Stranger from Venus (1954)

A fairly dreary though not uninteresting science-fiction film.

After flying saucers are spotted, a mysterious stranger (Helmut Dantine) appears in a small town. He speaks rather strangely, has no pulse and has the power to health illnesses and injuries including those of Susan (Patricia Neal) who is in a car crash. The stranger says he is from Venus and warns the Earthlings that their nuclear weapons threatens everyone in the solar system...

The film is very heavily based on The Day the Earth Stood Still (which also starred Patricia Neal!) The film has an interesting plot though plods along without much energy though it does have some other worldly menace. The location of the film is rather confusing, although British made it appears to be set somewhere else. Where that somewhere else is unknown, it's probably not Venus though!

Sunset Strip (1985)

A rather generic 1980s action film, for 80s nostalgia though this can't be beat.

Mark (Tom Eplin) is a photographer (taking photos of breakdancers) and who pays his land lady with sex. He helps his friend Roger (John Mayall) against the mob led by Moran (Danny Williams) who are targeting his LA rock club where Mark's ex Carol (Cheri Cameron Newell) sings. Moran wants to use it as a front for his prostitution racket. When the mob kill Roger, Mark is framed for the murder and the police are after him as well. Mark discovers that the mob has a link in the police too...

There isn't much to recommend on this film as a piece of work. It is rather poorly made and acted, the story is basic and padded out with filler including Mark riding his motorbike a lot. As with most bad movies though Sunset Strip is hugely enjoyable for the wrong reasons. The film also has lots of gratuitous female nudity (of course).

The film is incredibly 80s. If you grew up in those times you will certainly feel nostalgic.

Confessions of a Driving Instructor (1976)

The third of the Confessions films, this time Tim and Sid open a driving school, much female nudity follows...

Tim (Robin Askwith) passes his test to become a driving instructor (by bonking his female examiner of course). He and Sid (Anthony Booth) open a driving school next door to a rival led by the rather deranged Truscott (Windsor Davis). Naturally most of the pupils appear to be sex starved women whom Tim has to instruct (in various ways!)

There isn't really much plot to this, its more a series of saucy sexcapades with gratuitous nudity, nonsensical comedy situations and crude innuendo. Its brilliant of course!

A very funny film and maybe the best in the series, its not high art for sure but has its own special kind of genius. Some very good comedy turns including by Irene Handl make this highly enjoyable if you are broad minded enough.

Freckles Comes Home (1942)

Played light, this is an enjoyable crime drama that doesn't take itself very seriously.

Freckles (Johnny Downs) has returned to his small town from college, unbeknownst to him the guy (Walter Sande) sat next to him on the bus and who he persuaded to also stay in town is a gangster called Dolan on the run! Freckles discovers that his father (Irving Mitchell) has financial troubles but is too proud to end his feud with the town banker (John Ince) to enable a new road to be built to boost the town's (and Freckles' family's fortunes).

Dolan offers to help Freckles by bringing in his financier friend (Bradley Page). However, this friend Quigley is really here to plan how to rob the bank! Meanwhile, the family servant Jeff (Mantan Moreland) has a scam involving a machine that can apparently detect gold and he tries to trick Quigley's chauffeur Roxbury B Brown the Third (Laurence Criner)! While all this is going on can the romance between Freckles and old flame Jane (Gale Storm) blossom?

An enjoyable film with plenty of storyline packed in (maybe a little too much to be honest). The film can be a little confusing at times with so many plot elements clashing, some of the characters are also a bit one dimensional. It's well worth a watch though, the comedy scenes with Moreland and Criner are superb.

Dark Manhattan (1937)

A great example of the "race movie", and the first all black cast film to come out of Hollywood.

Larry Lee (Clarence Brooks), a banker in the numbers racket in Harlem, recruits cocky up and coming thug Curly (Ralph Cooper) to join his gang. Curly soon becomes Lee's main man, and when Lee needs to take time off for his health Curly is the obvious choice to take over. 

But Curly isn't content with keeping things steady, he has ambitious plans and unleashes his men on rival bankers across the city, smashing up properties and muscling in on the other banker's territories. He also muscles in on Lee's squeeze Flo (Cleo Herndon). But the other bankers arn't ready to just sit back and let Curly take over...

A very enjoyable film despite the rather basic and unoriginal plot (which is fine when it's done as well as this). The story proceeds apace and with plenty of purpose. The film is enlivened by Cooper's charismatic presence in every scene he was in. The other star of the film was Lee's amazing drinks cabinet, as soon as you see it you'll want one in your own house.