Hot Pepper - 1933 **

 

It was an exciting moment for me to finally watch Lupe Velez on screen. I've researched a lot about her, both early career and death and it was magical to finally see her. The film, apart from Velez's presence however, was extremely disappointing. There was nothing particularly funny about either of the 2 male counterparts, and they seemed to perform as unfunny Laurel and Hardy-esque characters. One seemed to delight in 'arresting' people with his fake police badges. They are equally taken by the fiery 'Hot Pepper' who stows herself away into a cargo boat from South America to bring her to America to launch her career. Whilst Velez is gorgeous in every single way, she does have a rather psychotic personality, one minute charming and sexy, the next screaming and becoming violent (which was very like her personal life). I feel this was maybe the wrong film to start with for my introduction to Lupe. I can't imagine this was a highlight in her career.  

Day-Time Wife - 1939 ****

 

This was just adorable! And Linda Darnell is the most mature 16 year old to play an older character that I have ever seen!

Jane has been blissfully married to Ken for nearly 2 years. And as the day approaches she looks forward to the inevitable celebration that will occur once her husband is home from work. But there's a problem. When Ken gets home he doesn't have slightest clue of the day, supposedly after having being kept late at the office, or notice Jane's excitable manner. Jane doesn't let it phase her too much though, until she starts to notice that Ken is spending a lot of extra time at work, most notably with his young, beautiful secretary. Her friend who has been married countless times tells Jane it seems likely that Ken is 'playing away' because business men usually fall for their secretaries, and when Jane discovers actual proof of Ken's infidelities, she decides to get her own back in the most glamorous way possible - she finds herself a job as the secretary of Ken's rival Bernard Dexter.

I really loved this film, and considering I have never heard of it before now, I was enchanted by it. Tyrone and Linda make such a gorgeous couple, and it's great to hear that they went on to make 3 more films together. Lovely, light-hearted, gentle comedy.

(NOIR) Inner Sanctum - 1948 ****

 

Based on the late 40s radio mystery plays, 'Inner Sanctum' is a fascinating little noir about what happens to dodgy people who share close quarters.

Told from the view of a flashback on a train, we meet Harold, who after finding himself on the run from the police because of a murder he's involved in takes lodgings in a boarding house run by a kindly woman and her husband. What becomes apparent soon after arriving however is that Harold has seen the couple's son Billy somewhere before. Surely he couldn't be the same boy that Harold tried to murder near the train station after Billy witnessed something he shouldn't have? And why does the beautiful woman who also lives in the boarding house find him so interesting? Can Harold keep up the charade of innocence, or is he already starting to crack?

I found this little known noir rather excellent, and it's so worth the wait.

Behind Closed Doors - 1931 ****

 

Beautiful secretary Mary Linden is smitten by Jim Duneen, the laddish salesman hoping to land himself a better job as an executive. Mary is able to orchestrate this for him, and he is soon sitting in the President's chair happy as Larry. The only trouble is, because of his high position he is now starting to neglect Mary, taking her for granted, hiring an extra assistant and openly flirting with other women in front of her. Mary is devastated, and tries to find solace in the arms of married, yet devoted Ronnie. Once Jim realises what he might lose, he desperately tries to win Mary back.

Mary Astor is gorgeous here, and I can't help but guess that the time she was filing this coincided with the infamous scandal of her 'red diary' which contained the memoirs of all the men she had slept with... behind her husband's back. This gives an added juiciness to the film where she plays a meek and proper secretary.

Convenience - 2015 ** 1/2

 

Attempting to rob an all night garage, two idiots end up bungling their plan and getting themselves jobs there for the night instead. It's got some funny parts, and Ray Panthaki does a good job in his post-Eastenders role, but you can tell it's a film that's 'trying too hard.' One of those films where the majority of comic moments appear in the trailer, and when you break it down there isn't much left in the story that can make you laugh. Also, I don't know where Vicky McClure has come from but she has zero personality and isn't the greatest choice for her part.

The Outer Gate - 1937 ***

 

'The Outer Gate' works very well for what it is - a simple story and plot acted very well. The premise is revenge, and what happens when you get tarred with the same brush .

Bob has been working for his girlfriend's father John for a while now, and feels he is effectively part of the family, so when someone embezzles a lot of money, Bob can't quite believe it when John accuses him of the crime and he is sent to jail for a number of years. Fast forward to his release, and Bob is still feeling hurt and angry after John's betrayal. John, feeling bad, tells Bob he now trusts him completely, but Bob isn't about to forgive him anytime soon.

Well acted, easy storyline to follow, solid performances.

(HORROR) The Perfect Husband - 2014 ****

 

'The Perfect Husband' starts off well, with so much potential and promise, then it descends into something even more horrific than imagined - and it's pretty darn good! Gabriella Wright hasn't got a particularly overbearing screen presence but this does work in her favour, and her onscreen husband alternates between wimpy and terrifying in each scene which keeps you on your toes, never knowing when he might snap.

A young couple named Nicola and Viola go to an old cabin in the woods (where have you heard this before) to rest and recuperate after Viola suffers an awful miscarriage leading her to a nervous breakdown. Very soon after arriving, Viola starts realising that Nicola is behaving oddly, he's rather possessive, snappy and angry interspersed with abject apologies soon after. Added to which, Viola is having strange dreams involving her miscarried baby, and feels like she is being spied on.

This sounds pretty good to start with, but the second part of it really blows your mind, and overall I thought it was extremely well done with a nice build up of tension and ghastly climax.

Margin for Error - 1943 ****

 

I have always found Joan Bennett to be one of the most beautiful of the 40s stars. She's just so graceful and elegant that you can't help but be mesmerised by her screen presence.

Here Bennett plays Sophia, the wife of an the infamous German Consul Karl Baumer who is in deep water after having squandered money for the sole purpose of sabotaging an American Port at the end of a radio speech made by Hitler. After former police officer Moe is ordered to become Karl's bodyguard he makes friends with Sophia, who confides in him that she loathes and detests her husband and has only stayed with him to make sure her father is released from prison. Moe also finds Karl a horrendous human and cannot understand how anyone can support his regime. Add into the mix Karl's secretary who is becoming less and less dedicated to Karl as he asks him to complete tasks he does not morally accept. Tensions are running high as the radio speech approaches, but who will crack first?

Otto Preminger does a fantastic job as the morally bankrupt Consul and the panic and stress is outlined beautifully. This was an incredibly powerful, sharply executed piece of film work.

Whispering Whoopee - 1930 ***

 

'Whispering Whoopee' is an enjoyable little gem from 1930 featuring the gorgeous Thelma Todd at her most amusing. She was so much fun to watch, you could tell from her face how much fun she was having filming and acting her role.

Charley Chase is hoping to land an important business deal, and uses 3 women from an escort service to do so, also getting himself into hot water in the process. Thelma is of course the one who really stands out from the 3, and delivers all her lines with wit and sarcastic charm. Worth a watch.

(HORROR) Halloween Night - 2006 *

 

'The Asylum' has churned out another monstrosity with it's take on 'Halloween.' Dire as you would imagine, 'Halloween Night' centres around a young boy named Chris who is put away in an insane asylum after watching his mother killed by 2 thugs. Years later he emerges as a psycho and goes on a killing spree on Halloween night... how original... Just an awful, very badly acted film, but sometimes that's all you can expect from 'The Asylum'.

Chance at Heaven - 1933 ****

 

'Chance at Heaven' is a rather adorable piece of fluff that I found myself watching the other day. What happens when you believe the grass is greener and can't be content with what you already have. Lovely Ginger Rogers plays the practical, thoughtful Marje, who is engaged to immature, yet handsome gas station owner Blackie. Blackie's head is turned however when a ditzy socialite named Glory crashes her car into his petrol pumps and falls head over heels for him. Selfishly he ditches Marje and runs off with Glory, but things have a habit of working themselves out in the best possible way, and Marje isn't one to give up on her man. Nice little film and you can't help but come out of it feeling besotted with Ginger.