The Circus Show-Up (1932)

The Phantom (Frank Readick), an early DC character, narrates another short crime drama.

A circus trapeze artist (Polly Ann Young) is preparing to perform her highly dangerous triple somersault in the big top. However, someone flips the light switch at the most dangerous moment, she falls to her death. The circus manager (Paul Nicholson) quickly works out who flipped the switch, even though two other people admit to it.

While other entries in this series were well formed little crime dramas, this film is pretty poor unfortunately. So much is unexplained and makes little sense.

The Return of Boston Blackie (1927)

Before the highly successful Chester Morris series of Boston Blackie films in the 1940s there were a number of other adaptations of the character in the silent movie era, this was the last "silent" Boston Blackie film before the series returned with sound in the 1940s.

Boston Blackie (Raymond Glenn) has just spent two years in jail, He makes a vow to go straight but ends up involved with Sylvia (Corliss Palmer) who has stolen a necklace from a dancer. 

It turns out the jewels belong to Sylvia's father (who was having a bit on the side with the dancer). Blackie agrees to break into the father's safe to put the jewel's back.

The star of the film though is Blackie's dog Strongheart who gets top billing! The film is fine enough, nothing at all like the later talkies. A pleasant if not exceptional watch.

Kronos (1957)

An enjoyable science fiction film with some alien super science wreaking havoc.

Aliens send a probe towards Earth, after it is shot down by American nukes the probe turns into a huge walking electrical accumulator robot which begins to drain Earth of every volt. Dr Gaskell (Jeff Morrow) leads the scientific investigation into the alien technology, which is being controlled by a possessed colleague of his (John Emery). Can Dr Gaskell devise a way to defeat the alien probe which he has called Kronos...

This is a fun film, Kronos looks superb. Although the plot is pretty standard for the genre this film is very nicely done despite the low budget. It isn't what you have got, its how you use it.

Ellery Queen: Don't Look Behind You (1971)

A TV pilot which aimed to relaunch Ellery Queen on television in the 1970s, unfortunately it didn't work. For now anyway.

A serial killer called the Hydra is killing people seemingly at random across New York, each murder accompanied by a rather creepy animation of a multi-headed snake. Inspector Queen (Harry Morgan) is making no headway with the case so calls upon his nephew Ellery (Peter Lawford) to help out. Ellery discovers a link in the murders, with the help of one of the victim's sister Celeste (Stefanie Powers).

Ellery discovers a prime suspect, though as the film is only half-way you know there will be some complications...

Not a bad film, though the casting of Ellery Queen is a bit odd. Although the plot is fine, it is stretched out rather thinly which ends up making the film a bit of a drag in the end though it does have a cool filming style throughout. 

Luckily for Ellery Queen fans another attempt to launch a TV series starring the character was successful later in the decade.

Homicide for Three (1948)

A young couple suffer the honeymoon from Hell.

Young naval officer Lieutenant Duluth (Warren Douglas) returns from his ship to finally enjoy a honeymoon with his new wife Iris (Audrey Long). However, they can't find a hotel room in town but in the end accept the loan of a room from a kind lady. But this hurls them into an awful mystery involving multiple dead women, a bearded drunk and a showdown with two murderous clowns at a circus! Can they find the true culprit before the police arrest them for the murders?

An interesting little crime drama which is played fairly light most of the time, though it isn't funny enough to be a proper comedy and too humorous to be a proper crime drama! It is a worthwhile and enjoyable watch all the same. Seasoned crime drama fans will probably guess who the real killers are though!