Author Archive: Retro

Parents in a small, conservative community don’t think that the sex drive is a normal thing for children to experience. So much so, that they label education in that regard as a communist plot. The group of prudes is led by an impotent alcoholic and a gay policeman.

Ancient tribal myths suddenly seem not so absurd for a remote tropical hotel full of European and American guests. They are credited with rousing the ire of a Kuma god who manifests himself as a gigantic alligator.

A resort is terrorized by a giant alligator.

Tourists on a tropical island anger an island god, who turns himself into a giant alligator and stalks them.

Tourists on a tropical island anger an island god, who turns himself into a giant alligator and stalks them.

The story centers around the estate of a politician plagued by blackmail and scissor-murders.

The story centers around the estate of a politician plagued by blackmail and scissor-murders.

Gold is a superb adaptation of Wilbur Smith’s novel. The plot concerns a group of greed-driven businessmen conspiring to flood a South African gold mine. Roger Moore is terrific as our mine manager hero (and unknowing pawn) and he shares an entertaining chemistry with co-star, Susannah York. Bradford Dillman also impresses in his role as one of the more conflicted of the conspirators. With Ray Milland, Sir John Gielgud and Simon Sabela supporting, it’s a great cast all round. Director Peter Hunt (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service) ensures that the audience feels the ominous, claustrophobic atmosphere of the mine, and he doesn’t shy away from showing the impact of a flood in such surroundings. Along with Hunt, many James Bond veterans worked on Gold, and this shows particularly in how smoothly the location work in South Africa has been integrated with the soundstage work at Pinewood. Composer Elmer Bernstein uses Jimmy Helms’ title song as [...]

Gold is a superb adaptation of Wilbur Smith’s novel. The plot concerns a group of greed-driven businessmen conspiring to flood a South African gold mine. Roger Moore is terrific as our mine manager hero (and unknowing pawn) and he shares an entertaining chemistry with co-star, Susannah York. Bradford Dillman also impresses in his role as one of the more conflicted of the conspirators. With Ray Milland, Sir John Gielgud and Simon Sabela supporting, it’s a great cast all round. Director Peter Hunt (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service) ensures that the audience feels the ominous, claustrophobic atmosphere of the mine, and he doesn’t shy away from showing the impact of a flood in such surroundings. Along with Hunt, many James Bond veterans worked on Gold, and this shows particularly in how smoothly the location work in South Africa has been integrated with the soundstage work at Pinewood. Composer Elmer Bernstein uses Jimmy Helms’ title song as [...]