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Review of “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe

Plot: The story has been told, retold, satirized, whitewashed, Disneyfied, and adapted for films and plays for about three hundred years. Author Daniel Defoe even wrote sequels. Phrases like “man Friday” have entered everyday language. Long ago and far away, I read a kiddie version, along with books that were inspired by it—The Swiss FamilyContinue reading “Review of “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe”

Review of “Mystery of the Wax Museum” (1933)

This was this week’s Saturday pizza and bad movie offering, an odd, gruesome little flick from 1933 with Fay Wray screaming without a giant ape around. Pinot noir helped—me, that is. I don’t think it did Ms. Wray or Lionel Atwill much good. Plot: In London, 1921, sculptor Ivan Igor (Ee-VAN I-gor) (Lionel Atwill) ownsContinue reading “Review of “Mystery of the Wax Museum” (1933)”

Review of “The Thing that Couldn’t Die” (1958)

This was our Saturday bad movie and pizza offering. The pizza was good, and the pinot noir helped. However, before the credits ran, the dearly beloved and I were discussing several different—and better—endings to the movie. We watched it with Svengoolie. Plot: On her California ranch, Flavia McIntyre (Peggy Converse) has her niece, Jessica Burns,Continue reading “Review of “The Thing that Couldn’t Die” (1958)”

Review of “The Invisible Man Returns” (1940)

This is this week’s Saturday pizza and bad movie offering. The leading man spent most of his time invisible and in the buff. We tried a new wine last night, something called Lirac. It was nice, but definitely a one-glass wine. We watched it with Svengoolie. Plot:The friends, family, and staff of Geoffrey Radcliffe (VincentContinue reading “Review of “The Invisible Man Returns” (1940)”

Review of “Charlie Chan in Egypt” (1935)

Our Saturday pizza and bad movie night was something a little different. We chose a silly Charlie Chan movie, Charlie Chan in Egypt. Plot: In the opening scene, men dressed as stereotypical archaeologists pry a plaque inscribed with hieroglyphics off a stone wall inside some undefined underground space. Professor Arnold (George Irving) digs through theContinue reading “Review of “Charlie Chan in Egypt” (1935)”

Review of “The Woman in White” by Wilkie Collins

Plot: On his way to London before taking a job referred to him by an excitable Italian acquaintance, Walter Hartright comes across a distraught woman dressed all in white, late at night on a lonely road. Hartright sees she’s agitated and walks with her to where she can get a cab to her friend’s house.Continue reading “Review of “The Woman in White” by Wilkie Collins”

Review of “The Black Scorpion” (1957)

I had never heard of The Black Scorpion before we watched it for our Saturday pizza and bad movie night. It promised to be a winner, and it did not disappoint. The chardonnay wasn’t half bad either. Plot: The movie opens with shots of a volcano erupting and demolished buildings. Locals kneel in prayer, notContinue reading “Review of “The Black Scorpion” (1957)”

Review of “Black Angel” (1946)

This week’s Saturday pizza and bad movie night was a little different. Svengoolie was a re-run, and I was in a noir-ish mood. We tried a movie I’d never heard of before, Black Angel from 1946. Plot: Inside a richly-appointed Los Angeles apartment, famous singer Mavis Marlowe (Constance Dowling) nags her maid (an uncredited MaryContinue reading “Review of “Black Angel” (1946)”

Review of “The Man Who Knew Too Much” by G. K. Chesterton

I am the man who knows too much to know anything, or, at any rate, to do anything.Other than its title, this book bears no resemblance to the Hitchcock films of the same name. This is a collection of eight mystery/detective short stories that feature well-connected Horne Fisher. His friend, journalist Harold March, serves asContinue reading “Review of “The Man Who Knew Too Much” by G. K. Chesterton”

Review of “Our Mortal Undressing” by Hamilton Perez

Plot:There really isn’t much of a plot, but a presentation of five vignettes of death’s encounter with humans throughout human prehistory and history. Death is alone and wants the companionship humans seem to share. It is capable of taking human form, even to the point of having sexual encounters with humans. It wants to knowContinue reading “Review of “Our Mortal Undressing” by Hamilton Perez”