Sunday, December 31, 2023

Saturday, December 30 - Danger on Wheels

Danger on Wheels (1940)

During a test a race car using an experimental oil-fueled engine blows up, killing the driver. Lucky Taylor, a stunt driver, is initially blamed for the accident, but is later cleared. He thinks the engine design has a real chance to win races, but the racing association has banned it since the accident. He devises a scheme to have a car equipped with the engine entered into a race, without race officials--or the engine designer's sassy daughter--finding out about it.

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Friday, December 29 - Freddie Steps Out

Freddie Steps Out (1946)

Freddie, a high school student, bears an uncanny resemblance to Frankie Troy, a famous radio singer; when Troy goes missing, people mistake Freddie for the singer; complications ensue when the singer's wife and baby show up.

Friday, December 29, 2023

Thursday, December 28 - Mandrake, the Magician, Episode 1: Shadow on the Wall

Mandrake, the Magician (1939) Episode 1: Shadow on the Wall

The celebrity stage magician Mandrake returns from a trip to Shanghai. He has obtained a source of the rare mineral Platonite. He intends to use this to power the Radium Energy Machine invented by Professor Houston, the father of his girlfriend Betty. Before the ship even docks in California, agents of the masked criminal known as The Wasp attempt to kill Mandrake. The Wasp’s men then steal the machine and abduct Professor Houston. They have reckoned without Mandrake, aided by his trusty assistant Lothar, who goes into action using his arsenal of magic tricks to stop them.

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Wednesday, December 27 - Blonde Comet

Blonde Comet (1941)

Beverly Blake, the "Blonde Comet" and the daughter of a tire-manufacturer, gets behind the wheel of a race-car (she doesn't get behind the wheel - she is already behind the wheel when the movie starts) and is soon tearing up the tracks and winning races in Italy, France, and Germany (prior to 1938 when those countries were no longer running international car races in Europe.) When she returns to race on American tracks she meets Jim Flynn, another race-driver, and a rivalry is created--along with a romance. Beverly gives up her chance to win THE BIG RACE by letting Jim race her car and he wins. His win also means a triumph for the racing-car carburetor he has invented and also for the tires manufactured by her father.

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Tuesday, December 26 - You May Be Next!

You May Be Next! (1936)

Neil (Lloyd Nolan) is an expert on radios and one night he's scouting out locations for a new radio tower. However, he isn't too careful and his equipment ends up jamming all the local radio frequencies...including the police's who are looking for a gang of crooks. As a result, the crooks make a clean getaway. But the leader of these crooks learns about Neil's mistake and he decides to steal Neil's equipment and kidnap Neil to start a reign of terror...and profitable crime.

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Monday, December 25 - Colonel March of Scotland Yard: Death in Inner Space & The Talking Head


Colonel March has been invited to a French chateau by Dr Charles Hodek.

Dr. Hodek and Professor Rogel have been conducting experiments on suspended animation in an elaborate pressure chamber.

They believe that signals have been sent from another planet and the only way to reach the planet is for a spaceman to be in long term hibernation.

During an experiment, a volunteer dies, starved of oxygen. The dead man was having an affair with Hodek's wife...


March meets an old friend, Dr. Ivy, at their club. Dr. Ivy excitedly tells March that he has recently purchased an Etruscan stamp and after chatting amiably for a couple of minutes, Dr. Ivy also tells March that one of his patients, Harold Hartley, has been the victim of several near fatal accidents. Soon thereafter March learns of another serious accident to Hartley and he and Ames go to investigate. Hartley is recuperating in the home of Phyllis Barton, a woman he is engaged to and the widow of John Barton, a scientist who died in a plane crash. Also in the home is Phyllis' son Andrew who behaves very strangely and at one point tells March that his deceased father told him to kill Hartley. Dr. Ivy remarks that "The little fellow is potty, ought to be locked away." But March feels differently and keeps a close eye on Andrew and discovers the truth about the talking head...

Monday, December 25, 2023

Sunday, December 24 - The Human Jungle: The Wall


Jan and Rita Zapotski are a young couple who are still living with both of their sets of parents, a situation which is taking its toll on Jan, who feels frustrated and emasculated as a result. He starts smashing windows to draw attention to his discontent. It is down to Dr. Corder to sort him out, to find out his underlying motives and point him to a happy future in which he can be a master in his own house.

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Saturday, December 23 - Hawaiian Eye: Beach Boy


A young man who was raised by a local beach boy sees a woman and has a faint memory of her. Tracy and Tom investigate and find out the woman's son was lost at sea many years ago and that this young man might be her son. Her current husband has designs on her money and blocks the reunion with the help of his mistress.

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Friday, December 22 - Burke's Law: Who Killed Cynthia Royal?


A missing Siamese cat named Deborah is Burke's prime clue to the killing of Cynthia Royal. The murder victim had just arrived in town from Chicago trying to reunite with her estranged husband. The husband had been wooing a nightclub singer, which leads Burke also to suspect the nightclub's owner/comic and his attorney. When Burke and an elderly acquaintance stumble across another body, the trail eventually leads to two beatniks, the return of Deborah and the solution of the case.

Friday, December 22, 2023

Thursday, December 21 - The Amazing Transparent Man

The Amazing Transparent Man (1960)

The notorious safecracker Joey Faust escapes from the state prison and Laura Matson drives the getaway car. They head to an isolated farm where the deranged Major Paul Krenner has a laboratory. He has abducted the daughter of Dr. Peter Ulof to force the scientist to develop a technique to create an invisible army. Paul plans to sell the army for a large amount to any government and now he needs radium to proceed the research. Paul and his partners Laura and Julian force Joey to be submitted to the experimental treatment. Then he breaks in a facility and robs the radium. Joey convinces Laura to go with him to the city to heist the National Bank, but he is surprised by an unexpected side effect and becomes visible...

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Wednesday, December 20 - Honey West: The Flame and the Pussycat


There has been arson attacks on some warehouses. Honey and Sam are determined to catch the arsonist.

They hope to get business from the insurance company paying out on phony claims.

The opening scene has the arsonist getting away from Honey and Sam as he starts a fire.

Honey later returns, taking a gamble that the warehouse owner was in on it. Looking for an insurance payout.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Tuesday, December 19 - What Price Crime

What Price Crime (1935)

After a warehouse is robbed and a night watchman killed, there is some evidence that a local businessman MIGHT actually be a mobster who's behind this. Starrett was chosen because he is an excellent boxer—and the man who might be the mobster has a very strong interest in the fight business. When Alan 'Knockout' Gray (Starrett) starts winning fight after fight, he is noticed and soon his contract is bought by the suspected mob boss. But there are some problems—the boss' sister is a pretty lady who Gray is interested in knowing better and soon his cover is blown and Gray has to think fast to get himself out of that mess.

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Monday, December 18 - When Were You Born


Mei Lee Ling, an astrology expert, tells one of her fellow passengers on a ship, that he will die within two days and the next day he is dead. The police suspects that Mei does know something, but she doesn't. But to clear herself she offers her help to solve the murder. Soon she and the police find themselves in a web of crime and false identities.

Monday, December 18, 2023

Sunday, December 17 - The Champions: The Experiment


A man with incredible mental and physical abilities breaks through the heavily-guarded perimeter of a top secret research institute, only to become mindless moments later. NEMESIS agents Craig Stirling and Richard Barrett must find out who was controlling the intruder's actions.

Sharron Macready is on holiday in England, or so her colleagues are led to believe. Major Cranmore ( Allan Cuthbertson ) of DI6 has requested her participation in a secret experiment involving agents of other security forces; they include the snooty 'Marion Grant' ( Caroline Blakiston ), 'Jean Jereau' ( Jonathan Burn ), 'Paul Lang' ( Peter J.Elliott ), and 'Susan Francis' ( Nita Lorraine ).

In Beeston Lodge, Sussex, Sharron is subjected to a series of tests designed to probe her superhuman capabilities. The man behind the control voice is 'Dr.Glind' ( the late David Bauer ), a parapsychologist who knows about the Champions and is trying to duplicate their powers with the aid of a special E.E.G. machine that can boost the electrical centres of the brain. The flaw in the process is that the subjects' minds collapse within minutes.

Sunday, December 17, 2023

Saturday, December 16 - Bourbon Street Beat: Mrs. Viner Vanishes


Cal begins to investigate a strange case when a man claims he checked into a hotel with his wife, and the woman appears to have disappeared with out a trace.

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Friday, December 15 - Mad Holiday

Mad Holiday (1936)

Philip Trent is tired of playing film detective Shelby James, thinking that the stories are tripe, and plans a vacation to get away from Hollywood. But on the ship he meets a mysterious young woman, then finds a body--then discovers that the whole affair was staged by Peter Dean, author of the Shelby James novels (the mysterious young woman is the author - Peter Dean is a pseudonym). But then Mr. Van Mier is found murdered in the same way and the Dragon diamond is missing. No matter what Philip tries to do, he finds himself involved with the crime and meddles his way through it looking for the killer and the diamond--with help from Peter Dean.

Friday, December 15, 2023

Thursday, December 14 - Let's Face It

Let's Face It (1943)

U.S. Army private Jerry Walker is in hot water with his sweetheart, Winnie Porter, for putting off their wedding, and with his superiors on the base after crashing a Jeep.

To raise money to pay for the damages and avoid six months of guard duty, Jerry accepts a $300 proposal from three matronly women, Cornelia, Nancy and Maggie, to arrange dates for them with young soldiers. Jerry ropes his pals Barney and Frankie into it, then scrambles when they try to squirm out of it.

Winnie, meantime, figures out Jerry is up to something. She shows up with the girlfriends of Barney and Frankie, after which everybody takes turns trying to make the others jealous. Jerry finally flees, only to end up hooked by a German submarine. He ends up in the brig. A year later, Winnie, now his wife, comes to visit with their baby.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Wednesday, December 13 - Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Venus of Park Avenue & Merry-Go-Round Case


Diamond investigates the authenticity of a bust of Venus that an art gallery says is over 2,000 years old (from 435 B.C.), but a woman says she posed for it only 5 years prior while an art student in Italy.


When Richard Diamond learns that his former war buddy Jack Milhoan has turned bad, he finds himself torn between friendship and principle - Jack is a cold-blooded killer, but he also is a friend who needs help. Richard decides to do what he can, but soon finds himself staring into the deadly muzzle of a .38 - in the hands of an old friend.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Tuesday, December 12 - The Last Man to Hang

The Last Man to Hang (1956)

Roderick (Tom Conway) is married to a difficult and neurotic wife. Possibly as a result, he began an affair with another woman. The wife, when told later he wanted a divorce, behaved quite emotionally and irrationally...more so than would be usual in a case like this. Soon after, she is dead from an apparent overdose of a strong sleeping pill....and the husband is being charged for it, as he admits having given her a dose of sleeping pills. While he does not in any way deny this, he does deny that he knew she'd already been given a dose...

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Monday, December 11 - Agent Joe Walker: Operation Far East


Detective Jo Walker (Tony Kendall) and New York Police Captain Tom Rowland (Brad Harris) are sent to Singapore to protect Professor Akron and his latest invention – a laser filter than can be used to shut down electrical engines from miles away. As soon as Walker and Rowland hit Singapore, the baddies start coming out of the woodwork and the Professor ends up the prisoner of the mysterious Golden Dragon. Walker and Rowland's new mission – rescue the professor, protect his daughter, and safeguard the filter.

Monday, December 11, 2023

Sunday, December 10 - Champagne for Caesar

Champagne for Caesar (1950)

When jobless genius Beauregard Bottomley (Ronald Colman) interviews with Burnbridge Waters (Vincent Price) for a position at Waters' soap company, the owner rudely turns Bottomley down. As revenge, Bottomley enters a TV quiz show that Waters' company sponsors, with the goal of winning until he bankrupts the businessman. When Bottomley keeps acing the questions, becoming a media sensation, Waters desperately calls on vixen Flame O'Neal (Celeste Holm) to uncover Bottomley's area of weakness.

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Saturday, December 9 - A Touch of Frost: Care and Protection


DI Jack Frost investigates the disappearance of Tracy Uphill who vanished when her mother was late arriving at the community centre to collect her. He's also assigned DC Barnard, the Chief Constable's nephew, who receives a frosty reception from his fellow officers.

In the course of searching for the girl, they uncover human remains that have been buried for 30 years or more. The remains are those of a bank clerk who had vanished with a large sum of money. When the assistant bank manager is murdered with the same gun used to kill the bank clerk, Frost must determine who else might have been implicated in the robbery.

All during this time, Frost has to deal with his dying wife and an ever-increasing workload when his chief inspector falls ill.

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Friday, December 8 - Cracker: The Mad Woman in the Attic


The police have a serial killer on their hands. Two women have been killed in virtually identical circumstances, with their throats slit by what they believe is a straight razor. When they find a man unconscious on the side of railway tracks covered in blood, some of which belonged to the second victim, they're sure they have their man, but he claims complete memory loss. 

Psychologist Dr. Eddie "Fitz" Fitzgerald knew the second victim Jacqui Appleby and her parents ask him to intervene with the police. Fitz isn't convinced that the man with memory loss is guilty and with the assistance of DS Jane Penhaligon sets out to find the true murderer. On the home front, Fitz is facing new challenges when his wife leaves him upon learning that his gambling has pushed them over the limit on both their credit cards and he also re-mortgaged the house.


As Fitz takes the amnesiac, Thomas Kelly, into his care to regain him his memory, doubts begin to sour about Kelly's guilt after an anonymous man claiming to be a priest commits the greatest sin ever: repeating a confession to the police.

Friday, December 8, 2023

Thursday, December 7 - Cracker: One Day a Lemming Will Fly: Parts 1 & 2


The police investigate the murder of a thirteen-year old boy who is found hanging in a tree in a nearby wood. The pathologist quickly determines that the boy was actually strangled and the hanging then staged. The murder causes an uproar in the community. The boy was gay and was the subject of much teasing and bullying at school. When one of the boy's school teachers tries to commit suicide he becomes the prime suspect. Fitz's wife Judith has returned home, but he is having difficulty forgiving her infidelity.


While Timothy Lang's family demands answers about his death, Fitz and the police focus on one of the boy's teachers, Nigel Cassidy, who they feel is a latent homosexual. Fitz may have met his match, however, and too late realizes he may have made a mistake. DCI Bilborough is distressed because his wife is about to have his baby. Fitz's relationship with Jane Penhaligon moves to a new plane when she asks him to go on holiday with her.

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Wednesday, December 6 - The Sign of Four: Sherlock Holmes' Greatest Case

The Sign of Four: Sherlock Holmes' Greatest Case (1932)

A young woman turns to Sherlock Holmes for protection when she's menaced by an escaped killer seeking missing treasure. However, when the woman is kidnapped, Holmes and Watson must penetrate the city's criminal underworld to find her.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Tuesday, December 5 - Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends: 2 Episodes


Rocky & Bullwinkle, "Jet Fuel" Part 15 Fractured Fairy Tales "Rumpelstiltskin" Peabody's Improbably History "Sir Walter Raleigh" Rocky & Bullwinkle, "Jet Fuel" Part 16


Rocky & Bullwinkle, "Jet Fuel" Part 17 Aesop and Son "The Lion and the Mouse" Peabody's Improbably History "Robert Fulton" Rocky & Bullwinkle, "Jet Fuel" Part 18

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Monday, December 4 - Are You Being Served?: Camping In


The staff of Grace Brothers get to know each other better. Transport strikes means that the staff cannot get home.

So arrangements have been made for the staff to sleep inside the store for the night.

Camping gear is borrowed from the sports and outdoors department. There is strict separation for the men and women.

Mr Grainger observes that there needs to be some separation between some of the men as well.

Captain Peacock when he is not leering inside the women's tent discovers that there is no camp bed for him. Mrs Slocombe took his tent.

Enjoyable and amusing, especially at the beginning when Mr Lucas has to take the inside leg measurement of a Scotsman in a kilt.

Monday, December 4, 2023

Sunday, December 3 - Are You Being Served?: Our Figures Are Slipping

 Are You Being Served?: Our Figures Are Slipping (Season 1 Episode 2 - aired Mar 28, 1973)

Sales figures for the department are lower than expected so Mr. Rumbold has instructed the staff on new sales techniques. Besides viewing the store as a ship or a battlefield, Mr. Rumbold feels that the staff, particularly Mr. Lucas, should smile more in an effort to charm the customers.

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Saturday, December 2 - A Study in Scarlet & Are You Being Served? - 2 Episodes

A Study in Scarlet (1933)

In London, a secret society led by lawyer Thaddeus Merrydew collects the assets of any of its deceased members and divides them among the remaining members. Society members start dropping like flies. Sherlock Holmes is approached by member James Murphy's widow, who is miffed at being left penniless by her husband. When Captain Pyke is shot, Holmes keys in on his mysterious Chinese widow as well as the shady Merrydew. Other members keep dying--Malcom Dearing first, then Mr. Baker. There is also an attempt on the life of young Eileen Forrester, who became a reluctant society member upon her father's death. Holmes' uncanny observations and insights are put to the test.


At the department store Grace Brothers, the ladies department is sharing the floor with the gentleman's's department. The men on the floor, the senior Mr.Granger, his assistant Mr.Humphries, and the new junior Mr.Lucas, are of course unhappy with this arrival. The ladies department consists of the senior Mrs.Slocomb and her junior Miss.Brahms. The entire staff on the floor, including the floor walker Captain Peacock and the packing department member Mr.Mash, are having a few disagreements, and the store isn't even open yet!


Mr. Lucas writes a love note to pretty junior assistant Miss Brahms, but when his words fall into the hands of older senior saleslady Mrs. Slocombe, chaos ensues.

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Friday, December 1 - Top Cat: Hawaii Here We Come


T.C. thinks Benny the Ball is telling a joke when he says he's going to Hawaii. And it's no joke when Benny's showing his boat ticket. The gang wants to join over to this cruise as stowaways. As usual, it's no problem for T.C. but Officer Dribble is on a lookout for a counterfeiter who just hid on the ship where the cats came in. Dribble accidentally gets in the ship the minute it starts sailing... Dribble will have to cope with T.C. as well as trying to catch the crook.

Friday, December 1, 2023

Thursday, November 30 - Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends:7 Episodes & Prime Suspect 2: Operation Nadine


S1.E1 ∙ Jet Fuel Formula/Bullwinkle's Ride or Goodbye, Dollink

S1.E2 ∙ Bullseye Bullwinkle or Destination Moose/Squeeze Play or Invitation to the Trance

S1.E3 ∙ The Scrooched Moose/Monitored Moose or The Carbon Copy-Cats

S1.E4 ∙ Rocky's Dilemma or A Squirrel in a Stew/The Submarine Squirrel or 20,000 Leagues Beneath the Sea

S1.E5 ∙ The Bars and Stripes Forever/Hello Out There! or There's No Place Like Space

S1.E6 ∙ A Creep in the Deep or Will Success Spoil Boris Badenov?/Ace Is Wild or The Flying Casket

S1.E7 ∙ The Back-seat Divers or Mashed Landing/Bullwinkle's Water Follies or Antlers Aweigh



Having made a success of her first murder investigation, DCI Tennison continues her work at the Southampton precinct of the Metropolitan Police. In an atmosphere of artificially fueled race relations, Jane and her team investigate the disappearance of Simone, a young black girl. When bones are discovered buried on property rented by a white man from a black owner, Jane almost hopes it is Simone...but, it is not. A reconstruction shows the bones belong to a young girl of mixed race and Jane starts calling her "Nadine" until they know more. Her team investigates the renter and his family and the owner and his family...does anyone know more than is claimed? Will Jane's brief relationship with DS Oswalde, a black officer now foisted onto her team, jeopardize their progress?


"Nadine" is identified as Joanne Fagunwa, a young girl of mixed African, Caribbean and white ancestry. Although Jane elicits a deathbed confession to her murder from old man Harvey, the racist white renter in whose yard Joanne was found, Jane is not satisfied. She digs and finds photographs. The team continues to dig into the Allens, the owners and neighbors of the murder house, the sister of old man Harvey and his nephew, Jason Harvey. When a tragic death occurs during police custody and additional photographs surface, one of the witnesses is finally pushed to the limit. No matter how brilliant DCI Tennison proves herself, is the Metropolitan Police really a Boys' Club in disguise? And, will Jane sit still and tolerate any nonsense?

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Wednesday, November 29 - A Touch of Frost: Deep Waters & A Minority of One


DI Jack Frost investigates the stabbing of a woman during a robbery at a sub-post office. He is convinced that they have the culprits in custody but is frustrated by the limits placed on his ability to gather evidence. He also looks into an attack on the very pretty Helen Tudor who was pushed down the stairs at her university. She has no idea who may have pushed her but had recently rebuffed a professor, Dr. Michaelson, who had a reputation for getting too "close" to his students. In the course of the investigation, Frost learns that a woman very similar in appearance to Helen drowned some two years previously, even though she was a very good swimmer. Clive Barnard, now a DS in Boxborough, assists Frost in locating a possible suspect, a student who knew both girls. Frost finally finds himself a flat but also gets some unexpected lodgers.


DI Jack Frost investigates a series of commercial robberies. He's assisted by DC Carl Tanner, a black officer recruited by Supt. Mullett to encourage racial balance on the local force. When Frost makes an arrests on the local housing estate, Mullett's only concern is the culprit's racial background as he's concerned that the area not become a racial powder keg. When Frost's informant on the estate is killed, the case becomes a murder investigation, but all of the suspects are black and racial tensions are on the rise. In the course of his investigation, Frost determines that his informant had a number of secrets.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Tuesday, November 28 - A Touch of Frost: The Things We Do for Love


DI Jack Frost, along with Det. Sgt. Nash who has just transferred from London, investigates the murder of Vicky Phillips, a local physiotherapist who was stabbed to death in her car. Frost suspects one of her patients, Jonathan Meyerbridge, who has a criminal record but is now a born-again Christian. The local butcher, Mr. Sykes, is also acting strangely and denies knowing the dead woman even though she had keys to the vacant flat above his shop. Frost is also investigating a series of smash and grab robberies in the commercial district. The culprits drive a vehicle through the front window of a business and take anything they can within a minute or so before they scamper off.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Monday, November 27 - Junior Prom

Junior Prom (1946)

The father of one of the students running for class president promises to buy new football uniforms if the school administration can guarantee his son will win. Fortunately for the other candidate, Freddie Trimball (Freddie Stewart), the principal balks at the plan. But with a musical show to get ready, a prom to plan, and endless singing in the school's Teen Canteen, does Freddie have enough time to campaign?

Monday, November 27, 2023

Sunday, November 26 - Next Time I Marry

Next Time I Marry (1938)

Heiress Nancy Crocker Fleming will only receive her inheritance if she marries a "plain American." Her late father was afraid a foreign gigolo would steal her heart and money. So Nancy pays Tony Anthony, working on a WPA road project, to marry, then divorce her. When Nancy inadvertently drives off with Tony's dog, Tony seemingly kidnaps her to retrieve the pooch, which leads to a cross-country race between the two to reach Reno and the divorce court since neither one wants to be the second to file papers.

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Saturday, November 25 - Model for Murder

Model for Murder (1959)

American sailor David Martens, on shore leave in England, visits his brother Jack's grave. He meets fashion designer Sally Meadows, who by coincidence works with Jack's ex-fiancee, Diana, a model. Successful stylist Kingsley Beauchamp and financial backer Madame Dupont own the company where Sally and Diana are employed.

Expensive jewels are to be worn by Diana when she models a new dress, but Beauchamp hires two men, Costard and Podd, to break into a safe after hours and steal the gems. Diana stumbles on the robbery and Costard kills her. He knocks David unconscious and decides to frame him for the theft, crashing a car with David inside, reporting it stolen and placing a ruby bracelet in David's pocket.

While the police make David a prime suspect, Beauchamp and Costard dispose of Diana's body and the diamonds. They decide to murder David after he suspects them, using gas, but Sally saves him. Diana's body is found in a river. David goes to Beauchamp's home (I thought it was Costard's home) and discovers the missing dress worn by Diana. He knows that Beauchamp is about to fly to Amsterdam, so he hurries to the airport.

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Friday, November 24 - The Gentleman from Nowhere

The Gentleman from Nowhere (1948)

Warner Baxter plays a security guard who was shot during a heist. The police believe he may be involved in the robbery, prompting the insurance company to investigate him. The insurance man, Luis Van Rooten, notices Baxter resembles Robert Ashton, a chemist who stole $100,000 from his company and went into hiding. Van Rooten contacts the chemical company and explains to the management he has found Ashton. Soon a lawyer (Charles Lane) contacts Van Rooten with a plan to keep a certain chemical company executive out of the story. It seems that Ashton may have had a co-conspirator working at the firm.

Things get interesting when Van Rooten learns that Baxter is in fact a man named Donovan and not Ashton. But this doesn't stop Van Rooten, who concocts an elaborate scheme where, for $165,000, he will deliver Baxter to the police. Baxter agrees to help fulfill Van Rooten's plan for $25,000. He turns himself over to the police and takes on Ashton's identity while awaiting trial. Ashton's wife is in on the scam, but she tells Baxter her husband was framed...

Friday, November 24, 2023

Thursday, November 23 - The Human Jungle: Fine Feathers


Fine Feathers deals with a young couple living way beyond their means. The wife, Penny, has not only landed herself hopelessly in debt but in trouble with the police. Dr Corder has to find out why Penny feels compelled to present a front of genteel high living, and why she is so riddled with guilt and shame.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Wednesday, November 22 - Legion of Terror

Legion of Terror (1936)

Two newly-appointed postal inspectors, Frank Marshall and 'Slim" Hewitt, set out to track down the sender of a time-bomb to a U.S. Senator; during their investigation, they run across a hooded organization that is terrorizing an American city. They also meet Don Foster, who is loud in his condemnation of the terrorists, and his sister Nancy, who fears for her brother's life.

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Tuesday, November 22 - Night World

Night World (1932)

"Happy" MacDonald and his unfaithful wife own a Prohibition era night club. On this eventful night, he is threatened by bootleggers, and the club's star dancer falls in love with a young socialite who drinks to forget a personal tragedy, among other incidents.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Monday, November 20 - Shoot the Works

Shoot the Works (1934)

Jack Oakie plays a showbiz conman, hawking a stuffed whale exhibit on 42nd and doing anything to get noticed. He has stooge Roscoe Karns doing a flagpole sitting bit, while Arline Judge snags the unwary old men. It's all a con. Alison Skipworth sells the tickets.

Oakie runs into Dorothy Dell in a talent agent's office. He's trying to sell a song. Dell hears the song "With My Eyes Wide Open" and suggests they do an act. That brings Dell into the gang. But Dell is discovered one night singing with Ben Bernie's orchestra. She becomes a star, Oakie becomes a bum.

Monday, November 20, 2023

Sunday, November 19 - Colonel March of Scotland Yard: The Second Mona Lisa


O'Brien, a somewhat shady art dealer and owner of The Florentine Gallery, has invited March to his gallery and tells him that he has the original "Second Mona Lisa," painted six months after the famous painting. Even after O'Brien shows him the painting, March has his doubts saying that it is well known that renown collector and art expert Mathew Constable owns the painting. They get Constable himself to look at the painting and to his and March's surprise authenticates it as being the original. There are two bidders for the painting, one an Arabian Emir and the other a wealthy American. The Texan wins the bid but later claims that the painting was switched for a copy. March sorts it all out.

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Saturday, November 18 - The Invisible Wall

The Invisible Wall (1947)

Told in flashback, the film recounts how gambler Harry Lane (Castle) ended up accused of murder: Returned from the war he took up his old job working for bookmaker Marty Floyd (Keane). Dispatched by his boss to deliver $20,000 to a contact in Las Vegas, he foolishly loses some of the money at the gambling tables, then loses the rest of it to a conman (Gaines). His attempts to recover the money result in him accidentally killing the conman. In the end Lane is cleared when it is revealed that the victim was no victim after all.

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Friday, November 17 - Sweetheart of the Campus

Sweetheart of the Campus (1941)

Ozzie Norton and his band, featuring Betty Blake of Brooklyn, prepare for the opening of the College Club, a nightclub near the campus of Lambeth Technological . On opening night, Minnie Lambeth Sparr, daughter of the college founder, descends with Professor Bailey, the sheriff and Harriet Hale, daughter of Dr. Hale, president of the school. The band and all persons connected are arrested under an old statute. Harriet, against the move, arranges for their release. Betty, Ozzie and the band picket the college in jive fashion.

Friday, November 17, 2023

Thursday, November 16 - The Invisible Man: Point of Destruction & Death Cell


When a friend of Peter's, Scott, attempts to perfect his fuel diffuser, four pilots are killed in four separate test flights. Peter steps in to determine if sabotage is involved and who on Scott's team may be responsible.


Ellen Summers escapes from a sanatorium. She seeks out Peter and asks for his help proving her boyfriend George's innocence. However, she is forced to flee and the doctor who is treating her assures Peter that she is deluded. However, the Invisible Man isn't so sure.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Wednesday, November 15 - Lady Behave!

Lady Behave! (1937)

Straight-laced Paula Kendall warns her fun-loving sister Clarice to behave at a Mardi Gras celebration, but to no avail, for the drunken Clarice returns home the next morning and announces that she has married wealthy Stephen Cormack, a man she met during the night. Paula is astounded, because Clarice is already married to a gigolo, Michael Dimitri Andrews. After Clarice passes out, Howell, the attorney of her new husband, arrives and offers Paula, whom he mistakes for Clarice, five thousand dollars to divorce Stephen, who fled the country after awaking to discover himself married. 

Burton Williams, Paula's godfather, advises her to impersonate Clarice and keep the marriage going while he obtains an annulment of Clarice and Michael's marriage, or else Clarice will be arrested for bigamy. Paula reluctantly agrees and moves into Stephen's home, where she meets Henry and Patricia, his teen-age children from a previous marriage. The children assume that Paula is a gold digger and plot to get rid of her...

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Tuesday, November 14 - Bourbon Street Beat: Invitation to a Murder


Rex receives a copy of an invitation a local politico says has been sent to several people, inviting them to his murder at a party at his home at a given time. The politico wants Rex to find out who sent them and theoretically thwart his murder. The party happens before Rex is able to track down the source of the invitation, and there is a murder, but not the politico's. Someone has taken advantage of the murder invitations to kill someone else at the party.