Classic Pulp and Noir Worth Watching
Being a fan of Pulp and Noir Films. I have endeavored to create a list of movies and shows that appeal to like-minded fans. This list will include generally three types of material: two-fisted hard broiled style tales such as Sax Rhomer Fu-Manchu Movies and more Modern Indiana Jones films, good Noir such as "The Maltese Falcon" and finally any Weird Tales Type Films.
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- DirectorJohn HustonStarsHumphrey BogartMary AstorGladys GeorgeSan Francisco private detective Sam Spade takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar and their quest for a priceless statuette, with the stakes rising after his partner is murdered.This may be one of my all-time favorite pulp noir films. One that endured repeated viewing and still entertains.
- DirectorJacques TourneurStarsRobert MitchumJane GreerKirk DouglasA private eye escapes his past to run a gas station in a small town, but his past catches up with him. Now he must return to the big city world of danger, corruption, double crosses, and duplicitous dames.This is another of my top noir favorites. Robert Mitchem, Kirk Douglas, and Jane Greer (wow). These are three major actors who were on top of their game. An outstanding detective noir flick. I've watched this 4 times as of writing this and could sit down and watch it again today.
- DirectorFritz LangStarsGlenn FordGloria GrahameJocelyn BrandoTough cop Dave Bannion takes on a politically powerful crime syndicate.This is another movie pulp noir favorite that tops the list with Glenn Ford as a Hard Nosed Detective and Lee Marvin as a Tough Hood. Again this movie is solid enough to watch repeatedly and still enjoy it.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsHumphrey BogartIngrid BergmanPaul HenreidA cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.A great pulp classic.
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsHumphrey BogartWalter HustonTim HoltTwo down-on-their-luck Americans searching for work in 1920s Mexico convince an old prospector to help them mine for gold in the Sierra Madre Mountains.If you haven't seen this flick, you need to. This is a great noir adventure movie with a little bit of everything. One of my top 10 movies period, holds up to repeated viewing too.
- DirectorEdmund GouldingStarsTyrone PowerJoan BlondellColeen GrayThe rise and fall of Stanton Carlisle, a mentalist whose lies and deceit prove to be his downfall.This is a really good noir flick. Ends with a great bit of irony.
- DirectorByron HaskinStarsCharlton HestonEleanor ParkerAbraham SofaerThe Leiningen South American cocoa plantation is threatened by a 2-mile-wide, 20-mile-long column of army ants.This movie is great. A Man vs. Nature. Normally nature always wins that battle, unless your a man like Charlton Heston (or Guns and Moses as I like to call him). Man struggles to wage war against an unstoppable foe, billions of army ants heading for his mansion.
- DirectorRoman PolanskiStarsJack NicholsonFaye DunawayJohn HustonA private detective hired to expose an adulterer in 1930s Los Angeles finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder.Wow...I put off watching this one for years. I'm glad I finally did. It's a good one with lots of twists and turns. Don't know how often it'll be before I get the itch to rewatch it but it's definitely a great detective noir. Wheew the ending is tough. What a great cast of characters. It's great to see Faye Dunnaway and Huston not to mention Roman Polanski as a gunsel.
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsRita HayworthOrson WellesEverett SloaneFascinated by gorgeous Mrs. Bannister, seaman Michael O'Hara joins a bizarre yachting cruise, and ends up mired in a complex murder plot.This movie held my attention. It is definitely good and well filmed noir with neat characters and the beautiful Rita Hayworth as the Classic Fem Fatale. I don't know if it is something I'll watch again soon.
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsHumphrey BogartLauren BacallJohn RidgelyPrivate detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a wealthy family. Before the complex case is over, he's seen murder, blackmail and what might be love.A great classic detective noir. This is a hard one to keep up with the first few times I watched it with all it's interweaving intrigues but it's nevertheless a great picture.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsJohn GarfieldPatricia NealPhyllis ThaxterAn otherwise moral captain of a charter boat becomes financially strapped and is drawn into illegal activities in order to keep up payments on his boat.This is good movie about a poor charter boat captain just trying to make a living for his family and make ends meet and the trouble he gets himself into. A very good, overlooked film if you can get your hands on it. Based on a Hemingway book.
- DirectorCurtis HansonStarsKevin SpaceyRussell CroweGuy PearceAs corruption grows in 1950s Los Angeles, three policemen - one strait-laced, one brutal, and one sleazy - investigate a series of murders with their own brand of justice.Wow and I only put off watching this for about 20 years! This is an outstanding crime noir about the LA police department. A stellar all star cast and good plot. No wonder this movie was so well regarded. This is worth watching multiple times too. NOTE: I would definitely watch "This Gun for Hire" before watching this. You'd pick up on who Kim Basinger is so suppose to be a look alike for.
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsHumphrey BogartLauren BacallWalter BrennanDuring World War II, American expatriate Harry Morgan helps transport a French Resistance leader and his beautiful wife to Martinique while romancing a sensuous lounge singer.Another Bogey and Bacall flick. Similar to Casablanca but with Bacall. Definitely worth a watch.
- DirectorJohn FarrowStarsRobert MitchumClaude RainsFaith DomergueA young doctor falls in love with a disturbed young woman, becomes involved in her husband's death, and must flee with her to the Mexican border.This movie has a great Fem Fatal which absolutely destroys an innocents man life in a single night. There is a absolutely incredible scene with Robert Mitchum and Claude Raines that makes this movie worth watching, if only to see that one scene.
- DirectorRobert SiodmakStarsBurt LancasterAva GardnerEdmond O'BrienHit men kill an unresisting victim, and investigator Reardon uncovers his past involvement with beautiful, deadly Kitty Collins.I don't know why this movie isn't more popular. Maybe the title? It's pretty good and is one of the better noir films. One of the earlier films done in flashbacks which was really well done. It holds up to repeated viewing well too.
- DirectorLee TamahoriStarsNick NolteMelanie GriffithJennifer ConnellyIn 1950's Los Angeles, a special crime squad of the LAPD investigates the murder of a young woman.Another one I put off for a long time. I really like this movie. It's set in the 50's but has all the pulp noir detective of the great classics. The cast is outstanding and it has good action and a few twists.
- DirectorJohn BrahmStarsLaraine DayRobert MitchumBrian AherneJust before a wedding, the bridegroom hears a complex tale painting his lovely bride as devilish and unbalanced.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordKaren AllenPaul FreemanIn 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.One of the best two-fisted action pulp movies ever. Honorable mention to the next two Indiana Jones movies however the Crystal Skull was painful for me to watch. Perhaps I had begun to expect too much from the franchise.
- DirectorStephen SommersStarsBrendan FraserRachel WeiszJohn HannahAt an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hamunaptra, an American serving in the French Foreign Legion accidentally awakens a mummy who begins to wreak havoc as he searches for the reincarnation of his long-lost love.I must say, I enjoy this film. The first is the best of these films which begin to get more and more "off base". They do continue to feed the modern pulp genre though.
- DirectorSeth HoltMichael CarrerasStarsAndrew KeirValerie LeonJames VilliersAn archaeological expedition brings back to London the coffin of an Egyptian queen known for her magical powers. Her spirit returns in the form of a young girl and strange things start to happen.I neat British Horror film which contains all the pulp weird tale elements. An enjoyable movie.
- DirectorTerence FisherStarsPeter CushingChristopher LeeYvonne FurneauxIn 1895, British archaeologists find and open the tomb of Egyptian Princess Ananka with nefarious consequences.This is a favorite of mine. I love the old British Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee films by Terrence Fisher. It's a pretty good little pulp flick.
- DirectorJ. Lee ThompsonStarsRichard ChamberlainSharon StoneHerbert LomFortune hunter Allan Quatermain teams up with a resourceful woman to help her find her missing father lost in the wilds of 1900s Africa while being pursued by hostile tribes and a rival German explorer.Everyone considered this kinda an Indiana Jones knock-off but in fact it was a remake of an earlier pulp flavored movie and book by the same name. This is also an early Sharon Stone film. I am kinda fond of it for it's pulp flair. The later 2004 version with Swayze is less pulp and more dramatic and character driven. They're both very different and each have their own appeal.
- DirectorRaoul WalshStarsJames CagneyHumphrey BogartPriscilla LaneThree men attempt to make a living in Prohibitionist America after returning home from fighting together in World War I.Another great pulp crime noir film. This features James Cagney and Bogart. The great thing about many Noir films is nobody is really a good guy. Their all shades of grey. This film holds up to repeated viewing.
- DirectorGerardo de LeonEddie RomeroStarsJohn AshleyKent TaylorMario MontenegroNatives of a tropical island have to contend with man-eating plants and animals, mutations caused by radioactivity. Virgin sacrifices become the norm. A small group of interlopers become caught up in the mayhem.This is a pulp adventure horror flick filmed in the late 60's in the Philippines. What is considered an exploitation flick. This is an upper tier B-Movie. There are some B-Movies you'll only watch once and would never consider viewing again. This is one you'd watch and end of watching again 10 years later. It's fun and entertaining. My favorite part of the movie is the ships crew. Worth watching for a weird menace tale. This movie started a string of multiple movies called the Blood Island films. They are all terrible, this is the best of them. Worth a view.
- DirectorJoseph LoseyStarsStanley BakerSam WanamakerGrégoire AslanIn the UK, after pulling a racetrack robbery, repeat offender Johnny Bannion hides the loot in a farmer's field but the police and the local mob come looking for Johnny and the money.A good crime noir film about a jewelry heist. It's dark and enjoyable to see the cast of characters. The lingo is great as are the performances. This holds up to repeated viewing and has the treat of featuring Marolyn Monroe in her prime something you have to see to appreciate.
- DirectorRaoul WalshStarsGeorge RaftHumphrey BogartAnn SheridanWhen one of two truck-driving brothers loses an arm, they both join a transport company where the other is falsely charged as an accessory in the murder of the owner.I have a weak spot for this depression era movie. I love Bogart and this is full charm and character.
- DirectorLynn ShoresStarsSidney TolerVictor Sen YungC. Henry GordonAn escaped convicted murderer hides out at a New York wax museum where he hopes to get plastic surgery, which will help him revenge himself on Charlie Chan.I got a my hands on a few of these early detective flicks to see what they were all about. This was considered one of the better Charlie Chan movies. I must say I enjoyed it. It was entertaining with a pulp flair and held my attention. This has inspired me to obtain and watch a few more of the Chan movies.
- DirectorDon SharpStarsChristopher LeeNigel GreenJoachim FuchsbergerAfter cheating death, master criminal Dr. Fu Manchu returns with a plot to contaminate the River Thames with a powerful toxin extracted from Tibetan poppies.Of all the Fu Manchu movies, I like this the best. Fu-Manchu is an evil Chinese mastermind intent on enslaving or destroying the white Anglo-Saxon race. He is pitted against his arch nemesis Naylan Smith and Petrie his doctor side kick who are somewhat akin to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. There are a number of Fu Manchu movies, most are decent, a couple are bad. This is one of the best in my opinion.
- DirectorAnthony BushellStarsChristopher LeeYvonne MonlaurGeoffrey TooneIn 1910, Hong Kong members of a secret Tong crime syndicate protect their identities by murdering the daughter of a British sea captain who vows revenge.This is a Fu Manchu movie without calling it a Fu-Manchu movie. Christopher Lee plays the diabolical leader of a Chinese Tong Gang who plots to assassinate british nationals in Hong Kong. It's honestly better than most of the Fu-Manchu trademark films and is worth a watch.
- DirectorRobert WiseStarsSteve McQueenRichard AttenboroughRichard CrennaIn 1926, a U.S. Naval engineer gets assigned to a gunboat on a rescue mission in war-torn China.The American navy in Shanghai during the beginning of the communist uprising in 1926. This is a good drama with lots of pulp action. It's a neat movie which holds up to repeated viewing.
- DirectorGeorge StevensStarsCary GrantJoan FontaineVictor McLaglenIn 19th century India, three British soldiers and a native waterbearer must stop a secret mass revival of the murderous Thuggee cult before it can rampage across the land.This is a great early pulp action movie of the british forces in Burma and the evil Cult of Kali.
- DirectorTerence FisherStarsGuy RolfeAllan CuthbertsonAndrew CruickshankIn the 1830s, a captain in the East India Company lobbies to investigate the criminal Thugee Cult of Kali, an organized crime group of stranglers and thieves.This pulp goes movie goes hand in hand with Gunga Din. It isn't as much of a buddy movie and has a darker and more serious tone but it is similar nevertheless and includes the death cult of Kali.
- DirectorAlan ParkerStarsMickey RourkeRobert De NiroLisa BonetA private investigator is hired by a man who calls himself Louis Cyphre to track down a singer named Johnny Favorite. But the investigation takes an unexpected and somber turn.A great Horror Detective Noir.. It is dark and has adult scenes but very worth a look if you like horror and detective noirs.
- DirectorWalter HillStarsCharles BronsonJames CoburnJill IrelandThe saga of a drifter who turns to illicit bare-knuckle boxing in Depression-era New Orleans.Depression Era underground bare knuckles fighting. A good flick with a flair for the times.
- DirectorRaoul WalshStarsIda LupinoHumphrey BogartAlan CurtisAfter being released from prison, notorious thief Roy Earle is hired by his old boss to help a group of inexperienced criminals plan and carry out the robbery of a California resort.
- DirectorStephen NorringtonStarsSean ConneryStuart TownsendPeta WilsonIn an alternate Victorian Age world, a group of famous contemporary fantasy, science fiction, and adventure characters team up on a secret mission.This is a pulp superhero mishmash with all the classic monsters as heroes recruited to serve the Queen.
- DirectorDick ClementStarsAlan ShearmanDiz WhiteRonald E. HouseThe dashing Captain Hugh "Bullshot" Crummond (Alan Shearman) - World War I ace fighter pilot, Olympic athlete, racing driver, part-time sleuth, and all round spiffing chap - must save the world from the dastardly Count Otto van Bruno (Ronald E. House), his wartime adversary. And, of course, win the heart of a jolly nice young lady.This is a tongue and cheek pulp movie with dry humor. Kind of like an pulp Austin Powers movie without all the sex innuendos. It's worth a view and is humorous but is not likely to hold up to repeated viewing.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsFred WardJoel GreyWilford BrimleyAn officially "dead" cop is trained to become an extraordinary unique assassin in service of the US President.This is a pure modern pulp adventure. It's a bit dated now for the 80s but its a fun entertaining watch. A man is recruited by a secret gov. organization to be trained as a kung-fu assassin under the tutorledge of a great eastern master.
- CreatorDonald P. BellisarioStarsStephen CollinsJeff MacKayCaitlin O'HeaneyThe adventures of a 1930's Pacific Islands bush pilot and his companions.One of my fondest and favorite series I recall from childhood. This is everything good about a pulp series. Follows the adventures of a boatplane pilot and friends in the South Seas. Has evil Chinese, spies, Nazis, lost treasure and pulp intrigue and adventure in the vein of Indiana Jones. Hard to find but worth it.
- DirectorFrank TuttleStarsAlan LaddVeronica LakeRobert PrestonWhen assassin Philip Raven shoots a blackmailer and his beautiful female companion dead, he is paid off in marked bills by his treasonous employer who is working with foreign spies.A neat classic flick. The love interest is gorgeous. It's a cute Pulp Noir story of a hit man trying to settle a score after being double crossed.
- DirectorScott FrankStarsLiam NeesonDan StevensDavid HarbourPrivate investigator Matthew Scudder is hired by a drug kingpin to find out who kidnapped and murdered his wife.
- DirectorOtto PremingerStarsAlice FayeDana AndrewsLinda DarnellA slick con man arrives in a small town looking to make some money, but soon gets more than he bargained for.Great Noir! This film has a lot going for it. It also caught me by surprise at the end. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the movie hit me with a surprise twist.
- DirectorAndré De TothStarsDick PowellLizabeth ScottJane WyattMarried insurance adjuster John Forbes falls for femme fatale Mona Stevens while her boyfriend is in jail and all suffer serious consequences as a result.Married Insurance Investigator gets caught up in an affair after getting bored with his humdrum picture perfect life. I enjoyed this flick, the protagonist was cast perfectly for this role.
- DirectorFritz LangStarsEdward G. RobinsonJoan BennettRaymond MasseyWhen a conservative middle aged professor engages in a relationship with a femme fatale, he's plunged into a nightmarish world of blackmail and murder.This is a pretty good flick about an older married college professor getting caught up with another woman and a murder. To make matters worse, the whole situation seems to be collapsing in on him as the police draw closer to making an arrest.
- DirectorSidney LumetStarsAlbert FinneyLauren BacallIngrid BergmanIn December 1935, when his transcontinental luxury train is stranded by deep snow, detective Hercule Poirot is called on to solve a murder that occurred in his car the night before, with a multitude of suspects.
- DirectorJohn GuillerminStarsPeter UstinovMia FarrowSimon MacCorkindaleAs Hercule Poirot enjoys a luxurious cruise down the Nile, a newlywed heiress is found murdered on board. Can Poirot identify the killer before the ship reaches the end of its journey?
- CreatorFrank CardeaGeorge SchenckStarsBruce BoxleitnerClyde KusatsuRon O'NealPith-helmeted Buck is a Great White Hunter who here (unlike the real one from the 1940s) works out of the Raffles Hotel bar in Singapore during the 1930s fighting all kinds of bad guys in pre-war Malaya.TV series based on Frank Buck a big game hunter in the 30's set in the South Pacific. Very similar in feel to Tales of the Golden Monkey & Indiana Jones.
- DirectorEdward L. CahnStarsEduard FranzValerie FrenchGrant RichardsAnthropologist Jonathan Drake believes that the men of his family have been cursed for generations by the native South American tribe he studies. Shortly after his brother, discovers one of the tribe's shrunken heads, he's found murdered.I like this flick... It has a neat South American pulp horror plot relating to Headhunter magic.
- DirectorNicholas MeyerStarsPierce BrosnanSaeed JaffreyShashi KapoorFact-based account of a secret society of murderers, and of the man who exposed them in British India 1825.I really liked this. Of the five or so movies about the Thugee Cults, I'd have to say this is in the upper tier. Neat premise about an Englishman who enfiltrates a Thug group and learns there ways.
- DirectorOtto PremingerStarsRobert MitchumJean SimmonsMona FreemanAmbulance driver Frank Jessup is ensnared in the schemes of the sensuous but dangerous Diane Tremayne.
- DirectorArne GlimcherStarsSean ConneryLaurence FishburneKate CapshawA Harvard professor is lured back into the courtroom after twenty-five years to take the case of a young black man condemned to death for the horrific murder of a child.This is a great detective story. It has a good cast and is definitely worth watching if your a genre fan. The ending is a superb.
- DirectorRobert ParrishStarsRita HayworthRobert MitchumJack LemmonThe friendship between two tramp boat owners is threatened by the arrival of a beautiful and seductive passenger.Some might complain about the ending but I found this to be a remarkable little tale. The cast is outstanding as are the circumstances.
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsRonald ColmanJane WyattEdward Everett HortonWhen a revered diplomat's plane is diverted and crashes in the peaks of Tibet, he and the other survivors are guided to an isolated monastery at Shangri-La, where they wrestle with the invitation to stay.Look for the restored version. This is an impressive movie made when studios went all out on productions. A plane is hijacked and taken to Shangrala. Well made and with a serious tone. A definite pulp movie.
- DirectorJean NegulescoStarsPeter LorreSydney GreenstreetZachary ScottMystery writer Cornelius Leyden becomes intrigued after the murdered body of a vicious career criminal washes up in the Bosphorus.This is a neat little noir thriller with Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet. Together, they piece the life story together in the search of an elusive villain. Not a bad little flick and full of treachery and intrigue.
- DirectorJosef von SternbergStarsGene TierneyWalter HustonVictor MatureIn Shanghai, dragon lady 'Mother' Gin Sling operates a gambling house for wealthy patrons but she clashes with influential land developer Sir Guy Charteris who wants to put her out of business.This is a neat little flick with Walter Huston and Victor Mature. It also has the most incredibly beautiful actress, you've probably never heard of, Gene Tierney. It's a dark little tale of a girl who becomes twisted and broken by the vices of a Shanghai night club. Definitely worth a look.
- DirectorWilliam DieterleStarsCharlton HestonLizabeth ScottViveca LindforsGamblers who "took" an out-of-town sucker in a crooked poker game feel shadowy vengeance closing in on them.This is a neat rather obscure Noir flick with Heston. Heston plays a grafter (who along with some friends) rip off a legitimate businessman. The businessman is so ruined by the experience that he kills himself but not before leaving a letter to his psycho brother. The psycho brother whose face is unknown then goes on killing spree after Heston and his friends.
- DirectorVincent ShermanStarsHumphrey BogartRosemary LaneWayne MorrisA hotshot reporter and a young doctor team up to investigate a series of grisly murders and a mysterious sample of synthetic blood.Humphrey Bogart as a undead mad scientist? Oh yeah, I'm a Bogart fan and I hadn't ever heard of this little Classic Horror gem. It's a better than average horror flick too. Definitely worth a look if your a fan of classic horror movies or noirs.
- DirectorGeorge SluizerStarsJeff BridgesKiefer SutherlandNancy TravisThe boyfriend of an abducted woman never gives up the search as the abductor looks on.I was going over my list of movies when I found this overlooked work. This is really a pretty good thriller/suspense movie despite its modern venire, it is a great classically designed thriller. A man's wife goes missing and he will do anything to find her. Her abductor secretly watches and decides to play a game with the poor man.
- DirectorFritz LangStarsRudolf Klein-RoggeOtto WernickeThomy BourdelleA criminal mastermind uses hypnosis to rule the rackets after death.If you can find an English translation or sub-title this is a neat movie to watch for the Pulp Genre. Directed by great Fritz Lang in 1933, this movie is a mystery thriller with some subtle supernatural undertones. Dr. Mabuse is a criminal genius, mastermind and hypnotist who was apprehended and held in an insane asylum many years ago and hasn't spoken a word since. How then has a secret criminal organization resurfaced allegedly under his leadership? Pretty neat film, even has one of the classic deathtrap scenes. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a restored version with English subtitles, worth having in your pulp collection.
- DirectorHenry HathawayStarsJohn WayneSophia LorenRossano BrazziAmerican ne'er-do-well Joe January is hired to take Paul Bonnard on an expedition into the desert in search of treasure.John Wayne is a hard selfish man who is hired as a desert guide in the Sahara. It becomes a trip with two men and a beautiful woman and little does Wayne know but they are actually searching for a lost city and valuable treasure. Pretty decent little flick.
- DirectorRoy Ward BakerStarsRichard WidmarkMarilyn MonroeAnne BancroftAfter being dumped by his girlfriend, an airline pilot pursues a babysitter in his hotel and gradually realizes she's dangerous.I have a hard time classifying this movie. It's Noir definitely with Richard Widmark playing a man who lusts after a beautiful woman in a hotel window after being dumped by his girlfriend of 6 months. Unfortunately for him, the girl in the window isn't at all what she appears to be and despite being beautiful and willing, is bat$#!T crazy. This movie utterly dispels my earlier notion that Monroe couldn't act.
- DirectorTay GarnettStarsLana TurnerJohn GarfieldCecil KellawayA married woman and a drifter fall in love and then plot to murder her husband.I'm sort of fond of John Garfield after watching a few of his movies. He's the perfect struggling, everyday guy who life kicks around. Perfect figure for Noir films, this is no exception. Lana Turner is one gorgeous woman too, wow. This is a good movie full of twists and turns about a drifter who falls in love with a married woman and conspires to have her husband murdered. It takes a good movie to make you feel sympathetic to them but you do.
- DirectorEdward DmytrykStarsDick PowellClaire TrevorAnne ShirleyAfter being hired to find an ex-con's former girlfriend, Philip Marlowe is drawn into a deeply complex web of mystery and deceit.This movie is a well done Philip Marlow detective noir similar to the Big Sleep. It's well done and confusing but worth the watch if you enjoy the classic hard knuckled tough detective noirs.
- StarsPatrick SwayzeAlison DoodyRoy MarsdenAn adventurous quest for a treasure hidden in King Solomon's mines, based on H. Rider Haggard's timeless tale.This is a lengthy well-filmed serious production done in Africa. It is a bit too long for my tastes but well-done in comparison to the earlier 80's version which is intended to have an Indiana Jones type feel. This has action but is more character driven than the other versions and borders on being a drama.
- DirectorJoel EdgertonStarsJason BatemanRebecca HallJoel EdgertonA married couple, Simon and Robyn, run into Gordo, an old classmate. Things take a turn when Gordo begins to drop in unannounced at their house and inundates them with mysterious gifts.Wow, this is a modern noir mystery thriller on par with the best. Dark, atmospheric and well-acted. I waited a while to watch it but I'm glad I finally sat down and took the time. Well worth a look.
- DirectorDavid YatesStarsAlexander SkarsgårdRory J SaperChristian StevensTarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.
- DirectorJohn SturgesStarsSpencer TracyRobert RyanAnne FrancisA one-armed stranger comes to a tiny town possessing a terrible past they want to keep secret, by violent means if necessary.
- DirectorRudolph MatéStarsEdmond O'BrienPamela BrittonLuther AdlerFrank Bigelow, told he's been poisoned and has only a few days to live, tries to find out who killed him and why.
- DirectorRobert RossenStarsJohn GarfieldLilli PalmerHazel BrooksA talented boxer's young career hits difficult terrain when an unethical promoter takes interest in him.
- DirectorTom FordStarsAmy AdamsJake GyllenhaalMichael ShannonA wealthy art gallery owner is haunted by her ex-husband's novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a symbolic revenge tale.This is definitely a modern Noir. It's dark and it's opening imagery threw me for a loop! And well so did the ending. As a matter of fact, I really had to process this movie and read a few movie explanations to understand it but there is so much going on here that you want to understand it. In the end, this is a adult movie about Revenge unlike any I've seen before. Not because it's overly violent (it's not). Most all serious violence is not shown onscreen in this movie. Instead, this is most "subtle" revenge movie, I've ever seen.
- DirectorJules DassinStarsBarry FitzgeraldHoward DuffDorothy HartA step-by-step look at a murder investigation on the streets of New York.Nice Pulp Detective Noir about a two police detectives investigating a suicide that turns out to be a murder. Really neat to see how police detectives were portrayed in the big city. Not stellar but a good who-done-it which keeps you guessing.
- DirectorRichard FleischerStarsCharles McGrawAdele JergensWilliam TalmanA well-planned robbery goes awry with tough cop Jim Cordell in pursuit of the thieves.A tough pulp detective B-film starring Charles McGraw who also starred in Narrow Margin by the same director. It has a lot of the same gritty flair. Good entertainment. Fun to see what was acceptable as far as TV nudity back in the day. One of the femme fatal's is a stripper. She never takes off much in the way of clothes though. LOL
- DirectorMichael AndersonStarsRon ElyPaul GleasonWilliam LuckingDoc and the Amazing Five battle Captain Seas and "the green death" for control of a fabulous resource.Faithful to the comics and an interesting watch. Unfortunately, this movie was done with the same level of camp that the Batman series of the same time used. Had this been played more serious (such as the "The Shadow" or "The Rocketeer") I think it would have been a classic pulp movie showcase. As it is, it is only an entertaining romp, worth a look for those interested in one of the biggest Pulp Hero stars of all time.
- DirectorJohn FarrowStarsRobert RyanAnita EkbergRod SteigerAfter a commercial plane crash lands in a South American jungle, the passengers and pilots must patch up the engines and escape the cannibal-infested area.
- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsKenneth BranaghPenélope CruzWillem DafoeWhen a murder occurs on the train on which he's travelling, celebrated detective Hercule Poirot is recruited to solve the case.This remake was done with all the finesse and care you would expect from a fan. I'm pleased to say this goes in the collection. Should be rated higher. Nice cast and Kenneth Branagh is wonderful as Perot not to mention he does a fine job directing this one too.
- DirectorJohn CromwellStarsHumphrey BogartLizabeth ScottMorris CarnovskyA soldier runs away rather than receive the Medal of Honor, so his buddy gets permission to investigate, and love and death soon follow.A classic crime mystery with a sultry Lizabeth Scott who plays a fem fatale to the hilt and good ole Bogy.