A businessman (Albert J. Smith) who controls shipments to an isolated town foments Indian raids to prevent the completion of the telegraph line that will mean the end to his monopoly. John Trent (John Wayne) and his sidekick (Frank McHugh) are sent to investigate after a partial message describing an attack is received. What follows …
Read the full post →“<em>The Telegraph Trail</em> (WB, 1933)”
Slow, muddled near-future science fiction action movie, originally titled 1990: I guerrieri del Bronx and clearly inspired by Escape from New York, has a young woman taking refuge with the leader of one of several gangs in the Bronx, and that leader must later try to rescue her. At the same time, a violent cop …
Read the full post →“<em>1990: The Bronx Warriors</em> (1982)”
Better known as Nightmare Castle, this horror film (original title: Amanti d’oltretomba) features genre favorite Barbara Steele in a dual role as spouse of a cruel count who murders his unfaithful wife and her lover and later marries a woman who resembles his dead first wife. The new bride soon has creepy visions. Decent atmosphere …
Read the full post →“<em>The Night of the Doomed</em> (1965)”
In One Foot Crane (original title: Du jiao he), a young woman (Lily Li) seeks to avenge the murder of her family by destroying those responsible. A standard plot is handled fairly well, the fights are fine if not particularly memorable, and Li makes for an appealing lead. Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie …
American International’s beach movie series draws to a close with this fantasy entry minus Frankie, Annette, and some of the other regulars. Here, recently deceased Hiram Stokley (Boris Karloff), hoping to accomplish a good deed to get into Heaven with the assistance of his ghostly love, Cecilia (Susan Hart), tries to foil the nefarious plans …
Read the full post →“<em>The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini</em> (American International, 1966)”
Retired (?) super-thief Modesty Blaise (Monica Vitti) is recruited by the British government to foil a jewel heist, and though she warns them that if they double-cross her she will target the diamonds herself, she allows herself to be persuaded to take the job. The heist is being planned by the nefarious and odd Mr. …
In the 21st entry in the series, Ray Corrigan returns to the Range Busters, but John “Dusty” King has departed, along with David Sharpe; Dennis Moore joins as well, and Max “Alibi” Terhune, with Elmer, remains (the only member of the trio to star in all 24 movies). This time around, the boys are looking …
Read the full post →“<em>Land of Hunted Men</em> (Monogram, 1943)”
Laurel and Hardy are in the Wild West, trying to deliver a valuable deed to the daughter of a dead prospector, but they must overcome the scheming of the daughter’s employer and his conniving wife to do so. There are plenty of laughs, and the boys perform a nice, amusing little musical number (“The Trail …
Absorbing tale of a man (Jim Brown), loyal to his dead boss (Dana Andrews), who undertakes to carry money from the sale of cattle back across the desert to his employer’s Mexican ranch. Along the way, he gets help from a gambler (Fred Williamson) in dealing with the many folks who are chasing the money …
Read the full post →“<em>Take a Hard Ride</em> (Twentieth Century Fox, 1975)”
Luba, queen of the werewolves, obtains new youth and once again targets the Harker family, her hereditary enemies, for destruction — but first she plots to eliminate Santo, the Man in the Silver Mask, so that his silvery power cannot foil her plans to dominate the world. There’s not much of interest here, but it’s …
