The Blue Parrot (1953)

A neat if unexceptional crime drama. Rocks Owen (Victor Lucas) leaves a sleazy Soho club owned by Mr Carson (John Le Mesurier) and is later found dead in his car. The police, which includes visiting American cop Lt. Herrick (Dermot Walsh) for some reason, begin their investigation. This includes placing Sgt. Maguire (Jacqueline Hill) in the club as an undercover hostess.

After a rather basic police investigation the finger points to Carson, even though he tries to frame a hapless waiter for the murder - facilitated by his man Stevens (Ferdy Mayne). A slow-motion but suspense-filled chase begins in the cellars...

Although the film stays in mid-gear and lacks much in the way of surprises it is a fairly satisfying little number, unlike the club band's repertoire. The film is worth seeing alone for John Le Mesurier playing a villain. The weakest part of the film is the "American" who is rather unconvincing.

Rhythm Racketeer (1937)

A wonderful (if slightly strange) film. US gangster Nap Connors (Harry Roy) is trying - but failing - to make his name in London. He discovers by chance that band leader Harry Grant looks so similar to him they could be twins. Nap concocts a plan to steal the jewels of Mrs Nash (Norma Varden) as she travels by liner over to New York and make sure Harry takes the fall...

Things, of course, do not go to plan as Harry falls for Karen (Princess Pearl) who is accompanying Mrs Nash. Now in New York, Nap plans to steal the jewels during a charity night at his night club (Harry singing while Nap is stealing). What could go wrong? Well rival gangsters and Nap's gal Lola (Judith Wood) get involved in the mix...

A truly great little film. Light hearted and fast moving with plenty of charm. The musical set pieces are lavish (the band is great of course) and also fit in perfectly with the plot.

Octaman (1971)

Half-man half-octopus and he is on a killing spree in this fun trash. Octaman is a mutation caused by radiation and he doesn't like scientists like Susan (Pier Angeli) and Dr Torres (Kerwin Matthews) capturing his octopi kin in Mexico. He kills people who get in his way with his large tentacles, usually by hitting them over the head.

The scientists are investigating radioactive pollution in Mexico and the changes it is causing to local fauna. However to fund the expedition the scientists have had to bring along a ranch owner who wants a new attraction for his zoo. Octaman doesn't care, he is an equal opportunity killer.

The plot is barely present but that doesn't really matter because Octaman just has to be seen to be believed. This film takes men pretending to be monsters in silly rubber suits to a new level. It is silly nonsense and hilarious.

Bowery at Midnight (1942)

A fun crime/horror romp. Wagner (Bela Lugosi) runs a soup kitchen for guys down on their luck assisted by Judy (Wanda McKay), a front for his murderous criminal organisation (not that Judy knows about this). He takes escaped criminals to help him commit crimes and then kills them afterwards. The bodies are given to the sinister hunchback Doc (Lew Kelly) who turns them into zombies!

If that's not enough, Wagner lives a double life. By day he is a respected professor of psychology, one of his students (and Judy's beau) Richard (John Archer) falls foul of the prof when he does some research at the soup kitchen...

A fast moving film with plenty of horror and crime movie tropes of the time thrown in. Lots of hidden rooms and passageways of course! Quick firing shoot outs and police chases are also packed in. Lugosi was churning the films out in the 1940s but this is one of the best. 

Evils of the Night (1985)

A very strange film. A bunch of aliens, including John Carradine, are on Earth and arranging for a couple of redneck mechanics (Neville Brand and Aldo Rey) to kidnap horny teenagers on vacation and bring them to a "hospital" where the teen's blood can be drained so helping the aliens continue living.

Truthfully though the mechanics are pretty inept (they wear masks to hide their identity - though forget to take their name badges off) and their prey usually escapes... unfortunately the teenagers are even more inept at trying to make good their escapes and get re-captured. Much of the film is a rather messy and silly extended torture and attempted rape scene in the garage including some gratuitous use of power tools. Much of the rest of the film is soft core porn.

It is exploitative nonsense for sure. The film is very trashy and not very pleasant if we are to be honest. Scores high for gore and female nudity, scores low for story and coherence.