1,001 Movies – Week 30

“Captain Clegg” to “Carousel”

 

Captain Clegg (1962) – Released as Night Creatures in the US, this remake of Dr. Syn marks the high point of Hammer’s brief  – and only occasionally successful – foray into the world of pirate adventure. Cushing and Lee are at their swaggering, swashbuckling best in a tale of Cornish smugglers and dark secrets and there’s a terrific role in it for a very young and very pretty Ollie Reed. (KT)

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1972) – Colorful, exciting and full of action and symbolism, Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter has a dreamy, acquiescent, fairy-tale quality to it. Kronos, like a king in exile, rides through the frightened countryside, with his loyal friend and a beautiful girl, doing a bit of righteous ethnic cleansing on any vampires he meets. Horst Janson is perfectly cast as the pot-smoking superhero swordsman, whilst the rest of the cast (particularly Caroline Munro, John Cater and John Carson) give some great support. A series of sequels, each set in different time periods, was planned by Brian Clemens but, sadly, this never happened.  (KT)

Carandiru (2003) – The more I tell you about this one-of-a-kind film, the less reason you might want to see it. If humanity means something to you, then I challenge you – NO, I dare you to risk 145-minutes of your fast life. What if you had no life? You are sentenced to life in prison, the world’s worst prison! Carandiru, Brazil is the city where that prison was. The actual 2002 implosion of that infamous prison are the opening hypnotic moments of this subtitled Brazilian bio-documentary. You will have to suspend your prejudices (none of us is innocent – “nay, not one.”) It is told from the perspective of the Doctor sent there. The system has failed, so the internees have established their own justice system, where the warden and his staff serve only as public figureheads. The bad people are as human as any one you ever knew and cared for. (KWR)

Carnival of Souls (1962) – This first time I saw this movie was on Joe Bob Briggs’ late night show – and it was the first time I had ever spent the night alone. I don’t know if it was simply the circumstances, but this thoroughly eerie movie has hidden away in my psyche ever since. Probably because of its tiny budget, there were moments where I felt as though I was watching a documentary. It’s an atmospheric gem where nothing was explained which creeps me out to this day. (GS)

Carousel (1956) – Sent back to earth to amend his ways after he is accidentally killed in a robbery, Billy Bigelow (Gordon MacRae) reflects on his life after he sees his widow, Julie (Shirley Jones) and his child for the first time in years. Perfect blend of song and dance make this film a must see, especially two of my favorites, the “Carousel Waltz” ballet and the classic, “Never Walk Alone”. (SF)

 

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