Tag: B Films

On March 21, 1941, United Artists released the third Topper film, Topper Returns (1941). Roland Young plays Cosmo Topper, a middle aged businessman with the unique gift of seeing ghosts stuck in this world. This film is set in a large country home. The film (affiliate link) begins with Gail Richards, played by Joan Blondell, and Ann Carrington, played by […]

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942) is the second of the Universal film versions of the stories and the fourth movie starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson.  Lionell Atwill makes an appearance as Dr. Moriart This movie (affiliate link) is set during the early years of World War II, when Holmes sneaks a scientist out of Switzerland […]

On February 26, 1943, RKO Pictures released the third film based on the popular Lum and Abner radio show. Two Weeks To Live (1943) stars Chester Lauck as Lum Edwards and Norris Goff as Abner Peabody. Lauck and Goff, who also wrote the show, played the characters on radio beginning in 1931. The show began as a 15 minute radio […]

On July 5, 1937, Associated British Picture Corporation released Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1937), one of the last Bulldog Drummond feature films. In this film (affiliate link), John Davis Lodge plays Captain Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond. Drummond is vacationing, when a Scottish scientist escapes from a couple secret agents.. The scientist throws a rock through the window of Drummond’s cabin. Drummond […]

The Vampire Bat (1933) is a genre bending film starring Lionel Atwill. Ostensibly, it is a horror film but is actually more of a mystery. It would fall into the “B” movie category, a short film meant to be the appetizer for the main film on a double bill. Majestic Pictures produced the film, which was directed by Frank R. […]

Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942) is the first of twelve Sherlock Holmes films made by Universal Pictures. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce reprise their roles as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson respectively. Universal set the series in the 1940s despite the fact that the literary Sherlock Holmes was 60 years old in 1914. In a good deal […]

The Gorilla (1939) is a comedy-mystery “B” film starring the Ritz Brothers, Joseph Calleia, Bela Lugosi and Lionell Atwill. The film (affiliate link) was produced by Twentieth-Century Fox before they quit making “B” films, the first film on a double bill. The Ritz Brothers were active between 1925 and the 1960s, when Al Ritz the oldest brother passed away. The […]

On March 18, 1938, Paramount Pictures released Bulldog Drummond’s Peril (1938). John Howard portrays Drummond for the third time. In this film (affiliate link), Drummond and his fiance’ Phyllis Clavering are traveling to Switzerland to complete their long-awaited wedding plans. The Longworths, Drummond’s and Clavering’s best friends, arrive in Switzerland for the wedding. Gwen Longworth gives Phyllis a perfect synthetic […]

In his first time playing the role of Captain Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond, John Howard plays the captain desperately trying to rescue his kidnapped fiance. Paramount Pictures released Bulldog Drummond Comes Back on September 24, 1937. Prior to John Howard taking over the role, Ronald Coleman and Ralph Richardson both played the fictional British hero. The film (affiliate link) begins with […]

Columbia Pictures’ Lone Wolf series, starring Warren Williams as Michael Lanyard, is one of my favorite “B” film series.  Williams played the debonair jewel thief, who somehow always ends up helping the police solve a series of crimes.  Counter-Espionage (1942) begins with Lanyard stealing top secret plans from Sir Stafford Hart’s safe. Scotland Yard’s Inspector Stephens rushes to the scene […]