Betsy Ross (1917)

A film about Betsy Ross (Alice Brady) who was the woman who made the first American flag.

This is a charming though not exactly enthralling little period piece about her life from strict religious upbringing to chasing after a British officer (Frank Mayo). However before she can marry him her beau is struck down in a duel with her sister Carissa's (Lillian Cook) husband.

Later she is commissioned to create the flag by Washington (George MacQuarrie) but there is some trouble with her brother-in-law but everything ends up well in the end and they all go home happily for tea. The film is a bit light if we're going to be honest, but improves as time goes on. It all looks pretty lovely.

Charlie Chan in Egypt (1935)

Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) is in Egypt investigating stolen ancient artifacts. While there Chan discovers the head of the expedition (George Irving) dead in a Mummy's sarcophagus...

Who killed the professor, was he the victim of the curse of the Pharaoh? Certainly there are lots of strange goings on and eerie sightings... There is also a hidden chamber in the tomb though guarded by a man with a gun not ancient demons.

A decent crime drama but expect dated stereotypes, so many of them they could fill a pyramid! The mystery is not as complex as some Charlie Chan films but the exotic setting of Luxor and the mysteries of the ancient Pharaohs adds so much to the film. Look out for Rita Hayworth in one of her early roles (billed as Rita Cansino). As none of Chan's "sons" are in the film, Stephen Fetchit is there to provide "comedy relief" though fails miserably with his rather awful "coon" act.

The Villain (1979)

The Villain is quite a strange film. It is a comedy western full of capers, more like a live action version of a Road Runner cartoon, with the "Coyote" in the shape of Cactus Jack (Kirk Douglas) trying to stop the "roadrunner" (Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ann-Margret) with a series of increasingly deranged and hopeless ambushes.

There is a plot, evil schemes concocted by Jack Elam involving bank loans and seizing a mine, but these seem rather incidental as the failed ambushes continue. The film is very silly and completely unrealistic, Cactus Jack somehow avoiding injuries despite his various accidents. His performing horse Whisky also does a good role. However once you treat the film as intended then it works.

As well as the wacky action the film has some good lines and goofy humour. Look out for Mel Tillis as a telegraph operator who tricks Arnie out of his steak!

Beast of Berlin (1939)

Anti-Nazi films were rare even by 1939, this film was banned and censored in parts of the US even as armies prepared for war in Europe. So this is a significant film though not that good a one.

It follows a group of anti-Nazis including Alan Ladd, Roland Drew, Greta Granstedt and Steffi Duna. They are printing pamphlets and spreading dissent, all the while scared of betrayal and being caught by the brutal SS. A complication is that one of their number, Hans von Twardoski, is a member of the SS but wants out before liquor consumed in a Nazi booze-up loosens his tongue...

The propaganda is laid on heavy, as heavy as a Tiger tank. For some reason the actors speak English with a vague German accent interspersed with a few actual German words like Ja and Auf wiedersehen. At times it is a bit Allo Allo, though darker. At times very dark indeed.

I Killed That Man (1941)

A murder mystery with a fascinating set-up, a condemned prisoner Nick Ross (Ralf Harolde) begins to spill the beans on who was the mastermind behind the murder he committed when he is killed by a poison dart in front of an assembled audience including the DA Roger Phillips (Ricardo Cortez).

The investigation begins, one of the audience is the murderer... and the mastermind. The DA early on arrests a friend of Ross, Lanning (Harry Holman) though he really thinks it is someone else but has no idea who. Meanwhile sparky young reporter (and Roger's squeeze of course) Geri (Joan Woodbury) is also looking into the case.

The film is fast moving with some noirish touches and has some sharp witty dialogue. The plot is fairly familiar but the execution chamber setting for the crime adds some variety. Unfortunately it is pretty obvious who is the killer as he is so over the top suspicious.