151. The House of Fear (1945, Roy William Neill) - 7/10
--- I love Sherlock Holmes and this was a fun one. Haunting and amusing at the same time as people at castle gets knocked-off one-by-one. Visually excellent, Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce are the quintessential Holmes & Watson and they make these murder mysteries snappy. The House of Fear (1945) is like all the rest in their series. Highly entertaining!
152. Allotment Wives (1945, William Nigh) - 5/10
--- Monogram showing some muscle making this one. For one, they had Kay Francis under contract. Sure it was towards the end of her career, but she wasn't as washed-up as many other were after the war. And she put on a strong performance here as a ruthless syndicate boss. Her partner in crime was Otto Kruger, and you know that'll work for the bad guy side. Would probable been too much had they added Paul Kelly to that line-up, as he's most effective as a baddie too, but we have him on the good side in this one. The effect, feeling like one was watching a good B-picture from one of the big studios, not poverty row where Monogram mostly dwelled.
153. Dick Tracy (1945, William Berke) - 5/10
--- From the 1930s to the 1950s, the face of Dick Tracy was Ralph Byrd. However Morgan Conway stepped in for a couple of pictures in 1945-46. His career climax, yet he was only serviceable in the role. RKO's first feature in the franchise was a easy fun time. Tight enough action flick of the B-variety with a credible looking villain in former pro-wrestler Mike Mazurki with a lovely scar added on. Exactly what you'd expect from a serial, except they formatted it in form of a hour long feature.
154. The Fatal Witness (1945, Lesley Selander) - 4/10
--- Trying to breakdown a murderer. They go a little too direct at the slimy bastard, and the solution was a little ludicrous. At least they didn't beat around the bush and brought a light thrill.
155. Midnight Manhunt (1945, William C. Thomas) - 3/10
--- Felt like a flashback to mystery movies 10-15 years earlier. Rough on all levels. Some potential in the dark, but ultimately there wasn't enough care done to Midnight Manhunt (1945) to make any of it memorable, even with the likable actors in it.
156. The Strange Mr. Gregory (1945, Phil Rosen) - 5/10
--- Edmund Lowe might have taken a break from Hollywood after The Strange Mr. Gregory (1945), but he showed he still had it in him. A haunting death scheme with a mysterious magician almost hypnotizing the viewer. Solid B-picture.
157. The Brighton Strangler (1945, Max Nosseck) - 6/10
--- John Loder plays an actor who had starred in a successful stage play about The Brighton Strangler (1945). He decides he needs a break from the role, but while traveling gets a knock on the head and becomes The Brighton Strangler! Enchanting little killer story. Dark atmosphere and nice unsuspecting people in a serial killer's claws. Worked very well. Loved the applause twist!
PS: Oh, and this was the final film that featured Gilbert Emery before he died at the age of 70. He was one of the earliest grand old British gentlemen in Hollywood at the dawn of talking pictures. Got a few leads early on before he became a regular character actor.
158. Sensation Hunters (1945, Christy Cabanne) - 3/10
--- Sensation Hunters (1945) finally had something sensational going for it the final 30 seconds. But those 30 seconds were not enough to save us from the hour of boredom which came before it.
159. The Tiger Woman (1945, Philip Ford) - 4/10 - FIRST CHECK!
--- A cheap crime flick from Republic Pictures. Not to be confused with the serial of the same name which came out the previous year, in 1944, which it has nothing to do with this one, also from Republic Pictures! Didn't they have people in the office keeping control of titles and stuff?!
It's a very talky crime flick. Economic for the studio that way. So don't go expecting a great cinematic experience with this B-movie, but Kane Richmond smooth tough guy talking managed to elevate the pedestrian experience some. Adele Mara had her moments too.
160. The Tiger Woman (1944, Spencer Gordon Bennet & Wallace Grissell) - 4/10
--- Republic Pictures brings their serial into the jungle for their oil. Except there is a white jungle queen (Linda Stirling) protecting the valuables. Solid action at times, but hardly the most creative or amazing 12-episodes you'll ever see, but Allan Lane did alright as the hero. Not to be confused by Republic's own crime drama also called The Tiger Woman, released a year later.
Spoiler
2. Crazy Knights (1944, William Beaudine) - 3/10
3. Murder in the Blue Room (1944, Leslie Goodwins) - 4/10
4. The Falcon in Mexico (1944, William Berke) - 4/10
5. The Falcon in Hollywood (1944, Gordon Douglas) - 5/10
6. Up in Mabel's Room (1944, Allan Dwan) - 6/10
7. 3 Men in White (1944, Willis Goldbeck) - 5/10
8. Casanova in Burlesque (1944, Leslie Goodwins) - 4/10
9. Casanova Brown (1944, Sam Wood) - 5/10
10. La dame masquée (1924, Viktor Tourjansky) - 4/10
11. Nattliga toner [Night Music] (1918, Georg af Klercker) - 3/10
12. Mordets melodi [Murder Melody] (1944, Bodil Ipsen) - 4/10
13. A Night of Magic (1944, Herbert Wynne) - 2/10 - FIRST CHECK!
14. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1944, Arthur Lubin) - 7/10
15. Youth Aflame (1944, Elmer Clifton) - 2/10 - FIRST CHECK!
16. Delinquent Daughters (1944, Albert Herman) - 2/10
17. Nothing But Trouble (1944, Sam Taylor) - 4/10
18. Seven Doors to Death (1944, Elmer Clifton) - 3/10
19. Shake Hands with Murder (1944, Albert Herman) - 4/10
20. Knickerbocker Holiday (1944, Harry Joe Brown) - 4/10
21. The Princess and the Pirate (1944, David Butler & Sidney Lanfield) - 6/10
22. The Heavenly Body (1944, Alexander Hall & Vincente Minnelli) - 5/10
23. Show Business (1944, Edwin L. Marin) - 4/10
24. Mr. Emmanuel (1944, Harold French) - 5/10
25. Give Us the Moon (1944, Val Guest) - 4/10
26. The Halfway House (1944, Basil Dearden & Alberto Cavalcanti) - 6/10
27. The Hairy Ape (1944, Alfred Santell) - 5/10
28. Don't Take It to Heart (1944, Jeffrey Dell) - 6/10
29. Brazil (1944, Joseph Santley) - 5/10
30. The Impostor (1944, Julien Duvivier) - 4/10
31. Thrill of Youth (1932, Richard Thorpe) - 2/10 - FIRST CHECK!
32. No Marriage Ties (1933, J. Walter Ruben) - 5/10
33. Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1944, Gregory Ratoff) - 6/10
34. Maisie Goes to Reno (1944, Harry Beaumont) - 6/10
35. Blackmailer (1936, Gordon Wiles) - 4/10
36. All Women Have Secrets (1939, Kurt Neumann) - 4/10 - FIRST CHECK!
37. Death of a Champion (1939, Robert Florey) - 4/10
38. Men of the Timberland (1941, John Rawlins) - 3/10 - FIRST CHECK!
39. Mutiny in the Arctic (1941, John Rawlins) - 3/10
40. The Impatient Years (1944, Irving Cummings) - 5/10
41. Lost in a Harem (1944, Charles Reisner) - 6/10
42. Once Upon a Time (1944, Alexander Hall) - 4/10
43. The Climax (1944, George Waggner) - 5/10
44. Something for the Boys (1944, Lewis Seiler) - 5/10
45. Step Lively (1944, Tim Whelan) - 4/10
46. Dangerous Passage (1944, William Berke) - 3/10
47. The Girl Who Dared (1944, Howard Bretherton) - 5/10
48. Dark Mountain (1944, William Berke) - 4/10
49. Rogues Gallery (1944, Albert Herman) - 3/10
50. Port of 40 Thieves (1944, John English) - 4/10
51. Leave It to the Irish (1944, William Beaudine) - 4/10
52. Atlantic City (1944, Ray McCarey) - 4/10
53. Timber Queen (1944, Frank McDonald) - 3/10
54. Machine Gun Mama (1944, Harold Young) - 2/10
55. Sensations of 1945 (1944, Andrew L. Stone) - 4/10
56. Now It Can Be Told (1944, Teddy Baird) - 5/10
57. I'll Be Seeing You (1944, William Dieterle & George Cukor) - 6/10
58. Till We Meet Again (1944, Frank Borzage) - 6/10
59. Hotel Reserve (1944, Lance Comfort, Mutz Greenbaum & Victor Hanbury) - 5/10
60. Time Flies (1944, Walter Forde) - 4/10
61. Lady, Let's Dance (1944, Frank Woodruff) - 4/10
62. Candles at Nine (1944, John Harlow) - 5/10
63. The Scarlet Claw (1944, Roy William Neill) - 7/10
64. The Pearl of Death (1944, Roy William Neill) - 7/10
65. The Last Ride (1944, D. Ross Lederman) - 4/10
66. Sunday Dinner for a Soldier (1944, Lloyd Bacon) - 5/10
67. San Diego I Love You (1944, Reginald Le Borg) - 5/10
68. Cry of the Werewolf (1944, Henry Levin) - 4/10
69. Million Dollar Kid (1944, Wallace Fox) - 4/10
70. Secrets of Scotland Yard (1944, George Blair) - 3/10
71. Blonde Fever (1944, Richard Whorf) - 4/10
72. I Accuse My Parents (1944, Sam Newfield) - 2/10
73. Thundering Gun Slingers (1944, Sam Newfield) - 3/10 - FIRST CHECK!
74. The Drifter (1944, Sam Newfield) - 3/10 - FIRST CHECK!
75. Sweethearts of the U.S.A. (1944, Lewis D. Collins) - 3/10
76. Greenwich Village (1944, Walter Lang) - 4/10
77. Tomorrow, the World! (1944, Leslie Fenton) - 5/10
78. And Now Tomorrow (1944, Irving Pichel) - 4/10
79. The Great Mike (1944, Wallace Fox) - 4/10
80. Make Your Own Bed (1944, Peter Godfrey) - 4/10
81. Heavenly Days (1944, Howard Estabrook) - 5/10
82. Crime by Night (1944, William Clemens) - 4/10
83. Detective Kitty O'Day (1944, William Beaudine) - 4/10
84. Return of the Ape Man (1944, Phil Rosen) - 3/10
85. The Soul of a Monster (1944, Will Jason) - 3/10
86. Carolina Blues (1944, Leigh Jason) - 4/10
87. The Great Moment (1944, Preston Sturges) - 5/10
88. Tabaluga [Ice Princess Lily] (2018, Sven Unterwaldt Jr.) - 3/10
89. It Happened Tomorrow (1944, René Clair) - 6/10
90. Bride by Mistake (1944, Richard Wallace) - 4/10
91. Abroad with Two Yanks (1944, Allan Dwan) - 5/10 - FIRST CHECK!
92. Practically Yours (1944, Mitchell Leisen) - 5/10
93. Western Approaches (1944, Pat Jackson) - 6/10 - FIRST CHECK!
94. Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019, James Bobin) - 5/10
95. Lady and the Tramp (2019, Charlie Bean) - 4/10
96. Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (1944, Lewis Allen) - 5/10
97. Papa wa Warumono Champion [My Dad Is a Heel Wrestler] (2018, Kyôhei Fujimura) - 6/10 - FIRST CHECK!
98. Strange Affair (1944, Alfred E. Green) - 5/10 - FIRST CHECK!
99. Mr. Winkle Goes to War (1944, Alfred E. Green) - 6/10100. Nine Girls (1944, Leigh Jason) - 4/10
101. Tawny Pipit (1944, Bernard Miles & Charles Saunders) - 5/10
102. Her Primitive Man (1944, Charles Lamont) - 4/10 - FIRST CHECK!
103. Hey, Rookie (1944, Charles Barton) - 3/10
104. Enter Arsene Lupin (1944, Ford Beebe) - 5/10
105. Hi, Good Lookin'! (1944, Edward C. Lilley) - 4/10
106. Action in Arabia (1944, Léonide Moguy) - 6/10
107. Sweet and Low-Down (1944, Archie Mayo) - 5/10
108. Trocadero (1944, William Nigh) - 4/10
109. Tampico (1944, Lothar Mendes) - 5/10
110. The Racket Man (1944, D. Ross Lederman) - 4/10 - FIRST CHECK!
111. Gypsy Wildcat (1944, Roy William Neill) - 6/10 - FIRST CHECK!
112. Marine Raiders (1944, Harold D. Schuster) - 4/10
113. The Navy Way (1944, William Berke) - 4/10
114. They Came to a City (1944, Basil Dearden) - 5/10
115. Of One Blood (1944, Spencer Williams) - 2/10 - FIRST CHECK!
116. Pardon My Rhythm (1944, Felix E. Feist) - 4/10
117. One Body Too Many (1944, Frank McDonald) - 5/10
118. The Hour Before the Dawn (1944, Frank Tuttle) - 5/10
119. My Pal Wolf (1944, Alfred L. Werker) - 5/10
120. Swing Hostess (1944, Sam Newfield) - 3/10
121. The Town Went Wild (1944, Ralph Murphy) - 4/10
122. A Fig Leaf for Eve (1944, Don Brodie) - 3/10
123. Bees in Paradise (1944, Val Guest) - 5/10
124. Babes on Swing Street (1944, Edward C. Lilley) - 4/10
125. Nabonga (1944, Sam Newfield) - 4/10
126. One Exciting Night (1944, Walter Forde) - 4/10
127. Cobra Woman (1944, Robert Siodmak) - 6/10
128. The Monster Maker (1944, Sam Newfield) - 4/10
129. My Buddy (1944, Steve Sekely) - 3/10 - FIRST CHECK!
130. Roger Touhy, Gangster (1944, Robert Florey) - 4/10 - FIRST CHECK!
131. Dixie Jamboree (1944, Christy Cabanne) - 4/10
132. In Society (1944, Jean Yarbrough & Erle C. Kenton) - 6/10
133. Men on Her Mind (1944, Wallace Fox) - 3/10
134. The Contender (1944, Sam Newfield) - 3/10
135. Klaus (2019, Sergio Pablos) - 7/10
136. Youth Runs Wild (1944, Mark Robson) - 2/10
137. The Missing Juror (1944, Budd Boetticher) - 5/10
138. Address Unknown (1944, William Cameron Menzies) - 6/10
139. One Mysterious Night (1944, Budd Boetticher) - 4/10
140. The Falcon in San Francisco (1945, Joseph H. Lewis) - 5/10
141. Confidential Agent (1945, Herman Shumlin) - 7/10
142. Dangerous Intruder (1945, Vernon Keays) - 3/10
143. The Man in Half Moon Street (1945, Ralph Murphy) - 4/10
144. Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion (1945, Arthur Dreifuss) - 4/10
145. Boston Blackie's Rendezvous (1945, Arthur Dreifuss) - 5/10
146. Pillow of Death (1945, Wallace Fox) - 5/10
147. Crime, Inc. (1945, Lew Landers) - 4/10
148. Main Street After Dark (1945, Edward L. Cahn) - 3/10
149. Pink String and Sealing Wax (1945, Robert Hamer) - 6/10
150. The Phantom of 42nd Street (1945, Albert Herman) - 4/10
151. The House of Fear (1945, Roy William Neill) - 7/10
152. Allotment Wives (1945, William Nigh) - 5/10
153. Dick Tracy (1945, William Berke) - 5/10
154. The Fatal Witness (1945, Lesley Selander) - 4/10
155. Midnight Manhunt (1945, William C. Thomas) - 3/10
156. The Strange Mr. Gregory (1945, Phil Rosen) - 5/10
157. The Brighton Strangler (1945, Max Nosseck) - 6/10
158. Sensation Hunters (1945, Christy Cabanne) - 3/10
159. The Tiger Woman (1945, Philip Ford) - 4/10 - FIRST CHECK!
160. The Tiger Woman (1944, Spencer Gordon Bennet & Wallace Grissell) - 4/10