Angels Revenge (1979)

Apparently we needed a Charlie's Angels rip-off after all? A group of women from different backgrounds aka stereotypes (school teacher, Las Vegas entertainer, model et cetera) are drawn together by a shared dislike for drugs and drugs pushers and form a commando group in matching cute white outfits...

The film starts right in the middle of the action as the group (which includes Jacqulin Cole, Susan Kiger and Sylvia Anderson) attack a ragtag compound in the middle of the woods which apparently is a drug processing plant. Amid much gunplay, and an attack by a rather cheap and flimsy looking combat vehicle, the drug gang is defeated but then we jump back to find out exactly what is going on and how the attack came about... this includes Jack Palance as a drug baron, a song in a night club and some beaten up kids. Goofy action on a beach and some of the most ridiculous right wing extremists you'll ever see.

Naturally it doesn't really make a lot of sense and is a low budget exploitation film making the most of attractive women in tight spandex fighting the drug gang. It is low on film making quality but high on cheese. Enjoyable enough if not taken seriously at all.

Renfrew of the Royal Mounted (1937)

A singing Mountie film, a little sub-genre popular in the late 1930s. Renfrew (James Newill) is the singing Mountie this time, on the trail of counterfeit money.

The printing plates are being made by ex-con Bronson (Herbert Corthell) who is being forced to continue his old trade by brutal gangster Angel (Kenneth Harlan) who holds Bronson's daughter Virginia (Carol Hughes) a virtual prisoner. Renfrew however is on the trail and follows them to a hunting lodge where his old friend George (William Royle) works as the world's most stereotypical Italian...

So the plot is basic but the action is continuous and the film is enjoyable despite the either wooden or over the top acting from most of the cast. The Mountie always gets his man of course. Thankfully the songs are kept to a minimum.

Girls Without Tomorrow (1992)

Another hard tale of life as a prostitute in HK. The lives of three of them, a mamasan and her daughter, now a film star, intertwine as the prostitutes get into various troubles, and the mamasan is shunned by her daughter who in turn has to whore herself on the good old casting couch... As you might expect with a HK film from this era it isn't subtle.

The troubles of the girls are myriad, one girl Carina Lau has the problem of not being able to drink anymore and ends up having to leave the hostess job she was highly successful in. She ends up as a jobbing prostitute and is paid to take a very young looking Ekin Cheung's (in his first film) virginity... and of course he falls in love with her...

The film is actually very good, though sometimes a bit confusing with so much going on and the story switching rapidly between the various sub-plots. There is everything here that makes a great HK film: drama, action, humour and a heap of star power. It all comes together with a very powerful funeral scene.

The Mystery Squadron (Serial) (1933)

One of the better serials. A mystery squadron of fliers led by the Black Ace is attacking a dam that is under construction by Stephen Grey (Lafe McKee) and his daughter Dorothy (Lucile Browne). The foreman Hank Davis (Jack Mulhall) hires his flier friends Fred (Bob Steele) and Jellybean (Guinn Williams) to help protect the mine...

But they soon run into trouble with the fiendish Black Ace and his team of fliers who possess biplanes with flamethrowers! Thanks to hidden panels and rooms seemingly everywhere the Black Ace always seems to be one step ahead and his identity remains a mystery...

It is of course break neck action with plenty of stunts and cliff hangers. The plot may have more holes than the skin of a biplane that has been in combat but the story moves so quickly there isn't time to dwell on it!

The Terrornauts (1967)

Really strange British science fiction. Dr Joe Burke (Simon Oates) is convinced there are intelligence creatures out in space and is searching for them fruitlessly at a radio observatory with the help of Ben (Stanley Meadows) and Sandy (Zena Marshall).

When they finally make contact with aliens in the asteroid belt they are kidnapped along with accountant Mr Yellowlees (Charles Hawtrey) and the tea lady Mrs Jones (Patricia Hayes). Yes Charles Hawtrey in a science fiction film, its a sign the film doesn't really take itself very seriously.

So it is all rather Dr Who in look and the level of special effects. It has an interesting science-fiction plot, especially for it's day. The reason for the alien kidnap in fact turns out to be for the good of mankind...