iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I don’t know why the IT persists with this framing when the ‘rugby stars’ own less than 4% of the shares.

John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Ian Fleming doing his best to reassure those who dislike flying: ‘‘…when those or many things happen, then the little warm room with propellers in front falls straight down out of the sky into the sea or on to the land, heavier than air, fallible, vain’…

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Catching up on one I missed all those years ago and it’s…fine, too long and padded out with musical montages that should have been cut. I grew up on this stuff and idolised Ali in my youth but unfortunately Smith doesn’t really capture the man, despite a decent performance. Should have been better.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Unusual noir-ish drama - career criminal turns informer, but then informs on the wrong guy. Unsurprisingly, Widmark’s psycho-killer debut made him a star (and maybe also fixed his screen persona). My only problem is Mature, an actor I never took to (his Doc Holiday excepted). Some original touches.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Someone obviously misinterpreted the title.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Always fun to be had from Batman TV series, but henchman design choices are hilarious. Yellow boiler suits with red belts and collars for The Riddler.

The Riddler’s henchmen dressed in yellow boiler suits with red belts and collar. (Batman’66)

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Unusual noir set in a New Mexico border town. Even accounting for Montgomery’s wooden acting this ticks all the boxes for the genre while throwing in a few twists. Snappy dialogue too. Solid.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Depends on the week but, for now: 5. The 39 Steps 4. The Farmer’s Wife 3. Strangers on a Train 2. Vertigo 1. Notorious

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Batman episode 3. Could this business possibly be a front for a fiendish criminal? Hmmm…

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Unquestionably the best Irish nitro stout. (But I’m fed up with 440ml cans. What’s wrong with 500ml?)

A half consumed glass of Sullivan’s Black Marble Stout.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Then you read the piece and see that, between them, they own less than 4% of the shares. Top journalism.

Picture of Brian O’Driscoll under headline that reads, “Losses rise to €1.19m at online grinds school backed by Brian O’Driscoll and Carlin Doris.”

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I had somehow never seen this, an absolute joy. Lovely Loretta Young hits the big city to work as a maid for Congressman Joe Cotten - steals the show and wins her Oscar. Cotten at his reliable best, while Ethel Barrymore and Charles Bickford contribute eye-catching supporting turns. Really enjoyed.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Charming romantic drama, with Lancaster’s Secret Service agent on the trail of a counterfeiter of one-dollar bills. Lancaster falls for Dorothy McGuire, a translator at the U.N. Of course, the forger turns out to be doddery old Edmund Gwenn, McGuire’s friend and neighbour, and hiding in plain sight.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Stunning 1962 war movie recounting the final days of the German occupation of Naples in 1943 after the allied-Italian truce. This doesn’t look out of place alongside any of the post-war Rubble Films or Italian neo-realist classics and I can’t think of any higher praise.

Poster for The Four Days of Naples (1962).

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

It’s been far too long since I last watched this - epic, gorgeous filmmaking from the true golden age of Hollywood. Cinematography, editing, and performances for the ages. The tension, the vistas, all those tight close-ups. Amazing.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

First time watch. The theme of right-wing authoritarianism obviously resonates strongly today and Volontè is stupendous in the lead role but I was never quite as engaged as I expected to be and ended up somewhat disappointed. Maybe just my mood on the day.

Italian blu-ray of Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970)

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

I was quite enjoying this up to the point where it goes completely insane. Online commentary suggests there is an alternative version that cuts most of the last twenty minutes - an excellent call. Anyway, it’s all very French. (A good thing)

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

I’ve started watching this (in the awful tv recording that seems to be the only available print) and Jeremy Irons is having a pint with Patricia Hodge. His pint is getting fuller as the chat goes on. Really, continuity people, do your job.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

I’m reading Frozen Assets by Wodehouse, which is liberally sprinkled with an exclamation that used to litter the comics of my childhood: ‘Cor lumme!’. I never understood it, beyond knowing that it denoted surprise, but apparently it is a cockney derivation of ‘God love me’.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

You Only Live Twice is on RTE. I haven’t seen it for years and had forgotten Blofeld’s rickety bunker equipment. No wonder he wasn’t quite up to starting WW III.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Reading Casino Royale and am gratified to finally understand how Baccarat works. Thank you Mr. Fleming.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

I always feel so sorry for the movie soldier when he produces that photo of the sweetheart at home. He has no idea how this stuff works.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

There’s a lot of things you expect from a Hepburn-Tracy flick. Bronson isn’t one of them.

Charles Bronson, Katharine Hepburn, and Spencer Tracy in Pat and Mike (1952)

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

When you feel the need to wear your bullet belts when calling on a lady.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Exceedingly silly movie but Kaye is funny as the befuddled ventriloquist caught up in espionage he is completely oblivious to.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Gene Kelly tap-dancing on roller skates. And Cyd Charisse. Who cares if the film is any good?

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

By the numbers biopic of US Air Force pioneer Mitchell. Cooper *almost* makes it worthwhile, but it’s dreary enough fare. Small roles for youngsters Peter Graves, Elizabeth Montgomery and Jack Lord (who is truly woeful here - was he actually any better in Hawaii-5-O or do I just remember it fondly?)

Poster for The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell starring Gary Cooper

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Julie (1956). This one falls comfortably into the ‘so bad it’s good’ category. Every plot point raises the implausibility to new heights, culminating in a flight sequence that contributed at least five good gags to Airplane! Day and Jourdan do their best with the awful script. Hilarious.

Poster for Julie (1956), starring Doris Day and Louis Jourdan.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

A bit niche but: Running/sports shoes are getting uglier year on year.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

I think this very famous actor - in his first film - is quite recognisable here. Others looking over my shoulder say not. . . Opinions?

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

In St Albans, NSW, and the garden visitors are a bit different. . .

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Fabulous bookshop with an entire section devoted to 2nd hand Folio Society editions. I picked up lovely Josephine Tey and Saki volumes.

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Reposted by John Daly

And Other Stories @andotherstories.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

We're over the book to announce that we'll be bringing three works by James Kelman back into print, starting with Kieron Smith, boy in June 2026 ✨

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Reposted by John Daly

T. Tex Edwards @ttexed.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

John Martyn Documentary - Johnny Too Bad youtu.be/q0DVynJD4jE 'BBC FOUR pays tribute to musical maverick John Martyn, who died at the age of 60 on 29th January 2009, with an intimate documentary portrait. John Martyn (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2009)

youtu.be

John Martyn Documentary - Johnny Too Bad

YouTube video by Rob's Music

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

First time watch. Entertaining romp, with Day and Hudson reprising their Pillow Talk chemistry. Usual comedy of misunderstandings but Hudson’s comedic chops are first rank here.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Reading a 1996 obituary for Marcello in Time: “‘Mastroianni’ became a kind of emotional cologne for the modern male. And no one wore the style as elegantly as he: the dark suit, the narrow tie, the eyes of a man who’s been up three nights straight doing things that would excite anyone but him.”

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

For the new year, a new marathon. Maigret #1. First day of the case and Maigret has already dispatched eight beers.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Last call if anyone would like to take any (or all) of these blu-rays (just cover the postage costs). (N.B. The Hitchcocks are all Blu-rays, NOT 4K).

Collection of Blu-ray Discs to be given away.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Possibly the least Christmas-ey movie I’ve ever watched. I can’t say I enjoyed it. Artistically admirable but, jeez, these people…

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Revisiting this after many decades. One thing I never mourn is the 1970s ‘sax and synth’ soundtrack.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Jack Lemmon getting dressed in Save the Tiger (1973). What was the point of those sock-suspenders? Who would ever notice if the socks dropped a little?

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

First viewing of this appalling piece of sentimental, nonsensical trash, for which Art Carney was somehow awarded the Best Actor Oscar ahead of Nicholson (Chinatown) and Pacino (Godfather II). What were they thinking?

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

I would suggest that this movie is more topical today than it was 85 years ago on release. The anti-vax, anti-science, pro-bullshit agenda on display seems right up to the minute. Robinson superb, as always.

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Some people will always be beyond my understanding. Imagine running over a cat in your car and just driving on, leaving the people immediately behind to lift the poor thing off the road and on to the footpath, where it can die within 5 minutes. It makes me so angry.

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Reposted by John Daly

Neil Snowdon @neilsnowdon.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Behold, the Sword of Power! Excalibur! For anyone waiting for things from me, this is why: my brain has been consumed by John Boorman and Excalibur, both of them dear to my heart. The restoration is stunning, and finally presents the film in the right aspect ratio on home video... 🧵1/8

$New 4K UHD edition of Excalibur from Arrow Video. The pic shows the contents and packaging: Rigid slipcase, amaray and sleeve, double-sided poster, six art cards, 120page book and three discs. all artwork is by Bob Peak from the original release poster options. vibrant, and filled with reflections and refractions like the light that glints and glows in the film.$

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John Daly @johdal.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Batman: First ever episode, in which Batman and Robin go clubbing at ‘What A Way to Go-Go’. Batman drugged! Robin in peril! I’m 8 again.

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