Flight to Mars (1951)

A fairly generic early 1950s science-fiction film (evil aliens, rockets seemingly lashed up in a back yard, strange alien windows) though one with superb set design. A group of scientists set off on a mission to Mars but their rocket is damaged en route so they end up crashing on the planet... luckily right next to the entrance of the Martians' underground city.

The humans which include Steve (Cameron Mitchell), Carol (Virginia Houston) and Dr Jim (Arthur Franz) are met by Ikron (Morris Ankrum) the leader of Mars. The Martians have an advanced society and offer to help the humans repair their rocket ship. But Ikron secretly wants to steal the technology so he can conquer Earth. Luckily Martian lovely Alita (Marguerite Chapman) warns them of the plans...

So the plot has little surprises, though is fast moving. The futuristic set designs and weird fashions (the women wear outfits which looks like a mix of elf costumes and early Star Trek dresses, the men pseudo-fascist uniforms) look superb. Enjoyable sci-fi nonsense where (of course) the universe can be saved by an all-American fist.

Beauty and the Barge (1937)

A rather low energy but not unappealing comedy. Ethel (Judy Gunn) is engaged to marry but she hasn't seen her fiance for a few years and has changed her mind, though her father locks her up. She manages to escape just in time before the fiance shows up. She meets a young lieutenant (Jack Hawkins) who becomes smitten with her.

Ethel is helped by a Thames barge captain (Gordon Harker) who has a beau in every port and tavern along the river. He is smitten with Ethel though is also involved with Margaret Rutherford. A light farce follows.

The film is based on a play and this really shows at times as the dialogue often sounds like its being directed at a live audience. Not a laugh-a-minute comedy but enjoyable nonsense with one-dimensional stereotype characters. The now lost world of the Thames sailing barge is also interesting.

Arabian Adventure (1979)

A fun adventure romp. Evil magician Alquazar (Christopher Lee) is seeking the rose which will grant him ultimate power. Handsome young hero Prince Hasan (Oliver Tobias), after escaping Alquazar's dungeon, is tasked with finding the rose in return for hand of the lovely daughter Zuleira (Emma Samms). Hasan gains the help of the rather dodgy Khasim (Milo O'Shea), the boy thief Majeed (Puneet Sira) and a flying carpet!

Their adventure features all the usual Arabian fairy tale tropes including faces in mirrors and genies in bottles. But also fire breathing metal dragons! Hasan has been set up to fail, part of the evil plans of Alquazar. And who is the trapped soul in the mirror?

It is light and fun, the special effects are maybe a bit dated these days though add to the nostalgic feel of a classic children's adventure. The cast is good with some notable cameos from the likes of Peter Cushing and Mickey Rooney. Plenty of magic and plenty of swash buckling.

The Upturned Glass (1947)

A superb noir-ish crime drama. James Mason is a neurosurgeon who relates a story of murder and revenge to students... of course he is speaking about himself. Dr Joyce (Mason) meets Emma (Rosamund John) when he is treating her daughter Ann (Ann Wright). A romance begins between Joyce and Emma though they decide to end it for the sake of the husband. Then later Joyce hears Emma has thrown herself from a window...

Joyce can't believe she committed suicide and begins to look for the truth. His suspicion falls on Ann's sister-in-law Kate (Pamela Mason). Kate is a rather unpleasant selfish and money-grabbing young woman. Joyce begins a relationship with Kate with the aim of killing her the same way she caused Emma's death...

Not everything goes to plan of course. The film ends with a number of twists, it maybe ruins in some way the noir film film by becoming a bit of a melodrama. The performances are superb especially by Mason portraying a man who assumes he is sane and dispensing justice and not a crazed criminal but is he really any different? At the end we know the answer.

Rumpole's Return (1980)

Horace Rumpole (Leo McKern) indeed returned from attempted retirement in this TV movie. Having finally left the Old Bailey he tried to enjoy the delights of Miami with She Who Must Be Obeyed (Peggy Thorpe-Bates) but was soon back in London attracted by the case of a stabbing at Kentish Town tube station.

However Rumpole has difficulty getting back in chambers as the likes of Erskine-Brown (Julian Curry) and Featherstone (Peter Bowles) were rather hoping he would have stayed retired. He manages to get a pornography case though loses it, he is finally given the tube stabbing case in the hope one more failure could finish his career off once and for all...

Luckily for Rumpole a vital link to the crime is a religious cult based back in Miami so Rumpole gets his son Nick (Ian Gelder) to investigate...

Rumpole is on good form though the TV episode-nature of the usual Rumpole story is stretched to it's limit. There is a bit of padding but not enough to ruin matters. The on-location scenes in Miami add a bit of variety also seem to ultimately go nowhere.