Couples gather on one’s private island with the aim of gaining access to a chemist’s new formula, but a killer soon is stalking the party. This giallo, originally titled 5 bambole per la luna d’agosto, is filled with unappealing characters and has a rather disappointing ending, so even if the twists hold one’s interest, the …
Read the full post →“<em>Five Dolls for an August Moon</em> (1970)”
Solid science fiction story of the first journey to the Moon, co-scripted by Robert A. Heinlein and produced by George Pal with an eye toward technical accuracy (insofar as possible) in projecting a realistic account of such a trip. The story is fairly basic and at times a little slow, but it does eventually ramp …
Read the full post →“<em>Destination Moon</em> (Eagle Lion, 1950)”
A tough police inspector (Paul Naschy) tries to find the killer who is stalking the streets of Milan, leaving a fake dragonfly on each body. As the inquiry drags on, his wife (Erika Blanc) does some sleuthing, too. Overall the movie, originally titled Una libélula para cada muerto, is rather dull, albeit watchable. Mildly recommended …
Read the full post →“<em>A Dragonfly for Each Corpse</em> (1975)”
The Rio Kid (Fernando Luján) makes a habit of confronting those who claim to be the fastest with their guns; so far, he has vanquished every one. But the Kid has a secret, too: he is in fact a bloodthirsty vampire, and his drinking of the gunslingers’ blood improves his skill with a shooting iron, …
This theatrical release composed of portions of episodes of the British television series UFO unfortunately falls short despite some good design elements, as the portmanteau nature of the finished product leaves too many holes — e.g., characters simply disappear without explanation — and fails to deliver a sense of urgency in the battle against the …
Early talkie western has only modest appeal. A gang leader (Tom London) takes the place of a kidnapped Army procurement officer (Bill Cody) in a plot to steal some horses that are being sold to the military, and it falls on the protagonist (Bob Custer) to try to sort things out. Lane Chandler does well …
A strange phenomenon is plaguing the city: Brides are dropping dead at the altar, and their bodies are then stolen. A society reporter (Luana Walters) who senses a big story decides to investigate, more hampered than helped by her photographer (Vince Barnett). Her suspicions soon light on scientist George Lorenz (Bela Lugosi), and she enlists …
Read the full post →“<em>The Corpse Vanishes</em> (Monogram, 1942)”
Unmemorable low-budget fare stars Neil Hamilton as a government agent who spots a villain (Victor Varconi) presumed dead in a plane crash. Said bad guy is now after aviation secrets and control of an aircraft plant, and he resorts to using both a temptress (a Doris Day, but not the Doris Day) and poison in …
Read the full post →“<em>Federal Fugitives</em> (PRC, 1941)”
Two idiotic photographers (Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia) are recruited by the British secret service after Agent 007 is killed, and they are tasked with foiling a plot by a sinister mastermind, Goldginger (Fernando Rey) that involves taking control of government leaders. There are some laughs and decent echoes of Bond, but Franco can be …
Read the full post →“<em>The Two Crazy Secret Agents</em> (1965)”
A diamond smuggler works with one tribe to war against another tribe and thereby gain unfettered access to the diamond mine whose owners he has killed. It’s up to Jungle Jim (Johnny Weissmuller), working with Inspector Bernard (Richard Stapley), and with the dubious assistance of the chimp Tamba, to put an end to the scheme …
Read the full post →“<em>Jungle Man-Eaters</em> (Columbia, 1954)”
