Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944)

An important scientist (John Elliot) is found dead after perfecting a new invention for the war effort in his posh mansion. Charlie Chan (Sidney Tober) is bought in to investigate the case. Secret plans have gone missing too and when an autopsy reveals the scientist did not die of natural causes Chan is investigating a murder... and possible espionage.

So this is an interesting variation on the Golden Age dark mansion theme. Chan works his way through the assorted characters who were also staying in the house, who all declare their innocence of course. There is a sinister evil eye watching proceedings who is probably less innocent...

Chan is "assisted" by his daughter (Marianne Quon) and son (Benson Fong) and also chauffeur Birmingham Brown (Mantan Moreland) - although not working for Chan in this film. This is entertaining Charlie Chan fare though not one of the best in the canon. The wartime setting gives the film a slightly darker edge.

Phantom Patrol (1936)

A suave crime-boss Dapper Dan Geary (Harry Worth) on the run from the police heads up to Canada where he discovers a famous crime writer is already up there who bears an uncanny resemblance...

Dapper Dan thus pretends to be the crime writer (who for some unfathomable reason they don't bump off) and manages to fool the local Mountie Jim (Kermit Maynard) and his girl Doris (Joan Barclay) who even ends up doing short-hand for the "writer".

Things get ever more complicated when a gang of local hoodlums also hide out with Dapper Dan. Despite a series of ridiculous coincidences Mountie Jim is rather slow to get suspicious about Dapper Dan...

Not a bad film which doesn't hang around though the plot stretches credibility a bit far at times. Mountie Jim is a clean-cut hero and the film doesn't lack for action. Harry Worth does well playing two roles.

Prince of Portland Street (1993)

Maybe only in HK cinema could you have a film starring two lovable cheeky chaps (Simon Yam and Dicky Cheung) playing woman beating and cheating pimps. But if you ever wanted to see a film about two lovable pimps then here is their story. It is actually well worth seeing.

Simon is the "Prince Of Portland Street" - a kind of uber-pimp, i guessing it's not an official position in the HK government.

All proceeds pretty smoothly (unless you are female) until he tangles with a rather nasty rival Triad boss and gets hit on the head with a gas bottle. Simon now acts like a child (which sounds very similar to God of Gamblers of course) and follows Dicky instead. However Dicky, although he tries hard to play the part, can't pull off the Prince role as well.

The Triad bad boy comes into the fray again though but once Simon hits his head again his "magical powers" are restored. Can't think where they got that idea from either...

In typical HK fashion this is a very violent film but with good humour, and questionable morals. The main theme behind this film is can two men escape their past? This film proves it is difficult. The HK in these two films is a neon-lit sleezy and violent world. Men drink, fight and enjoy women, then fight and enjoy some more women. Crime doesn't pay but you can have a good time finding out. Apparently.

Bulldog Edition (1936)

Bulldog Edition is a frequently ridiculous but fun 1930s newspaper / crime romp. Two rival newspapers are engaged in a bitter circulation war and a notorious gangster Nick Enright (Cy Kendall) is mixed up in it.

As one newspaper (the Daily News) is after him and trying to expose his crimes thanks to top newspaper men Ken (Ray Walker) and Jim (Regis Toomey) and cartoonist Randy (Evalyn Knapp) Enright muscles in to help the rival paper. Unfortunately the editor soon finds that a gangster's help comes with strings attached...

A fast moving film, sometimes a little too fast to be honest, but with lots of sharp dialogue. There are also a number of strange scenes which take the film off at odd tangents such as the radio game show which quickly erupts into a mass brawl! The rest of the plot is nonsense but great fun.

The New York Hat (1912)

A sweet if insubstantial little film. Mary Pickford plays the daughter of a stern father (Charles Hill Mailes) and dying mother (Kate Bruce). The mother writes to a pastor (Lionel Barrymore) and asks him to finally get her a treat which she had always been denied by her father. He buys her a fancy hat!

Unfortunately the village begins to gossip, not knowing of the letter, and Mary's father destroys the hat in a rage...

Well it's all very straight forward but nicely produced. Mary Pickford portrays her role perfectly.