NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF

NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF. The Hardy Boys # 59.(1979). Franklin W. Dixon (house pseudonym). 

In this excellent adventure story for kids of all ages with many interesting facets, the boys investigate a supposed werewolf curse affecting the son of a construction contractor. At the same time some of the man’s buildings have been sabotaged, meaning he could go out of business. One of the fellow's employees is a native American who is hoping to find a missing bejeweled axe that belonged to his ancestor. A phosphorescent wolf – shades of Hound of the Baskervilles  -- appears at different times to menace assorted characters. There are many suspenseful and exciting sequences that range from dark forests to isolated mansions to high beams on skyscraper frames. In addition to Frank and Joe Hardy, we have lovable, chubby Chet Morton, who develops a crush on the contractor's pleasingly plump daughter. 

The first 58 books in the Hardy Boys series were published by Grosset and Dunlap, who lost the contract to the Wanderer books division of Simon and Schuster. The series continued in both paperback and hardback format for quite a few years. It was then replaced with The Hardy Boys Case Files, a somewhat edgier series for older readers. When that series wrapped up its run, we had The Hardy Boys, Undercover Brothers, where they became agents and the stories often were turned into trilogies. Currently Frank and Joe still have their own series in "The Hardy Boys Adventures" (as well as a new television program). The cover of Night of the Werewolf is typical for the time as if portrays the boys as looking a little too young and much less tougher and competent than they actually are in the stories. 

Verdict: One of the better of the post-58 books in the series. ***.  

KING SOLOMON'S TREASURE

Macnee, Colicos, McCallum 

KING SOLOMON'S TREASURE (1979). Director: Alvin Rakoff. 

Allan Quatermaine (John Colicos), Henry Curtis (David McCallum), and Captain Good (Patrick Macnee) travel through Africa to try and find King Solomon's lost treasure. Along the way they pick up a portly French chef, Alphonse (Yvon Dufour), and a handsome, noble African named Umpslopogas (Ken Gampu). They also encounter -- oddly enough -- a variety of dinosaurs, but don't seem all that befuddled by their presence. Finally they come upon the lost kingdom of Zuvenda ruled over by -- you guessed it -- a beautiful blond queen (Britt Ekland). Then there's warfare and an erupting volcano for good measure.

Britt Ekland

If ever there were a picture made strictly for tax loss purposes, King Solomon's Treasure is it. It is chockful of absurdities. Things seem headed in the right direction when African natives are actually played by African natives  -- this was filmed in Swaziland as well as in Montreal -- but when Britt Ekland shows up you know you're back in fantasy land. The presence of dinosaurs -- all of which look pretty terrible and are mock-ups of limited movement -- doesn't make any sense at all. There are a couple of giant crabs as well. McCallum and Macnee -- both of whom had starred in successful TV series in the sixties (The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Avengers, respectively) must have thought this was the absolute nadir of their careers. Macnee dispenses his usual suavity and charm, and McCallum portrays the comic relief until he starts necking with Ekland. Any similarity to H. Rider Haggard is strictly coincidental.

Verdict: Terrible. Just terrible! *. 

DEATH CAR ON THE FREEWAY

Shelley Hack

DEATH CAR ON THE FREEWAY (1979 telefilm). Director|: Hal Needham. 

Jan (Shelley Hack) is a newswoman who learns of two incidents where women were targeted and nearly killed by a man in a dark van on the freeway. Jan is convinced the two incidents are related, but has trouble convincing her boss (Frank Gorshin of Hot Rod Girl) until there are more incidents, resulting in the deaths of several woman. Jan's husband, Ray (George Hamilton), who wants her back even though he treats her like a child and she insists she needs her independence, is scared that the creep on the freeway will now target her. Although Lt. Haller (Peter Graves) wants Jan to back off, she decides to initiate her own investigation, which she may come to regret.

Peter Graves: Where;s my team? 

Death Car on the Freeway certainly has an interesting cast, in addition to Hamilton, Gorshin and Graves. Dinah Shore is cast as a tennis pro who is nearly forced off the road by the psycho, Harriet Nelson of Ozzie and Harriet fame is a landlady, and Barbara Rush is an older colleague of Jan's. As for Shelley Hack, she's cute, but one gets the sense that she was told how to say each and every line before she stepped in front of a camera. Former stunt man and crash coordinator Hal Needham directed the film with his usual lack of panache, and he also plays a guy who teaches Jan about defensive driving. The movie is modestly entertaining, but although there are a few suspects as to whom the psycho driver is, you wait for a twist that never comes. The feminist sub-text is interesting and very typical of the period. 

Verdict: Watch Duel instead. **1/2.