JHC3 Reviews

Halloween Party (1953)

Product of more innocent times

[2/10 · 28 December 2016]

This six minute short produced by Encyclopedia Britannica Films follows a seemingly typical American family as they prepare for Halloween activities. The principal casts consists of the father, mother, young son and daughter, and their German Shepherd.

Content Spoilers

The father brings home some seasonal decorations, the son teases the dog with his paper cat mask, the father carves a pumpkin and places it in the window, the dog is spooked by the pumpkin, on Halloween the dog destroys the son's paper mask, the mother makes a new costume for the disappointed son, the family goes to a Halloween costume contest, and the son wins and shares his prize with his friends. No trick-or-treating is part of their activities.

Yep, it is a six minute semi-educational or perhaps even pseudo-educational clip on what people can do on Halloween. It will perplex most modern viewers and is not for anyone other than people seeking nostalgia or a look at 1950s life. Dialogue is mostly narration with a small amount of poorly done voice over work for some cast members.

Notably, there are no cast credits. In fact, other than some very brief production credits at the beginning, no writer, director, or support staff is documented.

Air Outpost (1937)

A fine piece of aviation history

[9/10 · 12 October 2016]

"Air Outpost" is a fifteen minute documentary on the operations of Imperial Airways in 1937 in Sharjah, an Arab city on the Persian Gulf that is now located in the United Arab Emirates. It depicts the operations at the small airport and shows the arrival, overnight maintenance, and morning departure of a Handley Page H.P.42 biplane airliner.

Most dialogue is ably provided by the narrator, Stuart Legg, with some voice-over work provided by uncredited actors speaking for on camera figures. It appears that no sound recordings were made at the time the film was made.

The film preserves a nearly forgotten piece of aviation history when Imperial Airways was making great strides opening some of the most remote areas of the world to air travel. With primitive early airliners and fairly rudimentary ground facilities, the company was able to cut travel times to far flung stretches of the British Empire from weeks to mere days.

"Air Outpost" is certainly not for typical film viewers. However, as an historical record, it is of great value. It is well made and well presented. Truly, it is of great interest to aviation enthusiasts.

Studio 57: Young Couples Only (1955) Season 2, Episode 1

Disappointing

[3/10 · 27 October 2006]

Rick and Ruth are new tenants in an exclusive apartment building. To qualify, they had to be under thirty years of age and provide proof of good health.

Before long, Ruth starts to suspect there is more to the building than meets the eye. The custodian, Mr. Grover, has all sorts of unusual equipment in the basement. Rick discovers him installing a strange antenna and a new "exhaust system" for the air conditioning on the roof. Matters come to a head when Ruth believes she sees a third eye in the back of Mr. Grover's head. They soon start to suspect the building itself is an alien spacecraft and that they are the focus of some strange plot.

This made-for-television movie is comparatively brief and has the feel of a "Twilight Zone" episode. This is natural since the original story was by Richard Matheson, a core "Twilight Zone" writer. "Young Couples Only" is poorly executed and might have better a Zone episode rather than a television movie. Peter Lorre's talents are wasted. His presence seems to be more for name recognition rather than for his skill as an actor.

Border Devils (1932)

Above par

[7/10 · 27 October 2006]

Jim Gray is a decent, courageous, and law-abiding citizen. When he is framed for the murder of his friend, Neil Denham, he escapes to conduct his own desperate investigation. His plan is to masquerade as the deceased Denham and join a ranch which is plagued by a gang of Mexican bandits led by the "General." He hopes to prove the gang is behind the killing and end its grip of terror over the countryside. In the process, he is joined by "Squint" Sanders whose principal goal in life is to kill Gray in revenge for the murder of Denham. The two must contend with overzealous law enforcement, vigilante-minded ranch hands, and treacherous bandits.

On the surface, Border Devils appears to be fairly typical of low-budget westerns of the period. It is fairly fast-paced and has a rushed and sometimes confusing plot. Nevertheless, the principal cast (Harry Carey as Gray and George "Gabby" Hayes as Sanders) is superb. Further, there are a number of plot elements (which can't be revealed here without becoming spoilers) that are both inventive and entertaining. Particularly good is a scene where Gray and Sanders are in the gang's clutches and must effect an escape. Border Devils is recommended for fans of 1930s westerns. Most other viewers should probably pass on it.

The Three Musketeers (1966–1967)

For Musketeers Completists

[5/10 · 9 September 2006]

This 1966 BBC production is a fairly conventional adaptation of the classic Alexandre Dumas story. Content-wise, it is comparable to the better-known 1948 and 1973 versions. Whereas those films have comedic elements, this one lacks any significant humor.

On its own merits, it appears to have enjoyed a respectable budget and fairly good production values. The casting of Brian Blessed as Porthos is particularly welcome. However, the performances are stiff, the fights and swordplay uninspired and unrealistic, the music and cinematography mediocre to poor. Portions of the portrayal of D'Artagnan are grating, particularly in Episode One. There is an over-reliance on dialogue, giving the film the tone of a plodding soap opera rather than a rousing adventure. When compared to the 1948 and 1973 adaptations, its weaknesses become particularly glaring. Nevertheless, dedicated fans of the Musketeers genre should probably give it a chance.

Death: The Ultimate Mystery (1975)

Well made, but dull

[2/10 · 15 April 2006]

Narrated by Cameron Mitchell, this is a look at death and the possibility of life after death. The filmmakers visit a strange cemetery in Mexico where mummies are stored in underground tunnels then proceed to Egypt to look at the Cairo Museum and the Valley of the Kings. Next, they travel to India to interview a swami and get his philosophy on death. Finally, they return to the United States. Here, they examine the work of a doctor in Tennessee who believes in the possibility of near-death experiences and an afterlife. The film concludes with a look at the work of a hypnotist who places a woman into a trance and conducts past life regression. This final segment is comparatively lengthy since the filmmakers go to the trouble to check out her claims of her life and death in Corning, Ohio in the nineteenth century. Though there is an interviewer in each case, he is never clearly seen and Cameron Mitchell provides the narrative voice-over.

At the time this was released, the subject was probably not tired and worn out. Further, it is fairly well made when compared to many similar documentaries of the 1970s. Despite this, the film itself is plodding and is made from the point of view of believers in the subject matter. Even those interested in the subject or who are entertained by 1970s pseudoscience should probably pass on this one.

The Animals (1970)

A passable western

[5/10 · 18 January 2006]

Schoolteacher Alice McAndew (Carey) has the misfortune of sharing a stagecoach with prisoner Pudge Elliott (Wynn). When Pudge's friends arrive to rescue him, they don't stop at simply robbing the stage. All aboard are killed except Alice. Her intended fate is far worse. She is hauled into the desert to be repeatedly and brutally raped and left for dead.

The outlaws' plan goes awry when an Apache (Silva) saves Alice from a cruel death from shock and dehydration. He nurses the young woman back to health. Before long, the two start hunting down the killers.

By 1970 standards, this is a fairly extreme western. The rape scene is not lingered on, but is filmed in such a way as to instill shock in the viewer. The film has a few rare humorous elements, but is otherwise a deadly serious tale of revenge. Henry Silva's character has little dialogue and virtually no knowledge of English. The filmmakers rely instead on imagery and expressions to tell the story more than the spoken language.

For me, the film was passable. I personally couldn't find much to fault in the approach taken. Some plot elements are strong, but cannot be stated here without becoming spoilers. The cast is good and consists largely of veterans of the western genre. The minimal dialogue was a good choice. The rape scene is not exploitative. Perhaps it is because this vengeance theme has been done so much that I couldn't really get into the film. For western traditionalists, this might be one to avoid.

Demon Summer (2003 Video)

Not recommended

[2/10 · 6 February 2005]

Aimless teens on summer break in a small Ohio town can't find any meaningful ways to fill their time. Some consider driving to Chicago; others are content to drink and bully their peers. In a random act of alcohol-fueled arrogance, the bullies rough up a homeless man and steal a strange book. The handwritten text turns out to contain archaic spells designed to summon demonic forces. A night or two later, one of them reads an incantation and is quickly possessed. He turns into a vicious killer and begins to quietly prey on his former peers.

"Demon Summer" is an amateur production with a microscopic budget. The production values are low, but the filmmakers were smart enough to not be ambitious. Little in the way of special props or shooting locations were needed. The acting is especially weak and there is virtually nothing original in the screenplay. On the positive side, the special makeup effects are surprisingly good by low budget film standards. Despite this, the gore is minimal. Makeup effects aside, there is little going for this film, even for die-hard gore-hounds. Not recommended.

Romasanta (2004)

Polished and well crafted, but not typical of the werewolf genre

[6/10 · 2 January 2005]

The review that follows contains what might be considered to be spoilers. Though the identity of the killer is not kept secret by the filmmakers, some viewers might want it to be something of a surprise.

A killer is at large in northern Spain in 1851. Beginning in 1847, he has murdered and mutilated more than a dozen people, mostly women and children. The police manage to cover up most of the killings out of a desire to prevent public panic.

The killer is a traveling vendor, Manuel Blanco Romasanta (Sands). He uses his superior interpersonal skills and his understanding of human nature to insinuate himself into the lives of prospective victims. Some are killed almost immediately while others unknowingly live within his clutches for weeks. Romasanta is thoroughly insane. Believing himself to be a werewolf, some of his assaults superficially appear to be wolf attacks. The authorities even go so far as to place a bounty on wolves even though they know the culprit is all-too-human. A break in the case comes in the form of young Barbára Garcia (Pataky). She strikes up a relationship with Romasanta only to soon realize he is responsible for the disappearances (and probable murders) of her sister and niece. Barbára's sense of vengeance helps move the police onto a course that might apprehend the monstrous Romasanta.

The film is very well crafted, featuring excellent costumes, props, and shooting locations. It is definitely not what many viewers might expect. Though it is superficially a werewolf film, it is really a serial killer film in the tradition of Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Se7en (1995). Viewers expecting an action-packed horror film will be disappointed. The filmmakers focus on drama, character development, and mystery. The crimes are gruesome and there are elements of horror, but the result is really more of a crime mystery. The performances are good and the cadaver effects are convincing.

The film's slow pacing is perhaps its weakest point. Many viewers will not find this to be a problem, but others will find it to be dull. Overall, I recommend this for mystery lovers. Those looking for something like The Howling (1981) or An American Werewolf in London (1981) should probably look elsewhere.

The Trackers (1971 TV Movie)

Recommended

[7/10 · 29 November 2004]

A mysterious band of killers raids isolated homesteads. In their latest crime, they raid Sam Paxton's place, kill Sam's son, and kidnap his daughter, Becky. Sam is desperate to get the killers and recover his daughter. The efforts of a posse prove ineffectual, but Sam is determined to continue on. He sends for an old Army buddy who is a well known tracker. Unable to come, his friend sends another tracker, Ezekial Smith. Sam, a Confederate veteran, is extremely

displeased when it turns out Ezekial is black. However, the posse is making no progress so Sam reluctantly accepts this help. Ultimately, the pair gradually gain each other's respect as they pursue Becky's trail into Mexico.

Though it has some occasional comedic elements, this is a serious western

featuring a very credible performance by Sammy Davis, Jr. The supporting cast is composed largely of veteran actors with a wealth of experience in the western genre. The result is an effective and entertaining western. This is particularly remarkable given the type of material many viewers associate with producer

Aaron Spelling. The issue of racism isn't sugarcoated. None of the posse

members ever really accept Ezekial Smith and even Sam is very slow to give up a lifetime of bigotry. Recommended.

La regina degli uomini pesce (1995 TV Movie)

Shameful

[1/10 · 26 October 2004]

This follow-up to Sergio Martino's "The Island of the Fishmen" (1979) is set in the future. Two teenage boys prowl the sewers of post-apocalypse New York and survive by hunting rats for food.

They are illiterate and have only superficial knowledge of the world prior to the great holocaust. The early scenes depict the boys' struggle to escape the ruined city and the warriors who rule it with an iron fist. Once outside, they encounter an elderly man named Socrates who takes them to a pristine tropical island somewhere in the Atlantic or Caribbean. The island is ruled by an evil queen whose oppresses the population and exploits a species of horrible fishmen. The outsiders join a young princess who hopes to overthrow the queen and free her sister and a prince from powerful spells. The film is something of a science fiction/fantasy that is suitable for young viewers.

Sergio Martino has a fairly long resume as both a director and a screenwriter. "The Island of the Fishmen" was set in the nineteenth century and benefited from fairly decent production values and a decent cast. Unfortunately, Mr. Martino didn't leave it at that. "The Fishmen and Their Queen" does not qualify as a sequel. Instead, it is a fragment of a film that fills in gaps through the shameful use of re-edited footage from two previous Martino films: "2019: After the Fall of New York" (1983) and the first fishmen film. The acting is horrible, the storyline is implausible and juvenile, and the final result is boring. Though evidently intended for teenage viewers, the film is so bad on so many levels that it seems to lack appeal for even the target audience. For fans of Martino's original work, this is one to avoid. For parents who think their twelve or thirteen year olds will like this, look elsewhere.

The Neptune Factor (1973)

It could have been so much better

[5/10 · 17 September 2004]

Oceanlab is an experimental station built atop an undersea mountain in the

North Atlantic somewhere off the coast of Canada. An earthquake strikes,

causing the lab to plunge into an unexplored abyss. Three men are trapped

aboard and they have only seven days of oxygen remaining.

After five days, the Oceanlab team is able to call in a retired naval officer, Commander Blake (Gazzara). Using his deep sea submersible "Neptune II," it

is hoped he can locate and rescue the men before they suffocate. The hope is a slim one; all contact with the lab was lost when the earthquake occurred. The submersible must face the hazards of deep sea travel, aftershocks, and some

very unexpected discoveries on the ocean floor.

The cast is unusually strong with Ernest Borgnine, Donnelly Rhodes, Yvette

Mimieux, and Walter Pigeon all putting in good performances. The special

effects are limited to model work for undersea shots, but the models are decent enough given the year of release. The film starts out well with the opening

score being particularly noteworthy. Unfortunately, once the submersible gets in the water, the viewer is taken for a rather dull ride for the bulk of the film. Suspense is largely absent. In lieu of pacing, the filmmakers subject the viewer to a lot of stock fish footage. While this was decent enough, it was overused and probably better suited to a nature documentary. Ultimately, the screenplay

needed some serious work. There is insufficient substance to make this work

even as a one hour Twilight Zone or Outer Limits episode. "The Neptune

Factor" otherwise possessed all of the elements necessary to make a successful and compelling adventure film.

Copperhead (1984 Video)

Hmmmmm

[7/10 · 14 August 2004]

The Randalls quietly move into an abandoned church in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. They turn it into a squalid residence and rudely turn away any would-be visitors. The family's leader, Howard (Renner), is an arrogant, paranoid, revolver-packing creep who lords over the group as a virtual dictator. Howard is accompanied by his loyal, fundamentalist Christian wife (Ratliff), daughter (Blaine), son-in-law (Schell), and teenage son (Booth). His powers of persuasion aren't the only thing holding them together. They possess a valuable treasure they smuggled out of Peru. Howard's paranoia has led them to change their identities and constantly remain on the move out of fear of shadowy pursuers who are never seen. These pursuers appear to be no more than a figment of Howard's fevered imagination. Adding to his numerous faults is his intense hatred of snakes.

The day they move in, their neighbor, a respected wildlife artist named Jerry Jerome (Fritts), visits and tries to welcome them. He is greeted with intimidation and threats. Howard's paranoia leads him to conclude that Jerry may be part of the nebulous conspiracy that is out to get him. When Jerry reports the incident to local law enforcement, Howard's conclusion is only reinforced.

The Randalls' situation gradually degrades as they are inexplicably assaulted by copperheads (a venomous snake indigenous to the area). Jerry is soon blamed and Howard resolves to murder this innocent artist, not knowing there is far more to the situation than the act of some unfriendly neighbor.

Copperhead appears to have been shot on video and was filmed on location in Missouri. By low budget film standards, the production values are rather good. Shooting locations, performances, and script are above par for the genre. On the down side, many viewers will be disturbed or angered by what appears to be the wholesale (and unnecessary) slaughter of an unknown number of snakes during the course of filming. The opening scene of a snake consuming a mouse is unneeded and out of place. Though one might argue that this is a necessary part of nature, there doesn't appear to be a need for this footage. The shooting of snakes later in the film cannot be justified by today's generally accepted standards. The filmmakers also characterize the copperhead as an aggressive and highly venomous snake. It reality, it is not aggressive and is only mildly poisonous. Only rarely do adults die of its bite. Though the producers place a disclaimer at the end of the film that points this out, comparatively few viewers are likely to see it. The main plot weakness concerns a secret villain (or hero depending on one's viewpoint) who is only hinted at during most of the film.

Animal abuse issues aside, Copperhead is worth seeing, particularly for those who like low budget horror and suspense films. Those who are especially concerned about animal rights should avoid it.

Hellroller (1992 Video)

Bottom of the barrel

[1/10 · 8 August 2004]

Hellroller features Ron Litman as Eugene, an angry and unstable, wheelchair- bound paraplegic. Eugene lives on the streets of Los Angeles with his mother (Woronov). Shortly before her disappearance, she reveals to him that she is

actually his aunt and that his birth was the result of a rape. Her disappearance prompts Eugene to commence a killing spree. He is angry at society, women,

and...well...pretty much everything else. The film is peopled with repugnant characters that do repugnant things for repugnant reasons (or no reason at all).

The filmmakers apparently thought this would make for campy, humorous

entertainment. Instead, the picture only succeeds in being boring, insulting, and irritating. This is definitely one of the worst movies ever made, even by low budget standards.

Half-Caste (2004 Video)

An Agonizing Ordeal

[1/10 · 6 August 2004]

An annoying and talentless American documentary maker learns of a legendary

South African monster, the Half-Caste. Tradition says that it is a half-human, half-leopard creature with the closest parallel being that of the werewolf of European tradition. Rather than focus on the creature, the film follows the meanderings of the film crew. There is little action or suspense until late in the film. This problem is exacerbated by numerous irritating characters generating a ceaseless amount of even more irritating talk. The basic premise is wasted since it is sidelined by the inexplicable focus on the documentary crew.

Perhaps the director was influenced by the approach of The Blair Witch Project (1999) or The Last Broadcast (1998). Regardless, the film fails on most levels. Avoid at all costs.

Die Insel der Dämonen (1998 Video)

A waste of perfectly good resources.

[1/10 · 2 August 2004]

The following description contains spoilers. Read 'em. It's better than wasting precious time viewing the movie.

The basic premise of this dull, unoriginal pretense of a film involves a

malevolent knife and a demonic plot to invade the world. After a boring

introductory narrative describing the evil history of some islands off the coast of Italy, the film moves to the three principal characters: Ramona, Camilla, and Mario. They visit a remote beach where Mario soon finds the aforementioned

knife. He inadvertently cuts himself and is quickly possessed by some demonic force. The two young women are unaware of his predicament and are quickly

the targets of his murderous urges. Not surprisingly, anyone injured by him can become infected with the diabolic contagion.

Die Insel der Dämonen is admittedly low budget, but that is no excuse for this waste of time and resources. It is afflicted with universally poor performances, amateurish cinematography, and appalling pacing. The plotline is more of an

afterthought with no element of originality, depth, or innovation. The shooting locations are decent and appear to be some sort of tourist spot in Italy. The gore effects are at best mediocre by low budget film standards.

For me, the pacing problems are most noteworthy. The viewer is treated to:

1. Ramona's long walk through an Italian town

2. Mario's long boat ride to the beach

3. Watching a guy exercise and shadowbox (which include slow motion!)

4. Virtually endless underwater scenes of a largely blank ocean floor

Don't sponsor Andreas Bethmann's film "career" by renting or purchasing this

travesty. Avoid at all costs.

Lifepod (2020)

Not too bad

[7/10 · 14 July 2004]

Wow. Something of a surprise. Though flawed, it is far better that I expected.

The brand new space liner Arcturus with some 3,000 passengers is in the final days of its sixteen day trip to Jupiter. Without warning, the ship's Cerebral (central computer) sounds a disaster alarm and orders everyone to evacuate.

Soon, there are only a handful of people remaining including one of the ship's astrogators (Penny), the captain (Cary), and the director of the shipping line (Kenyon).

It turns out that the alarm was false and that the main Cerebral is acting

erratically. The remaining passengers and crew must escape the ship and

avoid personal conflicts in order to survive.

The film starts out very well. The opening commercial is a very nice touch. There are obvious parallels to 2001: A Space Odyssey and to the historic

sinking of the Titanic. The film does slow down at times and has pacing

problems, but is generally well made and well acted.

Where Time Began (1977)

Not for everyone

[5/10 · 13 July 2004]

Oh, it's okay. I guess. Maybe. As has already been stated, it is very much a recast version of the 1950s version with James Mason. There are some

unusual twists, mostly toward the end. The special effects are on par with Kevin Connor's assorted 1970s monster flicks (e.g. The Land That Time Forgot,

People that Time Forgot, At the Earth's Core, Warlords of Atlantis). While many find those films to be entertaining and campy cheese, this film lacks their humor and spark. Nevertheless, it is a decent enough time killer, but is probably not worth recommending to the vast majority of viewers. For what it's worth,

Kenneth More is a credible Lindenbrock. The rest of the cast is at least okay save for Pep Munne who plays Axel. During an extensive rafting trip, I was

really hoping to see Axel slip overboard for the duration.

The Mighty Jungle (1964)

The World Must Be Warned!

[1/10 · 26 April 2004]

Before I start this review, I must make one point. When I review a film, I make sure I see the entire thing no matter how foul it is. If it is so bad that I walk out, I won't review it. I suffered through this so that you, the IMDb user, will have ample warning. Don't let my agony be wasted.

Where should I begin? Echoing other reviewers, I can confirm that this film's 'plot' is virtually indescribable in any specific way. As far as I can tell, a guide in the Amazon loses the group he is responsible for only to be hired to locate them again. Somehow this involves an American naturalist in the Congo. Virtually the entire film is dominated by a ceaseless narrative. Veteran actor Marshall Thompson is little more than an image on the screen. Any dialogue he and the other actors had was virtually eradicated by the drone of the narrator's voice. Characterizing this film as dull, confusing, incoherent, and pointless is a

grotesque understatement. The extensive use of stock footage makes this more of a travelogue than the exciting jungle adventure I thought I had rented. Is this the worst movie ever made? Well, if it isn't it is certainly a compelling candidate for the dishonor. Please, please, please save yourself the loss of money and your precious time. Avoid at all costs!

In a side-note, this film absolutely deserves to be on the bottom 100 list.

However, for it to qualify, it must receive at least 625 votes. One can only hope that this film is never seen by that many IMDb users.

Unpublished Story (1942)

Worthwhile Viewing

[8/10 · 24 April 2004]

British war correspondent Bob Randall (Greene) personally witnesses the Allied defeat in France in May of 1940. After a harrowing experience, he is fortunate to be evacuated to England. He immediately resumes his position as a reporter

for a major London newspaper.

While reporting daily news events, he discovers a society of pacifists, the

People for Peace. Bob is incensed by this group, believing their activities are defeatist and are only advancing the Nazi cause. Unknown to the public, this group has been infiltrated by German agents who manipulate the society to sow despair among the British people.

As the Germans bomb British cities, Bob makes it his personal mission to report on the activities of this group. He finds opposition among reporters who want free speech and British censors who, for security reasons, don't want the story published. Bob is eventually joined by another reporter, Carol Bennett

(Hobson), who helps expose the enemy in their midst.

This well made wartime film includes elements of quiet and very effective

humor. This offsets the grim nature of war against the civilian population of London. Recommended.

Witchhammer (1970)

Superb

[10/10 · 22 April 2004]

In a Czech town in the seventeenth century, an elderly woman enters a church

to accept communion. Her true purpose is to collect the holy host for a midwife who needs it to treat an ailing dairy cow. The woman is caught and is forced to explain her sacrilegious actions. Religious and secular authorities agree that she is in league with witches and may even be a witch herself. This prompts an inquisition where confessions are obtained through threats and torture. A

tribunal is held to provide a legal facade. Though the hunt is initially confined to the impoverished fringes of local society, the hysteria soon expands to the point that no one, not even leading citizens, is safe. The ultimate target is a

clergyman, Deacon Lautner, who defies the righteous men of the tribunal.

Based on actual trial records from the 1678 to 1695 period, this well made

Czech film features excellent performances and strong production values. It is somewhat extreme by 1969 standards.

Tiger Fangs (1943)

Frank Buck vs. Nazis

[6/10 · 3 April 2004]

Frank Buck stars as himself in this 1943 PRC classic. Frank is summoned to a remote area of India which is plagued by tiger attacks. Dozens of men have

been killed. Many workers fear the spirits of dead Japanese soldiers have

possessed the tigers and are continuing to fight. The immediate effect is to inhibit the movement of Allied war materiel through the region.

Frank teams with Peter Jeremy (Renaldo) to determine the cause of the unusual spate of attacks. They immediately suspect a human intelligence is responsible. It is soon evident that Nazi agents have infiltrated the area. They have a means of aggravating the tigers and then release them into areas they want to disrupt.

This is a mildly entertaining jungle adventure. Viewers who enjoy low budget 1940s films will probably not be disappointed.

Sword of Venus (1953)

Tepid

[3/10 · 13 March 2004]

Dantes (Clarke), the son of the famous Count of Monte Cristo, is something of a playboy. Unbeknownst to him, one of his father's few surviving enemies,

Danglars (O'Herlihy), continues to harbor resentment toward the Monte Cristo

family. He hatches an elaborate plot to destroy Dantes and seize the Monte

Cristo fortune. Reminiscent of the plot to eliminate his father, Dantes is framed for a murder he did not commit. The French court system is used as a weapon

to destroy Dantes who is the only impediment to Danglars's attempt to acquire the great fortune.

"Sword Of Venus" is a rather tepid production. Robert Clarke is only adequate in the role of the heroic Dantes. The romance between his character and the

beautiful Claire (McLeod) seems rather contrived and unconvincing. Dan

O'Herlihy does not deliver a particularly inspired performance as the villainous Danglars. Perhaps most annoying is that in what many would consider to be a

swashbuckler, the fight scenes are laughably amateurish. On the bright side, William Schallert's effort is (as usual) noteworthy. He plays the inebriated, corrupt lawyer Valmont who helps execute the plot. The general production

values (sets, costumes, etc.) are decent. Despite being inspired by the writings of Alexandre Dumas, no credit is given.

Overall, the film is a lackluster attempt at a period adventure. It is probably best suited for genre completists.

Battle Hell (1957)

Superb

[10/10 · 6 March 2004]

The British frigate Amethyst is on a lawful run up the Yangtze River to provide supplies to the British embassy at Nanking. Communist Chinese forces are

victorious in the region and are marching on the city. As the ship travels upriver, Communist artillery batteries unexpectedly open fire. The frigate desperately fights back, but runs ashore after sustaining casualties and damage. The

situation settles into a diplomatic affair with the local Communist commander demanding all sorts of unreasonable concessions in order to allow the stricken vessel to leave.

For me, this dramatization of the real life incident involving HMS Amethyst on the Yangtze River counts as among the best in the genre. Action sequences

are realistic, especially for the time period. Especially remarkable is that the actual ship was used for part of the filming. The performances range from good to excellent. Highly recommended.

Moonbase 3 (1973)

Excellent!

[15 February 2004]

I'd never even heard of this series when I stumbled across a PAL DVD edition in my local video store. I've long liked Ralph Bates' work and figured I'd give it a chance. My time was not wasted.

The series is set in the early twenty-first century. A group of European countries has established Moonbase 3. It is an underfunded science station on the lunar surface, one of five such bases. Others are operated by the United States,

Soviet Union, China, and Brazil. The series' six episodes tell stories of everyday life at the post, mostly from the perspective of the senior staff. The plotlines of most episodes involve the psychological and character weaknesses of those

posted to the base. Events and characters from previous episodes are referred to in later episodes thus displaying continuity superior to many better known and more successful science fiction series. The final episode is downright

riveting and involves the possible extinction of life on Earth.

The series had many strong points. Special effects are acceptable by early

1970s standards and involve a lot of model work. The teleplays are intelligent and there was a genuine effort to portray the environment and space travel in a scientifically plausible manner. "Moonbase 3" is by no means perfect, but given the limitations of budget, it was a solid piece of work. It certainly warranted more than six episodes and is, in my opinion, superior to the better known "Space

1999." Hopefully BBC or some licensee will consider releasing this onto DVD in the U.S. one of these days.