The Shanghai Cobra (1945)

A reasonable though oddly at times somewhat sombre entry in the Charlie Chan series.

Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) is called in to help investigate a mysterious murder caused by cobra venom. Chan links the crime to a similar murder which took place in Shanghai a few years before. The suspect had escaped that time so maybe this new crime was caused by the same man. A nearby bank where a fortune in radium is held is linked to the crime and this mysterious murderer who is known only by his name not his appearance...

This is a decent crime drama with some interesting twists. However, some of the actors including Toler seem a bit down in the dumps at times which robs the film of some energy, though we do get a couple of excellent examples of Charlie Chan's cod-Chinese philosophy. Benson Fong plays Chan's son this time and Mantan Moreland is also on hand with his usual comedy antics.

Interestingly a telephone jukebox is a major plot point in this film, as it was in the film X Marks the Spot. Though in the case of the Shanghai Cobra the jukebox is augmented by the new technology of closed circuit television...

The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues (1955)

Standard 1950s monster fare, not that good but it could have been worse!

A strange radioactive glow in the water is followed by an attack by a bizarre looking creature. Dr Stevens (Kent Taylor) arrives to investigate and finds that local scientist Professor King (Michael Whalen) is acting suspicious. Stevens also romances the Professor's daughter Lois (Cathy Downs) of course! 

So, this is pretty much all you expect from the genre. The monster doesn't look too bad and isn't over shown but the rubber suit was obviously a bit clumsy for the actor wearing it. In one scene where it attacks a diver the monster looks more like a nervous teenager doing some awkward fumbling than a mutant killer beast! The story is a bit slow but ticks all the usual genre boxes. 

Perfectly acceptable time waster.

Shadow of Treason (1963)

An interesting if sometimes pedestrian crime / spy drama.

Steve (John Bentley) is in Trieste looking for opportunities, he manages to save Tina (Anita West) from a gunman. She hires him as a bodyguard and begins to help her unravel the mystery of a letter and map left to her by her father with the promise of much loot at the end. 

However, others including Nadia (Faten Hamamah) and Mario (Ferdy Mayne) are also involved. Steve discovers that Tina's father was blackmailing a group of traitors. The trail leads them to Jugoslavia and finally Africa...

A modest film but nicely structured with some intelligently placed tension and decent performances all round. The film doesn't rush, sometimes though you wish it could have raised the pace a little now and then.

Behind That Curtain (1929)

An early talkie, the first sound film to feature Charlie Chan in fact, though his appearance is rather brief.

Eve (Lois Moran) marries Eric (Philip Strange) against her uncle's wishes and before important information on Eric's dark past can be revealed. The person who had that information is mysteriously killed before he can reveal it, Eric and Eve meanwhile elope to India. Sir George (Claude King) of the Yard is continuing to investigate the case...

In India, Eve discovers that Eric is a drunk who sleeps with the servants. She also discover the horrible secret that Eric was behind the murder. She flees with her old beau Colonel John (Warner Baxter), but Eric and Sir George are not far behind. Finally, the trail ends in San Francisco where Sir George enlists the help of Charlie Chan (EL Park) to finally unveil the truth...

As an early talkie it is unfortunately marred by awkward dialogue, especially at the start as the actors almost fight to get their lines out, and very stiffly too (though noticeably improves later on). However, this is a very decent film with some epic settings and a good involving story. You won't see much of Charlie Chan (though he is for once played by an Asian actor), though you will see Boris Karloff in his first sound role.

Lightning Range (1933)

A low budget, low quality but not totally awful Western.

Dorothy (Patsy Bellamy) needs to get married by a deadline or her family fortune goes to charity. Hester (Anne Howard) and Hezekiah (Si Jenks) plan to get their hands on her inheritance but they are foiled by Black Pete (Olin Francis) who robs their stagecoach and discovers their wheeze. Black Pete substitutes his own man to marry Dorothy. Deputy Marshal Buddy (Buddy Roosevelt) learns of their plot and ends up married to Dorothy himself!

A clumsy film, rather inept and poorly executed however it isn't that bad a film, unlike some Poverty Row Westerns it has a reasonable plot that doesn't just involve aimless speeded up riding about the country. A bit of reasonably executed humour also enlivens the film.