Starring Bela Lugosi, Wallace Ford, Sally Blane, Bryant Washburn, Tully Marshall
Directed by Ben Stoloff
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A serial killer strikes again and again near the home of a wealthy family, where a scientist is planning to test a formula for surviving being buried alive.
Lugosi stars in the role of a turbaned Indian servant in this mystery-thriller, which has more in common with his other parts as a murder suspect than any of his horror classics. Still, this was filmed near the height of his fame, and it's a beefier showcase for him then you might think, abetted by Joseph Valentine's spooky and shadowy photography. Unfortunately the film is badly dated by a racial stereotype played by Oscar Smith, whose manner of speech and stuttering are cruelly presented for laughs. By contrast, Lugosi and his Indian on-screen wife, played by Mary Frey, are much more noble and honored, despite being demeaned as servants in some dialogue. Ford is cast in one of his many wisecracking reporter roles, playing off Matt McHugh's inept police detective, while trying to romance Blane's already engaged character, and they're all fine, but Lugosi's the one worth watching, along with Edwin Maxwell's pointy-toothed Maniac killer.
Showing posts with label Ben Stoloff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ben Stoloff. Show all posts
Friday, January 4, 2019
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
The Hidden Hand (1942)
Starring Craig Stevens, Elisabeth Fraser, Julie Bishop, Willie Best, Frank Wilcox
Directed by Ben Stoloff
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A mad killer escapes from an insane asylum, and heads for his family estate, where his sister plans to enlist his help in dealing with her greedy heirs.
Although all the usual elements of an Old Dark House thriller are here, the film's lacking any real mystery or suspense, since we know who the killer is from the start of the picture. Nevertheless, familiar character actor Milton Parsons makes a good boogeyman with crazed eyes and a soft-spoken voice, and his eerie stare from inside a coffin or triggering a deadly trap door is quite effective. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast fails to make the same impact, with the screenplay adding little detail to their characters, instead focusing on stereotypes played by Willie Best and Kam Tong. Still, the movie's worth seeing for Parson's performance.
Directed by Ben Stoloff
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A mad killer escapes from an insane asylum, and heads for his family estate, where his sister plans to enlist his help in dealing with her greedy heirs.
Although all the usual elements of an Old Dark House thriller are here, the film's lacking any real mystery or suspense, since we know who the killer is from the start of the picture. Nevertheless, familiar character actor Milton Parsons makes a good boogeyman with crazed eyes and a soft-spoken voice, and his eerie stare from inside a coffin or triggering a deadly trap door is quite effective. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast fails to make the same impact, with the screenplay adding little detail to their characters, instead focusing on stereotypes played by Willie Best and Kam Tong. Still, the movie's worth seeing for Parson's performance.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Super-Sleuth (1937)
Starring Jack Oakie, Ann Sothern, Eduardo Ciannelli, Alan Bruce, Edgar Kennedy
Directed by Ben Stoloff
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A movie star who aggravates the police by insisting he's a smarter detective, suddenly finds his life in danger when a notorious killer targets him.
More comedy than mystery, this picture's harmless light fluff that's a fun diversion, but not much more, with a nice supporting cast in Sothern, Ciannelli, and Kennedy, but each would go on to better showcases. Built around Oakie's charming blowhard character, he's amusing enough, but the screenplay spends more time trying to point out his own failures to recognize the killer, then building suspense as to who that might be, revealing the villain fairly early.
Directed by Ben Stoloff
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A movie star who aggravates the police by insisting he's a smarter detective, suddenly finds his life in danger when a notorious killer targets him.
More comedy than mystery, this picture's harmless light fluff that's a fun diversion, but not much more, with a nice supporting cast in Sothern, Ciannelli, and Kennedy, but each would go on to better showcases. Built around Oakie's charming blowhard character, he's amusing enough, but the screenplay spends more time trying to point out his own failures to recognize the killer, then building suspense as to who that might be, revealing the villain fairly early.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
The Mysterious Doctor (1943)
Starring John Loder, Eleanor Parker, Bruce Lester, Lester Matthews, Forrester Harvey
Directed by Ben Stoloff
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A doctor on a walking trip visits an English village where he learns the deaths of men working in an old tin mine have been blamed on a legendary headless ghost.
A fun wartime programmer from Warner Brothers, this is a modest B-movie, but a well-assembled one with swirling fog, eerie music, and a top-flight cast. Actor Matt Willis, who played Bela Lugosi's werewolf assistant in The Return Of The Vampire around the same time, is memorable as a mentally retarded man who becomes a prime suspect in the killings, and Parker is good as the brave young beauty who comes to his defense. Although some elements of the mystery are a bit transparent, Stoloff still leads the proceedings efficiently towards an exciting climax.
Directed by Ben Stoloff
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A doctor on a walking trip visits an English village where he learns the deaths of men working in an old tin mine have been blamed on a legendary headless ghost.
A fun wartime programmer from Warner Brothers, this is a modest B-movie, but a well-assembled one with swirling fog, eerie music, and a top-flight cast. Actor Matt Willis, who played Bela Lugosi's werewolf assistant in The Return Of The Vampire around the same time, is memorable as a mentally retarded man who becomes a prime suspect in the killings, and Parker is good as the brave young beauty who comes to his defense. Although some elements of the mystery are a bit transparent, Stoloff still leads the proceedings efficiently towards an exciting climax.
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