Rage

 

 (imdb)

RAGE-1972-Rancher Dan Logan (George C. Scott; also the director) has a nice life until he wakes up one day after camping with his son Chris (Nicholas Beauvy; later in THE TOOLBOX MURDERS (1978)) to find his cattle dead and Chris deathly sick. An army board headed by Col. Nickerson (Kenneth Tobey) (including Robert Walden and Stephen Young) seems concerned because it was an accidental spraying of some government poison gas. Major Halliford (Martin Sheen) and public health service guy Spencer (Barnard Hughes) assure him his son will be alright. 

Not true. Chris dies and the government seems to cover it up. Family physician Dr. Cardwell (Richard Basehart) finds some discrepancies in the medical reports. Logan sees through the government lies and finds his son’s dead body. Now a dying man, Logan goes for revenge but he dies before extracting real vengeance. Dabbs Greer is a doctor and Ed Lauter is an orderly. 

Two years after this Scott would direct one more film, the notorious THE SAVAGE IS LOOSE. This disappointing box office flop was actually based on a 1968 incident that took place in Utah where thousands of sheep were killed while the US army tested a new nerve gas. The army denied responsibility and other theories were presented. However, documents released 30 years after the incident occurred seem to say the army was at fault.

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Wise Thriller

 

 (imdb)

HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL-1951-A woman (Valentina Cortese) in a Nazi prison takes on the identity of her friend Karen who died there. She comes to America looking for her “son” Chris who is heir to a fortune. In NY, she meets Chris’ guardian Allen (Richard Basehart) who she eventually marries. They go to San Francisco and meet Chris (Gordon Gebert) and then go live in the title house where she has a problem with housekeeper Margaret (Fay Baker) who seems as though she might have a secret agenda with Allen. Especially when the brakes fail on Karen's car. She tells Allen's sort of friend, Marc (William Lundigan), she thinks Allen is trying to kill her and Chris. Or is it just in Karen's mind? 

An ironic twist ending reveals everything. Nice little thriller directed by Robert Wise who made THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL the same year.

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In Like Flynn

 

 (imdb)

CRY WOLF-1947-After the death of Jim Demarest, his widow Sandra (Barbara Stanwyck) shows up to claim his estate. His brother Mark (Errol Flynn) doesn't seem to know anything about the marriage or so he says. He keeps a tight rein on his niece Julie (Geraldine Brooks) who hears strange noises and screaming that seem to come from Mark's mysterious and forbidden lab.

Interesting film noir with a twist ending directed by Peter Godfrey who made THE TWO MRS. CARROLLS with Humprey Bogart the same year. Also with Richard Basehart & Jerome Cowan. It's based on a novel by mystery writer Marjorie Carleton.

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Blacklisted Crew

 

 (imdb)

FINGER OF GUILT-1956-Expatriate American film editor Reggie Wilson (Richard Basehart; in MOBY DICK the same year), now a producer in England after a scandal in the US, receives threatening blackmail letters from a woman he says he doesn't know. Since the US scandal involved an affair with his boss's wife he's looked on a little doubtfully when he says it's not true. Eventually he meets his accuser Evelyn Stewart (Mary Murphy; THE WILD ONE)) who seems to know all about Reggie and is genuine in her convictions. He tells the star of his new production (and former lover) Kay (Constance Cummings) that he thinks he is losing his mind. Things spiral out of control after he makes a few blunders. 

Interesting little English drama from Joseph Losey (who has a cameo as a director), also an expatriate American blacklisted out of Hollywood. He's credited as Alec C. Snowden and screenwriter Howard Koch is credited as Peter Howard (he was blacklisted too).

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