Author Archive: Retro

At a vaudeville theater, eleven women do striptease dances, with four comedic routines interspersed. Using the frame of an evening of vaudeville, eleven women perform striptease dances. Interspersed are four routines of comedians Joe Young and Gene Doyle. Rita Grable introduces each performer with a large cue card. Most of the acts are done with a single couch, chaise longue, or bare stage; most of the women begin in evening wear and end in a bikini-like costume. Patti Paget’s is a fan dance. Blaze Starr removes the largest number of garments and puts some special emphasis on her axilla. Starr and Dorian Dennis take two turns each. Lili St. Cyr caps the show, in color, with a lithe and muscular dance that includes a translucent bathtub. Storm and Blondell unwrap to close. Using the frame of an evening of vaudeville, eleven women perform striptease dances. Interspersed are four routines of comedians Joe Young and Gene [...]

This is a compilation of several 1950s burlesque acts. Strippers, some stand-up comics of the take-my-wife-please variety and cult favorite Betty Page who introduces the acts and frames the film by strutting her stuff.

This is like the whole weirdo 1950’s in one loving Valentine for film lovers! Firstly, we get to see the lovely, leggy legend Bettie Page (the world’s first supermodel?) and her cronies (Lili St. Cyr is pretty fine too) doing exotic and bizarre striptease acts. We also have a hyperactive Emcee, some amazing comedy schtick straight out of a ’30s vaudeville show, musical numbers that have to be seen to be believed, a goofy drag queen number that seems avant-garde for the sterile mid-’50s, and some fake behind-the-scenes fluff that is priceless. A comedienne laments she’s “always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” A hacky stand-up actually has the nerve to steal Henny Youngman’s trademark line: “Take my wife, please!” There’s a novelty dance act that mocks domestic violence! And don’t forget those lovely ladies! Plus, the stoned emcee tries to sing, twice! This is an omnibus of rare borscht-belt nightclub acts, a reeling, precious cultural [...]

A giant crocodile is killing and frightening people living nearby rivers. Two men, whose wives and daughter have been killed by the crocodile, decide to chase and eliminate it.

Bachelor accidentally becomes involved with gang of counterfeiters. Series of hilarious incidents when both the police and the gang try to get the plates.

Harry Ironmaster (Rupert Everett) is an aristocratic and wealthy young man, which in his time and place should put him pretty much on top of the world. However, he is responsible for a horse-drawn coach accident in which his father is killed and he himself loses an arm. Not only that, but his favored pastime of horse-riding is no longer possible for him. His girlfriend, the doctor’s daughter, wants to draw him out of his depression, but nothing seems to help. Harry’s low state begins to lift when he makes friends with Ned, the very capable driver of a local express coach to Sydney. They are both aware that trains will soon replace these huge wagons, and Ned agrees to work for Harry. This costume drama boasts some beautiful cinematography, and is based on a best-selling novel by Kathleen Peyton. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Melies Short