Steve-171 Reviews

Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952)

Not nearly as bad as legend has it.

[4/10 · 4 August 2000]

Okay, once you get past the fact that Mitchell and Petrillo are Dean and Jerry knockoffs, you could do worse than this film. Charlita as Princess Nona is great eye candy, Lugosi does his best with the material he's given, and the production values, music especially (except for the vocals) are better than you'd think for the $50k cost of production. The final glimpses of the characters are a hoot. Written by Tim Ryan, a minor actor in late Charlie Chan films, and husband of Grannie on the Beverly Hillbillies. All in all, WAY better than many late Lugosi cheapies.

The Lost City (I) (1935)

Either a hoot or a horror, depending on your mindset

[4/10 · 4 August 2000]

Okay, I've seen this thing twice. As a kid, it was totally insane, or at least that's what the grownups kept telling me. Seen through adult eyes, it's a little different. As a serial, it's floating on the muck at the bottom of the barrel. Campy, hammy performances, especially "Stage" Boyd as the maniac ruler, and Claudia Dell, who cringes and flutters like Glinda the Good Witch on crack. Kane Richmond tries hard. But there are points of interest. George Hayes does a fair job of acting before he turned sidekick and was dubbed Gabby. Special effects are pretty good for the time. With a few beers and friends, this could be a fine party tape.

The Green Hornet Strikes Again! (1940)

Okay but not great serial.

[5/10 · 3 August 2000]

Not to be taken at one sitting. Spread out over a week or two it is much easier to get involved. Some good characters, plot that is not too nonsensical. Head bad guy Watkin went on to be Perry White in the Superman serials. Keye Luke affects an oriental accent he didn't have. Comic highlight (unintentional) is Ferronti, the gangster in the last couple of chapters, who is a walking greasy cliche. All in all, fair Universal product. Don't pay more than ten bucks for it, tho...

Crossed Swords (1954)

Interesting mostly to Flynn fans, okay otherwise.

[6/10 · 5 April 2000]

Almost the Holy Grail for Flynn fans, this movie's virtually impossible to find. A routine costumer in most respects, it is notable to Flynn enthusiasts because, for once, he seems to be having a good time, with occasional flashes of the famous Flynn charm shining through, a rarity in his later pictures. Dubbed, sometimes badly, but good costumes and sets, and Gina and several other ladies are lovely to look at.

The Great Alaskan Mystery (1944)

Okay serial, more plot and characters than usual.

[6/10 · 1 December 1999]

Okay Universal serial is interesting for casting, such as "slow burn" 2nd banana Edgar Kennedy as the sidekick, Milburn Stone (Doc on Gunsmoke) as the action lead, and dependable Nazi Martin Kosleck as one of the baddies. Anthony Warde is his usual menacing self, and Marjorie Weaver is lovely, as is the uncredited blonde secretary. An abundance of stock footage and cheezy special effects, but hey---you've gotta suspend your disbelief for most serials anyway. Just the thing for a long winter evening.

Desperadoes of the West (1950)

Okay time killer.

[5/10 · 22 November 1999]

Republic's serial division was running out of steam about the time they made this one. Of interest, as always, is Roy Barcroft as the action heavy...another good, solid performance. Stan Jolley is a suitably oily villain, and heroine Judy Clark actually gets to fire a gun at a critical moment. The poor saloon gets wrecked every other chapter, and the hero is as memorable as last year's breakfast, but there actually is a plot, and most of the cliffhanger endings are good, if reused from other serials. Good deal if at a good sale price...

Mysterious Doctor Satan (1940)

Top-notch serial action

[8/10 · 23 September 1999]

One of Republic's best serials, and that says a lot. Great cliffhanger endings, top drawer stuntwork from David Sharpe, decent acting, and a really malevolent villain all add up to a great time for all. Also great to see the bad guy get top billing. This is what a serial was all about, folks.

Mars, God of War (1962)

Best sleep inducer since melatonin.

[2/10 · 10 September 1999]

Lord, what a stinkeroo. I haven't seen it through at one sitting yet, because I keep dropping into a confused doze. It was obviously redone as a Son of Hercules film to add to that series when it was shopped to TV in the 60s, because when Son talks to Daddy, Herc is now on Olympus tossing thunderbolts. One great line, tho---When Son tells Dad he wants to forfeit his immortality for love of a mortal, Dad says fine---"You will be a mortal FOREVER!" MST3K should've grabbed this turkey.

The Death Kiss (1932)

Interesting early talkie, movie in murder studio.

[6/10 · 5 August 1999]

Not bad little cheapie, an early talkie about a murder in a movie studio. Enough clues to go on, some good red herrings, and only a couple of holes in the plot. Of course, to film buffs, Lugosi is the main attraction, but his part is small and his accent distracts. Interesting peeks at working movie company in the 30s.

Scared to Death (1946)

Laughably inept in every way, but Lugosi's okay.

[3/10 · 2 August 1999]

Norm thinks more of this turkey than I do. I found it inept in plotting, dialog, direction---well, everything. Lugosi tries, but the deck's stacked against him. Watch as Zucco takes the dead girl's pulse, lets go of her hand, and it hangs there for a second before dropping to the floor. Lines get flubbed but they go on anyway. Hear the corpse stick her two cents in periodically, while the same spooky chord plays every time. Okay, I've seen it, but the next time I watch it I'll have some liquored up friends over for some solid laughs.

Zorro Rides Again (1937)

Good early Republic western action

[7/10 · 27 July 1999]

Good early Republic actioner. Only one cheat at a chapter ending, where you see Zorro fall from a building, but the next chapter shows him still hanging there. Carroll is best, Renaldo is fun, and Yakima Cannutt's stunt work is first rate. If only they didn't have Zorro SING!

Haunted Harbor (1944)

Top of the line thriller from Republic's serial division.

[8/10 · 19 July 1999]

One of the best from Republic serials division. Actual plot, a dashing hero who can act, a heroine who at least starts out feisty (before she starts getting knocked out every episode), great cliffhanger endings, and a set totally demolished by the stuntmen in every chapter. Okay, the sea serpent ain't much, but everything else is!

The Invisible Monster (1950)

Okay Republic actioner.

[5/10 · 15 July 1999]

If you haven't seen many serials, this would be a good start. If you're a serial veteran, you'll recognize almost all of the cliffhanger endings, which have been lifted from other Republic serials. Richard Webb, later TV's Captain Midnight, delivers a stiff performance and a lot of punches: at least one set per chapter is demolished in a slugfest. John Hamilton, TV's Perry White in Superman, has a small part in the first and final chapter. For plot, there's even less logic than usual: bad guy wants to take over world with an army of invisible soldiers, but can barely manage to keep himself invisible. Overall, below average.

Federal Operator 99 (1945)

Good, solid actioner.

[7/10 · 12 July 1999]

Good, solid thriller-diller from Republic. Lamont is effective, but why is this English-accented guy working for the US government? Helen Talbot is GORGEOUS, and Lorna Gray as the bad girl is not far behind. George J. Lewis gets a chance to be the "brains" bad guy, and does it well, but after five or six chapters you get plenty sick of his constantly playing the Moonlight Sonata (don't you know ANYTHING else?). Wally Wales is an adequate lantern-jawed henchman, and all of Republic's best stuntmen show up more than once, usually after being killed off earlier, to bust up the furniture in a slugfest. All in all, a fun romp!

The Shadow (1940)

Oh, what this could've been...

[6/10 · 29 June 1999]

Typical Columbia missed opportunity. Silly plot, director more at home in comedy shorts (and it shows), and a ludicrous villain with all the real menace of a banana; but it could have been bearable if they hadn't changed the Shadow himself so much. Victor Jory makes the most of the material, but now he's just a criminologist who tosses on a cloak and hat and goes around fighting evil. No invisibility (although the bad guy CAN), hardly any mocking laughter, just explosion after explosion trapping him, only to have him rise from the debris, dust himself off, and head out the door to the next explosion. Turn off the lights and go back to the radio...

Deep Sea Fishing (1952)

Flynn home movie, fish have all the action.

[3/10 · 25 June 1999]

Home movie of Flynn and archer Howard Hill off Acapulco, going after big fish. Silent with pompous narration, worth watching for Flynn completists only.

Cruise of the Zaca (1952)

Not very interesting travelogue.

[4/10 · 25 June 1999]

Type of film they'd show at a Saturday matinee between the cartoons and the first feature, to boost popcorn sales. Flynn and his yacht grab some marine biologists and stop at some islands to pick up specimens. Interesting to Flynn fans, to see his hair long prior to filming DON JUAN, but pretty dull for anybody else.

King of the Forest Rangers (1946)

Quintessential Republic serial

[6/10 · 23 June 1999]

Okay, neither the hero nor the chief villain can act worth a nickle, and the heroine could be knocked out with a hard look, but if you're looking for a prime example of Republic serial fare, this is it. Tons of action, escapes that are imaginative, and a sterling performance from Anthony Warde as the main henchman make this a prime example of what a serial should be, courtesy the Republic Thrill Factory.

The Chinese Ring (1947)

Okay entry in deteriorating Chan series.

[5/10 · 8 June 1999]

Okay entry for Winters in his debut as Chan, following Sidney Toler's death. Plot is almost line-for-line copy of MR WONG IN CHINATOWN. Byron Foulger nearly steals show as nervous banker, and Louise Currie is gorgeous, but material and pedestrian direction sink production. Watchable, but the nap monster will probably get you.

Manhunt of Mystery Island (1945)

Rip-Snorting action from the serial champs.

[8/10 · 8 June 1999]

Top of the line serial from Republic. Great cliffhanger endings, flagging only slightly in later chapters. Bailey is an effective (if slightly dorky looking) hero, Linda Stirling is lovely and gets involved in the action (although she does get knocked cold every other chapter), and Duncan is an effective henchman. Roy Barcroft, as Captain Mephisto, steals the show. Barcroft considered this role his best and personal favorite, and it's easy to see why: he obviously relishes his villainy, looks great in the costume, and throws himself into the fights. All around classic from the Republic thrill factory.

The Chinese Ring (1947)

Okay entry in series

[5/10 · 7 June 1999]

Winters' debut as Chan is okay, but film is a near line-by-line remake of MR. WONG IN CHINATOWN, and the story wasn't great then. Foulger has meaty part as nervous banker, Ahn looks inscrutable, Moreland rolls his eyes, and Louise Currie is gorgeous, but pedestrian direction and cheapo production sink this for all but Chan fans.

Bulldog Drummond (1929)

Creaks a bit, but fun.

[6/10 · 2 June 1999]

Melodramatic, overacted, and occasionally senseless, but who cares? Colman is almost devestatingly charming in his first talkie, Bennett is lovely (but a bit whiny at first), and Algy is a first class twit. The villains are vile, the action is fast once you adjust, and Colman is a sheer delight to watch. Why there hasn't been a major Colman revival is beyond comprehension.

The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu (1929)

Early talkie has atmosphere, doesn't hold interest.

[6/10 · 26 May 1999]

Very early talkie featuring pre-Charlie Chan Oland as mad Doctor, primitive with slow stretches, but watchable. They couldn't stray far from the microphone, so some scenes are VERY static with nobody moving. Comic relief just plain stupid. Interesting trivia: William Austin (Sylvester) later played Batman's butler, Alfred, in serials, while Neil Hamilton (Jack Petrie) MUCH later played Commissioner Gordon in the 60s TV Series. O. P. Heggie, a very wooden Nayland Smith, gained immortality as the blind hermit who befriends the monster in BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN.

The Phantom of Crestwood (1932)

Great "dark and stormy night" mystery

[8/10 · 19 May 1999]

Great early film with solid, considered performances from usual second leads Cortez and Morley. This was apparently originally a radio serial, with listeners entering a contest to solve the mystery. However, when the movie was produced, no attempt to follow the winning solution was made. CRESTWOOD is a great response to those dolts who think anything in "black and white with dead guys in it" can't possibly be worth seeing.

Don Daredevil Rides Again (1951)

Okay Republic serial.

[6/10 · 13 May 1999]

Okay Republic effort, with Curtis likeable as hero (THAT was FESTUS?), Barcroft good as bad guy. The saloon gets torn up in a brawl every other chapter, and some of the thrills IN the chapter are better than the cliffhanger endings, but considering the idea was to use stock footage of other guys in the Zorro suit (including Linda Stirling), DON DAREDEVIL comes off pretty good.