The Greene Murder Case (1929)

An early Philo Vance talkie.

The Greene family are that staple of interwar American families on screen: rich and hate each other! They live in the family ancestral pile and must live there for fifteen years otherwise they won't get a share of the late Mr Greene's wealth. 

After two of the family are killed within a few minutes of each other, Philo Vance (William Powell) is called in by the baffled police (Eugene Palette) to help, but even he is confused by the various possible suspects, though it helps that the possible suspects are being whittled down by being murdered too! 

A good film. Technically interesting especially with some of the camera angles in the final act and the peril on the roof. The story is good with some interesting psychological aspects to it. Although an early talkie the sound recording and acting isn't too bad.

Operation Bikini (1963)

A rather strange film that is a mix of wartime drama and pop video!

Captain Carey (Tab Hunter) is tasked with transporting an underwater demolition team to Bikini Atoll which is held by the Japanese, and a US Navy submarine with top secret technology is currently sunk on the seabed and must be blown up before the Japanese can find it. Among the demolition team is Malzone (Frankie Avalon) who dreams of being a 1960s crooner and hanging out on a beach amongst young women!

This isn't a great film but it is a very strange one. The war scenes are not bad though the sort of anti-submarine warfare seen before (and probably better). The songs and weirdness take the film to a whole other level, which is either awful or brilliant or maybe a bit of both.

Time Travelers (1976)

An enjoyable TV movie, if you can overcome the rather ridiculous premise.

A new disease is in danger of getting out of control. The only way to fight the disease is apparently to... travel back in time to Chicago 1871 where the disease once rose before but was successfully treated by a now long dead doctor. Earnshaw (Sam Groom) and Adams (Tom Hallick) are sent back in time. Unfortunately, there is a slight miscalculation and they are sent just days before the great Chicago fire which will destroy everything...

OK, you obviously will consider that if the US government possesses time travel technology you may wonder why a mere virus is now a problem. However, if you suspend enough disbelief than this is a fine little film.

The Thirteenth Chair (1937)

A detective story set in the "mysterious" East and involving seances, could a film be any more from the 1930s?

After the murder of a man in Calcutta, Inspector Marney (Lewis Stone) is bought in to investigate this baffling case. "Help" comes from an unexpected direction as Madame La Grange (May Whitty) to performance a seance with a group of people linked to the victim, one of whom is probably the murderer. 

However, during the seance another man is murdered! Marney investigates the case, this time he is sure the murderer is in the room, and a number of secrets are revealed...

This is a highly enjoyable crime film with tasty additions of Eastern mystery and mysticism. Not as witty or intelligent as an Agatha Christie type of story but not bad at all. The crime itself and how it is solved is a lot more down to earth though. Some great twists and a good character mix make this a pretty good film.

Cash on Demand (1961)

A taut, tense and excellent bank robbery drama.

Bank manager Fordyce (Peter Cushing) is unpopular with his staff, he pounces on mistakes and disapproves of the preparations for Christmas. 

Then he is visited by genial and refined Colonel Gore (André Morell) who is from an insurance company he claims, however soon Fordyce discovers that Gore is really a bank robber who has had Fordyce's family taken hostage and will have them electrocuted if Fordyce does not give Gore access to the safe and let him steal nearly £100,000 in cash!

This is a very good bank robbery film that keeps everything within a handful of locations. The interplay between Cushing and Morell is superb, maybe one of Peter Cushing's best roles. Morell also excels as the crook hiding a huge amount of menace behind his genteel facade.