My favorite of Monogram's Mr. Wong series. Why? Because it doesn't star Boris Karloff in yellowface. This entry is the origin story of the Asian detective, detailing his first teaming with police Captain Street (Grant Withers). What's notable about this is that Wong is played by an actual Asian (Keye Luke, #1 son from the Charlie Chan films). Although more films were planned, we never got more adventures of the young Mr. Wong. With Lotus Long. Directed by Phil Rosen.
Larry uses Letterboxd to share film reviews and lists. 4,322 films watched. Favorites: Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965), Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979), A Face in the Crowd (1957), Singles (1992). Bio: Old guy who grew up in the age of grindhouses and late late shows on TV. One of those video store clerks who did a zine in the days of of video stores and zines. If you're looking for reviews of highbrow films, you may wanna look elsewhere. Same if you're an add then unfollow type. He/they/him/them #Horror #FilmNoir
Buster Crabbe goes from being the romanticized Billy the Kid to the less problematic "Billy Carson" but it's basically the same character. Fuzzy St. John is still his sidekick. Outlaws want to pit Pony Express rider Billy against the stagecoach company because they want to keep the government out of the badlands (or something like that). Even though it's under an hour, it still seems padded (mainly because of the weak Tex Williams musical numbers. Tex is no Gene or Roy). Average Poverty Row time filler. Directed by Sam Newfield.
Sammy Petrillo was a guy who was something a Jerry Lewis clone, both in looks and in shtick. He wound up paired with Duke Mitchell, a fifth rate Dino wannabe. Since Dean and Jerry were making films at the time, somebody got the idea to do a fake Dean and Jerry film. Toss in Bela Lugosi (desperate for cash to fuel his drug habit) as a mad scientist turning people into gorillas on a remote island and you get this. It was to be the first in a series of films but the real Jerry and a few others threatened
A man loots a bank in Cairo. He and his little girl escape, only to have their plane crash in the African jungle. He murders the pilot (who had spotted the money and jewels). Meanwhile, his daughter befriends a wounded gorilla (Ray Corrigan as usual). Years later, Ray Gorman (Buster Crabbe) travels to Africa hoping to recover the loot and clear his family name. His father had been falsely accused of being an accomplice to the robbery and was driven to suicide. An African man that Gorman had saved tells him about a plane crash and and a "white witch".
Slow moving, forgettable Poverty Row film in which Boris Karloff is a kindly doctor trying to cure a young girl of polio via spinal fluid injection. His methods of collecting the fluid are unethical, however. Meanwhile, an abused circus gorilla (Ray Corrigan, of course) kills his sadistic trainer and escapes in a fire. Eventually the gorilla and Karloff meet. Karloff skins the gorilla and makes a gorilla suit to throw suspicion off himself. Rainy day time filler, though Karloff rises above it all, as always.
Thanks to a botched medical experiment, scientist Bela Lugosi is transformed into an "ape man". His only hope of a cure involves spinal fluid injections (as always), but since that involves killing people he can't get help. Bela and a real gorilla go out in search of "donors". Comic relief reporter and girl photographer investigate. A goofy guy keeps showing up to steer characters in the right direction. Directed by William Beaudine (BELA LUGOSI MEETS A BROOKLYN GORILLA).
Richard Travis is a police scientist who specializes in fingerprints. his testimony has just convicted an artist of murdering the mayor. The mayor's daughter (Sheila Ryan) convinces him to reopen the investigation. Travis is also troubled by having sent someone to death row. A web of corruption and murder is exposed. Would've rated this a little higher but the soundtrack is painfully annoying. Tom Neal (DETOUR) is the D.A. Directed by Sam Newfield.
A plane crashes on a remote island. The three occupants (including Mantan Moreland) are taken in by a mad scientist. Even though this predates the U.S. entry in World War II, you know this guy's a Nazi. He's definitely a racist given his reaction to Mantan. The doctor has been creating an army of zombies and experimenting with telepathy as well. Joan Woodbury is the doctor's niece (though she's quick to point out it's by marriage) and has no problem aiding the Americans. There's also a subplot involving a missing admiral. Good rainy day/late late night film which I'm rating
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