Ming loyalists battle Manchus in this historical tale, originally titled Wu lin ke zhan, that offers some twists — including one that was a surprise to me but others that were fairly obvious — but drags despite a good deal of action, in part because the editing makes it hard to follow. Carter Wong stars …
Read the full post →“<em>Shaolin’s Magnificent Disciples</em> (1977)”
This thoughtful science fiction film deals with prejudice and what it means to be human, as a post-nuclear-war society struggles to determine just how cyborgs might fit in. Rather too much talk and an obvious twist keep this from being as good as it might be, but it’s nevertheless worth a look. Mildly recommended. Otto …
Read the full post →“<em>The Creation of the Humanoids</em> (1962)”
In the days leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a somewhat shady nightclub owner (Preston Foster) gets tangled up with a British spy (Lynn Bari) and the Japanese forces in Shanghai when his club is used as the delivery spot for a coded letter with explosive contents. The leads are unimpressive, but …
Read the full post →“<em>Secret Agent of Japan</em> (Twentieth Century Fox, 1942)”
Singer Jimmy Wakely starred as a singing cowboy in a fair number of movies for Monogram Pictures in the 1940s. In this entry, in which he is teamed with Dennis Moore and Lee “Lasses” White, Wakely and his pals contend against a crooked town boss (Rex Lease) and his tame marshal while framed. Wakely’s smooth …
Read the full post →“Monogram Monday: <em>Springtime in Texas</em> (Monogram, 1945)”
My first movie of 2021 was a B western, and my first for 2022 is one as well. John Wayne stars as Captain John Ashley, a veteran of the Civil War who fought in the Union Army and returns to Texas to find a chilly welcome from former friends and neighbors, and even from the …
Read the full post →“<em>The Lonely Trail</em> (Republic, 1936)”
Dr. Bill Foster (John Ashley) is back on Blood Island in this sequel to Mad Doctor of Blood Island, again confronting its horrors and finding new opportunities for romance as well (his love interest of the previous film having been killed at the start of this one). He’s investigating whether the deranged Dr. Lorca (Eddie …
A bride (Beverly Garland) abandoned by her new groom searches for him, hoping to learn the reason why he suddenly left her and went into hiding. Her investigation eventually leads her to a remote southern mansion, where she learns the horrifying truth, a truth connected with the title of the film. Entertaining overall, with Garland …
Read the full post →“<em>The Alligator People</em> (Twentieth Century Fox, 1959)”
More superhero action in Turkey, as “Spy Smasher” (the English title, an older comic book hero who also was the subject of a 1942 Republic serial), together with his girlfriend (top-billed Sevda Ferdag), battles an archcriminal, The Mask, and his minions. There are the usual violence and odd situations, but it’s not really worth a …
The superhero Iron Claw (hence the movie’s English title, Iron Claw the Pirate) and his assistant battle the evil criminal Fantomas, who has set his sights on Turkey. Wild and violent, with some amusing touches in the fast-paced but rather jumbled story. Mildly recommended as a curiosity. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but …
Read the full post →“<em>Demir pençe (korsan adam)</em> (1969)”
Stony (Robert Livingston) is headed for the altar with new flame Rita (Rita Hayworth) as all three Mesquiteers &mash; Tucson (Ray Corrigan) and Lullaby (Max Terhune) — try to fend off a change in policy that would allow a greedy rancher (J. P. McGowan) to target herds of wild horses. In a familiar plot, the …
Read the full post →“<em>Hit the Saddle</em> (Republic, 1937)”
