Category: Trivia

“Man on Fire”: Season 1, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II / Z-View

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Man on Fire: Season 1 (2025)

Created by: Kyle Killen; based on MAN ON FIRE by A.J. Quinnell

Director:

  • Steven Caple Jr. (Eps. 1-2)
  • Vicente Amorim (Eps. 3-4)
  • Clare Kilner (Eps. 5-6)
  • Michael Cuesta  (Ep. 7)

Teleplay by:

  • Kyle Killen (Eps. 1-7)

Starring:  Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Billie Boullet, Scoot McNairy, Alice Braga, Paul Ben-Victor and Bobby Cannavale.

Tagline: None.

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

John Creasy was a Captain in the United States Special Forces.  If a team was needed to go in a high risk-high reward situation, Creasey was the man you wanted in charge.  Creasey was formidable in all aspects of military training and second to none as a strategist.  When Creasey left the military, the CIA scooped him up.  Creasey continued to be the go-to leader who would get the mission accomplished, no matter the odds.

That was then.

A mission led by Creasey resulted in his entire squad wiped out. Creasey became a shell of his former self.  He left the CIA.  Now he drinks too much and suffers from PTSD.

Paul Rayburn, a friend of Creasey’s, owns a security company.  Rayburn flies Creasey to Brazil to offer him a job.  While Creasey considers the opportunity, he re-bonds with Rayburn, his wife and their two children.

Tragedy strikes when a terrorist group blows up the building where Rayburn and his family live.  Rayburn, his wife and son are three of the approximately six hundred killed in the explosion.  Rayburn’s daughter Poe, wasn’t in the building when it detonated. She saw one of the terrorists.  Worse still, he saw her.

Poe becomes a target of the terrorists.  Creasey now has something to live for – to protect Poe and get revenge for the murder of his friends and 600 others.

Thoughts…

I like that Man on Fire didn’t play out the exact same plot as the excellent Man on Fire movie directed by Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning.

This is the third adaptation of AJ Quinnell’s MAN ON FIRE novel.  The first was the 1987 film Man on Fire starring Scott Glenn as John Creasey.  The second was the 2004 Man on Fire movie starring Denzel Washington.

A.J. Quinell is the pen name of Philip Nicholson.  He wrote five novels about John Creasey.

Kudos to Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.  Playing a character Denzel Washington made famous is a BIG ask.  Abdul-Mateen II did a fine job.

Man on Fire: Season 1 (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Constantine” (2005) starring Keanu Reeves / Z-View

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Constantine (2005)

Director:  Francis Lawrence

Screenplay: Kevin Brodbin, Frank Cappello; story by Kevin Brodbin; based on Hellblazer by Jamie Delano, Garth Ennis

Stars: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Djimon Hounsou, Gavin Rossdale and Peter Stormare.

Tagline: Hell wants him. Heaven won’t take him. Earth needs him.

The Plot (beware of spoilers)…

LA Detective Angela Dodson turns to John Constantine, a occult expert and exorcist, to help her investigate her sister’s suicide.  Constantine discovers that demons have a plan to enter the human realm using the Spear of Destiny and Angela’s sister.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

John Constantine was created by writer Alan Moore, during his run on DC Comics’ Swamp Thing.  After negative experiences with movie adaptations of his work (From Hell and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), Moore refused to have anything to do with Hollywood.  He went as far as to reject any money or credit for movie  adaptations of his characters or work.

Constantine just didn’t resonate with me.  Most folks like it better than I do.  As always, your mileage may vary.

Constantine (2005) rates 2 of 5 stars

“From Here to Eternity” (1953) starring Burt Lancaster, Mongomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Frank Sinatra & Donna Reed / Z-View

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From Here to Eternity (1953)

Director: Fred Zinnemann

Screenplay: Daniel Taradash; based on FROM HERE TO ETERNITY by James Jones

Stars:  Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra, Philip Ober, Ernest Borgnine, Jack Warden, Claude Akins, Al Silvani and George Reeves.

Tagline: WARDEN… who wouldn’t do it… even for her… PREW… who wanted to be left alone… KAREN… who was looking for a real man… MAGGIO… you just have to laugh at him… LORENE… to look at her you’d never guess…

The Plot…

1941.  Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt, a professional boxer who retired after blinding another fighter, is transferred to Fort Shafter in Hawaii.  Captain “Dynamite” Holmes is excited to get Prewitt under his command.  Prewitt on his boxing team is a sure thing to win the Regimental Boxing Championship.  When Prewitt refuses to box, Holmes decides to “break him”.

To that end, Captain Holmes orders his subordinates to make Prewitt’s life miserable.  Extra duties.  Extreme punishments.  Nothing can break Prewitt’s resolve.  Company punishments for Prewitt’s “infractions” distance his fellow soldiers from him.  Only Private Angelo Maggio is willing to be friendly with Prewitt.  This causes friction between Maggio and the sadistic Sergeant Judson.

Sergeant Milton knows Captain Holmes is wrong, but it would be career suicide to disobey him.  Of course Milton’s affair with Captain Holmes’ wife would have the same result.

Things are past a breaking point…

… then the morning of December 7th dawns…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

From Here to Eternity was nominated for thirteen 1954 Academy Awards.  It won eight.

  • Winner for Best Picture – Buddy Adler
  • Winner for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Frank Sinatra
  • Winner for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Donna Reed
  • Winner for Best Director – Fred Zinnemann
  • Winner for Best Writing, Screenplay – Daniel Taradash
  • Winner for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White – Burnett Guffey
  • Winner for Best Sound, Recording – John P. Livadary
  • Winner for Best Film Editing – William A. Lyon
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Montgomery Clift
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Burt Lancaster
  • Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role – Deborah Kerr
  • Nominee for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White – Jean Louis 
  • Nominee for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture – Morris Stoloff, George Duning

From Here to Eternity tied Gone with the Wind with the eight Oscars won by a single film.  This record stood for over a decade. The films were also winners of the Best Picture Oscar.  Interestingly enough only one actor appears in both: George (Superman) Reeves.  Reeves had small roles in both films and is actually uncredited in From Here to Eternity.  

Claude Atkins made his film debut in this film.

From Here to Eternity is a classic.

From Here to Eternity (1953) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Carrie” (1976) directed by Brian DePalma, starring Sissy Spacek, John Travolta and Piper Laurie / Z-View

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Carrie (1976)

Director: Brian De Palma

Screenplay: Lawrence D. Cohen; based on CARRIE by Stephen King

Stars:  Sissy Spacek, John Travolta, Piper Laurie, William Katt, Nancy Allen, P.J. Soles, Michael Talbott and John Travolta.

Tagline:  If you’ve got a taste for terror… take Carrie to the prom.

The Plot…

High school is almost unbearable for Carrie.  She’s sixteen, immature and an easy target.  At school Carrie is bullied daily.  Her home life isn’t any better.  Carrie is being raised by a single mother who is a religious zealot.

A particularly rough hazing incident in the PE showers leaves Carrie sobbing on the floor. Sue, one of the school’s most popular girls, feels remorse for her involvement. So she asks her boyfriend, Tommy Ross (also one of the cool kids) to take Carrie to the prom.  Sue thinks that if Carrie is seen on a date with Tommy other kids might start viewing Carrie differently.  Tom eventually agrees.

At first Carrie thinks she’s being set up.  Tommy finally convinces Carrie he’s sincere.  Carrie agrees to go despite her mother’s refusal to allow the date.

What Sue, Tommy and Carrie don’t know is that Chris, one of the girls involved in the PE incident, has a plan to humiliate Carrie at the Prom.  Chris has no idea how badly her “prank” can go.  She also has no idea that Carrie has recently discovered telekinetic powers.

Time for the prom.  It will be a night you’ll never forget.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although the ending of the movie is different than Stephen King’s book, King has said he like the movie’s ending better.

Sue Snell is played by Amy Irving.  Sue’s mother is played by Priscilla Pointer… who is Amy Irving’s real life mother.

John Travolta, who just became a teen idol thanks to his role on Welcome Back Kotter, has a small role but was billed second on posters/ads.

Sissy Spacek was in real life a high school Homecoming Queen.

Carrie features Amy Irving’s feature film debut.

I had read the Stephen King novel a few years prior to seeing the movie.  When the film came out I was a junior in high school.  I saw it with a date at a midnight showing.  I thought the film was ready to roll the end credits.  Then the final scare comes.  It caught me so off guard I jumped out of my seat.  Yeah, try playing that off with your date.  No, I wasn’t scared.  Really.

One of Carrie’s taglines was: Carrie may look perfectly innocent, but she’ll shock you right out of your seat… and that’s a promise!   In my case, promise kept.

Carrie (1976) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Back From Eternity” (1956) directed by John Farrow, starring Robert Ryan, Anita Ekberg and Rod Steiger / Z-View

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Back From Eternity (1956)

Director: John Farrow

Screenplay:  Jonathan Latimer; story by Richard Carroll; based on the film Five Came Back (1939) directed by John Farrow

Stars:  Robert Ryan, Anita Ekberg, Rod Steiger, Phyllis Kirk, Keith Andes, Gene Barry, Fred Clark, Beulah Bondi, Cameron Prud’Homme, Jesse White, Barbara Eden and Jon Provost .

Tagline: 30 MINUTES TO LIVE – Head-hunter Drums grew louder in the jungle and a condemned criminal held 9 lives in his hands.

The Plot…

A small passenger plane headed for Boca Grande is knocked off course by a violent storm.  Damage caused by the storm forces the plane to set down in a dangerous jungle inhabited by cannibals.

The passengers include the pilot Bill Lonagan, his co-pilot Joe Brooks, an elderly couple: Professor Spangler and his wife, a mobster transporting his boss’ young son, a sexy prostitute named Rena, a bounty hunter named Crimp and his prisoner, the murderer Vasquel, as well as Jud Ellis and his fiancée Louise Melhorn.

The pilots believe that they can repair the plane and make it flyable given enough time.  When the cannibal drums are heard, they realize time is running out.  The plane can fly, but will only carry five people.  But which five?

Prepare to begin boarding…. cannibals are coming!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Back From Eternity is a remake of the 1939 film Five Came Back which starred Chester Morris, Lucille Ball and John Carradine.  It was also directed by John Farrow.

Back From Eternity features the movie debut (although uncredited) of Barbara Eden as a college girl.

Jon Provost, who plays the mobster’s young son, would go on to fame as Timmy on the hit tv show Lassie.

I’m a huge fan of Back From Eternity and the original Five Came Back.

Back From Eternity (1956) rates 5 of 5 stars.

The Black Scorpion (1957) starring Richard Denning & Mara Corday / Z-View

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The Black Scorpion (1957)

Director: Edward Ludwig

Screenplay:  Robert Blees, David Duncan

Stars:  Richard Denning, Mara Corday, Carlos Rivas, Mario Navarro.

Tagline: Every horror you’ve seen on the screen grows pale beside the horror of “THE BLACK SCORPION”

The Plot…

An earthquake in Mexico gives rise to a new active volcano.  Geologists Dr. Hank Scott and Dr. Arturo Ramos are sent to ground zero to assess damage.  As they close in on the epicenter, they discover houses and cars destroyed but not from the earthquake or volcano.  Locals believe a demon is killing their cattle and causing the damage.

It’s not demons but prehistoric scorpions that now have a path to the surface.  These monsters are on the loose and hungry!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Willis O’Brien, who created the stop-motion effects King Kong (1933), supervised the special effects for The Black Scorpion.  Although working with a much smaller budget, most of this movie’s charm is from O’Brien’s work.

The giant trapdoor spider and enormous worm were models left over (and not used) from King Kong (1933).

If the sounds made by the giant scorpions sound familiar, give another listen to the sounds of the ants in Them!.

The Black Scorpion (1957) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“What Women Did For Me” (1927) starring Charley Chase & Lupe Velez / Z-View

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What Women Did For Me (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  Reed Heustis

Stars:  Charley Chase, Lupe Velez, Eric Mayne.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charley has an unusual phobia.  He’s afraid of girls.  So of course he gets a job as a professor at an all-girls college.  Charley’s boss decides he will cure Charley of his phobia.

Let the hijinks begin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

What Women Did For Me is a 21 minute short.

What Women Did For Me features Lupe Velez’s film debut.

What Women Did For Me has a few funny moments, but overall didn’t work for me.  Your mileage may vary.

What Women Did For Me (1927) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Devil’s Cabaret” (1930) starring Eddie Buzzell / Z-View

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The Devil’s Cabaret (1930)

Director:  Nick Grinde

Screenplay: Edward Buzzell

Stars: Edward Buzzell, Charles Middleton.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot (beware of spoilers)…

Mr. Satan is upset.  His company, Satan & Company, located in Hades is losing too many human souls to heaven.  Satan then tasks his assistant, Howie Burns (get it? How he burns. <wink, wink>), to find a way to get more souls coming to Hades.  Burns promises his best to do his worst.

Burns creates a nightclub called The Devil’s Cabaret.  Burns then stands outside promising all who pass by, “a night of wild entertainment and hot jazz.”  Crowds flock to the show… now will they follow him afterwards?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Devil’s Cabaret is a Technicolor pre-code short.  It’s humorous, clever, entertaining and not a bad way at all to spend 16 minutes.

Edward Buzzell, who plays Howie Burns, also wrote the screenplay.

The Devil’s Cabaret (1930) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Remarkably Bright Creatures” (2026) starring Sally Field and Lewis Pullman / Z-View

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Remarkably Bright Creatures (2026)

Director: Olivia Newman

Screenplay:  Olivia Newman, John Whittington; based on REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt.

Stars:  Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Sofia Black-D’Elia, Colm Meaney and Alfred Molina.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Tova is a widow who is becoming increasingly withdrawn.  Tova never got over the death of her 18 year old son, who died years ago.  Recently Tova’s husband passed.   Her only real joy these days comes from her job as a night janitor at the local aquarium.  She takes pride in her work and enjoys the solitude.  Surprisingly, Tova enjoys talking to the aquarium’s aging octopus, Marcellus.

Marcellus, like all octupi, is extremely intelligent.  Marcellus’ goal is to escape his tank, and return to the ocean before he dies.

Cameron Cassmore, young aspiring musician, is driving through town when his van breaks down.  Needing funds to repair his van, Cameron accepts a job at the aquarium.  It’s a means to an end.

Tova sees Cameron as a slacker.  Cameron views Tova as an old busybody.

Tova, Cameron and Marcellus’ lives will change when a mystery is solved.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES was Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel and a runaway bestseller.

Two of Sally Fields’ close relatives also appear in the film.  Sasha Craig (Fields’ daughter-in-law) plays Cameron’s mother in flashback scenes. Noah Craig (Fields’ grandson) plays Marco.

Alfred Molina voices the octopus Marcellus.

Remarkably Bright Creatures surprised me.  It was much better than I anticipated.  A great cast and a wonderfully adapted story make for a fun movie.

Remarkably Bright Creatures (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Satan Met a Lady” (1936) starring Bette Davis, William Warren and Marie Wilson / Z-View

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Satan Met a Lady (1936)

Director: William Dieterle

Screenplay:  Brown Holmes; based on THE MALTESE FALCON by Dashiell Hammett.

Stars:  Bette Davis, Warren William, Alison Skipworth, Arthur Treacher, Porter Hall, Olin Howland and Marie Wilson.

Tagline: She recalled how three men met their death…searching for a treasure that had left a trail of blood through twelve centuries!

The Plot…

Detective Ted Shane has just returned to town. Milton Ames, Shane’s former partner reluctantly agrees to work with Shane again.  They parted ways since Shane, a lady’s man, once was romantically involved with Ames’ wife.  Shane has a paying client and money overrides hurt feelings.

A woman named Valerie Purvis wants to hire Shane and Ames to find a man named Farrow.  When both Ames and Farrow are found murdered, Shane realizes there is much more to this case than a missing man.

Shane is soon approached by Madam Barrabas and Kenneth, her slow-witted, trigger happy son.  They want  to hire Shane to find an 8th century jewel-filled ivory horn.  An English gentleman, Anthony Travers, wants to hire Shane to find it as well.  And don’t you know, that’s what Valerie is after too.

Shane, never one to turn down money, decides to play each against the other and accepts payment from all.  Shane’s charm and quick wit have always served him well, but this time he may be in over his head.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Satan Met a Lady is based on Dashiell Hammett’s novel THE MALTESE FALCON.  Screenwriter, Brown Holmes not only changed the title, he changed the names of the characters (including the lead), the sex of the main antagonist and the object everyone wanted.

Bette Davis hated the script and complained to studio head Jack Warner.  She said she would not do the film.  Warner promised Davis better scripts in the future and then suspended her without pay.  Reluctantly Davis agreed to the movie.  Unfortunately she hated the end result and often said it was her worst film.

I recently revisited Satan Met a Lady.  I enjoyed it much more than previous viewings.  I always liked the movie, but this time out liked it even more.  I think in the past I compared this adaption of THE MALTESE FALCON to Huston and Bogart’s take.  Obviously Satan Met a Lady suffered by comparison.  I was also influenced by Bette Davis’ feelings about the film.  This time out, I put past feelings aside and enjoyed a lighthearted 1930s comedy/mystery.

Much of my enjoyment of Satan Met a Lady came from Marie Wilson’s performance as the ditzy, sexy blonde assistant.

Satan Met a Lady (1936) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Forgotten Sweeties” (1927) starring Charley Chase / Z-View

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Forgotten Sweeties (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charley Chase, Anita Garvin, Shirley Palmer.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charley and his new wife, Lillian, are surprised to learn that Charley’s ex-girlfriend, Shirley has moved into the apartment across from them.  Worse still, Shirley’s new husband Ira is the jealous type.  When Ira learns about Charley, things take a turn for the worst.

Let the antics begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

Forgotten Sweeties was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.

Forgotten Sweeties (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Many Scrappy Returns” (1927) starring Charley Chase / Z-View

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Many Scrappy Returns (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charley Chase, Eugenia Gilbert, Anita Garvin and Bull Montana.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charley and his wife have Charlie’s brother, Wellington and Wellington’s wife over for dinner.  Things go sideways when Wellington tries to put a move on Charley’s maid.  Worse still she thinks that it was Charley getting fresh.  When the maid’s husband gets wind of the advance, all bets are off!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

Many Scrappy Returns was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.

Many Scrappy Returns (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Pluribus”: Season 1 (2025) created by Vince Gilligan, starring Rhea Seehorn / Z-View

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Pluribus: Season 1 (2025)

Created by: Vince Gilligan

Director:

  • Vince Gilligan (Eps. 1-2)
  • Gordon Smith (Eps. 3; 5; 9)
  • Zetna Fuentes (Ep. 4)
  • Gandja Monteiro (Ep. 6)
  • Adam Bernstein (Ep. 7)
  • Melissa Bernstein (Ep. 8)

Teleplay by:

  • Vince Gilligan (Eps. 1-2)
  • Gordon Smith (Ep. 3)
  • Alison Tatlock (Ep. 4)
  • Ariel Levine (Ep. 5)
  • Vera Blasi (Ep. 6)
  • Jenn Carroll (Ep. 7)
  • Jonny Gomez (Ep. 8)
  • Alison Tatlock & Gordon Smith (Ep. 9)

Starring:  Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, Carlos-Manuel Vesga, Miriam Shor and John Cena.

Tagline: Happiness is contagious.

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

Astronomers are shocked when a SETI radio signal turns out to be a legit alien transmission.  The signal is determined to be a code for an RNA sequence.  Scientists begin working on it immediately.  A lab mishap infects one of the researchers.  Soon a geometric infection spreads.  One infected becomes two – two become four.

Within very little time the entire human population has been exposed.  Every person infected becomes part of the hive mind collective.  The infection rate is almost 100%.  There are only thirteen people in the world who remain unaffected.

With the infection what one person knows, they all know.  The infected appear calm and happy and they readily admit that the want to assimilate the uninfected.

Carol Sturka is one of the thirteen uninfected.  Her goal is to find a way to save the human race.

Thoughts…

Vince Gilligan has another winner.

Pluribus is the Latin word meaning “many”.  The Pluribus logo changes the “i” to a “1” which is very clever.

It was an interesting choice to make Rhea Seehorn’s character more than a bit unlikeable.

I look forward to season 2.

Pluribus: Season 1 (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Incredible Mr. Limpet” (1964) starring Don Knotts / Z-View

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The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)

Director: Arthur Lubin

Screenplay:  Joe DiMona, Jameson Brewer, John C. Rose; based on MR. LIMPET by Theodore Pratt

Stars: Don Knotts, Carole Cook, Jack Weston, Andrew Duggan and Paul Frees (voice).

Tagline: The man who turned into a fish… and became America’s deadliest secret weapon!

The Plot…

War War II rages.  Henry Limpett, a mild-mannered bookkeeper, would love nothing more than to enlist and help the war effort.  Each time Henry’s tried he’s been rejected due to his many health issues.

Henry, his wife and his best friend George go to Coney Island for the day.  As Henry is looking down into the ocean, he falls.  Henry can’t swim so George dives in to save him.  Despite several attempts, George is unable to find Henry.  Everyone believes Henry has drowned.

But he hasn’t.  Somehow Henry Limpet has turned into a fish!  Even more amazing as a fish, Henry has a power that may help turn the tide of the war!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The film moves from live action to animation once Limpet turns into a fish.

It’s funny how much the fish looks like Don Knotts — or is it how much he looks like a fish?

I saw the film when it was first released. I was five and the theater was full of kids.  We loved it.  I recently re-watched it again with my grandson who is six.  He enjoyed it as well.  Your mileage may vary depending on your age and the audience you’re watching with.

The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964) rates 4 of 5 stars.