The Badlanders (1958)

In 1958, Alan Ladd was on the downside of his career*, as he starred in this Western remake of The Asphalt Jungle** with Katie Juarez, and Ernest Borgnine.  In this version,  a rancher and mining engineer return to a small town to rob a Gold Mine they've been cheated out of. Unlike Asphalt Jungle  the "crooks" are the good guys, the supporting characters are ciphers, and it has a happy ending***. Clocking in at 85 minutes, its solid, fast moving, but unspectacular entertainment. There's plenty of action, but nothing memorable.  Rating 2.5 out of 4

Notes
* =  Ladd was only 45, but seems tired and has a puffy face.  Of course, Ladd was never an energetic, dynamic actor. He always gave off a cool, low-key charisma and reacted to situations and other characters. He really lost a step from 1953 to 1958.  Even Widmark would've been a better lead.

The history of the Hollywood leading men born 1908-1913 is a sad one.  Ladd dead at 52, Flynn dead at 50,  Tyrone Power dead at 45,  Dana Andrews sidelined by alcoholism at 52,  Robert Taylor -lung cancer at 56. Gene Kelly an acting has-been at 50.  Exceptions? Lancaster and Stewart. And then there's Reagan - but that's politics.

** =  the scene where the crooked financier (aka the Louis Calhern role)  tries to double-cross the robbers is an almost word for word remake.
*** = instead of a bloody shoot-out,  the local Mexicans, celebrating Cinco De Mayo,  come to the rescue. One villain  is set on fire when the fireworks are set off!

Summer Stock (1950)

I never thought I'd say this: but watching Summer Stock I missed Mickey Rooney.  He would've been much better in the lead than Gene Kelly**. Rooney not only had great chemistry with Judy Garland, but he could bring some real pizzazz to  a standard musical role.  Which Gene Kelly couldn't - and doesn't. Otherwise, there's not much to say about the movie.  The script/story has some funny moments, but some dull moments too. We get a great musical number Get Happy by Judy,  but the rest are forgettable.  Kelly dances  a little but without excitement. The supporting cast is good, especially Gloria DeHaven and Marjorie Main but that's counter-balanced by Phil Silvers* - who's terrible.

Best Scene:  Judy sings Get Happy 
Worst Scene: Garland sings about a Tractor

Summary: A technicolor MGM musical that's only remembered because of Judy Garland.  Despite having some incredible talent, it needed better songs, a better leading man, better dancing, and a better script. And less Phil Silvers.  Pleasant - but mediocre.  Rating 2.5 of 4.

*  I love Phil Silvers in Sgt. Bilko and he's the best thing in Its a Mad, Mad, World, but he can't sing or dance  and in every movie he's too stiff or confined by the script.  Like Milton Berle he needed to play his unique comedic persona or he was awful.

** This movie shows up Gene Kelly's flaws. He was a great dancer, but he couldn't carry a movie.  Even more that other leading men, Kelly needed great songs, a good script, and some good co-stars. At his peak, he made  a lot of hits.  But 3 of those movies co-starred Sinatra and Singing in the Rain had  one of the greatest scripts/co-stars ever.  Even in  An American in Paris, Kelly had the support of Gershwin, Caron, Levant, and Georges Guétary,

Don Juan DeMarco (1994)

Best Quote:  Brando to Chubby old friend:  I see we go to the same Bakery. 
Plot: Fantasy-Romance-Comedy about a man who tries to convince a Psychiatrist he's the reincarnation of Don Juan - the world's greatest lover.

A well-acted, pleasant, and forgettable film. Depp is touching and convincing, and Faye Dunaway puts away the wire hangers and is suitably warm and charming as Brando's far-too-young wife (she was 53, he was 70).

Brando's Performance
Ebert was quite harsh on Brando's performance, declaring he'd "ruined the movie" with his "gassy, self-indulgent performance".  I'm not sure what Roger expected Brando to do, given the undemanding story and script. Its a Romance-Comedy not  Hamlet.  I thought Brando gave a good,  low-key performance.  Its a comedy, Brando is making $millions, and he's obviously relaxed and having a good time. However, there's nothing special about Brando's performance. A dozen "old Guy movie stars" Redford, Heston, Caine, Newman, Hackman, Garner, Scott, etc. could have done as well.  Rating **1/2

Brando's Weight
Brando weighs about 300 lbs. The film mostly shoots Brando above the waist and gives him well-tailored clothes that disguise the pounds. But make no mistake - he's a  land whale. And given his girth, you wonder how Dunaway and Brando's character would've "connected" so to speak.

The Movie
Seen only because of Brando, the movie oddly needed less Brando and more Depp.  For a Romance-Comedy there's way too much drama and dull chat.  Why give us a Doctor of Psychology - when we have Don Juan?  Side Note: From reason this movie kept reminding me of They might be Giants  Rating 2.5 of 4

The Girl Most Likely (1957)

A RKO musical starring Jane Powell, Clift Robertson, and Kay Ballard, I really wanted to like this old-fashioned movie about a San Diego girl engaged to three men. But other than a few nice - if forgettable - numbers, and shots of the San Diego ferry, its a complete bust.  Powell has short blond hair and some garish-looking outfits. Robertson isn't anyone's idea of a musical star and the comedy isn't really that funny. It sorta drags on and on.  Like some other Wide Screen 50s Musicals the dancing seems remote and unexciting. Summary:  No forgotten gem, I suppose Jane Powell fans might like it. I didn't.  Rating 2 of 4.