Movie Review: The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) directed by Charles Brabin Once again, representatives of the British Museum, led by Sir Lionel Barton (Lawrence Grant), plan to rob a tomb and steal another country’s treasures. Now ordinarily that would make them seem like bad guys. But as Nayland Smith (Lewis Stone) explains, in London, shorn… Continue reading Movie Review: The Mask of Fu Manchu
Tag: thriller
Book Review: The Warlords
Book Review: The Warlords by Matt Braun It is 1915, and in Europe, World War One is at something of a stalemate. The troops are entrenched, warplanes are still in their infancy, and while the new weapons of war mean far more deaths per capita, both sides have them. Kaizer Wilhelm’s military fears that despite… Continue reading Book Review: The Warlords
Movie Review: Casablanca
Casablanca (1942) dir. Michael Curtiz It is early December, 1941. In French Morocco, the port city of Casablanca, the hot night spot is Rick’s Cafe Americain. With an abundant supply of liquor, gambling, and the music of pianist/singer Sam (Dooley Wilson), it’s no surprise that “everyone comes to Rick’s.” The owner, Richard “Rick” Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), was… Continue reading Movie Review: Casablanca
Movie Review: Night and the City
Movie Review: Night and the City (1950) directed by Jules Dassin It is night in the city, and Harry Fabian (Richard Widmark) is returning to the London flat of his girlfriend, Mary Bristol (Gene Tierney). As usual, he owes money to some bad people. But he’s got a great idea for a greyhound race, if he… Continue reading Movie Review: Night and the City
Movie Review: Suddenly
Movie Review: Suddenly (1954) directed by Lewis Allen Back during the gold rush, Suddenly, California was the kind of place where things happen in a hurry. Nowadays, it’s a much sleepier town. Slim the deputy (Paul Wexler) jokes to a passing motorist that the town fathers are considering changing the name to “Gradually.” But today’s going… Continue reading Movie Review: Suddenly
Book Review: Catfishing on CatNet
Book Review: Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer It is the not too distant future, a time of self-driving cars, drone package delivery, and robots teaching sex ed. Steph Taylor doesn’t think too much about technology, as she has other concerns in her life. Ever since she can remember, her mother has been moving them… Continue reading Book Review: Catfishing on CatNet
Movie Review: Anatomy of a Psycho
Movie Review: Anatomy of a Psycho (1961) directed by Boris Petroff Years ago, Duke Marco’s parents died suddenly, leaving him as sole support for his much younger siblings Chet (Darrell Howe) and Pat (Pamela Lincoln). He kept his remaining family together, but his only skill set was petty crime. Recently, Duke was condemned to the gas… Continue reading Movie Review: Anatomy of a Psycho
Book Review: A Coffin for Dimitrios
Book Review: A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler Latimer used to be a political economist at an English university, until contact with Nazi economical theory left him so out of sorts that he wrote a detective novel to relax. He turned out to be quite good at writing detective stories, and has become a… Continue reading Book Review: A Coffin for Dimitrios
Movie Review: Absolution (1978)
Movie Review: Absolution (1978) directed by Anthony Page Father Goddard (Richard Burton) teaches Latin and Doctrine at St. Anthony’s, a Catholic boarding school for boys. A joyless man, Father Goddard is also a form master who oversees the dormitory for one group of the students. Two boys in his form are of special interest. Benjamin “Benjie”… Continue reading Movie Review: Absolution (1978)
Book Review: The Case of the Bludgeoned Teacher
Book Review: The Case of the Bludgeoned Teacher by Jim Hollis Miss Celeste Aubin is the French teacher at Rainey High School. Physically, she’s very attractive, and knows how to exploit her appearance to manipulate men. Personality-wise though, she’s manipulative and grasping, and plays favorites with the students. So when she turns up dead, hit… Continue reading Book Review: The Case of the Bludgeoned Teacher