Exile Express (1939)

Anna Sten is Nadine, the Ukrainian assistant to a scientist (Harry Davenport) and preparing to become an American citizen. On the eve of the ceremony Soviet spies led by her "boyfriend" Paul Brandt (Jerome Cowan) - not that she knows his real intentions towards her - kill the scientist to get their hands on a potential chemical weapon. However they need Nadine to translate the notes, but she is on a train heading across the country to be deported having being suspected of involvement in the scientist's death.

Reporter Steve (Alan Marshall) is also on the train covering another story. He becomes interested in Nadine and gets involved when she makes a getaway. He even ends up becoming married to her! However not only are the police after them, Brandt and his gang are too...

Although often ridiculous, and with a bit too much lightness thrown in at times - some of the "comedy" characters are simply bizarre and tedious apart from the raving lunatic Bolshevik. The film is an enjoyable romp with some chase scenes but quite a lot of filler, luckily Anna Sten and Alan Marshall do a good enough job to keep you interested.

The Last Alarm (1940)

Jim Hadley (J. Farrell MacDonald) is a respected old soak firefighter who has retired but is finding himself at a loose end. Meanwhile a deranged pyromaniac called Wendell (George Pembroke) has caused a series of fires and it is putting the insurance company which Jim's daughter Joan (Polly Ann Young) works at and her insurance investigator beau Frank (Warren Hull) under pressure.

When Jim's old buddy is killed in the latest fire he is bought in to help the investigation. Wendell knows the net is closing in but he turns his attention to bringing down the Hadleys.

Although the plot is pretty basic the film is an entertaining crime film with a difference. Apart from Wendell's over the top maniac act most of the acting is very natural, especially by MacDonald. Although a low budget film it looks good, in particular making good use of stock footage.

Sunset Murder Case (1938)

An enjoyable murder mystery but most notable for it's female nudity which in 1938 was quite something. As you can imagine the film was banned left right and centre.

It starred Sally Rand as Kathy O'Connor a dancer whose policeman father is killed, with the help of reporter Lou (Dennis Moore) she hatches a plot to infiltrate the nightclub she thinks was responsible for her father's death as a stripper.

It sounds rather ridiculous and exploitative, and it definitely is the former. Luckily it largely manages to avoid the latter. However the film doesn't really make any sense at all. Why does Sally suspect the nightclub for example, and why are people being bumped off? Something to do with blackmail but it is all rather murky but the balloon dance is nice.

Cover Girl Killer (1959)

Someone is killing cover girls from a popular soft-core girlie mag, the murderer (Harry H Corbett) kills the girls and then reenacts the cover photo. Inspector Brunner (Victor Brooks) is on the case in a methodical plodding manner. He is assisted by John Mason (Spencer Teakle) who is the owner of the girlie mag - which he apparently inherited from his uncle. Otherwise he is an archaeologist!

To lure the serial killer into a trap Felicity (June Rawson) is put on the cover of the magazine and thus becomes the next target for Corbett's sinister murderer.

Corbett's character is really interesting with a deep level of psychosis. The sleazy setting of the film adds an enjoyable layer of dirt but as a crime drama it is rather lacking. The police seem particularly dopey but the amateur saves the day in Golden Age fashion. Not the best film but Corbett's performance is worth checking out, this is way beyond Steptoe.

Jim Hanvey - Detective (1937)

A charming yet curious detective film. The film subverts so much what you might expect from detective films of this era.

Guy Kibbee is Jim Hanvey, a retired rather bumbling but wise cracking detective. He is called upon to find some stolen emeralds, only the man who is thought to have stolen them Don (Tom Brown) and his beau Joan (Lucie Kaye) turn up at his home and admit it.

So begins a rather complicated case involving double crossing and murder. It is all rather chaotic but Jim Hanvey's jovial and cheery dialogue carries the film. Plus Joan's mother (Catharine Doucet) has some great lines.