the naked street (1955)

AKA The Brass Ring.
"Now I remember...I remember good."
Mobster Phil Regal (Anthony Quinn) is very protective of his little sister Roselle (Anne Bancroft), so when she gets pregnant to Nick Branda (Farley Granger) he decides that Nick is going to pop the question. Unfortunately Nick is caught bang to rights having killed a shopkeeper in a robbery. This is not a problem to Phil and he fixes the witnesses and gets Nick off. To start things go right for the couple, but then Rosie miscarries, and Phil blames Nick. Thus starting a sequence of events that threatens to topple Phil. All related by Joe McFarland (Peter Graves) a dogged reporter on Phil's trail.
Gritty crime drama with some morals thrown in. Rather standard run through, but nice to see a young Bancroft, Quinn and Granger earning their chops.

the cool and the crazy (1958)

"I need some more M and I need some more now!"
Bennie Saul (Scott Marlowe) is the new kid in school, who makes himself indespensible by becoming the local school hoodlem and drugs suppliers. When all the kids start flipping out on 'M' the cops start to get involved causing trouble for Bennie and Jackie Barzan (Richard Bakalyan) the class clown.
A one puff and you're hooked expose on the perils of drugs in this exploitation quickie. Still this is an entertaining look at the life of a teenage delinquent in 50's America. Dig that crazy jive daddy-o.

Burn (1970)

AKA Queimada. The Mercenary.
"If a man gives you freedom, it is not freedom. Freedom is something you take for yourself."
Sir William Walker (Marlon Brando) is a political agitator sent by the British government to a Portugeuse island to ferment a revolution. This Walker does with a calculated and dispassionate eye, leaving the island open for the British to move in on. Job done Walker leaves...Ten years later Walker is called back by the British. This time to destroy the very people he empowered previously, and being British he sees no contradiction. It is all just part of the game.
An aligory about colonial power and its inherent belief in the expendability of all concerned for profit and or political gain. Based on a Spanish island, where they burnt out the entire population and replaced them with slaves. This is politics with a large P, from the director who gave us The Battle of Algiers.

the gore gore girls (1972)

AKA Blood Orgy.
"I'll have a tonic water...in a clean glass."
Suave and cocky sophisticate Abraham Gentry (Frank Kress) is a private eye enlisted by reporter Nancy Weston (Amy Farrell), to discover who is killing the local go-go girl talent.
Here Lewis's legendary gore taken to its logical conclusion, literally eye popping stuff, stuffed with one liners and very black comic asides!

logan's run (1976)

"Sanctuary is a pre-catastrophe code word. Used for a place of unity."
In the Year 2274, humans live in a large sealed metropolis, where everyone lives a hedonistic lifestyle. Until you turn 30 that is, when a person must report to Carousel, and supposedly be reborn. Those who do not report are pursued and terminated by 'Sandmen'. One such sandman is Logan (Michael York), who derives much joy from his job. Then one day he's given the task of infiltrating and uncovering the underground organisation that helps runners escape. He joins up with Jessica6 (Jenny Agutter) and runs, pursued by his former best friend Francis (Richard Jordan). As he gets further into the underground he begins to question the while basis of his beliefs. Can he find sanctuary and will he betray them if he does?
A 70's perspective on the future, all clean and white and gossamer clothing, but stands the test of time better than most other futuristic sci-fi's of its age. Entertaining. if lightweight film.

never too young to rock (1975)

"Not like in my day...real bands then..."
The near future, not that you'd know it, and all pop music has been banned. Our hero, named imaginatively... Hero (Peter Denyer) works with Mr. Rockbottom (Freddie Jones) seeking out these renegades to put on a concert on TV.
A lamentably bare script whose only objective is to move from one band to another, as we get to watch Mud, the Rubettes, and the Glitter Band amongst others. View if you want to know what was wrong with the seventies and why punk rock was so necessary, or if you like glam rock.

the vault of horror (1973)

"Everything in its place and a place for everything."
Five men enter a lift and end up trapped in a basement vault of an office. Whilst they await rescue they tell the others their nightmares.
A portmanteau horror featuring many a famous face including Denholm Elliott, Tom Baker, Terry Thomas, Curd Jürgens, and Glynis Johns. All in all a great little anthology.

alien contamination (1980)

AKA Contamination. Toxic Spawn.
"This is just so we understand each other."
A ship floats into New York Harbour with only the mutilated body parts of its crew aboard and the hold full of green pulsating eggs. When examined the eggs explode splattering all with a green corrosive acid that kills. Where did the ship and the eggs come from? Commander Stella Holmes (Louise Marleau) is tasked with finding out and first hunts out Commander Ian Hubbard (Ian McCulloch), an astronaut who was disbelieved when he talked of green eggs after his mission to Mars.
An earthbound version or should I say clone of Alien, complete with chest burster. Done bigger and better the first time!

girl with green eyes (1964)

"I was going to ask about the books that you write and if I could read one?"
Irish farm girl Kate Brady (Rita Tushingham), lives in Dublin with with her gregarious friend Baba Brennan (Lynn Redgrave). She's after a more exciting life and finds it with older and more worldly wise writer Eugene Gaillard (Peter Finch). Though initially reluctant he eventually is worn down by her persistence. But then her strict Catholic family learn of the relationship. Can it survive when all are against it?
A quiet unassuming film based on Edna O'Brien's novella "The Lonely Girl", held together by the central performance of Rita Tushingham, who you believe is a waif blowing in the wind, but with a determined streak.

the lost continent (1967)

"What happened to us? How did we get here?"
A disperate group of desperate people take Captain Lansen (Eric Portman) cargo ship to Caracas. When the ship hits a storm in the Sargasso Sea the passengers have to abandon ship and find themselves adrift in a lifeboat. Eventually finding themselves washed up on an island chock full of deadly creatures such as man eating seaweed and giant crabs, as well as some Spanish conquistadors believing the inquisition is still happening.
A Hammer adaption of Dennis Wheatley’s Uncharted Seas is a convoluted mix of thriller, that warps into a straight up boys own adventure.

the hunger (1983)

"Are you making a pass at me, Mrs. Blaylock?"
Miriam Blaylock (Catherine Deneuve), is an independently wealthy and ancient vampire, living well in New York with her partner John (David Bowie). But John suddenly starts aging and seeks out Dr Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon), who is conducting research into aging. When John wastes away, Miriam moves onto Sarah, hoping to make the Dr her new companion.
When art house meets the vampire film it creates an ultra-stylish and cooly emotionless film, looking at love and companionship. Even vampires get lonely.

primitive london (1965)

"these people are true delinquents."
A look at the various lifestyles and entertainments available to the discerning punter in swinging London.
See mods, rockers, beatniks, swingers and strippers all interviewed and seen on their native environment.
A rudimentary exploitation film, that is now a wonderful peek into the long gone world of swinging London of 1965.

trader hornee (1970)

"The e is silent."
Hamilton Hornee (Buddy Pantsari) is a private detective, who with his secretary Jane Sommers (Elisabeth Monica) is tasked with trying to find the daughter of two anthropologists who went missing in Africa fifteen years previously. The young woman would inherit a substantial fortune if she were still alive.But Hornee will also have to contend with other relatives that will inherit if the girl cannot be found.
A desperate sex comedy, (with no sex), spoof of Trader Horn the safari picture/novel brought to the screen by exploitation legend David Friedman. He shouldn't have bothered!

the young master (1980)

AKA Shi di chu ma.
"Your kung fu is not good enough. That's why you lost."
Dragon (Jackie Chan) is not as good as his brother Tiger (Pai Wei) at kung fu, but Tiger has gone off the rails and in covering for him Dragon gets kicked out of school. Dragon thus ends up getting into various scrapes as he tries to redeem himself.
Jackie Chan's directorial debut sees a mix of frenetic action and comedy, that broke all records when released.

the vampire bat (1933)

AKA Blood Sucker. Forced to Sin.
"Vampires are at large I tell you!"
There's a serial killer terrifying the villagers of Kleinshloss, with all the victims drained of blood. The burgomeister (Lionel Belmore) and Dr (Lionel Atwill) are convinced there is a vampire in their midst, but the chief of police (Melvyn Douglas) is skeptical as is his girlfriend (Fay Wray). Suspicion soon falls onto slow witted Herman Gleib (Dwight Frye), who is targeted by vigilantes. Meanwhile the attacks continue...
As much a whodunit, as a horror. This is an effective and entertaining film, whatever it is.

the grandmother (1970)

An young boy has some problems: he wets his bed, and has abusive parents. He then finds a bag of seeds in a spare room, which when planted sprout and grow into a grandmother!
Lynch develops a savage and bizarre world, a hint of things to come from this idiosyncratic director.

dragstrip girl (1957)

"Serious is the last thing I want to be. That sort of drag comes soon enough."
New girl in town Louise (Fay Spain) proves too hot to handle for local hotrodder's Jim (Steven Terrell) and Fred (John Ashley), with her hopped up set of wheels and curves to die for.
AIP send us a exploitation flick about hotrodding and drag racing, and an entertaining one at that.

repulsion (1965)

"I must get this crack mended."
Carol (Catherine Deneuve) lives in London with her sister Helen (Yvonne Furneaux). Outwardly she lives a normal life, but has a dislike of men. Her phobia's begin to take over when Helen leaves Carol alone in the flat, as she goes on holiday, Leaving Carole to descend into madness...
This is the one to watch if you want huge doses of sibling rivalry, sexual repression, rape fantasies and hallucinations. Polanski manages to create an atmosphere of claustrophobia and unease with a minimal of dialogue or shock tactics.

bad taste (1987)

"The bastards have landed!"
Four less than bright men from the New Zealand National Air and Space Defense League are sent to a small town to investigate a the report of a UFO landing. What they find is an army of aliens taking over the town, endeavoring to use the humans as the main ingredient for their fast food chain Crumb's Crunchy Delights.
Comical and highly gory, this is a horror delight.

the brain eaters (1958)

"Then on Saturday about midnight the ugly nightmare began."
Riverdale, Illinois and a huge alien structure is found in the woods. At the same time several prominent townsfolk are murdered. Senator Walter Powers (Cornelius Keefe) is sent to investigate the object and discovers that parasites from the earth's core have infiltrated the town. The parasites have taking control of the authorities. Cutting off the town from the outside world. Responsibility for stopping the invasion falls to Powers and a small group not infected, including scientist Paul Kettering (Ed Nelson).
This is a standard invasion flick, but lacks the paranoia that usually ramps up the tension in these pieces. Despite that it passes quickly enough. Watch for an early appearance of Leonard Nimoy.