THE RESTLESS BREED 1957 (01 DISTRIBUTION)

It's sad that this very well done western is available only from Italian or british import DVDs.

Allen Dwan directed this Edward L. Alperson production. Scott Brady stars as Mitch, a young man who arrives in a small town called Mission, Texas in order to find the men who killed his father who was a secret service man.

Mitch meets the reverend Simmons (Rhys Williams) and is offered a room to stay in. He meets a lovely young woman named Angelita (Anne Bancroft).

Mitch does not let on as to who he really is and what is reasons are for being in town, but he does gun down a few baddies including Cherokee (Leo Gordon). Cherokee vows revenge.

This is a fast paced western that has a great cast and everyone involved in the film takes their roles and does the best they can with them.

The ending of the film is not a surprise, but the way it's handled is perfect. I really enjoyed this and the way it feels different from other westerns at the time.

The rest of the cast includes Jay C. Flippen, Jim Davis, Scott Marlowe, Myron Healey, Gerald Milton, Eddy Waller and Marilyn Winston.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Mie Hama is 81.

SAN ANTONIO KID 1944 (VCI)

This is a very entertaining western.

Bill Elliot again stars as Red Ryder.

In this outing Ryder is trying to stop Ace Hanlon (Glenn Strange) from buying all the ranches in the valley after having the former residents either burned or shot out.

Hanlon and his partner Walter Garfield (LeRoy Mason) have discovered that the valley is very rich in oil and want all of it to themselves.

Running about one hour this movie is very fast paced and it's all good fun. Of course for me it really helps that beautiful Linda Stirling is in it. What a woman!!

The rest of the cast includes Robert Blake, Alice Fleming, Duncan Renaldo, Tom London, Robert J. Wilke and Jack Kirk.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Lorna Maitland is 81.

BEHIND GREEN LIGHTS 1942 (ALPHA)

Very well made film noir.

20th Century Fox distrubuted this little and obscure thriller.

A police lieutenant named Sam Carson (William Gargan) is thrust into a case of political murder when a dead body is dumped onto the steps of a police station one rainy night.

Since this tale takes place in one night the action never seems to stop as there are plenty of suspects. One of the main suspects is Janet Bradley (Carole Landis) who was trying to pay the victim off in a blackmailing scheme.

Carson beings to see too many holes in the case and soon suspects someone else of the killing and not Janet. Who the killer is might surprise you, so I won't give it away.

If you're a mystery or film noir fan you'll want to see this fine little film. As I said, it's somewhat obscure but well worth checking out.

The rest of the cast includes Richard Crane, Mary Anderson, John Ireland, Charles Russell, Charles Tannen, Don Beddoe and Mabel Paige. I've always had a crush on gorgeous Landis and both she and Mary Anderson are very sexy in this movie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Peta Wilson is 54, Shari Shattuck is 64, Ian McCulloch is 85, and Monica Randall 82.

MAYA 1989 (VINEGAR SYNDROME) BLU-RAY

Weird and confusing horror from Italy.

Director Marcello Avallone directed only two horror films, and this is the second. The other is "Specters" which I have already talked about here.

This film concerns an evil powr taking over a small Mexican village which kills many people in gruesome ways. A mystical doctor and a young man must try and stop the evil.

There are too many loose ends in this movie, and it seems like a bunch of short stories woven into one film. There are really no likable characters in this film except for the luscious Mariella Valentini as a young woman named Lisa who has arrived in the village after the death of her father played by William Berger.

It's not a well constructed film but there are a few interesting set pieces. However, this does not make for a good film. This movie kind of shows me that the Italian fim industry was really, really waning in this time.

It's an interesting film if you're not a crazed horror fan like I am. I LOVE Italian cinema and I expected so much more than this.

CHECKMATE 1935 (RENOWN)

Run of the mill crime caper.

Maurice Evans stars as Phillip Allen, a man boarding with another man and his daughters. Nobody is aware that Phillip is an undercover agent working for Scotland Yard.

He is trying to get the goods on diamond smugglers. The two daughters Jean Nicholls (Sally Gray) and Mary (Evelyn Foster) don't suspect that their father is also involved with the smuggling ring.

I was hoping for a little more from this film, but it was pedestrian as best. The acting is fine but they never do anything with the story but let it run its course.

The rest of the cast includes Donald Wolfit, Felix Aylmer, Wilfred Caithness and Ernest Jay. I was sorry they didn't make a better film out of this...it could have been so much more.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Joanna Pettet is 82, Gemma Atkinson is 40, Steve Railsback is 79, and Barbara Leigh is 78.

JUNGLE GIRL 1941 (TUBI)

I caught this on streaming a while back and have to admit it's one of the best serials I have ever seen, and for numerous reasons.

I have never had the chance to catch this fine Republic serial until now. John English and William Whitney handled the directing chores on this fast and fun 15 chapter serial.

The story concerns Dr, Meridith (Trevor Bardette) who has come to the jungle to live with his daughter Nyoka (Frances Gifford) after the crimes of his twin brother has foreced him to leave. Nyoka does not know of her father's twin sibling however.

Years later a man named Jack Stanton (Tom Neal) flies another man called Slick Latimer (Gerald Mohr) into the jungle. Latimer has his eyes set on a huge cache of diamonds owned by the Masamba tribe.

The action is non stop as is usual with Republic serials. I loved "Nyoka and The Tigermen" and think the lead, Kay Aldridge as Nyoka was sexy as hell. I have to say Frances Gifford is stunningly gorgeous as Nyoka in this one, the first.

A somewhat tragic figure in real life, Gifford makes the perfect comic book translation to the screen of a jungle woman. Man, they just don't make women like Gifford anymore.

The rest of the cast include Eddie Acuff, Tommy Cook, Frank Lackteen, Kenneth Terrell and Al Kikume. This is one that shouldn't be missed. It's nothing but fun from start to finish. Oh and did I say Frances Gifford is stunning.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Anni-Frid Lyngstad is 79.

COLD EYES OF FEAR 1972 (REDEMPTION) BLU-RAY

A fine thriller directed by Enzo Castellari who also co-wrote the film.

The film concerns a playboy named Peter (Gianni Garko) who meets a beautiful young woman named Anna (Giovanna Ralli) in a nightclub and he offers to take her to his place.

His place is really the home of his father who is a very sucessful judge named Bedell (Fernando Rey). When they arrive they find the dead body of the butler and then are taken hostage by two men.

One of the men wants revenge on the judge for sending him to prison and the other wants money. The young one is named Quill (Julian Mateos) and he is money hungry as well as being attracted to Anna.

The older one, Arthur Welt (Frank Wolff) wants revenge. The film is very brutal and there is a lot of savage beatings in this film, but it doesn't have as much sex as usual Giallos of the period.

Ralli is fantastic looking and makes the movie even better. The final is typical of this kind of movie, much like American film noir. Again, however, things are not as they appear.

I liked this film and found it very engrossing. The opening scene is a kicker indeed, at least I think so. I recommend this movie.

The rest of the cast includes Karin Schubert, Leonardo Scavino, and Franco Marletta.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Sandahl Bergman is 73, and Kathleen Hughes is 96.

DEATH AT OWELL ROCK 1967 (KOCH)

Very well made western from Italy.

Riccardo Freda directed this film about a man named Lawrence White (Stephen Forsyth) who returns to a small toen called Owell Rock to avenge the killing of his father.

Another man named Harry Boyd also arrives in town and finds it most unfriendly as he has to fight for almost everything. Mark Damon is perfect for the role of Harry and carries it off very well.

There are a lot of gunfights, fistfights and there are even many twists and turns in this movie. I like the fact that the biggest twist is one involving who is who amongst the heroes of the tale.

With Freda at the helm one expects a great quality film, and the viewer gets that in spades. Any westerns fan should enjoy this fast moving saga.

The rest of the cast includes luscious beauties such as Luciana Gilli and Pamela Tudor plus familiar faces like Luciano Pigozzi, Nello Pazzafini, Ignazio Spalla and Aldo Cecconi.

This is a very highly recommended film.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Tracy Scoggins is 71, and Tom Atkins is 89.