Category: Trivia

“The Wagons Roll at Night” (1941) starring Humphrey Bogart, Sylvia Sidney, Eddie Albert and Joan Leslie / Z-View

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The Wagons Roll at Night (1941)

Director: Ray Enright

Screenplay: Fred Niblo Jr., Barry Trivers based on Kid Galahad by Francis Wallace

Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Sylvia Sidney, Eddie Albert, Joan Leslie, Sig Ruman, Frank Wilcox, John Ridgely, Clara Blandick, Aldrich Bowker and Garry Owen.

Tagline:  FOR THE MILLIONS WHO CHEERED “THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT”!

The Plot…

Nick Coster is trying to hold his combination circus/fair together.  It’s not an easy life.  Caesar, one of his lions is getting meaner by the day.  To make matters worse his lion tamer is an alcoholic whose drinking is getting worse.  Add in the day to day troubles and Nick is just keeping his head above water.

The circus had just arrived at the outskirts of another city when Caesar escaped.  Nick gets word and heads into town.  He fears the worst — that he will have to out down Caesar because the lion killed someone.

To Nick’s great surprise, a young shopkeeper named Matt Varney has trapped Caesar in his store.  Matt used a chair to direct the beast into a corner and then barricaded it.  Word spreads quickly that Matt Varney tamed the lion!

As his crew captures Caesar, Nick sees a way to cash in.  Word will spread about the handsome young man who tamed Caesar, the King of Beasts!  Nick offers Matt a job.  Matt is hesitant.  He was afraid of Caesar, but did what needed to be done.  Nick says that he will have his lion tamer train Matt and promises to bring Matt along slowly.  Matt agrees.

The publicity works.  People from city to city come in droves to see the brave young man.  Although the old lion tamer does most of the work, the crowd is happy to see Nick in his limited role.  Nick is happy to keep his word and not push Matt to do more than he’s ready for.

That all changes when Matt falls in love with Nick’s sister.  Matt doesn’t want her to have anything to do with circus people.  When Matt refuses to stop seeing Nick’s sister, Nick begins to push Matt to take more of a role in the lion cage.  Caesar is getting worse and Matt’s not ready.

Welcome to the big top!  The show’s about to start!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

The Wagons Roll at Night is considered to be the first “A” film to star Humphrey Bogart.

If you only know Sylvia Sidney as Juno, the overworked, cynical chain-smoking and very dead caseworker in the afterlife that she played Beetlejuice you’re in for a treat.

The Wagons Roll at Night (1941) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Burt Reynolds’ Best Movies

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Rob Hunter at /Film came up with his list of Burt Reynolds Best Movies.  I decided to play along and came up with my list as well.  Before (or after) you click over to read Hunter’s rationale for his choices, you can (if you’re so inclined) read my thoughts below.

Burt Reynolds Best Movies

Hunter

Zablo
01. Deliverance

01. Smokey and the Bandit

02. Smokey and the Bandit

02. Sharky’s Machine

03. Hooper

03. Longest Yard, The

04. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

04. Hooper

05. The Longest Yard

05. The Last Movie Star
06. White Lightning

06. Driven
07. Fade In

07. Man Who Loved Cat Dancing, The

08. Hustle

08. Malone
09. Heat

09. Heat
10. Sharky’s Machine

10. Deliverance
11. Navajo Joe

11. End, The

12. The End

12. W.W. And the Dixie Dance Kings

There are three films on Hunter’s list that I haven’t seen: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Fade In and Navajo Joe.

Now the rationale for my choices…

12.  WW and the Dixie Dance Kings – this is kind of a sentimental choice.  My mom and dad were divorced and we had moved out of state.  Dad was down visiting and took us to see the film.  Dad wasn’t a movie guy, but he enjoyed Burt Reynolds.  Great memories, even if the movie isn’t.

11.  The End – I thought this was really funny when I saw it during its theatrical release.  Re-visited it years later and was surprised it didn’t hold up as well.  The movie takes off once Dom DeLuise shows up.  Wish he made his appearance sooner.

10. Deliverance – Arguably it features Burt Reynolds best acting of his career.  The movie has one of my favorite Reynolds’ scenes – when Ned Beatty is getting molested and the camera cuts to Reynolds ready to shoot an arrow.  It would rate higher if the movie was one I liked to revisit.

09.  Heat – A serviceable action picture with Reynolds as a bodyguard whose dream stays out of reach because of his behaviors.

08.  Malone – Made the year before Heat, and about the same quality.  Reynolds is ex-CIA who helps a family survive small town corruption.

07.  The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing – Burt Reynolds is joined by Sarah Miles,  Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden, George Hamilton, Bo Hopkins and Jay Silverheels (!) in a western.  I thought the Reynolds character was so cool!  (Hey! I was in 8th grade.)

06.  Driven – I’d always hoped to see Burt Reynolds and Sly Stallone co-starring in a movie.  While it wasn’t the action-fest that could/should have happened earlier in both stars’ careers, they did get to share the screen.

05.  The Last Movie Star – Made at the very end of Reynolds’ career.  I believe it to feature his best performance.  I wish more people would see this film.

04.  Hooper – Reynolds plays an aging stunt man.  He’s joined by Sally Field, Jan-Michael Vincent, Brian Keith, Hal Needham, Adam West and even Terry Bradshaw.  I saw it twice during it’s theatrical run.  Good times.

03.  The Longest Yard (1974) – Although Reynolds appeared in the Adam Sandler remake, the original is the one to see!  I first saw this with our 10th grade football team. Our coach arranged for us to go see it as a team.  What a perfect film for a tenth grader.  We started calling ourselves “Mean Machine” and it must have worked.  We were county champs that year.  Great memories and the film holds up still.

02.  Sharky’s Machine – I love this film.  I hoped that we’d see some sequels with Reynolds continuing to direct and star.  It wasn’t to be, but at least we have this gem. Oh, and what a great soundtrack!

01.  Smokey and the Bandit – Jackie Gleason, Sally Field, and the black Trans Am!  I love this film.  You can see the joy that they had making it.  My brother-in-law (RIP) could do a great Bufford T. Justice impersonation.  Great memories.

 

“Seven Days in May” (1964) screenplay by Rod Serling, directed by John Frankenheimer, starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March and Ava Gardner / Z-View

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Seven Days in May (1964)

Director: John Frankenheimer

Screenplay: Rod Serling; based on SEVEN DAYS IN MAY by Fletcher Knebel, Charles W. Bailey II

Stars: Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March, Ava Gardner, Edmond O’Brien, Martin Balsam, Andrew Duggan, Hugh Marlowe, Whit Bissell, Helen Kleeb, George Macready, Richard Anderson, Bart Burns, John Alban, Al Bain, John Houseman, Ferris Webster, Kent McCord and Malcolm Atterbury.

Tagline:  “I’m suggesting Mr President, there’s a military plot to take over the Government of these United States, next Sunday…”

The Plot…

Set during the Cold War.  President Jordan Lyman’s popularity is at an all-time low. He’s just signed a nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia.  Many believe the Russians can’t be trusted.  Protests across the country have grown violent.  Some fear that Russia will renig on the treaty leaving the US unprotected.  Others think that if both countries don’t begin to disarm at some point the nukes will be used.

General James Mattoon Scott is the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  He’s a highly popular, highly decorated Air Force Ace.  Colonel Martin “Jiggs” Casey is the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  His role is to assist the Joint Chiefs, particularly General Scott.  Privately, neither think Russia can be trusted to keep their part of the disarmament treaty.

Colonel Casey notices some strange messages left for General Mattoon.  This leads to his discovery that in seven days General Mattoon and several other military leaders plan a coup.  They plan to overthrow the President and take control of the government.

Colonel Casey speaks to the President in private.  At first the President can’t believe it.  But the evidence is there.  Unsure of who they can trust, the President, a few trusted aides and Colonel Casey must find a way to stop a coup led by the most popular military leader of the era.

The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Seven Days in May was nominated for two 1965 Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White – Cary Odell, Edward G. Boyle
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Edmond O’Brien

At a dinner with President Kennedy, Kirk Douglas was asked if he was adapting the novel SEVEN DAYS IN MAY.  When Douglas said that he was, President Kennedy spoke to him at length about how great a movie it would be.  President Kennedy granted set designers access to the White House to assist with an accurate look.

Seven Days in May was set to be released in December 1963.  The release was pushed back due to the assassination of JFK.

Seven Days in May marks John Houseman’s first (although uncredited) feature film role.

Kent McCord best known as Officer Jim Reed on Adam-12 appears as uncredited in a non-speaking role as a Secret Service agent.

Although released in 1964, the film is set in the near future.  Teleconferencing, digital displays, wall screens and the like look ancient now, but then they weren’t in use and appeared slightly futuristic.

The film features one of my favorite comeback lines when General Scott asks Colonel Casey if he knows who Judas was.

Seven Days in May (1964) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Reindeer Games” (2000) directed by John Frankenheimer, starring Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise and Charlize Theron / Z-View

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Reindeer Games (2000)

Director: John Frankenheimer

Screenplay: Ehren Kruger

Stars: Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise, Charlize Theron, James Frain, Mark Acheson, Tom Heaton, Isaac Hayes, Douglas Arthurs, Ron Jeremy, Peter MacNeill, Donal Logue, Danny Trejo, Dennis Farina, Ashton Kutcher and Clarence Williams III.

Tagline:  The trap is set. The game is on.

The Plot…

Nick Cassidy and Rudy Duncan are prison cellmates who have become friends.  Both are scheduled for release soon.  Nick has been exchanging letters with a pretty young woman named Ashley. Althorugh she’s sent plenty of pictures and letters, she’s never seen Nick.  Nick will meet her for the first time when he’s released.

Nick has shared each letter/photo with Rudy as they’ve arrived.  Rudy has secretly become infatuated with Ashley.

Two days before Nick and Rudy are to be released a fight breaks out in the prison cafeteria.  A convict with a grudge against Rudy uses the confusion to try to kill him.  Nick steps in and the convict stabs him instead.  Nick falls to the floor dead as the guards restore order.

Two days pass.  Rudy and several other convicts are escorted out of the prison gates.  Most have family, girlfriends or significant others to meet them.  Rudy has no one.  He plans to get on a bus and head home.

Then he sees Ashley.

She’s beautiful.  Even prettier than the pictures.  Rudy heads for the bus.  Then realizes that Ashley has never seen Nick.  Rudy hesitates and than makes the decision.  He’ll pretend to be Nick.

It works.  Rudy and Ashley have a wonderful day together.  Finally they head to a cabin she has rented.  Rudy cannot believe his luck.

Then things go sideways.  Ashley’s brother Gabriel shows up.  Gabriel’s a thug without a conscience.  The hardcases with him are nearly as bad.  Gabriel knows Nick used to work at a small casino.  He plans to use Nick’s knowledge of the place to rob it.

With no other options, Rudy admits that he’s not Nick.  Ashley can’t believe it.  Gabriel doesn’t believe it.  He thinks Nick just doesn’t want to help with the robbery.  Rudy continues to protest that he’s not Nick.

Gabriel raises his gun as he says, “Then you’re not worth anything to me.”  Rudy quickly changes his tune.  In order to survive he’s going to have to mastermind the robbery of a place he’s never been in.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Let the reindeer games begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

John Frankenheimer’s original director’s cut was much more dark, sexy and violent.  For the theatrical release over 20 minutes was trimmed.  Frankenheimer’s cut was restored for a DVD version.

Reindeer Games was director John Frankenheimer’s final feature film.

Vin Diesel was orginally set to play Pug, a role ultimately played by Donal Logue.  Diesel instead went on to play Dom in The Fast and the Furious.  Smart move.

Ashton Kutcher shows up in a brief scene as a college kid.

There are a couple of unexpected twists that are fun.

Reindeer Games (2000) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (2025) starring Charlie Hunnam and Laurie Metcalf / Z-View

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Monster: The Ed Gein Story (2025)

Created by: Ian Brennan

Directed by:

  • Max Winkler (eps. 1-3; 6-8)
  • Ian Brennan (eps. 4-5)

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1-8) Ian Brennan

Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Suzanna Son, Vicky Krieps, Laurie Metcalf, Tom Hollander.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Ed Gein was a murderer and grave robber.  In 1957, when a sheriff’s deputy, following up on a missing person’s case went to Gein’s farm he discovered the missing woman’s decapitated body in a shed.  The partial corpse was hung upside down and mutilated.  In Gein’s house some of what authorities found included:

  • Whole human bones and fragments
  • A wastebasket made of human skin
  • Human skin covering several chairs
  • Human skulls mounted on bedposts
  • Bowls made from human skulls
  • A corset made from a female torso skinned from shoulders to waist
  • Leggings made from human leg skin
  • Masks made from the skin of female heads
  • A victim’s face made into a mask in a paper bag
  • A victim’s entire head in a burlap sack
  • A victim’s heart in a plastic bag
  • A belt made from female human nipples
  • A pair of lips on a window shade drawstring
  • A lampshade made from the skin of a human face
  • more

Gein was determined to be mentally incompetent to stand trial.  He was sentenced to a State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, where he lived until his death in 1984.  Ed Gein’s murders and depravity inspired the novel (and later movie) Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and more.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Charlie Hunnam is almost unrecognizable as Ed Gein.  Kudos to him for taking on such a challenging role.  Laurie Metcalf is perfect as Gein’s mother.

I wish Monster: The Ed Gein Story stuck closer to actual events.  Liberties are taken that I feel weaken the story.  For example, Gein never had a love interest.  Gein never chased down and killed lost hunters with a chain saw.  Gein never had contact with Christine Jorgensen, an American actress famous for being known as the first transexual widely known in the United States.

Because of these fictional additions, it makes me question things when other real life personalitites, like Anthony Perkins and Alfred Hitchcock show up.  I realize Monster: The Ed Gein Story isn’t a documentary.  But it is supposed to be Gein’s story and that was creepy enough.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“40 Acres” (2024) directed by R.T. Thorne, starring Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Greyeyes & Kataem O’Connor / Z-View

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40 Acres (2024)

Director: R. T. Thorne

Screenplay: R. T. Thorne, Glenn Taylor, Lora Campbell

Stars: Danielle Deadwyler, Kataem O’Connor, Michael Greyeyes, Tyrone Benskin, Mimi Côté, Patrick Garrow, John Tench, Derek Barnes and Elizabeth Saunders.

Tagline: Get off our land.

The Plot…

In a post-apocalyptic future Hailey Freeman’s family struggles to survive.  They have become self-sufficient by farming and hunting on a remote piece of land.  There are a few other small groups who have created farms or outposts as well.  They stay in contact using shortwave radios.  When a couple of the groups fail to respond, it is learned that a gang of cannibals are killing everyone in the communities.  They feast, steal what they can and move on.

The cannibal tribe is now heading towards the Freeman farm.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

40 Acres was written by R. T. Thorne, Glenn Taylor, Lora Campbell in the screenwriting debut.  It also marks R.T. Thorne’s directoral debut.

Danielle Deadwyler is a force to be reckoned with!

40 Acres deserves a wider-audience.

40 Acres (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Among Those Present” (1921) starring Harold Lloyd / Z-View

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Among Those Present (1921)

Director: Fred C. Newmeyer

Screenplay: Hal Roach, Sam Taylor, H. M. Walker

Stars: Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, Aggie Herring, James T. Kelley and William Gillespie.

Tagline: A triple barreled comedy shot with laughter.

The Plot…

The O’Brien family are newly rich.  Although Mrs. O’Brien wants to be accepted among society’s elite, her husband and daughter could care less.  In an effort to rub elbows (and hopefully make new friends) Mrs. O’Brien hires a “society pilot” to guide her.  He says she should host a fox hunt.  She invites all the wealthy society elite.

When Mrs. O’Brien learns that Lord Abernathy is in town, she orders the “society pilot” to get him to the party.  Unable to get Lord Abernathy to come, the pilot resorts to hiring a hotel bellboy to impersonate the Lord.  The bellboy is way out of his comfort zone.

Sound the horn.  Start the hunt!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Two years after the release of Among Those Present, Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis were married.  The union lasted until her death in 1969.

Among Those Present (1921) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Good Night and Good Luck” (2025) starring George Clooney / Z-View

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Good Night, and Good Luck (2025)

Director: Micah Bickham, David Cromer

Screenplay: George Clooney, Grant Heslov

Stars: George Clooney, Mac Brandt, Will Dagger, Christopher Denham, Glenn Fleshler, Joe Forbrich, Jennifer Morris, Michael Nathanson, Andrew Polk, Aaron Roman Weiner and Fran Kranz.

Tagline: We will not walk in fear, one of another

The Plot…

U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy leads investigations into individual citizens’ private lives in an effort to route out communists and get them blacklisted.  CBS journalist and broadcaster, Edward R. Murrow, arguably the most popular newsman of his time, takes a stand against McCarthy despite the problems and dangers it could cause him and others around him.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Good Night, and Good Luck first appeared as feature film directed by George Clooney.  In the film, Clooney played Fred Friendly.  David Strathairn took the role of Edward R. Murrow.  Clooney said the reason he didn’t take the lead in the movie was, “Murrow had a gravitas to him that at 42 years old I wasn’t able to pull off”.

Good Night, and Good Luck was the first ever live televised global broadcast of a Broadway play.

It’s ironic how events in the 1950s echo current events.

Good Night, and Good Luck (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Spider Baby” (1967) written & directed by Jack Hill, starring Lon Chaney, Jr., Sid Haig and Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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Spider Baby (1967)

Director: Jack Hill

Screenplay: Jack Hill

Stars: Lon Chaney Jr., Carol Ohmart, Quinn K. Redeker, Beverly Washburn, Jill Banner, Sid Haig, Mary Mitchel and Mantan Moreland.

Tagline: Seductive innocence of LOLITA

The Plot…

The Merrye family lives in a house on a hill outside the city.  Since their parents died when they were children, the family butler, Bruno has watched over Ralph, Virginia, and Elizabeth.  Now young adults, the three have the Merrye syndrome, a genetic family curse named after them.

Once members of the Merrye family reach adulthood, they begin to regress mentally and socially.  They become violent, although they act childish.  Although Bruno does his best to watch over them, the three have killed people who wander onto the property.

When Bruno learns that distant relatives are coming to pay a visit, he does his best to prepare Ralph, Virginia and Elizabeth so they will not act out their murderous impulses.  Bruno’s plan is to entertain his guests and then send them on their way.

Ralph, Virginia and Elizabeth have other ideas.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Spider Baby was filmed over 12 days August/September of 1964.  It wasn’t released until 1967, because the producer (a real estate agent) went bankrupt.  The budget was $65,000.00.  The star of the film, Lon Chaney, Jr. was paid just $2,500.00.

Spider Baby was released under various titles including Spider Baby; The Liver Eaters; Attack of the Liver Eaters; Cannibal Orgy; and The Maddest Story Ever Told.  The latter title was a play on the popular film, The Greatest Story Ever Told.  One of the posters used to promote the film had the tagline, Whatever Happened to Spider Baby which of course, was a play on Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (another popular movie of the era).

Lon Chaney, Jr. sings Spider Baby‘s theme song.

Spider Baby marks director Jack Hill’s feature film debut (although it was released after some of his other movies).  Hill would go on to direct explotation films such as The Big Doll House; The Big Bird Cage; Coffy; Foxy Brown; The Swinging Cheerleaders and The Switchblade Sisters.

Spider Baby is a cult film. I wanted to see Spider Baby mainly for Mantan Moreland.  Best known for his comedy roles, Mantan was chosen for the film since he is brutally murdered in an opening scene.  The director rightly figured this would shock audiences.

Spider Baby (1967) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Miracle Mile” (1988) written & directed by Steve De Jarnatt; starring Anthony Edwards & Mare Winningham / Z-View

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Miracle Mile (1988)

Director: Steve De Jarnatt

Screenplay: Steve De Jarnatt

Stars: Anthony Edwards, Mare Winningham, John Agar, Lou Hancock, Kelly Jo Minter, Kurt Fuller, Denise Crosby, Robert DoQui, O-Lan Jones, Claude Earl Jones, Alan Rosenberg, Earl Boen, Diane Delano, Alan Berger, Jenette Goldstein, Peter Berg and Mykelti Williamson.

Tagline: There are 70 minutes to the end of the world. Where can you hide?

The Plot…

Harry Washello and Julie Peters have a chance meeting.  They have a definite connection and they spend the afternoon together.  That’s all it takes for them to know they’ve met their soulmate.  They agree to meet at midnight at the diner where Julie works.

Harry oversleeps due to an accident in his building.  His alarm didn’t go off.  Julie calls but the same accident took down the phone lines.

When Harry wakes up he rushes to the diner.  He’s four hours late, but maybe, just maybe Julie is still there.  She’s not.

Harry goes to a payphone outside the diner and calls Julie.  No answer.  So he leaves an apology message.  As he walks away, the payphone rings.  It’s not Julie.  A man named Chip is trying to reach his father.  Chip is speaking quickly with terror in his voice.  Chip claims that nukes have been launched.  In 70 minutes the US and Russia will be in a full on nuclear war.  Missles are now headed for LA.  Suddenly Harry hears gunshots and Chip is gone.

At first Harry thinks the call is a prank.  He speaks to folks in the diner.  Most laugh off the call… but one lady with connections makes a couple of calls.  She learns that politicians are hightailing it out of DC.  She tells the diners they need to get as far from the city as they can as fast as they can.

Harry believes the threat is real.  He’s not willing to leave without Julie.  He has a plan but time is running out.  As Harry makes his way across the city, word of incoming nukes is quickly spreading.  The city becomes a madhouse.

And the clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

In 2001, Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham were married!  They had been married and divorced to others, but reconnected years later.

Miracle Mile marks Peter Berg’s feature film debut.

Miracle Mile features three actors who appeared in Terminator films…

  • Earl Boen (The Terminator – 1984, Terminator 2: Judgment Day – 1991, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines – 2003, and Terminator: Dark Fate -2019)
  • Brian Thompson (The Terminator – 1984)
  • Jenette Goldstein (Terminator 2: Judgment Day – 1991)

Miracle Mile plays out like a fever-dream.  Writer/director Steve De Jarnatt had a vision for his film and he stuck to his guns to get it.

Miracle Mile (1988) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“This Side of the Law” (1950) starring Viveca Lindfors, Kent Smith, Janis Paige, Robert Douglas / Z-View

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This Side of the Law (1950)

Director: Richard L. Bare

Screenplay: Russell S. Hughes; story by Richard Sale

Stars: Viveca Lindfors, Kent Smith, Janis Paige, Robert Douglas, John Alvin, Nita Talbot,
Michael Mark, Edward Van Sloan and Monte Blue.

Tagline: He’s coming back – the man they thought they double-crossed to death!

The Plot…

David Cummings is going through hard times.  Homeless and looking for work, Cummings is picked up on a vagrancy charge.  The judge sentences him to “$50 or 30 days.”  Cummings is surprised to learn that Philip Cagle, a lawyer in the courtroom, paid his fine.

Cagle then takes Cummings to dinner and offers him a job.  It turns out that Cummings looks exactly like one of Cagle’s clients.  A rich man who disappeared nearly seven years ago.  In fact, in two weeks it will be seven years exactly that the man has been missing.  At that point the man will be declared dead and the man’s estate will be divided up among the missing man’s wife, brother and sister-in-law.

Cagle offers Cummings $500 to impersonate the missing man.  Cagle hopes that Cummings will then be able to discover the fate of the missing man.  Cummings agrees to the job… for $5,000.00 and is surprised when Cagle agrees to the sum.

Cummings is able to fool everyone.  He quickly discovers that each member of the missing man’s family had reason to kill him.  And now at least one of them has reason to kill him again.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

If you can go along with the conceit that the imposter could fool the missing man’s wife, brother and former lover, then this movie works well.  I went with it and enjoyed the ride.

This Side of the Law marks Nita Talbot’s first credited feature film role.  Ms. Talbot would go on to accumulate over 150 credits on her acting resume.

This Side of the Law (1950) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Lost World” (1925) / Z-View

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The Lost World (1925)

Director: Harry O. Hoyt

Screenplay: Marion Fairfax; based on THE LOST WORLD by Arthur Conan Doyle

Stars: Bessie Love, Lewis Stone, Wallace Beery, Lloyd Hughes and Arthur Conan Doyle.

Tagline: See the mighty prehistoric monsters clash with modern lovers in a most remarkable story of love, romance and amazing adventure.

The Plot…

Explorer Maple White is missing.  His journal details an amazing lost land where dinosaurs still roam!  A newspaper sponsors a rescue party consisting of Professor Challenger (an ecentric professor), his butler Austin, Paula White (Maple’s adult daughter), Sir John Roxton, the newspaper’s reporter Edward Malone (reluctantly going to impress his fiancée), Professor Summerlee (who is skeptical that they will find living dinosaurs), and Zambo (an Indian servant).

The rescue team finds more than expected… and may themselves need rescuing!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

The Lost World is the first US (and maybe the world) feature film to feature stop motion animation photography as the primary special effect.

In April 1925, The Lost World became the first in-flight movie shown to passengers on a London to Paris flight by Imperial Airways.

Buyers beware.  The Lost World has fallen into public domain so there are many shoddy copies out there.

The Lost World (1925) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Weapons” (2025) written & directed by Zach Cregger; starring Julia Garner, Josh Brolin and Amy Madigan / Z-View

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Weapons (2025)

Director: Zach Cregger

Screenplay: Zach Cregger

Stars: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, Anny Jules, Howard St. John, Ali Burch, Alden Ehrenreich, Whitmer Thomas, Melissa Ponzio and Amy Madigan.

Tagline: Last night at 2:17 am every child from Mrs. Gandy’s class woke up, got out of bed, went downstairs, opened the front door, walked into the dark …and they never came back.

The Plot…

At 2:17 am, while nearly everyone in Maybrook, Pennsylvania, was fast asleep, 17 children got out of their beds, quietly left their homes and disappeared.  Several security cameras caught the children running from their homes into the night.  Police were stymied.  The children vanished with no clues as to where or why.

When it became clear that all of the children were in Justine Gandy’s third grade class, she became the main suspect.  Police questioned Ms. Gandy but there was nothing linking her to the disappearance.  It was a strange case. All but one of the children in Justine Gandy’s class were missing.  Only one, Alex Lilly, showed up for school the next day.  Neither Alex or his parents had any idea what/who was behind the missing children.

Justine Gandy, frustrated with police efforts decides to investigate.  She believes that Alex’s parents know more than they are saying.

She will find out just how wrong she is…

Archer Graff, the parent of a missing student, frustrated with police efforts decides to investigate.  He believes Justine Gandy knows more than she is saying.

He’ll find out just how wrong he is…

Ring the bell.  School’s in.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Netflix premiered Weapons at 2:17 am, the same time as the disappearance of the children.

Amy Madigan was perfect!

Weapons (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Undercover Man” (1949) starring Glenn Ford / Z-View

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The Undercover Man (1949)

Director: Joseph H. Lewis

Screenplay: Sydney Boehm, Malvin Wald (additional dialogue) based on Undercover Man: He Trapped Capone by Frank J. Wilson from a story outline by Jack Rubin

Stars: Glenn Ford, Nina Foch, James Whitmore, Barry Kelley, David Bauer (as David Wolfe), Howard St. John, Leo Penn, Esther Minciotti, Angela Clarke, Anthony Caruso, Robert Osterloh, Kay Medford, Patricia Barry (as Patricia White) and Peter Brocco.

Tagline: TOLD WITH THE SNARL OF A MACHINE GUN!

The Plot…

US Treasury Agent Frank Warren has been assigned to bring down the mob boss know as Big Fellow.  Every witness or informent is terrified from testifying, paid off or found dead.  Then Warren gets a lead from an unexpected source.

Now Big Fellow has targeted Frank Warren and his wife to die.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Big Fellow was of course based on Al Capone.

The Undercover Man marks James Whitmore’s feature film debut.

Leo Penn is the father of actors Sean and Chris Penn.

The Undercover Man (1949) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Big Steal” (1949) directed by Don Siegel; starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and William Bendix / Z-View

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The Big Steal (1949)

Director: Don Siegel

Screenplay: Gerald Drayson Adams, Daniel Mainwaring (as Geoffrey Homes) based on “The Road to Carmichael’s” by Richard Wormser

Stars: Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, William Bendix, Patric Knowles, Ramon Novarro, Don Alvarado and John Qualen.

Tagline: It’s a tough, terrific adventure in grand larceny! But, there’s more than money on his mind…when he mixes with this gal with the million dollar figure!

The Plot…

$300,000 was robbed from a U.S. military payroll. Army lieutenant Duke Halliday wants the money.  He knows Jim Fiske has it, but Fiske is on the lam.  Duke is in pursuit.  Duke’s superior, Captain Blake is after both Duke and Fiske.  Blake intends to get the money back.

Fiske makes it across the US/Mexican border with both Duke and Blake not far behind.  In Mexico, Duke meets Joan Graham.  Fiske scammed her for $2,000.00.  Duke and Joan reluctantly agree to work together.

Fiske is desperate.  He’s come too far to lose the money.  And he’ll kill anyone who gets in his way.  Duke and Joan are in his way.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Don Siegel, who would go on to helm classics such as Dirty Harry and Invasion of the Body Snatchers does a fine job in his third outing as a feature film director.

The film’s shooting schedule was disrupted by Robert Mitchum’s 50-day prison sentence for marijuana possession.

Jane Russell was up for the female lead, but Howard Hughes was worried that Mitchum’s marijuana arrest would reflect badly on her.  Russell was RKO Studios biggest female star and Hughes nixed her for the role.  Lizabeth Scott refused the part, because she was also afraid it would tarnish her career.  Jane Greer, who had worked with Mitchum in Out of the Past, got the role.

The Big Steal is the 1940s version of a chase movie.

There’s a couple of unexpected twists at the end.  The Big Steal is a fun ride.

The Big Steal (1949) rates 4 of 5 stars.