It Falls Flat

 

 (imdb)

THE FALLING-1986-3 American dweebs (Dennis Christopher, Martin Hewitt & Lynn Holly Johnson) touring Spain (where this was filmed) are terrorized by an alien monster created by space fungus from the 1973 Skylab crash. They spend most of the time acting stupid and helping a weird NASA scientist (famous Spanish actor Luis Prendes). A gas station attendant explodes and an “Alien” like creature attacks. They escape in the end but one of them becomes infected so they all die I guess, Not sure, but some scenes may have been intentionally funny. 

Directed and written by Deran Sarafian (TO DIE FOR (1988)). Producer Carlos Aured (who directed early Paul Naschy movies) had nothing good to say about this production. Lead actress Johnson was US figure skater who'd starred in the Disney flop WATCHER IN THE WOODS (1980) and had a supporting role in the James Bond flick FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981).

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Would You Like Another Potato?

 

 (imdb)

DEATHSTALKER AND THE WARRIORS FROM HELL-1988-Deathstalker (John Allen Nelson; in KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE the same year) is back and more annoying than ever. In this very cheap looking second sequel, Deathstalker meets princess Carissa (Carla Herd) who's looking for a lost city. She's killed but before she dies, she gives him a stone that if it's united with a second one will open up the secret city. Unfortunately, a weird bald headed bad guy (Thom Christopher; WIZ-ARDS OF THE LOST KINGDOM (1985)) has the other one and rants to his companion Camisarde (Terri Treas; TV's “Alien Nation”). His clothes look like they were designed by Liberace. The dead princess also has a twin sister Elizena (same actress) who's a spoiled dummy. He also meets 2 bow & arrow using sisters who like potatoes. 

Roger Corman was the executive producer of this low grade, badly acted sword and sorcery fantasy filmed in Mexico and directed by Alfonso Corona. The screenplay is by Howard Cohen who wrote the original movie and later wrote and directed DEATHSTALKER 4 in 1991.

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Mike Hammer Time!

 

 (imdb)

MY GUN IS QUICK-1957-Mike Hammer (Robert Bray) meets a redhead (Jan Chaney) in a hash joint and soon after she winds up dead. Her missing ring leads him on a hunt to find her killer. The mute sweeper Jean (Terence De Marney) tries to help but he's thrown out a window. He meets Nancy (Whitney Blake), a woman who was involved in a scandal in Europe, whose butler Louis (Richard Garland) threatened Red in the hash joint. Some jewels stolen by Col. Holiday (Donald Randolph) are part of it. So is a stripper named Maria (Gina Core'). He butts heads with police Captain Chambers (Booth Colman) but they work together. A trio of French gangsters led by the hook handed LeRouch (Peter Mamakos) are also after the cache and beat up Mike. Pamela Duncan is Hammer's intrepid secretary, Velda. 

This is a pretty good, neglected version with the usual Hammer twist ending. Garland and Duncan both starred in Corman's ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS the same year. Two directors are credited, Victor Saville and George White.

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Killer Dragon?

 

 (imdb)

THE DRAGON MURDER CASE-1934-When a soon to be married man (George Meeker) goes swimming and disappears, Philo Vance (Warren William) is called in to help DA Markam (Robert McWade) and Sgt. Heath (Eugene Pallette) solve the case. After the body is found, it looks like the murder was committed by a dragon! 

Fun if preposterous murder mystery with the underrated William great in the lead role. This was his first of 4 four Vance crime dramas (he took the role over from William Powell). The Vance character was created by S.S. Van Dyne who wrote 12 novels featuring the detective. Also with Lyle Talbott and Margaret Lindsey. 

Director B. Bruce Humberstone later made a few Charlie Chan mysteries and PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES with Laurel & Hardy.

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Loose Lips Sink Ships

 (imdb)

RESISTING ENEMY INTERROGATION-1944-US Army training film instructing Prisoners Of War how not to give away vital information. The Nazi high command led by Carl Esmond (CATMAN OF PARIS (1946)) also includes Kent Smith (in CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE the same year), Peter Van Eyck, Peter Coe (in HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN the same year) and George Dolenz (Mickey's dad). They use a lot of tricks to get the captives to spill the beans. The US solders include James Seay, Don Porter, Richard Martin and Arthur Kennedy. They try to keep quiet but these Nazis are really deceitful. 

Music emphasizes every time a soldier gives away some vital info. Steven Geray is a doctor. Lloyd Nolan (who also narrates), Craig Stevens and David Wayne are non-POW pilots. The cast is all unbilled. Directed by Bernard Vorhaus (THE AMAZING MR. X (1948), SO YOUNG SO BAD (1950)). 

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Clark's Angels

 

 (internet movie cars database)

ANGELS REVENGE-1979-Las Vegas singer Michelle Wilson (Susan Kiger) ends her engagement at the palace. For some reason, Arthur Godfrey is in the audience. He goes backstage to congratulate her (he seems stoned). Then her manager (Alan Hale) tells her she's booked for Johnny Carson. She drops everything when her drug using brother Bobby gets beat up by a dealer. Bobby's teacher April (Jacqulin Cole; wife of the director) visits Michelle and in less than a minute she convinces Michelle that they can bust up the drug ring with a little help. They assemble a group of consisting of Terry Grant (Sylvia Anderson), a stunt woman. Karate teacher Kako (Lieu Chinh), ex-junkie-model Maria (Noela Velasco), policewoman Elaine Brenner (Robin Greer) and high schooler Trish (Liza Greer). They buy a van from Pat Buttram, then visit a comical right wing group lead by Lindsey March (Jim Backus) and steal their munitions. They torture a pusher (Darby Hinton) for info. The two guys behind the drugs are Mike (Jack Palance) and Burke (Peter Lawford). Neville Brand is listed in the credits but the version I saw cut his role. There are several comical fights in this useless “Charlie's Angels” rip-off directed by Greydon Clark (SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS (1977).

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The Un-Lost Clown

 

 (imdb)

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT-2024-This documentary looks into the stories surrounding the making of THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED with a long interview (shown in segments) with director Jerry Lewis. Besides concentrating on the movie it's part biography focusing on Martin & Lewis, his other movies, Jerry Lewis theaters, etc. He talks a lot and others praise the film (like Martin Scorsese who hasn't even seen it). Some dismiss it (like Harry Shearer who had seen it). Later Lewis condemns it. It puts to rest some main rumors. The film wasn't locked away in some vault in Berlin. It was not lost or even unfinished. Lewis had a complete unedited working copy in his own vault. Much of the movie is shown (including the ending) and there's even production films. You can see Anton Diffring as the camp captain. Many people clamber for its release but see this first before you take a side.

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