jsl151 Reviews

The Forgotten Step (1938)

Monty Woolley as an evil genius

[10/10 · 22 November 2018]

In this dramatization of an actual event, Monty Woolley, best known as 'The Man Who Came to Dinner', is an art collector who plants a bomb on a steamship in an insurance scam. But crime does not pay!

I've seen this short film numerous times on TCM's The MGM Parade.

The Dreamer of Oz (1990 TV Movie)

The untimely passing of John Ritter.

[14 September 2003]

The untimely passing of John Ritter may lead to the rebroadcast and/or home video release of "The Dreamer of Oz".

I remember the scene where one of the kids hearing the story of 'The Magic Land' wanted to know what it was named. Glancing around his office he sees a filing cabinet. One drawer labeled 'A-N' and the other 'O-Z'.

Later, just before being published, he needs a book title. His wife says, whatever he chooses, it should be wonderful.

jsl151

Night Key (1937)

I remember this film...

[23 May 2001]

I remember seeing this film on one of the independant channels in NYC. I don't know if AMC ever ran it. It was nice to see Boris in a role where he isn't the monster or villan.

In a memorable scene, after being screwed by his former partners, he and a petty crook go to the alarm companys' clients' stores at night, over-ride the alarm system with radio waves from his "night key" (hence the title?) and cause harmless mischeif, such as opening all the umbrellas in an umbrella store. Eventually REAL criminals learn of his device, and force him to assist them in a major heist. He gets away but is injured (I think). At the central monitoring center he sets ALL the indicators to "alarm", so when the night key is used that location shows as "safe". The cops go there and arrest them. He gets possession of his patent on a new system, which hopefully will screw his old partners to an extent greater than they screwed him.

A nice little film.