The Mad Ghoul - 1943 ***

 

A spate of horror films from Universal studies produced a handful of rather good entries that would give Hammer Horror a run for their money. 'The Mad Ghoul' was one such movie, nerve wracking, strange and downright eerie. Dr Morris is curious about the effects of nerve gas which he learned was used in ancient rituals of dissecting bodies. A young student of his named Ted offers to help him test his theories and experiment on animals. Ted's mind is not completely on his work however, and is instead taken up with his beautiful girlfriend Isabel. Isabel is not as enamoured with Ted as he would like to think sadly, and confides in Dr Morris that the relationship is going sour. After this intense heart-to-heart talk, Dr Morris realises he has fallen for Isabel, and finds Ted might be the only solution.

Creepy film! Worth a watch.

Luxury Liner - 1933 **

 

'Luxury Liner' could be seen as a poor man's 'Grand Hotel', but doesn't have nearly as much class or glamour to live up to it's name. The story of a group of people who's lives entwine and change during the course of the trip is a rather weak one. George Brent isn't too bad as the jilted husband with a violent streak, and Alice White is rather cute as Milli, the girl who desperately wants to be up on the 1st class deck, but instead is stuck in 3rd class.

The film is has a rather weak anti-climax at the end, and I'm not sure the director thought it through properly. But never mind, there are definitely worse films.

Before I Hang - 1940 ****

 

                                'Before I Hang' sees Boris Karloff as elderly Dr Garth imprisoned for poisoning a patient of his, having originally hoped to reverse the aging process on him, with tragic results.

Once inside the jail, he is sentenced to die within 2 weeks, but allowed to use the prison laboratory up until that point to work on his miracle elixir.

As his judgement day draws closer, Dr Garth decides to test his elixir on himself, without realising he has tainted himself with the blood of a dangerous murderer at the same time. This sets him on a terrifying rampage that no one is able to stop.

Karloff is good in this, and has a suitably Jekyll/Hyde personality to fit his character. Creepy stuff.

In the Bedroom - 2001 **

 

'In the Bedroom' cannot be considered a masterpiece. It is fairly dull in some areas, followed by sudden moments that make you gasp. It follows the lives and relationships of various people all connected, as well as the trials, violent domestic acts, tribulations and infidelities they face. The finale is a tragedy for everyone concerned. I thought the cast was pretty good, but there is no way I would call it 'The Best American Film this Year.'

Heroes for Sale - 1933 ***

 

A rather morbid one to watch, but important as it is part of the 'Forbidden Hollywood' series of movies that slipped through the Hayes Code net in the early 30s. It was wonderful to see my first ever Richard Barthelmess offering regardless of the plot..

Tom is a wounded soldier from WW1 who is finding his new reality in the middle of a Depression-era state very uninviting. He finds it impossible to work, no one will take him on, and his friends have turned their backs on him. Added to which, he has developed a serious addiction to morphine which has turned him into a very hardened character. Luckily, Tom finds a way to beat his addiction and ends up in Chicago working in a launderette and settled down with a lovely woman. But tensions in Chicago never stay buried for long, and soon Tom is balancing precariously on the edge once again, fearing for his job, his relationship and his general wellbeing.

I found the subject matter rather depressing, and wish that I had seen Barthelmess in something more light-hearted, but nevertheless it showed his character and the sort of actor he can be.

(NOIR) Fall Guy - 1947 ****

 

                                                  'Fall Guy' is a surprisingly good movie, with a good twist, a steady plot and an appearance from my old favourite Elisha Cook, Jr.

Tom Cochrane is in a bit of a bind - he's woken up after a late night out drinking and is promptly arrested for the murder of a woman at the same bar. The thing is, he doesn't have any memory of murdering or hurting said woman, and things get weirder when he is bailed out of jail by his girlfriend's brother, and they see the dead woman walking down the street. Added to which, the man he spent time with in the bar has no record of him. Is he going mad? Or delusional? Or something else more sinister? Cue a peculiar story that I really enjoyed.