Films 96 to 101

166. Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1965) - Ritt. Excellent Cold War Spy thriller based on the John Le Carre Novel. Excellent writing, acting, and directing. The only false note was Burton demanding his girlfriend return to West Berlin with him after Burton tells her all the most sensitive spy secrets. Note: Although Burton was only 40 in real life, he looks 50. Booze takes its toll. Rating ***

98. Talk of the Town (1942) Stevens. Jean Arthur, Ronald Coleman, and Cary Grant star in this overlong (119 minutes) comedy-drama about a school teacher who boards a law professor and a labor agitator wrongly accused of murder. Has some excellent comic moments but gets bogged down by preachy/philosophical law discussions and boring melodrama. Furthermore, the plot strains credibility and its impossible to take Grant seriously as a Polish-American labor agitator and "man of the people." A film that's gotten by on the power of the 3 stars. The comedy is good, the drama bad, so the overall rating is average. Rating **

99. A Christmas Carol (1938). The MGM Version staring Reginald Owen. Not bad - but not very good either. Inferior on every level to the 1951 version with Alistair Sim. Pros: the singing of "O Come all you faithful" and Barry MacKay as "Fred". Cons: The "Clift Notes" version at 69 minutes, too upbeat, Scrooge is too goodhearted, the Ghosts too bland, and Bob Crachit too fat. Rating **1/2