
Another year, another holiday season Movie Marathon, but just like 2020 itself (and the beginning of 2021 so far), this ‘pandemic’ marathon was particularly exceptional. For those seeing this Marathon post for the first time, I set a goal of watching at least 31 movies in 31 days during the holiday season.
The good news – if it can be classified as such – was that because of the current Covid pandemic which curtailed many of our usual leisure activities, I had much more free time on my hands which translated into more time for hobbies and certainly more movie watching. I knew that I was going to shatter previous years marathons in the number of films watched. I reached my goal of 31 movies with 9 Days to spare, and then went on to watch a total of 39 films. To be honest , I kinda wished I hadn’t slacked off the one or two nights I did not watch a movie which would have made it at least 40.
As part of the lineup, I also snuck in a mini-Ape-O-thon, watching for what seems like the millionth time the five classic Planet of the Apes films albeit I did not watch them in order of release. Other than that, I tried to hit as wide a variety of genres and formats as I could.
Without further ado, here is what I watched.

1 – Forrest Gump (1994)
2020 was a pretty messed up year so why not start this holiday season viewing with a messed up story? A mentally challenged, semi idiot-savant, Forrest manages to overcome all obstacles and ingrain himself in history making moments while at the same time teaching us a few life lessons. Life was like a box of chocolates and there was no creamy center this year but at least Forrest’s adventures in this semi-alternate reality are entertaining enough to take our minds away from reality for a brief time.
2 – Road to Bali (1952)
My first viewing of one of the many “Road” movies that teams Bob Hope and Bing Crosby with Dorothy Lamour, always the woman in the triangle. Watching this reminded me how funny Bob Hope could be, especially when breaking the ‘fourth wall’. I could do without the singing and dancing in these films, but back in the day the musical aspect of the film industry was strong so I have to assume people liked it. Next stop: Morocco!
3 – Donovan’s Brain (1953)
A well meaning but naive doctor takes advantage of recently deceased body to advance his research into keeping brains alive and cognizant after death as defined by heartbeats.The trouble is this brain is that of an evil wealthy man and the brain develops telepathic powers that quickly control more than you would think a brain in jar could achieve, none of it good I might add. I read Curt Siodmak’s novel on which this was based years ago and it was just as enjoyable if not more so.
4 – Carry On Doctor (1967)
One of the many “Carry On” absurd British comedies combining slapstick, corny one liners and risqué situations. As the name implies, this one features bumbling doctors, nutty nurses and problematic patients. I chose this one due to the recent passing of Barbara Windsor, one of the many regulars members of the “Carry On” troupe. Far from the best of the 30 odd “Carry On” films made over a span of 3 decades (not including TV specials and a short lived TV series), but always good for a few laughs.

5 – Man on a Ledge (2012)
A former cop goes to extreme lengths (well heights really) to clear his name. To do it, he and a few accomplices have to pull off one of those enormously complex heists (explosives, decoy cameras, crawling through air vents, and all that high tech gadgetry) to turn the tables on the man who set him up. But the plan relies completely on an unknowing, police negotiator playing along. Sure these movies are a dime a dozen but that’s because they are just entertaining enough to keep us guessing as to what is really going on and this one does just that. I’m sure I’m not spoiling it to say that no, he does not leap.
6 – Black Angel (1946)
The wife of a falsely accused murderer has to track down a luckless, drinking piano player who may be able to clear her husband’s name. Once she finds him, the clues point to a shifty nightclub owner as the suspect, but they need hard evidence and thus concoct an elaborate plan to get it. Standing in their way is a developing love affair and a hard nosed cop. As in most Film Noir there is the expected twist ending but this one was particularly surprising. Always a pleasure to watch Peter Lorre and the underrated Dan Duryea.
7 – Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
There is no need for me to watch any of the classic Planet of the Apes movies in order as I can almost recite all of them, line by line. I watched the ‘unrated’ version Blu-ray which is much gorier and without the tacked-on conciliatory portion to Caesar’s speech at the end. Easily the second best in the series after the first film. This was also the very first Apes film I ever saw, back when movie theaters were majestic palaces with more than a thousand seats, so many nostalgic fond memories to go along with this viewing.
8 – Support Your Local Sheriff (1969)
A rethread of the film Paint Your Wagon wherein a surprise gold strike results in the overnight creation of a frontier town with an imminent need for law and order. James Garner reluctantly comes to the rescue as the crackshot sheriff to fit the bill against a family clan running roughshod over the town. It’s got some fairly funny setups such as successfully holding prisoners in a cell with no bars. I was never much of a James Garner fan but I have to admit the more I see of him the greater my opinion sways in his favor.

9 – Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1975)
Despite being inferior in some ways to its predecessors, this last of the five classic Apes movies still has so many great moments in which humans and simians are forced to forge a unity or perish at one another’s hands. The apes learn that they are not that much better than humans after all. It’s also the film in which an ape first breaks the cardinal rule “Ape shall never kill ape.” This was the extended version Blu-ray that includes the subplot with an Alpha Omega bomb.
10 – Dune (1984)
This proto-steampunk Dino DeLaurentiis production proves once again that you can throw a lot of prime talent both in front of and behind the camera to lens a screenplay based on a great science fiction novel and still create an incomprehensible mess. A mix of the visual stunning and laughable, antiquated special effects. Everyone from Sting to Patrick Stewart wants to forget this one. All the more sadder given that Alejandro Jodorowsky worked so long and hard only to have his superior vision quashed. Watch the 2000 miniseries instead.
11 – Gremlins (1984)
I had to watch at least one “Christmas” movie in this lot and Gremlins won out. You can’t go wrong with a bunch of wide eyed fuzz balls even if they do turn into mischievous and deadly leathery pranksters. Some of the animatronics remain amazing to watch even after all these years.
12 – The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)
Even if one of the least favored of the Hammer studios Frankenstein films, it still beats some of the more acclaimed stuff. Being only the second of that studio’s Frankensteins after the much better Curse of Frankenstein, they would later regain their footing with many more sequels. As always, just seeing the late, great Peter Cushing as Baron Von Frankenstein is more than enough. Best special effect: a set of detached human eyeballs floating in an aquarium and following moving objects within their field of vision.

13 – A Quiet Place (2018)
One of the most highly acclaimed horror films in a long time. A novel premise and genuinely scary but there was a surprising number of logic missteps that both my son and I quickly pointed out which certainly was a bit of a letdown. The thrills come as much from a family going to all possible means to remain quiet as from the aliens that have left the Earth in a dystopian shambles. If nothing else it makes the current pandemic changes to our daily living pale in comparison.
14 – Charlie Chan: The Jade Mask (1944)
I snagged about a dozen Charlie Chan DVDs a while back and have been enjoying them all year. This is one in which the illustrious Hawaiian detective is played by Sidney Toler but I prefer the earlier ones with Warner Oland. A scientist working on a secret government project is killed but the entire household and servants admittedly all hated him. In the end all the family, guests and the help are rounded up to hear Charlie’s brilliant deduction to solving the crime.
Beer game: Chug down a Blue Hawaii every time Charlie says “Excuse please.”
15 – Leap of Faith (1992)
An unabashed and admitted fake faith healer and his entourage end up stuck in a small town for a few days and decide to set up shop and fleece the already poor and miserly citizens. A lot of it feels like a circus (which it is in a way) from the troupe raising the Big Top tent, the side sales and attractions and having a barker. The love interest between the Sheriff (Liam Neeson) who is the only town member to see beyond the facade and the road manager who manages the ‘con’ (Debra Winger) seems out of place in the lackadaisical script. Not one of Steve Martin‘s better comedies.
16 – The Jacket (2005)
A bit of a surreal drama with a science fiction bent in which a former Persian War veteran who was once shot in the head ends up standing trial for killing a cop but in the same reality is in an asylum as a result of his previous injury. He is then subjected to unauthorized experiments that have him thrust into the future, where he learns that he has already died. This of course leads him and a girl he once rescued, a woman in the future, try to change history. The ‘time jumps’ are easy to understand, so it’s not overly complicated in that aspect. The hook of the story is not only that of the man, but the life of the girl/woman he interacts with at various points in time.

17 – Clash by Night (1952)
A self confessed woman who wants more than to just be a regular housewife finally throws in the towel and marries a hard working loving man only to cheat on him with his best friend. The speed and frequency that this zebra changes her stripes undermines the credulity and the very ending of the film. While this is supposed to be a minor classic there are just so many more better films from this era that those accolades have me scratching my head. Perhaps some of the film’s distinction is due to Marilyn Monroe having a minor role, and she certainly carries her own here. I don’t fault any of the actors, as the problem clearly lies with the script.
18 – Ford V Ferrari (2019)
In 1963 Enzo Ferrari, facing bankruptcy of his Ferrari car company, rebuked an offer to merge with the Ford motor company, instead using the offer to have rival Fiat up their rescue bid. Irate, Ford decided to hire race car designer Carroll Shelby and (reluctantly) driver/mechanic Ken Miles to develop a contending racing car to beat out Ferrari and their string of wins at the celebrated 24 Hours of Lemans race. This is the story of the friendship between Shelby and Miles, and the success of that collaboration that would shake Ferrari’s dominance for years. Definitely a high octane film.
19 – Zardoz (1974)
The oddest Sean Connery film you will ever see. [See full review here]
20 – Films of Fury (2011)
A lighthearted documentary on the history of Kung Fu movies. While it does cover all the heavy-weights such as Bruce Lee, Gordon Liu, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, and even Chuck Norris (somewhat mockingly), it surprisingly neglects to pay respect to the revered Shaw Brothers who made it all happen. It does do some justice to the women in the industry with the likes of Angela Mao, Michelle Yeoh, and a few others, but here again, no mention of Etsuko “Sue” Shihomi. So much of the film time is wasted on a silly animated story driving the narration that they even completely forgot to mention Sonny Chiba. Despite the missing tributes, it is a fun and informative film with many classic highlights and movies titles that everyone should see.

21 – The Devil’s Hand (1961)
A hokey story about a small cult run by a couple who recruit people telepathically and control them via voodoo dolls. It’s all nonsensical since the couple have the power to predetermine the outcome of horse races and the stock market, talk about being immortal, but inexplicably need recruits. They subject some recruits to a ritual in which members are placed on a sacrificial altar in a trance-like and have a spinning wheel which has one real blade and others made of cardboard (yes, we see the fluttering cardboard) descend upon them. My DVD was a dual box with They Saved Hitler’s Brain including the original Madmen of Mandoras to which scenes were added, and both of those actually made more sense to give you an idea of how bad The Devil’s Hand is.
22 – Godzilla 2000 (1999)
Also known as Godzilla 2000: Millennium, the Big G’s nemesis in this one is an alien that lay dormant at the bottom of the sea for millions of years until some scientists accidentally revive it. At the same time, the members of the Godzilla Prediction Network (GPN) – basically a scientist, his savvy daughter and a newspaper reporter who really just joins them for the free ride – discover Godzilla’s regenerative powers. This was the first Toho film after they leased the license to Tristar for the 1997 American “Godzilla” movie. A little too much green screen for my liking, but the alien does metamorphosize through some cool phases. You’ve got one guess as to who wins out in the end.
23 – Columbo: Try and Catch Me (1977)
I’ve been slowly rewatching all the Columbo TV movies from the 70’s. Despite the fact that these were very formulaic, one cannot but love seeing Peter Falk as the bumbling, soiled trench-coat wearing and stubby cigar munching detective. As usual we see an intricately planned murder being committed at the very beginning. Know who is guilty. See the murderer and Columbo skirt one or more ‘McGuffin’ clues. And in the end Columbo brilliantly solves the murder by revealing some obscure piece of evidence, often a ‘cheat’ in the sense that the viewing audience are not even aware of it’s existence. This one has the loveable geriatric Ruth Gordon as a renown Murder Mystery novelist bump off her nephew, but for a very good reason.
24 – Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
The centerpiece of the Planet of the Apes series, Escape has always been a standout in many ways. The true magnificence of Escape is how it begins with a departure from the two first films and suddenly plucks us into a contemporary tale that is a light comedy then quickly transitions into a serious thriller only to end with one of the most tragic and gruesome scenes in the entire series. The great music score by Jerry Goldsmith varies accordingly. I love it for the many fun moments but the shocking end is always what first comes to mind.

25 – Fist of Fury (1972)
After watching Films of Fury (see above) I was inclined to rewatch some good old Kung Fu and decided upon Fist of Fury with the legendary Bruce Lee. I had already seen and reviewed it under it’s alternate title The Chinese Connection which I enjoyed but was not overwhelmed with originally. However I enjoyed it much more this time around with a pristine DVD transfer and sound enhancement from this DVD in the Bruce Lee Collection box set. This story is loosely based on the suspicions of poisoning in the death of real life Chinese Martial Arts pedagogue Huo Yuanjia, long considered a national hero. Yelling “How can a healthy man die?”, Lee’s utterance is particularly prophetic given that his own death under mysterious circumstances would shock the world only a year later and elicit similar suspicions.
26 – The Wizard of OZ (1939)
My first viewing of this fantasy children story classic [See full review here]
27 – Rest Stop (2006)
I’ve watched more than my share of horror/thriller films that have a scene or two that do not quite make sense. I’ve also seen more than an handful of characters performing deeds that are not only dumb and dangerous, but that last thing you would want to do for a given predicament or situation. The good news is that if you enjoy all of the above, Rest Stop is the movie for you. When a woman who has just run off with her boyfriend gets stranded and stalked by a mysterious serial killer, she suddenly becomes the dumbest person on the Earth is the only way I can describe this film. More’s the pity is that this was directed by X-Files veteran writer John Shiban who should have known better.
28 – Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
There was a time when I did not think too highly of Beneath, the first sequel in the Planet of the Apes series. My misgivings were due to how the film largely mimics the first at the very beginning. But I’ve come to appreciate it a lot more with every viewing. This is the film which not only made the Gorillas more than background simians, but gave us Ursus (James Gregory) and his marvelous speech decrying “The only good human is a dead human.” It also gave us the radiation raved mutants. And just for shits’n’giggles they blow up the Earth at the end.

29 – Double Indemnity (1944)
The seminal Film Noir, and masterpiece template for the genre. The film that had everything bucking against it through production, but at the same time ended up with all the perfect ingredients. Director Billy Wilder’s breakout film from which he never looked back. Barabara Stanwyck is the femme fatale who naively tries to buy insurance for the husband she plans to bump off. Insurance salesman Fred MacMurray smells out her ill conceived plans but falls for her and offers up a better plan, a perfect plan. All that stands in their way is the insurance company’s fraud detective, Edward G. Robinson. Thrilling from the first frame to the very last. Doesn’t get better than this.
(Read another short review I wrote ten years ago here)
30 – Weekend at Bernies (1989)
Two young dudes working at an insurance firm try to climb the corporate ladder by analyzing the company records to see if they can find extra funds to impress their boss, the extravagant Bernie who has everything going for him. When they do find some suspicious account activity he delightfully invites them to join him for the weekend at his island mansion. When the boys arrive they find Bernie is a stiff and circumstances have them propping up the body and maintaining the pretense that he is not only alive and well, but hosting lavish parties. Not nearly as good as I remember it, but still fun.
31- Lovelace (2013)
Deep Throat was the breakthrough porn movie that thrust the dingy, garage industry into the mainstream consciousness by shattering the box office and luring throngs of patrons, men and women alike, curious as to what it was all about. Overnight, star Linda Lovelace became a household name and fodder for late night talk-show hosts. This is the sad story of how she came to be in that production and separates the façade from the reality. The format uses an innovative approach by first showing us the public view version of events and then revisiting them while revealing what was happening behind closed doors. Both fascinating and heartsick at the same time.
32 – Gilda (1946)
Film Noir classic that deservedly made Rita Hayworth a star. [See full review here]

33 – Moneyball (2011)
This is a second viewing already for me. While not a baseball fan per se, this is not about heroic athletics which is usually the focus of sports themed films. Rather it is based upon the then revolutionary concept of putting together a roster cheaply by strictly sticking to statistics, and removing all personal observation analysis. That is not to say that this is a ‘science’ movie, but science is integral to the plot. Loosely based on the true life story of Oakland A’s GM Billy Bean (Brad Pitt) after he lost key players in 2002 and had to rebuild the team but without adequate money for payroll. The real star here is the surprising sedate role by Jonah Hill as the data analyst (earning an Oscar nomination along with Pitt), proving he can do much more than star in stoner comedies.
34 – RV (2006)
Had to fit in at least one Robin Williams movie in the marathon. This one has him as a father and husband trying to keep his family happy while being stressed by his job and facing the prospect of losing it. When his boss demands that he be present at a remote meeting at the same time the family had plans to vacation in Hawaii, he rents an RV and plans a trip to his meeting while keeping his work plans secret from them. Not one of his best (by far) but meeting (and shunning) another travelling family brings just enough comedy to make it worth the watch.
35 – Planet of the Apes (1968)
What I consider to be one of the finest science fiction movies ever made and just as powerful today as when it was released. The original Planet of the Apes is rife with political and social commentary, particularly highlighting the racial divide but also critiquing religion, the military and other facets. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched it, and yet I still pick up on nuances in the dialogue that are as relevant today as it was back then, perhaps even more so in these trying times.
36 – Training Day (2001)
A rookie cop bucking to someday make detective gets the opportunity to team up with a seasoned veteran working the dingy streets. But his first day on the job proves to be not just a shocking revelation regarding corruption, but a deadly game of rogue cops who turn out to be worse than the criminals he was hoping to reign in. Denzel Washington is downright nasty but finds his hands full trying to reel in rookie Ethan Hawke. A great story with many surprises, but cramming it all into a single day strains credulity.

37 – Horton Hears a Who (2008)
It’s been a while since I watched an animated film so I thought it was high time I got around to watching this one. I do remember watching the original Horton Hears a Who half hour short many, many times as a kid, but realized that stretching a 30 minute Dr. Seuss cartoon TV special to feature length film would necessarily be quite different. I can’t say I was thrilled with it although it’s always fun seeing the outlandish contraptions in mythical Whoville.
38 – Sabotage (1936)
Sabotage is an early Alfred Hitchcock film which tells the story of an agent tracking a suspect in London after a spate of minor incidents aimed to terrorize a pre-war English public. The saboteur is a cinema owner, married to a young widow with a son who gets entangled in his evil deeds, and ones that escalate in severity. Not to be confused with the much superior Saboteur which Hitchcock made in 1942, it is, even as an inferior film, still packed with intrigue and nerve wrenching scenes. While based on the novel Secret Agent, it should also not be confused with the Hitchcock film Secret Agent released the very same year.
39 – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
Of all the Bond films, this one sometimes gets short shrift because it is the one in which George Lazenby played James Bond in his singular outing and the first post Connery Bond. But this film has a lot going for it, not the least starring the late great Diana Rigg as the ‘Bond girl’. Add in Telly ‘Kojak’ Savalas as the nemesis Blofeld and you have a great, exciting film. It’s not often Bond helps out a crime syndicate and gets married.