Attack of the Giant Leeches 1959 N/R, 62 min. Genre: Horror / Thriller / Sci-Fi aka: The Giant Leeches
Director: Bernard L. Kowalski Cast: Ken Clark, Yvette Vickers, Jan Shepard, Michael Emmet, Bruno VeSota, Gene Roth, Tyler McVey, Dan White, George Cisar, Guy Buccola, Joseph Hamilton, Ross Sturlin
Giant leeches are living in the swamp, and there is good reason to believe they are responsible for the disappearance of four people, especially when a dying moonshiner, Lem Sawyer (George Cisar), is found with sucker wounds. Game Warden Steve Benton (Ken Clark) and his girlfriend Nan's (Jan Shepard) father, Doc Greyson (Tyler McVey), investigate and learn that leeches are living in caves beneath the swamp. Will dynamite rid the area of those monster leeches?
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The Big Sombrero 1949 N/R, 82 min. Genre: Western
Director: Frank McDonald Cast: Gene Autry, Elena Verdugo, George J. Lewis, Vera Marshe, William Edmunds, Martin Garralaga, Gene Roth, Alex Montoya, Joe Kirk, Stephen Dunne
Gene Autry is the foreman of a ranch owned by Estrellita Estrada (Elena Verdugo). Her fiance, James Garland (Stephen Dunne), however, is really after her ranch, which he intends to sell after they tie the knot. But, never fear, Gene smells a rat and saves the day. Plenty of music.
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Blue Canadian Rockies 1952 N/R, 58 min. Genre: Western
Director: George Archainbaud Cast: Gene Autry, Pat Buttram, Carolina Cotton, Don Beddoe, Gail Davis, Tom London, Ross Ford, Mauritz Hugo, John Merton, Gene Roth
Murders at a dude ranch are the subject of Gene Autry's investigation in this musical Western.
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Casino Royale 1954 N/R, 55 min. Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: William H. Brown Cast: Barry Nelson, Peter Lorre, Linda Christian, Michael Pate, Gene Roth, Jean Del Val, Eugene Borden, Kurt Katch, William Lundigan
This is a little-known version of Ian Fleming's story and is the first–by far–filming of any of his work. It was presented live on TV as an episode of the TV series "Climax." James Bond (Barry Nelson) must deal with wicked, Russian spy Le Chiffre (Peter Lorre) who attempts to win back money he has lost through gambling in Las Vegas. Good baccarat playing.
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Charlie Chan in the Secret Service 1944 N/R, 65 min. Genre: Mystery / Drama / Comedy / Thriller
Director: Phil Rosen Cast: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Gwen Kenyon, Benson Fong, Arthur Loft, Sarah Edwards, George J. Lewis, Marianne Quon, Muni Seroff, Barry Bernard, Gene Roth, Eddy Chandler, Lelah Tyler, George Lessey, Davison Clark
Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) is appointed as an agent for the Secret Service when a government scientist is killed and his secret plans to fight off German U-boats are stolen. Charlie gets aid from Number Three Daughter Iris (Marianne Quon) and Number Two Son Tommie (Benson Fong), and, despite the killer targeting Charlie twice, Charlie continues in his quest to weed out the real killer from a list of suspects.
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Earth vs. the Spider 1958 N/R, 72 min. Genre: Horror / Sci-Fi aka: The Spider Earth vs. the Giant Spider
Director: Bert I. Gordon Cast: Ed Kemmer, June Kenney, Eugene Persson, Gene Roth, Hal Torey, June Jocelyn, Mickey Finn, Sally Fraser, Howard Wright, Troy Patterson, Bill Giorgio, Hank Patterson
While searching for her father, Carol (June Kenney) and her boyfriend, Mike (Eugene Persson), find the remains of a giant spider in a cave. Assuming the spider has been killed, biology teacher Mr. Kingman (Ed Kemmer) displays it in the school gym. But, the spider is not dead; it is simply stunned, and rock music revives it leading to a blood-thirsty rampage through town.
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The Hoodlum 1951 N/R, 61 min. Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Max Nosseck Cast: Lawrence Tierney, Allene Roberts, Marjorie Riordan, Lisa Golm, Edward Tierney, Stuart Randall, Angela Stevens, John De Simone, Tom Hubbard, O.Z. Whitehead, Eddie Foster, Richard Barron, Rudy Rama, William H. O'Brien, Gene Roth
After his release from prison due to his mother's (Lisa Golm) pleading, vicious Vincent Lubeck (Lawrence Tierney) continues his abuse of his family and friends as he returns to a life of crime. First, he seduces his brother Johnny's (Edward Tierney) fiancee Rosa (Allene Roberts) who later commits suicide after learning that she is pregnant. Then Vincent forms a relationship with bank employee Eileen (Marjorie Riordan) and uses her for information in order to perform a robbery. Finally, Johnny has had enough and takes action against his brother.
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Jesse James Rides Again 1947 N/R, 180 min. Genre: Western
Director: Fred C. Brannon, Thomas Carr Cast: Clayton Moore, Linda Stirling, Roy Barcroft, John Compton, Tristram Coffin, Tom London, Holly Bane, Edmund Cobb, Gene Roth, Fred Graham, LeRoy Mason, Ed Cassidy
In this 13-episode serial, Jesse James (Clayton Moore) is on the run from Missouri and rides into a Tennessee town. He immediately becomes involved in helping local farmers and ranchers take on the bad guys who want their land for the oil beneath the surface. A good serial. Highlight: movie-ending wagon chase.
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Lost City of the Jungle 1946 N/R, 175 min. Genre: Action / Adventure
Director: Lewis D. Collins, Ray Taylor Cast: Russell Hayden, Jane(2) Adams, Lionel Atwill, Keye Luke, Helen Bennett, Ted Hecht, John Eldredge, John Mylong, John Miljan, John Gallaudet, George Lynn, Dick Curtis, Arthur Space, Gene Roth
In this 13-episode serial set in the jungles of the Himalayas, Sir Eric Hazarias (Lionel Atwill) searches for the antidote for the atomic bomb that will allow him to rule the world. (Midway through the serial, the power behind Hazarias' scheme, Malborn (John Mylong), takes over since Atwill was dying of cancer.) But United Peace Foundation investigator Rod (Russell Hayden), along with his daughter (Jane Adams) and guide (Keye Luke), intends to save the world by putting an end to the scheme.
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The Marshal of Cripple Creek 1947 N/R, 58 min. Genre: Western
Director: R.G. Springsteen Cast: Allan Lane, Robert Blake, Martha Wentworth, Trevor Bardette, Tom London, Roy Barcroft, Gene Roth, William Self, Helen Wallace
When matters get too tough for the Colorado mining town's sheriff, Red Ryder (Allan Lane) rides into town to take care of the bad guys who are robbing the gold ore shipments. Last in this series of Red Ryder films.
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Pirates of the High Seas 1950 N/R, 260 min. Genre: Action
Director: Spencer Gordon Bennet, Thomas Carr Cast: Buster Crabbe, Lois Hall, Symona Boniface, Gene Roth, Tristram Coffin, Stanley Price, Marshall Reed, I. Stanford Jolley, Terry Frost, Pierce Lyden, Neyle Morrow, Tommy Farrell
There's a lot happening on a tropical island what with pirates raiding the place and the search for a cache of diamonds stolen by Nazis during World War II (among other goings-on). The pirate ship is particularly troublesome since it can turn into a submarine. Things change for the good guys when Navy-buddy Jeff (Buster Crabbe) is called in by his friends in this cheap, but fun, 15-episode serial.
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The Rebel Set 1959 N/R, 72 min. Genre: Drama aka: Beatsville
Director: Gene Fowler Cast: Gregg Palmer, Kathleen Crowley, Edward Platt, John Lupton, Don Sullivan, Ned Glass, Vikki Dougan, I. Stanford Jolley, Gene Roth, Robert Shayne, Collette Lyons, Byron Foulger
After an L.A. coffee bar owner and con man, Mr. T (Edward Platt), coerces three losers–John, Ray, and George (Gregg Palmer, John Lupton, and Don Sullivan)–into robbing an armored car in Chicago, double crossing and murder lie ahead.
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Rogues' Gallery 1944 N/R, 60 min. Genre: Mystery
Director: Albert Herman Cast: Frank Jenks, Robin Raymond, H.B. Warner, Ray Walker, Davison Clark, Robert Homans, Frank McGlynn Sr., Pat Gleason, Edward Keane, Earle S. Dewey, Milton Kibbee, Gene Roth
News photographer Eddie (Frank Jenks) and reporter Patsy (Robin Raymond) become involved in murder and assorted other mysterious happenings after they interview the inventor of a listening device.
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Shake Hands with Murder 1944 N/R, 63 min. Genre: Comedy / Mystery
Director: Albert Herman Cast: Iris Adrian, Frank Jenks, Douglas Fowley, Jack Raymond, Claire Rochelle, Herbert Rawlinson, Juan de la Cruz, I. Stanford Jolley, Forrest Taylor, George Kirby, Gene Roth, Anitra Sparrow
Bail-bond broker Patsy Brent (Iris Adrian) and her partner Eddie Jones (Frank Jenks) try to help accused embezzler Steve Morgan (Douglas Fowley) by posting a big bond for him. All goes well–until Morgan's victim, John Clark (Herbert Rawlinson), is murdered, and Morgan comes up as the main suspect. Now, Patsy and Eddie must try to prove him innocent and find the real killer.
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The Spider Woman 1944 N/R, 62 min. Genre: Mystery / Drama / Horror / Thriller aka: Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman
Director: Roy William Neill Cast: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Gale Sondergaard, Dennis Hoey, Mary Gordon, Vernon Downing, Alec Craig, Arthur Hohl, Stanley Logan, Harry Cording, John Burton, Lydia Bilbrook, Belle Mitchell, Gene Roth, Angelo Rossitto
Gale Sondergaard plays the Spider Woman whose game is to drive gamblers to the point of suicide so that she can collect on their insurance. Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone), with help from Doctor Watson (Nigel Bruce), puts an end to her evil deeds in this good episode.
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Tormented 1960 N/R, 75 min. Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Bert I. Gordon Cast: Richard Carlson, Susan Gordon, Juli Reding, Lugene Sanders, Joe Turkel, Lillian Adams, Gene Roth, Vera Marshe, Harry Fleer, Merritt Stone
Pianist Tom Stewart (Richard Carlson) has trouble dumping his ex-lover, Vi (Juli Reding), so he can marry a rich, young woman. While atop a lighthouse, Tom decides to tell Vi of his other affair. The lighthouse railing breaks, Vi hangs on to the broken rail, and Tom decides not to save her. That was a mistake, for now Vi's ghost–including assorted body parts–come back to keep her man.
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Waterfront 1944 N/R, 68 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Steve Sekely Cast: John Carradine, J. Carrol Naish, Maris Wrixon, Edwin Maxwell, Terry Frost, John Bleifer, Marten Lamont, Olga Fabian, Claire Rochelle, Billy Nelson, Gene Roth
Supposed optometrist Carl Decker (J. Carrol Naish) is, in reality, the head of the local Nazi espionage ring working from the San Francisco docks. His power lies in what is written in his little black book, forcing local German-Americans to support his cause. When his assistant, Victor (John Carradine), challenges Carl for the leadership, the U.S. has a chance to be saved. Another shot of motivation for the U.S. citizenry during World War II.
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| 1. Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959) aka: The Giant Leeches
2. The Big Sombrero (1949)
3. Blue Canadian Rockies (1952)
4. Casino Royale (1954)
5. Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944)
6. Earth vs. the Spider (1958) aka: The Spider aka: Earth vs. the Giant Spider
7. The Hoodlum (1951)
8. Jesse James Rides Again (1947)
9. Lost City of the Jungle (1946)
10. The Marshal of Cripple Creek (1947)
11. Nightfall (1956)
12. Pirates of the High Seas (1950)
13. The Rebel Set (1959) aka: Beatsville
14. Rogues' Gallery (1944)
15. Shake Hands with Murder (1944)
16. The Spider Woman (1944) aka: Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman
17. Tormented (1960)
18. Waterfront (1944)
In The News
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