Rocky Mulloy (Dick Powell) is back in town after five years in prison, freed because an old pal (Richard Erdman) has at last come forward to back up his alibi, though the viewer quickly learns that Rocky has never met this “old pal” before, and the guy is hoping to cash in on some hidden …
A Tornado in the Saddle (Columbia, 1942)
Russell Hayden plays Sheriff Lucky Crandall in this tale of crooks after a gold mine, a rancher who won’t let them use his land, and a sister dealing with her outlaw brother. Dub Taylor provides comic support as Cannonball, and Bob Will and His Texas Playboys add some excellent music. Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks …
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Onna hissatsu ken: Kiki ippatsu (1974)
Etsuko Shihomi is back as Koryu in thesecond Sister Street Fighter movie, also known as Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread. This time around, she again travels to Japan looking for a woman who has gotten involved in smuggling diamonds in a very uncomfortable fashion, and Koryu learns to her dismay of a family …
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Hercules against the Barbarians (1964)
Hercules (Mark Forest) is in love with a village maiden who is actually the rightful princess of Poland, hidden away years before by her father to protect her in the face of the Mongol invasion, but she unfortunately is captured by the nomads. Infighting among the sons of Genghis Khan provides an opportunity for the …
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The Brain from Planet Arous (1957)
John Agar is a scientist possessed by the titular creature, an evil alien criminal that sets its sights not just on world domination, but on vengeance against the authorities of its home planet, and power on a galactic scale, as well as on a little romance with the scientist’s fiancée. Fortunately, another brain shows up …
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Robo Vampire (1988)
Incoherent mix of futuristic policing (à la RoboCop), horror, and crime, edited together from two other movies, fails to gel and in the end doesn’t really manage to entertain. Not recommended. Otto thinks you should avoid this movie. Movie 506 for 2021.
Frankenstein Conquers the World (American International, 1966)
Nick Adams heads the cast in this giant monster tale, originally released by Toho in 1965 as Furankenshutain tai chitei kaijû Baragon and therefore also known as Frankenstein vs. Baragon. And a strange tale it is: As the end of World War 2 nears, the Germans send the living heart of the Frankenstein monster to …
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Face of the Screaming Werewolf (1964)
This horror movie, largely cobbled together from two earlier Mexican horror films, La momia azteca and La casa del terror, involves an expedition to an Aztec tomb and the retrieval therefrom of two mummies, one of which turns out to be a werewolf as well. A disjointed mess, the movie has little going for it, …
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When a Man Rides Alone (1933)
The Llano Kid (Tom Tyler) is holding up stages and stealing gold being shipped by mine-owner and Montana Slade (Al Bridge); a sort-of Robin Hood, the Kid then turns the loot over to those who had been cheated by Slade. The Kid’s efforts hit a snag, though, when he gets involved with a woman (Adele …
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D’Wild Wild Weng (1982)
This is a wacky western adventure for Weng Weng, in which he and a partner battles assorted villains, including bandits, ninjas, and a local strongman, and are aided in their efforts by a tribe of little people. The plot is rather disjointed, so it can be difficult to follow just what is going on, but …