Murder by Television (1935)

A rather run-of-the-mill murder mystery though enlivened by the novel appearance of early television as a setting. Professor Houghland (Charles Hill Mailes) has invented a new method of television broadcast which can be broadcast pictures instantly from anywhere in the world (exactly how this miracle is accomplished isn't really explained). Everyone is after his technology but Houghland is an idealist who won't sell to anyone.

Houghland is murdered in the middle of a demonstration of his television broadcast. The police led by Henry Mowbray have to find out who dunnit. That is easier said than done as it is a baffling film (for much of the film the cast look bemused, and for good reason). Bela Lugosi plays identical twins, one an assistant of Houghland (and really an agent) and the other in the pay of a corporation or foreign power after the technology.

It is a bit dull with some ill-considered attempts at light relief to pad the film out, though Lugosi plays a good role as usual. It is all a bit of a shame as the film could have been a whole lot better considering the rather exotic nature of the main plot device. Interestingly the film seems to recycle a bit of footage from The Phantom Broadcast with the same newspaper seller.

Night of the Demon (1957)

Is Dr Karswell (Niall MacGinnis) in possession of the ability to summon demons and a servant of Satan? Well Professor Harrington (Maurice Denham) thinks so but after he goes and challenges Karswell in his creepy mansion he is apparently killed by the Horned One. Or maybe it's just an electric shock?

Dr Holden (Dana Andrews) is on his way over from the US and he is sceptical about everything involving witchcraft. Harrington's niece Joanna (Peggy Cummins) assists him in his investigation into what really is going on. Then Dr Holden finds he is "marked for death"... a rune covered parchment passed onto Holden by Karswell. Only by giving Karswell the parchment back can Holden survive.

Superbly creepy Satanic horror. The film is full of atmosphere and dark horror imagery. Dr Karswell is a tremendous character, dripping evil one moment and the mundane the other.

Mystery Liner (1934)

An ocean liner is to test a new method of remote control, however the captain (Noah Beery) falls ill on the eve of the test voyage (which has a complement of crew and passengers despite the test for some reason). A foreign power is after the S-505 technology at the heart of the test. With a ship full of mysterious characters we are set for an exciting film eh?

Well partially. Although the set-up is interesting the execution is at times a bit lacking. The film takes ages to get going, too much of the time being wasted on the rather annoying Granny Plimpton (Zeffie Tilbury) who should have been chucked in the brig.

When the captain's illness is found to be due to a poison suspicion falls on a number of people including his replacement Captain Downey (Boothe Howard) or his First Officer (Cornelius Keefe). Plus who is this mysterious foreign gentleman Von Kesseling (Gustav von Seyffertitz) who always seems to be wandering around? Major Pope (Edwin Maxwell) is on the case... in a pompous manner but is he all he seems?

Once it gets going it's a neat little spy film - though not one which makes much sense -  with touches of science fiction including an early form of instant messenger.

Midnight Phantom (1935)

Midnight Phantom is a curiously disjointed film, at times it seems more like a string of random film snippets thrown together by someone drunk.

At it's core the film is about new police chief Sullivan (Jim Farley) who is very good at making enemies especially amongst his senior officers. Lieutenant Burke (Lloyd Hughes) is also sore at Sullivan as he opposes the marriage to his daughter Diana (Claudia Bell). It is also gossiped that Sullivan is knocking off his secretary (Barbara Bedford) much to the fury of the mother (Mary Foy). Eventually the chief is killed... right in the middle of a police conference being held by the rather smug criminologist Professor Graham (Reginald Denny).

The film is pretty shoddy in execution, obviously filmed in a rush on a very low budget. Many times in the film there are awkward pauses where the actors desperately try and remember their barely rehearsed lines. The pacing is also off with a number of strange tangents. However awful as much of it it all oddly seems to add to the enjoyment. The film takes a while to get going but the final act is good.

Double X: The Name of the Game (1992)

In the 1990s and early 2000s there was a bit of a thing for comedians to try their hand at serious drama. Hugh Laurie of course, even Bob Monkhouse. But Norman Wisdom? Yes indeed he appeared in this British gangster film and it is utterly awful... and utterly brilliant at the same time.

William Katt plays ex-Chicago PD officer Michael Cooper, who is on holiday in Scotland, when he comes across ageing safe cracker Arthur (Norman Wisdom). Arthur is on the run from a brutal gang led by Iggy (Bernard Hill) and Ross (Simon Ward). Well when we say brutal, Iggy is almost like a pantomime villain, only slightly too over the top to make it in panto.

Arthur is a crook but gentle and dislikes the sadistic violent ways of Izzy, now he is on the run from various assassins who like blowing up cars in hotel carparks and the like. Cooper helps Arthur evade them... but is he everything he seems to be?

It is just so laughable, Wisdom basically plays the same role as he always has in films, only it doesn't quite work as well in a serious crime film, especially one involving shootings and torture scenes. Sometimes though you do think you are watching a weird kind of comedy as so much of the film is absurd. To be fair as the film progresses Wisdom seems to be getting the hang of it and it is Norman Wisdom so it is very enjoyable despite the film's many drawbacks (and without him in it it would just be an unwatchable mess)... but you just keep thinking "Mr Grimsdale!" while some bloke is getting tortured with electrodes.