Reviews (4)

"Let's Do It The Hard Way !"
"The Spoilers" is an excellent western, released in 1942, that just misses being a classic. I suppose with the setting in Nome, Alaska, it should be called a "northern" ! The film boasts a potent starring trio of John Wayne, Marlene Dietrich and Randolph Scott, and has remained famous over the years for its climactic, no-holds-barred fistfight between those two icons of western cinema, Wayne and Scott.

Clocking in at just under an hour and a half, "The Spoilers" does not have a complcated plot. The gold rush is on, but ruthless government agents, led by a swaggering crook named McNamara ( an atypically villainous Randolph Scott ), are trying to chisel miners out of their property. Cherry Malotte, the local casino operator ( smouldering Marlene Dietrich ) may seem like a tough woman on the outside, but she has supported a number of the miners and is pleased when her old flame, Glennister ( formidable John Wayne ), is back in town. Cherry's relationship with Glennister is about as calm and centred as that of two Siamese fighting fish ! At the same time, McNamara's pursuit of Cherry is only slightly less energetic than his efforts to steal gold mines, so when the showdown comes, the "Duke" has a lot at stake.

In addition to the three stars, there are many supporting performances of note, with faces familiar to fans of old "A" and "B" westerns--Harry Carey, George Cleveland, Russell Simpson, William Farnum, Ray Bennett and Forrest Taylor to name a few. The movie is directed with a lot of energy by Ray Enright. The sets are impressive--check those streets--thick mud--I suspect that Nome around 1900 was like this--plenty of booze, mud, fortunes won and lost, and a busy undertaker !

The DVD exhibits a black and white picture with reasonable quality. When a movie is 62 years old, I tend to be less critical about technical matters than some reviewers. There are no extras whatsoever. Surely there are some noted film critics out there who could have provided some interesting background comments ? Hey--Leonard Maltin--hey Roger Ebert--how about a little help here ?

"The Spoilers", even with the legendary fisticuffs, is not--for me, at least--in the top echelon of classic westerns. At the same time, Wayne, Dietrich and Scott are so watchable that this disc still deserves a place in the collection of any serious fan.

Format of DVD
I would like to know whether the DVD format is COLOUR or Black & White . Amazon.conm shows it as Colour but Movies Unlimited
info. is B&W !! I am confused. Please clarify before I decide to purchase

Ashoke P. Mahtani/ Calcutta/ India

SPURS & SADDLES: SUBLIME SPOILERS - YE-HAW!
"The Spoilers" is an unabashed adventure flick brimming with romance, humor and spectacular action. The plot, such as it is, is simple but compelling. When government agents arrive in Alaska and 'steal' a gold miner's claim, the miners decide to retaliate. Both Randolph Scott and John Wayne cut dashing figures of masculinity across the stark but beautiful Alaskan backdrops while Marlene Dietrich - as the lusty, husky madam, is at her most provocatively sensual best. The climactic fistfight, between Wayne and Scott is defiantly brutal to say the least.
TRANSFER: Exemplary. The B&W picture can be nicely balanced. Blacks are sometimes unstable. There's a limited amount of film grain and age related artifacts that enhances the performances. Digital anomalies are generally not an issue, though some edge enhancement is present. The audio is mono but nicely cleaned up.
EXTRAS: Forget it! Universal generally doesn't think much of its classic film library and this disc is no exception.
BOTTOM LINE: "The Spoilers" is recommended as a movie - not as a reference quality DVD.

Wayne and Scott Brawl Highlights Classic!
'The Spoilers' may be the most often-filmed western, ever, yet it has been largely forgotten by today's moviegoers, which is a shame! This is a riproaring adventure yarn with claimjumpers, a sexy romantic triangle, loads of humor, and, to cap things off, the most spectacular fistfight in screen history!

The second of three Marlene Dietrich/John Wayne teamings (and Duke is third-billed, behind Dietrich and Randolph Scott!), the plot is simple; evil government 'agents' arrive in Alaska, steal goldminers' claims, until the miners finally take matters into their own hands!

The climactic fistfight, between Wayne and Randolph Scott, is the stuff of legends! You can hold up 'The Quiet Man', or 'Hard Times', or 'Any Which Way But Loose' as having epic brawls, but this one tops them all! We're talking shirts ripped to shreds, broken furniture and windows, rolling under horses and through the mud mayhem, here! If this were pro football, both Scott and Wayne would make the All-Madden Team, for sure!

This film may never make a 'Classic Westerns' list (other than mine!), but it is a VERY enjoyable tale that shouldn't be forgotten! If you love a good Western, particularly if you're a John Wayne fan, 'The Spoilers' is a MUST! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

"You cannot escape the person you are."
In the film, "Strange Impersonation" chemist Nora Goodrich (Brenda Marshall) is close to perfecting a new form of anesthesia, and she's also fending off fiance and fellow chemist, Dr Lindstrom. Lindstrom is pushing for a wedding date, but Nora's ambition dictates the conclusion of her experiments before moving on to personal business. Nora decides to accelerate product testing by experimenting with the anesthetic at home. She enlists the help of lab assistant Arline Cole. The experiment, however, goes horribly wrong, and Nora's face is scarred beyond recognition.

Following a bizarre encounter with female blackmailer Jane Karaski, Nora seizes the opportunity to assume Jane's identity. Nora--as Jane--goes into hiding and then undergoes over a year's worth of intense plastic surgery to restore her face.

Director Anthony Mann is considered one of the great film noir directors. So for those interested in the genre, "Strange Impersonation" is a must-see. However, that said, viewers should be aware that the film is seeped in 1940s technology and science (Nora's lab--Nora's experiments, etc), and so much of the film seems extremely dated. There are literally beakers full of smoking concoctions. Also, the film has a very high camp quality. The fights between females, a hideously scarred face hidden by veils, and the nonsensical inability to identify a body because the face is damaged beyond recognition, all add up to a good laugh. While the performances of the main actors are up-to-standard, some of the minor characters are definitely bad actors.

"Strange Impersonation" is absolutely not in the same league as "The Postman Always Rings Twice," "Double Indemnity" or "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers." It's just too campy for that. However, I was extremely interested in Mann's portrayal of females in this film. Nora is a brilliant scientist, Arline is the wicked schemer, and Jane Karaski is a female thug. This is a film about strong women (not necessarily nice) who take fate into their own hands. The characters of the females are fascinating--whereas the males play only dull minor roles on the periphery of the film. "Strange Impersonation" is relatively short--68 minutes long, and if you want to see a "B" cult classic from the 40s, then this film--with all its flaws--is worth your while. This is a restored version of the film, and both the picture and sound were excellent quality--displacedhuman.

A NOTE TO CUSTOMER REVIEWERS...
Please warn readers about potential spoilers at the beginning of your reviews. The ending is revealed in one of the previous critiques. Thanks and happy viewing!

STRANGE "MOVIE".....
A chemist (Brenda Marshall) working on a new anesthetic takes the product home and tries it out. Her assistant (Hilary Brooke), who may be after Marshalls' husband, arranges an "accident" that reults in Marshalls' face being disfigured. Marshall then murders a woman trying to blackmail her over a previous car accident and has to go on the lam with the dead womans' identity. She plots to take revenge and everything snowballs into a nightmare worse than before. The finale sees it all as just a weird hallucination she experienced from the drug. Huh? All this mumbo jumbo is played out in a very short running time. I wouldn't call this a "movie" so much as a cheap experimental student project. There are no production values at all. The sets are cardboard and the acting is dull and at times amateurish. I know that Anthony Mann has a reputation as a low budget film noirist but this is the cheapest attempt at telling a story I've seen in a while. Ulmer's "Detour" is pretty cheap but at least it's interesting. This was interesting at first but the ending just left me flat. Low budget is one thing but out and out cheap is another. I will not fault this films' defenders. To each his or her own. But it's just too cheap for me to see more than once. So it's recommended for Manns' fans and others with their curiosity meter turned WAY up.

SKIN DEEP AND DEEPER
Skin deep is not deep enough.

Jealousy, murder, plastic surgery and revenge in a Hitchcockian tour de force from Director Anthony Mann ("El Cid," "Desperate," "Bamboo Blond," "God's Little Acre").

Mann was widely praised for his meticulous eye for detail and his instinctive sense of mise en scene which he prominently shows in "Strange Impersonation."

The radiant and beautiful Brenda Marshall is a scientist who spurns marriage for her pioneering breakthroughs in the science of anesthetics. That's right, anesthetics. But YOU won't fall asleep watching this very surreal, sly, primitive, artful but low budget tale with a stunning, surprise ending. (Full Screen, B&W, 68 minutes, Not Rated)...

A FEMINIST "DARK PASSAGE"
This cool movie has the production values of a Three Stooges short (Shemp-era), but the writing and acting more than make up for it. The story recalls the best stories by Cornell Woolrich (The Bride Wore Black) and David Goodis (Dark Passage). It's gratifying to see a noir film from the 40's that has so many strong female characters in it. This is an undiscovered gem. Kudos to Kino. ... Read more

Description

Dead Men Walk--In dead men walk we are treated to two George Zucco's, as he plays twin brothers; one being a doctor, and the other a student of the occult. Dwight Frye plays the vampire’s assistant.Frye would later go on to fame as Renfield in the classic Tod Browning version of Dracula. Monster Maker--Mad Scientist J. Carrol Naish exacts his revenge by injecting victims with acromegaly.Also stars future Frankenstein Glenn Strange. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Chilling Fun!
Well worth the money.These two lesser known horror features from the forties are just the thing to satisfy those looking for vintage chills.
Fun movies, well presented.
Lets see more like this on DVD.

Two of Sam Newfield's better horror cheapies on one DVD
Volume 8 of Horror Classics presents a pair of horror cheapies from director Sam Newfield, who turned out 23 films just in 1943. One of those was "Dead Men Walk," which stars George Zucco and Dwight "Renfield" Frye in a tale of science, the occult and vampires. Zucco plays Dr. Lloyd Clayton and his deceased twin brother, the evil magician Elwyn. Frye is Zolarr, Elwyn's hunchbacked servant who accuses Lloyd of Elwyn's murder. The doctor claims it was self-defense. But even from beyond the grave, Elwyn's evil reaches out to Lloyd's niece Gayle (Mary Carlisle) and her fiance Dr. David Bentley (Nedrick Young). It does not get more basic than this and the whole thing is crammed into 67 minutes of horrific fun. Newfield made "Monser Maker" in 1944 and this is clearly the better flick of the pair. This is a gruesome 62-minute film about mad scientist Dr. Igor Markoff, played by J. Carrol Naish, who infects his victims with the acromegaly virus that cause gross deformities. Ralph Morgan plays victim Anthony Lawrence and Glenn Strange, who would go on to play the Frankenstein monster for the first time that same year, plays Markoff's giant-size henchman, Steve. There are some tacky moments involving a gorilla, but there are a couple of real shocks here. It is nice to see that the heritage of B-Movies is being preserved on DVD, especially the schlock put out by PRC.

DEAD MEN WALK and THE MONSTER MAKER make a fun time!
Roan Archival presents perhaps one of its most entertaining, if not distateful, volumes of "Horror Classics" devoted to preserving the "Poverty Row" pictures of Monogram and PRC. THE MONSTER MAKER is a particularly enjoyable (if not tasteful) hour of sick fun. J. Carrol Naish is superb as Dr. Markoff, a specialist in an elepantitis-like disease. Markoff uses his knowledge to gain control of his foes. In this particular story, he desires the hand of the daughter of brilliant pianist Frank Morgan. When Morgan refuses, he is injected with a virus that turns him into a deformed mess. When Naish discovers a cure, he uses it as a bargaining tool in a very sick and twisted way. This particular films is full of "mad scientist" cliches, yet I couldn't help but be utterly enthralled, especially by the higher-grade casting. As for the techincal side of this film, the print is a better than average one in quality. For the most part, THE MONSTER MAKER looks and sounds beautiful. But like most Poverty Row flicks, it is met with scrathes, speckled and at least one minor film jump. These are not distracting, however. The other side of the disc contains the campy DEAD MEN WALK with menacing George Zucco and the brilliant Dwight Frye (1931 DRACULA). What we have here is basically DRACULA told for the umpteenth time. The similarities in plot and in characters are oh so obvious. What saves this film are superb performances by Zucco as twins (one, if you haven't guessed, is cursed with VAMPIRISM!)and by Dwight Frye in one of his final roles. As for the technical side of this film, you get about the same quality as MONSTER MAKER print wise. DEAD MEN WALK seems to be more frequented by scracthes, splotches and speckles and a couple of film jumps, but overall its not distracting. Both films have attractive menus that are easy to navigate. This is definitely a GREAT value and highly recommended to those interested in this genre ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The East Side Kids get into horseracing.
Well, the East Side Boys finally made it out of the haunted mansion in BOYS OF THE CITY (1940). They are suppose to be painting a wall in town, but Leo Gorcey has decided he wants to be a jockey. Knuckles (Dave O'Brien) and Algy (Eugene Francis) must keep an eye on this gang to make sure they finish the job. They made a mess of it, so Knuckles told them to go hide at there old stable hang-out. The boys decide to race a throughbred they own called, Blue Knight. If Seabiscuit could win and make money for everyone, so could Blue Knight. After all, the horse is from Kentucky. Guess who they train to be the stable jockey? Muggs. The boys are: Bobby Jordan, Leo Gorcey, Sunshine Sammy Morrison, David Gorcey (Leo's younger brother) and Donald Haines. The next films are: PRIDE OF THE BOWERY (1941), FLYING WILD (1941), BOWERY BLITZKRIEG (1941).

The movie is good but the print could be better
This 1940 East Side Kids movie is one of the very first in Monogram Pictures' long-running series (which eventually became The Bowery Boys). These early entries stress rowdyism over comedy routines, so there's more drama than comedy, but Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison is very enjoyable as the black kid, and Bobby Jordan is enthusiastic as Leo Gorcey's confidant. In this story, Gorcey wants to be a jockey but he's secretly afraid of speed, and his stubbornness almost ruins the hopes of his friends. Clarence Muse is excellent as a journeyman horse trainer; in one charming scene he sings a spiritual without accompaniment, and Morrison jumps up and dances to it. Joseph H. Lewis's direction gets the most out of the limited budget, by shooting largely outdoors and using careful compositions. Huntz Hall is not in this picture but David Gorcey is, and fans should enjoy seeing him.

The source print used on this DVD is a Savoy Pictures reissue of the late 1940s. The first few minutes are missing (but not essential to the plot; the print must have been edited by some TV station at one time), the image is slightly cropped, and the contrast is only fair. The movie is good enough to overcome the DVD's technical flaws. If this is your favorite East SIde Kids movie you'll be a bit disappointed by the print, but you can't beat the budget price. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The East Side Kids search a spooky manor.
It began with DEAD END (1937). the boys came from the Broadway play and landed their first starring role togehter. After DEAD END (1937), Warner Bros. made six films with them in 1938 and 1939. Some of the cast still known as The Dead End Kids joined The Little Tough Guys in nine films for the new Universal and the serials 1938-1943. However in 1940, Leo Gorcey and Bobby Jordan became The East Side Kids from 1940-1945 for Monogram Pictures Corp. Billy Halop and Bernard Punsly did not join them. They continued as The Dead End Kids with The Little Tough Guys. The East Side Kids came about from the film EAST SIDE KIDS (1940) and although the gang we enjoyed are not in that film, they spawned into the next film BOYS OF THE CITY (1940), which is considered the first official film for the beginning of the East Side Kids. Bobby Jordan and Leo Gorcey are top billed. Huntz hall and Gabriel Dell are not in this one, but returned to the Gorcey/Jordan gang later in the film series. David Gorcey plays "Pete". He is the younger brother of Leo. Also part of the new gang is Sunshine Sammy Morrison as "Scruno", Donald Haines as "Pee Wee", Hally Chester as "Buster" and Frankie Burke as "Skinny". Frankie Burke (as of this writing is still alive) played the younger "Rocky", the James Cagney character in ANGELS WITh DIRTY FACES (1938). All the boys are invited to the Judge's manor. However, his manor is a spooky one full of secret passageways. They brought the boys hoping they could prevent a murder. Other scary films with the East Side Kids are: SPOOKS RUN WILD (1941) and GHOSTS ON THE LOOSE (1943). The next film in the series is: THAT GANG OF MINE (1940).

Ghostly Classic Crime Comedy Mystery!!
Muggs and the gang are arrested for opening up a fire hydrant on a blistering summer day.Their friend Knuckles gets them off the hook by promising to take the gang to a summer camp in the upper Adirondacks to keep them out of mischief.On their trip they meet a judge and his entourage who are having car trouble.Knuckles offer the judge and his group a ride and when they arrive to the judges mansion and then their car fails with the judge reluctantly offering the gang to stay there.The judges mansion is dark,creepy with a graveyard out in front and an eerie housekeeper inside.The boys can detect trouble and when the judge is murdered and it's up to boys to solve the mystery.Great East Side Kids Classic!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

John Wayne as a (dubbed) singing cowboy from 1933
"Riders of Destiny" was the first of the many Lone Star/Monogram Westerns in which John Wayne starred in 1933-35, but it is of additional historical value because this is John Wayne as a singing cowboy. Granted, the singing is dubbed by Bill Bradbury, one of the twin sons of writer-director Robert North Bradbury (although since there is no official credit the matter remains a disputed issue), but still, you have to admit it is a rather mind boggling notion, like how the title really has anything to do with the plot.

In this 1933 film Wayne stars as Singin' Sandy Saunders, who also happens to be a government agent. James Kincaid (Forrest Taylor) has taken control of the water in the area and is willing to grant water rights to other ranchers at exorbitant rates. One of those being exploited is the lovely Fay Denton (Cecilia Parker), so Sandy takes a special shine to her. Meanwhile he plans on sinking Kincaid's operation by opening up a lost river and sending the bad guy to a rather ironic but richly deserved fate. Our hero also does some pretty fancy shooting in the requisite gunfight near the end.

Wayne certainly looks uncomfortable during the singing parts of "Riders of Destiny," but there is something compelling about watching him try. One thing to remember with these Lone Star Westerns is that the one person who is also well worth watching, when you can spot him, is the famous stuntman Yakima Canutt, who plays one of Kincaid's henchmen. In this one his big stunt would be as Kincaid during the bad guy's death scene. You will also spot George Hayes, who plays Charlie Denton in the early part of his career before he was known as "Gabby."

Signing cowboy John Wayne in his first Lone Star Western
"Riders of Destiny" was the first of the many Lone Star/Monogram Westerns in which John Wayne starred in 1933-35, but it is of additional historical value because this is John Wayne as a singing cowboy. Granted, the singing is dubbed by Bill Bradbury, one of the twin sons of writer-director Robert North Bradbury (although since there is no official credit the matter remains a disputed issue), but still, you have to admit it is a rather mind boggling notion, like how the title really has anything to do with the plot.

In this 1933 film Wayne stars as Singin' Sandy Saunders, who also happens to be a government agent. James Kincaid (Forrest Taylor) has taken control of the water in the area and is willing to grant water rights to other ranchers at exorbitant rates. One of those being exploited is the lovely Fay Denton (Cecilia Parker), so Sandy takes a special shine to her. Meanwhile he plans on sinking Kincaid's operation by opening up a lost river and sending the bad guy to a rather ironic but richly deserved fate. Our hero also does some pretty fancy shooting in the requisite gunfight near the end.

Wayne certainly looks uncomfortable during the singing parts of "Riders of Destiny," but there is something compelling about watching him try. One thing to remember with these Lone Star Westerns is that the one person who is also well worth watching, when you can spot him, is the famous stuntman Yakima Canutt, who plays one of Kincaid's henchmen. In this one his big stunt would be as Kincaid during the bad guy's death scene. You will also spot George Hayes, who plays Charlie Denton in the early part of his career before he was known as "Gabby."

John Wayne as a singing cowboy in his 1st Lone Star Western
"Riders of Destiny" was the first of the many Lone Star/Monogram Westerns in which John Wayne starred in 1933-35, but it is of additional historical value because this is John Wayne as a singing cowboy. Granted, the singing is dubbed by Bill Bradbury, one of the twin sons of writer-director Robert North Bradbury (although since there is no official credit the matter remains a disputed issue), but still, you have to admit it is a rather mind boggling notion, like how the title really has anything to do with the plot.

In this 1933 film Wayne stars as Singin' Sandy Saunders, who also happens to be a government agent. James Kincaid (Forrest Taylor) has taken control of the water in the area and is willing to grant water rights to other ranchers at exorbitant rates. One of those being exploited is the lovely Fay Denton (Cecilia Parker), so Sandy takes a special shine to her. Meanwhile he plans on sinking Kincaid's operation by opening up a lost river and sending the bad guy to a rather ironic but richly deserved fate. Our hero also does some pretty fancy shooting in the requisite gunfight near the end.

Wayne certainly looks uncomfortable during the singing parts of "Riders of Destiny," but there is something compelling about watching him try. One thing to remember with these Lone Star Westerns is that the one person who is also well worth watching, when you can spot him, is the famous stuntman Yakima Canutt, who plays one of Kincaid's henchmen. In this one his big stunt would be as Kincaid during the bad guy's death scene. You will also spot George Hayes, who plays Charlie Denton in the early part of his career before he was known as "Gabby."

Great moments for a B movie
This film offers glimpses of Wayne's greatness that would only come after he was more well known. The plot is a simple B-movie western. Local ranchers are being strong-armed by the landowner (Kincaid) who has the only water rights to Lost Creek. Facing the prospects of selling out for a dollar an acre, the ranchers write to Washington for help. Wayne shows up as "Singing Sandy Saunders", the undercover agent sent to investigate. The shootout that ensues between Wayne and Kincaid's gunman is worth the price of the film. Wayne approaches the gunman singing an old cowboy gunfighter song. The director got a really great close-up shot of Wayne approaching the gunman as he stops singing and says, "Make it fast slippery, this is your last draw." Overlook some of the hoaky B-movie acting by the supporting cast. Wayne is as great as ever. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good George vs. Evil George...
George Zucco shines in a dual role as both Dr. Lloyd Clayton and his evil twin brother Elwyn. Dr. Clayton killed Elwyn in self-defense and must face an undead version of his wicked sibling, who is now a vampire seeking to kill his own daughter Gayle (Mary Carlisle). Dwight Frye (Dracula, Frankenstein) is his old weird self as Zolarr, Elwyn's servant. Can Dr. Clayton kill his brother a second time before he fulfills his nefarious scheme? Watch and see! Recommended for those who love movies about vampires, sorcerers, black magic, occult, etc... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Pair of Eddie Dean Oaters from the 40s...
Eddie Dean was Producers Releasing Corporation's answer to Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, and became the ramshackle studio's very own singing cowboy. Having worked with Autry and on radio, Dean filled the role of the PRC singing cowboy with he-man gusto. Unfortunately, the low budgets of the PRC films meant that Dean would be relegated to obscurity, while Autry and Rogers were catapulted to fame. Dean's songs are the highlight of the films he made, along with the antics of Dean's comic companion, Soapy Jones (Roscoe Ates).

Although a blatant attempt to cash in on the Autry and Rogers craze, these films do part company with those of Dean's more famous counterparts in at least one respect. Dean's films, while less stylish, seem to have a harder edge that the work of Autry and Rogers lacks. While all three aimed thier talents more towards kiddies in the audience than the grown-ups, Dean's bad guys are pretty bad, and perhaps the low budget efforts of PRC lent a seedier air to the mostly unphotogenic black hats.

The DVD case contains two discs, with one film on each. I was struck by the fact that although the movies clock in at about an hour apiece, Video Kart could not figure out how to put both on one disc. There is an insert, but this has to float loose in the case. Regardless, I did like the set, and it did look as if Video Kart tried their level best to put in what extras they could to enhance the package. There are bios and a few other odds and ends for each film, and for the price I certainly felt I got my money's worth.

The first feature, "Colorado Serenade" was shot in Cinecolor, as were several of Dean's early outings. Unfortunately, the Cinecolor process does not seem to have stood the test of time, as the color in the film stock has seriously degraded, and this particular film is horribly oversaturated to the point of muddiness. The story isn't too bad, and there are some fine fisticuffs, although PRC's products were never accused of being very Oscar-worthy. One fight sequence in a bunkhouse reminded me a bit of the great scenery-chewing in some of Republic's action serials.

As for the cast, there are some pretty good performances. Stunt man David Sharpe has a good turn as an undercover lawman, and does some impressive pistol tricks I had never seen before. Forrest Taylor is suitable as the kindhearted Judge (although his acting style is slightly reminiscent of acting in the hammy, silent film era). I also like the flashy bad guy Duke Dillon, played with bad guy charm by Dennis Moore.

Supporting actress Abigail Adams is also on hand as Lola, hostess of the Silver Dollar Saloon. The posters and trailer for the film tout that "Lola Drives the West Wild! You'll never forget her!" and "Lola's in town... and the Old West Ain't the same!" Despite the great billing and Adams' obvious appeal, Lola really doesn't do much to set the West on fire except look pretty.

Robert McKenzie plays one of Duke's henchmen, the crooked town manager Colonel Blake. McKenzie is one of those character actors who you know but don't know or can't quite place, or someone who reminds you of some other actor. He was a staple in Westerns, usually as a gold-watch-chained banker. He's fun in this one as the weasley town manager who runs crooked deals for Duke.

On the down side, Mary Kenyon is a poor man's Barbara Stanwyck look-alike, and Dean's "Wonder Horse", White Cloud, is a shocking facsimile of Trigger (right down to the similar bit and bridle!).

It did appear that the film may not have been entirely complete, given that there are some dissolves between scenes and one or two "fade to black" bits that obviously do not fit the editing techniques of the time the film was made. Whether this was done to excise degraded parts of the film stock, or to fit the movie to a specific running time for television broadcast is uncertain. In either case, the work was not done ham fistedly, but it also kind of jumps out at you despite the care taken in the editing booth.

Frankly, I liked the black and white companion feature in this set much more. "Black Hills" does not suffer from the technical or degradation effects of the Cinecolor process, and plays more like a good old fashioned Western. In this one, Dean helps out some friends who are in a bad spot when the bank wants to foreclose on their ranch. There's a murder, a lost gold mine, a land grab, and Soapy's sad card tricks for Dean to deal with, and he stills finds time to sing a few songs along the way. "Black Hills" and "Let's Go Sparkin'" are both memorable numbers.

Overall, these are some very nice sets for the price, and showcase the forgotten singing cowboy, Eddie Dean. Video Kart should be commended for saving these films (and Dean) from obscurity. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An enjoyable little who-dun-it featuring Bela Lugosi
The Death Kiss (1933) is actually a fairly interesting little who-dun-it mystery. The drama unfolds on the set of a movie called-predictably-The Death Kiss. The big scene features a gang of thugs gunning down the character played by Miles Brent after he receives a Judas kiss from a stranger played, wouldn't you know it, by Brent's ex-wife Marcia Lane. To everyone's surprise, Brent doesn't get back up after the scene is finished; this is especially sad given the fact that his death swoon was not convincing enough to satisfy the director. An uproar ensues when it becomes clear that Brent was murdered. None of the eight guns used in the scene turns out to be the murder weapon, complicating matters for the police. Further complicating the work of detectives is the insinuation of studio mystery writer Franklyn Drew into the investigation. Drew basically takes over the investigation himself, while the detectives remain a step or two behind him at all times. Everyone is a suspect to some degree, including studio executives. When the first suspected perpetrator apparently kills himself after being proven innocent, the plot becomes even more complicated. Marcia Lane has a clear motive, and all of the clues keep pointing in her direction, but her boyfriend Drew, with the help of the comically inept head of studio security, is determined to prove her innocence.

One of the suspects is studio manager Joseph Steiner, played by the incomparable and quite dashing Bela Lugosi. This seems something of an odd role for Lugosi to have played two years after bringing Count Dracula to life, for it is a bit of a minor part. Here Lugosi sports a bow tie and actually smiles good-naturedly a time or two; he does have one scene in which he gets rather perturbed, though, so Lugosi fans such as myself can take delight in getting at least one quick glance of the classic Lugosi scowl.

This movie is both a comedy and a murder mystery; seemingly, all murder mysteries of the era were required to have a Keystone Kops element to them. The comedic elements seem needless at first but somehow become rather endearing by the end. The mystery is also pretty compelling, and I admit my guess as to the identity of the murderer was incorrect. Besides the inclusion of Bela Lugosi in the cast, this movie is also somewhat significant for offering an early behind-the-scenes look at how the still rather revolutionary talkies were produced. Lugosi fans should enjoy seeing a softer side of the legendary actor, and I believe the movie is quite capable of sustaining the interest of even modern-day viewers.

Nifty little thriller
I picked up this DVD even though I had never seen the movie before because I figured, it's inexpensive and it has Bela Lugosi in it, so how can I go wrong. I was pleased to discover that this is a pretty good mystery, with a charming performance from David Manners and a few twists to the plot. I would have liked to see more of Bela as a studio executive.

The only thing that keeps me from giving this 5 stars is the fact that, as other reviewers have mentioned, the picture and sound quality is not the best. I don't always mind the scatches, because it can add to the "old movie" atmosphere, but there are too many instances of missed dialogue and skips in the picture.

Don't Kiss This One Off
A clever whodunit, set in a vintage Hollywood movie studio, that reunited three stars from the acclaimed 1931 release, "Dracula". When the star of the fictional production "The Death Kiss" is murdered on the film set during a take, screenwriter David Manners (top-billed here) launches his own investigation into how and why the murder was committed. Among the many suspects are Bela Lugosi as a suspicious production manager and Edward Van Sloan as the film's bombastic director. Manners' detective work involves touring the many different departments at the studio, offering an intriguing look at how early talkies were made. The script includes some subtle satire of early 1930's film personalities (now who could the studio head whose every statement is a malapropism be?!) and there are plenty of red herrings thrown in to complicate the plot. The mystery is solid, and the studio setting is guaranteed to appeal to cinema buffs.

The DVD's biggest drawback is the source print from which the video transfer was mastered. "The Death Kiss" has been in the public domain for many years, and is desperately in need of restoration. There are many breaks in the film during which bits of dialogue are lost; these "jumps" are particularly plentiful during the first half of the DVD. Still ... until a better transfer comes along (which is admittedly unlikely), this is definitely one worth adding to your home video collection, particularly for the fine cast and the unusual setting.

Whodunit
The Death Kiss is another whodunit where a big time movie star is killed right in front of the cameras. Bela Lugosi is one of the prime suspects in this well-done mystery thriller.

Murder in a Movie Studio
Two things keep DEATH KISS from being forgettable B-movie fare: the setting and the cast. Setting the murder mystery in a movie studio was doubtless an economy move, but this actually works to the film's advantage as we learn (in the course of the investigation) various aspects of the movie business. David Manners, Bela Lugosi, and Edward Van Sloan are all reunited from DRACULA for DEATH KISS and continue to do good work here. In fact, Manners brings surprising charm and depth to his cliched role of a screenwriter/amateur detective (something he really didn't have a chance to do in DRACULA). Vince Barnett also has some good "comedy relief" moments as a slow witted studio guard. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The best of the Kart.
Video Kart came out with 4-double feature/discs featuring the Eddie Dean, Bob Steele, and Lash LaRue B Westerns. All are good but this is the best of the group - not so much as to the selection but more so as to picture quality, especially Driftin'River. The other black and white features had very intense contrast- so that the night and dark scenes were essentially black and white with hardly any shades of grey in between, which makes it difficult to appreciate the finer details. But this is not so with Driftin River which somehow come off well. The Bob Steele feature- Thundertown was also much better than the previous two releases by Video Kart.The features appear to have been cleaned-up versions of the originals but not actually full blown restorations. These are better than some of those B westerns transferred to DVD but were merely copied from the VHS EP versions. Let's hope Video Kart comes out with more of these westerns - especially those Cinecolor team-ups of Eddie Dean and Lash Larue. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Above Average Oater...
Johnny Mack Brown plays Billy Donovan, an ammunition salesman and trick shooter (and he-man hero) who stumbles on the mystery of the "Desert Phantom". The Phantom is intent on driving Jean Halloran and her stepfather off their ranch, and has killed all of the ranch hands, cattle, and relatives who offer Jean support. Among the suspects is the evil Salizar and his gang, and as it turns out, Donovan has an old score to settle with him.

There are many low-budget westerns that were made in the 1930's, and most look pretty dry today. But "Desert Phantom" (1936) has a few things going for it that keep the movie from lacking all interest.

First, the mystery surrounding the "Phantom" is handled pretty well, and although you know he will be revealed as a cast member, his identity remains almost a mystery right up to the end. Only the most passing of cliche hints is offered to the audience early on.

Ted Adams's Salizar is suitably menacing, although the character degenerates into a bit of silliness when he decides to marry Jean (given the nature of Donovan's grudge, this element does not seem all that plausible). Also on hand is Nelson McDowell in a fine comedic turn as "Doc" Simpson, the town horse doctor.

The print used by Alpha Video is clearly from an inferior video source, with some serious kerning and other video errors. But for the price, and to have one of these old films to screen, one can probably not argue too much.

A remake of 1932's "Night Rider". ... Read more

Reviews (4)

This video should not be sold
The picture quality and sound on this video are beyond words to describe how bad a dvd can be. It looks like a poor transfer of a six hour mode tape. There is no attempt to digitally clean up the picture or audio. Avoid this one like the plague.

Poor!!
The DVD is not very good quality print. Even the serial isn't that good. I got it because it was rare and had Bela Lugosi in it but I am sorry to say that it's not worth getting. Some of the actors are supposed to be of Oriental caucasion but it is obvious they were not in some cases. They could have called the serial "The Death" I am a fan of Bela lugosi but this DVD isn't worth it.

The Shadow Creeps
I can't even give this 2 stars as another reviewer did. This is another slap together dvd by Whirlwind Media who are only concerned with making money. The transfer is from a 16mm print off, most likely, a Sinister Cinema VHS tape. The only reason I even bought this is because it's one of those incredibly rare serials. The sound is pretty much muddied throughout the dvd and the print itself isn't much better. I had high hopes at first as the opening title sequence, although not crisp and clean, was viewable. After that, it becomes a hit and miss affair even more than their release of The Phantom Creeps. I wish Whirlwind would put some effort into cleaning up the video and sound--it isn't that difficult to do as one can see from the efforts of the Doctor Who Restoration Team. Again, as I stated in my Phantom Creeps review, STAY AWAY FROM WHIRLWIND MEDIA!!!

Horrible Horror Transfer to DVD
When I heard of this Bela Lugosi serial, and that it was on DVD, I
placed an order without hesitation. Well, as they say, fools jump
in...

The packaging of the two-disc set is very nice, with vintage
artwork on the cover and inside on the paper chapter list insert (the
only reason for my 2-star rating here).

However, this is quite
possibly one of the worst transfers I have ever had the misfortune to
be a purchaser of, and I readily warn any other unsuspecting victim to
avoid this one.

The sound is garbled, warbles, and is painful to
listen to. Worse yet, Whirlwind has chosen to "mat" the
image in such a way as to cut off all four sides of the
image. Basically, it looks like they "zoomed in" on the
image, giving it a blurry and distorted appearance throughout all
fifteen chapters.

Obviously transferred from an inferior video
source (in one chapter, there was a slight tracking error at the top
of the frame!), this disc is less than stellar, and not fit even for
the bargain bin at a department store.

As for the serial itself, it
has the feel of a low budget effort from 1931, rather than 1936. The
editing is fairly weak, and the whole chapter-play is very
"stagey", like early talkies were in '31-'34.

In one later
chapter, you can even hear the director yelling for a passing car to
"Come on! COME ON!" Victory Pictures was not exactly
Republic, which is why no one today has ever heard of them. This DVD
is partly why.

The hero "Martin Andrews" is laughably
bad. His Asian houseboy is sure to draw the ire of the PC crowd, and
most of the cast is populated by non-entities.

The love interest and
girl reporter Joan is actually entertaining, but several opportunities
for her to expand the character were wasted by poor
editing/directing. The evil villianess who teams up with Lugosi to
ruin Chinatown (and then... the world!), is beautiful. She plays the
villianess very well, but is overpowered by Lugosi. She also was a
victim of the poor editing/directing that are the hallmark of this
serial.

Lugosi has the mad scientist/inventor thing down. His
character can also hypnotize people and bend them to his will. He can
even affect a victim through his television viewer!

There are
potentially great moments; sneaky traps for the heroes, at least one
good street explosion, Lugosi's inventions, and some fair fight
scenes. The cliffhangers range from really good (a bomb designed to
drop a chandelier on the hero when he enters his own foyer), to
rediculous (the hero is knocked out and placed under a hanging glass
fishbowl so he can be killed by the "focused rays of the
sun").

Billed as one of "the longest serials ever
made," with the help of this poor transfer it lives up to its
press... even if it isn't the longest, it sure FELT like the longest
when I was sitting through it.

I suppose my impression of the serial
has been somewhat shaded by the slapdash transfer, but this is no
"S.O.S. Coast Guard", that's for sure.

If nothing else, I
think Lugosi fans should seek an alternate source for this serial, and
avoid this DVD as if it were a mad scientist's plot to capture the
world.
... Read more