Screening Log

This new site feature is a collective effort to summarize our viewing habits. Occasionally, you will find titles here that are coming to a theater near you, in addition to films viewed on television, and even films viewed in piecemeal. The screening log is archived each month; to view past entries select a month in the menu below.


February 2006 activity

Total Log Entries: 47

Total Comments: 35


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Crime Wave / The City Is Dark / USA / 1954

A fairly straightforward noirish police procedural, enlivened by pacy, stylish direction from Andre De Toth and a solid central cast. There’s nothing remotely original here- a gang of escaped cons fleeing a bungled gas station robbery hole up with an old prison buddy trying to go straight, while Sterling Hayden’s tough- nut Detective Lieutenant trawls the bars for clues- but it’s evocatively photographed, and populated with a string of amusingly grotesque minor characters, most notably a very young Charles Bronson, suitably menacing as a mindless teen thug. And Hayden is as dependable as ever- the closing moments of the film, where his seemingly intractable, hard- headed cop reveals his hidden sentimental side, is surprising and memorable.

by Tom Huddleston | Source: DVD
17 Feb 2006 9:49 AM | Comments (2)


Comments / 2 total / Submit Comment

  1. Rumsey / 17 February 2006 / 7:00 AM / URL

    I just raised my hands for a 2x high-five, and then I realized this is not the Sam Raimi-helmed, Coen brothers-penned B-grade Bruce Campbell vehicle Crimewave (one word). Alas, what you saw was indisputably the better film, but no, it warrants no high-five.

  2. Tom / 17 February 2006 / 7:07 AM / URL

    To be honest, Sterling Hayden’s as solid as oak, but Campbell pretty much beats ‘em all in my eyes. It’s a long time since I saw it, but a scene where rentafat-evil-guy Paul Smith smashes through a load of doors does stick in my mind… genius.

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