Anoop and the Elephant (1972)

A rather charming children's film about an elephant and the circus. Anoop (Anoop Singh) is on a school camping trip with his class (which includes a very young Linda Robson). At a circus next to the campsite Anoop finds a rather forlorn looking elephant Ranne (Bella from Chessington Zoo in fact).

Unfortunately a nasty rival circus owner Skinner (George Roderick) wants to take Ranne away to Belgium. Penny (Rachel Brennock) who has trained Ranne gets Anoop's and the other children's help in saving Ranne from Skinner's clutches. Many hijinks follow.

Its all rather corny but sweet in an early 1970s way. Simpler fun in simpler times. Much nostalgia for school trips will be generated if you are of a certain age, even if they didn't involve an elephant.

Before Midnight (1933)

Police Inspector Trent (Ralph Bellamy) is called in by Edward Arnold (William Jeffrey) who lives in a lonely mansion, he is convinced he is going to be murdered and wants Trent to protect him. Unfortunately Arnold is killed mere minutes after recruiting Trent, the detective moves to find out what or who killed Arnold...

So basically this is an Golden Age type dark house murder mystery, a complicated murder case with a number of potential suspects including his secretary (Claude Gillingwater) and his ward (June Collyer). Arnold was killed by an injection, was it the Doctor (Arthur Pierson)?

Well there is nothing really that original in this film but it's nicely done, Bellamy plays a good and energetic role as the detective trying to unravel the crime. Who killed Arnold and why? A couple of interesting twists elevate the film.

Dick Tracy (1945)

Superb pulpy noir detective thrills. Dick Tracy was originally a comic strip of course and has been translated into a fast paced romp here. Morgan Conway plays Tracy as he should be: bold, intelligent and tough. Anne Jeffreys plays Tess Trueheart his long suffering girlfriend.

In this case a maniac known as Splitface (Mike Mazurki) is killing random victims who don't pay his extortion demands. It's a difficult case with multiple suspects though Tracy's detection skills usually involving chasing people around.

The film is made with a good deal of camp, swagger and humour, including when Tracy supposedly goes to a club incognito but everyone knows who he is anyway!

The Monster Walks (1932)

A creepy but rather awful horror film. Ruth (Vera Reynolds) and her fiance Ted (Rex Lease) arrive at her father's mansion after the old man's death. Already very upset but the large ape in the basement who's shrieks echo through the house really finishes her off.

The will is read and the housekeeper Mrs Krug (Martha Mattox) and her son Hanns (Mischa Auer) (who both speak in a ridiculously slow and monotone manner) are put out by the small inheritance they get. That night a hairy hand attempts to strangle Ruth, just the start of some terrible and mysterious happenings that stormy night...

So its a film with mysterious and strange servants, a wild ape and hidden passages. It could have been a lot better film than it is, the pace is incredibly slow and some of the acting hideous.

Home to Danger (1951)

An enjoyable crime noir which also is an interesting look at post-war Britain at the end of empire. Barbara (Rola Anderson) has just returned from years in the Far East to attend the will reading of her recently deceased and estranged father. To everyone's surprise he leaves most of his estate to her... which causes a problem to the father's ex-business partner Wainwright (Francis Lister) who needed the money for dark reasons of his own.

As Barbara finds herself the target of attempted murder (saved a number of times by the local simpleton (Stanley Baker)) she suspects her father's death was suspicious and begins to investigate with her friend Robert (Guy Rolfe). A tale of drug dealing, blackmail and murder unfolds...

Although quite a lot of the film (which is fairly) low budget takes place in the dark this is an engaging if unsurprising film. This is a snapshot of Britain before the great changes later in the 1950s.

Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936)

When Major Kent (George Irving) owner of a race horse is found dead in the stall on board an ocean liner at first it is assumed it is a terrible accident but famed detective Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) is convinced it is murder and joins the cruise to conduct an investigation - helped/hindered by his number one son (Keye Luke).

Chan discovers a brutal gambling ring is out to rip off punters in the US by switching horses but who is behind it? There is no shortage of suspects among the other owners. Maybe the new owner of the horse Chester (Alan Dinehart)? Or rivals Bagley (Gavin Muir) or Fenton (Jonathan Hale)?

It is a complicated mystery and Charlie Chan is his usual self: relaxed (apart from when he is being shot at) and thoughtful investigation interspersed by pseudo and often bizarre "Chinese" proverbs.

The Giant Gila Monster (1959)

Very low budget monster and rock & roll thrills. Deep in Texas a giant monster (which just happens to look like a normal lizard - but scaled up) has gone on a rampage. Killing kids who just want to make out in their souped up hotrods and drink coke.

Local mechanic Chase (Don Sullivan) and his French girlfriend Lisa (Lisa Simone) know that something is amiss but the authorities don't realise what is going on until the monster attacks a train. The monster then heads to town where the youth have gathered for some rock & roll, can Chase save the day with a car load of nitroglycerin?

Although a cult classic, this is a pretty awful film all in all. The "monster" is just a lizard attacking models and with the camera zoomed in close to make it look large (and not always succeeding). It is great fun though, largely because it is such nonsense.