“Carrie” to “Casino Royale”
Carrie (1975) The first film adaptation of Stephen King’s work, and one of the few that succeeds. It captures perfectly the feel and flavor of the novel, and Sissy Spacek is a revelation! (KCL)
Carry on Cleo (1964) Probably the best known and certainly the most quoted of the Carry On films (“Infamy! Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me!”) A madcap round-the-houses adaptation of Julius Caesar with Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey at their campest, Sid James’s laugh at it’s dirtiest, Joan Sims’ cleavage at it’s largest and Jon Pertwee going so far over the top he’s down the other side. Amanda Barrie is a disturbingly sexy schoolgirlish Cleopatra. Full of groan-inducing jokes (I’m Spencius. It’s my brother what’s Marcus. We’re in partnership now!) and silly characters and totally loveable for it. (KT)
Carry on Screaming (1966) Easily the best of the Carry On movies as the usual suspects take apart the Hammer success story in search for laughs. You get what you usually get every mad-scientist joke imaginable (and a few that aren’t), Kenny Williams, Charlie Hawtrey and Jon Pertwee overacting disgracefully and Jim Dale doing “bewildered” better than any else in screen history. A touch of class in this one, however, is provided by Harry H Corbett. And it’s worth it for the “foul feet smell something horrible” joke alone. “Frying tonight!” (KT)
Casablanca (1942) “Round up the usual suspects.” Peerless, legendary war-time melodrama. Once-in-a-lifetime cast, a script that most movie buffs can recite word-for-word, that song. Memorable for all the right reasons including the curious ambiguity of some of the character motivations. (KT)
Casino Royale (2006) Granted this isnt a traditional James Bond film, but it has become my favorite. The first action sequence of the film is about 20-mintues long and you will find yourself trying to keep from blinking. Daniel Craigs Bond has a harsher edge about him than his predecessors, but its exactly what this re-start of the series needs. (GS)
Originally published in Raspberry World – Volume 2, Issue 1 (June/July 2007)