Thursday, May 30 - Breakfast in Hollywood

Breakfast in Hollywood (1946)

A woman comes to Hollywood to meet her fiancé, who does not show up. Given a ticket to a radio show, she meets a sailor who was a friend of her fiancé. The sailor falls in love with the girl, before he tells her that her fiancé had married someone else. The girl, angry with the boy's advances leaves on a bus to return to her home in Minnesota. The radio program host plays a fairy godmother role, having the police arrest the girl, and reunite the couple, who decide to get married.

Based on the old radio series of the same name, we see the lives of several people attending a popular radio show, including a young couple who meet and fall in love at the show. Great musical acts including Nat King Cole and Spike Jones.

Wednesday, May 29 - Let's Make Music

Let's Make Music (1941)

Newton High music teacher Malvina Adams (Risdon) is asked to retire (no, she's not asked to retire, just to make her classes more relevant) since attendance in her classes keeps dropping each year. Trying to prove she's still got it, Adams composes a school fight song which finds its way into the hands of bandleader Bob Crosby (playing himself) who turns it into an overnight hit. Though her niece Abby (Rogers) protests, Malvina travels to New York to perform her song with Bob's band, while her niece falls for the bandleader. The newness of the song fades quickly though, and Malvina tries to write one more hit song before finally giving up and returning to Newton.

Tuesday, May 28 - City of Fear

City of Fear (1959)

Vicious drug dealer Vince Ryker escapes from San Quentin with another prisoner after stabbing a guard to death and stealing what he believes to be a cannister filled with experimental heroin from the prison hospital. In reality the container is filled with cobalt-60, a highly radioactive substance which threatens the entire city if it is somehow opened. The ruthless Ryker dumps his dying cellmate and murders a bypassing motorist, burning his body beyond recognition. Assuming a new identity, Ryker heads for Los Angeles to become reunited with his beautiful girlfriend and Crown, a corrupt businessman and front man for Ryker's drug business. Fully aware of the potential dangers of the situation, the authorities are engaged in race against time to recover the cannister and avoid citywide panic.

Monday, May 27 - Gangway for Tomorrow

Gangway for Tomorrow (1943)

As co-workers at a World War II-era airplane factory carpool to their job, they recall their lives prior to the war. French Lisette (Margo) escaped her Nazi-occupied homeland as a member of the underground resistance. Former prison warden Tom (James Bell) broods about a closely held family secret. Former Miss America Mary (Amelita Ward), pines for the serviceman boyfriend she left behind. Ex-lawyer Wellington (John Carradine) reminisces about his years as a hobo.

Sunday, May 26 - The Terrible People

The Terrible People (1960) Die Bande des Schreckens (original title)

A creepy German-made Wallace thriller about the ghost of a hanged man who returns to fulfill his promise. All of his accusers must die.

A bank robber is condemned to die. Later he returns from the dead to torment his prosecutors.

Saturday, May 25 - Eyes in the Night & The Devil's Assistant

Eyes in the Night (1942)

Aided by his trusty guide dog, blind investigator Duncan MacLain (Edward Arnold) takes on a case brought to him by old acquaintance Norma Lawry (Ann Harding). One of Norma's past lovers, veteran actor Paul Gerente (John Emery), has become involved with her much younger stepdaughter, Barbara (Donna Reed), and this situation gets more dramatic when the thespian is found dead. Soon the investigation extends beyond the Lawry ladies to include a sinister Nazi scheme.

The Devil's Assistant (1917)

Margarita Fischer marries Jack Mower. Her rejected suitor, Monroe Salisbury smiles devilishly and grows horns briefly, to show he is now evil. He grows a Mephistophelean beard and begins to drug his patients. Eventually, these include Miss Fischer, whom he eventually has within his power. When they run off together in a storm, he attempts to rape her.

Friday, May 24 - See No Evil

See No Evil (1971)

After being blinded in a horse riding accident, Sarah (Mia Farrow) visits her uncle's stately home. Out on a date with her boyfriend, Steve (Norman Eshley), she escapes the fate of her relatives (Dorothy Alison, Robin Bailey, and Diane Grayson), who are murdered, along with the gardener, at their home by a psychotic killer. Sarah returns from her date and spends the night in the house, unaware that three of her family members' corpses are strewn about the house.

Sarah eventually discovers the bodies. She also discovers a bracelet containing an engraved name on it, which she correctly assumes belongs to the killer. The killer – whose face is only shown to the audience in the film’s last scene (otherwise he is shown almost exclusively from the knees down, wearing jeans and distinctive leather boots) – returns, searching for the lost bracelet. He discovers Sarah, who manages to flee on horseback. Sarah encounters a family of gypsies and shows them the bracelet. They see the name "Jack" inscribed on it, and one of the gypsies, the head of the family called Tom (Michael Elphick) concludes his brother, Jack, must be responsible, as he dated one of the murdered women from the estate. In an effort to save Jack, the family head pretends to take Sarah to the police but, instead, locks her in a secluded shed. His plan is to then round up his family and flee the area.

Sarah escapes from the shed and is found by Steve, out searching for her. She tells him all she knows. Steve and his men leave Sarah at his house to recuperate, and they begin a search for the killer, whom they assume is a gypsy. They come across the two gypsy brothers Tom and Jack intending to assault them when a frantic Jack explains that his brother suspected him of being the killer because of the name on the bracelet. However Jack insists he had nothing to do with it. They look at the bracelet again and see the name on it is actually "Jacko". Steve, upon learning the killer's real name, hurries back to his house, where it is revealed that one of his workers, left behind to guard Sarah, is Jacko (Paul Nicholas). At the house, Jacko, still searching for the bracelet, attempts to drown Sarah while she is taking a bath, but Steve returns just in time to rescue her.

Thursday, May 23 - Steel Arena

Steel Arena (1973)

The semi-autobiographical tale of Dusty Russell, a former moonshine runner turned acclaimed professional automobile daredevil who made his name jumping over an increasingly large number of cars (he actually jumps into the cars - not over) in the traveling daredevil show "Circus of Death." Russell's eagerness and fearlessness wins the respect and approval of his fellow daredevils with the exception of jealous washed-up has-been Dangerous Dan Carter, who sparks a bitter rivalry with Russell which leads to a tragic ending.

Wednesday, May 22 - The Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Vulcan Affair & Highway Patrol: Resort

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964–1968): The Vulcan Affair (Season 1 | Episode 1 - aired 22 September 1964)

UNCLE agent Napoleon Solo is assigned to foil an assassination plot by Thrush. The criminal organization's target is a delegation from the newly independent African nation, Western Natumba. The plot is under the supervision of Andrew Vulcan, a U.S. industrialist secretly working for Thrush. Solo recruits an old flame of Vulcan's as part of his plan.

Highway Patrol (1955–1959): Resort (Season 1 | Episode 14 - aired 2 January 1956)

State narcotics agent Ed Coleman asks for Dan Mathews' help in stopping a heroin distribution ring. Information from a recovering addict named Angie and from stunned honeymooners Al and Gloria Miller reveals that that the heroin is being hidden on cars belonging to guests of the exclusive Lakewood Lodge. The drug is later recovered by a pusher named Bolo. Ed Coleman and Dan Mathews apprehend Bolo and pose as lodge guests, but owner Arnold Blackwell has already learned of Bolo's arrest and has ordered the disposition of all heroin on hand. A critical break comes when Dan confronts a nervous bellhop who has obviously been assigned to remove specific cases of dried noodles from the lodge's storage facility.

Tuesday, May 21 - Space-Age Noir, 1st Nite (continued)

Tales of Tomorrow (1951–1953): Blunder (Season 1 | Episode 2 - aired 10 August 1951)

A single man in a remote place has the future of the earth in his hands. He has devised a machine that uses nuclear energy. He thinks it will provide an unlimited supply of light and energy to make the future of earth secure. The other scientists, one in particular, believes it will set off a chain reaction that will put an end to our planet. The episode involves a a great effort to get to this guy and put a stop to what he is doing. Even the President gets into the act. Meanwhile, the monomaniac continues the countdown.

Monday, May 20 - Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Safe Conduct

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955–1962): Safe Conduct (Season 1 | Episode 21 - aired 19 February 1956)

American journalist Mary Prescott is returning from a trip to a Communist state behind the Iron Curtain, traveling with a letter of safe conduct from that nation's President. Riding on the same train is Jan Gubak, captain of the country's soccer team and a national hero. Gubak visits the journalist in her compartment, asks her to dinner, and later persuades her to take a watch across the border for him, telling her that he plans to sell it to pay for an operation for his sister. She is then shocked when, at the border, Gubak himself reports her as a smuggler. She undergoes interrogation, while trying to determine whether there is anyone she can trust.

Sunday, May 19 - The Nickel Ride

The Nickel Ride (1974)

Small-time criminal Cooper manages several warehouses in Los Angeles that the mob use to stash their stolen goods. Known as "the key man" for the key chain he always keeps on his person that can unlock all the warehouses, Cooper is assigned by the local syndicate to negotiate a deal for a new warehouse because the mob has run out of storage space. However, Cooper's superior Carl gets nervous and decides to have cocky cowboy button man Turner keep an eye on Cooper.

Saturday, May 18 - Space-Age Noir, 1st Nite

Science Fiction Theatre (1955–1957): The Strange Lodger (Season 2 | Episode 39 - aired 8 February 1957)

A scientist's new TV ratings device can tell what channel a person's watching just by aiming an antenna at their house. He's perplexed when it registers a channel 84--a channel that doesn't exist--coming from the apartment of an elderly gentleman. A government UFO investigator becomes involved, convinced the old man isn't receiving information, but transmitting it to an alien craft.

Space Patrol (1950–1955): Threat of the Thormanoids (Season 2 | Episode 21 - aired 24 May 1952)

Commander Corey, Cadet Happy and Carol Carlisle struggle to identify Thormanoids, alien humanoids that resembling Earthlings and are bent on galactic domination, who have infiltrated the ranks of the Space Patrol.

Friday, May 17 - King of the Roaring 20's: The Story of Arnold Rothstein

King of the Roaring 20's: The Story of Arnold Rothstein (1961)

Arnold Rothstein gains a reputation in 1920s New York City as an expert gambler. He so impresses mob boss Big Tim O'Brien that he is given a job in his illegal enterprises.

Rothstein has a lifelong pal, Johnny Burke, and makes a deadly enemy, Phil Butler, a corrupt cop. He rises to become rich and well known in gambling circles, often using ruthless tactics, like tricking business partner Jim Kelly into sacrificing his half of their arrangement.

Although he has little time for a personal life, Rothstein impulsively marries Carolyn Green, an attractive actress. He devotes little effort to their marriage, his principal obsessions being to build a huge bankroll and to someday win a poker hand with a royal flush.

As his empire grows, so does his arrogance. Rothstein eventually sells out his only friend, resulting in Burke's being gunned down by thugs. He and lawyer Tom Fowler conspire to make sure Butler is exposed and convicted for his criminal activities. But at the precise moment a royal flush is dealt to him, Rothstein is dealt with by Butler's associates.

Thursday, May 16 - Key to the City

Key to the City (1950)

Steve Fisk (Clark Gable) is the mayor of a town called Puget City. At a convention in San Francisco, he mistakes Clarissa Standish (Loretta Young), the mayor of Wenonah, Maine, for a "balloon dancer" he was expecting.

A former longshoreman, Steve feels that Clarissa might be too refined a woman for him, but he is definitely attracted. He needs to be careful, however, because a crooked city councilman Les Taggart (Raymond Burr) would love to have any hint of scandal to use against Steve politically back home.

Steve proceeds to inadvertently get Clarissa arrested twice - first after a brawl in a Chinatown restaurant, then on their way to a costume party. A photographer clicks a picture of Clarissa making it appear she is at the police station for public drunkenness. She does not think it funny, but her uncle, Judge Silas Standish (Lewis Stone), is privately delighted that the prim Clarissa seems to finally be loosening up.

The balloon dancer, Sheila (Marilyn Maxwell), shows up, causing Clarissa to conclude incorrectly that Steve is going to see her. And she is irate when Steve disappears, unaware that he had to hurry home for a hastily called council vote. The truth is, Steve wants to marry Clarissa, and cannot wait to present her with the key to his city.

Wednesday, May 15 - Why Must I Die?

Why Must I Die? (1960)

Lois King keeps her troubled past from nightclub owner Kenny Randall, who hires her to sing at his club, The Cockatoo, and has fallen in love with her.

Lois is blackmailed by Eddie, the ex-partner of her father, Red, who is in prison. Eddie and a female safecracker, Dottie Manson, will see to it that Red's sentence is extended to life unless Lois helps them rob the nightclub.

Kenny accidentally comes across the burglars and is killed. Lois finds his body and is arrested and falsely convicted for his murder.

Lois is on death row when Dottie is brought to the prison. By the time other inmates can convince Dottie to confess to killing Kenny, the execution has been carried out.

Tuesday, May 14 - The Star Witness

The Star Witness (1931)

The Leeds family is thrown right in the middle of a war between the cops and gangland when they are the only witnesses to two murders committed by gang kingpin Maxey Campos. Initially positive in their identification of the murderer, their attitudes change when young Donny Leeds is kidnapped by Campos' boys. No amount of threatening with perjury by D.A. Whitlock can get them to tell the truth - except for cantankerous old Grandpa, civil war veteran, who berates his family for failing to do their civic duty, whatever the cost. Though having his doubts as to the credibility of his star witness, Whitlock is nevertheless taken aback when he learns Grandpa has disappeared just before he is to testify (he's looking for Donny).

Monday, May 13 - Highway Patrol: Escort

Highway Patrol (1955–1959): Escort (Season 1 | Episode 13 - aired January 1956)

Dan Mathews receives an anonymous phone call that racketeer Johnny Barr is about to commit a murder. Dan and Sergeant Milan deduce that the call came from an accountant named Powers who handles some of Barr's "investments". Powers reluctantly agrees to help and attends a meeting at which Barr discloses that his intended victim is Senator Day, whose anti-crime commission has listed Barr as its number one target. Dan devises a complex scheme for escorting the senator to the scene of the hearings, but Barr counters with a series of henchmen placed strategically along the highway. The senator's trip becomes a dangerous chess game between Dan's men and Barr's, but Dan has a surprise in store for the would-be murderers.

Sunday, May 12 - For the Defense

For the Defense (1930)

William Powell plays William Foster, a slick attorney who stays within the law, but specializes in representing crooks and shady characters. He's adept at keeping them out of jail, winning acquittals, and having decisions reversed, thus springing criminals out of prison. He is romantically involved with dancer Irene Manners (Kay Francis), who is two-timing him, although she wants to marry him. She kills a man driving while out with her other man, Jack Defoe (Scott Kolk), who takes the blame. Unfortunately, a ring Foster had just given Irene is found at the crime scene. Foster ends up defending Jack, but when the ring is found, he thinks he is protecting Irene, so pleads guilty to jury tampering, which he had done for the first time to save Irene. After his plea, the the prosecuting DA confides that Jack would have gotten off.

Saturday, May 11 - They Call It Murder

They Call It Murder (1971)

Erle Stanley Gardner's small-town district attorney, Doug Selby, came to TV in this pilot that has him investigating a swimming pool murder of a gambler, a questionable car crash and a huge insurance claim.

Friday, May 10 - Something to Live For

Something to Live For (1952)

Jenny Carey is a budding actress whose developing career is threatened by an increasing dependence on alcohol spurred by her self-destructive romance with theatre director Tony Collins. Reformed drunk Alan Miller attempts to help her by introducing her to AA, but his growing interest in her strains his marriage to Edna, who suspects his motive for assisting Jenny is more than humanitarian.

Thursday, May 9 - Went the Day Well?

Went the Day Well? (1942)

The residents of a British village during WWII welcome a platoon of soldiers who are to be billeted with them. The trusting residents then discover that the soldiers are Germans who proceed to hold the village captive.

Wednesday, May 8 - Invisible Agent

Invisible Agent (1942)

The Invisible Man's grandson uses his secret formula to spy on Nazi Germany.

Tuesday, May 7 - Torment

Paper Gallows (1950) Torment (original title)

A story of two brothers, both writers of crime novels, one a fine, upstanding gentleman and the other a moody, neurotic, psychopath. The other is determined to create a 'faked' version of a perfect crime he intends to commit when an ex-convict visits them. They are both in love with their shared-stenographer-secretary.

Two brothers are novelists sharing a big house and a secretary. They are both writing murder mysteries. John Bentley is in love with the Secretary Rona Anderson.Dermot. Walsh is too, only she doesn't love him. Unfortunately Dermot is barking mad. We know this because not only does he kill a visiting ex convict but also the family cat.

Monday, May 6 - Alfred Hitchcock Presents: And So Died Riabouchinska

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955–1962): And So Died Riabouchinska (Season 1 | Episode 20 - aired 12 February 1956)

A dead man is found in the basement of a theater, and a detective comes to investigate. He learns that the deceased had been seen near the theater asking for Fabian, the ventriloquist. As the detective questions Fabian in his dressing room, a voice comes from the box in which Fabian's female dummy is stored. When the dummy, Riabouchinska, continues to talk, the detective is annoyed, thinking that the ventriloquist is trying to be funny. But the detective humors him and 'talks' to the dummy, and he soon learns about a web of tensions involving Fabian, his wife, and his manager. Much of the tension concerns the dummy - and there is also a connection with the dead man.

Sunday, May 5 - Dance Charlie Dance

Dance Charlie Dance (1937)

Stuart Erwin is a hick who comes to New York to invest in the theater and gets suckered in by the smooth-talking Allen Jenkins who is dealing with alimony happy ex-wife Glenda Farrell and an untalented leading lady (Olive Olson) who tends to fall asleep during important scenes. Somehow, Irwin ends up in control of the show (along with naive hotel clerk Chester Clute) but finds himself in trouble when he is sued for plagiarism.

Saturday, May 4 - Saturday's Children

Saturday's Children (1940)

Young Bobby Halevy (Anne Shirley) and eccentric inventor Rims Rossen (John Garfield) begin courting, but when Rims is offered a job in Manila, Bobby panics. Taking her sister's advice, Bobby makes Rims jealous, and he cancels his plans and marries her. After only a few months, the couple is hit by financial hardship and moves in with Bobby's family. When Rims receives a new offer from Manila, the now-pregnant Bobby tears up the letter, resulting in near-tragedy for the entire family.

Friday, May 3 - Night Court

Night Court (1932)

Judge Moffett is as crooked as they come and the Board of Judicial Corruption is after him. He sends his mistress, Lil Baker, away to prevent her from being subpoenaed to testify against him.

While living in hiding Lil befriends a neighbor Mary Thomas. During a visit at Mary's apartment next door Lil accidentally drops Moffett's bankbook from her purse (showing a high balance for 1932 of $60,000). When Mary finds it she realizes it belongs to Lil and returns it. Moffett realizes Mary must have read the contents and is concerned she will share the details about the bankbook so he finagles a scheme that brings her to his court on a trumped up charge.

To keep her quiet the judge sends her to prison for six months. Mike, Mary's husband, is overcome with grief; when he comes to his senses, he talks to Mary who tells him about the book. This gets Mike beat up and put on a boat to South America, but he jumps ship and plots his revenge.

Thursday, May 2 - Anatomy of a Psycho

Anatomy of a Psycho (1961)

Driven to the edge of insanity by the execution of his older brother, Chet is boiling over with hatred. After getting his face slashed in a senseless alley-way brawl, his paranoia begins to paint everyone around him as an enemy. He turns to his sweet younger sister, his slutty girlfriend, and even his old poker buddies for solace, but all of them have real or imagined links back to the ill-fated trial that condemned his brother, thus aggravating Chet's psychosis. After viciously assaulting the prosecuting attorney's son, the troubled youth draws the relentless attention of detective Lt. Mac. Spiraling out of control, Chet commits an arson and then a senseless murder. With Lt. Mac ratcheting up the pressure, Chet sinks deeper and deeper into the bottomless pit of his own psychotic delusions.

Wednesday, May 1 - Executive Action

Executive Action (1973)

A dramatization about how high level covert conspirators in the JFK assassination might have planned and plotted the assassination based on the data and facts of the case. It posits that a covert group of rogue intelligence agents, ultra-conservative politicians, unscrupulously greedy business interests, and free-lance assassins become increasingly alarmed at President Kennedy's policies, including his views on race relations, winding down the Vietnam War, and ending the oil depletion allowance. They decide to terminate him through an "executive action" utilizing three teams of well-trained snipers during JFK's visit to Dallas and place the blame on supposed CIA operative Lee Harvey Oswald as the lone assassin.

Tuesday, April 30 - Kiss Me, Kill Me

Kiss Me, Kill Me (1976)

"Kiss Me...Kill Me" stars Stella Stevens as Stella Stafford, an L.A-based investigator for the District Attorney's office. She is assigned to an especially disturbing murder case involving Maureen Coyle (Tisha Sterling), a respected young woman who teaches at a school for handicapped children. Maureen suffers from a disability herself: she has a leg disorder that causes her to walk with a limp.

When she is discovered murdered in her apartment, the D.A.'s office is put under pressure to find the culprit behind the especially gruesome killing. Stella is assigned to work the case with veteran detective Harry Grant (Claude Akins). The two are old friends- and perhaps more. Harry's career has been in decline and views this case as a way of re-establishing his reputation.

Before long, he has his first suspect: Edward Fuller (Robert Vaughn), an elitist owner of a major advertising agency who was seen lurking around Maureen's apartment building prior to the murder. Under questioning, he is less than co-operative and can't provide a logical reason for his being there in the dead of night.

In looking into Maureen's personal life, a shocking secret emerges. Turns out she enjoyed kinky, rough sex and was known to frequent a seedy bar trolling for one night stands. Ultimately, Harry finds another suspect: a young black man named Hicks (Charles Weldon) who admits to having bedded Maureen. Harry's strong-armed tactics results in the down-and-out Hicks eventually confessing to the killing but Stella suspects he is not the real killer. This puts her at odds with Harry, who accuses her of sabotaging his case by continuing the investigation beyond Hicks, who she feels was coerced into confessing.

Ultimately, the trail leads to Douglas Lane (Bruce Boxleitner), an arrogant young hunk who was using Fuller as a sugar daddy. Fuller is clearly infatuated with Lane and tries to buy his love and respect but all he gets is public humiliation. Stella becomes convinced that Lane is the real killer but trying to prove it could cost her her own life.