary: Christine Daaé is a talented chorus girl at the Paris Opéra, who is secretly coached by a mysterious tutor she calls her "Angel of Music". This unseen mentor, a disfigured musical genius known as the Phantom, becomes obsessed with Christine and terrorizes the opera house to ensure her success. Complications arise when Christine's childhood sweetheart, Raoul, re-enters her life, sparking a dangerous love triangle and escalating the Phantom's jealousy and manipulation.

Joel Schumacher Prod., Odyssey Ent.,
Really Useful Films, Scion Films; Ent. Film Dist.

Sometimes love is the most dangerous game of all.

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Rachel Ward, James Woods, Alex Karras, Richard Widmark, Jane Greer, Dorian Harewood

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"That idiot football player you were going to get - well, he has got me by the balls." – Ben Caxton

Why watch this? This is one the sexiest films - your eyeballs will fog up.

Plot Summary: An aging football player, Terry Brogan, is hired to find the runaway girlfriend of an old acquaintance, Jake Wise, a shady nightclub owner. When Terry finds her, he and the woman, Jessie, fall passionately in love, complicating his assignment. Their newfound love entangles them in a web of intrigue, including corruption and danger.

New Visions, Columbia-Delphi Prod.;
Columbia Pictures

Somewhere...Somehow - He'd Loved and Killed That Self-Same Girl Before!

Starring: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones, Raymond Bailey, Ellen Corby

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Scottie, do you believe that someone out of the past - someone dead - can enter and take possession of a living being?" - Gavin Elster

Why watch this? An eerie tale of a man's obsession with a beautiful, mysterious woman.

Plot Summary: Scottie Ferguson is a retired detective, who develops a severe fear of heights after a traumatic incident. He is hired by an acquaintance to follow his wife, Madeleine, who seems to be behaving strangely and possibly possessed. As Scottie delves deeper into the mystery, he finds himself becoming dangerously obsessed with Madeleine, which leads to a series of unsettling events and revelations.

Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions;
Paramount Pictures

She's a girl from the big city. He's a reckless soldier of fortune. For a fabulous treasure,
they share an adventure no one could imagine... or survive.

Starring: Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, Alfonso Arau, Manuel Ojeda, Zack Norman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"What did you do, wake up this morning and say, 'Today, I'm going to ruin a man's life?'" - Jack Colton

Why watch this? It's a fun film that plays like a trashy romance novel.

Plot Summary: Joan Wilder is a shy romance novelist who must travel to Colombia to ransom her kidnapped sister. The ransom involves a treasure map sent to Joan by her sister's murdered husband. Lost in the Colombian jungle, Joan encounters Jack T. Colton, a rugged American bird smuggler. Jack helps Joan navigate the perilous jungle as they are pursued by a corrupt Colombian police colonel and the criminals who kidnapped Joan's sister.

El Corazon Producciones S.A.;
20th Century Fox

In deadly danger...because they saw too much!

Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr, Judith Evelyn, Frank Cady, Georgine Darcy, Ross Bagdasarian

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"People do a lot of things in private they couldn't possibly explain in public." Lt. Doyle

Why watch this? Nobody did it like Hitchcock. This one drips constant suspense.

Plot Summary: Confined to his apartment with a broken leg, a photographer named L.B. Jeffries spends his days observing his neighbors through his rear window. His casual pastime takes a dark turn when he becomes convinced that one of his neighbors, a traveling salesman named Lars Thorwald, has murdered his wife. Despite skepticism from his girlfriend Lisa and his nurse Stella, Jeffries enlists their help in a perilous amateur investigation.

Patron Incorporated; Paramount Pictures

The African Queen (1951), Director: John Huston, rated PG for some war violence

Bogart the King is back with the 'Queen!'

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Peter Bull, Theodore Bikel, Walter Gotell, Peter Stanwick

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I never dreamed that any mere physical experience could be so stimulating!" – Rose Sayer

Why watch this? It's a wonderful adventure film from the 50's with two Hollywood icons.

Plot Summary: Set during World War I, in German East Africa, Charlie Allnut, a rough-and-tumble Canadian riverboat captain, finds himself thrown together with a strait-laced British missionary named Rose Sayer. Together, they embark on a dangerous journey down a treacherous river on Charlie's dilapidated boat, the African Queen, facing natural dangers and German forces. Despite their vastly different personalities and frequent arguments, an unlikely bond develops as they navigate their perilous mission.

Horizon Pictures, Romulus Pictures;
United Artists

The Master of Suspense presents a 2000-mile chase across America!

Starring: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Martin Landau, Leo G. Carroll, Edward Platt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I've got a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex-wives and several bartenders that depend upon me, and I don't intend to disappoint them all by getting myself slightly killed." - Roger Thornhill

Why watch this? Cary Grant is superb as a mistaken man forced to survive a nasty situation.

Plot Summary: Manhattan advertising executive Roger Thornhill is mistakenly identified as a government agent named George Kaplan by foreign spies. He is thrust into a dangerous world of intrigue, pursued across the country by the spies and the police who believe him to be a murderer. As he tries to unravel the mystery and clear his name, he encounters a beautiful, enigmatic woman whose allegiances are unclear.

Alfred Hitchcock; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

A big city cop. A small country boy. They have nothing in common ...but a murder.

Starring: Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Lukas Haas, Jan Rubeš, Danny Glover, Josef Sommer, Alexander Godunov, Brent Jennings, Patti LuPone

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"No, no hospital... gunshot wound, they have to file a report. And if they file a report, they find me. And if they find me, they find the boy." – John Book

Why watch this? It is a brilliant film juxtaposing the peaceful Amish culture against urban violence.

Plot Summary: When a young Amish boy witnesses a murder in Philadelphia, a detective goes undercover in the boy's rural Amish community to protect him from the killers. The detective must navigate the unfamiliar world of the Amish while trying to identify and avoid the dangerous individuals responsible for the crime. The film explores the stark contrast between the detective's violent world and the peaceful, traditional Amish lifestyle.

Edward S. Feldman Prod.; Paramount Pics

Notorious Woman of many Desires! Fateful Fascination! Bold Intrigue!

Starring: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Louis Calhern, Leopoldine Konstantin, Reinhold Schunzel, Moroni Olsen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Every time you look at me, I can see it running over its slogans: "Once a crook, always a crook", "Once a tramp, always a tramp". Go on. You can hold my hand. I won't blackmail you for it afterwards." – Alicia Huberman

Why watch this? The building suspense within this film is quietly palpable.

Plot Summary: U.S. agent Devlin recruits Alicia Huberman, the daughter of a convicted Nazi spy, to infiltrate a group of Nazis hiding in Rio de Janeiro. Alicia agrees, but her mission becomes complicated when she falls in love with Devlin while being tasked with seducing a prominent Nazi named Alexander Sebastian, who was previously infatuated with her. This arrangement forces her into a difficult position, testing her loyalties and potentially putting her life in danger.

Vanguard Films; RKO Radio Pictures

Indiana Jones - the new hero from the creators of JAWS and STAR WARS.

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #6 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Raiders of the Lost Ark

"An army which carries the Ark before it... is invincible." - Marcus Brody

Why watch this? This ode to actions serials of the past combined the '80's hottest star and director.

Plot Summary: In 1936, archaeologist Indiana Jones is tasked by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis, who believe its power could make their army invincible. He embarks on a thrilling adventure, navigating treacherous locations like Nepal and Egypt while facing off against dangerous adversaries and overcoming perilous obstacles. Joined by his spirited ex-flame Marion Ravenwood, Indy races against time to secure the legendary relic and prevent its devastating power from falling into the wrong hands.

Lucasfilm Ltd.; Paramount Pictures