The grounding of a passenger vessel bound for Havana prevents a salesclerk, Nan Spencer (Alice Faye), from having her vacation, and she refuses to be mollified until company official Jay Williams (John Payne) arranges for an extravagant weekend trip for her; if she enjoys it sufficiently, she will sign a waiver of claims against the …
Read the full post →“<em>Week-End in Havana</em> (Twentieth Century Fox, 1941)”
A tale of espionage and revenge: Michael Lanyard, the Lone Wolf (Henry B. Walthall), pursues a German agent, Karl Eckstrom (Lon Chaney), to avenge the killing of his sister and nephew, a pursuit that takes him from the World War I battlefields of France to a ship sunk by a German submarine and to a …
Read the full post →“<em>The False Faces</em> (Paramount, 1919)”
Peter Lupus (under the name Rock Stevens) plays the titular strongman in this sword-and-sandal picture, originally titled Ercole contro i tiranni di Babilonia. The plot involves his efforts to free the Queen of the Hellenes (Anna Maria Polani) and others who have been enslaved by the wicked ruler of Babylon (Livio Lorenzen), brother of the …
Read the full post →“<em>Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon</em> (1964)”
Morgan (George Chesebro), part owner of a freight outfit, frames his partner, Dan Parks (Jim Bannon), for smuggling government gold. Parks escapes arrest and becomes a fugitive, and it’s up to the Durango Kid (Charles Starrett) to clear his name and bring the real culprit to justice. Smiley Burnette is on hand with his comedy …
Read the full post →“<em>Trail to Laredo</em> (Columbia, 1948)”
This Brazilian horror-comedy takes partial inspiration from The Little Shop of Horrors, as a botanist tries to manage a strange, carnivorous plant, but it soon veers into even odder territory, with a widow running a nightclub with a feature act called “The Seven Vampires.” A mysterious vampire killer is also at work, and a private …
Less-than-exciting adventure starring Rory Calhoun as a hard-living and hard-loving con man who goes hunting for a lost tomb in Egypt (hence the original title: La muchacha del Nilo). Calhoun’s character is intended as a lovable rogue, but he’s just not that appealing, although compared with his competition he’s likeable enough. Not particularly recommended. Otto …
Read the full post →“<em>The Emerald of Artatama</em> (1969)”
Fans of the 1960s Batman might want to take a look at this 1966 Philippine movie featuring the comedian Dolphy in a dual role as both Batman (including his alter-ego, Dolpho) and “James” (i.e., James Bond). The two heroes (with Batman aided by Robin) are commissioned to foil the evil organization CLAW, which is threatening …
Hercules (Reg Park) rescues a princess (Laura Efrikian) left to be prey for a monster but then must protect her further from her wicked mother, the queen of Atlantis (Fay Spain). Not the most thrilling of adventures for the Greek hero, but reasonably entertaining nonetheless. Original title: Ercole alla conquista di Atlantide. Mildly recommended. Otto …
Read the full post →“<em>Hercules and the Captive Women</em> (1961)”
A fungus brought back to Earth by a space probe becomes an ever-growing menace after a scientist brings it home to his lab for examination. The ensuing movie is rather more a procedural investigation (it reminded me a bit of Highway Patrol and Dragnet) than interesting science fiction, and it was weakened by some flaws …
Read the full post →“<em>Space Master X-7</em> (Twentieth Century Fox, 1958)”
A race car driver (Etsuko Shihomi) doubles as a government agent as she tries to avenge her father’s death, aided by her step-siblings and a lady wrestler. The villains are ruthless and strange, and the plot is at times rather chaotic, but it does hold the viewer’s interest. Original title: Karei-naru tsuiseki. Mildly recommended. Otto …
