Karloff in The Wild West

 

 (imdb)

THE WILD WILD WEST-"The Night of the Golden Cobra"-1966-Intrepid government agent Jim West (Robert Conrad) and his equally intrepid partner Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) meet Mr. Singh (Boris Karloff), maharajah head of "The Golden Cobra", who wants West to teach his sons to kill. He also has a daughter, Veda (Audrey Dalton). West's assignment was to rescue a Col. Mayo (Simon Scott). Of course, Singh has an ulterior motive...

 Karloff is good in the lead, older but still Boris. Audrey Dalton a few years earlier was in three TV episodes of Thriller (One acting alongside Karloff). She also co-starred in the horror movies THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD (1957) and MR. SARDONICUS (1961). One of Singh's sons is played by James Westmoreland who under another name was in THE UNDERTAKER AND HIS PALS, also in 1966. Years later he was one of the asshole cops in DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE (1980). It's all over the internet that English actor Michael York plays another son but it's some other actor with the same name. 

One of 26 “Wild West” episodes directed by Irving J. Moore. Karloff was very active and memorable in the year of 1966, voicing the lead role in the classic “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”, also playing Mother Muffin on TV's “The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.” and appearing 3 movies (including THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI)!

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The King!

 

(Wikipedia)

KING OF THE WILD-1931-In this serial an American Robert Grant (Walter Miller) bears a striking resemblance to the rajah of Japour (also Miller) in India. While out hunting tigers the king is mauled. His dying request is that Grant impersonate him until his brother arrives to take over. If not the throne will fall into the hands of the evil prince Dakka (Mischa Auer). The rajah writes a letter explaining the whole charade but dishonest Hunter Harris (Tom Stanschi) gets a hold of it and uses it to frame Grant for the rajah's murder. A year later Grant disguised as a Arab is tracking Harris hoping to get the letter back. Harris is in league with Mustapha (Boris Karloff) trying to steal some diamonds.

 Intrigue, murder, double crossing, an old lady, a politically incorrect African tribe, even a man ape locked in Harris's hotel room are all mixed into this pre-code Hollywood serial that would be totally forgotten today if not for an early pre-Frankenstein role by Karloff. 

Director Richard Thorpe had a long career that started in the late '20's. A year before this serial he made THE UTAH KID which also featured Stanschi and Karloff (Thrope also made the serial KING OF THE KONGO in 1929 that featured Karloff). He later made several Tarzan films and in the 1950's made IVANHOE and JAILHOUSE ROCK.

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Hammer In India

THE STRANGLERS OF BOMBAY-1959-This black and white Hammer production takes place in India in the 1830's when the country was still under British control. Capt. Harry Lewis (Guy Rolfe who starred DR. SARDONICUS the next year) investigates the disappearance of caravans belonging to the East India Company. The culprits are The Thuggees,a murderous cult that worship the god Kali and strangle their victims with "the sacred cloth". 

It's fairly gruesome for the time with eyes burned out,severed hands, torture and Lewis staked to the ground while a cobra attacks. Alan Cuthberson is the pompous Captain who's actually in charge and Roger Delgado (the first Master on the original DR.WHO) has an un-credited role. Director Terence Fisher made THE MUMMY,THE MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH and THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES the same year. Screenwriter David Zelag Goodman later wrote STRAW DOGS,LOGAN'S RUN and other high profile productions. 

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