Individual Movie Titles: A to C

INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES

A - C

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) - 83 mins

Starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Lenore Aubert & Glenn Strange

Directed by Charles Barton

It seems that Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), in league with a beautiful but diabolical lady scientist Dr. Sandra Mornay (Lenore Aubert), needs a "simple, pliable" brain with which to reactivate Frankenstein's creature (Glenn Strange). The "ideal" brain belongs to the hapless Chick Young (Lou Costello), whom Mornay woos to gain his confidence and lure him to the operating table. Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.), better known as the Wolf Man, arrives on the scene to warn Chick and his pal Wilbur Grey (Bud Abbott) of Dracula's nefarious schemes. Throughout the film, the timorous Wilbur witnesses the nocturnal rituals of Dracula and the Monster, but can't convince the ever-doubting Chick - until a wild climax in Dracula's castle, where Chick & Wilbur are pursued by all three monster.

As a bonus, the Invisible Man (voiced by an unbilled Vincent Price) shows up for "all the excitement."

THE Classic Abbott & Costello film! - first of the ‘Abbott & Costello Meet …’ films. Other Abbott & Costello films on this website are Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff (1949), Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951), Abbott & Costello Meet The Mummy (1955) - the pick of the bunch! - see below.

The Abbott & Costello TV Series is also available from the TV Series A-H section

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) is also part of the Frankenstein, Dracula & The Wolf Man multi-film DVD boxed set which can be found in the Movie Series section (under “F”) of this website

Abbott & Costello Meet The Invisible Man (1951) - 82 mins

Starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Nancy Guild, Arthur Franz, Adele Jergens & Sheldon Leonard

Directed by Charles Lamont

Bud Alexander (Bud Abbott) and Lou Francis (Lou Costello) are bumbling mail-order private eyes. The boys champion the cause of boxer Tommy Nelson (Arthur Franz), who has been framed for murder. Utilizing the formula created by Claude Rains in the original Invisible Man (1933), Tommy vanishes before Dr. Philip Gray’s astonished eyes. Cloaked by invisibility, Tommy talks Bud and Lou into helping him nab the real murderer, gangster Boots Morgan (Sheldon Leonard). A string of uproarious gags and comic setpieces is highlighted by a boxing-ring finale, wherein Lou, backed up by the invisible Tommy, dukes it out with a behemoth prizefighter.

A clever special-effects closing gag caps this delightful A&C vehicle.

Third of the ‘Abbott & Costello Meet …’ films. Other Abbott & Costello films on this website are Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff (1949), Abbott & Costello Meet The Mummy (1955) - the pick of the bunch! - see above and below.

The Abbott & Costello TV Series is also available from the TV Series A-H section

Abbott & Costello Meet The Killer, Boris Karloff (1949) - 84 mins

Starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Boris Karloff, Lenore Aubert & Alan Mowbray

Directed by Charles Barton

When a much-hated criminal attorney is murdered at a resort hotel, there's no shortage of suspects: in fact, practically every guest had an excellent motive for killing the victim. The suspects conspire to pin the killing on poor Freddie Phillips (Lou Costello), a bumbling bellhop. But when he comes in possession of a valuable piece of evidence, he is slated for extermination himself. The more Freddie and his pal, hotel house detective Casey Edwards (Bud Abbott) try to stay out of trouble, the more trouble comes their way - especially when two more murders occur. The climax takes place in an underground cavern, where Freddie is nearly drowned by the hooded mystery killer.

Second of the ‘Abbott & Costello Meet …’ films. Other Abbott & Costello films on this website are Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951), Abbott & Costello Meet The Mummy (1955) - the pick of the bunch! - see above and below.

The Abbott & Costello TV Series is also available from the TV Series A-H section

Abbott & Costello Meet The Mummy (1955) - 79 mins

Starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Marie Windsor, Michael Ansara, Dan Seymour & Richard Deacon

Directed by Charles Lamont

Stranded in Egypt, Peter Patterson (Bud Abbott) and Freddie Franklin (Lou Costello) hire themselves out as travelling companions to archeologist Kurt Katch. Before long, Katch is murdered by a group of cultists, and a medallion, embossed with a map which leads to a sacred burial site, is accidentally swallowed by Freddie. The boys become the unwilling pawns of the cultists, led by Semu (Richard Deacon), and a greedy adventuress, Madame Rontru (Marie Windsor). The last scene finds Freddie being menaced by three mummies, two of them bogus - but one: the dreaded Klaris!

Last of the ‘Abbott & Costello Meet …’ films. Other Abbott & Costello films on this website are Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff (1949), Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) - the pick of the bunch! - see above and below.

The Abbott & Costello TV Series is also available from the TV Series A-H section

Abilene Town (1946) - 89 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Ann Dorvak, Edgar Buchanan, Rhonda Fleming & Lloyd Bridges

Directed by Edwin L. Marin

Following the Civil War in the town of Abilene, a delicate peace is inadvertantly shattered when a group of homesteaders lay down their stakes on the cattlemen's side of town, upsetting the balance that had existed thus far and sparking an all-out war between the farmers, who want the land tamed and property lines drawn, and the cowboys, who want the prairies to be open for their cattle to roam. Into the mix walks a patient sheriff - guess who!

The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) - 94 mins

Starring Vincent Price, Joseph Cotten, Hugh Griffith, Terry-Tomas, Virginia North & Peter Jeffrey

Directed by Robert Fuest

Long thought dead, the victim of a horrible accident, Dr. Anton Phibes (Vincent Price) still lives, surrounded by art-deco bric-a-brac and attended by mute beauty Vulnavia (Virginia North). Outwardly normal in appearance, Phibes actually wears a rubber mask, covering his hideously deformed countenance; giving away the artifice is the fact that, when he dines, he takes his food through his neck rather than his mouth. Able to speak only when plugging a wire into his damaged vocal chords, Phibes elucidates his plan to murder the medical team whom he holds responsible for the death of his wife. Each of the killings is patterned after the ten deadly plagues. Phibes saves his worst for last: trapping chief surgeon Dr. Vesalius (Joseph Cotton) in his lair, Phibes forces the hapless medico into a race against time to save the life of his own son.

Followed by Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972) which is also available from this website

Vincent Price: Master of the Macabre - starred in several horror films during his career, so much so that he eventually became typecast in the genre. A nice selection of his better horror films are available from this website: House of Wax (1953), House on Haunted Hill (1959), The Tingler (1959), House of Usher (1960), Pit and the Pendulum (1961), Tales of Terror (1962), The Raven (1963), Twice-Told Tales (1963), The Masque of the Red Death (1964), Witchfinder General (1968), The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972), Theatre of Blood (1973) & Madhouse (1974).

He also lead the cast in some nice sci-fi films: The Fly (1958), Return of the Fly (1959), Master of the World (1961), The Last Man on Earth (1964) & War-Gods of the Deep (1965)

Not forgetting his only western as star: The Baron of Arizona (1950) - his favorite film.

All of the above are available from this website.

The Abominable Snowman (1957) - 85 mins

Starring Forrest Tucker, Peter Cushing, Maureen Connell, Richard Wattis, Robert Brown & Michael Brill

Directed by Val Guest

At a remote lamasery in the Himalayas, scientist John Rollason (Peter Cushing) studies rare mountain herbs with the help of his wife Helen, and associate Peter, while awaiting the arrival of an American named Tom Friend (Forrest Tucker). Over Helen's objections and warnings by the High Lhama, he sets out with Friend on an expedition to find the elusive Yeti, accompanied by another American named Shelley and a young Scotsman, McNee, who claims to have seen the thing. Footprints are found in the snows and McNee seems strangely affected the closer they get to their quarry's likely habitat but the biggest shock to Rollason is discovering Friend is a showman who only intends to exploit their find, with Shelley his gamehunter-marksman. The conflict between science and commercialism only increases when an enormous anthropoid is shot, and the horror only increases as the party realizes the other Yeti intend to retrieve their fallen comrade and have powers to do so which seem extra-human.

Excellent Hammer horror also titled "The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas" which was shot in the Pyrenees. Fans of Forrest Tucker will enjoy this adventure story.

Above Suspicion (1943) - 88 mins

Starring Joan Crawford, Fred MacMurray, Conrad Veidt, Basil Rathbone & Reginald Owen

Directed by Richard Thorpe

About to set off on his 1939 honeymoon, an Oxford don is approached by the Foreign Office. Knowing war is near, they need to get information back from an unknown source in Germany attempting to smuggle back information about a new superweapon being developed by the Nazis and ask for his help, which he readily offers. At first, the American couple find following the secret trail great fun but as they get deeper into southern Germany they realise real danger threatens them both

Above Us the Waves (1955) - 99 mins

Starring John Mills, John Gregson, Donald Sinden, James Robertson Justice & Michael Medwin

Directed by Ralph Thomas

The greatest threat to the British navy is the German battleship Tirpitz. Being anchored in a Norwegian fjord, it is impossible to attack it with any chance of success. But the navy trains a special commando to attack it, using little submarines to plant underwater explosives under it.

The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) - 92 mins

Starring Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk & Leon Ames

Directed by Robert Stevenson

College Professor Ned Brainard (Fred MacMurray) is so forgetful that he even missed his own wedding twice! He creates an extremely resilient rubber which defies gravity and dubs it ‘Flubber’. He then uses it on his old T-Model Ford and manages to make it bounce all the way to Washington, DC, where it is mistaken for a UFO. He also uses it to help the college basketball team in the big game - thanks to Flubber-powered sneakers.

Fred MacMurray is a treat in this excellent big-budget Disney feature

Oscar Nominations for Best Art Direction, B&W Cinematography & Special Effects

A sequel, Son of Flubber (1963) followed which reunited the original cast and director - also available from this website

Fred MacMurray had previously combined with Tommy Kirk (& Disney) in The Shaggy Dog (1959) - which is also available from this website.

Ace in the Hole (1951) - 111 mins

Starring Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Porter Hall & Frank Cady

Directed by Billy Wilder

Also released as The Big Carnival, this disturbing noir tells of a frustrated former big-city journalist who is now stuck working for a small Albuquerque newspaper. He sees his chance of returning to the big time when he exploits a story about a man trapped in a cave, but the situation quickly escalates into an out-of-control circus.

Powerful portrayal by Kirk Douglas joining Detective Story of the same year as two of the very best from Kirk - Detective Story is also available from this website

Oscar nominated for Best Screenplay

Across the Bridge (1957) - 103 mins

Starring Rod Steiger, David Knight, Marla Landi, Noel Willman, Bernard Lee & Eric Pohlmann

Directed by Ken Annakin

Corporate executive Carl Schaffner (Rod Steiger) is a German-born British industrialist in New York on business. After he gets word that Scotland Yard is investigating a $3,000,000 embezzlement - which he he has committed - Schaffner thinks he has sufficient time to take an inconspicuous train to Mexico where he can escape extradition. He miscalculates, and his crime has become headline news before he can cross the border. He drugs and switches identities with fellow train passenger Paul Scarff (Bill Nagy), who looks like him and has a Mexican passport. He throws him off the train but later discovers that Scarff is wanted in Mexico as a political assassin. Schaffner must double back and track down Scarff to get his original passport back.

A Graham Greene novel (of the same name) was the basic source for the British made psychological melodrama.

Across the Pacific (1942) - 97 mins

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, Keye Luke & Richard Loo

Directed by John Huston

Bogart plays a U.S. officer of artillery who is court martialled in disgrace (in 1941) and who leaves the country. He gets a job offer in central America with a stop off in Panama. While there he discovers Japanese plot to attack the Panama Canal along with the Pearl Harbor attack.

The three Maltese Falcon leads and director teamed up for this enjoyable WW2 thriller

BOGIE! - incomparable - fabulous in every film appearance. Humphrey Bogart’s films are featured prominently on this website - they include: The Petrified Forest (1936), Dead End (1937), You Can't Get Away With Murder (1939), They Drive by Night (1940), High Sierra (1941), The Maltese Falcon (1941), All Through the Night (1941), The Big Shot (1942), Across the Pacific (1942), Casablanca (1942), Action in the North Atlantic (1943), Sahara (1943), Passage to Marseille (1944), To Have and Have Not (1944), Conflict (1945), The Big Sleep (1946), Dead Reckoning (1947), The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1947), Dark Passage (1947), The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), Key Largo (1948), Tokyo Joe (1949), Chain Lightning (1950), In a Lonely Place (1950), The Enforcer (1951), Sirocco (1951), The African Queen (1951), Deadline U.S.A. (1952), Battle Circus (1953), The Caine Mutiny (1954), The Barefoot Contessa (1954), We're No Angels (1955), The Left Hand of God (1955), The Desperate Hours (1955) & The Harder They Fall (1956)

Action in Arabia (1944) - 72 mins

Starring George Sanders, Virginia Bruce, Gene Lockhart, Robert Armstrong & Lenore Aubert

Directed by Leonide Moguy

Gordon is an American newspaperman at large in Damascus. When a colleague is murdered, Gordon wants to find out why. He is helped along by a glamorous secret agent, who is on the trail of a group of Nazi saboteurs. It turns out that the murder is tied in with a Nazi plan to destroy the Suez Canal.

Nice desert footage interwoven into a tight little adventure.

Action in the North Atlantic (1943) - 126 mins

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Raymond Massey, Alan Hale, Julie Bishop, Ruth Gordon & Dane Clark

Directed by Lloyd Bacon

Lieutenant Joe Rossi is 1st Officer on a Liberty Ship in a great convoy bound from Halifax to Murmansk. After German subs crushed the convoy, his ship loses the convoy and is heading alone to Murmansk. In spite of attacks by German planes and subs he must get the ship safely to Murmansk

A great action WWII film with Bogie at his peak with enjoyable support from Massey - Oscar nominated for Best Writing, Original Story.

Act of Violence (1948) - 82 mins

Starring Van Heflin, Robert Ryan, Janet Leigh, Mary Astor & Phyllis Thaxter

Directed by Fred Zinnemann

Van Heflin stars as Frank Enley, a contractor living a peaceful life in a small California town, when Joe Parkson, a man who served in the army with him, arrives in the area, intent on killing him. He follows Frank to a lake where he's fishing but is unable to kill him. When a lakeside bartender tells Frank that a man with a limp is looking for him, Frank is frightened, realizing why he has come. He tells his wife, Edith (Janet Leigh), that Joe is a man who spent time with in a Nazi POW camp, who is now mentally ill, and that he intends to avoid him. When Frank goes to Los Angeles for a business convention, Joe arrives at his house and tells his wife that her husband is responsible for his injury and for the deaths of a number of men. Fearing for her husband's life, Edith heads for L.A. with Joe not far behind.

An unusually disturbing noir from a director better known for more mainstream fare, Act of Violence focuses on a WWII veteran haunted by his past. A film that was close to the director's heart, he said that it represented "the first time that I felt confident that I knew what I was doing and why I was doing it."

-NEW TITLE-

The Admirable Crichton (1957) - 94 mins

Starring Kenneth More, Diane Cilento, Cecil Parker, Sally Ann Howes, Martita Hunt & Peter Graves

Directed by Lewis Gilbert

Bill Crichton (Kenneth More) is the super-efficient butler for a family of British aristocrats. Though Crichton is true master of the household, he keeps his place, honoring the tightly regulated social structure of turn-of-the-century England. When the family, and its servants, are shipwrecked and marooned on a desert island, only Crichton has the skill and resourcefulness to keep everyone alive. Within a few months, the social order has been reversed: Crichton is the "governor", while his former employers are his willing and eager servants. Lady Mary (Sally Ann Howes), assuming that she will never be able to return to her fiance, even falls in love with Crichton. But once the castaways are rescued and returned to their London estate, the original master-servant status quo is restored. His marriage to Lady Mary now an impossibility - a fact stressed in no uncertain terms by the young lady herself -Crichton calmly packs his bags and leaves, in the company of maidservant Eliza Tweeny (Diane Cilento), who has loved him all along.

Fabulous satirical comedy, this Technicolor adaptation of J. M. Barrie's stage play of the same name was released in the US as Paradise Lagoon (1957)

Adventure (1945) - 135 mins

Starring Clark Gable, Greer Garson, Joan Blondell, Thomas Mitchell, Tom Tully & John Qualen

Directed by Victor Fleming

A middle-aged Clark Gable returned from active duty in World War II to star in this MGM release.

Harry Patterson (Clark Gable) is the bosun mate on a merchant marine vessel, a tough sailor and fighter with a girl in every port. But while in a San Francisco library, looking up a book on the human soul for his sidekick Mudgin (Thomas Mitchell), Harry meets librarian Emily Sears (Greer Garson), whom he woos, marries, and leaves to sail off on another freighter. When he returns, Emily has retreated to an old farm to await the birth of their child. Harry continues to resent staying in one place, but he ultimately changes his tune when his baby's life hangs in the balance.

Greer Garson and Joan Blondell, playing her outspoken best friend, are both terrific, and Gable gives a less heroic performance that's a thoughtful change for him.

Adventure in Manhattan (1936) - 73 mins

Starring Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, Reginald Owen, Thomas Mitchell & Victor Kilian

Directed by Edward Ludwig

Some high profile robberies have taken place and crime reporter McCrea thinks and has written that the culprit of all these has been a master criminal along the lines of Professor Moriarty. Problem is that this guy is believed dead by all, but McCrea. McCrea is right and it's revealed early enough in the film to be Reginald Owen who is now in the guise of a theatrical producer. And Jean Arthur is an aspiring young ingénue in the cast of a World War I play he's producing which is just a front for a job he is planning.

Thomas Mitchell in one of his earliest screen roles is McCrea's editor and he's his usual good self.

Adventure Island (1947) - 66 mins

Starring Rory Calhoun, Rhonda Fleming, Paul Kelly, John Abbott & Alan Napier

Directed by Sam Newfield

Rory Calhoun, Paul Kelly and John Abbott star as Herrick, Lochlin and Hulsh, three mercenary seamen involved in illegal activities in the South Seas. Hired to pilot a schooner to Australia, the threesome plan instead to rob the vessel of its precious cargo. Much to their dismay, they discover that the cargo is bogus, and that they're stuck taking care of the former captain's pretty but contentious daughter Faith Rhonda Fleming. The four lost souls then find themselves imprisoned by Mr. Atwater (Alan Napier), a megalomaniac who rules a tiny island by exploiting the superstitions of the local natives.

This was another excellent Pine-Thomas production who were also responsible for another superb South Seas adventure: Crosswinds (1951) which is also available from this website

Adventure Island is a remake of the Paramount actioner Ebb Tide (1937 ) which is also available from this website.

Quality Note: Adventure Island is not the greatest of prints but is still of a quality that doesn't detract for viewing pleasure of this fun tale - its also in B&W although it was released theatrically in CineColor

The Adventurers (1951) - 85 mins

Starring Jack Hawkins, Peter Hammond, Dennis Price, Grégoire Aslan & Siobhan McKenna

Directed by David MacDonald

In South Africa at the end of the Boer war, Commando Pieter Brandt (Jack Hawkins) comes across the dead body of a diamond courier. Brandt buries both the courier and his valuable cache of diamonds then heads back to his regiment. After the cessation of hostilities, Brandt raises money for an expedition back into the mountainous regions where the diamonds are hidden. There's no love lost among Brandt and his three treasure-hunting companions; particularly prickly is the relationship between Brandt and Clive Hunter (Dennis Price), whose wife is Brandt's former fiancé.

Sort of an African variation of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (which is also available from this website), The Adventurers is buoyed by an excellent performance by Jack Hawkins.

US titles were Fortune in Diamonds & The Great Adventure

Adventures of Captain Fabian (1951) - 100 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Micheline Presle, Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead, Victor Francen & Jim Gérald

Directed by William Marshall

This Franco-American costume drama concerns sea captain Michael Fabian and his involvement with a servant girl Lea Marriote (Micheline Presle), whose thirst for revenge against a prominent New Orleans family who wronged both her and Fabian drives this action packed film. After Fabian defends Lea on a murder charge, she promptly weds George Brissac (Vincent Price), scion of that aforementioned family, thereby laying the groundwork for a final battle.

Filmed in Paris and Nice, the screenplay was written by Errol Flynn from the Robert Shannon novel, Fabulous Ann Madlock.

Adventures of Don Juan (1948) - 110 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Viveca Lindfors, Robert Douglas, Alan Hale & Romney Brent

Directed by Vincent Sherman

In a spirited, athletic performance as fabled Spanish swashbuckler/lover Don Juan, Flynn spends the early portions of the film romancing willing young ladies and duelling with jealous husbands. Spain's Queen Margaret (Viveca Lindfors) assigns Don Juan to head the royal fencing academy to keep him out of trouble. When scheming Duke de Lorca (Robert Douglas) plots to topple the monarchy, it is Don Juan's eager young fencing pupils who come to the rescue.

Errol in top form again!

Sumptuous Warner Bros production complete with fabulous Max Steiner score.

The Adventures of Hajji Baba (1954) - 94 mins

Starring John Derek, Elaine Stewart, Thomas Gomez, Amanda Blake, Paul Picerni & Rosemarie Stack

Directed by Don Weis

Persian barber Hajji Baba (John Derek) is given a mission to escort the beautiful Princess Fakzia (Elaine Stewart) across the desert to her wedding. Hajji has a bet with a friend that he will have succeeded in seducing Fakzia by the trip's end - and the two, elegant in their self-assurance, trade barbs and entendres until they're captured by robbers who are in turn captured by a group of renegade Amazons. The Amazons are all former harem girls who have taken to highway robbery and kidnapping to extract a measure of justice from the society that imprisoned them. Hajji convinces the leader of the Amazons to let him live and she does as long as he can “perform”. This buys him enough time to plan an escape with Fakzia ….

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939) - 91 mins

Starring Mickey Rooney, Walter Connolly, William Frawley, Rex Ingram & Lynne Carver

Directed by Richard Thorpe

A slick retelling of the Mark Twain classic, with Huck (Mickey Rooney) escaping both the oppressive kindliness of the Widow Douglass (Elizabeth Risdon) and the brutality of his drink-sodden Pap (Victor Kilian) by faking his own death. He heads down the Mississippi River in the company of fugitive slave Jim (Rex Ingram), who hopes to be reunited with his wife and child. Along the way, they get mixed up in the larcenous schemes of The "King" (Walter Connolly) and The "Duke" (William Frawley.) When Jim stops in his flight to save Huck's life after the latter is bitten by a rattler, the slave is captured and sentenced to be hanged for the "murder" of the still-missing Huck.

Fabulous story - fabulously told

An ideal companion piece to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) which is also available from this website (see below)

The Adventures of Jane Arden (1939) - 58 mins

Starring Rosella Towne, William Gargan, James Stephenson, Benny Rubin & Dennie Moore

Directed by Terry O. Morse

An entertaining screen version of the Monte Barrett-Russell E. Ross comic strip The Adventures of Jane Arden stars Warner contractee Rosella Towne as the title character. Dapper villain Dr. Vanders (James Stephenson) has been using beautiful, gullible young women as pawns in a clever smuggling ring. After rather nastily disposing of socialite Lola Martin (Peggy Shannon), Vanders is virtually a marked man himself: intrepid gal reporter Jane Arden vows to bring the criminals to justice, and never mind that her managing editor sweetheart Ed Towers (William Gargan) warns her off the case. Jane's adventures range from a dangerous ocean voyage to an exciting equestrian chase across the California countryside, with nary a pause for breath.

Fabulous fun with Towne to the fore - why wasn't a series of films with this interesting character?

The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938) - 100 mins

Starring Gary Cooper, Sigrid Gurie, Basil Rathbone & Ernest Truex

Directed by Archie Mayo

Marco Polocrosses the sea in search of treasure and adventure, with the help of his loyal sidekick Binguccio and finds both in China, where as the nation's first European visitor he is introduced to several practical innovations, such as pasta and explosives. He is also introduced to Kublai Khan, China's wise and benevolent Emperor, and the Emperor's lovely daughter, Princess Kukuchin. Romance begins to bloom between Marco and the Princess, but Ahmed, the Emperor's ill-tempered assistant, also has his eyes on the Princess, and he is determined to win her hand and usurp Kublai Khan as China's leader.

A lavish retelling of the life of the famed Italian explorer.

Coop: forever the great adventurer (& cowboy) - these Gary Cooper titles are available from this website:

Morocco (1930), A Farewell to Arms (1932), The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935), The General Died at Dawn (1936), The Plainsman (1936), Souls at Sea (1937), The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938), Beau Geste (1939), The Real Glory (1939), The Westerner (1940), North West Mounted Police (1940), Meet John Doe (1941), Sergeant York (1941), For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943), Cloak and Dagger (1946), Unconquered (1947), Task Force (1949), Dallas (1950), Distant Drums (1951), High Noon (1952) & Springfield Rifle (1952)

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) - 102 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patric Knowles & Alan Hale

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Based on the well-known English legend, Robin of Locksley is a noble who is forced to become an outlaw when Prince John the usurper tries to take the throne from his absent brother. He flees to Sherwood forest where he gathers together his Merry Men and is called Robin Hood. He begins to rob the rich and give back to the poor, the townsfolk that are heavily-taxed by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Meanwhile he still has to defend the throne, and woo Maid Marian.

Undoubtedly the best of the best!

Oscar wins for Art Direction, Editing and Score (Erich Wolfgang Korngold)

Oscar Nomination for Best Picture

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) - 85 mins

Starring Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Ida Lupino, Alan Marshal & George Zucco

Directed by Alfred L. Werker

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) face off against Professor Moriarty (George Zucco) who plots to steal the Crown Jewels, and also to confound Holmes by obliging the Great Detective to be in two places at once. Ann Brandon (Ida Lupino) is an imperilled young woman who is seemingly plagued by an ancient family curse - a situation that has been carefully stage-managed by the malevolent Moriarty.

Is this the best ever Sherlock Holmes film?

The second and last of Twentieth Century-Fox's Sherlock Holmes films in which Rathbone and Bruce were seen in a 19th century setting. In the subsequent Universal series of films, Rathbone and Bruce played the roles for a further 12 entries - all of which were updated to the 1940s. This latter series contained two “gems”: Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942) & Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943) - both of which are also available from this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section

All 14 of the Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes are available in a 5 DVD set from within the Movie Series section of this website

Other Sherlock Holmes films available elsewhere within this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section are A Study in Terror (1965), The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970), The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976), Sherlock Holmes in New York (1976) & Murder By Decree (1979)

Also available from within this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section are three great Rathbone/Bruce entries: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939), Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942) & Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943)

The Adventures of Tartu (1943) (aka Sabotage Agent) - 111 mins

Starring Robert Donat, Valerie Hobson, Walter Rilla & Glynis Johns

Directed by Harold S. Bucquet

A born British spy is dispatched to Czechoslovakia during World War II. Posing as an ineffectual milquetoast, he is hired as a chemist in a Nazi-controlled poison gas factory. Working in concert with the Underground, he spends his off-hours dismantling the Nazi operation. Then he has to figure a way to get out of Czechoslovakia as adroitly as he got in.

Fans of Robert "39 Steps" Donat will love this film

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) - 77 mins

Starring Tommy Kelly, Jackie Moran, May Robson, Walter Brennan, Victor Jory & David Holt

Directed by Norman Taurog

Never forcing its pace, the film manages to include most of Mark Twain's classic sequences from his book, including the fence-whitewashing episode, Tom's rescue of Becky Thatcher (Anne Gillis) from the wrath of their schoolmaster (Olin Howlin), Tom and Huck Finn’s "death and resurrection" after the boys briefly skipped town for an idyll on a remote island, the murder trial of town drunk Muff Potter (Walter Brennan) and ultimately unmasking of the vicious Injun Joe (Victor Jory) as the real killer, and of course the chilling climax in the cave, wherein Tom protects Becky from the fugitive Injun Joe.

Producer David O. Selznick's dry run for Gone with the Wind (1939) - both films share similarities in period, costumes, color scheme and production design (thanks to the services of the great Hollywood art director William Cameron Menzies).

Oscar nominated for Best Art Direction

A sumptuous Technicolor production - an ideal companion piece to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939) which is also available from this website (see above)

Tom Sawyer, Detective (1938) was adapted from the Mark Twain novel of the same name and is a sequel to his wildly successful The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - its also available from this website.

The Adventuress (1946) - See I See a Dark Stranger elsewhere in this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section

Affair in Trinidad (1952) - 98 mins

Starring Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, Alexander Scourby, Valerie Bettis & Torin Thatcher

Directed by Vincent Sherman

When Steve Emery arrives in Trinidad at the urgent request of his brother, he is stunned to find that his brother has not only been murdered, but that his brother's wife Chris is succumbing to the seduction attempts of the murderer. His feelings are further exacerbated when he discovers that he, too, is becoming strongly attracted to Chris, who is a steamy cabaret singer. She, in turn, is playing off one against the other while betraying the secrets of both men to the police, for whom she is secretly working.

Hayworth at her best!

The African Queen (1951) - 105 mins

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Theodore Bikel, Peter Bull & Walter Gotell

Directed by John Huston

Adapted from a novel by C.S. Forester (by film critic James Agee), The African Queen stars Humphrey Bogart in his Oscar-winning portrayal of Charlie Allnut, the slovenly, gin-swilling captain of a tramp steamer called the African Queen, which ships supplies to small East African villages during World War I.

Katharine Hepburn plays Rose Sayer, the maiden-lady sister of a prim British missionary (Robert Morley). When invading Germans kill the missionary and level the village, Allnut offers to take Rose back to civilization. She can't tolerate his drinking or bad manners; he isn't crazy about her imperious, judgmental attitude. However it does not take long before their passionate dislike turns to love. Together the disparate duo work to ensure their survival on the treacherous waters and devise an ingenious way to destroy a German gunboat.

Oscar winner for Best Actor (Bogie) as well as Oscar Nominations for Best Actress (Kate Hepburn), Best Director (John Huston), Best Screenplay

The African Queen may well be the perfect adventure film, its roller-coaster storyline complemented by the chemistry between its stars and the wonderful location scenery

Fabulous Print

Against All Flags (1952) - 83 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Maureen O'Hara, Anthony Quinn & Mildred Natwick

Directed by George Sherman

Its 1700 and the pirates of Madagascar menace the India trade. British officer Brian Hawke has himself cashiered, flogged, and set adrift to infiltrate them. There, Hawke meets Spitfire Stevens, a pirate captain in her own right, and the sparks begin to fly, especially after he rescues adoring young Princess Patma from a captured ship. Meanwhile, Hawke's secret mission proceeds to an action-packed climax.

Flynn is back to his best in what is considered to be "the last of the great swashbucklers"

Air Force (1943) - 124 mins

Starring John Garfield, Gig Young, Arthur Kennedy, George Tobias & John Ridgely

Directed by Howard Hawks

The Mary Ann, a B-17 Flying Fortress, takes off from California for Hawaii on a routine training flight on December 6, 1941. The Mary Ann and the rest of the squadron fly right into the middle of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor unarmed and out of gas, and nearly crack up landing on an emergency field; no sooner do they make repairs than the crew comes under attack, and the plane takes off and makes for Hickam Field, which they find a flaming shambles. They fly on to the Philippines, stopping at Wake Island just long enough to meet a few members of the doomed Marine garrison, taking their company mascot, a dog, with them. At Clark Field, the Mary Ann and her crew finally go into action against the enemy, flying in alone against a Japanese invasion force in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Academy Award winner for Best Film Editing; also Oscar Nominations for Cinematography, Special Effects & Screenplay - check out that final scene - when the B-17 ditches in the surf!

A truly fabulous WWII adventure and a great companion-piece to Wake Island (1942) & Thirty Seconds Over Toyko (1944) - both of which are available from this website.

Alaska Passage (1959) - 71 mins

Starring Bill Williams, Naura Hayden, Lyn Thomas, Leslie Bradley, Nick Dennis & Raymond Hatton

Directed by Edward Bernds

Set in the new state of Alaska, this nicely tuned “B” drama features both a romantic quadrangle, if not pentagon, and a failing trucking company. Al Graham (Bill Williams) manages the company out of a small town where the trucks make regular runs to Fairbanks. On top of rock slides and bad weather, he now has to handle the visit of his off-site partner Gerard Mason (Leslie Bradley) and his wife Janet (Lyn Thomas). This is more complex than usual because the company is in the red, and Janet was Al's former girlfriend - she left him for Mason and his money. Add in the attractive Tina (Nora Hayden) who has her own interest in Al, who is interested in Janet, who is not that interested in Mason anymore …

Nice location photography

Albuquerque (1948) - 90 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Lon Chaney Jr. & Russell Hayden

Directed by Ray Enright

Cole Armin comes to Albuquerque to work for his uncle, John, an overly strict and hard-hearted man who operates an ore-hauling freight line, and whose goal is to eliminate a competing line run by Ted Wallace and his sister Celia. Cole tires of his uncle's heavy-handed tactics and switches over to the Wallace side. John and his henchman Juke Murkil aren't impressed.

From the novel by Luke Short - he also wrote Ramrod (1947), Blood on the Moon (1948), Station West (1948), Coroner Creek (1948), Ambush (1950), Ride the Man Down (1952) & Hell’s Outpost (1954) - all of which are available from this website

Al Capone (1959) - 105 mins

Starring Rod Steiger, Fay Spain, James Gregory, Martin Balsam & Nehemiah Persoff

Directed by Richard Wilson

In this unusually accurate biography, small-time hood Al Capone comes to Chicago at the dawn of Prohibition to be the bodyguard of racketeer Johnny Torrio. Capone's rise in Chicago gangdom is followed through murder, extortion, and political fraud. He becomes head of Chicago's biggest "business," but moves inexorably toward his downfall and ignominious end

Alias Jesse James (1959) - 92 mins

Starring Bob Hope, Rhonda Fleming, Wendell Corey, Gloria Talbot & Jim Davis

Directed by Norman Z. McLeod

19th-century insurance agent Milford Farnsworth (bob Hope) has a miserable sales record and this prompts his boss to send him out West, where he can (supposedly) do little harm. But he can (do more harm) … in that he manages to sell a $100,000 life insurance policy to outlaw Jesse James (Wendell Corey), one of the worst "risks" in history! In his efforts to get the policy back, Milford finds himself being mistaken for Jesse, which is all part of the outlaw's plan to get Milford killed and thereby collect the policy money himself. But with the help of beautiful Cora Lee Collins (Rhonda Fleming), Milford gains a reputation as a lightning-fast gunslinger.

In the inevitable shoot-out with the James gang, Bob Hope (as Milford) is helped out by several famous Westerners, including big screen cowboys Gary Cooper & Roy Rogers, as well as TV cowboys: Fess "Davy Crockett" Parker, James "Marshall Matt Dillon" Arness, Hugh "Wyatt Earp" O'Brian, Ward " Major Seth Adams" Bond, Jay “Tonto” Silverheels & Gail "Annie Oakley" Davis - and lastly Bob's "Road" companion Bing Crosby!

Bob Hope had some great “female teamings” in his films: firstly with Paulette Goddard for three outings: the haunted house double, The Cat and the Canary (1939) & The Ghost Breakers (1940) followed by Nothing But The Truth (1941). Hope also teamed to great effect with Jane Russell for two western comedies The Paleface (1948) & Son of Paleface (1952). Then it was Rhonda Fleming’s turn to partner up with Bob in another cowboy comedy Alias Jesse James (1959)

Bob Hope - the classical exponent of the wise-crack! His very best comedies can be found in this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website: Never Say Die (1939), The Cat and the Canary (1939), The Ghost Breakers (1940), Nothing But The Truth (1941), My Favorite Blonde (1942), They Got Me Covered (1943), The Princess and the Pirate (1944), My Favorite Brunette (1947), The Paleface (1948), The Lemon Drop Kid (1951), My Favorite Spy (1951), Son of Paleface (1952) & Alias Jesse James (1959)

The Classic Movie Combinations section of this website contains two specially packaged Bob Hope Collections: a 6 DVD set comprising The Cat and the Canary (1939), The Ghost Breakers (1940), Nothing But The Truth (1941), The Paleface (1948), Son of Paleface (1952) & Alias Jesse James (1959) and a 3 DVD set comprising My Favorite Blonde (1942), My Favorite Brunette (1947) & My Favorite Spy (1951).

Also the 6 “Road” comedies that Bob Hope made with Bing Crosby can be found in the Movie Series section of this website

Alias Nick Beal (1949) - 93 mins

Starring Ray Milland, Audrey Totter, Thomas Mitchell, George Macready, Fred Clark & Geraldine Wall

Directed by John Farrow

This modern-day "Faust" variation benefits from a superb cast. Thomas Mitchell plays Joseph Foster, an honest judge who wants to become governor. Blocked by corrupt political forces, Foster would practically have to make a deal with the Devil to reach his goal. Enter Nick Beal (Ray Milland), a diabolically handsome gent with a slick line of patter and a smooth, infallible method of getting things done. Failing to recognize his benefactor's true identity (after all, Nick has no horns or cloven hooves) Foster agrees to the deal when Nick assures him that the end result is for the good of the people. To bind the bargain, Nick sends out one of his most trusted associates, Donna Allen (Audrey Totter), to keep Foster in line. When Foster finally realizes that he's sold his soul, there seems to be no way out … but that's when the forces of Good, represented by Foster's wife Martha (Geraldine Wall) and his clergyman friend Thomas Gaylord (George Macready), switch into high gear.

An offbeat but extremely satisfying film which benefits from a fabulous Franz Waxman's soundtrack score.

A very good print of this very rare film!

Allegheny Uprising (1939) - 81 mins

Starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor, George Sanders, Brian Donlevy & Wilfrid Lawson

Directed by William A. Seiter

John Wayne and Claire Trevor, stars of the recent western hit Stagecoach, are reteamed herein as 18th century adventurer James Smith and his spitfire sweetheart Janie. Taking every opportunity to defy the edicts of the King of England, Smith and his ragtag followers, "The Black Boys," undermine the despotic regime of provincial governor Captain Swanson (George Sanders). To quell Smith's uprising, Swanson arrests nearly half the colonists and holds them without trial or recourse.

An RKO production, Allegheny Uprising is John Wayne’s first movie after he left The Three Mesquiteers “B” movie series

John Wayne: Duke - one of the most recognizable persons on the planet -a true mega-star in film. You'll find the following John Wayne movies in this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of this website:

The Big Trail (1930), Westward Ho (1935), Stagecoach (1939), Allegheny Uprising (1939), Dark Command (1940), Three Faces West (1940), Seven Sinners (1940), Reap the Wild Wind (1942), The Spoilers (1942), In Old California (1942), Flying Tigers (1942), Pittsburgh (1942), Reunion in France (1942), The Fighting Seabees (1944), Tall in the Saddle (1944), Back to Bataan (1945), Dakota (1945), They Were Expendable (1945), Without Reservations (1946), Tycoon (1947), Fort Apache (1948), Red River (1948), 3 Godfathers (1948), Wake of the Red Witch (1948), The Fighting Kentuckian (1949), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), Rio Grande (1950), Operation Pacific (1951), Flying Leathernecks (1951), The Quiet Man (1952), Big Jim McLain (1952), Island in the Sky (1953), Hondo (1953), The Sea Chase (1955), Blood Alley (1955), The Wings of Eagles (1957), Jet Pilot (1957) Legend of the Lost (1957), Rio Bravo (1959), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Donovan's Reef (1963), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), El Dorado (1966), The War Wagon (1967), Hellfighters (1968), McQ (1974) & Brannigan (1975)

Additionally John Wayne filmed an incomparable "B" Western Movie Series: The Three Mesquiteers. A set of 8 films which were all critically acclaimed and enormously popular at the box office. You'll find this 2 DVD set comprising those 8 Three Mesquiteers westerns in the "B" Westerns Series section of this website (under "Three Mesquiteers")

All the King's Men (1949) - 109 mins

Starring Broderick Crawford, John Ireland, Joanne Dru, John Derek, Mercedes McCambridge & Shepperd Strudwick

Directed by Robert Rossen

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Robert Penn Warren, All the King's Men is inspired by the career of Louisiana governor Huey Long. Broderick Crawford won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Willie Stark, a backwoods Southern lawyer who wins the hearts of his constituents by bucking the corrupt state government. Journalist Jack Burden (John Ireland) is impressed by Willie's seeming sincerity, and aids Stark on the road to political power. Once he's reached the governor's mansion, however, Willie proves himself to be as dishonest and despotic as the crooks whom he's replaced. He also cheats shamelessly on his wife with both his campaign manager (Mercedes McCambridge, another Oscar winner) and with Anne Stanton (Joanne Dru), the sister of idealistic doctor Adam Stanton (Sheppard Strudwick). Fiercely protective of his power, Willie organizes a fascistic police force and arranges for "accidents" to befall those who oppose him; even so, he retains the love of the voters by lowering the poverty level, improving the school system, and financing building projects.

In addition to its Oscars for Crawford and McCambridge, All the King's Men won the Best Picture prize.

An out and out classic tour de force!

Broderick Crawford had some wonderful starring roles in nourish dramas: All the King's Men (1949), The Mob (1951), Scandal Sheet (1952), Down Three Dark Streets (1954) & New York Confidential (1955) - all of which are also available from this website.

He then moved on to TV playing Chief Dan Mathews in Highway Patrol - a fabulous realistic series which is available from the TV Series section of this website

All the Young Men (1960) - 90 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Sidney Poitier, James Darren, Glenn Corbett & Mort Sahl

Directed by Hall Bartlett

Set right near the 38th Parallel, the dividing line between North and South Korea, this Korea War tale focuses on the relationships of some GI's caught without reinforcements in an old farmhouse. Although the house offers some protection, the men are outnumbered and little by little, casualties mount. After the lieutenant dies, African-American Sergeant Towler (Sidney Poitier) automatically assumes command, and that causes friction among the white soldiers underneath him in particular Sgt. Kincaid (Alan Ladd)

Solid later Ladd vehicle with good support provided by Sidney Poitier

All Through the Night (1941) - 107 mins

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Conrad Veidt, Kaaren Verne, Frank McHugh, Peter Lorre, William Demarest & Jackie Gleason

Directed by Vincent Sherman

Humphrey Bogart plays Gloves Donahue, a rough-hewn but essentially decent New York gambler. The Runyonesque plot gets moving when Gloves tries to find out what's holding up his favourite restaurant's daily shipment of cheesecake. Paying a call on the bakery, Gloves stumbles into a Nazi spy ring, masterminded by Conrad Veidt. Mixed up in all this is nightclub singer Kaaren Verne, whose loyalties are in question in her early scenes but who turns out to be as true-blue as the patriotic Gloves. Combining a quick wit with quicker fists, Gloves and his "mob" thwart the Nazis before they're able to skip the country. The cast is a movie buff's dream, ranging from Jane Darwell as Bogart's mom to Peter Lorre as a cynical Nazi flunkey to William Demarest, Frank McHugh, Phil Silvers and Jackie Gleason as Bogie's favourite cohorts.

A great movie with a fabulous script!

Along the Great Divide (1951) - 88 mins

Starring Kirk Douglas, Virginia Mayo, John Agar, Walter Brennan & Ray Teal

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Feeling responsible for his father's death, Marshal Len Merrick (Kirk Douglas) seeks redemption and he gets his chance when he saves murder suspect Timothy ‘Pop’ Keith (Walter Brennan) from a lynch mob. The grateful Pop accompanies Len to another town, where he can get a fair trial and where Len can hopefully find the real killer.

Along the Great Divide was Kirk Douglas' first western! - a fine piece of work, thanks to a dash of Raoul Walsh artistry

Alphaville (1965) - 99 mins (aka Alphaville, une étrange aventure de Lemmy Caution)

Starring Eddie Constantine, Ana Karina, Akim Tamiroff, Valérie Boisgel & Jean-Louis Comolli

Directed by Jean-Luc Godard

A haggard private eye, Lemmy Caution is sent to an ultramodern city run by a master computer, where his mission is to locate and rescue a scientist who is trapped there. As the story unfolds, the movie tackles a variety of topics such as the dehumanizing effect of technology, wilful suppression of personality, saturation of commercial products etc at the hands of director Jean-Luc Godard.

A perplexing 100 minutes of cinema that manages to be classic film noir, imaginative science-fiction, an action-packed, suspenseful thriller and most surprisingly of all, a very entertaining black comedy.

A cult classic!

Note: This film is in French (spoken) language with English subtitles.

The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) - 80 mins

Starring Glenn Langan, Cathy Downs, William Hudson, Larry Thor & James Seay

Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Lt. Col. Glenn Manning (Glenn Langan) is inadvertently exposed to a plutonium bomb blast at Camp Desert Rock. Though burned over 90% of his body, he survives, and begins to grow in size. As he grows, his heart and circulatory system fail to keep pace with his growth, with the result that he is gradually losing his mind because of reduced blood supply to his brain. He reaches 50 feet tall before his growth is stopped. By this time he has become insane. He escapes and wreaks havoc upon Las Vegas.

Writer / director Bert I. Gordon also penned (& helmed) the sequel, War of the Colossal Man (1958) as well as The Cyclops (1957) - both of which are available from this website

The Amazing Mrs. Holliday (1943) - 96 mins

Starring Deanna Durbin, Edmond O'Brien, Barry Fitzgerald, Arthur Treacher, Harry Davenport & Grant Mitchell

Directed by Bruce Manning

Deanna Durbin plays Mrs. Holliday but there really is no Mrs. Holliday: it's the guise assumed by idealistic missionary Ruth Kirke Holliday (Durbin) to sneak a group of Chinese war orphans into the US. With the help of ship's steward Timothy (Barry Fitzgerald), Ruth poses as the wife of a wealthy shipping magnate who was lost at sea. This enables her to safely sequester the orphans in the Holliday family mansion until she can cook up her next scheme. But things begin to unravel when Ruth falls in love with her "husband"'s grandson (Edmond O'Brien) and, of course, when Mr. Holliday (Harry Davenport) himself turns up alive and well. The resultant confusion leads to some hilarious moments and bittersweet outcomes.

The Amazing Mrs. Holliday was originally intended as Durbin's dramatic debut, and originally directed by Jean Renoir, but Universal insisted upon retakes and added songs. Though virtually all of Renoir's completed footage was retained, final directorial credit was bestowed upon Bruce Manning, the film's producer.

Oscar Nominated for Best Music

Edmond O'Brien was famous for his tough noir roles on the big screen, notably his starring roles in The Web (1947), Fighter Squadron (1948), Backfire (1950), D.O.A. (1950), 711 Ocean Drive (1950), Between Midnight and Dawn (1950), Two of a Kind (1951), The Turning Point (1952), Denver & Rio Grande (1952), The Hitch-Hiker (1953), China Venture (1953), The Bigamist (1953), The Shanghai Story (1954), Shield for Murder (1954), 1984 (1956) & A Cry in the Night (1956) - all of which are available from the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of this website. In the late 1950's Edmond O'Brien also made an interesting noir-style detective TV series called Johnny Midnight - a nice set of episodes from this series can be found in the TV Series I-Z section of this website

Then there are his earlier "breakout" roles in A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob (1941), Parachute Battalion (1941), Obliging Young Lady (1942), Powder Town (1942) & The Amazing Mrs. Holliday (1943) - all of which are available from this website.

The Amazing Mr. Williams (1939) - 80 mins

Starring Melvyn Douglas, Joan Blondell, Don Beddoe, Edward Brophy & Ruth Donnelly

Directed by Alexander Hall

A top police detective can never find the time to marry his intended. On the eve of his wedding to long-time fiance Maxine, Mr. Williams is obliged to solve three mysteries in a row. One of these finds him handcuffed to convicted criminal, whilst another requires Williams to disguise himself as a woman, (moustache and all!) Finally, Mr. Williams goes undercover to prove the innocence of accused murderer. Through it all, Maxine gamely remains at Williams' side, determined to march him to the altar come what may - then she herself is deputized by the police force!

Excellent mystery comedy with Douglas & Blondell in fine form

Ambush (1950) - 90 mins

Starring Robert Taylor, John Hodiak, Arlene Dahl, Don Taylor & Jean Hagen

Directed by Sam Wood

Ward Kinsman (Robert Taylor) is an Indian scout, who with Frank Holly (John McIntire) narrowly escapes from a savage band of Apaches. Arriving at the fort, Ward learns that the Army is about to set out on a recue mission: a young woman has been captured by the same Apache band. Even though he knows it will cost lives Ward agrees to scout for the mission. The woman’s sister, Ann Duverall (Arlene Dahl) is also slated to join the rescue group - a situation which complicates matters since Ward has concerns for her safety but he definitely has eyes for her

Ambush is a tight, well-paced western, expertly assembled by veteran director Sam Wood - his last film

From the novel by Luke Short - he also wrote Ramrod (1947), Blood on the Moon (1948), Station West (1948), Coroner Creek (1948), Albuquerque (1948), Ride the Man Down (1952) & Hell’s Outpost (1954) - all of which are available from this website

American Guerrilla in the Philippines (1950) - 105 mins

Starring Tyrone Power, Micheline Presle, Tom Ewell, Robert Patten & Tommy Cook

Directed by Fritz Lang

The year is 1942. Ensign Chuck Palmer (Tyrone Power) is stranded in the Japanese-occupied Philippines after his PT Boat is torpedoed. Linking up with several other American refugees, Palmer helps the Filipinos organize a resistance movement against the enemy. They even manage to construct a few jerry-built radio stations to keep tabs on Japanese fleet movements. Palmer finds romance in the form of Jeanne Martinez (Micheline Presle), the wife of a Filipino war hero. Based on the novel by Ira Wolfert, American Guerilla in the Philippines is directed with unvarnished efficiency by Fritz Lang. Standouts in the supporting cast include Tom Ewell as Tyrone Power's wisecracking buddy and Robert Barrat as General Douglas MacArthur.

A truly great adventure yarn directed by one of the best

Tyrone Power: that fabulous adventurer … great Tyrone Power movies available from this website are: The Mark of Zorro (1940), Johnny Apollo (1940), Blood and Sand (1941), Son of Fury (1942), The Black Swan (1942), Crash Dive (1943), The Razor's Edge (1946), Captain From Castile (1947), Nightmare Alley (1947), Prince of Foxes (1949), The Black Rose (1950), American Guerrilla in the Philippines (1950), Diplomatic Courier (1952) & King of the Khyber Rifles (1953).

American Madness (1932) - 75 mins

Starring Walter Huston, Pat O’Brien, Kay Johnson, Constance Cummmings & Gavin Gordon

Directed by Frank Capra

Bank president Thomas Dickson (Walter Huston) has instituted a lending policy that shows great faith in ordinary people but which also irritates his board of directors, as does his claim that an increased money supply will help end the Depression. Elsewhere in the bank, criminal Dude Finlay (Robert Ellis) has coerced head cashier Cluett (Gavin Gordon) into cooperating with a robbery by threatening to reveal Cluett as a habitual gambler. Dickson's neglected wife Phyllis (Kay Johnson), upset that Thomas has forgotten their anniversary, agrees to go out with Cluett, but they're spotted by head teller Matt Brown (Pat O'Brien). Matt goes to Cluett's apartment and convinces Phyllis to leave with him just as the robbery takes place back at the bank. Because he was responsible for locking the vault, Matt is assumed to be in league with the robbers, and he's arrested. News of the robbery leads to frantic depositors demanding their money back from the bank; Dickson cannot talk them out of it, and the bank is running out of money. This gives the board of directors the leverage over Dickson that they've been seeking, and they try to force his resignation.

Capra-esque?

The Americano (1955) - 85 mins

Starring Glenn Ford, Frank Lovejoy, Cesar Romero, Ursula Thiess, Abbe Lane & Rodolfo Hoyos Jr.

Directed by William Castle

The Americano is Sam Dent (Glenn Ford), a north-of-the-border cowboy working in Brazil. Sam has been assigned to deliver a cargo of Brahma bulls to a South American ranch. His progress is impeded by homicidal land-grabber Bento Hermany (Frank Lovejoy) and jovial bandido Manuel Silvera aka El Gato (Cesar Romero). Those are merely the human obstacles; there are also piranhas and jungle predators to contend with. Sam also finds time to romance both Marianna (Ursula Theiss) and Teresa (Abbe Lane) - setting conflicts there as well.

Luxuriously location-photographed in Technicolor.

And Now Tomorrow (1944) - 86 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Loretta Young, Susan Haywood, Barry Sullivan & Beulah Bondi

Directed by Irving Pichel

A doctor returns to his home town to set out his shingle. He was born on the poor side of town and so has had a life-long anger towards the town's wealthiest family. When the daughter of this family comes in for treatment, he finds himself faced with a dilemma. A bout with meningitis has left her deaf. He has a new drug that can cure deafness. Will he use it, or will he let his anger prevent him from helping her?

The film re-teams Ladd & Young from their earlier successful actioner: China (1943) - also available from this website

The Andromeda Strain (1971) - 131 mins

Starring Arthur Hill, David Wayne, James Olson, Kate Reid, Paula Kelly & George Mitchell

Directed by Robert Wise

The "Andromeda Strain" is a deadly extraterrestrial virus. It is brought to Earth when a research satellite crashes near a tiny Arizona town. Everyone in the community dies within days, except for a baby and an "insulated" drunkard. Recruited from labs all over North America, Drs. Charles Dutton (David Wayne), Jeremy Stone (Arthur Hill), Ruth Leavitt (Kate Reid), and Mark Hall (James Olson) don radiation suits and race against time to isolate and destroy the virus.

Based on a novel by Michael Crichton.

Oscar Nominations for Art Direction & Film Editing

And Then There Were None (1945) - 97 mins

Starring Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston, Louis Hayward, Roland Young, June Duprez & C. Aubrey Smith

Directed by René Clair

Based on the classic novel by mystery author Agatha Christie (later adapted as the Broadway hit Ten Little Indians). And Then There Were None begins with ten characters, each with a skeleton in his or her closet, on a remote island off the English coast. They soon realize that they have been brought there by an insane judge, who has tried each of them for criminal behaviour in the past, and who now feels it is his duty to render proper justice for each. The struggle to stay alive begins as each "guest" is eliminated in a fashion that corresponds to the titular nursery rhyme.

Fabulous who-dun-it!

Angel Face (1952) - 91 mins

Starring Robert Mitchum, Jean Simmons, Herbert Marshall, Mona Freeman & Leon Ames

Directed by Otto Preminger

When Mrs. Tremayne is mysteriously poisoned with gas, ambulance driver Frank Jessup meets her refined but sensuous stepdaughter Diane, who quickly pursues and infatuates him. Under Diane's seductive influence, Frank is soon the Tremayne chauffeur; but he begins to suspect danger under her surface sweetness. When he shows signs of pulling away, Diane schemes to get him in so deep he'll never get out.

A Howard Hughes production, Angel Face has one of the most sensational conclusions in film - one has to see it to believe it

-NEW TITLE-

Angels One Five (1952) - 98 mins

Starring Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray, John Gregson, Cyril Raymond & Veronica Hurst

Directed by George More O'Ferrall

Pilot Officer 'Septic' Baird (John Gregson) has just joined a front line RAF squadron at the height of the Battle of Britain. Group Captain ‘Tiger’ Small (Jack Hawkins) is the inspirational leader of the squadron but he is taken out of commission after an accident. Despite the protests from his fellow flyboys, Tiger insists upon taking to the air again… This is the story of "The Few" and how they managed to fight off the might of the Luftwaffe despite overwhelming German air power

Wonderful Battle of Britain tale!

The Angels Wash Their Faces (1939) - 86 mins

Starring Ann Sheridan, Ronald Reagan, Billy Halop, Bernard Punsley, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall & Frankie Thomas

Directed by Ray Enright

Fresh out of reform school, Gabe Ryan (Frankie Thomas) promises his sister Joy (Ann Sheridan) that he'll go straight, and promptly joins the Beale Street Termites (the Dead Enders), a tough but basically good-hearted street gang. Local mobster William Kroner (Bernard Nedell), seeking out a fall guy for a series of arsons, frames Gabe for a fire in which helpless invalid Sleepy (Punsly) dies. With the help of the other Termites, crusading DA Pat Remson (Ronald Reagan) tries to prove Gabe's innocence.

Starring the Dead End Kids, mostly … they had previously appeared along with Ann Sheridan in Angels with Dirty Faces (1938). The Angels Wash Their Faces (1939) sounds like a sequel to that film but it isn't.

Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) is also available from this website (see below)

Angels With Dirty Faces (1938) - 95 mins

Starring James Cagney, Pat O’Brien, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, George Bancroft, Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan & Leo Gorcey

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Childhood chums Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney) and Jerry Connelly (Pat O'Brien) grow up on opposite sides of the fence: Rocky matures into a prominent gangster, while Jerry becomes a priest, tending to the needs of his old tenement neighborhood. Rocky becomes a hero to a gang of teenaged boys (played by Dead End Kids Billy Halop, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Bobby Jordan and Bernard Punsley). Father Jerry despairs at this, asking Rocky leave them alone so he can keep the kids on the straight and narrow. Then Rocky's crooked business associates Mac Keefer (George Bancroft) and James Frazier (Humphrey Bogart) attempt to end Father Jerry's radio campaign against the rackets by killing the priest. Rocky whose cynical outlook on life has been softened by his romance with true-blue Laury Ferguson (Anne Sheridan) decides its time to challenge his associates and safe-guard Jerry.

Oscar Nominations for Best Actor (Cagney), Best Director & Best Writing

Humphrey Bogart meets The Dead End Kids again, after a similar tough-guy role opposed to the boys in Dead End (1937)

The Angels Wash Their Faces (1939) which also stars Ann Sheridan & The Dead End Kids assaying similar roles sounds like it’s a sequel to Angels With Dirty Faces (1938) – but it isn’t.

Both Dead End (1937) & The Angels Wash Their Faces (1939) are also available from this website.

The Angry Hills (1959) - 105 mins

Starring Robert Mitchum, Stanley Baker, Elisabeth Muller, Gia Scala, Theodore Bikel & Sebastian Cabot

Directed by Robert Aldrich

Robert Aldrich (Kiss Me Deadly) directed this cloak-and-dagger yarn (based on a bestseller by Leon Uris), filmed on sumptuous locations in Greece. Set in Athens in 1941, before the Nazis overran the country, Robert Mitchum plays American war correspondent Mike Morrison, who has come into the possession of a list of 16 Greek underground leaders that he agrees to deliver to British intelligence in London for a $20,000 fee. Trying to keep him from getting there is the local Gestapo chief Conrad Heisler (Stanley Baker) and fifth columnist Tassos (Theodore Bikel). Morrison also becomes involved with a group of Greek freedom fighters particularly the beautiful Eleftheria (Gia Scala).

The Angry Red Planet (1959) - 83 mins

Starring Gerald Mohr, Naura Hayden, Les Tremayne, Jack Kruschen, Paul Hahn & J. Edward McKinley

Directed by Ib Melchior

The United States space program reports that its missing, overdue manned Mars probe has returned to Earth orbit, but that they haven't been able to make radio contact with it. When it is brought down by remote control, they find three of the four crewmembers aboard: one of them, Professor Gettell (Les Tremayne), is dead; another, mission commander Colonel Tom O'Bannion (Gerald Mohr), is in a coma and suffering from some kind of alien infection; and the third, exo-biologist Iris Ryan (Nora Hayden), is in a state of shock. The ship's tape library seems to have been wiped clean of any record of what took place on the mission, and the doctors can't begin to save O'Bannion until they know what happened. In desperation, they decide to put Iris Ryan into a state of hypnosis, forcing her to recall the events of the mission. The bulk of the film is an un-narrated flashback in which we see the voyage to Mars and the quartet of explorers - rounded out by technician Sam Jacobs (Jack Kruschen) - proceeding successfully to a landing. As they draw closer to signs of intelligent life, however, the group also encounters increasingly dangerous creatures, including a man-eating plant, a giant bat-rat-spider, and a huge amoeba-like creature that consumes anything in its path.

One of a relative handful of 1950s sci-fi films done in color, The Angry Red Planet did its rivals one better with the use of a special effects process called "Cinemagic," which gave the entire screen a deep red tint but also created the illusion of dimensionality and made the monsters look particularly eerie.

Director Ib Melchior who also wrote the screenplay went on the write and direct another excellent (color) sci-fi film: The Time Travelers (1964) which is also available from this website.

(Melchior also wrote one of the best of The Outer Limits TV series: The Premonition)

Another Dawn (1937) - 73 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Kay Francis, Ian Hunter, Frieda Inescort, Herbert Mundin & Richard Powell

Directed by William Dieterle

Captain Denny Roark (Errol Flynn) is a British army officer stationed in a remote Sahara outpost just after WWI. Against his better judgement, Roark falls in love with Julia (Kay Francis), the wife of his commanding officer Colonel Wister (Ian Hunter). Wister knows what's going on, but he is too much the gentleman to interfere, just as Roark is too much the gentleman to demand that the Colonel grant Julia a divorce.

Nice Erich Wolfgang Korngold musical score

Another Man's Poison (1951) - 90 mins

Starring Bette Davis, Gary Merrill, Emlyn Williams, Anthony Steel & Barbara Murray

Directed by Irving Rapper

Mystery writer Janet Frobisher lives alone in a dark English country house, when she's not philandering with her secretary's fiancée. At an extremely awkward moment, she has an unwelcome visitor: George Bates, who claims to be the partner in crime of Janet's estranged husband. George insinuates himself into Janet's home and life despite her efforts to get rid of him; the tangled relationships develop into a macabre, murderous cat-and-mouse game.

Apache (1954) - 91 mins

Starring Burt Lancaster, Jean Peters, John McIntire, Charles Bronson, John Dehner & Paul Guilfoyle

Directed by Robert Aldrich

Massai (Burt Lancaster) is a lieutenant of the great Apache warrior Geronimo. Though his tribe has signed surrender terms with the conquering whites, Massai refuses to do so. He escapes from a prison train and conducts a one-man war against the white intruders - and against some of his own people. Along the way, he claims Nalinle (Jean Peters), whom he previously regarded as a traitor to his cause, as his wife. Indian scout Al Sieber (John McIntire) who is sympathetic to the Indians' plight and Massai's single-purposed cause enters the mix with telling results

Apache was based on Paul I. Wellman's novel Broncho Apache, which in turn was inspired by a true story.

Excellent Technicolor print

Burt Lancaster ran the gamut of film genres. He made a number of powerful dramas & gritty noirs: The Killers (1946), Brute Force (1947), Desert Fury (1947), I Walk Alone (1948), Criss Cross (1949), Jim Thorpe -- All-American (1951), From Here to Eternity (1953), Sweet Smell of Success (1957), Run Silent Run Deep (1958), The Devil’s Disciple (1959), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), Seven Days in May (1964) & The Train (1964)

Then, of course there were his fabulous adventure films: Rope of Sand (1949), The Flame and the Arrow (1950), Ten Tall Men (1951), The Crimson Pirate (1952), South Sea Woman (1953) & His Majesty O'Keefe (1954).

Burt was also “out West” with Vengeance Valley (1951), Apache (1954) & Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

All of the above are available from this website

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Apache Drums (1951) - 75 mins

Starring Stephen McNally, Coleen Gray, Willard Parker, Arthur Shields & James Griffith

Directed by Hugo Fregonese

The potentially prosperous western town of Spanish Boot has been built from nothing by a group of determined settlers. But before they can enjoy the fruits of their labors, the townsfolk are threatened with an imminent Apache attack. Delivering this sobering news is gambler Sam Leeds (Stephen McNally), previously kicked out of town by the "proper" citizens. At first, no one believes Leeds, but soon the Apaches prove the veracity of the gambler's claims.

Horror film producer Val Lewton switched creative gears by overseeing this Technicolor Universal western.

Nice follow-up to Wyoming Mail (1950) for Stephen McNally - also available from this website

Apache Rifles (1964) - 92 mins

Starring Audie Murphy, Michael Dante, Linda Dawson, L. Q. Jones & Ken Lynch

Directed by William Witney

The army commander of an Arizona outpost, Capt. Jeff Stanton (Audie Murphy) despises all Indians until he falls in love with a beautiful missionary girl, Dawn Gillis (Linda Dawson). He must change his ways because one of her parents is an Apache. Unfortunately, his attempts to reform are nearly foiled by greedy gold-seekers trying to start a war with the local Apaches.

Another excellent collaboration between Murphy & director Witney

Apache Territory (1958) - 72 mins

Starring Rory Calhoun, Barbara Bates, John Dehner, Carolyn Craig & Myron Healey

Directed by Ray Nazarro

Logan Cates (Rory Calhoun) is a drifter who is traveling through Apache country. He is joined by a few civilians and a small band of soldiers at a water hole when they become pinned down by Apaches. Unable to get away, the small party is killed one by one as the food and water supply dwindles. But then a storm hits …

Nice color western with Rory delivering on all fronts!

Apache Territory (1958) is adapted from the novel Last Stand at Papago Wells by Louis L'Amour - who also penned another Rory Calhoun western Four Guns to the Border (1954) which is also available from this website

Apology for Murder (1945) - 67 mins

Starring Hugh Beaumont, Ann Savage, Russell Hicks, Charles D. Brown & Pierre Watkin

Directed by Sam Newfield

Reporter Kenny Blake (Hugh Beaumont) falls in love with scheming Toni Kirkland (Ann Savage) not knowing that she is married to Harvey Kirkland (Russell Hicks), a man years older than she. By the time he finds out, he is so under her spell that he murders her husband which is what Toni had planned all along. City editor Ward McKee (Charles D. Brown), Kenny's boss and best friend, begins to pursue the tangled threads of the crime relentlessly and gradually closes the net on Kenny.

PRC's Apology for Murder is a well-paced film noir that’s a nod to the better known Double Indemnity (1944) - which is also available from this website

Appointment in Berlin (1943) - 77 mins

Starring George Sanders, Marguerite Chapman, Onslow Stevens, Gale Sondergaard, Alan Napier & H. P. Sanders

Directed by Alfred E. Green

This wartime melodrama stars George Sanders as Keith Wilson, a disillusioned Britisher who becomes a collaborationist at a Nazi radio station. All the time he's dispensing anti-British propaganda over the airwaves, however, Wilson is actually a secret agent in the employ of the His Majesty's government. It is Wilson's intention to use his intimate relationship with the Germans to expose a worldwide Nazi spy ring. Romance enters the picture in the form of Ilse Preissing (Marguerite Chapman), the sister of a Nazi agent who decides to join Wilson's side.Veteran movie villainess Gale Sondergaard also appears in the film, cast against type as a courageous British intelligence agent.

Quality Note: Not the best of prints but still acceptable enough so as to not interfere with the enjoyment of this great Sanders drama

Appointment in Honduras (1953) - 79 mins

Starring Glenn Ford, Ann Sheridan, Zachary Scott, Rodolfo Acosta, Jack Elam & Ric Roman

Directed by Jacques Tourneur

Set in Central America, the plotline resembles a Republic serial, with Ms. Sheridan and leading man Glenn Ford facing such perils as man-eating fish, alligators, outsized hornets and a jungle brushfire. Jim Corbett (Glenn Ford) is hired to make certain that a huge sum of cash reaches an ousted South American political leader. Sylvia Sheppard (Ann Sheridan) and her husband Harry (Zachary Scott) are taken hostage by Corbett's crooked employers and forced to go along.

Well directed by Jacques Tourneur, this nice color production is full of such perils as man-eating fish, alligators, outsized hornets and a jungle brushfire - great stuff!

Appointment in London (1952) - 96 mins

Starring Dirk Bogarde, Ian Hunter, Dinah Sheridan, Bryan Forbes & Walter Fitzgerald

Directed by Philip Leacock

Its 1943 and Wing Commander Tim Mason's (Dirk Bogarde) hope is to complete 90 bombing missions before his automatic rotation to a desk job. After the 89th mission, however, he is grounded and ordered to remain so by his superior officer. When a bomber pilot is injured, Mason defies his orders and takes the pilot's place.

A stylish and superior film which was a big hit both in the UK and the US markets

Appointment With Danger (1951) - 89 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Phyllis Calvert, Paul Stewart, Jan Sterling, Jack Webb & Harry Morgan

Directed by Lewis Allen

Relentless postal inspector Al Goddard is sent to Gary, Indiana, when another officer is murdered. He must find the nun who witnessed the murder, then infiltrate the gang by convincing them he is a postal inspector gone bad. This is a great Alan Ladd crime drama with interesting support from Jack Webb & Harry Morgan as the villains!

Arabian Adventure (1979) - 98 mins

Starring Christopher Lee, Milo O’Shea, Oliver Tobias, Capucine, Peter Cushing & Mickey Rooney

Directed by Kevin Connor

A valiant prince battles an evil sorcerer to rescue his true love in this colorful fantasy, which features high adventure and plenty of special effects. The hero must overcome a number of dangers, along the way receiving help from a beautiful street urchin and a magical rose.

One of nice sextet of sci-fi / fantasy / horror films directed by legendary Brit, Kevin Connor: From Beyond the Grave (1973), The Land That Time Forgot (1975), At the Earth's Core (1976), The People That Time Forgot (1977), Warlords of the Deep (1978) & Arabian Adventure (1979) - all of which are available from this website.

Arabesque (1966) - 105 mins

Starring Gregory Peck, Sophia Loren, Alan Badel, Keiron Moore, Carl Duering & John Merivale

Directed by Stanley Donen

An expert in ancient hieroglyphics unexpectedly finds himself involved in a web of international intrigue in this chic, enjoyably tongue-in-cheek espionage adventure. Gregory Peck stars as David Pollock, an American professor whose predictable academic routine is overturned when he is hired to help translate a mysterious message written in an obscure ancient text. The real trouble begins, however, when everyone from a wealthy oil magnate to a foreign government to brutal criminals starts to chase Pollock, desperate to discover the nature of the deciphered message. Along for the ride is Yasmin Azir (Sophia Loren), the gorgeous lover of Pollock's employers, whose loyalties are questionable, to say the least.

A fabulous Henry Mancini score adds to this well-made example of an airy, intentionally superficial comic adventure.

Arch of Triumph (1948) - 125 mins

Starring Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, Charles Laughton, Louis Calhern & Stephan Bekassy

Directed by Lewis Milestone

Dr. Ravic (Charles Boyer) is a refugee physician practicing medicine illegally in Paris under a false name. He saves Joan Madou (Ingrid Bergman) from committing suicide after the sudden death of her lover. He gets her a job singing at the nightclub where his only friend, Boris Morosov (Louis Calhern), is the doorman. Joan falls in love with Ravic, but he is deported and she finds herself the mistress of wealthy Alex (Stephan Bekassy). Meanwhile, Ravic seeks revenge against a Nazi officer (Charles Laughton) and war is declared between France and Germany.

Based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque.

Arizona (1940) - 125 mins

Starring Jean Arthur, William Holden, Warren William, Porter Hall, Edgar Buchanan & Regis Toomey

Directed by Wesley Ruggles

Wesley Ruggles's Arizona is an epic western set in an impoverished Arizona outpost. It tells the story of the feisty, no-nonsense Phoebe Titus (Jean Arthur). Wearing leather breeches, with a bullwhip and gun, she can out-shoot and out-fight nearly every bad hombre in town, and manages to transform the down-and-out community into Tuscon, one of the most respected towns in the West. When handsome Peter Muncie (William Holden) arrives, on his way to California, Phoebe asserts that he is the perfect person to help her run her cattle ranch, and the two fall in love. But one obstacle makes their plans extremely difficult: con man Jefferson Carteret (Warren William), who secretly hatches a plan to cheat Phoebe out of the property and annihilate Peter on the couple's wedding day!

Oscar Nominated for Best Music (Victor Young) & Best Art Direction (B&W)

Columbia Pictures were so pleased with the success of this film that they commissioned a sort-of-follow-up: Texas (1941) which also starred William Holden. Texas (1941) is also available from this website

Arizona Raiders (1965) - 97 mins

Starring Audie Murphy, Michael Dante, Ben Cooper, Buster Crabbe, Gloria Talbott & Ray Stricklyn

Directed by William Witney

Clint Stewart (Audie Murphy) and Willie Martin (Ben Cooper) are members of Quantrill's Raiders, hoping to avenge the fallen South after the Civil War. They are captured by a Union officer Capt. Tom Andrews (Buster Crabbe) and sentenced to a long prison term. They are offered amnesty by Andrews, who, appointed head of The Arizona Raiders, hopes to use the ex-confederates within his jurisdiction to drive Quantrill's men out of the territory. Clint & Willie must now juggle loyalties between the Union leader and Quantrill.

Another nicely paced Audie Murphy western - well helmed by action director William Witney.

Armored Car Robbery (1950) - 68 mins

Starring Charles McGraw, Adele Jergens, William Talman, Douglas Fowley & Gene Evans

Directed by Richard Fleischer

A little-seen fatalistic film noir about a skilled robber who masterminds the ultimate hold-up, only to see his plans falling apart when a cop and two of his fellow criminals are killed in action . It is difficult to appreciate how original heist films still were in the late 40s and early 50s. The title of this fast-paced and tense B-movie thriller tells part of the story of vicious Talman (the DA on Perry Mason) and his gang being pursued relentlessly by gruff cop McGraw, out to avenge the death of his partner. Fleischer, shooting in well-used Los Angeles locations, approaches much of it in a semi-documentary manner in his observation of police methods. Often flatteringly compared with Kubrick's The Killing, the centrepiece is a gripping and incredibly explicit heist that sharp-eyed viewers may recognise as the failed gangsters' blueprint in recent crime comedy Palookaville.

A truly gripping & original noir - director Fleischer and star McGraw were to combine again two years later with great effect for another classic: The Narrow Margin (1952) - which also available from this website

Richard Fleischer directed a string of impressive nourish "B" dramas in Bodyguard (1948), The Clay Pigeon (1949), Follow Me Quietly (1949), Trapped (1949), Armored Car Robbery (1950) & The Narrow Margin (1952) - with that latter earning an Oscar Nomination - before moving up to the majors with Violent Saturday (1955) - all of which are available from this website

The Arnelo Affair (1947) - 86 mins

Starring John Hodiak, George Murphy, Francis Gifford, Dean Stockwell & Eve Arden

Directed by Arch Oboler

Anne Parkson (Francis Gifford) feels neglected by her lawyer-husband Ted (George Murphy), and falls in love with night-club owner Tony Arnello (John Hodiak), a shady character who is a client of her husband's.

Tony kills a woman but Anne's compact is found near the body and he threatens her with exposure unless she keeps quiet, as she is the only one who knows he is guilty.

An interesting Arch Oboler film who is responsible for some of the very best radio drama of the late 30’s & early 40s (eg NBC’s “Lights Out”). Oboler also directed the cult sci-fi classic Five (1951) which is also available from this website.

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Around the World Under the Sea (1966) - 110 mins

Starring Lloyd Bridges, Brian Kelly, Shirley Eaton, David McCallum, Keenan Wynn, Marshal Thompson, Ron Hayes & Gary Merrill

Directed by Andrew Marton

After a series of unexplained volcanic eruptions from beneath the sea, the crew of a five-man submarine are sent of mission into the world oceans, planting sensors on the ocean floor to warn scientists of any impending earthquakes - and at the same time to find out the cause of the disturbances. Sub commander Dr Doug Standish (Lloyd Bridges) heads the team which are nearly devoured by a sea monster and sucked into a vortex during their perilous voyage

Ivan Tors Productions, the firm responsible for TV’s Sea Hunt, Flipper & Daktari, provide some incredible underwater photography thanks to Lamar Bowen and diving-sequence director Ricou Browning …

Yep it’s an all-action TV cast with Lloyd “Mike Nelson” Bridges, Brian “Porter Ricks” Kelly, Marshal “Marsh Tracy” Thompson from the Tors stable along David “Illya Kuryakin” McCallum & “The Golden Girl” from Goldfinger (1964): Shirley Eaton - and they are all doctors!!!

Excellent wide-screen Technicolor print!

Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1939) - 57 mins

Starring John Howard, Heather Angel, H. B. Warner, Reginald Denny, E. E. Clive & George Zucco

Directed by James P. Hogan

The honeymoon of Capt. Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond (John Howard) with his beloved Phyllis Clavering (Heather Angel) is postponed for the umpteenth time when Drummond is framed for the theft of a new ray-gun device. Though designed for the good of mankind, the gun will be a deadly force if it falls into the wrong hands - and the sinister Rolf Alferson (George Zucco) and his gang have now stolen the device. Though still a fugitive, Drummond gives chase to the real crooks, with the help of Algy Longworth (Reginald Denny) & Tenny (E. E. Clive), as well as the unofficial approval of Scotland Yard Inspector Nielsen (H.B. Warner).

Arrest Bulldog Drummond was the last of Paramount's "B" film series based on Sapper's two-fisted soldier of fortune, and also the final appearance by John Howard as Drummond.

Another excellent Bulldog Drummond entry from Paramount - a trademark combination of action, adventure and humour that made the studio’s Bulldog Drummond series so popular (Trev also rates Bulldog Drummond in Africa (1938) highly and it can be found elsewhere in this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of the website)

Unlike the commercial offerings of this now Public Domain film - this print is superb (as are all of the Ray Milland / John Howard entries in this Paramount series and which are available from the Movie Series section of this website)

The only two color Bulldog Drummond films: Deadlier Than The Male (1967) & Some Girls Do (1969) can also be found in this section of the website

Arrowhead (1953) - 105 mins

Starring Charlton Heston, Jack Palance, Katy Jurado, Brian Keith & Milburn Stone

Directed by Charles Marquis Warren

Adapted from a novel by W.R. Burnett, Arrowhead is a tough, uncompromising western dealing with the delicate issue of White-Indian relations. Ed Bannon (Charlton Heston) is an Indian agent who though raised by Apaches has a very low opinion of the tribe's trustworthiness. Bannon's warnings about Indian treachery would seem to be borne out by a series of bloody raids upon the cavalry, but the officers in charge refuse to believe him. It turns out that the man behind the Apache attacks is Toriano (Jack Palance), the chief's college-educated son, who has rejected the ways of the White Man and intends to reclaim his birthright.

A nice face-off between Chuck and Jack (with the latter scoring one of his best ever roles here)

Charlton Heston made a nice trio of “A” list Technicolor westerns in the early 1950 for Paramount Pictures: The Savage (1952), Pony Express (1953) & Arrowhead (1953). Each were well scripted action pieces with Chuck a tower of strength.

All three films are available from this website

The Arsenal Stadium Mystery (1940) - 84 mins

Starring Leslie Banks, Greta Gynt, Ian McLean, Liane Linden & Anthony Bushell

Directed by Thorold Dickinson

During a charity soccer match between top professional side Arsenal and touring amateur side Trojans, the Trojan's new star player collapses. When he dies, Inspector Slade of Scotland Yard is called in and declares it was murder. It takes all his ingenuity and another death before the motive is discovered and the killer revealed.

Neat little who-dunnit from the Brits

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) - 118 mins

Starring Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey, Jack Carson, Edward Everett Horton & Peter Lorre

Directed by Frank Capra

The sweet old Brewster sisters (Josephine Hull, Jean Adair) are beloved in their genteel Brooklyn neighborhood for their many charitable acts. One charity which the ladies don't advertise is their ongoing effort to permit lonely bachelors to die with smiles on their faces - by serving them with elderberry wine spiked with arsenic. When the sisters' drama-critic nephew Mortimer (Cary Grant) stumbles onto their secret, he is understandably put out - especially since he has just married the lovely Elaine Harper (Priscilla Lane). Given the homicidal tendencies of his aunts, the sinister activities of his escaped-convict older brother Jonathan (Raymond Massey) and the disruptive behavior of younger brother Teddy (John Alexander) - who is convinced that he's really Theodore Roosevelt, and runs around the house yelling "CHAAAAARGGGE" - Mortimer isn't keen on starting a family with his new bride. "Insanity runs in my family," he explains. "It practically gallops." Further complications ensue when the murderous Jonathan Brewster arrives home, with his snivelling accomplice Dr. Einstein (Peter Lorre) in tow. When Jonathan learns that his darling aunts have killed twelve men, he is incensed - they're challenging his own record of murders.

Fabulous - a Capraesque classic (shot by Frank himself!)

Cary Grant made some great comedies - classics, such as Topper (1937), The Awful Truth (1937), Bringing Up Baby (1938), Holiday (1938), His Girl Friday (1940), My Favorite Wife (1940), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947), Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948), I Was a Mail War Bride (1949), People Will Talk (1951), Monkey Business (1952), Operation Petticoat (1959) & Walk Don’t Run (1966) are all available from this website

Not forgetting Cary’s adventure/dramas: The Last Outpost (1935), Gunga Din (1939), Only Angels Have Wings (1939), Suspicion (1941), Mr. Lucky (1943), Destination Tokyo (1943), Notorious (1946), Crisis (1950), North by Northwest (1959) & Charade (1963) - all of which are available from this website

Arson, Inc. (1949) - 63 mins

Starring Robert Lowery, Anne Gwynne, Edward Brophy, Marcia Mae Jones & Douglas Fowley

Directed by William Berke

Fireman Joe Martin (Robert Lowery) comes to suspect that fires occurring in the warehouse and home of a furrier may have been deliberately set in order to cover thefts. He goes undercover, pretending to have been discharged from the fire department and appearing to ally himself with crooked insurance man Fred Fender (Douglas Fowley), whom Joe suspects of being behind the arson ring. But Joe and his girlfriend Jane Jennings (Anne Gwynne) soon find themselves in over their heads

Fans of Robert “Batman” Lowery will enjoy this tidy noir

Asphalt Jungle (1950) - 112 mins

Starring Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Jean Hagen, James Whitmore, Sam Jaffe & Marilyn Munroe

Directed by John Huston

'Doc' Riedenschneider, legendary crime 'brain' just out of prison, has a brilliant plan for a million-dollar burglary. To pull it off, he recruits safecracker Louis, driver Gus, financial backer Emmerich, and strong-arm man Dix Handley. At first the plan goes like clockwork, but little accidents accumulate and each partner proves to have his own fatal weakness. In the background is a pervasive, grimy urban malaise. This film is a model of its kind, frequently copied and remade no less than 3 times.

Academy Award nominations for Director, Supporting Actor, Screenplay, Cinematography.

Sterling Hayden: ever the maverick, ever the individual - he preferred to sail his yacht around the world rather than act in movies. Yet despite his lack of interest in film, he was lauded and chased by the very finest directors: John Huston, Robert Altman, Francis Ford Coppola & Stanley Kubrick. In each of his roles, Hayden's individuality showed forth whatever the genre of film: noir, adventure, western & swashbuckler. He remains a huge favourite of my Dad (who introduced me to his films) and my son (to whom I, too introduced this powerful actor).

Sterling Hayden films which are available from this website are:

Bahama Passage (1941), Manhandled (1949), Asphalt Jungle (1950), Denver & Rio Grande (1952), Hellgate (1952), The Golden Hawk (1952), Fighter Attack (1953), Crime Wave (1954), Prince Valiant (1954), Johnny Guitar (1954), Naked Alibi (1954), Suddenly (1954), Battle Taxi (1955), Timberjack (1955), Shotgun (1955), The Last Command (1955), The Killing (1956), Crime of Passion (1954), 5 Steps to Danger (1957), Terror in a Texas Town (1958), Ten Days to Tulara (1958) & The Long Goodbye (1973)

Assignment in Brittany (1943) - 96 mins

Starring Jean-Pierre Aumont, Susan Peters, Margaret Wycherly, Signe Hasso, Richard Worf & George Coulouris

Directed by Jack Conway

During WW2, Free French Capt. Pierre Matard (Jean-Pierre Aumont) appears to bears a remarkable resemblance to Bertrand Conlay, a prisoner of the Allies whom is suspected of being a fifth columnist. Posing as Conlay, Metard gains the confidence of the Nazi occupiers of Brittany. He plays his part to the hilt, even unto romancing Conlay's patriotic girlfriend Anne Pinot (Susan Peters). A life-and-death contretemps with the Nazis follows, excitingly staged by director Jack Conway

Jean-Pierre Aumont makes his American film debut in Assignment in Brittany which is based on the best-selling novel by Helen Macinnes.

Assignment: Paris (1952) - 85 mins

Starring Dana Andrews, Märta Torén, George Sanders, Audrey Totter & Sandro Giglio

Directed by Robert Parrish

Based on a serialized Saturday Evening Post story by Paul and Pauline Gallico, this film stars Dana Andrews as reporter Jimmy Race, assigned to the Paris bureau of the New York Herald Tribune. Race makes the acquaintance of French journalist Jeanne Moray (Marta Toren), who is forced to suppress a white-hot news story about an impending Iron Curtain political conspiracy because she lacks proof. At great risk to himself, Race heads to Budapest to ferret out the facts, sometimes right under the noses of the communist "damage control" experts. George Sanders co-stars as editor Rick Strang, who dispatches Race on his fact-finding mission - partly because of his dedication to truth, and partly because he has designs on the gorgeous Jeanne himself.

Assignment: Paris makes excellent use of authentic Parisian and Hungarian locations, and is a great adventure story!

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Assignment Redhead (1956) - 79 mins

Starring Richard Denning, Carole Matthews, Ronald Adam, Danny Green, Brian Worth & Jan Holden

Directed by Maclean Rogers

Murderous master criminal Dumetrius (Ronald Adam) flies to London from post-war Berlin plying his trade in counterfeit money and false travel documents. To cover his tracks he later kills one passenger and frames another who then hides out with a cabaret cigarette girl. On the case is an American Major working for British intelligence: Major Gregory Keen (Richard Denning). Unfortunately, the agent is almost fatally sidetracked by a seductive redhead who belongs to the gangs.

Yes! - fans of the incredibly successful The Adventures of Major Gregory Keen of M.I.5 radio serial (Dossier on Dumetrius) which was performed & broadcast in Australia in 1951, will recognise this film as the theatrical equivalent of that acclaimed audio drama. True: Keen is now a seconded US Major rather than an Aussie equivalent - but the mysterious, vicious criminal Dumetrius, his gorgeous girlfriend Hedy Bergner and Yottie Bleem, a butcher who thinks murder is fun are in the (filmed) story as well as Keen confidant Coutts

Lindsay Hardy wrote the Gregory Keen radio serials (there were eventually 5 adventures, each of 104 quarter hour parts) and he adapted the first 3 of them into novels. The first of these was Dossier on Dumetrius and it became Hardy’s novel “Requiem for a Redhead”, whence this film was based

Released in the US as Million Dollar Manhunt (1956)

Fans of the Gregory Keen radio serials, should check out the Radio Shows on MP3CD

section of this website - the first three Adventures of Gregory Keen of MI5 serials

have been beautifully restored and are available for free (subject to conditions)

The Atomic City (1952) - 85 mins

Starring Gene Barry, Lydia Clarke, Michael Moore, Nancy Gates & Lee Aaker

Directed by Jerry Hopper

At Los Alamos, New Mexico, the maximum-security "atomic city" of U.S. nuclear-weapons research, top atomic scientist Frank Addison has a normal, middle-American life with his wife and son - until the boy is kidnapped by enemy agents to extort H-bomb secrets. Result, a fast moving chase thriller with a particularly tense climax played out along the mountain mesas surrounding Los Alamos.

Yes, the son is played by Lee Aaker - Rusty from the hit TV series The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (also available from this website in the TV series A - H section)

The Atomic Man (1955) (aka Timeslip) - 79 mins

Starring Gene Nelson, Faith Domergue, Joseph Tomelty, Leonard Williams, Peter Arne & Barry MacKay

Directed by Ken Hughes

Based on a story & subsequent screenplay by prolific sci-fi writer Charles Eric Maine, The Atomic Man of the title is initially Jarvis (Peter Arne) who is fished out of the Thames with a bullet in his back. Jarvis is discovered to be highly radioactive and it turns out that he is the missing atomic scientist, Dr. Stephen Rayner whose exposure to radioactive substances, coupled with his brush with death, has endowed him with remarkable prognostic powers.

With the help of reporter Mike Delaney (Gene Nelson), Rayner sets out to expose a plot hatched by his evil double, a tungsten magnate who is trying to destroy Rayner's experiments in artificial tungsten.

The Atomic Submarine (1959) - 72 mins

Starring Arthur Franz, Dick Foran, Brett Halsey, Paul Dubov & Bob Steele

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet

Seasoned serial director Spencer Gordon Bennett helmed this story of a one-eyed, octopoidal space alien, wreaking havoc upon atomic subs at the North Pole. The monster is determined to take over the world and Cmdr. Richard 'Reef' Holloway, Capt. 'Skipper' Dan Wendover and Dr. Carl Neilson Jr. (Arthur Franz, Dick Foran, Brett Halsey respectively) head underwater to neutralize the alien's submerged flying saucer.

Note: This is a fabulous B&W print!

At Sword's Point (1952) (aka Sons of the Musketeers) - 81 mins

Starring Cornel Wilde, Maureen O'Hara, Robert Douglas, Gladys Cooper & Dan O'Herlihy

Directed by Lewis Allen

France, 1648: Richelieu and Louis XIII are dead, the new king is a minor, and the Duc de Lavalle is in virtually open rebellion, scheming to seize power. As a last resort, Queen Anne summons the heirs of the original Musketeers to her aid, including Claire, daughter of Athos, who when she chooses can miraculously pass as a boy, and wields as fine a sword as any. All their skills will be needed for a battle against increasing odds. One for all and all for one!

Wilde shows just how good he is with a sword in his hand (& even his left hand!)

Attack on the Iron Coast (1968) - 89 mins

Starring Lloyd Bridges, Andrew Keir, Sue Lloyd, Mark Eden, Maurice Denham & Glyn Owen

Directed by Paul Wendkos

Major James Wilson (Lloyd Bridges) must lead his troops across the English channel in the D-day invasion of Normandy. He trains his regulars for the invasion knowing that many, if not all, may never survive the assault. Wilson is plagued by memories of previous missions that turned out to be suicidal. Captain Franklin (Andrew Keir) is the British officer who opposed the plan and has a personal vendetta against Wilson. The two are thrown together on the same mission when Franklin is slated to command the mine sweepers that transport Wilson's troops to their destination. They face overwhelming odds and a barrage of cannon fire from the Nazi stronghold on the Normandy coast.

Good film with Lloyd Bridges again to the fore in a powerful role.

At the Earth's Core (1976) - 90 mins

Starring Doug McClure, Peter Cushing, Caroline Munro, Cy Grant, Godfrey James & Sean Lynch

Directed by Kevin Connor

In England around the turn of the century, Dr Abner Perry unveils his invention - The Mole, a giant vehicle designed for exploring the center of the Earth by drilling through the ground. He and engineer David Innes take it on its maiden voyage but it goes out of control and they end up in the prehistoric land of Pellucidar at the Earth's core. There they are captured by The Mahars, intelligent, telepathic flying reptiles which keep primitive humans as their slaves via mind control. David falls for the beautiful slave girl Dia. But when she is chosen as a sacrificial victim in the Mahar city, he organizes the humans to rebellion to save her.

The Land That Time Forgot (1975) was the first of three Edgar Rice Burroughs tales that were adapted for film by British production house Amicus under the direction of Kevin Connor and starring American actor Doug McClure (remember Trampas from the 60's TV series The Virginian ?). The second was At The Earth's Core (1976), which also starred Peter Cushing and the lovely Caroline Munro, and the last was The People That Time Forgot (1977), a sequel to the first film in which Patrick Wayne goes in search for Doug. The Land That Time Forgot is also significant because well known Fantasy writer Michael Moorcock worked on the screenplay. A fourth Connor / McClure film in this series of period lost world films was also produced : Warlords Of Atlantis (1978). Although not based on the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, it followed fairly much the formula set by the other films in the series - a journey by stalwart period English scientists into a lost world filled with monsters, a voyage that takes places in a marvellous vehicle of period technology.

(Kevin Connor sandwiched these 4 films between equally enjoyable sci-fi / fantasy romps: From Beyond the Grave (1973) & Arabian Adventure (1979) - both of which are available from this website)

McClure then returned to US TV but within two years was back on the big screen in the outrageous Humanoids from the Deep (1980). From the Roger Corman (low-budget shocker) stable this film achieved dubious notoriety for its gratuitous and uncompromising approach to the genre

The films all also feature charismatic acting from lantern-jawed lead man Doug McClure and talented support players.

All of these films are available from within this section of the website - they are also available in a 5 DVD set from within the Classic Movie Combination section of this website

The Avengers (1942) - See The Day Will Dawn (1942) elsewhere in the website

The Awful Truth (1937) - 91 mins

Starring Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Ralph Bellamy, Alexander D’Arcy & Cecil Cunningham

Directed by Leo McCarey

Jerry and Lucy Warriner (Cary Grant & Irene Dunne) are a couple whose marriage is starting to fall apart. Jerry informs Lucy that he's taking a vacation alone in Florida; instead, he holes up with his buddies and plays poker for a week (while sitting under a sun lamp so he'll have an appropriate tan). Lucy concludes that Jerry was never in Florida just as Jerry discovers that Lucy was spending her time with Armand Duvalle (Alexander D'Arcy), a handsome voice teacher. Both Jerry and Lucy believe the other was unfaithful, so they agree to a trial divorce, with a bitter battle fought over custody over their dog, Mr. Smith (Lucy gets the dog, but Jerry has visitation rights). Determined to make Jerry jealous, Lucy continues keeping company with Armand while also dating Daniel Leeson (Ralph Bellamy), a wealthy oil man from Oklahoma. Convinced that turnabout is fair play, Jerry starts going out with Dixie Belle Lee (Joyce Compton), a brassy nightclub singer, as well as socialite Barbara Vance (Molly Lamont). However, Lucy has belatedly decided that she wants Jerry back, and she hatches a plan to win him back by making a spectacle of herself at a party.

Fabulous!

Oscar Winner for Best Director.

Also Oscar Nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress (Irene Dunne), Best Supporting Actor (Ralph Bellamy), Best Film Editing and Best Screenplay.

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947) - 95 mins

Starring Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple, Rudy Vallee & Ray Collins

Directed by Irving Reis

Judge Margaret (Myrna Loy) decides that the best way to curb the excesses of playboyish art teacher Dick (Cary Grant) is to force him to do what he does best -romance a willing young lady. In this instance, the girl is Margaret’s own sister, Susan (Shirley Temple). Aware that Susan has a serious crush on Dick, Margaret orders him to date the teen-aged Temple until the girl gets him out of her system - he is also ordered to keep his hands to himself lest he wind up in jail.

Dick finds the irrepressible Susan rather wearisome, but he throws himself into his sentence full-force, donning teenaged clothes, speaking in nonsense slang and participating in the athletic events at a high school picnic. Dick eventually divests himself of Susan by arranging for her to fall for a boy her own age; meanwhile, Margaret realizes that it is she who is truly smitten by Grant.

Oscar Nominated for Best Screenplay (Sidney Sheldon)

Backfire (1950) - 91 mins

Starring Gordon MacRae, Edmond O’Brien, Virginia Mayo, Dane Clark, Viveca Lindfors & Ed Begley

Directed by Vincent Sherman

When he's discharged from a military hospital, ex-GI Bob Corey (Gordon MacRae) goes on a search for his army buddy Steve Connolly (Edmond O'Brien). A reformed crook, Connolly is on the run after being wrongly accused of murder, and Corey hopes to clear his pal. Along for the ride is Army nurse Julie Benson (Virginia Mayo), who has fallen for Corey. Julie and Corey meet up with various people with whom Connolly has come in contact, one of whom is the actual killer, who now adds the GI and the nurse to the "hit list."

A strong dramatic debut from singing star Gordon MacRae, who is quite compelling in a good role

Background to Danger (1943) - 80 mins

Starring George Raft, Brenda Marshall, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Osa Massen & Kurt Katch

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Ankara in neutral Turkey : World War Two. A town of intrigue and of provocateurs. The Germans are planning to leak maps apparently proving that the Russians are about to invade the country. American Joe Barton is in the know and in the middle, along with Zaloshoff and his sister who may or may not be Russians. What is clear though is that odious Colonel Robinson is a full-blown Nazi

Slam bang WWII story (from the trusty pen of Eric Ambler) with a terrific car chase to cap a fast moving tale.

Greenstreet and Lorre in combination again!

Other films to feature the Greenstreet / Lorre combination were The Maltese Falcon (1941), Casablanca (1942), Passage to Marseille (1944), The Mask of Dimitrios (1944), The Conspirators (1944), Three Strangers (1946 & The Verdict (1946) - all of which are available from this website.

Back to Bataan (1945) - 95 mins

Starring John Wayne, Anthony Quinn, Beulah Bondi, Fely Franquelli, Richard Loo & Philip Ahn

Directed by Edward Dmytryk

US Col. Madden and his men are fighting for their lives holding back wave after wave of suicidal Japanese Banzai attacks as the lights slowly go out for the American and Philippine forces. With the US general in command of the Philippines Douglas MacArthur being called back to Australia to regroup the battered and defeated US Army, things look very bleak for the American and Filipino troops still left on the islands.

Madden and Capt. Andres Bonifacio lead a guerrilla war lasting for two and a half years making it possible for the successful allied invasion of Latye in the fall of 1944.

Preceded by a sort-of-prequel: Bataan (1943) which is also available from this website.

John Wayne: Duke - one of the most recognizable persons on the planet -a true mega-star in film. You'll find the following John Wayne movies in this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of this website:

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) - 118 mins

Starring Kirk Douglas, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Barry Sullivan, Gloria Grahame, Gilbert Roland & Leo G. Carroll

Directed by Vincente Minnelli

Actress Georgia Lorrison (Lana Turner), director Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan), and screenwriter James Lee Bartlow (Dick Powell) are invited to a meeting at a Hollywood sound stage at the request of producer Harry Pebbel (Walter Pidgeon). Pebbel is working with studio chief Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas), whose studio is in financial trouble and needs a blockbuster hit. If these three names will sign to a new project, Pebbel is convinced that there's no way he can lose. But there's a problem - all three of these Hollywood heavyweights dislike Shields (intensely). In the past, Shield had dumped Georgia for another woman, double-crossed Fred out of a plum directing assignment, and was responsible for the death of James Lee's wife.

All three are ready to tell Pebbel to forget it, until they hear the voice of Shields, calling from Europe to discuss the project by phone.

Kirk Douglas as the corrupt and amoral head of a major film studio in this Hollywood drama - often regarded as one of the film's industry's most interesting glimpses at itself.

Fabulous viewing … and what a cast!

Oscar Wins for Best Supporting Actress (Gloria Grahame), Best Screenplay, Best B&W Art Direction, Best B&W Cinematography & Best B&W Costume Design.

Oscar Nomination for Best Actor (Kirk Douglas)

Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) - 81 mins

Starring Spencer Tracy, Robert Ryan, Anne Francis, Dean Jagger, Walter Brennan, Ernest Borgnine & Lee Marvin

Directed by John Sturges

Spencer Tracy is John J. MacReedy, a one-armed stranger who comes to the tiny town of Black Rock one hot summer day in 1945, the first time the train has stopped there in years. He looks for both a hotel room and a local Japanese farmer named Komoko, but his inquiries are greeted at first with open hostility, then with blunt threats and harassment, and finally with escalating violence. MacReedy soon realizes that he will not be allowed to leave Black Rock. The entire cast is flawless, especially Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin as the mean-spirited town bullies, and the relentlessly paced action never eclipses the film's sobering themes.

A powerfully tense, fast-paced suspense drama with a grim social message about racial prejudice, Bad Day at Black Rock is a rightly-judged classic - nominated for 3 Oscars (Best Actor, Director & Screenplay)

Bad For Each Other (1953) - 83 mins

Starring Charlton Heston, Lizabeth Scott, Diane Foster, Mildred Dunnock & Arthur Franz

Directed by Irving Rapper

Charlton Heston plays poor-but-proud Army doctor Tom Owen, who through the influence of Pittsburgh socialite Helen Curtis (Lizabeth Scott) builds up a posh society practice. Though he's happy with the money and prestige, Dr. Owen is at heart a man of the people, and he'd much prefer tending to the families of the local steel miners. During a moment of extreme crisis, Owen is forced to choose immediately between the life offered him by Helen and the course he knows he should be following.

The Badlanders (1958) - 85 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Ernest Borgnine, Katy Jurado, Claire Kelly, Kent Smith & Nehemiah Persoff

Directed by Delmer Daves

Alan Ladd stars in The Badlanders as Peter Van Hook, the mastermind of a gold robbery. The victim-to-be is Cyril Lounsberry (Kent Smith), whose perjured testimony had sent the innocent Van Hook and John McBain (Ernest Borgnine) to prison. Van Hook and McBain conspire with Anita (Katy Jurado) to rob Lounsberry of his ill-gotten gains; meanwhile Lounsberry is planning to ditch his wife and run off with his mistress, Ada Winton (Claire Kelly). Aligning with dynamite expert Vincente (Nehemiah Persoff), Van Hook and his companions pull off the heist. But what next in this tangled web?

The Badlanders is a western remake of The Asphalt Jungle (1950), a fact confirmed by the onscreen credits. As such its included here as a "type of" western film noir

The Bad Man (1941) - 70 mins

Starring Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Laraine Day, Ronald Reagan, Henry Travers & Tom Conway

Directed by Richard Thorpe

Pancho Lopez (Wallace Beery) is a bandit who has stolen the herd at Henry & Gil Jones’ ranch (Lionel Barrymore & Ronald Reagan), so banker Jasper Hardy (Henry Travers) is about to foreclose. At the same time Gil’s sweetheart Lucia (Laraine Day) arrives back from New York - but now married to Morgan Pell (Tom Conway). Saying that they are friends, Morgan wants to buy the ranch before Hardy forecloses, and Gil will sell, but Lopez shows up with all his men and holds them all captive.

Based on a war-horse stage play by Porter Emerson Browne, The Bad Man had been previously filmed in 1923 and 1930

Excellent B&W western (not sepiatone)

Badman’s Country (1958) - 68 mins

Starring George Montgomery, Neville Brand, Buster Crabbe, Karin Booth & Gregory Walcott

Directed by Fred F. Sears

Sheriff Pat Garrett (George Montgomery) draws up plans to lure the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, headed by Butch Cassidy (Neville Brand) and the Sundance Kid (Russell Johnson) into a trap. To do this, he enlists the aid of fellow peacekeepers Wyatt Earp (Buster Crabbe), Bat Masterson (Gregory Walcott) and Buffalo Bill Cody (Malcolm Atterbury).

Yep - a veritable honor roll of famed western heroes and villains appears in the fanciful but action-packed B&W western, neatly wrapped up by a truly impressive climactic gun duel.

George Montgomery westerns available from this website are: Belle Starr's Daughter (1948), Davy Crockett Indian Scout (1950), Dakota Lil (1950), Texas Rangers (1951), Cripple Creek (1952), The Pathfinder (1952), Jack McCall Desperado (1953), Fort Ti (1953), Gun Belt (1953), Battle of Rogue River (1954), The Lone Gun (1954), Masterson of Kansas (1954), Seminole Uprising (1955), Robbers’ Roost (1955), Canyon River (1956), Last of the Badmen (1957), Gun Duel in Durango (1957), Pawnee (1957), Black Patch (1957), Man From God’s Country (1958), The Toughest Gun in Tombstone (1958), Badman’s Country (1958), King of the Wild Stallions (1959) & Hostile Guns (1967)

Badman's Territory (1946) - 97 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Ann Richards, Ray Collins & Morgan Conway

Directed by Tim Whelan

An earnest Texas sheriff meets the likes of the James Gang, the Daltons, Sam Bass and Belle Starr as he paves the way for a lawless territitory known as Badman's Territory to become part of the Oklahama Territory and receive the protection of the Union. Rich characterizations especially from Gabby Hayes as the Coyote Kid in his first of five appearances in Randolph Scott westerns

Bagdad (1949) - 82 mins

Starring Maureen O'Hara, Paul Hubschmid, Vincent Price, John Sutton & Jeff Corey

Directed by Charles Lamont

Maureen O'Hara plays the daughter of a Sheikh who returns from being educated in London, only to find her father is dead and his palace looted. Handsome Paul Christian is suspected of the murder, as is lecherous pasha Vincent Price, but the real villain may be one of the Sheikh's most trusted aides.

Sumptuous color print! - note that there is no "h" in the title

Bahama Passage (1941) - 82 mins

Starring Madeleine Carroll, Sterling Hayden, Flora Robson, Leo G. Carroll, Mary Anderson & Cecil Kellaway

Directed by Edward H. Griffith

The remote Bahaman island, Dildo Cay has a principal commodity: salt. The owner of the island is young Adrian Ainsworth (Sterling Hayden), who inherited the isle from his family. The stultifying dullness of life on the island has caused all the wives of Adrian's forebears to eventually descend into insanity, and it looks as though the same thing might happen to Adrian's sweetheart Carol (Madeleine Carroll). While Carol does not go crazy, her presence on the island proves to be something of a jinx, resulting in dissension amongst the native population.

Based on Nelson Hayes' novel Dildo Cay, Bahama Passage is a leisurely bit of Technicolor exotica starring Madeleine Carroll and her future husband Sterling Hayden - the latter in only his second role, acquits himself well in this star-making role

Sterling Hayden films which are available from this website are:

The Bamboo Prison (1954) - 79 mins

Starring Robert Francis, Dianne Foster, Brian Keith, Jerome Courtland & E. G. Marshall

Directed by Lewis Seiler

Portraying the horrors of P.O.W. life for United Nations soldiers in a Chinese prison, The Bamboo Prison centres on Master Sgt. John A. Rand (Robert Francis), a P.O.W. who has turned collaborator to cover the fact that he is really on a secret mission.

The third of only four films made by Robert Francis (remember him in The Caine Mutiny?) - Foster was killed in a plane crash less than a year after the release of this film

Bandido (1956) - 92 mins

Starring Robert Mitchum, Ursula Thiess, Gilbert Roland, Zachary Scott & Henry Brandon

Directed by Richard Fleischer

Wilson (Robert Mitchum) is a sleepy-eyed soldier of fortune who finds himself in the middle of the he Mexican civil war of 1916. At first refusing to take sides, he eventually casts his lot with insurrectionist Col. José Escobar (Gilbert Roland). On the opposite side of the fence is gun-runner Kennedy (Zachary Scott), whose attractive wife, Lisa (Ursula Theiss) has eyes for Wilson.

This attractively mounted western was filmed on location in Mexico, - with Bob Mitchum “in his element” as Wilson

The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1946) - 86 mins

Starring Cornel Wilde, Anita Louise, Jill Esmond, Edgar Buchanan, Henry Daniell, George Macready & John Abbott

Directed by Henry Levin & George Sherman

This Technicolor swashbuckler stars Cornel Wilde as Robert of Nottingham, son of the legendary Robin Hood. Robert elects to follow in his father's footsteps when oppression rears its ugly head in the form of a despotic Regent (Henry Daniell) and his partner in perfidy Fitz-Herbert (George Macrady). Our hero reunites the Merrie Men, including Friar Tuck (Edgar Buchanan) and Will Scarlet (John Abbott), determined to force the wicked Regent to recognize the Magna Carta. He also finds time to carry on romance with high-born Anita Louise, who has disguised herself as a scullery maid.

Fabulous color print!

Based on a novel by Paul A. Castleton, The Bandit of Sherwood Forest was more or less remade four years later as Rogues of Sherwood Forest (which is also available from this website)

The Bandit of Zhobe (1959) - 80 mins

Starring Victor Mature, Anne Aubrey, Anthony Newley, Norman Wooland & Dermot Walsh

Directed by John Gilling

Cutting a swath of terror and pillage through India, Kasim Khan (Victor Mature) pauses only to romance the elegant Zena Crowley (Anne Aubrey). Khan's principal foes are the British, whom he thinks have wiped out his family. But matters eventually transpire and Khan is forced to face up to the error of his ways.

Nice early role for Anthony Newley in this quite good swashbuckler from the Brits.

Bank Alarm (1937) - 61 mins

Starring Conrad Nagel, Eleanor Hunt, Vince Barnett Wheeler Oakman & Nat Carr

Directed by Louis J. Gasnier

One of four highly entertaining crime melodramas starring Conrad Nagel and Eleanor Hunt as Federal agents Alan O'Connor and Bobbie Reynolds. On this occasion, the two G-people are on the trail of a gang of desperate bank robbers. Making their job slightly easier is the fact that the crooks are leaving behind a trail of counterfeit money. Unfortunately, they're also leaving a trail of corpses, meaning that Alan and Bobbie had better get a move on before someone else gets bumped off.

Note that all 4 films in this series - the others being: Sinful Cargo (1936), Navy Spy (1937) & The Gold Racket (1937) - are available in a 2 DVD set from the Movies Series (A-M) section of this website

The Bank Dick (1940) - 72 mins

Starring W. C. Fields, Cora Witherspoon, Una Merkel, Evelyn Del Rio, Jessie Ralph & Shemp Howard

Directed by Edward F. Cline

Egbert Souse (W. C. Fields) is a bibulous denizen of Lompoc who supports his family by winning radio contests. When a fleeing bank robber is knocked cold upon tripping over the park bench where Egbert sits, Souse is hailed as a hero and offered the job of bank guard. The next day, he is approached by one J. Frothingham Waterbury (Russell Hicks), who offers to sell Egbert shares in the Beefsteak Mines. Souse raises the necessary money by convincing bank clerk Og Oggilby (Grady Sutton), the fiance of Egbert's daughter Myrtle (Una Merkel), to "borrow" some funds from the bank; it isn't really embezzling, explains Egbert, because the mine is bound to pay off. Unfortunately, bank examiner J. Pinkerton Snoopington (Franklin Pangborn) comes calling, spelling possible trouble for Souse.

Written by W. C. Fields! - his best??

W. C. Fields - he of the snide drawl snarling contempt for dogs, children and women… His hilarious films available from this website:

International House (1933), Tillie and Gus (1933), Man on a Flying Trapeze (1935), You Can't Cheat an Honest Man (1939) & The Bank Dick (1940)

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Bank Holiday (1938) - 86 mins

Starring John Lodge, Margaret Lockwood, Hugh Williams, Rene Ray, Merle Tottenham & Linden Travers

Directed by Carol Reed

A 1930's British summer Bank Holiday starts at midday on Saturday with a rush for the trains to the seaside. Doreen Richards (Rene Ray) under the name Miss Fulham is off with friend Milly (Merle Tottenham) to a beauty contest. Geoffrey (Hugh Williams) and nurse Catherine Lawrence (Margaret Lockwood) have decided to spend an illicit weekend in the Grand Hotel, although Catherine's mind keeps turning back to the hospital case she was working on. Arthur, May and the children are set on a more straightforward holiday of sea, sand, and pub. Meanwhile, the manager and performers of the "Follies" on the pier pray for rain.

Bank Holiday is more than a series of anecdotes involving middle-class Brightoners on holiday - but it’s directed by Carol “The Third Man” Reed

The Bank Raiders (1958) - 62 mins

Starring Peter Reynolds, Sandra Dorne, Sydney Tafler, Lloyd Lamble & Rose Hill

Directed by Maxwell Munden

In this entertainmenter about a minor crook in trouble, Terry is the driver for a successful bank job. He is told by gang-boss Shelton to lie low but instead celebrates with Della, a greedy but alluring party girl, then gets picked up on suspicion. He is released when the key witness refuses to identify him because the gang is holding his fiancee hostage. Shelton tries to shut Terry up for good, but Terry escapes and seeks refuge with Della. She lets him stay, but only if he agrees to confront the gang leader one more time.

Barbados Quest (1955) (aka Murder on Approval) - 70 mins

Starring Tom Conway, Delphi Lawrence, Brian Worth, Michael Balfour, Campbell Cotts & John Horsley

Directed by Bernard Knowles

J. D. Everleigh, a wealthy American, purchases a rare stamp in London from Geoffrey Blake, who says he represents Robert Coburn, a stamp agent. Everleigh begins to suspect the stamp is a counterfeit and hires special investigator, Tom Martin to investigate. Martin enlists the aid of reformed crook, Barney Wilson (Michael Balfour) and learns that the real stamp is still in the hands of Lady Hawksley but she refuses to show it to him. Martin gets friendly with Lady Hawksley's secretary, Jean Larson, and learns that Blake is a crooked nephew of Lady Hawksley. Murder also rears its ugly head as Martin finds clues that seem to indicate that everybody he encounters is involved in one way or another with stamp counterfeiting.

Director Bernard Knowles had previously combined with star Tom Conway in Park Plaza 605 (1953)

Released in the US as Murder on Approval (1955), this film was the third of a nice quartet of Tom “The Falcon” Conway UK releases from the 50's in which he plays a PI not too dissimilar to his role in The Falcon movie series from the 1940s. The series began with 1953’s Park Plaza 605 (aka Norman Conquest), followed by Blood Orange (aka Three Stops to Murder) later in the same year. Next up came Barbados Quest which marked the first appearance on screen of Tom ‘Duke’ Martin and his rough-house assistant Barney Wilson - they combined to great effect in Breakaway (1956) which rounded out the foursome of British productions in which Conway was essentially playing The Falcon again.

All 4 of the films are available from this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of the website.

All 4 are also available in a nice specially priced boxed set from with the Classic Movie Combinations section of the website (under the title ‘Tom “The Falcon” Conway – now a very English PI’)

The Falcon Movie Series is available from this website, in the Movie Series section

The Barefoot Contessa (1954) - 130 mins

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Ava Gardner, Edmond O’Brien, Marius Goring, Valentina Cortese & Rossano Brazzi

Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz

The Barefoot Contessa begins at the funeral of Maria Vargas (Ava Gardner), a former Spanish peasant, cabaret dancer and movie star, who at the time of her death was a full-fledged contessa. Her life story unfolds in flashback recollections from her mourners. Film director Harry Dawes (Humphrey Bogart) recalls how his career was saved when he discovered Vargas on behalf of Howard R. Hughes-like mogul Kirk Edwards. Press agent Oscar Muldoon (Edmond O'Brien) remembers how Vargas was wooed and then abandoned by mercurial millionaire Alberto Bravano (Marius Goring), and Italian Count Vincenzo Torlato-Favrini (Rosanno Brazzi) reflects on how he was able to wed the tempestuous Vargas, only to watch his world crumble after revealing on their wedding night that he was "only half a man."

Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actor (Edmond O’Brien). Also Oscar nomination for Writing, Story & Screenplay (Joseph L. Mankiewicz)

Eddie O’Brien at his artistic peak, even though its only a small role!

The Baron of Arizona (1950) - 97 mins

Starring Vincent Price, Ellen Drew, Vladimir Sokoloff, Beulah Bondi, Reed Hadley & Robert Barrat

Directed by Samuel Fuller

In 1871, James Reavis (Vincent Price) begins hatching an elaborate scheme to claim the Arizona territory as his own, a full three decades before Statehood was granted. At the time, land grants established during Spanish rule of Arizona were still valid, and one rainy evening Reavis visits Pepito Alvarez (Vladimir Sokoloff) and his daughter Sofia (Karen Kester) with some exciting news. While working as a real estate clerk, Reavis had supposedly found documents which granted ownership of nearly the whole of the Arizona territory to one Miguel Peralta, who was named Baron of the new land by Spain's rulers - and as his heir, Sofia will become Baroness when she reaches adulthood, giving her claim to the territory. After giving Pepito and Sofia money and hiring a governess (Beulah Bondi) to educate the girl in a manner befitting the Barony, Reavis sails for Spain on business; unknown to the Peraltas, Reavis poses firstly as a monk and then as a gypsy in order to revise old land grant documents to conform with his story. Several years later, Reavis returns to Pepito and Sofia's home, and asks the young woman (now played by Ellen Drew) to marry him. Once wed, Reavis presents his carefully forged paperwork to the Arizona authorities which give him and his bride royal claim to the land - however, not everyone believes Reavis's elaborate tale, and John Griff (Reed Hadley), an expert in falsified documents, is brought in to examine the evidence.

The Baron of Arizona gave Vincent Price a rare leading role in a non-horror vehicle, and he cited it as one of his favorite performances on film.

Samuel Fuller wrote and directed this lively drama based on the real-life adventures of James Addison Reavis, one of the most ambitious swindlers of the 19th Century.

He also lead the cast in some nice sci-fi films: The Fly (1958), Return of the Fly (1959), Master of the World (1961), The Last Man on Earth (1964) & War-Gods of the Deep (1965)

Not forgetting his only western as star: The Baron of Arizona (1950) - his favorite film.

All of the above are available from this website.

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Barquero (1970) - 115 mins

Starring Lee van Cleef, Warren Oates, Forrest Tucker, Kerwin Mathews & Mariette Hartley

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Jake Remy (Warren Oates) leads a gang of outlaw cutthroats making their escape toward Mexico from a successful robbery. Barring their way is a river which can only be crossed by means of a ferry barge. The barge operator, Travis (Lee van Cleef), refuses to be bullied into providing transport for the gang and escapes across river with most of the local populace - leaving Remy and his gang behind, desperately seeking a way across. A river-wide standoff begins between the gang and the townspeople, both groups of which have left people on the wrong side of the river.

Powerful - though quite violent western

Barricade (1939) - 71 mins

Starring Alice Faye, Warner Baxter, Charles Winninger, Arthur Treacher & Keye Luke

Directed by Gregory Ratoff

While fleeing war-torn China by train, two Americans, singer Emmy Jordan (Alice Faye) and journalist Hank Topping (Warner Baxter) are attacked by Mongol bandits. United in danger, they seek refuge in the American consulate before attempting another escape from the country.

Excellent adventure story with Faye & Baxter in fine form.

The Bat (1926) - 86 mins

Starring Jack Pickford, Louise Fazenda, Eddie Gribbon & George Beranger

Directed by Roland West

A masked criminal who dresses like a giant bat terrorizes the guests at an old house rented by a mystery writer. The trouble is that there are other criminals afoot and the story becomes a mystery as to who is hiding behind the mask. This film became one of the most popular films of the late silent era and is said to be the inspiration for Bob Kane's Batman comic strip

Note: This is a SILENT film

Bataan (1943) - 114 mins

Starring Robert Taylor, George Murphy, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Nolan & Robert Walker

Directed by Tay Garnett

Robert Taylor as Sgt. Bill Dane and a band of American and Philippine soldiers are caught in the Japanese conquest of the Philippines in 1942. As U.S. forces retreat toward Bataan, Dane and a small patrol are ordered to delay the enemy at a strategic bridge. The group blows the bridge and waits for the inevitable enemy thrust to rebuild the bridge and dislodge the Americans. Snipers, malaria, and shortages of medicine, food and potable water become the soldier's daily lot as they cope with the enemy and a dawning knowledge that they have, in fact, been deemed expendable.

MGM and the United States Office of War Information collaborated on Bataan with the official goal to increase public understanding of World War II. The first war film to take place entirely on the battlefield with no scenes of the soldiers on leave, depictions of the home front, or flashbacks to pre-war civilian life.

Bataan prepared its wartime audience for American casualties. Its Alamo-esque storyline emphasized the value of such sacrifice and its diverse group of soldiers compiled of all ranks, races, classes, ages, and creeds portrayed this effort as the duty of all men. It is a depiction of altruism and national unity that both inspired public support of the War and served as the template for World War II films throughout the forties and into the present.

Followed by a sort-of-sequel: Back to Bataan (1945) which is also available from this website.

The Battle at Apache Pass (1952) - 85 mins

Starring John Lund, Jeff Chandler, Beverly Tyler, Bruce Cowling & James Best

Directed by George Sherman

Temperate leader of the Chiricahuas, Cochise (Jeff Chandler) attempts to prevent war between his people and the white settlers. Though Cochise's wife dies at the hands of a bigoted cavalry officer and a crooked Indian agent, the stoic Native American continues to believe that a lasting peace is possible. Maj. Jim Colton (John Lund) is the Cavalry officer who is sympathetic to the Indians and values his friendship with Cochise

The film is based on two historical events, the shameful Bascom affair, and the fight in Apache Pass in which two mountain howitzers foiled a well-planned ambush by the Indians.

Two of the cast members from the landmark 1950 western Broken Arrow, Jeff Chandler and Jay Silverheels (as Geronimo), recreate their earlier roles in this prequel which takes place several years before the events depicted in Broken Arrow.

Two years after The Battle at Apache Pass, Jeff Chandler would again reprise the role of Cochise (this time as a dying old man) in Taza, Son of Cochise (1954).

These following “Cochise” films are also available from this website: Broken Arrow (1950), Taza, Son of Cochise (1954) as well as another film dealing with the similar events, Conquest of Cochise (1953) - with John Hodiak as eponymous Apache leader.

Battle at Bloody Beach (1961) - 83 mins

Starring Audie Murphy, Gary Crosby, Dolores Michaels, Alejandro Rey, Barry Atwater

Directed by Herbert Coleman

Real-life WW II hero Audie Murphy stars in this WWII adventure that follows the exploits of a civilian who works closely with Filipino resistance fighters against the Japanese invaders.

Craig Benson (Audie Murphy) has come to the Philippine Islands to find his new wife Ruth (Dolores Michaels) after they were separated during their honeymoon. Ruth is alive but thinks that Craig died under enemy fire. She then begins to fall in love with the underground leader Julio Fontana (Alejandro Rey). Meanwhile, Craig and his buddy Marty (Gary Crosby) must fight the Japanese and the jungle in the hope that they will eventually meet

Battle Beyond the Sun (1962) - 77 mins

Starring Ivan Pereverzev, Alexandr Shvorin, Edd Perry, Linda Barrett & Konstantin Bartashevich

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

With the tragedy of “The Great Atomic War” now behind them, the survivors of the nearly apocalyptic conflict have begun to move forward. They have split the world along the equator into two governing bodies referred to as North and South Hemis. Both Hemis’ are currently hard at work developing the technology to send the first man to Mars. On November 7th, 1997 South Hemis’ top secret space project codenamed “Red Planet” launched the first phase of their Mars bound mission.

While preparing for the second phase on a space station orbiting the Earth, a distress call is received from the North Hemis spaceship Typhoon. Despite the new Cold War that has recently developed between the two sides, the Typhoon is allowed to dock for repairs. While aboard the space station, the crew of the Typhoon learns of the South Hemis’ plans. They quickly leave the station in effort to foil South Hemis’ plans. The next day South Hemis launches their own ship, the Mercury, hoping to win the space race to Mars.

In the early sixties, Roger Corman obtained the rights to a Russian film called Nebo Zowet (with roughly translates into The Heavens Call). The film was about Russian astronauts fighting evil aliens in space and was laced with Cold War propaganda. Corman contacted the film department at UCLA and asked if they had any students talented enough to edit the film into something that he could showcase in America.

After an impressive interview Francis Ford Coppola got the job. Coppola started the “Americanization” process by rewriting the dialog to portray a less political viewpoint and had the voices dubbed by domestic actors. He later shot some new special effects sequences and then edited everything back together.

Nebo Zowet was now an entirely different picture retitled Battle Beyond the Sun. Though the credit goes to a pseudonym of “Thomas Colchart”, Coppola had earned his first directorial and producer credit.

“Perhaps the most memorable aspects of Battle Beyond the Sun are the menacing aliens that live on the planet of Angkor, a small Martian satellite.

Battle Beyond the Sun is exactly what it appears to be: a sci-fi action drama that plays itself so straight that it’s hilarious. And all that with dubbing over Russian actors… what more could you ask for?”

The “cultest of the cult”

Battle Circus (1953) - 90 mins

Starring Humphrey Bogart, June Allyson, Keenan Wynn, Robert Keith & Philip Ahn

Directed by Richard Brooks

Nurse Lt. Ruth McGara is assigned to a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) unit near the front lines of the Korean War. There she meets and is roughly romanced by Major Jed Webbe, one of the unit's surgeons. Webbe is pushy and seems to care only for momentary pleasures, but McGara falls for him just the same. Their romance blossoms in the midst of overwhelming numbers of casualties, threats from the enemy and from the weather, and emergency evacuations that test the mettle of even a unit whose very name suggests quick mobility.

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Battle Cry (1955) - 149 mins

Starring Van Heflin, Aldo Ray, Mona Freeman, Nancy Olson, James Whitmore, Raymond Massey & Tab Hunter

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Adapted by Leon Uris from his own novel, the film follows a group of World War II marines, from Basic Training to Battlefield. Major Sam Huxley (Van Heflin) knows that his men are spoiling for a real fight, but must make do with the desultory skirmishes assigned them by the Group Commanders. All this changes with an onslaught of heavy-duty battling in the South Pacific. Private Andy Hookens (Aldo Ray) is a tough leatherneck who falls in love with demure Mrs Pat Rogers (Nancy Olson), while others in the squad have their own trials & tribulations

Composer Max Steiner's musical score earned him an Oscar nomination.

A big sprawling epic! - fabulous wide-screen Technicolor print!

Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) - 93 mins

Starring Roddy McDowall, Claude Akins, Natalie Trundy, John Huston & Lew Ayres

Directed by J. Lee Thompson

The fifth and last of the original series of motion pictures based upon author Pierre Boulle's imaginative novel Monkey Planet. Roddy McDowall returns as Caesar, the rebellious intelligent chimp of the previous film, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972). Caesar led his brethren in a revolution against their human masters earlier, but humanity has since nearly destroyed itself in a nuclear apocalypse, and survivors are second-class citizens within ape society. Now a beneficent ruler of his people, Caesar encourages a fragile, peaceful coexistence with humans, despite the protests of militaristic gorilla leader General Aldo (Claude Akins). When Caesar learns that recordings of his murdered parents may exist in the Forbidden City, he journeys to the irradiated wasteland. Although Caesar finds what he's looking for, he also attracts unwanted attention: mutant humans who still dwell underground in the devastated war zone follow the search party back home, leading to a climactic battle

Note the cameo by famed director John Huston as an ape named "The Lawgiver”.

There were 5 Planet of the Apes films: Planet of the Apes (1968), Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Escape From the Planet of the Apes (1971), Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) & Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) - all of which are available from this section of the website.

All 5 films are also available from within the Classic Movie Combinations section in a nice 5 DVD set

There was also a 14 episode Planet of the Apes TV Series which can be found in the TV Series section of this website

Battleground (1949) - 118 mins

Starring Van Johnson, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Marshall Thompson & James Whitmore

Directed by William A. Wellman

Its December, 1944 and the Nazis, in the face of the onrushing Allies, turned and pushed into the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxembourg for what would be their last major offensive of World War II. During this Battle of the Bulge, they surrounded the town of Bastogne, Belgium, trapping the US Army 101st Airborne Division in the town. To make matters worse for the 101st, thick clouds covered the area for most of the battle. This prevented the Allies from providing air cover and air-dropped supplies to their troops on the ground. This film focuses on one squad of the 101st as they wait for the clouds to break. Meanwhile, they must survive German spies in US Army uniforms, German artillery, winter weather, dwindling supplies, and the fear of being trapped by a hostile force.

An award-winning box-office hit!

Oscar Wins for B&W Cinematography & Writing. Oscar Nominations for Best Picture, Supporting Role (James Whitmore), Director & Editing

Battle in Outer Space (1959) - 90 mins

Starring Ryo Ikebe, Kyôko Anzai, Koreya Senda, Minoru Takada, Leonard Stanford, Harold Conway & Yoshio Tsuchiya

Directed by Ishirô Honda

A group of aliens from the planet Netal in another solar system has designs on conquering Earth. They start off by destroying a space station and its entire crew. They then take over the mind of an Iranian scientist who tries to steal a powerful heat ray that can be used against them. The nations of the earth are banding together to fight off invaders from outer space. At the core of their defense is an attack in which two space ships from the earth land on the moon where the aliens have set up their base of operations. But this pre-emptive strike may not be enough.

Incredible special effects!

I vividly recall seeing this film at my local cinema and being enthralled by it - I didn't notice the dubbing or the slightly Asian appearance of the cast - it was just "good gear" all-the-way.

For all of the originally non-English speaking films which can be found on this website, I have elected to go with the original spoken language with subtitling in English - and its as indicated as such.

But this, Battle in Outer Space (1959) is my single departure (once only). I elected to go with the "International Release" print - dubbed in English and no subtitles.

Battle of Britain (1969) - 132 mins

Starring (in alphabetical order) Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, Curd Jürgens, Ian McShane, Kenneth More, Laurence Olivier, Nigel Patrick, Christopher Plummer, Michael Redgrave, Ralph Richardson, Robert Shaw & Susannah York

Directed by Guy Hamilton

It is 1940, and Adolf Hitler is planning to bomb England into submission. Standing between Britain's freedom & Hitler's terrifying plans is the R.A.F - dedicated pilots who took to the skies again & again in the face of overwhelming odds. The German Luftwaffe's planes outnumber the R.A.F's by more than 2 to 1 - 650 planes of the R.A.F. vs. 2,500 of the Luftwaffe! These odds. however, do not deplete the determination of the R.A.F. to stop Hitler, and as the Luftwaffe launches wave after wave of bombers against British cities, the R.A.F. responds, under the leadership of Air Vice Marshal Park (Trevor Howard) and Squadron Leaders Canfield and Harvey (Michael Caine & Christopher Plummer) who lead the newest pilots of the R.A.F. into confrontation after confrontation with the Luftwaffe's experienced veterans, with the aim of driving Hitler's forces away from Dover's white cliffs for good

Fabulous in every way … an incredible time in the history of WWII and an incredible filming that presents it

Battle of Rogue River (1954) - 71 mins

Starring George Montgomery, Richard Denning, Martha Hyer, John Crawford & Emory Parnell

Directed by William Castle

Cavalry Major Frank Archer (George Montgomery) is assigned to protect the settlers in Oregon territory and to this end, he tries to find out why the previously peaceful Indians have suddenly become warlike. What he doesn't know is that duplicitous settler Stacey Wyatt (Richard Denning), working in concert with crooked land speculator Matt Parrish (Charles Evans), has been deliberately aggravating the Indians so that the other whites will be driven out of the territory, thereby allowing Wyatt and co. to plunder the land's rich mineral deposits.

Great Technicolor print

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Battle of the Coral Sea (1959) - 86 mins

Starring Cliff Robertson, Gia Scala, Teru Shimada, Patricia Cutts & L. Q. Jones

Directed by Paul Wendkos

As part of the essential preparations for what was to become The Battle of the Coral Sea, a submarine captained by Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Conway (Cliff Robertson) is sent to scout enemy positions. Having successfully located the Japanese installations, ships, and subs, they head back to friendly waters - but before long, the submarine is spotted and captured by the Japanese. The crew members are taken prisoner by an even-handed Commander Mori (Teru Shimada) and held on the Japanese forces' island base. While chaffing under a ticking clock as the day of the final confrontation draws near, an island woman is secretly enlisted to help smuggle out three of the prisoners. If they can make it off the island to their own base, then the all-important information on the Japanese positions will tip the scales in favor of the U.S. Navy.

Part of a nice trio of excellent “Pacific theatre WWII” action adventure films starring Cliff Robertson and which can be found on this website: the others are PT 109 (1963) & Too Late the Hero (1970)

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The Battle of the River Plate (1956) - 119 mins

Starring John Gregson, Anthony Quayle, Ian Hunter, Jack Gwillim, Bernard lee & Patrick Macnee

Directed by Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger

Captain Bell (John Gregson) is skipper of the Exeter, one of several vessels engaged in pursuit of the "indestructable" Geman battleship The Graf Spee. Taking refuge in the neutral harbor of Montevideo, the Graf Spee is covertly protected by the Uruguayan government. Eventually, however, German captain Langsdorff (Peter Finch) is faced with a difficult decision: either stand his ground and fight a losing battle against the Exeter and its sister ships, or scuttle the Graf Spee and save the lives of his crew.

Widely regarded as one of the best and most intelligent British war dramas of the 1950s, The Battle of River Plate is the true story of Britain's first significant naval victory in WW2. The film was released in the US as Pursuit of the Graf Spee.

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Battle of the V-1 (1958) - 104 mins

Starring Michael Rennie, Patricia Medina, Milly Vitale, David Knight, Esmond Knight & Christopher Lee

Directed by Vernon Sewell

A Polish Resistance group, led by Stefan (Michael Rennie) discovers details of the manufacture of the German V-1 'Flying Bomb' at Peenemünde in 1943. Liaising with service chiefs in London, the group manage to pass on enough information to convince them to launch a bombing raid - their own mission becomes a dangerous effort to 'steal' a V-1, which lands in a field during testing - and arrange for its transport back to the UK.

Excellent & very exciting told story …

Also known as Unseen Heroes & Missiles from Hell

Battle Taxi (1955) - 82 mins

Starring Sterling Hayden, Arthur Franz, Marshall Thompson, Leo Needham & John Dennis

Directed by Herbert L. Strock

Set during the height of the Korean War, Battle Taxi tells of Capt. Russ Edwards (Sterling Hayden), an officer of the Helicopter Air Rescue Service, whose job it is to save wounded or stranded soldiers from hostile territory. Lt. Pete Stacy (Arthur Franz) is a jet pilot assigned to the copter service, who at first resents being a non-com but eventually realizes his importance in the scheme of things.

Another action-packed Sterling Hayden vehicle

Sterling Hayden films which are available from this website are:

Beachhead (1954) - 90 mins

Starring Tony Curtis, Frank Lovejoy, Mary Murphy, Eduard Franz & Skip Homeier

Directed by Stuart Heisler

Set in the Philippines during WWII, this suspenseful and realistic war drama chronicles the courage of a unit of US Marines as they try to save a plantation owner/Allied spy and his beautiful daughter from the Japanese who have taken over a densely jungled island. The spy has crucial information to relay so the Marines must hurry. Only two soldiers remain alive after the mission attempt goes horribly wrong. Trapped on the island, they must escort the plantation owner and his daughter to the other side of the island where their ship awaits. They must battle nature, hard terrain, and advancing Japanese troops

This excellent adventure story was shot on location in Hawaii .

Fabulous color print!

Bear Island (1979) - 118 mins

Starring Donald Sutherland, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Widmark, Christopher Lee, Lloyd Bridges & Barbara Parkins

Directed by Don Sharp

A group of people converge on a barren Arctic island. They have their reasons for being there but when a series of mysterious accidents and murders take place, a whole lot of darker motives become apparent. Could the fortune in buried Nazi gold be the key to the mystery?

An intricately plotted suspense thriller from the pen of Alistair MacLean, this film boasts fabulous location photography and excellent performances from a stellar cast

Now an excellent quality wide-screen print - purchasers of the earlier version should contact Trev about a gratis upgrade

Note: Fans of films based on Alistair MacLean's works are well served by this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of this website. The movies which have come from his pen here are The Guns of Navarone (1961), The Secret Ways (1961), The Satan Bug (1965), When Eight Bells Toll (1971), Puppet on a Chain (1971),

Fear Is the Key (1972), Caravan to Vaccarès (1974), Golden Rendezvous (1977), Bear Island (1979) &

River of Death (1989)

The Beast from 20, 000 Fathoms (1953) - 80 mins

Starring Paul Hubschmid, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, Kenneth Tobey, Donald Woods & Lee Van Cleef

Directed by Eugène Lourié

Nuclear physicist Professor Paul Nesbitt (Paul Hubschmid) sees what he believes to be a giant monster after an atomic bomb test in the arctic. The only other witness is killed when he is covered by ice. When Nesbitt returns to the States he tries to convince the world that he did see the monster. He even tries to convince paleontologist Thurgood Ellison (Cecil Kellaway). The only person who will believe him is Ellison's assistant, Lee Hunter (Paula Raymond). Ellison is finally convinced when Nesbitt and a survivor of a ship that was attacked by the monster both identify the monster as a rhedosaurus. Eventually the monster makes its way to New York where it kills several people and not only by devouring them or crushing them with its sheer weight - the beast also is the carrier of a deadly virulent disease!

A longtime "dream" project of production designer-turned-director Eugene Lourie, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms represented effects artist Ray Harryhausen's first solo effort, after assisting Willis O'Brien on Mighty Joe Young (1949).

The Beasts of Marseilles (1957) - See Seven Thunders elsewhere in the website

Beau Geste (1939) - 112 mins

Starring Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston, Brian Donlevy, J. Carroll Naish & Susan Hayward

Directed by William A. Wellman

From P.C. (Christopher) Wren's adventure novel Beau Geste opens with the now-famous scenes of a remote, burning desert fort, manned by the dead Foreign Legionnaires, then flashes back to the early lives of the Geste brothers. As children, the Gestes swear eternal loyalty to one another and to their family - so when Beau (Gary Cooper) protects his aunt by confessing to (her) theft and running off to join the infamous French Foreign Legion, he is joined in uniform by faithful brothers John (Ray Milland) and Digby (Robert Preston), who in turn are pursued by the slimy Rasinoff (J. Carroll Naish). Rasinoff is in cahoots with sadistic Legion Sgt. Markov (Brian Donlevy), who is later put in charge of Fort Zinderneuf, where Beau and John are stationed. Then the Arabs attack ….

Without peer as an adventure story, this large scale epic shouldn't be missed.

Oscar Nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Brian Donlevy) & Art Direction

Coop: forever the great adventurer (& cowboy) - these Gary Cooper titles are available from this website:

The Bedford Incident (1965) - 102 mins

Starring Richard Widmark, Sidney Poitier, James MacArthur, Martin Balsam, Wally Cox & Eric Portman

Directed by James B. Harris

Reporter Ben Munceford (Sidney Poitier) is allowed aboard a navy ship on patrol near the Arctic Circle, under the command of Captain Eric Finlander (Richard Widmark). His job is to observe the ship in action and do an article on Finlander, a hard-as-nails sailor and a dedicated anti-Communist with a patriotic zeal that's extraordinary even in a man of his rank and position. Finlander's main problem, however - when he's not sparring with the reporter - is tracking and hunting a Soviet sub that he knows is patrolling the same waters. What alarms Munceford is that Finlander acts like there is an actual "hot" war going on; he drives his men mercilessly, up to and past the breaking point, trying to hunt down the submarine and force it to surface, and nothing - not the questions of the reporter, the angry protests of the newly-arrived medical officer Lt. Chester Potter (Martin Balsam), or the quietly voiced concerns of retired U-Boat commander Commodore Shrepke (Eric Portman), aboard as an observer, can get him to relent.

Like Fail-Safe (1964) - also available from this website - The Bedford Incident (1965) taps the (deep) well of public anxiety surrounding nuclear weapons and the Cold War, (un)popular at the time

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Bedlam (1946) - 79 mins

Starring Boris Karloff, Anna Lee, Billy House, Richard Fraser, Glen Vernon, Ian Wolfe, Jason Robards Sr.

Directed by Mark Robson

Nell Bowen, the spirited protege of rich Lord Mortimer, becomes interested in the conditions of notorious St. Mary's of Bethlehem Asylum (Bedlam). Encouraged by the Quaker Hannay, she tries to bring support to reforming Bedlam, but the cruel Master Sims who runs it has her committed there. The inmates, however, have the last say.

Ninth and final entry in an incredible run of psychological horror films from gifted producer Val Lewton. The last three form their own subset because they star the master of the macabre, Boris Karloff. The “Lewton Nine” consist of: Cat People (1942), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), The Leopard Man (1943), The Seventh Victim (1943), The Ghost Ship (1943), The Curse of the Cat People (1944), The Body Snatcher (1945), Isle of the Dead (1945), Bedlam (1946). All nine films are available from this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website - they are also available in a series of multi-film DVD sets from within the Classic Movie Combinations section

Bedtime for Bonzo (1951) - 83 mins

Starring Ronald Reagan, Diana Lynn, Walter Slezak, Lucille Barkley & Jesse White

Directed by Frederick De Cordova

Psychology Professor Peter Boyd (Ronald Reagan) has a sullied reputation because his father was a convict. To prove that environment rather than heredity dictates a man's personality, Reagan uses Bonzo the chimp to test out his theories. At first, the cute & cuddly little guy seems to be responding to the kindnesses lavished upon him - but then he is accused of robbery. Peter has to find the real robber and nearly goes to jail in Bonzo's stead!

Forget what you've been led to believe: Bedtime for Bonzo is a most enjoyable film, and Ronald Reagan is not outacted by the chimpanzee.

Before I Hang (1940) - 62 mins

Starring Boris Karloff, Evelyn Keyes, Bruce Bennett, Edward Van Sloan & Ben Taggart

Directed by Nick Grinde

Condemned to death for a mercy killing, Dr. John Garth (Karloff) continues to experiment in prison to develop a serum that will put at end to the ageing process. On the eve of his execution, he offers himself as guinea pig for his youth serum, which has recently been mixed with the blood of an executed psychopath. Miraculously, Garth does grow younger before the astonished eyes of kindly prison physician Ralph Howard (Edward Van Sloan). Alas, the serum has murderous side effects.

Possibly the best of Karloff?

Beginning of the End (1957) - 76 mins

Starring Peter Graves, Peggie Castle, Morris Ankrum, Than Wyenn, Richard Benedict & Don C. Harvey

Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Reporter Audrey Aimes (Peggie Castle) is driving along a highway in Illinois when she is stopped by the military and informed that a small town has been destroyed and everyone has seemingly disappeared. She then goes to a lab run by the Department of Agriculture where she meets the lab's director, Dr. Ed Wainwright (Peter Graves). Ed tells her that strange things have been happening ever since he discovered that a bunch of grasshoppers managed to get into a silo containing a batch of radioactive wheat. They soon discover that the grasshoppers have grown to monstrous proportions and not only are devouring the local vegetation, but have developed a taste for human flesh as well. Now the locusts are marching towards Chicago and the military is threatening to destroy the city with the atom bomb.

Behind the Headlines (1937) - 58 mins

Starring Lee Tracy, Diana Gibson, Phillip Huston, Paul Guilfoyle & Donald Meek

Directed by Richard Rosson

Eddie Haines is a radio reporter with Station KBC. He is always getting the scoop, which infuriates those at the New York Star, which happens to employ his ex-girlfriend Mary Bradley. But when Mary is kidnapped while thinking she is getting a scoop on a big story, Eddie and Mary, (ie. the print media and the radio media), must work together to rescue her.

Behind the Headlines (1956) - 65 mins

Starring Paul Carpenter, Adrienne Corri, Hazel Court, Alfie Bass & Ewen Solon

Directed by Charles Saunders

Paul Banner, previously an American reporter working in London, has now gone freelance, leaving his paper so that he can focus more on chasing down facts and selling his stories once he gets them. When showgirl Nina Duke is murdered the press are all harrying the police for statements and facts but Banner hangs back and does a little work of his own to uncover the story. Nina, it transpires, was in jail for blackmail previously so it is possible that this was why she was killed - but can Banner get the story that the police cannot?

This neat little Anglo-American production was based on a novel by Robert Chapman.

Behind the Iron Curtain (1948) - See The Iron Curtain elsewhere in this website

Behind the Mask (1932) - 68 mins

Starring Jack Holt, Constance Cummings, Boris Karloff, Claude King & Berthe Mann

Directed by John Francis Dillon

Federal agent Jack Hart (Jack Holt) goes undercover to infiltrate a drug smuggling operation headed by a mysterious Mr. X, a criminal mastermind whose identity is unknown even to his henchmen. Befriending small-time gangster Henderson (Boris Karloff), Hart follows the trail of clues in an effort to unmask Mr. X who, it appears, is also running a bogus hospital where victims are killed on the operating table, and their coffins stuffed with narcotics.

Top drawer Holt!

Interestingly this film was penned by Joseph Swerling who went on to write top Gary Cooper films The Real Glory (1939) & The Westerner (1940), Tyrone Power's Blood and Sand (1941), the excellent noir Leave Her to Heaven (1945) and a quite good Alan Ladd actioner Thunder in the East (1952) - all of which are available from this website

The Bellboy (1960) - 72 mins

Starring Jerry Lewis, Alex Gerry, Bob Clayton, Sonnie Sands & Bill Richmond

Directed by Jerry Lewis

As narrator Jack E. Mulcher, President of Paramount Pictures (Jack Kruschen) explains in a pre-credits intro: this film has no plot and no point - it merely exists for the audience's enjoyment.

Bellhop Stanley (Jerry Lewis) is a nonspeaking bumbler who alternates between screwing up and taking his job too seriously. The gags involve a Volkswagen engine, an overweight guest, a woman with a come-hither voice, a very effective flash bulb, an episode at the Greyhound track, a golf tournament, and a passenger jet. Weaving in and out of the proceedings is Bill Richmond, made up as the spitting image of Stan Laurel (the real Stan Laurel was approached to play himself, but he gently turned Jerry down, insisting that his aged appearance would disappoint his fans).

The Bellboy is Jerry Lewis directorial debut and came about when his home studio, Paramount, needed a summer-release Jerry Lewis vehicle in a hurry. Jerry and his entourage headed to the Fountainbleu hotel in Miami Beach, and 29 days later returned with The Bellboy. Made for peanuts, The Bellboy amassed a fortune, assuring that Jerry Lewis would be permitted to direct many of his own films in the future.

What’s your favorite Jerry Lewis picture? There are 9 on this website - the ones that Trev best “connected with” during school holidays at the local cinema. The following with Dean Martin: Sailor Beware (1952), Scared Stiff (1953), The Caddy (1953), Living It Up (1954), Pardners (1956) & Hollywood or Bust (1956).

Then with Jerry on his own: The Bellboy (1960) & The Ladies Man (1961), both of which had Jerry in the directors chair and The Disorderly Orderly (1964) which reunited Jerry with director Frank Taslin, who had previously helmed Hollywood or Bust (1956).

Belle of the Yukon (1944) - 83 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Gypsy Rose Lee, Dinah Shore, Bob Burns, Charles Winninger & Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams

Directed by William A. Seiter

Honest John Calhoun aka Gentleman Jack (Randolph Scott) is a reformed con man who has fled north from the law and opened a successful dancehall & gambling establishment in the upper reaches of Malamute. Meanwhile, his former lover Belle De Valle (Gypsy Rose Lee), who he deserted when he absconded from justice, arrives as part of a new show troupe and finds her ex-boyfriend's new ways very powerfully. But Lettie Candless (Dinah Shore) also has designs on our hero.

Two Oscar Nominations (Best Song & Best Music)

Belle Starr (1941) - 87 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Shepperd Strudwick & Chil Wills

Directed by Irving Cummings

When Yankees march in and appropriate Belle Starr's land, she heads to Missouri and joins forces with a Confederate guerrilla. Belle marries the man, and together they become outlaws, hoping to avenge the fallen South. They continue their activities against exploiters until she is shot riding to alert Sam of a trap.

Said to be a combination of Jesse James and Gone with the Wind, this is a big budget western with a top cast

There was a sequel to this film: Belle Starr’s Daughter (1948) which is also available from this website (see below)

Belle Starr’s Daughter (1948) - 86 mins

Starring George Montgomery, Rod Cameron, Ruth Roman, Wallace Ford, Charles Kemper & William Phipps

Directed by Lesley Selander

Newly commissioned Marshal Tom Jackson (George Montgomery) raids the outlaw-laden Cherokee Flats held by Belle Starr. During the melee that follows, Bob ‘Bitter Creek’ Yauntis (Rod Cameron) kills Belle during an argument. Eventually Belle’s daughter, Rose of Cimarron (Ruth Roman), winds up working in a beanery in Montgomery’s town, where they begin to fall in love … until the Yauntis’ gang arrives and ‘Bitter Creek’ leads Rose astray, making her believe it was Marshall Jackson who killed her mother.

Sequel to the Randolph Scott / Gene Tierney epic, Belle Starr (1941) - which is also available from this website (see above).

Belle Starr’s Daughter (1948) is the first of two tidy westerns from Alson Productions which placed George Montgomery up against Rod Cameron. Dakota Lil (1950) was to follow and both films have developed “cult” status because they pit this dynamic pair of western legends “going at it” in some interesting and provocative exchanges - Dakota Lil (1950) is also available from this website

Bells of Coronado (1950) - 67 mins

Starring Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Pat Brady, Grant Withers, Leo Cleary & Clifton Young

Directed by William Witney

Blessed with a script and production values that would have done any "A" picture proud, Bells of Coronado has Roy playing an undercover insurance investigator who tangles with a crooked gang that are stealing Uranium from a mine and selling it to foreign spies – the latter hoping to fly their horde out of the country under the noses of the locals.

A favorite amongst Roy Rogers fans – is this his best?

Excellent uncut color print

Bells of Coronado (1950) is part of a nice 6 DVD, 18 film set of Roy Rogers westerns which is available from the "B" Westerns section of this website

There are several Roy Rogers westerns (ALL UNCUT) available from this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website: Cowboy and the Senorita (1944), Bells of Rosarita (1945), My Pal Trigger (1946), Bells of San Angelo (1947), Springtime in the Sierras (1947), The Golden Stallion (1949), Bells of Coronado (1950), Trigger, Jr. (1950) & Trail of Robin Hood (1950).

Bells of Rosarita (1945) - 68 mins

Starring Roy Rogers, George “Gabby” Hayes, Dale Evans, Grant Withers, Roy Barcroft, ‘Wild Bill’ Elliott, Allan ‘Rocky’ Lane, Sunset Carson, Don ‘Red’ Barry & Robert Livingston

Directed by Frank McDonald

Roy Rogers is appropriately cast as a cowboy star who invariably rescues the heroine from the villain in his movie vehicles. But when Sue Farnum (Dale Evans) is cheated out of her inheritance by the duplicitous business partner (Grant Withers) of her deceased father, Roy finds out that art is imitating life! In order to rescue this genuine damsel in distress, Rogers enlists the aid of his fellow Republic sagebrush stars ‘Wild Bill’ Elliot, Allan ‘Rocky’ Lane, Don ‘Red’ Barry, Robert Livingston, and Sunset Carson - each astride his own "celebrity" horse.

Excellent uncut print

Bells of Rosarita (1945) is part of a nice 6 DVD, 18 film set of Roy Rogers westerns which is available from the "B" Westerns section of this website

Bells of San Angelo (1947) - 78 mins

Starring Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Andy Devine, John McGuire David Sharpe & Bob Nolan

Directed by William Witney

Border Patrolman Roy Rogers is sent to the Mexican border in southwest Texas to investigate mysterious doings at the Rancho San Angelo. There, with the help of local sheriff, Cookie Bullfincher (Andy Devine) and Lee Madison (Dale Evans) , a western pulp magazine writer looking for story material, Roy discovers that the Rancho is actually a front for smuggling silver across the Mexico border into the United States.

Strong characterisations and an excellent script make this perhaps Roy’s best western

Very good uncut color print

Bells of San Angelo (1947) is part of a nice 6 DVD, 18 film set of Roy Rogers westerns which is available from the "B" Westerns section of this website

Bend of the River (1952) - 91 mins

Starring James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy, Rock Hudson, Jay C. Flippen, Julie Adams & Lori Nelson

Directed by Anthony Mann

Glyn McLyntock (James Stewart) is a former outlaw, now working as trail guide for a group of Oregon-bound farmers. He is aided in this endeavor by Emerson Cole (Arthur Kennedy), a far-from-reformed horse thief. Upon arriving in Portland, McLyntock gets in the middle of a scam operated by a trader who has reneged on his promise to ship goods to the settlers. Unable to take action through legal channels, McLyntock and farmer Jeremy Baile steal the provision and scurry back to the settlement by boat. On their return, they discover that Cole has sold out to the trader and intends to reclaim the supplies, taking Baile and his daughter Laura as hostages to ensure safe passage.

As in the other Stewart-Mann productions, James Stewart breaks away from his usual easygoing screen persona to play a tough, self-serving rugged individual, whose true motives and loyalties remain in doubt until the very end of the film.

Bend of the River was adapted by Borden Chase from Bill Gulick's novel Bend of the Snake - Chase also scripted two other Stewart/Mann westerns: Winchester '73 (1950) & The Far Country (1954) - see below

Perfect Technicolor Print! - Fabulous

James Stewart & Anthony Mann: their 5 westerns together from 1950 to 1955, rewrote the cowboy story for the big screen - their's were tough, psychological though lyric masterpieces of western cinema - beautifully photographed and expertly written stories with intriguing characters and realistic action - a blueprint for westerns of the 50s (and embraced by Budd Boetticher & Randolph Scott in their excellent collaborations in the late 1950s - see the Randolph Scott section of this website)

This, Bend of the River (1952), was the second of this quintet of Stewart / Mann westerns - preceded by

Winchester '73 (1950) and followed by The Naked Spur (1953), The Far Country (1954) & The Man from Laramie (1955) - each is available from this (the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website.

All 5 westerns in the series can also be obtained in an nice boxed set from within the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

Other Anthony Mann’s “psychological westerns” which can be found on this website include: The Furies (1950), Devil's Doorway (1950) & The Tall Target (1951)

Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) - 95 mins

Starring James Franciscus, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, Linda Harrison & Charlton Heston

Directed by Ted Post

Sometime after the events of the first Planet of the Apes, the climax of which is repeated at the beginning of this sequel, another group of astronauts arrives on the Ape Planet. This time it's John Brent (James Franciscus) who survives the crash landing and learns that evolved simians have taken over the world, post-apocalypse. After hooking up with Nova (Linda Harrison), the mute, fur bikini-clad beauty who spent the first film being squired by astronaut Colonel George Taylor (Charlton Heston), Brent confers with Zira (Kim Hunter) and Cornelius (David Watson, giving Roddy McDowall his only break during the five-film series), the ape scientists whose adherence to scientific principles makes them friendly to the possibility of intelligent human life. Something of a military coup has taken place among the apes, who dispatch an army to the desolate "Forbidden Zone" where Taylor has coincidentally disappeared. With the apes and the humans both scouring about in the ruins of 20th century civilization, it's only a matter of time before they all find out what happened to the other survivors of the nuclear holocaust.

Excellent and well-made sequel

All 5 films are also available from within the Classic Movie Combinations section in a nice 5 DVD set

There was also a 14 episode Planet of the Apes TV Series which can be found in the TV Series section of this website

Beneath the 12 Mile Reef (1953) - 102 mins

Starring Robert Wagner, Terry, Moore, Gilbert Roland, J. Carrol Naish & Richard Boone

Directed by Robert D. Webb

Mike and Tony Petrakis (Gilbert Roland & Robert Wagner) are a Greek father and son team who dive for sponges off the coast of Florida. After they are robbed by the Rhys brothers (Richard Boone & Harry Carey Jr.), Mike decides to take his men to the dangerous 12-mile reef to dive for more sponges. Things go badly at this reef and emotional matters enter into the equation when Tony begins a relationship with Tom Rhys sister, Gwyneth (Terry Moore).

Fabulous adventure - wonderful widescreen Technicolor print (much superior to commercial outlets)

Bengal Brigade (1954) - 87 mins

Starring Rock Hudson, Arlene Dahl, Ursula Thiess, Torin Thatcher & Michael Ansara

Directed by Laslo Benedek

This British-India actioner, adapted from a novel by Hall Hunter, casts Rock Hudson as Captain Jeffrey Claybourne of Her Majesty's Service, who is severely disciplined after defying orders. Feeling unworthy of his fiancee Vivian Morrow, the daughter of his superior officer, Claybourne breaks off the engagement until he can restore his reputation. When the duplicitous Rajah Karam launches an all-out attack against the British forces in India, Claybourne finds his opportunity for redemption.

Nice color action film

Rock's other good actioners from this period were Sea Devils (1953) & Captain Lightfoot (1955) - both of which are also available from this website.

Berlin Correspondent (1942) - 70 mins

Starring Dana Andrews, Virginia Gilmore, Mona Maris & Sig Roman

Directed by Eugene Forde

American correspondent Bill Roberts is a thorn in the side of the Nazis, as his paper always scoops the world with the truth about Germany. Gestapo Captain Carl Von Rau means to plug the leak and assigns Karen Hauen who he attends to wed, to the case. Roberts is obtaining his information for his stories and broadcasts from an elderly stamp collector who, defiantly opposed to the Nazis, sells the "proper" stamps to Roberts, giving him the information. Attracted to Karen, Roberts invites her to his apartment where she learns his secret. The old philatelist is sent to a concentration camp, and then Karen learns that he is her father. She appeals to Roberts for help and he, in loyalty to the old man and now in love with Karen, agrees to help. Neatly done spy thriller.

Berlin Express (1948) - 86 mins

Starring Merle Oberon, Robert Ryan, Charles Korvin, Paul Lukas & Robert Coote

Directed by Jacques Tourneur

Taut, suspenseful spy story set in post WW2 Europe in which people from many different countries are passengers on a train. When one of the passengers, a German working for peace, is kidnapped by people who don't want his ideas to work, the others must set aside their differences and work together to find him in time for an important conference.

Great Stuff!

Bermuda Mystery (1944) - 65 mins

Starring Preston Foster, Ann Rutherford, Charles Butterworth, Helene Reynolds, Richard Lane & Jean Howard

Directed by Benjamin Stoloff

When a man dies of a suspicious heart attack, the victim's niece, Constance Martin hires breezy detective, Steve Carromond. to investigate. The solution to the mystery lies in a tontine-like arrangement, wherein six WW1 vets have pooled their savings for a joint insurance policy, to be collected by the surviving veteran.

Smart little story with nice work from Preston Forster

Best of the Badmen (1951) - 84 mins

Starring Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor, Jack Buetel, Robert Preston & Walter Brennan

Directed by William D. Russell

Jeff Clanton (Robert Ryan) is a former Union officer who persuades a fictional vigilante group which closely resembles Quantrill's Raiders to lay down their arms and seek out new and honest lives. Clanton is undercut by shifty Pinkerton man Matthew Fowler (Robert Preston), who wants to collect the rewards on the heads of the ex-vigilantes; to that end, he frames Clanton for murder. With the help of Fowler's embittered wife Lily (Claire Trevor), Clanton escapes and turns outlaw with the men whom he'd earlier convinced to turn honest

One of 4 westerns which Robert Ryan made in the 1950s in which he was star - the others being Horizons West (1952), The Proud Ones (1956) & Day of the Outlaw (1959) - all of which are available from this website

Betrayed (1944) - See When Strangers Marry elsewhere in the website

Betrayed (1954) - 108 mins

Starring Clark Gable, Lana Turner, Victor Mature, Louis Calhern & Wilfrid Hyde-White

Directed by Gottfried Reinhardt

During World War II, intelligence agent Col. Pieter Deventer (Clark Gable) is ordered to keep tabs on suspected Nazi collaborator Carla Van Oven (Lana Turner). Both Pieter and Carla join the Dutch underground, making contact with a flamboyant resistance leader known as "The Scarf" (Victor Mature). Carla poses as a sexy chanteuse, the better to gain the confidence of the lascivious Nazi officers. Within the next few weeks, several underground operatives are captured and shot, and it begins to look as though Pieter’s suspicions concerning Carla are correct. The real collaborator is revealed some twenty minutes before the finale, but the suspense level is expertly maintained throughout. The location-filmed Betrayed would later be mercilessly lampooned in the 1984 spy spoof Top Secret!

An exciting espionage thriller - Gable & Turner!

Between Heaven and Hell (1956) - 94 mins

Starring Robert Wagner, Terry Moore, Broderick Crawford, Buddy Ebsen, Robert Keith & Brad Dexter

Directed by Richard Fleischer

Seen through flashback, we meet Sam Gifford (Robert Wagner) in pre-WW2 days: an arrogant southern cotton plantation owner who is married to the daughter of a colonel. At the beginning of the war he is mobilized with his National Guard unit as a sergeant, but strikes his commanding officer when revolted by that officer's cowardice in firing on his own men. Downgraded, he is sent to a disciplinary battalion. Sam now discovers his new detachment is commanded by the psychopathic brute Captain Waco Grimes (Broderick Crawford at his absolute best!). While in combat, Sam will gradually become closer to the ordinary soldier, especially Pvt. Willie Crawford (Buddy Ebsen) - working class people he used to despise. He will become another man, a better man.

Great "Pacific Theatre" WW2 film - who remembers Gifford's mad dash down the mountain as the Japanese are heading up the trail …. an incredibly exciting section of an exciting and well-made film

Fabulous wide-screen color print!

Between Midnight and Dawn (1950) - 89 mins

Starring Mark Stevens, Edmond O'Brien, Gale Storm, Donald Buka & Gale Robbins

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Rocky and Dan, war buddies, are prowl car cops on night duty. Dan is a cynic who views all lawbreakers as scum; Rocky feels more lenient. Both are attracted to the radio voice of communicator Kate Mallory; but in person, Kate proves reluctant to get involved with men who just might stop a bullet. By lucky chance, Rocky and Dan cause big trouble for murderous racketeer Ritchie Garris; but when he swears vengeance, Kate's fears may prove justified.

A solid, no-frills detective drama with O'Brien in great form

Beware, My Lovely (1952) - 77 mins

Starring Ida Lupino, Robert Ryan, Taylor Holmes, Barbara Whiting & James Willams

Directed by Harry Horner

Adapted from the stage thriller The Man (itself based upon a half-hour radio drama), Beware My Lovely is a taut suspenser tailor-made for the talents of Ida Lupino and Robert Ryan. Lupino plays a pretty widow who impulsively hires handyman Ryan to look after her house. She soon learns Ryan is a dangerous schizophrenic, but by the time she comes to this realization she is unable to escape her house. The tension mounts apace, leading to an unexpected finale.

Beyond Glory (1948) - 82 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Donna Reed, George Macready, George Coulouris & Harold Vermilyea

Directed by John Farrow

An older soldier enters West Point but remains haunted by nagging guilt. It all began in Tunisia during a tremendous battle. The soldier passed out during the fight, and when he awoke he discovered his commanding officer was dead. He blames himself for the death and after being released from the army, he goes to see the officer's wife. Love blossoms, and with her help he enrolls in West Point where he becomes a model cadet until a jealous plebe begins making trouble that eventually sends the soldier to a court-martial hearing. There the truth of the incident is finally revealed.

Excellent Alan Ladd drama

Beyond the Time Barrier (1960) - 75 mins

Starring Robert Clarke, Darlene Tompkins, Vladimir Sokoloff, Boyd 'Red' Morgan & John Van Dreelen

Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer

Experimental pilot Maj. William Allison (Robert Clarke) whilst testing a new rocket powered craft (actually a Convair F-102 interceptor) is hideously disfigured by a mishap in space. In flashback, we learn that Clarke had earlier returned to his base, only to discover that he'd passed through a time warp and that the Earth has been decimated by some disaster or other. He crosses the path of the ruling class, led by the Supreme, and a tribe of mutants, left over from a plague caused by extraterrestrial radiation. Only by returning to his own time can Clarke save the world from this fate.

Director Edgar G. Ulmer introduces some interesting sci-fi touches in this intriguing film which also brings a second collaboration between this director and star Robert Clarke - they initially combined to make the equally intriguing The Man From Planet X (1951) - which is also available from this website.

The Bigamist (1953) - 80 mins

Starring Joan Fontaine, Ida Lupino, Edmund Gwenn, Edmond O’Brien, Kenneth Tobey & Jane Darwell

Directed by Ida Lupino

Harry & Eve Graham (Edmond O’Brien & Joan Fontaine) are trying to adopt a baby. Mr Jordan (Edmund Gwenn) is the head of the Adoption agency and he senses Harry is keeping a secret. After some investigating, Jordan discovers that Harry has done an unusual amount of traveling from his home in San Francisco to Los Angeles. He tracks down Harry in LA where he has another wife, Phyllis Martin (Ida Lupino) and a baby. Via flashbacks, Harry tells Mr. Jordan how he ended up in two marriages.

Excellent drama (not a comedy).

Edmund O’Brien moved up to the ‘A’ list with this interesting film - he’s only 4^th listed in the cast but its really his picture!

Very Nice Print!

The Big Bonanza (1944) - 70 mins

Starring Richard Arlen, Robert Livingston, Jane Frazee, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Lynne Roberts & Bobby Driscoll

Directed by George Archainbaud

Having been falsely court marshalled for cowardice and sentenced to prison by the Army, Captain Jed Kilton (Richard Arlen) escapes and heads to Nevada Springs to see his kid brother, Spud (Bobby Driscoll). There he meets his old school friend Sam Ballou (Robert Livingston) - now a high rolling crook. Soon the two old friends find themselves on opposite sides of the law and Sam has Jed arrested. Then when Spud sees one of Sam's men kill another man, the boy becomes Sam's intended victim

Excellent Republic actioner boosted by the charismatic pairing of Arlen & Livingston - albeit as opponents

The Big Chance (1957) - 59 mins

Starring Adrienne Corri, William Russell, Ian Colin, Penelope Bartley & Ferdy Mayne

Directed by Peter Graham Scott

William Russell plays a travel agency clerk who pines away for socialite Adrienne Corri. Unable to support Corri in the manner in which she is accustomed, the desperate Russell seeks out ways of realizing some quick money. He decides to rob the agency where he works.

A great little fast moving thriller!

Director Peter Graham Scott adapted the screenplay from a novel by Pamela Barrington.

The Big Chase (1954) - 60 mins

Starring Glenn Langan, Adele Jergens, Lon Chaney Jr., Jim Davis & Douglas Kennedy

Directed by Arthur Hilton

In a flashback told by Police Lt. Ned Daggert to story-hunting reporter Milton Graves, we hear about Korean-War vet Pete Grayson who joins the L.A. Police Academy amid concerns of his safety by his wife pregnant Doris. Meanwhile, in the state prison, inmates Brad Bellows and Jim Meggs are planning a big heist as soon as Brad gets out of prison. The caper they pull, and the resultant chase, all over Hollywood, Los Angeles and a large portion of Southern California, proves that Doris' concerns was more than warranted.

A fine, tight action film with a chase that occupies a substantial part of the film

The Big Clock (1948) - 95 mins

Starring Ray Milland, Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sullivan, George Macready & Rita Johnson

Directed by John Farrow

A woman has been murdered, and a witness has a description of a suspect leaving her apartment. A magazine editor (Ray Milland) knows that he is the man that the witness saw - but he's innocent, and he must investigate the crime and pretend to search for the suspect. He only has an hour to nail his boss, the real killer (Charles Laughton), before being identified himself. Maureen O'Sullivan (Mrs. Farrow) helps him out, George Macready is Laughton's evil sidekick, and Elsa Lanchester turns up in a brief, but funny and marvelous bit part. Milland is at his most appealing. Laughton is great as a detestable villain. Watching the movie is like reading a stylish page-turner - smooth in style, but with plenty of tension, it clips along at a fine pace, and winding up with an inspired "poetic justice" type ending. Pure entertainment.

The Big Combo (1955) - 89 mins

Starring Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Brian Donlevy, Richard Conte, Lee Van Cleef & Earl Holliman

Directed by Joseph (H.) Lewis

This raw violent film noir tells the story of Police Lt. Diamond who is told to close his surveillance of suspected mob boss Mr. Brown because it's costing the department too much money and getting no results. Diamond makes one last attempt to uncover evidence against Brown by going to Brown's girlfriend, Susan Lowell.

A cult movie which has been stylishly directed.

Shrewd judges often rate this in their top 5 of film noir titles.

Biggles : Adventures in Time (1986) - 108 mins

Starring Neil Dickson, Alex Hyde-White, Fiona Hutchinson & Peter Cushing

Directed By John Hough

One minute the New Yorker advertising expert Jim Ferguson is at a business party -- the next he finds himself way back in 1917 in a plane fight during WWI. The mysterious Mr. Raymond explains to him that he has a time-twin, to whom he's relocated in space and time whenever one of them is in trouble. So he has to help his twin,: biplane pilot Biggles, in his attempt to destroy a Nazi-German super weapon, that could win their war.

The Big Heat (1953) - 90 mins

Starring Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, Lee Marvin, Carolyn Jones & Alexander Scourby

Directed by Fritz Lang

The Big Heat is director Fritz Lang's landmark bleak, film noir crime classic and violent melodrama. Lang's characteristic expressionistic lighting, use of sets and decor, and costuming sharply reflected the personality traits of the film's major characters. The sparse screenplay of a story laced with revenge, murder, and hate was written by former crime reporter Sidney Boehm and based on a Saturday Evening Post serial and the hard-hitting, brutal 1952 novel by William P. McGivern. The film's title referred to the enforcement crack-down on lawlessness and illegal activities.

Its an uncompromising and grim story of an iron-willed, driven, dedicated, honest, incorruptible homicide detective within a crooked and perverted society and corrupt system at all levels (e.g., the mob, the commissioner, the police, and everyday citizens), and the enormous price that is paid to find justice. The crusading, vigilante rogue cop/hero must erode his idealistic, law-abiding principles when he resorts to the unlawful tactics of the hoodlums after the tragic murder of his young wife by sadistic, viperous gang members led by a big-time crime boss. He enlists the help of one of the gangs' molls in order to seek revenge.

Lang & Ford combined again for Human Desire (1954) which is also available from this website

Big Jim McLain (1952) - 90 mins

Starring John Wayne, Nancy Olson, James Arness, Alan Napier, Veda Ann Borg & Hans Conried

Directed by Edward Ludwig

Jim McLain (John Wayne) and his partner Mal Baxter (James Arness) head to Hawaii to investigate a subversive pro-Red organization. Feigning love for suspect Nancy Vallon (Nancy Olson), Jim ferrets out the name of the group’s leader, the mysterious Dr. Gelster. Jim eventually catches up with his quarry, but not before murder enters the frame!

John Wayne: Duke - one of the most recognizable persons on the planet -a true mega-star in film. You'll find the following John Wayne movies in this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of this website:

The Big Knife (1955) - 111 mins

Starring Jack Palance, Ida Lupino, Wendell Corey, Jean Hagen, Rod Steiger & Shelley Winters

Directed by Robert Aldrich

Charlie Castle (Jack Palance) is a major film star who has refused to sign a long-term contract for big money with a studio run by the tyrannical Stanley Shriner Hoff (Rod Steiger). This has led to the return of his wife, Marion (Ida Lupino), who had left him due to his womanizing and a willingness to kowtow to Hoff in doing bad movies only for the money. After his agent, Nat Danziger (Everett Sloane), tries unsuccessfully to get him to reconsider, Hoff himself badgers Charlie, insisting on the absolute necessity of his signing. When the star continues to resist, Hoff threatens to blackmail him with an ugly incident from his past.

A screen adaptation of Clifford Odets play which is indictment of the amoral world of 50's Hollywood and its corrosive effect upon the artist.

Gripping Stuff!

The Big Land (1957) - 92 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Anthony Caruso, Julie Bishop & John Qualen

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Produced by Alan Ladd's own Jaguar company, The Big Land stars Ladd as Texas cattleman Morgan. As a means to expedite shipment of his stock to Missouri, Morgan convinces several Kansas farmers to build a small town as a railroad link between the Rio Grande and Kansas City. He is opposed in this by crooked cattle buyer Brog (Anthony Caruso), who realizes that any speed-up of Morgan's shipments will increase livestock prices.

A great shoot-out: a la Shane!

A nice color print!

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The Big Night (1951) - 75 mins

Starring John Drew Barrymore, Preston Foster, Jaon Lorring, Howard St. John, Emile Meyer & Myron Healey

Directed by Joseph Losey

Awkward teenager George La Main (John Drew Barrymore) is given a small birthday party by his widowed father Andy (Preston Foster) at his bar.. George is embarrassed when he is unable to blow out all the candles on his cake, but that's nothing compared to the humiliation to come when sportswriter Al Judge (Howard St. John) enters the tavern. Judge orders the elder LeMain to remove his shirt and get down on all fours. Andy meekly offers no resistance when Judge brutally canes him. Enraged at both Judge and his father, George takes a gun from the cash register and goes off into the night to settle the score. Finally coming face to face with Judge, George eventually drops his gun and starts to leave. However, when Judge picks it up and turns the tables on him, George struggles for the gun, shoots Judge, and runs back into the night.

“A coming-of-age tale in which the price George pays for growing up is disillusionment with his emasculated father. Armed with this knowledge and a stronger sense of his abilities, George may now be better equipped to navigate the rejections, humiliations, and sadomasochistic relationships of his noirish world”

A bleak but powerful film, helmed by the legendary Joseph Losey - other Losey films which can be found on this website are: The Criminal (1960) King & Country (1964) & Figures in a Landscape (1970)

The Big Shot (1942) - 82 mins

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Irene Manning, Richard Travis, Susan Peters, Stanley Ridges & Chick Chandler

Directed by Lewis Seiler

Mob leader Joseph ‘Duke’ Berne (Humphrey Bogart) is a three-time loser who tries in vain to reorganize his old gang after being sprung from prison. Falling in love with Lorna Fleming (Irene Manning), the wife of crooked attorney Martin Fleming (Stanley Ridges), Berne ends up back behind bars for life, thanks to the vengeful Fleming's courtroom chicanery. Escaping during a prison variety show, Berne makes a beeline for Lorna, who deserted the duplicitous Fleming when the latter railroaded an innocent young man into jail. Hoping to find happiness in a remote mountain hideaway, Berne ultimately realizes that he may be no good for Lorna …

A little seen but excellent Bogie vehicle - shades of High Sierra (1941)?

The Big Sky (1952) - 140 mins

Starring Kirk Douglas, Dewey Martin, Elizabeth Threatt, Arthur Hunnicutt & Buddy Baer

Directed by Howard Hawks

Jim Deakins & Boone Caudill (Kirk Douglas & Dewey Martin) are a pair of Kentucky frontiersmen who embark upon the first keelboat trip up the Missouri River in 1830. Joining Jim and Boone are Boone’s grizzled old uncle Zeb Calloway (Arthur Hunnicutt) and garrulous Frenchman 'Frenchy' Jourdonnais (Steven Geray). Running afoul of various Indian tribes, Jim nonetheless romances Sioux princess Teal Eye (Elizabeth Threatt).

The Big Sky is based on a popular novel by A.B. Guthrie.

Oscar Nominations for Best Supporting Actor (Arthur Hunnicutt) & Best B&W Cinematography (Russell Harlan)

Excellent B&W Print!

The Big Sleep (1946) - 114 mins

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Martha Vickers, Regis Toomey & Dorothy Malone

Directed by Howard Hawks

Classic mystery thriller from Raymond Chandler's first novel : Private-eye Philip Marlowe is hired to keep an eye on General Sternwood's youngest daughter, Carmen, who has fallen into bad company and is likely to do some damage to herself and her family before long. He soon finds himself falling in love with her older sister, Vivien, who initially takes a deep dislike to Mr Marlowe. However, the plot thickens when murder follows murder....

So convoluted even Chandler didn't know who committed one murder (the Sternwood chauffeur) but so incredibly entertaining that no-one has ever cared. Combines powerhouse direction with unforgettable dialogue.

Note that this film is part of the Philip Marlowe "at the Movies" Combination which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

The Big Sleep (1978) - 100 mins

Starring Robert Mitchum, Candy Clark, Oliver Reed, Sylvia Miles, Richard Boone, James Stewart, Joan Collins, Edward Fox & John Mills

Directed by Michael Winner

Set in England, rather than California, the story follows Raymond Chandler's book fairly closely otherwise. Philip Marlowe is asked by the elderly (and near death) General Sternwood to investigate an attempt at blackmail on one of his daughters. He soon finds that the attempt is half hearted at best and seems to be more connected with the disappearance of the other daughter's husband, Rusty Regan. Rusty's wife, seems unconcerned with his disappearance, further complicating the mystery. Only General Sternwood seems concerned as mobsters and hired killers continue to appear in the path of the investigation.

Note that this film is part of the Philip Marlowe "at the Movies" Combination which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

The Big Steal (1949) - 71 mins

Starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas, William Bendix, Patric Knowles & Ramon Navarro

Directed by Don Siegel

Jane and Duke (alias Capt. Blake) accidently meet in Vera Cruz while chasing flim-flam man Fiske. Soon the local Inspector General (El Gato) is involved. Fiske races across Mexico, pursued by Jane and Duke, trailed by the real Capt. Blake. The crafty Inspector General is waiting for them in Tihuacan but they all give him the slip, just in time for the climactic finale. A well made robbery caper set in Mexico and shot on location, this film is full of terrific plot twists and benefits from a very tight script and pacing.

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The Big Trail (1930) - 125 mins

Starring John Wayne, Marguerite Churchill, El Brendel, Tully Marshall & Tyrone Power Sr.

Directed by Raoul Walsh

The first "epic" western of the talkie era, The Big Trail is motivated by a hero's search for the murderer of his father. Twenty-three-year-old John Wayne, hitherto limited to bit parts, was thrust into the difficult leading role of Breck Coleman, a young mountaineer put in charge of a huge California-bound wagon train. Over the next several months, Breck and his fellow pioneers face every imaginable hazard and disaster, from blistering desert heat to blinding snowstorms, negotiating steep cliffs, treacherous rivers, uncharted forests and other such natural obstacles. Meanwhile, Breck’s tentative romance with heroine Ruth Cameron (Marguerite Churchill) is continually thwarted by a charming but duplicitous Louisiana gambler Bill Thorpe (Ian Keith). Meanwhile, all-around villain Red Flack (Tyrone Power Sr.) and his henchman Lopez (Charlie Stevens) ceaselessly plot to double-cross the other wagon-trainers for their own financial gain.

The Big Trail was a box-office disappointment, a fact which some have attributed its expensive production methods. Each scene was lensed twice, once in 35 mm and then in the 65 mm "Fox Grandeur" wide-screen process. And then, each dialogue scene was filmed in French and German, with totally different casts. Even if The Big Trail had been a big hit, it would have lost money thanks to the time-consuming shooting and reshooting of virtually every scene.

Whatever the case, it was John Wayne who suffered most from the film's failure; instantly demoted to "B"-westerns, it took him nearly a decade to rebuild his stardom (with 1939’s Stagecoach).

This print is the fabulous 65 mm "Fox Grandeur" B&W print! - much better than commercial releases

John Wayne: Duke - one of the most recognizable persons on the planet -a true mega-star in film. You'll find the following John Wayne movies in this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of this website:

The Big Trees (1952) - 89 mins

Starring Kirk Douglas, Eve Miller, Patrice Wymore, Edgar Buchanan, John Archer & Alan Hale Jr.

Directed by Felix E. Feist

Jim Fallon (Kirk Douglas) is an unscrupulous lumberjack who covets the land owned by a Quaker religious sect. All that's saving him from being the main villain is the fact that there's an even nastier contingent out to claim the sect's territory. Also his greed tempered by the love of pious Alicia Chadwick (Eve Miller), so much so that he has a change of heart and works to save land for the sect.

Excellent Technicolor Print - much superior to commercial offerings

Billion Dollar Brain (1967) - 111 mins

Starring Michael Caine, Karl Malden, Ed Begley, Oskar Homolka, Guy Doleman & Françoise Dorléac

Directed by Ken Russell

Having left Britain's espionage service, Harry Palmer (Michael Caine) is scraping out a living as a private investigator, but his old boss Colonel Ross (Guy Doleman) offers a raise and promotion if he'll return. Which he does - reluctantly - and one of his first assignments is to deliver an apparently innocent thermos flask to old friend Leo Newbigen (Karl Malden) in Helsinki. That assignment immerses Palmer in a deadly game of deception, double-dealing, and triple-crosses on all sides, as he finds that Leo is working for a privately operated intelligence network, set up by a rabidly right-wing Texas oil man, General Midwinter (Ed Begley)

The billion-dollar super-computer of the title, built by Midwinter, runs a network of spies and assassins aimed at the destruction of the Soviet Union. That interests Palmer's old friend, Soviet security chief Colonel Stok (Oskar Homolka).

Big scale conclusion to the Harry Palmer Trilogy!

Billion Dollar Brain (1967) is Michael Caine’s third appearance as novelist Len Deighton's bespectacled British-spy Harry Palmer - preceded by The Ipcress File (1965) & Funeral in Berlin (1966) - both of which are available from this section of the website

All 3 films are also available from the Movie Series section of this website (under Harry Palmer)

Part of an excellent sextet of “gritty mid 60s spy films” which were seen as being realistic and ultimately the antithesis of the James Bond view of the genre: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), The Ipcress File (1965), Funeral in Berlin (1966), The Quiller Memorandum (1966), The Deadly Affair (1966) & Billion Dollar Brain (1967) - all of which are available from this section of the website.

They are also available in a 6 DVD set from within the Classic Movie Combinations section (under “G” for “Gritty mid 60s spy films”)

Billy Budd (1962) - 119 mins

Starring Robert Ryan, Peter Ustinov, Melvyn Douglas, Terence Stamp, Paul Rogers, John Neville & David McCallum

Directed by Peter Ustinov

Herman Melville's short novel Billy Budd is adapted for the screen, distinguished by Robert Krasker's expressive black-and-white cinematography and Peter Ustinov's crisp direction. Terence Stamp is Billy Budd, a seaman forced to serve in the British Navy during the war between England and France in 1797. Billy looks upon all men as inherently good and, although his crewmates are initially sceptical about this sailor who appears too good to be true, he proves his mettle by his skills as a sailor and gains the respect of the crew - all except for the ship's reviled Master d’Arms John Claggert (Robert Ryan), who attempts to poison Billy's reputation by accusing him of instigating a mutiny. When the ship's captain, Edward Vere (Peter Ustinov), questions Billy about the charges, Billy reacts by striking Claggert, who falls over and dies from a blow on the head. A court-martial is called and Vere has to determine whether Billy should be hanged or acquitted.

Oscar Nomination for Terence Stamp (Best Supporting Actor)

Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) - 147 mins

Starring Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter, Neville Brand, Edmond O'Brien & Telly Savalas

Directed by John Frankenheimer

In this film based on a true story, Burt Lancaster plays Robert Stroud, a withdrawn prison inmate who cures a sick bird that flies into his cell and eventually becomes a world-renowned ornithologist - all while serving a life sentence. An overbearing warden (Karl Malden) eventually transfers Stroud to the notoriously brutal prison on Alcatraz, but he is able to continue his research, abort a riot, start a romance, and eventually get his story out through a determined reporter (Edmond O'Brien).

Another Tour de Force for Burt!

Oscar Nominated for Best Actor, Supporting Actor (Telly Savalas), Supporting Actress (Thelma Ritter) and B&W Cinematography.

Burt was also “out West” with Vengeance Valley (1951), Apache (1954) & Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

All of the above are available from this website

The Birds (1963) - 119 mins

Starring Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, Tippi Hedren & Veronica Cartwright

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

The story begins as an innocuous romantic triangle involving wealthy, spoiled Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren), handsome Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor), and schoolteacher Annie Hayworth (Suzanne Pleshette). The human story begins in a San Francisco pet shop and culminates at the home of Mitch's mother (Jessica Tandy) at Bodega Bay, where the characters' sense of security is slowly eroded by the curious behavior of the birds in the area. At first, it's no more than a sea gull swooping down and pecking at Melanie's head. Things take a truly ugly turn when hundreds of birds converge on a children's party and once the onslaught begins, there's virtually no letup.

Top Flight Hitchcock!

Oscar Nominated for Best Visual Effects

Fans of aussie actor Rod Taylor are well catered for on this website with the following titles available: The Time Machine (1960), Seven Seas to Calais (1962), The Birds (1963), Fate Is the Hunter (1964), 36 Hours (1965), Young Cassidy (1965), The Liquidator (1965), Chuka (1967), Dark of the Sun aka The Mercenaries (1968), The High Commissioner aka Nobody Runs Forever (1968), The Hell With Heroes (1968), Powderkeg (1971), Trader Horn (1973) & Cry of the Innocent (1980) - all of which are available from the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of this website.

The TV Series section of this website also contains DVD sets of Rod's two TV series: Hong Kong (1960-61) and Bearcats! (1971)

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Bitter Springs (1950) - 89 mins

Starring Chips Rafferty, Tommy Trinder, Gordon Jackson, Jean Blue, Michael Pate & Charles Tingwell

Directed by Ralph Smart

Pioneers in the rugged Australian outback drive a thousand head of sheep across the country but run afoul the local Aboriginal population, when they unwittingly stray into sacred hunting grounds. When John King (Charles Tingwell) kills one of the tribe during a heated stoush, brother Wally King (Chips Rafferty) finds himself paired with Britisher, Tommy (Tommy Trinder) whose son is abducted by aborigines as retribution. They set out to retrieve the boy but also end up prisoners …

Excellent British-made Australian film.

Chips Rafferty stared in several iconic Aussie productions: 40, 000 Horsemen (1941), The Overlanders (1946), Bush Christmas (1947), Eureka Stockade (1949) & Bitter Springs (1950) - al of which are available from this website.

Note that fans of Chips Rafferty may like to check out his charismatic performances in the two Smiley films which were made in Australia in the late 1950s: Smiley (1956) & Smiley Gets a Gun (1958) are also available from this website.

Black Angel (1946) - 80 mins

Starring Dan Duryea, June Vincent, Peter Lorre, Broderick Crawford & Wallace Ford

Directed by Roy William Neill

While Duryea may not be as much of a household name as some of his 40s peers, he still made memorable appearances in a string of the era's lower-profile noirs. Black Angel sees him as an alcoholic who becomes caught up in the case when his ex is murdered; teaming up with the wife of the accused (Vincent) facing execution in spite of his innocence, he tries to track down the real killer. A small but solid little thriller, whose gamble of placing Duryea in the good guy's shoes for once (he was better-known for nabbing the villain roles) pays dividends.

The Black Arrow (1948) - 76 mins

Starring Louis Hayward, Janet Blair, George Macready, Edgar Buchanan & Paul Cavanagh

Directed by Gordon Douglas

This adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Black Arrow stars Louis Hayward in the title role. Returning from duty in the 15th-century War of the Roses, young Richard Shelton (Hayward) learns that his estate has been claimed by his usurping uncle Sir Daniel Brackley (George Macready), who for good measure has also murdered Richard's father. Forced to elude Brackley's minions, Shelton and his followers eventually manage to thwart the villain with all manner of weaponry, from crossbow to fist. Janet Blair co-stars as Joanna Sedley, whom Richard must rescue from a forced marriage to the brackish Brackley.

A truly great & well-made adventure produced by Edward Small - the same guy who made The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) and its 1940 sequel, The Son of Monte Cristo (which also starred Louise Hayward) as well as 1939's The Man in the Iron Mask (again starring Louise Hayward) and The Corsican Brothers (1941) - all of which are available from this website.

Louis Hayward made a number of "swashbucklers" during his career - there was The Man in the Iron Mask (1939) and The Son of Monte Cristo (1940) followed by The Black Arrow in 1948. Then he filmed The Pirates of Capri (1949) in Italy for legendary director Edgar G. Ulmer, before combining again with The Black Arrow's director Gordon Douglas and co-star George Macready for Fortunes of Captain Blood (1950). Louis Hayward next played Dick Turpin in The Lady and the Bandit (1951) before Captain Pirate (1952) marked his last swordplay movie. He then moved to TV for The Lone Wolf TV series - each of the above films are available from this website, whilst the TV series is available in the TV Series section of this website.

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Blackboard Jungle (1955) - 101 mins

Starring Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, Louis Calhern, Margaret Hayes, Richard Kiley, Vic Morrow & Sidney Poitier

Directed by Richard Brooks

In this gritty urban drama, war veteran Richard Dadier (Glenn Ford) wants to begin his career as a teacher and is given an assignment at a boys high school in inner-city New York. However, he soon discovers the school is overrun by delinquents, led by Artie West (Vic Morrow), an insolent hood who likes to call Richard "Mr. Daddy-O." Artie and his gang steal, destroy property, refuse to respect authority, and threaten the female teachers with rape. While most of the faculty have given up and meekly let the delinquents do what they want, Dadier is determined to bring order back to his classroom, even after Artie's thugs threaten Richard's pregnant wife.

Blackboard Jungle was also the first major studio film to use rock & roll on the soundtrack; the film's success kick-started sales of "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets, which helped to spark the rock & roll boom of the 1950s.

Oscar Nominations for Best Art Direction, B&W Cinematography, Editing & Screenplay

The Black Castle (1952) - 82 mins

Starring Boris Karloff, Richard Greene, Stephen McNally, Rita Corday & Lon Chaney Jr.

Directed by Nathan Juran

18th-century aristocrats, Beckett (Richard Greene) and Count Von Bruno (Stephen McNally) are antagonists. Invited to visit Von Bruno's castle in Austria, Beckett accepts, hoping in this way to prove that the count is responsible for the deaths of two of his friends. The sadistic Von Bruno toys with his guest, intending to subject Beckett to a horrible demise at the first opportunity. When Beckett meets the Count's reluctant bride Elga (Paula Corday), he vows to free her from the accursed castle. Karloff is the Count's humanitarian physician, while his fellow horror-star Lon Chaney Jr. does his usual as a mute but deadly manservant.

Boris Karloff returns to his old Universal stamping grounds in this horror gem.

Black Hole (1979) - 98 mins

Starring Maximillan Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms, Yvette Mimieux & Ernest Borgnine

Directed by Gary Nelson

In 2130 AD, an Earth exploratory ship, the USS Palomino, discovers a black hole with a lost ship, the USS Cygnus, just outside its event horizon. The Palomino's crew comprises Captain Dan Holland (Robert Forster), First Officer Lieutenant Charlie Pizer (Joseph Bottoms), journalist Harry Booth (Ernest Borgnine), scientist and ESP-sensitive Dr. Kate McCrae (Yvette Mimieux), whose father was the Cygnus's First Officer, Dr. Alex Durant (Anthony Perkins), the expedition's civilian leader, and a robot known as V.I.N.CENT. The Palomino attempts a dangerous fly-by of the darkened ship. As they come within close range of it, the buffeting they experience (due to the black hole's gravity) suddenly ceases. They eventually investigate the Cygnus and discover that it is manned by the mad scientist Dr. Hans Reinhardt (Maximillian Schell), who intends to explore the black hole in hopes of finding the universe's energy source.

Excellent Sci-Fi!

Oscar Nominated for Best Cinematography & Best Special Effects

The Black Knight (1954) - 85 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Patricia Medina, Andre Morell, Harry Andrews, Peter Cushing & Laurence Naismith

Directed by Tay Garnett

John is a young swordmaker who aspires to join the Knights of the Round Table. Unfortunately, he is falsely accused of cowardice and banished from his community. Thanks to the secret tutelage of one of Arthur's knights, John is able to train himself in the art of combat, and soon re-emerges as the vengeance-seeking Black Knight. In this guise, he is able to bring a group of traitors to justice, rout a band of invading Saracens, and rescue his lady love Linet from certain doom.

A lively swashbuckler

A nice color print!

Black Orchid (1953) - 58 mins

Starring Ronald Howard, Olga Edwardes, John Bentley & Mary Laura Wood

Directed by Charles Saunders

John Worthington is a successful doctor who is about to be divorced by his unhappy wife, Sophie. He falls in love with Sophie's sister Christine, but just after the divorce is granted Sophie informs the couple that they cannot marry as it is presently illegal for a man to marry the sister of his ex-wife unless she is dead. Complications arise when John gives Sophie medicine for an illness which so affects her that she is run-down whilst wandering the street.

Neat little who-dun-it from the Brits and starring Ronald Howard (brother of Lesley)

Blackout (1950) - 73 mins

Starring Maxwell Reed, Dinah Sheridan, Eric Pohlmann, Michael Evans & Michael Brennan

Directed by Robert S. Baker

A blind man "witnesses" a murder but doesn't know who the murderers are or who has been murdered or even where he is. Afterwards when his sight is restored, he learns that his girl friend's dead brother is very much alive and may be leading a smuggling ring.

Sterling performances from Maxwell Reed & Eric Pohlmann in this interesting UK noir.

Black Patch (1957) - 82 mins

Starring George Montgomery, Diane Brewster, Tom Pittman, Leo Gordon & Sebastian Cabot

Directed by Allen H. Miner

One-eyed marshal Clay "Black Patch" Morgan (Montgomery) is delighted to find out that his old buddy Hank Danner (Leo Gordon) is riding into town, but less than thrilled to learn that Danner is now a wanted outlaw. Reluctantly throwing his friend into jail, Morgan sets off a chain reaction of terror, beginning with a jailbreak engineered by crooked saloonkeeper Frenchy De Vere (Sebastian Cabot) and culminating in a showdown between the marshal and Danner's young protégé Flytrap (Tom Pittman).

George Montgomery both produced and starred in the psychological B&W western Black Patch which was penned by co-star Leo Gordon

The Black Room (1935) - 70 mins

Starring Boris Karloff, Marian Marsh, Robert Allen, Thurston Hal, John Buckner & Torben Meyer

Directed by Roy William Neill

A curse pronounced upon land baron DeBerghmann has devastating long-range consequences for his twin sons Gregor and Anton. Twenty years later, Anton (Boris Karloff) has developed into a debauched and much-hated despot, disposing of his enemies by dumping their bodies into the "black room" on his estate. But when Anton's kindly, benevolent brother Gregor (also Karloff) returns home after a long absence, he is so beloved by the townspeople that Anton "graciously" gives up his title and estate to Gregor. Actually, Anton plans to kill his brother and take his place so that he can indulge in even more deviltry including the framing of young Lt. Lussan (Robert Allen), the sweetheart of the beautiful Thea (Marian Marsh), for the murder (committed by Anton) of Thea's father Col. Hassel (Thurston Hall).

Karloff in a classic!

The Black Rose (1950) - 120 mins

Starring Tyrone Power, Orson Welles, Cecile Aubry, Jack Hawkins & Michael Rennie

Directed by Henry Hathaway

In the time of the crusades, a Saxon youth is forced to run away from England. He goes with his loyal retainer who brings along a British long bow. The two go all the way to China where they become involved in intrigues in the court of Kubla Kahn.

Is this the best adventure film ever made? - a fabulous big-budget color production with an excellent cast!

Fabulous color print!

The Black Scorpion (1957) - 88 mins

Starring Richard Denning, Mara Corday, Carlos Rivas, Mario Navarro & Carlos Múzquiz

Directed by Edward Ludwig

A volcanic eruption releases dozens of giant scorpions from a cave in Mexico - wreaking havoc in the rural countryside. American geologist Hank Scott (Richard Denning) and his cohorts try to drive the scorpions back into their lair, but the huge arachnids soon proliferate whilst killing all and sundry in their path to Mexico City.

Filmed in Mexico, The Black Scorpion was the last theatrical feature to bear the imprimatur of special-effects maven Willis O'Brien (of The Lost World (1925) & Mighty Joe Young (1949) fame)

The Black Shield of Falworth (1954) - 99 mins

Starring Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, David Farrar, Barbara Rush, Herbert Marshall & Torin Thatcher

Directed by Rudolph Maté

Based on the robust novel Men of Iron by Howard Pyle, the film tells of Miles, the son of a disgraced knight. Through the sponsorship of the Earl of Mackworth, Miles is trained for knighthood, an arduous process that earns him the ridicule of his fellow trainees, who regard him as little better than a peasant. Eventually, Miles proves his mettle by defeating a plan to oust King Henry IV from the throne of England. On a more personal level, Miles carries on a romance with Mackworth's daughter Lady Anne, while Miles' sister Meg finds happiness in the arms of knight-in-training Francis Gascoyne. The heavy of the piece is the Earl of Alban, whom Miles must ultimately face down in a well-directed climactic set-to.

Great adventure film

Fabulous color print!

Tony Curtis made four excellent swashbucklers in the 1950s: The Prince Who Was a Thief (1951), Son of Ali Baba (1952) - both with Piper Laurie - The Black Shield of Falworth (1954) & The Purple Mask (1955) - all 4 films are available from this website.

Black Sheep (1935) - 76 mins

Starring Edmund Lowe, Claire Trevor, Tom Brown, Eugene Palletts, Adrienne Ames & Herbert Mundin

Directed by Allan Dwan

The Black Sheep is professional gambler John Dugan (Edmund Lowe), who gets his kicks out of fleecing wealthy suckers during a Transatlantic ocean voyage. But when Dugan sees innocent young Fred Curtis (Tom Brown) being made the fall guy for a jewel robbery, he decides to help the poor boy out. What Fred doesn't know is that Dugan is his own father, desperate to make amends for his past indiscretions. Never revealing his true identity, Dugan rescues Fred from the clutches of beautiful predator Millicent Bath (Adrienne Ames).

The always charismatic, Edmund Lowe starred in some marvellous mystery (and comedy-mystery) films in the 1930s: Transatlantic (1931), Black Sheep (1935), The Garden Murder Case (1936), Seven Sinners (1936), Mad Holiday (1936), Espionage (1937) & The Squeaker (1937) - all of which are available from this website

The Black Swan (1942) - 85 mins

Starring Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara, Laird Cregar, Thomas Mitchell, George Sanders & Anthony Quinn

Directed by Henry King

When notorious pirate Henry Morgan is made governor of Jamaica, he enlists the help of some of his former partners in ridding the Carribean of Buccaneers. When one of them apparently abducts the previous governor's pretty daughter and joins up with the rebels, the stage is set for major confrontations

This fabulous big-budget color production with an excellent cast won an Oscar for Best Color Cinematography. Academy Nominations also for Special Effects & Musical Score

Fabulous color print!

Blind Alley (1939) - 69 mins

Starring Chester Morris, Ralph Bellamy, Ann Dvorak, Joan Perry & Melville Cooper

Directed by Charles Vidor

A chilling psychological drama in the film-noir tradition reminiscent of the fine melodrama The Desperate Hours. Hal Wilson (Chester Morris) is an escaped killer who hides out in the home of noted psychologist Dr. Shelby (Ralph Bellamy). While Wilson's gang holds Shelby's family and servants hostage, the pipe-smoking mental doctor calmly tries to discover the reasons for Wilson's murderous proclivities. As gun moll Mary (Ann Dvorak) covers Shelby, Wilson willingly allows the doctor to psycho-analyze him, using hypnosis to trace the killer's childhood. Once Shelby forces Wilson to confront his inner demons, the lifelong criminal is never able to kill again. Blind Alley works well as a "film noir," complete with surrealistic dream sequences. A taut story and moody cinematography by Lucien Ballard, with sharp direction from Charles Vidor and superlative acting by Morris and Bellamy earn this film noir entry a top spot in the genre.

The film was remade scene-for-scene in 1949 as The Dark Past, with William Holden as the killer and Lee J. Cobb as the unflappable head shrinker - The Dark Past (1949) is also available from this website

Blindfold (1965) - 102 mins

Starring Rock Hudson, Claudia Cardinale, Jack Warden, Guy Stockwell, Brad Dexter & Anne Seymour

Directed by Philip Dunne

Psychiatrist Dr. Bartholomew Snow (Rock Hudson) is treating a man with emotional problems who, it turns out, is a brilliant scientist being pursued by different international powers and their operatives. Snow soon finds himself caught in the middle and out of desperation, he falls in with the mysterious and beautiful Vicky Vincenti (Claudia Cardinale) - but is she helping him, or is she yet another sinister figure out to manipulate him?

Excellent Hitchcockian thriller with a great Lalo Schifrin score

Director Dunne also wrote the script - a prolific writer with credits such as The Robe & The Agony and the Ecstasy, Dunne put down the pen after this film - for almost 30 years - before returning to films in 1992 and writing Michael Mann’s The Last of the Mohicans!

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Blithe Spirit (1945) - 96 mins

Starring Rex Harrison, Constance Cummings, Kay Hammond, Margaret Rutherford & Hugh Wakefield

Directed by David Lean

Charles Condomine (Rex Harrison) is a novelist who is newly married to straight-laced Ruth (Constance Cummings). Via a seance, Charles accidentally summons the spirit of his first wife, Elvira (Kay Hammond). Believing that Elvira wants to ruin his marriage, Charles enlists the services of local medium Madame Arcati (Margaret Rutherford) to exorcise Kay’s spirit. She fails, and in time, Ruth is killed - so now he has two playful spirits on his hands!.

Adapted from the celebrated play by Noel Coward - Excellent Technicolor Print!

Oscar winners for Best Special Effects

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The Blob (1958) - 86 mins

Starring Steve McQueen, Aneta Corsaut, Earl Rowe, Olin Howland & George Karas

Directed by Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.

Car-loving high-schooler Steve Andrews (Steve McQueen) can't get anyone to believe his story about a huge meteor, which crashes to earth and begins exuding a pink, gooey substance. Affixing itself to the body of an old man, The Blob begins parasitically sucking the life out of several unfortunate humans, growing to an enormous size. But the problem is that the disappearances of the victims can all be explained: one is supposed to be out of town, another is attending a convention. Hence the Police still won't believe Steve or his girlfriend Jane Martin (Aneta Corsaut). Rallying his teen pals, Steve finally manages to get the adults' attention-but by now, The Blob is consuming entire city blocks.

Good sci-fi in a fun-sorta way - its Steve McQueen’s first starring role (although there doesn’t seem to be any “method acting” going on here!)

Excellent wide-screen Technicolor print!

The Blonde Bandit (1950) - 60 mins

Starring Gerald Mohr, Dorothy Patrick, Robert Rockwell, Charles Cane, Larry J. Blake & Richard Irving

Directed Harry Keller

Gloria Dell (Dorothy Patrick) arrives in a big city all set to marry but finds herself stood up and penniless. Next she is unwittingly involved in a hold-up and finds herself accused. Gloria is given a chance for redemption by District Attorney James Deveron (Robert Rockwell) but only on the condition that she act as an undercover agent against gambler/gangster Joe Sapelli (Gerald Mohr) who has been showing some interest in her. As she finds herself falling for the charismatic Sapelli, her decisions become the focal point of this great little Republic “B” film

Preceded by Republic’s Federal Agent at Large (1950) which also featured Dorothy Patrick & Robert Rockwell (with Kent Taylor) and which is also available of this website

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Blood Alley (1955) - 110 mins

Starring John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Paul Fix, Joy Kim, Barry Kroeger, Mike Mazurki & Anita Ekberg

Directed by William A. Wellman

In southern China, veteran (sea-)Captain Tom Wilder (John Wayne) comes to the aid of Cathy Grainger (Lauren Bacall), the daughter of a missionary doctor killed by the Red Chinese. It takes no little persuasion, but Cathy finally convinces Tom - aboard an old steamer - to smuggle a group of villagers past the Communist forces and into the safe harbor of Hong Kong.

A true action/adventure film

A. S. Fleischman adapted the screenplay from his own novel of the same name.

John Wayne: Duke - one of the most recognizable persons on the planet -a true mega-star in film. You'll find the following John Wayne movies in this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of this website:

Blood and Sand (1941) - 125 mins

Starring Tyrone Power, Linda Dranell, Rita Haworth, Alla Nazimova, Laird Cregar, Anthony Quinn & J. Carrol Naish

Directed by Rouben Mamoulian

Based on the novel by Vincente Blasco Ibanez, Blood and Sand is the beautifully rendered story of the rise and fall of a young, cocksure Spanish bullfighter, played by Tyrone Power. Working his way slowly up the ladder to success, Power achieves fame when he is praised to skies by fatuous, fickle critic Laird Cregar. A country boy at heart, Power finds himself way over his head with sophisticates, and is soon torn between his pious and faithful wife Linda Darnell and sexy, mercenary Rita Hayworth. Another great adventure story from Tyrone!

Oscar winner for best color cinematography

Fabulous color print!

The Blood of Fu Manchu (1968) - 92 mins

Starring Christopher Lee, Richard Greene, Howard Marion-Crawford, Götz George & Maria Rohm

Directed by Jesus Franco

Christopher Lee returns as insidious Asian villain Fu Manchu for this fourth entry of the series. This time he’s has discovered a rare poison which affects only men, and uses it as lipstick for ten beautiful women, who are to deliver a kiss of death to each of 10 public officials. Carl Jansen (Gotz George) and Sir Denis Nayland Smith (Richard Greene), a pair of Scotland Yard detectives, track Fu Manchu to his underground hideout and with the aid of Dr. Ronald Petrie (Howard Marion Crawford) search for the antidote to the deadly poison.

Gorgeous wide-screen print of this excellent adaptation of Sax Rohmer’s classic character. Legendary producer Harry Alan Towers realized the casting Christopher Lee as Fu was “spot-on” and arranged for him to play the role in 5 big budget adaptations: The Face of Fu Manchu (1965), The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966), The Vengeance of Fu Manchu (1967), The Blood of Fu Manchu (1968) & The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969) - all of which are available from this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website

Also all 5 films can be found in a boxed set within the Movie Series section of this website

Blood on the Moon (1948) - 88 mins

Starring Robert Mitchum, Barbara Bel Geddes, Robert Preston, Walter Brennan & Phyllis Thaxter

Directed by Robert Wise

When a shady-looking stranger rides into town to join his old friend it is assumed he is a hired gun. But as the new man comes to realise the unlawful nature of his buddy's business and the way the homesteaders are being used, the two men draw apart to become sworn enemies. Yes it’s a western but many judges rate this the first true noir Western! Directed by one of the pioneers of noir.

Fans of Robert Mitchum's noir catalogue will be aware that this western noir has a "companion piece" namely Pursued (1947) - this title also available from this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section website

From the novel by Luke Short - he also wrote Ramrod (1947), Station West (1948), Coroner Creek (1948), Albuquerque (1948), Ambush (1950), Ride the Man Down (1952) & Hell’s Outpost (1954) - all of which are available from this website

Note that Blood on the Moon (1948) & Pursued (1947) are part of a special 2 DVD (4 film) set titled

Robert Mitchum … still out West but in the Lead … - it can be found in the "B" Westerns section of this website.

Blood on the Sun (1945) - 94 mins

Starring James Cagney, Sylvia Sidney, Porter Hall, John Emery, Robert Armstrong & Wallace Ford

Directed by Frank Lloyd

James Cagney stars as Nick Condon, the American editor of a pre-WW2 Tokyo newspaper. When two of his best friends are horribly murdered, Condon suspects that the "peaceful" Japanese military government is up to no good. He dedicates himself to getting his hands on the "Tanka Plan," a Japanese blueprint for conquering the world, and bringing this document to the attention of the Free World. As a result, he is targeted for persecution by the corrupt Tokyo police and betrayed by a traitorous fellow journalist.

Fabulous Cagney in top form!

Oscar Winner for Best B&W Art Direction

Note: This is a very nice print - much better than commercial offerings

Blood Orange (1953) (aka Three Steps to Murder) - 76 mins

Starring Tom Conway, Mila Parély, Naomi Chance, Eric Pohlmann, Andrew Osborn & Richard Wattis

Directed by Terence Fisher

Tom Conway (Tom Conway) stars as a former FBI agent, living in contented retirement in London. Conway's quietude is interrupted when gorgeous model Delphi Lawrence who has information for him, is murdered. Now acting as a private investigator, Conway learns that the girl's death was tied in with a jewel theft. The film's title refers to the most valuable of the stolen gems.

Yes it’s The Falcon, Tom Conway playing himself in this clever little UK production.

Released in the US as Three Steps to Murder (1953), this film was the second of a nice quartet of Tom “The Falcon” Conway UK releases from the 50's in which he plays a PI not too dissimilar to his role in The Falcon movie series from the 1940s. Blood Orange was preceded by Park Plaza 605 (aka Norman Conquest) earlier in 1953. Barbados Quest followed in 1955 and marked the first appearance on screen of Tom ‘Duke’ Martin and his rough-house assistant Barney Wilson - they combined to great effect in Breakaway (1956) which rounded out the foursome of British productions in which Conway was essentially playing The Falcon again.

All 4 of the films are available from this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of the website.

The Falcon Movie Series is available from this website, in the Movie Series section

The Blue Dahlia (1946) - 96 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, William Bendix, Howard da Silva, Doris Dowling & Hugh Beaumont

Directed by George Marshall

Ex-bomber pilot Johnny Morrison and his buddies George and Buzz (who, with a metal plate in his head, can't stand "monkey music"), return from the war to their home town, Hollywood. In a rude homecoming, Johnny finds his wife Helen behaving like a tramp with oily nightclub owner Eddie Harwood. His marriage over, Johnny wanders off into the night, leaving his gun behind...and someone uses it to murder Helen. Dodging cops and seeking the real killer, Johnny is aided by blonde Joyce, who just happens to be the estranged wife of Eddie Harwood

Tidy film noir utilizing the only film script Raymond Chandler wrote directly for the screen - a script for which he earned an Academy Award Nomination.

The Blue Gardenia (1953) - 90 mins

Starring Anne Baxter, Richard Conte, Ann Sothern, Raymond Burr & George Reeves

Directed by Fritz Lang

After learning that her boyfriend, a GI in Korea, has found someone else, Norah Larkin impulsively agrees to meet womanizer Harry Prebble for dinner. Norah allows herself to get drunk and accept Prebble's invitation to his apartment. When he tries to force himself on her, she hits him with a poker. Unfortunately, Prebble is found dead the next morning, and Norah, not even remembering how she got home, thinks that she killed him. Meanwhile, newspaperman Casey Mayo, looking for an angle, invites the "Blue Gardenia Murderess" to turn herself in to him.

Excellent noir from Fritz Lang, with a stand-out performance from Raymond Burr.

Blue, White and Perfect (1942) - 74 mins

Starring Lloyd Nolan, Mary Beth Hughes, Helene Reynolds, George Reeves, Steven Geray & Henry Victor

Directed by Herbert I. Leeds

Having prevented his sweetheart Merle Garland (Mary Beth Hughes) from marrying a bigamous fortune-hunter (Ivan Lebedeff), Mike Shayne (Lloyd Nolan) offers to marry the girl himself (at long last!) Merle agrees, but only if Mike gets out of the private-eye racket and takes an honest job. Shayne manages to land a job at an aircraft factory, only to discover that he's been hired to protect the company's valuable supply of industrial diamonds. When the gems are stolen during a highly suspicious break-in, Mike follows the trail of clues to a fancy dress shop managed by one Mr. Hagermann (Henry Victor). Sending his fiancee off on a wild goose chase (the phone-call to Merle is a treat!), Mike trails Hagermann to a Honolulu-bound ocean liner, where he renews an acquaintance with former lady friend Helen Shaw (Helene Reynolds) and is introduced to overly effusive young playboy Juan Arturo O'Hara (George Reeves). All sorts of serial-like thrills await Shayne before he manages to uncover the "Mister Big" behind the stolen diamond racket (and it's a real surprise to boot!)

A great “B” mystery film - further (in Trev’s opinion) one of the very best “B” movie series entries ever made! - in fact, Trev likes it so much, he actually owns the original poster (its framed & mounted in his front foyer)

Blue, White and Perfect (1942) is another excellent Michael Shayne film based on characters portrayed in a popular series of novels by Brett Halliday. Other Mike Shayne films in this (INDIVDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website are Michael Shayne: Private Detective (1940) & Dressed to Kill (1941)

Please Note that this film is also part of the Michael Shayne Movie Series DVD set which can be found in the Movie Series section of this website

Body and Soul (1947) - 104 mins

Starring John Garfield, Lilli Palmer, Hazel Brooks & William Conrad

Directed by Robert Rossen

The fight film to which all others are compared. John Garfield portrays Charlie Davis, a Jewish prizefighter whose parents want him to hang up the gloves and get an education. When his father is killed in a bomb explosion, however, the proud Charlie prevents his mother (Anne Revere) from accepting government relief, turns pro, and by hook and crook, rises quickly to the top, winning the championship from Ben (onetime welterweight Canada Lee), who is left with a life-threatening blood clot in his brain. As the champ, Charlie slides into a dissipated lifestyle and throws over his artist girlfriend, Peg Born (Lilli Palmer), for a floozy (Hazel Brooks), falling deeper into the clutches of the gangster who owns him (Lloyd Goff) in the process. Garfield's riveting, Oscar-nominated performance lifts this film to the masterpiece level, as do Robert Rossen's superb direction, the marvelous photography of James Wong Howe and the Oscar-winning editing. The fight sequences, in particular, brought a kind of realism to the genre that had never before existed (Howe wore skates and rolled around the ring shooting the fight scenes with a hand-held camera). A knockout on all levels.

Academy Award for Best Film Editing. Academy Award Nominations for Best Actor & Original Screenplay.

Bodyguard (1948) - 62 mins

Starring Lawrence Tierney, Priscilla Lane, Phillip Reed, June Clayworth, Elizabeth Risdon & Steve Brodie

Directed by Richard Fleischer

Homicide detective Mike Carter is tossed off the police force for insubordination and violating regulations. He reluctantly takes a job as bodyguard to Mrs. Gene Dysen, the owner of a local meat-packing plant. In investigating threats against her life, Carter begins unraveling the murder of a meat inspector at the plant, but not before he himself is framed for the murder of his former supervisor on the police force.

Yep - its Lawrence Tierney as a goodie in this dynamic combination with Fleischer!

Fans of Lawrence Tierney should also check out his lead roles in noir thrillers:

Dillinger (1945), San Quentin (1946), The Devil Thumbs a Ride (1947), Born To Kill (1947), Bodyguard (1948), Kill or Be Killed (1950) & Female Jungle (1955) - all of which are available from this website

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The Body Snatcher (1945) - 77 mins

Starring Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Henry Daniell, Edith Atwater, Russell Wade & Rita Corday

Directed by Robert Wise

In Edinburgh, renowned surgeon and now teacher of anatomy Dr. MacFarlane, has been paying John Gray, a cabman, to clandestinely bring him exhumed bodies of the recently deceased for classroom demonstration purposes. With cemeteries being increasingly guarded, Gray turns to murder to provide MacFarlane with fresh bodies. Realizing that he will never be rid of Gray, who constantly taunts him with his knowledge of MacFarland's past indiscretions, MacFarlane engages the malevolent Gray in a hand-to-hand fight to the death, the ultimate results of which provide the victor with an episode of unprecedented psychological horror.

Seventh (and best?) in an incredible run of nine psychological horror films from gifted producer Val Lewton. The last three form their own subset because they star the master of the macabre, Boris Karloff. The “Lewton Nine” consist of: Cat People (1942), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), The Leopard Man (1943), The Seventh Victim (1943), The Ghost Ship (1943), The Curse of the Cat People (1944), The Body Snatcher (1945), Isle of the Dead (1945), Bedlam (1946). All nine films are available from this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website - they are also available in a series of multi-film DVD sets from within the Classic Movie Combinations section

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The Body Stealers (1969) - 91 mins

Starring George Sanders, Maurice Evans, Patrick Allen, Neil Connery & Robert Flemyng

Directed by Gerry Levy

Bob Megan (Patrick Allen) is an investigator called in to solve a bizarre mystery: During training courses, British parachutists are disappearing in a strange red mist, leaving no trace. Even more mysterious is the fact that they later turn up, with their bodies filled with lethal doses of radiation. Megan, aided by Jim Radford (Neil Connery), begins an investigation, which uncovers an unearthly beauty who somehow is incapable of being photographed. Eventually, Megan and Radford discover that the parachutists are being kidnapped by aliens from the planet Mygon, who use the men to try to impregnate Mygonian women, thereby saving their dying civilization. Unfortunately, a side effect of this plan seems to be the irradiation of the earthlings. Megan exposes and foils the alien plan, but he also decides to lead an effort to discover a way of saving their race from extinction.

Sounds a bit weird but actually is works quite well - good UK Sci-Fi!

Aka Invasion of the Body Stealers (1969)

The Body Vanished (1939) - 46 mins

Starring Anthony Hulme, C. Denier Warren, Ernest Sefton, Evelyn Foster & Frank Atkinson

Directed by Walter Tennyson

A Scotland Yard Inspector Rodney Paine (Anthony Hulme) is on holidays with his friend, newspaper reporter Pip Piper (C. Denier Warren). The two come into a small village for rest and refreshments before continuing their holiday. But their peace is disturbed when a villager runs into the local pub declaring the owner of a nearby mansion has been murdered. The two head out to the mansion and find that there is no corpse to suggest a murder. The local authority in charge of the investigation is not up to the task, prompting the Scotland Yard man to stick around. Paine’s first goal is to learn if a murder actually occurred. There are enough clues present to suggest this is so, so now the detective turns his attention to finding the corpse. Step by step, Paine first finds the corpse, then he unveils the motive for murder and ultimately the killer.

A breezy, effective British mystery set against a backdrop of eccentric rural characters, which isn’t cut - its actual running time is 46 mins!

The Bold Caballero (1936) - 70 mins

Starring Robert Livingston, Heather Angel, Sig Ruman, Ian Wolfe, Robert Warwick & Charles Stevens

Directed by Wells Root

Don Diego Vega is fighting for the peons as the masked avenger Zorro against the wicked machinations of the corrupt Commandante Sebastian Golle. Shortly after Governor Palma (Robert Warwick) and his daughter Lady Isabella (Heather Angel) arrive, the Governor is killed and marked with a Z. When Don Diego's identity as Zorro is revealed to Isabella, she has the Commandante arrest him as the killer.

Movie serial & "B" western cowboy Bob Livingston essays the dual role of foppish Spanish-Californian aristocrat Don Diego, who when the necessity arises dons the mask and black cape of righter-of-wrongs Zorro.

The Bold Caballero, Republic Pictures' first color film, was also the first talkie version of the "Zorro" legend (as originally set down by Johnston McCulley in The Curse of Capistrano).

Note that commercially release prints of this excellent action film are of poor quality and in B&W - not this one!

This is a perfect color print!

Bombardier (1943) - 99 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Pat O'Brien, Robert Ryan, Eddie Albert & Barton MacLane

Directed by Richard Wallace

Major Chick Davis (Pat O'Brien) and Captain Buck Oliver (Randolph Scott) are trainers at a school for bomber pilots. They argue over teaching methods, but Davis's methods prove sound during a bombing raid over Tokyo. But Oliver and his crew are captured and tortured by the Japanese.

Randolph Scott & Pat O'Brien together!

A major moneymaker for RKO and Oscar nominated for Best Visual Effects

Bombers B-52 (1957) - 106 mins

Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, Marsha Hunt, Don Kelly & Nelson Leigh

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Air Force Master Sergeant Chuck V. Brennan (Karl Malden) is tempted by a better-paying civilian job. Brennan’s daughter Lois (Natalie Wood) is in love with a young Colonel Jim Herlihy (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) whom her father regards as an insolent hothead. The younger man proves his worth during jet manoeuvres, while Chuck decides that he's of more value to the service than as a working stiff.

Fabulous Technicolor wide-screen print!

A breakout role for Efrem Zimbalist Jr. - he was less than two years away from landing a dream role as Stu Bailey in the long-running TV series 77 Sunset Strip

Bond of Fear (1956) - 66 mins

Starring Dermot Walsh, Jane Barrett, John Colicos, Jameson Clark & Anthony Pavey

Directed by Henry Cass

A family vacation turns into a nightmare when the travellers discover an escaped killer hiding in their trailer. The killer takes them hostage and forces them to take him to Dover.

No shortage of suspense here in another excellent 50s' noir from the Brits

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Bonnie Price Charlie (1948) - 113 mins

Starring David Niven, Margaret Leighton, Judy Campbell, Jack Hawkins & Finlay Currie

Directed by Anthony Kimmins & Alexander Korda

Prince Charles (Stuart), commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie (David Niven) is the rightful heir to the throne of England. His claim rests on the fact that he is the eldest son of James Francis Edward Stuart, and grandson of James II and VII. Charles becomes the instigator of the Jacobite uprising of 1745, in which he leads an insurrection against his “English relatives”. This pivotal historical event finds Charles "The Pretender" and his followers facing down the battalions of King George II (Martin Miller). Even in defeat, Charles is the victor, successfully eluding his British pursuers and escaping to France.

Nicely restored Technicolor print!

The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942) - 66 mins

Starring Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Max Rosenbloom & Jeff Donnell

Directed by Lew Landers

Boris Karloff plays an scientist who is experimenting with bringing the dead back to life. To do this, he has "killed" several travelling salesmen and placed them in suspended animation in his basement. Karloff is fiercely protected by his housekeeper (Maude Eburne), who is none too normal herself. Real estate agent Jeff Donnell approaches Karloff to buy his New England home: he wishes to turn the ramshackle domicile into a rustic inn. Other visitors to the Karloff manse are Donnell's ex-husband Larry Parks, and the local sheriff/justice of the peace (Peter Lorre) who holds the high-interest mortgage on the house. Travelling peddler Maxie Rosenbloom also shows up, and is promptly made a subject of Karloff's experimentation.

An enjoyable rip-off of Arsenic and Old Lace, perhaps? but its still Karloff & Lorre at their peak in a great little film

Boomerang! (1947) - 88 mins

Starring Dana Andrews, Jane Wyatt, Lee J. Cobb, Cara Williams, Arthur Kennedy & Sam Levene

Directed by Elia Kazan

Directed by Elia Kazan, this is a chilling film noir, the true story about the murder of a priest, the subsequent arrest and trial of a jobless drifter, and the efforts of young state's attorney Henry Harvey (Dana Andrews) to uncover the truth. Closely based on the actual 1924 murder of Fr. Hubert Dahme in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the film was directed by the young Elia Kazan in a highly effective, semi-documentary style. Kazan shot most of the film on location, using high-contrast cinematography and an extremely mobile camera to create a palpable sense of urgency.

The screenplay, expertly crafted by Richard Murphy received an Academy Award nomination.

A great "companion piece" to other Dana Andrews 40's noirs: Fallen Angel & Laura (both of which are available from this website)

Boom Town (1940) - 119 mins

Starring Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert, Hedy Lamarr, Frank Morgan, Lionel Atwill & Chill Wills

Directed by Jack Conway

Clark Gable as "Big John" McMasters and Spencer Tracy is "Square John" Sand both seek their fortunes in the Texas oil fields. They simultaneously fall in love with Elizabeth, but it's "Big John" who wins out. When both Johns grow rich on oil, "Big John" lets money go to his head, and he begins neglecting his wife for the yummy Karen, the precocious companion of businessman Harry Compton. "Square John", who still carries a torch for Elizabeth but doesn't want to see her heart broken, tries to buy off Karen; when this fails, he decides to ruin "Big John" financially. But when "Big John" is charged with violating anti-trust rules by the crooked Compton, "Square John" rushes to the side of his old pal.

Oscar Nominated for Cinematography & Special Effects

Boom Town saw the re-teaming of Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable - back together on screen for the first time since the scintillating It Happened One Night (1934) - which is also available from this website

This is the third (and last) pairing of those two "mega-stars": Clark Gable & Spencer Tracy. They were to appear together on two previous occasions - San Francisco (1936) & Test Pilot (1938) - which are also available from this section of the website.

Border G-Man (1938) - 60 mins

Starring George O’Brien, Laraine Day, Ray Whitley, John Miljan, Rita La Roy

Directed by David Howard

Federal agent Jim Galloway (George O’Brien) is sent undercover to investigate shifty businessman Louis Rankin (John Miljan) for violations of the Neutrality Act, a law forbidding the exporting of troops and war materiel to foreign countries. After hiring on as Rankin's new take-charge foreman, matters become more complicated as Galloway learns that Rankin has used girl friend Rita Browning (Rita La Roy) to dupe the governor's son into becoming partners in Rankin's schemes. Jim also has his hands full, wanting to romance pretty Laraine Johnson (Laraine Day), whose brother is unwittingly mixed up with the smugglers.

The trio of star George O’Brien, director David Howard & writer Daniel Jarrett were responsible for a popular set of late 30s films that could best be described as “modern day adventures with a light touch.” Whispering Smith Speaks (1935), Hard Rock Harrigan (1935), The Border Patrolman (1936), Park Avenue Logger (1937) & Border G-Man (1938) benefitted from the ample charisma of O’Brien, Jarrett’s clever scripting, and the experienced “hand-at-the-helm” of Howard. All of these films can be found in this section of the website

George O’Brien fans take note! A nice collection of his westerns can be found in the “B” Westerns section of this website

Border Incident (1949) - 92 mins

Starring Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Howard de Silva, Teresa Celli & Charles McGraw

Directed by Anthony Mann

Anthony Mann's follow-up to his successful T-Men is another pseudodocumentary thriller, with immigration agents struggling to stop the flow of illegal Mexican labor into southern California. But the film's best moments have nothing to do with realism, as Mann's black vision lifts the subject out of the commonplace and into a strange, haunting under-world of elemental violence.

Borderland (1937) - 82 mins

Starring William Boyd, James Ellison, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Morris Ankrum, John Beach & Nora Lane

Directed by Nate Watt

This excellent "Hopalong Cassidy" series entry, sees Hoppy (William Boyd) going undercover as a bandit in a tough Mexican border town in order to trap a notorious bandit known only as The Fox. Not even sidekicks Johnny Nelson (James Ellison) and Windy (George "Gabby" Hayes) are in on the scheme, concocted jointly by Mexican Army Colonel Gonzales (Trevor Bardette) and Texas Ranger Major Stafford (Earle Hodgins). Lodging with widowed Grace Rand (Nora Lane) and her small daughter, Molly (Charlene Wyatt), both of whom he abuses in order to protect his cover, Hoppy learns that The Fox aka Stephen Morris (Morris Ankrum) is himself performing a masquerade, in this case as a halfwit known as Loco. Windy, however, innocently spills the beans and is promptly kidnapped along with Molly. Chased by Hoppy, who is himself tailed by the villain's henchmen, Gonzales' troops, and a wounded Johnny Nelson, The Fox (alias Loco) escapes to his secret hideaway, a cabin stocked with dynamite. There, Hoppy catches up with him and in an exciting finale keeps the master villain at bay until help arrives.

Fabulous - and one of the longest “B” westerns ever (at 82 mins)

This entry mark the last appearance of Hoppy side-kick James Ellison (who played Johnny Nelson) - his shoes were most capably filled by Russell Hayden (who played Lucky Jenkins)

Borderland (1937) was the ninth of 66 Hopalong Cassidy westerns - all of which can be found in a series of Volumes within the B Westerns section of this website. The TV Series which followed can be found in the TV Series section of this website.

Other Hopalong Cassidy titles which can be found in this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website (ie Trev’s favourites) are Hop-Along Cassidy (1935), Texas Trail (1937), Three Men From Texas (1940) & Doomed Caravan (1941).

Borderline (1950) - 88 mins

Starring Fred MacMurray, Claire Trevor, Raymond Burr, José Torvay, Morris Ankrum & Don Diamond

Directed by William A. Seiter

Customs agents are looking for information about Pete Ritchie (Raymond Burr), who is involved in smuggling drugs from Mexico into the US. Police officer Madeleine Haley (Claire Trevor) goes undercover in order to gain Ritchie's confidence, and before long she meets him through one of his associates. As she is talking with Ritchie, another undercover agent, Johnny Macklin (Fred MacMurray) and one of his men burst in, and they provoke a violent confrontation. From then on, Haley is in constant danger as she attempts to figure out everything that is happening in the smuggling operation.

An odd blend of crime melodrama with humorous undertones

The Border Patrolman (1936) - 60 mins

Starring George O’Brien, Polly Ann Young, Smiley Burnette, LeRoy Mason & Mary Doran

Directed by David Howard

Bob Wallace (George O’Brien) is a Border Patrolman who resigns in protest after being humiliated by Patricia Huntley (Polly Ann Young) who is vacationing at a desert resort near the Mexican border - she is the spoiled granddaughter of millionaire Jeremiah Huntley (William P. Carleton). Subsequently Jeremiah hires Bob to watch over her - meanwhile, the young girl is being wooed by a sophisticated jewel thief who plans to use her as a "mule" to unwittingly smuggle jewellery across the border.

George O’Brien fans take note! A nice collection of his westerns can be found in the “B” Westerns section of this website

Border River (1954) - 80 mins

Starring Joel McCrea, Yvonne De Carlo, Pedro Armendáriz, Howard Petrie, Ivan Triesault & Erika Nordin

Directed by George Sherman

With the South facing defeat, idealistic Confederate Major Clete Mattson (Joel McCrea) desperately tries to save his army by stealing $2,000,000 in Union gold. He then heads to a raucous border town of Zona Libre, a small enclave on the Rio Grande, hoping to make a munitions deal with Mexican general Calleja (Pedro Armendariz). But first, Mattson must contend with Calleja's double-crossing German military advisor Baron Von Holden (Ivan Triesault), not to mention Calleja's tempestuous sweetheart Carmelita (Yvonne De Carlo), who is also not to be trusted.

Born To Be Bad (1950) - 94 mins

Starring Joan Fontaine, Robert Ryan, Zachary Scott, Joan Leslie & Mel Ferrer

Directed by Nicholas Ray

Christabel fools everyone with her sweet exterior including her cousin Donna and Donna's wealthy fiancée Curtis. The only one who sees through her facade is Jake, a rugged writer who loves her anyway. Christabel also loves Jake, but she loves Curtis' money more. After convincing Curtis that Donna is only interested in him for his money, she tricks Curtis into marrying her. Of course, she still dallies with Jake on the side.

Born To Kill (1947) - 92 mins

Starring Claire Trevor, Lawrence Tierney, Walter Slezak, Audrey Long & Phillip Terry

Directed by Robert Wise

Uncompromising film noir which sees psychopath Tierney marry wealthy girl Long, only to feel more in common with the black sheep of the family, his wife's sister (Trevor). Deliciously dark and directed with enthusiasm by Wise before he'd made it big, Born to Kill is a genuine oddity which explores the dark side of sexuality without moralizing, with the bonus of a cracking murder plot to add some spice. Tierney pitches his performance just right.

Fans of Lawrence Tierney should also check out his lead roles in noir thrillers:

Born Yesterday (1950) - 103 mins

Starring Judy Holliday, Broderick Crawford, William, Howard St. John & Frank Otto

Directed by George Cukor

Plot Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Billie Dawn (Judy Holliday) is a strident, dim-witted ex-chorus girl who is the mistress of millionaire junk tycoon Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford). In Washington to put a few senators and congressmen in his pocket (the better to lay the groundwork for an illegal cartel), the rude-and-crude Brock realizes that the unrefined Billie will prove an embarrassment. Thus he hires idealistic but impoverished Paul Verrall (William Holden) to pump some intelligence and "class" into Billie. But Paul does his job too well, and by awakening Billie's social and political consciousness, he turns the girl into Brock's most formidable foe. Along the way Paul and Billie fall in love.

Great movie version of Garson Kanin's Broadway hit.

An Academy Award win for Judy Holliday (Best Actress) as well as Oscar Nominations for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay & Costume Design

Borsalino (1970) - 125 mins

Starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, Alain Delon, Catherine Rouvel, Françoise Christophe & Laura Adani

Directed by Jacques Deray

In 1930 Marseilles, two small-time crooks join forces when they meet after brawling over a woman. Starting with fixed horse races and fights, they start to find themselves doing jobs for the local gangster bosses. When they decide to go into the business for themselves, their easy-going approach to crime starts to change.

Based on a Eugene Saccomano novel entitled The Bandits of Marseilles, this film is made more memorable by directors Deray's use of ambience and music to beautifully capture the mood of 1930 Marseilles.

Followed by a sequel entitled Borsalino and Co. (1974)

Note that this title is NOT the more common sequel - this is the original (and the best) and its uncut! - alas: it has a dubbed English soundtrack - a rare treat!

Borsalino and Co. (1974) is also available - see below

Fans of Alain Delon might like to also check out another of his gangster flicks: The Sicilian Clan (1969) which is available elsewhere in this website

Borsalino and Co. (1974) - 110 mins

Starring Alain Delon, Riccardo Cucciolla, Daniel Ivernel, Reinhard Kolldehoff & André Falcon

Directed by Jacques Deray

The 1970 French crime flick Borsalino featured Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo as charismatic gangsters in 1930s Marseilles. In this sequel Alain Delon is back again playing as Roch Siffredi in a film which picks up where the original concluded: the funeral of François Capella. Seeking redress for this murder of his friend, Roch commences to dispose of his enemies in a variety of novel (and gruesome) methods.

Actually filmed just after the original, Borsalino and Co. was held back from an expectant public for a few years to generate a high level of anticipation (and publicity) for its 1974 release.

Excellent print in French spoken language with English subtitles.

Borsalino (1970) is also available - see above

Fans of Alain Delon might like to also check out another of his gangster flicks: The Sicilian Clan (1969) which is available elsewhere in this website

Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood (1942) - 68 mins

Starring Chester Morris, William Wright, Constance Worth, Lloyd Corrigan, Richard Lane & George E. Stone

Directed by Michael Gordon

Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) and his pal, The Runt (George E. Stone), are ready to board a train for Florida when Blackie gets a telegram from his friend Arthur Manleder (Lloyd Corrigan) asking Blackie to go to Manleder's New York apartment, get $60,000 from a wall safe and fly to Hollywood. Blackie accedes to Arthur's request and has just removed the money when Police Inspector Farraday and his assistant, Sergeant Matthews (Walter Sande) arrive and accuse him of robbery. But the police let him escape so they can follow as they think he knows something about the stolen Monterey Diamond. Blackie arrives in Hollywood and learns that Manleder has fallen for Gloria Lane (Constance Worth), in cahoots with a gang of crooks, and who had been holding the missing diamond in trust for the owner. Gloria had asked Arthur to let her wear the diamond and it was stolen. Two gangsters had appeared at the apartment and offered to recover the diamond for $60,000, which had prompted the telegram to Blackie. The two crooks then steal the money from The Runt. Blackie's plan to catch the crooks and recover the money and the diamond goes awry when another crook, Slick Barton (William Wright), steals both the money and the diamond from his two crooked pals. Farraday and Matthews now arrive and accuse Blackie of both thefts.

Yep - it sounds complicated but it works!

A great “B” adventure film - further (in Trev’s opinion) one of the very best “B” movie series entries ever made! - in fact, Trev likes it so much, he actually owns the original photo from the film depicting Blackie, Farraday & The Runt (its framed & mounted in his front foyer)

Another fun Boston Blackie film based on a character (Horatio Black) portrayed in a series of novels by Jack Boyle. Other Boston Blackie films in this (INDIVDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website are Meet Boston Blackie (1941), Confessions of Boston Blackie (1941) & One Mysterious Night (1944)

Please Note that this film is also part of the Boston Blackie Movie Series DVD set which can be found in the Movie Series section of this website

Botany Bay (1953) - 93 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, James Mason, Patricia Medina, Cedric Hardewicke & Murray Matheson

Directed by John Farrow

Framed for robbery, 18th century medical student Hugh Tallant is sentenced to a New South Wales (Australia) penal colony. En route to the prison, Tallant is tormented by sadistic ship's captain Paul Gilbert, while Gilbert's beloved Sally Monroe takes a fancy to the new prisoner. Once at the colony, Tallant is befriended by Governor Phillips, since the populace is in desperate need of a qualified physician. However Gilbert continues his efforts in persecuting Tallant and a showdown is in the offing

Botany Bay was based on a novel by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall (of Mutiny on the Bounty fame).

The Bounty Hunter (1954) - 79 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Dolores Dorn, Marie Windsor, Howard Petrie & Harry Antrim

Directed by André De Toth

A year after a violent train robbery the Pinkerton detective agency hires a bounty hunter to find the three remaining killers. He tracks them to Twin Forks but has no clue to their identity. He then bides his time, hoping that the crooks will tip their hands, lead him to the stolen money, and let down their guard long enough to allow for a speedy capture. Tensions surface as just his presence in town acts as a catalyst for trouble.

A highly entertaining yarn with the killers' identities being unknown (& hard to pick) until the very end

Excellent Technicolor print!

The Bounty Killer (1965) - 92 mins

Starring Dan Duryea, Rod Cameron, Audrey Dalton, Richard Arlen & Buster Crabbe

Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet

Willie Duggan (Dan Duryea) is a Western bounty hunter, expert in his job, but ill at ease with his conscience. He is shunned by the "good" townsfolk until they need him to track down and kill a criminal; the gratitude doesn't last long, and it's back to outcast status for Duryea. The embittered bounty hunter even delivers a condemnation against the "hypocrites" who hire him - but nonetheless takes one more job.

Whilst its probably best remembered as Dan Duryea's last film, The Bounty Killer contains many other points of interests, chiefly its cast! Yep, under the sturdy hand of note serial and "B" western director Spencer Gordon Bennet, we have western veterans: Rod Cameron, Ricahrd Arlen, Buster Crabbe, Fuzzy Knight, Johnny Mack Brown, Eddie Quillan, Bob Steele & Frank Lackteen. And to top it off an appearance by the legendary Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson - the first Western star!

Boy on a Dolphin (1957) - 111 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Clifton Webb, Sophia Loren, Alex Minotis, Jorge Mistral & Laurence Naismith

Directed by Jean Negulesco

Italian screen goddess Sophia Loren made her American film debut with this glossy romantic adventure set and partially filmed on the Greek island of Hydra. Phaedra (Loren) is a female sponge diver who, while combing the waters, discovers the wreckage of a sunken ship with a number of fascinating artifacts, including a statue of a boy astride a dolphin. When Phaedra tells her boyfriend Rhif (Jorge Mistral) about the find, he is convinced that the statue is valuable, and he begins making plans to bring it to dry land for sale. Looking for help, they approach Dr. James Calder (Alan Ladd), an American archeologist working on a project for a Greek museum. Calder wants the statue but can't pay for it - he wants Phaedra and Rhif to donate it to his museum as a remarkable example of Greek statuary. This is hardly what Rhif had in mind, so he turns to Victor Parmalee (Clifton Webb), a wealthy American art collector intrigued by the statue and other valuables that might be in the ship. Rhif and Victor make plans to salvage the ship's contents and send them back to America, for which Rhif will be paid handsomely.

Interesting and handsomely photographed story.

Fabulous Wide-Screen Technicolor Print!

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The Brain From Planet Arous (1957) - 71 mins

Starring John Agar, Joyce Meadows, Robert Fuller, Thomas Browne Henry & Ken Terrell

Directed by Nathan Juran

Gor is a powerful criminal brain from the planet Arous. It assumes the body of scientist Steve March (John Agar) and through him, it begins to control the world by threatening destruction to any country challenging its domination. Another brain, Val, works with March’s future wife, Sally Fallon (Joyce Meadows) in an effort to defeat Gor - it appears that Gor is vulnerable when it is forced to leave March at intervals to re-energize.

Gripping stuff from the guy who became synonymous 50s sci-fi: John Agar!

Branded (1950) - 104 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Mona Freeman, Charles Bickford, Brian Keith & Joseph Calleia

Directed by Rudolph Maté

Rancher Charles Bickford comes to believe that drifter Alan Ladd is his long-lost son. In truth, Ladd is a crook, in league with Brian Keith to con Bickford out of his fortune. Intending to go through with the scheme, Ladd has second thoughts when Bickford and his "mother" Selena Royle shower him with the familial affection that he has lacked all his life. Making Ladd even more uncomfortable is the presence of his "sister" Mona Freeman, whom he has grown to love in a manner that might be misconstrued were he really related to her. Fed up with his masquerade, Ladd confesses the hoax and sets about to find Bickford's real son.

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Brannigan (1975) - 111 mins

Starring John Wayne, Richard Attenborough, Judy Geeson, Mel Ferrer, John Vernon & Ralph Meeker

Directed by Douglas Hickox

Lt. Jim Brannigan (John Wayne) is an Irish-American detective who is sent to London to bring back American mobster, Ben Larkin (John Vernon) who is being held for extradition. But upon arrival Jim learns that Larkin has been kidnapped - which was set up by his slimy lawyer, Fields (Mel Ferrer). Despite the inevitable cultures clashes, Brannigan manages to team with Scotland Yard’s Commander Swann (Richard Attenborough) to corral the crook. Along the way Constable Jennifer Thatcher (Judy Geeson) spends considerable time fending off Jim’s inbred chauvinism.

Brannigan was co-written by Christopher Trumbo, the son of former blacklistee Dalton Trumbo.

Second of two 70s-urban detective films made by The Duke - the other being McQ (1974)

John Wayne: Duke - one of the most recognizable persons on the planet -a true mega-star in film. You'll find the following John Wayne movies in this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of this website:

The Brasher Doubloon (1947) - 72 mins

Starring George Montgomery, Nancy Guild, Conrad Janis, Roy Roberts & Fritz Kortner

Directed by John Brahm

Philip Marlowe (George Montgomery) gets involved when Leslie Murdock (Conrad Janis) steals a rare doubloon from his mother (Florence Bates) to give to a newsreel photographer in exchange for film that is being used for blackmail purposes. Marlowe's involvement has him encounter a girl who goes into hysterics when touched by a man; a husband-killing woman; three corpses; a couple of scuffles and a secretary who thinks she has killed her boss

This is the Raymond Chandler story "The High Window" - complicated but fun … George Montgomery does a nice Philip Marlowe!

Note that this film is part of the Philip Marlowe "at the Movies" Combination which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

Breakaway (1956) - 72 mins

Starring Tom Conway, Michael Balfour, Honor Blackman, Brian Worth & Bruce Seton

Directed by Henry Cass

When Johnny Matlock whisks away a cold war secret from under the noses of Berlin's top agents, his every move is shadowed as he returns to England. He is summarily set upon and knocked unconscious by enemy agents and his girlfriend is kidnapped. But her handbag is discovered at the scene of the crime by aristocratic PI, Duke Martin (Tom Conway). Duke discovers the secret formula that the agents are searching for and then proceeds to play a deadly game of double bluff as he schemes to effect the girl's safe return.

Although it was never released in the US, Breakaway scored good box-office receipts in the UK (as “B” support to the Martin / Lewis film: Pardners). The film was the last of a nice quartet of Tom “The Falcon” Conway UK releases from the 50's in which he played a PI not too dissimilar to his role in The Falcon movie series from the 1940s. Park Plaza 605 (aka Norman Conquest) began the series in 1953 with Blood Orange (aka Three Stops to Murder) coming along later in the same year. In 1955 Conway created the character of suave private detective, Tom 'Duke' Martin for two further British productions in which he was essentially playing The Falcon again: Barbados Quest (aka Murder on Approval) & Breakaway - all 4 of the films are available from this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of the website.

The Falcon Movie Series is available from this website, in the Movie Series section

The Breaking Point (1950) - 97 mins

Starring John Garfield, Patricia Neal, Phyllis Thaxter, Wallace Ford & Sherry Jackson

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Fishing boat captain Harry Morgan charters his boat. Due to strained finances, he is none too careful as to whom he does business with. Real trouble erupts when Harry hires out his boat to transport four men who turn out to be criminals on the lam from a racetrack heist.

A high-voltage refilming of Hemingway's To Have and Have Not with a great screenplay by Ranald MacDougall.

The second of three adaptations of this Hemingway ditty, the others being Bogie's To Have and Have Not (1944) & Audie Murphy's The Gun Runners (1958) - both of which are available from this website

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The Breaking Point (1961) - 59 mins

Starring Peter Reynolds, Dermot Walsh, Joanna Dunham, Lisa Gastoni & Jack Allen

Directed Lance Comfort

Eric Winlatter (Peter Reynolds) gets involved with foreign spies who plan to flood an obscure far eastern state called Lalvador with fake currency in order to bankrupt its economy. The country would then be forced to come to the nation behind the scheme for assistance thus forcing them behind the iron curtain.

Tight little thriller!

Bride of Frankenstein (1935) - 75 mins

Starring Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson, Ernest Thesiger & Elsa Lanchester

Directed by James Whale

This greatest of all Frankenstein movies begins during a raging thunderstorm. Warm and cozy inside their palatial villa, Lord Byron (Gavin Gordon), Percy Shelley (Douglas Walton), and Shelley's wife Mary (Elsa Lanchester) engage in morbid conversation. The wicked Byron mockingly chastises Mary for frightening the literary world with her recent novel Frankenstein, but Mary insists that her horror tale preached a valuable moral, that man was not meant to dabble in the works of God. Moreover, Mary adds that her story did not end with the death of Frankenstein's monster, whereupon she tells the enthralled Byron and Shelley what happened next. Surviving the windmill fire that brought the original Frankenstein (1931) to a close, the Monster (Boris Karloff) quickly revives and goes on another rampage of death and destruction. Meanwhile, his ailing creator Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) discovers that his former mentor, the demented Doctor Praetorius (Ernst Thesiger), plans to create another life-sized monster - this time a woman! After an incredible "creation" sequence, the bandages are unwrapped, and the Bride of the Monster (Elsa Lanchester, again) emerges. Alas, the Monster's tender efforts to connect with his new Mate are rewarded only by her revulsion and hoarse screams. "She hate me," he growls, "Just like others!"

Wonderfully acted and directed, Bride of Frankenstein is further enhanced by the vivid Franz Waxman musical score.

Oscar Nominated for Best Sound

Preceded by Frankenstein (1931) which also combined director James Whale and stars, Boris Karloff & Colin Clive in their signature roles - its is also available from this website.

Legendary director James Whale helmed some memorable films in his brief career:

Frankenstein (1931), The Old Dark House (1932), The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933), The Invisible Man (1933), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Remember Last Night? (1935) & The Man in the Iron Mask (1939)

Bride of Frankenstein (1935) is also part of the Frankenstein, Dracula & The Wolf Man multi-film DVD boxed set which can be found in the Movie Series section (under “F”) of this website

The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966) - 94 mins

Starring Christopher Lee, Douglas Wilmer, Howard Marion-Crawford, Heinz Drache & Marie Versini

Directed by Don Sharp

Christopher Lee returns as insidious Asian villain Fu Manchu for this second entry of the series. This time Fu Manchu and his army of henchmen are kidnaping the daughters of prominent scientists and taking them to his remote island headquarters. Instead of asking for ransom, Fu demands that the fathers help him to build a death ray, which he intends to use to take over the world. But Fu's archenemies, Nayland Smith (Douglas Wilmer) of Scotland Yard and Dr. Ronald Petrie (Howard Marion Crawford) are determined to not let that happen

Also all 5 films can be found in a boxed set within the Movie Series section of this website

The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954) - 102 mins

Starring William Holden, Grace Kelly, Fredric March, Mickey Rooney, Robert Strauss, Charles McGraw & Earl Holliman

Directed by Mark Robson

Based on the novel by James Michener, this film stars William Holden as Harry Brubaker, a former military pilot who served in World War II. When he's called back into duty during the Korean conflict, Brubaker is angry, believing he's already served his country and needs to devote himself to his wife Nancy (Grace Kelly) and their children. However, he accepts his commission and is sent back into action as a pilot, with a special assignment to blow up five strategically crucial bridges in Korean territory. This drama, which focuses on the danger and futility of war, also features Frederic March as an admiral who respects the tremendous danger of Brubaker's assignment, and Mickey Rooney as an helicopter pilot.

A great movie & a fabulous finish.

Oscar winner for Best Visual Effects as well as a nomination for Film Editing.

Brighton Rock (1947) - 92 mins

Starring Richard Attenborough, Carol Marsh, Hermione Baddeley, William Hartnell & Nigel Stock

Directed by John Boulting

Gang leader, Pinkie Brown (Richard Attenborough) while leading his men in a racetrack robbery kills a man. He convinces pretty waitress Rose (Carol Marsh) to provide him with an alibi, promising to marry her in exchange. After the wedding, the Pinkie conducts a slow and careful campaign to drive his young wife to suicide.

"A moody, well-acted film with a stunning performance by the 24-year-old Attenborough, Brighton Rock is notable for bringing a new vicious realism to British crime cinema. Adapted by Terrance Rattigan and Graham Greene, from Greene's novel, the screenplay is superlative. The grim realism and sordid subject matter of the film is striking, handled by twin filmmakers Roy and John Boulting, who use mood and dark, stark photography to convey an almost palpable sense of dread".

The Brighton Strangler (1945) - 67 mins

Starring John Loder, June Duprez, Michael St. Angel & Miles Mander

Directed by Max Nosseck

A prominent London actor, lately starring in a play about a maniacal strangler, suffers a head injury when the theatre is bombed by the Nazis. Thereafter, he cannot separate fact from fiction, and periodically becomes the strangler that he is playing on stage.

Tightly scripted and well acted with a 67 minute running time that allows the story to unfold without undue padding or muddled psychological overtones.

Interestingly, John Loder's character is triggered into becoming a murderer whenever someone inadvertently recites one of the lines from his play--a dramatic device later utilized to fuller effect in Richard Condon's The Manchurian Candidate.

Brimstone (1949) - 90 mins

Starring Rod Cameron, Lorna Gray, Walter Brennan, Forrest Tucker, Jack Holt & Jim Davis

Directed by Joseph Kane

The age-old enmity between cattle ranchers and settlers takes centre stage here with Brimstone 'Pop' Courteen (Walter Brennan), an ornery rancher who avenges the loss of the free range by robbing stagecoaches and banks. The Courteen gang, which also includes Pop's three sons, Nick (Jim Davis), Luke (Jack Lambert), and the reluctant Bud (James Brown), gets a bit of competition from The Ghost, a mystery outlaw who really is Marshal Johnny Tremaine (Rod Cameron). Tremaine's undercover investigation leads to McIntyre (Forrest Tucker), the sheriff of Gunsight, who is in the employ of the Courteens.

Large scale Republic Trucolor production

Big scale Rod Cameron westerns available from this website are (the not really a western) Pirates of Monterey (1947), as well as Panhandle (1948), The Plunderers (1948), Brimstone (1949), Short Grass (1950), Stage to Tucson (1950), Oh! Susanna (1951), The Sea Hornet (1951), Ride the Man Down (1952), San Antone (1953), Hell’s Outpost (1954) & (the non-western) The Fighting Chance (1955)

Rod Cameron also appeared in two westerns in which he played the "baddie" - both films have developed "cult" status because they pit Rod against George Montgomery. Belle Starr’s Daughter (1948) & Dakota Lil (1950) are the two films and it’s a treat to watch this dynamic pair of western legends “going at it” in some interesting and provocative exchanges - both Belle Starr’s Daughter (1948) & Dakota Lil (1950) are available from this website.

Rod Cameron also made a couple of nice half hour adventure TV series: Coronado 9 & State Trooper

- both of these excellent shows can be found in the TV Series section of this website

Bringing Up Baby (1938) - 102 mins

Starring Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Charles Ruggles, Walter Catlett & Barry Fitzgerald

Directed by Howard Hawks

David Huxley (Cary Grant) is a stuffy palaeontologist who needs to finish an exhibit on dinosaurs and thus land a $1 million grant for his museum. At a golf outing with his potential benefactors, Huxley is spotted by Susan Vance (Katherine Hepburn) who decides that she must have the reserved scientist at all costs. She uses her pet leopard, Baby, to trick him into driving to her Connecticut home, where a dog wanders into Huxley's room and steals the vital last bone that he needs to complete his project. The real trouble begins when another leopard escapes from the local zoo and Baby is mistaken for it, leading Huxley and Susan into a series of harebrained and increasingly more insane schemes to save the cat from the authorities. Inevitably, the two end up in the local jail, where things get even more out of hand: Susan pretends to be the gun moll to David's diabolical, supposedly wanted criminal. Naturally, the mismatched pair falls in love through all the lunacy.

Director Howard Hawks delivers a funny, fast-paced, and offbeat story, enlivened by animated performances from the two leads, in what has become a definitive screwball comedy.

Britannia Hospital (1982) - 116 mins

Starring Malcolm McDowell, Leonard Rossiter, Graham Crowden, Brian Pettifer, John Moffatt & Fulton Mackay

Directed by Lindsay Anderson

Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell) is a reporter who is about to shoot a documentary on Britannia Hospital, an institution which mirrors the downsides of British Society. It's the day when Her Royal Highness is to visit the hospital to inaugurate a new wing, where advanced (and sinister) scientific experiments led by Prof. Millar (Graham Crowden) will take place. Everybody in the hospital, from the cooks who refuse to cook, to the painters who couldn't care less to get their job done, to an African cannibalistic dictator whom demonstrators want expelled from the hospital and tried, will contribute to making HRH's visit (and Mick Travis's life) a true nightmare.

Britannia Hospital (1982) captures the anarchic bite of director Lindsay Anderson's previous satires If.... (1968) and Oh Lucky Man! (1973) - a deft combination of intelligent political critique, comic lunacy, and skilful filmmaking. Indeed, the three films are often considered the “trilogy of Mick Price”, largely due to the presence in all three of lead Malcolm McDowell playing the same role Mick Travis

Oh Lucky Man! (1973) & Britannia Hospital (1982) are also both available from this website

Also worth a look for Malcolm McDowell fans: Royal Flash (1975) - again, also available from this website

British Agent (1934) - 80 mins

Starring Leslie Howard, Kay Francis, William Gargan, Phillip Reed & Irving Pichel

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Stephen 'Steve' Locke (Leslie Howard) is the unofficial British emissary to the Russian Revolutionary government in 1917, whose purpose is to dissuade the Bolsheviks from signing a separate treaty with the WWI German regime.

Locke has plenty on his hands especially when he comes across the beautiful Russian spy, Elena Moura (Kay Francis).

Based on the memoirs of R. H. Bruce Lockhart, who actually witnessed the birth of Bolshevism, this always interesting film is notable for the performance of Irving Pichel as Sergei Pavlov (supposedly, a young Josef Stalin).

Broken Arrow (1950) - 93 mins

Starring James Stewart, Jeff Chandler, Debra Padget, Basil Ruysdael, Will Geer & Arthur Hunnicutt

Directed by Delmer Daves

Indian scout Tom Jeffords (James Stewart) is sent out to stem the war between the Whites and Apaches in the late 1870s. He learns that the Indians kill only to protect themselves, or out of retaliation for white atrocities. Befriending the sagacious Apache leader Cochise (Jeff Chandler), Jeffords ensures safe passage for white mail-carriers through Indian territory. As he becomes closer to his Native American "brothers", Jeffords falls in love with and weds a pretty Apache girl (Debra Paget).

At the same time, the President sends General Howard (Basil Ruysdael) with orders to conclude peace. But the deep grievance and hatred on both sides make tragic failure all too likely. Look fast for Jay “Tonto” Silverheels who appears uncredited as Geronimo

Oscar Nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Jeff Chandler), Best Color Cinematography & Best Screenplay

Jeff Chandler was to again play Cochise in The Battle at Apache Pass (1952) and Taza, Son of Cochise (1954).

These following “Cochise” films are also available from this website: The Battle at Apache Pass (1952), Taza, Son of Cochise (1954) as well as another film dealing with the similar events, Conquest of Cochise (1953) - with John Hodiak as eponymous Apache leader.

The Broken Star (1956) - 82 mins

Starring Howard Duff, Lita Baron, Bill Williams, Douglas Fowley, Henry Calvin & Addison Richards

Directed by Lesley Selander

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed (Howard Duff) is ordered to investigate the killing of a Mexican ranch hand by his friend and fellow deputy Bill Gentry (Bill Williams), who is claiming self-defense. Using turn of the century forensic science and dogged determination, Smeed breaks down his partner's alibi and discovers that Gentry had killed the rancher for eight thousand dollars in gold that had been hidden in the Mexican's home. Now Smeed must arrest his friend before the Mexican's gunslinging friends seek out and kill Gentry

Howard Duff & Bill Williams in a nice tight little western - great stuff

Other Howard Duff films - of which Trev is a huge fan - which are available from this website are Illegal Entry (1949), Spy Hunt (1950), Shakedown (1950) & Spaceways (1953)

The Brothers Rico (1957) - 92 mins

Starring Richard Conte, Dianne Foster, Kathryn Grant, Larry Gates, James Darren & Lamont Johnson

Directed by Phil Karlson

The Rico brothers: Eddie, Johnny & Gino (Richard Conte, James Darren & Paul Picerni) are mobsters in the employ of syndicate head Sid Kubick (Larry Gates). Eddie sees the light and has forsaken crime. But the Johnny & Gino have not, causing a deep rift in the brothers' family bonds. Eddie gets word that his brothers have been marked for murder, and tries to warn them.

The Brothers Rico, adapted from a novel by French detective-story specialist George “Maigret” Simenon, is an interesting thriller deeply rooted in the post-noir style of police thrillers.

Brute Force (1947) - 98 mins

Starring Burt Lancaster, Hume Cronyn, Charles Bickford, Yvonne De Carlo & Ann Blyth

Directed by Jules Dassin

Burt Lancaster had one of his first starring roles in this hard-hitting prison drama. Capt. Munsey (Hume Cronyn) is a cruel, corrupt prison guard who has his own less-than-ethical ways of dealing with inmates, enough so that Joe Collins (Lancaster) - the toughest inmate in the cell block - has decided to break out. Collins tries to persuade Gallagher (Charles Bickford), the unofficial leader of the inmates and editor of the prison newspaper, to join him, but Gallagher thinks Collins' plan won't work. However, Collins does have the support of his cellmates, most of whom, like himself, wandered into a life of crime thanks to love and good intentions. Collins pulled a bank job to raise money to pay for an operation that could possibly get his girl out of a wheelchair.

Top flight power from Burt!

Fabulous Miklós Rózsamusic score!

Director Jules Dassin would next direct the influential noir drama The Naked City which is also available from this website.

Burt was also “out West” with Vengeance Valley (1951), Apache (1954) & Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

All of the above are available from this website

The Buccaneer (1938) - 126 mins

Starring Fredric March, Franciska Gaal, Akim Tamiroff, Margot Grahame, Walter Brennan, Hugh Sothern & Spring Byington

Directed by Cecil B. DeMille

Cecil B. DeMille's The Buccaneer stars Fredric March as 18th century pirate Jean Lafitte. Operating out of a "buccaneer's haven" of the coast of New Orleans, Lafitte plunders all passing ships for their wealth, but refuses to attack any vessel flying the American flag. During one seafaring skirmish, he rescues Dutch maiden Gretchen (Franziska Gaal) from a sunken ship. Gretchen falls madly in love with the dashing Lafitte, but he has eyes only for aristocratic Louisana belle Annette (Margot Grahame). During the War of 1812, Lafitte is offered a pardon by Andrew Jackson (Hugh Sothern) if he and his pirates will fight on the American side. As good as his word, Lafitte stands shoulder to shoulder with Jackson as they ward off the British at the Battle of New Orleans.

"From the opening scene in which Dolly Madison (Spring Byington) rescues the Declaration of Independence during the burning of Washington to the closing clinch between Lafitte and Gretchen, The Buccaneer is one of DeMille's most exhilarating films."

Oscar Nomination for Best Cinematography

Remade two decades later - in Technicolor (see below)

The Buccaneer (1958) - 119 mins

Starring Yul Brynner, Charlton Heston, Claire Bloom, Charles Boyer, Inger Stevens & Henry Hull

Directed by Anthony Quinn

During the War of 1812 against Britain, General Andrew Jackson (Charlton Heston) has only 1,200 men left to defend New Orleans when he learns that a British fleet will arrive with 60 ships and 16,000 men to take the city. In this situation an island near the city becomes strategically important to both parties, but it's inhabited by the debonair pirate: Jean Lafitte (Yul Brynner). Although Lafitte never attacks American ships, first governor of Louisiana William Claiborne (E.G. Marshall) hates him for selling merchandise without taxes - Lafitte is loved by the citizens for the same reason. When the big fight gets nearer, Lafitte is drawn between the fronts. His heart belongs to America, but his people urge him to join the party that's more likely to win. Complicating matters Lafitte has fallen in love with Annette Claiborne (Inger Stevens), the daughter of Claiborne.

Oscar Nominated for Best Costume Design

When Cecil B. DeMille was set to direct a re-make of his 1938 swashbuckler The Buccaneer and suddenly became ill, his son-in-law, Anthony Quinn, took over - the original (starring Fredric March) is also available from this website (see above)

Buchanan Rides Alone (1958) - 78 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Craig Stevens, Barry Kelley, Tol Avery & Peter Whitney.

Directed by Budd Boetticher

On his way home to West Texas, Tom Buchanan rides into the Californian border town of Agry, and into a feud between several members of the Agry family. In helping out a Mexican seeking revenge on one of them, Buchanan finds himself against the whole family. Plenty of plot twists and my Dad's favourite western!

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Buck Benny Rides Again (1940) - 82 mins

Starring Jack Benny, Ellen Drew, Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson, Andy Devine, Phil Harris & Dennis Day

Directed by Mark Sandrich

Falling in love with aspiring singer Joan Cameron (Ellen Drew), Jack Benny (Jack Benny) vows to go out of his way to impress her. When he learns that Joan is headed for a western dude ranch, he poses as "Buck" Benny, a rootin'-tootin'-shootin' 100% genuine cowboy. In truth, both Jack and his valet Rochester (Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson) are terrified of The West and certain that they'll be scalped by Indians at the first opportunity. But through a series of coincidences Jack manages to convince Joan that he's an honest-to-goodness frontiersman. The plot thickens when a pair of modern-day desperadoes (Ward Bond and Morris Ankrum) plot to rob the dude ranch's safe - but our hero saves both the day and his girlfriend, with the unsolicited but very welcome assistance of his pet polar bear Carmichael!

Buck Benny Rides Again has a lot in common with Jack Benny's radio programs of the 1939-40 season. During this period, Jack's broadcast co-stars included bandleader Phil Harris, announcer Don Wilson, singer Dennis Day and comedians Eddie "Rochester" Anderson and Andy Devine. All five supporting players appear in this film, all playing "themselves" just as Benny does.

Wonderful comedy

One of a nice set of three Jack Benny comedies on this website. The others being To Be or Not To Be (1942) & George Washington Slept Here (1942)

Buffalo Bill (1944) - 90 mins

Starring Joel McCrea, Maureen O'Hara, Linda Darnell, Thomas Mitchell, Edgar Buchanan & Anthony Quinn

Directed by William A. Wellman

Well played by Joel McCrea, Colonel William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody is first seen as an army Indian scout, pursuing peaceful coexistence despite the animosity of Chief Yellow Hand (Anthony Quinn) and the obstruction of anti-Indian politicians. He also takes time out to court the lovely Louisa (Maureen O'Hara), the well-bred Eastern girl who will become his wife despite her initial distaste for the West. Under the tutelage of impresario Ned Buntline (Thomas Mitchell), Cody follows up his military career with a more spectacular one as a larger-than-life showman, touring throughout the world with his spectacular Wild West show.

As director John Ford put it: "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."

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Bugles in the Afternoon (1952) - 85 mins

Starring Ray Milland, Helena Carter, Hugh Marlowe, Forrest Tucker, Barton MacLane & George Reeves

Directed by Roy Rowland

During the Civil War, Colonel Kern Shafter (Ray Milland) and Captain Edward Garnett (Hugh Marlowe) become embroiled in a conflict, the cause of which is not revealed. As a result, Shafter leaves the Eastern Cavalry and moves West, where he is able to re-enlist. Ten years on, and Shafter is reassigned to an outpost in the Dakota Territory - one that is commanded by his old nemesis Garnett. Garnett takes advantage of his authority to assign Shafter to the most dangerous missions, clearly hoping that he will not return from one of them. Things are not made any easier by the fact that both men fall in love with the same woman, Josephine Russell (Helena Carter). The situation comes to a climax during the Battle of Little Big Horn, when both men attempt to put an end to their personal war as hundreds of others are slaughtered around them.

Excellent Technicolor western!

Bulldog Drummond (1929) - 90 mins

Starring Ronald Colman, Claud Allister, Lawrence Grant, Montagu Love & Joan Bennett

Directed by F. Richard Jones

Tired of his sedentary postwar existence, Capt. Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond (Ronald Colman) offers his services as adventurer for hire. This gets him mixed up with the lovely Phyllis (Joan Bennett), whose wealthy father is being held against his will in a gloomy sanitarium. Armed with little more than bravado, Drummond, his pal Algy (Claud Allister) and faithful butler Danny (Wilson Benge) walk right into the lair of evil Dr. Lakington (Lawrence Grant).

From the novel by Herman Cyril McNeile (“Sapper”)

Filmed in the earliest days of the talkie era, Bulldog Drummond is a remarkably sophisticated film for its time, directed with assurance by former Mack Sennett associate F. Richard Jones (who unfortunately died shortly after the film's release).

Oscar Nominations for Best Actor (Ronald Colman) & Best Art Direction

Ronald Colman was to return to the Bulldog Drummond role 5 years on with Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back (1934) - see below

The only two color Bulldog Drummond films: Deadlier Than The Male (1967) & Some Girls Do (1969) can also be found in this section of the website

This film is also part of the Bulldog Drummond Movies Series DVD sets which are available from within the Movie Series section of this website

Bulldog Drummond in Africa (1938) - 58 mins

Starring John Howard, Heather Angel, H. B. Warner, J. Carrol Naish, Reginald Denny, E. E. Clive & Anthony Quinn

Directed by Louis King

Scotland Yard Inspector Col. Nielsen (H. B. Warner) is kidnapped by master criminal Richard Lane (J. Carroll Naish) and transported to Lane’s lavish jungle hideout somewhere in Africa, where he wines and dines his captive as a prelude for his intended revenge. Bulldog Drummond (John Howard), his fiancee Phyllis (Heather Angel), best friend Algy (Reginald Denny) and valet Tenny (E. E. Clive) are Nielsen’s close friends and set about a rescue attempt in Drummond’s private plane. But they fail to realize that Lane will carry out his evil scheme by strapping the Inspector to a pillar and release a ferocious pack of lions. Moreover, Lane has covered his bets by planting a time bomb in Drummond's plane!

The action-packed (and quite violent) climax really hits the spot!

Trev’s favourite Bulldog Drummond movie - the perfect combination of action, adventure and humour that made Paramount’s Bulldog Drummond movie series so popular (he also rates Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1939) highly and it can be found elsewhere in this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of the website)

The only two color Bulldog Drummond films: Deadlier Than The Male (1967) & Some Girls Do (1969) can also be found in this section of the website

Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back (1934) - 83 mins

Starring Ronald Colman, Loretta Young, C. Aubrey Smith, Charles Butterworth & Warner Oland

Directed by Roy Del Ruth

Ronald Colman returns as Capt. Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond and this time the famed sleuth in the midst of a sinister plan orchestrated by Prince Achmed (Warner Oland). Damsel in distress Lola Field (Loretta Young) reports that her wealthy and influential uncle is missing, but all those concerned insist that the uncle never existed, and that Lola is out of her mind. Drummond suspects that she's telling the truth, and that the uncle's disappearance is tied into political intrigue of some sort or other. Before the rousing climax, Drummond, the heroine, and Drummond's pal Algy (Charles Butterworth) are repeatedly kidnapped, imprisoned, and threatened with certain death.

Ronald Colmand had previously played Bulldog Drummond 5 years earlier in Bulldog Drummond (1929) - see above

The only two color Bulldog Drummond films: Deadlier Than The Male (1967) & Some Girls Do (1969) can also be found in this section of the website

This film is also part of the Bulldog Drummond Movies Series DVD sets which are available from within the Movie Series section of this website

Bullet for a Badman (1964) - 80 mins

Starring Audie Murphy, Darren McGavin, Ruta Lee, Skip Homeier, George Tobias & Alan Hale Jr.

Directed by R.G. Springsteen

Logan Keliher (Audie Murphy) is an ex-lawman who must strap on the guns again to catch a former nemesis, Sam Ward (Darren McGavin), who happens to be the ex husband of Murphy's wife and father of the boy that believes he's Murphy's son.

A treat for Murphy fans!

A Bullet for Joey (1955) - 85 mins

Starring Edward G. Robinson, George Raft, Audrey Totter, George Dolenz & Peter Van Eyck

Directed by Lewis Allen

A communist spy plots the abduction of an important American atomic scientist in this espionage drama. To do his evil deed, he coerces a notorious gangster to do the kidnapping. Meanwhile a G-man is hot on the spy's trail and is determined to protect the endangered scientist. Unfortunately, the spy is on to the detective and plans to bump him off first.

A great Cold war spy thriller with an eye-popping cast!

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Bullets or Ballots (1936) - 82 mins

Starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Blondell, Barton MacLane, Humphrey Bogart, Frank McHugh & Dick Purcell

Directed by William Keighley

Two-fisted New York police detective Johnny Blake (Edward G. Robinson) is so volatile that he manages to get himself thrown off the force in disgrace. The local gangsters are delighted, as Blake had been making it very difficult for them. When Blake goes to crime boss Al Kruger (Barton MacLaine) insisting that he's through with law enforcement and wants to switch to the other side, Kruger’s chief henchmen ‘Bugs’ Fenner (Humphrey Bogart) doesn't buy the story, but has to go along since he doesn't want to incur the wrath of his boss. Blake offers to show his former enemies how to circumvent the law, making him an invaluable participant in gang activities. Actually, Blake hasn't gone crooked at all; he's operating undercover, with the full knowledge of the city police inspector, in hopes of locating the "big boys" who've been financing the mob.

Tough & uncompromising Bullets or Ballots (1936) is based on a story by former crime reporter Martin Mooney.

Bullshot (1983) - 87 mins

Directed by Dick Clement

Starring Alan Shearman, Diz White, Ronald E. House, Frances Tomelty & Mel Smith

"Bullshot" Crummond (Alan Shearman) is a square-jawed hero of World War I who longs to face off against his German arch-nemesis Count Otto von Bruno (Ronald E. House) one more time. He gets his chance when he must save Rosemary Fenton (Diz White), a damsel in distress whose father has made a top-secret discovery before he died and now Count von Bruno wants that secret for himself.

Alan Shearman & Ronald E. House wrote the stage play Bullshot Crummond and then adapted it for the screen – it’s a clever spoof of Bulldog Drummond

Note that the complete Bulldog Drummond Movie Series is available from within the Movie Series section of this website

Bunco Squad (1950) - 67 mins

Starring Robert Sterling, Loan Dixon, Ricardo Cortez, Douglas Fowley & Elisabeth Risdon

Directed by Herbert I. Leeds

Sgt. Steve Johnson is a big-city detective dedicated to tracking down con artists. His current target is a gang of slicksters who are running a successful seance racket. Wealthy Jessica Royce is on the verge of bequeathing her fortune to the crooks, in exchange for communications from her deceased son. Posing as a couple of "marks," Johnson and girlfriend Grace Bradshaw turn the tables on con-man Anthony Wells and his confreres.

On hand to reveal some of the techniques used by bunco artists is Dante the Magician, aka Harry A. Janssen, making the second of his two screen appearances (the first was in Laurel & Hardy's A-Haunting We Will Go).

Burma Convoy (1941) - 72 mins

Starring Charles Bickford, Evelyn Ankers, Frank Albertson, Cecil Kellaway & Keye Luke

Directed by Noel M. Smith

This action film is set in Asia during World War II tells a trucker who has been driving in convoys along the dangerous Burma Road between Rangoon and Chungking. When he decides it was time to return to the U.S. and become an auto mechanic, he is delayed by his younger brother who arrives in the country. Apparently he is mixed up in some kind of international intrigue and gets killed. The older brother eventually discovers a ring of Eurasian hijackers conspiring to thwart the convoys that deliver vital supplies.

Bury Me Dead (1947) - 68 mins

Starring June Lockhart, Hugh Beaumont, Cathy O'Donnell, Mark Daniels & Greg McClure

Directed by Bernard Vorhaus

Barbara Carlin (June Lockhart) attends her own funeral and returns home suspecting that her husband, Rod Carlin (Mark Daniels), had tried to do away with her, and is also curious as to just who was the woman buried under her name. She learns that the victim was glamour girl Helen Lawrence (Sonia Darren), with whom her husband had been having an affair. Complications come from her sister Rusty (Cathy O'Donnell) and from her dim-witted prize fighter boyfriend, George Mandley (Greg McClure). The family attorney, Michael Dunn (Hugh Beaumont) has to sort out the situation and in the process provide support for Barbara.

Great to see two icons of 50s / 60s TV in the lead here: June Lockhart (Lassie's Ruth Martin & Lost in Space's Maureen Robinson) & Hugh Beaumont (Leave it to Beaver's Ward Cleaver)

Bush Christmas (1947) - 80 mins

Starring Chips Rafferty, John Fernside, Helen Grieve, Nicky Yardley & Stan Tolhurst

Directed by Ralph Smart

In a small town in Australia, five children riding their horses from school take a forbidden path and meet two strangers, who give them money and make them promise not to tell anyone about them. The two men learn about Lucy. She's a mare belonging to Mr. Thompson, a sheep farmer and the father of three of the children: Helen (the oldest), John, and six-year-old Snow (so named for the color of his hair). The other two are Michael, an English boy staying with the Thompsons, and Neza, an Australian aboriginal who is the son of one of Mr. Thompson's stockmen. The two men (a third one joins them later) prove to be horse thieves, and when Lucy and her foal turn up missing the next morning, the children know it must have been them. Later, the children tell Mrs. Thompson they're going camping. But their real plan is to find the thieves and get Lucy and the foal back. The children head into the Blue Mountains to track down the thieves, relying on Aboriginal survival skills to keep themselves going.

Often described as an Australian western, Bush Christmas is told in a refreshingly non-condescending fashion with the nominal star being the popular Chips Rafferty, playing a likeable horse rustler.

Director Ralph Smart also wrote the screenplay as well as filling the role of producer, following up on his associate producing role on Chips' excellent The Overlanders (1946) - which is also available from this website

Smart was then to move to England were he successfully produced successful UK TV series The Buccaneers, William Tell & Danger Man - all of which are available from the TV Series section of this website

Note that fans of Chips Rafferty may like to check out his charismatic performances in the two Smiley films which were made in Australia in the late 1950s: Smiley (1956) & Smiley Gets a Gun (1958) are also available from this website.

The Caddy (1953) - 96 mins

Starring Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Donna Reed, Barbara Bates, Joseph Calleia & Fred Clark

Starring Norman Taurog

Harvey Miller (Jerry Lewis) is an expert with his golf club, except whenever he tries to play in front of a crowd, he completely loses control. With his mind set on getting into the PGA one way or another, he latches onto Joe Anthony (Dean Martin), a stylish gadabout. Harvey teaches Joe everything he knows about the game, and when Joe enters a tournament, Harvey does too - as his caddy. But while the golf fans still make Harvey go wild, laid-back Joe feeds upon their applause. As Joe's game improves, his ego grows, and he begins to think Harvey is of little and wants to take the tour alone.

The Caddy introduced the Dean Martin classic That's Amore and features a bevy of real life professional golfers in cameo roles, including Sam Snead & Byron Nelson

Oscar Nominated for Best Song (“That’s’ Amore”)

The Caine Mutiny (1954) - 124 mins

Starring Humphrey Bogart, José Ferrer, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray, Robert Francis & Tom Tully

Directed by Edward Dmytryk

During the Second World War, onboard a small insignificant ship in the U.S. Pacific Fleet, an event occurs unlike any that the United States Navy has ever experianced. A Ship's Captain is removed from his command by his Executive Officer in an apparent outright act of mutiny. As the trial of the mutineers unfold, it is then learned that the Captain of the ship was mentally unstable, perhaps even insane. The Navy must then decide: was the Caine Mutiny a criminal act? Or an act of courage to save a ship from destruction at the hands of her Captain.

Absolutely riverting …..

Oscar Nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor (Humphrey Bogart), Best Supporting Actor (Tom Tully), Best Music (Max Steiner), Sound Recording & Screenplay

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Calamity Jane and Sam Bass (1949) - 85 mins

Starring Yvonne De Carlo, Howard Duff, Dorothy Hart, Willard Parker & Lloyd Bridges

Directed by George Sherman

Drifter Sam Bass (Howard Duff) shows up in Denton, Texas (soon to host a great horse race) looking for work. Before long, he attracts the attention of pretty storekeeper Katherine Egan (Dorothy Hart) and a wild frontiers-woman, Calamity Jane (Yvonne De Carlo). A very fast racehorse leads to Sam suddenly becoming richer. But will his seemingly good luck with horses and women leads him to disaster?

Always interesting Technicolor western

Calcutta (1947) - 83 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Gail Russell, William Bendix & June Duprez

Directed by John Farrow

Neale and Pedro fly cargo between Chungking and Calcutta. When their buddy Bill is murdered they investigate. Neale meets Bill's fiancée Virginia and becomes suspicious of a deeper plot while also falling for her charms.

The closest thing to an "adventure noir" film

Now a quite nice print!

California Conquest (1952) - 78 mins

Starring Cornel Wilde, Teresa Wright, Alfonso Bedoya, Lisa Ferraday, Eugene Iglesias & John Dehner

Directed by Lew Landers

California Conquest is set in the early 19th century, when California was fighting for its independence from Mexico - and as such was up for grabs so far as several other nations were concerned. Wealthy landowner Fredo Brios (John Dehner) feverishly opposes all efforts by Californians seeking to become a part of the United States, and to that end Brios hires bandit Jose Martinez (Alfonso Bedoya) to help forge an alliance with Russia. But patriotic Don Arturo Bordega (Cornel Wilde) and his lady love Julia Lawrence (Teresa Wright) attempt to checkmate Brios by locating a cache of guns stolen by Martinez' men.

Great Technicolor adventure!

California Passage (1950) - 90 mins

Starring Forrest Tucker, Adele Mara, Jim Davis, Estelita Rodriguez, Bill Williams, Peter Miles & Charles Kemper

Directed by Joseph Kane

Beth Martin (Adele Mara) is an Easterner traveling west to be reunited with her brother, Bob (Bill Williams). But Bob is not quite the hard-working miner that Beth and kid brother Tommy (Peter Miles) believed him to be and the newcomers quickly find themselves caught between double-crossing saloon owners Mike Prescott (Forrest Tucker) and Lincoln Corey (Jim Davis).

A nice Republic production (this time in B&W) with Forrest Tucker reuniting with Adele Mara, director Joseph Kane and writer James Edward Grant from Republic's color production, Rock Island Trail earlier in 1950.

Like its predessor, this is a good mix of action and character banter.

Then a few years later came another excellent "A" western from Republic: Jubilee Trail (1954) again with Joseph Kane directing Forrest Tucker.

Both Rock Island Trail (1950) & Jubille Trail (1954) are also available from this website.

Callan (1974) - 106 mins

Starring Edward Woodward, Eric Porter, Carl Möhner, Catherine Schell, Peter Egan & Russell Hunter

Directed by Don Sharp

David Callan (Edward Woodward), top agent/assassin for the S.I.S., was forced to retired because he had lost his nerve. Now, Callan is called back into service to handle the assassination of Schneider, a German businessman. His former boss promises Callan that he'll be returned to active status if he follows orders, but as always Callan refuses to act until he knows why Schneider has been marked for death.

The legendary Callan! - Edward Woodward's signature role in 43 episodes of the TV series which ran from 1967 until 1972. The pilot TV episode which begat the TV series was called A Magnum for Schneider and it was shown in 1967 as part of the Armchair Theatre UK anthology series.

This big-screen version of the TV series is a remake of that self-same pilot episode! - Lonely (Russell Hunter) is back but Toby Meares is now played by Peter Egan (instead of TV's Anthony Valentine)

Calling Homicide (1956) - 62 mins

Starring Bill Elliott, Myron Healey, John Dennis, Kathleen Case, Don Haggerty & Lyle Talbot

Directed by Edward Bernds

The third film in which the former western star "Wild" Bill Elliott played a detective lieutenant in the Los Angeles homicide division. Lieutenant Andy Doyle (Bill Elliott) of the Los Angeles Sheriff's homicide department, while investigation the mysterious dynamiting death of a young policeman, discovers that the strangling-murder of Francine Norman, owner of a modelling school, is linked with the first killing.

These Allied Artists films were Elliott's last screen roles, and he certainly made the most of it in these tidy noirs. The Andy Doyle police films were a nice swan song for Wild Bill Elliott - the western hero who best combined toughness with dignity. He was tough on the range, and he's just as tough on those mean streets of Los Angeles.

Nice Print Quality!

This is the third in Bill Elliott's "Suits & Fedoras" (Andy Doyle/Flynn) Series

Other films from the series Dial Red 0 (1955), Sudden Danger (1955), Chain of Evidence (1957) & Footsteps in the Night (1957) are also available from the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of the website.

The whole series is also available from the Movie Series A-M section of this website (under "B" for "Bill")

Note: A variety of "Wild Bill" Elliott western DVD sets are available from the Westerns section of this website

Further Note: "Wild Bill" Elliott three serial outings are available from the Movie Serials section of this website

Calling Paul Temple (1948) - 92 mins

Starring John Bentley, Dinah Sheridan, Margaretta Scott, Abraham Sofaer & Jack Raine

Directed by Maclean Rogers

Paul Temple (John Bentley) is a former Scotland Yard investigator who has become a successful mystery novelist. Paul frequently lends a hand in the solution of real-life crimes that challenge even the most experienced Scotland Yard sleuths. At his side in these exploits is Steve (Dinah Sheridan), his lovely wife and partner-in-crime solving. In this second entry of the series, Scotland Yard is unable to unravel the "Rex" murders. An unidentified killer who signs his name as "Rex" has slain three wealthy women as they rode in trains. All of the victims carried pieces of paper on which was written the name "Mrs. Trevellyan.

Based on the BBC Radio serial "Send For Paul Temple Again" (1945) by Francis Durbridge; which was later remade for radio as "Paul Temple and the Alex Affair" (1968). The film was also scripted by Francis Durbridge (who wrote all of the Paul Temple radio plays)

Excellent Print

There were 4 Paul Temple films in all: Send For Paul Temple (1946), Calling Paul Temple (1948), Paul Temple’s Triumph (1950) & Paul Temple Returns (1952). All 4 are available separately from this section of the website.

The complete Paul Temple collection is also available in a 2 DVD set from within the Movie Series section of this website (under “P”)

Also there is the Paul Temple TV Series which can be found in the TV Series section under “P”

Note that the Radio Shows on MP3 CD section of this website contains the complete collection of surviving Paul Temple radio mysteries.

Call Northside 777 (1948) - 111 mins

Starring James Stewart, Richard Conte, Lee J. Cobb, Helen Walker & E. G. Marshall

Directed by Henry Hathaway

In 1932, a cop is killed and Frank Wiecek sentenced to life. Eleven years later, a newspaper ad by Frank's mother leads Chicago reporter P.J. O'Neal to look into the case. For some time, O'Neal continues to believe Frank guilty. But when he starts to change his mind, he meets increased resistance from authorities unwilling to be proved wrong.

Excellent noir with a strong cast and wonderful director ….

Call of the Wild (1935) - 95 mins

Starring Clark Gable, Loretta Young, Jack Oakie, Reginald Owen & Frank Conroy

Directed by William A. Wellman

The third & definitive screen version of Jack London's classic adventure story was also the first with sound, and it toyed with the original story a bit to add a love interest for leading man Clark Gable. Jack Thornton (Gable) is a would-be prospector who has headed to Alaska hoping to cash in on the gold rush. However, he loses most of his stake in a poker game and instead ends up buying a Saint Bernard named Buck. He's able to pick up Buck for a song because he's too ill-tempered to pull a sled; Smith (Reginald Owen), Buck's former owner, treated him with cruelty and the dog mangled Smith's hand in retaliation. Jack loves the dog, though, and treats him with care and kindness. Buck bonds with Jack and soon becomes a loyal companion and a good sled dog. Angry and astounded, Smith bets Jack that Buck can't pull a half-ton sled 100 yards; while the old Buck would never have done it, with Jack's urging the dog manages the feat and Jack now has the funds to set out with his friend Shorty (Jack Oakie) to stake their claim. While searching for gold, Jack and Shorty discover Claire Blake (Loretta Young), the wife of a miner who abandoned her to look for a fresh vein of gold. A warmth grows between Claire and Jack in the frozen North, but Jack is forced to help her husband when he runs afoul of thieves trying to steal his claim.

A fabulous "outdoors" adventure film shot on great locations with the actors doing the "hard yards" ie paddling canoes though freezing rivers, trekking through snow storms etc

Fans of Jack London should also check out the film Jack London (1943) which is also available from this section of the website.

Campbell's Kingdom (1957) - 102 mins

Starring Dirk Bogarde, Stanley Baker, Michael Craig, Barbara Murray & James Robertson Justice

Directed by Ralph Thomas

Dirk Bogarde plays Bruce Campbell, a British aristocrat who has been given only six months to live. Inheriting a financially troubled Canadian valley, Campbell finds a new lease on life as he champions the cause of the local citizenry. He is particularly effective in standing up to the excesses of contractor Owen Morgan (Stanley Baker), whose dam project threatens to flood the valley. Well paced, Campbell's Kingdom rewards the viewer's patience with an abundance of action highlights, the best of which is reserved for last.

Based on a novel by Hammond Innes.

Canadian Pacific (1949) - 95 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Jane Wyatt, J. Carroll Naish, Victor Jory & Nancy Olson

Directed by Edwin L. Marin

Filmed on location in the Canadian Rockies, this grand adventure western gives an account of the building of the Canadian Pacific railroad. Tom Andrews is a rough-and-ready surveyor who learns that fur trapper Dirk Rourke perceives the Canadian Pacific as a threat to his livelihood. Rourke foments an Indian uprising which very nearly destroys the railroad. But Andrews and his hardy band persevere. An exciting piece of filmmaking, evocatively photographed in Cinecolor by Fred Jackman Jr.

Candlelight in Algeria (1944) - 86 mins

Starring James Mason, Carla Lehmann, Raymond Lovell, Enid Stamp-Taylor & Walter Rilla

Directed by George King

Fact, fiction and espionage are combined in this drama that follows the exploits of Eisenhower's top aide, Mark Clark, and other important Allies as they journey to an important meeting held on Algeria's coast. The precise location of this vital secret gathering is upon a piece of film which must not fall into enemy hands, lest the Allied honchos get captured. The film is hidden in a German colony in Algiers. It is up to one of Britains top spies to bring it to safety. He is hindered by a Nazi spy who follows him. He is assisted by an American woman and a French woman. They are successful and gun-play ensues as they try to flee the country.

One of a trilogy of WWII UK films in which Mason played the "good" guy - the other two are Secret Mission (1942) and Hotel Reserve (1944) - which are also available from this website

Canon City (1948) - 82 mins

Starring Scott Brady, Jeff Corey, Whit Bissell, Stanley Clements, Charles Russell, DeForest Kelley & Ralph Byrd

Directed by Crane Wilbur

This suspenseful crime drama reenacts the famed 1947 prison break out of the Canon City, Colorado corrections facility and features the actual warden, Roy Best playing himself. The trouble begins when one prisoner manages to fashion a crude pistol. Enlisting the aid of eleven others, they successfully escape and begin to terrorize the town.

An unabashed "cult classic" with excellent photography from John Alton playing up the sophisticated and compelling lighting. True "noir" in every way.

Canyon Crossroads (1955) - 83 mins

Starring Richard Basehart, Phyllis Kirk, Stephen Elliott, Russell Collins & Richard Hale

Directed by Alfred L. Werker

A mining engineer, who is shunned by his peers for his unorthodox beliefs concerning the whereabouts of large uranium deposits, joins forces with a girl and her father to search for the mineral. When the father is hurt in an accident, daughter and engineer continue the project, aided by a Native American guide. Unbeknownst to the group, a reputable citizen of the town is shadowing them and his intention is to jump their claim.

Canyon Passage (1946) - 92 mins

Starring Dana Andrews, Brian Donlevy, Susan Hayward, Patricia Roc, Ward Bond & Hoagy Carmichael

Directed by Jacques Tourneur

Logan Stuart (Dana Andrews) is a bold, ambitious general store and freight company owner based in the mining settlement of Jacksonville in 1856. He and his best friend, local banker and express company owner George Camrose (Brian Donlevy), share an attraction for young, beautiful Lucy Overmire (Susan Hayward). Stuart sees life in the Oregon territory as a challenge, to be worked out and overcome with thought and time, with the opportunity to build something lasting and significant in the process. Camrose only sees the opportunity to get rich fast and live easy, and he's addicted to gambling at the local saloon - a potent mix.

Canyon River (1956) - 79 mins

Starring George Montgomery, Marcia Henderson, Peter Graves, Richard Eyer & Walter Sande

Directed by Harmon Jones

Trail boss Steve Patrick (George Montgomery) is assigned to guide a cattle drive from the west-coast state of Oregon to the wilds of Wyoming. En route, Steve must fend off attacks from both rustlers and Indians. He is also being undermined from within by foreman Bob Andrews (Peter Graves), who dearly covets Patrick's job. Into the mix, is widowed camp cook Janet Hale (Marcia Henderson) and both the men are keen on her.

Excellent Cinemascope & Technicolor print!

Cape Fear (1962) - 105 mins

Starring Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen, Lori Martin & Martin Balsam

Directed by J. Lee Thompson

Small-town lawyer Sam Bowden's life becomes torturous when Max Cady re-enters his life. Cady went to jail for 8 years after Bowden testified that Cady attacked a young woman. Now that Cady has been released, he begins to terrorize Bowden and his family, particularly targeting Bowden's daughter, Nancy.

Riveting from the first frame to last. Well shot, with excellent acting, and a great Bernard Herrmann score.

Captain Blood (1935) - 119 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Lionel Atwill & Basil Rathbone

Directed by Michael Curtiz

The quintessential swashbuckler. Irish doctor Dr. Peter Blood is wrongly sentenced to deportation and slavery to the Caribbean. He plans an escape and now seeking vengeance forms an alliance with the French buccaneer Capt. Levasseur. However during their reign of piracy they capture Arabella Bishop and Blood's feelings are betrayed when he challenges Levasseur over her.

Quintessential Flynn in his "breakout" role and a fabulous Eric Wolfgang Korngold score

Captain Boycott (1947) - 92 mins

Starring Stewart Granger, Kathleen Ryan, Cecil Parker, Mervyn Johns & Alastair Sim

Directed by Frank Launder

Set in early 19th-century Ireland, this fact-based drama chronicles the peasant uprising of peasants who finally tire of the brutality of Captain Boycott, the rent collector for the Earl of Erne. The impoverished farmers conspire to banish him from the area. When Boycott learns of this, he tries to change his image by spending his entire fortune launching a newspaper promotion of his good points. It doesn't work and in desperation, he squanders the rest of his fortune on buying a race horse. He enters it in a big race and bets the rest of his fortune upon it. Unfortunately, just before it wins, the peasants spring to action, start a riot and successfully oust the cruel captain from their lands. It is from this situation that the English word "boycott" is derived.

Captain Carey, U.S.A. (1950) - 82 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Wanda Hendrix, Francis Lederer, Joseph Calleia & Celie Lovsky

Directed by Mitchell Leisen

A former OSS operative, Captain Webb Carey returns to Orta, near Milan in Italy after the war to avenge the death of resistance worker Giulia. Much to his surprise, Carey finds that his "deceased" lover is not only still alive, but also the wife of a powerful Italian nobleman. He also discovers to his sorrow that the far-from-grateful Italian villagers hold the Americans responsible for their current financial travails. Carey sticks around, hoping to flush out the traitor who'd caused the wartime deaths of several of his OSS colleagues. The box-office success of Captain Carey USA was enhanced by the incidental musical number "Mona Lisa," which won an Academy Award.

Captain Caution (1940) - 86 mins

Starring Victor Mature, Louise Platt, Leo Carrillo, Bruce Cabot & Robert Barrat

Directed by Richard Wallace

Set during the war of 1812, Hal Roach's Captain Caution is an unusual swashbuckler in that the "hero" is actually the heroine. Louise Platt plays Corunna, the daughter of Captain Dorman (Robert Barrat), skipper of the American vessel The Olive Branch. When Dorman is killed in battle, Corunna courageously assumes command of the ship, with the help of muscular first mate Dan Marvin (Victor Mature). While trying to bring a valuable cargo to America, the Olive Branch is captured a number of times by the British, but on each occasion Corunna and Marvin manage to wriggle free and carry on their mission. Making life tougher for Corunna is the presence of the lascivious Slade (Bruce Cabot), who'd like to claim both the girl and the ship as his own personal property.

Based on a novel by Kenneth Roberts (Northwest Passage)

Captain China (1950) - 97 mins

Starring John Payne, Gail Russell, Jeffrey Lynn, Lon Chaney Jr. & Michael O'Shea

Directed by Lewis R. Foster

Charles Chinnough, aka Captain China (John Payne), is a ship's captain whose embittered behavior after losing his lady love seemingly leads to tragedy. Accused of deliberately scuttling his ship during a typhoon, Captain China hopes to clear himself by signing on as a common seaman on a vessel captain by his former first mate Brendensen (Jeffrey Lynn). There's no love lost between the two men, and their mutual animosity is intensified when both fall in love with beautiful passenger Kim Mitchell (Gail Russell). A second storm now threatens.

Another fine action yarn from Paramount's Pine-Thomas production outfit.

Quality Note: Not the greatest of prints but still good enough to not interfere with the enjoyment of this excellent adventure

Captain From Castile (1947) - 140 mins

Starring Tyrone Power, Jean Peters, Cesar Romero, Lee J. Cobb & John Sutton

Directed by Henry King

In this big-budget historical adventure, Tyrone Power stars as Pedro De Vargas, a young and impetuous nobleman in 16th Century Spain. Pedro helps to free a slave who belongs to Diego De Silva (John Sutton), but this proves to be a mistake, as Diego is one of the leaders of the Inquisition. Diego soon brands Pedro a heretic, puts his family behind bars, and subjects his 12-year-old sister to torture so horrible it kills her. An outraged Pedro plots his escape, with the help of his friend Juan Garcia (Lee J. Cobb) and hot-blooded peasant girl, Catana Perez (Jean Peters). Pedro and his friends help his parents make their way out of Spain, and he soon joins forces with Hernando Cortez (Cesar Romero), who has an ambitious plan to sail to the new world in search of gold. However, a vengeful Diego uses his powers to foil Cortez, and when Diego is murdered, Pedro becomes the key suspect in the crime. Captain From Castile was shot on location in Morelos, Mexico, where the active volcano Paricutin slowed production, causing delays that expanded the film's budget to a then-extravagant $4.5 million.

Fabulous color print

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Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) - 117 mins

Starring Gregory Peck, Virginia Mayo, Robert Beatty, Moultie Kelsall, Terence Morgan & James Robertson Justice

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Gregory Peck stars as the title character in this swashbuckling saga of the high seas based on C.S. Forester's novel. In 1807, Hornblower is given a special assignment by the British Navy: he is to deliver a supply of weapons to El Supremo (Alec Mango), a Latin American rebel leading an uprising against Spain. However, by the time Hornblower arrives, it is discovered that the political winds have shifted, Spain and England are once again allies, and El Supremo is now the enemy of the British forces. Hornblower and his men are also forced to take on a passenger, Lady Barbara Wellesley (Virginia Mayo), a sister of the Duke of Wellington who is trying to escape an outbreak of yellow fever. When she shows symptoms of the disease, Hornblower tries to nurse her back to health while attempting to organize an attack on the armada he just helped to arm.

Captain Horatio Hornblower was originally scheduled to star Errol Flynn, but the role was recast when it was decided he'd grown too old to play the role convincingly (the fact Flynn was in the midst of one of his periodic battles with the brass at Warner Brothers certainly didn't help matters).

Captain Lightfoot (1955) - 92 mins

Starring Rock Hudson, Barbara Rush, Jeff Morrow, Kathleen Ryan & Findlay Currie

Directed Douglas Sirk

Rock Hudson stars as Captain Lightfoot, an 19th century adventurer described by everyone who's ever seen this film as an "Irish Robin Hood". Rebelling against British rule, Hudson causes all sorts of trouble up and down the Auld Sod, usually in the form of well-planned robberies, with the spoils divided amongst the Irish peasantry. Barbara Rush plays the daughter of rebel leader Jeff Morrow. Director Douglas Sirk brings out the best in Rock Hudson, allowing him to go from masked-highwayman activities to his "civilian" pose as a clergyman with utter conviction.

Excellent widescreen color print.

Rock's other good actioners from this period were Sea Devils (1953) & Bengal Brigade (1954) - both of which are also available from this website.

Captain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969) - 105 mins

Starring Robert Ryan, Chuck Connors, Nanette Newman, Luciana Paluzzi, John Turner & Bill Frazer

Directed James Hill

Shipwrecked survivors led by Senator Robert Fraser (Chuck Connors), are rescued by Captain Nemo (Robert Ryan) and are taken to his underwater city. They realized that they are now trapped for the rest of their lives. And so begins a desperate struggle to escape couched in a cat-and-mouse game between the Captain and the Senator

Prequel to Mysterious Island (1961) which is also available from this website.

Captain Newman, M.D. (1963) - 126 mins

Starring Gregory Peck, Tony Curtis, Angie Dickinson, Eddie Albert, Bobby Darin & Robert Duvall

Directed by David Miller

Captain Josiah J. Newman, M.D. (Gregory Peck) is the head of a psych-unit at a Southwestern army base during the waning days of World War II. Newman is a patriarchal protector to his patients, preferring to keep him in his ward, rather than return them to certain death on the battlefield. The matriarchal figure of the ward is Lieutenant Grace Blodgett (Jane Withers), but Newman is more interested in his assistant Lieutenant Francie Corum (Angie Dickinson), with whom he is having an affair. Further help is provided by human nature expert, Corp. Jackson Laibowitz (Tony Curtis), the orderly. Three patients: Colonel Bliss (Eddie Albert) is suffering from a guilt complex from all the men he has sent to death; Corporal Tompkins (Bobby Darin), although decorated for bravery in combat, calls himself a coward for failing to save his pal from a burning plane; and Captain Winston (Robert Duvall) is guilt-ridden and has lapsed into catatonia because he had hidden for over a year in the basement of a building in Germany.

Oscar Nominations for Best Supporting Actor (Bobby Darin), Best Sound & Best Screenplay

Captain Pirate (1952) - 85 mins

Starring Louis Hayward, Patricia Medina, John Sutton, Charles Irwin & Ted de Corsia

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Adapted from Rafael Sabatini's Captain Blood Returns, the film stars Hayward as physician-turned-buccaneer Peter Blood. Now respectably retired in the West Indies, Blood is shaken out of his complacency when he is accused of returning to piracy. Given a chance to clear his name, Blood reassembles his old crew to track down the villain who's pilfered his good name.

Fabulous Technicolor print!

A sort-of-sequel to Fortunes of Captain Blood (1950) - which is also available from this website

Both films were sumptuously produced by Harry Joe Brown - who was perhaps better known for the Randolph Scott westerns that he did at Columbia (check those out in the Randolph Scott section of this website)

Captain Sindbad (1963) - 85 mins

Starring Guy Williams, Heidi Bruhl, Pedro Armendariz, Abraham Sofaer & Bernie Hamilton

Directed Byron Haskin

Captain Sindbad was based on an Arabian Nights story, was filmed in Germany, and starred an American leading man (Guy Williams), a German leading lady (Heidi Bruhl) and a Mexican villain (Pedro Armendariz). The story involves Sindbad's efforts to enter the impenetrable castle where the evil El Kerim's heart is being kept. So long as his heart is outside his body, El Kerim is invulnerable, enabling him to be as wicked and despotic as he chooses. Sindbad comes to the rescue just seconds before the heroine is about to be crushed to death by an elephant.

Adroitly put together by director/cinematographer Byron (War of the Worlds) Haskin and boasting top-notch special effects, it’s a nicely colored rendition with the dashing Guy Williams: made after the Zorro TV series and before Lost in Space, Guy acquits himself well here especially with sword in hand.

Captains of the Clouds (1942) - 114 mins

Starring James Cagney, Dennis Morgan, Brenda Marshall, Alan Hale & George Tobias

Directed Michael Curtiz

Cagney in (his first Technicolor appearance) plays Brian MacLean, a hotshot Canadian bush pilot who delights in stealing jobs (and women) away from his competitors. Brian is forced to shape up in a hurry when he's assigned to train other pilots for the Royal Canadian Air Force. At the ending of the training period, he is given his first real RCAF assignment: The seemingly unimportant task of shepherding American bomber planes across the Atlantic to England. With startling suddenness, Brian comes to realize the true importance of his job when he is forced into a deadly confrontation with a fleet of Nazi raider planes.

A role most suited to Cagney at his cockiest!

Real-life Canadian WW1 flying ace Billy Bishop plays a small but pivotal role.

Cinematographer Sol Polito earned an Oscar nomination for his vivid color photography, whilst a further nomination went to Ted Smith & Casey Roberts for Art Direction.

The Captain’s Paradise (1953) - 89 mins

Starring Alec Guinness, Yvonne De Carlo, Celia Johnson, Charles Goldner & Miles Malleson

Directed by Anthony Kimmins

Captain Henry St. James (Alec Guinness) now stands before a firing squad and through a series of flashbacks we learn of the curious chain of events that brought him to his fate. Henry is a ship's captain ferrying a steamer between Gibraltar and North Africa on a regular basis, and he's taken the notion of "a girl in every port" to a whole new level; he has a wife on each side of the water. In Gibraltar, there's Maude (Celia Johnson), an even-tempered housewife who keeps the house tidy and has dinner ready when Henry likes it. In North Africa, mate number two is Nita (Yvonne DeCarlo), who is a sultry fun seeker who likes to hit the nightspots and dance 'till dawn. Between the two of them, Henry would seem to have the best of both worlds - with Chief Officer Ricco (Charles Goldner) openly envies Henry's remarkable romantic situation. But things start to go sour when Maude suddenly decides she's a stick in the mud and wants to start living it up, while Nita becomes a homebody and begins learning to cook; Henry is none too happy about either development, and before long he finds he has no spouse on either shore.

Oscar Nominated for Best Screenplay (Alec Coppel)

Alec Guinness led the cast in several wonderful UK made comedies, including Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), The Man in the White Suit (1951), The Captain’s Paradise (1953), The Ladykillers (1955) & The Horse’s Mouth (1958) - all of which are available from this website

The Captive City (1952) - 91 mins

Starring John Forsythe, Joan Camden, Harold J. Kennedy, Marjorie Crossland & Martin Milner

Directed by Robert Wise

Former GI buddies, Jim Austin and Don Carey (John Forsythe & Harold J. Kennedy) are co-owners of a newspaper in a city called Kennington, an outwardly typical clean-cut American community. Austin handles the editorial end and Carey looks after the business and advertising side. With their wives, the young publishers become an important part of the community as normal hard-working small town citizens. This pleasant state of affairs is abruptly altered when Clyde Nelson, a local private detective, working on an apparently harmless divorce case, discovers the existence of a big-time gambling syndicate operating with the knowledge and consent of the city fathers, the local police, and the respectable elements of the community. Before he can turn over the full facts to Austin, Nelson is murdered, supposedly the victim of a hit-and-run driver. Austin takes up the investigation, but finds himself harassed by the police. An attempt is made to tap his phone, the paper's press privileges are revoked, his photographer is brutally beaten and businessmen refuse to renew advertising contracts. Another informant is murdered, and Austin and his wife are constantly threatened. Also his determination to continue his investigation leads to a break-up with Carey, who believes is it wiser to back off. Despite the many pressures, Austin continues his probing. He succeeds in uncovering the whole mess—the crime, filth, and corruption that exists with the blessing and help of local authorities. However, he is powerless to do anything. An attempt to form a citizen's committee fails, and the police chief, though basically honest himself, has been ordered by higher-ups to look the other way. In glancing through the day's wire association news, Austin learns of a meeting of the Senate crime investigating group at the Capitol.

In the early 1950s, the Senate Committee on Organized Crime (headed by Estes Kefauver) conducted hearings which were televised to a wide audience. As such, the concept of organized crime permeating conventional American town-life had currency. Many films were produced to profit on the public's newfound fascination and fear of the of gangsters.

Director Robert Wise (having just completed The Day the Earth Stood Still) tapped into this topical phenomenon with The Captive City (1952). Wise highlighted the authentic nature of the story (which was inspired by the actual experiences of crime reporter Alvin Josephy, Jr.) by being one of the first directors to use a documentary style to tell a fictional story.

The film's realistic atmosphere was achieved partly through the use of the new wide-angle Hoge Lens, which Director of Photography Lee Garmes had been the first to use. The deep-focus results are stunning - and it shoe-horns this film into the group of classic noirs

(The Hoge Lens - which is explicitly mentioned in the films credits - was in fact developed by Ralph Hoge, who served as a key grip on Citizen Kane and as an assistant to Wise on this picture.)

Caravan to Vaccarès (1974) - 98 mins

Starring David Birney, Charlotte Rampling, Michael Lonsdale, Marcel Bozzuffi & Michael Bryant

Directed by Geoffrey Reeve

Neil Bowman (David Birney) is a carefree American who is hired by French land baron, the Duc de Croyter (Michel Lonsdale) to smuggle an Eastern European scientist out of France by way of getting him safely aboard a jet bound for America. A svelte young British photographer, Lila (Charlotte Rampling) happens upon the scene just as Neil discovers that he is being pursued by a gang of international pirates, who want the scientist for themselves so that they can grab the secrets that the scientist holds and sell them to the highest bidder.

From the Alistair MacLean novel of the same name, the UK version of this film (this one) actually has the writer's name above the credits!

Now an excellent quality print - purchasers of the earlier version should contact Trev about a gratis upgrade

Fear Is the Key (1972), Caravan to Vaccarès (1974), Golden Rendezvous (1977), Bear Island (1979) &

River of Death (1989)

Carbine Williams (1952) - 92 mins

Starring James Stewart, Jean Hagen, Wendell Corey, Carl Benton Reid, Paul Stewart & James Arness

Directed by Richard Thorpe

In 1952, the world at large knew Marsh Williams (James Stewart) as the developer of the US Army's M-1 Carbine rifle. The film builds up to this event by detailing Williams' previous existence as a bootlegger and embittered prison inmate, sentenced to 30 years at hard labor for killing a revenue agent. After enduring the rigors of chain-gang life and solitary confinement, Williams gets his mind off his troubles by dreaming up a new type of automatic-gun piston. He is encouraged in this endeavor by prison warden Capt. H. T. Peoples (Wendell Corey), previously Williams' bitterest enemy. As Williams continues to develop his innovative weaponry notions, his wife Maggie (Jean Hagen) and Warden Peoples try to overcome penal bureaucracy to win a pardon for Williams.

Strong dramatic and human values abound in this compelling (but true) story.

The Cariboo Trail (1950) - 81 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Bill Williams, Karin Booth & Victor Jory

Directed by Edwin L. Marin

While the gold fever is sweeping the Cariboo Region, extending from Kamloops to Prince George, of British Columbia in western Canada, a man heads up into the region with his herd of cattle, because he thinks he can make even more money by rearing animals in the fine pastures. However, his travelling companion turns against him and a local tycoon opposes his plans.

George 'Gabby' Hayes 5^th appearance in Randolph Scott western and unfortunately, his final screen appearance

Excellent Color print (Yes! - Color not B&W!)

Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959) - 88 mins

Starring Terry-Thomas, Peter Sellers, Luciana Paluzzi, Ian Bannen, Thorley Walters & Miles Malleson

Directed by Roy Boulting

Cadogan de Vere Carlton-Browne (Terry-Thomas) is a British diplomat who is sent to the remote British island- colony of Gaillardia to prevent any other powers from tapping into its potentially rich mineral deposits. The fact that the Brits have ignored Gaillardia for the last fifty years or that Carlton-Browne is a walking disaster does not stop the Foreign Office. Circumstances quickly spin out of control as the island colony heads toward revolution with a new, young king (Ian Bannen) on the throne.

Thrown into the mix, is the nasty (vile?) Prime Minister Amphibulos (Peter Sellers).

Hilarious comedy about diplomatic blunders

The Carpetbaggers (1964) - 150 mins

Starring George Peppard, Alan Ladd, Robert Cummings, Martha Hyer, Elizabeth Ashley, Lew Ayres & Martin Balsam

Directed by Edward Dmytryk

In 1925, when his father dies of a stroke, Jonas Cord (George Peppard) inherits the Cord Chemical factory, a manufacturer of dynamite and other explosives. Jonas proceeds with several cut-throat transactions, making a settlement with his sexy stepmother Rina (Carroll Baker) and liquidating the stock owned by cowhand Nevada Smith (Alan Ladd). With the help of ‘Mac’ McAllister (Lew Ayres), his father's attorney, Jonas builds his father's company into a multi-million dollar business, expanding into plastics and aeronautics. Meanwhile, Rina has become a top fashion model and movie star and Nevada Smith has parlayed his laconic demeanor into a career as a popular silent film cowboy idol. Jonas then marries, then ignores, the well-meaning Monica Winthrop (Elizabeth Ashley), and ruins her father's company in the process. Then, with the advent of sound films, Jonas helps Nevada Smith through the sound film crisis by offering financial backing for a film to star both Nevada and his ex-mother-in-law Rina. Jonas decides to direct the film himself, hoping to seduce Rina. But his insensitive and egomaniacal behavior causes Monica to leave him.

The owners of the film studio - Bernard B. Norman (Martin Balsam) and Dan Pierce (Robert Cummings) - want to sell the studio to Jonas but hide the fact that alcoholic Rina, the studio's biggest star, has died in a car accident.. Jonas buys the studio and when he finds his biggest asset is gone, he goes on a drunken binge. But Jonas quickly meets call girl Jennie Denton (Martha Hyer), who he decides to turn into a superstar modeled upon Rina. Despite having made her a star, Jonas's vile treatment of Jennie repulses both her and his old friend Nevada Smith, and Smith decides it's time to beat some sense into Jonas's head.

Edward Dmytryk brings Harold Robbins' trashy, dirt-dishing Hollywood best-seller to the screen with considerable aplomb

Alan Ladd’s last film! - in January 1964 he was found dead, apparently due to an accidental combination of alcohol and sedatives.

Two years later, director Henry Hathaway took the Alan Ladd character from The Carpetbaggers (1964) and constructed a prequel: Nevada Smith (1966). Starring Steve McQueen in the title role, we learn about Nevada’s early life as he mercilessly tracks down the killers of his family. Further complicating (though also linking the two films) is appearance of Jonas Cord Snr. (Brian Keith) who not only teaches Nevada how to shoot but also counsels against revenge - his son Jonas Cord in The Carpetbaggers (1964) as played by George Peppard is well short of being the admirable character portrayed by his dad!

Nevada Smith (1966) is also available from this website.

Carson City (1952) - 87 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Lucille Norman, Raymond Massey, Richard Webb & James Millican

Directed by André De Toth

When a construction engineer known only as Silent Jeff, commences building a railroad between Nevada's Carson City and Virginia City in the 1870s, he is met with hostility by the locals, who feel that where there are trains, there are bandits. And as expected, a criminal gang headed by Big Jack Davis begins drawing up plans to plunder Carson City. When Silent Jeff vows to get rid of the town's criminal element, the villains frame him on a murder charge.

Richard Webb (later TV' s Captain Midnight) has a pivotal role.

Carve Her Name With Pride (1958) - 119 mins

Starring Virginia McKenna, Paul Scofield, Jack Warner, Denise Grey & Alain Saury

Directed by Lewis Gilbert

The true story of Violette Szabo, a WWII heroine who engaged in dangerous espionage activities on behalf of the British government. Born Violette Bushell (Virginia McKenna) to a French mother and an English father, she chances to meet Etienne Szabo (Alain Saury), a French officer, whom she later marries. They have a child, Tania, but Etienne is fatally wounded in the Battle of El Alamein. Violette is already contributing to the war effort at home, but soon discovers that her bi-lingual skills make her a potentially valuable member of England's Special Operations Executive (SOE), the country's wartime overseas espionage unit. She agrees to join and, after extensive training, is sent into France in the spring of 1944, on a mission to salvage a resistance unit in Rouen area. Szabo completes that mission successfully and returns home, intending to resume her life as a mother raising her daughter - but she is offered a second mission in France, immediately after the Normandy landings, and accepts, with tragic consequences.

Did you know, that fellow SOE operative, Odette Hallowes provided technical advise for Carve Her Name With Pride (1958) - Odette’s own story (for which she also provided technical assistance) is told in Odette (1950) - which is also available from this website.

Casablanca (1942) - 102 mins

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet & Peter Lorre

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Rick Blaine, who owns a nightclub in Casablanca, discovers his old flame Ilsa is in town with her husband, Victor Laszlo. Laszlo is a résistance leader, and with Germans on his tail, Ilsa knows Rick can help them get out of the country - but will he ? Whilst a great action flick, this film holds the mantle as the classic romance film of all time!

Simply the greatest!

A further collaboration for Greenstreet & Lorre.

Other films to feature the Greenstreet / Lorre combination were The Maltese Falcon (1941), Background to Danger (1943), Passage to Marseille (1944), The Mask of Dimitrios (1944), The Conspirators (1944), Three Strangers (1946 & The Verdict (1946) - all of which are available from this website.

The Case of the Black Parrot (1941) - 60 mins

Starring William Lundigan, Maris Wrixon, Eddie Foy Jr., Paul Cavanagh & Charles Waldron

Directed by Noel M. Smith

This thriller, set aboard a transatlantic ship heading for America during WWII, chronicles the endeavors of cagey reporter Jim Moore (William Lundigan) looking for the notorious international criminal, the Black Parrot. The reporter begins his search after a major theft occurs during a bogus submarine alert. Before the intrepid journalist captures his quarry, the evil Parrot commits two murders, and presents many confusing false clues

Excellent whodunit from Warners (as always: Eddie Foy Jr. is a treat!)

Cast a Long Shadow (1959) - 82 mins

Starring Audie Murphy, Terry Moore, John Dehner, James Best, Rita Lynn & Denver Pyle

Directed by Thomas Carr

Troubled saddletramp, Matt Brown (Audie Murphy) has a penchant for drinking away his pain - but then he inherits a ranch from the man who may have been his father. So he sets out to reform himself. His efforts are ultimately challenged when his old rivals come to town.

An interesting B&W western from Audie …

The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969) - 85 mins

Starring Christopher Lee, Richard Greene, Howard Marion-Crawford, Günther Stoll, Rosalba Neri & Maria Perschy

Directed by Jesus Franco

Christopher Lee returns as insidious Asian villain Fu Manchu for this fifth (and final) entry of the series. This time he has developed a way to turn the oceans into ice as part of his plan to rule the world. Kidnapping famed Prof. Herakles (Gustavo Re), Fu forces the doctor to help him with his diabolical plan. When Herakles' health starts to fail, Fu kidnaps two more people (Guenther Stoll, Maria Perschy) for a transplant operation at his Istanbul headquarters. Fu's old rivals Dennis Nayland Smith (Richard Green) and Dr. Petrie (Howard Marion Crawford) come to Turkey to foil his evil experiments.

Also all 5 films can be found in a boxed set within the Movie Series section of this website

The Cat and the Canary (1939) - 72 mins

Starring Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, John Beal , Douglass Montgomery, Gale Sondergaard & George Zucco

Directed by Elliott Nugent

Bob Hope's status as a star was assured with his role as Wally Campbell, the cowardly protector of Joyce Norman (Paulette Goddard), who must spend one night in the eerie mansion of her late, eccentric, millionaire uncle. If she can make it through the night without losing her mind, Joyce stands to inherit her uncle's entire fortune. Of course, all the other potential heirs now have a motive to drive her insane. The frights are nonstop as hands reach out from nowhere, people disappear between trap doors, the halls echo with terrifying sounds, and secret doorways lead to hidden passageways. Three people are murdered before Wally solves the mystery and sees Joyce through the night.

Creepy lighting and music aid director Elliott Nugent in crafting an effective and fun version of one the genre's archetypal stories.

Bob Hope & Paulette Goddard were to team two further times: another haunted house film, The Ghost Breakers (1940) & Nothing But The Truth (1941). Hope also teamed to great effect with Jane Russell for two western comedies The Paleface (1948) & Son of Paleface (1952). Then it was Rhonda Fleming’s turn to partner up with Bob in another cowboy comedy Alias Jesse James (1959)

Also the 6 “Road” comedies that Bob Hope made with Bing Crosby can be found in the Movie Series section of this website

Catch-22 (1970) - 122 mins

Starring Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Art Garfunkel, Buck Henry, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight & Orson Welles

Directed by Mike Nichols

Haunted by the death of a young gunner, all-too-sane Capt. John Yossarian (Alan Arkin) wants out of the rest of his WW II bombing missions, but publicity-obsessed commander Colonel Cathcart (Martin Balsam) and his yes man, Colonel Korn (Buck Henry), keep raising the number of missions that Yossarian and his comrades are required to fly.

Here’s The Catch: Our good Captain wants the Doc to declare that he, Yossarian, is insane, should be grounded and sent home … but… and it’s a BIG BUT: a behaviour designed to avoid these highly dangerous bombing missions, is of itself, quite sane. Ergo: You are not insane, Yossarian!

There you have it: Catch-22, the title of Joseph Heller's satiric antiwar novel

Nonetheless, Yossarian tries to play crazy by, among other things, showing up nude in front of despotic General Dreedle (Orson Welles). As all of Yossarian's initially even-keeled friends, such as Nately (Art Garfunkel) and Dobbs (Martin Sheen), genuinely lose their heads, and the troop's supplies are bartered away for profit by the ultra-entrepreneurial Milo Minderbinder (Jon Voight), Yossarian realizes that the whole system has lost it, and he can either play along or jump ship.

Though not about Vietnam, Catch-22's ludicrous military machinations directly evoked its contemporary context in the Vietnam era (circa 1970). Cathcart and Dreedle care more about the appearance of power than about victory, and Milo cares for money above all, as the complex narrative structure of Yossarian's flashbacks renders the escalating events appropriately surreal.

Enjoy Chaplain Tappman (Anthony Perkins) as he tries to explain to Yossarian why he can’t catch up with Major Major (Bob Newhart): “… you can get in to see him but only when he’s not there… he will only see you when he’s not there”

Priceless!

What a cast! What a film! What an impact!

Director Nichols succeeded in filming the “unfilmable”

Gorgeous Widescreen Technicolor print!

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The Catman of Paris (1946) - 65 mins

Starring Carl Esmond, Lenore Aubert, Adele Mara, Douglass Dumbrille, Gerald Mohr & Fritz Feld

Directed by Lesley Selander

Author Charles Regnier (Carl Esmond) returns to 1896 Paris after exotic travels, having written a bestseller which the Ministry of Justice would like to ban. That very night, an official is killed in the dark streets ... clawed to death! The Prefect of Police (Fritz Feld) suspects some sort of "Catman" but Inspector Severen (Gerald Mohr) thinks there's nothing supernatural about Regnier's motive. And Regnier has increasing doubts about himself when he has another hallucinatory blackout when the second killing occurs ….

Horror films were not Republic Pictures' forte but this one is stylishly done!

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Cat People (1942) - 73 mins

Starring Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Tom Conway, Jane Randolph & Jack Holt

Directed by Jacques Tourneur

Irena Dubrovna, a beautiful and mysterious Serbian-born fashion artist living in New York City, falls in love with and marries average-Joe American Oliver Reed. Their marriage suffers though, as Irena believes that she suffers from an ancient curse- whenever emotionally aroused, she will turn into a panther and kill.

First in an incredible run of nine psychological horror films from gifted producer Val Lewton. The “Lewton Nine” consist of: Cat People (1942), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), The Leopard Man (1943), The Seventh Victim (1943), The Ghost Ship (1943), The Curse of the Cat People (1944), The Body Snatcher (1945), Isle of the Dead (1945), Bedlam (1946). All nine films are available from this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website - they are also available in a series of multi-film DVD sets from within the Classic Movie Combinations section

Cattle Drive (1951) - 77 mins

Starring Joel McCrea, Dean Stockwell, Chill Wills, Leon Ames, Henry Brandon & Bob Steele

Directed by Kurt Neumann

Boss drover Dana Mathews (Joel McCrea) is tasked with making a man out of Chester Graham Jr. (Dean Stockwell), the spoiled son of railroad executive Chester Graham Sr. (Leon Ames). Accidentally left behind when his dad's train pulls out of a small cow town, Chester Jr. resents being forced to work side by side with Mathews and his drovers, but soon proves to be every bit as virile and capable as his co-workers.

Nice color western from “gentleman cowboy” McCrea

Cattle Empire (1958) - 83 mins

Starring Joel McCrea, Gloria Talbot, Don Haggerty, Phyllis Coates, Bing Russell & Paul Brinegar

Directed by Charles Marquis Warren

John Cord (Joel McCrea) is a brave cowboy but he's also an ex-con who the dusty trail as the leader of a major cattle drive. He is offered the job by the very townspeople his gang terrorized a few years before. They are also the same people who put him in prison, and even though he accepts the task, he secretly plots his revenge. Will he get it by proving himself courageous and honest?

Caught (1949) - 88 mins

Starring James Mason, Barbara Bel Geddes, Robert Ryan & Frank Ferguson

Directed by Max Ophuls

Leonora Eame had married a man worth millions. But her innocent dream became a tormented nightmare once she realized the truth about her husband. He is power mad and insane! Since he will not give her a divorce, she leaves a life of luxury and goes to work as a receptionist in an impoverished doctor's office in NYC's lower east side. After a temporary reconciliation, with her husband, she conceives a child. By the time she finds out she is pregnant, she and the doctor have fallen in love.

A compelling and intelligent story which elicits fine performances from the principals under the skilled direction of Ophuls.

Cause for Alarm! (1951) - 74 mins

Starring Loretta Young, Barry Sullivan, Bruce Cowling, Margalo Gillmore & Brad Morrow

Directed by Tay Garnett

While a man recuperates from a heart-attack, he obsesses with the thought that his wife and his doctor are having an affair, so decides to write a letter to the D.A. accusing the two of trying to kill him. After his wife mails the letter for him, he tells her of its contents which provokes his anger and he attacks her, dying on the spot from another heart attack. Though innocent, she is nevertheless desperate to somehow get the letter back.

Ceiling Zero (1936) - 95 mins

Starring James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, June Travis, Stuart Erwin, Barton MacLane & Dick Purcell

Directed by Howard Hawks

James Cagney and Pat O'Brien are supremely typecast as, respectively, Dizzy Davis, a cocky civil aviator and Jake Lee, a sober-sided ground commander. Dizzy ducks out of a dangerous mission in order to dally with pretty Tommy Thomas (June Travis). Texas Clark (Stuart Erwin) takes Dizzy's place, and the unpolished young pilot dies in a fiery wreck. Disgraced in the eyes of his co-workers after Clark's death, Dizzy redeems himself by taking a crucial test flight in fog-laden "ceiling zero."

Adapted from the Broadway play by Frank "Spig" Wead.

Cagney was to play another brash and cocky pilot in Captains of the Clouds (1942).

Ceiling Zero was remade in a WWII setting as International Squadron (1941) with Ronald Reagan in the Cagney role.

Both Captains of the Clouds (1942) & International Squadron (1941) are available from this website.

Chain Lightning (1950) - 94 mins

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Eleanor Parker, Raymond Massey, Richard Whorf, James Brown & Morris Ankrum

Directed by Stuart Heisler

Lt. Col. Matthew "Matt" Brennan runs into Jo Holloway (a Red Cross girl he romanced in Europe where he was a flyer in World War II), when he is offered a job by jet manufacturer Leland Willis (Raymond Massey) as a test pilot. Carl Troxell (Richard Whorf) wants to sell an escape cockpit to the Air Force and asks Matt to stall the presentation of the prototype JA-3 that doesn't include the ejection seat, to give him more time for the experimental JA-4. But Matt doesn't believe it is yet safe enough to try.

Chain Lightning was Humphrey Bogart's final Warner Bros. film.

Chain of Evidence (1957) - 64 mins

Starring Bill Elliott, Jimmy Lydon, Don Haggerty, Claudia Barrett & Tina Carver

Directed by Paul Landres

Major Vickers is an officer at the 27th Lancers in India 1856. When the regiment is on maneuver, the barracks are attacked by Surat Khan and his soldiers, who massacre British women and children. This leaves an inextinguishable memory and Vickers promises to revenge the dead. Based on Tennyson's poem, with a scintillating climax: the famous Balaklava Heights charge.

Flynn's follow-up to Captain Blood and reuniting director Curtiz and co-star de Havilland. Fabulous production values & wonderful Max Steiner score

This is the 4th in Bill Elliott's "Suits & Fedoras" (Andy Doyle/Flynn) Series

Other films from the series Dial Red 0 (1955), Sudden Danger (1955), Calling Homicide (1956), Chain of Evidence (1957) & Footsteps in the Night (1957) are also available from the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of the website.

The whole series is also available from the Movie Series A-M section of this website (under "B" for "Bill")

Note: A variety of "Wild Bill" Elliott western DVD sets are available from the Westerns section of this website

Further Note: "Wild Bill" Elliott three serial outings are available from the Movie Serials section of this website

The Challenge (1938) - 76 mins

Starring Robert Douglas, Frank Birch, Luis Trenker, Geoffrey Wardwell & Moran Caplat

Directed by Milton Rosmer

The British adventure film The Challenge is based on a real-life turn-of-the-century competition. The race is on between a team of British mountain climbers and a government-sponsored Italian team to conquer a hazardous alpine peak. Edward Whimper (Robert Douglas) heads the English expedition, while Jean-Antoine Carrel (Luis Trenker) is in charge of the Italians. Actual footage of the Alps is seamlessly blended with studio mockups. Emeric Pressburger, on the verge of his teaming with Michael Powell, wrote the original story for The Challenge (see two Powell and Pressburger combination sets in the Classic Movie Combinations of this website)

Champion (1949) - 99 mins

Starring Kirk Douglas, Marily Maxwell, Arthur Kennedy, Paul Stewart, Ruth Roman & Lola Albright

Directed by Mark Robson

"Champion is perhaps the best drama ever based on the fight game. It is remarkable for a number of things: the unrelenting, grinding logic that leads to the hero's tragic fate; the beautiful cinematography and editing that make it a masterpiece of light and shadow; near-perfect performances by everyone, from Kirk Douglas as Midge Kelly, down to the actor who plays a sleazy small-time ring manager; and the boost it gave to the budding careers of Douglas and others. The basic story has been told many times, but never so powerfully: a poor, ambitious boy accidentally learns that he is a "natural" boxer, and that he might "go all the way." He wins his early fights with ease and, at last, in the big one, he becomes champion of the world. Then rot sets in. He lives it up, deserts his loved ones and best friends, and loses his physical and moral advantages. Near the end -- out of condition, demoralized -- the champion loses (or almost loses) his boxing crown. Finally, he grits his teeth, returns to rigorous training and to people he really likes, and he regains (or holds onto) the championship.

Part of Champion's dramatic superiority is in its brilliant revealing of the boxer through the eyes of other people in his life. There are good guys: Midge's brother Connie (Arthur Kennedy); his tough but honest trainer (Paul Stewart); his wife, Emma (Ruth Roman); and Johnny Dunne, the up-and-coming contender he eventually beats. There are bad guys: the manager who cheats him in his first, amateurish fight; two successive "owners," of the diner where Midge and Connie try to be entrepreneurs and end up as dishwashers; the blonde siren (Marilyn Maxwell) who abandons Johnny Dunne and helps corrupt Midge; and the mob-connected promoter Harris, who gets Midge his championship bout. There are ambiguous in-betweens, like Palmer (Lola Albright) who is Harris' wife, but who loves Midge and is, perhaps, loved in return. Then there is Midge himself. He is not a basically nice guy who's been led astray. His ambition, arrogance, and stubbornness make him at once villain and hero. These "fatal flaws" contain, as surely as in Macbeth or Othello, the seeds of the champ's ultimate dissolution. Midge is dealt his share of life's unfairness and bad luck. Yet it is not the events themselves, but his bitter, violent responses to each blow that seal his doom. The final irony comes when he makes his comeback. In the last round of the last fight, his most manly virtues -- bull-like strength and stubborn stamina -- bring about both victory and defeat.

All the acting performances are superb: Champion was the breakthrough role for Douglas; his Oscar nomination led to many later starring vehicles. Champion also launched the careers of actresses Roman and Albright, and has what is probably Marilyn Maxwell's finest performance as the unforgettable gold digger Grace Diamond."

Oscar Winner for Best Film Editing. Oscar Nominations for Best Actor (Kirk Douglas), Best Supporting Actor (Arthur Kennedy), Best B&W Cinematography, Music (Dimitri Tiomkin) & Screenplay (Carl Foreman)

Arthur Kennedy had previously led the cast in another "Boxing" film 8 years earlier Knockout (1941) - which is also available from this website

Charade (1963) - 113 mins

Starring Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau, James Coburn & George Kennedy

Directed by Stanley Donen

Peter Joshua (Cary Grant) meets Reggie Lampert (Audrey Hepburn) in Paris and later offers to help her when she discovers that her husband has been murdered. After the funeral, Reggie is summoned to the embassy and warned by agent/friend Hamilton Bartholemew (Walter Matthau) that her late husband helped steal 250,000 dollars during the war and that the rest of the gang is after the money as well. When three of the men who attended her husband's funeral begin to harass her, Reggie goes to Joshua for help, at which time Joshua confesses that his name is actually Alexander Dyle, the brother of a fourth accomplice in the gold theft.

Oscar Nominated for Best Music (Henry Mancini)

The Charge at Feather River (1953) - 95 mins

Starring Guy Madison, Frank Lovejoy, Helen Westcott, Vera Miles, Dick Wesson & Steve Brodie

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Frontiersman Miles Archer (Guy Madison), in the company of cavalry Sgt. Charlie Baker (Frank Lovejoy) and a column of troops, heads into Indian country to rescue a pair of white female captives. One of the two girls, Ann McKeever (Helen Westcott), is reluctant to return because she's been despoiled by her Indian captors; the other girl, Ann's sister Jennie (Vera Miles), is in love with the tribal chief and intends to betray her rescuers at the first opportunity. The rescue has been staged to divert the Indians' attention away from the railroad that is being constructed across their territory. The task now is for Archer, the soldiers and the women to return to Cavalry headquarters in one piece. The film ends with the eponymous charge, excitingly staged by director Gordon Douglas.

With all those flaming arrows being aimed directly at the audience, it is fairly obvious that The Charge of Feather River was originally released in 3D.

The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936) - 116 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Patric Knowles, Nigel Bruce & David Niven

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Flynn's follow-up to Captain Blood and reuniting director Curtiz and co-star de Havilland. Fabulous production values & wonderful Max Steiner score

Charter Pilot (1940) - 70 mins

Starring Lloyd Nolan, Lynn Bari, Arleen Whelan, George Montgomery, Hobart Cavanaugh & Chick Chandler

Directed by Eugene Forde

King Morgan (Lloyd Nolan) thinks nothing of taking life-threatening risks on a daily basis and is the subject of a radio series based on his adventures. When Morgan marries radio personality Marge Duncan (Lynn Bari), he accedes to her wishes and takes a desk job. Alas, he is unable to resist the call of the clouds, and soon he's back flying between the US and Central America taking on a gang of Nazi saboteurs.

Lloyd Nolan is a lot of fun in this film which was made immediately before his first (of seven) Michael Shayne film(s). His character in Charter Pilot is not too dissimilar to that of his Michael Shayne persona. Lyn Bari was to appear as Mike's long suffering girlfriend in Sleepers West (1941)

The Michael Shayne Movie Series is also available from this website (Movie Series A-M section)

The Chase (1946) - 86 mins

Starring Robert Cummings, Michèle Morgan, Steve Cochran, Lloyd Corrigan, Jack Holt, Peter Lorre & Don Wilson

Directed by Arthur Ripley

Adapted by Philip Yordan from Cornell Woolrich's The Black Path of Fear (a perennial of the radio series Suspense), the film stars Robert Cummings as Chuck Scott, shell-shocked ex-GI. Tormented by bizarre dreams, Chuck is drawn into the orbit of racketeer Eddie Roman (Steve Cochran). Hired as Roman's chauffeur, Chuck deals as best he can with his boss' faithless wife Lorna (Michele Morgan) and sinister henchman Gino (Peter Lorre). Persuaded by Lorna to help her escape the brutish Roman, Chuck agrees, only to end up accused of a murder he didn't commit. Thus begins the chase of the title, with Chuck eluding not only the authorities but also the stiletto-wielding Gino. Just when it seems that Chuck has cleared himself and all's right with the world, the story takes an unexpected turn, thrusting the hero back into a nightmarish maelstrom.

Fabulous Noir and a nicely restored print - much better than commercial offerings!

The Black Path of Fear featured on Radio can be found in the Suspense section of the Radio Shows on MP3 CD section of this website - the Suspense Radio Shows title (4 CDs) is free - with conditions - why not check out that section of the website!

Chase a Crooked Shadow (1958) - 87 mins

Starring Richard Todd, Anne Baxter, Herbert Lom, Faith Brook & Alexander Knox

Directed by Michael Anderson

A man shows up at Kimberley Prescott's villa claiming to be her brother. But Ward Prescott died in a car accident a year ago, so how can this man be him? Despite Kim's protests that the stranger isn't her brother, everyone else accepts him, including their uncle. Kim begins to fear for her sanity and her life.

A confounding chiller with more than a few adroit plot twists. Before the film has run its course, we learn that the true villain is not necessarily whom it appears to be, nor is the heroine all that she seems.

Chase a Crooked Shadow was based on an 1943 Whistler radio play

Cheyenne (1947) - 100 mins

Starring Dennis Morgan, Jane Wyman, Janis Paige, Bruce Bennett, Alan Hale & Arthur Kennedy

Directed by Raoul Walsh

A mysterious crook by the name of "The Poet" (Bruce Bennett) is robbing Wells Fargo stagecoaches and generally creating havoc in the Old West. The sheriff is having no luck discovering the desperado's identity - but when he comes across James Wylie (Dennis Morgan), a gambler who is running from the law in Carson City, he blackmails him into going undercover and tracking the outlaw down. Wylie takes the next coach out, joined by two women, Ann Kincaid (Jane Wyman) and Emily Carson (Janis Paige). Emily is a saloon singer, but it turns out that Ann is more unusual - she's the wife of The Poet. The two team up to track him down and along the way encounter The Sundance Kid (Arthur Kennedy)

The popular TV series ‘Cheyenne’ starring Clint Walker was loosely based upon this movie - available from the TV Series (A-H) section of this website

Cheyenne Autumn (1964) - 154 mins

Starring Richard Widmark, Carroll Baker, Karl Malden, Sal Mineo, Dolores del Rio, Ricardo Montalban & Gilbert Roland

Directed by John Ford

Set in 1887, the film recounts the defiant migration of 300 Cheyennes from their reservation in Oklahoma territory to their original home in Wyoming. They have done this at the behest of chiefs Little Wolf (Ricardo Montalban) and Dull Knife (Gilbert Roland), peaceful souls who have been driven to desperate measures because the US government has ignored their pleas for food and shelter. Since the Cheyennes' trek is in defiance of their treaty, Captain Thomas Archer (Richard Widmark), who agrees with the Indians in principle, reluctantly leads his troops in pursuit of the tribe. While there was never any intention to shed blood, the white newspapers finds it politically expedient to distort the Cheyennes' action into a declaration of war. Thanks to the cruelties of Captain Oscar Wessels (Karl Malden), the Cheyennes are forced to defend themselves. Only with the possible intervention of US Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz (Edward G. Robinson) can hostilities be prevented from erupting into wholesale bloodshed.

Based on a novel by Mari Sandoz, this is John Ford's last western film … allegedly produced to compensate for the hundreds of Native Americans who had bitten the dust in Ford's earlier films.

Oscar Nominated for Best Color Cinematography

Chicago Deadline (1949) - 86 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Donna Reed, June Havoc, Irene Hervey & Arthur Kennedy

Directed by Lewis Allen

Tough reporter Ed Adams (Alan Ladd) wants to get the full story behind the apparent suicide of a young woman. It seems that the girl left behind a notebook with a list of seemingly unrelated names. Adams tracks down each one of the persons cited in the notebook, slowly but surely putting the pieces together. Once the basic mystery is solved, however, there's one surprising loose end left to be tied up. June Havoc co-stars as Leona, self-styled best friend of the decedent, who helps Adams in his quest. As the victim, Donna Reed appears exclusively in flashbacks.

Alan Ladd in top form as always!

Chief Crazy Horse (1955) - 86 mins

Starring Victor Mature, Suzan Ball, John Lund, Ray Danton, Keith Larsen & David Janssen

Directed by George Sherman

In this off-beat western, unusual for its time in that it sympathetically presented the Native American viewpoint, Victor Mature plays the misunderstood Sioux leader while the treaty-breaking villain General Crook is played by James Millican. The battle of the Little Big Horn is staged somewhat differently from that depicted in Errol Flynn’s They Died With Their Boots On (1941) - some say: with less bravura but more authenticity than the Raoul Walsh classic (which is also available from this website)

Chief Crazy Horse (1955) is a strong western with Victor Mature excellent in the title role

Gorgeous Wide-Screen Technicolor Print!

Children of the Damned (1963) - 90 mins

Starring Ian Hendry, Alan Badel, Barbara Ferris, Alfred Burke, Sheila Allen & Patrick Wymark

Directed by Anton Leader

Five children with remarkable - possibly inhuman - intellectual and psychic powers are discovered by a group of scientists. But as the military cast their eager eye over the children, they escape and hide out in a church - the race is on to protect them before they can be used as weapons, or before the authorities, terrified by their increasing powers, order their destruction.

Sequel to Village of the Damned (1960) which is also available from this website.

China (1943) - 79 mins

Starring Alan Ladd, Loretta Young, William Bendix & Philip Ahn

Directed by John Farrow

Shortly before Pearl Harbor, American opportunist Jones and partner Johnny are in China to sell oil to the invading Japanese army. Cynical about the sufferings of the Chinese, Jones meets compassionate teacher Carolyn Grant while traveling cross-country to Shanghai. Sparks fly between these strong-willed characters, neither budging an inch. But when Jones witnesses a Japanese atrocity, his feelings toward his customers (and Carolyn) begin to change.

An absolute ripper action film with a great ending!

China Clipper (1936) - 88 mins

Starring Pat O'Brien, Beverly Roberts, Ross Alexander, Humphrey Bogart & Henry B. Walthall

Directed by Ray Enright

Based on the true story of Pan American Airlines, China Clipper was released only a year after the first transpacific flight in history. Pat O'Brien stars as Dave Logan, a man completely obsessed with starting the first commerical airline across the Pacific ocean. Engineer Dad Brunn (Henry B. Walthall) designs the airplane, while Dave teams up with business partner Tom Collins (Ross Alexander) to start up his company. Dave's wife, Jean (Beverley Roberts) has her doubts about the airline business, but loves her husband. Dave hires Hap Stuart (Humphrey Bogart) as the pilot to make his first flight to the Caribbean, where he ends up helping out the local people during a hurricane. Things start to go really wrong for Dave when Jean wants to leave him, his Dad gets ill, and his planes are subject to all kinds of tests.

Fabulous adventure built around this most exciting of undertakings: the first commercial flight from USA to China - across the Pacific, via Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island, Guam & The Philippines thence to Macau.

Screenplay by the legendary Frank Wead

China Corsair (1951) - 76 mins

Starring Jon Hall, Lisa Ferraday, Ron Randell, Douglas Kennedy & Ernest Borgnine

Directed by Ray Nazarro

In this exciting actioner a daring Eurasian woman gets involved with a shipwrecked engineer whom she rescues from a remote island. Together, they have many romantic and exciting adventures as they try to keep a crook from selling her uncle's priceless collection of antique jade.

Excellent adventure yarn with Jon Hall romancing and combating crooks aboard the ship: China Corsair.

-NEW TITLE-

China Doll (1958) - 99 mins

Starring Victor Mature, Li Hua Li, Ward Bond, Bob Mathias, Stuart Whitman & Ann McCrea

Directed by Frank Borzage

Cliff Brandon (Victor Mature) is a US pilot serving in China in 1943, flying supplies to Allied soldiers in Burma. He's the best at what he does in the air, but he's also emotionally cut off from everyone around him, disillusioned by the loss of men in his command during nearly two years of war. When he's not in the air on a mission, or riding his new men to learn their jobs as fast as they can so they can survive, he's usually drinking heavily. One night, while staggering out of his usual watering hole, he chances to meet an elderly Chinese man and, after a barely understood conversation, hands him a pile of money. When Cliff awakens the next day, he discovers that he's bought three months of housekeeping service from the man's daughter, Shu-Jen (Li Li Hua). At first he's at a loss over what to do about her - he would gladly send her back to her father, until he learns from local missionary Father Cairns (Ward Bond) that Shu-Jen (whose name means "precious jewel") is the sole supporter of her family; and that if he sends her back, they'll return his money as a matter of honor, and have to sell her services as a housekeeper again; and that the next time that may be to someone who is a lot less honorable than Cliff, and could destroy the rest of the girl's life. So they're stuck with each other, and in the course of three months together Cliff discovers - through Shu-Jen - a joyous side to life that he'd forgotten - and his men even notice that he smiles occasionally. Cliff soon wants more out of life than just day-to-day survival - he wants a life with Shu-Jen. But duty constantly beckons to Cliff, especially when he's moved to a forward base to support a new Allied offensive …

Action and adventure with a romantic sway, big Vic’c never been better!

China Girl (1942) - 95 mins

Starring Gene Tierney, George Montgomery, Lynn Bari, Victor McLaglen & Alan Baxter

Directed by Henry Hathaway

Charts the exploits of two-fisted newsreel photographer Johnny Williams, stationed in Burma and China in the early stage of WW II. Captured by the Japanese, he escapes from a concentration camp with the aid of beautiful, enigmatic "China Girl" Miss Young. The two arduously make their way back to friendly lines so that Johnny can deliver the vital military information he's managed to glean from his captors.

Boasting great action scenes, China Girl was scripted by Ben Hecht with his usual blend of sentiment and cynicism

China Seas (1935) - 87 mins

Starring Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone & Rosalind Russell

Directed by Tay Garnett

Dynamic Alan Gaskell captains a ship bound from Hong Kong to Singapore. Gaskell tries to turn over a new leaf from his hard-drinking lifestyle after becoming attached to a refined high class English lady, Sybil Barclay. His former girlfriend Dolly is extremely jealous of the budding relationship and tries hard to get the Captain back. He is unimpressed with her loud, obnoxious, and uncivilized manners, even though she is extremely beautiful. Wallace First Mate, Jamesy MacArdle is in league with a gang of pirates who plan to steal the gold shipment being carried in the hold of the steamer. Dolly tumbles to MacArdle's secret, but is unable to convince Gaskell.

A great adventure story told with verve by action/adventure director & South Seas enthusiast Tay Garnet - a jaw dropping cast in top form!

Based on a novel by Crosbie Garstin, China Seas proved that the recently imposed Hollywood production code had little if any effect on the popularity of MGM sex symbols Clark Gable and Jean Harlow.

China Sky (1945) - 78 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Ruth Warrick, Ellen Drew, Anthony Quinn, Richard Loo & Carol Thurston

Directed by Ray Enright

In a hill city of war-torn China, the American mission hospital is run by Dr. Gray Thompson and Dr. Sara Durand, who secretly loves him. Then Gray comes back from the USA with new equipment and a new wife Louise. Louise becomes jealous of Sara and shows herself in poor light during the first Japanese air raid. She wants to take Gray back to the States. Meanwhile the war with Japan intensifies.

China Venture (1953) - 83 mins

Starring Edmond O'Brien, Barry Sullivan, Jocelyn Brando, Leo Gordon, Lee Strasberg & Richard Loo

Directed by Don Siegel

In late 1944, an American guerilla unit led by Capt. Matt Reardon (Edmond O'Brien) learns that a Japanese plane carrying Admiral Amara (Philip Ahn) has crashed in China, in warlord-held territory. Reardon and his men are placed under the command of Naval Intelligence officer Commander Bert Thompson (Barry Sullivan) and sent on a mission to ransom Amara who is not only the head of Japanese naval intelligence, but also one of the few ranking officers in the Japanese high command known to have questioned the wisdom of continuing the war, treat his injuries, and bring him back into American hands. Apart from the instant dislike that Reardon takes to Thompson - a staff officer with no jungle combat experience, who has spent most of the war working in diplomatic circles - the mission is complicated by the large amount of emergency surgical gear, plus the doctor and his aides that Reardon has to get alive through the jungle, and this is made even worse by the fact that one of them is his surgical nurse, a woman (Jocelyn Brando). When Wu King, the warlord with whom they're dealing, proves to be less than trustworthy, Reardon and Thompson have to come up with a way of getting past his larcenous nature and getting Amara out of China ahead of the Japanese soldiers sent to rescue him. In the end, the two officers discover that, though they may have gotten to this place by very different paths, they have the same goal and each is prepared to go as far as the other to see it through.

Another great Edmond O'Brien film!

Chuka (1967) - 105 mins

Starring Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine, John Mills, Luciana Paluzzi, James Whitmore & Louis Hayward

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Chuka is a gunslinger whose lonely path leads to a U.S. Army outpost manned by foul-ups, degenerates, and a half-mad, alcoholic commander, Colonel Valois. Surrounded by starving Arapaho Indians clearly getting ready to massacre the fort's inhabitants, Valois refuses to yield to Chuka's demand that everyone clear out and allow the Arapaho to take provisions they need to survive. With Valois drunk and unbending, a creepy second-in-command leading a mutiny, a two-fisted sergeant defending Valois against any criticism, and the presence of two Mexican women (one of whom has a romantic past with Chuka) who will not be spared during a slaughter, things look set for much action.

Great action movie produced by Rod Taylor.

The TV Series section of this website also contains DVD sets of Rod's two TV series: Hong Kong (1960-61) and Bearcats! (1971)

The Cimarron Kid (1952) - 84 mins

Starring Audie Murphy, Beverly Tyler, James Best, Yvette Duguay, John Hudson & Hugh O’Brian

Directed by Budd Boetticher

After being falsely accused of a payroll heist, Bil Doolin aka The Cimarron Kid (Audie Murphy) heads for the high country, where he joins the outlaw Dalton gang. When the Daltons are decimated during a daring daylight bank robbery, the Kid takes over what is left of the gang and hides out at a local ranch. Here he is reformed by the love of rancher's daughter Carrie Roberts (Beverly Tyler), but not so reformed that he doesn't embark upon one last robbery.

Though director Budd Boetticher is best known to western fans for his collaborative efforts with star Randolph Scott, Boetticher also turned out several good actioners with other cowboy stars including this one in which Audie, who by playing Bill Doolin actually fills the same role that was played by Randolph Scott in The Doolins of Oklahoma (1949). Note that all of the Boetticher / Scott westerns as well as the Gordon Douglas directed The Doolins of Oklahoma (1949) are available from within the Randolph Scott section of this website.

Circle of Danger (1951) - 86 mins

Starring Ray Milland, Patricia Roc, Marius Goring, Hugh Sinclair, Naunton Wayne & Edward Rigby

Directed by Jacques Tourneur

Clay Douglas (Ray Milland) is an American who comes to England, to find out the truth behind his brother’s death during a commando operation in occupied France. After tracking down the surviving members of the raid, he confronts the killer, only to be told the truth about what really happened.

Interesting UK mystery/adventure which is well helmed by Jacques Tourneur

Circumstantial Evidence (1945) - 68 mins

Starring Michael O'Shea, Lloyd Nolan, Trudy Marshall, Billy Cummings & Ruth Ford

Directed by John Larkin

Pugnacious family man Joe Reynolds (Milo O'Shea), blowing his top as usual, threatens violence to an unlikeable storekeeper (Ben Welden). When the latter is killed, Joe is arrested for murder. Thanks to circumstantial evidence and faulty eyewitness accounts, Joe is sentenced to death in what seems to be a matter of days. While awaiting his fate on death row, Joe is regularly visited by his young son Pat (Billy Cummings), who has always believed in his dad's innocence. For Pat's sake, Joe escapes from prison on the eve of his execution. Meanwhile Pat and a family friend, postman Sam Lord (Lloyd Nolan), have sought out the eyewitnesses whose testimony cinched Joe's conviction; with a little gentle persuasion, the witnesses probe their memories and realize that they were mistaken, and that the victim's death was accidental.

Citizen Kane (1941) - 119 mins

Starring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead & Ray Collins

Directed by Orson Welles

Multimillionaire newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane dies alone in his extravagant mansion, Xanadu, speaking a single word: "Rosebud". In an attempt to figure out the meaning of this word, a reporter tracks down the people who worked and lived with Kane; they tell their stories in a series of flashbacks that reveal much about Kane's life but not enough to unlock the riddle of his dying breath.

Considered by many to be the best film ever made.

Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as well as nominations for Actor & Director (Welles), Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Music, Picture & Sound.

Fabulous in every conceivable way

City Beneath the Sea (1953) - 83 mins

Starring Robert Ryan, Mala Powers, Anthony Quinn, Suzan Ball & George Mathews

Directed by Budd Boetticher

In 1692, an underwater earthquake sends the Jamaica city of Port Royal to the bottom of the Caribbean. Three-hundred-fifty years later, deep-sea divers Brad Carlton (Robert Ryan) and Tony Bartlett (Anthony Quinn) take the plunge near Port Royal, in hopes of recovering a million dollars in gold bullion that was lost in a modern-day quake. What Brad and Tony don't know is that their employer, steamship magnate Dwight Trevor doesn't really want the divers to find the gold. Trevor hopes to pull off a major insurance fraud, and has no qualms about killing his divers to get what he wants.

Fabulous Technicolor print!

Yep that’s director Budd Boetticher - he combined with Randolph Scott for an outstanding series of adult western in the late 1950s (all of which can be found in the Randolph Scott Westerns section of this website)

Not to be confused with the Irwin Allen helmed (sci-fi) City Beneath the Sea (1971) - available below.

City Beneath the Sea (1971) - 98 mins

Starring Stuart Whitman, Robert Wagner, Rosemary Forsyth, Robert Colbert, James Darren, Joseph Cotten & Richard Basehart

Directed by Irwin Allen

Its the 21st century, and we meet a group of colonists dwelling in a modernistic underwater city called Pacifica. Originally intended as a purely scientific installation, the U. S. government wants to stash all its gold reserves from Fort Knox there, along with a fantastic new radioactive element: the highly fissionable “H128". The brother of Pacifica's returning former commander plans to steal the gold and on top of that, the city faces destruction by an asteroid from outer space

Stuart Whitman is Admiral Michael Matthews, Commander-in-Chief of Pacifica and he heads a large cast of TV veterans, including Time Tunnel regulars James Darren, Robert Colbert and Whit Bissell, and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea star Richard Basehart (as the US President). Expanded from a short "demo" pilot film, City Beneath the Sea is the one Irwin Allen project that could have matured into a truly worthwhile TV series; unfortunately no network was interested in subsidizing this expensive effort.

For trivia buffs: Both The Flying Sub & The Seaview from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea “get a guernsey” in this production

Not to be confused with the Budd Boetticher helmed (not sci-fi) City Beneath the Sea (1953) - available above.

City for Conquest (1940) - 101 mins

Starring James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, Frank Craven, Arthur Kennedy, Donald Crisp, George Tobias, Anthony Quinn & Elia Kazan

Directed by Anatole Litvak

Cagney is Danny Kenny, a truck driver who enters "the fight game" and Sheridan his former girlfriend, Peggy. While Danny is realizing success in the ring, he is blinded by acid on the boxing gloves of his opponent during a fight. When Danny attempts to get even with the gangster who was responsible for for his blindness he is wounded. His former manager finances a newsstand for the now blind and handicapped Danny who uses his income to pay for his bother Eddie's music education. The movie ends some time later as Peggy meets/recognizes Danny at his newstand and they both listen to Eddie's first symphony on the radio. The movie is based on a novel of the same name. A rare chance to see a young Elia Kazan in an acting role as a neighborhood pal turned gangster.

City That Never Sleeps (1953) - 90 mins

Starring Gig Young, Mala Powers, William Talman, Edward Arnold & Chill Wills

Directed by John H. Auer

Chicago cop Johnny Kelly, dissatisfied with his job and marriage, would like to run away with his stripper girlfriend Angel Face, but keeps getting cold feet. During one crowded night, Angel Face decides she's had enough vacillation, and crooked lawyer Biddel has an illegal mission for Johnny that could put him in a financial position to act. But other, conflicting schemes are also in progress. Tense and ethically complex in the noir manner and well photographed on location.

Clash By Night (1952) - 105 mins

Starring Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas, Robert Ryan, Marilyn Monroe, Keith Andes & J. Carrol Naish

Directed by Fritz Lang

Returning to live with her brother, Joe (Keith Andes), at her family's home in a small fishing village, Mae Doyle (Barbara Stanwyck) has reached rock bottom. Reeling from the pain of her previous romances, Mae slowly pieces things together and begins dating Jerry (Paul Douglas), a simple-minded fisherman. Butmore suited to Mae's previous tastes is Jerry's slick, boozy pal Earl Pfeiffer (Robert Ryan), a film projectionist who makes his feelings for her known right away despite the fact that he is married. Mae spurns his advances and decides to marry Jerry. Meanwhile, Joe has grown close to ditzy factory worker Peggy (Marilyn Monroe). Some time later, Mae and Jerry have had a baby, and things appear happy, but Mae is not in love with Jerry, and soon finds herself in Earl's arms. Jerry discovers the affair, and during a confrontation with the deceitful couple, Mae reveals that she is leaving to be with Earl.

Taut direction by Fritz Lang and a sizzling performance by Barbara Stanwyck.

Clay Pigeon (1949) - 63 mins

Starring Bill Williams, Barbara Hale, Richard Loo, Richard Quine & Martha Hyer

Directed by Richard Fleischer

Neat Little actioner with Williams, a seaman accused of treason and of responsibility in the death of his friend, on the trail of the real culprit, a Japanese prison guard. Written by Carl Foreman and based on a true story.

A neat combination of real-life husband & wife Williams & Hale under the sturdy direction of Fleischer

Cleopatra (1934) - 100 mins

Starring Loretta Young, Warren William, Henry Wilcoxon, Joseph Schildkraut, Ian Keith & C. Aubrey Smith

Directed by Cecil B. DeMille

In 48 BC, Queen Cleopatra (Claudette Colbert), facing palace revolt in her kingdom of Egypt, welcomes the arrival of Julius Caesar (Warren William) as a way of solidifying her power under Rome. When Caesar, whom she has led astray, is killed, she transfers her affections to Marc Antony (Henry Wilcoxon) and dazzles him her feminine wiles. By turns kittenish and cold-blooded, will Cleo's methods work this time?

Oscar Winner for Best Cinematography

Oscar Nominated for Best Picture, Sound Recording, Film Editing & Assistant Director

The Climax (1944) - 86 mins

Starring Boris Karloff, Susanna Foster, Turhan Bey, Gale Sondergaard & Thomas Gomez

Directed by George Waggner

Dr. Hohner (Karloff), theatre physician at the Vienna Royal Theatre, murders his mistress, the star soprano when his jealousy drives him to the point of mad obsession. Ten years later, another young singer (Foster) reminds Hohner of the late diva, and his old mania kicks in. Hohner wants to prevent her from singing for anyone but him, even if it means silencing her forever.

Classic Karloff in Technicolor!

Clive of India (1935) - 94 mins

Starring Ronald Colman, Loretta Young, Colin Clive, Francis Lister, C. Aubrey Smith & Cesar Romero

Directed by Richard Boleslawski

In the mid-1700's the East India Company has power over commerce on the sub-continent, with the blessings of the British government. A clerk in the company, Robert Clive, is frustrated by his lack of advancement, and transfers to the military arm of the company, where he excels. Clive's leadership and gift for manipulation strengthen England's hold over India and lead to personal wealth, which is often threatened by the enemies he makes along the way.

The infamous "Black Hole of Calcutta" incident is featured in the film.

Another big scale Ronald Colman film

Cloak and Dagger (1946) - 106 mins

Starring Gary Cooper, Lilli Palmer, Robert Alda & Vladimir Sokoloff

Directed by Fritz Lang

Near the end of World War II, the Allies must find out how much the Axis knows about building atomic bombs. The OSS recruits a physicist, Alvah Jesper, to reach his former colleague, Katerin Lodor, now in Switzerland, and bring her out for debriefing. Certainly one of the better movies of its type for that era. It's exciting as well as entertaining and not as dated as one would imagine. Gary Cooper is excellent as a nuclear physicist who turns smoothly into a secret agent. There is a fair amount of action (mainly good old-fashioned shoot-outs), a rather conventional romance and one superbly executed fight sequence. Lots of neat plot twists in a "sort of" noir setting.

Note that this title along with O.S.S. (1946) & 13 Rue Madeleine (1947) are part of a 3 DVD set of The O.S.S. Trilogy which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations of this website.

Note that O.S.S. (1946) & 13 Rue Madeleine (1947) are also available from within this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section as well.

Coop: forever the great adventurer (& cowboy) - these Gary Cooper titles are available from this website:

Cloak Without Dagger (1955) (aka Operation Conspiracy) - 69 mins

Starring Philip Friend, Mary Mackenzie, Leslie Dwyer, Allan Cuthbertson & John G. Heller

Directed by Joseph Sterling

Kyra Gabaine, a fashion reporter, is reunited with her war-time lover Felix Gretton. Unwittingly she helps him to track down a war criminal whose capture she had prevented during the war.

Neat little spy yarn from the Brits.

Coast of Skeletons (1965) - 90 mins

Starring Richard Todd, Marianne Koch, Dale Robertson, Heinz Drache & Derek Nimmo

Directed by Robert Lynn

Richard Todd is back as Harry Sanders in another African adventure from the pen of Edgar Wallace. This time he comes upon an insidious scheme to steal the valuables from the sunken ships.

Excellent color print!

The second of two big budget color films starring Richard Todd as Sanders - the other being Death Drums Along the River (1963). Another Sanders story had been filmed 30 year previously with Sanders of the River (1935) - both titles are available from this section of the website

Note further that all three films are part of the Sanders Combination which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

The Cockleshell Heroes (1955) - 94 mins

Starring José Ferrer, Trevor Howard, Dora Bryan, Victor Maddern, Anthony Newley & David Lodge

Directed by José Ferrer

José Ferrer was both star and director of this action packed British WW2 drama. Ferrer is cast as Major Stringer, the officer in charge of a delicate naval operation. Stringer and seven volunteers are expected to paddle four canoes into Nazi-held waters, plant limpet mines on enemy boats, and return safely to their own lines. Of the eight courageous saboteurs, only two survive. The story is abundant with suspense, humor and irony, buoyed by a top-rank supporting cast, including Trevor Howard, Victor Maddern and Anthony Newley (Christopher Lee shows up briefly as a German sub commander). Howard delivers the best performance as a subtly resentful officer who was passed up for promotion in order to work with Major Stringer.

A great WWII film from the Brits!

The Colditz Story (1955) - 94 mins

Starring John Mills, Christopher Rhodes, Lionel Jeffries, Bryan Forbes, Ian Carmichael & Anton Diffring

Directed by Guy Hamilton

During World War II, the impenetrable Colditz castle in Germany was selected as the site for a POW camp. The Germans reason that, since Colditz has been virtually impossible to get into or out of for centuries, it is ideal for housing the most contentious allied prisoners. British officer Pat Reid (John Mills) doesn't agree, and leads an escape through a subterranean tunnel. Only three of the prisoners survive the escape with the next step is to get out of Germany itself.

Based on the reminiscences of P. R. "Pat" Reid, the real-life English officer portrayed in this film by John Mills.

BAFTA nominated for Best Picture

Yet again .. another great WWII film from the Brits!

Colorado Territory (1949) - 94 mins

Starring Joel McCrea, Virginia Mayo, Dorothy Malone, Henry Hull, John Archer & Morris Ankrum

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Outlaw Wes McQueen (Joel McCrea) breaks out of jail and meets up with his gang who are planning a train robbery. He finds them holed up in an old dilapidated Mission, arguing and one of them has a woman with him, a former dance hall girl, Colorado Carson (Virginia Mayo). Wes has decided that he wants to go straight. Having met Lulie Ann Winslow (Dorothy Malone) and her father Fred (Henry Hull), his ideal would be to settle down with her and own his own ranch. Out of loyalty to an old-time partner however, he agrees to go ahead with the train robbery and realizes too late that he is not destined to fulfil his dreams. He and Colorado make a final desperate break when the robbery goes bad.

Colorado Territory is acknowledged by many as a westernized remake of the 1941 crime drama High Sierra (also available from this website). Raoul Walsh, director of the earlier film, returns to helm the remake, doing a grand job on both occasions. Joel McCrea stars in the Humphrey Bogart role, playing a veteran outlaw who hopes to pull off one last, spectacular heist. Virginia Mayo portrays the Ida Lupino counterpart, a "bad" dance-hall girl who proves to be the only person who genuinely cares about McCrea's well-being. As in the earlier film, the climax finds McCrea making a futile bid for escape in the mountains, with tragic consequences.

A stupendous western film - McCrea is tailor made for this role - quietly spoken, well mannered bank robber - but trapped by his "fate". Fabulous cinematography (why didn't they film this in color?) and wonderful musical score by David Buttolph.

The teaming of McCrea with Virginia Mayo was to be repeated 8 years later on The Tall Stranger (1957) - which is also available from this section of the website.

Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) - 100 mins

Starring Eric Braeden, Susan Clark, Gordon Pinsent, William Schallert & Leonid Rostoff

Directed by Joseph Sargent

Dr. Charles Forbin (Eric Braeden) is the designer of an incredibly sophisticated computer, Colossus that has been designed to run all of America's nuclear defenses. Shortly after being turned on, it detects the existence of Guardian, the Soviet counterpart, previously unknown to US Planners. Both computers insist that they be linked, and after taking safeguards to preserve confidential material, each side agrees to allow it. As soon as the link is established the two become a new Super computer and threaten the world with the immediate launch of nuclear weapons if they are detached. Colossus begins to give it's plans for the management of the world under it's guidance. Forbin and the other scientists form an underground technological resistance to Colossus

The granddaddy of all "computer run amok" films, the climax of Colossus: The Forbin Project is unsettling, but no more so than the actual state of world affairs in 1970.

Great stuff!

Fabulous Wide-Screen Technicolor Print!

Colt .45 (1950) - 87 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Ruth Roman, Zachary Scott, Lloyd Bridges & Alan Hale

Directed by Edwin L. Marin

"A gun, like any other source of power, is a force for either good or evil, being neither in itself, but dependent upon those who possess it". A gun salesman's sample case of Colt 45's is stolen by an outlaw. Accused of being a member of the outlaw gang when they start using the Colts in their hold-ups, the salesman is obliged to track down the crooks. This movie became a TV series in 1957 (starring Wayde Preston as Chris Colt), and as such was retitled Thundercloud during re-release when the TV series was playing. It was the last screen role for the wonderful actor Alan Hale Sr. A fast-paced & well-cast film dotted with frequent bursts of violence and gunplay.

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Column South (1953) - 82 mins

Starring Audie Murphy, Joan Evans, Robert Sterling, Ray Collins, Dennis Weaver & Russell Johnson

Directed by Frederick De Cordova

Cavalry Lieutenant Jed Sayre (Audie Murphy) is stationed in Navajo country, and has a pretty good understanding of, and rapport with, the local Indians. But his new CO, Captain Lee Whitlock (Robert Sterling) is from a school of thought, harbouring racist feelings the Navajo. Whilst trying to make him see the light, Jed romance Whitlock's sister Marcy (Joan Evans). Further complications ensue when Confederate General Stone (Ray Collins) hatches an underhanded scheme to force the cavalry troops to join the Southern cause when the Civil War commences - a tactic that may potentially cost many innocent lives.

Very Nice Technicolor print with a bonus … Dennis Weaver as Navajo Chief Menguito!

Comanche Station (1960) - 74 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Nancy Gates, Claude Akins & Skip Homeier

Directed by Budd Boetticher

Loner Cody trades with the Comanches to get a white girl released. He is joined on his way back to the girl's husband by an outlaw and his sidekicks. It turns out there is a large reward for the return of the girl, and with the Indians on the warpath and the outlaw being an old enemy of Cody's, things are set for several showdowns.

Another typical interestingly plotted entry from the Scott/Boetticher/Kennedy teaming (their last), in which the old west moral code of right versus wrong gets a surprising twist ending.

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Comanche Territory (1950) - 76 mins

Starring Maureen O’Hara, Macdonald Carey, Will Geer, Charles Drake, Pedro de Cordoba & Rick Vallin

Directed by George Sherman

Famed frontiersman Jim Bowie (Macdonald Carey) is sent into Comanche country with a mission to draw up a treaty allowing the government to mine silver on the Indian's turf. He is accompanied by politician Dan'l Seegar (Will Geer), who intends to renew the government's agreement that white settlers will be barred from setting up camp in the Comanche's land. But saloon owner Katie (Maureen O'Hara) connives to spoil Bowie's and Seegar's peacekeeping mission. Katie's brother Stacey (Charles Drake) is a no-good who wants to cheat the Indians out of what's rightfully theirs, which of course will result in all-out war. Falling in love with Bowie, Katie decides to turn honest - but it may be too late.

Exciting Technicolor western from Universal

Command Decision (1948) - 112 mins

Starring Clark Gable, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, Brian Donlevy & Charles Bickford

Directed by Sam Wood

With time at a premium, Air Force Brigadier General "Casey" Dennis sends waves of bomber squadrons into Germany to knock out the enemy's jet plane factories. Even his superior officer is appalled by the heavy losses, Dennis seems utterly unconcerned about the fate of his pilots - but his duty is exacting a severe emotional toll on him. Pressure is applied from a misguided US senator, and Dennis is replaced by the supposedly more humane General Garnet who soon realizes that Dennis' decisions were the correct ones, and he vows to continue his predecessor's "suicide missions".

Command Decision is a consummately acted adaptation of William Wister Haines' Broadway play - and what a cast!

Commandoes Strike at Dawn (1942) - 98 mins

Starring Paul Muni, Anna Lee, Lillian Gish, Cedric Hardwicke, Alexander Knox & Ray Collins

Directed by John Farrow

Scripted by Irwin Shaw from a story by C. S. Forester, Commandos Strike at Dawn is a wartime morale-booster, largely set in coastal Norway. Paul Muni stars as Eric Toresen, an apolitical and basically pacifistic Norwegian fisherman who is galvanized into action when his village is occupied by the Nazis. With a group of courageous resistance fighters, Toresen first endeavors to sabotage and demoralize the German troops then escapes to Britain, there to help organize commando raids against his country's oppressors. The supporting cast includes Anna Lee as the hero's true love, Alexander Knox as an icy Nazi commandant, Cedric Hardwicke as a stiff-upper-lip British officer, and Lillian Gish as an iron-willed Norwegian townsperson.

Oscar nominated for Best Music Score

Compulsion (1959) - 103 mins

Starring Orson Welles, Diane Varsi, Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, E. G. Marshall, Martin Milner & Richard Anderson

Directed by Richard Fleischer

Artie Straus (Bradford Dillman) is a sadistic, mother-dominated bully, whilst Judd Steiner (Dean Stockwell) is submissive and introverted. Having been raised by wealthy, arrogant families, both Artie and Judd consider themselves above conventional morality. Unfeeling and conceited, the boys murder a young boy to demonstrate their intellectual superiority - and take delight in offering to aid in finding the culprits. It is this arrogance which leads to their capture and prosecution for the murders. Criminal Attorney Jonathan Wilk (Orson Welles) takes on the case, and puts on a defense, without the cooperation of his clients, who will offer no explanation for what they have done.

Compulsion is a suspenseful courtroom drama which is loosely based on the famous 1924 murder trial of thrill-killers Loeb and Leopold. Tautly directed by Richard Fleischer, the film is a compelling, stylish thriller, with Orson Welles superb as the flamboyantly imposing Clarence Darrow-like Wilk, who must use all his wits to try to save the boys from execution.

Confessions of Boston Blackie (1941) - 65 mins

Starring Chester Morris, Harriet Hillard, Richard Lane, George E. Stone & Lloyd Corrigan

Directed by Edward Dmytryk

Ex crook-turned-detective Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) gets into trouble when he attends an art auction with his millionaire pal Arthur Manleder (Lloyd Corrigan). Diane Parrish (Harriet Hilliard) has just discovered that the auction gallery is run by thieves and to keep her quiet, thug Joe Buchanan (Ralph Theodore) shoots her. But though he only wounds her, he actually kills sculptor Allison (Walter Soderling). Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) assumes that Blackie fired the shot - this forces Blackie to elude the police while hunting down the criminals.

Another fun Boston Blackie film based on a character (Horatio Black) portrayed in a series of novels by Jack Boyle. Other Boston Blackie films in this (INDIVDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website are Meet Boston Blackie (1941), Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood (1942) & One Mysterious Night (1944)

Please Note that this film is also part of the Boston Blackie Movie Series DVD set which can be found in the Movie Series section of this website

Confidential Agent (1945) - 118 mins

Starring Charles Boyer, Lauren Bacall, Victor Francen, Wanda Hendrix, George Coulouris, Katina Paxinou & Peter Lorre

Directed by Herman Shumlin

Charles Boyer stars as Luis Denard, a former concert musician operating as anti-Fascist secret agent in the Spanish Civil War. While negotiating with the neutral British for some much needed fuel supplies, Denard falls in love with gorgeous Rose Cullen (Lauren Bacall). Sympathetic to his cause, Rose helps Denard contend with the conniving backstabbing villains Contreras (Peter Lorre) and Mrs. Melandy (Katina Paxinou).

Critics in 1945 liked Confidential Agent but trounced leading lady Lauren Bacall, suggesting that she was merely a pretty amateur who'd coasted to stardom via her associations with actor Humphrey Bogart and director Howard Hawks.

A Graham Greene novel was the source of the Warner Bros. espionage thriller.

Conflict (1945) - 86 mins

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Alexis Smith, Sydney Greenstreet, Rose Hobart & Charles Drake

Directed by Curtis Bernhardt

Richard Mason (Bogart) fancies his sister-in-law (Smith), so plans an elaborate scheme to murder his wife (Hobart). He exaggerates an injury in a car accident so he can avoid going on a planned trip to the mountains, then follows her and kills her on a deserted highway. When evidence starts mounting that she is not dead at all, however, he is drawn back to the scene of the crime, unsure of what he may find.

Conquest of Cochise (1953) - 70 mins

Starring John Hodiak, Robert Stack, Joy Page, Rico Alaniz & Carol Thurston

Directed by William Castle

In 1853, the Gadsden Purchase has just brought part of Mexico into the United States and Army Major Tom Burke (Robert Stack) has been sent to Tucson to make peace with the Indians. He is successful with the Apache leader, Cochise (John Hodiak) but Cochise is unable to get the Comanches to agree. The Apaches then turn back a raid by the Comanches. There is a man in Tucson that wants the Indian war against the Americans to continue and when a stray Army rifle is found and it kills Cochise's woman, it appears the Apaches will break the peace treaty.

These following “Cochise” films are also available from this website: Broken Arrow (1950), The Battle at Apache Pass (1952) & Taza, Son of Cochise (1954)

Conquest of Space (1955) - 81 mins

Starring Walter Brooke, Eric Fleming, Mickey Shaughnessy, Phil Foster, William Hopper & Benson Fong

Directed by Byron Haskin

A multi-national crew are on the first space flight to Mars with General Samuel T. Merritt (Walter Brooke) heading the team. Supporting him are his son, Captain Barney Merritt (Eric Fleming), Sergeant Mahony (Mickey Shaughnessy), Jackie Siegle (Phil Foster) and Imoto (Benson Fong). As the ship gets closer to their Martian quest, General Merritt cracks and tries to sabotage both the mission and the crew, babbling about the blasphemy of mankind trespassing upon God's domain. His son is called upon to save the mission, with the hope that the crew can still go through with a Mars landing.

This George Pal production pulls out all stops in the special effects department, creating "The Wheel" (a earth-orbiting circular space station), rocket launches into space, and a breathtaking near-collision with an asteroid.

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) - 88 mins

Starring Roddy McDowall, Don Murray, Ricardo Montalban, Natalie Trundy & Hari Rhodes

Directed by J. Lee Thompson

The fourth Planet of the Apes film is set in 1991, 20 years since the assassination of talking, time-traveling apes Cornelius and Zira at the end of Escape From the Planet of the Apes. The couple's infant son, Caesar (Roddy McDowall), has grown to adulthood in the care of kindly circus owner Armando (Ricardo Montalban). Meanwhile, a plague has wiped all dogs and cats from the face of the Earth; speechless primitive apes have therefore been domesticated and turned into first pets, then servants of humankind. Caesar becomes outraged at the treatment of these simian slaves and accidentally reveals his powers of speech in front of the militaristic authorities,

Caesar was the second of McDowall's three Planet of the Apes characters; he also portrayed Cornelius in the first and third films and Galen in the short-lived 1974 television series. After taking over the franchise with this picture, Hollywood veteran J. Lee Thompson would become the only director to helm two Planet of the Apes films when he returned for the fifth and final instalment.

All 5 films are also available from within the Classic Movie Combinations section in a nice 5 DVD set

There was also a 14 episode Planet of the Apes TV Series which can be found in the TV Series section of this website

Conspirator (1949) - 87 mins

Starring Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Flemyng, Honor Blackman & Wilfred Hyde-White

Directed by Victor Saville

Flighty and immature American beauty, Melinda Greyton (Elizabeth Taylor) falls madly in love with a dashing but lonely English major, Michael Curragh (Robert Taylor). But Curragh has a secret: he's an agent for the Communists. Eventually Melinda realizes that he's a spy and she demands that he cease his traitorous activities. Meanwhile the Party-faithful decide that Curragh must do away with Melinda.

Interesting Cold War espionage story.

The Conspirators (1944) - 101 mins

Starring Hedy Lamarr, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre & Joseph Calleia

Directed by Jean Negulesco

This Casablanca-esque spy thriller set during WWII centers on the exploits of the notorious "Flying Dutchman," a fugitive resistance leader from Holland who heads for Lisbon where he hooks up with other members of the underground. One of them is a beautiful young woman, and none of the others trust her because she is married to an important German official. For the resistance leader, real trouble comes when he is framed for the murder of a fellow agent. Still he escapes from prison and hides out with his other colleague while he works to prove that he is innocent and carry out a major secret mission for the resistance.

Fabulous Warner Bros. production with a great score from Max Steiner. Another chance to see that redoubtable duo: Sydney Greenstreet & Peter Lorre in another spy/espionage thriller

Other films to feature the Greenstreet / Lorre combination were The Maltese Falcon (1941), Casablanca (1942), Background to Danger (1943), Passage to Marseille (1944), The Mask of Dimitrios (1944), Three Strangers (1946 & The Verdict (1946) - all of which are available from this website.

Contraband (1940) aka Blackout (1940) - 88 mins

Starring Conrad Veidt, Valerie Hobson, Hay Petrie, Joss Ambler, Raymond Lovell & Esmond Knight

Directed by Michael Powell

The Danish freighter Helvig approaches English waters in early 1940 and, in keeping with the needs of British security, it is boarded by customs and naval officials in search of contraband cargo. Her skipper, Captain Anderson (Conrad Veidt), is compelled to ascede to British demands, but dreads the delay, pointing out that the medical supplies in his cargo are vital. Anderssen is a dedicated seaman, all business, even where Mrs. Sorenson (Valerie Hobson), a headstrong passenger, is concerned. Then, on their first night in port, Mrs. Sorenson and a Mr. Pidgeon (Esmond Knight) disappear from the ship with Anderson's landing papers, the captain is in hot pursuit. Forced to join the woman in what seems a mad chase across London by night, he plunges into the eerie world of the blacked out city, following a set of clues through the maze of darkened streets and uncover a Nazi spy ring operating out of a basement in Soho.

In USA, Contraband was originally released under the title Blackout

Original Story & Screenplay by Emeric Pressburger - his second collaboration with director Powell following 1939's The Spy in Black (aka U-Boat 29) and before further combined efforts with 49th Parallel (1941), One of Our Aircraft is Missing (1942) & The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) - all of which are available from this website.

Note that Contraband (1940) is part of the Powell, Pressburger & Veidt Combination which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

Note further that Contraband (1940) is also part of the Powell & Pressburger … their War Films … Combination which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

Cornered (1945) - 102 mins

Starring Dick Powell, Walter Slezak, Micheline Cheirel, Nina Vale & Luther Adler

Directed by Edward Dmytryk

Consolidating his transformation from soft tenor to hard-boiled private eye in Dmytryk's Murder My Sweet the year before, Powell is even more dour as a tough, cynical loner in search of the man who killed his French wife during the Second World War. The action moves from France to Switzerland to Buenos Aires where a colony of corrupt Europeans is living in splendour. One of its members is the man he is after - a Nazi collaborator. The exciting climax has Powell, prone to attacks of amnesia, unknowingly beating the man to death. The noir atmosphere is sustained well throughout.

Note that this film is part of the Dick Powell "Drama" Combination which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website

Coroner Creek (1948) - 90 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, Marguerite Chapman, George Macready, Edgar Buchanan & Forrest Tucker

Directed by Ray Enright

Single-minded Chris Denning seeks vengeance against the seemingly respectable man responsible for a mysterious death of his fiancee's in a stagecoach raid

A single-minded gunman is bent on tracking down and killing the white man responsible for an Indian raid on a stagecoach. His fiancee was killed in the raid and a large army payroll was stolen. The villain is a "solid citizen" with fingers in several dirty pies. Based on a novel by western specialist Luke Short and having a great fist-fight between Scott & Tucker

From the novel by Luke Short - he also wrote Ramrod (1947), Blood on the Moon (1948), Station West (1948), Albuquerque (1948), Ambush (1950), Ride the Man Down (1952) & Hell’s Outpost (1954) - all of which are available from this website

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Corridors of Blood (1958) - 86 mins

Starring Boris Karloff, Betta St. John, Christopher Lee, Finlay Currie, Adrienne Corri & Francis De Wolff

Directed by Robert Day

Dr. Thomas Bolton (Boris Karloff) is a London surgeon who believes he has developed a safe and effective anaesthetic serum which he hopes will revolutionize the world of medicine. Unfortunately, a demonstration of the drug before a panel of his peers ends in a horrific mishap - with his patient awakening under the knife - and he is forced to leave his position in disgrace. To complicate matters, Bolton has become addicted to his own concoctions and is forced to enter an illicit arrangement, forging death certificates for a pair of grave-robber, Resurrection Joe (Christopher Lee), in exchange for a regular fix and the means to continue his experiments.

This shady partnership leads him further down the road to ruin, culminating in his unwitting participation in murder - for which he becomes the victim of a blackmail scheme.

Boris Karloff's multi-layered performance is one of his finest, bringing a great deal of pathos to his tragic character. This film was also something of a turning point for Christopher Lee, who had already risen to international fame in many Hammer productions by the time this film was acquired by MGM for American distribution.

This enjoyably twisted British thriller was shot back-to-back with the equally warped The Haunted Strangler (1958) - again with Boris Karloff & Robert Day at the helm - its also available from this website.

The Corsican Brothers (1941) - 111 mins

Starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Ruth Warwick, Akim Tamiroff, J. Carroll Naish & John Emery

Directed by Gregory Ratoff

Dumas's swashbuckling adventure yarn starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr as two Siamese twins who were separated at birth (but still spiritually joined) and only came to learn of the other's existence when they reached the age of 21. Both are united by a desire to avenge their parents' deaths at the hands of Baron Colonna but divided by the love of the same woman.

A fabulous adventure yarn with Doug at the peak of his powers!

Dimitri Tiomkin was nominated for an Academy Award for Original Music Score

The Corsican Brothers is independent producer Edward Small's film of this great Alexandre Dumas story.

Small had previously produced The Count of Monte Cristo (another Dumas tale) in 1934, its 1940 sequel, The Son of Monte Cristo and The Man in the Iron Mask (1939) from another Dumas work - all four are available from this website

Corvette K-225 (1943) - 98 mins

Starring Randolph Scott, James Brown, Ella Raines, Barry Fitzgerald & Andy Devine

Directed by Richard Rosson

Randolph Scott was the star of Corvette K-225, a tribute to the World War II corvette escorts which guided Allied convoys through treacherous Atlantic waters. Scott plays the officer in charge of a Royal Canadian corvette cruiser, dedicated to keeping the troops safe from enemy submarine attack. The focus of the film is a danger-ridden journey from Halifax to Britain, the tension quotient heightened by the use of actual combat footage. Corvette K-225 was produced by Howard Hawks, though the direction was credited to Richard Rosson.

Often considered to be Randolph Scott's finest non-western role.

The Cosmic Man (1959) - 72 mins

Starring John Carradine, Bruce Bennett, Angela Greene, Paul Langton & Scotty Morrow

Directed by Herbert S. Greene

When a strange sphere settles down in a California canyon, it causes both the scientific and military communities to gather around in an instant. The object appears to have one figure inside but there is no clear way of penetrating the sphere. As the military brass argue for a destructive course of action, scientist Karl Sorensen (Bruce Bennett) defends the sphere and its passenger, advocating a reasoned approach to the enigma. In the meantime, a ghostly entity wanders around town and a man hidden underneath heavy clothing checks into the lodge where the antagonistic investigators are staying.

Cottage to Let (1941) - 86 mins

Starring Leslie Banks, Alastair Sim, John Mills, Jeanne De Casalis & George Cole

Directed by Anthony Asquith

A taut British wartime spy thriller concerning a revolutionary new bombsight, which has been designed by inventor John Barrington (Leslie Banks). A group of Nazi spies intend to steal the blueprints for the invention and to that end dispatch one of their top agents (John Mills), who parachutes in posing as wounded RAF pilot Lt. Perry. Hailed as a war hero by the gullible locals, Perry rents a cottage from the unsuspecting Barrington and his wife (Jeanne de Casalis). The treacherous Nazi meets his match in the unlikely form of oafish Charles Dimble (Alastair Sim).

Great stuff and an early strong role for the legendary Alastair Sim (check out other Sim entries: Green for Danger (1946) & An Inspector Calls (1954) which are also available from this website)

Countdown (1968) - 101 mins

Starring James Caan, Joanna Moore, Robert Duvall, Barbara Baxley & Steve Ihnat

Directed by Robert Altman

The Apollo 3 crew lead by Chiz (Robert Duvall) are training when it is discovered that the Russians plan a moon landing. In response NASA enact a makeshift plan to land a man on the moon first, using an older style Gemini spacecraft. Lee Stegler (James Caan) is a scientist who is chosen over Chiz, because Lee has no military connection. Stegler has three weeks to train before take-off, and will have to stay on the moon in a shelter for about a year, until an Apollo is ready to pick him up. However the Russians take off two days earlier than expected.

Excellent big-budget sci-fi which taps into the excitement generated by the Mercury/Gemini/Apollo Space Programs - the successful Apollo 11 Moon landing was still 18 months away when this film was released.

Counter-Attack (1945) - 90 mins

Starring Paul Muni, Marguerite Chapman, Larry Parks, Harro Meller, Roman Bohnen, George Macready

Directed by Zoltan Korda

Set during WW II, it centers on a Russian officer, a Russian woman, and seven German soldiers who have been trapped in the ruined cellar of a bombed out factory in a Nazi-controlled town. While waiting for someone to rescue them, the two Russians try to keep the Germans away. Eventually the Russian officer begins toying with a German officer and vice versa as both seek to extract information from the other. The Russian lets on that his troops are planning to construct a tunnel beneath the river. The woman is appalled at this betrayal of information, but her companion reassures her that he can kill the enemy before they have time to share that information. But first they need to get rescued. As time slowly passes, the tension increases, especially when the Russian finds himself falling asleep.

This drama is based on a Broadway play, One Against Seven, which in turn is based on the Russian play Pobyeda.

It was made during the brief period after WWII when Russia and the US were allies and the political overtones of the film are present but probably unintentional. Later, with the advent of the Cold War, many of the actors who participated in this film were called before the House Un-American Activities Committee and accused of being communist sympathizers with some being blacklisted.

Counter-Espionage (1942) - 72 mins

Starring Warren William, Eric Blore, Hillary Brooke, Thurston Hall, Fred Kelsey & Forrest Tucker

Directed by Edward Dmytryk

Michael Lanyard (Warren William), the suave ex-criminal known as The Lone Wolf is in London during the Blitz, where he finds himself up to his neck in Nazi spies.

This is a typically suspenseful and well-made Ed Dmytryk film - scenes where Lanyard has to retrace his steps through the London streets blindfolded, counting how many steps after each turning, and listening for key sounds, are very ingenious. And the villains are truly villainous - they are trying to destroy London, and Lanyard must stop them, if the police will stop trying to arrest him for something he hasn't done. Being a double-agent carries with it considerable risks, especially when the 'control' has been killed in the Blitz ….

Another excellent (Warren William) Lone Wolf entry, based on a character created by Louis Joseph Vance in a series of novels - other Lone Wolf films starring Warren William which are available from this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website are The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt (1939) & Passport to Suez (1943)

This film is also part of The Lone Wolf Movies Series DVD sets which are available from within the Movie Series section of this website

Counterfeit (1936) - 73 mins

Starring Chester Morris, Margot Grahame, Lloyd Nolan, Marian Marsh & Claude Gillingwater

Directed by Erle C. Kenton

In this crime drama, a federal agent goes undercover to join a gang of counterfeiters. He pretends to be a murderer. The trouble begins when the gang kidnaps an engraver from Treasury Department. They force him to make a set of plates to print the fake cash.

Nice roles for both Chester "Boston Blackie" Morris and Lloyd "Michael Shayne" Nolan

The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) - 113 mins

Starring Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, Louis Calhern, Sidney Blackmer, Raymond Walburn & Irene Hervey

Directed by Rowland V. Lee

Few famous novels have been filmed as often as Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo - and few versions are as enjoyable as this 1934 adaptation starring Robert Donat. Donat plays Edmond Dantes, wrongly accused of a plot against the post-Napoleonic French government. Condemned to a prison cell in the impenetrable Chateau D'If, Dantes vows vengeance against the four conspirators who framed him. He is particularly anxious to give his ex-friend Mondego (Sidney Blackmer) his comeuppance, since it was Mondego who married Dantes' fiancee Mercedes (Elissa Landi). Twelve years pass; with the help of ancient fellow prisoner Abbe Foria, Dantes digs his way out of the Chateau D'If and escapes. He finds the treasure of Monte Cristo, which makes him the wealthiest man in the world. He uses his riches to put his plan of revenge into motion.

The Count of Monte Cristo is independent producer Edward Small's 1934 edition of the Alexandre Dumas classic.

Small went on the produce its 1940 sequel The Son of Monte Cristo, as well as The Man in the Iron Mask (another Dumas tale) in 1939 and 1941's The Corsican Brothers from another Dumas work - all of which are available from this website

The Court Jester (1955) - 101 mins

Starring Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury & Cecil Parker

Directed by Melvin Frank & Norman Panama

While the infant King of England awaits his rightful place as leader of the British Empire, his rule is usurped by Roderick (Cecil Parker), an evil pretender to the throne. Brave rebel leader The Black Fox (Edward Ashley) intends to remove Roderick from the palace and bring the crown back to its true owner, but in the meantime the baby king needs to be looked after, which is the job of a man named Hubert Hawkins (Danny Kaye). The Black Fox travels with the little king and his rebels as they search for the key to a secret tunnel that will allow them passage into the castle. Maid Jean (Glynis Johns), one of the rebels, meets a man en route to the Castle who is to be Roderick's new jester. The rebels quickly hatch a plan: detain the jester and send Hawkins in his place; the king can then find the key and initiate the overthrow. Hawkins is able to persuade Roderick and his men that he is indeed a jester, but his espionage work gets complicated when Princess Gwendolyn (Angela Lansbury) falls in love with him, and he runs afoul of Sir Ravenhurst (Basil Rathbone), the evil genius behind Roderick.

Danny Kaye spoofs medieval swashbucklers in this classic musical comedy which features Kaye's famous "Pellet with the Poison" routine.

The Court Jester (1955) is an ideal Danny Kaye companion piece to On the Double (1961) which is also available from this website

Cowboy (1958) - 92 mins

Starring Glenn Ford, Jack Lemmon, Anna Kashfi, Brian Donlevy, Dick York & Richard Jaeckel

Directed by Delmer Daves

Chicago hotel clerk Frank Harris (Jack Lemmon) harbors romantic notions of the West and prevails upon hard-living, hard-drinking trail boss Tom Reese (Glenn Ford) to take him along on Reese's next cattle drive. In the months that follow, Harris' idealized notions of the West are cruelly dispelled, though he eventually becomes accustomed to the rough-and-tumble life on the trail and to the curious camaraderie between the drovers

The once-scandalous autobiography of Frank Harris was the source of the fascinating "adult" western Cowboy. Note the memorable performance of Hollywood veteran Brian Donlevy as Doc Bender, an ageing gunfighter who can't stand the notion of becoming an anachronism.

One of the more unorthodox westerns of the 1950s, Cowboy is also one of the best.

Oscar Nominated for Best Film Editing

Cowboy and the Senorita (1944) - 78 mins

Starring Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Mary Lee, John Hubbard, Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams & Fuzzy Knight

Directed by Joseph Kane

Roy and sidekick Teddy Bear (Guinn "Big Boy" Williams) are a couple of would-be prospectors fired from a small town café when the latter gets in trouble with an irate customer. At the nearby town of Bonanza, the two friends find themselves falsely accused of kidnapping young Chip Williams (Mary Lee), who is actually a runaway. Having befriended both Chip and her half-sister Isabel Martinez (Dale Evans), Roy and Teddy Bear then manage to solve the riddle of a treasure hidden in a supposedly worthless mine - despite the sabotaging efforts of smooth tycoon Craig Allen (John Hubbard).

This was Roy and future wife Dale Evans' first western together

Excellent uncut B&W print!

Additionally, a nice 6 DVD collection of 18 uncut Roy Rogers Westerns (which includes Cowboy and the Senorita) can be found in the "B" WESTERN SERIES section of this website.

Crack-Up (1946) - 93 mins

Starring Pat O'Brien, Claire Trevor, Herbert Marshall & Ray Collins

Directed by Irving Reis

George Steele, art curator at a small museum, has an apparent mental breakdown one night, convinced he was in a train wreck...which never happened. In flashback, shortly after proposing to x-ray some old master paintings the museum has on loan, Steele is called on an unplanned nocturnal train trip. He suddenly sees another train ahead, speeding toward his. Is George indeed cracking up, or is there a plot to discredit him? The mystery grows murky with shadowy menace.

Crash Dive (1943) - 106 mins

Starring Tyrone Power, Anne Baxter, Dana Andrews, James Gleeson & Dame May Whitty

Directed by Archie Mayo

Tyrone Power made his last screen appearance before a three-year stretch in the Marines in this World War II drama. Lt. Ward Stewart (Tyrone Power) has served with distinction as the commander of a PT boat, so his uncle, Adm. Bob Stewart (Minor Watson), gives him a new and more challenging assignment aboard a submarine. Before shipping out, Ward enjoys a night on the town, where he meets and romances a pretty schoolteacher, Jean Hewlett (Anne Baxter). However, when Ward reports for duty, he discovers he'll be serving under Lt. Cmdr. Dewey Connors (Dana Andrews), who happens to be Jean's boyfriend. On leave and on land, Ward and Dewey are soon caught up in a romantic rivalry, while on duty and under the water they must work together to ferret out Nazi U-boats.

Crash Dive won an Academy Award for the special effects work in the film's battle sequences.

The Crawling Eye (1958) - 84 mins

Starring Forrest Tucker, Laurence Payne, Jennifer Jayne, Janet Munro, Warren Mitchell & Andrew Faulds

Directed by Quentin Lawrence

At a remote Alpine village, mountaineers suddenly start dying, their bodies horribly mutilated which initially seem like they could just be accidents. But the arrival of sisters Anne & Sarah Pilgrim (Janet Munro & Jennifer Jayne), one of whom feels an almost telepathic connection with someone or something on the mountain, attracts the interest of American Alan Brooks (Forrest Tucker), a trouble-shooter for the United Nations. He and Prof. Crevett (Warren Mitchell), who has been monitoring the radiation levels in the area from a research station set up by the government, determine that there is a pattern to these deaths that Brooks has seen before, in a prior incident in the Andes Mountains. They determine that the Earth has been invaded, at high altitude, by a race of gigantic, tentacled aliens who live in thin atmosphere and at extremely low temperatures. Camouflaging themselves in a dense radioactive cloud, they've been content up until now to hide their existence while experimenting with the inhabitants of their new world - they've taken over some human subjects telepathically, and also re-animated dead bodies. And they've killed those - such as the hapless mountaineers who have stumbled upon their new lair, or those few humans whose stronger-than-usual mental powers have allow them to sense the aliens' presence - who threaten to discover them. But now Crevett sees that the aliens are adapting and moving down the mountain, the cloud bringing their necessary cold temperatures with them, and threatening to engulf the village as prelude to an attack on it and all that lies beyond.

The Trollenberg Terror, authored by Peter Key and directed by Quentin Lawrence, started life on British television as a six-part installment of ITV's Saturday Serial in late 1956 and early 1957. The big-screen version, was adapted by Jimmy Sangster, who compressed most of the best horrific and mystery elements of the original into an 90 minute vehicle, which Lawrence directed. The Trollenberg Terror was retitled The Crawling Eye when it was released in the United States, in an obvious attempt to draw the same audience that had made into huge box-office hits of British film adaptation of two TV serials - The Quatermass Xperiment (aka The Creeping Unknown) & Quatermass 2 (aka Enemy from Space) - both starring US film actor Brian Donlevy

Note that The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) & Quatermass 2 (1957) are also available from this website

Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954) - 80 mins

Starring Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno & Nestor Paiva

Directed by Jack Arnold

Members of a fossil-hunting expedition in a dark tributary of the mist-shrouded Amazon, enter the domain of a prehistoric, amphibious "Gill Man" - possibly the last of a species of fanged, clawed humanoids who may have evolved entirely underwater. Tranquilized, captured, and brought aboard, the creature still manages to revive and escape - slaughtering several members of the team - and abducts their sole female member Kay Lawrence (Julie Adams), spiriting her off to his mist-shrouded lair.

Director Jack Arnold makes excellent use of the tropical location, employing heavy mists and eerie jungle noises to create an atmosphere of nearly constant menace. The film's most effective element is certainly the monster itself, with his pulsating gills and fearsome webbed talons. The creature was played on land by stuntman Ben Chapman and underwater by champion swimmer Ricou Browning - who was forced to hold his breath during long takes because the suit did not allow room for scuba gear. The end result was certainly worth the effort, proven in the famous scene where the Gill Man swims effortlessly beneath his female quarry in an eerie ballet - a scene echoed much later by Steven Spielberg in the opening of Jaws.

Universal Pictures introduced audiences to yet another classic movie monster with this superbly crafted film, originally presented in 3-D. Jack Arnold was brought back for a sequel Revenge of the Creature (1955) but didn’t helm a further sequel The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) - both of which is also available from this website

Jack Arnold reigns supreme as one of the great directors of 50s science fiction features. His films are distinguished by moody black and white cinematography, solid acting, smart, thoughtful scripts, snappy pacing, a genuine heartfelt enthusiasm for the genre, and plenty of eerie atmosphere. His films which can be found in this section of the website are: It Came From Outer Space (1953), The Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954), Revenge of the Creature (1955), This Island Earth (1955) - with Joseph M. Newman, Tarantula (1955), The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), The Space Children (1958) & Monster on Campus (1958)

The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) - 78 mins

Starring Jeff Morrow, Rex Reason, Leigh Snowden, Gregg Palmer & Maurice Manson

Directed by John Sherwood

A prehistoric amphibian is far from his Amazon home, kept under close scientific scrutiny in a special facility in Florida. After a laboratory fire severely damages the creature's gills, the head of the research team Dr. William Barton (Jeff Morrow) initiates an operation that will allow their subject to breathe through a set of latent lungs. After some attempts are made to acclimate the creature to life among human beings, Barton's plans are destroyed by his own pettiness when one of his colleagues Jed Palmer (Gregg Palmer) makes romantic overtures toward his wife Marcia Barton (Leigh Snowden) - leading to a violent confrontation which also includes the Gill-Man

The third and final outing for “The Creature” - preceded by The Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954) & Revenge of the Creature (1955) - both of which are available from this website.

Crime by Night (1944) - 72 mins

Starring Jane Wyman, Jerome Cowan, Faye Emerson, Charles Lang & Eleanor Parker

Directed by William Clemens

Detective Sam Campbell and his perky sidekick Robby Vance are called in on a routine child support dispute. Things take an unexpected turn when the client's ex-father-in-law, the head of a chemical plant with a war contract to make a secret formula, is the victim of an axe murder.

A neat little thriller!

Crime of Passion (1957) - 84 mins

Starring Sterling Hayden, Barbara Stanwyck, Raymond Burr, Fay Wray, Virginia Grey & Royal Dano

Directed by Gerd Oswald

Kathy (Barbara Stanwyck) is a smart and tough 1950's advice columnist at a San Francisco newspaper, with her name plastered on billboards all over the city. One day, Bill Doyle (Sterling Hayden), a Los Angeles detective, walks into her office and there is instant attraction. After marrying Bill, Kathy gives up her career and becomes a homemaker. However, she is not your typical 1950's homemaker. After hosting several cocktail parties in their San Fernando Valley home, she realizes that Bill is content with his position, and shows no ambition in furthering himself. Kathy will not sit idly by while everyone around her is "moving up in the world". She personally takes upon herself the task of pushing Bill's career along, even if it comes down to murder.

Sterling Hayden films which are available from this website are:

Crime Wave (1954) - 73 mins

Starring Sterling Hayden, Gene Nelson, Phyllis Kirk, Ted de Corsia & Charles Bronson

Directed by André De Toth

Three San Quentin escapees (Penny, Hastings and Morgan) kill a cop in a gas-station holdup. Wounded, Morgan flees through black-shadowed streets to the handiest refuge: with former cellmate Steve Lacey, who's paroled, with a new life and lovely wife, and can't afford to be caught associating with old cronies. But homicide detective Sims wants to use Steve to help him catch Penny and Hastings, who in turn extort his help in a bank job. Is there no way out for Steve?

Sterling Hayden films which are available from this website are:

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The Criminal (1960) - 97 mins

Starring Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker, Grégoire Aslan, Margit Saad, Jill Bennett, Rupert Davies & Laurence Naismith

Directed by Joseph Losey

Top crook Johnny Bannion (Stanley Baker) plans a clever bank robbery and it goes off perfectly … but the clerk, Mike Carter (Sam Wanamaker) who responsible for "laundering" the stolen money insists upon a bigger percentage of the take - or he'll blow the whistle. So, instead Johnny hides the money, but he is turned over to the law by his ex-girlfriend, who is in cahoots with Mike. Johnny refuses to reveal the whereabouts of the loot, so his old gang arranges to have him broken out of jail - and also arranges for Johnny’s "accidental" demise.

Directed with gritty realism by American expatriate Joseph Losey, the film was released as Concrete Jungle in the US - both Losey & Sam Wanamaker had fled to England as a result of the Hollywood blacklist.

Other Joseph Losey films which can be found on this website are: The Big Night (1951), King & Country (1964) & Figures in a Landscape (1970)

Criminal Court (1946) - 63 mins

Starring Tom Conway, Martha O'Driscoll, Robert Armstrong, Addison Richards & Steve Brodie.

Directed by Robert Wise

A lawyer who is planning to run for District Attorney accidentally kills a gangster who owns the nightclub where the attorney's girlfriend is a singer. Although he manages to cover up his involvement in the crime, his girlfriend discovers the body and is subsequently charged with the murder. A classic "B" noir from the 40's with a top-flight director.

The Crimson Pirate (1952) - 104 mins

Starring Burt Lancaster, Nick Cravat, Eva Bartok, Torin Thatcher & Christopher Lee

Directed by Robert Siodmak

Burt Lancaster plays a pirate with a taste for intrigue and acrobatics who involves himself in the goings on of a revolution in the Caribbean in the late 1700s. A light hearted adventure involving prison breaks, an oddball Scientist, sailing ships, naval fights, and tons of swordplay. Cult film that offers loads of thrills and laughs to both children & adults.

Burt was also “out West” with Vengeance Valley (1951), Apache (1954) & Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

All of the above are available from this website

Cripple Creek (1952) - 78 mins

Starring George Montgomery, Karin Booth, Jerome Courtland, William Bishop & Richard Egan

Directed by Ray Nazarro

Government agent Bret Ivers (George Montgomery) goes undercover to infiltrate a gang of gold smugglers. With his two partners, Larry & Strap (Jerome Courtland & Richard Egan), they find themselves facing exposure and sudden death at almost every turn in their battle of wits against the villains: erudite-but-deadly Emil Cabeau (John Dehner) and the just-plain-deadly Silver Kirby (William Bishop). Flashy saloon gal, Juliana ‘Julie’ Hanson (Karin Booth) enters the mix with deadly consequences.

Excellent Technicolor print

Crisis (1950) - 95 mins

Starring Cary Grant, José Ferrer, Paula Raymond, Signe Hasso, Ramon Novarro & Gilbert Roland

Directed by Richard Brooks

Cary Grant is the brilliant, world-famous brain surgeon Dr. Eugene Norland Ferguson who, while vacationing in a politically unstable Latin American country with his wife, Helen (Paula Raymond), find themselves the unwilling house guests of dictator Raoul Farrago (José Ferrer). Suffering from a brain tumor, Farrago insists that Ferguson operate at once. The "crisis" of the title arises when revolutionary leader Gonzales (Gilbert Roland) demands that Farrago be killed on the operating table and kidnaps Dr. Ferguson's wife to bind the bargain.

Cary Grant is excellent in this thriller.

Criss Cross (1949) - 87 mins

Starring Burt Lancaster, Yvonne De Carlo, Dan Duryea, Stephen McNally & Richard Long

Directed by Robert Siodmak

Thompson (Lancaster) returns to Los Angeles after an extended absence. He is a complete sap who chooses to blame his life's problems on fate (like many films noir, fate plays a strong role in this one, but Lancaster's character confuses his own inability to make a single good decision as the hand of fate, when he's really just a chump.) He immediately goes after his ex-wife Anna (De Carlo), not really because he wants her back, but because he doesn't want her to date Slim, the crook played by Dan Duryea. When he and De Carlo are caught together by Duryea, he explains that he was pitching a robbery to her, and he wants Duryea to help out. They are going to rob the armored car company that Lancaster managed to get a job at (this is before criminal background checks). Duryea goes along with it, as does De Carlo, but we all know that things aren't going to work out for our hero. A bleak but compelling film noir.

Burt was also “out West” with Vengeance Valley (1951), Apache (1954) & Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

All of the above are available from this website

The Crooked Way (1949) - 90 mins

Starring John Payne, Sonny Tufts, Ellen Drew, Rhys Williams & Percey Helton

Directed by Robert Florey

John Payne plays memory-deficient veteran Eddie Rice, who runs afoul of mobster Vince Alexander (Sonny Tufts) and police inspector Lt. Williams (Rhys Williams). Both the crooks and the cops seem to have good reason to despise Rice, and he'd like to find out why. He won't get any help from his wife Nina (Ellen Drew), however, since she is as hostile towards Rice as everyone else. Gradually, Rice puts the pieces together and discovers that he's far better off not remembering his former self.

The Crooked Way was based on "No Blade Too Sharp", a radio drama by Robert Monroe

Crook’s Tour (1941) - 80 mins

Starring Basil Radford, Naunton Wayne, Greta Gynt, Abraham Sofaer, Charles Oliver & Gordon McLeod

Directed by John Baxter

Charters (Basil Radford) and Caldicott (Naunton Wayne) are touring the Middle East. After visiting Saudi Arabia they find themselves in Bagdad where they are mistaken by a group of German spies for the messengers who are to carry a song record by beautiful singer La Palermo (Greta Gynt) - it contains secret instructions of the German Intelligence. Realizing their error, the German spies follow Charters and Caldicott to Istanbul and Budapest, trying to eliminate them and retrieve the record.

Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne repeat their "Charters and Caldicott" characterizations from both Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes (1938) and Carol Reed’s Night Train to Munich (1940) for this British comedy-mystery. Laughs galore from this ridiculous pair of toffs!

The Lady Vanishes (1938) & Night Train to Munich (1940) are also available from this website.

Crossfire (1947) - 86 mins

Starring Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Gloria Grahame & Paul Kelly

Directed by Edward Dmytryk

Edward Dmytryk's shadowy noir deals with a righteous homicide cop (Young) investigating a murder. Evidence points to demobbed soldier Ryan and his cronies - their motive, anti-Semitism. Mitchum is the sergeant attempting to protect his charges while finding out the truth for himself. This is a classic B-movie, using flashbacks and minimal lighting, making a virtue of its small budget. It's the subject matter and the way it is dealt with that stays with you, explicitly and without apology drawing parallels between the soldiers back from a war and the enemy they were fighting. Brave and impressive stuff.

Academy Award Nominations for Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Ryan), Supporting Actress (Grahame) & Screenplay.

The Cross of Lorraine (1943) - 90 mins

Starring Jean-Pierre Aumont, Gene Kelly, Cedric Hardwicke, Richard Whorf, Hume Cronyn & Peter Lorre

Directed by Tay Garnett

During WWII, a group of disillusioned French soldiers are approached by Nazi troops and promised safe passage to their homeland. The Frenchmen willingly surrender, only to discover that their next destination is a German concentration camp located near a Gallic village. The anticipated escape attempt results in an uprising from the French villagers hence the film's title, which refers to the emblem of the Free-French underground. The Cross of Lorraine has some remarkably graphic sequences showing the extent of German brutality. The melting pot cast includes Frenchman Jean-Pierre Aumont as a patriot, Hungarian Peter Lorre as a hateful Nazi, American Gene Kelly as a cynical victim of German torture, and Canadian Hume Cronyn as the traditionally rodent-like informer.

Crossplot (1969) - 96 mins

Starring Roger Moore, Martha Hyer, Alexis Kanner, Claudie Lange, Derek Francis & Bernard Lee

Directed by Alvin Rakoff

Roger Moore plays advertising executive Gary Fenn in this tale about uncovering a sinister plot to murder a visiting African statesman in London. When a photograph is substituted in an advertising proposal, Gary pursues an elusive model for his campaign. When he finds her, he learns that her name is Marla and begins to work with her on the campaign. Then his good life turns bad when someone tries to kill her and frame him for murder! Suddenly on the lam with thugs and the police in pursuit, Gary learns that Marla has caught them up in a complex game of political intrigue that could cost them their lives!

A solid espionage thriller, with a Roger "The Saint" Moore ultimately thwarting the villains by decoding a message secreted in a crossword puzzle - hence the film's title. A climactic shootout in Hyde Park tops this dry run for Roger Moore's subsequent stint as James Bond. The presence of Bernard Lee, who distinguished himself as "M" in the Bond series, adds considerably to the film

Though Roger Moore was born in England and established himself as star of the British TV series The Saint, Crossplot represents Moore's very first British theatrical film. Roger Moore made only two films after finishing The Saint TV series and before his first Bond feature Live and Let Die (1973): Crossplot (1969) & The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970) - both of which are available from this website

Roger Moore made some other interesting films in and around his James Bond tour of duty: Sherlock Holmes in New York (1976), Shout at the Devil (1976), ffolkes (1979) & The Naked Face (1984) - all of which are available from this website

Crossroads (1942) - 83 mins

Starring William Powell, Hedy Lamarr, Claire Trevor & Basil Rathbone

Directed by Jack Conway

Diplomat David Talbot (William Powell) and his bride Lucienne (Hedy Lamarr) are enjoying a honeymoon in Paris when David is confronted by extortionists who demand money in exchange for not turning him in to the police. David has no idea what the men are talking about and ignores their threats, but the men prove good to their word, and David finds himself on trial for a series of thefts. At the trial, David's name is cleared when Henri Sarrow (Basil Rathbone) testifies that he knew the man who committed the crimes, a friend of his who recently died. However, after the trial, David meets Sarrow, who informs David that he lied under oath; according to Sarrow, David did indeed commit the robberies while suffering from amnesia after a severe blow to the head, and if he wants to keep the facts quiet, he'll do whatever Sarrow says.

Classic stuff with a fabulous cast!

Crosswinds (1951) - 95 mins

Starring John Payne, Rhonda Fleming, Forrest Tucker, Alan Mowbray, Robert Lowery & John Abbott

Directed by Lewis R. Foster

Paramount's Pine-Thomas unit served up another winner with the Technicolor actioner Crosswinds. Set in New Guinea, the film stars John Payne as schooner captain Pete Singleton, who loses his boat to a pair of scheming gold thieves (Forrest Tucker, Robert Lowery). On board the vessel as a semi-reluctant passenger is embittered war widow Katherine Shelley (Rhonda Fleming). With the help of his disreputable chums The Hon Cecil Daubrey (Alan Mowbray) and Sykes (John Abbott), Singleton does his best to retrieve his schooner and claim Katherine for himself. The last reels are chock full of close shaves, hairbreadth escapes, storms at sea and native uprisings. In short, there's something for everyone in Crosswinds.

The screenplay was adapted by Thomson Burtis from his own novel New Guinea Gold.

They don't get much better than this: a top notch adventure recalling Buster Crabbe's The Sea Hound & Pirates of the High Seas movie serials (available from the Movie Serials section of this website) and The Voyage of the Scarlet Queen & The Sea Hound radio shows (available from the Old Time Radio section of this website)

Note: A new print! Which has also been digitally enhanced here - now a quite nice Technicolor rendition - previous customers should contact a Trev for a free upgrade

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The Cruel Sea (1953) - 126 mins

Starring Jack Hawkins, Donald Sinden, John Stratton, Denholm Elliott, John Warner & Stanley Baker

Directed by Charles Frend

In this seagoing military drama set in World War II, Lt. Comdr. Ericson (Jack Hawkins) is made captain of a British Corvette, a small escort vessel used to guide and protect convoys travelling through the Atlantic. Ericson had his confidence severely shaken during his last command, in which he lost his ship and most of its men following an attack by a German U-boat. As he leads a new and largely inexperienced crew aboard the H.M.S. Compass Rose, Ericson is once again thrown into a life-and-death dilemma that forces him to choose between destroying an enemy ship and sparing the lives of his own men.

Breakthrough early performances from Denholm Elliott and Virginia McKenna - based on a best-selling novel by Nicholas Monsarrat, who stipulated that the film rights could be sold only to a British company.

Oscar Nominated for Best Screenplay

The Crusades (1935) - 125 mins

Starring Loretta Young, Henry Wilcoxon, Ian Keith, C. Aubrey Smith, Katherine DeMille & Alan Hale

Directed by Cecil B. DeMille

The Crusades begins in the 12th-century AD, when Jerusalem falls into the hands of the Saracens, and the Christians are slaughtered or sold into slavery. A holy man known as The Hermit (C. Aubrey Smith) rallies the rulers of England and Europe to launch a Crusade to reclaim Jerusalem in the name of Christianity. Among those embarking upon this massive undertaking is England's King Richard the Lion-Hearted (Henry Wilcoxon), who finances his knights by marrying wealthy French princess Berengaria (Loretta Young) sight unseen. Saladin (Ian Keith), the elegant and well-spoken ruler of the Saracens, attempts to stave off the crusaders by kidnapping Berengaria and holding her hostage. Sensing that he can never win against so formidable a collection of foes, Saladin eventually opens the gates of Jerusalem to all but Richard the Lion-Hearted, with whom he has a personal score to settle.

A Huge Production! - as big as The Crusades!

Oscar Nominated for Best Cinematography

Cry Danger (1951) - 79 mins

Starring Dick Powell, Rhonda Fleming, Richard Erdman, William Conrad & Regis Toomey

Directed by Robert Parrish

Rocky Mulloy, back in town after serving 5 years of a life sentence for armed robbery, hopes to clear his friend Danny Morgan who's still in prison for the same crime. It won't be easy. Even the witness who cleared Rocky thinks he's guilty; Danny's glamorous wife Nancy, living in a sleazy trailer court, seems lukewarm about getting Danny back; cynical cop Gus Cobb just wants to stir things up in hopes that the missing "hot" $100,000 will surface. Plenty of tough talk, night scenes, deceptive dames and double crosses in this atmospheric film noir.

Note that this film is part of the Dick Powell "Drama" Combination which can be found in the Classic Movie Combinations section of this website.

A Cry in the Night (1956) - 75 mins

Starring Edmond O'Brien, Brian Donlevy, Natalie Wood, Raymond Burr, Richard Anderson, Carol Veazie & Mary Lawrence

Directed by Frank Tuttle

Natalie Wood plays what was touted as her first "grown up" role in the tense melodrama. Based loosely on the Caryl Chessman case, the film showcases Raymond Burr as a psycho who stalks and attacks young couples on Lover's Lane. Overpowering Wood's boyfriend, Burr kidnaps the girl and locks her up in a seedy one-room apartment. Though he barely lays a hand on her, Wood has every reason to be terrified of her captor, who has a disturbing habit of brutally killing small animals. Meanwhile, Wood's police-captain father Edmond O'Brien brusquely ignores all manner of civil liberties as he and fellow officer Brian Donlevy turn the town inside out in search of the girl and her abductor. Carol Veazie appears as Burr's blowsy, dominating mother, while Mary Lawrence offers an interesting characterization as Wood's plain-Jane sister, who is jealous of all the attention showered on her missing sibling.

Note: A new print! Now perfect - previous customers should contact a Trev for a free upgrade

Cry of the City (1948) - 95 mins

Starring Victor Mature, Richard Conte, Fred Clark, Shelley Winters & Betty Garde

Directed by Robert Siodmak

The story of two tenement-bred, Italian-American, childhood-friends who grow up with radically different views on crime, and are pitted against each other while following their chosen paths: Gangster Martin Rome is seriously wounded during a gun-battle in which he has killed a policeman, while Police Lieutenant-Detective Candella, of the homicide squad, is seeking the solution to another murder in which he suspects Rome may have been involved. Rome is taken to a prison hospital, but he escapes and murders again in an attempt to protect a girl who was innocently involved in some of his crimes. From there, the detective tries to track down Rome, and attempt to shatter the artificial illusions or hero worship on the part of Rome's younger brother.

Excellent noir!

Cry of the Innocent (1980) - 93 mins

Starring Rod Taylor, Joanna Pettet, Nigel Davenport, Cyril Cusack & Walter Gotell

Directed by Michael O'Herlihy

Filmed in Ireland, this big budget movie stars Rod Taylor as an American insurance executive on a grim mission. A private plane has exploded, killing Taylor's wife and children. Also on board was a scientist who was the target of the criminals who engineered the tragedy. A secret formula worth untold millions becomes the centre-piece of the ensuing story and aiding Taylor in bringing the murderers to justice is journalist Joanna Pettet, who bears a close resemblance to Taylor's ex-wife (Pettet plays both roles).

Based on a novel by Frederick Forsyth, with Rod again to the fore in a realistic display

The TV Series section of this website also contains DVD sets of Rod's two TV series: Hong Kong (1960-61) and Bearcats! (1971)

Cry Terror! (1958) - 96 mins

Starring James Mason, Inger Stevens, Rod Steiger, Neville Brand, Angie Dickinson & Kenneth Tobey

Directed by Andrew L. Stone

James Mason plays a television repairman coerced to participate in an extortion plot engineering by bespectacled criminal mastermind Rod Steiger. The villain wants to utilize Mason's technical expertise in rigging up a bomb on an airliner. To insure Mason's cooperation, Steiger's minions hold the repairman's wife (Inger Stevens) and children hostage.

Director Andrew L. Stone, a stickler for realism, filmed Cry Terror! in its entirety on location in New York.

Cry Wolf (1947) - 83 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Barbara Stanwyck, Geraldine Brooks, Richard Basehart, Jerome Cowan & John Ridgely

Directed by Peter Godfrey

The tense psychological drama Cry Wolf offers a fascinating if not altogether successful change of pace for action star Errol Flynn. Most of the story takes place at a remote and forbidding mansion, where Sandra Marshall (Barbara Stanwyck), the widow of the house's owner, arrives to take charge. An apparent golddigger, Sandra refuses to be bought off with a small cash settlement and insists on claiming her late husband's entire estate, which earns her a powerful enemy in the form of research scientist Mark Caldwell (Flynn). Upon learning that her headstrong sister-in-law Julie (Geraldine Brooks) is kept a virtual prisoner in the house, Sandra begins suspecting that Caldwell is up to no good - a suspicion seemingly confirmed when Julie dies under mysterious circumstances. But as the story slowly unravels, it becomes clear that Caldwell is actually … best not to give too much away here.

Cry Wolf was Geraldine Brooks' first film, and the second for her costar Richard Basehart

Cult of the Cobra (1955) - 82 mins

Starring Richard Long, Faith Domergue, Marshall Thompson, Kathleen Hughes, Jack Kelly & William Reynolds

Directed by Francis D. Lyon

Six GIs stationed in Asia secretly photograph the arcane rituals of a group of cobra worshippers. At the climax of the ceremony, the cult members turn themselves into snakes. The high priestess catches the soldiers spying and throws a curse upon them. Soon after they return to the US, the vengeful priestess follows them and people begin to die from snake venom poisoning, adding credence to the strange tale told by a surviving GI to the police, who become less sceptical as more evidence is unearthed. More trouble follows when the serpentine goddess falls for the ex-soldier's room-mate.

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) - 82 mins

Starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Hazel Court, Robert Urquhart, Melvyn Hayes & Valerie Gaunt

Directed by Terence Fisher

Told in flashback, the story centers around Baron Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing), a dangerously arrogant scientist coming from a fatherless background and embracing only science and reason with any real conviction, who takes it upon himself to play God. Using portions of dead bodies, Victor fashions a synthetic monster (Christopher Lee) Finally and Frankenstein will stop at nothing to achieve the fame, glory and notoriety he desires. His lack of regard for others is frightening even to his mentor Paul Krempe (Robert Urquhart) who warns him against tampering with the forces of nature and that nothing good will come from it. The imperious Baron orchestrates two murders by "borrowing" the brain of a learned professor, then leaving his next victim at the mercy of the monster.

This was British Hammer Films opening entry into their Horror re-imagining of classic Universal Studios monster films and it is still one of the best - Peter Cushing is outstanding in the role and adds a real sense of tragedy, genius and malice! The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) was followed by Hammer's The Abominable Snowman (1957) with Cushing again to the fore - The Abominable Snowman (1957) is also available from this website

Fans of "Hammer Horror with Peter Cushing & Christopher Lee" might like to check out Horror of Dracula (1958) & The Mummy (1959) elsewhere in this INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section of this website.

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) is also part of the Frankenstein, Dracula & The Wolf Man multi-film DVD boxed set which can be found in the Movie Series section (under “F”) of this website

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The Curse of the Cat People (1944) - 70 mins

Starring Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Jane Randolph & Ann Carter

Directed by Robert Wise & Gunther von Fritsch

This sequel to Cat People (1942) has Amy, the young daughter of Oliver and Alice Reed. Amy is a very imaginative child who has trouble differentiating fantasy from reality, and has no friends her own age as a result. She makes an imaginary friend though, her father's dead first wife Irena. At about the same time, she befriends Julia Farren, an aging reclusive actress who is alienated from her own daughter Barbara.

Sixth in an incredible run of nine psychological horror films from gifted producer Val Lewton. The “Lewton Nine” consist of: Cat People (1942), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), The Leopard Man (1943), The Seventh Victim (1943), The Ghost Ship (1943), The Curse of the Cat People (1944), The Body Snatcher (1945), Isle of the Dead (1945), Bedlam (1946). All nine films are available from this (INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES) section of the website - they are also available in a series of multi-film DVD sets from within the Classic Movie Combinations section

Curse of the Demon (1957) - see Night of the Demon (1957) elsewhere in this website

Curse of the Fly (1965) - 86 mins

Starring Brian Donlevy, George Baker, Carole Gray, Yvette Rees, Michael Graham & Burt Kwouk

Directed by Don Sharp

A young woman escapes from a mental institution and ends up at the home of the Delambre family. There she finds Henri Delambre (Brian Donlevy) continuing the experiments of his dead father, in using a machine to teleport people from one place to another. She also finds his handsome son Albert whom she eventually marries. After she discovers a closet filled with failed teleportation experiments, the police are notified. The crazed scientist tries to use his machine. But things just don't go according to plan

Preceded by The Fly (1958) & Return of the Fly (1959) - both with Vincent Price. They are also available from this website

Curtain at Eight (1933) - 62 mins

Starring Dorothy Mackaill, C. Aubrey Smith, Paul Cavanagh, Sam Hardy & Russell Hopton

Directed by E. Mason Hopper

A "locked door" murder mystery, Curtain at Eight, takes place at a Broadway theatre, where a much-hated stage star Wylie Thornton (Paul Cavanaugh) is bumped off early in the proceedings. Crusty city detective Jim Hanvey (C. Aubrey Smith) and his dim-witted assistant Marty Gallagher (Sam Hardy) try to solve the crime before fast-talking reporter Terry Mooney (Russell Hopton) beats them to the punch.

Excellent light-hearted who-dun-it

The Cyclops (1957) - 66 mins

Starring James Craig, Gloria Talbott, Lon Chaney Jr., Tom Drake & Duncan Parkin

Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Susan Winter (Gloria Talbott) is a young American woman who hires soldier-of-fortune Russ Bradford (James Craig) to lead an expedition into a remote valley in Mexico where her fiance, Bruce Barton, was lost in a plane crash two years earlier. Also along are greedy speculator Marty Melville (Lon Chaney Jr.) and pilot Lee Brand (Tom Drake). They get to the valley and discover that it is rich in deposits of uranium (as rumoured), but also dangerously radioactive - the immediate threats include giant insects and spiders and huge mutated lizards. Susan is positive that they're being watched by an unseen observer: is it 25 feet tall, with a disfigured face, a single eye, and motivated by the most bestial of impulses?

Sci-Fi chiller from writer/director Bert I. Gordon - he also penned (& helmed) The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) as well as its sequel War of the Colossal Man (1958) - both of which are available from this website