1,001 Movies – Week 29

“Cannibal Holocaust” to “Captain Blood”

 

Cannibal Holocaust (1980) – Everyone should see this at least once.  I can’t see it more often than every few years, because it’s just emotionally grueling. Not what one might expect from an Italian exploitation horror movie, in which more often than not the innards just fly on the slightest pretext. This one really is a journey – a very hard, sometimes cruel journey, at the end of which, one finds oneself rooting for the cannibals. (KCL)

A Canterbury Tale (1944) – Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s allegorical fable of modern day Chaucer-like pilgrimage, as three very different people (Sheila Sim, Dennis Price, John Sweet) walk the quiet parochial back roads of Kent in search of a sense of belonging. Like all of Powell and Pressburger’s movies, the female characters are strong and intelligent, the men noble and caring and the dialogue breath-taking. Sweet-natured, gentle and unique. There is no other film like this. (KT)

Capote (2005) – Philip Seymour Hoffman gives a tour de force performance as Truman Capote in this powerful film about the authors journey to Kansas and his relationship with murderers Richard “Dick” Eugene Hickock and Perry Edward Smith. The reconstruction of the period is nothing short of astonishing. (GS)

Capricorn One (1978) – Capricorn One is about a mission to Mars that wasn’t. Though the film was made in 1978, it stands the test of time. If you have already seen this film, it’s worth a revisit, if you haven’t what are you waiting for? (SC)

Captain Blood (1935) – Starring Errol Flynn (in his first major role), Olivia de Havilland and Basil Rathbone, this is the quintessential pirate film. Director Michael Curtiz brings us another romantic adventure in grand style – look Curtiz up and be amazed at his list of credits. (GS)

 

Originally published in Raspberry World – Volume 2, Issue 1 (June/July 2007)