Thursday, Oct. 24 - Thursday, Oct. 31 - The Vanishing Shadow (10 episodes)

The Vanishing Shadow (1934)

Stanley Stanfield is the inventor of the Vanishing Ray, a wearable device which, when active, leaves only the user's shadow still visible. After meeting with a fellow scientist, Carl Van Dorn, a prototype is built. Stanley intends to sell bonds to finance his invention. He inherited them from his late father, an editor for the Tribune newspaper, but the stockbroker he meets is corruptly involved with Wade Barnett, the businessman who hounded Stanley's father to his death. Barnett wants the bonds and will go to any length to acquire them. A conflict ensues between Stanley and Barnett. However, Stanley's new girlfriend, Gloria Grant, is really Gloria Barnett, his enemy's estranged daughter. Neither hero nor villain wants to hurt Gloria and must work around this in their struggle. Many science fiction gadgets, including a robot and The Destroying Ray, also feature.

Wednesday, Oct. 23 - I Married Joan (2 episodes)

I Married Joan

Two adventures of the scatterbrained wife of a respected city judge.

Tuesday, Oct. 22 - You Can't Buy Luck

You Can't Buy Luck (1937)

Superstitious New York gambler Joe Baldwin (Onslow Stevens), owner of the thoroughbred racing horse Sarcasm, believes that luck can be bought with charitable deeds. Before the Kentucky Derby, to "buy luck," he finances an expensive trip to Europe for gold-digger Jean Jason, his "good luck charm," not knowing she is taking her lover with her, gigolo and sometime artist Paul Vinette (Vinton Hayworth). He also gives his old friend Frank Brent cash to save his cab business and visits an orphanage in Louisville with his sister, where he meets Betty McKay (Helen Mack), a pretty teacher who scoffs at his philosophy.

She scolds him for wishing for rain on the day of the Derby to aid his horse, who runs best on a muddy track, because the orphans plan an outdoor party. Although it rains as wished, Sarcasm loses the Derby, and Joe is convinced that it was because the orphans were pulling against him. In an attempt to repair the damage before the Preakness, Joe throws the orphans a lavish party, hiring clowns and other entertainment. To Betty's surprise, Joe is as excited as the children, and they fall in love.

After Sarcasm wins the Preakness, Joe returns to New York, where Jean is back from Europe. Joe tells her that he will not be seeing her any more because he is going to marry Betty, and she cajoles $50,000 from him as a final "luck insurance" payment. Before Joe shows up with the check, however, Paul arrives at Jean's apartment. They argue when he sees that she plans to run out on him with the money. Jean threatens him with a gun, and during a scuffle, kills her.

Joe arrives at Jean's building, where Paul is waiting outside. He lights the unsuspecting Joe's cigarette and gives him the matchbook, then telephones the police and, posing as Joe, "confesses" that he just murdered Jean. Joe is tried for Jean's murder and convicted on circumstantial evidence, but escapes before his final lockup. Using Frank's cab to get around, and with the help of Betty to question the many possible suspects, Joe tracks down Paul using the passenger lists of Jean's voyage.

Paul discovers the ploy and has Joe apprehended. Joe convinces the police to question Paul. By matching partial fingerprints from the crime scene to those left by Paul at the police station, Paul is implicated in the murder and confesses. Sure now that luck cannot be bought, Joe embraces Betty.

Monday, Oct. 21 - One Step Beyond: The Executioner

One Step Beyond (1959–1961): The Executioner (Season 3 | Episode 15 - aired 3 January 1961)

In 1862, hungry Confederate soldier Buzz Martin (as Jess Bradley) and his hound dog "Tom" are captured trying to steal food from a Union soldier. Although he poses no threat, Union Colonel Crahan Denton (as Martin) plants evidence to suggest Mr. Martin is a spy, and orders him executed. Suspecting his superior officer framed Martin, Captain Jeremy Slate (as Adams) challenges Mr. Denton. Denton responds by ordering Mr. Slate to lead the firing squad.

Later, disturbed by Martin's howling dog, Denton shoots the animal dead. Somehow, "Tom" has the last bark.

Sunday, Oct. 20 - A Severed Head

A Severed Head (1971)

Antonia is the pampered wife of an upper class wine merchant, Martin Lynch-Gibbon. She tells her husband that she is in love with their best friend, psychiatrist Palmer Anderson. Palmer and Antonia wish to deal with the situation in a civilized manner by remaining friends with Martin.

Meanwhile, Martin tries to keep his mistress, Georgie Hands, a secret. However, Palmer's sister, Honor Klein, who once taught Georgie at Oxford University, tells Palmer and Antonia about their affair. Honor then introduces Georgie to Martin's womanizing brother, Alexander. This is just the start of the various liaisons.

Saturday, Oct. 19 - Cabo Blanco

Cabo Blanco (1980) Caboblanco (original title)

Giff Hoyt (Bronson), a cafe owner in Cabo Blanco, Peru after World War II is caught between refuge-seeking Nazis and their enemies. After the murder of a sea explorer is passed off as accidental death by the corrupt local police, Giff becomes suspicious. The police chief (Rey) also intimidates a new arrival Marie (Sanda), and Giff intervenes to help her. Giff suspects Beckdorff (Robards), a Nazi refugee living in the area. Beckdorff, it emerges, is seeking to uncover sunken treasure.

Friday, Oct. 18 - Sunny

Sunny (1941)

Anna Neagle plays Sunny O'Sullivan, the star of a small, upscale circus run by Bunny Billings (Ray Bolger). In New Orleans during Mardi Gras she meets by accident Larry Warren (John Carroll), handsome scion of the wealthy Warrens of Waverly Hall. They fall in love, but Sunny has to deal with the conflicts between his snooty family and her down-to-earth circus pals (which includes a trained seal). A crisis erupts just before her wedding, she flees, but then all is made well.

Thursday, Oct. 17 - Blossoms in the Dust

Blossoms in the Dust (1941)

The story is a fictionalized telling of the story of Edna Gladney, an early advocate for the rights of illegitimate children in Texas.

Edna Kahly (Greer Garson) and her adopted sister, Charlotte (Marsha Hunt), are both to be married. But, when Charlotte's mother-in-law-to-be discovers that Charlotte was a foundling, she declares the wedding must not occur, and Charlotte kills herself from shame. Meanwhile, Edna falls for a brash cashier, Sam Gladney, at the bank, and eventually marries him and moves with him to his home state of Texas.

Sam Gladney has a flour mill in Sherman, Texas, and at first the couple has an idyllic life, though after a difficult delivery Sam is told Edna must have no more children. Several years later, their son dies, and Sam's effort to ease the pain she still endures by trying to get her to adopt a foundling fails. But the little girl's story touches Edna's heart, and she starts a day care center for the children of working women.

Sam's business fails, and they must auction off all their possessions. The local women take over the day care center, and Sam and Edna move to Fort Worth, Texas, where he runs a mill. Edna starts a home for orphans and illegitimate children, and works hard to find them appropriate homes, matching parents to child by interests and inclinations. Sam becomes ill and dies. When a young woman comes to try to donate a large sum of money, Edna worms the young woman's story out of her, and discovers she is in a similar situation as poor Charlotte. After insisting the girl's fiancé won't care that she is illegitimate, she decides to campaign to have the word "illegitimate" removed from Texas birth certificates.

After succeeding in her quest, Edna faces one more trial—the little crippled boy Tony she raised from an infant and nursed back to health, finds a new home at last. She is reluctant to let him go, but as she takes in two new foundlings, brought to her door by a policeman, she at last realizes it is for the best.

Wednesday, Oct. 16 - On Approval

On Approval (1944)

A man of little means, Richard Halton (Roland Culver) has every desire to marry the widow Maria Wislack (Beatrice Lillie), but lacks the funds to properly do so. However, Maria is open to the marriage, if only Richard will join her at her secluded island castle for a month, to see if married life would suit them. Yet the two are not to be alone, for Richard's friend George (Clive Brook), the 10th Duke of Bristol, and American Helen Hale (Googie Withers) join them for a scandalous time.

Tuesday, Oct. 15 - Doublecross

Doublecross (1956)

A Cornish poacher/fisherman, Albert Pascoe, is paid by two men and a woman to take them over to France by trawler, unaware that they have stolen top secret documents, killing a man in the process. During the voyage, Pascoe overhears them talking about the killing and turns the boat back towards Cornwall, but fixing the compass to give the impression to the passengers that they are still on course for the French coast. On reaching the coast the woman, Anna, warns Pascoe that he will be killed once he has put them ashore. Having rowed the two men ashore in a small boat, Pascoe overpowers them and makes his escape back to the trawler. Reaching his home port, he explains to the police that he landed the two men in a small cove from which they will not be able to climb out.

Monday, Oct. 14 - Highway Patrol: Harbor Story

Highway Patrol (1955–1959): Harbor Story (Season 1 | Episode 19 - aired 1956)

Three men (Curtis, Taxton, and Geller) rob a series of banks in coastal towns, then abandon their rented getaway cars and disguise themselves as fishermen so they can walk to the beach and escape in a small boat piloted by their leader, Miles Lauber. After robbing the Cresdale City Bank, they shoot a witness in front of the bank and assault skin diver Bill Martin on the beach to conceal their escape. Dan Mathews and his officers get a description of the men and their boat from Martin. When the nearby Fairgrove Bank is robbed of $100,000, Dan and Officer Hansen are able to track the three men to the beach, but find they must first ensure the safety of two small children who are playing nearby.

Sunday, Oct. 13 - House of Frankenstein

House of Frankenstein (1944)

Dr. Gustav Niemann (Boris Karloff) escapes from prison along with his hunchbacked assistant Daniel (J. Carrol Naish), for whom he promises to create a new, beautiful body. The two murder Professor Lampini (George Zucco), a traveling showman, and take over his horror exhibit. To exact revenge on Bürgermeister Hussman (Sig Ruman), who had put him in prison, Niemann revives Count Dracula (John Carradine). Dracula seduces Hussmann's granddaughter-in-law Rita (Anne Gwynne) and kills Hussmann himself, but in a subsequent chase, Niemann disposes of Dracula's coffin, causing the vampire to perish in the sunlight.

Niemann and Daniel move on to the flooded ruins of Castle Frankenstein, where they find the bodies of Frankenstein's monster (Glenn Strange) and Lawrence Talbot, the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney Jr.), preserved in the frozen castle. Niemann thaws them and promises to find Talbot a cure for the curse. However, he is more interested in reviving the monster and exacting revenge on two traitorous former associates than in keeping his promises. Talbot transforms into a werewolf and kills a man, sending the villagers into a panic.

Niemann and Daniel save a gypsy girl named Ilonka (Elena Verdugo), and Daniel falls in love with her; it is unrequited, however, as Ilonka falls in love with Talbot. Daniel tells Ilonka that Talbot is a werewolf, but she is undeterred, and promises Talbot that she will help him.

Events reach a crisis point when Niemann revives the monster and Talbot again turns into a werewolf. The werewolf attacks and fatally wounds Illonka, but she manages to shoot and kill Talbot with a silver bullet before she dies. Daniel blames Niemann and turns on him. The monster intervenes, throws Daniel out of the window, and carries the half-conscious Niemann outside, where the villagers chase them into the marshes. There, both the monster and Niemann drown in quicksand.

Saturday, Oct. 12 - Le bambole

The Dolls (1965) Le bambole (original title)

Four different facets of love Italian-style provide the basis of this episodic film.

The Telephone Call (La Telefonata), Treatise on Eugenics (Il Trattato di eugenetica), The Soup (La Minestra), and Monsignor Cupid (Monsignor Cupido)—concern secrets of love and secret lovers. The fourth segment is based on a tale of Boccaccio's The Decameron.

Friday, Oct. 11 - Compulsion

Compulsion (1959)

Sociopathic students Artie Straus (Bradford Dillman) and Judd Steiner (Dean Stockwell) murder a boy in a philosophical exercise to commit the flawless crime. Despite their precautions, one of them inadvertently left a key piece of evidence at the crime scene, and they have been arrested and put on trial. It's up to their nationally famous attorney (Orson Welles) to save these misguided souls from execution. The film is based on the infamous Leopold and Loeb case of 1924.

Thursday, Oct. 10 - Man on a String

Man on a String (1960)

A government intelligence agency in Washington, D.C., wants agent Frank Sanford to follow Boris Mitrov, a film producer who appears to also be a Russian spy. Helen and Adrian Benson, a wealthy American couple with a home in Beverly Hills and a film studio, are Communist sympathizers as well, in league with Colonel Vadja Kubelov, the top KGB man in the U.S.

Boris's office is bugged by his assistant, Bob Avery, a plant who is working for the Americans. Now that he has been caught red-handed, Boris is willing to turn double agent, going to Berlin in the pretense of making a documentary film there.

Helen is having an affair with Kubelov, but the Bensons' home has been bugged and they try to flee to Mexico. In the meantime, Boris is sent to Moscow to be entrusted with a new assignment, so Avery gives him a code word ("Cinerama") in case he's ever in danger.

Upon learning that Adrian intends to expose Boris and Kubelov publicly, Avery is able to alert Boris to get back to Germany as soon as possible. A checkpoint is closed, but Boris shoots a police officer and escapes safely to West Berlin, only to end up in a fight for his life with a Russian assassin.

Wednesday, Oct. 9 - Her Favourite Husband

The Taming of Dorothy (1950) Her Favourite Husband (original title)

Mild mannered Italian bank clerk Antonio, much dominated by his English wife Dorothy, is the double of Leo L'Americano, a local gangster. The gangster kidnaps Antonio and takes his place as husband in the family, to give him cover for a big bank robbery, which he plans to pin on Antonio. Farcical confusions ensue.

Tuesday, Oct. 8 - Never Fear

Never Fear (1950)

Carol Williams (played by Sally Forrest) is a beautiful young dancer with a promising career, struck down with and crippled by polio. Williams' dance partner and fiancé, Guy Richards (played by Keefe Brasselle), wants to see her through her illness, but Carol struggles with dealing with her recovery and prefers to go it alone. Her father (played by Herb Butterfield) takes her to the Kabat-Kaiser Institute for rehabilitation, where she meets fellow patients in recovery. One of the patients that inspire Carol's recovery is Len Randall (Hugh O'Brian in his first movie role). Only by allowing others to share her grief is Ms Williams able to pull herself together and go on with her life.

Monday, Oct. 7 - Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Kill with Kindness

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955–1962): Kill with Kindness (Season 2 | Episode 4 - aired 21 October 1956)

Katherine Oldham sees a homeless man in the park, feeding the pigeons. He looks perfect. Her brother, Fitzhugh, his mind either on a bird or his butterfly collection, absent-mindedly agrees. She brings the old man inside and feeds him some stew. The man dimly suspects something is wrong when the eccentric brother blurts out something about killing and substitutes and insurance. But his benefactors seem so nice. And they even give him a new suit of clothes--Fitzhugh's clothes. And they let him spend the night. He may have spent his last night on a park bench--or anywhere else.

Sunday, Oct. 6 - Miss Tulip Stays the Night

Dead by Morning (1955) Miss Tulip Stays the Night (original title)

A mystery novelist (Patrick Holt) and his wife (Diana Dors) are sleeping peacefully in their new cottage when a mysterious older lady (Cicely Courtneidge) arrives, apparently stranded in a storm. She hands the writer her gun and some jewellery for safe-keeping, and asks for a bed for the night.

Unfortunately, someone shoots her during the night and the author is accused of the crime. He is forced to turn detective to defend himself.

Saturday, Oct. 5 - Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man

Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)

Some four years after the events of The Wolf Man and The Ghost of Frankenstein, two men break into the Talbot family crypt to open the grave of Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney, Jr.), seeking jewelry buried with him, on the night of a full moon. During the robbery, the thieves remove the wolfsbane buried with Talbot, and he is awakened from death by the full moon shining on his uncovered body.

Larry Talbot finds himself in an asylum, recovering from an operation performed by the kindly Dr. Mannering. Inspector Owen finds him there, too, wanting to question him about a recent spate of murders. Talbot escapes and finds Maleva, the old gypsy woman who knows his secret: when the moon is full, he changes to a werewolf. She travels with him to locate the one man who can help him to die - Dr. Frankenstein. The brilliant doctor proves to be dead himself, but they do find Frankenstein's daughter. Talbot begs her for her father's papers containing the secrets of life and death. She doesn't have them, so he goes to the ruins of the Frankenstein castle to find them himself. There he finds the Monster, whom he chips out of a block of ice. Dr. Mannering catches up with him only to become tempted to monomania while using Frankenstein's old equipment.

Friday, Oct. 4 - Behind the Mask

Behind the Mask (1932)

A federal agent goes undercover to infiltrate a drug smuggling operation headed by a mysterious Mr. X, a criminal mastermind whose identity is unknown even to his henchmen. Mr. X is also running a bogus hospital where victims are killed on the operating table, and their coffins stuffed with narcotics. The drug-filled coffins are then buried in a cemetery.

Thursday, Oct. 3 - The Elgin Hour: Crime in the Streets

The Elgin Hour (1954–1955): Crime in the Streets (Season 1 | Episode 12 - aired 8 March 1955)

Frankie Dane (John Cassavetes) is the leader of a teenage gang, the Hornets. The gang makes trouble for people in the neighborhood, but Frankie carries a darker nature, one so filled with anger that murder is not beyond him. Ben Wagner, a social worker, tries to help the boys see the possibilities of a better life, but the task seems futile. When a neighborhood man turns one of the gang into the police, Frankie decides to kill him. Ben learns of the plot from Frankie's kid brother and hopes to stop it before Frankie ruins his life forever.

Wednesday, Oct. 2 - Rockin' at the Red Dog: The Dawn of Psychedelic Rock

The Life and Times of the Red Dog Saloon (1996)

Up until the mid-1960s, Virginia City, NV was probably most culturally famous as the site of the Ponderosa on TV's "Bonanza." That all changed in 1965, when the Red Dog Saloon opened its doors and bands such as The Charlatans and Big Brother and the Holding Company began to experiment with their music in a live setting, with a backdrop of swirling colored lights; a gestational environment that would usher in the San Francisco psychedelic ballroom era shortly thereafter. "Rockin' at the Red Dog" is a fine documentary from 1996 that explores those heady times.

Tuesday, Oct. 1 - Conflict of Wings

Fuss Over Feathers (1954) Conflict of Wings (original title)

In rural Norfolk, villagers are spurred to action when it is announced that the nearby RAF station is taking over the Island of Children, a much-loved and untouched bird sanctuary, for rocket practice.

Monday, Sept. 30 - Alfred Hitchcock Presents: De Mortuis

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955–1962): De Mortuis (Season 2 | Episode 3 - aired 14 October 1956)

Professor Rankin's buddies Wally and Bud stop by to take him fishing. They find him in his cellar, filling in a hole with cement. They suspect he may have also filled it with his wife.