Tonight's Movie: Hot Lead (1951)

It's been quite a while since I last saw a Tim Holt Western, so I pulled out the Warner Archive's Tim Holt Western Classics Collection Vol. 3 and watched HOT LEAD (1951).

Tim and Chito (Richard Martin) are working as hands for Gail Martin (Joan Dixon, ROADBLOCK) -- although Chito, as always, is easily distracted from work by a beautiful lady.

A gang of robbers (John Dehner, Robert J. Wilke, and Paul Marion) are at work in the nearby town of Trail Head, planning to rob a gold shipment due by train.

Dave Collins (Ross Elliott) comes to town after being released from prison.  After a friend (Lee MacGregor) of Tim and Chito's is killed during a robbery attempt at the train station, Tim becomes suspicious of Dave, who's being pressured by the robbers to cooperate; they need his skills operating a telegraph.

Dave comes clean to Tim and Gail about his background, and Tim and Chito go to work to set a trap for the robbery gang.  This will hoepfully also pave the way for Dave to pursue a romance with Gail.

Tim and Chito's usual enjoyable bantering, Dehner and Wilke as bad guys, and attractive filming by Nicholas Musuraca (OUT OF THE PAST) combine for a lively and enjoyable 60 minutes.

This was one of five Holt films costarring Joan Dixon released in 1951-52; I previously reviewed GUNPLAY (1951). I've come across stills of Dixon in another of her Holt films, PISTOL HARVEST (1951), wearing one of the same dresses she wears in this movie!  I'll have to see if the costumes are repeated throughout all five of her films; it wouldn't surprise me.

Dixon had a short but interesting career; she's not a great actress yet has a distinctive personality I enjoy, along with striking looks.  In HOT LEAD her character, a woman running a ranch with the help of her hands, does not shy away from being assertive, both in business and romance.

In addition to GUNPLAY and ROADBLOCK, I've also reviewed Dixon's films BUNCO SQUAD (1950) and EXPERIMENT ALCATRAZ (1950).  I look forward to seeing her additional Holt Westerns.

HOT LEAD was directed by Stuart Gilmore and written by William Lively.  It was filmed on movie ranches in Southern California's Newhall-Santa Clarita area.

Other than a couple very brief moments with some debris, most of the Warner Archive DVD looks great.

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Tonight's Movie: Gunplay (1951)

I hadn't seen a Tim Holt Western since SADDLE LEGION (1951) last January, so I was overdue to see another one!

I chose GUNPLAY (1951), which like SADDLE LEGION is from the Warner Archive's Tim Holt Western Classics Collection Vol. 3.

GUNPLAY was entertaining enough, though I didn't care for the story as much as I usually do. Tim Holt (played by...Tim Holt!) and his buddy Chito (Richard Martin) have been hired by mail to work as ranch hands for Terry Blake (Joan Dixon). When they arrive at the ranch they're surprised but pleased to realize that Terry is an attractive woman.

The plot takes a detour here to follow Sam (Robert Bice) and Chip (Harper Carter) Martin. Martin has been done out of money by Landry (Mauritz Hugo) but after Martin forcibly claims his rightful property, Landry sends his henchmen (including Robert J. Wilke) to kill Martin and get the money back. Chip hides and survives but there's a disturbing scene when he finds his lynched father.

The above sequence setting up the story with the Martins took way too much time away from Tim and Chito and was more than a little troubling to watch; it was definitely darker than your average Holt Western! From that point the film improves, as Tim, Chito, and Terry search for the killers and plan Chip's future.

Regardless of the story, Holt and Martin are always terrific company. My enjoyment of the movie was also elevated by the presence of Joan Dixon, leading lady of the crime films BUNCO SQUAD (1950) and ROADBLOCK (1951).

Dixon appeared in five Holt Westerns including the previously reviewed LAW OF THE BADLANDS (1951). I look forward to seeing her in the future in the Holt Westerns PISTOL HARVEST (1951), HOT LEAD (1951), and DESERT PASSAGE (1952), along with the crime film EXPERIMENT ALCATRAZ (1950). At that point I'll have seen all of her movies, excepting a bit part she had in CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AND POCAHONTAS (1953). it's a shame she didn't make more films as she's a striking presence.

The scenery in GUNPLAY, filmed in black and white by J. Roy Hunt, was only so-so; it was all done on Southern California movie ranches or the nearby area. IMDb says filming took place in Santa Clarita. No Lone Pine or Idyllwild this time!

GUNPLAY was directed by Lesley Selander. It runs 61 minutes.

Though GUNPLAY wasn't one of my favorite Holt Westerns, I've seen seven of the films in this Tim Holt Vol. 3 set and highly recommend it. In addition to the films being fun to watch, the set and the discs themselves are attractively produced. Western fans will love it along with the other three volumes in this series.

Tonight's Movie: Experiment Alcatraz (1950) - A Warner Archive DVD Review

EXPERIMENT ALCATRAZ (1950) is an odd yet entertaining "B" film available on DVD from the Warner Archive.

In this brisk 57-minute movie, five convicts incarcerated on Alcatraz Island, including Barry Morgan (Robert Shayne), are promised their freedom in return for participating in a potentially dangerous medical experiment. They're exposed to radiation as part of a study designed by Dr. Ross Williams (John Howard), who hopes to find a cure for leukemia.

Unfortunately the experiment seems to go haywire. Lt. Joan McKenna (Joan Dixon), an army nurse, accidentally leaves a pair of scissors in the hospital room and Morgan stabs to death one of other convicts, asserting the radioactive medical treatment caused his uncontrollable urge to kill. Or did it?

Nurse McKenna and Dr. Williams set out to discover the truth.

This film has several things going for it, not least its unusual plotting. The storyline is different, and the mashup of medical drama, crime film, and '50s era "nuclear sci fi" is enjoyable. There are also some surprises, for instance, just when you think Dr. Williams and Nurse McKenna might become an item...well, let's just say I was not expecting the last few minutes of the movie!

There's some terrific stock footage mixed with what appears to have been some new second unit filming in the San Francisco area. When the convicts are released from Alcatraz they're delivered to the Presidio -- right about where the building now housing the beautiful Walt Disney Family Museum is located!

John Howard (THE PHILADELPHIA STORY) plays the dedicated doctor who soons finds himself beaten up on a regular basis. Joan Dixon may not be the world's greatest actress but I find her a striking and enjoyable presence; I'm closing in on having seen all her feature films once I see a couple more Tim Holt Westerns.

Walter Kingsford, who played Dr. Carew in the Dr. Kildare movie series, is third-billed as Dr. Finley, who helps run the experiment and who is helpful when Dr. Williams needs time to try to prove radiation doesn't turn a man into a murderer. Kingsford's character actually takes on the most significant role in solving the mystery in the film's final minutes and does a fine job.

The cast also includes Lynne Carter, Harry Lauter, Kim Spalding, Kenneth MacDonald, Frank Cady, Byron Foulger, and Myron Healey.

EXPERIMENT ALCATRAZ was directed by Edward L. Cahn and filmed in black and white by Jackson Rose.

Those who have seen the movie may find a KCET article titled Alcatraz Island: A History of "The Rock" On Screen of interest.

EXPERIMENT ALCATRAZ is a very good DVD print. There are no extras.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this DVD. Warner Archive releases are MOD (manufactured on demand) and may be ordered from Amazon or from any online retailers where DVDs and Blu-rays are sold.

Tonight's Movie: Roadblock (1951) at the Noir City Film Festival

Tonight was "Los Angeles Noir" night at the Noir City Film Festival, featuring a pair of "B" movies filmed around the city.

The double bill kicked off with a brand-new 35mm print of SOUTHSIDE 1-1000 (1950), a very enjoyable Allied Artists release with Don DeFore as a Secret Service agent working to break up a counterfeit ring. I reviewed the Warner Archive DVD in 2012 and enjoyed it all over again tonight. There are some great shots of L.A.; one of my favorite moments is when Don DeFore hops on the Angels Flight Railway.

The second film of the night was ROADBLOCK (1951) starring noir icon Charles McGraw.

ROADBLOCK was an RKO film which fell in between McGraw's starring roles in ARMORED CAR ROBBERY (1950) and THE NARROW MARGIN (1952). Whereas McGraw was a cop in each of that pair of films, in ROADBLOCK he plays Joe Peters, an insurance investigator whose partner is Harry Miller (Louis Jean Heydt).

Joe meets avaricious Diane (Joan Dixon) on a flight to L.A. and is simultaneously annoyed and smitten. Soon he is completely head over heels for the dame, but she wants to hold out for someone who can offer her diamonds and furs.

Joe decides to stray off the straight and narrow path and use inside information to engineer a robbery which will give him the funds to lure Diane. Diane, however, suddenly decides she's crazy about Joe and willing to take him on any terms, including living on his modest salary. (It looked like a pretty nice life to me, seeing as how Joe and his partner also share a vacation home in the mountains!) Joe tries to back out of the robbery but it's too late...

One of the best things about this fast-paced 73-minute movie is its L.A. atmosphere, especially the amazing final chase scene which takes place in a dry L.A. flood control riverbed -- an utterly fantastic location for an action-packed noir conclusion.

I really enjoyed this film, although I wished that McGraw weren't playing, as Alan K. Rode described before the film, a "noir chump." McGraw's Joe seems too smart to be so dumb, although McGraw does do a good job conveying Joe's insecurity about being able to maintain Diane's interest long-term. I love McGraw as a heartsick romantic lead so that aspect of his performance was quite appealing to me. There was something quite adorable about tough guy McGraw wanting to surprise his lady love with a Christmas tree.

This was one of just a handful of films starring actress Joan Dixon. She also appeared in BUNCO SQUAD (1950), EXPERIMENT ALCATRAZ (1950), and five Tim Holt Westerns, including the recently reviewed LAW OF THE BADLANDS (1951).

Louis Jean Heydt was an excellent actor with a long career; he reminds me a bit of James Millican, who would have been good alternate casting for the role of Harry. I have particularly enjoyed Heydt in a small but effective role as a trainer in THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO (1944).

Milburn Stone of GUNSMOKE plays Joe and Harry's boss. Martha Mears, who dubbed many actresses over the years, is a nightclub singer. Lowell Gilmore, Harry Lauter, Dave Willock, and Harold Landon are also in the cast.

ROADBLOCK was directed by Harold Daniels and shot in black and white by Nicholas Musuraca.

ROADBLOCK is available on DVD from the Warner Archive.

To read more on this film, it was recently reviewed by Stacia at She Blogged By Night and Glenn Erickson at DVD Savant.

The evening at the Egyptian started off with a seven-minute short, GLASS SUN (2013), in which a mystical shadow leads an investigator on a gorgeous tour of many iconic Los Angeles film noir locations, including the Bradbury Building, Union Station, the 2nd Street Tunnel, Chinatown, and Angels Flight Railway. GLASS SUN may currently be viewed online.

TCM in September: Highlights

It's time for a close-up look at the September schedule for Turner Classic Movies!

Peter Sellers is the September Star of the Month. His films will be shown on Monday evenings beginning September 8th. Please note there will not be a separate Star of the Month post for September.

The Noir Alley films in September will be HE RAN ALL THE WAY (1951) on September 6th and 7th, SUDDEN FEAR (1952) on the 13th and 14th, THE MURDERERS ARE AMONG US (1946) September 20th-21st, and BERLIN EXPRESS (1948) on the 27th and 28th.

THE MURDERERS ARE AMONG US is a German film which is a TCM premiere, as noted in my September preview last July. I especially recommend SUDDEN FEAR, which has a remarkably good performance by Joan Crawford.

The TCM Spotlight focuses on famed costume designer Edith Head every Wednesday evening. The series traces her career from the '20s through the '70s.

Below are just a few of this month's highlights. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read an extended review.

...There's a Tracy-Hepburn marathon on the Labor Day holiday, followed by an evening of Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan moveis. Among the Tracy-Hepburn films on the schedule I especially like PAT AND MIKE (1952).

...An evening of Cary Grant movies on September 2nd includes the classic HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940), costarring Rosalind Russell.

...NEVER LET ME GO (1953) was shown last month for Clark Gable's Summer Under the Stars day, and I'm glad to see it turning up on the schedule again so quickly, as it's not shown especially often. Gene Tierney costars as Gable's Russian ballerina wife. It will air on September 3rd.

...The first night of the Edith Head schedule on the evening of September 3rd is packed with classics, including LOVE ME TONIGHT (1932) and SHE DONE HIM WRONG (1933); Mae West is seen above in the latter film. The whole schedule is worth watching!

...September 4th features an evening with a "Noir or Not?" theme, including the great Western BLOOD ON THE MOON (1948).

...I enjoy Virginia Mayo in SMART GIRLS DON'T TALK (1948), showing on September 5th. She's seen here with costar Bruce Bennett.

...The Musical Matinee film on Saturday, September 6th, is TWO GIRLS ON BROADWAY (1940) with Lana Turner and Joan Blondell.

..The entertaining Rin Tin Tin film CLASH OF THE WOLVES (1925) will be shown as part of Silent Sunday Nights on September 7th.

...A day of WWII films on the 8th includes ASSIGNMENT IN BRITTANY (1943), a minor yet enjoyable film starring Jean-Pierre Aumont and the luminous Susan Peters.

...One of my favorite days on the September schedule is the 9th, dedicated to films from director Jacques Tourneur. The movies are all great, including such diverse pleasures as CAT PEOPLE (1942), EXPERIMENT PERILOUS (1944), STARS IN MY CROWN (1950), and EASY LIVING (1949) to name some of them. All wonderfully entertaining. STARS IN MY CROWN is pictured here, with Dean Stockwell, Joel McCrea, and Ellen Drew.

...The September 10th schedule is also pretty great, with a daytime birthday tribute to Edmond O'Brien followed by an evening of films with costumes designed by Edith Head. Among the O'Brien films, it's a minor movie but I'm very fond of the Western COW COUNTRY (1953), which I've seen multiple times. And from the Head films, you can never go wrong with ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)!

...September 11th is the first of two nights of William Wyler films this month; it features the TCM premiere of the documentary WILLIAM WYLER: FORTY TAKES WILLY (2024). More Wyler films will be shown the evening of the 18th.

...There are several MGM musical biographies on September 12th; the movies aren't always great, but they have terrific musical numbers! One of the best on the schedule is THREE LITTLE WORDS (1950) starring Fred Astaire, Vera-Ellen, and Red Skelton.

...I like ROADBLOCK (1951), a short 73-minute crime film starring Charles McGraw and Joan Dixon. It's showing on the 13th.

...The September 15th schedule includes a favorite Robert Montgomery film, THE MYSTERY OF MR. X (1934). It's shown on TCM relatively infrequently and has never had a DVD release, so set those DVRs!

...September 16th features an evening of MGM films starring Fernando Lamas, including the very enjoyable DANGEROUS WHEN WET (1953), costarring his future wife, Esther Williams.  They married in 1969.

...It's June Allyson Day on September 19th. TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR (1944) is a favorite at hour house.

...I love YOLANDA AND THE THIEF (1945), directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer. It's an "under-the-radar" film which some musical fans don't care for, but it's always been a personal favorite. Check it out on September 21st.

...THE AFFAIRS OF MARTHA (1942) is a charming "B" film starring Marsha Hunt and Richard Carlson. On an occasion when I had a conversation with Miss Hunt, she shared that THE AFFAIRS OF MARTHA was one of her favorite films to make. It will be shown on TCM September 22nd.

...TCM celebrates films restored by UCLA on the evening of September 25th, running through most of the following day. Among the many interesting titles is UCLA's important restoration of the "pre-release" version of MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (1946). Although I personally prefer the theatrical release, the pre-release version is an important piece of film history.

...Loretta Young stars in the 60-minute pre-Code PLAY-GIRL (1932) on the 27th. I always love Loretta's pre-Codes!

...The little-known yet quite fun MGM musical ATHENA (1954) will be shown on TCM September 28th.  Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds star, along with Vic Damone (seen here). The only unfortunate thing about the movie is that MGM swiped the story idea from Esther Williams and director-choreographer Charles Walters without giving them credit.

...The month comes to a close on September 30th with a day of films directed by Nicholas Ray, including the great ON DANGEROUS GROUND (1952) starring Robert Ryan and Ida Lupino.

For more on TCM in September 2025, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in September, along with TCM's online schedule.

Happy September movie viewing!

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TCM in September: Highlights

It's time for a look at the September schedule on Turner Classic Movies!

This month TCM is showcasing the support of three directors who made news a few months ago advocating for the network's preservation. Martin Scorsese has long made TCM recommendations, going back to the printed guide, but this month he's filmed a video.

Steven Spielberg also filmed a TCM recommendations video, and Paul Thomas Anderson shared a list of five picks for the month.

Dirk Bogarde is the September Star of the Month. 19 Bogarde films will be shown spread across Wednesday evenings this month. Please note there will not be a separate Star of the Month post for September.

Noir Alley returns after taking August off for Summer Under the Stars. The September Noir Alley titles are THE SECRET FURY (1950) on September 2nd and 3rd, THE WRONG MAN (1956) on the 9th and 10th, OUT OF THE FOG (1941) on September 16th-17th, TWO O'CLOCK COURAGE (1945) on the 23rd and 24th, and WHIPLASH (1948) on September 30th and October 1st.

I've somehow not yet seen three of this month's Noir Alley films! I love the "B" film TWO O'CLOCK COURAGE, starring Ann Rutherford and Tom Conway (both seen here), and I enjoyed revisiting WHIPLASH at last month's Noir City Hollywood Festival. WHIPLASH stars Dane Clark, Alexis Smith, Zachary Scott, and Eve Arden.

The September TCM Spotlight Theme is "Coming of Age" films on Friday evenings.

Other September highlights include guest programming by Richard Dreyfuss (September 24th) and Rebecca Miller (September 28th); National Silent Movie Day on September 29th; and the first of a two-night tribute to director William Friedkin on September 14th. The second night will air in November; more details on the Friedkin tribute may be found here.

Below are a few additional September highlights. Please click any hyperlinked title for my review.

...The lineup on Saturday, September 2nd includes THE BIG SLEEP (1946) and RIO BRAVO (1959). That's my kind of holiday weekend viewing!

...Charles Farrell and Mary Duncan star in F.W. Murnau's CITY GIRL (1930), which makes its TCM debut on September 3rd.

...There's a day of good '60s comedies on Labor Day, September 4th, including a real fave, SUNDAY IN NEW YORK (1963), starring Rod Taylor, Jane Fonda, Cliff Robertson, and Robert Culp.

...September 7th features a day of Lana Turner films, including favorites like DANCING CO-ED (1939), KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY (1945), and LATIN LOVERS (1953). A great day to curl up on the couch and watch some very enjoyable movies! Then stay tuned that evening for a centennial tribute to Peter Lawford which includes GOOD NEWS (1947).

...Irene Dunne and John Boles star in BACK STREET (1932), which makes its TCM premiere on September 9th.

...A day of Alfred Hitchcock movies on September 10th includes one of my favorites, THE LADY VANISHES (1938). This is a film which has stood up to multiple repeat viewings! Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave star.

...Director Leo McCarey is celebrated on September 11th. One of the films in the lineup is THE MILKY WAY (1936) starring Harold Lloyd, which I don't believe has been shown on TCM with frequency. It's got a great supporting role for Verree Teasdale and is worth checking out.

...Claudette Colbert stars in another TCM premiere, I COVER THE WATERFRONT (1933). It's available on DVD from the Alpha public domain label; it will be interesting to see the print condition on TCM. I COVER THE WATERFRONT is part of an excellent eight-film birthday tribute to Colbert on September 13th. A film I'm particularly fond of airing that day is WITHOUT RESERVATIONS (1946), costarring John Wayne.

...The Lane Sisters and Gale Page star as FOUR WIVES (1939), the middle film in the wonderful Lemp Sisters trilogy. It's on September 14th.

...September 15th features films about maids. One of my favorites is an engaging "B" picture, PERSONAL MAID'S SECRET (1935), which runs less than an hour. Margaret Lindsay, Ruth Donnelly, and Anita Louise star.

...I'm absolutely delighted that TCM is honoring Ellen Drew with a three-film primetime tribute on September 17th. It kicks off with Preston Sturges' CHRISTMAS IN JULY (1940), costarring Dick Powell.

...There's a fabulous day of pre-codes on September 19th. Titles include the delightful BEAUTY AND THE BOSS (1932) and PENTHOUSE (1933).

...Amnesia is the theme on September 20th, including Stewart Granger, Phyllis Calvert, and Patricia Roc in MADONNA OF THE SEVEN MOONS (1945)

...I like the "valley" theme on September 21st; the creative lineup includes a favorite Esther Williams film, DUCHESS OF IDAHO (1950), which is set in Sun Valley.

...September 22nd's movies include THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY (1937), starring Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, and William Powell.

...The Musical Matinee film on September 23rd is one of my all-time favorite movies, YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER (1942), which stars Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, and the music of Jerome Kern.

...The Tim Holt Western GUNPLAY (1951) airs on September 27th. The leading lady is Joan Dixon, who I wish had made more movies.

...National Silent Movie Day on the 29th includes a pair of terrific Harold Lloyd films, SAFETY LAST! (1923) and WHY WORRY? (1923). Both films celebrate their centennials this year.

For more on TCM in September, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in September or TCM's online schedule.

Happy September movie viewing!

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TCM in June: Highlights

It's time for a look at the June schedule for Turner Classic Movies!

Cyd Charisse is the June Star of the Month on Tuesday nights beginning on June 1st. I'll have a separate Star of the Month post available here on the morning of the 1st. (Update: Please visit TCM Star of the Month: Cyd Charisse.)

The June Noir Alley schedule will feature POSSESSED (1947) on June 5th and 6th, WALK A CROOKED MILE (1948) on the 12th and 13th, THE BLUE GARDENIA (1953) June 19th and 20th, and SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943) on June 26th-27th. The latter showing ties in with a weekend-long Alfred Hitchcock marathon.

The Noir Alley titles are all good to excellent; I'd particularly like to recommend the lesser-known WALK A CROOKED MILE, a procedural teaming L.A. FBI agent Dennis O'Keefe with Scotland Yard agent Louis Hayward on an international case involving top secret nuclear information. The "early CSI" techniques seen in the film are quite interesting.

The TCM Spotlight for June focuses on juvenile delinquents. Another special note: TCM pays tribute to Norman Lloyd on June 14th.

Here are a few highlights from the June schedule. Please click any hyperlinked title to read a complete review.

..."Deadly Domiciles" are the theme of the day on June 3rd, including Ronald Reagan in the fun "B" film NINE LIVES ARE NOT ENOUGH (1941).

...An evening of three Jane Austen films on June 4th features SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (1995), PERSUASION (1995), and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1940). I recently posted a photo gallery tribute to the latter film.

...One of the Saturday morning "B" films on June 5th is the entertaining EXPERIMENT ALCATRAZ (1950), starring John Howard and Joan Dixon. It features interesting San Francisco locations and an unusual story.

...June 7th features the type of "only on TCM" programming I especially appreciate, a prime time tribute to actress Florence Rice. Seven of Rice's films will be shown; I'm especially looking forward to VACATION FROM LOVE (1938), a film I've never seen costarring Dennis O'Keefe.

...Eleanor Parker receives a multifilm tribute on June 8th, including a favorite romantic comedy, THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE (1947) with Ronald Reagan. It's shown on TCM under its alternate TV title, ONE FOR THE BOOK.

...June 9th is the first of two days featuring a complete run of MGM's Andy Hardy movie series; this day includes A FAMILY AFFAIR (1937), YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE (1937), and THE HARDYS RIDE HIGH (1939), among others. The series continues on June 29th.

...A Judy Garland birthday tribute on June 10th includes a pair of films I've enjoyed revisiting on Blu-ray over the last couple of years, THE PIRATE (1948) and SUMMER STOCK (1950). Wonderful MGM entertainment!

...Kay Francis stars as a gold digger in the enjoyable RKO "B" film PLAY GIRL (1941) on June 11th. It's one of those films which isn't necessarily all that good, yet it's fast-paced and quite entertaining. James Ellison costars.

...The genial musical comedy LOVE AND LEARN (1947) airs on June 14th. It stars Martha Vickers, Jack Carson, and Janis Paige, who had previously costarred in the very enjoyable THE TIME, THE PLACE AND THE GIRL (1946). A pleasant score adds to the enjoyment.

...Margaret O'Brien, Charles Laughton, and Robert young star in THE CANTERVILLE GHOST (1944) on June 15th. As a side note, I had the Lux Radio Theater production on LP as a kid and used to listen to it regularly. You can find it on YouTube, with O'Brien and Laughton joined by Tom Drake in Young's role.

...James Cagney stars as a PICTURE SNATCHER (1933) on June 17th. Cagney plays an ex-con restarting his life in the newspaper business who creates a sensation when he sneaks a photo during a Death Row execution. Ralph Bellamy and Patricia Ellis costar.

...Later on the 17th I'm looking forward to recording 13 WEST STREET (1962), an Alan Ladd film I've not yet seen.

...Edward Arnold plays a blind detective with a remarkable guide dog in EYES IN THE NIGHT (1942). A top supporting cast includes Donna Reed, Reginald Denny, Ann Harding, Allen Jenkins, and Stephen (billed as Horace) McNally. It's on June 18th.

...Father's Day on June 20th includes many of the standard titles for this date, including William Powell in LIFE WITH FATHER (1947) and Spencer Tracy in FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1950).

...A favorite 20th Century-Fox musical, MOON OVER MIAMI (1941), will be featured in prime time on June 21st. (Side note: This was one of the first movies I reviewed here, and the review is so short I hope to do a more lengthy post at some future point.) It's always exciting when TCM showcases a 20th Century-Fox film, as they cost more for the channel to license.  It's part of an evening of "Sun-Drenched Summer Classics."

...June 22nd features crime films from 1939, including THE ROARING TWENTIES (1939) starring James Cagney, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, and Jeffrey Lynn.  Also of special note that day is TELL NO TALES (1939) starring Melvyn Douglas and Louise Platt.

...The very enjoyable pre-Code GIRL MISSING (1933), starring Glenda Farrell and Mary Bryan, is part of a day of "memorable honeymoons" on June 24th.

...The centennial of Jane Russell's birth is on June 21st. Four nights later, on June 25th, she'll be celebrated in prime time, with a lineup of THE OUTLAW (1943), THE PALEFACE (1948), and HIS KIND OF WOMAN (1951). Russell is the subject of a brand-new biography by Christina Rice which I hope to review this summer.

...June 26th and 27th is "Hitchcock Binge-Watch Weekend."  Almost everything is worth checking out -- I'm not sure about FRENZY (1972) or FAMILY PLOT (1976) -- enjoy!

...THE STEEL FIST (1952) is an interesting little Monogram "B" in which Roddy McDowall works to flee a Communist country. Kristine Miller costars. It's on June 28th.

...A tribute to Olivia de Havilland begins on the evening of June 30th, continuing into July 1st, which would have been her 105th birthday. de Havilland passed away last year shortly after turning 104. Films will include the excellent HOLD BACK THE DAWN (1941), for which de Havilland received a Best Actress Oscar nomination. Charles Boyer and Paulette Goddard costar.

For more on TCM in June 2021, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in June and TCM Star of the Month: Cyd Charisse. TCM's June schedule will be available on the site beginning June 1st.

Happy TCM movie viewing!

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Tonight's Movie: Law of the Badlands (1951)

LAW OF THE BADLANDS is a solid Tim Holt Western with plenty of action.

Tim plays Dave Saunders, a character name he used in several of the Westerns he made around this time frame. In this entry Dave and sidekick Chito (Richard Martin) are Texas Rangers tasked with going undercover to break up a counterfeit money ring.

All goes smoothly until a dance hall performer (Joan Dixon) who is one of Chito's many old flames recognizes him in the audience and inadvertently exposes his true identity.

There's an interesting angle using carrier pigeons to summon help, and plenty of gun battles before the film's 59 minutes is up. The usual fun interplay between Dave and Chito is also present, with Dave chuckling over Chito's inability to stay away from a beautiful woman.

Longtime Western villain Harry Woods has the chance to play a good guy helping Dave and Chito. Robert Livingston of the '30s Three Mesquiteers series is also in the cast.

LAW OF THE BADLANDS was directed by Lesley Selander and photographed in black and white by George E. Diskant. This one was shot on local Southern California locations.

I've mentioned in the past how often in the Holt films "the wind rustles the trees, the sun reflects off the creeks, clouds hang low in the sky, and you can almost smell the dust when it kicks up." I came across an article on the Holt films today by Tom Stempel, formerly of Los Angeles City College, which asserts that sometimes the wind blows in the trees in the foreground but not the background, but his research into studio documents -- was there a wind machine? -- didn't provide an answer to why that was so. I'll have to watch for that and see if I agree with his description! Regardless, the author writes "However it happened, the trees glistening in the wind make the Holts just that much better than other B westerns." No doubt about that.

The Warner Archive DVD print, available in the Tim Holt Western Classics Collection Vol. 3, is absolutely beautiful. We're so fortunate to have these films available in pristine copies.

Previous reviews of Tim Holt Westerns: THE RENEGADE RANGER (1938), ROBBERS OF THE RANGE (1941), THUNDER MOUNTAIN (1947), GUNS OF HATE (1948), THE MYSTERIOUS DESPERADO (1949), RIDERS OF THE RANGE (1950), STORM OVER WYOMING (1950), RIDER FROM TUCSON (1950), BORDER TREASURE (1950), and RIO GRANDE PATROL (1950).

Related posts: A Birthday Tribute to Richard Martin; Happy Birthday, Tim Holt!

Tonight's Movie: Bunco Squad (1950)

BUNCO SQUAD is a minor "B" police procedural. Its chief pleasures are some marvelous, all-too-brief glimpses of Los Angeles in 1950 and Robert Sterling as an earnest LAPD detective.

Sgt. Steve Johnson (Sterling) is a detective with the LAPD bunco squad, charged with rounding up swindlers, con men, and other crooks. His latest case is working on breaking up a ring of con artists headed by Anthony Wells (Ricardo Cortez); the group uses seances to convince a wealthy bereaved woman, Mrs. Royce (Elisabeth Risdon), that her recently deceased son wants her to leave them her fortune. Believe it or not, she's dumb enough to buy into the plot.

Before it's all over, a murder has been committed and a whole lotta brake lines have been cut on cars. Was it really that easy to turn a car into a potential deathtrap?

Sterling is a genial presence as the dedicated detective, and there's a cute side plot involving his girlfriend (Joan Dixon) being a bit part movie actress. However, in this straightforward role Sterling doesn't get the same opportunity to shine as he did in the previous year's RKO Western ROUGHSHOD (1949), a really fine little movie which made me wish Sterling had done a lot more Westerns.

There are some great shots of 1950 L.A.; I even freeze framed a couple scenes just to take a moment to take in all the signs before the action moved on. There are lots of old gas station signs, in particular. For a Southern Californian, the glimpses of how L.A. used to look are great fun.

The film is also a great example of how to economically and quickly move a plot forward on a low budget. There's a great car wreck scene where the ultimate crash is depicted with a single shot of a spinning wheel on the corner of an overturned car. Another death is instantly conveyed via a newspaper headline, without a second wasted showing it.

Where films like this tend to lose me is when they spend too much time focusing on the crooks and the commission of the crime. In particular, there's a couple seance sequences here I really didn't care to watch; they were just silly, and I didn't find the plan to free Mrs. Royce from the bad guys' clutches believable. Watching Cortez and company plot their crime struck me as ho-hum. I'm much more interested in the procedural aspects, watching how the detectives conduct their footwork and use various resources to solve the crime. The movie would have benefited by showing more of that type of thing than it did.

Side note: What's with Tol Avery, playing Sterling's police captain, pronouncing Los Angeles as Los Angle-ees?! I actually rewound the movie just to listen to him say it a second time.

This was the first film appearance in 14 years of Marguerite Churchill, who plays Mrs. Royce's secretary. Churchill's movie roles included starring opposite John Wayne in the landmark early widescreen Western THE BIG TRAIL (1930), directed by Raoul Walsh.

Douglas Fowley, John Kellogg, Bernadene Hayes, and Robert Bice round out the cast.

This 67-minute film was directed by Herbert I. Leeds. Leeds directed a number of entries in the Michael Shayne, Mr. Moto, Charlie Chan, and Cisco Kid series. He passed away in 1954.

The screenplay by George Callahan was based on the novel FORTUNEER by Reginald Taviner.

BUNCO SQUAD is available on DVD-R from the Warner Archive. The print is very good.

Watch for this RKO film to be shown on Turner Classic Movies.

I love "B" movies and am glad I saw BUNCO SQUAD, but it could have been better. For a different take, check out Mark's enthusiastic post at Where Danger Lives.