3 - 9 FEB 2024

You won’t need to be at the film on Sunday to know that Aftersun did not fare too well last time out. Not all the films that have ‘sun’ in the title would share the same fate with members (he suggests, tentatively): A Walk in the Sun (1945) is a fine war movie from Lewis Milestone (the director of 1930’s All Quiet on the Western Front). The Sun Shines Bright (1953) was John Ford’s personal favourite; the director’s original cut is in Eureka’s Masters of Cinema series. Run for the Sun (1956) is a decent remake of The Most Dangerous Game (1932), directed by Roy Boulting and starring Richard Widmark and Trevor Howard. The Sun Also Rises (1957) gave Errol Flynn an opportunity to show that he could act. Even Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969), Gerry Anderson’s only live-action feature, but directed by Robert Parrish, has an intriguing story and is worth a look.
NOBODY (2021) Saturday 3 February 9.10-11.00pm Channel 4    P             
Nobody shares some similarities with our thriller Riders of Justice – a quiet, innocuous man attempts to track down the lowlifes who have been terrorising his family. Unfortunately, there are some out there who are even nastier. It is good to see Christopher Lloyd and Michael Ironside in supporting roles. It is a film not for the fainthearted, though!
TWO FACES WEST (1950) Monday 5 February 12.55-2.45pm TP (Channel 82)             
And, following a break for a cup of tea/walking the dog . . .
STORM IN A TEACUP (1937) 4.30-6.15pm TP (Channel 82)                 
I have made the point before that I find Robert Wise’s earlier work in science-fiction and thrillers more interesting than, say, The Sound of Music (1965). With Two Flags West, he tries his hand at a western. It has a good plot, strong male leads (Jeff Chandler, Cornel Wilde and Joseph Cotten), and the climactic attack on the fort is especially well staged.
In contrast, Storm in a Teacup is a rare, gentle comedy set in a small Scottish town, and built around a simple premise: the press pick up on the story of the confiscation of an elderly woman’s dog – and milk it for all it is worth! This film also has a trio of fine actors, here on the cusp of stardom – Rex Harrison, Vivien Leigh and Cecil Parker.
RED SUN (1971) Thursday 8 February 9.00-11.10pm Legend (Channel 41)             
Most of this week’s films of interest are westerns, I’m afraid. Both Blazing Saddles and How the West Was Won are on BBC 4 tonight, but Red Sun is a much rarer bird (maverick?) and a little different. It is helmed by Bond director Terence Young and the international cast has samurai Toshiro Mifune teaming up with Charles Bronson in pursuit of a venerated sword stolen by Alain Delon. Ursula Andress and Capucine are also in the cast.
THE PROUD REBEL (1958) Friday 9 February 1.00-3.10pm Great Action (Channel 42)             
The Proud Rebel is one of the gentlest westerns you are likely to see. Alan Ladd hopes to find a doctor who can help his young son, who hasn’t spoken since the death of his mother. Olivia de Havilland is very good, too.  Directed by Michael (Casablanca) Curtiz the film has enjoyed respectful reviews ever since its initial release.