The Detective (1954): adapted by Thelma Schnee, Robert Hamer, and Maurice Rapf from stories by G.K. Chesterton; directed by Robert Hamer; starring Alec Guinness (Father Brown), Joan Greenwood (Lady Warren), and Peter Finch (Flambeau):
Alec Guinness makes a delightful Father Brown in this loose adaptation of one of G.K. Chesterton's stories. The villain will be partially familiar to viewers (like me) of the current Father Brown TV series, as will Brown's aristocratic female sidekick and police inspector Valentine. The movie is almost anti-dramatic, which is sometimes a good thing. Fun, whimsical, and short. Recommended.
Seven Samurai (1954): written by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, and Hideo Oguni; directed by Akira Kurosawa; starring Toshiro Mifune (Kikuchiyo), Takashi Shimura (Shimada), Keiko Tsushima (Shino), Kamatari Fujiwara (Manzo), and Bokuzen Hidari (Yohei): Akira Kurosawa's intimate epic is still one helluva thing 64 years after its first appearance. Haunting images, hectic action, low comedy, quiet character moments -- it's as broad and deep a movie as has ever been made. There's nothing I can add to a discussion of it other than to note that it's swell -- Watch it! Highest recommendation.
