THE MAGNETIC MONSTER

THE MAGNETIC MONSTER (1953). Director: Curt Siodmak. Produced and co-written by Siodmak and Ivan Tors. 

Dr. Jeffrey Stewart (Richard Carlson) is an "A-Man" or investigator for the Office of Scientific Investigation (OSI). He and his partner Dan Forbes (King Donovan of Invasion of the Body Snatchers) are called in when a store owner (Byron Foulger) complains about weird magnetic disturbances terrifying his salespeople. The magnetic disruption is traced to an office upstairs where a dead man is found. Stewart discovers that scientist Harold Decker (Leonard Mudie) has somehow created a strange new element that needs massive amounts of electricity to keep it from imploding, causing mass destruction. Stewart manages to get the element from a dying Decker and off of an airplane before it can cause it to crash, but just when he thinks the danger is over there is a disaster at the facility where it is being stored. Growing in size (although never to gigantic proportions) the element will implode every eleven hours, eventually changing the earth's very orbit and boiling away the seas. Can anything destroy this "monster" before it destroys the world? 

The Magnetic Monster may not have giant spiders munching on mankind but it's horrifying enough in its own way, adeptly building up tension and suspense until the final nail-biting moments in a cyclotron deep in a mineshaft. Richard Carlson is the perfect lead for this kind of picture, radiating efficiency and concern in equal measure, and he gets good support from Donovan and Jean Byron as his wife. Others in the cast include Michael Fox as Dr. Semy, who consults with Stewart, and Kathleen Freeman, of all people, as a switchboard operator at the OSI. Billy Benedict of Blonde Dynamite is amusing, as usual, as one of the salesclerks in Foulger's store, and Foulger himself always strikes the right note. Siodmak directs at a swift pace. He was also responsible, unfortunately, for Bride of the Gorilla. 

Verdict: Surprisingly creepy and absorbing, and not a dull moment. ***1/4. 

SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE

John Russell and Chick Chandler

SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE 1955 - 1957 syndicated television series.

This half hour show lasted two seasons and concerned the exploits of two adventurers who would do just about anything and go anywhere if the pay was right: Tim Kelly (John Russell) and Toubo Smith (Chick Chandler). The show used old sets from Republic films and serials as well as a lot of adroitly-employed stock footage. Russell and Chandler -- the former tall, handsome and macho, with a splendid physique, the latter short and plucky -- complimented each other perfectly.

Chandler and Russell

In one first season episode Kelly suggests that Toubo is getting too old and tired, should settle down and marry, he's over the hill. "A friend shouldn't say that to a friend," says an offended Toubo. "Who says you're a friend," replies Kelly "We travel around together," protests Toubo. To which Kelly replies, "I'm just keeping you out of trouble." The viewer honestly doesn't know if Kelly is joking or not, but in an episode in the second season, Kelly clearly risks his life to save his buddy's when the latter is nearly sacrificed to natives, so there's no doubt that there is a genuine bond of friendship between the two men.

John Russell before his Lawman TV series mustache

Soldiers of Fortune was not a classic series, but it was entertaining and (via stock footage and standing sets) managed to send the boys all over the world. Among the more memorable "A" episodes were the following: a woman is plagued by a voodoo cult in "Drums of Far Island;" a Chinese salesman in Limehouse is embroiled in a smuggling plot in "Hatchet Man;" sabotage holds up construction of an underwater tunnel in Cuba in "Sandhogs;" and the boys go undercover on a cargo ship with a sinister crew in "Crew of the Dolly D." 

Chick Chandler

Out of fifty-two episodes I have managed to see all but five, but at least half are of B+ quality. Guest-stars include Henry Brandon ("Greatest Beast" -- was an oil man killed by a Tibetan monster?); Jay Novello ("Vanishing Island" -- that  occasionally rises to the surface and holds a treasure); Beverly Garland ("Lady and the Lion" -- intrigue on an African film set); Jean Byron ("Tattooed Lady of Torima" -- a beautiful woman runs a diamond racket in Columbia); Michael Emmet ("Skull of the Inca" -- an educated native returns to headhunter land to find treasure and encounters giant lizards from One Million B.C. instead). 

"City of Doom" with Pamela Duncan

Also Grant Williams ("Lady of Rajmahal" -- a rajah's frightened wife wants to leave home with some priceless art treasures); Adele Jurgens ("Danger Sisters" -- two gals with a knife-throwing act get into trouble in Tangier); and Pamela Duncan ("The City of Doom" -- a maharajah's sister fears that a cult that is against progress will eventually destroy the city). Many episodes featured women whom at first seemed warm and sympathetic and turned out to have a dagger up their sleeves, and duplicitous characters of both sexes abounded. 

Verdict: Basically a fun if imperfect series that was easy to take. **1/2.