Monday, June 29 - Lady Luck

Lady Luck (1946)

Barbara Hale is Mary Audrey, who comes from a long line of gamblers and hates the pastime. When she meets and falls in love with gambler Larry Scott (Young), he swears off gambling in order to win her. The two marry and go to a hotel in...Las Vegas.

While Mary is off buying a negligee for her wedding night, Larry wanders into the casino, gives a gambler wrong advice, and the man loses his money. Larry becomes determined to win it back for him. Mary sees him in the casino and is devastated. She's so devastated that when she meets an attorney at the hotel, she files for divorce and gets another room in the hotel.

Sacramento Sam, gambler pal of Larry's, hatches a scheme with the casino's help. Mary will be permitted to win $500 gambling by the house, with Larry and Sam secretly covering the bet. Maybe she won't hate gambling so much this way.

It works, but too well. Mary begins genuinely winning and won't quit. Larry and Sam go broke covering her bets. Larry returns to Beverly Hills, where he finds Gramps running a bookie operation out of the book store. They go back to Vegas and have everything riding on one last game of poker, which Gramps loses deliberately so Larry can win the money and Mary's heart.

Sunday, June 28 - Night Train for Inverness

Night Train for Inverness (1960)

Roy Lewis, just released from gaol, kidnaps his young son Ted and takes him on a train bound for Inverness. However, Lewis doesn't know that Ted is diabetic and faces death without regular insulin injections. Meanwhile, a police manhunt is launched.

Saturday, June 27 - The Invisible Boy

The Invisible Boy (1957)

Timmie (Richard Eyer), a mischievous 10-year-old boy, is plopped in front of a supercomputer by his scientist father, Dr. Tom (Philip Abbott). The computer, however, secretly gives Timmie super-intelligence and he's soon able to reanimate a robot named Robbie. Timmie and Robbie become best friends, embarking on a series of lighthearted pranks. But when Robbie starts taking orders from the evil supercomputer, Timmie must choose between his best friend and the safety of the world (hmm... I thought it was the robot that had to choose).

Friday, June 26 - The Private Lives of Adam and Eve

The Private Lives of Adam and Eve (1960)

Stranded by a flood on the way to Reno, bus passengers become Adam (Marty Milner), Eve (Mamie Van Doren) and the Devil (Mickey Rooney) in a dream.

Thursday, June 25 - Penelope

Penelope (1966)

When Penelope (Natalie Wood) gets married to banker James Elcott (Ian Bannen), she finds him too preoccupied with work to pay much attention to her, so she robs his bank while in disguise. After she confesses to her psychiatrist, Greg Mannix (Dick Shawn), he offers to return the money for her, as he is secretly in love with her. However, he abandons the money when the police approach. Penelope becomes determined to admit to the crime, but neither James nor the police believe her story.

Wednesday, June 24 - Nightmare in Chicago

Nightmare in Chicago (1964)

Police in Rockford, Illinois are concerned about a serial killer named "Georgie Porgie" who preys on blondes and recently killed his fifth victim in Pinhook, Indiana. He strikes again, strangling a woman in a strip club in the middle of Chicago, and the police find his car abandoned on the road near an Illinois Tollway oasis. "Georgie Porgie" kills a man outside the oasis and steals his car. A waitress remembers that he was wearing sunglasses and a doctor theorizes that this could be necessitated by a form of mydriasis.

The police set up blocks along the maze of toll roads in Chicago to trap the killer, shining a flashlight in the eyes of all drivers who pass through, but a nuclear missile convoy codenamed "Long John" moving through the Chicago area also needs to get through at the same time, greatly complicating matters. "Georgie Porgie" parks his car sideways in the middle of the road, causing multiple crashes until he is picked up by a good Samaritan, whom he kills in order to steal his car. Concerned about the convoy, Harry Brockman suggests stopping it at the Hinsdale oasis but Commissioner Lombardo rejects the idea. "Georgie Porgie" returns to the oasis where he saw a blonde waitress who intrigued him but instead kidnaps her brunette coworker Bernadette as she is leaving. When she pleads with him not to kill a man he is strangling, he listens and lets the man live, locking him up before stealing his Illinois Tollway maintenance truck.

He merges with the convoy, pretending that he needs to remain with it until it passes through the checkpoints. The police note that the maintenance truck is not authorized to be part of the convoy and stop it at the next checkpoint. When a policeman shines a flashlight in his eyes, "Georgie Porgie" screams in pain and leaps out of the car but is caught by policemen with flashlights surrounding him on all sides. As he is put in the police car he continuously cries out for his dead sister. Bernadette takes his sunglasses from the floor of the truck and the policemen plan out the rest of their morning as the sun rises. Commissioner Lombardo plans on playing handball while Brockman and McVea head back to the office to file reports.

Tuesday, June 23 - Shine on Harvest Moon

Shine on Harvest Moon (1944)

Biographical movie about the early 20th century Broadway stars Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth.

In 1905, singer Nora Bayes (Ann Sheridan) impresses songwriter and performer Jack Norworth (Dennis Morgan) at a cabaret run by Dan Costello. Jack offers to get Nora an audition for vaudeville, unaware of Dan's feelings for her. After Nora rejects Dan's proposal, he purposely breaks up the audition, but Jack finds Nora another performing job. Eventually Jack and Nora team up successfully, but Dan continues to interfere any way that he can -- including trying to steal Jack's best tune (I must have missed this part).

Monday, June 22 - Broken Journey

Broken Journey (1948)

A plane flying over the Swiss Alps develops engine trouble and is forced to crash-land on a glacier. Unable to radio for help because of damaged batteries and with limited food supplies, the survivors must come to a decision -- whether to stay and wait for help they believe is coming or to leave the shelter of the wrecked plane and set out in bad weather to try to reach civilization.

Sunday, June 21 - Decoy: Escape into Danger

Decoy (1957–1958): Escape into Danger (Season 1 | Episode 8 - aired 2 December 1957)

Here a pathetic Mary thinks she's killed her alcoholic husband, and doesn't know what to do. She comes under the influence of overbearing sister Katy who frightens her into staying away from police and jail. Meanwhile, Mary's friend policewoman Casey searches for her, knowing that Mary is innocent. Whinemeal, Mary is growing more desperate, armed with the gun Katy has given her (the gun she stole from Casey's purse - pay attention, please). Casey also has a bad cold.

Saturday, June 20 - I Found Stella Parish

I Found Stella Parish (1935)

Stella Parish, star of the London stage, keeps her private life a secret. After an opening night triumph, her mysterious past catches up with her and she vanishes before the after-party. When Ms. Parish doesn't show up, Keith Lockridge, an ace newspaper reporter, at first assumes it to be a publicity stunt. But producer Stephan Norman receives word that Stella is leaving the country. Lockridge is able to track Stella to a ship bound for America, where she is traveling under a false name and wearing a disguise. Aboard the ship Lockridge befriends Stella and her young daughter Gloria. In New York he becomes very close to Stella (now without the disguise) and Gloria, all the while digging up the details of Stella's sordid past. Stella confesses her love for Lockridge after he's already wired his story to his newspaper. With the truth out in the open, Stella sends Gloria to be raised abroad while she exploits her notorious reputation onstage. Sorry for the mess he's made, Lockridge does all he can to revive Stella's legitimate theatrical career.

Friday, June 19 - The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre: Candidate for Murder

The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (1959–1965): Candidate for Murder (Season 2 | Episode 9 - aired January 1962)

Donald Edwards (Michael Gough) has a beautiful and glamorous wife but Helene Edwards (Erika Remberg) is a film star and she’s off to Hollywood to make a movie. And she’s announced that she thinks they should have a trial separation. She also has a friend, a handsome barrister named Robert Vaughan (John Justin). Helene insists that there’s nothing in it although it’s pretty obvious that there’s quite a bit in it.

Donald was always a jealous husband and now he’s become just a little unhinged by all this. In fact he’s hired a hitman to resolve his marital difficulties for him...

Thursday, June 18 - The Fast Lady

The Fast Lady (1962)

Murdoch Troon (Stanley Baxter) is a dour Scot living and working for a local government authority somewhere in south London. A shy young man, his main excitement comes from cycling. After he's forced off the road by an impatient car driver, he tracks down the owner, only to find that he is Commander Chingford (James Robertson Justice), the domineering and acerbic owner of a sports car distributorship.

Chingford reluctantly pays for the damage to Murdoch's cycle, but more significantly, Murdoch meets Claire (Julie Christie), Chingford's beautiful blonde daughter. He is smitten with her and, after she tells him she loves sports cars and would love to have one but "her great dictator" (meaning her father) won't allow it. Even though he can not drive, he is talked into buying a car to impress her by Murdoch's friend and fellow lodger, Freddie Fox (Leslie Phillips), a used car salesman and serial cad. Freddie sees a chance to ingratiate himself with Chingford and also to sell Murdoch a car. The car is a 1927 vintage Bentley 4½ Litre Red Label Speed model, painted in British Racing Green and named The Fast Lady.

Murdoch has his first driving lesson in a less exciting car, an Austin A40 Farina, which proves to be a comedy of disasters with a nervous instructor (Eric Barker). Freddie then makes a deal with Murdoch and offers to teach him, but the results are equally disastrous.

Unwilling to give up, and determined to prove his love for Claire, Murdoch bets her father that he can drive the car. An experienced racing driver, Chingford is convinced that Murdoch has no hope of achieving this — and bets him that he cannot. Murdoch takes Chingford for a drive in the Bentley and loses the bet. But the tables are turned when Chingford loses Murdoch's counter-bet that Chingford cannot drive back home in less than 30 minutes. He then reluctantly allows Claire to go out with Murdoch in the car.

The day comes for Murdoch's driving test. Freddie has set him up with a 'bent' examiner, but Murdoch draws the 'wrong' examiner. As the test comes to an end (and the examiner is almost certainly going to fail Murdoch), the car is commandeered by police to chase a Jaguar car driven by escaping bank robbers. The high speed chase takes them through town and country, across a golf course (leaving in its wake, a trail of disasters) and eventually the robbers are caught. Chingford so admires his driving skill that he allows the couple to get engaged.

Wednesday, June 17 - Angel's Flight

Angel's Flight (1965)

A series of murders involving a stripper (Indus Arthur) are investigated by a hard-drinking reporter (William Thourlby) in this late-entry film-noir.

Tuesday, June 16 - The Sky's the Limit

The Sky's the Limit (1943)

Flying Tiger Fred Atwell sneaks away from his famous squadron's personal appearance tour and goes incognito for several days of leave. He quickly falls for photographer Joan Manion, pursuing her in the guise of a carefree drifter.

Monday, June 15 - Crack in the Mirror

Crack in the Mirror (1960)

(The three principal actors, Orson Welles, Juliette Gréco, and Bradford Dillman, play dual roles in two interconnected stories as the participants in two love triangles.)

In a rundown Paris dwelling, an angry Hagolin accuses mistress Eponine of seeing a man named Larnier behind his back. In a party at a stately home, meanwhile, prosperous attorney Lamerciere's guests include his longtime mistress, Florence, and his young law partner, Claude.

Eponine wants to murder Hagolin and attempts to, but fails. Larnier intervenes on her behalf, but merely wanted to gag Hagolin with a scarf before Eponine strangles the man with it. The body is dismembered and dumped, then Eponine is placed under arrest.

Claude, who is secretly Florence's lover, feels he deserves credit for much of Lamerciere's courtroom success. He leaps at the opportunity when Eponine asks him to defend her. Lamerciere caustically remarks that Claude and Florence could do to him exactly what the accused woman and lover Larnier did to their victim Hagolin.

In court, Lamerciere manages to persuade Claude to let him make the closing argument. He paints such a lurid picture of Eponine's crime that it gets her convicted. His gaze at Florence makes it clear that he knows she has been unfaithful.

Sunday, June 14 - I, the Jury

I, the Jury (1953)

It's nearly Christmas, but Mike Hammer is on the vengeance trail when Jack, his wartime buddy, is murdered. Hotheaded Hammer sets out to find the killer, working his way through an increasingly large pile of suspects (and corpses). Along the way, he meets a new love interest, psychologist Charlotte Manning, a treacherous Santa, a gangster named Kalecki, and two weird sisters, the Bellamy twins.

Saturday, June 13 - Master Spy

Master Spy (1963)

A scientist from an unnamed Communist country, Boris Turganev, defects to the West and is employed at a top secret establishment in England. He passes information to the local landowner, Skelton. Subsequently it transpires that he is working for British Intelligence who (subsequently it transpires) are aware that Skelton is a spy. Turganev is tried and condemned, and his escape engineered so that he can continue his activities for the British in his own country.

Friday, June 12 - Father of the Bride

Father of the Bride (1950)

When beautiful Kay Banks (Elizabeth Taylor) announces her engagement to Buckley Dunstan (Don Taylor), her doting middle-class father, Stan (Spencer Tracy), must contend with a variety of problems, ranging from money issues to wedding planning difficulties. As things get hectic, Stan's wife, Ellie (Joan Bennett), tries to be the calm in the center of the storm. At the heart of the comedy, though, is Stan's emotional tie to his little girl, and his realization that she has indeed grown up.

Thursday, June 11 - Hollywood Cavalcade

Hollywood Cavalcade (1939)

In 1913, aspiring film director Michael Connors (Don Ameche) discovers Broadway newcomer Molly Adair (Alice Faye) and convinces her to let him manage her career. The course of their resulting partnership -- and meteoric rise to fame -- parallels Hollywood's own development, from its vaudevillian beginnings to "The Jazz Singer" and the arrival of sound in 1927. But Connors secretly loves Adair, and when she marries leading man Nicky Hayden (Alan Curtis), it may tear their friendship apart.

Wednesday, June 10 - The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre: Locker Sixty Nine

The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (1959–1965): Locker Sixty Nine (Season 3 | Episode 3 - aired May 1962)

After finding the body of his employer lying in a pool of blood, Craig, a private detective, is knocked unconscious by an unknown assailant.

A crime journalist is alerted by a late night call to a potential crime scene.

The strange disappearance of a murdered business man leads the police to discover a crooked deal.

(Maybe you can piece this together and make sense of this story.)

Tuesday, June 9 - House of Wax

House of Wax (1953)

Professor Henry Jarrod is a true artist whose wax sculptures are lifelike. He specializes in historical tableau's such a Marie Antoinette or Joan of Arc. His business partner, Matthew Burke, needs some of his investment returned to him and pushes Jarrod to have more lurid exposes like a chamber of horrors. When Jarrod refuses, Burke set the place alight destroying all of his beautiful work in the hope of claiming the insurance. Jarrod is believed to have died in the fire but he unexpectedly reappears some 18 months later when he opens a new exhibit. This time, his displays focus on the macabre but he has yet to reproduce his most cherished work, Marie Antoinette. When he meets his new assistant's beautiful friend, Sue Allen, he knows he's found the perfect model - only unbeknown to anyone, he has a very particular way of making his wax creations.

Monday, June 8 - Bride of Frankenstein

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

After recovering from injuries sustained in the mob attack upon himself and his creation, Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) falls under the control of his former mentor, Dr. Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger), who insists the now-chastened doctor resume his experiments in creating new life. Meanwhile, the Monster (Boris Karloff) remains on the run from those who wish to destroy him without understanding that his intentions are generally good despite his lack of socialization and self-control.

Sunday, June 7 - High School

High School (1940)

Growing up on her widower dad's ranch, Jane Wallace has become a big-mouthed tomboy. James Wallace decides to send her off to San Antonio to a school run by his brother, Henry.

Jane and her pal Jeff Jefferson show up with high hopes, but her arrogance is off-putting to other students, particularly co-ed Cuddles Dixon, who schemes to make Jane look bad. Jane also gets blamed for campus football hero Slats Roberts flunking a test and becoming ineligible for the big game.

Jane's thinking about going home when Slats' sister befriends her. Jane tutors her brother and also helps her woo handsome Tommy Lee, a boy Cuddles has been pursuing. Slats pass the test and Jane's popularity soars.

Saturday, June 6 - The Gang's All Here

The Gang's All Here (1943)

Playboy Andy Mason, on leave from the army, romances showgirl Eadie Allen overnight to such effect that she's starry-eyed when he leaves next morning for active duty in the Pacific. Only trouble is, he gave her the assumed name of Casey. Andy's eventual return with a medal is celebrated by his rich father with a benefit show featuring Eadie's show troupe, at which she's sure to learn his true identity...and meet Vivian, his 'family-arrangement' fiancée.

Mostly song and dance, fortunately.

Friday, June 5 - The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre: Backfire!

The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (1959–1965): Backfire! (Season 2 | Episode 8 - aired January 1962)

Bernard Curzon (Oliver Johnston) is the founder of a cosmetics company, Venetia Beauty Products. The company has been very successful but as Curzon is getting on in years he had decided to take on some new partners, to revitalise the firm.

Mitchell Logan (Alfred Burke) and his wife Pauline (Zena Marshall) have certainly had a dramatic effect on the company. They have all but ruined it. Sales are practically non-existent. The company cannot pay its bills. Even worse, the books are not likely to stand up to any close scrutiny. Things look hopeless, but Mitchell has a plan. The company is broke but the factory is insured for a great deal of money. If a fire were to break out then all their financial problems would disappear in a puff of smoke so to speak. It’s a foolproof plan...

Thursday, June 4 - Varsity Show

Varsity Show (1937)

The film follows a group of students at fictional Winfield College who butt heads with their faculty advisor while producing an annual stage show. They decide to enlist help from a former student Chuck Daly (Dick Powell), who is now a big Broadway producer, to direct their show. What they don't know is that Daly's last three shows were big flops. Inevitably, Daly and students clash with the stodgy professor. After some turn of events and plot twists, the production is finally mounted in New York City with great success. Daly's reputation is rehabilitated.

Wednesday, June 3 - The Ghost of Frankenstein

The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)

Ygor discovers Frankenstein's creation is still alive and brings him to the Doctor's son for help. Obsessed with restoring the monster to his full potential, Ludwig is unaware that someone has more devious plans for the creature.

Tuesday, June 2 - My Favorite Brunette

My Favorite Brunette (1947)

Baby photographer Ronnie Jackson, on death row in San Quentin, tells reporters how he got there: taking care of his private-eye neighbor's office, Ronnie is asked by the irresistible Baroness Montay to find the missing Baron. There follow confusing but sinister doings in a gloomy mansion and a private sanatorium, with every plot twist a parody of thriller cliches.

Monday, June 1 - My Favorite Wife

My Favorite Wife (1940)

After seven years, lawyer Nick Arden (Cary Grant) has his wife Ellen (Irene Dunne), missing since her ship was lost, declared legally dead so he can marry Bianca (Gail Patrick). It turns out however that Ellen was actually shipwrecked on a deserted island, and has been rescued. When she returns home, she learns that Nick has just left on his honeymoon with his second wife.

When Ellen tracks him down before his honeymoon night, he is at a loss as to how to break the news to Bianca. He keeps putting off the unpleasant business. Meanwhile, Bianca becomes frustrated by Nick's odd behavior (especially the non-consummation of their marriage) and calls in a psychiatrist, Dr. Kohlmar (Pedro de Cordoba). Further complications ensue when an insurance adjuster (Hugh O'Connell) mentions to Nick a rumor that Ellen was not alone on the island, but had the company of a Stephen Burkett (Randolph Scott) and that they called each other "Adam" and "Eve". When Nick confronts Ellen, she recruits a mousy shoe salesman (an uncredited Chester Clute) to pretend to be Stephen, but Nick has already tracked down the real Stephen (Randolph Scott).

Nick tries to explain the situation to Bianca and Dr. Kohlmar, but they do not believe him ... until he is arrested on a charge of bigamy. In court, Judge Bryson (Granville Bates), the same judge who had Ellen declared legally dead and also married Nick and Bianca, annuls the second marriage. By this time, Ellen is no longer sure of Nick's feelings for her. Stephen asks her to marry him and return with him to the island, but she still loves Nick. In the end, Nick and Ellen are reconciled.

Sunday, May 31 - The Elusive Pimpernel

The Fighting Pimpernel (1950) The Elusive Pimpernel (original title)

During the French Revolution, the Scarlet Pimpernel (David Niven), who is really Sir Percy Blakeney in disguise, risks his life to rescue French noblemen from the guillotine and take them across the English Channel to safety. As cover, Sir Percy poses as a fop at Court, and curries favour with the Prince of Wales (Jack Hawkins) by providing advice about fashion, but secretly he leads The League, a group of noblemen with similar views.

Chauvelin, French Ambassador of the Revolution to England (Cyril Cusack) wants to find out who the Pimpernel is and bring him in to meet his fate under French justice. When evidence points to Sir Percy, Chauvelin blackmails Blakeney's wife, Marguerite (Margaret Leighton) by threatening to expose her criminal brother Armand (Edmond Audran), but Marguerite doesn't believe her husband is capable of being the daring Pimpernel.