“For Heaven’s Sake” (1926) starring Harold Lloyd / Z-View

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For Heaven’s Sake (1926)

Director:  Sam Taylor

Screenplay: John Grey, Ted Wilde, Clyde Bruckman, Ralph Spence (titles)

Stars: Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston, Noah Young, Paul Weigel

Tagline: There’s a new Lloyd comedy in town. You have laughed yourself hoarse at every one you have ever seen, but when you see him trying to “uplift” a gang of underworld crooks you will think you never laughed before.

The Plot…

J. Harold Manners (Lloyd) is a millionaire who accidentally sponsors a mission to provide relief to the poor.  When the publicity hits the newspapers that the J. Harold Manners’ Mission has opened, J. Harold goes down to have his name taken off the mission.  He’s embarrassed and doesn’t want to come off as a publicity seeker.

At the mission J. Harold meets Hope (Ralston), the daughter of the man running the mission.  J. Harold is attracted to Hope.  When she tells him the mission isn’t getting many folks coming in.  J. Harold decides to get down and out people to the mission by going through the poor section of town and provoking them.  The idea is they will chase him back to the mission.

What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This was a tough production for Harold Lloyd.  Many scenes were cut (but later used in his film Speedy).  Lloyd reportedly wasn’t happy with the final product.  Surprisingly, For Heaven’s Sake became one of Lloyd’s most successful films and the 12th highest-grossing film of the Silent Era.

For Heaven’s Sake (1926) rates 3 of 5 stars.

RIP: William O’Connell

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William O’Connell died on January 15, 2024.  He was 94.

Mr. O’Connell served in served in the Korean War as a 1st Lieutenant in the 45th Infantry.

William O’Connell acted in television and feature films.  His best known role was on Star Trek where he played Thelev, an alien whose mission was to kill Captain Kirk and destroy the Enterprise.  Mr. O’Connell was also a favorite of Clint Eastwood with appearances in five of his movies (Paint Your Wagon, High Plains Drifter, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Every Which Way But Loose and Any Which Way You Can).

Television appearances of William O’Connell include: Highway Patrol; Peter Gunn; Dr. Kildare; Thriller; The Twilight Zone; Dennis the Menace; The Travels of Jamie McPheeters; My Three Sons; The Outer Limits; Rawhide (2 episodes); Bonanza; The Alfred Hitchcock Hour; The Munsters; Batman; Pistols ‘n’ Petticoats; The Lucy Show; Ironside; Star Trek; Petticoat Junction (4 episodes); Mannix; Mission Impossible; Julia; The Wild, Wild West; Green Acres; Gunsmoke; Daniel Boone (3 episodes); Love American Style (2 episodes); The Odd Couple (2 episodes); Kolchak: The Night Stalker; Charlie’s Angels; Quncey, M.E. (2 episodes) and The Dukes of Hazzard.

Feature film appearances of William O’Connell include: Swingin’ Along; The Warlord; ice Station Zebra; Paint Your Wagon; Which Way to the Front; The Culpepper Cattle Co.; High Plains Drifter; Big Bad Mama; The Outlaw Josey Wales; Every Way But Loose and Any Which Way You Can.

William O’Connell was the quintessential character actor.  It’s hard to say when I first saw him because he appeared in so many of the television shows I watched as a kid.  If I had to pick a favorite William O’Connell role it would be either in Star Trek or The Outlaw Josey Wales.  On Star Trek he had the bigger part, but Mr. O’Connell was so memorable as the ferryman in Josey Wales that I had to also include it.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to William O’Connell’s family, friends and fans.

“The Mad Doctor of Market Street” (1942) / Z-View

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The Mad Doctor of Market Street (1942)

Director:  Joseph H. Lewis

Screenplay: Al Martin

Stars: Una Merkel, Lionel Atwill, Nat Pendleton, Noble Johnson and John Eldredge

Tagline: GENIUS – OR FIEND?

The Plot…

Dr. Ralph Benson (Atwill) changes his name and boards a passenger ship after a man dies during one of Benson’s crazy experiments.  While on the ship Benson is recognized so he lures the man to a secluded area and throws him overboard.  A fire breaks out on the ship.  Benson and five others are the sole survivors.  Their lifeboat lands on an island populated by natives ready to kill them.

Benson learns that the Chief’s wife is on her deathbed.  Benson claims he can cure her.  When a shot of adrenaline revives the woman, the Chief thinks Benson has magical powers.  Benson sets himself up as a god.  He plans to continue his experiments starting with the other survivors.  Trapped on an island with a mad doctor and natives ready to kill them, the survivors have little chance for life.

Unless…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Mad Doctor of Market Street is about what you’d expect for a low budget B film of the early 40s.  The murders are tame or appear off screen.  There’s an attempt at humor.  The one surprising thing and it is pretty grim even though it appears off screen is — BIG SPOILER ALERT — the fire that alerts the search party that there are survivors on the island comes from the natives burning the doctor alive!

The Mad Doctor of Market Street (1942) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Why Files: Season 2” (2021) / Z-View

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The Why Files: Season 2 (2021)

Creator:  Andrew Gentile

Stars: Andrew Gentile

Tagline: Where Cool Nerds Laugh and Learn

The Plot…

The Why Files started as a weekly Youtube podcast where the host, Andrew Gentile looked at myths, legends, strange phenomena and more.  Gentile approaches each subject with respect and the right touch of humor.  After explaining the subject he then explains what part is true, debunks parts that can be and admits if the truth isn’t known.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Andrew Gentile is an excellent host.  His sidekick is a Hecklefish that adds humor.

Some of my favorite episodes from season two include: Apollo 20: The Secret Mission to the Moon; The Mysterious Case of the Circleville Letters; The Truth Behind Possession and Exorcisms; How a UFO Caused the Battle of Los Angeles; Bigfoot Aliens KGB? Dyatlov Pass Explained; John Titor: Time Traveler, Soldier, Savior; Visitor from Another Dimension: the Man from Taured; What Lies Below? The Denver Airport Conspiracy; Valiant Thor: A UFO, the Pentagon and a 3-year Mission to Save the World..

The Why Files: Season 2 (2021) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare” directed by Guy Ritchie; starring Henry Cavill, Eiza González & Alan Ritchson – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Here we have the poster and trailer for The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Henry Cavill, Eiza González and Alan Ritchson.

The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare – In theaters April 19. Starring Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Babs Olusanmokun, Henrique Zaga, Til Schweiger, with Henry Golding, and Cary Elwes.

Based upon recently declassified files of the British War Department and inspired by true events, THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE is an action-comedy that tells the story of the first-ever special forces organization formed during WWII by UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a small group of military officials including author Ian Fleming. The top-secret combat unit, composed of a motley crew of rogues and mavericks, goes on a daring mission against the Nazis using entirely unconventional and utterly “ungentlemanly” fighting techniques. Ultimately their audacious approach changed the course of the war and laid the foundation for the British SAS and modern Black Ops warfare.

“Synchronic” (2019) starring Anthony Mackie / Z-View

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Synchronic (2019)

Director:  Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead

Screenplay: Justin Benson

Stars: Anthony Mackie, Jamie Dornan, Ally Ioannides and Ramiz Monsef

Tagline: Time is an illusion

The Plot…

Steve (Mackie) and Dennis (Dornan) are New Orleans paramedics.  Recently they’ve been getting calls where the victims have used a new street drug called Synchronic.  The drug often leaves the user incoherent or dead under unusual circumstances.  One person appeared to be victim of a sword fight, another died from the bite of a poisonous snake not found in the state and yet another was found stabbed with an ancient sword.

While at a local smoke shop, Steve is able to purchase several Synchronic pills.  A man claims to be the chemist who invented Synchronic attempts to buy the pills from Steve.  He offers much more than Steve paid.  The chemist wants to destroy the pills. Later Steve learns that the chemist believes the pills allow young people who take Synchronic to easily travel through time.  Adults, because of their body chemistry, have problems when taking the pills.

When Dennis’ daughter (Ioannides) doesn’t come home and can’t be found, Dennis and Steve learn she was last seen at a party where Synchronic was available.  Steve believes that the only hope to find her is to take the Synchronic himself…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I like well done time travel films and Synchronic qualifies.

Anthony Mackie is always good and this outing is no exception.  Ally Ioannides doesn’t have a lot to do, but I enjoyed seeing her.  She’s grown up since Into the Badlands.

OWNING UP by George Pelecanos

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George Pelecanos has a new one coming out.  Actually four new ones if we want to be accurate.  Here’s the lowdown…

Four blistering novellas, drawn together by themes of strife, violence, and humanity; “Every time I read one of George Pelecanos’s novels, I’m left a little awed.” (Dennis Lehane)

When the son of the Carusos is involved in a hold up, the family home comes under siege in the form of a no-knock warrant. Months after the cops destroyed their home, the Carusos struggle to return to normal. Elsewhere, two former inmates reunite by chance on the set of a TV production. Both have found their way on the straight and narrow path, that is, until one sees the potential for an easy grift. A teenage boy must step into the man he’d like to be as a hostage crisis grips his hometown. A woman adrift meets a man tied to her grandmother’s past, an encounter that awakens her to a bloody history that undergirds the place she grew up.

Pelecanos’ portraits are characterized by shades of grey, resisting the mold of heroes and villains, victims and perpetrators, good and evil. At once streetwise and full of heart, Owning Up grapples with random chance, the bind of consequence, and the forked paths a life can take.

OWNING UP by George Pelecanos drops February 6, 2024.

The Invisible Woman (1940) / Z-View

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The Invisible Woman (1940)

Director:  A. Edward Sutherland

Screenplay: Robert Lees, Frederic I. Rinaldo, Gertrude Purcell, story by Curt Siodmak, Joe May

Stars: Virginia Bruce, John Barrymore, John Howard, Oscar Homolka, Donald MacBride, Margaret Hamilton, Charles Lane, Mary Gordon  and Shemp Howard.

Tagline: The YEAR’S FUNNIEST FUN!

The Plot…

Richard Russell (Howard) has always used part of his wealth to fund eccentric Professor Gibbs’ (Barrymore) inventions.  When Gibbs comes up with a method to turn people invisible he needs a test subject.  Out-of-work model, Kitty Carroll (Bruce) volunteers.  When gangsters learn of the device, they decide to steal it.  Kitty, Professor Gibbs and Richard are in over their heads.

Let the fun begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Invisible Woman was a 1942 Oscar Nominee for Best Special Effects.

If at times John Barrymore seems to be looking past who he’s talking to or in different directions as he speaks, it’s because cue cards were placed in strategic locations around the room.  Sadly Barrymore’s alcoholism had taken a toll.

Watch for Shemp Howard as the gangster named Frankie!  Margaret Hamilton of Wizard of Oz fame also has a supporting role.

The Invisible Woman (1940) earns 3 of 5 stars.