The Black Cat (1934)

Director: Edgar G Ulmer

Starring: Boris Karloff & Bela Lugosi

More Info: IMDB

Tagline: Things you never said before or even dreamed of!

Plot: Peter (David Manners) and Joan Allison (Julie Bishop) are honeymooning in Budapest when they meet mysterious scientist Dr. Vitus Verdegast (Lugosi) aboard a train. When the trio's bus from the train station gets into an accident, the young couple accompanies Verdegast to the castle of the spectral Hjalmar Poelzig (Karloff), an architect and the leader of a Satanic cult. Poelzig's treachery in World War I caused the deaths of thousands of his and Verdegast's countrymen, as well as Verdegast's own internment as a prisoner of war. While Verdegast was detained, Poelzig married first his wife, who later died, then his daughter. Now Verdegast has come back for retribution, and the honeymooners are trapped in the two men's horrifying battle of wits.

Sidebar: Who THE FUCK are the Coors twins and why are they given ANY face time about this movie? I'm sure the closest thing they've come to seeing The Black Cat is they're not true blondes and they once went without a bikini wax for a couple of months. OH!

My Rating: 6.5/10

Would I watch it again? Likely


It's a slow go for the first 20 or so minutes of this 65 minute film. But it doesn't take too long before the plot thickens and things get a little tense between Karloff and Lugosi (their first of several films together). The tension really kicks into high gear during the last 15 and this is the best and ghoulish part!



The performances tend to feel stagy at time but it's really about seeing K&L in the same picture going head-to-head. The art direction (no doubt director Ulmer's doing, a German expressionist then working in the States) elevates the picture even more, adding to the creepiness of the castle. I would have liked to have seen more....but alas...I'll take what they give me and like it.


The final act with Lugosi going chimpshit on Karloff is worth the wait. The scene where he starts to cut open Karloff's face to peel it off genuinely gets under your skin (no pun intended).


There's one good thing about many of these early Universal horror films and that's their length - generally just over or under an hour. As we'll find out later on when I talk about the FANTASTIC Karloff picture, THE BLACK ROOM (1935), a taut 70 minutes is used to its fullest effect. If only Hollywood could understand that not all movies have to be 90-140 minutes long. Sometimes the best ideas only requrie a few.

Prince of the City (1981)

Director: Sidney Lumet

Starring: Treat Williams, Jerry Orbach

More Info: IMDB

Tagline: A cop is turning. Nobody's safe.

Plot: A New York City narcotics detective reluctantly agrees to cooperate with a special commission investigating police corruption. However, he soon discovers that he's in over his head, and nobody can be trusted.

My Rating: 7/10

Would I watch it again? Sure

PotC is a very good, in-depth, detective drama that works all around. Treat Williams heads up a strong cast. So strong that it left me wondering yet again why Williams hasn't had the higher profile career he deserves. You've also got a bevy of great supporting actors like Bob Balaban and Lance Henriksen.

Williams' character is practically doomed from the start but it's his journey and his ultimate decisions that make it a worthwhile ride. It's talky but with some action sprinkled throughout. I kind of got a GOODFELLAS vibe from it but twisted around a bit. Unfortunately, the only drawback is its run time of 167 minutes. The length is certainly justified but if you're not prepared for it, it can detract from your experience as it feels every bit like 167 minutes. If you like crime/police drama you are sure to dig this one. I recently saw it at Big Lots for $3. Definitely worth the purchase at that price.

The Black Connection (1974)

Director: Michael Finn

Starring: Bobby Stevens, Sweet Louie & Sonny Charles

More Info: IMDB

Tagline: These Dudes Got A Plan To Burn The Man!

Plot: Miles Carter runs the crime on the West Side of Las Vegas. Miles lost a half kilo of heroin and owes the local mafia boss $100k! But the boss wants his money, either with delivery of the goods or the life insurance money he'll get from Miles' unfortunate death. Miles is on the run from the mob and from his dangerous way of life.

My Rating: 6

Would I watch it again? Yeah


#3 on Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 1 (part of the TRAILER TRASH PROJECT)

I really expected a (jive) turkey with this one! When I saw that it was produced by Harry H. Novak (producer of such fine films as COUNTRY HOOKER (1970) and MIDNITE PLOWBOY (1971)) I feared the worst. Damn! What a fun little surprise of a movie!

No stereotypes in this movie, nope.

Checkmates Ltd (an R&B band comprised of Stevens, Louie and Charles) are the real stars with their great, groovy soundtrack. The lead singer, Stevens, is also the lead in the picture as Miles Carter and, for the most part, he does a damn fine job of acting. That's not saying that he's a great actor but considering he has no other credits, this guy brings it and steals the show much of the time.


Here's Miles' girl in action!

JOHN: "Baby, you're the best buy in town."

MAGDA: "I'm glad you feel that way 'cause all sales are final."

(referring to her lesbian pimp, Bobbi)
"The trouble with her is she don't know a lady when she sees one...

and I AM a mutha fuckin' lady!"

Fucking classic delivery, too. It's a riot.

Some nifty shots...





I don't know who this actor is but he's terrific as one of the Don's top guys. Oh, and I almost forgot...nice cans, lady!


Sadly, there's a good bit of filler which was needed for the already low budget. We get to spend a few minutes of shots of the tram that takes you from the foothills of Albuquerque, New Mexico to the mountaintop. Miles is told to meet someone there about a big score and once he's made it his contact tells him a couple of things and then tells him to go back and wait in his hotel room for further instructions!!! That's about ten minutes wasted for no good reason but to pad the film for a bigger running time.

Sis encourages her brother to hire his first whore and laughs at him as he awkwardly fumbles through the phone call.

And then later...a little something for the fellas...


There's some great scenes with these two guys, Gino & Tony...

HEY, KIDS! It's Wayne Newton!!! Danke Schoen, Baby!

They work for the Don and are in charge of taking out Miles and his team. They clearly enjoy their jobs, too, laughing and treating it like kids would a BB gun and tin cans.


Sadly, Gino meets his untimely and hilarious end at the kung fu hands of Fats, a gay hitman for hire.










I certainly didn't expect the well-choreographed fight scene they put on. It was quick and there wasn't much editing. That and gay Fats looked like he really knew his stuff.

Saaaaaay. That's a J&B bottle! Haven't seen one of those in a while!

THE BLACK CONNECTION (aka RUN NIGGER RUN) is definitely a product of the 1970s right down to the bleak ending.

SWEET SPOILERS BADASSSSSSSS SONG...

Miles has done it. He's figured out a way to get the Vegas mob off his back at the same time he's selling his West Side interest and making enough dough to take his girl and get away from this lifestyle for good. Fats doesn't know that the hit is off and pops Miles as he leaves the hotel to start his new life. Even though you see it coming miles away (ahahaha) , it's still effective and it says a lot about the times in more ways than one. It's a shame, really, because Stevens does such a good job and he makes Miles such a likable character.

END OF SPOILERS...YARRRRR!






Great flick. I can dig it. Can you?