Reviews (7)

NOT WHAT I THOUGHT IT TO BE
Ok im a big fan of EVELYN ANKERS.So I bought this movie because of her.But she was only in about 5 scenes.Also this movie should be called DEBT OF THE INVISIBLE MAN.Its about a family who owes
Robert Griffen money.Im not trying to ruin AMAZONS career ,but its not a very good movie.

DESTINED TO BECOME INVISIBLE ON YOUR FAVORITE LIST
The "menace and out-and-out horror" promised by Universal are invisible in this rather lukewarm installment in the "IM" series. Star Jon Hall is pretty to look at, and he might even be a good thespian, though the script (and Ford Bebbe's clumsy direction) certainly don't give him any chance to prove it. The plot is as vapid as it is improbable (and confusing): A man named Robert Griffin stows away on a ship, returning to England to get the money owed to him by his "business partners," who happened to be Mr. and Mrs. We end up with bad guy versus badder guy and gal ... with lots of plot manipulations and oversized hypodermic needles thrown in. What makes the film worth watching (once) are the (limited) special effects; most specially the scene in which Griffin reveals his invisible eyes and the nifty bit in which he splatters flour on his face to prove his identity to a friend. This Wells have run dry.

Lackluster Universal Effort
Jon Hall wants revenge on the couple that have swindled him out of a fortune. He not only expects to take over their estate, but he also expects their daughter's hand in marriage as well. He stumbles upon a doctor experimenting with invisibility, and uses this weapon to get what he wants. This film had some potential, but much of it is wasted. Jon Hall isn't much of an actor (not that the role required him to be), so he isn't very compelling. Evelyn Ankers, the scream queen, is given very little to do here, appearing in just a few throw away scenes. The great Gale Sondergaard, a great presence in many movies, shows up in the first third of the film, then disappears (suffering from nerves, it is explained in the story). John Carradine is fun as the scientist, the only somewhat memorable character. The back story of the plot is confusing, leaving me with more questions than answers, and the direction is choppy. There are a few good special effects, but that's not enough to compensate for the rest of the film. I usually like these Universal horror films, but this one need a complete overhaul before it was even filmed.

"Mildly Rewarding B horror film-delivers the goods."
Caught this flick last night on AMC, not to mention I own it, but it's been a while since I last seen it. But it's safe to say that it still holds it's status as a minor yet very enjoyable B Horror film. Right from the first studio that Dripped blood-"Universal". This was their 5th and final entry in their Invisible Man series, and while it's not on par(there's no denying it) with it's 4 predeccors, it's definatly an above average B shocker-that still manages to outdistance any of their Mummy films that were being produced at the time(with the exception of The Mummy's Hand(1940), of course) A very classy film for it's kind(for it's status) the film benifits from an Exceptional cast, John Carridine comes to mind. Beautiful Camera work by Milton Krasner, a fine atmosphereic score by Universal regular Hans J. Salter, and some rather compentent if-rather awkward direction by B film specialist Ford Bebe, who seems to have a stronger feel for pacing rather than for atmosphereics, moving the film along in a brisk direction, never making the audience feel bored--a saving grace from that somewhat muddled film script that the filmakers seem to be working from, most notably in the opening and middle reels of the film. Another thing that boggs the film down is the clumsy editing job, theres a certain air about the picture thats seems it could have been benifited by a much tighter constuction, netherless the film as a whole suffers, and the much comedic padding doesn't help matters either. Still u get a film that suceeds in what it's meant to do--entertain. And while the film suffers from scripting and techincal matters...the film still emerges as a slightly above-average B shocker, and one of the very last of their decent horror entries, before Universal ventured off into the "non-competent" era of Horror, the 1945-1946 period, churning out such "B" dreadfuls as The Brute Man, and Shewolf of London(both 1946) until they finnaly closed their doors on their Horror product altogether.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Grade: B- 84%

My 2nd Favorite Invisible Man Movie!
Okay, technically, my 2nd favorite Invisible Man movie is "The Invisible Woman", but that's a comedy.

"Revenge" is actually the only one of the "Invisible Man" sequels in which the Invisible Man is a true menace like he was in the Claude Rains original.

The plot doesn't make much sense, and Jon Hall is no Claude Raines or Vincent Price, but don't let any of that throw you. Enjoy his wreaking vengeance on those whom he accuses of wronging him, and the clever and innovative photographic tricks. This Invisible Man is seen with water on his face 56 years before "Hollow Man!" ... Read more

Reviews (1)

ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES (1944)
(Action/Adventure, 1 hr 27 min, Technicolor) Universal - U.S.A.

DIRECTOR: Arthur Lubin

CAST: Scotty Beckett, Turhan Bey, Andy Devine, Jon Hall, Frank Puglia, Kurt Katch, Maria Montez (As: Amara)

COMMENTS: This Arabian Nights fantasy follows the exploits of the Caliph of Baghdad's son, who runs off into the desert after his father is killed by raiding Mongols.

There he encounters the legendary 40 thieves and watches in amazement as their command, "Open Sesame," magically parts a solid rock wall, revealing a cavernous hiding place filled with treasures.

He is adopted by the thieves, dubbed "Ali Baba," and grows up to be their leader. As an adult, Ali sets out to avenge his father's death and to free his land from the reigning Mongols.

The film is set in the ancient Middle East. Maria Montez stars as Amara, a Baghdad beauty, who is one of the main reasons of the fight between the Mongol Khan Hulagu and Ali Baba.

In this time, Maria demonstrated that she will never accept to do scenes or scene parts against her will. For instance, the director Arthur Lubin tried to convince her of appearing naked inside of a pool, the problem was solved when Lubin accepted to put her in a bubble bath.

Before beginning working in the most popular and commercial movie of its time, Maria said to the media: "According to my horoscope, the name I will have in this movie will not augur me success."

The producers thought Montez wanted to change the name they assigned her and they allowed her to do so.

The actress Miriam Colón, from Puerto Rico, appeared in this film, but she was not credited in the cast. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Colorful adventure of brotherly ill will
Ancient fantasy of two brothers who are caliphs-in-waiting is a dazzling, colorful film presented in lush Technicolor. Nature's beauty of deep blue skies, thick white clouds and golden desert sand dunes are well-served in this yarn of palace intrigue and murder as Kamar [Leif Erickson] usurps the throne that rightfully belongs to his brother Haroun [Jon Hall]. The beautiful and exotic Sherazade [Maria Montez] aspires to marry a caliph and is instrumental along with Ali Ben Ali [Sabu] in rescuing Haroun from his brother's henchmen and nursing him back to health. Chase scenes, swordfights and comedy are sprinkled throughout the story but it is the vibrant color interiors and exteriors that arrest all attention in this film. Hall is a virile and likeable hero, Montez a lovely girl who vows no man will ever win her heart, Erickson a narrow-eyed plotter and Edgar Barrier's Nadan is a dark shadow who hovers about the film as an evil opportunist.

Scherezade in Arizona
One of the most beloved escapisms from 40's Warner Bros., that features Maria Montez, Sabu and Jon Hall as the most energetic trio in this sexy camp classic, that it's a sure, colorful entertainment; a rollercoasting Hollywood carnival.
The real show on this is the presence of that genius named Maria Montez, an incredibly bad actress, that finds her way in this type of nonsensical "It is Written" adventures, that makes the desert of Arizona the ideal faking for Arab-themed stories. She's ideal with cheap jewelry and exaggerated make-up, and dancing with an inneffable style (her dancing shows in these films are astonishing, specially in Cobra woman).

ARABIAN NIGHTS (1942)
(Action/Adventure, 1 hr 26 min, Technicolor) Universal - U.S.A.

DIRECTOR: John Rawlins

CAST: Edgar Barrier, Leif Erickson, Billy Gilbert, Thomas Gomez, Jon Hall, John Qualen, Sabu, Shemp Howard, Maria Montez (As: Sherezade)

COMMENTS: The legal heir to the throne of the Caliph, played by Jon Hall, is attacked and almost murdered by his evil brother, played by Leif Erickson, who seizes the throne.

A dancing girl (Maria Montez) finds the wounded heir and nurses him back to health. They fall in love, and he sets off on a series of adventures accompanied by a trusted friend (Sabu), an aging Aladdin in search of his mislaid lamp (John Qualen), and a bragging, shiftless Sinbad in his declining years (Shemp Howard).

It's all adolescent adventure but great fun and the production is lavish in all areas, particularly the costumes, sets, and wonderful, lush color which the public was impressed with. The film earned Oscar nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Interior Decoration, Best Sound, and Best Score.

To Maria, it was her first important role, as the beautiful dancer Scherezade, considering that she had to deal with an absurd dialogue. And this was the movie that gave her the nickname of "The Queen of Technicolor".

GREAT ADVENTURE TALE FOR WHOLE FAMILY
From the foolish acts of her father, Sheherazade is cast under a spell by evil caliph. But, true love (Shemp) is artfully working to save her. The forty-thieves come to ride. Sabu (from the Jungle Book) helps until he finds a curiosity in an old Genie's lamp. This is the first teaming of Montez, Hall, and Sabu. Thankful the successful trio went on to make more. If some reviewers find this tale trite, perhaps it is because it lacks the gore and step-by-step sex of other flicks. This is for the whole family and to me, a fun tale. Enjoy ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Enjoyable version of the classic,with evil Crabbe a standout
Obviously, Len Maltin never saw the film, as he has the lead roles reversed. Actually, Jon Hall plays Major Duncan Heyward, and Michael O'Shea plays Hawk-Eye. Color, and an interesting cast, make this version linger in your memory. Buster Crabbe has the best non-starring role, of his career, as the villainous Magua. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

BUCKO LARSON.
A better-than-average action film which co-stars two attractive actors in the leads: the ultimately tragic Frances Farmer and the adonis-like Jon Hall. Victor McLaglen plays the above character, who leads an expedition to the South Seas in search of pearls, but meets with resistance from a tribal chief who is protecting his people's wealth from the fortune hunters. McLaglen uses Farmer as a ploy to attract their chief, Hall & the pair marry. But the pearl hunt is thwarted...A hard-hitting action film with first-rate photography (colour would have elevated this to five stars). Frances Farmer was beautiful and talented but self-destructive: her alcoholism would impede her career and force her early retirement in 1942 at the age of 28. Farmer was eventually committed to mental institutions - with her mother's approval. Eventually, after many hellish experiences, she made a comeback in an inept 1958 film entitled THE PARTY CRASHERS, co-starring with the equally tragic former child star Bobby Driscoll. Farmer hosted a television movie matinee in Indianapolis entitled FRANCES FARMER PRESENTS. When she slurred her words thusly: FRANCES FARMER PREVENTS on the air, she was quickly dismissed into total obscurity from the public: she died in 1970 aged 56. Jessica Lange played her life story excellently in the biographical film from 1982 entitled FRANCES.

This needs to be in the south seas adventure hall of fame.
Edward Small took director Alfred E. Green's cast and crew - an uncommonly attractive and brilliant assemblage- to the south seas to do the majority of this curiously undersung piece on location. Far less stylized/dated than Goldwyn's THE HURRICANE, it is admittedly riddled with cliches and formula, but packaged in such visual and technical excellence it scarcely matters.

There are scenes that will stop the heart. Chiseled adonis Jon Hall and porcelain idol Frances Farmer outlined in profile(s) against the steaming background volcano take the romantic closeup to a level that defies comparison.

Edward Small's films typically were strings of frames any one of which was an individual work of art in itself. What can one say but that with this one he outdid even himself, as did workhorse composer Edward Ward on song and score, some years prior to his work on Universal's stunning PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lorre fans only!
The important thing to remember when judging Lorre and this film is to separate Lorre's performance from the rest of this silly and farfetched motion picture. Peter's role almost seems as if it was intended for another, more serious film.

Well, the invisible agent in this story is presumably the invisible man's grandson, who has changed his name to hide from those who seek to use his invisible formula for immoral uses. Enter the Nazis, headed by head goose-stepper Sir Cedric Hardwicke, and Peter Lorre, an old school Japanese baron who seek to acquire this formula and use it for the usual and universally known axis intentions. Of course the grandson escapes from their torturous clutches and becomes an undercover agant for the allies, an invisible one, who infiltrates Germany and proceeds to play a bunch of practical jokes on inept Nazi officers as a prelude to intercepting the Nazi's "secret" plans for an attempted invasion of America.

The invisible scenes are hilarious, as Jon Hall seems more intent on sleeping, eating, drinking champagne, and hitting on beautiful German double agents than actually getting these oh-so-vital Nazi plans. However, when Lorre is on screen, which unfortunately is for only three or four short scenes, his intense and sinister presence enhances the picture immensely and adds the appropriate drama that the rest of this film so pathetically lacks.

Cornering Hall in his paper shop in the United States, Lorre makes terrifying use of a paper cutter, causing psychological nervousness by calmly chopping down the blade behind the cornered Jon Hall's back, and later using it as a unique Lorrean device of torture to make him talk.

Later in the film, Lorre captures Hall and spirits him to the Japanese embassy, intending to bring his secret back to the Land of the Rising Sun for the good of his own people. Hardwicke and the Nazis soon arrive and confront Lorre as a betrayer. Quick as an asp, Lorre karate chops Hardwicke in the neck and expertly discharges him upon the floor. Then, with an unforgettable expression of contempt mixed with sinister and warped compassion, Lorre pulls out a knife, tells Hardwicke that he is going to make an honorable man out of him and then coldbloodedly stabs him in the heart. Then, in one of my all-time favorite scenes, Lorre goes to a prepared corner of the embassy interior and turns the knife on himself, his gaze intense and unwavering, performing hari-kari and falling dead upon the floor without a sound.

Lorre's performance is quite reminicent of his earlier Moto films, yet the intensity of his role is sustained by not one other member of the talented cast. Peter brought a gun to a pillow fight here, and as a result one of his better portrayals is lost in all the hokeyness and laughter. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Your jaw will drop
Wow. Incredible special effects close out the last half hour of this film, in which a small Pacific island near Tahiti is obliterated by a collossal hurricane. The action scenes are amazing, as buildings, boats, people and trees are swept away by unstoppable nature. The plot revolves around the noble seafaring Terangi, a native who runs afoul of an unbending legal system, and has to go to great lengths to return to his family, and to prove his valor and nobility. Played by athlete-turned-actor John Hall, Terangi has a major "me Tarzan" quality to him, but is compelling nonetheless. Dorothy Lamour, in her trademark sarong, also plays a Polynesian. If you can get past the silliness of these white folks playing "ethnic" roles, this is a superior, and quite stunning film. As ever, a tightly crafted movie by director John Ford.

A special effects storm that has never been surpassed
The main reason to watch this 1937 film directed by John Ford is for the special effects as the title storm wrecks the fictional island of Manikoora. Certainly the cornball romance between the native girl Marama (Dorothy Lamour) and the sailor Terangi (Jon Hall) is not particularly captivating. Terangi is unjustly imprisoned for a murder he did not commit and escapes just as a hurricane strikes the island and makes it difficult for him to return to his wife. The hurricane sequence is what justifies five stars for this film as giant waves and battering winds destroy the sets and miniatures. Let me put it this way: the special effects in this 1937 film are at least as impressive as anything you see in "The Perfect Storm." The supporting cast features Raymond Massey as the heartless Governor De Laage, Mary Astor as his more sympathetic wife, John Carradine as the warden, C. Aubrey Smith as Father Paul and Thomas Mitchell as Dr. Kersaint in an Oscar nominated role for Supporting Actor. If you can track down a copy of "Hurricane" check it out, but do not do so on a dark and stormy night.

Hurricane
Don't watch this dvd if you are afraid of hurricanes! The last time I saw this marvelous John Ford film was on the morning of August 23, 1992-AMC Movie Channel, as bad coincidence would have it, was broadcasting The Hurricane, as Hurricane Andrew was tear- ing into Miami. I don't know which was more terrifying, the winds outside, smashing trees to the ground-or seeing the priest playing the organ as the walls came caving in, and the churchbell silenced........it is, for it's time, THE most realistic depict- ion of a hurricane as you are likely to get. And very advanced social commentary, that the imposition of rigidly-observed col- onial rules damaged those whom it was imposed on, that it drained the life out of them. Not to mention rigidity on a personal lev- el wrecked relationships, ruining love. Rather a parable of para dise lost and destroyed-to great effect. What could have been a humdrum boring sermon became an electrifying tale under the sure hand of John Ford. John Hall and Dorothy Lamour really never had such a workout of their craft again!

Doesn't spare any puches. There's a terrifying scene of an is- lander mother giving birth in a canoe, surrounded by her family and the doctor, being jounced around and battered by the storm in all it's fury-you have to buy this. You won't regret it. It has not lost any of it's punch, it is as applicable today as then.

Category 5 Hurricane
Bliss of islanders Terangi (Hall) and Marama (Lamour) is threatened by overzealous, rigid (yet tenderly devoted to wife Germaine) colonial governor De Laage (Massey), obsessed with the letter of the law--until nature intervenes to settle the conflict and soften De Laage's heart. Enduring a lengthy period of false incarceration, Terangi is reunited with beloved Marama and young daughter Tita--on the eve of the hurricane that will overwhelm their tiny island, yet ironically, despite great human toll, reconcile persecutor and persecuted. Awesome, riveting hurricane sequence still is unsurpassed after more than sixty years. Ever intensifying gale force winds tear away the tattered tricolor, signalling the end of colonial government's vain attempt to impose bureaucratic order on the island. Storm surge violently and indiscriminately carries away trappings of church and state, as nature asserts its primacy over man. Top notch cast, especially Mary Astor as De Laage's gracious wife Germaine, more than hold their own with the hurricane--the real star of the film.

Hurricane is Rare Event
This film is very exciting and has good production. It the head of its time in the seventh art for its high quality effects. The message of the film is about destructive natural hurricane with its similar hurricane of human life represented in black side of man. I.e. hatred injustice and conspiracy. These bad things are the true hurricane that travels inside man which would get ride of what it meets like natural hurricane. This is quite clear in the film the ruler(Raymond Massey ) and the young man(Jon Hall ). The similarity between the two films is the destruction of every thing that the hurricane meets. It among lines message which the film seeks to convey. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Early DUKE Vehicle...
Just three years or so away from stardom in "Stagecoach", this 1936 movie shows all of the things that made fans love John Wayne.

The story follows John Blair (Wayne), and his pal Larry Adams as they leave the Pony Express when it folds. Given two thoroughbred horses each by the defunct mail service, The DUKE sets his mind to opening up a stage line.

When crooked stage line operator Drake sells them the Crecent City run, it looks like John and Larry have wasted their money. Crecent City went bust after the local gold mine played out, and Drake forced all the business to his city. Too bad Drake didn't know he was tangling with The DUKE!

Blair almost singlehandedly brings the town back to life one piece at a time. The one final step in his plan is a stage line mail contract, and it's the Drake line vs. Blair & Adams in a race to Sacremento. The winner gets the big contract, and Drake is out to stop DUKE by hook or by crook!

There's a pretty good plot in this one, and a surprising amount of humor along with the action. Although clocking in at only 55 minutes, there's a lot of young DUKE action!

A fun ride, "Winds of the Wasteland" on this DVD is a great bargain for the price, and no DUKE fan should miss it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An overlong Craig Kennedy serial thriller in 15 chapters
In this 15-chapter Weiss serial from 1936 the hero is Craig Kennedy (Jack Mulhall), who has to face all sorts of cliffhanging obstacles before he can unmask the true identity of the sinister master criminal, the Clutching Hand. The story is based on the novel "Craig Kennedy" by Arthur B. Reeve and starts with Dr. Paul Gironda (Robert Frazer) discovering a formula for the manufacture of synthetic gold and then suddenly disappearing under mysterious circumstances. Newspaper reporter Walter Jameson (Rex Lease), who happens to be engaged to Gironda's daughter Verna (Marion Shilling), calls Craig Kennedy for help. Of course, Verna is quickly placed in peril as well and as you might expect each chapter ends with someone in need of rescue. These 15 chapters run a grand total of 306 minutes and if it was half as long it would probably be twice as good (really). If you are looking to check out an old-fashioned movie serial, "The Clutching Hand" is not going to be your first choice. Oh, and pay attention for legendary stuntman Yakima Canutt as Number 8.

A clutching movie
The Clutching Hand is a strange movie, with a twist at every turn. The basic outline of the movie is that a doctor has been kidnapped by the Clutching Hand. The Clutching Hand was trying to get the doctor's formula for synthetic gold. The movie is good, but be patient because it starts out rather slow. All in all, a very good movie serial. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Early DUKE Vehicle...
Just three years or so away from stardom in "Stagecoach", this 1936 movie shows all of the things that made fans love John Wayne.

The story follows John Blair (Wayne), and his pal Larry Adams as they leave the Pony Express when it folds. Given two thoroughbred horses each by the defunct mail service, The DUKE sets his mind to opening up a stage line.

When crooked stage line operator Drake sells them the Crecent City run, it looks like John and Larry have wasted their money. Crecent City went bust after the local gold mine played out, and Drake forced all the business to his city. Too bad Drake didn't know he was tangling with The DUKE!

Blair almost singlehandedly brings the town back to life one piece at a time. The one final step in his plan is a stage line mail contract, and it's the Drake line vs. Blair & Adams in a race to Sacremento. The winner gets the big contract, and Drake is out to stop DUKE by hook or by crook!

There's a pretty good plot in this one, and a surprising amount of humor along with the action. Although clocking in at only 55 minutes, there's a lot of young DUKE action!

A fun ride, "Winds of the Wasteland" on this DVD is a great bargain for the price, and no DUKE fan should miss it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Young John Wayne
What a start for a Young actor. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great John Wayne B's!!!
This DVD "Winds of the Wasteland" and "Lucky Texan" offers two great early John Wayne westerns. Basically, if you enjoy the old 1930's B westerns you should purchase this DVD. I am buying all of the B movies I can find so I can be certain I'll have them preserved on DVD for my grandchildren to enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Early DUKE Vehicle...
Just three years or so away from stardom in "Stagecoach", this 1936 movie shows all of the things that made fans love John Wayne.

The story follows John Blair (Wayne), and his pal Larry Adams as they leave the Pony Express when it folds. Given two thoroughbred horses each by the defunct mail service, The DUKE sets his mind to opening up a stage line.

When crooked stage line operator Drake sells them the Crecent City run, it looks like John and Larry have wasted their money. Crecent City went bust after the local gold mine played out, and Drake forced all the business to his city. Too bad Drake didn't know he was tangling with The DUKE!

Blair almost singlehandedly brings the town back to life one piece at a time. The one final step in his plan is a stage line mail contract, and it's the Drake line vs. Blair & Adams in a race to Sacremento. The winner gets the big contract, and Drake is out to stop DUKE by hook or by crook!

There's a pretty good plot in this one, and a surprising amount of humor along with the action. Although clocking in at only 55 minutes, there's a lot of young DUKE action!

A fun ride, "Winds of the Wasteland" on this DVD is a great bargain for the price, and no DUKE fan should miss it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Early DUKE Vehicle...
Just three years or so away from stardom in "Stagecoach", this 1936 movie shows all of the things that made fans love John Wayne.

The story follows John Blair (Wayne), and his pal Larry Adams as they leave the Pony Express when it folds. Given two thoroughbred horses each by the defunct mail service, The DUKE sets his mind to opening up a stage line.

When crooked stage line operator Drake sells them the Crecent City run, it looks like John and Larry have wasted their money. Crecent City went bust after the local gold mine played out, and Drake forced all the business to his city. Too bad Drake didn't know he was tangling with The DUKE!

Blair almost singlehandedly brings the town back to life one piece at a time. The one final step in his plan is a stage line mail contract, and it's the Drake line vs. Blair & Adams in a race to Sacremento. The winner gets the big contract, and Drake is out to stop DUKE by hook or by crook!

There's a pretty good plot in this one, and a surprising amount of humor along with the action. Although clocking in at only 55 minutes, there's a lot of young DUKE action!

A fun ride, "Winds of the Wasteland" on this DVD is a great bargain for the price, and no DUKE fan should miss it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Early DUKE Vehicle...
Just three years or so away from stardom in "Stagecoach", this 1936 movie shows all of the things that made fans love John Wayne.

The story follows John Blair (Wayne), and his pal Larry Adams as they leave the Pony Express when it folds. Given two thoroughbred horses each by the defunct mail service, The DUKE sets his mind to opening up a stage line.

When crooked stage line operator Drake sells them the Crecent City run, it looks like John and Larry have wasted their money. Crecent City went bust after the local gold mine played out, and Drake forced all the business to his city. Too bad Drake didn't know he was tangling with The DUKE!

Blair almost singlehandedly brings the town back to life one piece at a time. The one final step in his plan is a stage line mail contract, and it's the Drake line vs. Blair & Adams in a race to Sacremento. The winner gets the big contract, and Drake is out to stop DUKE by hook or by crook!

There's a pretty good plot in this one, and a surprising amount of humor along with the action. Although clocking in at only 55 minutes, there's a lot of young DUKE action!

A fun ride, "Winds of the Wasteland" on this DVD is a great bargain for the price, and no DUKE fan should miss it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Early DUKE Vehicle...
Just three years or so away from stardom in "Stagecoach", this 1936 movie shows all of the things that made fans love John Wayne.

The story follows John Blair (Wayne), and his pal Larry Adams as they leave the Pony Express when it folds. Given two thoroughbred horses each by the defunct mail service, The DUKE sets his mind to opening up a stage line.

When crooked stage line operator Drake sells them the Crecent City run, it looks like John and Larry have wasted their money. Crecent City went bust after the local gold mine played out, and Drake forced all the business to his city. Too bad Drake didn't know he was tangling with The DUKE!

Blair almost singlehandedly brings the town back to life one piece at a time. The one final step in his plan is a stage line mail contract, and it's the Drake line vs. Blair & Adams in a race to Sacremento. The winner gets the big contract, and Drake is out to stop DUKE by hook or by crook!

There's a pretty good plot in this one, and a surprising amount of humor along with the action. Although clocking in at only 55 minutes, there's a lot of young DUKE action!

A fun ride, "Winds of the Wasteland" on this DVD is a great bargain for the price, and no DUKE fan should miss it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Early DUKE Vehicle...
Just three years or so away from stardom in "Stagecoach", this 1936 movie shows all of the things that made fans love John Wayne.

The story follows John Blair (Wayne), and his pal Larry Adams as they leave the Pony Express when it folds. Given two thoroughbred horses each by the defunct mail service, The DUKE sets his mind to opening up a stage line.

When crooked stage line operator Drake sells them the Crecent City run, it looks like John and Larry have wasted their money. Crecent City went bust after the local gold mine played out, and Drake forced all the business to his city. Too bad Drake didn't know he was tangling with The DUKE!

Blair almost singlehandedly brings the town back to life one piece at a time. The one final step in his plan is a stage line mail contract, and it's the Drake line vs. Blair & Adams in a race to Sacremento. The winner gets the big contract, and Drake is out to stop DUKE by hook or by crook!

There's a pretty good plot in this one, and a surprising amount of humor along with the action. Although clocking in at only 55 minutes, there's a lot of young DUKE action!

A fun ride, "Winds of the Wasteland" on this DVD is a great bargain for the price, and no DUKE fan should miss it. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

It's no Creature from the Black Lagoon; nice DVD though!
For some reason, American International Pictures never properly exploited the huge potential crossover appeal of their highly successful beach party and horror genres (witness the tepid Ghost in the Invisible Bikini). Attempting to fill this void, kiddie-show producers Edward Janis and Joan Gardner concocted this mildly enjoyable, very low-budget beach/horror item (fondly remembered as Monster from the Surf on TV). The story is primarily a dysfunctional-family melodrama: it seems oceanographer dad (Jon Hall) is losing his grip because son Richard (Arnold Lessing, looking rather more than teenaged) is being distracted from his studies by the surf and sand set, and also apparently because frustrated, shrewish wife Vicki (Sue Casey) is stepping out on him. Meanwhile, an alleged "sea monster" is bumping off errant teens (the minute a stray couple heads down the shore you know they're toast). The production is 'enhanced' somewhat by the participation of puppeteer/voice artist/sculptor Walker Edmiston (who plays the crippled sculptor Mark, wrote the song "Monster in the Surf," and sculpted the creature's head) and more so by surfing photographer Dale Davis, who supplied some nice footage of hot-dogging tube action. Also on the upside: BG&TM offers probably the largest chunk of halfway-decent instrumental surf music to make it onto a movie screen during the craze years (Dick Dale, The Pyramids, et al. were usually not allowed to play their best [instrumental] stuff in the Beach Party movies). The main title theme, repeated throughout the film (minus the horrendous opening vocals), and a "spooky" reverb guitar-and-sax theme actually hold up pretty well today. No musical group is credited so apparently these and the vaguely Brubeckian cocktail/spy-jazz cues are courtesy of Frank Sinatra Jr. (yes, THAT Frank Sinatra Jr.) The movie also generates a modicum of sleazy Adults Only ambience, mostly thanks to Ms. Casey, whose cold-eyed, acid-tongued demeanor begs comparison with Meg Myles in Satan in High Heels, Tura Satana in Faster Pussycat, and other definitive "bad girl" performances. And trash film junkies will have fun snickering at the Edwoodian dialogue ("I still believe that a human clawed that girl to death, not a fish, no matter how big"); ultra-chintzy, overlit monster suit; and some of the least convincing rear-projection driving scenes ever committed to film (check the size and trajectory of some of those following/passing vehicles!). Unfortunately, the homely beach girls, lacklustre party scenes, and cringeworthy vocal numbers and 'blackout' jokes cause one to reflect only on how brilliantly these elements were handled by William Asher in the AIP series. Cult status or no, "More Than Wanting You" is just lame, and the singing hand puppet is, well, a singing hand puppet. According to several of the principals, the film was actually directed 'by committee' and it shows. The writing, performances, editing, and continuity are consistently amateurish (watch the white MG transform into a different auto as it heads over the cliff in the finale); plot points are telegraphed by obvious, heavy-handed dialogue; and nominal director and star Jon Hall (looking puffy and bug-eyed) overacts wildly throughout. Hard to believe he was once the debonair ladies' man romancing Maria Montez on-screen. SF/horror fans will groan at the cop-out ending and the entire picture will most likely disappoint straights expecting an actual Good Movie. However, Beach Girls and the Monster does offer a sizable chunk of cheese for low-budget schlock aficionados to snack on. Makes a great double bill with Horror of Party Beach (still MIA on DVD).
Yet another fine Image/Wade Williams presentation, Beach Girls is offered here in probably the definitive DVD edition. The source print has been transferred in anamorphic widescreen, matted at 1.85:1, and other than some light speckling and blemishing, and sporadic, barely noticeable lining it looks great, with generally excellent brightness, contrast, sharpness, and shadow/highlight detail (limited at times by the quality of the original cinematography). The full-frame BG&TM trailer looks a little dupey but still very good, with only some light speckling apparent, and the usual five bonus WW Collection trailers are included in a cookie. The disc also features an extensive gallery of stills, on-set candids, and advertising art (some of the photos are in color), and an underwhelming eight-page extract from the original script in Adobe PDF format. The Dolby Digital 1.0 mono sound is clear and full, the main menu is nicely animated, and there are informative liner notes by Tom Weaver in the keep case. One of the nicer packages in the Image/Williams series. Three stars for the movie, five for the DVD, equals four overall.

Five star sedative
This movie used to play periodically on late Saturday night Philadelphia TV in the 60s. My family and I must have watched it at least a dozen times without ever seeing the end. It got to be a real joke. We used to watch for it in the listings, and every time it would play we would gather together in front of the tube resolving to stick it through to the end, only to fall asleep once again. Twenty years later I finally got to see the end, but I won't ruin it for you.

Monster From the Surf
Monster From the Surf was this movies original title, I think it still is. I was shocked to know they changed it's name because I have been searching for this everywhere. Well I would not reccomend this to anyone no matter what type of movies you like. As a classic horror fan I was dissapointed to see this, they spend half the movie showing people surfing LITERALLY, watch for yourself it's actually almost half the whole movie showing clips of people surfing, looks like they stole the footage from somewhere, and to watch the whole movie and find out theres no monster but a guy in a suit was a huge dissapointment as well, I do love the design of the monster though. Horny directors try to get [rearend] shots of the gals in this flick and even breast close-ups while the girls are dancing! I mean come on, how horny do you have to be to sneak something up like that. There is no nudity in this film or much violence, if you want to call the "monsters" attacks violence. Theres not much I can say, just a jealous father getting his revenge whatever it may be, personally I don't care. But if your into collecting strange movies like me then I suggest you get it,. otherwise forget about it.

"There's a Monster in the Surf, yeah! yeah! yeah!
The above is the title to another song in this surf and monster opus of the California surf. After a girl named "Bunny" puts mustard on her boyfriends hot dog (he deserved it), he chases her but she gets away, right into the hands of Jon Hall (former Ramar of the Jungle) who is dressed up as a monster. It seems he resents the surf set for distracting his son from the scientific work which ole dad had planned for him. This is hokey stuff with bad acting, bad writing horrible music (although written by Chairman of the Board, Jr.) and girls whose wild bikinis are sometimes a little too stuffed. Still, its worth a look just for laughs. ... Read more