GIRLS IN PRISON

Joan Taylor

GIRLS IN PRISON (1956). Director: Edward L. Cahn. 

Anne Carson (Joan Taylor) is incarcerated in a woman's prison after being convicted of robbery, although she claims she didn't know that the two men she was with were going to commit a crime. She also claims that she has no idea where the money is, a notion that doesn't sit well with fellow inmates Jenny (Adele Jergens), Melanie (Helen Gilbert), and others. Paul Anderson (Lance Fuller of This Island Earth) goes to see Anne's crusty pop (Raymond Hatton) and the two try to find the stolen money. The prison chaplain, Reverend Fulton (Richard Denning), believes that Anne should be transferred to a prison farm where things will be easier for her, but then an earthquake and a prison break -- not to mention a run for the money -- changes the scenario dramatically, 

Taylor and Jergens on the run

Girls in Prison is a lively, engaging "chicks-in-stir" movie and it's one of the better ones. The prolific Edward L. Cahn also turns in one of his best directorial jobs and the picture moves at a swift, exciting pace. Joan Taylor of Earth vs the Flying Saucers is effective in a sort-of bad girl persona, Denning is typically professional and blandly pious, but of the jailed ladies Adele Jergens gets the acting honors with her vivid portrayal of Jenny; Jergens keeps you guessing as to which side she will ultimately be on. Jane Darwell also makes an impression as the unsentimental but sympathetic wardress. Raymond Hatton nearly steals the movie as Pop Carson, always complaining of assorted trials and tribulations while also hoping he can get his hands on some money. 

Richard Denning

Helen Gilbert scores as Melanie, but the rather obvious hints at her sexuality go unexplored. Phyllis Coates is fine as another inmate who murdered her cheating husband and still thinks her little boy is alive. Laurie Mitchell of Queen of Outer Space has a small role as another nasty inmate. The earthquake sequence is handled quite well on a limited budget, and Ronald Stein's score effectively underlines the busy action. The slight touches of religiosity are silly but brief. Cahn also directed the similar Betrayed Women the previous year. This is not to be confused with the inferior Women's Prison also made the previous year. Girls on the Loose, directed by Paul Henreid, is another entertaining flick about an all-girl gang. 

Verdict: Zesty B movie is well-acted and a lot of fun. ***. 

G-MEN VS. THE BLACK DRAGON

Nino Pipitone as Haruchi

G-MEN VS. THE BLACK DRAGON (15 chapter Republic serial/1943). Director: William Witney.

Haruchi (Nino Pipitone), the head of a Japanese society called the Black Dragons, is smuggled into the U.S.A. in a mummy case. There, with his deadly black raven at his side, he orders his henchmen. including Ranga (Noel Cravat), to commit various acts of sabotage, including setting fire to ships at sea. Haruchi is fond of sending men through a trapdoor to their doom, which comes at the beak and claws of his poisonous raven. His mission is to destroy the Occidental fools and take over the world for his people.

Rod Cameron as Rex Bennett

Haruchi's mission is imperiled by the brave actions of G-Man Rex Bennett (Rod Cameron), who is assisted by the equally brave British agent Vivian Marsh (Constance Worth) and Chinese agent Chang Sing (Roland Got). Vivian is as rugged and courageous as any man, throwing herself into battle at the drop of a hat and blasting away with a machine gun at one point. She is locked in a cabinet and nearly immolated in a room set on fire, affixed to a log heading towards a buzz saw, and tied to a chair with a huge spear aimed at her! As for Rex, he falls out of a skyscraper window, saving himself with a fire hose, crashes in a stolen robot plane, and nearly goes over a dam in a speedboat (a cliffhanger used repeatedly by Republic ever after). 

Constance Worth and Roland Got

Stalwart Cameron, feisty Worth and energetic Got are all fine in their roles. Nino Pipitone betrays his Italian accent now and then but offers a restrained and dignified -- if unexciting -- portrait of the nasty leader of the Black Dragons, but he is nevertheless effective. There is some astounding "choreography" in this as good guys battle bad guys in furious fights and their whirling dervish-like fisticuffs result in tons of smashed furniture -- nothing is unscathed! Mort Glickman's music score backs up every bit of action -- and there is a lot of it -- in a way that increases the thrills. I am not comparing director William Witney to Hitchcock, but there is a similarity in the brisk tight cutting of the film and a judicious use of close-ups. 

Made during WW2, the film understandably makes the villains either Japanese or Caucasian traitors, but there was a certain courage in having a Chinese-American actor playing one of the good guys. Born in San Francisco, Got appeared in 19 films but died much too young at age 32. Constance Worth was an Australian actress, and this was probably her largest role. The same is true of Nino Pipitone, as most of his roles were uncredited bit parts. The first chapter of this serial is entitled "The Yellow Peril" while chapter six is amusingly called "Death and Destruction!" of which there is plenty. Rod Cameron also played Rex Bennett in the serial Secret Service in Darkest Africa, which is not as good as this. Stuntman Tom Steele is not listed in the credits but he has two small speaking parts in the movie. Other familiar faces are John Hamilton, George J. Lewis, and Ken Terrell [Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman]. 

Verdict: Fast and furious, this is one of the most exciting Republic serials ever. ***1/2. 

BLONDE DYNAMITE

Gabriel Dell and Adele Jergens

BLONDE DYNAMITE (1950). Director: William Beaudine. 

Gabe Moreno (Gabriel Dell) has a job as a messenger in a bank, and also has a new girlfriend named Joan (Adele Jergens). Joan manages to steal $5000 from Gabe and give it to head operator Champ Fallon (Harry Lewis), who tells Gabe that he'll get the money back if he gives them the combination to the safe. While this is going on, Louie Dumbroski (Bernard Gorcey) is importuned to take a vacation, after which Slip Mahoney (Leo Gorcey) opens up an escort service in his Sweet Shoppe which employs Sach (Huntz Hall) and the other Bowery Boys as unlikely dates for lonely ladies. Then Champ hits on the scheme of breaking into the bank by digging through the floor of little Louie's shop. 

Escorts? 

Believe it or not, Blonde Dynamite has some genuine laughs in it as the zany story proceeds. A scene with Sach and Whitey (Billy Benedict) taking two older ladies to the opera is a scream, and there's also a funny sequence when Joan hires all of the boys as  escorts to a party to get them out of the way and plans to give them all a mickey. The screenplay makes good use of the comic talents of Slip and his gang, and Gabriel Dell exudes a certain likable charm of his own. Adele Jergens is saucy and vivid as usual as the bad girl who drives the action. Handsome Harry Lewis did mostly television work in the fifties and afterwards and offers a smooth performance in this. 

Verdict: Cute Bowery Boys picture with spirited players. ***. 

I SEE YOU

Helen Hunt

I SEE YOU (2019). Director: Adam Randall. 

Jackie Harper (Helen Hunt) has caused problems in her marriage to cop-husband Greg (Jon Tenney) by having an affair, also alienating her teenage son, Connor (Judah Lewis). Greg is assigned to the case of a missing ten-year-old who was snatched out of the woods. But he also has to reckon with two other teens, "phroggers," who sneak into other people's homes and stay out of sight for days (Libe Barer, Owen Teague). But these kids get more than they bargain for when Jackie's former paramour (Sam Trammell) is murdered in the basement ... 

Jon Tenney

I See You is a stylish thriller, too stylish, with an off-putting, overdone and pretentious scare-score by William Arcane, but it does boast some striking and gorgeous cinematography by Philipp Blaubach. The movie is haphazardly constructed, as halfway through it jumps back in time to the beginning to show the same events through different characters' eyes. The plot throws in all sorts of twists, some of which seem illogical, and with all its loose ends one can't say it has a satisfactory conclusion. Still, the movie is never boring, is quite unpredictable by overturning expectations, and manages to be entertaining in spite of itself. But it doesn't hold up to close inspection. All of the characters are essentially one-dimensional as well. The performances are good, although virtually every critic commented on how awful poor Helen Hunt looks. 

Verdict: Some arresting stuff in this but not highly recommended. **1/2. 

BETRAYAL

Amanda Blake

BETRAYAL (1974 telefilm.) Director: Gordon Hessler. 

Gretchen (Tihsa Sterling of The Name of the Game is Kill) makes a living as a companion to older ladies with money, and then robs them with the help of her abusive boyfriend, Jay (Sam Groom), who winds up murdering their latest victim. Gretchen next sets her sights on Helen Mercer (Amanda Blake), who is not quite as helpless as Gretchen might like, and certainly doesn't need her help with her finances. Pretending to be Gretchen's formerly estranged husband, Jay moves in as the two women bond. Gretchen just wants to live a normal life and leave Helen in peace, but Jay has no intention of walking away from a big score.

Tisha Sterling

Betrayal is a fairly standard telefilm that has a couple of twists and holds the attention. The performances are okay. Tisha Sterling is the daughter of Ann Sothern and Robert Sterling -- she's not a bad actress, she's just not very distinctive in this. A major cast surprise is that Helen's male friend who wants to marry her is played by an unrecognizable Dick Haymes, actor, singer and former husband of Rita Hayworth; he's fine. Sam Groom is also capable as the rather slimy Jay. The movie actually has an interesting plot but the execution is mediocre. At times this almost plays like a love story between Helen and Gretchen, and the ending is very satisfying. 

Verdict: Okay TV time-passer with some interesting elements. **1/4. 

THE MONSTER OF PIEDRAS BLANCAS

The monster with a victim's head

THE MONSTER OF PIEDRAS BLANCAS (1959). Director: Irwin Berwick. 

A lighthouse keeper named Sturgis (John Harmon) lives alone with his grown daughter, Lucille (Jeanne Carmen). Unbeknownst to her he has been surreptitiously feeding a creature in a cavern that he has come to think of as a kind of pet or companion. Unfortunately this creature is becoming increasingly hungry for more meat, and bodies begin turning up that are missing their heads and have been "completely transected" and drained of blood. Constable Matson (Forrest Lewis), Dr. Jorgenson (Les Tremayne) and Lucy's boyfriend, Fred (Don Sullivan), decide to track down the seven-foot-tall monster before it can claim more victims. 

Forrest Lewis, Jeanne Carmen, Don Sullivan

One thing The Monster has going for it is a lot of low-budget atmosphere and location filming. Although there were other fifties creature features that could get pretty gruesome and somewhat graphic -- The Crawling Eye/Trollenberg Terror comes to mind -- Monster is sometimes pretty raw for the time period, not only showing more than one ripped-off head but showing us a close-up of a little girl's head being fed upon by a crab; the pic was obviously going in for shock value! John Harmon was a busy actor with over 200 film and TV credits, but his performance in this is only acceptable.

Forrest Lewis and Les Tremayne

Les Tremayne is the best-known member of the cast and is as professional as ever. Forrest Lewis also had quite a few credits, although Jeanne Carmen was better-known for the company she kept -- mobsters and Frank Sinatra -- than for her few film roles. Don Sullivan is best-known for another low-budget monster flick, The Giant Gila Monster. The monster is built along the lines of The Creature from the Black Lagoon -- a kind of hulking, stalking reptilian creature -- but not nearly as well-designed. Much about how this mutant kills and feeds and why it beheads its victims is left unexplained. Long-time bit player Pete Dunn not only plays the monster but one of the victims, carrying a mock-up of his own head in the film's most exciting sequence. An unknown actor has an affecting moment as Will, the devastated father of the little girl. 

Verdict: Creepy, at times ghoulish, horror flick has some effective moments. **1/2. 

JUNGLE HEAT

Mari Blanchard and Lex Barker

JUNGLE HEAT (1957). Director: Howard W. Koch.     

Roger McRae (Glenn Langan) and his wife, Ann (Mari Blanchard), arrive in Hawaii and discover that the manager of the plantation where they are to reside has been murdered. Roger takes over, while his unhappy wife becomes friendly with Dr. Jim Ransom (Lex Barker). There is a lot of talk of Japanese fifth columnists in Hawaii during this pre-WW2 period, as well as difficulties with the plantation workers, whom the entitled McRae sees mostly as slaves. Major Dick Grey (Rhodes Reason of the Bus Stop TV series) has a Japanese wife, Kimi-San (Miyoko Sasaki), whom is unfairly suspected of being a fifth columnist. Meanwhile a planter named Mathews (James Westerfield) manipulates things behind the scenes as a worker named Felix Agun (Glenn Dixon) is hunted by the law.

Rhodes Reason and Lex Barker

Jungle Heat tries to add some substance to its melodramatic story but nothing ever really jells. With this cast, one would have hoped for a sexy and lurid romp but the movie only briefly veers in that direction and never goes anywhere. As usual, Barker reads his lines without adding any nuances, although Blanchard, Langan, and Westerfield, as well as the other cast members -- including an intense Dixon -- are more on target. The score by Les Baxter seems to do most of the work, giving the flick an energy it generally lacks. The ironic ending isn't much of a surprise given the time period. Another cheap production from Bel-Air.    

Verdict: Half-baked melodrama with interesting elements that don't quite add up. **.                                                              

FLYING G-MEN

James Craig, Robert Paige and Richard Fiske

FLYING G-MEN (15 Chapter Columbia serial/1939). Directed by James W. Horne and Ray Taylor. 

Five years ago four pilots known as the Skyhawks became famous when they flew around the world. Now saboteurs are operating in America and one of them decides to take on the identity of the Black Falcon to fight them. One of the four -- Ed McKay (William Lally), who was planning to test a new bombing device -- is killed almost immediately, leaving behind a beloved sister, Babs (Lorna Gray of Exposed) and little son, Billy (Sammy McKim). The three other men are Hal (Robert Paige), Bart (Richard Fiske) and John (James Craig), who are assisted at times by Babs and little Billy. 

James Craig as one of the G-Men

Flying G-Men is an entertaining Columbia chapterplay with no great cliffhangers as such but plenty of fast-paced action both on the ground and in the air. Not too much suspense is generated over the identity of the mastermind behind the sabotage, whose unveiling happens relatively early on. The notion of keeping the hero's identity secret was used earlier in The Lone Ranger and later on in The Masked Marvel, but there isn't much suspense worked up over that, either. No matter, the serial is still fun. Lorna Gray has little to do in the serial but would get more attention when she played the villainess in The Perils of Nyoka. Although the theme music is pretty snappy, the score in general is overdone, like something out of a silent movie with a piano playing along. Our heroes fly about in certain chapters in a "pick-a-back" plane which has one aircraft attached to the top of another. 

Verdict: Entertaining Columbia serial thriller. ***. 

TANKS A MILLION

William Tracy and Joe Sawyer

TANKS A MILLION (1941). Director: Fred Guiol. 

"Dodo" Doubleday (William Tracy) is actually a whiz kid with a photographic memory. When he's drafted into the Army, he incurs the wrath of his fellow soldiers and especially Sgt. Ames (Joe Sawyer of Inside Job) by reciting the rule book he memorized at every opportunity. Nonetheless, his knowledge makes him a sergeant in very short order, only making everyone madder and more determined to trip him up. Ames is certain that Dodo has finally screwed up when he winds up inadvertently impersonating Colonel Barkley (James Gleason) and even giving a speech for him. 

Elyse Knox and Noah Beery Jr. 

Tanks a Million is a serviceable service comedy with very familiar elements, such as grumpy sergeants and colonels and grumbling soldiers. There are a few funny moments, however, thanks to the cast, especially the work of Sawyer and a near-apoplectic Gleason. Noah Beery Jr. and Elyse Knox are cast as another soldier whom Dodo knew beforehand, and Dodo's lady friend, Jeannie. Frank Faylen and Douglas Fowley also have small roles as Army men. Tracy is competent as the leading man, although one can't quite call him a brilliant comic actor.

Verdict: Hard to distinguish one of these movies from all of the others like it. **. 

SWING IT PROFESSOR

Pinky Tomlin

SWING IT PROFESSOR (1937). Director: Marshall Neilan. 

Professor Artemis J. Roberts (Pinky Tomlin) doesn't much care for swing music, but the members of the board of the music college where he is employed -- all of whom are significantly older than him -- think he's not very hip and fire him. Through circumstances not that interesting to tell, Artemis winds up being front man for a nightclub owned by Lou Morgan (Milburn Stone of Inside Job). There he catches the eye of singer Teddy Ross (Paula Stone), while Artemis' former pupil, Joan (Mary Kornman), finds herself the object of Lou's personal interest. 

Milburn Stone and Paula Stone

None of this leads into anything terribly exciting, even when a gangster named Randall (Bill Elliott) shows up with his thugs in tow. There are, however, some pleasant song numbers, including "Old-Fashioned Melody;" and "Richer Than a Millionaire." An admittedly charming bit occurs when some hobos start singing opera -- rather well, in fact -- and then join in for the latter tune. There is a trio of Three Stooges imitators who are called "The Gentle Maniacs;" they are terrible, and, mercifully, only appeared in one other movie. A climactic bit of business with a dozen cabs taking off in pursuit of Artemis does not engender any laughs. Milburn Stone and Paula Stone were cousins in real life. Paula was not especially pretty and she only had a few credits.

Musician/actor Pinky Tomlin has an unassuming, pleasant if highly un-dynamic personality and a singing voice that can best be described as okay and nothing more. Despite her terrible moniker, the undistinguished Mary Kornman amassed quite a few credits while Bill Elliott appeared in over 260 vehicles. 

Verdict: Gotta love that Pinky! **.