The Dancing Masters (1943)

One of the later Laurel and Hardy films, a flawed film but the magic is still there.

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy operate a dance academy, after a short interlude where they get swindled into an insurance policy by a very young Robert Mitchum, they begin to help a young inventor (Robert Bailey) with both his new death ray invention and his love life with Trudy Marshall...

This is a great little film, filled with the trademark Laurel and Hardy humour and slap stick antics. However, the story line is stretched a little too far though, plus the final runaway tram scene goes on a little too long. It isn't perfect but it is still wonderful.

Eye of the Evil Dead (1982)

A young girl is possessed by an evil ancient Egyptian spirit while on holiday, well that is certainly a holiday souvenir you don't want.

Susie (Brigitta Bocolli) is on holiday with her archaeologist father Professor Hacker (Christopher Connelly) in Egypt. Susie encounters a mysterious old woman who gives her an amulet. Once the family return to New York, anyone around Susie is in danger as she now possesses evil diabolical powers. Hacker, who has been blinded by energy blasts while opening a tomb, enlists the help of Adrian (Cosimo Cinieri) who is, er... an antique dealer, to save Susie and stop the terror...

This isn't a great film and does not make a lot of sense. It has plenty of mystical ancient Egyptian magic and evil though which is always entertaining. The film could have been pretty decent if the plot had been heavily edited.

Thunderbird 6 (1968)

The follow-up to the first, slightly disappointing, Thunderbirds film. Will this one be more FAB?

Thanks to the design genius of Brains, a new luxury airship lifted by anti-gravity and controlled by computer is ready for it's maiden flight. Lady Penelope, Parker, Alan and Tintin are the passengers for this maiden flight but things are already going wrong. The real crew has been replaced by imposters who plan to use Lady Penelope to lure International Rescue into an ambush so they can steal the secrets of the Thunderbirds.

Meanwhile, Brains is struggling with Jeff Tracy's demand for a sixth Thunderbird...

This is a better film than the first though again we don't see a huge amount of actual rescuing. The build-up to the criminal's plot is excellent and the plot works as a feature length film not an over long TV episode. Highly enjoyable though it is a shame that this was the end of the line of the classic Thunderbirds series.

Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (1940)

It like Gray's Anatomy, only set in the 1940s and without an incredible amount of sex.

Junior surgeon Dr Kildare (Lew Ayres) helps out his fellow doctor Dr Lane (Shepperd Strudwick) who has performed brain surgery on a troubled man without his consent which appears to have left him insane. 

Dr Kildare resolves to try and cure the man using a dangerous technique and also try and discover what left him troubled in the first place. Grouchy Dr Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore) is on hand to keep an eye on his young doctors... and nurses.

This is an enjoyable film but the medical ethics are somewhat questionable. Although the story can be patchy at times, the cast ensemble do a very good job and make the film a fine watch.

Common Law Wife (1961)

A cheap, sleazy and exploitative film which is surprisingly good.

A rather unpleasant rich man called Shug (George Edgley) has told his live-in lover Linda (Annabelle Weenick) he is kicking her out. Instead, Shug has invited his young niece back instead to take her place (yes you read that right!) 

Baby Doll (Lacey Kelly), the niece, arrives in town and immediately causes a stir. Baby Doll is after Shug's money but has a plan to get it a bit quicker than Shug would like...

This film really shouldn't work at all, it is trashy and shoddily made and has some rather dubious themes. It also shamelessly exploits Kelly's body in various dancing and semi-nude scenes. Somehow the film is rather compelling, and not because its so bad it's good. It is bad but doesn't try to be something it isn't.