All the King's Men

One of three films with the same title at the Hewlett Library. This one takes place in England and Turkey during 1915. A batallion is raised from the staff that works at the royal house in Sandringham, Norfolk, England, and goes to fight in Gallipoli, Turkey. Despite their excellent training, the soldiers are unprepared for the extreme heat, and without ample supplies, including accurate maps. In the end, they enter a battle where they are routed. The film shows many British soldiers being massacred, shot in the head. Turks sure don't come off well.

Maggie Smith plays Queen Alexandra with her usual aplomb. David Jason plays Captain Frank Beck, the Sandringham estate manager, a favorite of the Queen, whom, at first, is denied passage to the fighting by King George (Georgie, his mother, Alexandra, calls him).

Nicely done.

Boats out of watermelon rinds

Turkish film: Karpuz kabugundan gemiler yapmak


Interesting start, slow progress (very s-l-o-w), nice finish. Worthwhile.

Monsieur Ibrahim

Watched this movie last night, and greatly enjoyed it. The story is of a youngster, Jewish, who lives with his father in a flat in a working-class district in Paris. The youngster watches whores who ply their trade a block away from his window. Finally he acts on temptation, breaks his piggy-bank, and uses his savings to buy a lay. Sylvie is the one prostitute who accepts his offer.
Omar Sharif is magnificent as Ibrahim, the grocer in whose shop Momo shops (and shoplifts).

A 1960s soundtrack is used, featuring some familiar tunes.