The superhero Iron Claw (hence the movie’s English title, Iron Claw the Pirate) and his assistant battle the evil criminal Fantomas, who has set his sights on Turkey. Wild and violent, with some amusing touches in the fast-paced but rather jumbled story. Mildly recommended as a curiosity. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but …
Read the full post →“<em>Demir pençe (korsan adam)</em> (1969)”
Stony (Robert Livingston) is headed for the altar with new flame Rita (Rita Hayworth) as all three Mesquiteers &mash; Tucson (Ray Corrigan) and Lullaby (Max Terhune) — try to fend off a change in policy that would allow a greedy rancher (J. P. McGowan) to target herds of wild horses. In a familiar plot, the …
Read the full post →“<em>Hit the Saddle</em> (Republic, 1937)”
This is a dark tale of crime driven by devotion, in which an experimental subject gains the ability to turn himself into a gaseous form. He then uses that form to rob banks — and commit murders — while hoping to fund the comeback of a disappointed dancer. A grim ending ensues. The movie, directed …
A doctor (John Ashley) is sent by the Philippine government to investigate strange happenings on an isolated island; making the same voyage to the unwelcoming isle is the daughter (Angelique Pettyjohn) of a missing scientist. They uncover the depredations of a monster created by a mad scientist and must strive to defeat both creature and …
Read the full post →“<em>Mad Doctor of Blood Island</em> (1968)”
Ken Maynard stars as Jim “Trigger” Morton, newly released from prison after serving time for a crime he did not commit. Trigger is seeking revenge on the man responsible for putting him behind bars, and he ends up the lawman of the title, in which capacity he must deal with other crooks as well. Marjorie …
Read the full post →“<em>Six-Shootin’ Sheriff</em> (Grand National, 1938)”
Rugged but rather unappealing Commander Jack Rankin (Robert Horton) must square off against an alien menace that hitched a ride with a returning mission to destroy an asteroid threatening the Earth — and he must also deal with a hotheaded rival (Richard Jaeckel) and a former flame (Luciana Paluzzi) who is now engaged to the …
A former government agent (William Powell), down and out, takes a job with a sleazy detective agency, but he balks when called upon to frame a society woman with a penchant for gambling (Margaret Lindsay). Powell’s suave charm is the principal reason to watch this movie, which is long on drama and romance and rather …
Read the full post →“<em>Private Detective 62</em> (WB, 1933)”
It’s another plot to force ranchers off their land in this Durango Kid outing, with alter ego Steve Roper (Charles Starrett in both roles) a range detective brought in to investigate. Smiley Burnette is once again on hand to lend some comic and musical support, but the overall effort is a middling entry in the …
Read the full post →“<em>Challenge of the Range</em> (Columbia, 1949)”
In this cryptozoological snoozefest, an expedition heads into the Himalayas to find a woman’s brother, who had disappeared on a previous attempt to locate the yeti, and the new group encounters the unexpected and plenty of unlooked-for danger. Unfortunately, it’s all rather slow going, and none of the characters is particularly interesting. Not recommended. Otto …
John Ashley is a scientist who, along with others, gets scant welcome at an isolated island where sinister developments have caused the locals to turn to human sacrifice, and a strange wealthy inhabitant may hold the key to what is going on. There are some gory doings in this late-1960s horror effort from the Philippines, …
