Month: May 2021
Spy in Your Eye (1965)
Rather confusing espionage movie, originally titled Berlino appuntamento per le spie (Operazione Polifemo), finds the opposition always one jump ahead of the agency — at least until the reason is discovered. It was not clear until quite some way into the movie that one scene early involved enemy activity, and even after that was made …
The Shadow Laughs (Trojan, 1933)
Unmemorable low-budget mystery with a title meant to exploit audience interest in the famous, but unrelated, pulp and radio character, has a reporter trying to solve murders distinguished by the presence of thousand dollar bills, loot from a bank robbery, on the victims. The film was Cesar Romero’s screen debut. Not recommended. Otto thinks you …
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The Stranger from Ponca City (Columbia, 1947)
The Durango Kid (Charles Starrett) tangles with a band of rustlers in this one, a relatively unmemorable entry in the series. There’s a plus in the form of a supposedly haunted ranch, and Smiley Burnette provides his usual comic support. Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great. Movie 202 for …
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Jane and the Lost City (1987)
Moderately amusing adventure film based on a British wartime comic strip has the title character (Kirsten Hughes) and her boss, the Colonel (Robin Bailey), traveling to Africa in pursuit of diamonds that Nazi agents (led by “Lola Pagola,” played by Maud Adams) also are seeking. Sam Jones costars as a guide who ends up helping …
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Sunday Fun: Pie in the Eye
Dressed To Kill (Universal, 1946)
The Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes series draws to a close with this thriller, in which the great detective and his chronicler race to beat three ruthless criminals to the secret held by three seemingly ordinary music boxes produced in a prison workshop, facing trickery and traps along the way. The final entry in the series is …
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Funny Friday: The Future Is Scary
Long hu shao ye (1981)
This Shaw Brothers action comedy (English title: The Treasure Hunters) focuses on two guys compete against a much more sinister rival in a search for a hidden treasure, while themselves attempting to stay out of the clutches of a cross-eyed police chief. There’s plenty of broad humor, and the fights are pretty good, but the …
The Local Bad Man (Allied, 1932)
To cover a shortfall in their bank, the Murdock brothers come up with a scheme to ship money out by rail and then rob the train — thereby putting the railroad on the hook for the sum while keeping the cash themselves. Local rancher Jim Bonner (Hoot Gibson) and his pals throw a wrench into …
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