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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 2, 2004 13:02:41 GMT -8
Sherlock Holmes: Terror By Night (1946)
Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes Nigel Bruce as Dr. John H. Watson
Except for a few minutes at a train station at the beginning and another one at the end, this film takes place on a train.
Holmes is hired to guard a world famous and extremly valuable diamond. When the diamond is stolen and Holmes client murderered Holmes suspects Colonel Sebastian Moran, the right hand man of the late and unlimented Professor Moriarty. According to this film Holmes has never seen the Colonel so he doesn't know which man on the train is Moran. Actually Holmes captures Moran in the short story "The Adventure of the Empty House" when he attempts to murder Holmes in revenge for Moriarty's death.
Wasn't a bad Sherlock Holmes film. I find I like these original plot stories better than the ones they loosely based on Doyle's novels and short stories.
Sherlock Holmes: Dressed To Kill (1946)
Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes Nigel Bruce as Dr. John H. Watson
Three music boxes are sold at auction (2 pounds, 1 pound and 10 chillings). When a music box worth less than 5 pounds is stolen from a friend of Watson's, by a theif who left more valuable ones including one worth 500 pounds Holmes is convinced there is some evil plot. Watson and his friend laugh at Holmes. When the theives discover they took a French music box by mistake they return and Watson's friend is killed.
The was the last film to pair Rathbone and Bruce as Holmes and Watson and the final Sherlock Holmes film in this collection.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 3, 2004 21:34:45 GMT -8
Nancy Drew Reporter (1939)
Bonita Granville - Nancy Drew Frank Thomas Jr - Ted Nickerson
Nancy Drew enters a contest to write a story for a local newspaper. Instead of going to the flower show she was assigned to cover she goes to a murder inquest. A woman has been poisoned. Nancy doesn't believe the woman accused of the poisoning is guilty. So she tricks her neighbor Ted Nickerson into helping her go after the real killer.
Ted's younger sister and a young neighbor boy make a nuisence of themselves through out the picture.
This was part of a series of films featuring Bonita Granville as Nancy Drew. Frank Thomas Jr aka Frankie Thomas would go on to star in the Tom Corbett Space Cadet tv series (1950-1955).
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 4, 2004 18:06:20 GMT -8
The Kennel Murder Case (1933)
Detective Philo Vance (William Powell) investigates the murder of two brothers, both members the Long Island Kennel Club (to which Vance is also a member). There are two murders, an attempted murder, a killing of a dog and an attempt to kill a second dog.
This film is part of a series of films featuring William Powell as Philo Vance. William Powell would later star in the "Thin Man" series of mysteries.
There were problems with the video and sound for this film.
I think this is the last film in this collection which was part of a series.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 4, 2004 20:11:26 GMT -8
The Death Kiss (1932)
David Manners -- film writer Franklyn Drew Adrienne Ames -- actress Marcia Lane Bela Lugosi -- studio manager Joseph Steiner
While filming "The Death Kiss" the leading man is actually killed. The police think the leading lady, his ex-wife, did it. Her new boyfriend, a studio writer, sets out to prove she didn't. He has his work cut out for him as the evidence against the actress mounts.
For most of the film Bela Lugosi looks supicious. Giving the impression that he must be the killer. So of course he's not.
Most of this film takes place at the studio where "The Death Kiss" is being filmed.
Like many mystery films the ending is this weakest point in this movie.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 5, 2004 19:25:23 GMT -8
Suddenly (1954)
Frank Sinatra -- John Baron Sterling Hayden -- Sheriff Tod Shaw James Gleason -- Peter "Pop" Benson Nancy Gates -- Ellen Benson Kim Charney -- Peter Benson III (Pidge)
This is one of the newer films in this collection.
A special train carrying the President of the Unted States is going to stop in the small California town of Suddenly. Three hired killers pretending to be FBI agents take over a house on a hill overlooking the railroad station. Held hostage as the assassins wait for the train are "Pop" Benson, a former Secret Service Agent, his widowed daughter-in-law Ellen Benson, her son "Pidge" and Sheriff Tod Shaw. John Baron, leader of the gang, threatens to kill the boy if there is any trouble.
The Sheriff is in love with the young widow (husband kill in war) but she refuses to date him. She's over protective of her son. Won't let him own a cap gun (the sheriff buys him one anyway) or see war movies. She hates guns. I'll give you one guess as to who shoots Sinatra.
I'm not a fan of Frank Sinatra as a singer but I do like him as an actor.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 7, 2004 17:55:54 GMT -8
Im'pact (1949)
Sucessful San Francisco buisness man Walter Williams (Brian Donlevy) loves his wife Ilene (Helen Walker) very much. To show his love he sends her roses, daily. And buys her diamonds. He doesn't know that she has been having an affair with Jim Torrance (Tony Barrett) and that the two of them have planned for him die while on a road trip to Colorado. Their scheme goes wrong, Walter survives the murder attempt and Jim is killed in a fiery crash. At first the police belive it was Walter Williams who died in the crash because they body was burnt beyond recognition. Mrs. Williams is arrested for conspiracy to murder her husband.
Walter suffering from a head wound spends time healing in Larkspur, Idaho where he falls for a young widow, Marsha Peters (Ella Raines). After several months he returns to San Francisco and is charged with Jim's murder.
This is the first full length movie in this collection (1 hour, 51 minutes).
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 7, 2004 21:12:37 GMT -8
He Walks By Night (1948)
stars Richard Basehart (as the killer) & Scott Brady (as the police captan) with Jack Webb as a Police Technician (now he'd be called a Crime Science Investigator or CSI).
This documentary style film is based on the real life crimes of Erwin Walker. A professional thief manages to stay ahead of the police by listening to police radio calls, changing his MO and using the LA sewer system to move around unseen. When he's finaly caught in the act he kills a police officer. This proves to be his downfall as there is no one the police will work harder to catch than a cop killer.
This film reminds me of the original Dragnet, except there's a lot more shooting (I know of only one episode in which Friday fired his gun). The opening text screen even includes "the names have been changed to protect the innocent".
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Sept 7, 2004 21:14:40 GMT -8
I read a book in CO called "Asimov's Mysteries" which was really good and I'll review it in the book section soon. It's made me interested in seeing more mystery movies.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 8, 2004 18:33:39 GMT -8
Quicksand (1950)
Automechanic Daniel 'Dan' Brady (Mickey Rooney) "borrows" $20.00 from his employeer's cash register, intending to pay the money back when a friend squares a debt with him. This small embesselment begins a downward spiral into more serious crimes.
The causes of this downward spiral are a pretty, but greedy woman (Jeanne Cagney, sister to James), an unreasonable debt collection agent (John Gallaudet) and two blackmailers (Peter Lorre and Art Smith).
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 8, 2004 22:07:30 GMT -8
Eyes In The Night (1942)
Edward Arnold as Captain Duncan McClain Reginald Denny as Stephen Lawry Ann Harding as Norma Lawry Donna Reed as Barbara Lawry Friday as himself
Blind detective Duncan McClain is visited by old friend Norma Lawry, looking for help in getting rid of one of her old beaus, who is courting Norma's 17-year old step-daughter. When the old beau is found murdered, Norma is the chief suspect until Duncan (aided by his guide-dog Friday) pays a visit to her home and uncovers a plot to steal her husband's military secrets for the enemy.
The murder is really paid very little attention as most of the film is taken up with the Nazi plot and McClain's attempts to foil it.
I liked Captain Duncan McClain he didn't let his blindness handicap him, even made jokes about it. He's not only a detective put also a martial arts expert. He throws the bad guys around. Friday has the be the smartest dog on Earth. He is both seeing eye dog and guard dog. He attacks people who point guns at his master. He can understand complete sentences, carrying out his master's commands perfectly. Friday likes to sniff roses even though he's alergic to them, they make him sneeze.
Barbara Lawy was a spoiled brat. I wish Captain McClain had carried out his threat to turn her over his knee and give her a good spanking. Something her father and step-mother obviously failed to do.
This film was probably meant to show Americans that everybody had a part to play in the war against the Nazis.
There should have been a Duncan McClain series. There was a sequel "The Hidden Eye" (1945) but that's it. I'd like to find it as I enjoyed McClain and Friday.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 16, 2004 20:43:13 GMT -8
The Man On The Eiffel Tower (1950)
Charles Laughton as Inspector Jules Maigret Franchot Tone as Johann Radek Burgess Meredith as Joseph Heurtin Robert Hutton as Bill Kirby Jean Wallace as Edna Patricia Roc as Helen Kirby Belita as Gisella George Thorpe as Comelieu William Phipps as Janvier William Cottrell as Moers Chaz Chase as Waiter Wilfrid Hyde-White as Professor Grollet
Directed by Burgess Meredith
Based on Georges Simenon's novel "A Battle of Nerves"
This is the first color film in this collection. The color is washed out. Would be better if it was just b/w. The dialogue is out of sinc. Maybe it was originally in French.
Bill Kirby (Robert Hutton) jokingly says he'll pay 1 million francs to whoever kills his wealthy aunt, so he can inherit her money. When he tells his wife Helen (Patricia Roc) that he wants to divorce her so he can marry his mistress Edna (Jean Wallace), Mrs Kirby agrees to divorce him, as soon as he hands over his aunt's fortune to her. She said this assuming the mistress would not wait the years it would take for Bill's aunt to die and she'd keep her husband. Then Bill finds a letter instructing him where to send the money if he was serious about paying a million francs to have his aunt killed. When Bill Kirby's aunt and her maid are murdered Inspector Jules Maigret (Charles Laughton) arressets knife grinder Joseph Heurtin (Burgess Meredith) because his eyeglasses were found at the murder scene. Maigret doesn't believe Heurtin did it but he had not choice but to take him into custody. Heurtin won't tell what he saw, before he broke his glasses and lost his sight, because he thinks the real killer will find a way to save him in return for his not talking.
The grinder does in fact esape from jail. He thinks it was with the help of the real killer but in fact it was Inspector Maigret's plan to follow him to the killer. When former medical student Johann Radek (Franchot Tone) sitting inside a cafe which, the inspector was staking out, looked out a window and saw the grinder and then ordered an expensive meal he could not afford in order to have himself arressted for petty theft, Maigret become confinced that Radek is the killer. Radek, descriped by his former professer as a manic-depresive, spends the rest of the film taunting Maigret.
There is a major continuity error in this film. Bill Kirby and his mistress talk about the murders BEFORE the grinder was arrested, yet Edna makes a comment about the grinder being the killer. There was no way she could have known the grinder would be charged with the crime before it happened. They must simply have gotten the scenes out of order. Since most movies are filmed out of sequence I'm surprised this sort of thing doesn't happen more often.
The title "The Man On The Eiffel Tower" comes from a rediculous scene near the end of the film. The killer climbs the tower giving the imperssion that he intendes to commit sucide by jumping off. He does not in fact jump. He surrenders to the police and is guitoned. The knife grinder who was guilty only of attempted theft is reunited with his girlfriend who having realized that her nagging him to get rich almost got him killed, finally excepts him as the poorman he is.
As for the man who cheated on his wife and paid to have his aunt murdered. Neither his wife nor his mistress got him because he shot himself.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 16, 2004 20:51:49 GMT -8
Topper Returns (1941)
Joan Blondell - Gail Richards Roland Young - Cosmo Topper Carole Landis - Ann Carrington Billie Burke - Clara Topper Dennis O'Keefe - Bob, the Taxi Driver Patsy Kelly - Emily, the Maid H.B. Warner - Henry Carrington Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson - Eddie, the Chauffeur George Zucco - Dr. Jeris Donald MacBride - Police Sgt. Roberts Rafaela Ottiano - Lillian, the Housekeeper Trevor Bardette - Rama, the Butler
This film returns the collection to b/w.
Billie Burke was Glenda the Good Witch of the North in "The Wizard of Oz". Eddie Anderson played Jack Benny's servent Rochester, on radio and tv.
"Topper Returns" is the second sequel to "Topper" (not in this collection). In the original film, banker Cosmo Topper is haunted by the ghosts of Marion and George Kerby, killed in an automobile accident. Finding that they are stuck on Earth they conclude that they have to perform a good deed before they can go to Heaven. Mrs. Kerby decides the good deed they have to perform is to bring Topper out of his joyless, rut of a lifestyle.
In "Topper Returns" banker Cosmo Topper is forced into investigating a murder, by the victim Gail Richards. The final scene of the film involves another fatal automobile accident, at the same place as in the first film. Gail Richards comments that she can go to heaven now and her killer can go to...She doesn't name the place.
The plot of the original film was repeated in a 1950s tv series staring Anne Jeffreys (Marion Kerby), Robert Sterling (George Kerby), Leo G. Carroll (Cosmo Topper) and Lee Patrick (Henreitta Topper). Leo G. Carroll was a good choice, he sounded a lot like Roland Young.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 18, 2004 7:43:55 GMT -8
The Green Glove (1952)
Glenn Ford - Michael Blake Geraldine Brooks - Chris Kenneth Cedric Hardwicke - Father Goron George Macready - Count Paul Rona Gaby André - Gaby Saunders Jany Holt - The Countess Roger Tréville - Police Inspector Faubert
In World War II France, American soldier Michael Blake captures, then loses Nazi-collaborator art thief Paul Rona, who leaves behind a gem studded gauntlet (a stolen religious relic). Years later, financial reverses lead Mike to return in search of the object. In Paris, he must dodge mysterious followers and a corpse that's hard to explain; so he and attractive tour guide Christine decamp on a cross-country pursuit that becomes love on the run...then takes yet another turn.
Most of this film consists of one long flashback. The film begins with the bell in a village church ringing. A Vow was made that the bell would not ring until the Emerald Gauntlet (aka the Green Glove) which was stolen was returned. The priest runs to the church but the glove is not back. He runs up to the belfrey and finds no one, just a dead body. He goes back to where the glove was kept and finds it has been returned. Most of the rest of the film is explaining how the corpse got in the belfrey and the glove returned to its case.
Michael Blake : All right, look, I haven't robbed a bank, I haven't killed anybody, and I'm not an international spy. Do you believe that? Chris Kenneth : I'll try.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 18, 2004 7:46:16 GMT -8
The Second Woman (1951)
Robert Young - Jeff Cohalan Betsy Drake - Ellen Foster John Sutton - Keith Ferris Florence Bates - Amelia Foster Morris Carnovsky - Dr. Hartley Henry O'Neill - Ben Sheppard Jean Rogers- Dodo Ferris Raymond Largay - Major Badger
Like "The Green Glove" most of this film is one long flashback.
Everything Jeff Cohalan (Robert Young) loves "dies". It begins with an automobile accident which claims the life of the woman he was to marry. Then his favorite statue falls off the table and shatters, his horse breaks its leg, in its stall; his favorite painting fades, his rose bush wilts, his dog dies in agony and finally his house burns down. His new girlfriend, Ellen Foster (Betsy Drake) believes someone is trying to destroy him. Doctor Hartley (Morris Carnovsky) thinks Jeff is insane and doing it to himself.
It fooled me. I didn't see the ending coming, but I should have.
Jeff Cohalan : Ellen, you'd better go now. You're not safe with me. Do you understand? Ellen Foster : Suppose I don't want to be safe?
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 18, 2004 20:19:49 GMT -8
Fog Island (1945)
Lionel Atwill as Alec Ritchfield Jerome Cowan as John Kavanaugh John Whitney as Jeff Kingsley George Zucco as Leo Grainger Veda Ann Borg as Sylvia Jordan Sharon Douglas as Gail Ian Keith as Doc Lake Jacqueline deWit as Emiline Bronson George Lloyd as Allerton (Al Jenks)
Leo Granger (George Zucco) spends 5 years in prison for fraud, a crime he was not guilty of. While he was in prison someone murdered his wife. After he's served his term he invites those repsonsible for sending him to prison to his home on Fog Island. They except the invitation beause they think he has a large amount of money hidden somewhere in the house. What they find is the death trap he set for them.
Not nearly as good as And Then There Were None.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 18, 2004 20:20:29 GMT -8
They Made Me a Criminal (1939)
John Garfield - Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney Claude Rains - Detective Monty Phelan Ann Sheridan - Goldie West May Robson - Grandma Rafferty Gloria Dickson - Peggy Billy Halop - Tommy Bobby Jordan - Angel Leo Gorcey - Spit Huntz Hall - Dippy Gabriel Dell - T.B. Bernard Punsley - Milt Robert Gleckler - Doc War
Lightweight world champion boxer Johnnie Bradfield tell the press that he doesn't drink, doesn't play around with women and lives with his mother. In fact he's a drunk, a womanizer and he has no mother. When a reporter discovers the truth Johnnie's manager, Doc War, hits the reporter over the head with a whiskey bottle, killing the man. Doc and Johnnie's girlfriend Goldie hid the unconscious boxer then after stealing his watch they attempt to leave town. Running from the police they crash their car. Their bodies are burnt beyond recognition but the athorities identify the man by the watch. When Johnnie finally wakes up and read about the murder and his own death in the newspaper he listens to some bad advice and goes on the lamb. Eventually he ends up at a work farm for dilquent kids, in Arizona. Although everyone else believes Johnnie Bradfield to be dead Detective Monty Phelan noticed that the watch was on the wrong wrist and correctly deduces that the dead man is Doc War. His superiors laught at him which makes him more determined to find Johnnie Bradfield and bring him in for murder.
Calling himself Jack Dorney, Johnnie Bradfield, stays at the farm because he's fallen for Peggy, the young woman who helps Grandma Rafferty run it. He teaches boxing to the boys who idolize him, especially Peggy's brother Tommy. One of the boys takes his picture and wins $3 as a junior photographer. The picture is printed in the newspaper and Detective Phelan recognizing it heads for Arizona.
The contrived happy ending spoils the film.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 21, 2004 16:39:01 GMT -8
Jigsaw (1949)
A printer who printed brochures for a group called "The Crusaders" who is shot dead. His wife claims it was suicide. New York Assistant District Attorney Howard Malloy (Franchot Tone) doesn't believe it. Neither does his best friend, a newspaper reporter.When the reporter it tossed out the window of his apparetment Malloy goes after The Crusaders.
Burgess Meredith has a cameo as a bartender. Henry Fonda has a cameo as a night club waiter. John Garfield has a cameo as man with a newspaper Fletcher Markle (director/writer of the film) has a cameo as a night club patron.
This is the worst film in this collection, so far. Poorly acted, directed and written It was obvious from the beginning who was behind the murders.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 21, 2004 20:57:34 GMT -8
Algiers (1938)
Charles Boyer as Pepe le Moko Sigrid Gurie as Ines Hedy Lamarr as Gaby Joseph Calleia as Slimane Gene Lockhart as Regis Paul Harvey as Janvier
Pepe Le Moko (Charles Boyer), a thief who escaped from France with a fortune in jewels, has for two years lived in, and virtually ruled, the mazelike, impenetrable Casbah, "native quarter" of Algiers. Commissioner Janvier (Paul Harvey) insists that he be captured, but sly Inspector Slimane (Joseph Calleia) knows he need only bide his time. The suave Pepe increasingly regards his stronghold as also his prison, especially when he meets beautiful Parisian visitor Gaby (Hedy Lamarr), who reminds him of the boulevards to which he dare not return...and arouses the mad jealousy of Ines (Sigrid Gurie), his Algerian mistress.
Inspector Slimane: When one can't use guns, one must work with brains. Commissioner Janvier: I prefer guns! Inspector Slimane: In your case, honered sir, such a preference is unavoidable.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 25, 2004 19:35:48 GMT -8
Murder With Pictures (1936)
stars Lew Ayres as Kent Murdock Gail Patrick as Meg Archer Joyce Compton as Hester Boone Paul Kelly as McGoogin Onslow Stevens as Nate Girard
Reporter Kent Murdock has a reputation for scooping every other reporter and outsmarting the police so when Meg Archer is accused of murder she turns to him for help in proving her innocent. But is she innocent?
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Sept 25, 2004 19:55:34 GMT -8
You should be getting good at solving mysteries after watching so many of these. How many are left?
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Post by Zone Fighter on Sept 25, 2004 20:32:34 GMT -8
11
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