harrygbutler tackles books, magazines, and movies in 2021 — 1

I’m Harry, and this is my sixth year in the 75 Books Challenge. My taste in reading runs to Golden Age and earlier mysteries, pulp detective and adventure fiction, Late Antique and medieval literature, westerns, and late nineteenth and early twentieth century popular fiction, among others. I also have a fondness for collections of cartoons and comic strips, and I collect pulp magazines from the first half of the twentieth century. I usually have a few books going at once.

I'm also an inveterate movie watcher, and I track my viewing in my thread, too. I watch a wide variety of genres — mystery, western, comedy, adventure, science fiction, horror, and more — and tend to watch older movies, particularly from Hollywood's Golden Age in the 1930s and 1940s, but extending through the 1980s and only rarely later.

My wife Erika and I live in eastern Pennsylvania with three cats — Elli, Otto, and Pixie — and a dog, Hildy. Our pets occasionally make an appearance in my thread. My other interests include model railroading, gardening, and birding, so you'll sometimes see something related to them as well.

I try to provide some sort of comment on the books and magazines I read and the movies I watch, but they are short and aren't really reviews.

New this year is my blog: https://dimtrails.com. There I'll be posting more than just comments on books and movies, but those will occupy a big place, too.

Targets for the year

• Last year, I finished 174 books. This year, I'm scaling back my aims to 150 books, as I'm upping my goal for magazines.


• Last year, I read 12 fiction-oriented magazines, either pulp or neo-pulp. This year, I'm hoping to boost that reading and manager 26, or one magazine every two weeks.


• Last year, I watched 702 movies. I'd like to up that total to 730 this year, or an average of two movies a day.

Books finished in the first quarter

1. Best Cartoons of the Year 1970, ed. by Lawrence Lariar
2. The Corpse in the Green Pyjamas, by R. A. J. Walling
3. The Broken Gun, by Louis L'Amour
4. Roman Antiquities, Books 8-9.24, by Dionysius of Halicarnassus; trans. by Earnest Cary
5. Meet Fred Basset, by Alex Graham
6. Dead as a Dinosaur, by Frances & Richard Lockridge
7. Nightmare in New York, by Don Pendleton
8. The Girl from Outer Space, by Carter Brown
9. Best Cartoons of the Year 1946, ed. by Lawrence Lariar
10. Ancient Egyptian Literature: A Book of Readings, Vol. I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms, by Miriam Lichtheim
11. The Purple Onion Mystery, by H. Ashbrook
12. Law of the Desert Born, by Louis L'Amour
13. Ancient Egyptian Literature: A Book of Readings, Vol. II: The New Kingdom, by Miriam Lichtheim
14. Best Cartoons of the Year 1952, ed. by Lawrence Lariar
15. Ancient Egyptian Literature: A Book of Readings, Vol. III: The Late Period, by Miriam Lichtheim
16. Renegade Swords, ed. by D. M. Ritzlin
17. Best Cartoons of the Year 1953, ed. by Lawrence Lariar
18. Darling, It's Death, by Richard S. Prather
19. Necklace and Calabash, by Robert van Gulik
20. Chicago Wipe-Out, by Don Pendleton
21. Guns of the Timberlands, by Louis L'Amour
22. Grimmer Than Hell, by David Drake
23. When Eight Bells Toll, by Alistair MacLean

Magazines completed in 2021

1. Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 9, 1926
2. Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 16, 1926
3. Tales from The Magician's Skull, No. 5
4. Detective Fiction Weekly, July 25, 1931
5. Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 6, 1926
6. Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 13, 1926
7. Railroad Stories, February 1935

Our cat Otto is a big fan of movies: When we start to watch one, he comes running to the living room from wherever he may be and settles in for the duration, though he chiefly dozes rather than actively watching.

I've given Otto a place in my comments on movies. At present, the three ratings are as follows:

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Not recommended. Otto thinks your time would be better spent staring at the wall.

Movies watched in January

1. The Stranger from Pecos (Monogram, 1943)
2. The Thin Man Goes Home (MGM, 1945)
3. Ursus in the Land of Fire (original title: Ursus nella terra di fuoco) (1963)
4. She's Got Everything (RKO, 1937)
5. Bomba and the Jungle Girl (Monogram, 1952)
6. The Nitwits (RKO, 1935)
7. The Desert Trail (Lone Star / Monogram, 1935)
8. The Trap (Monogram, 1946)
9. Thunder River Feud (Monogram, 1942)
10. Daughter of the Dragon (Paramount, 1931)
11. Montana Incident (Monogram, 1952)
12. Trapped by Television (Columbia, 1936)
13. Landrush (Columbia, 1946)
14. The Old Dark House (Universal, 1932)
15. Earth vs the Spider (American International, 1958)
16. Cancel My Reservation (WB, 1972)
17. Six-Gun Gospel (Monogram, 1943)
18. Gunga Din (RKO, 1939)
19. Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land (Columbia, 1952)
20. Thank You, Mr. Moto (Twentieth Century Fox, 1937)
21. The Lawless Frontier (Lone Star / Monogram, 1934)
22. The House of Fear (Universal, 1945)
23. Rock River Renegades (Monogram, 1942)
24. Carefree (RKO, 1938)
25. Wyoming Roundup (Monogram, 1952)
26. Murder on the Bridle Path (RKO, 1936)
27. Terror Trail (Columbia, 1946)
28. The Echo Murders (Anglo-American, 1945)
29. Hawk the Slayer (1980)
30. City Hunter (1993)
31. The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969)
32. The Kid from Spain (Goldwyn / UA, 1932)
33. Tarzan and the Slave Girl (RKO, 1950)
34. Voyage of the Rock Aliens (1984)
35. Shot in the Dark (1933)
36. The Flying Deuces (RKO, 1939)
37. The Last of the Clintons (Ajax, 1935)
38. The Millerson Case (Columbia, 1947)
39. Silver Blaze (1937)
40. Out of Sight (Universal, 1966)
41. Boot Hill Bandits (Monogram, 1942)
42. The Invisible Killer (PDC, 1939)
43. Santo y el águila real (1973)
44. Radar Secret Service (Lippert, 1950)
45. A Case for P.C. 49 (1951)
46. Outlaws of Stampede Pass (Monogram, 1943)
47. Safari Drums (Allied Artists, 1953)
48. She (1984)
49. South of the Chisholm Trail (Columbia, 1947)
50. High Flyers (RKO, 1937)
51. Drums of the Desert (Monogram, 1940)
52. The Great Hotel Murder (Fox, 1935)
53. Tarzan of the Apes (First National, 1918)
54. Nine Girls (Columbia, 1944)
55. Crossfire in Caracas (original title: El hombre de Caracas) (1967)
56. The Pointing Finger (1933)
57. Haunted Gold (WB, 1932)
58. Mr. Moto Takes a Chance (Twentieth Century Fox, 1938)
59. Texas Trouble Shooters (Monogram, 1942)
60. The Sleep of Death (1980)
61. Dance of Death (original title: Wu quan) (1976)
62. The Playgirls and the Vampire (original title: L'ultima preda del vampiro) (1960)
63. Steamboat Bill, Jr. (UA, 1928)
64. Ski Party (American International, 1965)

Movies watched in February

65. Nomads of the North (First National, 1920)
66. Before Midnight (Columbia, 1933)
67. The Argyle Secrets (Film Classics, 1948)
68. Day of the Animals (1977)
69. The Woman in Green (Universal, 1945)
70. Born to the West (Paramount, 1937)
71. The Lone Hand Texan (Columbia, 1947) watched 2/3
72. Island of Doomed Men (Columbia, 1940)
73. No Holds Barred (Monogram, 1952)
74. Range Law (Monogram, 1944)
75. Voodoo Tiger (Columbia, 1952)
76. Pardon My Rhythm (Universal, 1944)
77. Terror Island (Paramount, 1920) (rerelease Realart, 1922)
78. The Crime of Helen Stanley (Columbia, 1934)
79. The Plot Thickens (RKO, 1936)
80. Air Raid Wardens (MGM, 1943)
81. I Killed That Man (Monogram, 1941)
82. The Cuckoos (RKO, 1930)
83. Son of Oklahoma (Sono Art-World Wide, 1932)
84. In Like Flint (Twentieth Century Fox, 1967)
85. The Delightful Forest (original title: Kuai huo lin) (Shaw Brothers, 1972)
86. Broadway Limited (Hal Roach / UA, 1941)
87. The Dragon Missile (original title: Fei long zhan) (Shaw Brothers, 1976)
88. Super-Sleuth (RKO, 1937)
89. Arizona Stage Coach (Monogram, 1942)
90. How To Steal a Million (Twentieth Century Fox, 1966)
91. House of Errors (PRC, 1942)
92. Girl in Danger (Columbia, 1934)
93. The Crime Doctor’s Gamble (Columbia, 1947)
94. Man with Two Lives (Monogram, 1942)
95. Mission to Venice (original title: Agent spécial à Venise) (1964)
96. Destroyer (Columbia, 1943)
97. The Navajo Trail (Monogram, 1945)
98. Lost in Alaska (Universal, 1953)
99. O.S.S. 117 n'est pas mort (1957)
100. Wild Wild Winter (Universal, 1966)
101. Escape in the Fog (Columbia, 1945)
102. Cipher Bureau (Fine Arts Pictures / Grand National, 1938)
103. The Mystery of Chess Boxing (original title: Shuang ma lian huan) (1979)
104. Galloping Romeo (Monogram, 1933)
105. The Chance of a Lifetime (Columbia, 1943)
106. Santo contra los zombies (1962)
107. West of Dodge City (Columbia, 1947)
108. Navy Spy (Grand National, 1937)
109. Anything for a Friend (original title: Amico mio... frega tu che frego io) (1973)
110. Seven Sinners (Gaumont British, 1936)
111. Warlords of the 21st Century (aka Battletruck) (1982)
112. If I Were King (Paramount, 1938)
113. Hell Comes to Frogtown (1988)
114. The Corpse Came C.O.D. (Columbia, 1947)
115. Judex (1963)
116. Eagles over London (original title: La battaglia d'Inghilterra) (1969)
117. Twins of Evil (Hammer / Rank, 1971)
118. The Buddha Assassinator (original title: Fo zhang huang ye) (1980)
119. Beware (Astor, 1946)

Movies watched in March

120. Tom Thumb and Little Red Riding Hood (original title: Caperucita y Pulgarcito contra los monstruos) (1962)
121. Pursuit to Algiers (Universal, 1945)
122. Agent 3S3: Passport to Hell (original title: Agente 3S3: Passaporto per l'inferno) (1965)
123. Dawn of the Mummy (1981)
124. Trailing Trouble (Grand National, 1937)
125. We're in the Legion Now (Grand National, 1936)
126. How To Stuff a Wild Bikini (American International, 1965)
127. Mystery Broadcast (Republic, 1943)
128. The Admiral’s Secret
129. Im Banne des Unheimlichen (1968)
130. Doctor Syn (Gaumont British, 1937)
131. Barbarian Queen (1985)
132. Ghost Catchers (Universal, 1944)
133. Mysterious Mr. Moto (Twentieth Century Fox, 1938)
134. Law of the Canyon (Columbia, 1947)
135. The Last Warning (Universal, 1938)
136. Trail Riders (Monogram, 1942)
137. Submarine Alert (Paramount, 1943)
138. The Preview Murder Mystery (Paramount, 1936)

I first saw this neat meme on countrylife’s 2018 thread (https://www.librarything.com/topic/288786#6670916) and decided to see about filling it in, too. Thanks for the inspiration, Cindy!

2020 Titles Meme

Describe yourself: Hardcase for Hire
Describe how you feel: Everything's Archie!
Describe where you currently live: The House of the Vanishing Goblets
If you could go anywhere, where would you go? The Crime Coast
Your favorite form of transportation: Anonymous Footsteps
Your best friend is: The Knight of the Parrot
You and your friends are: The Wrecking Crew
Your favorite food is: Death in the Cup
What I would like for my birthday next year: The Emperor's Pearl
What's the weather like? Fair Blows the Wind
You fear: A Rival from the Grave
What is the best advice you have to give? Never Turn Your Back
Thought for the day: Too Funny for Words!
How I would like to die: Sacking Paris on a Budget
My soul's present condition: Only the Lover Sings

__________

And since watching movies is a big part of how I spent my time last year, I decided to fill out the meme with movie titles as well:

2020 Movie Titles Meme

Describe yourself: The H-Man
Describe how you feel: Shall We Dance
Describe where you currently live: House of Mystery
If you could go anywhere, where would you go? Adventure Island
Your favorite form of transportation: The Runaway Bus
Your best friend is: The Catman of Paris
You and your friends are: Pals of the Silver Sage
Your favorite food is: Beast from Haunted Cave
What I would like for my birthday next year: The Jade Mask
What's the weather like? Palmy Days
You fear: Werewolves on Wheels
What is the best advice you have to give? Carry On Camping
Thought for the day: If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
How I would like to die: Ninja Swords of Death
My soul's present condition: Every Day’s a Holiday

Welcome, everyone!

Good morning Harry! Looking forward to reading what Otto thinks this year. Oh, and you too!

>11 2wonderY: Thanks, Ruth! Otto may be the more discerning. :-)

Happy New Year, Harry! My favorite of your meme answers is this one: How I would like to die: Sacking Paris on a Budget. Cracked me up!

>13 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! And Happy New Year to you as well!

Welcome back, and happy new year!

>15 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

Happy New Year! I have a couple of classic mysteries lined up for January - Dead as a Dinosaur by the Lockridges and Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy Sayers.

>17 cbl_tn: Thanks, Carrie! I look forward to your comments on them. It has been a long time since I read Busman's Honeymoon, but I've never gotten around to Dead as a Dinosaur, so maybe I'll see if I can fit it in, too. My mother liked the Mr. & Mrs. North books (and recalled the TV series as well).

And keep up with my friends here, Harry. Have a great 2021.

>19 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul!

>18 harrygbutler: That would be fun! My copy of Dead as a Dinosaur originally belonged to my father. He subscribed to a mystery book club in high school.

>10 harrygbutler: ...trippy...

Hip hip hooray to being that much closer to freedom.

Happy New Year, Harry!
Hope you've stocked up with fresh popcorn for the 2021 movies!

>21 cbl_tn: I'll take a look for it this weekend. I recently applied some order to most of my paperback books, so I should be able to track it down easily.

>22 richardderus: Old New Year cards are often quite weird.

>23 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer! Yes, plenty of popcorn is on hand. :-)

One of the reasons I went ahead and started a blog (mentioned in my first post) was to make it easier to write up movie posts with multiple images, or even embedded clips, if I so desired. I haven't made any posts like that yet, and I don't know how common they'll be, but I have sometimes wanted to have that flexibility in the past. Plus, I've gotten a bit frustrated with the frequent search downtime and issues with touchstones on LT, so it seemed time to explore an alternative.

>25 harrygbutler: The evidence is before my eyes...saddled hogs drawing a landau?

>27 richardderus: Yes, indeed. And then there's this one:

Snoring nisse...hungry hogs...terrified clovers...what were they smoking?!

>29 richardderus: Yeah, pretty wild.

Happy reading (and watching) in 2021, Harry!

>31 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita!

Hi, Harry, welcome back! As you would gather I'm trying to get my thread visiting and commenting (one more thing that imploded last year) back on track. :)

I have your blog favourited and will follow with interest. (My own, of course, was yet another implosion...) I do love your movie rating system!

Hope you have a great year of reading and watching!

Happy New Year.

looking forward to Otto's recommendations :)

>33 lyzard: Hi, Liz! Thanks for dropping by, and for checking out the blog, too!

>34 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori!

>35 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita! We just finished up movie #2 for the year, so Otto's ratings should begin appearing this weekend sometime.

Movie 1. The Stranger from Pecos (Monogram, 1943)



A couple government men go undercover in different ways, in a scenario akin to those in Monogram's earlier Rough Riders series (in which Raymond Hatton costarred), to foil thieves and swindlers. Likeable leads are key to this movie's modest success.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Yippee! Found your thread. Will check out your blog shortly.

>40 fuzzi: Thanks for stopping by! I hope you like the blog, too.

Morning, Harry! I am so happy that Otto is back for another year of movie reviews.

>42 Crazymamie: Good morning, Mamie! We just watched movie #5 today, so I have to catch up on posting Otto's responses. :-)

Movie 2. The Thin Man Goes Home (MGM, 1945)



Nick and Nora head to Nick's hometown, where Nick ends up investigating the shooting of a young man just as he came to confide in Nick. Weaker than the early movies in the series, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

We love the original Thin Man movie. We watched one of the sequels - I forget which one, but it wasn't nearly as good.

>45 Crazymamie: The first Thin Man movie is far and away the best of the lot.

>44 harrygbutler: It was a fun film, and poignant that it was the last, too.

Have a lovely Sunday!

Also chiming in to say that I've seen the first Thin Man film and absolutely loved it, but I've not seen any of the rest.

>47 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. There's actually one more Thin Man movie: Song of the Thin Man, released in 1947. I expect we'll get around to that one later this year.

>48 scaifea: Hi, Amber! I'd recommend taking a look at After the Thin Man if you ever have the opportunity. It isn't so good as the first, and Elissa Landi as Nora's cousin Selma is a bit much to take, but it's a decent sequel, picking up pretty much where the first one stops, but back in California for New Year's Eve.

>50 harrygbutler: Thanks for the recommendation! I'll stick it on the list, although it may take some doing to get Charlie to agree to watch it with me - he thinks all B&W movies are automatically Not Good. *eye roll*

>49 harrygbutler: WHAT!!!

I never, ever heard of it! *scuttles off to find it*

>51 scaifea: Wow! Eye roll indeed! :-)

>52 richardderus: It's available for rent on Amazon Prime and may be available elsewhere, too.

It's been too long since I watched The Thin Man. I need to do that sometime this winter.

I've never seen The Thin Man, though I've heard many people say how much they love it.

It's sort of on my "watch" list, but as I watch few movies it might be a while before I get to it.

Harry, I forgot to mention that I sat down with my family and watched Knives Out over the holidays, which I found entertaining and amusing, with a good job by a wonderful cast. Not sure what Otto would think, but I'd guess he'd not be staring at the wall.

>56 fuzzi: Thanks for the recommendation of Knives Out. I know we're planning to see it at some point.

And I've just watched "Kiss of Death" from 1947, starring Victor Mature. It was Richard Widmark's debut and his performance is where we got all the subsequent giggling sociopaths from.
Currently, I'm halfway through "Pat and Mike", the Hepburn-Tracy film. So far it's fun but I still prefer "Adam's Rib".

Movie 3. Ursus in the Land of Fire (original title: Ursus nella terra di fuoco) (1963)



I was expecting a bit more of the fantastic in this sword-and-sandal epic starring Ed Fury (!) as the mighty Ursus, here the leader of shepherd people facing the aggression of an ambitious usurper. Standard fare, of interest to fans of the genre, perhaps, but unlikely to have much appeal to others.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

>58 mstrust: I'm not a huge fan of either Hepburn or Tracy, so though I've watched some of their collaborations, I've not revisited them in many, many years. Did you enjoy Kiss of Death? If I've ever seen it, I don't recall the details.

I did like Kiss of Death. I like Victor Mature and he was very good here as a crook who gets busted in a heist while his fellow criminals get away. The DA offers him a deal if he'll squeal, but he's no squealer, at least not until he really needs to get out of jail. Widmark was the one who was nominated for an Oscar though.

>61 mstrust: Thanks for the extra info! I'll certainly watch it sometime when I have the chance.

Movie 4. She's Got Everything (RKO, 1937)



In this pairing of Ann Sothern and Gene Raymond, she's a newly poor heiress who gets a job with him, a bachelor coffee magnate, with romance and complications to follow. Victor Moore and Helen Broderick are teamed in support and work well together, too, and some amusement to be had from three persistent creditors as well.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

I like Ann Southern! For some reason I am getting Gene Raymond mixed up with Gene Rayburn, though. My first thought was that I didn't realize he was in films before hosting Match Game!

>64 cbl_tn: I like Ann Sothern as well. Warner Archive put out a couple collections of her Maisie movies on DVD, and I've got them on my wishlist to pick up eventually.

Gene Rayburn! :-) In that case the movie plot could be summarized like this:

Heiress Carol Rogers turned out to be so poor...

How poor was she?

She was so poor that her creditors put a lien on her ______.

>63 harrygbutler:, >64 cbl_tn:, >65 harrygbutler: *snerk*

Ann Sothern was always a delight to watch, she committed herself to everything she did. Fun!

>65 harrygbutler: Good one!

>64 cbl_tn: I had the same thought. Ah, Match Game, what a totally silly but fun show.

>66 richardderus: >67 cbl_tn: >68 fuzzi: I hadn't really thought about Match Game in ages. Thanks for mentioning it, Carrie!

>69 harrygbutler: Amazon Prime has 3 seasons of Match Game. Who'da thunk it?!

>71 harrygbutler: I wouldn't have thought to look for old game shows on Prime, but there must be an audience.

Movie 5. Bomba and the Jungle Girl (Monogram, 1952)



Bomba tries to find out more about what happened to his parents, and in the process meets up with a government official and his daughter, a usurper and his villainous daughter, and a rightful heir. A bit of a different plot for the series, and a good one.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Good morning! I started Dead as a Dinosaur yesterday but haven't made it very far. I had a busy evening and then Adrian demanded that I pay attention to him and not a book. The little reading time I had was while I waited in the car during his vet appointment.

>73 cbl_tn: Good morning, Carrie! I've fished my copy down out of the paperback stack and am ready to start. I'll likely begin a little later today.

I am rather neglecting my thread here and instead posting regularly on my new blog (for example, this morning I just posted my comments on my twelfth movie for the year, and here I am only reaching movie #6 today). I'll keep going, but comments may be somewhat less timely, and I have my doubts I'll be as active at LT as last year.

Movie 6. The Nitwits (RKO, 1935)



Bob and Bert work at the cigar counter in an office building while Bert hopes to make enough to marry his sweetheart (Betty Grable), who works as a secretary in the office of a music executive upstairs. When that executive is murdered, suspicion points in various directions, including toward Bert, as the executive had been making unwelcome advances toward his girl. Some comic confusion and inept detection follow, with a fair amount of amusement to be had.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

I for one will be sorry to hear less of you here, Harry, but I understand that you have a new interest.

>77 mstrust: Thank you, Jennifer! I don't want to just have the same posts on my blog — which I'm hoping will prove more accessible to friends and family not on LT — as in my threads here, so I need to put in some extra effort to comment on the same book or movie in both places. I'll see how things play out over the coming months.

>75 harrygbutler: :sad face:

>79 fuzzi: Thank you. I should also note I've become increasingly frustrated with the frequent downtime for search here at LT, which has made updating existing posts and writing new ones quite unpleasant far too often. So though I enjoy the conversations and social interactions and expect to continue them, even if somewhat less actively, the interface has become a real drag, and I ended up creating a blog in part while trying to figure out an amenable solution to my frustrations with it.

Movie 7. The Desert Trail (Lone Star / Monogram, 1935)



Two pals — a rodeo rider and a gambler — end up framed for a robbery and killing, and they head to another town after the real crooks, where they also become rivals for a shopkeeper who is sister of one of the crooks. Fun enough Lone Star western outing for John Wayne.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

>75 harrygbutler: The one thing your blog lacks, Harry, is a follow method. I'm on WordPress and it doesn't show up as followable!

>82 richardderus: Good to know, Richard — thanks! I'll look over my settings and plugins and see what I might need to turn on.

In the meantime, there is an RSS feed for the posts, though. Does that work as something you can follow?

https://dimtrails.com/feed/

>83 harrygbutler: No, it's a page of programming when I go to view it. I've tried using your link just now, and as a signed-in user, so it's at least consistent.

>84 richardderus: Gotcha. Thanks for checking. I'll see what, if anything, I can do.

>85 harrygbutler: I did some more digging, and it looks like the Follow button is a WordPress.com feature that I could only have on my site by allowing WordPress to take over a number of other areas. There do appear to be some other options for letting people follow via email, but I'll have to explore the tradeoffs for them as well.

1. Best Cartoons of the Year 1970, ed. by Lawrence Lariar



The twenty-ninth year of the long-running series of cartoon books was much of a piece with many that came before, with a reasonable mixture of timely and relatively timeless humor. Mildly recommended.

Movie 8. The Trap (Monogram, 1946)



Sidney Toler's final appearance as Charlie Chan is a rather disappointing entry in the series, with a strangler striking a troupe of theatrical performers taking a vacation on the beach in Malibu. Birmingham Brown and Number 2 son Jimmy are on hand to assist, but the movie suffers from too many characters with too little distinction and too little to do.

Not recommended. Otto thinks your time would be better spent staring at the wall.

Here I draw a line under the Charlie Chan movies, as the remaining six Monogram movies, made after Toler's death with Roland Winters in the role, are just too poor to revisit, with Mantan Moreland the only bright spot, and not enough to salvage the films.

I'll likely pick up watching the Chans in order from the surviving early movies again next year.

>86 harrygbutler: That does explain a lot....

>89 richardderus: Yeah. I had set up a WordPress.com blog several years ago and thought about simply trying to revive that, but I've read too many posts from people who had an unpleasant or difficult time migrating from any of the blog-hosting services to their own website later, and I've more than once lost track of a blog I was following because the person moved their blog off of, say, Blogger or WordPress, and onto their own website, but all the blogrolls simply continued to point to the original blog location, which never was updated thereafter. I thus opted for my own site for a new blog from the outset, to help reduce the chance of such a problem in the future.

Movie 9. Thunder River Feud (Monogram, 1942)



Lots of laughs in this Range Busters movie, with both Dusty and Crash pretending to be who they are not, while Alibi acts rather independently of his comrades, as the three attempt to forestall a range war.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 10. Daughter of the Dragon (Paramount, 1931)



Anna May Wong has a good role as the daughter of the criminal mastermind Fu Manchu (Warner Oland), torn between vengeance and desire.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 11. Montana Incident (Monogram, 1952)



Enjoyable Whip Wilson western has the star and a buddy working as railroad surveyors and coming into conflict with those who hold an isolated town in thrall, who will lose their power if the railroad comes to town.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Hey, Harry! Morning!

>94 mstrust: Hi, Jennifer! I'm way behind on my movie and book posts here, but I'm trying to at least get one comment posted each day. (I'm much closer to caught up with movies on my blog, but even there I'm running a few days behind.)

Movie 12. Trapped by Television (Columbia, 1936)



Crooks make things difficult for an inventor working on a new television device. A likeable cast is a highlight in an otherwise fairly standard story.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

>96 harrygbutler: That title! Good gracious, did that ever age bizarrely!

>98 harrygbutler: Indeed!

Movie 13. Landrush (Columbia, 1946)



The Durango Kid steps in when crooks conspire to keep settlers out of the Spur area, which is being opened up for homesteading. Straightforward entertainment, done with skill but not particularly a standout.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 14. The Old Dark House (Universal, 1932)



Dark doings at a spooky house with a creepy family and sinister butler (Boris Karloff), on a stormy night, cut off from outside assistance. Thoroughly entertaining, if a bit stagey; directed by James Whale, based on the novel by J. B. Priestley.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

That sounds like a good one! Did you watch it on Prime?

>101 mstrust: We watched it on DVD, but I just checked, and it is available to watch on Prime (for 99 cents for a rental).

Happy Friday, Harry! You and Otto got me with The Old Dark House and Daughter of the Dragon.

>96 harrygbutler: That sounds like fun! Good casting can make up for plot weaknesses.

>103 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! I hope you enjoy them!

>104 cbl_tn: It was fun, Carrie, and also nice to get a window into the early popularization of television. There's another movie from the year before, Murder by Television, too.

Movie 15. Earth vs the Spider (American International, 1958)



Local teens find a giant spider lurking in nearby caverns that views people as its prey. Much mayhem ensues.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

>102 harrygbutler: Thanks for checking!
We ended up watching Robin and the Seven Hoods last night, starring The Rat Pack and Bing Crosby. Fun movie. I'm also halfway through The Queen of the Stardust Ballroom, starring Maureen Stapleton and Charles Durning.

>107 harrygbutler: Um...NO. Because the spider.

>108 mstrust: I haven't seen Robin and the Seven Hoods in years, but I imagine I'll get back to it again sometime. I don't think I've never seen Queen of the Stardust Ballroom.

>109 Crazymamie: Understood. :-)

Movie 16. Cancel My Reservation (WB, 1972)



Bob Hope in the film version of a Louis L'Amour novel? This unlikely-seeming situation came about for Hope's last starring feature, a loose adaptation of L'Amour's modern-day crime thriller, The Broken Gun. There's not much of the original book in the movie — even the protagonist's occupation is changed — save a broken gun and a ranch owner with a secret. Still, taken as a Hope vehicle, fans of the comedian will be likely to enjoy one last time with Hope as a reluctant hero set up by circumstances. A good supporting cast certainly helps, too.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 17. Six Gun Gospel (Monogram, 1943)



Marshals Sandy Hopkins (Raymond Hatton) and Nevada Jack Mackenzie (Johnny Mack Brown) are on another case, this one involving hijacked gold shipments, with Sandy adopting a disguise that leads to him being mistaken for a preacher, while Jack pretends to be connected with a railroad. Amusing comedy and enjoyable action.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Already up to 17 movies, Harry.

Have a great week, buddy.

>114 PaulCranswick: Thanks for stopping by, Paul. I'm rather behind on my comments; I've got some books and movies that still need posts, but I keep plugging along. My reading seems a bit off this year so far, as I doubt I'll have more than 8 books and 4 fiction magazines for the month. We'll see, though.

Movie 18. Gunga Din (RKO, 1939)



Rousing action, tempered with humor, and appealing characters — most notably the three sergeants at the heart of the story, but of course also Gunga Din and even the sinister leader of the Thugs — make Gunga Din, inspired by Rudyard Kipling's fine poem, one of the best adventure movies ever.

Highly recommended! Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 19. Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land (Columbia, 1952)



More weirdness in Jungle Jim's fictional lands, this time involving so-called giants that look more like Lon Chaney as the Wolfman, as crooks stop at nothing, including abduction and murder, to try to get their hands on ivory.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 20. Thank You, Mr. Moto (Twentieth Century Fox, 1937)



The clever and determined Mr. Moto is back, this time seeking scroll paintings that contain the key to the location of the lost tomb of Genghis Khan. As always, the detective is a loyal friend but ruthless with enemies who are themselves willing to kill to gain their ends.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

2. The Corpse in the Green Pyjamas, by R. A. J. Walling



Sleuth Philip Tolefree discovers a corpse behind a secret panel at a country estate, but when the body disappears and the family intends to cover things up, even to the point of denying that the person was dead, he must contrive events so as to shed light on what really happened. Tolefree is a fairly unappealing investigator, at least in this outing, but the book is competently put together and the mystery sound enough. Mildly recommended.

>119 harrygbutler: That one sounds like it would make a good movie. :-)

>116 harrygbutler: that one I saw, probably on a Saturday afternoon back when old movies were shown on local television stations instead of sports.

I still love the poem, Kipling's works stick in my mind...

>121 fuzzi: The disappearance of weekend and late night / overnight movies was one of several reasons that led me away from watching TV.

Kipling had a gift, certainly. I'm gradually putting together a Kipling set in a uniform edition, replacing copies of books with ones that match when I encounter them, or adding books if I don't yet have them.

Movie 21. The Lawless Frontier (Lone Star / Monogram, 1934)



A cowboy (John Wayne) tangles with the archvillain who murdered his parents but himself comes under suspicion when the old man he had befriended is stabbed. A fun little western.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

>122 harrygbutler: that is so "LT" of you, gotta match those editions/covers... ;)

Movie 22. The House of Fear (Universal, 1945)



Sherlock Holmes investigates a succession of deaths, seemingly accidental but nevertheless each following a mysterious message in the form of a quantity of orange pips. A good entry in the Rathbone-Bruce series.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

>124 fuzzi: Yep. :-) I've regretted it in one instance, however, as I got rid of a number of books after buying a matched set of a particular author, only to find that the (modern) set had far too many typos to make reading enjoyable. So now I'm aiming to gradually rebuy the books I had gotten rid of before.

Movie 23. 25952347::Rock River Renegades (Monogram, 1942)



The Range Busters come to the aid of Crash and Dusty's old friend Luke Graham (Kermit Maynard), a marshal struggling to capture outlaws plaguing his town and facing increasing pressure from the citizens dismayed by his failure. An OK entry in the series, but nothing particularly noteworthy.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

>126 harrygbutler: been there, done that.

>128 fuzzi: I've had to re-buy books in the past, too, but in this case it is particularly disappointing because I thought I was improving the quality of what I had, but in fact I was taking a step backward.

Movie 24. Carefree (RKO, 1938)



Fred Astaire plays a psychiatrist, Ginger Rogers a woman persuaded to see him by her fiancé (Ralph Bellamy) because she keeps putting off the wedding. Complications ensue when her treatment causes the woman to fall in love with the doctor. OK music from Irving Berlin, and of course good dancing, but this movie is a bit of a letdown after the highs of the duo's earlier pictures.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

There's a bit more at my blog, including a lobby card: https://dimtrails.com/2021/01/16/carefree-rko-1938/.

Movie 25. Wyoming Roundup (Monogram, 1952)



Whip Wilson ends his career as a screen cowboy for Monogram in this slight western, in which his trademark whip is missing, as Whip and a buddy end up marshals after breaking up a saloon fight but soon find themselves at cross-purposes with the men who hired them.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 26. Murder on a Bridle Path (RKO, 1936)



When an unpleasant young woman meets her doom while taking a morning ride, suspicion falls chiefly on her ex-husband, though there are plenty of other suspects to confuse matters. Luckily for Police Inspector Oscar Piper (James Gleason), Hildegarde Withers (Helen Broderick) takes an interest in the case. The movie suffers by comparison with the Edna May Oliver entries in the series, but it is good enough taken on its own terms.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 27. Terror Trail (Columbia, 1946)



Saloon owner Duke Catlett is using big herds of sheep to pressure the local cattlemen so he can get their ranches, and he makes use of a newly arrived Easterner as cover for his activities. The Durango Kid takes a hand to try to prevent a range war. A middling entry in the series, with decent music but rather too slow a pace.

Mildly recommended for fans. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 28. The Echo Murders (Anglo-American, 1945)



Sleuth Sexton Blake (David Farrar) investigates after a mine owner fearing for his life calls him in, and Blake uncovers much more than a murder. The movie tries to squeeze too much into the running time, resulting in a brisk but choppy mess where it is often unclear just what is going on; on the other hand, the viewer is unlikely to have too much difficulty identifying the guilty.

Mildly recommended at best. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 29. Hawk the Slayer (1980)



Overacting (Jack Palance, as the evil Voltan) and underperforming (John Terry, as Hawk), an adventure crew that could come straight out of a game like Dungeons & Dragons (with elf, dwarf, and giant, and an assisting sorceress), a magic sword, and treachery and naïveté don't really add up to a very entertaining movie in this sword and sorcery film likely to appeal only to genre fans.

Not recommended. Otto thinks your time would be better spent staring at the wall.

>135 harrygbutler: somehow this one reminded me of Ice Pirates. Did you ever see that one?

>136 fuzzi: Oh, yes, I've seen The Ice Pirates several times — Robert Urich and Mary Crosby and Michael D. Roberts, with the accent on comedy along with the action. It's not a very good movie, but I do like it.

>137 harrygbutler: a guilty pleasure? I remember it being bad, but funny.

>138 fuzzi: I guess so. I find these days I lack much interest in revisiting many of the movies — even those I certainly enjoyed at the time — from the 1980s and 1990s (and definitely thereafter, though those are far fewer to begin with), and I pass by the DVDs when at flea markets or thrift stores without a qualm, but I probably would pick up a copy of The Ice Pirates if I saw one.

One of the local thrift stores has proven to be a good source of movies: I never find very many at one time, but I regularly do find at least one or two DVDs to bring home. Yesterday netted four MGM musicals:

• Words and Music (1948)


• The Pirate (1948)


• Royal Wedding (1951)


• The Belle of New York (1952)

>139 harrygbutler: I thought of another bad but fun movie: Conan the Barbarian with Arnold Schwarzenegger...and James Earl Jones!

>140 harrygbutler: Vera-Ellen dancing her fool head off with Gene Kelly on the Eighth Avenue (?) ballet, the wonderful "There's a Small Hotel" by the inimitable Betty Garrett...oh my. Thanks, Harry for that delightful blast of memory.

I just watched the original When A Stranger Calls from 1979. I've always like Charles Durning, good actor, but watching that little fatty chase a much slimmer bad guy all over L.A. was definitely a high point for me.

>142 richardderus: You're welcome, Richard. I'm not sure how soon I'll get to those movies.

>143 mstrust: Fun! It has been snowing since late morning here, so I think Ski Party is likely viewing later this evening sometime.

Movie 30. City Hunter (1993)



Jackie Chan action comedy involving a criminal takeover of a cruise ship has plenty of both action and comedy, but overall it falls a little flat.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 31. The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969)



The 1960s series of Fu Manchu movies (with Christopher Lee as the fiendish doctor) limped to its close with this entry, which involves Fu Manchu taking over a fortress in Turkey while planning to use a scientist's invention to freeze water on command — if he can keep the scientist alive long enough to learn his secrets. Plodding pacing and uninterested performances overall make this one dull movie.

Not recommended. Otto thinks your time would be better spent staring at the wall.

3. The Broken Gun, by Louis L'Amour



In this mystery-thriller set in contemporary (1960s) times, an author finds himself the target of murderous ranch owners when he reveals that he is investigating what happened to a couple men who disappeared in the vicinity many years before. Good enough that I wish L'Amour had written more novels of the sort. Mildly recommended.

Movie 32. The Kid from Spain (Goldwyn / UA, 1932)



Fun in Mexico, with Eddie Cantor as a young man hiding out from the police (after inadvertently becoming involved in a robbery) and pretending to be a bullfighter.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

See my blog post for a bit more commentary and a still of Cantor in costume: https://dimtrails.com/2021/01/19/the-kid-from-spain-goldwyn-ua-1932/.

Movie 33. Tarzan and the Slave Girl (RKO, 1950)



Lex Barker returns for a second movie as Tarzan, together with a new Jane (Vanessa Brown). This time around, the jungle lord has to deal with a plague-stricken tribe's kidnapping of women for sacrifice. Efficient programmer with well-written and interesting characters.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 34. Voyage of the Rock Aliens (1984)



Terrible sci-fi musical stars Pia Zadora as a gal who just wants a chance to sing on stage and who gets her chance, and may find romance, when an alien spaceship lands nearby. Throw in a neo-rockabilly led by Pia's character's jerky boyfriend, a music video duet of Pia and Jermaine Jackson, and a couple escaped maniac killers, and you have quite something.

Not recommended, save for the curious. Otto thinks your time would be better spent staring at the wall.

>146 harrygbutler: oh, I LOVE City Hunter, though I can see the falling flat parts when I rewatch it.

I especially love the scene where Jackie Chan fights as Street Fighter characters. I never fail to laugh out loud over those.

>152 fuzzi: I'd probably watch City Hunter again sometime, but I won't rush to do so. I wasn't familiar with the source of the scene you mention, so I missed some of the humor there, though it was still funny even without that context.

Ten days Harry-less is ten days too many! Hope you are ok buddy. Come and tell us what you are reading and watching.

>154 PaulCranswick: agreed! I've been wondering myself but you posted before I did.

I want to gang up on Harry too! Where are you?

>154 PaulCranswick: >155 fuzzi: >156 mstrust: Sorry, folks. I'm doing well, but I just haven't gotten over here to post. I've been posting 2-3 times a day on my blog — of course mostly movies, as I've been averaging watching two movies per day so far this year as planned — and didn't want to just copy and paste those posts here. I may have to have recourse to summary posts for batches of movies here, but we'll see.

Movie 35. Shot in the Dark (1933)

British programmer has a bedridden man shot on a stormy night, with plenty of greedy relatives and others for suspects and an inquisitive clergyman as the chief investigator. The movie is fairly static and the performances rather too mannered, but nevertheless the film provides some modest entertainment.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 36. The Flying Deuces (RKO, 1939)



Laurel & Hardy are hapless Americans in Paris who join the French Foreign Legion so that Hardy can try to forget the woman whom he loves, and who has turned him down (as she is already married, to an officer in the Legion, no less). Lots of funny scenes in this feature, including Hardy's attempt to end it all and the duo's turn aboard an airplane, and a surreal ending, too. The standout scene, however, is a gentle one, with Hardy singing "Shine On, Harvest Moon," and both boys dancing while some fellow soldiers play.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 37. The Last of the Clintons (Ajax, 1935)



Harry Carey's soft-spoken, sympathetic charm is the key to this movie's success, as he portrays a cowboy who tries to scotch the activities of a band of outlaws, aided in part by the secondary character who gives the movie its title. Not a movie for those who dislike snakes, however, as a rattler has a recurring presence and makes a big contribution to the plot.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

>159 harrygbutler: I remember loving that film as a boy. Peter, my twin and I used to watch Laurel and Hardy avidly.

>161 PaulCranswick: Even their weaker efforts are quite entertaining. I've watched nearly all of their features, I think, although I don't recall ever actually seeing their final film, Utopia.

Movie 38. The Millerson Case (Columbia, 1947)



The Crime Doctor, Doctor Ordway (Warner Baxter), contends with typhoid as well as murder in this outing, as a backwoods vacation proves no relaxing getaway.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 39. Silver Blaze (1937)



Arthur Wontner wrapped up his run as Sherlock Holmes with this outing, also known as Murder at the Baskervilles, once again squaring off against the plots of Professor Moriarty that result in both theft and murder. Fairly entertaining, with both Wontner and Ian Fleming (as Watson) comfortable in their roles, and Lyn Harding suitably menacing as Moriarty.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 40. Out of Sight (Universal, 1966)



This spy comedy will likely remind the viewer of American International's beach movies, right down to the inclusion of musical acts (here including Freddie and the Dreamers and Gary Lewis and the Playboys). There's not a whole lot of plot, with Jonathan Daly as a butler pretending to be his absent master (the real secret agent) to help investigate odd goings-on down by the beach, but it's rather entertaining nonetheless. Auto fanatics will likely enjoy the extended look at the ZZR, a hot rod designed and built by Barris Kustoms.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

And The Turtles too!
The only actor named that I recognize is Robert Pine from CHiPs, and the even better Empire of the Ants, which I'm compelled to watch the rare times I come across it. So much ant carnage.

Hi Harry! I hopevall is well with you.
I discovered Movies! On Comcast and have been recording and watching some goodies. Netflix good in the world on the regular as well as Rathbone-Bruce Sherlock Holmes every week.

Dropping a star.

Yippee! Harry's back.

>166 mstrust: I recognized the lead, but I wouldn't have been able to name him without help from the credits. And I did spot Robert Pine as "the guy from CHiPs before checking the credits. I've identified a few other non-American International beach-type movies to check out, but unfortunately not all are readily available. I'll report on those I do find, though, as I watch them.

>167 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie! Good to see you back again! I'm watching plenty of movies, trying for an average of 2 a day; we're closing in on the end of the Rathbone-Bruce Sherlock Holmes movies ourselves, with just a few more to go. I've been a bit slow at posting here, however — though I just posted a comment on movie #40 today, I actually watched movie #95 today, and my blog has covered up through #85. Long term, I hope to get the blog to the point where I post about movies the day after I watch them.

>168 fuzzi: Yep, though I continue to be disappointed with the direction in which LT is trending in terms of the functionality I actually use, with touchstones remaining problematic and seemingly getting no attention, and, as I just discovered today, the work page no longer identifying conversations in which the work was mentioned (via touchstone), which makes going back to comments in previous threads much more tedious.

>171 harrygbutler: I am hoping that the LT bugs will continue to be FIXED.

Hello Harry!

I'm not sure what to watch. I've recorded a few things. The Two Mrs. Carrolls seems to be calling my name.

>171 harrygbutler: I just tested the three movies in 163 164 & 165, Harry, and they all did come up in conversations at the work page.

>172 fuzzi: That's my hope as well, but my confidence is rather low. The APIs have been broken for months, and I've been waiting weeks for follow-up on a bug in one of the widgets such that it doesn't actually work the way the instructions say that it does. More concerning are things like the fact that 3 years later there is still no ability to link LT and Litsy accounts. (Not that I use Litsy, but still to me a bad sign.) And most of concern to me is how often the site slows to a crawl and searches fail, a persistent problem. That has been a common-enough issue that I've considered just abandoning the site, as I worry about its long-term stability, and I know it was a consideration in my exploring using a blog for my movie and book comments.

>173 brodiew2: I don't think I've ever seen The Two Mrs. Carrolls, but with that cast it should be pretty good. I'm trying to make sure we watch a good mix of movies, but I'm also moving forward in chronological order through a few series of movies, too.

>174 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

I was specifically trying to find where I had talked about the movie Our Man Flint (I'm not putting in a touchstone on purpose) late last year, and yet when I went to the Our Man Flint work page (https://www.librarything.com/work/12286284/book/191233704) there was no category for conversations. I think I figured out what happened there, now, though I still think it's a problem (but perhaps not a bug). When I put in the touchstone, in order to force it to go to the right spot, I used the work number plus title, but then the movie as I cataloged it was combined with an existing work (maybe even by me). Now, although the touchstone redirects properly to the work page, I think the work page doesn't recognize it as a touchstone pointing to the work page.

>177 harrygbutler: :rolling eyes:

I've noticed that there are some LT bugs that are over a year old that appear to be placed in the "on hold" bin. I understand that upgrades to make mobile use work better are exciting and important, but the search/Touchstone issues have been unresolved for some time, and do deserve some attention. IMO.

>178 fuzzi: Yep, I do understand they may have differing priorities, but the frequent failure of search has made it unpleasant to spend time during those periods — for example, on the weekends — when I can't count on the site functioning well.

>179 harrygbutler: And just now, the page wouldn't update, so I had to manually refresh to see that my post had actually posted. Of course, that was only after trying to publish the post a second time provoked the "Duplicate Post" warning. Ugh.

I was going to post a few more movie comments, but clearly things aren't quite right, at least for my interaction with the site, at the moment. I'll stop back again later.

>180 harrygbutler: sorry to see you're having issues as well.

I'm going to go rant about Touchstones on one of my threads, I think.

>181 fuzzi: Thanks for the sympathy. The site seems quite slow today but otherwise OK, so maybe I can get a few comments posted.

Movie 41. Boot Hill Bandits (Monogram, 1942)



Solid entry in the Range Busters series has the boys coming to the aid of a sheriff who has been unable to put a stop to a rash of stage robberies. Watch for Elmer fooling a bad guy.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 42. The Invisible Killer (PDC, 1939)



The usual stuff here, with a plucky reporter (Grace Bradley) verbally sparring with a homicide detective (Roland Drew) while they both investigate murders tied in with a gambling racket. The murder method is rather far-fetched but adds a touch of interest.

Mildly recommended at best. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 43. Santo y el águila real (1973)



Santo comes to the aid of a young woman, the daughter of an old friend, in this dull entry in the series. Not enough weirdness, although a trained eagle does add a little interest.

Not recommended. Otto thinks your time would be better spent staring at the wall.

Movie 44. Radar Secret Service (Lippert, 1950)



It's radar to the rescue, in a movie where federal agents are able to use the marvelous power of radar to foil dastardly criminals. Slow-moving despite the technological marvel, with long shots of cars driving around, and an utterly unrealistic view of what radar can accomplish.

Mildly recommended at best. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 45. A Case for P.C. 49 (Hammer, 1951)



A rather dim-witted police constable's fiancée proves an adept detective herself in this British programmer based on a radio show, with the two principals recreating their roles from the airwaves. The complicated story involves the killing of an alleged attacker as part of a bigger plot and a femme fatale working her wiles on the ambitious P.C. 49. Entertaining.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

No winners today for Otto?

>188 fuzzi: Nothing that really stood out. Never fear, though, there will be more good ones. Of course, most fall into the "mildly recommended" category.

Hey Harry! One of my favorite Louis L'Amour short story collections Riding for the Brand is on sale today for $1.99 US at Amazon (and others):

https://www.amazon.com/Riding-Brand-Western-Louis-LAmour-ebook/dp/B00W0LW7JO?_bb...

>190 fuzzi: Thanks for spreading the word. I already have that collection in book form, so I'll skip the ebook.

Hi, Harry!
>186 harrygbutler: The guy in the poster looks like he's walking like an Egypt-iaaan...

>192 mstrust: He does, doesn't he? Hi, Jennifer!

I see that the site's problems with extremely slow page loading have been fixed, at least temporarily, so I guess I'll add some more posts.

Movie 46. Outlaws of Stampede Pass (Monogram, 1943)



Johnny Mack Brown and Raymond Hatton are back as U.S. Marshals Nevada Jack Mackenzie and Sandy Hopkins. This time around, they work undercover to help out Sandy's nephew, the victim of cheats and cattle rustlers. Sandy's unprepossessing guise for this effort is as a dentist. Fun and fairly fast-moving.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 47. Safari Drums (Allied Artists, 1953)



At the commissioner's request, Bomba (Johnny Sheffield) accompanies a safari out to capture footage of wild animals because an unknown member of the safari had murdered a geologist and had stolen both diamonds and a map to a diamond mine. All the folks on the safari are relatively unsympathetic, and Bomba reveals his innate cleverness in seeing through their efforts to manipulate him, but the identity of the mystery killer is unfortunately rather disappointing.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 48. She (1984)



It's the goofy post-apocalypse, with Sandahl Bergman as the title character, who owes very little to H. Rider Haggard's famed creation. A "goddess" who slays her lovers, she finds herself drawn to one of two brothers out to rescue their sister from the evil (even more evil than She) Norks, and she and her bodyguard join them on their quest through strange zones and conflicts with weird inhabitants, but the weirdness isn't particularly interesting, and the battle scenes don't work very well.

Not recommended. Otto thinks your time would be better spent staring at the wall.

>197 harrygbutler: I'm with Otto. *shudder*

I watched The Phantom of 42nd Street last night with my YGC...a few actual laughs and a fun play-reviewer sleuth acted by Dave O'Brien...but the PRC curse of "ending? what ending?" struck again.

>198 richardderus: I last watched The Phantom of 42nd Street a couple years ago. I recall enjoying it well enough. Dave O'Brien always performs with such gusto that it is easy to be carried along.

Movie 49. South of the Chisholm Trail (Columbia, 1947)



Steve Haley helps out ranchers making a cattle drive to a better market, and his alter ego, the Durango Kid, does his part to disrupt outlaws' schemes to take over the herd. This good entry in the series has music from Hank Newman and the Georgia Crackers and comedy and music from Smiley Burnette.

Recommended for fans. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 50. High Flyers (RKO, 1937)



The prominence of co-star Lupe Velez is noteworthy in the poster for High Flyers, the last of Wheeler & Woolsey's movies together (as Bob died the following year), as she gets a good part of the screen time as well, including a song of her own. The boys are inadvertently involved in a jewel heist and end up in the home of the actual owner of the stolen property. A fun time, with a kleptomaniac dog adding to the confusion as the crooks track the boys down and try to grab the loot.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 51. Drums of the Desert (Monogram, 1940)



Ralph Byrd stars as a French Foreign Legion officer introducing airborne operations to the service, with Mantan Moreland on hand as the NCO leading Senegalese paratroopers. A fair amount of action is blended with drama, romance, and comedy for an entertaining low-budget adventure.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Harry - Great idea to add movies to the list, I think I will adopt it.

>203 brewbooks: Glad you like it! I do have to remember to post about the books I'm reading, too. :-)

4. Roman Antiquities, Books 8-9.24, by Dionysius of Halicarnassus; trans. by Earnest Cary

This volume of Roman Antiquities covers the post-exile career of Coriolanus and his battles with the Roman Republic, and the aftermath, in which ill feeling and strife continued within the state and with external foes. Recommended.

Movie 52. The Great Hotel Murder (Fox, 1935)



Frequent co-stars Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglen take a turn in a mystery, with Lowe as a famed mystery novelist and McLaglen a hotel detective together — and in competition — pursuing an investigation into the murder of a doctor attending a convention at the hotel where McLaglen works and Lowe lives. The interplay between the two actors is the chief reason to give the movie a look, though the mystery is serviceable. The ending in the version I saw is extremely abrupt and suggests that some footage has been lost, so it is not as satisfying as it might otherwise be.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 53. Tarzan of the Apes (First National, 1918)



The first filmed version of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan of the Apes stars movie strongman Elmo Lincoln, who does a decent job as the jungle lord, though the movie is probably stolen by Gordon Griffith as Tarzan in childhood. Portions of the movie are now missing, but it was still complete enough to get the whole story of Tarzan's origin, growth, and finding of love.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 54. Nine Girls (Columbia, 1944)



Sorority girls at a weekend get-together fall under suspicion when an unpopular member is murdered, and mutual distrust soon grows when they are confined together by the investigating police. Unfortunately, there are a few too many suspects, and it may prove difficult to distinguish among quite similar characters. A poor structure to the movie is a problem as well; the murderer is revealed far too soon, transforming the picture from a mystery to a thriller, but it doesn't work quite so well in that regard.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 55. Crossfire in Caracas (original title: El hombre de Caracas) (1967)



A new secret agent is tasked with putting a stop to the organization that has attacked a munitions train in Venezuela and may have plans to steal even more weapons and pass them along to anti-government forces. An interesting locale is the highlight of this multinational production, as the hero is rather too ineffective for too much of the movie. Still, worth a look for those interested in the genre to get a glimpse of a South American contribution to the 1960s spy movie genre.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 56. The Pointing Finger (1933)



Slow-moving crime movie has a wastrel relation planning the killing of his cousin, who is away in Africa, so as to inherit himself, but offers up a twist when the cousin returns, albeit suffering from amnesia. Dull viewing.

Not recommended. Otto thinks your time would be better spent staring at the wall.

Movie 57. Haunted Gold (WB, 1932)



A ghost town and an abandoned mine are central to the action in this western, featuring an inquiring young man (John Wayne) with a share in the diggings and a young woman whose father had lost his share, both summoned to the town by mysterious letters, along with the crook who holds that share. Skulking figures and spooky goings-on abound, along with some comedy and a smart horse. My blog post has an additional image of one of the lobby cards for the movie: https://dimtrails.com/2021/02/01/haunted-gold-wb-1932/.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 58. Mr. Moto Takes a Chance (Twentieth Century Fox, 1938)



There's exotic adventure at the court of an innocuous-seeming prince in French Indochina in this Mr. Moto outing. He's working as an archaeologist when an American aviatrix crashes nearby and at the same time two American cameramen show up by river. What are the secrets hidden in the local temple and concealed by the prince and his chief advisor? Fun stuff, including an excellent disguise for Moto, with enough action and wry humor to satisfy.

Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Dropping in to catch up and say hello:)

Have a lovely weekend filled with great movies.

>213 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita! I hope your weekend is great as well!

58 movies already, Harry. I didn't see any books for a while?

Have a great weekend.

>215 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. I'm actually about a month behind on posting about books, magazines, or movies here on my thread. I'll probably go ahead and start a new one once I finally catch up through the end of January.

I hope you have had a great weekend, too!

Hi, Harry!
We watched the 1963 version of Lord of the Flies. I've never been able to finish the book so the ending was a surprise :-D

Hi Harry! Just catching up on Otto's viewing reviews.

You about ready for March's L'Amour book?

>218 fuzzi: I've got a few more such reviews (and some for books and magazines) to wrap up January — so I'm only about 6 weeks behind on that! :-)

On the reading front, however, I finished up Guns of the Timberlands a couple days ago. (And earlier today completed Alistair MacLean's When Eight Bells Toll.)

>219 harrygbutler: ooh! My favorite MacLean!

I just finished up a reread of Locked Rooms, so Guns of the Timberlands is in the queue. It's been so long since I first read it (about 1990?) that I have no memory of the plot or anything, it'll be like a new read.

>220 fuzzi: Favourite MacLean? Puppet on a Chain for me.

>221 PaulCranswick: I've got that one in the queue, but the best laid plans of mice and men...

>220 fuzzi: I didn't really remember the plot of Guns of the Timberlands myself.

>221 PaulCranswick: >222 fuzzi: I've not read Puppet on a Chain yet, though I do have it on the shelf, but it will probably be at least next month before I get around to another MacLean.

>217 mstrust: Hi, Jennifer! I've never seen the movie version of The Lord of the Flies. I didn't like the book, so I doubt I ever will.

5. Meet Fred Basset, by Alex Graham



Though I always read Fred Basset whenever I had access to a comics page that had the strip, I didn't know there were any collections until I ran into this paperback a few months ago. It did prove a nice little opportunity to revisit the character. Mildly recommended.

Movie 59. Texas Trouble Shooters (Monogram, 1942)



The Range Busters help out young heirs to a ranch against crooks who want the property because it has oil on it. There's a reasonable amount of action and the usual healthy portion of comedy, too.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 60. The Sleep of Death (1980)



A snoozer of a horror movie, an Irish-Swedish co-production based on a work of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, The Sleep of Death is plodding and poorly lit and overall rather boring, with nothing of interest even in the possible monster(s). Stay away.

Not recommended. Otto thinks your time would be better spent staring at the wall.

Movie 61. Dance of Death (original title: Wu quan) (1976)



A young woman (Angela Mao) aims to learn martial arts in order to avenger her murdered friends but finds that the two main techniques in which she has been trained aren't enough. Will her teachers be able to come up with another style of fighting to give her victory?

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

6. Dead as a Dinosaur, by Frances Lockridge & Richard Lockridge



This mystery opens with an author, a palaeontologist published by Jerry North’s firm, being harassed by means of fake ads in newspapers claiming he wishes to hire, e.g., tree surgeons, but the initially rather comic situation turns grim after a poisoning and a death that Pam North can't help but think isn't a simple suicide. There are suspects galore and a rather well-done sequence with tension building in a museum at night with an unknown killer on the loose. Recommended.

Movie 62. The Playgirls and the Vampire (original title: L'ultima preda del vampiro) (1960)



Danger awaits a traveling troupe of performers when they seek shelter at an isolated castle during a storm. Weird happenings follow, bringing doom but also perhaps something better for members of the group. A little slow, but overall fairly engaging, with an unusual variation on the theme of the undead.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 63. Steamboat Bill, Jr. (UA, 1928)



Buster Keaton stars as the title character, the citified son of a rough steamboat captain who is facing competition from a brand-new vessel put in service by the town banker, who just happens to be the father of a young woman Bill, Jr., knew in college. Romance soon blooms, but there's plenty of opposition as well from the parents. Melodramatic situations set the stage for lots of stunning physical comedy, especially when a huge storm hits.

You can see a still of the two Steamboat Bills in my blog post: https://dimtrails.com/2021/02/04/steamboat-bill-jr-ua-1928/.

Highly recommended! Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

7. Nightmare in New York, by Don Pendleton



The seventh Executioner book was my seventh book of the year. In this entry in the series, Mack Bolan returns to the U.S. by way of New York and ends up battling the Mob there, while innocents are caught up in the strife. Violent action as usual, but a good installment for driving home the evil of the Mafia and its minions. Recommended for fans of the series.

Movie 64. Ski Party (American International, 1965)



Off to the mountains instead of the beach in this American International picture, as college guys Frankie Avalon and Dwayne Hickman head for the slopes to woo a couple coeds (Deborah Walley and Yvonne Craig). There's not much plot, but there's some good music, including Lesley Gore singing “Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows” and James Brown and the Fabulous Flames doing “I Feel Good,” some suitably amusing hijinks, and some oddness (a yodeling, skiing polar bear, for example). Pleasing overall.

Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

And >233 harrygbutler: and >234 harrygbutler: wrap up the books and movies for January, so I'll probably start a new thread tomorrow.