Carry on Regardless (1961)

An early Carry On film centred around the Helping Hands agency who provide manpower for any possible task from beauty salon demonstrations to translations. Bert (Sid James) runs the agency with the help of the Carry On crew including Joan Sims, Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey.

Things never run smoothly though, most jobs the agency take on end in disaster. For example a request for a fourth at Bridge sends someone to the Forth Bridge instead! The landlord (Stanley Unwin - speaking Unwinese gobbledegook) wants to put up their rent to a level beyond their ability to pay. However, they come to agreement: if they can clean the landlord's newest property they can stay, unfortunately its the dirtiest house in London!

There really isn't much plot to this, it is more a series of funny comedy situations vaguely held together by the thin glue of the employment office. It is very funny and silly with many comedy highlights, not the best Carry On but certainly very worthwhile.

The Terrorists (1974)

An engaging tale of terrorism and hijacking... and political intrigue. The head of security in a Scandinavian country (Norway basically but this is not mentioned for some reason) Tahlvik (Sean Connery) is called in to deal with the kidnap of the British ambassador. The kidnappers, linked to a terrorist cell in the UK led by wanted man Shepherd (John Quentin), have an ace up their sleeves though. At that moment a Boeing 737 is landing at the nearby airport (Oslo) and is hijacked on landing by Petrie (Ian McShane)...

Tahlvik's attempts to defeat the hijackers are foiled at every attempt, they must have some inside information. As the exchange of the ambassador for the aircraft passengers takes place Tahlvik suddenly realises that there is far more to this than meets the eye...

Although not the fastest paced film, this is an enjoyable enough thriller. Everything is a bit too low-key but the Norwegian scenery looks superb, if rather chilly. The twist, when it comes, doesn't make complete sense but does give the film a suitably exciting action finish.

Red Line 7000 (1965)

A hot tale of racing drivers in the 1960s NASCAR scene and not short of cliche. Jim (Anthony Rogers) and Mike (James Caan) drive for Pat Cassarian (Norman Alden). Jim is expecting his fiancé Holly (Gail Hire) but dies in a race when he pushes the red line too hard and blows his engine at speed. Holly stays on and forms a link with Mike. New hotshot Ned (James Robert Crawford) is Jim's replacement and hooks up with Pat's sister Julie (Laura Devon). Meanwhile, Dan (James Ward) arrives with his latest flame Gabrielle (Marianna Hill)...

So, a tale of three racing drivers and their girlfriends and various antics. This film is quite melodramatic and sometimes resembles a soap opera with racing cars. The acting is a bit patchy but the cars look great, footage from real races is well used. 

Not a great film but an enjoyable one for the 1960s nostalgia and the sport. George Takai appears as a race engineer.

A Quiet Street (1922)

One of the Our Gang series of comedy shorts made by Hal Roach featuring a group of children called The Rascals who get up to various slap stick fun and naughty antics. In this edition the kids (including Jackie Condon, Mickey Daniels and Ernest Morrison) think they are in trouble with the police after beating up a policeman's son who had been bullying Jackie. However, the police really want to warn them about a real criminal called Red Mike...

A fairly charming film (the amount of charm will depend on how much you like children or not!) The film is at it's best early on when the kids don't have much to do and fill their time with innocent(-ish) kids stuff. This gives the film a bit of a nostalgic air.

History of the World: Part I (1981)

Perhaps the best Mel Brooks movie and one of the funniest films ever made. Mel takes us on a very individual spoof tour through history from cavemen through to the Roman Empire and the French Revolution. Each segment has a plot of sorts though the film is more a series of comedy shorts held together by the same actors. Mel (who plays characters as varied as Moses, Torquemada, King Louis XVI and the Piss Boy!) is joined by the likes of Gregory Hines, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Khan and Spike Milligan plus many more.

Highlights, well there are many. The Roman Empire and French Revolution segments are the longest and have the most gags including the Count de Monet who is always furious at people saying his name wrong, Nero at Caesar's Palace (actually the real Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas), Judas at the Last Supper and Moses dropping one of his stone tablets (so that's why there were ten rather than fifteen commandments)...

Although the film is listed as Part 1 there was no sequel. We do have a pseudo trailer for that film though to close things out, including Hitler on ice and Jews in space! A very silly film full of obvious visual gags and weirdness. A complete and utter laugh riot.