Greenstreet and Lorre

 

 (imdb)

THE VERDICT-1946-English police superintendent Grodman (Sydney Greenstreet) sends an innocent man to the gallows and is replaced by the inferior John Buckley (George Coulouris). After his friend Kendall is murdered in his room locked from the inside, Grodman assists his replacement in finding the murderer. Victor (Peter Lorre) is Grosman's friend who Buckley suspects of the murder. There's also Kendall's dance hall girlfriend Lottie (Joan Loring). Suspicion then falls on Clive Russell (Paul Cavanagh) who's convicted of murder and sentenced to death. But Grodman knows who the real murderer is…

Milton Parsons in one scene as an undertaker. Arthur Shields in one scene as a minister. Ian Wolfe in one scene as a jury foreman. 

Interesting murder mystery with a twist ending directed by Don Siegel in his feature length debut. This is the last of 9 movies Greenstreet and Lorre made together between 1941 and 1946. The screenplay by Peter Milne is based on a novel of which an earlier version was made as THE CRIME DOCTOR in 1934. That version has a far different ending.

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Lorre on the Tube

 

 (mubi)

SCREEN DIRECTORS PLAYHOUSE-"No.5 Checked Out"-1956-Mary, a deaf woman (Teresa Wright; PRIDE OF THE YANKEES, SHADOW OF A DOUBT) left alone by her father (Ralph Moody) in an off-season lodge is unaware that two men she's allowed to stay in a cabin are bank robbers. One guy, Barney (William Talman) was just the driver but his partner Willie (Peter Lorre) killed a man. Barney kind of falls for Mary but Willie has other plans. It ends tragically and a little abruptly. 

But still a nice little suspense drama co-written and director by Ida Lupino. Make up by Jack Pierce. Eastman Kodak presented the TV version Screen Directors Playhouse which ran on NBC for 32 episodes from October 1955 to June 1956 (although the last few episodes ran on ABC). It was produced by the Hal Roach Studios. 

In 1953, co-star Talman played the psycho killer in THE HITCHHIKER, also directed by Lupino. In 1957, he began a long run on TV's "Perry Mason" as prosecuting attorney Hamilton Burger.

 (imdb)

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Good Things Come In Threes

 

TALES OF TERROR-1962-This trilogy from AIP is based on stories by who else but Edgar Allen Poe. All three star Vincent Price (He also made THE RAVEN with Corman (and Lorre) the same year).

Morella-Daughter Lenora (Maggie Pierce) gets a disturbing unwelcome from her estranged dad Locke (Vincent Price), a recluse in a gloomy cobwebbed mansion where he mourns the death of his wife Morella (Leona Gage). He seems to blame Lenora for her death since she died in child birth. When Lenora finds the mummified body of her mom in bed Dad confesses that excessive partying actually killed her. After it seems Lenora dies, Morella possesses her body and kills Locke but Lenora really did the deed. Morella smiles...

The Black Cat-Drunken Montresor (Peter Lorre) mistreats his wife Annabel (Joyce Jameson) and her black cat. At a wine tasting he meets pompous wine expert Luchresi (Vincent Price). When Montresor gets very drunk, Luchresi takes him home and meets Annabel. They fall in love. Montresor finds out about their affair and walls them up in the basement. After a drunken dream where the clandestine lovers play catch with Montresor's head, the police arrive looking for his wife. Of course the hated cat was walled up with the couple. Uses parts from “The Tell Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado”.

The Facts in The Case of M. Valdemar-Carmichael (Basil Rathbone), a hypnotist helps relieve the pain of the dying Ernest Valdemar (Vincent again). His young assistant James (David Frankham) smells treachery. Valdemar agrees to be hypnotized on his death bed as part of Carmichael's weird experiment. James was right of course. The hypnotist will not let Valdemar die unless his wife Helene (Debra Paget), agrees to marry him. When Carmichael tries to molest her, Valdemar rises from his un-dead death bed and kills his tormentor.

Roger Corman (director) and Richard Matheson (screenplay) score again with this great anthology. The acting, direction and SFX are top notch and the middle story inspired Corman and Matheson to make A COMEDY OF TERRORS.

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Sayonara Mr. Moto

MR MOTO IN DANGER ISLAND-1939-While recovering in Puerto Rico from an appendectomy, Mr. Moto (Peter Lorre) investigates the smuggling of stolen diamonds. He gets help from pro wrestler Twister McGirk (Warren Hymer) who talks like Slip Mahoney. Suspects include a diamond merchant Sutter (Jean Hersholt), Col. Castle (Charles D. Brown), Commissioner Gordon (Richard Lane), Lt. Bentley (Robert Lowery), Commissioner Madera (Leon Ames) and La Costa (Douglas Dumbrille). Castle's daughter Joan (Amanda Duff) tries to help after her father is accused of murder. When Moto is accused of being an infamous Japanese criminal, he and Twister lam it. Later they are taken into the confidence of the crime gang. Renie Riano is a blond haired librarian and Willie Best is a frightened boat driver.]

This was the last of the 8 Mr. Moto movies made by 20^th Century Fox between 1937 & 1939. It is also the second Moto script to be rewritten from an unmade Charlie Chan script (because of Warner Oland's death). Herbert I. Leeds also directed the Charlie Chan mystery CITY IN DARKNESS (with Sidney Toler) the same year.

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A Vacation Forever

MR. MOTO TAKES A VACATION-1939-The (phony) Japanese detective gets involved in protecting an ancient relic called “The Queen of Sheba's Crown” in San Francisco's Chinatown. Moto (who also appears in disguises) is less suspiciously acting than usual and is shot at several times by a mysterious trench coated figure. Mr. Featherstone (GP Huntley), the English dandy shows up to get in the way and Moto surmises that Mataxsa, an international jewel thief might be after the crown despite the fact that he's suppose to be dead! Suspects include Hildebrand (Lionel Atwill) the museum curator, Stevens (John “Dusty” King), the guy who headed the expedition that found the crown and Manderson (Joseph Schildkraut), the expedition's sponsor. In their finale fight Moto and Mataxsa nearly wreck the museum! 

Norman Foster once again directed this, the last of 8 Mr. Moto films with Peter Lorre.

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Hello Moto

THE MYSTERIOUS MR. MOTO-1938-In the fifth entry of the series, the famed Japanese detective (played by non-Asian Peter Lorre) investigates “the league of assassins” for Scotland Yard by disguising himself as a timid turbaned servant to one of its members (Leon Ames). He gets involved with Anton (Henry Wilcoxon), an industrialist who's life seems to be threatened because of his secret steel formula and Anton's girlfriend Anne (Mary Maquire). Forrester Harvey and Lotus Long (later in the unheralded PHANTOM OF CHINATOWN) have roles and the film's director Norman Foster (who directed most of the MOTO series) has a bit role. There's a great fight in a bar and the climax is terrific!  

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What Place Is This?

A COMEDY OF TERRORS-1963-AIP presents an all star comedy horror story that takes place in the late 1800's . An undertaker named Turnbull (Vincent Price) is an alcoholic who's horrible to his wife Margolis (Joyce Jameson)) and partner Mr. Gille (Peter Lorre) and is always trying to poison his deaf senile father in law (Boris Karloff). His business isn't doing so well so he goes out at night and kills an old man then conveniently shows up to take care of the funeral but then the old man's widow beats it out with paying. When his stern landlord Mr. Black (Basil Rathbone) demands payment of the rent Turnbull decides to do away with him and have him as a customer. They invade his house to find him reciting Macbeth out loud and swinging a sword. He seems to die from an attack and Turnbull steps in to get the body but Black isn't dead. He keeps popping up with a cry of “What place is this?”. Later when Turnbull rejects his wife for good she and Gille profess their love for one another. Black escapes his coffin with the help of a caretaker (Joe E. Brown in his last role) and gets an ax. While quoting Shakespeare he searches for Turnbull who winds up shooting Black who takes a long time to die! After it seems like everyone is dead they all wake up. Someone calls the police and Gilles and Margolis run away. Dad winds up giving Turnbull the poison. 

Though it has all the earmarks of a Roger Corman film, including an original screenplay by Richard Matheson, THE COMEDY OF TERRORS was the second to last film directed by Jacques Tourneur (CAT PEOPLE, I WALK WITH A ZOMBIE, CURSE OF THE DEMON). His last WAR-GODS OF THE DEEP (1965) was also for AIP and starred Vincent Price. 

Originally it was planned for Karloff to play the Mr. Black role but age and back problems forced him to switch roles with Rathbone, who's very funny.  It's great to see Price teamed with Lorre once again in another enjoyable  comedy/horror outing. 

Matheson had planned a sequel but COMEDY did not perform up to executive producers Samuel Arkoff and James Nicolson's expectations, so no sequel was produced.   

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Quoth The Raven....

THE RAVEN-1963-This comedy-horror film begins with Vincent Price reciting part of Edgar Allen Poe's “The Raven”. Then we are introduced to Dr. Craven (Price) a sorcerer who longs for his dead love Lenore. After his daughter Estelle (Olive Strugess) brings him some hot milk he is visited by a real life raven who demands some wine. Later using ingredients from his father's lab Craven turns the wise cracking raven into his true form, that of fellow sorcerer Dr. Bedlo (Peter Lorre) who was turned into a bird by the evil Dr. Scarabus, another sorcerer who dethroned Craven's father's position as grand master of the brotherhood of magicians years before. Bedlo wants revenge on Scarabus and wants Craven to help but Craven wants no part of it until Bedlo informs him that his lost love is with Scarabus. 

After fending off an attack by Craven's bewitched servant, Craven, Bedlo, Estelle and Bedlo's son Rexford (Jack Nicholson) go to confront Scarabus (Boris Karloff) who welcomes them with open arms. While dining Bedlo once again challenges Scarabus to a duel and seems to die. They are urged to stay the night and Craven sees Lenore (Hazel Court) at his bedroom window. Of course, it turns out Lenore is not dead but living with Scarabus who's wealth and power made her leave Craven. While Rexford is snooping around the castle, he discovers his father is not dead (it was a trick by Bedlo to deceive Scarabus). Eventually they are all held prisoner by the doctor, however in the finale Craven and Scarabus have an inventive magical duel where Craven defeats Scarabus and rejects Lenore who in turn has rejected Scarabus. 

Shot in 15 days by Roger Corman, it's been said that the inspiration for this feature was the Richard Matheson penned “The Black Cat” segment from the earlier TALES OF TERROR. Corman and Matheson liked doing the comedy scenes and thought a full-length film movie was in order. Although stories abound about behind the scenes gripes and complaints (Karloff upset at Lorre's ad-libs, animosity between Lorre and Nicolson) everyone seems to be having a fine time and really throwing themselves into their roles. Samuel Z. Arkoff and James Nicolson were the executive producers on this AIP production along with many long time Corman collaborators: Les Baxter (music), Floyd Crosby (cinematographer) and Daniel Haller (production design).

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Moto's Chances

MR. MOTO TAKES A CHANCE-1938-While the famous (phony) Japanese detective (Peter Lorre in his fourth outing as the Asian sleuth) is digging in some ruins in Ankor Wat he meets Victoria Mason (Rochelle Hudson) an aviatrix who was flying around the world until her plane crashed. After a rajah's (J. Edward Bromberg) wife dies mysteriously Moto (who acts as suspiciously as a murderer) investigates. Later he disguises himself as a high priest to save some reporters (Robert Kent and Chick Chandler) from death. Then a real local high priest causes trouble. Too much time is spent on the comic adventures of the reporters. It turns out Moto and Victoria are working for the same end: to smash an arsenal assembled for the high priest's planned revolution. 

Director Norman Foster (also an actor) made most of the entries in the Moto series as well as several Charlie Chan mysteries and is the credited director of Orson Welles' JOURNEY INTO FEAR.

 Lead actress Rochelle Hudson was a popular leading lady in films of the '30's and early '40's. After playing Natalie Woods' mother in REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE in 1955 she left Hollywood for other endeavors. She worked sporadically in the 1960's but retired for good after her last film appearance in the low budget anthology GALLERY OF TERROR (aka RETURN FROM THE PAST) IN 1967. She died in 1972. 

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More Invisibility

INVISIBLE AGENT-1942-Nazis want the indivisibility formula created by Frank Griffin, the original “Invisible Man” in this kind of sequel to THE INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS. Two enemy agents (Sir Cedric Hardwick and Peter Lorre) visit Griffin's grandson Frank (Jon Hall) whose working as a printer under an assumed name. They try to get the formula from him but he escapes and goes to the US for help. The government wants the formula too but he refuses until he learns of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He agrees to help but only if he is allowed to become the “invisible agent”. While parachuting into Berlin he becomes invisible and contacts German double agent Maria (Ilona Massey) who dines with the head of the secret police (J. Edward Bromberg) and there's lots of invisible comedy. For a while Frank puts on cold cream, sunglasses and a robe to become almost visible. Later he's kidnapped by Lorre (who's suppose to be Japanese; his outings as Mr. Moto got him in the mood). Once again Frank escapes their clutches and Lorre kills Hardwicke then commits hari-kari. Fortunately Maria can fly a plane and she and Frank stop bombers headed to destroy NYC! Keye Luke appears as a doctor in one scene. 

Released right after Pearl Harbor bombings this is one of the many propaganda like science fiction films released at the time. The SFX are good (they were nominated for an Academy Award) and director Edwin L. Marin doesn't go overboard with the comedy bits. Screenwriter Curt Siodmak (who also penned THE INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS) had fled Germany (first to England) in 1937. His depiction of the Nazis are evil but incompetent. 

Director Marin had previously made A CHRISTMAS CAROL and A STUDY IN SCARLET (both with Reginald Owen) and later many westerns. Lead actor Jon Hall returned to invisibility two years later in THE INVISIBLE MAN'S REVENGE, though playing a different character.

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Mr. Moto Returns Again

MR. MOTO'S GAMBLE-1938-The intrepid Japanese detective (Peter Lorre) investigates the in ring death of a boxer. He gets assistance from pickpocket Knockout Wellington (“Slapsie” Maxie Rosenbloom) and Lee Chan (Keye Luke), Charlie Chan's number 1 son! The chief suspect is gangster Nick Crowder (Douglas Fowley) who's main henchman Joey is played by pre-Wolf Man Lon Chaney Jr. Ward Bond is Moran, the world champion. Poison seems to be the culprit but who did it? As usual Moto plays his cards close to his vest seeming almost as though he were a suspect too. Lynn Bari and John Hamilton are also featured.

The unusual presence of Lee Chan isn't so odd when you know that MR. MOTO'S GAMBLE (the third entry into the series) actually started out life as an entry in another (phony) Asian detective series at 20^th Century Fox, CHARLIE CHAN AT RINGSIDE. But illness forced star Warner Oland to drop out (he suffered from alcoholism and was involved in a messy divorce at the time). The filmed footage was scrapped but the script was later reworked with Lee being a student in one of Moto's crime classes.

Director James Tinling spend most of his time making low budget films and ended his career with some early TV work. Three years before GAMBLE he made CHARLIE CHAN IN SHANGHAI. GAMBLE is just a so-so detective murder mystery with too much comedy but Lorre is always interesting to watch.

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Face Behind The Mask

FACE BEHIND MASK-1941-Another underrated masterpiece by French born director Robert Florey who almost directed the original FRANKENSTEIN in 1931. (He did co-write the screenplay but due to James Whales’s machinations received no credit)

Peter Lorre (also in the director's BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS) plays Janos Szabo, an innocent but hard working immigrant who’s horribly disfigured in a fire. Unable to procure a job after his accident he turns to a life of crime and becomes a successful gang leader. But he decides quit crime after meeting a blind woman (Evelyn Keyes). Betrayal, death and revenge follow. Don Beddoe and George Stone co-star. Frank Reicher as a doctor has an unbilled role. Lorre (who was in THE MALTESE FALCON and ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT the same year) gives a very moving portrayal. Florey made MEET BOSTON BLACKIE the same year. It was based on a play called INTERIM.

"More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginning of all wars -- yes, an end to this brutal, inhuman and thoroughly impractical method of settling the differences between governments."-Franklin D. Roosevelt.

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Lorre Goes Bonkers!

THE BEAST WITH 5 FINGERS-1946-This rarely seen underrated psychological horror film features Peter Lorre in a standout whacko performance.

When an eccentric wheelchair bound pianist dies it seems that his severed hand has come back for revenge. It plays the piano and menaces Lorre whose character is obsessed with astrology. Robert Alda & Andrea King star along with J. Carroll Naish as a police inspector.

BEAST was written and directed by Robert Florey who co-wrote the original FRANKENSTEIN (but was cheated out of the credit by James Whale) and directed Lugosi in the over looked MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE.

An out of place comical final scene almost ruins it but it’s still a mini-classic. Thanks TCM for showing it!!!


"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer."-Ralph Waldo Emerson

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