STRANGE ILLUSION (1945)

 

In the same year he made the classic Film Noir DETOUR, Edgar G. Ulmer also made this 87-minute programmer at PRC. The film was intended to be a mystery, but instead resembles an Andy Hardy picture with a dark twist.

James (Jimmy) Lydon plays college student Paul Cartwright who, through a series of troubling dreams, is convinced that his family, especially his mother, is in danger from a mysterious, unscrupulous man. He then learns that his mother is engaged to marry a suave gentleman she barely knows. Paul sets out, with the help of family friends, to expose this man and save his mother from ruining, and perhaps losing, her life.

Mr. Ulmer usually has a talent for creating intriguing atmosphere despite budget limitations and time restraints. But, apart from s few interesting moments during the dream sequences, this film doesn't generate much mystery, and the story itself isn't all that involving. Jimmy Lydon was a talented, likable actor who was especially adept at comedy. In fact, he is mostly remembered for playing teenager Henry Aldrich in a series of popular B-movies at Paramount. But he overacts in this movie to the point where his character is hard to take seriously. Veteran actors Warren William, Sally Eilers, and Regis Toomey fare somewhat better. Still, STRANGE ILLUSION is a fun programmer to watch if you happen to like films of this type (I do!), but a big disappointment considering the director.

Jimmy Lydon continued his long career as an actor into the 1970's. He also worked in television production, and was instrumental in the creation of two hit series: 77 SUNSET STRIP and M*A*S*H. He died on March 9, 2022, at the age of 98.

Jimmy Lydon, left, in the 1940's, and right, at a screening of STRANGE ILLUSION in 2013.

BLACK LEGION (1937)

 

Humphrey Bogart had a long apprenticeship as a movie actor. Between his screen debut in 1930 in A DEVIL WITH WOMEN and his breakthrough into major stardom with HIGH SIERRA (1941), Bogart acted in thirty-seven films. He was in everything from comedies to Westerns, and even got to play romantic leading men a few times. His first big success was as gangster Duke Mantee in THE PETRIFIED FOREST (1936), in which he repeated the role he had played on Broadway. His obvious talent at portraying complicated, conflicted characters was exploited again in Archie Mayo's BLACK LEGION. This serious drama was based on a real American hate group by the same name, an organization very similar to the Ku Klux Klan. Despite Warner Brothers inserting a disclaimer at the beginning of the film assuring the audience that no true characters or events were being portrayed, the film's story was based on a sensational murder trial involving the group. 

Bogart plays Frank Taylor, a factory worker. Frank and his wife, Ruth (Erin O'Brien-Moore) have a young son, Buddy (Dickie Jones). Frank is hoping for a promotion at his job, one he feels he deserves. But the promotion is given to a younger man, Joe Dombrowski (Henry Brandon), considered by Frank and some other co-workers as a "foreigner", not a true American. Frank's bitterness leads him to join a secret organization called the Black Legion, a group that preaches hate against foreigners who are seen as trying to take over the country. The group attacks Dombrowski and his father at their home, set fire to their property, and drive them out of town. Frank's involvement with the group causes a strain in his marriage. It also causes a conflict with his best friend, Ed Jackson (Dick Foran) and Ed's fiance, Betty Grogan (Ann Sheridan). 

When Ruth finds out the truth about the group's beliefs and actions, and decides to take Buddy and leave, Frank begins to pull away from the group. But he knows that he won't be able to break away completely. The members of the group swear to an oath that any attempt to leave or reveal information about the group will be punishable by death. This inevitably leads to tragedy.

I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone who hasn't yet seen it. Suffice it to say there are a few surprises as the story comes to its climax, and there is no attempt to come up with a happy ending. In fact, I found the ending to this film nearly as haunting as the final scene in I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG (1932). 

The Black Legion holds an initiation ceremony.

It is a credit to Bogart's talent that Frank is sympathetic throughout most of the film, even though he engages in truly evil activity. Despite Frank's initially enthusiastic embrace of the Legion's hateful beliefs, it soon becomes clear that the man is tortured by what he's doing. Bogart is supported by a fine cast of actors, many of them Warner contract players. Erin O'Brien-Moore brings the right amount of tension and emotion to her role as Frank's wife. Dick Foran, adept at playing likable working-class men, is effective as Frank's best friend. Ann Sheridan, working hard in her own apprenticeship years before her "Oomph Girl" phase began, manages to standout as the second female lead. Good work also by Joseph Sawyer as Cliff Moore, Frank's co-worker who brings him to his first Legion meeting. Also featured are Helen Flint, John Litel, Dorothy Vaughan, and Samuel Hinds.

THE MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH (1959)

 

Colorful diversion from Hammer Pictures involving a scientist who has discovered the secret to eternal youth. The one minor problem is that he must kill someone every ten years in order to obtain vital human glands that will keep the process going. Anton Diffring, with his uniquely handsome and somewhat cold countenance, is appropriately agitated as the scientist. He is perfectly matched by Christopher Lee as a doctor who reluctantly agrees to perform the necessary glandular transplant. It's all very British, loaded with typical Hammeresque atmosphere, and turns out to be much more talk than action. That's not exactly a problem, considering what a pleasure it is to hear the commanding voices of these two fine actors in their scenes together. Gorgeous Hazel Court plays the lady who is desired by both of the lead characters. Although she would later be remembered for playing perfidious characters in horror films such as THE RAVEN (1963), THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1964), and THE PREMATURE BURIAL (1962), in this film Miss Court emotes convincingly as a damsel in distress. There is a very slow buildup to a few minutes of actual horror in the closing moments of the film, with  Diffring's makeup looking suspiciously like what was later used for Lee in THE MUMMY (also 1959). While not the most exciting of the Hammer horrors, THE MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH nonetheless deserves a place of honor on every horror fan's Mad Scientist shelf. Jimmy Sangster wrote the screenplay and Terence Fisher directed.

SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME (1956)

 

This biography of legendary prize fighter Rocky Graziano is in many ways a typical by-the-numbers Hollywood biopic. However, expert direction by Robert Wise and a super-energetic performance by a young and hungry Paul Newman combine to make it an exciting screen experience. Some of the fight scenes come close to the stark realism of Martin Scorsese's RAGING BULL. And in the early moments of the film, showing the difficult, crime-ridden life of the young Rocky, the stylized cinematography and the jazzy soundtrack reminded me of a future Robert Wise classic, WEST SIDE STORY.

Newman is surrounded by a talented supporting cast. Beautiful Pier Angeli plays Nora, the fighter's loyal, loving wife. His parents are played by Eileen Heckart and Harold J. Stone. Robert Loggia plays a sleazy ex-con who tries to ruin Graziano when he refuses to throw a fight. And Sal Mineo, one year after his impressive turn in REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, plays Romolo, Graziano's longtime friend and partner in crime. Mineo, looking older and leaner than in the earlier film, shows his versatility as an actor and manages to keep up with the frenetic Newman. Also seen briefly is Steve McQueen in an early, uncredited performance. Other actors in small, uncredited roles are Dean Jones, Ray Stricklyn, and little Angela Cartwright (LOST IN SPACE) as Graziano's daughter.