Classic Movie Review

John E. Cornelison
  • 4.7 (48)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Biweekly

Join the host archaeologist John for classic movies reviews with his own special spin. Using his archaeological background, he connects historic, cinematic, genealogical, and current facts to add a dimension to his reviews that will increase your enjoyment of these classic movies. John tells all for movies over 25 years old. He also presents his world-famous short summaries of each classic movies reviewed. ClassicMovieRev.com

  1. 2d ago

    The Fat Man (1951) - An All Film Noirs Project

    🍿A murdered dentist, missing dental X-rays, stolen money, gangsters—and a sinister circus clown. The Fat Man (1951) may be one of Classic Film Noir's strangest forgotten mysteries. In this review, we explore J. Scott Smart's unconventional private detective Brad Runyan, an early appearance by Rock Hudson, and Emmett Kelly's memorable turn as circus clown Ed Deets. We'll examine the film's mystery, flashback structure, unusual story beats, and William Castle's economical filmmaking, along with its connection to Dashiell Hammett and the hard-boiled radio tradition. Is this obscure Noir worth rediscovering? Join the ALL FILM NOIRS PROJECT as we work through the database, one Noir at a time. Subscribe and follow for more forgotten Film Noir. 🍿 📖Reviews Mentioned📖 The Whistler (1944) — https://youtu.be/2nPu5QeWfVc Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949) — https://youtu.be/5KDAI-kVRH8 The Fat Man (1951) — https://youtu.be/ux0JsuU6ft8 The Maltese Falcon (1941) — https://youtu.be/iDqjuPCKUVc The Killers (1946) — https://youtu.be/KbninbLqoMU Sunset Blvd. (1950) — https://youtu.be/vnZjw1u0Otc All Film Noirs Project 1927 – 2026 - https://classicmovierev.com/all-film-noirs/ 👽Affiliates👽 GoPro 9 - https://amzn.to/3ITZcbw SmallRig Quick Release Phone Cage Kit Basic - https://amzn.to/4qzw51D The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 1 - https://amzn.to/4syL7X9 The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 2 - https://amzn.to/3L1G805 Camera - https://amzn.to/3SjOUnI Audio - https://amzn.to/4l7jCPY Teleprompter - https://amzn.to/3CQZQUf  My Books - https://www.amazon.com/John-E-Cornelison/e/B00MYPIP56 **Say Hi on Social** Website: https://www.classicmovierev.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classicmovierev/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicMovieRev #TheFatMan1951 #ClassicFilmNoir #FilmNoir **Disclaimer** CMR participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes. CMR claims no ownership of third-party content. Materials may be used under Fair Use (Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act) for criticism, commentary, education, and research.

  2. Sep 3

    Nighthawks (1981) Stallone's Underrated Neo-Noir - An All Film Noirs Project

    🍿Before Sylvester Stallone became synonymous with larger-than-life action heroes, he delivered one of his most restrained performances in Nighthawks (1981)—an underrated Neo-Noir thriller that was remarkably ahead of its time. We examine Stallone's Deke DaSilva, Rutger Hauer's chilling American film debut as terrorist Wulfgar, and Bruce Malmuth's tension-driven direction. Discover how the story transforms New York City into an active part of its deadly cat-and-mouse game, why its focus on international terrorism helped modernize Neo-Noir, and how restraint and urban realism keep the filmmaking effective decades later. Join the ALL FILM NOIRS PROJECT and subscribe as we journey through the database, one Noir at a time.🍿 📖Reviews Mentioned📖 All Film Noirs Project 1927 – 2026 - https://classicmovierev.com/all-film-noirs/ 👽Affiliates👽 GoPro 9 - https://amzn.to/3ITZcbw SmallRig Quick Release Phone Cage Kit Basic - https://amzn.to/4qzw51D The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 1 - https://amzn.to/4syL7X9 The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 2 - https://amzn.to/3L1G805 Camera - https://amzn.to/3SjOUnI Audio - https://amzn.to/4l7jCPY Teleprompter - https://amzn.to/3CQZQUf  My Books - https://www.amazon.com/John-E-Cornelison/e/B00MYPIP56 **Say Hi on Social** Website: https://www.classicmovierev.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classicmovierev/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicMovieRev #Nighthawks1981 #NeoNoir #FilmNoir **Disclaimer** CMR participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes. CMR claims no ownership of third-party content. Materials may be used under Fair Use (Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act) for criticism, commentary, education, and research.

  3. Aug 28

    9 to 5 (1980): A Tribute to the Unforgettable Dolly Parton

    🍿Dolly Parton didn't just make her movie debut in 9 to 5 (1980) — she proved she belonged on the big screen. In this tribute, we revisit the workplace comedy that paired Parton with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dabney Coleman. We explore Dolly's remarkably natural performance as Doralee Rhodes, the story's satire of bad bosses and workplace inequality, and how comedy, fantasy, and revenge turn office frustration into something unforgettable. We also look at the creation of Dolly's iconic "9 to 5" song, why the movie still resonates, and even its surprising Sterling Hayden Film Noir connection. Share your favorite Dolly Parton movie, performance, or song in the comments. 🍿 📖Reviews Mentioned📖 The Asphalt Jungle (1950) — https://youtu.be/fynIloiiVDY The Killing (1956) — https://youtu.be/laP1Iye5LA8 All Film Noirs Project 1927 – 2026 - https://classicmovierev.com/all-film-noirs/ 👽Affiliates👽 GoPro 9 - https://amzn.to/3ITZcbw SmallRig Quick Release Phone Cage Kit Basic - https://amzn.to/4qzw51D The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 1 - https://amzn.to/4syL7X9 The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 2 - https://amzn.to/3L1G805 Camera - https://amzn.to/3SjOUnI Audio - https://amzn.to/4l7jCPY Teleprompter - https://amzn.to/3CQZQUf  My Books - https://www.amazon.com/John-E-Cornelison/e/B00MYPIP56 **Say Hi on Social** Website: https://www.classicmovierev.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classicmovierev/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicMovieRev #DollyParton #9to5Movie #ClassicMovies **Disclaimer** CMR participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes. CMR claims no ownership of third-party content. Materials may be used under Fair Use (Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act) for criticism, commentary, education, and research.

  4. Aug 25

    Scott Reisfield Discusses His New Book Greta Garbo and the Rise of the Modern Woman

    🍿Scott Reisfield Discusses His New Book Greta Garbo and the Rise of the Modern Woman. Greta Garbo wasn't simply a Hollywood icon—she helped redefine what women and acting could look like on screen. This conversation explores Garbo's extraordinary impact, from the naturalistic acting style that distinguished her from silent-era performers to her determination to play complex, independent women. Discover how her work in Anna Christie, Queen Christina, Camille, and Ninotchka challenged expectations, how MGM and the Production Code shaped her career, and why her departure from filmmaking is more complicated than the familiar Hollywood legend. Along the way, we examine key figures including Mauritz Stiller, John Gilbert, and Billy Wilder—and reconsider Garbo as an artist with remarkable agency. If you love classic Hollywood and film history, join the conversation.🍿 📖Reviews Mentioned📖 All Film Noirs Project 1927 – 2026 - https://classicmovierev.com/all-film-noirs/ 👽Affiliates👽 GoPro 9 - https://amzn.to/3ITZcbw SmallRig Quick Release Phone Cage Kit Basic - https://amzn.to/4qzw51D The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 1 - https://amzn.to/4syL7X9 The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 2 - https://amzn.to/3L1G805 Camera - https://amzn.to/3SjOUnI Audio - https://amzn.to/4l7jCPY Teleprompter - https://amzn.to/3CQZQUf  My Books - https://www.amazon.com/John-E-Cornelison/e/B00MYPIP56 **Say Hi on Social** Website: https://www.classicmovierev.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classicmovierev/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicMovieRev #GretaGarbo #ClassicHollywood #FilmHistory **Disclaimer** CMR participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes. CMR claims no ownership of third-party content. Materials may be used under Fair Use (Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act) for criticism, commentary, education, and research.

  5. Aug 20

    Top 6 Rita Hayworth Film Noirs

    🍿Rita Hayworth made surprisingly few film noirs—but she left an unforgettable mark on the genre. In this countdown, we rank six of her greatest noir, pre-noir, neo-noir, and noir-adjacent films, from The Money Trap and Affair in Trinidad to The Lady from Shanghai and the legendary Gilda. Discover how Hayworth brought vulnerability, sensuality, intelligence, and dramatic depth to these stories while working alongside Glenn Ford, Orson Welles, and George Macready. We'll explore memorable performances, dangerous relationships, murder and deception, doomed romance, striking shadows, and the filmmaking techniques that made these movies endure. Which Rita Hayworth noir is your favorite? Share your ranking in the comments, and subscribe for more classic movie reviews. 🍿 📖Reviews Mentioned📖 All Film Noirs Project 1927 – 2026 - https://classicmovierev.com/all-film-noirs/ 👽Affiliates👽 GoPro 9 - https://amzn.to/3ITZcbw SmallRig Quick Release Phone Cage Kit Basic - https://amzn.to/4qzw51D The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 1 - https://amzn.to/4syL7X9 The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 2 - https://amzn.to/3L1G805 Camera - https://amzn.to/3SjOUnI Audio - https://amzn.to/4l7jCPY Teleprompter - https://amzn.to/3CQZQUf  My Books - https://www.amazon.com/John-E-Cornelison/e/B00MYPIP56 **Say Hi on Social** Website: https://www.classicmovierev.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classicmovierev/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicMovieRev #RitaHayworth #FilmNoir #ClassicMovies  **Disclaimer** CMR participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes. CMR claims no ownership of third-party content. Materials may be used under Fair Use (Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act) for criticism, commentary, education, and research.

  6. Aug 13

    The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) - An All Film Noirs Project

    🍿What happens when a perfectly planned heist collides with the chaos of New York City? In this review of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), we explore why this subway thriller remains one of the defining urban Neo-Noirs of the 1970s. Discover how Walter Matthau's understated Lieutenant Garber matches wits with Robert Shaw's chilling Mr. Blue, how Joseph Sargent builds suspense through procedural detail and confined spaces, and how Owen Roizman's cinematography transforms the New York subway into a modern noir labyrinth. We'll examine the performances, key story beats, filmmaking techniques, and the institutional cynicism that gives the film its distinctive edge. Subscribe and follow the ALL FILM NOIRS PROJECT as we explore the database one Noir at a time. 🍿 📖Reviews Mentioned📖 The Asphalt Jungle (1950) — https://youtu.be/fynIloiiVDY The Killing (1956) — https://youtu.be/laP1Iye5LA8 All Film Noirs Project 1927 – 2026 - https://classicmovierev.com/all-film-noirs/ 👽Affiliates👽 GoPro 9 - https://amzn.to/3ITZcbw SmallRig Quick Release Phone Cage Kit Basic - https://amzn.to/4qzw51D The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 1 - https://amzn.to/4syL7X9 The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 2 - https://amzn.to/3L1G805 Camera - https://amzn.to/3SjOUnI Audio - https://amzn.to/4l7jCPY Teleprompter - https://amzn.to/3CQZQUf  My Books - https://www.amazon.com/John-E-Cornelison/e/B00MYPIP56 **Say Hi on Social** Website: https://www.classicmovierev.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classicmovierev/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicMovieRev #TheTakingOfPelhamOneTwoThree #NeoNoir #FilmNoir **Disclaimer** CMR is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com. This content is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only. Classic Movie Reviews claims no ownership of content. "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

  7. Aug 11

    Top 10 Neo-Noirs Ranked

    🍿Neo-Noir never abandoned the shadows—it simply brought them into a darker, more modern world. In this ranking, we count down ten outstanding Neo-Noir films, exploring how each captures the spirit of classic Film Noir through crime, corruption, betrayal, and moral compromise. From the political intrigue of No Way Out to the unforgettable world of L.A. Confidential, we discuss memorable performances, storytelling, and filmmaking techniques that define the genre. Featuring films from directors including Curtis Hanson, Quentin Tarantino, and Robert Altman, this list celebrates some of cinema's finest modern noirs. Which Neo-Noir deserves the top spot? Share your favorites in the comments, and don't forget to like and subscribe. 🍿 📖Reviews Mentioned📖 The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) — https://youtu.be/lJDaU138FVk The Yakuza (1974) — https://youtu.be/VsSauM8eTPE All Film Noirs Project 1927 – 2026 - https://classicmovierev.com/all-film-noirs/ 👽Affiliates👽 GoPro 9 - https://amzn.to/3ITZcbw SmallRig Quick Release Phone Cage Kit Basic - https://amzn.to/4qzw51D The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 1 - https://amzn.to/4syL7X9 The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 2 - https://amzn.to/3L1G805 Camera - https://amzn.to/3SjOUnI Audio - https://amzn.to/4l7jCPY Teleprompter - https://amzn.to/3CQZQUf  My Books - https://www.amazon.com/John-E-Cornelison/e/B00MYPIP56 **Say Hi on Social** Website: https://www.classicmovierev.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classicmovierev/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicMovieRev #NeoNoir #FilmNoir #ClassicMovies **Disclaimer** CMR is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com. This content is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only. Classic Movie Reviews claims no ownership of content. "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

  8. Aug 6

    Noir Heat - 10 Film Noirs Where the Heat Is Part of the Crime

    🍿Think Film Noir is all rain-soaked streets and dark alleyways? Think again. In this countdown, we explore ten Film Noirs where blazing heat becomes as dangerous as the criminals themselves. From the relentless desert sun of The Hitch-Hiker to the sweltering Los Angeles heatwave in Double Indemnity, discover how oppressive weather fuels obsession, betrayal, and murder. Along the way, we discuss standout performances and filmmaking from directors including Billy Wilder, Ida Lupino, and Orson Welles, plus unforgettable actors such as Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray. Which heat-filled Noir belongs on your list? Share your favorites in the comments, and don't forget to like and subscribe for more classic film discussions. 🍿 📖Reviews Mentioned📖 The Asphalt Jungle (1950) — https://youtu.be/fynIloiiVDY Out of the Past (1947) — https://youtu.be/D1veAGe12AM Key Largo (1948) — https://youtu.be/I_TZZju26KY Chinatown (1974) — https://youtu.be/j2M9xhcm5v4 Body Heat (1981) — https://youtu.be/7LhX8Nbqv10 In the Heat of the Night (1967) — https://youtu.be/5qiiY9CURb4 Double Indemnity (1944) — https://youtu.be/3KFf4vhmYxI All Film Noirs Project 1927 – 2026 - https://classicmovierev.com/all-film-noirs/ 👽Affiliates👽 GoPro 9 - https://amzn.to/3ITZcbw SmallRig Quick Release Phone Cage Kit Basic - https://amzn.to/4qzw51D The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 1 - https://amzn.to/4syL7X9 The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection Volume 2 - https://amzn.to/3L1G805 Camera - https://amzn.to/3SjOUnI Audio - https://amzn.to/4l7jCPY Teleprompter - https://amzn.to/3CQZQUf  My Books - https://www.amazon.com/John-E-Cornelison/e/B00MYPIP56 **Say Hi on Social** Website: https://www.classicmovierev.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classicmovierev/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicMovieRev #FilmNoir #NeoNoir #ClassicMovies **Disclaimer** CMR is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com. This content is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only. Classic Movie Reviews claims no ownership of content. "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

See All (477)

Trailer

4.7
out of 5
48 Ratings

About

Join the host archaeologist John for classic movies reviews with his own special spin. Using his archaeological background, he connects historic, cinematic, genealogical, and current facts to add a dimension to his reviews that will increase your enjoyment of these classic movies. John tells all for movies over 25 years old. He also presents his world-famous short summaries of each classic movies reviewed. ClassicMovieRev.com

Information

  • Creator
    John E. Cornelison
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    477
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2014-2026
  • Show Website
    Classic Movie Review

You Might Also Like