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THIS WEEK’S BEST FILMS
MONDAY
Detective Story (1951) (Film 4, 2.55pm)
Set over the course of a single day in a New York police precinct, William Wyler’s bleak and powerful film noir stars Kirk Douglas as James
McLeod, an obsessive detective who turns violent and vengeful when he comes up against a Dr Karl Schneider (George Macready). Schneider, it turns out, has been involved with McLeod’s wife, Mary. Secrets and lies abound, and there’s a typically tragic denouement, though one which brings redemption of sorts for McLeod. The film picked up four Oscar nominations, including Best Director for Wyler, Best Supporting Actress (for Lee Grant, later a noted documentary maker) and Best Screenplay (for Wyler’s brother Robert, and Philip Yordan, who would go on to script cult western Johnny Guitar).
Last Action Hero (1993) (Film4, 11.15pm)
On its release in 1993, this comedy adventure was a high-profile flop – perhaps in part as a reaction to the hype, the inflated budget and the fact that leading man Arnold Schwarzenegger was somewhat overexposed following a string of hits. Seen now without all the accompanying baggage, it’s a lot of fun. Austin O’Brien co-stars as Danny Madigan, a young film fan who, thanks to a magic cinema ticket, finds he’s able to step through the screen and into the latest movie featuring the heroic character Jack Slater (Schwarzenegger). At first, the lad has fun being his idol’s youthful sidekick, but things take a more worrying turn when the movie’s villain (Charles Dance) gets his hand on the ticket and escapes into the real world.
TUESDAY
Funny Face (1957) (Talking Pictures TV, 11.30am)
When fearsome editor Maggie Prescott (Kay Thompson) wants a model to represent her magazine, photographer Dick Avery (Fred Astaire) picks book-store clerk Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn). Although she’s more interested in philosophy than fashion, Jo agrees
because it means a free trip to Paris. Sadly, it isn’t long before her desire to sit in dark cafes talking about Sartre clashes with her new role – and her burgeoning romance with the snapper. Astaire looks a little old to be wooing Hepburn, and the plot is thin, but this musical is still a joy from start to finish. With Singin’ in the Rain co-director Stanley Donen at the helm, you’d expect great songand-dance routines, but it also boasts fabulous frocks, a and a scene-stealing turn from Thompson.
Tremors (1990) (ITV4, 11.05pm) Remember those Fifties B movies where alien invaders land in small American towns and proceed to wreak havoc? This entertaining cult sci-fi spoof from director Ron Underwood affectionately sends up the likes of It Came from Outer Space and Them; it also features some effective special effects and a fantastic plot. Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward star as two handymen stranded in the desert who become targets for a family of giant sandworms. Yes, it’s knowingly silly – most of the movie is played for laughs rather than thrills – but some genuinely exciting moments help the story along. For once, Bacon lives up to his name: he hams it up for all he’s worth. The film has been followed by various sequels, but none match up to the original.
WEDNESDAY
El Dorado (1966) (Film4, 4.15pm) Director Howard Hawks could pretty much do anything – film noir (The Big Sleep), screwball comedy (Bringing Up Baby) and musicals (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) were just a few of the genres he mastered. He was also a dab hand at Westerns, as this absorbing and often very funny classic proves. John Wayne stars as gunfighter Cole Thornton, who is hired by landowner Bart Jason (Edward Asner). However, the situation gets more complicated when Cole’s old friend, local sheriff JP Harrah (Robert Mitchum), warns him that the job will involve muscling an honest family of famers off their land. Wayne and Mitchum are both terrific, but there’s also an eye-catching role for a young James Caan, while
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