Ken Maynard stars as Jim “Trigger” Morton, newly released from prison after serving time for a crime he did not commit. Trigger is seeking revenge on the man responsible for putting him behind bars, and he ends up the lawman of the title, in which capacity he must deal with other crooks as well. Marjorie …
Read the full post →“<em>Six-Shootin’ Sheriff</em> (Grand National, 1938)”
Rugged but rather unappealing Commander Jack Rankin (Robert Horton) must square off against an alien menace that hitched a ride with a returning mission to destroy an asteroid threatening the Earth — and he must also deal with a hotheaded rival (Richard Jaeckel) and a former flame (Luciana Paluzzi) who is now engaged to the …
A former government agent (William Powell), down and out, takes a job with a sleazy detective agency, but he balks when called upon to frame a society woman with a penchant for gambling (Margaret Lindsay). Powell’s suave charm is the principal reason to watch this movie, which is long on drama and romance and rather …
Read the full post →“<em>Private Detective 62</em> (WB, 1933)”
It’s another plot to force ranchers off their land in this Durango Kid outing, with alter ego Steve Roper (Charles Starrett in both roles) a range detective brought in to investigate. Smiley Burnette is once again on hand to lend some comic and musical support, but the overall effort is a middling entry in the …
Read the full post →“<em>Challenge of the Range</em> (Columbia, 1949)”
In this cryptozoological snoozefest, an expedition heads into the Himalayas to find a woman’s brother, who had disappeared on a previous attempt to locate the yeti, and the new group encounters the unexpected and plenty of unlooked-for danger. Unfortunately, it’s all rather slow going, and none of the characters is particularly interesting. Not recommended. Otto …
John Ashley is a scientist who, along with others, gets scant welcome at an isolated island where sinister developments have caused the locals to turn to human sacrifice, and a strange wealthy inhabitant may hold the key to what is going on. There are some gory doings in this late-1960s horror effort from the Philippines, …
Dwellers in an underground city who cannot survive in sunlight are the bad guys in this sword and sandal movie, originally titled Maciste, l’uomo più forte del mondo, and Mark Forest portrays the titular muscleman. The plot includes slave raids, a battle with a ferocious ape, a scheme to end at least one family’s vulnerability …
Read the full post →“<em>Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules</em> (1961)”
The daughter (Mabel Karr) of a brilliant but unethical scientist who died of a heart attack after being censured by a scientific board vows vengeance against those she blames for her father’s death, and she kidnaps a stripper (Estella Bain), whom she equips with poisoned fingernails, to use her as a tool to destroy the …
Young Emilie De Blancheville (Ombretta Colli) returns to her family home to celebrate her 21st birthday, only to find it a place full of menace, where her brother (Gérard Tichy) has replaced all the servants, most notably with a lovely but sinister housekeeper (Helga Liné). A doctor (Leo Anchóriz) who seems to have a secret …
Read the full post →“<em>The Blancheville Monster</em> (1963)”
This prehistoric comedy stars Ringo Starr as a hapless caveman, ill-treated by his tribe, who nonetheless finds a place for himself through cleverness and invention. The rather sophomoric humor brings some chuckles. Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great. Movie 517 for 2021.
