THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU

Christopher Lee and Tsai Chin

THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU (1966). Director: Don Sharp. 

In this sequel to The Face of Fu Manchu, the diabolical Chinese doctor (Christopher Lee of Alias John Preston) is kidnapping the daughters of prominent scientists so that he can force their fathers to work on a devastating weapon with which he hopes to conquer the world. His chief adversary, of course, is Nayland Smith (Douglas Wilmer), accompanied by Dr. Petrie (Howard Marion-Crawford), while Fu's assistants include his daughter Lin Tang (Tsai Chin), the faithful Feng (Burt Kwouk), and the quisling Nikki Sheldon (Harald Leipnitz of The Sinister Monk). Franz Baumer (Heinz Drache) takes the place of one of the fathers so that he can lead Smith to the Temple of Karna where the prisoners are held and Fu has the controls for his weapon. Fu succeeds in vaporizing one ship and all of its passengers -- we see little children playing on the boat deck before this happens -- and has set his sights on destroying all of the participants in a political conference unless he can be stopped ... 

Douglas Wilmer

With a wealth of material from Sax Rohmer's atmospheric, detailed, and suspenseful novels about Fu Manchu, it's a shame that the British films featuring the character are comparatively bland and tame. Sure, we have one poor woman thrown into a pit of vipers, but Brides has none of the outre creatures or torture devices employed by Fu in the books. The super-weapon the scientists develop is pretty lame, especially when you compare it to similar devices in spy movies of the period. As usual Fu himself is completely one-dimensional, where there was more substance to him in the novels. 

The "brides," Carole Gray, Rupert Davies

Brides is a step down from Face of Fu Manchu, which was also directed by Don Sharp. The only real period atmosphere is provided by the automobiles, and the film has little urgency or real excitement. As Nayland Smith, Wilmer is okay, but not as good as Nigel Green in the first film. Lee is also okay, but seems a bit disinterested, treading water -- he would get worse. An interesting, if under-developed character is Abdul (Salmaan Peerzada) who surreptitiously works against Fu Manchu and does his best to help the shanghaied ladies. Carole Gray plays Michelle, one of the women, and Rupert Davies is her father. All in all, it's just a bit bleh. 

Verdict: Acceptable but minor-league Fu film. **1/2. 

MYSTERY MOUNTAIN

Ken Maynard

MYSTERY MOUNTAIN (12 chapter Mascot serial/1934). Directors: Otto Brower; B. Reeves Eason. 

After her father's death Jane Corwin (Verna Hillie) wants to keep her transportation company going despite the competition from a new railroad that wants to tunnel through the nearby mountain. When a mysterious figure called the Rattler -- who wears a black cloak and glasses with a fake nose and mustache attached! -- begins acts of sabotage against the railroad, supervisor Frank Blayden (Edward Earle of Heartaches) blames Jane. Railroad detective Ken Williams (Ken Maynard) is called in to find out who the Rattler really is, and there are several suspects. The Rattler uses poison darts and other weapons against his enemies and to confound and confuse them puts on realistic masks of various people involved in the story. But can Ken ever unmask the Rattler?

The Rattler sneaks up on Breezy

Mystery Mountain is a fun if minor serial from Mascot, which almost always seems to have the villain using masks of his enemies and associates to cause dissension among the others. (A notion later stolen for the Tom Cruise Mission: Impossible movies.) Maynard, best-known as a big cowboy star (who was reportedly a real son of a bitch in real life), is more than competent as the hero, and Verna Hillie is both attractive and credible as the heroine. There is way too much of Syd Saylor as reporter and comedy relief Breezy Baker, who is as much screw-up as helpmate to Williams. Mystery Mountain can be both exciting and suspenseful, but it cries out for much more music. Another cast member is Ken Maynard's amazing horse Tarzan, who seems to be as smart as Roy Rogers' Trigger. B. Reeves Eason also directed Spy Ship. 

Verdict: Entertaining Mascot serial with good players. ***. 

THE SECRET OF THE BLACK WIDOW

Karin Dor

THE SECRET OF THE BLACK WIDOW (aka Das Geiheimnis der Schwarzen Witwe/1963). Director: Franz Josef Gottlieb.  

In London a tippling reporter named Welby (O. W. Fischer) angers his bosses by writing lurid articles about a series of murders. The victims are taken out by a poisoned dart that is fired by a blow gun and has a rubber spider at the end. The paper Welby works for is owned by a group of men who are the victims of the unknown killer. Years ago, these men were on an expedition in Mexico which discovered a horde of Aztec treasure -- their leader, Avery, was murdered. It turns out that a secretary named Clarisse (Karin Dor) is Avery's daughter, and suspicion soon falls upon her. Is Clarisse the Black Widow, or is someone else responsible for the deaths?

Klaus Kinski, O. W. Fischer

The Secret of the Black Widow is a West German thriller that for once is not based on a story by Edgar Wallace, although it's very, very much like something Wallace would come up with. In addition to Dor, the film is full of familiar faces from other krimi movies: Klaus Kinski as a mysterious man who appears now and then to get Welby out of danger; Eddi Arent as a bumbling public servant, the usual comedy relief; Werner Peters as Osborne, Welby's direct superior; and others. At times the film is much sillier than it needs to be, the climax is dragged out to a tedious degree, but there is some suspense and the true identity of the Black Widow is a bit of a surprise. Franz Josef Gottlieb also directed the similarly mediocre Curse of the Hidden Vault. 

Verdict: Acceptable West German crime thriller. **1/2. 

DANGER ROUTE

Diana Dors and Richard Johnson

DANGER ROUTE (1967). Director: Seth Holt.

British agent Jonas Wilde (Richard Johnson) has apparently had a License to Kill for quite some time, and wants out of the game. He has a girlfriend, Jocelyn (Carol Lynley of The Shuttered Room), and is partner with Brian (Gordon Jackson) in a boating business. He is given one last assassination assignment by his boss, Canning (Harry Andrews of What the Peeper Saw) and uses a lusty housekeeper named Rhoda (Diana Dors of Berserk) to gain access to his victim. A man named Lucinda (Sam Wanamaker) tells Jonas that he is being played for a fool. Then there's the beautiful Mari (Barbara Bouchet of The French Sex Murders), who claims to be the niece of another operative. Will Jonas survive to complete his mission? More importantly, will he survive to enjoy retirement?

Johnson with Carol Lynley

The same year that Danger Route was released Johnson -- who had a very, very long career -- starred as Bulldog Drummond in Deadlier Than the Male, a light-hearted spy spoof which was a hell of a lot more entertaining than this. Unlike the Bond movies, Danger Route is a "serious" spy flick, but it is also dull and confusing. Diana Dors briefly adds some spice as the housekeeper but she's not on-screen for long enough. At one point Jonas confronts his bosses wife (Sylvia Syms of Hostile Witness) and winds up collapsing onto the floor from a bleeding injury. In the very next scene two seconds later, Jonas and Mrs. Canning are on a train pretending to be husband and wife. There is absolutely no explanation for this, no reason for why the woman would go along with the deception. Was something left on the cutting room floor? Undoubtedly.

Johnson with Barbara Bouchet

Frankly, one can't work up much sympathy for Jonas' grim fate. Everyone around him turns out to be duplicitous, and different factions seem to be working against one another -- typical spy movie stuff and as senseless as usual. Sequences that are meant to be exciting only serve to break the poor audience out of the general tedium for a short while. Barbara Bouchet's character never really fits into the main storyline. Considering the mediocrity of the screenplay, Richard Johnson gives a better performance than anyone could have expected of him, but the movie is a genuine stinker. Producers thought seriously of casting Johnson as 007 for Dr. No, and he would have been good in the role. Jonas Wilde appeared in several spy novels that are said to be much better than this movie -- they would have to be!

Verdict: Spy cliches, confusion and boredom. *1/2. 

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE FROG

The Frog: would you buy a used care from this man?

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE FROG (aka Face of the Frog aka Der Frosch mit der Maske/1959). Director: Harald Reinl. 

London is the locale of a sinister criminal leader known only as the Frog, who has hundreds of cutthroat agents in his employ, and who runs about decked out in a kind of ski cap with bulging bubble eyes. Richard Gordon (Joachim Fuchsberger), the nephew of Scotland Yard's Sir Archibald (Ernst Fritz Furbringer of The Curse of the Hidden Vault), is certain that the Frog is actually the supposedly dead master criminal Harry Lime, but whom is he impersonating when he isn't posing as the Frog? The Frog seems to have an unhealthy interest in the family of John Bennet (Carl Lange of Death in a Red Jaguar), especially his daughter, Ella (Elfie von Kalckreuth), but it's his son, Ray (Walter Wilz), who winds up framed for murder. Then there's the singer, Lolita (Eva Pflug), who seems to be working for the Frog but elicits his wrath in an especially brutal sequence involving a machinegun. Can Ray be saved before he's hanged, and will the Frog ever be unmasked? Inspector Elk (Siegfried Lowitz of The Sinister Monk) has a plan ... 

Matinee Idol: Joachim Fuchsberger

This is the very first of a West German film series based on the novels of Edgar Wallace that would eventually add up to nearly sixty movies (if you also include adaptations of novels written by Wallace's son as well as films clearly influenced by Wallace)! This one, directed by Harald Reinl -- who helmed many of the Jerry Cotton films starring George Nader, as well as Dr. Mabuse movies and The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism -- keeps things moving briskly in this initial entry. Handsome Fuchsberger would appear in many of the subsequent films, generally in a heroic role. Frog is fast-paced, entertaining, and amusing, although the whole business with Ray being arrested and convicted so rapidly seems more than contrived and downright weird. The biggest problem with Frog is that the identity of the master criminal seems obvious, at least to me, almost from the first -- he just sticks out like a sore thumb! Other characters include the cadaverous Maitland, Ray's boss (Fritz Rasp), and his kindly associate Johnson (Jochen Brockmann), as well as Eddi Arent as Gordon's comical butler, James. 

Verdict: Successful enough to engender a whole slew of krimi movies. **3/4.   

ALIEN ROMULUS

The monster moves in for the kill

ALIEN ROMULUS (2024). Director: Fede Alvarez. 

Rain (Cailee Spaeny) is a young woman who works for a mining corporation and wants out. Her constant companion is Andy (David Jonsson), a black android that has been programmed to protect her but is obviously damaged. Learning she has to stay in this dismal place for several more years, she agrees to flee to an abandoned space station with several acquaintances -- including Tyler (Archie Renaux), Navarro (Aileen Wu), Bjorn (Spike Fearn) and Kay (Isabela Merced) -- from whence they can hopefully reach another planet. Andy will be of much help as well. Unfortunately, the station is infested with the same deadly lifeforms as in Alien, and after being outfitted with a module from the android Rook (a digital Ian Holm), Andy is much more interested in protecting the interests of the corporation than he is of Rain's and the others ...   

Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson

If you're looking for something completely different with Alien Romulus, be advised that you won't find that with this movie. A sequel to the original Alien, which occurs before that movie's other sequels (such as Aliens) this picture makes full use of all of the general tropes of this sci-fi/horror series. For the first 20 or 20 minutes you might think you're simply watching a remake of Alien, but fortunately the movie sort of goes in different directions with different, moderately interesting characters. Alien Romulus works not because it's original -- which it isn't -- but because it's well-acted, well-directed, has superior FX work, and several thrilling sequences -- the main reason to sit through one of these movies. The climax, which makes use of an alien-human hybrid (which is gross and scary) -- as did Alien: Resurrection -- is a decided highlight. 

Verdict: Entertaining and slick with some excitement and scares. ***.   

KING DINOSAUR

King Dinosaur licks his chops

KING DINOSAUR (1955). Director: Bert I. Gordon.

A new planet named Nova is orbiting around the sun, closer to the Earth than any other planet. A team of four scientists are sent by rocket ship to explore this new world. They are Ralph Martin (William Bryant), his fiancee Pat Bennett (Wanda Curtis), Nora Pierce (Patti Gallagher) and Richard Gordon (Douglas Henderson of Invasion of the Saucer Men). On Nova they discover that the planet is very Earth-like, but as Earth was during the prehistoric era. After encounters with an alligator and a giant ant -- which none of the four even remark upon -- they decide to explore an island and discover it is full of carnivorous monsters! A particularly hungry lizard, referred to improbably as a T-Rex -- hence "King" Dinosaur --  is hell bent on having them for a snack! 

Bryant, Curtis, Gallagher, Henderson

King Dinosaur was the directorial debut for Bert I. Gordon, Mr. BIG, who came out with several movies starring outsized monsters, such as Beginning of the End with its huge grasshoppers. King Dinosaur is not an auspicious debut by any means, but the movie has a certain zero budget charm to it. Although some of the musical score reminds one of a poor man's "Bolero," it whips up some suspense and excitement during the climax on the island. The sound FX are excellent, as they generally are in giant monster flicks. The actions of our heroes are at times inexplicable, and it's also hard to believe that an iguana -- I believe that's what King D actually is -- could beat a crocodile in a fair fight! Both Bryant and Henderson had a long list of credits. Patti Gallagher did only a few films, and Curtis, who was basically a singer, appeared only in this movie. 

     

Verdict: Low-grade monster flick is of interest to Mr. BIG fans. **1/4. 

JAMES BOND AND THE SIXTIES SPY CRAZE

 JAMES BOND AND THE SIXTIES SPY CRAZE. Thom Shubilla. Applause; 2024. 

Author Shubilla presents a no-frills history of spy movies  of the 1960s, beginning with 007, with chapters on Bond, other American agents such as Matt Helm and Derek Flint, spy movies that were not part of a series such as Agent for H.A.R.M., British spy films, eurospy films, Mexican spy films, and finally, TV shows dealing with secret agents, including Man from UNCLE and Mission: Impossible. This is essentially a just-the-facts kind of book -- the only critical notes come from snippets of contemporary reviews -- and it really doesn't say too much about the TV series. There is much more info on some of the individual films. Whatever its flaws the book is a fun read, and one can take notes on unseen movies that the reader may want to investigate. Shubilla only covers a small percentage of the incredible number of eurospy features, which could take up an entire book of its own. An annoying aspect of the book is that instead of using footnotes Shubilla lists his sources right in the text in a very weird fashion, almost as if this were a term paper (which it might have been)! 

Verdict: Entertaining if imperfect look at spy movies of the sixties. **3/4. 

GIRL WITH AN ITCH

 

Kathy Marlowe

GIRL WITH AN ITCH (1958). Director: Ronald V. Ashcroft. 

Hitchhiking Mari Lou Waverley (Kathy Marlowe) is picked up by Jake (Scott Douglas) and taken to a ranch owned by widower Ben Cooper (Robert Armstrong) to pick the crops. But Ben has other plans for Mari Lou and invites her to stay in his house, where they begin a relationship. Mari Lou also continues flirting -- and more -- with Jake, and makes a play for Ben's son, Orrie (Robert Clarke of The Incredible Petrified World), who wants nothing to do with her. Before long Ben is using the payroll to buy expensive clothing for Mari Lou and Orrie is having none of it. Does the scheming blonde have her hooks tight enough in Ben or will his son be a more formidable opponent than she can handle? 

Scott Douglas, Kathy Marlowe, Robert Armstrong

Kathy Marlowe was an eternal starlet with mostly uncredited bits and this was her one big, starring role, and she delivers. Unfortunately, not enough people probably saw the film to make much of a difference. Robert Armstrong of King Kong fame and Gang Busters gives a solid performance, as does Clarke as his concerned, angry son. Patti Gallagher of King Dinosaur plays Jake's girlfriend, Emma, and gets into a watery catfight with her at one point. Scott Douglas certainly makes an impression as Jake, although most of his credits were for TV shows. He was also a professional dancer and the long-time companion of a well-known male choreographer. While none of the characters are as well-developed as they should have been, Girl with an Itch is well-acted and absorbing.

Verdict: Entertaining minor melodrama with good performances. **3/4.  

DEAD BODY ON BROADWAY

George Nader and Heinz Weiss

DEAD BODY ON BROADWAY (aka Broadways Deadly Gold aka Todesschusse am Broadway/1969.) Director: Harald Reinl. 

FBL agent Johnny Peters (Hans Heyde) infiltrates a gang run by Joe Costello (Miha Baloh), but manages to hide the three million in gold they stole before he is murdered. Costello has his face altered, kills off the surgeons, and tries to get ahold of Peters' girlfriend, Cindy (Heidy Bohlen), thinking she knows where the loot is hidden. Having always suspected that her Johnny was on the side of the angels, she bravely decides to work with Jerry Cotton (George Nader) and Phil Decker (Heinz Weiss) as a decoy. Another player is wealthy Woody Davis (Horst Naumann), who runs his own gang and is also out to find Cindy -- and the loot. His niece, Alice (Michaela May), is innocently embroiled in the intrigue. 

Miha Baloh

This is the eighth and last in the West German Jerry Cotton film series starring George Nader as Cotton. As usual, it has a fast pace, a lot of running around, lots of fist fights and gun shots, and some exciting sequences, although it isn't the best of the series. Joe Costello is such an utterly loathsome villain that at one point he kidnaps a young boy, then later hands him a loaded grenade hoping to blow the child up -- fortunately Jerry saves the boy's life. Costello gets his just desserts but his death isn't nearly horrible enough. The flick, shot in West Germany, features second unit work in New York and Las Vegas, where Jerry takes a brief detour. Locations of shattered ruins, garbage-strewn back alleys, and dank tunnels add much to the atmosphere. Two times during the film Cindy sings one of the most dreadful pop numbers I've ever heard, "See You Later, Alligator." 

Apparently Nader was dubbed for these German productions, but fortunately his real voice is used for the English-dubbed versions. His performances as Cotton are always on the money, adding a soupcon of humor and style to his square-jawed characterization. German actor Weiss is never given as much to do, but is also effective. 

Verdict: The last of the sixties Cotton movies. **3/4.