The House of Rothschild (1934)

A biopic on the banking family that became the richest in the world (and the subject of a million bonkers conspiracy theories of course). This film follows the Rothschild family from their fairly humble beginnings in Prussia where the family headed by Mayer Rothschild (George Arliss) are Jewish moneylenders always on the watch for the tax collectors...

After the death of Mayer his sons build a banking empire across Europe including Nathan (also played by Arliss) who founds the London branch of the family. He goes on to finance Wellington's war against Napoleon. The Duke of Wellington (C. Aubrey Smith) pays homage to Rothschild but antisemitic feelings in Europe are never far away especially from the Prussian Count Ledrantz (Boris Karloff). The film is lavish and well produced, the last few minutes becoming Technicolor.

An interesting film, much of the time is taken with a romance between Nathan's daughter Julie (Loretta Young) and Gentile Captain Fitzroy (Robert Young) which helps add a bit of heart to a film otherwise dominated by financial wheeler dealing. At times the history may have been somewhat questionable though much of the film is factual. The film was an attempt to counter growing antisemitism, the idea was noble but as the following years would sadly show a little too late...

The Lucky Dog (1921)

A decent if run of the mill comedy starring Stan Laurel as a penniless young man who has various adventures with a mongrel dog.

What makes the film notable though is that Oliver Hardy also has a small role playing a thief and this is the first time which Laurel and Hardy appear in together on screen... though with different characters compared to their later immortal double act.

Stan falls for a young woman (Florence Gilbert) who owns a poodle. Stan's dog also takes a liking to the poodle. Many high jinks to follow. A light slapstick comedy and enjoyable enough on it's own but also highly fascinating for historical reasons.

Strike of the Panther (1988)

The sequel to Day of the Panther, Jason Blade (Edward John Stazak) stars in another Australian martial arts epic. After a fairly lengthy recap the story continues from the end of the last film. Jason and Gemma (Paris Jefferson) are now an item but Baxter (Jim Richards) has escaped from prison. He kidnaps Gemma and holes up in a power station full of explosives...

In a somewhat contrived and confusing story Jason has to first face an army of ski mask wearing ninjas before he can face Baxter in a final showdown, save Gemma and stop the power station being blowing up and poisoning half of Perth!

So quite similar to the first film though maybe a little more weird, including a rather strange fight in a brothel complete with blow up dolls and a man in a chicken suit. It is also more violent with lots of sword play and garroting. As with the first film the acting is middling to poor but the action is decent and with this kind of film that is the important thing. Enjoyable nonsense.

Cool as Ice (1991)

Its Vanilla Ice! Vanilla Ice and his friends wander around on their motorbikes and pumping out the occasional sick bit of hip hop. Vanilla meets Kathy (Kristin Minter) a girl he takes a shine too after he accidentally makes her fall off her horse. While Vanilla and her dorky boyfriend fight for Kathy's affections, her parents (who are apparently on witness protection) are tracked down by a couple of bozo corrupt ex-cops...

When Kathy's kid brother is kidnapped by the corrupt cops only Vanilla Ice can save the day (of course!)

It is a rather flimsy film, more like an extended pop video book ended by some badly acted segments and padded out by a number of montages. It is incredibly early 90s, it'll make you nostalgic if nothing else especially for the colour yellow.

To be honest despite the fact the film should be (and to honest actually is) utterly awful... it is still highly enjoyable due to the pure cheese and unintentional hilarity. Vanilla Ice has plenty of charisma onscreen but he does seem to spend most of the film in a mild state of confusion.

Inner Sanctum (1948)

An odd but very satisfying little noir. Harold (Charles Russell) accidentally kills his fiance at a railway station. He dumps her body on a departing train, he thinks he has got away with it but then he meets rather annoying little kid Mike (Dale Belding) who saw the whole thing...

Harold is stuck in the town after a flood washes away the bridge. He stays in a boarding house... but as luck would have it he ends up having to share a room with Mike! If that's not enough fellow boarder Mary Beth Hughes has the hots for Harold and doesn't seem to mind the fact he is a killer...

A dark and mysterious film full of strange characters, suspense and plot twists. Although only a short film it packs a lot in.