“Wanted for Murder” (1946)

Wanted for Murder

Brief Description:

A classic Gothic thriller about the psychotic grandson of a Victorian-era hangman who copies him by strangling women and tries not to kill his new girlfriend.

(from Tubi)

Date: 1946

Genre: British crime film 

Running time: 1 hour 42 minutes 

Cast: 

Eric Portman (Victor)

Dulcie Gray (Anne)

Derek Farr (Jack)

Roland Culver (Conway)

Stanley Holloway (Sullivan)

Barbara Everest (Mrs. Colebrooke)

Bonar Colleano (Mappolo)

Jenny Laird (Jeannie)

Kathleen Harrison (Florrie)

Bill Shine (Ellis)

Viola Lyel (Mabel)

John Salew (Walters)

John Ruddock (Glover)

Edna Wood (Miss Kemp)

George Carney (Boat Rental Agent)

Wilfrid Hyde-White (Guide in Madame Tussaud’s)

Director: Lawrence Huntington

Production company: Excelsior Productions

Based on: Wanted for Murder by Terence De Marney & Percy Robinson

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

Another classic 1940s films. I love that setting so much. And of course it’s London, and during the war, which is referenced slightly through things like soldiers everywhere, some of them foreign; or rationing, which causes people to finish unattended food, drink, and smokes. 

Characters: 4/5

Victor is… complex. I feel very sorry for him and like it’s not quite his fault. But I also think he refused to get any help, and he knew he was getting deeper into it. So I don’t know. I think it’s acted out quite well though. I quite liked Anne, and she was very fair and nice and honest, which is a huge relief! Jack is a great guy too, and was understanding of Anne’s wishes (something Victor wasn’t!). Conway was a great portrayal of the dry, clever inspector, and Sullivan was an amusing sidekick that wasn’t too dumb—Ellis, too. And I liked Mabel and Mrs. Colebrook, too… they were also well done. 

Plot: 4/5

You find out pretty early on who the bad guy is, but it’s very fun to see the cat-and-mouse game the Inspector and villain play—specially the coat scene. I enjoy the bits of humour scattered throughout, but it’s a more serious, sad film… the ending is pretty perfect in my opinion, but I do feel so sorry for Mrs. C! 

Romance: 4/5

Jack & Anne are the cutest! :) 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Smoking, drinking.

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Brief attempted onscreen murder. Partly onscreen murder (non-graphic, only choking heard). Mention by a guide at Mme Tussaud’s that someone “murdered her rival and the poor little baby.” 

Overall: 4/5

It’s rather a long film, but I haven’t much more to say that that… I like it, but it’s too saddening to rewatch often. It’s fascinating, though, hearing about the villain’s father and how they were both so heavily affected by their predecessor… 

“Lured” (1947)

Lured

Brief Description:

British police are after a serial killer who lures his female victims through newspaper personal ads and sends cryptic poem clues to the cops.

Date: 1947

Genre: American film noir 

Running time: 1 hour 42 minutes 

Cast: 

George Sanders (Fleming)

Lucille Ball (Sandra)

Charles Coburn (Temple)

Boris Karloff (Druten)

Sir Cedric Hardwicke (Julian)

Joseph Calleia (Moryani)

Alan Mowbray (Maxwell)

George Zucco (Barrett)

Robert Coote (Detective)

Alan Napier (Gordon)

Tanis Chandler (Lucy)

Ethelreda Leopold (nightclub singer; voice dubbed by Annette Warren)

Director: Douglas Sirk

Production company: Hunt Stromberg Productions

Based on: Pièges, a.k.a. Personal Column, 1939 French film

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

This is one of the best 1940 thrillers I’ve seen. The atmosphere is excellent. It’s humorous, romantic, suspenseful, and complex. I’m not a fan of the taxi-dancing and nightclub setting, but I love the 1940s aesthetic and feel, and the opera & rich homes as well. 

Characters: 4/5

Sandra is really a very fun female lead. She’s a very realistic girl, clever, strong, feminine, sassy—and very American. ;) I’m not a fan of her profession and some of her choices, but as a character she’s very well done. Fleming isn’t the best of male leads I’ve ever come across—he’s a playboy for sure—but he does thoroughly love Sandra (and came to her defence!) and I really enjoy his acting, so much so I’ve hunted up other George Sanders films. Julian did his job splendidly… I love Temple, he’s so grandfatherly and one of the best police inspectors I’ve seen in films… Maxwell and Moryani were  c r e e p y… so was Druten… My favourite person was hands down Barrett—he’s such a fatherly chap! I’m gonna watch many more films with George Zucco. 

Plot: 4.5/5

While the film does have some content and stuff I am not a fan of (see below), I really really enjoy it. I love how the mystery was handled here. Things weren’t explained too fast, and they made sense and were actually quite detective-y, and I wasn’t at all sure who the bad guy was until the very end, the first time I watched. I remembered who this time, but I still had plenty of suspenseful moments!! I love the bits of humour and the running joke about Barrett’s crosswords. I also loved seeing Sandra as an undercover policewoman. I love films that are mysterious and suspenseful without being freaky or gruesome, and Lured hits all the right boxes. 

Romance: 4/5

Okay, so Sandra & Robert are just romantic. Sue me. 

Content: 3/5 (medium)

Smoking, drinking, one euphemism, long kissing (between Fleming & his first girlfriend), low-necked dresses and shorts, a shot of a model in her undergarments, a couple shots of a showgirl in a skimpier outfit, belittling comments by Sandra’s boss and Fleming about/to women. Sandra & Lucy work at a taxi-dance place (aka, men come and pay so much to dance a dance with them). The inspector asks Lucy to show him her knees when he recruits her (to make sure she’s attractive enough for the spot). Sandra tells Barrett Maxwell is interested in her but “not that way, he hasn’t even held my hand yet.” 

Violence: 3.5/5 (low to medium)

Off-screen murders; scene where the killer tries to strangle Sandra.

Overall: 4.5/5

Again, one of my favourite classic mystery/thriller films!

“Thomas & Friends: The Great Discovery” (2008)

Thomas & Friends: 

The Great Discovery

Brief Description:

Thomas rediscovers the long lost original station which in its day was called Great Waterton and he also becomes jealous of a new tank engine called Stanley.

(from IMDb)

Date: 2008

Genre: family animation 

Running time: 1 hour

Narrator: Pierce Brosnan

Director: Steve Asquith

Production company: 

Based on: the Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry

IMDb page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

I have to admit, Sodor is super cute. And I love railways, and the English countryside and houses. And everything is so old-timey and cute. <3

Characters: 3/5

Thomas is an idiot. Except he’s meant to be a kid, so he’s realistic. He’s still an idiot though. Sir Topham Hat has no excuse. He’s also an idiot. Why on earth did he think he was making good decisions, putting and removing the trains in charge?? Like how did he not realise this was gonna make problems between Thomas and Stanley??? Anyways. I love Stanley. He’s so sweet.  

Plot: 3/5

Well, it’s a cute film. Kinda. It’s just really boring and drawn out, and very one-track (pun intended). It’s for kids, I get it… but… it’s still pretty boring for a kids’ film. My siblings liked it better than I did though, so I don’t know. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I got annoyed at Thomas’s brattiness and the conductor’s stupidity too much to enjoy everything else, maybe. I liked the little songs scattered throughout though. They use nice, big words. ;) 

Theme/Message/Topics: 4/5

Good themes of actions have consequences, letting go of being in charge, not getting jealous, not worrying about your place being filled by someone else, and making friends.  

Content: 5/5 (low to none)

Some music I didn’t care for; maybe a euphemism or two? 

Overall: 3/5

I don’t know, I feel disappointed. I thought I’d like this more. I’ll give it another shot though, and see what I think that time. 

“Conspiracy” (1930)

Conspiracy

Brief Description:

After spending years helping her D.A. brother build a case against a drug gang, Margaret Holt kills its leader and goes into hiding at a home for women.

(from Tubi)

Date: 1930

Genre: American pre-Code mystery melodrama film

Running time: 1 hour 8 minutes 

Cast: 

Bessie Love (Margaret)

Ned Sparks (Clavering)

Hugh Trevor (Howell)

Rita La Roy (Nita)

Ivan Lebedeff (Miller)

Gertrude Howard (Martha)

Otto Matieson (Marko)

Jane Keckley (Miss Towne)

Donald MacKenzie (McLeod)

George Irving (Uncle Mark)

Bert Moorehouse (Victor)

Walter Long (Weinberg)

Director: Christy Cabanne

Production company: RKO Pictures

Based on: The Conspiracy by Robert B. Baker & John Emerson

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched on Tubi) 

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

So apparently Conspiracy has always been considered a bad film. Well, it’s one of my favourites. This is so much better than “Alias Mary Smith.” I love the 1930 setting, and I love the Neighbourhood Home, and I LOVE Clavering’s house… 

Characters: 5/5

I also love Margaret. She’s such an intriguing character, the traditional weak, nervous, faintish damsel in distress, absolutely unable to hide her true emotions, yet surprisingly strong in moments of conflict. I just loved her. I also loved Howell. I don’t usually like irreverent young men, but he certainly isn’t fresh, and he means well, and everyone else tolerates and likes him, so… yeah. Besides, he actually made me laugh aloud twice. Mr. Clavering was so much fun—always insulting everyone and having such a tender heart; and he was so clever and eccentric and just amusing. I liked Miss Rose & Victor & Uncle Mark—briefly as they appeared—and Nita + Miller + Weinburg + Marko are good villains. Martha was clearly the stereotypical dumb black character thrown in for comic relief, which decreases my enjoyment of the film for sure. But I enjoyed her humour. (Laughed aloud at “HALLELUJAH!”) And MacLeod was a great take on the stereotypical police captain—not dumb, and very genial. 

Plot: 5/5

The film is certainly melodramatic, but I like it. Margaret Holt kills in self-defence and flees, trying to stay ahead of the police. She manages to for a while—but then the true crime writer, Mr. Clavering, discovers her trail and takes it up unwaveringly… all unknowing that his new stenographer is Margaret. I loved seeing Jack trying to take care of her and rescue her brother (and include her uncle!), and I enjoyed all the ups and downs of humour and thrill as Margaret gets closer and closer to being caught. The ending is epic and SO much fun, as well as suspenseful! And did I mention I love the humour? 

Romance: 5/5

Jack & Margaret 4 ever. ;) 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Smoking, a kiss or two, low-necked dresses (particularly Nita’s), some mild language, racism (although since Mr. C. insults everyone I find it hard to tell if he’s being racist or just lovingly insulting as always, and same with Jack).  

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Non-graphic on-screen murder; threats. 

Overall: 4.5/5

Again, I’d enjoy the film more if Martha was done better; but overall I love it and it’s one of my favourite classic crime films!

“The Bridge of Sighs” (1936)

The Bridge of Sighs

Brief Description:

An assistant D.A. sends a framed man to jail for murder, unaware that he is the brother of his girlfriend— who takes a huge risk to set him free.

(from Tubi)

Date: 1936

Genre: American crime film 

Running time: 1 hour 4 minutes 

Cast: 

Onslow Stevens (Jeff)

Dorothy Tree (Marion)

Jack La Rue (Lacy)

Mary Doran (Evelyn)

Walter Byron (Arny)

Oscar Apfel (Judge)

Maidel Turner (Mrs. Blaisdell)

John Kelly (Tommy)

Paul Fix (Harry)

Robert Homans (Homicide Captain)

Selmer Jackson (Adams)

Bryant Washburn (Neselli)

Kathryn Sheldon (Mabel)

Director: Phil Rosen

Production company: Invincible Pictures 

Wikipedia page

Watch on Tubi

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

I love this film! I totally forgot about it and as usual the first few lines threw me off. ;P It’s along the same lines as “Alias Mary Smith” but much better. There’s more of a ’40s feel to this one (AMS feels more ’30s) and I love the prison setting—so unusual. 

Characters: 5/5

I love Jeff! He’s such a great leading man, and actually very polite and respectful to Marion and everyone else (except the Captain, but he loves it). Marion is also a great leading lady—resourceful, clever, strong-minded—able to control herself well and play her part. I kept expecting her to go all fainting and damsel-in-distress and she never does, which is rather refreshing, even if I don’t hate the damsel-in-distress trope. Harry is a sweet boy, Lacy and Arny are good gangsters (I hate Army because of his evident flirting), and Evelyn is an interesting character. So are Tommy and Harry—I totally did not pick up on who they were last time I watched this. I would have liked more about the Judge though, and how he got Marion into YKW. And I like Adams too, briefly as he shows. And did I mention I love that old Irish captain? 

Plot: 5/5

This is one of the films that has me on the edge of my seat and keeps surprising me with the twists because it doesn’t go like most 1930s romance mysteries. I love Marion’s love for her brother, and Jeff’s fight for justice—and the microphone box, because it’s so cool. The humour is great—not too harshly American (sorry, but American humour can sometimes be a bit too abrasive for me)—and… I can’t say more because I’m afraid of wrecking the plot, but it’s just really awesome! 

Romance: 5/5

Jeff & Marion have such a sweet romance, even if it’s so briefly shown. <3

Content: 5/5 (low)

A kiss or two, some drinking & smoking. 

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Gun threats, a man is murdered (non graphic). 

Overall: 5/5

Again, one of my favourite classic mystery films. It’s so much fun!  

“The Little Bear Movie” (2001)

The Little Bear Movie

Also known as: 

Maurice Sendak’s Little Bear: The Little Bear Movie; 

Maurice Sendak’s Little Bear: The Movie; 

and Little Bear: The Movie.

Brief Description:

Little Bear meets a wild bear cub named Cub during a camping trip. Upon learning that Cub got separated from his parents, Little Bear and his friends embark on a journey to help him reunite with his parents while coming face-to-face with a ferocious mountain lion along the way.

(from Wikipedia)

Date: 2001

Genre: Canadian-American direct-to-video children’s animated adventure film

Running time: 1 hour 15 minutes 

Cast: 

Kristin Fairlie (Little Bear)

Kyle Fairlie (Cub)

Amos Crawley (Owl)

Tracy Ryan (Duck)

Andrew Sabiston (Cat)

Elizabeth Hanna (Hen)

Wayne Best (Mountain Lion)

Ray Landry (Moose)

Janet Laine-Green (Mother Bear)

Dan Hennessey (Father Bear)

Max Morrow (Little Moose)

Catherine Disher (Mother Moose)

Cole Caplan & Ada Perlman (Poppy & Pete)

Maurice Dean Wint (Cub’s Father)

Alison Sealy-Smith (Cub’s Mother

Director: Raymond Jafelice

Production company: Nelvana Limited, Wild Things Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, & Alliance Atlantis.

Based on: 

The Little Bear Series by Else Holmelund Minarik &Maurice Sendak

Wikipedia page

Watch on YouTube

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

If you’ve watched the Little Bear TV Show, this film fits perfectly into that world and setting. I love the portrayal of the Canadian-American wilderness. It’s all so nostalgic and simple, but also realistic. 

Characters: 4/5

Little Bear is a cutie, and Cub—well, I always love the “wild ones.” Duck is, as always, an adorable idiot; Owl is a hoot (no pun intended); Cat is highly amusing; and well, Hen is all right. She never was my favourite… I love Mother & Father Bear—they’re so lovely! And Moose from the show got a cameo! Little Moose reminds me of Franklin’s friend Moose. xD Poppy & Pete are cute, too. 

Plot: 4/5

I love how the film starts with Little Bear & his father heading out to Pudding Hill for a camping trip, harking back to a couple episodes in the show. The scene where he learns about the dangers of the wilderness, courtesy of the mountain lion and Cub, is pretty cool. I love the return home, and the patience of Mother & Father Bear with Cub. The children all play so nicely together—and I love the search party! There’s some anxious moments, but everything wraps up perfectly. 

Theme/Message/Topics: 4/5

Kids being separated from parents seems to be a small theme; otherwise, kindness, playing nicely, working together, and sensitivity are low-key messages. 

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Storms, threat of being eaten by the mountain lion. 

Overall: 4/5

A very cute and well done little film! 

“Alias Mary Smith” (1932)

Alias Mary Smith

Brief Description:

A young woman on a mission to prove a gangster’s involvement in a murder, spends time with a playboy who has a passion for boozy nights.

(from Tubi)

Date: 1932

Genre: American mystery crime

Running time: 52 minutes 

Cast: 

Blanche Mehaffey (Joan)

John Darrow (Buddy)

Raymond Hatton (Scoop)

Edmund Breese (Father)

Myrtle Stedman (Mother)

Gwen Lee (Blossom)

Henry B. Walthall (Attwell)

Alec B. Francis (Lawyer)

Matthew Betz (Snowy)

Jack Grey (Kearney)

Harry Strang (Yeager)

Ben Hall (Jake)

Lionel Backus (Hood)

Jack Cheatham (Cop)

George Chesebro (Mac)

Director: E. Mason Hopper

Production company: Mayfair Pictures

Wikipedia page

Watch on YouTube 

(watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 3/5

I've never noticed before if 1930s films are less better produced than 1940s or ’50s, but I felt like this one was pretty lame. Some parts felt overkill and melodramatic—and I like melodrama, generally. However, I enjoyed the very 1930s costumes and feel. It was very American. ;)

Characters: 3/5

Everybody was always biting at everyone else, except for Joan and Buddy. They barely even acted friendly, if they were friendly at all. I don’t love the blonde streetwise sarcastic character, unless she’s well done, so Blossom wasn’t my type. Scoop, Yeager, etc., were irritating; Snowy was at least interesting, though. And Buddy’s parents were okay. I wasn’t a fan of Buddy, either. I suppose we’re just to hope he reforms after. 

Plot: 3/5

I don’t know, I just wasn’t a fan. It was so simple, so low-stakes, somehow. I liked the bit about lemon juice for the fingerprints, but otherwise, everything was kinda lame… so much so I forget it all. 

Romance: 3/5

So Buddy & Joan were okay as a couple, I guess, but I was not a fan of Buddy. He’s not respectful or respectable. But his parents were kinda cute. 

Content: 3/5 (medium)

Kissing & canoodling between Joan & Buddy; drinking; language; Blossom says Buddy “has a bad case of wandering hands” and refuses to sit by him. Blossom dresses in her room while an officer waits outside and calls out if he can fasten snaps; he gets excited and she tells him to fasten one on his mouth. Blossom packs Joan’s trunk in her dressing gown and is caught—and photographed—with her shoulders and legs bared. Asked where he was last night, the butler hesitates and says he was playing ping-pong with the maid next door; the detective laughs and says, “I’ve heard it called everything but ping-pong.” 

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Man murdered off screen. 

Overall: 3/5

Meh. Doubt I’ll watch it again. There’re better films with the premise of “sister tries to get revenge/justice for wrongfully executed/jailed brother”—such as “The Bridge of Sighs” and “Conspiracy.”

“Bombay Waterfront” (1952)

Bombay Waterfront

Also known as: Paul Temple Returns

Brief Description:

The Temples investigate a series of murders attributed to a mysterious figure known as “The Marquis.” 

(from IMDb)

Date: 1952

Genre: Drama crime mystery

Running time: 1 hour 11 minutes

Cast: 

John Bentley (Paul)

Patricia Dainton (Steve)

Grey Blake (Storey)

Peter Gawthorne (Sir Graham)

Valentine Dyall (Bradley)

Robert Urquhart (Slater)

Christopher Lee  (Raybourne)

Dan Jackson (Sakki)

Ronald Leigh-Hunt (Ross)

Arthur Hill (Guest)

Ben Williams (Carson)

Director: Maclean Rogers

Production company: Nettlefold Films

Based on: Paul Temple by Francis Durbridge

Wikipedia page

Watch on Dailymotion

(watched on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

I really enjoyed the 1950s British setting! The tower was a GREAT addition. :) There was plenty of thrill and atmosphere, and the Egyptian addition was fun—although I don’t get Steve & Paul’s aversion to it and specifically Abdullah. Granted, he freaked me out too the first time. ;P 

Characters: 3/5

I wasn’t a fan of the characters, except for Paul. (Figures.) Steve was very one-dimensional. She wasn’t faintish and scared, but she also wasn’t worth much of anything except to discuss theories and be threatened. The film would hardly have changed if she wasn’t in it, I think. Sir Felix and Storey were both okay. I pegged the bad guy pretty early on, and the other one was just indifferently good. I would have liked to see more of Ross, to be honest! 

Plot: 4/5

A mystery with 3 possible villains is always fun. I did feel like the description of the film was a let down, with its high stakes of “serial killer” and “gruesome murders” (Tubi). 5 people were killed [not gruesomely] and the Marquis was no danger to the public, only to those specific people. But anyhow, I enjoyed the chase, and the final climatic scenes, and overall I’m interested in watching more of the Paul Temple films. I really liked his TV address. ;) 

Romance: 4/5

Steve & Paul were quite cute. :) 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Slight racism towards the Burmese and the Egyptians; English archaeology in Egypt a main spring of the film; a few instances of mild language; drinking. 

Violence: 4/5 (low)

One person is shot onscreen; another person is electrocuted onscreen; a hanged man is discovered in a closet (only the shoes shown); a shot of a dead woman in her killer’s arms (non-graphic); a woman is threatened with murder (nothing happens). 

Overall: 3.5/5

Not the best mystery film I ever saw, but not the worst either. I feel pretty neutral about it.