James Gleason gets top billing in this Hildegarde Withers movie, the fifth in RKO’s series, in which Zasu Pitts takes over the role of the spinster detective, and it’s easy to see why. His performance as Inspector Oscar Piper is polished and fun, and this time around, he’s the one who brings the investigation to …
Read the full post →“<em>The Plot Thickens</em> (RKO, 1936)”
Inspector Trent (Ralph Bellamy) returns in the third of four movies in the short series, and once again, though called in ahead of time by someone worried about a possible crime, he proves unable to prevent a murder. Gail Patrick does a fine turn as the title character, though the character’s viciousness leaves ample scope …
Read the full post →“<em>The Crime of Helen Stanley</em> (Columbia, 1934)”
An inventor of a new submarine (Harry Houdini) helps a woman whose uncle wishes to ignore her captive father’s pleas for help and instead steal a map to an island near a treasure-filled wreck. There are perils aplenty for both hero and heroine, and costar Lila Lee shows herself a game sport. Although unfortunately the …
Read the full post →“<em>Terror Island</em> (Paramount, 1920)”
Gloria Jean, Deanna Durbin’s successor at Universal, plays a teen eager to secure success for the drummer she adores (Mel Tormé) and his band, piling up schemes to win a contest, to gain his affection, to thwart those who would co-opt his talent for their own ends. Patric Knowles portrays her long-suffering but somewhat scattered …
Read the full post →“<em>Pardon My Rhythm</em> (Universal, 1944)”
While a researcher investigates reports of a tribe worshipping a tiger (trying learn whether this is true, and if so why, as tigers are not native to Africa), a government agent looks for a Nazi war criminal who holds the secret to some stolen art. Add in some crooks also after the art and a …
Read the full post →“<em>Voodoo Tiger</em> (Columbia, 1952)”
A rancher is framed for rustling as part of a crook’s scheme to get control of land with a silver deposit, and it’s up to U.S. Marshals Sandy Hopkins and Nevada Jack Mackenzie to set things right, even if it involves foiling the actions of the local sheriff. These Brown-Hatton movies are consistently entertaining, but …
Fans of mid-century wrestling will get a kick out of this Bowery Boys entry, as an unexplained medical condition renders part of Sach’s anatomy impervious to pain, making him a powerhouse in the wrestling ring as he takes on various real-life wrestlers on his way to the championship. Of course, there’s a scheming villain — …
Read the full post →“<em>No Holds Barred</em> (Monogram, 1952)”
A soft-spoken yet sinister man (Peter Lorre) rules as a tyrant over an island where he brings parolees and puts them to work, keeping them as slave labor until they die. He likewise keeps his wife (Rochelle Hudson) a prisoner there, too. Will a federal agent (Robert Wilcox) be able to put an end to …
Read the full post →“<em>Island of Doomed Men</em> (Columbia, 1940)”
Oil is the focus in this Durango Kid outing, in which Steve Driscoll (Charles Starrett) comes to the aid of a wildcatter whose efforts to drill have been disrupted repeatedly, finally resulting in his entire crew’s quitting. Yet it seems that even Steve may be unable to help enough, as the crooks continue to thwart …
Read the full post →“<em>The Lone Hand Texan</em> (Columbia, 1947)”
Drifting cowboy pals Dare and Dinkey (John Wayne and Syd Saylor) head into Wyoming, where they first pick the wrong side in a battle between rustlers and the folks after them and then get a less-than-enthusiastic welcome from Dare’s cousin Tom (Johnny Mack Brown), who is a settled ranch owner and contemns Dare’s irresponsible ways. …
Read the full post →“<em>Born to the West</em> (Paramount, 1937)”
