The Voice of the City (1929)

An uneven early talkie.

Convicted cop killer Bobby Doyle (Robert Ames) escapes prison and goes on the run. He protests that he was framed by the mob. He was helped by Johnny (Clark Marshall) and is hidden by his girlfriend (Sylvia Field) and sister (Duane Thompson) Detective Myers (Willard Mack) is tasked with catching Bobby and putting him back in the nick...

Not a bad film with some enjoyable scenes, though the film is also padded out with some awkward extended dialogues scenes and the staging is pretty static most of the time. Some of the actors also struggle a bit with the change from silent movie style movement and physical emoting to dialogue, but that is the fun of transitional films.

One interesting thing to note is that this was the film Al Capone was watching when he was arrested in Philadelphia in 1929!

The Underwater City (1962)

For once a 1960s science fiction film that doesn't take place in outer space but under water.

A group of scientists and engineers led by Bob Gage (William Lundigan) seek to build a city on the sea bed. This is fraught with danger though, including getting eaten by sharks! Finally, the city is built but oh no its been built on a fault line (obviously didn't consult with any geologists first)...

This is a reasonable if not super exciting film, it is rather marred by a voice over which gives it the feel of a strange documentary at times. It is a shame the film ends up being a bit wet (so to speak) as it could have been more. It's not bad but ultimately a bit disappointing.

Creature with the Atom Brain (1955)

Undeniably cheesy but a fun body horror science fiction film.

A gangster (Michael Granger) appears to have come back from exile abroad and is killing the people who put him away in prison, and he seems to have supernatural strength! 

Dr Walker (Richard Denning) investigates the case and discovers traces of radioactivity and links to a (mad) Nazi scientist (Gregory Gaye) who experimented with controlling animal bodies via electrodes in the brain. Could the experiment have moved onto human suspects?

The effects are pretty low budget but are wonderfully creepy. The final battle between the radioactive zombies and the police is both hilarious and thrilling. 

Trapped by Boston Blackie (1948)

Another bright and breezy Boston Blackie entry, though padded out a bit.

After a private investigator friend dies in a car crash, Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) and The Runt (George E Stone) help out his widow to provide discreet protection of valuables at a fancy costume party (which gives Blackie yet another opportunity to don a disguise, though unfortunately he decides to black up!) 

Of course, valuable pearls are stolen at the party and Boston Blackie gets the blame when Farraday (Richard Lane) turns up to investigate... On the run, Blackie and the Runt seek to discover the real thief, and of course there are a number of suspects.

A fine entry in the series, the penultimate film. Boston Blackie's ability to disguise himself is bought to the fore here, though how good these disguises are is another question though they certainly seems to fool everyone he meets! By now though we have seen the Boston Blackie set-up sufficient times that everything is a little too familiar but this is still an enjoyable film.

Day of the Warrior (1996)

Big chests and bigger guns, all you need to know is that the director Andy Sidaris was a genius.

Crime boss and former CIA agent The Warrior (Buff Bagwell) has broken into the secret service database thanks to his inside man. He is using this information to put agents at risk of being discovered while they try and infiltrate the Warrior's crime empire. Can our heroes and heroines led by Willow Black (Julie Strain) save the day?

Of course they can! What follows is a flimsily plotted, often very strange and also violent film where most of the cast do not like to wear much in the way of clothing. 

It is completely wonderful, a highly enjoyable film and a complete romp. Some might say this is so bad it is good, i say it is it's own strange and special kind of genius and completely excellent.