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KIDS SHOWS
| Every Saturday morning at 10:00am, The Beach Theatre (in conjunction with generous sponsors) shows family-friendly kids movies absolutely free; no strings attached. The parking is even free. Bookmark this page or check back here regularly for movie updates. If you're interested in sponsoring a kids movie, see the bottom of this page. |
| Saturday, February 20 at 10am - FREE! | GODZILLA (1954) (Unrated)
(a.k.a. "Gojira") (Sponsored by The Beach Theatre) |
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(If you can't see the trailer above, click here to see it) |
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STORY: "Japan is thrown into a panic after several ships explode and are sunk. At first the authorities think its either underwater mines or underwater volcanic activity. The authorities soon head to Odo Island, close to where several of the ships were sunk. One night, something comes onshore and destroys several houses and kills several people. A later expedition to the island led by paleontologist Professor Kyohei Yemani, his daughter Emiko and a young navy frogman Hideto Ogata (who also happens to be Emiko's lover even though she is betrothed to Doctor Daisuke Serizawa)soon discover something more devastating than imagined in the form of a 164 foot tall monster whom the natives call Gojira. Now the monster begins a rampage that threatens to destroy not only Japan, but the rest of the world as well. Can the monster be destroyed before it is too late and what role will the mysterious Serizawa play in the battle?" - Written by Brian Washington on IMDB.com.
REVIEW: Title: "The first and best of the films" [10/10 stars] "So this is where it all started!" "Of course, as Godzilla is my all-time favorite character, I admit to being raised on the heavily edited US version starring Raymond Burr. But when viewing this film in its original form, it not only looks more like a Golden Age Toho fantasy as we all know it, but it's a very powerful masterpiece, as it stands in the history of world cinema. Here in 2004, 50 years ago today after its release, American audiences finally get to see the film in its entirety, thanks to its long-awaited subtitled theatrical release by Rialto Pictures..." "What more can I say? This movie pretty much set the standard for Japanese monster movies as we all know! Watching the Japanese version is an amazing experience, and a hauntingly epic one!" "The special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, as low-tech as they were, had minor flaws (notably visible wires and missiles shooting against a background), but even for a first try in the monster genre, they still looked spectacular, as is the photography! Even though the effects work improved in future films, this is still the landmark of things to come." "The music by Akira Ifukube is memorable. From his stirring main title music, to Godzilla's destructive, ponderous theme music, to the poignant ending. Again, Ifukube's work for this film sets the standard for his work in the fantasy film genre." "The main cast is top-notch, as you'd expect. Akira Takarada (20 at the time) stars as salvage officer Hideto Ogata, the main character. Veteran actor Takashi Shimura plays Dr. Kyouhei Yamane, the eccentric paleontologist, who serves as the Godzilla-expert. Momoko Kouchi plays Yamane's daughter Emiko, who's in love with Ogata. But the best character by far (and my all-time favorite human character in a Godzilla film) is the tormented, eyepatch-clad scientist Dr. Daisuke Serizawa, played by Akihiko Hirata. When watching the Japanese version, other supporting characters share the spotlight, especially the newspaper reporter Hagiwara (Sachio Sakai), radiologist Tanabe (Fuyuki Murakami), the Ooto Island fisherman Masaji (Ren Yamamoto) and his younger brother Shinkichi (Toyoaki Suzuki). They just come off as mere background characters in the US version, but if you watch the Japanese original, you'll be totally surprised. Their performances were really dazzling, just like you'd expect from actors in a Toho fantasy film. Some of these actors would appear in future Godzilla films, as well as other SPFX fantasies from Toho." "Compared to other incarnations, this film (as well as "GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN") had the creepiest Godzilla ever, and that was just the way he was supposed to be! Almost like a black silhouette with bright, white staring eyes. Godzilla was not just a mere animal, he was basically a modern god! A raging, destructive demon with the power of the hydrogen bomb that affected him. Although Godzilla is inspired by the Rhedosaurus from BEAST, he was a completely different entity. He was virtually indestructible, and had an awesome power - a white-hot atomic breath! Godzilla became the archetype for many Japanese giant monsters to follow." "But exactly what is Godzilla? As explained in this film (it's explained better in the Japanese version), he's a huge amphibious bipedal dinosaur that lives in caverns under the sea, feeding off of smaller sea animals. He was feared as a 'god' on Ooto Island, and many young virgin women were sacrificed to him to appease his hunger. Hydrogen bomb tests affected his habitat, giving him unbelievable radioactive power & strength (and a towering size of 50 meters, 164 feet). And a sleeping giant was awakened... Makes you think more about those nuclear tests, doesn't it?" "Lastly, while the Japanese original played out more smoothly, the American version starring Raymond Burr (of PERRY MASON fame) as the visiting American reporter Steve Martin (not to be confused with the famous comedian!) is still very effective. The epic scale of the original still manages to shine through what the US producers could allow, and Burr (who was hired for a whole day for filming the added scenes) still did a serviceable job. American fans of the original version can at least be thankful for this US version, without which America could not accept Godzilla..." "If you haven't seen it, please do so! Be it the original Japanese version (which I recommend the most, especially subtitled), or the edited US version!" "Here's to 50 years of a classic movie, and a classic character I will love forever!" - Written by "John Cassidy" on IMDB.com. MORE INFORMATION: IMDB Listing | RUNTIME: 98 mins. | LANGUAGE: Japanese, dubbed or subtitled in English | COLOR: Black and White | MOVIE WEBSITE: Godzilla on DVD |
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| Saturday, February 27 at 10am - FREE! | SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR (1942) (Unrated)
(Sponsored by The Beach Theatre) |
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Video Link: Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror 1942
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STORY: "England, at the start of World War Two. Mysterious wireless broadcasts, apparently from Nazi Germany are heard over the BBC. The warn of acts of terror in England, just before they take place. Baffled, the Defence Committee call in Holmes..." - Written by Michael Crew on IMDB.com.
REVIEW: Title: "Holmes & Watson--Updated" [10/10 stars] "Sherlock Holmes strives to destroy the band of Nazi saboteurs whose actions are extolled by THE VOICE OF TERROR." "After a hiatus of three years, and a change of studios from Fox to Universal, Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce returned to portray the beloved characters they had embodied twice before on the screen. And there was one other significant change--the stories were now set during World War Two and served as morale boosters as well as cinematic entertainment." "This leap ahead of nearly 50 years does no violence to Holmes & Watson, although purists might lament the absence of late Victorian ambiance. Indeed, if Shakespeare can be performed in modern dress and become the basis for Broadway musicals, then the inhabitants of 221B Baker Street are served no injustice by this updating. The film offers this explanation as its preamble: `Sherlock Holmes, the immortal character of fiction created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is ageless, invincible and unchanging. In solving significant problems of the present day he remains - as ever - the supreme master of deductive reasoning.'" "Here, in a plot very loosely based on Conan Doyle's short story ‘His Last Bow,' Rathbone & Bruce play their roles as comfortably as one might wear an old pair of well-worn slippers. Rathbone, triumphantly cerebral, and Bruce, comfortingly common, are simply perfect for their roles, actually seeming to become Holmes & Watson, rather than just enacting them. In the tiny exchange, where Watson stops Holmes from leaving their flat wearing his famed deerstalker rather than modern headgear, the actors give a wink and a nod to the original conceptions of their celebrated characters." "Kindly Reginald Denny and angry Henry Daniell give their usual stalwart performances as high government officials struggling with the Nazi depredations. Evelyn Ankers adds a bit of spice as the Limehouse lassie who has her own motives for helping Holmes. Thomas Gomez gives a compelling portrayal as a Nazi agent with strange delusions of grandeur." "Movie mavens will recognize an uncredited & lovable Mary Gordon as Mrs. Hudson, Holmes' landlady, who has also been time transported along with her tenants. That's Edgar Barrier, excellent as the Voice of Terror." "This was the third in the Sherlock Holmes film series, following THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (1939), and preceding SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET WEAPON (1942)." - Written by "Ron Oliver" on IMDB.com. MORE INFORMATION: IMDB Listing | RUNTIME: 65 mins. | LANGUAGE: English | COLOR: Black and White | MOVIE WEBSITE: None |
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| Saturday, March 6 at 10am - FREE! | SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET WEAPON (1943) (Unrated)
(Sponsored by The Beach Theatre) |
 (Click to enlarge) |
(Trailer Link: Click Here!) |
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STORY: "Working for the British government, Sherlock Holmes manages to spirit Dr. Franz Tobel out of Switzerland and into England before the GESTAPO are able to get to him. Tobel has devised an immensely accurate bomb site and while he is willing to make it available to the Allies, he insists on manufacturing it himself. Soon however, he vanishes and it is left to Homes, assisted bu the bumbling Dr. Watson, to decipher a coded message he left behind. Holmes soon realizes that he is up against his old nemesis, Professor Moriarty." - Written by garykmcd on IMDB.com.
REVIEW: Title: "Holmes saves mother England" [10/10 stars] "Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce return as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in this superior tale of Holmes battling the 3rd Reich and the mastermind genius of Professor Moriarty. The film opens up in Switzerland as Holmes is in disguise as an "old bookseller." He must bring Dr. Tobel and the Tobel Bomb Site to England before the Germans can kidnap Tobel. Holmes succeeds and the Germans recuit the evil Professor. Moriarty manages to outwit Scotland yard and LeStrad "Dennis Hoey" by kidnapping Tobel. The only clue left by Tobel is a list of "dancing men." Who will break the hidden code of dancing men, Holmes or Moriarty first? Can Holmes prevent the bomb site from falling into the German hands thereby saving England from the precision bombing techniques developed by Tobel's bomb site? Watch and enjoy." - Written by "jcholguin" on IMDB.com. MORE INFORMATION: IMDB Listing | RUNTIME: 68 mins. | LANGUAGE: English and French | COLOR: Black and White | MOVIE WEBSITE: None |
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| The Beach Theatre is always seeking sponsors for these Free Kids Matinee showings. Anyone who might be interested should contact The Beach Theatre at 727-360-6697 or by email. |
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