Curse Of The Yellow Snake - 1963 - Germany

Curse Of The Yellow Snake - 1963 - 5/10
AKA - Der Fluch der Gelben Schlange

 
A gang attempts to steal the golden snake, since whoever owns it shall rule the world!
#2 son hightails it to London, spies hot on his heels.
An attractive daughter is offered in marriage, so to access his wealth.
#1 son leads a battalion of Chinese hoodlums, seeking the idol and domination.
Fast-paced Edgar Wallace Krimi smacks of Yellow Peril, outdated by this time.
Lots of plot, subplots, assorted characters, your head will spin.
Nevertheless, empty headed nonsense.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/1427223

The Carpet Of Horror - 1962 - Germany

The Carpet Of Horror - 1962 - 6/10
AKA - Der Teppich des Grauens

 
He intended to turn over evidence to Scotland Yard.
Too bad, he failed to notice the sphere roll onto the carpet, releasing poisonous gas.
Next man in the chain, a criminal chain, is equally blind, and just as doomed.
Fast-paced Krimi set in moonlit London, in between bright rooms.
The plot is convoluted to the point of confusion.  The Yard, secret agents, a sinister organization.
Empty headed, but fun.  I never grasped the aims of the thugs.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3366934

Komisario Palmun Erehdys - 1960 - Finland

Komisario Palmun Erehdys - 1960 - 6/10
AKA - Inspector Palmu's Error

 
Bruno sets the rules for a who-can-do-the-best-unreported-crime contest
Then Bruno is found murdered – in a locked bathroom!
The inspector arrives with two flunkies and begins interrogating one liar after another.
Everyone has motives and secrets.  Bruno was hardly a quality soul.
Finnish mystery bears similarity to Krimi.  Comic touches are droll, rather than farce.
Some nudity, too, which surprised me for this 1960 date.
The mystery itself is fun and sustains interest.

Traitor’s Gate - 1964 - Germany

Traitor’s Gate - 1964 - 6/10
AKA - Das Verrätertor

 
Graham is busted out of Dartmoor, then helicoptered into London.
Reason?  He’s a dead ringer for one of the Tower guards, Dick.
Once you realize the Tower Of London, you grasp the plot.
Caper film.  Heist.  Stealing the Crown Jewels
Alright Krimi, based on Edgar Wallace, is great for shots of vintage England.
Some comic relief from a curious busybody, but it is minimal.
Kinski best as the ruthless right hand man and crew captain.

The Forger Of London - 1961 - Germany

The Forger Of London - 1961 - 6/10
AKA - Der Fälscher von London

 
His father was insane, a murderer.  What if he inherited –– What’s that sound?
Jane marries the wealthy Peter who suffers from amnesia and missing time.
Nonetheless, he is rich.  Money smooths problems, such as the occasional corpse.
At the same time, counterfeit bills are flooding various countries.
Suspect #1?  You got it, wealthy playboy, AKA who am I again?

 
Krimi based on Edgar Wallace novel moves briskly.
Superb use of lighting, possibly too many characters (more dead bodies).
None of the camp or comedy that hampered latter Krimi.

The Zombie Walks - 1968 - Germany

The Zombie Walks - 1968 - 5/10
AKA - Im Banne des Unheimlichen

Movie opens during church funeral as pallbearers hoist the coffin.
Whereupon gales of laughter issue from the oblong box.
Does anyone investigate?  Heck no, they’re British, avoid embarrassment at all costs.
They seal the stiff in the crypt and head to the pub.
Krimi based on Edgar Wallace book is a campy spoof the of genre, as well as Gothic potboilers.

 
Sure enough, soon as folks wonder if the corpse ain’t dead a skull faced fiend starts killin’.
The movie blasts along with murders, chases, blondes, and dozens of suspects.
Even during simple interviews, filmmakers toss in crazy sets and visuals to distract you.

 
Though “set” in England, with Lords, Rolls Royces, Scotland Yard, this is a German production all the way.
Not the best Krimi.  A nutty film for aficionados of odd.

The Trygon Factor - 1966 - UK

The Trygon Factor - 1966 - 6/10

The posh manor is inhabited by eccentric aristocrats and a nunnery.
A curious alliance, which, nevertheless, draws in the tourists.
Meantime, a string of explosive robberies are occurring in London.
Before long, random corpses appear.
A lone inspector smells something amiss at the stately manor.

 
Edgar Wallace Krimi set in late 1960’s England.
Plot is a kind word for the erratic narrative
Cast includes Stewart Granger, Susan Hampshire and Robert Morley.
Silly, confusing, but slickly made, and I must confess I enjoyed watching.

Sherlock Holmes And The Deadly Necklace - 1962 - Germany

Sherlock Holmes And The Deadly Necklace - 1962 - 6/10
AKA - Sherlock Holmes und das Halsband des Todes

 
Necklace being the one originally possessed by Cleopatra.
Holmes is involved because Professor Moriarty has extended his murderous hands.
Christopher Lee is a stolid, forceful Holmes, but this tale is far from canon.
No, this is a Krimi, a German production similar to the films based on Edgar Wallace novels.
There is less action than viewers might have anticipated, and Moriarty seems to bear as much screen time as Holmes.
Though well-staged, the plot stumbles and there is little tension.
This is a misfire.  Lee would have another crack at Sherlock in 1991.

Dr. Mabuse Vs. Scotland Yard - 1963

Dr. Mabuse Vs. Scotland Yard - 1963 - 5/10
AKA - Scotland Yard Jagt Dr. Mabuse

 
Hard to get shed of classic villains permanently.
The "spirit" of the criminal mastermind enters the body of a distinguished professor.
In possession of corporeal form, Mabuse rebuilds a gang and plots world domination ... again.
He obtains a gizmo that gives him total mind control of all but a select few.
Even poor Klaus Kinski, stalwart Scotland Yard detective, succumbs!
OK enough Krimi is a bit talky at time, and the criminal business often extends too long.
An early Krimi, this one is more serious than spoof in adapting the Edgar Wallace source.

The Man With The Glass Eye - 1969 - Germany

The Man With The Glass Eye - 1969 - 6/10
AKA - Der Mann mit dem Glasauge

 
After the show ends, a chorus line girl is chauffeured to posh hotel for business hijinks.
Before sordid naughtiness climaxes, an assassin in trenchcoat kills the john with a hurled knife.
Scotland Yard swings into action and begins hunting for the female --
-- who is poisoned the next day backstage at the variety theater!
Peppy, late-in-the-cycle, Krimi features a vivid, late 60's look, as well as a campy late 60's plotline.
“Based” on Edgar Wallace writings (much as the later Bond films were “based” on Ian Fleming novels).
Racketeers elude the police, while the assassin eludes all.
Noisy, rattling diversion, but essentially a guilty pleasure for Krimi fans.
Alert! - Despite Scotland Yard, English names, this is a German language production.

Zimmer 13 - 1964 - Germany

Zimmer 13 - 1964 - 6/10
AKA - Room 13

 
London’s top private eye is hired by a member of Parliament after a shady character from his past comes calling.
At its root, this is a caper film.  An old fashioned train robbery.
Being a German Krimi, however, there are dozens of subplots and distractions.
Straight off, a serial killer is murdering fräuleins - excuse me, British lovelies.
Numerous shenanigans occur at the High & Low Club, which is a glorified striptease parlor.
This is where our ace detective takes evening dates, by the way.
Not to worry, one of the exotic dancers is a female cop.  How do we know?
Because she wears regulation Scotland Yard underwear.  Who knew!

The Corpse Packs His Bags - 1972 - Germany

The Corpse Packs His Bags - 1972 - 6/10
AKA - Der Todesrächer von Soho

 
Soon to depart hotel guests find someone has thoughtfully packed their bags!
Alas, once outside, those soon to depart become the dearly departed, thanks to a thrown knife.
Scotland Yard investigates.
Hang on.  The inspector contacts a friend, a best selling mystery author, and a photographer.  Next, the doctor who was at the scene, except the inspector is more interested in getting the receptionist out of her glasses.
Everyone frequents a nightclub which is a front and run by shadowy types.
Stories spin out in all directions.  The narrative is incoherent.  I lost track of why the killings were occurring.
Many belittle this as another lame Jess Franco effort, but it is not a bad film.
True, the plot makes no sense, but it is entertaining and the humor is sly.
Better than most of the late cycle Krimi films I have watched.

The Case Of The Krimi - 2018 - USA

The Case Of The Krimi - 2018 - 6/10

Brief documentary, presented by Marcus Stiglegger.
Charts the genesis, heyday, and collapse of Krimi films.
The look originated in Expressionism, the stories from 1920’s crime novels by Edgar Wallace.
Fast paced crime yarns, set in London (Hamburg), often with Klaus Kinski as villain.
As the era progressed, films grew sillier and spawned spoofs.
Breezy overview of the Krimi subgenre, which became an important influence on Giallo.

Der Gorilla von Soho - 1968 - Germany

Der Gorilla von Soho - 1968 - 5/10
AKA - Gorilla Gang

Visiting rich foreigners are murdered, then made to appear to be drowning victims.
Inspectors, following clues, soon wonder if an old gang has resurfaced.
Krimi mixes sexual innuendo, authoritarian silliness, and stretches of nudity.
For the latter, there is an underground camera club boasting dozens of unclad models.

The humor is not especially funny, running gags wear thin.
This seems like a color remake of Dead Eyes Of London, an earlier, and better Krimi.

 

Der Hexer - 1964 - Germany

Der Hexer - 1964 - 5/10
AKA - The Ringer // The Magician

Attractive office secretary is strangled then ferried into the Thames in a mini-sub!
Too late, the four perpetrators realize she had been the sister of a shadowy crime lord.
A criminal mastermind with a specialty in assassination.
Meanwhile, Scotland Yard hustles to identify the killers, and apprehend the crime boss!
There is a sideplot of white slavery, suspicious reporters, valets, tantalizing women, an underground labyrinth, and don’t forget about that mini-sub!
Fast paced if confusing Krimi, based on Edgar Wallace, percolates enough to sustain interest.
Inspector Higgins (Joachim Fuchsberger) is less effective in this compared with his other films.
Film rather good at keeping viewers guessing about who the hexer is.

Dead Eyes Of London - 1961 - Germany

Toten Augen von London - 1961 - 6/10
AKA - Dead Eyes Of London

Atmospheric mystery / creeper with a dark Noir look.
Scotland Yard has its hands full as a serial killer targets elderly rich men.
The main suspect is one “Blind Jack,” a massive bear of a man with a satisfied smile.

And yes, Jack is blind! The film, by the way, is a German production as is the language.
The story plods occasionally, and there are budget constraints, but this is a good Krimi film.
Police procedural. The inspector works through blackmailers, prostitutes, crooks, liars, killers.
A lot of inventive camera work and visual surprises maintain interest throughout.
Watch for young Klaus Kinski as shady operator.