Tokyo File 212 (1951)

A rather tedious early Cold War drama though offers some interesting views of early post-war Japan.

Jim (Lee Frederick) is a US agent posing as a reporter in Japan looking for the communist gang leader which is passing on information to the Reds during the Korean War. He links up with the rather unusual, and suspicious, Steffi (Florence Marly) - who rather annoying refers to herself in the third person. Jim is looking for his old school friend Taro (Katsuhiko Haida) who is now a communist and part of the gang...

The film is rather dreary and slow, the acting quite basic. At times the actors seem to need their lines dragged out of them. Not a good film but the period footage of Japan getting back on it's feet is undeniably interesting.

Crime Story (1993)

A tough police drama, but quite unlike most Jackie Chan films.

Jackie Chan is a police inspector tasked with protecting a controversial businessman who fears he will be kidnapped. The businessman is indeed kidnapped for a huge ransom after a thrilling chase around HK island involving Chan. 

Chan leads the case to track down the kidnappers who are thought to be in Taipei. Chan is accompanied by experienced detective Hung (Kent Cheng). However, unknown to the police Hung is part of the kidnap plot...

A cool and stylish and pretty violent film. Unlike most Jackie Chan actions films, including the iconic Police Story series, there isn't the high octane slapstick action humour. There are some incredible stunts though. There is also a chance for Jackie Chan to do some serious acting too. A really great film.

The Seven-Ups (1973)

An excellent hard-hitting early 1970s crime drama.

Buddy (Roy Scheider) leads a controversial squad in the NY Police which isn't averse to using dirty tricks and bending the rules to get an arrest. However, someone is kidnapping mobster bosses for ransom. When the mob kidnap one of Buddy's squad thinking he is involved things get tense. When the poor policeman is shot by accident by Moon (Richard Lynch), things fly out of control. How is Buddy's childhood friend Vito (Tony Lo Bianco) involved?

Early 1970s New York is grubby, decaying and dangerous. It is often very violent too with life being pretty cheap. A good story punctuated by some excellent action pieces including a thrilling car chase.

Range Riders (1934)

A run-of-the-mill Western. 

An old rancher (Horace B Carpenter) is being terrorised by a gang of rogues led by Bull Crawford (Lew Meehan). He calls on his son Dick (Buddy Roosevelt) to tackle them. Dick is outnumbered of course so has to use some trickery as well, including some disguises including being a fop, as the usual solid horsemanship and gunplay.

There isn't a lot to this film, having quite a limited running time and not the most original of plots plus some rather indifferent acting. This is a film with a very small budget and unfortunately it does show. Mysteriously Crawford is played by a different (unnamed) actor for the first half of the film. Barbara Starr plays the love interest.

Dick Barton: Special Agent (1948)

Completely over-the-top tosh but glorious with it.

Dick Barton (Don Stannard) has come to the countryside where he battles an evil Nazi plot led by Schuler (Arthur Bush) to poison London's water supply with a deadly bacteria. 

Barton has discovered the plot by accident when some lobsters are delivered to him by accident by a distracted boy who is more interested in his Dick Barton comic! Schuler and his inept goons try to kill Barton a number of times but fail miserably. Finally, Barton is locked in a suit of armour while the Nazis prepare to test their bacteria on him...

Based on a popular BBC radio drama, this is an enjoyable romp. Fast moving nonsense that shouldn't be taken seriously, though it is maybe a little too comedic at times. Snowey (George Ford) and Jock (Jack Shaw) are there to help/hinder Barton in equal measure.