(this blog was begun on the night of September 24, 2019)
This afternoon I went over to West Valley Libe in search of movies. I have a bunch of online holds pending from my database searches, but they've been slow in arriving, so I needed something to watch and all I could find at West Val was a few more Alpha Video releases of Poverty Row flicks. I hope that's alright, haha. If you recall, we discussed Alpha as being "the antithesis of Criterion" as far as their dvd presentations are concerned. Alpha's movies are okay in a pinch, for ancient flicks you are almost guaranteed never to have seen, but the picture and sound quality - and often the movies themselves - leave a lot to be desired. We have also recently talked about the studios of the so-called "Poverty Row" that operated in the 30s and 40s in Hollywood. They made ultra low budget films to fill out double bills in theaters. To call them B-Movies would be generous, as the "B"s of the major studios were usually well made from a technical standpoint and fairly well budgeted in comparison.
And yet you can still find some watchable and even "slightly more than decent" releases from Alpha if you give them enough chances. The movie I watched tonight, "Federal Fugitives" (1940) starring Neil Hamilton ("Commissioner Gordon" of "Batman" television fame) and an actress named Doris Day who is not the one you are thinking of, falls into the "watchable" category.
To give you the basics, Neil Hamilton is a Federal Agent who - while dining at a restaurant - recognizes a fugitive (Victor Varconi) who had been thought to have died in a plane crash. Varconi was a good actor who we have seen before in Cecil B. DeMille's "King Of Kings", playing Pontius Pilate. He is good here, too, as a criminal mastermind who has faked his death only to resurface under an assumed identity. Now he is an investor wanting to buy into an innovative American aircraft company that is manufacturing a top secret plane. From the dialogue we can assume he is a German spy, but again - this is a very cheaply made film and that economy extends to the script. Varconi's origins aren't well explained. Amazingly, the writing overall isn't crummy and it does move the story forward, but you really have to pay attention if you want specific details about the characters and their motivations. Mostly, you just glean these things by osmosis, as the plot moves forward and the inevitable conflicts arise.
I was tired today, as Tuesdays are a "wake up early" day here at Pearl's, in order to accommodate the housekeeper, and you guys know I don't get to sleep until very late at night, so during the movie I found myself nodding off here and there, just for five or ten seconds at a time, but it was okay because of the format of the drama. It's Poverty Row, so only a few sets are used, and almost no outdoor locations. Scenes are pared down to an absolute minimum of movement, and everything is explained through the dialogue, so even if you miss a few seconds here and there, the actors bring you up to speed in the next scene with what they are saying. The dialogue tells you the story and keeps you current.
There really isn't much more to tell about the plot; this being a formulaic and quickly made film, you know how things are gonna turn out. There is a surprise involving Varconi's henchmen that is fairly inventive, and the Doris Day we have on hand is just as pretty in a brunette way as her more famous namesake, though it should be noted that this Doris Day was actually the first one! :)
She's a real cutie and is reason enough to watch "Federal Fugitives". I have seen Neil Hamilton is several early film roles now and I guess he was a bigger star than I thought, but to folks my age he will always be "Commissioner Gordon", summoning Batman to solve another crime in Gotham City. He had an elegant charm about him and was always good, no matter the role.
"Federal Fugitives" runs a compact 59 minutes (IMDB says 66, so some footage must've been lost), and I give it Two Thumbs Up, with the addendum that it must be enjoyed for what it is, a picture from Poverty Row. ////
Now it is the afternoon of Wednesday September 25, 2019. I was just watching the news over at Pearl's, and I've gotta say : I don't think Trump's presidency is gonna survive this one. He is toast, especially after we hear from the whistleblower. What do you think? Will this impeachment effort fall flat, or worse, will it even backfire on the Democrats as did the Mueller Report? Or will Trump be impeached and thrown out of office? I am gonna bet on the latter. I think that even the die-hard Republicans won't be able to back him after all the evidence comes out.....but we will see.
Well, I have just enough time to read a few pages of The Rendlesham Enigma and then head over to the produce market for avocados and broccoli and whatever else you think we need. Tonight we will probably have another Poverty Row picture on tap, but it looks pretty good, and soon some of my library holds of more prominent films will be arriving, so don't worry. :)
Keep you eyes on the prize (removal from office of Trump), and I'll see you back here tonight.
Tons of love! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo :):)
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