J. Lee Thompson

  • J. Lee Thompson – The Guns of Navarone (1961)

    1961-1970ActionJ. Lee ThompsonUSAWar

    Quote:
    There’s arguably been no historical event that’s captured the imagination of Hollywood and film goers alike quite like the second World War. It simply dominates the War genre; it seems there’s a dozen or more such films for every one about Vietnam, never mind those that have received far less attention than even that controversial conflict. Maybe it’s that a war-weary public demanded feel-good adventures, perhaps it was a culmination of technologies and increases in budgets that allowed for such wide-in-scope pictures with great attention to detail, but whatever the reason, there was plenty of room in theaters for both historically accurate and incredibly grand, sweeping War adventures alike.Read More »

  • J. Lee Thompson – Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987)

    1981-1990ActionCrimeJ. Lee ThompsonThe Cannon GroupUSA

    Paul Kersey, the soft-spoken family man with the knack for wasting street scum, hoped that, after cleaning an entire neighbourhood in Death Wish 3 (1985), he would hang up his guns, and lead a peaceful life. Nevertheless, more than ever, chaos, panic, and disaster are rampant on the mean streets of Los Angeles, as the unscrupulous drug dealers, Ed Zacharias and Jack Romero, whose rival gangs supply 90% of the narcotics in Los Angeles, exploit the helpless, terrorising everyone with their brutal methods. But, their reign of terror is about to end violently when the innocent teenage daughter of Kersey’s girlfriend dies of an overdose. Now, once again, the guns, and, in particular, Paul’s stainless-steel Ruger Mini-14 GB-F semi-automatic rifle, have the final say. Who can stand in the way of an angry, terribly dangerous, and armed-to-the-teeth Paul Kersey?Read More »

  • J. Lee Thompson – Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)

    1971-1980ActionJ. Lee ThompsonSci-FiUSA

    Synopsis:
    “Battle for the Planet of the Apes” is the final chapter in the sci-fi movie series. In this chapter, a tribute of human atomic bomb mutations are out to make life miserable for the peaceful ape tribe. The story is told primarily in flashback with the opening and closing taking place in the year 2670.Read More »

  • J. Lee Thompson – Kings of the Sun (1963)

    1961-1970AdventureClassicsJ. Lee ThompsonUSA

    In order to flee from powerful enemies, young Mayan king Balam leads his people north across the Gulf of Mexico to the coast of what will become the United States. They build a home in the new land but come into conflict with a tribe of Native Americans led by their chief, Black Eagle, while both Balam and Black Eagle fall in love the beautiful Mayan princess Ixchel.Read More »

  • J. Lee Thompson – Cape Fear (1962)

    1961-1970Film NoirJ. Lee ThompsonThrillerUSA

    Synopsis:
    Small-town lawyer Sam Bowden’s life becomes torturous when Max Cady re-enters his life. Cady went to jail for 8 years after Bowden testified that Cady attacked a young woman. Now that Cady has been released, he begins to terrorize Bowden and his family, particularly targeting Bowden’s daughter, Nancy. Initially, Cady uses his newfound knowledge of the law (learned in prison) to annoy the Bowdens, then poisons the family dog… Who’s next ?Read More »

  • J. Lee Thompson – Tiger Bay (1959)

    1951-1960CrimeDramaJ. Lee ThompsonUnited Kingdom

    Wikipedia wrote:
    Cardiff Bay played a major part in Cardiff’s development by being the means of exporting coal from the South Wales Valleys to the rest of the world, helping to power the industrial age. The coal mining industry helped fund the building of Cardiff into the Capital city of Wales and helped the Third Marquis of Bute, who owned the docks, become the richest man in the world at the time.Read More »

  • J. Lee Thompson – Ice Cold in Alex AKA Desert Attack (1958)

    1951-1960ActionJ. Lee ThompsonUnited KingdomWar

    Synopsis:
    A group of Army personnel and nurses attempt a dangerous and arduous trek across the desert of North Africa during World War II. The leader of the team dreams of his ice cold beer when he reaches Alexandria, but the problems just won’t go away.Read More »

  • J. Lee Thompson – The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975)

    1971-1980J. Lee ThompsonThrillerUSA

    When college professor Peter Proud begins to experience flashbacks from a previous incarnation, he is mysteriously drawn to a place he has never been before but which is troublingly familiar. As if drawn to her by cosmic force, he soon finds himself unwittingly in the company of his previous incarnation’s wife. This woman, Marcia Curtis, recognizes in Peter startling characteristics which he shares with her dead husband, Jeff. Even the sound of his voice seems at times to be that of the dead man. Peter becomes romantically drawn to Ann Curtis who is or was his daughter (Jeff and Marcia’s daughter). Recognizing the incestuous nature of their relationship, Mrs. Curtis tries to keep the two young people apart. But how? Must she reveal the terrible secret of the final minutes she shared with her husband in order to keep this man from her (their?) daughter?Read More »

  • J. Lee Thompson – Taras Bulba (1962)

    1961-1970ActionAdventureJ. Lee ThompsonYugoslaviaYugoslavian Cinema under Tito

    Plot synopsis:
    The spectacular hordes of Cossack horsemen flying across the steppes to do battle with first one enemy and then another are the highlights of this otherwise thinly scripted costume drama set in the 16th century in the Ukraine. After the Cossack leader Taras Bulba (Yul Brynner) makes a pact with the Poles to join forces against the Turks and drive them from the European steppes, victory brings betrayal as the Poles then turn on their ally and force the Cossacks into the hills. From there, Taras Bulba decides that one of his sons, Andrei (Tony Curtis), will be sent to Polish schools to better learn the nature of their enemy. While away from home and hearth, the adult Andrei falls in love with a Polish noblewoman, Natalia (Christine Kaufmann, who would become the second Mrs. Curtis). As time progresses, the tensions between father and son, loyalty and love, ethnic identity and assimilation steadily increase until they end in tragedy. Taras Bulba was nominated for a 1963 Academy Award for “Best Music”, scored by Franz Waxman (By Eleanor Mannika, from Allmovie).Read More »

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