A wartime drama which depicts the lives of ordinary English housewives. Based on a book by Jan Struther.
During the Second World War the Germans put many of the Allied prisoners-of-war (POWs) who had proved consistent escapees together in a maximum security fortress, the very name of which became a legend. Based on the book by Colditz escapee Major Pat Reid, The Colditz Story (1957) documents the further, sometimes successful, escape attempts of these extraordinarily brave, resourceful and indomitable men. Starring John Mills, Eric Portman, Bryan Forbes and Anton Diffring, and co-written and directed by Guy Hamilton, who later made The Battle of Britain (1969), this is a sober, even-handed account, that is gripping and informative, yet not without humour. Sterling performances from the cast of stalwart actors adds up to a British cinema classic. Such is the fascination of Colditz that in 1972-3 the BBC made a very successful drama series staring Jack Hedley, Bernard Hempton, Robert Wagner and David McCallum, while in 2000 Channel 4 offered a superb three-part documentary, Escape from Colditz. In contrast to the semi-documentary feel of The Colditz Story David Lean's classic The Bridge on the River Kwai, from the same year, is an epic and powerful account of POW life in barbaric Japanese prison camps. --Gary S. Dalkin
If Interiors was Woody Allen's Bergman movie, and Stardust Memories was his Fellini movie, then you could say that Sleeper is his Buster Keaton movie. Relying more on visual/conceptual/slapstick gags than his trademark verbal wit, Sleeper is probably the funniest of what would become known as Allen's "early, funny films" and a milestone in his development as a director. Allen plays Miles Monroe, cryogenically frozen in 1973 (he went into the hospital for an ulcer operation) and thawed 200 years later. Society has become a sterile, Big Brother-controlled dystopia, and Miles joins the underground resistance--joined by a pampered rich woman (Diane Keaton at her bubbliest). Among the most famous gags are Miles' attempt to impersonate a domestic-servant robot; the Orgasmatron, a futuristic home appliance that provides instant pleasure; a McDonald's sign boasting how many trillions the chain has served; and an inflatable suit that provides the means for a quick getaway. The kooky thawing scenes were later blatantly (and admittedly) ripped off by Mike Myers in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. --Jim Emerson
One German maximum security prison was more famous than any other during World War II - Colditz castle. Although Colditz was considered 'escape proof' its boundaries were challenged many times by Allied prisoners of war with fatal results. On 15 October 1942 a group of British servicemen made the most historic and perhaps the most courageous attempt of all...
Kalifornia: When urban intellectuals Brian (Duchovny) and Carrie (Forbes) set out a cross-country trip to research a book about serial killers they share the ride with a couple they barely know - Early Grayce (Pitt) and his girlfriend Adele (Lewis). Locked in a car hurtling westword the four travelers struggle to find some common ground. But when they finally do connect Early's violent nature abruptly emerges and the petrified Brian and Carrie realise they don't need to go very far to learn about ruthless killers... because they're already face to face with one! Misery: When author Paul Sheldon suffers a car accident in a blizzard he thanks his lucky stars that nurse Annie Wilkes was on hand. That is until he discovers that she's his number one fan and has no intention of ever letting him go... Shallow Grave: Juliet David and Alex find that their new reclusive roommate has not left the bedroom for days. After kicking in the door they discover this drug overdosed corpse; and a suitcase full of cash! Fatefully choosing to keep the money they know they have to get rid of the body. But the remains won't stay buried and a careless trail from the shallow grave leads the police and two money-hungry thugs back to the trio. As the stakes get higher so does the body count not to mention their paranoia which is quickly putting their friendship in deadly jeopardy!
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