When the son of the notorious Dr. Jekyll is inspired to undertake some experiments of his own along the same lines as those of his father, deadly happenings suggest that history may be repeating itself. But who in fact is responsible for the crimes? Louis Hayward does well in the lead, even if he is …
Read the full post →“<em>The Son of Dr. Jekyll</em> (Columbia, 1951)”
Rather than a put-up battle between ranchers and sheepherders or farmers, this Durango Kid outing features a fomented conflict between ranchers and miners. When Steve Downey (Charles Starrett) seeks to reopen the mine that was owned by his murdered brother-in-law, the crooks behind the killing commit another, with Steve framed for the crime, and it’s …
Read the full post →“<em>South of Death Valley</em> (Columbia, 1949)”
A cowboy prone to a little misbehavior masquerades as a parson but faces difficulties when a criminal recognizes him, and things get even more complicated when the real parson shows up. As is common in Hoot Gibson’s films, there’s a large element of comedy in the proceedings, as the viewer watches the cowboy squirm in …
Murder stalks the guests in the sinister home of a man (Ralph Morgan) left crippled by three doctors (among them Lionel Atwill), a man whose sister (Fay Helm) fears for her own sanity as well. Can plucky Dick Baldwin (Don Porter) unravel the mysterious goings-on and protect Dr. Lynne Harper (Irene Hervey), a psychiatrist summoned …
Read the full post →“<em>Night Monster</em> (Universal, 1942)”
This low-budget monster movie set in the Florida Everglades features mad science, college jerks, bright colors, an odd-looking creature, and the singing of Neil Sedaka (singing “Do the Jellyfish”). There’s no particular reason to see the movie, but it manages to be somewhat entertaining despite its limitations. Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is …
Unusual casting — Douglass Dumbrille as the lead and Sidney Toler as his sidekick — and polished performances by these actors, with effective contributions from the rest of the cast, including Russell Hayden, elevate this western tale of an old outlaw, who was driven to a life of crime when framed for murder, returning to …
Read the full post →“<em>The Mysterious Rider</em> (Paramount, 1938)”
Three black-clad agents — the Tigresses: Emily, Diana, and Barbara — battle the master criminal Garrick, who is after a secret formula, though their efforts are complicated by the fact that one’s boyfriend actually works for the evil villain. A maid who wants to become an agent herself provides some comic relief. A fairly entertaining …
Rather a jumbled plot, as the murder of a wealthy woman by her husband sets in motion a series of killings, including a couple that served as inspirations for scenes in later slasher movies. There’s no one to root for, really, in the film, directed by Mario Bava and originally titled Ecologia del delitto, and …
Fans of the comic duo will likely have a fun time with Abbott and Costello’s science fiction comedy, in which the pair end up accidentally setting off in a rocket ship bound (they think) for Mars, though subsequent events prove their first destination much closer to home, while they do get a longer journey later. …
Read the full post →“<em>Abbott and Costello Go to Mars</em> (Universal, 1953)”
A brilliant neurologist (Bela Lugosi) becomes obsessed with a young socialite (Irene Ware) whose life he has saved, and he will stop at nothing — not even murder — to win her. Lugosi is excellent in the role, and Boris Karloff is on hand, too, as a criminal whom the doctor recruits to help him, …
