The Neptune Factor (1973)

Somehow this film makes a plot involving earthquakes, submarines and monsters under the ocean's depths somewhat tedious.

An earthquake strikes an underwater lab, contact with which is lost. Director Andrews (Walter Pidgeon) sends an advanced mini submarine commanded by Blake (Ben Gazzara) to try and find the lab and the three lost men. 

However, Blake is pretty arrogant and thinks this is a fool's errand. His crewman MacKay (Ernest Borgnine) is much more keen on the rescue though and soon the submarine is in a dangerous situation itself...

So, the story is great, the acting accomplished and the visuals are certainly very impressive but the film lacks energy and has the pacing of a brick. Somehow the film's makers made a great story rather pedestrian. It is a great shame.

The Monster of Piedras Blancas (1959)

Rubber suited monster nonsense.

When two fishermen go missing, their bodies later discovered horribly dismembered, the small town is shocked. However, the lighthouse keeper Sturges (John Harmon) seems to be more interested in buying meat scraps from the storeowner Kochek (Frank Arvidson). Indeed, he gets very animated when he can't get the meat, you get the impression he is not getting it for his dog...

Meanwhile, Sturges' daughter Lucille (Jeanne Carmen) is dating Fred (Don Sullivan), her father is pretty insistent in that she doesn't stay out after dark...

This is all rather pedestrian and unoriginal, some suspense is built up but when you do finally see the monster you will probably doubt if it was worth the wait! This is not a terrible film, just nothing much that you won't have seen before, even the monster recycled rubber parts from the monsters in earlier films!

Chasing Trouble (1940)

A comedy wartime spy drama, maybe it shouldn't work but somehow it does.

Jimmy (Frankie Darro) and Thomas (Mantan Moreland) are delivery men for a florist. Jimmy also has an interest in graphology and he uses these skills to try and matchmake. However, it also gets him into trouble as he gets involved with Fred Morgan (Alex Callam) who isn't quite what he seems... indeed he is the leader of an enemy cell of spies and saboteurs!

The flowers are an ingenious code used by Morgan's cell and also how they plan to bomb the US aeronautical industry! Its up to Jimmy, Thomas, Susie (Marjorie Reynolds) and reporter Pat Callaghan (Milburn Stone) to save the day!

This is one a number of films made by Darro and Moreland and its played pretty light and humorously despite the dark plot line of murder and terrorism! An enjoyable if not overly taxing watch.

The Satan Bug (1965)

A surprisingly good and tense biological horror.

A theft takes place at a US government facility, unfortunately the theft is of some biological agents which have been developed at the facility, one of which (the Satan bug) could potentially wipe out all life in Earth! Former agent Lee Barrett (George Maharis) is bought in to lead the desperate effort to locate who is behind the theft and the weapons. Lee thinks the ringleader is still at the facility and is vindicated when Dr Hoffman (Richard Basehart) is followed and leads him to the weapons.

However, Hoffman is always one step ahead and a desperate race against time ensues across California, Lee assisted by Ann (Anne Francis), and Hoffman seems to have aides and henchmen all over the place...

A highly entertaining film with the tension continually ratcheted up and various swerves and surprises to keep the action fresh. The good cast do very well too. Well worth a watch.

Circumstantial Evidence (1935)

Even a ridiculous premise can't spoil a film when it's done well.

Reporter Jim Baldwin (Chick Chandler) is vehemently opposed to circumstantial evidence being considered sufficient in murder trials to send people to the gallows. He plots with his friend Arthur Vinton (Fred Stevens) to stage a "murder" then Jim will get himself arrested with just circumstantial evidence before Arthur reveals that he is not dead after all!

So, the plot proceeds, Arthur even burning his own house down (quite why is unknown), but there is a problem for Jim... someone kills Arthur for real! Jim is arrested, put on trial and found guilty. He is sentenced to death, can his fiancé Adrienne (Shirley Grey) save Jim by finding the real culprit?

This is a well made and enjoyable film with Chandler playing a good role as a brash and wise cracking reporter (well this is the 1930s after all, it was the law for reporters to be presented like that in film). Worthwhile if you can suspend disbelief enough over the nonsense premise.