Headless Horsing Around

 

HORSE WITHOUT A HEAD: THE KEY TO THE CACHE-1963-A mobster (Herbert Lom) and his gang (including Leo McKern) rob a train. One of them hides a key to the cash in a toy horse (with no head) that some annoying kids (including Pamela Franklin from THE INNOCENTS (1961)) in a French village like to ride. Jean Pierre Aumont is Inspector Sinet and Michael Gwynn and Peter Vaughan are also in it. 

This was shown in the US on TV's “The Magical World of Disney”. It was directed by Don Chaffey, a British TV director who made a few interesting features like JASON AND THE ARGONAUNTS (1963) and ONE MILLION YEARS BC (1966).

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Bill Dee

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THE TAKE-1974-Terry Sneed (Billy Dee Williams) is a San Franciso police Lieutenant who goes to New Mexico to help a police commissioner (Eddie Albert) but takes money from Manso (Vic Morrow), a local gangster with a heart condition. Police captain Dolek (Albert Salmi) is also crooked. They investigate “small time punk” Danny James (Frankie Avalon). He breaks down and cries but helps them track shipments of “H”. After he pisses off Manso, Sneed is beaten up but he's nursed back to health by his girlfriend Nancy (Tracy Reed). Meanwhile, a real estate developer Oscar (Sorrell Brooke) hangs around. Later, Sneed teams with a young cop Tall Bear (A Martinez) to get back at Manso. Also with John Chandler (MAD DOG COLL (1961) and Kathleen Hughes (IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953). Vic Perrin is heard on a radio. 

This is a standard crime drama based on a British novel filmed in the US by English director Robert Hartford-Davis (CORRUPTION (1968) who had made BLACK GUNN in 1972. 

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I Don't Think He Ever Got Old

 

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YOUNG DILLINGER-1965-John Dillinger's (Nick Adams) girlfriend Elaine (Mary Ann Mobley) convinces him to rob her father so they can get married. John beats up the justice of the peace (Gene Roth) and they lam it. He's arrested later on. Elaine's father (Ted Knight) convinces him to plead guilty and not involve Elaine. Despite dad's promises, the judge (Walter Sande) gives John the maximum sentence. In jail, he meets Pretty Boy Floyd (Robert Conrad), Babyface Nelson (John Ashley) and Homer van Meter (Dan Terranova). They help John become a model prisoner so he can help them from the outside. When he's transferred to a state work farm, Elaine helps him escape. Outside, John meets Floyd's friend, mob boss Joe Rocco (Anthony Caruso) and gets beat up. He kills Rocco and his goons, then breaks his pals out of jail. Prof. Hoffman (Victor Buono) gets them an armored car to rob. That's fairly successful though John gets shot. He gets plastic surgery but the sleazy surgeon (John Hoyt) tries to rape Elaine. For some reason the surgery doesn't work so John drowns the doc. When the gang goes to the professor again he's being used by a federal agent (Reed Hadley) to set a trap. Joy Harmon plays Nelson's moll and Art Baker, Emile Meyer and Frank Gerstle are in it. 

Violent, mostly fictional crime drama directed by Terry Morse whose was mostly a film editor but did make some interesting movies like BRITISH INTELLIGENCE (1939) with Boris Karloff, TEAR GAS SQUAD (1940) co-starring George Reeves, 2 Sidney Toler Charlie Chan mysteries and was credited with the US filmed scenes in GODZILLA-KING OF MONSTERS (1956).

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Blow The Horn, Stan!

 

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SAPS AT SEA-1940-Mr. Hardy (Ollie) is diagnosed with hornaphobia and is allergic to horns. This is bad because he and Mr. Laurel (Stan) work at a horn factory. His doctor (James Finlayson) suggests he go on a sea trip but Hardy won't do it so Laurel suggests they stay on a docked boat. So after wrecking their room, they go rent a boat. For some reason they take a goat with them. After some antics, wanted gangster Nick Grainger (Dick Cramer) boards the ship. Then the goat chews away the rope mooring the boat and the three are set out to sea. When Nick almost kills Hardy, Stan plays his trombone and Hardy beats the thug up. They are entitled to a reward but still wind up in jail thanks to Laurel's storytelling! 

Gordon Douglas directed this outing with the team in another crazy, hilarious situation. Several people worked on the story and screenplay, including Harry Langdon and Felix Adler. Stan Laurel added some uncredited input.

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Tiger's Back

 

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RETURN OF THE TIGER-1977-In Hong Kong, Chang Hung (Bruce Li) and his nameless partner (Angela Mao; ENTER THE DRAGON (1973)) want gangster Paul the Westerner (Paul L. Smith; in MIDNIGHT EXPRESS the next year) to close down his operations. Mr. Chen (Yi Chang),his right hand man, learns that Chang is here to avenge his father's death. Another mobster Mr. Sing (Fei Lung) wants Chang on his side. After many double crosses, Paul and Chang have a climactic fight. 

This sequel to EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER was directed by that movie's producer, Jimmy Shaw, which Li and Chang co-starred in.

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Coming And Going

 

 (imdb.com)

EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER-1976-On a movie set, martial arts actor Dragon Bruce Lee tells his friend Tiger David Lee (Bruce Li) that if something happens to him, Tiger will be Dragon's successor. Of course Bruce dies. In Singapore, Tiger David suspects foul play. He's pretty upset. He goes to Hong Kong to check it out. It seems some gangsters led by The Baron (Yi Chang), tried to blackmail Bruce into carrying drugs for them and his mistress movie star Susie (Hsin-Yi Chiang) has an incriminating tape they want. Tiger's friend George is killed and his girlfriend is raped but Tiger triumphs in the end in this sub-par Shaw Brothers production.

Director Tso Nam Lee also made FIST OF FURY 2 (also with Bruce Li) and THE TATTOO CONNECTION with Jim Kelly.

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Lions In Central Park

 

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CENTRAL PARK-1932-Unemployed Rick (Wallace Ford; he was in FREAKS the same year) meets would be actress Dot (Joan Blondell) in Central Park. Meanwhile, Smiley (John Wray), the ex-zookeeper who went crazy and was committed, escapes from the insane asylum and feeds his replacement to a lion. The lion escapes. Charlie (Guy Kibbee), a police officer with bad vision is blamed. Dot gets involved with what she thinks is a police operation but it's actually gangsters posing as cops to steal some charity money. Rick discovers the scam but can't get the police to believe him. All the wrong people get arrested but in the end, all 4 story lines are wrapped up. 

Director John G. Adolfi was known for his collaborations with actor George Arliss.

The Way Of Lee

 

 (imdb)

THE WAY OF THE DRAGON-1972-In Rome, Tang Lung (Bruce Lee) meets Chen Ching Hua (Nora Miao; also in FIST OF FURY). She's having trouble with her restaurant business. The boss and his thugs want the land and threaten potential customers. He also meets Ah Quen (Ti Chen) and Uncle Wang (Wang Chung Hsin). Lung helps defend his friends against the bad guys and when he proves too much the boss' toady Ho (Wei Ping-ao) sends for Colt (Chuck Norris), a US martial artist. Their intense battle in the finale is great! 

Also known as RETURN OF THE DRAGON, it was written and directed by Lee (in his directing debut) who co-produced with Raymond Chow.

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Harpo, Groucho, Chico and Zeppo

 

MONKEY BUSINESS-1931-This, the third Marx brothers movie is a hilarious chaotic comedy set partially aboard a steamship. The 4 brothers are stowaways (first seen in barrels singing “Sweet Adeline”) trying to avoid the captain (Eddie Baker), his first mate (Tom Kennedy) & crew while crossing paths with 2 feuding gangsters Alky Briggs (Harry Wood) and Joe Helton (Rockcliffe Fellowes). Zeppo hooks up with  Helton’s daughter, Mary (Ruth Hall). Groucho tries romancing Briggs’ wife (Thelma Todd) several times. Somehow Briggs winds up using Groucho and Zeppo as part of his gang! And then Helton hires Harpo and Chico as bodyguards! After they get off the boat, Helton throws a huge party where Briggs has Mary kidnapped and the brothers go into action! Bess Flowers, Bobby Barber and Billy Barty (as a kid) all have uncredited roles. 

Norman Z. McLeod also directed the brothers in HORSE FEATHERS the next year. He later directed many other comedy stars like WC Fields, Bob Hope, Harold Lloyd, Danny Kaye and did the “Topper” series.

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Rookie

 

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POLICE ROOKIE-1940-Criminal "The Dutch Man" gets off again. Veteran cop Mike Hannigan (Richard Homans) goes undercover to find "the big boss" who's running things. He finds some evidence in a warehouse and is shot but chases off the gunmen. Back home, with his wife (Mary Gordon; Mrs. Hudson in the Universal Sherlock Holmes series), and their son Stevie (Gordon Jones), they have a fight over Stevie not wanting to go to the police academy. Stevie's friend Joe Kelly (Craig Reynolds) stops by and Mike is killed when a bomb blows up his car. Stevie and Joe decide to join the police department and catch Mike's killer. Mike passes the exam but Joe fails. 

Mike gets into hot water with his boss later on while investigating on his own. Following a lead to a nightclub, he meets a talkative floozy (Veda Ann Borg) while Joe kind of romances Mike's girl (Joyce Compton). Mike eventually discovers his dad's killer but almost makes a big mistake. It ends kind of tragically. 

This low budget crime drama was directed with speed by the super-fast Sam Newfield. One of 14 movies he directed in 1940! PRC (Newfield's brother Sigmund Neufeld produced most of their films) originally released POLICE ROOKIE as I TAKE THIS OATH. The title was changed upon a re-release. Of course, star Gordon Jones later played “Mike the cop” on the Abbott & Costello TV show. A few well-known character actors appear: Keene Duncan, Arthur O'Connell and Harry Harvey.

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Shoot!

 

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SHOOT TO KILL-1947-Larry Langdon is going to become the new DA, but the night before he's killed in a car accident that leaves his wife Marion Susan (Luana Anders) incapacitated. Also killed is a gangster. Reporter George Mitchell (Russell Wade) tells the old DA John Forsythe (Charles Trowbridge) about how he heard Forsythe and Langdon fighting. Mitchell seems to intimate that Forsythe killed Langdon. Later Marion relates the whole story about the conviction of a gangster named Dixie (Robert Kent using the name Dennis Blackley), the involvement of a mob boss Gus Miller (Nestor Paiva) (who had Langdon in his pocket), the killing of a janitor (Vince Barnett), her marriage and the revelation that Marion isn't as innocent as she seems. After Dixie escapes custody, we find out a lot more in this low budget film noir quickie with a twist ending. Edmond McDonald and Joe Devlin are also in. 

The direction by producer William Berke is very good but some of the dialogue is hokey. The highlight though is a scene with Jazz pianist Gene Rodgers performing.

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Mantan's Back

 

 (imdb)

MR. WASHINGTON GOES TO TOWN-1941-Crazy goings on at a hotel inherited by new owner Schenectady (Mantan Moreland) and his partner in crime Wallingford (FE Miller). A blustery criminal businessman Brutus Blake (Maceo B. Sheffield) holds a mortgage on the place because he believes there's a fortune hidden there. Occasionally a parrot narrates the action. It was directed by the super-fast William Beaudine but the producer Jed Buell is credited.

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More Mantan

 

 (imdb)

YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK-1941-Frankie O'Reilly (Frankie Darro), an elevator operator and Jeff Jefferson (Mantan Moreland), a porter, are witnesses to the murder of Mr. Dayton, a pro gambler. Darro's policeman brother Tom (Richard Bond) investigates. Dayton's roommate Whitney (Tristram Coffin) seems a likely suspect. Tom enlists his brother and Jeff to aid him. This doesn't work out so well. The duo trail Whitney to a nightclub where he forces owner gangster Johnny (Willy Castello) to give him 60 thousand dollars. When Whitney realizes if he leaves the club he'll be killed he gives the money to Frankie to give to his late partner's sister Joyce (Janet Shore). Whitney is killed and Frankie almost gets his brother thrown off the force but everything works out in the end. Moreland has some good lines but should have been used better. Director Howard Bretherton had directed Darro & Moreland in UP IN THE AIR the year before.

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M2

 

 (letterboxd.com)

M-1951-Los Angeles is terrorized by a child murderer (David Wayne). The police are baffled. Things get so bad, innocent people are attacked. Two cops (Howard DeSilva and Steve Brodie) investigate as the mayor (Jim Backus) blows his top. The killing of a councilman's granddaughter stirs things up. Mobster Charlie Marshall (Martin Gabel), who's gang includes Raymond Burr, Walter Burke and Norman Lloyd, hatches a plot with a drunken lawyer Langley (Luther Adler) to find the killer themselves because the cops are too close to their operations. They hire bums and other street denizens to comb the streets while the cops interrogate recently released mental patients (William Schallert plays one of them). The pathetic whistling killer collects kids' shoes and plays the flute. His problems seem to stem from his mother. When the killer gets himself trapped in a warehouse with a little girl, the gang goes in and gets him (a kind of ridiculous scene). 

The finale is an interesting mock trial where Langley turns the tables on Marshall. Not a bad remake of the classic German thriller (from 1931) with solid acting, by Jospeh Losey (THE BOY WITH THE GREEN HAIR (1948)) who was soon after blacklisted and fled to England.

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Melinda

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MELINDA-1972-Frankie Parker (Calvin Lockhart; THE BEAST MUST DIE), conceited Karate asshole DJ meets and falls for Melinda (Vonetta McGee; in BLACULA the same year), an exotic mystery woman from out of town. While they have sex in his apartment, a guy jerks off in the hall. Later she's killed and Parker is arrested for her murder. His friend Tank (Rockne Tarkington; in BEWARE! THE BLOB the same year) gets him out of jail. Later after a woman who tried to kill him is murdered at his house, he goes on the run with his neglected ex-girlfriend Terry (Rosalind Cash; THE OMEGA MAN). It turns out Melinda was the ex-mistress of gangster Mitch (Paul Stevens; BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES) and she took something from him that he thinks Parker has. He has a henchman named Gregg (Ross Hagen). 

This messed up misguided blaxploitation movie is pretty tough going with its inane dialogue and outrageous acting until the whacked-out kung fu flying ending. Both Jim Kelly and Jeannie Bell make their screen debuts. Gene LeBelle in is there too. It's also the debut of director Hugh A Robertson, then a well-known editor (MIDNIGHT COWBOY, SHAFT). Theme song by Jerry Butler.

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Rockne

 

 

 (imdb)

BLACK SAMSON-1974-Samson (Rockne Tarkington) is a righteous dude who owns a bar and a pet lion. White mobster Johnny Nappa (William Smith) wants to take over the turf despite opposition from his uncle (Titos Vandis). Samson's main squeeze is played by Carol Speed and John Alderman and Marilyn Joi have small roles, There's a lot of stupid fights and way too much talk. Gene LeBelle gets beat up. 

This interesting time capsule of a movie was directed by Charles Bail (also an actor) who went on to make CLEOPATRA JONES AND THE CASINO OF GOLD (1975) and THE GUMBALL RALLY (1976). Star Tarkington was well known to some for his role in “Danger Island”, a segment of TV's “The Banana Splits Show (1968-69).

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The Big Thug

 

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AL CAPONE-1959-Al Capone (Rod Steiger) rises from small time bodyguard thug to the most powerful man in the crime ridden town of Chicago. He eliminates an older boss (Joe DeSantis) to help his friend Johnny (Nehemiah Persoff) become the new boss but he has trouble with fellow thug Bugs Moran (Murvyn Vye). He marries the widow (Fay Spain) of a man he killed. He's helped by a corrupt news reporter (Martin Balsam) and hounded by the only seemingly honest cop (James Gregory, who also narrates) in the city. Steiger, who occasionally talks while eating an apple, is OK in the role eventually killing anyone who stands in his way, being convicted of tax evasion and getting beaten up in jail. Sandy Kenyon and Raymond Bailey also have roles. 

Director Richard Wilson went on to make THREE IN AN ATTIC and SKULLDUGGERY but for many years was Orson Welles' chief assistant, working on many of his film projects including IT'S ALL TRUE.

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"One Of You Has Got To Die"

 

 (wikipedia)

FOUR BOYS AND A GUN-1957-4 "boys" rob the box office of a boxing arena. In the melee a cop (un-billed Joseph Campanella) is shot and killed. 

They are all arrested and flashbacks reveal what led up to their predicament. Asshole Eddie (Tarry Greene) is dumped by his girlfriend who likes her boss better. Ollie (Frank Sutton) who's having an affair with Eddie's sister gets in trouble with the boss he runs numbers for. Stanley (William Hinnant) is a nice wimp from a decent family but is corrupted by Eddie and Ollie. Amateur boxer Johnny (James Franciscus) has a pregnant wife but is told by his manager (J. Pat O'Reilly) that he doesn't have what it takes to be a pro. They throw a party to raise the money but a gangster spoils it. The abrupt ending seems to say they will all go to electric chair. 

Director William Berke was working mostly in TV at the time but in the '30's and '40's directed tons of low budget films (Jungle Jim, Dick Tracy, westerns). Screenwriters Phillip Yordan (Bogart's last film THE HARDER THEY FALL) and Leo Townsend (who later wrote several AIP “Beach” movies) adapted the story from a novel by Willard Wiener.

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Wood Bait

 

 (imdb)

JAILBAIT-1954-Weird guitar & piano music is the only soundtrack. Police arrest Don Gregor (Clancy Malone, a former delivery boy in his one and only movie) for carrying an unlicensed gun. His sister Marilyn (Dolores Fuller) bails him out and defends him against the warnings of Inspector Johns (Lyle Talbot) and Lt. Lawrence (Steve Reeves). "How can a great doctor have such a jerk for a son?". Their father is Dr. Gregor (Herbert Rawlinson), a famous plastic surgeon, who doesn't seem too concerned despite knowing sonny is involved with gangster Vic Brady (Timothy Farrell). He does get upset when he finds Don has taken his gun. Later Don and Brady rob a movie theater for its payroll and Don kills the night watchman (Bud Osbourne) while Brady shoots a female employee (Mona McKinnon). Later the dumb but deadly duo hideout at the home of Loretta (Tedi Thurman), Brady's girlfriend. Don's conscience gets the best of him and he confesses everything to dad and promises to give himself up. After Brady kills Don he sort of forces the doctor to give him a new face which he does. One that ensures he'll be captured by the police. 

Wood regulars Don Nagel and Conrad Brooks have small roles but Timothy Farrell steals the show as the sleazy Brady who says thing like “You're a dumb dame” and “Shut up you”. Herbert Rawlinson was suffering from advanced lung cancer during the production and died just a few days after it's completion. The flamenco guitar and piano soundtrack was taken from MESA OF LOST WOMEN (1953). Some versions feature a black face routine dance number also from another film.

Ed Wood's next film would be BRIDE OF THE MONSTER!

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Noir Thing

 

THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE-1958-A Kansas City cop Bill Brennon (Rod Cameron) investigates the death of his mobster brother TJ (Don Megowan) in Chicago. Two hit man Hart (Gerald Milton) & Santoni (Richard Karlan) want a package of dope TJ's widow Lyn (Vera Ralston) might have. Nightclub bartender Rak (Mike Mazurki) is also after the stash and is in love with Lyn. There's a plot twist toward the end in this minor film noir crime drama directed by Joseph Kane and written by Richard C. Sarafian. 

Co-star Vera Ralston (sometimes billed as Vera Hruba Ralston) was a former Olympic skater for Czechoslovakia who it's said once insulted Hitler to his face. She retired from acting after this film. 

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