rag doll (1961)

aka Young, Willing and Eager.
"I've had enough of you and this place."
Carol (Christina Gregg) leaves an abusive home for the bright lights of London, and is befriended by 'auntie' (Hermione Baddeley) and coffee bar owner Mort Wilson (Kenneth Griffith). Then she falls for 'bad lot' Shane (Jess Conrad), an entertainer, and she's soon pregnant and married. It is only then that she finds out that Shane is a small-time gangster and has to go on the run when a robbery goes wrong.
A morality play in the guise of a quota quickie. It won't change your world view on life, but will pass an hour well enough.

the cockettes (2002)

"He looked like Jesus Christ with lipstick."
The seventies saw a group of flamboyant genderbending hippies and flowerchildren taking to the stage in San Francisco. They called themselves the Cockettes and performed exuberant shows becoming an underground phenomenom.
A document that charts their heady days, from being amateurs to what happened when they decended on New York as professionals.

phantom of the opera (1943)

"And life here is like a resurrection."
Erique Claudin (Claude Rains) is a violinist with the Paris Opera, who is infatuated with promising young singer Christine Dubois (Susanna Foster). Unknown to her he spends his every last penny on lessons for her, but she doesn't know he even exists. She only has eyes for male lead Anatole (Nelson Eddie) and police inspector Raoul (Edgar Barrier). Then one day Claudin manages to get sacked, commit murder and get scalded with acid...From this point on he decides to dedicate himself to creating Christine into a star, even if it means more murders.
Lubin produces a sumptuous version of the classic, centred around the Susanna Foster, whom the entire male cast seems infatuated with!

vampyros lesbos (1971)

aka El signo del vampiro. Las vampiras.
Hungarian Countess Nadine Oskudar (Soledad Miranda) is a female vampire destined to wander the world seducing and killing women to sate her unquenchable thirst for female blood.
A slow and dream-like curio enlivened by the presence of Soledad Miranda, but not enlivened enough to my mind.

the wicker man (1973)

"Animals are fine, but their acceptability is limited. A little child is even better, but not NEARLY as effective as the right kind of adult."
A highly religious Scottish highlands policeman (Edward Woodward) is sent to to Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a child. But once there he finds a cover up, with the locals claiming the girl never existed. an island village in search of a missing girl whom the locals claim never existed. Even worse he finds they are all pagan, presided over by Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee).
Much malighned when first released this has since become a well deserved classic, with a chilling conclusion.

beach party (1963)

"What does she see in old beaver puss anyway?"
An anthropology Professor (Robert Cummings) and his secretary Marianne (Dorothy Malone) arrive at the beach to study teenagers and their love lives. They find Frankie (Frankie Avalon) and Dolores (Annette Funicello), who spend their lives singing and surfing. Stopping only for the occasional bout of fighting with the local hoodlums the rats, led by chief rat Eric Von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck).
Fun drive-in flick that features Dick Dale, and Vincent Price, as well as an ensemble cast, who reappear in the four sequels. Get ready for hot rods, and hot girls whilst Frankie and Dee Dee try to make each other jealous.

the omen (1976)

"Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man; and his number is 666."
Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) and his wife Katherine (Lee Remick) have the perfect life, especially once their son Damien is born. But then Keith Jennings (David Warner) shatters it by planting the seed that Damien is literally the spawn of the devil. Initially unbelieving Robert soon comes to see that Damien may be more than he seems, but what do you do when your son may actually be the antichrist?
An effective horror, that builds a chilling conspiracy around the main protagonists, who all play their parts with a cold determination.

creature from the black lagoon (1954)

"There are many strange legends in the Amazon. Even I, Lucas, have heard the legend of a man-fish."
A scientific expedition into the Amazon, led by Dr. David Reed (Richard Carlson), stumble upon a missing link. An amphibious humanoid gill-man creature. A creature determined to rid itself of these pesky interloping humans. But then the creature spots Kay Lawrence (Julie Adams), who has come along for the good tanning oportunities. Confronted by a terrifying and deadly creature makes Dr Reed do what all scientists do, meddle. Determined to capture the creature.
A fine creature-feature horror, that spawned two sequels, that was originally one of the first rush of 50's 3-D films.

werewolf of london (1935)

"We've met before. Briefly."
Dr. Glendon (Henry Hull) is attacked by a beast whilst in Tibet searching for a rare moon worshiping flower. Back in London he's soon feeling slightly dodgy, especially after the mysterious Dr. Yogami (Warner Oland) tells him of his affliction.
Not the best of the Universal horrors, but is held together nicely by an effective performance by Hull and establishes some nice twists to the story, that makes up for the uneven pacing.

the painted smile (1962)

aka Murder Can Be Deadly.
"Live dangerously..."
Tom (Tony Wickert) on a drunken night out with the lads, is snagged by hostess Jo Lake (Liz Fraser). She hopes to roll him with the help of her boyfriend when she lures the mark home. Unfortunately when they arrive, they find her boyfriend dead. Frightened she bullies Tom into disposing of the body, but he comes to the attention of the police. With the law after him can he stay ahead of them whilst he strives to prove his innocence.
At under an hour in length, this has little chance to out stay its welcome. Not a classic by any means, but a well made quickie.