Jan Englund Movies
- 1961
Stars in the Back Yard is an alternate title for filmmaker Hugo Haas' valedictory feature Paradise Alley. Taking a breather from his usual plot (a dirty old man victimized by a sluttish young wife), Haas casts himself as a washed-up Hollywood director. Hoping to prove that people are basically decent at heart, he pretends to film the comings and goings of the residents of a run-down boarding house. Though he has no film in his camera, his subjects don't know that, and their behavior bears out his thesis. A happy ending is brought about when a major movie studio offers to finance Haas' project-and, incidentally, to give him some film to work with. Among the participants in Haas' faux production are veterans Corinne Griffith, Margaret Hamilton, Billy Gilbert, Chester Conklin and Almira Sessions. Completed in 1958, Paradise Alley didn't attain a release until 1962, when it went directly to television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
American-International's Suicide Battalion was filmed virtually simultaneously with the studio's Jet Attack; both films were originally released on a double bill. Michael Connors plays Lt. Matt McCormick, who leads the eponymous battalion on a suicide mission in the Philippines during WW II. Their objective: to destroy valuable American documents, left behind when the area was evacuated just before the Japanese takeover. Before long, only two of the volunteers are left alive to complete the mission -- and they're none too fond of each other. Hawaiian entertainer Hilo Hattie unexpectedly shows up as the proprietress of a native saloon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Connors, John Ashley, (more)
- 1957
In this thriller, a middle-aged husband is insanely jealous of his trophy wife, a showgirl. The young bride soon becomes romantically involved with one of her husband's employees. Together they conspire to kill the old goat. The treacherous wife then leaves her late husband's estate to his twin brother, an ex-con recently released from prison. In an interesting plot twist, it is discovered that the lovers actually murdered the twin brother, not the husband. The husband then begins exacting his revenge. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cleo Moore, Hugo Haas, (more)
- 1957
Invasion of the Saucer Men can't make up its mind whether it wants to be a comedy, a j.d. melodrama or a horror outing. When a spaceship lands in the woods, Johnny (Steve Terrell) and Joan (Gloria Castillo) accidentally run over one of the aliens. In retaliation, the saucer-men kill Joe (Frank Gorshin), an opportunistic boozehound who stumbles across the body. Meanwhile, the hand of the extraterrestrial corpse detaches itself from its body and wreaks havoc on the countryside. But the aliens are foiled when it is discovered that they cannot withstand the glare of automobile headlights! The Saucer Men costumes were designed by Paul Blaisdell, who was certainly capable of better work. Lyn Osborn, the former Cadet Happy on TV's Space Patrol, makes his final screen appearance as Frank Gorshin's drinking buddy. Originally released on a double bill with I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Invasion of the Saucer Creatures was cheaply remade for television as The Eye Creatures (1966). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Terrell, Gloria Castillo, (more)
- 1957
The inherent trashiness of Reform School Girl is redeemed by the sincere performance of Gloria Castillo and the matter-of-fact direction of Edward Bernds. Castillo plays mixed-up teenager Donna Price, who is shipped off to a girl's reformatory when she is involved in a fatal car crash. Actually, Donna is innocent, but she refuses to reveal who was driving. Only when the culprit (a pre-77 Sunset Strip Edward Byrnes) reveals himself to be a total piece of excrement is Donna able to extricate herself from her dilemma. The film served as the movie debut of Sally Kellerman, cast as a butchy inmate. Reform School Girl was remade for television in 1994 as part of Showtime cable's "Rebel Highway" series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gloria Castillo, Ross Ford, (more)
- 1957
Though his staunchest supporters may disagree, Lizzie is arguably director Hugo Haas' best film. Adapted from Shirley Jackson's The Bird's Nest, the film is a tour de force for Eleanor Parker, who plays the schizophrenic title character. Depending on the circumstances, Lizzie adopts one of three distinct personalities--one is good, one is bad and the third is hopelessly neurotic. Psychiatrist Neal Wright (Richard Boone) tries his best to help Lizzie, but he is undercut by the abusive behavior of the girl's drunken floozy of an aunt (Joan Blondell). Financed by Kirk Douglas' Bryna Productions, Lizzie was overshadowed by the box-office success of the similarly-themed Three Faces of Eve, which was released shortly afterward. Pop crooner Johnny Mathis made his debut as a lounge singer in this film, performing "It's Not for Me To Say." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eleanor Parker, Richard Boone, (more)
- 1956
This 62-minute quickie takes place during a single 12-hour shift at Los Angeles' Emergency Hospital. In anticipation of such contemporary TV dramas as Chicago Hope and ER, several subplots are developed at once. Dr. Janet Carey (Margaret Lindsay) is romanced by wealthy Ben Caldwell (Byron Palmer), who may or may not be a dangerously reckless motorist. Visiting detective Arnold (Walter Reed) must come to grips with the fact that his teenaged son (Jim Stapleton) is a budding delinquent. And other major and minor crises are experienced by nurse Norma Mullen (Rita Johnson) and staff doctor Ellis (John Archer). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margaret Lindsay, Walter Reed, (more)
- 1955
In this bizarre drama, an inmate on death row has one final request before his impending hanging: he wants to spend the night with a woman. The police bring him a suicidal prostitute. After a night of lovemaking, the two decide they are in love and are married by the prison chaplain. This eases his torment about going to the gallows. Just before he is to be killed, he describes a dream he had where the rope breaks during the hanging, the death bell rings, and he is freed. As he prays for his miracle the death bell tolls and the film fades to black. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cleo Moore, John Agar, (more)
- 1954
Bait starts out with a cunning pre-credits sequence, wherein a dapper, erudite gentlemen (Sir Cedric Hardwicke), after signing a series of autographs for his admiring fans, introduces himself as the Devil. Addressing the viewer, His Satanic Majesty introduces a cautionary tale of sex and greed--which turns out to be yet another steamy Hugo Haas-directed melodrama, this one titled Bait. Once more, Haas casts himself as a truculent middle-aged man who succumbs to the charms of trashy young blonde Cleo Moore. The plot concerns a lost gold mine, which Haas has been seeking out for nearly 20 years. All he needs is a bright young man to share expenses and responsibilities for a prospecting expedition. Enter John Agar, whose avarice is exceeded only by his lust for Haas' buxom wife Moore. It turns out that Haas has intended all along to use Moore as bait to lure in Agar, as the first step in an elaborate murder and robbery scheme. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cleo Moore, Hugo Haas, (more)
- 1954
In this drama, a filmmaker emigrates to the States and ends up marrying the studio head's daughter. Later, he gets into trouble when he refuses to give the studio prima donna the part she wants. For revenge she slips him a mickey, frames him, and the blackmails him for $50,000. The desperate director does the only thing he can--he kills her and blames a nearby vagrant. In the end, he is captured and justice prevails. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hugo Haas, Lance Fuller, (more)
