Sabaka (1954)

Adventures in Raj era India though this is the Hollywood idea of life back then so don't expect much historical accuracy...

Gunga Ram (Nino Marcel) is an Indian boy (with a very American accent) who works for the Maharaja (Lou Krugman) looking after elephants. A new fire cult dedicated to Sabaka led by a High Priestess (June Foray), who can also control cobras, is causing havoc in his province, burning villagers to force people to worship their new cult. Even Gunga's only sister dies in the flames...

General Pollegar (Boris Karloff) is sceptical about the fire cult and seems to have a problem with Gunga...

This is a pretty basic story mostly involving Gunga Ram seeking to avenge his sister though has plenty of well-known actors parachuted in to perform small roles (painted up to look "Indian" of course). It certainly looks splendid, the Hollywood store of "Exotic India" was extensively plundered for sets, costumes and props. Ample use of stock footage too, usually animals eating other animals. Ultimately though it is a bit of a bore, but frequently so ridiculous as to keep you interested.

The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936)

A decent "mad scientist" film. Boris Karloff is Dr Laurience who has found a way to transfer the thoughts of a living brain into another. Dr Wyatt (Anna Lee) has been summoned to Laurience's remote home which he shares with a crippled assistant Clayton (Donald Calthorp). He demonstrates his ability to transfer brain content from one brain to another.

Laurience impresses a rich patron Lord Haslewood (Frank Cellier) and moves to a state-of-the-art laboratory. Naturally Laurience begins to use his science for nefarious purposes. Firstly he swaps the brains of Haslewood and Clayton. Then he transfers his brain to the body of Lord Haslewood's son Dick (John Loder) to try and get Dr Wyatt into the sack...

Not a bad film though at times it seems to not be sure what kind of film it is supposed to be. Sometimes it is an enjoyable and sinister science-fiction horror but at others it is rather marred by average humour though the scene where Clayton (now as Lord Haslewood) wings it in a board meeting is great.

The Trap (1946)

A show troupe of jolly girls arrives at a Malibu villa, trouble flares the first night when Marcia (Anne Nagel) gets Lois (Jan Bryant) to look for letters which she can use in her rivalry with Adelaide (Tanis Chandler). Lois is later found dead, apparently strangled with a cord, and Marcia missing.

Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) is called in to investigate. He deduces that Lois knew her killer. Marcia is found dead on the beach, also strangled...

This was Toler's twenty-second and final Charlie Chan film. He was seriously ill when making the film and it does show a bit but he was still able to bring his magic to the Chan role. It isn't a vintage Chan film though, the ensemble of showgirls is frequently very annoying.

Blake of Scotland Yard (1937)

An edited film version of a film serial.

Sir James Blake (Herbert Rawlinson) has retired from Scotland Yard to help his niece Hope (Joan Barclay) and her friend Jerry (Ralph Byrd) develop a death ray machine that can render armies and navies obsolete and bring about world peace. Unfortunately the criminal mastermind The Scorpion has stolen it...

The film plot, such that there is, is simple enough. Blake and his friend begin to hunt down the gang, retrieve the invention and unmask the mysterious Scorpion.

It is enjoyable enough but like all converted serials it suffers from being rather disjointed and also a bit low budget. Supposedly it is set in England but apart from the occasional bit of stock footage (Big Ben et cetera) it could be set anywhere, plus everyone has an American accent even the RAF for some reason. There is plenty of action throughout though most of the time you are wondering what exactly is going on.

Bruce Lee Against Supermen (1975)

James Ho starred in a number of cash-ins (sometimes known as "Bruceploitations") on Bruce Lee's name and the worldwide phenomenon of kung fu movies in the 1970s, billed as Bruce Li. In this film he even appears as Kato, the character Bruce Lee appeared as in the Green Hornet!

Dr Ting has developed a formula which could revolutionise food production. Naturally the Mob want that formula for themselves so try to kidnap Dr Ting and his daughter Alice (who is Kato's girlfriend). To fight the Mob (who have "Superman" (Lung Fei) in their ranks and a group of mimes) and Kato enlists his friends who are apparently superheroes... or wear masks and capes anyway.

The film has plenty of decent (but not exceptional) martial arts fighting but the plot leaves a lot to be desired. In fact the film makes no sense whatsoever. Now of course coherent and multi-layered plotting is not the point of films like this but it could have done with a little more direction to be honest. Dr Ting gets kidnapped then rescued then kidnapped again he must not know if he is coming or going by the end. The soundtrack includes prog rock and Kraftwerk, but that's not the weirdest thing about this movie.