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Miss MacTaggart Won't Lie Down (1966)
Miss MacTaggart Won't Lie Down
When Jeannie MacTaggart returns to her home village after a short break to Glasgow. The locals are shocked and think they are seeing a ghost.
They believed that Jeannie MacTaggart had died. They even attended her funeral. It turns out it was her unbeknownst twin sister who collapsed and died while visiting her.
Now that Jeannie MacTaggart has been officially declared dead. She ceases to exist. No small minded official wants to help her.
So she launches a campaign of petty crime and harassment to come back to life. After all if she is legally dead, she cannot be arrested. (Maybe Miss MacTaggart should had taken her late sister's identity!)
Miss MacTaggart Won't Lie Down is an independent short, styled like an Ealing type farce. It makes pointed comments on sleepy small village officialdom.
The type that made a mistake, quickly got Miss MacTaggart wrongly declared dead. Stopped her bank account but would not lift a finger to rectify the situation.
Not even contact the Scottish Secretary or the Home Office to help out Miss MacTaggart.
It ends with an official telling Miss MacTaggart to contact an Ombudsman. A Scandinavian thing. Back in the 1960s, going to an Ombudsman was a rare thing. Now we have all types of Ombudsmen.
Ludwig: Episode #1.3 (2024)
Episode 3
Megan Rowlands is a young American tour guide, doing a walking tour of Cambridge.
Her dead body is found by the subsequent tour. Once again John Taylor studies the murder scene.
This time Chief Constable Ziegler takes an interest. Although he is also preoccupied about the missing rich brat Jordan Halshaw, his father is a powerful millionaire.
Before long John Taylor thinks that the there could be a connection for the deaths of both Megan Rowlands and Jordan Halshaw. The culprit has to be someone from Megan's tour group.
This was a slight step down from the first two episodes. There was an important clue when John looked at the photos that Megan had taken.
I sometimes feel that the series arc gets in the way, disrupting the flow of the episode.
The Beverly Hillbillies: The Clampetts and the Dodgers (1963)
The Clampetts and the Dodgers
Mr Drysdale has invited Jed and Jethro to shoot some golf balls. They think they will be hunting animals, not playing the sport of golf.
Granny tells them to get some greens while they are out there. Mr Drysdale has yet to introduce the Clampett's to a grocery store in Beverly Hills.
In the golf course they come across legendary baseball coach Leo Durocher. He mistakes Jed and Jethro as two down on their heels golf caddies.
Leo is soon impressed by Jethro's throwing arm and wants to sign him up for the LA Lakers. Until it turns out that Jethro can't throw without smearing his hands in possum fat.
I just did not see the possum fat being smeared at the golf club!
It was a funny episode once the action moves to the golf club. Maybe Leo should had seen a way to sign up Elly May.
Four Star Playhouse: My Own Dear Dragon (1954)
My Own Dear Dragon
Charles Boyer plays John Bernard, a successful playwright with a big reputation but he has no time for critics and gossip columnists.
Now middle aged and with a younger wife Maggie (Vera Miles.) John wants to call it a day. He wants to spend time with his new wife.
However Maggie has her own ambitions. She too has written a script but one where John has given no input. He avoids reading about her work.
When columnist Hannah raves about her script. Maggie thinks that maybe John is holding her back. He seems to be aloof and self centred.
At a celebration party in John's honour. The truth is revealed.
This is a drama where you wonder where it is going. The couple seem to be at odds and mismatched. It does take a sharp dagger at gossip columnists. Just what if Hannah was not being entirely honest about Maggie's script. Just trying to stir a hornet's nest.
In the end Maggie sees the truth and that her husband does love her.
Doctor Odyssey: Pilot (2024)
Pilot
First Disney had Death and Other Details. Now it is Doctor Odyssey. Disney certainly likes cruising.
This is from the Ryan Murphy stable. Going by the first episode, he was slacking with quality control.
In short this is Love Boat meets ER. Love Boat had a loveable cheesy vibe to it. This was just bad.
Also Joshua Jackson is no George Clooney. He plays Dr Max, an overachiever who is the ship's new doctor. Appointed by the ship's captain, Robert Massey (Don Johnson) after the previous medic went awry costing the company thousands.
Dr Max is a charismatic know all and immediately swoons Nurse Avery, who also has the hots for him. This places the other nurse Tristan's nose out of joint. He has always fancied Avery.
The first episode had Dr Max dealing with a guy who injured his todger. A man falling of the ship after trying to imitate a scene from the Titanic.
This one could sink without trace.
IF (2024)
IF
IF stands for Imaginary Friends. Bea (Cailee Fleming) is twelve years old and has to grow up fast. Her mother died of cancer, now her dad (John Krasinski) is in hospital with heart issues.
Bea has been sent to stay with her grandmother (Fiona Shaw) in her Brooklyn apartment.
Bea has put away childish things, but on another floor lurks things. Imaginary Friends that children have now forgotten as they got older. Cal (Ryan Reynolds) is the caretaker who wants to rehome them.
Eventually a reluctant Bea helps Cal to track down their former owners.
There is a lot here that owes a debt to Pixar. Some of the creature designs reminded me of Monsters Inc. The basic story was a spin on Toy Story. The toys left behind when Andy grew up and left home.
John Krasinski as writer and director struggles to keep the whole thing coherent. If these Imaginary Friends disappear forever if remain unclaimed. How is it they have existed for years as some of their previous owners are now very old.
Still despite the flaws, I did like it. More importantly it prompted to ask my grown up son about his imaginary friends when he was little.
Arrest Bulldog Drummond! (1938)
Arrest Bulldog Drummond!
Dastardly Rolf Alferson (George Zucco) has killed scientist Richard Gannet who has invented an atomic disintegrator machine that can explode anything nearby.
Bulldog Drummond comes across Gannet's dying body and is accused of his murder.
Now Bulldog Drummond has to clear his name while Rolf and his associate Lady Beryl plan to sell the weapon to the highest bidder. Even attempting to demonstrate the weapon on Drummond at one point.
As Bulldog Drummond sends Phyllis away for her safety. She ends up on the same ship as the Rolf and Lady Beryl. They see her wave goodbye to Drummond and places herself at risk.
It is unpretentious fun, with dastardly foreign powers wanting to buy the weapon. Bulldog Drummond, Algy and Tenny trying to evade the police. The script is a bit ropey in places.
Rivals: Episode #1.1 (2024)
Episode 1
Hearing Jilly Cooper now has a damehood for literature. Recalls a scene from Star Trek IV when Spock and Kirk discussed the giants of literature. It was meant to be a joke.
Former Eastenders supremo Dominic Treadwell-Collins adapts this 1980s set bonkbuster. It starts off with some bonking in Concorde, then there is nude tennis, ending with various bedroom scenes.
In between all this is the rivalry between former showjumper turned politician, rich kid, ladies man and a cad Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell.) With Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) a media mogul who owns an ITV franchise Corinium which is at risk.
So Baddingham has hired an ace US television producer Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams) and poached strident no nonsense journalist Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner) from the BBC.
The whole O'Hara clan have decamped to the country. His daughters are appalled at the decadence they see.
Baddingham needs Rupert Campbell-Black in his boardroom. When he is rebuffed, Baddingham embarrasses Campbell-Black in the process. Reigniting the rivalry as he has also been offered a ministerial position in Mrs Thatcher's government.
You are not talking high brow drama or even Dickens here. This is meant to be campy fun and the opener makes this clear. The characters are over the top, even some of the wigs are bad. In short, what else can you do with a Cooper novel!
Waco: Of Milk and Men (2018)
Of Milk and Men
So far both law enforcement and the Branch Davidians are weary and tense. There is mutual distrust and from Mitch Decker's people, loathing.
While Koresh is injured and even going back on his word. It is left to Steve Schneider to build something with FBI negotiator Gary Noesner. He releases some children out of the compound.
That is a start. Steve Schneider has been loyal to Koresh but often feels frustrated by him as well. Koresh did sire a daughter with Judy Schneider.
The same applies to Noesner as well. When Steve Schneider requests milk as some of the mothers have stop lactating. His bosses demand that kids are released as part of the deal.
Kids for milk as Koresh mocks the FBI. However it is a way for the FBI to keep tracks on the Davidians when they deliver more than just milk.
The episode does have tense moments, such as when Dave Thibodeau steps outside to bury a dead body.
It also displays the signals as to why this siege ended up so messy.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will not herald a new gold age of Ghostbuster movies. It does deliver a solid comedy action film with a mix of the old and new.
Callie Spengler and her kids, Phoebe and Trevor along with boyfriend, Gary (Paul Rudd) have returned to New York. These Ghostbusters operate from the firehouse owned by Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson.)
When Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) comes across mysterious brass orb sold to him by hustler Nadeem (Kumail Nanjiani.) It could unleash an evil force that could herald a new ice age.
Once again New York city politicians are not keen on the Ghostbuster operating. Old foe Walter Peck (William Atherton) is now the mayor of the city.
It lacks the emotional punch of Afterlife. It is overstuffed with too many characters and a slightly redundant side plot. It is fun when both old and new Ghostbusters get together.
Doctor Who: Black Orchid: Part Two (1982)
Black Orchid: Part Two
Once again the Agatha Christie vibes are strong on this one. A man dressed as a harlequin scares Ann, there are more killed people.
Lady Cranleigh (Barbara Murray) and her South American manservant Latoni are hiding a dark secret. They urge the Doctor not to inform what he has seen.
A bad call, as the Doctor becomes the chief suspect to the murders. He too wore a harlequin costume.
The only sci fi elements is the use of the Tardis to convince the police and Lord Cranleigh that the Doctor is telling the truth.
It probably is a bit too breezy as a two parter. It is not as strong the opener. The production values for Black Orchid is excellent.
Peter Gunn: The Passenger (1960)
The Passenger
The passenger is Edward Hines who is asleep on a bus taking him home. When he wakes up, he sees a heavy set man strangling a woman at a hotel window. The murderer spots him.
Hines does his civic duty and goes to the police to report the murder. Only they are sceptical, he could had just imagined it all.
So Hines visits Peter Gunn, now that he thinks the murderer might be tailing him.
It's not long before Gunn is investigating Hine's death as well, but he has a few other questions whirring in his mind. While Lieutenant Jacoby finally finds a dead body of a woman.
An enthralling third series opener. Still heavy on visuals. There is comedy with Jacoby sitting on a newly varnished table and a talkative hobo reminiscing of his once prosperous days.
In the end the deaths were all for mundane even trivial reasons.
Cuban Fury (2014)
Cuban Fury
Cuban Fury is a tepid rom com that was more inspired by the hit BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing and its international variants Dancing with the Stars.
As a teenager, Bruce (Nick Frost) was an ace salsa dancer until some bullies put him off dancing altogether.
Now Bruce is an overweight underachiever. He is shy, introverted and is bullied at work by Drew (Chris O'Dowd.)
When a new American boss Julie (Rashida Jones) arrives. Bruce decides to take up the salsa again as she likes latin dances. Only to find Drew has dark desires for her as well and he is in pole position with her.
This is an insipid movie with shallow characters and by the numbers storyline. Actors such as Olivia Colman are wasted as Bruce's sister and Ian McShane as his former dance teacher.
At least the dance scenes sizzle things up a bit.
Doctor Who: Black Orchid: Part One (1982)
Black Orchid: Part One
Black Orchid is an unusual one for Peter Davison's debut season. The Tardis crew is relaxed and enjoying themselves. The Doctor even plays cricket and his uniform blends in for once.
It is a murder mystery set in 1925 and there are no sci fi elements to the story at all. A hark back to some of the first Doctor era stories.
Something sinister is afoot deep inside Cranleigh Hall. A mysterious person, a killing then the Tardis materializes at a railway station.
The Doctor is mistaken for a visiting cricketer for a match at Cranleigh Hall. There is a party as well and Nyssa is an exact double for Ann Talbot. The young lady who is engaged to Lord Cranleigh (Michael Cochrane.)
Only this mystery person is obsessed with Ann. It means Nyssas is in danger as they have swapped places.
It is an interesting and unusual first episode with an Agatha Christie feel to it. Tegan is having fun, Nyssa is dancing and Adric stuffs his face with food at the banquet.
Hammer House of Horror: Charlie Boy (1980)
Charlie Boy
I actually remember watching this on its original broadcast. Especially the actor more famous for playing Swiftnick in Dick Turpin getting shot by a crossbow.
The macabre death sequences owe more to movies such as The Omen.
It starts off with a man fixing an aerial on the roof of his stately mansion. He suddenly falls, he makes so much noise while scurrying down the roof, that those inside the house sense what is about to happen. It all seems to be the fault of an african voodoo doll.
After his uncle's sudden death, Graham (Leigh Lawson) gets possession of his artefacts. His brother Mark will inherit the estate. Graham hoped to get involved in a business relationship with his brother and raised some finance. Only to be let down by Mark.
Eventually in a fit of rage he uses the voodoo doll Charlie Boy, so named by his girlfriend Sarah (Angela Bruce) to enact a curse.
Soon Mark meets a grisly death, followed by several other people. Graham needs to stop the curse somehow as Sarah will be the next victim then him.
There is tension somewhat in the story but the whole thing never hangs together so convincingly. Like the script was not the finished product. You had a burglary at an inconvenient moment when Charlie Boy is stolen just as Graham was set to destroy it.
Victorian Scandals: The Portland Millions (1976)
The Portland Millions
John Bentinck, the 5th Duke of Portland was a notorious man who led a double life.
A claim made by widow, Anna Maria Druce (Patricia Hayes) in 1897. She argued her father in law. Thomas Charles Druce who ran the furniture business Druce & Co and who died in 1864. He had in fact faked his death so he could return to his aristocratic life.
Until then Bentinck had lived a life of seclusion and eccentricity. Staying in each persona's life for six month each. He had his own family as both Bentinck and Druce.
Anna Marie argued her son was the real heir to the Portland estate. She wanted the Druce's coffin to be opened, arguing there would be nothing in there but lead.
This Granada dramatisation very much sticks to the facts. Hayes is convincing as Anna Maria who argues her case with logic, commitment and cogency. Nigel Havers plays the eager but down on his luck solicitor Ronald Walker, who provides her with legal arguments.
However Anna Marie is not rich. Against her was her late husband's older brother who seemed to have support of the establishment. They put up obstacles at every turn. Eventually another heir came forward, all the way from Australia.
It did begin like a slow dry courtroom drama. The various twists salvaged it as Walker gains valuable expertise. It was notable how some of the lawyers had the time lacked ethics. Switching from one client to a more valuable one.
Z Cars: In Police Hands (1974)
In Police Hands
When PC Quilley is visiting a farmer who has some complaints. He comes across a young couple hiding in a stable and acting suspiciously.
They may not have broken any laws but Quilley uses vagrancy laws and a suspicion that the girl is underaged to bring them in for questioning.
Both the lad and the girl refuse to cooperate, leading to threats from the police.
The lad has a bit of money with him and the girl eventually confirms that she is 17 years old. They are lovers running away from home.
WPC Walters is brought in to accompany the girl just in case she is underaged. She suspects it is that lad who might be running away from his home. It turns out that he is the son of a prominent surgeon and from a respectable but overbearing household.
In the end this episode was a much ado about nothing. Quilley had the same thoughts. While Walters thought it was all a big waste of time to see this young couple getting harassed over nothing.
It certainly was a minor story, it looked a lot like a filler. I could not get over how a young lad could get threatened with physical violence over something trivial.
Then again the police could get away with it in those days. You could contrast that with The Bill by which time, interviews are recorded and suspects demand the right to see a solicitor.
Kite Man: Hell Yeah!: Grand Reopening, Hell Yeah! (2024)
Grand Reopening, Hell Yeah!
Kite Man and Golden Glider are about to have the bar's grand reopening. Bane hopes to get a job as security, he even quits his job with Lex Luthor.
Both Kite Man and Golden Glider hope Luthor and his villainous chums will show up for the opening.
Their camaraderie is put at risk when Kite Man hires Malice to work the bar. She is a popular it girl and Golden Glider dislikes her. Malice is also lazy and unsuited to bar work.
This makes Golden Glider even more angrier. Only she later notices that both Malice and her have some things in common. Wanting to please people, Malice wants her father to look up to her. Now he really is a super villain.
An amusing episode, some nice humorous touches from Bane. Luthor has a few plans in his brains. There is heart too inn the cartoon.
The Lloyd Bridges Show: The Waltz of the Two Commuters (1963)
The Waltz of the Two Commuters
This is a sort of Brief Encounter type love story but pulls it punches. Frank Brenner is a train commuter and is fed up with the rat race and his domestic home life.
He is middle aged maybe a dull life with the wife and kids is no longer enough for Frank.
One day he encounters sultry Taina Haagen (Linda Christian) in the train. She has lost an item of jewellery which Frank finds and later drops off in her home.
Frank even summons up courage to ask her out for a drink. Taina realises that Frank is married but senses that he finds his life is at a crossroads.
Taina is not the only one. His wife Gloria also fears that Frank's head is being turned. Suddenly having to work late in the evenings.
Will Frank make the right decision? There was certainly an alluring performance by Linda Christian, although I had to wonder why did she find Frank so appealing.
The Law and Mr. Jones: The Broken Hand (1961)
The Broken Hand
A comedic episode set in New York's rag trade district. Martin Berger (Sam Jaffe) is a veteran fashion designer who has run his business with a firm handshake.
Berger had no time for contracts but he his now joined up with Arnold Willmer. A merger that has created a limited liability company.
Abraham Lincoln Jones has been tasked to bring existing customers into a new contract with the merged company. This upsets Clay Hostetter who has been doing business with Berger for over 45 years based on a simple handshake. Now Hostetter wants nothing to do with him.
It leaves an exasperated Jones to pick up the pieces.
I thought it was too silly and contrived. There was miscommunication by everyone. Berger forgot to tell his old clients of the merger and introduce his new partner to them.
The Cleaner: The Reunion (2024)
The Reunion
When Wicky arrives at a large home to clean up after a freak piano accident. He is surprised to discover that the owner is Justin an old school friend. He made it big in the world on investments and he was always regarded as the one to succeed the most.
Wicky originally mistook him for the car cleaner and his son as spoilt.
It leads to an impromptu school reunion, as Wicky phones a friend who has fallen on hard times to fix Justin's bannister. Later to be joined by a Pink impersonator and then someone who used to model himself on Robert Redford.
Only for Wicky to left feeling out of sorts by seeing his old schoolmates bonding. Having the sudden need to prove himself by attempting to shoplift.
It was a good mix of slightly surreal and bizarre. I did like how Wicky felt that most of them were losers. Justin just saw them as survivors.
A good start to the third series and some right amount of pathos.
You're Only Young Twice: Breakfast at Peabody's (1981)
Breakfast at Peabody's
In an era where people would queue up for several days to be the first ones in during the Harrods sale. You could pick something costing thousands of pounds for just a few hundred.
Miss Milton has her eye on mink coat which has been slashed down to £50 at Peabody's department forthcoming sale.
Once Flora hears about she simply must get the coat for herself and dissuades Miss Milton that she will be trampled all over by the crowd.
Flora and Cissie decide to spend the night in the store, so they will be there first thing in the morning.
However the storeroom is no place to hide as the cleaners come around.
There is some fun to be had as the pair pretend to be dummies modelling hats. Apart from that it was a bit old hat.
Recipes for Love and Murder: Bereft Woman (2022)
Bereft Woman
Recipes for Love and Murder is based on novels of Sally Andrew.
Set in the small town of Eden. Maria Purvis (Maria Doyle Kennedy) is a food writer at the local newspaper. She likes her cooking but her column is at risk.
The editor wants an advice column and a reluctant Maria takes up the challenge. She gets a letter from Martine Burger who is suffering from domestic abuse from her husband, Dirk. He gaslights her and Martine also has a close relationship with another woman, Anna Pretorius.
When Martine turns up dead, the police arrest Anna. For Maria, the murder of Martine Burger leads her to probe what happened to her.
The first episode has scenic views of South Africa, not matched by some of the characters. I did like how the scenes flit between Maria reading the correspondence and Martine's life at the moment.
You know that Martine will soon turn up as the victim. Here is a slice of her life. By the end, you expect the main characters to set into action after Anna's arrest. There was a lot of set up but I felt some of it was unfocussed.
Hancock: The Assistant (1963)
The Assistant
Tony Hancock was in search of something new and different. So he hopped over to ITV and got different writers.
It is the same Hancock but in a slightly different setting. The opening titles has him hanging on a road, near a department store.
When he sees a mannequin undressing, Hancock is appalled and goes to give a piece of his mind to a hapless store assistant. She cries off to the manager Mr Stone (Patrick Cargill.)
It ends up with a challenge. Whether Hancock could work as an assistant in the department store for a week. If he can, then the money he owes in his account with the store will be wiped clean.
His first placement is with the erratic Owen Bowen in packaging. Later he goes on to become a children entertainer before he goes to toys and games.
Hancock things he has made a big sale at the football game. Alas Hancock realises that working in a department store is not that easy.
The bit with Owen Bowen was edgy who was played by Kenneth Griffith.
Gallant Journey (1946)
Gallant Journey
Gallant Journey is a curious and not a very good biopic of an early aviation pioneer.
John Montgomery (Glenn Ford) was a man whose father wanted to enter the clergy. He had plans to fly gliders, only his health meant that flying gliders was dangerous. John suffered from dizzy spells.
Later John comes across Dan Mahoney. Another aviation enthusiast who launches the glider from a hot air balloon. Things seem to be going well until Dan crashes and dies.
Eventually John sells his possessions to keep going. Then ending up in a costly lawsuit.
All the while he still has the love from his girl Regina. As well as the support from several priests who share his enthusiasms about flight.
Director William Wellman has some good flying sequences. All too often this movie fails to soar and is never too life affirming. John is plagued with miserable luck.