Captain Carroll (Frank Hall Crane) is just asking for trouble when, desperate for ship’s officers, he hires Woolf Barstow (Noah Beery) as first mate despite his very bad reputation — a reputation that is soon shown to be well-deserved, as Barstow is soon slowly poisoning the captain and plotting both the takeover of the ship …
A Face in the Fog (Victory, 1936)
A newspaper reporter, Jean Monroe (June Collyer), sets herself up as a target by rashly claiming knowledge about “the Fiend,” a killer who is terrorizing the cast of a show at the Alden Theatre. A fellow reporter, Frank Gordon (Lloyd Hughes), joins in the investigation, as the murderer continues his crimes and attempts to strike …
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Big Calibre (1935)
After the murder of his father and the theft of $60,000, young Bob Neal (Bob Steele) and pal Rusty (John Elliott) search for the killer, and they find a clue in the town of Gladstone. Unfortunately, Bob has been blamed for the robbery of the stage and is suspected of murdering local rancher Jim Bowers …
The Fifth Cord (1971)
An alcoholic journalist, Andrea Bild (Franco Nero), investigates a series of murders of people in some way connected with him, including someone who attended a party before the attacks began and the editor of the journalist’s paper. Some sequences are quite suspenseful (e.g., the killing of an invalid who is home alone), but the unpleasantness …
Midnight Mystery (RKO, 1930)
Complicated doings at a remote house off the coast of Maine, as Gregory Sloane (Hugh Trevor), the host of the party, shoots guest Mischa Kawelin (Ivan Lebedeff), who has been romancing the wife (Rita La Roy) of another guest (Lowell Sherman). But it’s all a put-up job between Gregory and Mischa, as Gregory (who is …
Randy Rides Alone (Lone Star / Monogram, 1934)
A chilling opening in which a cowboy, Randy Bowers, finds a tavern filled with dead men sets up a good early movie for John Wayne. Bowers (Wayne) investigates the killings, aided by the daughter (Alberta Vaughn) of one of the victims, who even helps Randy to escape jail when he is arrested for the murders …
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The Brain Eaters (American International, 1958)
A strange metal cone has appeared on the outskirts of a small town, and soon odd things begin to occur, including people being taken over by mysterious beings and acting against their friends and fellow citizens. It’s up to scientist Paul Kettering (Ed Nelson) and a small group of others (including a senator there to …
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The Three Mesquiteers (Republic, 1936)
Lullaby Joslin (Syd Saylor) and his buddies, veterans of the First World War, head west to homestead, but the Canfield brothers want the land for themselves and are intent on thwarting the would-be farmers. It’s up to Syd’s pals Stony Brooke (Robert Livingston) and Tucson Smith (Ray “Crash” Corrigan) to take the part of the …
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The Woman Condemned (1934)
A reporter (Richard Hemingway) comes to the aid of a young woman (Claudia Dell) who is accused of murdering a radio star but who protests her innocence, although she does have secrets that she is intent on keeping, even after the two are married. The story is a mite confusing, but the quirky development does …
Dragon Against Vampire (1985)
Chaotic horror-comedy, originally titled Hong tiao jing has three grave robbers getting mixed up with a Shaolin master and a vampire preying on locals. There’s plenty of killing, humor varying greatly in its effectiveness, and a hard-to-follow sequence of events. Not recommended. Otto thinks you should avoid this movie. Movie 380 for 2021.