ejrjr Reviews

After the Sunset (2004)

Contrived Nonsense

[3/10 · 17 April 2012]

Perhaps a lobotomized mollusk could endure this paint-by-the numbers masterpiece. Even Salma Hayek in a skimpy bikini and lingerie can't save this contrived nonsense. However, I must admit that Woody Harrelson playing Stanley Lloyd, a doofus FBI agent is worth a chuckle. If Stanley is based on a real agent, it is easy to understand why the FBI bungled the 9/11 attacks against the Twin Towers in Manhattan and the Pentagon.

In reality, this seems to be a lame sequel to the revised version of the The Thomas Crown Affair, starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo. Except, this time, Pierce has switched from stealing art to jewels.

There are so many holes in the script that you could drive convoys through them. For example, Agent Stan is suspended by the FBI after allowing Max to steal a rare diamond that was in a case carried by Stan. But, although suspended from the Bureau, Stan magically appears in Nassau, Bahamas, with his gun, badge, identification card and six suitcases of high-tech surveillance equipment. And, he walks right through Bahamian Customs without anyone questioning.

This was a big-budget movie (estimated at $58 million) which was initially released by New Line Cinema during 12 November 2004. It never made money. After two years the worldwide gross was a meager $61.3 million which means New Line only received approximately $30 million.

It is difficult to believe that Pierce, Salma, Woody and Don Cheadle read the pathetic script by Paul Zbyszewski (who during 2010 became co-executive producer of the Hawaii Five-O TV series). Apparently, director Brett Ratner simply offered big money and they gladly conspired to swindle the public. Obviously, New Line and Brett Ratner thought Pierce, Salma, Woody and Don in a movie was a slam dunk.

The love-story subplot between Pierce and Salma is pathetic and the pseudo love scenes are lame. But, they are magnificent compared to the bi-racial love story between Woody and Naomie Harris, who plays Sophie, a local Nassau cop. During their big love scene she receives a call on her cell phone and pushes Woody away. He begs for five minutes. "Can you do it in two minutes," she asks. He says "yes" and begins humping while they are still wearing underwear.

I won't bother explaining the idiotic ending other than to say it is appropriate for a Saturday morning kid's show.

The Phantom Planet (1961)

Low budget but visionary

[5/10 · 19 August 2008]

Low budget production but the script is visionary in regards to anti-gravity and magnetic fields. Nuclear physicist Robert Lazar who worked at Area 51 in Nevada during the 1990s, says his job was to back-engineer a spacecraft that apparently used anti-gravity for propulsion. While, he and other scientists could theorize about anti-gravity, they and nobody else had the knowledge to create or utilize such.

Also, magnetic walls have long been studied and attempted by U.S. Department of Defense research scientists.

So, while it is easy to dismiss this film due to hokey characters and cliché love story, the script is visionary for a 1961 movie. There are many other sci-fi films far worse than this such as Santa Claus Conquers the Martians with Pia Zadora. If you want bad, this is not bad. However, it is good for low-budget films but it is not good in the context of big budget sci-fi films.

Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion: Guns for Sale (1956) Season 2, Episode 12

Timely story

[6/10 · 6 November 2007]

Guns are being smuggled in by an illegal immigrant. No it isn't about the United States during 2008 but rather Morocco during 1956. Captain Gallant is always enjoyable because it was shot in Morocco. Buster Crabbe plays a French Foreign Legion officer which is rather ridiculous but nobody would have an watched evil and sadistic Frenchman.

While the story seems real there are major holes in the script. This episode was probably shot during Spring 1956 because it was first broadcast December 2, 1956. Morocco became independent during 1956. Arms could only arrive by land from the Western Sahara to the south or French Algeria to the east.

Western Sahara was a desert wasteland. French Algeria was in the beginning of a violent civil war which commenced during November, 1954. It would have made sense if guns were being smuggled into French Algeria.

It is amusing to watch clean, cool Legionaires pursue evil Arabs. What is more amusing is the presentation of Colonialism as a benevolent situation. This script could have been a sitcom about the Viet-Nam war.

I'm the Law: The Powder Box Smuggling Story (1953) Season 1, Episode 4

Smuggling story with many twists

[6/10 · 18 October 2007]

George Raft is a New York (City) Police Department lieutenant called to investigate what appears to be a simple assault and murder of a merchant seaman while walking with his girlfriend. But, of course that is the the big setup because why would a merchant seaman be randomly murdered.

The long and winding road leads to face powder which eventually is discovered to contain expensive jewelry smuggled from France to NYC. However, this is another diversion.

The owner of the cosmetics company looks like the proverbial Mister Big behind the smuggling operation. But, again the viewer is being mislead. At the end we learn the true culprit.

This series was shot in a soundstage but fortunately the producer had the money and desire to use a second unit to shoot location shots in NYC. However, we never see George Raft at NYC locations.

This is a well-written series and Raft is a great detective. So, I recommend watching a few episodes if you can find such.

Lock Up: A Reputation (1960) Season 1, Episode 16

Leap of faith

[5/10 · 17 October 2007]

Willie Clark is framed for the murder of the State Attorney investigating local crime boss John Kellso. So far, so good. But, we are shown that Willie was talking with the State Attorney when assassinated and the murderer put the gun in Willie's car.

Fast forward to the end. Willie is shot by Kelso after John Kellso reads Willie's file stolen from attorney Herb Maris, who sprung Willie from jail. Maris and the police arrive as Willie captures Kellso with a fork-lift in a warehouse. Kellso says shooting Willie was an accident and Maris agrees but adds, that the bullet in Willie's arm will convict him of murder.

Did I miss something? The murdered was Glenn Schneider (Snyder?) an investigator for the State Attorney, who later was murdered but we never know truly know if by Kellso.

However, Willie and John are great characters and testimony that stupid people can succeed in crime.

Public Defender: Operation Cleat (1955) Season 2, Episode 39

When lawyers were heroes

[5/10 · 16 October 2007]

Reed Hadley plays a public defender helping the indigent, poor and abused. In this case it is a young man desperate for money who driving stolen cars to Mexico for his boss, the owner of a vehicle repair garage. After he is captured his younger brother wanders into the garage searching for him and the garage owner sends him to Mexico in a stolen car. Of course he is arrested. So, both are being held because they do not have family or friends to post bail. The older brother volunteers to work for the police if they drop charges against his younger brother. The big climax is Mr. Big and his goons beating the police informant. Fortunately, the cavalry comes to rescue as he lapses into unconsciousness. Mister Public Defender has saved another sucker from a life of crime.

This is low budget even by Hal Roach standards as obviously the studio was rapidly sinking. But, this series survived two seasons.

Riverboat: Listen to the Nightingale (1961) Season 2, Episode 13

Sultry songbird seduces Captain Holden

[6/10 · 12 October 2007]

Darren McGavin as Captain Grey Holden meets his match in the Julie the English nightingale who ironically is employed by con-artist Samson J. Binton, alleged mentor of P.T. Barnum. Captain Holden and his partner Bill Blake (a young Noah Berry, who you may remember as Jim Rockford's father in the Rockford Files) are about to lose their riverboat if they cannot quickly raise money to pay their loan.

Along comes Samson J. Binton and his troupe of entertainers who need transport to New Orleans to play a gig starring Julie. But, Binton does not have any money. However, he is willing to pledge his contract as collateral.

Unfortunately, Julie has decided that it is time for a lifestyle change and wants to return to nature and be one of the "real" people. Of course if she does not perform in New Orleans, then Binton does not get paid and in turn Holden does not get paid and loses his boat. The rest you can figure as this is television drama during 1961. By the way, Julie is truly a living doll.

The Man Behind the Badge: The Case of the Deadly Delicacy (1955) Season 2, Episode 14

Sweet but deadly

[7/10 · 11 October 2007]

Charles Bickford hosts this crime drama series produced by Bernard J. Prockter. This still timely episode features an inspector for the Food and Drug Administration sent to Hunter, VA as townspeople become seriously ill. Eventually, the FDA agent learns that a local woman who bakes and sells fruit cakes from her home is the problem source.

However, she is near death in a local hospital and fruit cakes are still in the hands of the public. Moreover, the FDA laboratory confirms arsenic poisoning as the cause of illness, so FDA inspectors must learn how such is getting in the fruit cakes.

The script is still relevant and while the drama is slightly contrived, this is still an entertaining and enlightening episode. I cannot speak for the series because this is the only episode I have watched. However, I would eagerly watch others. This was produced by Conne-Stephens Inc for Bernard Prockter Television Services, Inc.

So This Is Hollywood: A Friend in Need (1955) Season 1, Episode 4

The good life in Hollywood.

[6/10 · 11 October 2007]

Virginia Gibson stars in this early sitcom about an aspiring actress in Hollywood who lives at La Paloma Court. Surprisingly, the episode includes scenes shot on location in and around Hollywood, although most action occurs inside sound-stage sets. This 1955 series still generates laughs although most situations have now been beat to death.

Mitzie Green co-stars as roommate and also aspiring actress. Episode four focuses on their next-door neighbor Oliver Hampton, a former star who has not worked in twenty years. However, he still drives a Roll Royce, albeit a classic.

In this story, Oliver Hampton attempts to help Virginia Gibson obtain a screen-test at Imperial Studios, which is commanded by a former friend. In the end, the love you give is equal to the love you get. Unfortunately, this series only survived 24 episodes during 1955 and is almost impossible to view as surviving prints are scarce.

Operation C.I.A. (1965)

Weekend in Bangkok

[2/10 · 12 August 2007]

If you want to watch a young Burt Reynolds pretend to act then this will fulfill your desire. Allegedly, this 1965 film is about espionage in Sai Gon, Viet-Nam. Unfortunately, the only thing accurate is the portrayal of incompetent CIA agents. The film opens with a CIA agent standing on a steet corner when a young man on a small motorcycle stops, dismounts and walks away. The alleged CIA is not suspicious and is killed by a bomb attached to the motorcycle.

Suddenly, Burt Reynolds is dispatched as a university professor with expertise in agriculture. He is educated about Viet-Nam's Mekong Delta region while flying to Hong Kong. Strangely he then takes a Thai Airways airplane to Bangkok rather than Sai Gon. The film was shot in Bangkok. Note the business signs and of course the Thai temples which do not exist is Sai Gon. Also, note the aircraft and airport buses are Thai Airways.

Supposedly, a British journalist is conspiring with some Thais (pretending to be Vietnamese) planning to assassinate the U.S. Ambassador for unknown reason. This is remotely related to events during 1945 not 1965.

General Douglas Gracey commander of the British Army in Annam (southern Viet-Nam) during 1945 conspired with French and Vietnamese agents in Sai Gon, to kill the leader of the U.S. Army OSS (forerunner of the CIA) team who was trying to negotiate with political groups aligned with the Viet-Minh in Tonkin, led by Ho Chi Minh. Gracey supported France's claim for former colonies even though President Franklin Roosevelt before his death was publicly against France taking control of such due to previous despicable colonial policies. But, I seriously doubt the scriptwriters knew anything about the political situation in southern Viet-Nam during 1945.

This film needs a logical script. Apparently, the only reason this film was produced was to spend money sitting in Thailand or simply to visit and enjoy Thai massage girls.

Obviously, during 1965, few people knew Bangkok from Sai Gon. But after eight years of war and millions of photos sent home by soldiers, it is difficult to pretend Bangkok is Sai Gon. Also, none of the Thai girls wear the white Ao Dai costume common with Vietnamese schoolgirls.

Other than being a Bert Reynolds fan, the only other reason to watch this film is if you want to see Bangkok during 1964 - 1965.

Stagecoach to Denver (1946)

Uncle Red saves Dickie

[6/10 · 10 August 2007]

Allan Lane is Red Ryder and Robert Blake is Little Beaver in this outing which revolves around a double-crossing stagecoach owner in Elkhorn, Colorado and Dickie, an injured orphan who needs a risky back operation.

The script is above average and the ending although predictable has an unusual twist. There are some good chase scenes and gun battles plus several subplots which help make this a cut above average.

Red is a stagecoach driver for the Duchess, owner of the line south of Elkhorn. However, for unexplained reasons, Red does not regularly work. Instead, he he is consumed with exposing a fake land commissioner and his cohorts including the sheriff of Elkhorn.

If you like Red Ryder you will like this film. If you have not watched Red Ryder, this is a good choice to first watch.

Lock Up (1959–1961)

Innocent until proved guilty

[8/10 · 4 August 2007]

Herbert L. Maris was a real corporate attorney in Philadelphia who devoted his spare time helping wrongly accused persons. Maris strongly believed in the fundamental canon of English/U.S. law: a person is innocent until proved guilty. The 78 episodes in the Ziv syndicated series are each based on a case history from the personal files of Herb Maris, who is played by MacDonald Carey.

This series is more police investigation like Dragnet than Perry Mason as there is little courtroom drama. Circumstantial evidence is the key element in each story and is used to discredit a suspect. But, Herb Maris always triumphs because as he says "this case is about justice." Each episode has a strong moral message but they are not obtrusive or offensive. Lock Up is a window into America before the 60s cultural revolution. This is America in the late 1950s before Viet-Nam, the Summer of Love, and the beginning of FM radio stations playing rock 'n' roll.

If you like programs with simple story lines and actors who can act, then you will enjoy Lock Up. If you like unscripted television programs without actors, then just keep watching American Idol, the Great Race, or poker games.

The Lone Star Trail (1943)

Revenge is sweet

[6/10 · 2 August 2007]

John Mack Brown plays the stereotypical bad guy/good guy framed for a crime by alleged friends. After release from prison he returns to home town to expose the real crooks. Tex Ritter is an undercover U.S. Marshal pretending to be an itinerant gunslinger who consistently saves Johnny from death.

There are some other plot twists which help maintain interest and raise the script above predictable. And of course several requisite fight scenes. The love angle is barely a minor storyline and really is just an excuse to wrap the story without resorting to the bad guys being arrested by the local sheriff.

Of course the bonus for western fans is John Mack Brown and Tex Ritter together in same movie. And that is worth the price of admission.

Squad Car (1960)

Dragnet imitator

[5/10 · 28 July 2007]

Squad Car is not as bad as some reviewers claim. It is simply a low-budget version of Dragnet/Badge 714. The title has little or no relation to the program episodes as the main storyline is about two detectives for the Beacon County Police Department. Coincidentally, Beacon County looks like Los Angeles.

Don't expect good acting or many locations. However, the program was not ultra low budget as it played on network and/or first-run syndication.

The series is rare and episodes are difficult to obtain. So, I doubt many will have opportunity to pass judgement.

Passport to Destiny (1944)

Deaf, dumb and lame

[3/10 · 22 May 2007]

Allegedly this is a comedy but you will be hard pressed to find a reason to laugh. At other times it drifts into spy drama but the situations are so contrived that you will be hard pressed to believe.

The widow of a British Army Sergeant Major is working during the early years of World War II in London as a cleaning lady. She thinks a glass eye is her husband's mystical lucky charm and will protect her from any harm or danger. Therefore she decides to pursue Adolph Hitler and save the world.

She manages to travel from London to Berlin, working as a cleaning woman, in just three weeks and then obtain a job as a cleaning woman at Hitler's headquarters. Eventually she manages to infiltrate his empty office and while rehearsing the assassination, she is captured by one of Hitler's top aides.

But, somehow we are transported through time and suddenly the Reich Chancery is bombed by the RAF allowing our heroine and two other spies to escape to London by stealing a Luftwaffe airplane which for some unknown reason is a DC-3.

While be feted by the London press, she discovers the magical glass eye was just one of many in a box with her former husband's military uniform.

Why did the Allies waste their time battling the German Army?

Riverboat: Fort Epitaph (1960) Season 1, Episode 25

Rises above the average Western-themed program

[7/10 · 20 May 2007]

Dan Duryea is Captain Brad Turner, a riverboat captain who is hauling supplies up the river to a U.S. Army fort in the Dakotas. Unknown to him, Major Luke Daniels (Charles Cooper) the fort commander is inciting a Sioux Indian uprising by cutting the hair from the head of two 16-year old Sioux females.

Major Daniels is a megalomaniac, or perhaps a typical Army officer, seeking fame at the expense of his men. His unit has lost 35 of the 50 men stationed at the fort. Daniels "impresses" Turner and his men into service so he can annihilate the Sioux and then hopefully win a promotion to Washington DC.

For those who do not know, this is the story of Charlie Beckwith, who commanded U.S. Army Special Forces Delta Recon in Viet Nam and sacrificed two Delta Recon teams just to impress Arnaud deBorchgrave, a Newsweek magazine editor visiting Beckwith.

Separately, Charlie was slugged in the mouth by Lieutenant Bob Berry, the executive officer for the SF A-team at Camp Plei Me during October 1965, after Beckwith left Berry and his soldiers unprotected. He had promised to provide support.

Charlies Beckwith is now in the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame (or Shame). Anyway, fictional Major Luke Daniels is an earlier version, proving that life imitates art or vice-versa.

I won't reveal the ending but it is not what you usually get in Westerns. Kudos to the writers for rising above standard story lines.

My Hero: Model of Blossom (1952) Season 1, Episode 8

Model agent

[5/10 · 29 April 2007]

Robert Cummings co-produced this series and starred as Robert S. Beanblossom, an unsophisticated and meek real-estate salesperson. Julie Bishop co-stars and plays his fictional wife in order to connive a photo layout of a model house for Modern America magazine.

Cliché comedy and contrived comedic situations are the foundation rather than reality. This may have been amusing during 1952 but it barely rates a chuckle in the 21st Century.

However, it is interesting to watch Bob Cummings play a male model and be seduced by a sexy, blonde, female photographer especially since that would be a major element in reverse during his next series.

This episode was later syndicated under the title "Lady Editor" which doesn't make much sense other than the fact that Julie Bishop hustles a second magazine layout for the house after Bob accidentally destroys the negatives from the first photo session.

Historically, this seems like the genesis for the Bob Cummings show and therefore is important for fans of Bob Cummings and television historians. Otherwise, it offers little entertainment.

Hollywood Cowboy (1937)

Up in the air

[6/10 · 2 April 2007]

The story has some unusual twists including Kramer, a white-collar criminal who plots to exploit a feud between cattlehands and cattlemen plus fleece cattlemen of money through a dummy Cattlemen's Protection Association.

George O'Brien plays Geoffrey Carter, a Hollywood cowboy shooting a western film at Lone Pine, CA. He just happens to rescue Joyce, a cattlewoman's daughter from the city gangsters and falls for her. Then he goes to work for her mother as an anonymous cattlehand.

The most interesting plot element is the use of a single-engine, dual wing biplane to frighten cattle and then a subsequent air dual with an aircraft from Hollywood flown by Carter's friend.

Final roundup of the criminals has a nice twist but the ending is standard Hollywood schmaltz. There are some holes in the story never resolved. But nothing out the ordinary for a 1937 RKO Radio Picture.

George O'Brien is adequate but the supporting cast never have opportunities to rise above predictable or pedestrian, which is simply a fault of the script. However, this is a 64 minute, low-budget B-western, so there was little time or reason to worry about character development. This is a rare film and not many prints exist either as Hollywood Cowboy or Wings Over Wyoming. Showcase Media of Studio City California 91604 has one, good, complete 16mm dupe print.

Beneath Western Skies (1944)

Better than usual B-Western

[7/10 · 27 March 2007]

Stokesville is being terrorized by the Bricker Gang and local sheriff Smiley Burnette as Frog Milhous does not have the resources to counter. Local schoolteacher Carrie Stokes writes to former students now lawmen and requests aid.

Bob Livingston as Johnny Revere just happens to ride into town as Sam Philips, a local banker is shot and killed on Main Street. Meanwhile, local banker Sam Webster is cooperating with Beau Bricker and planning to take control by selling town bonds to Bricker.

Smiley sings a duo with puppet Loghead who is a nice addition to the cast. The script is filled with numerous twists and turns which are well plotted although some situations are contrived for obvious reasons.

Enjoyable B-Western without dull moments. Two dummies arguing is a nice change from the usual or predictable B ending.

Undercover Man (1936)

Undercover Lover

[5/10 · 27 March 2007]

Johnny Mack Brown is Steve McLain and undercover agent for Wells Fargo Company sent to end the criminal activities of a local gang which is controlled by Ace Pringle, the local saloon owner who is plotting to take control of the town with the assistance of the local sheriff and deputies.

The story begins with Johnny falling for stagecoach passenger Suzanne Kaaren as Linda Forbes, daughter of the local judge.

Pringle and the local sheriff continually attempt to frame or kill Johnny but he is always one step ahead. Many of the nefarious plans are lame and almost comedic but that was not the original intent. Don't expect great acting as the characters are predictable and the situations contrived.

The ending is pure Happy Trails.

Republic Productions distributed this Supreme Pictures film which was never meant to be more than a B-Western. If you like Johnny Mack Brown, you will enjoy this movie. Otherwise, there are many other B-Westerns of greater merit.

Forty Naughty Girls (1937)

Barely naughty

[6/10 · 25 March 2007]

RKO Radio Pictures released Forty Naughty Girls during 1937 to capitalize on Showgirls of 1934. Unfortunately, the script does not afford the actors nor director much opportunity and the result is perfunctory and at times pedestrian.

James Gleason is Homicide Inspector Oscar Piper out with girlfriend Hildegard Withers played by Zasu Pitts, at a Broadway performance of Forty Naughty Girls, produced by Ricky Rickman. Murders commence shortly after the play opening. Oscar and Hildegard move from the audience to backstage investigations.

Quickly we learn that publicist Edward "Windy" Bennett is having an affair with leading lady Rita Marlowe played by Joan Woodbury, who has just become engaged to producer Rickman. Also, Windy Bennett is extorting money from playwright Tommy Washburn. And, then Windy Bennett is found dead, shot in the back of the head.

Subsequently, Washburn is shot and killed. Rita Marlowe is the initial suspect and then the evidence points to a stagehand who happens to be her father.

Since this film has a running time of only 63 minutes, action propels the plot and there are numerous twists and turns. However, none move you to the edge of your seat. Director Eddie Cline must have had a tight shooting schedule because this is a proverbial race to the finish line. While casually amusing the story suffers from numerous shortcomings especially character development. Also, the humor barely rises above simple.

Marjorie Lord as showgirl and singer June Preston is adequate which is dictated by the script.

This was never intended to be anything more than a second feature and that is all it will ever be. Nothing bad, nothing great.

Wagon Tracks West (1943)

Truth, justice and modern medicine prevail

[7/10 · 20 March 2007]

The script and story are standard fare with a few minor twists. Gabby Hayes gets amoebic dysentery from drinking contaminated water and is "saved" by "Fleetwing", a Pawnee Indian and recent graduate of Cumberland Medical School, who happens to be the son of Brown Bear, chief of the local Pawnee Tribe.

Fleetwing is ridiculed by the local townsfolk but Bill Elliot trusts him. Meanwhile, Pawnees are dying from the contaminated water created by ignorant cattlemen. However, "Warren" the local Indian commissioner refuses to take any action because he is secretly plotting with "Clawtooth" to move the tribe and then take control of the land. Warren is assisted in his nefarious scheme by "Laird" the assistant Indian Commissioner.

Clawtooth is being seduced by money, guns and the opportunity to lead the tribe once Brown Bear dies from dysentery and his son is framed for murder.

The local sheriff is manipulated by Warren and Laird and arrests Bill Elliot, Gabby Hayes and Fleetwing. However, in the end, Laird confesses because he foolishly drank contaminated water and needs Fleetwing to cure his fever.

The ranchers realize their ignorance in allowing cattle to urinate and defecate in the local stream and agree to stop such plus build a clinic for the new Indian doctor. Happy trails.

This has all the elements of a low-budget cliff-hanger and appears to have been produced in a week or less. However, the double-crossing Indian commissioners seem as contemporary as recently convicted U.S. Congressman Randy Cunningham and convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Fleetwing best summarizes the story when at the end he says "I owe everything to Bill Elliot and Gabby Hayes." Amen.

The Riding Tornado (1932)

tornado destroys film print

[2/10 · 18 March 2007]

It is difficult to comment about Columbia Picture's 1932 release of Riding Tornado starring Tim McCoy because the only readily available DVD release (Return To The Past #450) is from very substandard source material which may be VHS.

Whatever the source, it is very soft, much surface noise, intermittent lines, and varying density/contrast which makes some scenes extremely dark. Also, there are intermittent missing frames. However, the soundtrack is decent. So, if you want to listen rather than watch then the RTP release on DVD will suffice. Otherwise, this is difficult to watch and therefore even more difficult to pass judgment regarding the story and acting.

Shirley Grey co-stars and Ross Lederman directed. Burt Kempler wrote the screenplay. Tim plays a rodeo champion rider hired to uncover the mastermind behind a gang of rustlers.

This is only for fanatic Tim McCoy fans who don't know of better sources even if only VHS. Paying more than one dollar for this DVD is a waste of money.

The Sombrero Kid (1942)

Contemporary television crime drama forerunner

[6/10 · 4 March 2007]

Don "Red" Barry is Jerry. the adopted son of Tom Holden and returns with him and Holden's son Tommy to Coldwater, after an absence of fifteen years. Local residents recruit Holden to become sheriff and fight local gang led by Smoke Denton. However, the true leader is local banker.

Tom Holden is murdered after he discovers gold and is duped into signing mine deed as collateral for bank loan. Holden's son Tommy, replaces his father as sheriff. Meanwhile Don Barry as Jerry is framed and convicted for a murder. He escapes and begins quest for justice.

Those are just the highlights of this fast-paced story which seems to be the forerunner of contemporary television crime dramas, with multiple story lines.

The only version on DVD is poor quality with some scenes nearly black and with little contrast. The few 16mm prints floating around are fair at best unless someone knows better.

Don "Red" Barry doesn't rise above pedestrian or journeyman. Adequate is the most appropriate adjective. Moreover, he never wears a sombrero so I have no idea why he is the Sombrero Kid. Unfortunately, unless you want to watch 16mm, there isn't a good version on DVD.

Boothill Brigade (1937)

Johnny saves homesteaders but not the film

[4/10 · 3 March 2007]

Johnny Mack Brown plays Lon Cardigan a moral preaching cowboy who uses his wits and fists rather than six-guns to battle a land-grabbing villain who is exploiting homesteaders through frontmen. The storyline is heavy on moral epithets rather than action. Unfortunately, unlike some other western films, the script does not deal with the underlying conflict throughout the West between ranchers and homesteaders. Meanwhile, the alleged villain's pretty, young daughter is part of the equation with the usual predictable twists.

This film is one in a collection called Cowboy Heroes of the Silver Screen from Marathon Music and Video. The source print was a 16mm dupe in fair condition with missing frames. The transfer is slightly soft but not irritating. There are some sporadic wash marks but surface noise is minimal. The sound is very good.

This is low-budget fare without much redeeming quality. And, even Johnny Mack Brown cannot save the story.