Young and Innocent (1937)

An enjoyable Alfred Hitchcock crime drama that has the feel of a young person's adventure, thanks to its teenage lead. Robert (Derrick de Marney) is accused of killing an actress whom he finds on a beach. He protests his innocence but the police think they have their man. He manages to escape court and goes on the run with Erica (Nova Pilbeam), the young daughter of the police chief (Percy Marmont). At first Erica is reluctant and thinks Robert should give himself up (though could easily have given him up) then she begins to feel he is innocent and helps him find the proof...

They find a tramp called Old Will (Edward Rigby) who could recognise the real murderer (George Curzon). However, the police are hot on their heels, can they find the murderer before it's too late?

The film is fast moving, filled with wholesome thrills and amusing asides. It really is like a Famous Five adventure with Erica the wide eyed and naive but determined heroine against the grown-up world.

The Night Visitor (1971)

A wonderfully dark psychological horror. Salem (Max von Sydow) is in a Scandinavian lunatic asylum, a forbidding castle in the Northern wastes. However, he is accused of the murder of two women, Doctor Jenks (Per Oscarrson) even claims to have seen Salem. The Inspector (Trevor Howard) doesn't know what to think, he certainly finds Salem suspicious but how could he have escaped the asylum and get back in to his cell? In fact why would he go back? It seems to be impossible.

However, Salem has made it very possible with his ingenious escape methods using various hand-made tools and some impressive physicality. We know it is Salem in fact who has committed the crimes as we saw it at the start, but how does the Inspector sort it all out? In the end it all comes down to a witness in a most unfamiliar form...

A superbly dark film (except for the actual night scenes which are obviously filmed in daylight!) A twisted tale of betrayal and revenge. Although the plot might stretch credibility at times, the menacing air, bleakness of the settings and darkness of the soul that pervades makes this one of the better psychological horrors you will ever see.

Highly Dangerous (1950)

A rather far-fetched spy drama. Entomologist Frances Gray (Margaret Lockwood) is recruited by British Intelligence to go into a hostile European country to identity insects being used as a possible weapon. Despite no training and the barest of information, Frances arrives in the country - already to the attention of the chief of police (Marius Goring). Her agent contact Alf (Eugene Deckers) doesn't last very long and Frances finds herself arrested and being brutally interrogated...

However, something odd happens to Frances after she is given a truth drug. She suddenly acts like she is a daring secret agent straight out of the radio dramas she listens to! She enlists the help of an American reporter, Bill Casey (Dane Clarke), to carry out her mission...

Quite a ridiculous film though not without a degree of fun. Once Frances does change character it becomes a fast paced and exciting spy yarn, up until that point however the film is rather slow and cliched. Uneven nonsense but pretty enjoyable.

Double Whoopee (1929)

A classic Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy comedy short. Laurel and Hardy turn up at a posh hotel to work though are mistaken for a Prussian prince and his Prime Minister. When the real Prince (Hans Joby) does show up he ends up falling down an empty lift shaft a few times thanks to the new lift man Hardy!

Thats just the start of the mayhem Laurel and Hardy cause in the hotel, which includes a fight with a taxi driver (Charlie Hall) and the accidental near unclothing of a female guest (Jean Harlow). It all ends in a huge slapstick fight of course.

It is all very silly and very funny and plenty of slapstick. This was one of Laurel and Hardy's last few silent comedies, they would conquer comedy in the sound era of course.

Sons of the Desert (1933)

An all-time classic Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy film. Stan and Ollie are members of the Sons of the Desert lodge and they have pledged to represent their lodge at the convention in Chicago. Unfortunately Ollie's wife (Mae Busch) won't let him go so he concocts a devious plot with Stan and a crooked doctor (or actually a vet). He pretends to be ill and now has to go to Honolulu on vacation for his health.

Instead the guys go to Chicago and have a jolly time but then a disaster strikes... literally. The ocean liner they were supposed to be on sinks, their wives now thinking they might be lost at sea... though Stan and Ollie's appearance on a newsreel scuppers breaks their plan. Ollie makes up a bizarre story to explain how they came to be found in their wet pyjamas outside the house instead of on a rescue boat but is honesty the best policy?

This is one of the best Laurel and Hardy films and proves their humour could be stretched into a full-length film. The mix of slapstick interspersed with clever gags makes this film truly hilarious and totally essential. One of the best comedies ever made.