Der Spooktrein - 1939 - Netherlands

Der Spooktrein - 1939 - 6/10

 
No, the passengers of Express 429 did not believe in ghosts, either.
Not until that night.
Netherlands remake of the Arnold Ridley play hits the right notes.
Atmospheric Gothic photography, comic elements are playful, not farce.
Stranded passengers this time include a magician and lovely assistant.
Of course, the way station is still haunted, and very dangerous.
Nicely restored version on www.eyefilm.nl
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3370777

The Man They Could Not Hang - 1939 - USA

The Man They Could Not Hang - 1939 - 6/10

 
Long before the efforts of Dr. Christiaan Barnard, Doctors Saavard and Lang develop a mechanical heart.
During the first test on a human volunteer, however, they are interrupted by meddlers and authorities.
The subject dies, Saavard is found guilty of murder, and swings.
Lang has the equipment and know-how, and quietly revives his partner.
Interesting SciFi (reminiscent of Universal films) soon goes into offscreen revenge.
Story bogs down, but Karloff smoothly underplays his role and the sets and photography are top notch.

Mystery Of Mr. Wong - 1939 - USA

Mystery Of Mr. Wong - 1939 - 6/10

 
He knew his life was imperiled once he sought the precious Eye Of The Daughter Of The Moon.
In his possession, Brandon showed Mr Wong the note suggesting who his killer would be.
Alas, the murder occurs and the note vanishes.
Nevertheless, there are a clutch of suspects, with various motives.
Typical of the 1930’s, police are hardnosed.  Better, there are two esteemed criminologists on the scene.
Fast paced B-mystery should fill a late afternoon.
Understand, yellowface was more common and sadly acceptable back then.

The Saint In London - 1939 - UK

The Saint In London - 1939 - 6/10

 
Templar is approached by a government friend and asked to investigate one Mr Lang.
Soon turns out Lang has his hands in all sorts of nasty pies.
Early on, Simon (suave George Sanders) hires a valet whose last place of residence was San Quentin.
Also a female admirer, determined to help.
Unlike a lot of private eye flicks, Templar here relies on his support team who are not mere comic relief.
The police likewise are pretty sharp, as are the villains, especially Mr Lang.

Tower Of London - 1939 - USA

Tower Of London - 1939 - 6/10

 
Bold, historically inaccurate retelling of Richard III and his power grab.
Why wait for succession when one can murder the way to the throne?
Rathbone and Karloff as the evil usurper and his murderous henchman.
Elsewhere, there are plenty from Hollywood’s British colony (and Commonwealth).
Gothic sets and lightning, a tone bordering on Horror, treachery run wild.

The Arsenal Stadium Mystery - 1939 - UK

The Arsenal Stadium Mystery - 1939 - 6/10

 
Enroute to the big match, an argument in the car.  Bombshell and the striker.
Lovers tiff?  Hardly.  She’s met someone … with money.
Hour later, in the second half, look who drops dead on the pitch.
Heart failure?  Broken heart?  Or was it murder?
Scotland Yard arrives (a breezy Leslie Banks), while teammates evade answers.
Yes, female trouble lies at the root of this quick paced mystery.
Interspersed with football shenanigans.
Wet Saturday film.

Lone Wolf Spy Hunt - 1939 - USA

Lone Wolf Spy Hunt - 1939 - 6/10  

 
Retired safecracker, Michael Lanyard (the Lone Wolf) is set up.
War Department plans are stolen and dropped clues incriminate Lanyard.
While police are skeptical, and he provides alibis, he remains suspect #1.
Meanwhile, a bright-eyed young heiress (Ida Lupino) wants to marry the reluctant bachelor.
Plot zig zags between mystery, cheeky innuendo, and farcical comedy.
More silly than sinister.
William Warren effortless as the Lone Wolf, Rita Hayworth makes an alluring femme fatale.

Zorro’s Fighting Legion - 1939 - USA

Zorro’s Fighting Legion - 1939 - 6/10

 
For a Saturday matinee serial, this is full of exciting adventures.
High film-making artistry?
The Lord of Gold (Don Del Oro), with plans to become emperor, steals gold shipments.
Enter Zorro, and his band of …ahem … singing men.
OK, they mostly sing the “We Ride” song.
This is set in Mexico, not California, though villagers immediately recognize the hero.
Excellent budget for this Republic serial, star power (Reed Hadley), outstanding stunts.
Best DVD copy is the restoration by Serial Squadron.

Midnight - 1939 - USA

Midnight - 1939 - 7/10

 
Crackling screwball comedy finds showgirl being used by a rich man.
The older man’s wife is cheating, so he decides “what’s good for the goose …”
Meanwhile, there is a cabbie who had befriended the showgirl, who starts searching.
Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, John Barrymore, lead a large casts of names.
The plot I gave is bare bones, as it is packed with comic twists and turns.
Pacing in this is terrific, along with the jokes, visual gags, one-liners.
One of the best screwball comedies, and sadly, pretty much overlooked.

Miracles For Sale - 1939 - USA

Miracles For Sale - 1939 - 6/10

 
Retired magician, Morgan, designs and sells stunts to headliners.
And also exposes fraudulent mediums, clairvoyants, mystics.
The blonde arrives, and soon there is a locked room murder.
Fast paced mystery with murder and magic
Romance, supernatural, comic touches, and a strong supporting cast (great for old movie buffs).
Robert Young fine as lead.  Truth to tell, I hunted this down because it was the final film by Tod Browning.

Fast And Furious - 1939 - USA

Fast And Furious - 1939 - 5/10

 
Alert readers will spy the picture, then the date.
MGM might have assumed third time would be the charm for this overlooked series.
This is the weakest of the trio that includes Fast Company and Fast And Loose.
Those rare book dealers are back, but the only clue to their line of work is the office door.
Next thing, they are on their way to a beachside beauty pageant.
And - of course - murder, shifty characters, an abundance of liars.
Oh, almost forgot hundreds of stunning lovelies.
Directed by Busby Berkeley, but no dance numbers.
Forgettable fluff.  Catch the first installments before this.
Comment - Yet a third set of actors play the couple.

Fast And Loose - 1939 - USA

Fast And Loose - 1939 - 6/10

 
Breezy sequel to 1938‘s Fast Company.  Same characters, different lead actors.
Eccentric collector hires rare book dealers to buy rare Shakespeare manuscript from financially strapped tycoon.
There is also a first edition Milton that goes lost then found then lost.
Parties meet at the mansion, along with offspring, stock broker, gangsters, eventually the police.
Correcto mundo.  Killing.  For books!
Fast paced, a jumble of characters, assortment of motives, a plot that borders on gibberish.
Rosalind Russell and Robert Montgomery endearing as book hounds.
Amusing to see folks get riled up over the printed word, since so few buy actual books nowadays.

The Human Monster - 1939 - UK

The Human Monster - 1939 - 6/10
AKA - The Dark Eyes Of London

 
Corpses keep floating in the river Thames.
Probably nothing unusual there, except these were well-heeled gentleman.
Curiously enough, most had been insured by Greenwich Insurance, run by Dr. Orloff.
Inspector Holt, paired with Chicago’s Lt. O’Reilly, keeps running across Orloff, playing by the smiling Bela Lugosi.
No prize if you guess who the criminal mastermind might be.
Police work dominates over chills, yet the atmosphere is good.
Especially sequences set in the Institute For The Destitute Blind.
Thriller based on Edgar Wallace novel would be remade as Dead Eyes Of London (1961), and Gorilla Gang (1968), with the 1961 Krimi being the best of the three.
Still, Bela is always watchable, and he is good in this.