Showing posts with label Crime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crime. Show all posts

Monday, March 18, 2024

The Lone Wolf in Paris (1938)

One of the earlier Lone Wolf talkies, a different actor plays the reformed jewel thief but the fast moving action will be very familiar.

The Lone Wolf Michael Lanyard (Francis Lederer) is a reformed jewel thief, who always seems to get involved in other people's troubles. This time he gets roped in to help Princess Thania (Frances Drake) who is trying to steal back jewels which will be needed for her family's coronation ceremony. A group of financiers are holding the jewels and won't sell them back, hoping to bring down Thania's royal house. 

The Lone Wolf and his trusty butler Jenkins (Olaf Hytten) help Thania in her efforts to retrieve the jewels, however the group have many tricks up their sleeves making things difficult. Luckily, the Lone Wolf has more tricks up his sleeves!

Francis Lederer only played the Lone Wolf once before the role switched to Warren William who made the next nine films with the character. Lederer's Lone Wolf is similar though has a slightly more reserved European suaveness to him. An entertaining film.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

What a Carve Up! (1961)

A highly enjoyable comedy crime drama, at times it verges on Carry On territory but thats no bad thing.

Ernie (Kenneth Connor) is told his rich uncle has died by a somewhat sinister solicitor (Donald Pleasance). Ernie heads off to his uncle's country pile with his mate Syd (Sid James), a lonely looking house in the moors. Ernie's fellow family members are a motley crew of weirdos. Then the deaths start happening...

Ernie, Syd and the rest, including the uncle's former nurse (Shirley Eaton) scramble to try and work out what is going on in the strange house and stop the murderer. However, they need to identify who it is first. Surely it must be one of the family members present or is it, in this house riddled with secret doors and passageways...

This is a fine film, most of the time it isn't laugh out loud funny rather than humorous and inventive but it does have it's slapstick and ridiculous moments especially with Connor and James. It has plenty of twists too, it works as a dark house crime drama as well.

Monday, March 11, 2024

London by Night (1937)

A stereotypical foggy London and awful accents can't spoil this pretty solid crime drama.

London based US reporter Michael (George Murphy) delays his holiday to Paris to look in on a strange case of an umbrella wielding criminal who has apparently done away with someone. A policeman is also shot by the mysterious man. 

While taking a look, with his trusty dog (Corky), and after chasing a man with a brolly, Michael encounters Patricia (Rita Johnson) the daughter of a rich businessman (Montague Love). Somehow the businessman's house, or someone from the household in any event, is involved in the Umbrella Man case and Michael wants to court Patricia in any case. With the help of Inspector Jefferson (George Zucco), though shouldn't that be the other way around, Michael tracks down the mysterious Umbrella Man who is employing all number of tricks to stay ahead of the law...

A fine crime drama with plenty of twists and turns. London is eternally foggy and dark though that helps with the sinister atmosphere of course. The accents can be quite something, but not in a good way. The villain is very good and the crimes are inventive. Though the ending of the film is somewhat rushed.

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Prison Shadows (1936)

A boxing-crime drama which rather pulls it's punches.

Gene (Eddie Nugent) is a boxer who is in prison for killing a man in the ring. He is released from prison and bought back into the fight game by an unscrupulous promoter (Forest Taylor) and his partner Claire (Lucile Lund) whom Gene has the hots for and thus Claire is able to wrap him around her little finger, much to the disappointment of Mary (Joan Barclay) who really loves Gene. Gene kills another man in the ring but it seems there are illegal drugs being used and a plot by the promoter to use death to build up Gene's name...

This isn't a great film, though is perfectly watchable for what it is. The story doesn't make a lot of sense plus Gene is incredibly naive which makes it hard to root for him as the main character. 

No more than OK, it wouldn't win any prizes though does have a clever dog (Corky) in the film who is the real hero.

Monday, March 4, 2024

The Crimson Canary (1945)

Time for some cool jazz, and a murder mystery.

Danny Brooks (Noah Beery Jr) has a jazz band that are preparing to head onto San Francisco. However, the corpse of singer Anita Lane, who had fractious relationships with most of the band, (Claudia Drake) is discovered in the dressing room. 

The band, not knowing what happened or who killed Anita though Johnny (Danny Morton) was also in the room but discovered out cold and not knowing what happened, decide to run for it. Club owner Vic Miller (Steve Geray) calls on detective Roger Quinn (John Litel), who just so happens to like cool jazz, is on the case and after the band...

This is a decent crime film with a Noir-ish edge. A solid (if not spectacular) piece of police work interspersed with a number of jazz songs. 

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Secrets of the Lone Wolf (1941)

The Lone Wolf is in action again, using his skills as a former jewel thief to foil a dastardly plot to steal foreign valuables and affecting the war effort.

An unnamed European country has sent valuable jewels to the US to sell so they can continue their fight against the bad guys. The Lone Wolf Michael Lanyard (Warren William) is bought in to use his experience as a former top jewel thief to assist with security. 

Unfortunately, a syndicate of thieves are after the jewels. They want to recruit the Lone Wolf but mistake his valet Jamison (Eric Blore) for him (none of them knew what he looked like?) The Lone Wolf has to keep Jamison safe, as well as the jewels, and keep Inspector Crane (Thurston Hall) off his back!

A fine entry in the Lone Wolf series with the usual mix of rapid fire plot twists and swerves. It is best to ignore the plot holes and coincidences and just enjoy the smooth and comfortable performances by the leads. 

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

The Vanishing Shadow (Serial) (1934)

A fun movie serial packed full of mad science.


Stanley Stanfield (Onslow Stevens) and Carl Van Dorn (James Durkin) have developed a device which can make the wearer invisible (apart from their shadow). After Stanley is framed for murder by the dangerous Wade Barrett (Walter Miller) and his henchman Dorgan (Richard Cramer), Stanley and Carl begin to use their invention, plus a few other devices, to find the evidence to bring Barrett down. Stanley is also going out with Gloria (Ada Ince), who is Barrett's estranged daughter...

So, you know the score. Fast paced action punctuated by a series of cliffhangers, of varying degrees of believability. The biggest fun of this serial is the science though, including Van Dorn's robot invention which proves to be able to defeat gangsters with ease. This serial also has a bit of a heart too, and a redemption story. Highly enjoyable.

Friday, February 9, 2024

City of Missing Girls (1941)

An involving drama involving missing girls dragged into the world of vice that thankfully avoids too much exploitation and sleaze.

Many girls are going missing in the city, it is assumed they are being dragged into the seedy world of night clubs and escorting. Veteran detective McVeigh (H.B. Warner) is plugging away on the cases but has yet to get any leads, new assistant DA James Horton (John Archer) is under pressure to get results. 

Meanwhile, perky young reporter Nora Page (Astrid Allwyn) is also investigating... though she doesn't know her father is involved along with brutal gangster and nightclub owner King Peterson (Philip Van Zandt)...

A fine film, though the start is a little unpromising with some jarring direction and awkward acting early on. Happily, once the film warms up then so do the performances and the film has a good and interesting plot with some good twists.

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Bulldog Drummond in Africa (1938)

Bulldog Drummond's marriage to Phyllis has to be delayed yet again, but this time because Colonel Neilson has been kidnapped and is now in Africa...

Neilson (H.B. Warner) of Scotland Yard is kidnapped by a notorious criminal called Lane (J. Carrol Naish). Phyllis (Heather Angel), who is due to marry Bulldog Drummond (John Howard) that very day, discovers Lane's plot and warns Drummond. 

Unfortunately, they are too late to stop Lane take Neilson to his lair in Morocco where he wants the details of a secret weapon to sell to his client. Drummond and company follow on (always handy to have your own aeroplane). Lane hides out in a fortified house, guarded by hungry lions. He also had crooked staff at the consulate to assist him including Fordine (a young Anthony Quinn).

This is a fun romp, plenty of fast moving adventures which culminates in a death defying fight on a balcony while a lion roars below. It isn't high art but it is very effective.

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

House of Danger (1934)

An enjoyable and effective crime drama.

Don (Onslow Stevens) and Ralph (James Bush) are returning to the US from the South Seas after years away, Ralph returning home after the unexpected death of his father. After an accident on board their ship, Ralph is injured. 

With Ralph's blessing Don poses as Ralph to go home, though he encounters Ralph's long-standing fiancée Sylvia (Janet Chandler) and falls in love with her. However, it is Don who is soon put in danger as it appears that the butler Gordon (Desmond Roberts) and Ralph's cousin Martin (John Andrews) are up to no good...

Although it is pretty clear from the off who the villains are, this is a fine crime drama with some good performances (though not universally, some of the dialogue can be a bit stilted at times) and a decent plot. 

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

A Close Call for Boston Blackie (1946)

Another Boston Blackie film, although high on humour the crime involved does have a dark heart.


Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) gets involved with one of his old flames Geraldine (Lynn Merrick) who was menaced by thugs, she also leaves a small child in his house! Her husband is shot dead in Blackie's home and of course Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) suspects Blackie. Blackie escapes (again of course) and tries to unravel what is really going on. He finds the truth behind Geraldine and the child is a lot darker than he first thought...

A fun film, the usual Boston Blackie tropes and antics, including a lot of running around. Blackie and the Runt (George E Stone) both get to dress up and as usual no one can see though Blackie's rather flimsy disguise. Maybe a bit too familiar but a good show all the same.

Friday, January 19, 2024

Missing Girls (1936)

Certainly not a bad film by any means, but one which has a bit of an identity crisis.

Ann (Ann Doran) leaves her abusive family to seek her fortune in the city, though she soon finds getting that fortune rather elusive. The do-gooder daughter of a senator, Dorothy (Muriel Evans) takes Ann in as a maid. However, the senator (Wallis Clark) is soon caught up in gang warfare as he tries to end their racket and is gunned down. Dorothy and Ann go missing as they try and find the culprits. Dorothy's beau Jimmie (Roger Pryor), a reporter, tries to find them and bring the culprits to justice (or rather the FBI will...)

This film is rather confusing, it starts off seemingly as an exploration of the dangers facing young women alone in the big city but soon reverts into a fairly predictable but decently done crime drama. In a way this is probably for the best as plan A would have likely led to some exploitative sleaze. A solid B-movie that keeps you entertained.

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Roaring City (1951)

An enjoyable little crime Noir.


Private detective Dennis (Hugh Beaumont) is hired to place some bets on a dodgy boxing match by Barton (Stanley Price). One of the boxers dies during the match which messes up the crooked bets. Dennis tries to collect his fee but he ends up framed for the murder of the other boxer. Dennis has to find out why carried out the murder (and some subsequent kills) before the dozy detective Burger (Richard Travis) locks him up!

A modest but complicated film, the story driven by Dennis' narrative. The plot doesn't always make a lot of sense but the quick pace and cool early 1950s feel makes the film well worth watching.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

The Shadow Returns (1946)

A complicated crime romp involving The Shadow.

Lamont (Kane Richmond) aka The Shadow investigates a mysterious plot involving diamonds smuggled in diamonds, mysterious deaths and a group of people who seem to spend all of their lives in the one room of a mansion. The Shadow is assisted by Margo (Barbara Reed) and Shevvie (Tom Dugan) - well maybe saying Shevvie was any assistance at all might be being very kind to him!

This is not that good a film, it really goes nowhere and switches between the same three locations for the most part. The film is saved by the charisma of the leads, who make a good unit but they can't do anymore than at least make the film perfectly watchable. 

The Shadow, in his radio drama days, had super hypnotic powers. In this film though he just wears a hat and a mask.

Friday, January 12, 2024

A Woman is the Judge (1939)

A courtroom drama that dials up the melodrama.

Mary (Frieda Inescourt) is a well-known judge on the circuit who is promoted to preside over more serious cases. However, behind the successful career, Mary has a secret. Twenty years before she had a daughter who was taken away by her estranged and crooked husband. Mary never gives up the hope she will see her daughter again one day.

Unfortunately, that day comes when the case of a major criminal reaches her court. One of the members of the crime boss' gang is Justine (Rochelle Hudson) - who is Mary's daughter! Soon, Justine is accused of murder of her blackmailer. Mary resigns from the bench to defend her daughter.

The film is rather melodramatic and has the kind of coincidences you would later see regularly in TV soap operas but it isn't that bad a film. An interesting if not overly entertaining film.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Cry of the City (1948)

A hard Noir, a battle of wits between cop and criminal on the tough streets.

Martin (Richard Conte) has been arrested for shooting a policeman, however the lawyer Niles (Berry Kroeger) wants Martin to also take the blame for the brutal robbery of an old woman for jewels. Martin escapes custody, though badly wounded. 

Lieutenant Candella (Victor Mature) leads the hunt for Martin, but Martin is also interested in why Niles wanted him to take the rap for the jewel theft...

A great film, tough and gritty. The two leads are pushed to their limits in their relentless cat and mouse chase. Childhood friends Martin and Candella are both highly similar (both Italian background from the same streets) but also so different in outlook and eventual outcome too. Only one can come out of this alive. 

An excellent example of the Noir genre.

Thursday, January 4, 2024

The Millerson Case (1947)

Crime doctor Dr Ordway finally manages to get away on vacation, unfortunately it turns into a real busman's holiday.

Dr Ordway (Warner Baxter) heads to rural West Virginia to do some hunting, however immediately he is drawn into problems in the small town. Firstly, a typhoid outbreak and then a murder investigation after the local barber dies of poisoning. 

Ordway begins his investigation, unfortunately due to the victim being a bit of a romeo everyone in town seems to be potentially a suspect! The local doctor (Addison Richards) is also shot dead as Ordway closes in on the culprit...

A fine crime drama with a complicated plot full of red herrings and twists. This was the eighth film starring the Dr Ordway character and a great entry in the series. 

Friday, December 29, 2023

Ellery Queen, Master Detective (1940)

Although the character had appeared in a couple of earlier films, this was the first of a new series of Ellery Queen films in the 1940s.


The owner of a fitness company John Braun (Fred Niblo) falls ill suddenly and writes a new will cutting out his daughter. Nikki Porter (Margaret Lindsay) meanwhile wants to see Braun, to try and help improve relations between Braun and his estranged daughter (Marsha Hunt). While she is waiting for Braun, she finds herself locked in a room. When she gets out she finds Braun has been stabbed, but the murder weapon is missing. Amateur detective Ellery Queen (Ralph Bellamy) knows Nikki will be the number one suspect and helps hide her from the law while trying to find the murderer himself...

An enjoyable film, bright and breezy with some good charismatic lead performances and a fast moving plot. 

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Nancy Steele is Missing! (1937)

A somewhat unusual crime drama.

Dannie (Victor McLaglen) is both a crook and a pacifist, so much so on the latter that he kidnaps the daughter of military industrialist Steele (Walter Connelly) during the First World War. Leaving the daughter with some friends to bring up, Dannie then ends up in prison for seventeen years! The girl Nancy (June Lang) has grown up into a young woman by the time Dannie gets out of prison, and thinks Dannie is her father.

Dannie decides to return Nancy to her real father (in return for money of course) but due to Nancy's feelings for him he cannot go through with the kidnap plot. Unfortunately, Dannie's old cell mate Sturm (Peter Lorre) is on hand to mess things up...

An unusual film for the period in that an actual criminal is treated fairly sympathetically. This film has a rather far fetched and convoluted plot but is saved by some good performances (especially Lorre) and the atmospheric feel.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

The Lone Wolf Strikes (1940)

The reformed jewel thief is called upon to dust off his old skills.

After a valuable string of pearls is stolen from a rich banker, who later dies in a mysterious accident, his daughter Delia (Joan Perry) employs the reformed jewel thief Lanyard (Warren William) aka the Lone Wolf to recover them and find out what happened to her father. 

A complicated romp ensues as the Lone Wolf impersonates a fence to infiltrate the criminal gang and switch the real pearls with fakes. However, an unexpected accomplice close to Delia threatens to derail the whole case...

This is a fine film, a typical B-movie with masses of plot squeezed into a short running time. There is some peril but everything is kept light and fast moving.