Gentleman Jim - 1942 - USA

Gentleman Jim - 1942 - 6/10

 
Biopic of boxer Jim Corbett, and one of Flynn’s favorite roles.
Boxing is still illegal, although a San Francisco judge wants to legitimize it using Marquis Of Queensbury rules.
Alexis Smith brings the “romance”, yet scant heat.  (Flynn & Smith were good, if platonic, friends.)
Flynn perfect as brash, almost unbearably egotistical Corbett.
Ward Bond, however, quietly steals every scene as champion John L Sullivan.
Flynn was on top of the world in 1942, yet Fate proved fickle, then dark.

Night Monster - 1942 - USA

Night Monster - 1942 - 6/10

 
Servant Milly has had enough of Ingstron house, too many weird goings-on.
The sheriff pays no attention to her warnings, until she is found dead in the road.
About the same time as three doctors arrive at the house.
No, make that four, except the fourth is female psychiatrist.
Along with an Indian mystic.  A swami!
Headliner Lugosi wasted as butler.  Lionel Atwill fans, don’t blink.
This is a “old dark house” mystery, and a pretty good one.
Moody photography, rising body count, no end of suspects.

Cat People - 1942 - USA

Cat People - 1942 - 7/10

 
Oliver, despite barely knowing Irena (aside that animals hate her, and her warning that she might be descended from evil shapeshifters) proposes marriage.
Such happiness!  Until; Oliver fancies a new skirt.
Then the claws come out.  Literally.
Early Val Lewton film is textbook on how to film Horror on a budget.
Outstanding use of shadows and minimal jump scares.
For gore-hounds, this relies on your imagination rather than visceral thrills.
If you don’t have one, this won’t be for you.

Street Of Chance - 1942 - USA

Street Of Chance - 1942 - 6/10

 
Only afternoon, you’re strolling easy on the sidewalk, when a chunk of rubble bounces off your head.
Regain consciousness and, “Hey, my name is Frank Thompson!  Why are all my initials DN?”
Oh, no!  He had been suffering amnesia, and in his previous state had been a sinister type.
Worse, several shady characters are chasing him.
Narrative is the search for identity, what Frank did – if he actually did it.
Burgess Meredith lacks the oomph to carry this.
Plus, Frank’s loyal wife is a mousy brunette, alter-ego Danny’s girl is torrid blonde, Claire Trevor.
Massive plot holes, photography is pre-Noir, although close.
Sheldon Leonard is the absolute best thing in this.

Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood - 1942 - USA

Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood - 1942 - 6/10  

 
Millionaire buddy Manleder asks Blackie to break into his Manhattan house safe and bring him $60 K.
Police apprehend him, then let him go.  Why?  There is a valuable diamond, gone missing.
Once in Los Angeles, Blackie realizes his buddy is in as much trouble as suspected.
With the New York cops in pursuit (jurisdiction in California?).
Breezy formula, too much comedy, Chester Morris effortless as the unflappable private eye.
Predictable, although perfect for lunch break.

Lady From Chungking - 1942 - USA

Lady From Chungking - 1942 - 6/10

 
Anna Me Wong leads the resistance in a small village, occupied by Japanese forces.
The Chinese are hiding weapons and biding their time.
Japanese general Kaimura, known as the Butcher, is arriving, which signals an offensive.
Meanwhile, two Flying Tiger pilots have crashed, one is captured, one rescued.
Fast moving chest-beater, laden with jingoistic propaganda.
Still, one watches for Anna Mae in a rare starring role, and she is terrific.

Eyes In The Night - 1942 - USA

Eyes In The Night - 1942 - 6/10  

 
An old flame reenters Norma’s life, and this time he is seducing her 17 year old step daughter.
For advice, Norma seeks out her blind friend, private eye Duncan Maclaine.
Who soon deduces nefarious activities swirl about Norma’s quiet home.
While blind, Mac’s remaining senses are as razor keen as a Hollywood scribe’s imagination.
As with so many disabled crime fighters, he has a formidable sidekick in his dog, Friday.
MGM programmer could have been a franchise, but faltered after a second installment.

The Night Has Eyes - 1942 - UK

The Night Has Eyes - 1942 - 6/10

 
Doris and Marian head for a refreshing holiday on the moors.
After all, that was where their friend, and fellow teacher, Evelyn, disappeared!
Reaching their destination, they encounter howling gales and treacherous bogs.
Luckily, they find shelter at a gloomy house owned by a brooding gentleman.
All the elements for an excellent rainy night film.
The look is Noir and high Gothic.  There are mysteries and murders.
Above, the protective housekeeper, troubled male, imperiled heroine.

Tales Of Manhattan - 1942 - USA

Tales Of Manhattan - 1942 - 6/10

 
Better suited would be tales of a tailcoat.
A posh dinner coat (with tails) goes to Broadway’s top actor.
Followed by a soon to be married roué.
Next a down on his luck lawyer.
Then – – you get the idea.
Six stories follow the stories, lucky or ill, of the recipients.
Astonished how the Robeson speech (Socialist, if not Communist) made it into the film.
My print also had the W. C. Fields section, often omitted.

Spy Smasher - 1942 - USA

Spy Smasher - 1942 - 6/10

 
Yes, boys and girls, spies have infiltrated America and mean you harm!
Police - FBI - CIA (wait, there is no CIA) are outsmarted by the diabolical Mask and his gang of thieves, saboteurs, traitors, and the ever ready Kriegsmarine.
Fortunately, the heroic and rugged Spy Smasher is there to thwart their villainy!
One of the greatest cliffhangers ever from Republic features a pile of stunts that still impress.
Kane Richmond, starring in a dual role, is clearly in peak physical form throughout.
Fights are well choreographed and inventively staged.  Many with double, or triple!, jeopardies!
(Lucas and Spielberg borrowed sequences for Raiders Of The Lost Ark).
A few too many cheats on cliffhangers for my liking.
This also informed a scene from A Christmas Story, where Ralphie and Randy stand in line to see Santa Claus behind a boy wearing costume and goggles - Spy Smasher's garb.

Fly-By-Night - 1942 - USA

Fly-By-Night - 1942 - 5/10

 
Brisk Paramount programmer.
Doctor picks up, rather is hijacked by escaped mental patient.
The patient is dispatched soon enough, but not before sharing vital intelligence with the doctor.
At that point, however, the doc is wanted by police, G-men, and bad guys in dark suits.
Our hero does what most men would do, he kidnaps a pretty female to help him.
B-mystery moves quickly, and Nancy Kelly and director Siodmak would go on to better things.
There are easily 100 better "couple on the lam" flicks out there.
If you seen 'em all, though, this is OK late night nonsense.

Tragic Night - 1942 - Italy

Tragic Night - 1942 - 6/10
AKA - Tragica Notte

 
Stefano is an overly conscientious gamekeeper.
Poachers have their weapons seized, or their licenses revoked.
One is even sent to prison!
They decide to teach him a lesson.  They don masks and beat him senseless.
He recognizes one culprit, however, and bides his time.  Laying the pieces for a nasty revenge.
Although based on Toscan Delfino Cinelli’s novel “The Trap,” the story evokes “Othello.”

Lucky Jordan - 1942 - USA

Lucky Jordan - 1942 - 5/10

 
Local racketeer gets drafted, quickly deserts cause he gives orders, doesn’t take them.
Next thing, he’s involved with saboteurs, Nazis, military police, and fetching USO hostess.
Mindless, implausible time-waster.
Alan Ladd and Helen Walker radiated chemistry, but nothing came of that.

Alias Boston Blackie - 1942 - USA

Alias Boston Blackie - 1942 - 5/10

 
Fast paced, watchable programmer in the long running series.
This is the “Christmas episode,” though that is really stretching.
Some indoor decorations, characters wishing seasons greetings.
Otherwise, streets look hot and sunny.
During charity revels (dancing girls and a bounding clown) in the slammer, one of the cons escapes.
Inspector Fararday is there, as is Blackie, on whom Farraday eyes as suspect number one.
Chases follow escapes follow temporary captures, looped several times.
Truly, if you have seen one Boston Blackie, you’ve seen them all.
Chester Morris breezes effortlessly as the nimble, reformed crook, always able to aid an attractive female.

A Date With The Falcon - 1942

A Date With The Falcon - 1942 - 5/10

Second outing for George Sanders’ suave thrill seeker and police meddler.
Early on, he is supposed to be flying off with his not-yet-wed bride on their honeymoon.
When a pair of dark eyes and thick eyelashes beckon, his fiancé is forgotten.
The plot - if you tend to be charitable - is of a kidnapped synthetic diamond inventor.
Misunderstandings with police, banter with lovelies, and glowering heavies cannot disguise a fluff story.
Film relies on Sanders’ charm, but is beneath his talents.

The Falcon Takes Over - 1942 - USA

The Falcon Takes Over - 1942 - 6/10

Escaped convict arrives in nightclub where he worked, pre-confinement.
“Where’s Velma?” followed by neck breaking. Only the beginning of neck snapping, it turns out.
The Falcon (George Sanders) gets involved - - for no real reason.
RKO entry came two years too early for Noir, but the components are there.

Ward Bond, the menacing murderer, is shot from low angles, in deep shadow.
Unresolved conspiracies, point to a mastermind at the top.
Story based on Chandler’s “Farewell, My Lovely,” awkwardly mixes light comedy with vengeance.
Entertaining, though Falcon fans and Noir buffs might be confused by this cocktail.

The Undying Monster - 1942 - UK

The Undying Monster - 1942 - 6/10

Handsome Gothic potboiler set in the craggy cliffed manor house.
An ancient family curse stalks the final descendants, brother and sister.
The night air is rent with the howls of — what?
Reminiscent of “The Hound Of The Baskervilles,” this is, nonetheless, its own beast.
A solid B-film mystery, that never reveals until the end, and at 63 minutes, does not outstay its welcome.

Don Wilson Of The Navy - 1942

Don Wilson Of The Navy - 1942 - 6/10

Twelve part serial does double duty as recruiting tool.
Don and his sidekick Red fight a band of saboteurs, kidnappers, and all around traitors.
Led by the ever dastardly Scorpion who seems to have acquired Emperor Ming’s video communicator.
Underground bases, secret submarines, car chases, loads of fisticuffs.
Don and Red wear their Navy whites throughout and those seldom stain or get dirty.
Most of the cliffs are cheats, and, dastardly as Scorpion is, there is no reason for his activities.

Quiet Please: Murder - 1942 - USA

Quiet Please: Murder - 1942 - 6/10

Brisk thriller / mystery, with the main characters very much the villains.
Smoothie George Sanders is a rare book thief.
After well-publicized thefts, he creates quality forgeries which he peddles to unscrupulous collectors.
They can’t well verify if the book is real, and if they find out, who can they complain to?
Great plan, eh?
Except one forgery is sold to a Nazi agent, buying for Hermann Goering.
During a blackout, Sanders and his duplicitous colleague (sensual Gail Patrick) find themselves trapped in a vast public library, along with a private investigator and those pesky Nazis, demanding a refund!
Fun little B-movie, very much of its time.