Cumbernauld Hit (1977)

This is a rather difficult film to categorise. It was made as a promotional film for a new town called Cumbernauld in the 1970s but instead of a fairly standard set of promotional images (often narrated by someone famous, see below) somehow the decision was made to do it as a spoof spy or action film.

It stars Fenella Fielding as Liana, the evil mastermind behind a plot to take over the town using mysterious weapons including little boxes which turn to be a bio-weapon with which she holds the town to ransom. Local journalist Valerie Fyfer is trying to work out how to stop her and her evil plot.

Its all very strange, sometimes very very strange and Fenella is wonderful camping it up throughout. Little of the film makes much sense and is more like a vaguely linked series of weird and humorous vignettes (which of course are designed to show off the town, it's people and what goes on there - expect plenty of 70s architecture, which personally I love).

Its nonsense and it makes the film so wonderful. If it was any good at promoting Cumbernauld though is another question. In it's own little way it is epic, almost as good as a certain other British town promotional film from the 1970s...

The Phantom Cowboy (1935)

When a stagecoach is held up by The Phantom the coach ends up a runaway with Ruth Rogers (Doris Brook) onboard. Bill Collins (Ted Wells) and his incredibly annoying sidekick Pete (Jimmy Aubrey) save Ruth and get drawn into the hunt for The Phantom.

Though quite what is happening is really anyone's guess. The storyline has "issues" shall we say. The acting also has plenty of issues, as in there does not appear to be any.

Bill and Pete catch up with The Phantom after he steals their clothes and then fries them bacon (honestly). He turns out to be Bill's double. He explains that he has only turned to crime because crooked Buck Houston (George Chesebro) is after his prospecting claim. He persuades them to help him out...

It isn't a long film (less than an hour) but is padded out by seeming endless filler. A very strange film in many ways. It is possibly the worst film ever made though i did enjoy it.

The Gentle Trap (1960)

Johnny (Spencer Teakle) is a budding young burglar on his first job, he lucks out with a fortune in diamonds from a safe but on the way out his partner Sam (Arthur Hewlett) is mown down by a rival gang and he is forced to flee. Johnny comes home and has found his girlfriend has done a runner.

The girlfriend Sylvia (Dawn Brooks) has shacked up with a gangland boss and seedy club owner Ricky (Martin Benson) and it turns out it was she who sold out Johnny.

On the run from the hoods and the police Johnny falls in with Mary (Dorinda Stevens) who runs yet another dodgy nightclub. Johnny is nursed by Mary's sister Jean (Felicity Young) but has he really found a safe haven?

Low budget Noir thrills where everyone seems to be on the take. Watchable without being brilliant but it kind of suits the setting, a really seedy side of London.

Bank Alarm (1937)

A rash of bank robberies is being carried out, Federal agents Alan (Conrad Nagel) and Bobbie (Eleanor Hunt) are called in to investigate. The gang led by Joe Karlotti (Wheeler Oakman) are tough and ruthless - bumping off people left right and centre, but make a mistake with counterfeiting bank notes which gives the agents a lead. One complication is Alan's sister (Wilma Francis) is being romanced by one of the gang (Frank Milan)...

An interesting and well thought out crime drama though an unsurprising police procedural. It is good to see Bobbie play a proper role in the investigation and not just be a bit of eye candy.

The only real criticism being Clarence the photographer (Vince Barnett) who tries to pull off a slap stick routine but finds it's not as easy to make that funny rather than just annoying.

War of the Underworld (1996)

The success of the Young & Dangerous series of triad movies in HK spawned many copycats of varying quality. War of the Underworld is one of the better ones and is indeed a good film if not exactly original.

The story is a basic (and well worn) tale of triad betrayal and revenge but the cast is very good (Tony Leung, Jordan Chan, Carman Lee among others) and the action solid... and very bloody. You certainly get your machete worth.

Some of the camera work is maybe trying too hard to be "arty" at times and there is a little too much nonsense about triad "honour" and how they are the descendants of the kung fu masters but that won't spoil your enjoyment too much.

The King Murder (1932)

An enjoyable and complicated whodunnit. Dorothy Revier is Miriam King, who is... shall we say, popular with rich men. She has a number of lovers from whom she often extracts cash by charm or blackmail if that doesn't work. But the blackmailer is also being pushed for cash herself.

Meanwhile Elizabeth Hawthorn (Natalie Moorhead) is concerned that her fiance is one of Miriam's friends and warns the police that something might happen. Funnily enough not long after the police, in the form of Detective Henry Barton (Conway Tearle), are called to her apartment where she has been found dead. Now she was originally found dead by one of her ex-s Jose Moreno (Don Alvarado) who was burgularing her apartment at the time! Plus there is Miriam's ex-friend Pearl Hope (Marceline Day) who is Jose's current squeeze...

So nicely complex, a murder investigation with many potential suspects. The case was in fact based on a real-life murder of NY showgirl Dorothy King in 1923. The investigation led by Barton is a fairly straightforward police procedural. A bit of a plodder but the conclusion (and revealed method of murder) is fascinating.

Sky Liner (1949)

Sky Liner is a cheap and cheerful early Cold War spy drama. On a transcontinental flight from New York to Los Angeles are a motley crew including a criminal on the run, an annoying wannabe child actress, a Communist agent working as a secretary in the State Department, another Communist pretending to be her boss (after he killed the real one) and an FBI Agent.

Rochelle Hudson is the secretary and is already under suspicion from agent Steve (Richard Travis). More complications arise when another suspicious foreigner (Steven Geray) joins the flight. Meanwhile the child wannabee actress terrorises the passengers by singing to them to their "delight". The flight attendant Carol (Pamela Blake) is confused, especially when someone is found dead on board, i think everyone is pretty confused by now to be honest.

It isn't a great film but fascinating as a period piece, back when air travel was glamorous. A little too much weird lightness is included in the film which jars a bit though the final action scenes are exciting and finish the film off well. The real star of the film is the Lockheed Constellation they are flying on though.

From SDASM archive