Shoot!

 

 (imdb)

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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Harrington/Hopper

NIGHT TIDE-1961-A lonely sailor named Johnny (Dennis Hopper) roams a seaside carnival. He goes to a Jazz club (where Jim Horn plays the flute in a combo) and meets Mora (Laura Lawson) who plays a mermaid in a local act run by Capt. Murdock (Gavin Muir). Mora also seems disturb by an old woman who follows her around. Johnny learns from the merry go round proprietor's daughter (Luana Anders) that Mora's last two boyfriends were found dead. After the two meet several times, Murdock warns Johnny that in fact Mora is part of a race of mermaids and some day they will come to reclaim her. 

Later he visits an old fortune teller (the always ancient looking Marjorie Eaton from MONSTROSITY/THE ATOMIC BRAIN) and has a dream where he's kissing Mora and is suddenly wrestling with an octopus. This haunting,dream-like fantasy is done very well but some might be disappointed by the conclusion. 

This was cult director Curtis Harrington's first full length feature (he also wrote the screenplay). His next (not counting VOYAGE TO THE PREHISTORIC PLANET) QUEEN OF BLOOD also featured Hopper.

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They're Not That Young

THE YOUNG RACERS-1963-This serious racing drama is really unlike any other film director Roger Corman has made.

William Campbell stars as Joe Machin, an arrogant womanizing race car driver. He steals the fiancée’ of a writer and former driver named Stephen (Mark Damon, who for some reason had his dialogue re-dubbed by Bill Shatner). To get revenge Stephen decides to write a tell all book about Machin exposing him as a dumb asshole. Much soul searching and character studies ensue. Luana Anders is Stephen’s new love interest and W. Wright Campbell (who also scripted) is Machin's brother. Patrick Magee shows up midway as a critic who stirs things up. Un-credited assistant Francis Ford Copolla made DEMENTIA 13 at the same time which also featured Damon, Anders and Magee.

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