The Wizard of Mars (1965)

A rather plodding science-fiction tale, saved by some lovely visuals.

Steve (Roger Gentry) is leading a mission to Mars. The mission runs into trouble when it reaches the red planet and crashes. The crew of four are stuck on the planet and only have a few days oxygen supply left. They find Mars barren except for a few bizarre monsters. 

Finally, they find a cavern inhabited by a Martian collective conscienceness in the form of the Martian Wizard (John Carradine)...

The film is all rather slow though pretty atmospheric. This isn't a standard 1960s science-fiction film, indeed it is all rather psychedelic and at times pretty inventive though it is also a bit dull. Not a great deal happens and the characters are rather annoying. It isn't great and unfortunately isn't terrible enough to be truly entertaining!

The City (1977)

A basic but enjoyable crime drama starring two actors who would soon be huge names.

Troubled youth Eugene (Mark Hamill) snaps after receiving a letter and commits the first of a number of murders and attempted murders. This sets him off on a hunt for country music star Wes Collins (Jimmy Dean) whom Eugene thinks is his father (as the letter tells him, not actually true), and who battered him as a baby (this bit is actually true!) Hunting for Eugene are detectives Lewis (Robert Forester) and Scott (Don Johnson). The hunt is personal for Lewis as Eugene's second kill was Lewis' partner Burt (Paul Cavonis)...

The plot of this TV movie is fairly straight forward, as the identity of the felon is known early on so it is a man hunt rather than a detective film. It is well structured and paced (basically feels a feature length episode of a detective TV show) and keeps your interest having plenty of action. This film was released a few months before another Mark Hamill film that did quite well at the box office, Star Wars...

The Wall Street Mystery (1931)

Part of the Carr & Crabtree crime series, and a very decent little tale in less than twenty minutes!

Two stock brokers are found dead in their office. Inspector Carr (John Hamilton) and his friend Dr Crabtree (Donald Meek) investigate, deducing that the crime in a double murder not murder-suicide. There are two suspects, Dorothy Paige (Frances Dale) and Martin Hill (Hobart Cavanaugh), whom Carr suspects is the culprit mostly by shouting at everyone.

Dr Crabtree has a more cerebral approach and we see a nice bit of detective work, this culminates in the murders being solved, and there is a rather nice twist here.

One of the better entries in the series of crime short features, this has a nice straight forward story that has room to breathe even in the reduced running time.

Touch and Die (1992)

A complicated if not very exciting thriller.

Frank Magenta (Martin Sheen) is a investigative reporter who is looking into the candidacy of presidential hopeful Scanzano (David Birney). Scanzano is doing well in the polls but is running out of money. 

Magenta discovers that stolen plutonium is being used to raise funds for the campaign, a deadly conspiracy which leaves a trail of dead bodies behind (some due to radiation poisoning and other quicker methods). Magenta and his family including his daughter Emma (Renée Estevez) are also in the firing line...

This is a long drawn out TV movie and could have done with some editing. The story is fine and certainly well travelled taking in Rome, Paris, NY and ..er.. Africa. The story is interesting but too long winded to maintain much level of excitement. 

Detective Kitty O'Day (1944)

A bright and breezy crime drama, played for laughs with some fine charismatic characters.

Kitty (Jean Parker) works for a business man who is making a sudden trip to Boston, which means she must miss her date with Johnny (Peter Cookson). However, when she goes to her boss' house she finds him dead! 

His wife Mrs Wentworth (Veda Ann Borg) is a suspect of Kitty, who is off in amateur detective mode immediately, as she prefers to spend time with her fancy man. Inspector Clancy (Tim Ryan) suspects Kitty and Johnny as they always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Plus they always seem to be around when another dead body is discovered...

This is a great film, made by Jean Parker's energetic and feisty character and her battle of wits with the police. Her acid scenes with Mrs Wentworth (who is obviously not a fan) are delicious. Fast moving and a lot of fun.