Starring Leslie Nielsen, Mark Richman, Judi Meredith, Gilbert Green, Charles Bolender
Directed by Harvey Hart
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A supernatural investigator works unofficially with the police to look into a series of murders by a gruesome figure who leaves behind an ancient Sumerian artifact with each killing.
Although released in theaters, Wikipedia indicates that this film was actually a pilot for a television series which was never made, which presumably would have featured Nielsen solving supernatural crimes each week. It's a shame, because the pilot shows great promise with strong production values, creepy photography, and an appropriately unsettling music score by Lalo Schifrin. Running just under an hour, it's unfortunate that it wasn't expanded into a longer feature, as it could have been even better with more time to wind us through the story's twists and turns. What remains though is still quite entertaining, with an engaging screenplay by Barre Lyndon.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
The Mystery Of Marie Roget (1942)
Starring Patric Knowles, Maria Montez, Maria Ouspenskaya, John Litel, Edward Norris
Directed by Phil Rosen
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
Dupin, a forensic scientist for the French police during the late 19th century, tries to determine what's happened to entertainer Marie Roget, whose disappearance may be hiding a different crime.
Based on a composition by Edgar Allan Poe, one might have expected a darker film, but this is light and frothy entertainment, although there's murder in the offing. I've heard Poe's Dupin was an inspiration for Conan Doyle's creation of Sherlock Holmes, and Knowles' character is certainly a master of deduction like Sherlock, although without any of his personality. The film is structured around Dupin being always one step ahead of the prefect of police played with appropriate bluster by Lloyd Corrigan, and as such the screenplay doesn't give us much time to get to know the characters, although there's a feast of fine actors in the cast. Still, it's an amusing and entertaining film.
Directed by Phil Rosen
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
Dupin, a forensic scientist for the French police during the late 19th century, tries to determine what's happened to entertainer Marie Roget, whose disappearance may be hiding a different crime.
Based on a composition by Edgar Allan Poe, one might have expected a darker film, but this is light and frothy entertainment, although there's murder in the offing. I've heard Poe's Dupin was an inspiration for Conan Doyle's creation of Sherlock Holmes, and Knowles' character is certainly a master of deduction like Sherlock, although without any of his personality. The film is structured around Dupin being always one step ahead of the prefect of police played with appropriate bluster by Lloyd Corrigan, and as such the screenplay doesn't give us much time to get to know the characters, although there's a feast of fine actors in the cast. Still, it's an amusing and entertaining film.
Sunday, January 10, 2016
The Phantom Speaks (1945)
Starring Richard Arlen, Stanley Ridges, Lynne Roberts, Tom Powers, Charlotte Wynters
Directed by John English
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
An expert in "psychic science" is able to communicate with a condemned killer after his execution, but the dead man's spirit takes over his body with revenge on his mind.
Better known for its serials and westerns, this was one of Republic Pictures' rare horror films, and it's not half bad, with a well-written script by John K. Butler, which I've heard was perhaps based at least partly on the 1940 film Black Friday, in which Ridges played a very similar role. Ridges and Powers are both excellent, selling us on their supernatural relationship through their voices and mannerisms without aid from any special effects. Unfortunately, the film doesn't follow through on its best idea, (outside the central characters), that the insane may be innocents possessed by the will of the dead, and ends with a rather vague and unsatisfying conclusion.
Directed by John English
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
An expert in "psychic science" is able to communicate with a condemned killer after his execution, but the dead man's spirit takes over his body with revenge on his mind.
Better known for its serials and westerns, this was one of Republic Pictures' rare horror films, and it's not half bad, with a well-written script by John K. Butler, which I've heard was perhaps based at least partly on the 1940 film Black Friday, in which Ridges played a very similar role. Ridges and Powers are both excellent, selling us on their supernatural relationship through their voices and mannerisms without aid from any special effects. Unfortunately, the film doesn't follow through on its best idea, (outside the central characters), that the insane may be innocents possessed by the will of the dead, and ends with a rather vague and unsatisfying conclusion.
Friday, January 8, 2016
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954)
Starring Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas, Peter Lorre, Robert J. Wilke
Directed by Richard Fleischer
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
An esteemed professor and his assistant become captives aboard the Nautilus, a revolutionary submarine commanded by Captain Nemo, obsessed with ridding the world of devices of war.
Disney's first live action adventure film is still a marvel decades later, with fantastic art direction and photography and memorable performances from all the principals, particularly Mason as the brooding Nemo, and Douglas shining as the uncouth fun-loving harpooner Ned Land. Yet despite their screen presence, the Nautilus seems the true star of the film, wonderfully realized from the pages of Jules Verne's novel, and more captivating here than in any other adaptation. I've heard this was a labor of love for Walt Disney, and it shows, in a film deftly balancing grim themes with sights of wonder and amusing moments that will make you smile.
Directed by Richard Fleischer
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
An esteemed professor and his assistant become captives aboard the Nautilus, a revolutionary submarine commanded by Captain Nemo, obsessed with ridding the world of devices of war.
Disney's first live action adventure film is still a marvel decades later, with fantastic art direction and photography and memorable performances from all the principals, particularly Mason as the brooding Nemo, and Douglas shining as the uncouth fun-loving harpooner Ned Land. Yet despite their screen presence, the Nautilus seems the true star of the film, wonderfully realized from the pages of Jules Verne's novel, and more captivating here than in any other adaptation. I've heard this was a labor of love for Walt Disney, and it shows, in a film deftly balancing grim themes with sights of wonder and amusing moments that will make you smile.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Mysterious Island (1951)
Starring Richard Crane, Marshall Reed, Karen Randle, Ralph Hodges, Gene Roth
Directed by Spencer Bennet
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
During the Civil War, a Northern captain and his friends escape the South by hijacking a hot air balloon, only to crash on a strange island where they face hostile natives and bloodthirsty pirates.
One of several adaptations of Jules Verne's novel continuing the adventures of Captain Nemo, this movie serial features a major departure from the text in the character of an alien invader from the planet Mercury, taking the place of some of the more fantastic elements of Verne's story. Nevertheless, many sequences and characters from the book are preserved, although much of the adventure is replaced by standard fistfights and shootouts. Still, fans of serials should be entertained, as I was, with Roth as always a fine villain, and Crane a noble hero.
Directed by Spencer Bennet
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
During the Civil War, a Northern captain and his friends escape the South by hijacking a hot air balloon, only to crash on a strange island where they face hostile natives and bloodthirsty pirates.
One of several adaptations of Jules Verne's novel continuing the adventures of Captain Nemo, this movie serial features a major departure from the text in the character of an alien invader from the planet Mercury, taking the place of some of the more fantastic elements of Verne's story. Nevertheless, many sequences and characters from the book are preserved, although much of the adventure is replaced by standard fistfights and shootouts. Still, fans of serials should be entertained, as I was, with Roth as always a fine villain, and Crane a noble hero.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
13 Frightened Girls! (1963)
Starring Murray Hamilton, Joyce Taylor, Hugh Marlowe, Khigh Dhiegh, Kathy Dunn
Directed by William Castle
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
An American diplomat's teenage daughter studies up on espionage and becomes a secret and successful spy, but doesn't plan on the dangers she will encounter.
Although the screenplay sometimes borders on the ludicrous, this is a very fun picture with Dunn winning the audience over with a charming and engaging performance. Although I've seen it grouped in with Castle's horror films, it definitely isn't one, but succeeds on its own merits, with some talented young actresses joining Dunn in the cast. It paints the Chinese as villains in rather broad strokes when judged by modern standards, but fortunately avoids any kind of racist propaganda. I enjoyed it, and appreciated the filmmakers' avoidance of the most predictable conclusion.
Directed by William Castle
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
An American diplomat's teenage daughter studies up on espionage and becomes a secret and successful spy, but doesn't plan on the dangers she will encounter.
Although the screenplay sometimes borders on the ludicrous, this is a very fun picture with Dunn winning the audience over with a charming and engaging performance. Although I've seen it grouped in with Castle's horror films, it definitely isn't one, but succeeds on its own merits, with some talented young actresses joining Dunn in the cast. It paints the Chinese as villains in rather broad strokes when judged by modern standards, but fortunately avoids any kind of racist propaganda. I enjoyed it, and appreciated the filmmakers' avoidance of the most predictable conclusion.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Voodoo Island (1957)
Starring Boris Karloff, Beverly Tyler, Murvyn Vye, Elisha Cook, Rhodes Reason
Directed by Reginald LeBorg
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A debunker of superstitions is hired to prove a tropical island safe for a hotel magnate's new property, only to find the island is filled with man-eating plants and voodoo-practicing natives.
This film unfortunately sounds better than it is, as despite the presence of Karloff, a good cast, and a promising premise, the payoff once the film reaches the island is rather lackluster. Nevertheless, there's still moments to enjoy here, with fine photography, believable special effects, and some genuinely chilling scenes. Writer Richard Landau has done better and one wonders if his script was censored by budget limitations and the inclusion of a lesbian character. Still, this is a good bit of diverting fun, although anyone expecting horror from the presence of Karloff will be disappointed. A young Adam West appears uncredited in an early sequence in the picture.
Directed by Reginald LeBorg
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A debunker of superstitions is hired to prove a tropical island safe for a hotel magnate's new property, only to find the island is filled with man-eating plants and voodoo-practicing natives.
This film unfortunately sounds better than it is, as despite the presence of Karloff, a good cast, and a promising premise, the payoff once the film reaches the island is rather lackluster. Nevertheless, there's still moments to enjoy here, with fine photography, believable special effects, and some genuinely chilling scenes. Writer Richard Landau has done better and one wonders if his script was censored by budget limitations and the inclusion of a lesbian character. Still, this is a good bit of diverting fun, although anyone expecting horror from the presence of Karloff will be disappointed. A young Adam West appears uncredited in an early sequence in the picture.
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