This theatrical release composed of portions of episodes of the British television series UFO unfortunately falls short despite some good design elements, as the portmanteau nature of the finished product leaves too many holes — e.g., characters simply disappear without explanation — and fails to deliver a sense of urgency in the battle against the …
Month: August 2021
Under Texas Skies (1930)
Early talkie western has only modest appeal. A gang leader (Tom London) takes the place of a kidnapped Army procurement officer (Bill Cody) in a plot to steal some horses that are being sold to the military, and it falls on the protagonist (Bob Custer) to try to sort things out. Lane Chandler does well …
The Corpse Vanishes (Monogram, 1942)
A strange phenomenon is plaguing the city: Brides are dropping dead at the altar, and their bodies are then stolen. A society reporter (Luana Walters) who senses a big story decides to investigate, more hampered than helped by her photographer (Vince Barnett). Her suspicions soon light on scientist George Lorenz (Bela Lugosi), and she enlists …
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Federal Fugitives (PRC, 1941)
Unmemorable low-budget fare stars Neil Hamilton as a government agent who spots a villain (Victor Varconi) presumed dead in a plane crash. Said bad guy is now after aviation secrets and control of an aircraft plant, and he resorts to using both a temptress (a Doris Day, but not the Doris Day) and poison in …
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The Two Crazy Secret Agents (1965)
Two idiotic photographers (Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia) are recruited by the British secret service after Agent 007 is killed, and they are tasked with foiling a plot by a sinister mastermind, Goldginger (Fernando Rey) that involves taking control of government leaders. There are some laughs and decent echoes of Bond, but Franco can be …
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Funny Friday: Fragile!
Jungle Man-Eaters (Columbia, 1954)
A diamond smuggler works with one tribe to war against another tribe and thereby gain unfettered access to the diamond mine whose owners he has killed. It’s up to Jungle Jim (Johnny Weissmuller), working with Inspector Bernard (Richard Stapley), and with the dubious assistance of the chimp Tamba, to put an end to the scheme …
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Captured in Chinatown (1935)
Rival tongs are settling their differences through a marriage, but crooks target the gift, a jade necklace, that was given to settle the feud. Reporters covering the wedding get involved in the less-than-compelling action. The best performer in the cast is probably Tarzan, the Police Dog, but even he is no great shakes. Not recommended. …
The Superbug Rides Again (1972)
Jimmy Bondi(Rudolf Zehetgruber) and his car Dudu are on their way to Europe when they find themselves mixed up with a shady marquess (Karl-Otto Alberty) and his gang and their opponents, a former prisoner with a secret (Joachim Fuchsberger) and a gal who is accompanying him (Heidi Hansen). There are plenty of funny fights, as …
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Ghost Town Renegades (PRC, 1947)
U.S. Marshal Cheyenne Davis (Lash La Rue) arrives to help local lawman Fuzzy Jones (Al “Fuzzy” St. John) investigate the disappearance of a government surveyor. This disappearance is connected with a criminal plot to murder landowners and obtain their property via forged deeds, but the crooks’ plans may be thwarted when unbeknownst to them their …
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