On the Spot (1940)

A fun little crime caper romp, part of a series starring Frankie Darro and Mantan Moreland.

Frankie (Darro) is a budding young scientist, biding his time working for a small town chemist before he heads to NY. He and Jefferson (Moreland) get involved with a gangster who tries to tell them a secret, where some stolen loot is hidden, before he dies of gunshot wounds. Unfortunately the man dies before he can tell them. 

The problem for Frankie and Jefferson is that no one believes that they were not told the secret and now everyone is after them, including gangsters and the law!

Darro and Moreland were a great double act and they help make this film highly entertaining. As a crime drama it works pretty well, once you get over the zaniness.

Rocketship X-M (1950)

Man sends it's first rocket ship to the Moon, only it ends up on Mars instead. Well we all makes mistakes.

The Rocketship X-M is the first manned rocket into space commanded by Dr Eckstrom (John Emery). Once in space things go wrong and the rocketship goes out of control. Soon it ends up in orbit around Mars so they land there instead! Eckstrom and the crew which includes Graham (Lloyd Bridges) and Van Horn (Osa Massen) explore this strange barren new world. 

They quickly discover the ruins of an advanced civilisation, with evidence that they destroyed themselves in a nuclear war. Now the savage survivors throw big rocks at their human visitors!

A perfectly decent 1950s space romp, the warnings about the danger of nuclear war and the rather downbeat negative ending makes the film stand out. The film is black and white but switches to a red tinted film for the Martian exterior shots which is a nice touch.

Meet the Hollowheads (1989)

A very strange sci-fi comedy, incredibly 1980s looking.

We are in a very strange future where a Jetsons like family live in a world of pipes, strange gadgets and mysterious punishments for misbehaving. Henry (John Glover) is trying to impress his boss to get promotion, at home though Miriam (Nancy Mette) is trying to control their unruly children including Cindy (Juliette Lewis) preparing for a rave party. Brother Bud (Lightfield Lewis) is practicing his music instrument which seems to also be a kind of mutated chicken.

Cindy is later bought home by the police after being caught intoxicated by softening cream. Henry's boss (Richard Portnow) comes for dinner, but he isn't there to be buttered up by Henry, rather he is interested in sexually harassing Miriam...

Honestly this is more like a fevered dream than a film, and has a real late 80s music video look and feel. Of course it doesn't make sense, but it isn't really supposed to. Incredibly imaginative though maybe sometimes you can take it a little too far. Certainly memorable even if it does become a bit tough going at times.

Murder in the Private Car (1934)

A highly entertaining crime drama that turns into a thrilling runaway train caper.

Ruth (Mary Carlisle) is working as a telephone switchboard operator, she doesn't know much about her past. But then she discovered she is the long lost daughter of a rich railway owner. This puts a big target on her back but an attempt to kidnap her is foiled by the slightly strange Scott (Charles Ruggles) who turns out to be a kind of a private detective.

Ruth and party head off on a train to meet her father, Scott also tags along. After a few escapades including a murder and an escaped gorilla, the private railway car they are all in is set free - packed with explosives - to kill everyone...

This is a fun film that proceeds at a fast pace (like a runaway railway car). The story is also very varied, the humour can be a bit goofy at times but it does not spoil anything. A highly enjoyable film.

I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)

A troubled teenager is hypnotised into becoming a hairy beast.

Tony (Michael Landon) is always getting into fights and treating his girl (Yvonne Lime) badly. Finally, he agrees to let the psychologist Dr Brandon (Whit Bissell) hypnotise him to help cure his troubled mind...

Unfortunately, Brandon is using Tony for his illegal experiments in human regression. He causes Tony to regress to becoming a werewolf and goes on the rampage...

Low budget teen horror nonsense of course but this film was very influential to the genre, leading to many copycats. With it's mix of teen delinquency, rock and roll and horror scenes it is cheap but undeniably entertaining. Michael Landon plays a good role.

Philo Vance Returns (1947)

Philo Vance is called in to discover who killed a playboy, unfortunately there are many potential suspects!

Larry (Damien O'Flynn) is shocked when his fiancé radio singer Virginia (Ramsay Ames) is shot dead, though he doesn't have long to mourn as he shot himself a few minutes later! Larry has had time to call his friend Philo Vance (William Wright) who begins to investigate on behalf of Larry's grandmother Stella (Clara Blandick). 

Vance is assisted by Karnoff (Leon Belasco) who was Virginia's manager. Larry had a number of ex-s all of whom have a motive as they would be beneficiaries in his will. Vance and Karnoff continue with their complicated investigation, however maybe the actual culprit is a lot closer to home...

This is an excellent Philo Vance film, a good crime plot with plenty of red herrings and twists and turns. Although the film does not have much you will not have seen before it is all very competently done.

The Bamboo Saucer (1968)

Although low budget, a surprisingly interesting "flying saucer" science fiction film.

Test pilot Fred (John Ericson) is in the dog house when he nearly crashes a new fighter after encountering a UFO. However, when word of a crashed UFO in Red China reaches the US, Fred finds himself back in the good books and he is recruited for a secret mission to infiltrate China and retrieve the UFO before the Chinese do. 

In China, the mission led by Hank (Dan Duryea) soon bump into a Soviet team with the same mission! The US and Soviet teams form an uneasy alliance and reach the UFO. Fred and Soviet agent Anna (Lois Nettleton) warm the Cold War up a bit, meanwhile the Chinese troops are closing in...

Don't expect great special effects, and "China" looks suspiciously like the same Californian hills as hundreds of other films but this does have a very interesting premise. The action is a bit slow to get going but the final act makes up for it. 

The Telephone Exchange (1982)

A wonderful educational film (made by British Telecommunications) showing how telephone exchanges work and how they connect one telephone to another when you make a call. From the earliest mechanical switches to the latest (well in 1982 anyway) microchip technology. The film does a good job at explaining the basics at how these systems work and why they are needed.

It reminds me when my Dad took me to his work at a telephone exchange in the late 1970s, big rooms full of switches and wires. It's probably all replaced by a single box on the wall now.

Terror is a Man (1959)

Mad scientist creates man-cat, unfortunately the plot and action does not proceed with a feline speed and grace.

William (Richard Derr) is washed up on a remote island in the Pacific after his cargo ship sinks. He is rescued by Dr Girard (Frances Lederer) and his comely wife Frances (Greta Thyssen). Girard is conducting some kind of strange medical experiments on the island, and there is a beast loose which has killed enough natives that they have fled. However, the beast is not a natural creation but a big cat which Girard is trying to turn into a man.

Despite Frances and William's pleas to leave the island, Girard doggedly continues his experiments with the man-cat (Flory Carlos). However, the creature has developed a fascination for Frances (natch) and is also becoming harder and harder to control...

A story based on a HG Wells tale, and is fine enough though lacks much in the way of action. Much of the film is spent waiting around for something to happen, we really only see the man-cat in the final few minutes, though it really isn't worth the wait. One interesting gimmick is the inclusion of an annoying bell in the soundtrack to warn squeamish viewers to look away if something horrid is about to happen.

The Saint's Vacation (1941)

The Saint goes on a romp across Europe (suspiciously un-war torn) in pursuit of a mysterious box.

The Saint (Hugh Sinclair) and Monty (Arthur Macrae) go to Switzerland on holiday, pursued by the reporter Mary (Sally Gray) who is desperate for a story. 

However, his holibobs are soon cut short by the appearance of a strange box which various people including The Saint's arch-enemy Hauser (Cecil Parker). The box, when finally opened, reveals that it holds a music box. The Saint thinks this is the key to a secret code, of great value...

This is a typically fast moving B-movie of the period, played light and fast though unexpectedly dark at times (with a number of pointless deaths and a bit of torture). The film is a reasonable watch though not executed very well at times.

The Horror of Party Beach (1964)

Atomic waste creates mutated monsters which attack annoying teenagers, so not the most original of movies.

It is the 1960s so of course just dumping barrels of radioactive waste in the sea just off beaches where people party is A-OK. Unfortunately one of these barrels springs a leak and creates a bizarre race of blood drinking monsters. The blood is first provided by Tina (Marilyn Clarke) who is having a swim after having a tiff with her boyfriend at a beach party where much rock and roll is played. The attacks soon escalate though including a twenty teen girl slumber party which is wiped out by these monsters.

Luckily Dr Gavin (Allan Laurel) has a solution: sodium! As Hank (John Lyon) heads to NY to buy supplies of sodium, his girlfriend (Alice Lyon) is in peril from the monsters at a quarry...

So, this is fairly generic and low budget. The monsters are ridiculous of course but that adds to the film's camp charm. It is rubbish, but fun rubbish and that makes it very watchable.

The Crime of Helen Stanley (1934)

An enjoyable crime drama featuring an ingenious murder weapon.

Helen Stanley (Gail Patrick) is a top movie actress, though rather haughty with it, and she has plenty of enemies. When she is shot during the filming of a scene in a movie there are plenty of suspects for Inspector Trent (Ralph Ballamy) to work his way through! One prime suspect is Helen's former lover Lee (Kane Richmond) who has now taken up with her sister Betty (Shirley Gray). Another is Helen's ex-husband Wallach (Steven Chase) who confesses to the murder before shooting himself though afterwards he is ruled out.

However, a key problem with the crime is where the shot came from. All pistols on set are eliminated, somehow the shot came from somewhere else...

This is a good crime drama, Inspector Trent featured in a short series of films in the 1930s and was portrayed in a largely humourless and straight-to-business manner, which makes this film stand out from many 1930s crime B-movies! A good and inventive plot.

Electric Dreams (1984)

One of the most 80s films ever, a complete nostalgia fest of 80s pop and 80s computers.

Miles (Lenny von Dohlen) is an architect who is struggling to get anyone to buy into his big idea. He buys a computer to help him with his life. His computer gets ever more wrapped up into his life and begins to overheat, in a panic he pours champagne over the computer... this turns it sentient (of course!)

The computer calls itself Edgar (voiced by Bud Cort) and enters a love triangle with Miles and his neighbour Madeline (Virginia Madsen). When Edgar involves himself too much in Miles' life, Miles tries to turn Edgar off but this proves to be easier said than done...

This is a fun film which makes heavy use of the look and feel of contemporary pop videos (and including some actual MVs too). Its light and fluffy but has plenty of heart. The music is fantastic of course.

The Rink (1916)

Charlie Chaplin is a waiter in a restaurant, though as you can imagine much slapstick mayhem ensues. In his lunch break he goes roller skating in the park. At the park Mr Stout (Eric Campbell) is making advances to an unwilling girl (Edna Purviance). 

After showing off his roller skating skills, Charlie poses as an aristocrat and is invited to a party at the girl's house. Mr Stout and his new partner also show up.

This is a fine enough film, the usual slapstick antics. The film is most notable for showing off Chaplin's excellent roller skating skills.

Shake Hands with Murder (1944)

A joyously fast moving and bright and breezy crime drama.

Patsy (Iris Adrian) and Eddy (Frank Jenks) are bail bonders who take on accused embezzler Steve Morgan (Douglas Fowley). When Steve goes missing Patsy and Eddy go in search of him, when they discover the dead body of one of Steve's colleagues then they wonder if Steve is a murderer as well as an embezzler. 

Patsy ends up with Steve at a distant house, finally convinced of his innocence. Then she and Eddy have to help Steve find the real criminal, which somehow involves a suit of armour...

A fine B-movie, a fast moving plot starring some perky characters. The plot does include a number of well-worn cliches but it is well presented and the film overall is highly entertaining.

Night of the Blood Beast (1958)

A 1950s sci-fi horror shocker featuring an alien in a rubber suit, the biggest shock though is actually how intelligent the plot is.

Astronaut Steve (John Baer) crash lands in his ship (which totally doesn't look made out of cardboard) after the first trip by a man into outer space. He appears to have perished in the crash but when the scientists return him to their isolated lab they discover he is somehow alive in a catatonic state, his body also has been infected by some kind of alien cells. 

Steve is now carrying a number of alien babies, but it is the large alien who also tagged a ride back to Earth that the others really need to worry about. However, the alien offers them a chance for immortality, thats after he killed Dr Wyman (Tyler McVey) in a pretty brutal manner...

This is a low-budget sci-fi horror schlocker, with a ridiculous looking alien of course. However, buried in the plot is some intelligent sci-fi concepts which helps elevate this above the usual nonsense. Its still no more than an average film but certainly worth a watch.

The Sign of Four (1932)

An early Sherlock Holmes talkie. In what is billed as Holmes' greatest case he has to save a young woman from an escaped murderer who is after treasure.

Years before in a prison in the tropics, Small (Graham Soutten) makes a deal with two of the prison officers. He will tell them where his stashed treasure is in return for their help in escaping. The officers Sholto (Miles Malleson) and Morstan (Edgar Norfolk) find the treasure but then Sholto kills Morstan and returns to England keeping all of the loot for himself!

Now in the present, Sholto is living comfortably off the proceeds of the treasure but hears that Small has escaped. Sholto dies of shock when he sees Small, before that he admits his dark secret to his sons and tells them that Morstan has a daughter (Isla Bevan). The sons, being weak willed, tell Small about the daughter who finds herself in peril. She turns to the famous Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Wontner) and Dr Watson (Ian Hunter) for help.

This is a fine film that stays truer to the Arthur Conan Doyle idea of Holmes than some later adaptations being more restrained and thoughtful. Although the early talkie can be a bit hard to follow at times the story is portrayed very well and quite atmospheric. 

Hobgoblins (1988)

A very strange, and rather cheap, science-fiction horror featuring a couple of little furry monsters.

McCreedy (James R Sweeney) is a security guard at a disused studio who has a secret. Years before he encountered a UFO full of furry aliens. Naturally he locked them up in the bank vault which the studio for some reason has. For thirty years he has guarded the aliens in the vault because they have the ability to kill people after they make their fantasies come true. 

McCreedy's young apprentice guard Kevin (Tom Bartlett) accidentally releases the aliens from the vault, now he and McCreedy must recapture them while they unleash havoc on the town including helping Kevin's friends achieve their fantasies which seem to involve being sex sluts or committing murder...

A curious film that doesn't make much sense. The characters are either pretty blank or rather hateful, and the hobgoblins themselves are rather like demonic furbies and the film is pretty low budget. Quite awful but not without a lot of camp value.

The Saint's Girl Friday (1953)

The Saint returns in a rather murky tale of illegal gambling, seedy clubs and revenge.

The Saint Simon Templar (Louis Hayward) returns to England after a call for help from his socialite friend, before he can arrive she has died in a "car accident" (assisted by being chased by hoodlums). 

The Saint knew his friend had a gambling habit and was probably in debt, he begins his investigation then in the underground gambling scene (gambling being illegal in the UK at the time) in 1950s London. His investigation leads him to the brutal River Gang who seem to be behind his friend's death and much more besides...

This is a decent film, rather grubby and hard for a British film of the period. It also is an interesting view of England still recovering from the war. The plot can be a bit slow at times though. See Diana Dors in an early role.

The Revenge of Doctor X (1967)

A bizarre monster movie where a carnivorous mobile plant creature wreaks havoc.

Dr Bragan (James Craig), the angriest NASA scientist ever, goes to Japan to calm down. However, his assistant Noriko (Atsuko Rome) takes him to a weird looking building next to an active volcano where the caretaker plays dark gothic organ and creeps around so i'm not sure how well this helps his mental health. 

Bragan is any case is busy with his new project, cross breeding a Venus fly trap with another strange plant he found in the US after talking to a man with mud all over his face. Bragan creates a new kind of monster with a taste for human blood, obviously it soon it all going wrong...

This is not a good film, it is very shoddily made, very strange and makes little sense (well Ed Wood Jr was one of the writers so what can you expect?) The monster looks ridiculous of course and the film overall is all kinds of cheese.

Alice's Egg Plant (1925)

The Alice series were early Walt Disney live action / animation hybrids. 

Alice (Anne Shirley) and Julius the cat are the owners of an egg factory. Unfortunately, the hens are a bit lazy so Julius has to keep them hard at it. Then a new hen arrives, Little Red Henski from Moscow who is going to try and bring communism to the egg plant!

An unexpectedly political little film, we were only a few years into the Russian Revolution. Whether kids would get it though is a good question.

The House of Fear (1945)

Sherlock Holmes in a rather intriguing case in a dark house up in the Highlands.

A group of friends meet at a house in the Highlands, then one by one they receive a mysterious envelope containing orange pips and then die in a horrific manner which leaves little trace of the body! Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr Watson (Nigel Bruce) head to investigate this intriguing case. The case is indeed very baffling, with several suspects though these are whittled down as they become the latest victims!

This is a good film with an excellent twist, though one common fact about all of the murders was a strong indicator about what was really going on (i read a lot of detective novels!) This is a good entry in the Rathbone-Bruce Sherlock Holmes series and a solid Dark House mystery, though Dr Watson's buffoonery is dialled a bit high at times.