Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991) – The Drumhead, and Half a Life

Captain’s log: stardate 44769.2 Jonathan Frakes directs his third episode of the series, from a script by Jeri Taylor. This episode, a bottle show, first aired on 29 April, 1991. Trouble comes aboard the Enterprise when a Klingon exo-biologist, J’Ddan (Henry Woronicz) is being investigated by Riker (Frakes) and Troi (Marina Sirtis) for sabotage, and…

Guys and Dolls (1955) – Joseph L. Mankiewicz

It’s time for another musical recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Oklahoma! and I have to tell you, this one I liked. With a caveat. I’ve never been a fan of Marlon Brando. I didn’t care for his performances, and I get the impression I would…

Spartacus (1960) – Stanley Kubrick

Kubrick takes us back to 1st Century B.C.E. for the next stop in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film. The classic story of a slave that leads a revolt against the Roman Empire, that has become decadent, and indulgent. Leading the cast, and serving as executive producer is Kirk Douglas, who is joined…

Black Narcissus (1947) – Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger

The next recommendation from Great Movies – 100 Years of Film following Pandora’s Box, is this 1947 classic starring Deborah Kerr, based on Rumer Godden’s novel. A rundown palace, remotely positioned in the Himalayan mountains is the new location for a hospital and school to be run by a small group of nuns, led by newly commissioned Mother Superior,…