‘The Vanishing Shadow’ (1934) – Part Eight “The Shadow of Death”

Today we have Part Eight of the serial movie The Vanishing Shadow with annotations courtesy of moi.

Enjoy today’s presentation!

And for early access, check us out on Patreon!

Dark & Twisted Alleys: Episode 3 – ‘The Killers’ (1964)

In this episode, Debbi Mack and F.R. Jameson discuss the remake of the classic film noir, The Killera (1964).

Directed by Don Siegel; 
Screenplay by Gene L. Coon; 
Based on “The Killers” (1927 short story) by Ernest Hemingway; 
Produced by Don Siegel.

Click here for the podcast!

Dark and Twisted Alleys: Discussion of ‘The Killers’ (1964)

F.R. Jameson and I are back with a discussion of the 1964 remake of The Killers.

Feel free to leave a comment either here or on the video. Or the podcast, which will be coming soon.

Two killers visiting the blind, wearing sunglasses.

And here’s my review from 2022!

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‘The Vanishing Shadow’ (1934) – Part Seven “The Tragic Crash”

Hello! We have for you today the next part of this unbelievable amazing story.

Get ready for Part Seven of The Vanishing Shadow!

Enjoy! 🙂

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PS: Someday, I’ll be able to afford a proofreader. Hopefully. 🙂

‘The Vanishing Shadow’ (1934) – Part Six “Chain Lightning”

We’re back and we’ve reached roughly the mid-point of this fascinating movie serial.

So … let’s get to it, right? 🙂

Once again, for your amazement, it’s Part Six of The Vanishing Shadow.

For early access, check us out on Patreon.

Ray Milland in ‘Bulldog Drummond Escapes’ (1937)

So many of the movies I’ve seen with Ray Milland have him playing the heavy. I’m not sure what movie I first saw him in, but I’m pretty sure whatever it was, he was not playing a nice person.

So, it was something of a joy to see him as a young actor in the kind of movie that a fresh-faced newcomer at the time could actually star in — a B-movie. Although I suspect part of the joy of watching this movie is the way Ray Milland takes such joy in saying his lines. And he is young and fresh-faced.

Here’s the plot: The movie starts out with a suspenseful and fog-shrouded sequence in which Bulldog Drummond—or, should I say, Captain Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond—manages to land his plane, despite the handwringing fear of onlookers because “it just can’t be done.” However, through snow, rain, sleet, and (it would appear) fog, Bulldog Drummond is your man to land a plane. The quick flashes of Milland and the onlookers during this opening sequence are made vivid by the use of what I assume are spotlights on their faces. Or possibly flashlights.

That’s another thing about this movie. It’s dark. It’s so dark, I would’ve mistaken it for a film noir, except it’s more like a thrilling screwball comedy noir.

After that introduction, we see Bulldog Drummond driving home at night. Suddenly, a young woman jumps out in front of his car. He misses her, but she falls down. The first thing I’m thinking of is the beginning of Kiss Me Deadly. So there’s that.

This is a bit of a pickle. (Hey, a flashlight torch!) (Image via notre Cinéma)

But then there’s a gunshot, so leaving the woman for the moment, Drummond goes to investigate. He enters the woods—he’s been driving through a wooded area—and while he’s trying to figure out what’s going on, he finds a body. Two bodies, actually, because there’s a second shot. And another body sinking into the muck. Meanwhile, the woman who fell in the road? She’s up and stealing his car. Okay. Who is this woman? Why is she stealing his car? Mystery!

Oh, but then, as Drummond is trying to bum a ride, another car rolls by and guess who’s in the backseat? None other than our Lady of the Stolen Car. She’s with some grim-looking males. And her expression is somewhat ambiguous.

So Bulldog, who is supposed to be taking a vacation, becomes interested in this person. A bit of investigating later (and with help from his faithful man-servant, Algy Longworth), he’s able to locate her at Greystone Manor. Well, with a name like Greystone Manor, you know there’s some devious Gothic shit afoot.

Have I mentioned the fog? (Image via IMCDB)

Anyway, I don’t want to ruin this totally, in case you’d like to see the movie. It was a first time for me. And I just thought it was a load of fun.

There is almost an antic glee in the way Ray Milland delivers some of his lines in this film. Part of that may be due to the fact that the movie is based on a stage play, so some of the lines feel like “play dialogue.” But Milland orates them in such a lusty manner that it’s almost as if you can hear the director in the background shouting, “Ham it up, would you? Go for the rafters of a theatre across town. You know—acting!!” (Picture Jon Lovitz.)

Nonetheless, for a B picture made in the late 30s—and compared with some of the B pictures I’ve had the dubious pleasure of showing here—Milland’s acting is quite nuanced. In between the scenes where he’s relishing the most stylized of lines, Milland’s acting seems so natural. There’s even a budding romance (of course, because Bulldog is looking for “adventure and romance”), as revealed in a scene in which closeups of (spotlit) faces create a feeling of intimacy.

I really enjoyed the movie. It’s kind of nice to see Milland play something other than a grouchy old man.

“Get off my lawn, you hippie!” (Image from Frogs)

If you’re into the Thin Man movies, I think you’ll like this one. Wikipedia calls this a mystery thriller, but it’s sooo dark, it’s more like a noir crimedy thriller.

They saved money on electricity when they made this. That’s how dark it is. (I’m betting they used flashlights torches to light the sets.)

*****

Directed by James P. Hogan
Produced by Edward T. Lowe, Jr.
Screenplay by Edward T. Lowe, Jr. (based on the play Bulldog Drummond Again by Herman C. McNeile and Gerard Fairlie)

Respectfully submitted for your consideration as part of the Favorite Stars in B Movies Blogathon! Hosted by Films From Beyond the Time Barrier.

PS: Honorable mentions to William Shatner and Ida Lupino in The Devil’s Rain! And Ernest Borgnine. 🙂

This film is in the public domain, so feast your eyes on young Ray M! 🙂

BONUS: Here’s a sample of the dialogue:

Capt. Hugh ‘Bulldog’ Drummond: Imagine this – the road to Denmore and fog and such a fog, Algy, a dank and dismal dusk on the depressing stretches of dreary Denmore.

Algy Langworth: Quite a few ‘D’s don’t you think?

Whatta ya think? Four and a half stars?

‘The Vanishing Shadow’ (1934) – Part Five “Hurled From the Sky”

We’ve reached Part Five of this fantastic exciting serial movie!

Are you ready for the next chapter in The Vanishing Shadow?

Well, ready or not, here it is! 🙂

For early access to the movies and reviews, support us on Patreon.

My Review of ‘Where Danger Lives’

When I first saw the set up for this one, I thought, “Oh, no! It’s Angel Face all over again.” But it’s not. It just bears an odd resemblance to it..

Robert Mitchum plays Dr. Jeff Cameron with his usual “don’t give a damn” casual manner. And one of the nurses, Julie (played by Maureen O’Sullivan) is his girlfriend. Then—at the very last minute before he leaves work—he’s told he must treat a woman who’s tried to kill herself..

Why is it so important that this doctor treat her? Is he the only doctor in the house? I don’t know. Who knows?

Anyway, he brings her around, assures her she’ll be fine, she clutches his hand, while Julie looks on. So, yeah… It reminded me of the love triangle in Angel Face. But that’s where the resemblance ends. Thank God.

The suicidal woman is named Margo Lannington (a name that screams “filthy rich”) (played by Faith Domergue) and, of course, by their second meeting, he’s head over heels in love with her. And she feels likewise. Or so it seems.

Claude Rains eventually makes an appearance, mucking up the works a bit. He and Mitchum end up fighting and Rains (as Frederick Lannington, the Duke of York) bashes Mitchum (as Dr. Jeff) on the head.

Dr. Jeff knocks Lannington out, checks on him (he is a doctor, after all), then leaves to get him water. By the time he gets back, Lannington has kicked the bucket expired.

So, of course, Jeff assumes he killed him, and he’s all whacked out due to getting beaned on the head. In fact, it becomes pretty obvious that he has a concussion, which he claims can lead to paralysis of the extremities. (This is the part where I thought, “Really?”) This can be followed by a coma within 48 hours. (This is the part where I thought, “I gotta look that up.”)

In any case, the rest of the movie is the two of them on the run with Jeff in a complete daze, nodding off now and then, while Margo pokes him periodically to keep him awake.

There is an absolutely weird scene where they end up getting stuck in a small town dealing with their lack of facial hair. You see, little did they know this dinky little town they pass through is celebrating the Order of the Beard Jamboree (or whatever it was called) in which everyone in town must be bearded or have to pay a fine or something.

So there’s a big production made about all this and then, suddenly, because Dr. Jeff explained that they were heading to Mexico to get married, the next thing you know they’re being dragged off to a local wedding chapel.

So, as concussed as ever, Jeff stumbles into this house/chapel with Margo, where they tie the knot, then wander off to the rooms they never planned on staying in.

It’s an odd, comical bit, in an otherwise tense and suspenseful narrative. And the most extreme example of the sometimes goofy turns the story takes.

Robert Mitchum once again plays the sap to a pretty face. One that hides a certifiably crazy personality. Another resemblance to Angel Face? Well, this time he had a major concussion and very little sleep. I think he gets a pass on any harsh judgments about his actions. And merits the sort of ending he gets.

In Angel Face, he has no excuse for what he puts up with. And the ending is just unbelievable.

* * *

Directed by John Farrow
Produced by Irving Cummings Jr.
Screenplay by Charles Bennett

Here’s the trailer, which both tells you nothing and reveals too much. 🙂

Notable mainly for the way the confusion of Mitchum’s character is expressed in story and visuals, it nonetheless gives Claude Rains precious little screen time.

‘The Vanishing Shadow’ (1934) – Part Four “Trapped”

Time for Part Four of this continuing movie series.

It’s like a limited series, except it isn’t. It’s a bunch of scenes that end with cliffhangers. And you can make a story out of them.

So, get ready to watch Part Four of The Vanishing Shadow.

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‘The Vanishing Shadow’ (1934) – Part Three “The Avalanche”

Time again for another part of this exciting serial movie/web series/feature in several parts/potential limited series.

It’s Part Three of The Vanishing Shadow!

Get early access to the movie on Patreon!