The City of the Dead (1960)

In the realm of horror films, the line between creepiness and cheese is often very fine. While not a bad film by any means, this film often walks this line very unsteadily. Nan (Venetia Stevenson) is a wide eyed naive student of the overtly sinister professor of witchcraft (from a historical perspective of course!) Driscoll (Christopher Lee). The prof persuades Nan to visit an obscure little town in Massachusetts to continue her studies of the black arts. Truthfully, Nan is the most naive person ever and despite the fact the town continually drowns in a sea of fog and is packed full of strange staring people she isn't put off at all...

Unfortunately for Nan, the owner of the hotel (Patricia Jessel) she is staying in is a (supposedly) long-dead witch. Nan is soon dragged off to an underground crypt to become a blood sacrifice. The witches, however, need another young maiden. They have their eyes on the grand daughter of the priest, Patricia (Betta St John). Meanwhile Nan's brother Richard (Dennis Lotis) has turned up in town looking for his missing sister...

The film is very atmospheric, almost to the point of self parody. The dark arts are to the fore in this film, and the film can be pretty dark at times. The ending of the film is great fun and ridiculous, if you like a touch of the macabre.

A Boy and His Dog (1975)

A strange and rather morally dubious film. It is 2024 and the world continues to suffer from the aftermath of World War 4. The world is a post-nuclear holocaust wasteland where people in rags fight over tins of peaches. Vic (Don Johnson) roams the wasteland with his dog... which he can communicate with telepathically. The dog, Blood (Tim McIntire), is infact quite witty... unlike Vic who has rather baser interests.

Vic is looking for food... and women to have sex with. If the woman arn't that keen... well Vic doesn't really care too much about that. Things get really weird when Vic is seduced and tricked by Quilla (Susanne Benton) into entering a strange underground world where he ends up getting used as breeding stock by people who have recreated small town America but wear white face paint...

So, in essence this is a film about a wandering rapist and his talking dog. Surreal and pretty tasteless though frequently compelling. Perhaps a little too weird to fully enjoy though worth experiencing.

Bulldog Drummond (1929)

The first talkie of the long-running Bulldog Drummond series. Captain Drummond (Ronald Colman) is a former airman who is bored of civilian life and craves adventure. Along with his toff friend Algy (Claud Allister) and servant Danny (Wilson Benge) he gets involved in a case of a damsel in distress and crime...

The damsel is Phyllis (Joan Bennett) who needs help with her uncle (Charles Sellon) who is being held prisoner by sinister gangsters led by Montague Love, Lawrence Grant (mad doctor) and Lilyan Tashman (femme fatale). What follows is much to-ing and fro-ing as Drummond seeks to foil the gang, though his friends are often a hindrance rather than a help.

A good early talkie, it doesn't have the over wordiness or lack of movement that plague some films of the era. Some of the actors are still to fully transition from silent movie over dramatic movement though the leads generally do a good turn. The film still has some flaws though, plausibility is stretched somewhat. But it is a good old fashioned and straight forward adventure.

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.