Santo vs. la hija de Frankestein (1972)
A mad scientist (Gina Romand) descended from Baron Frankenstein, one who has discovered how to make a youth serum and has used it to extend her own life, needs the blood of Santo to devise a stronger serum as the older formula loses its effectiveness. She has her henchmen, whom she also treats with the …
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Deadlier Than the Male (1967)
Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina as clever and ruthless killers are perhaps the chief reasons to watch this movie recasting Bulldog Drummond (played by Richard Johnson) in the mold of the cinematic James Bond, though Johnson is fine as the suave and skilled, if a bit too off-putting, agent, and Nigel Green makes for an …
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The Vampire Happening (1971)
A silly horror-comedy that perhaps owes a debt to The Fearless Vampire Killers, this movie involves an American actress inheriting a castle and the subsequent depredations of the area by her vampiric ancestor and efforts by her inamorato to protect her, culminating in an outlandish party filled with all sorts of vampires, with Dracula himself …
Bulldog Drummond’s Peril (Paramount, 1938)
Murder and the theft of an artificial diamond created by the father of Algy’s wife Gwen (Nydia Westman) causes the postponement of the imminent wedding of Captain Hugh Drummond (John Howard) and Phyllis Clavering (Louise Campbell), as Hugh scrambles to figure out what occurred — though the viewer is aware of at least part of …
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Funny Friday: Must Be a Shaggy Dog Story
The Fighting Vigilantes (PRC, 1947)
Price-gouging is central to this outing for Lash LaRue (as Marshal Cheyenne Davis) and Al St. John (as Fuzzy Q. Jones). The villainous Taylor (George Chesebro) and his gang rob supply wagons so Taylor can sell the food at a tremendous markup; they are countered by Robin Hood-like vigilantes, who give food to the settlers …
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The Magnificent Seven (UA, 1960)
This fine ensemble western, based on Akira Kurosawa’s Shichinin no samurai (Seven Samurai), relates how the titular group of adventurers and guns for hire are employed to defend a much-abused Mexican village from the depredations of an outlaw band. Yul Brynner as Chris, aided by Steve McQueen as Vin, recruits the team, including slick, knife-wielding …
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Ôgon batto (1966)
Aliens threaten Earth, and it’s up to a group of scientists and the revivified skull-headed Golden Bat to fend them off. The titular superhero got his start in a kamishibai (paper theater) back in 1931, and this kiddie-oriented movie (also known as The Golden Bat) delivers the goods in terms of action and effects, even …
La señora Muerte (1969)
Regina Torné stars as Marlene, a woman who turns to scientist Dr. Favel (John Carradine) when her husband suffers a heart attack. The mad doctor promises he can save her husband, but only via an experimental treatment, one that has dire side effects for Marlene. She then must take to killing in order to obtain …