Kent Taylor Movies
Kent Taylor headed for Hollywood after graduating from high school -- though not as soon after graduation as he'd later claim. Signed by Paramount in 1932, the handsome but slightly callow Taylor appeared in bits and small supporting roles in films like The Devil and the Deep, If I Had a Million, and Sign of the Cross. He befriended comedian Will Rogers, who spotlighted young Taylor in good leading man roles in several of his vehicles at Fox (notably 1934's David Harum). Taylor's film assignments improved after he adopted a mustache and developed a go-getting screen personality. He freelanced in big and small productions at such studios as RKO, Paramount, Columbia, and Universal, often cast as detectives or soldiers of fortune. In 1951, Taylor was cast in the title role of the syndicated TV series Boston Blackie, which ran profitably in rerun form into the 1960s. In 1958, Taylor starred in a network Western, The Rough Riders. Kent Taylor remained active in films into the 1970s, albeit in progressively cheaper efforts like Al Adamson's Satan's Sadists (1968). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This low-budget action film from cult director Al Adamson features Georgina Spelvin (The Devil in Miss Jones) in a rare non-porn role as a psychotic assassin set up for murder by her partner (Rosalind Miles) and another woman. Spelvin isn't the only porn actress in this desert-set oddity, which co-stars Barbara Bourbon as well as veteran actor Kent Taylor. The pacing is uneven and the film is a rather grungy affair, typified by a scene in which Spelvin rapes a retarded man and shoots him as he climaxes. This scene was used as a selling point for the film's video release, re-titled to capitalize on the success of I Spit on Your Grave. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- 1974
In this thriller, an enigmatic phantom lives in the dank tunnels running beneath the ramshackle back lot of a former movie lot. When prospective buyers endeavor to purchase the property, the furious phantom goes on the rampage. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Speed (Ross Hagen) is the leader of a rowdy biker gang who reluctantly leaves his girlfriend, Donna (Jill Woelfel), behind when the boys take off on an extended run. While waiting for their men to return, the girls take to the road on their own motorcycles and look for action. After avenging a fellow sister's rape and sexually assaulting a reluctant farmboy, the ladies evade the law and hide out at the Spahn Movie Ranch. The ranch is inhabited by a sinister hippie cult led by the charismatic King (William Bonner), who preaches peace and love but is involved in some illegal activities that he's willing to kill for. Meanwhile, the bikers are living it up, having a raucous stag party in the woods complete with beer drinking contests and fistfights. When Terry (Vicki Volante) dies after sleeping with King, Margo (Regina Carrol) knows she has to escape and get help from Speed and the gang. King decides to sacrifice Donna in a weird ritual meant to protect the "philosophy" of the cult, while the bikers race to her rescue. With fists blazing, they make short work of the evil hippies, but King escapes and it's up to Speed and his brother, Turk (Preston Pierce), to exact the proper revenge. ~ Fred Beldin, Rovi
Al Adamson, shameless purveyor of countless horror anti-classics, juggles around most of the footage from his 1965 clunker Psycho-A-Go-Go after dressing up and re-releasing it on no less than three prior occasions (under a wide assortment of titles -- see below) with a few incomprehensible subplots added to further confuse audiences into thinking they were watching something else. The initial premise involves an insane Vietnam veteran being fitted with a brain implant by mad medic John Carradine (a regular Adamson player by this point) and used as a remote-control zombie by a cabal of jewel thieves. Their pet maniac subsequently blows a gasket, breaks his programming and turns on his controllers, strangles some dancing girls, then gets his revenge on Carradine. Enter gratuitous subplot #1 as the electro-fiend heads straight for Lake Tahoe (can you blame him?), where his rampage continues until he is eventually killed by the cops. Splice in gratuitous subplot #2: The late psycho's embittered pop is also a monster-making mad scientist, who avenges his son's death by mutilating Carradine's buxom daughter. None of the aforementioned plot combinations can disguise Adamson's trademark style -- i.e. cheap gore, cardboard sets, hideous acting, and so on. Viewers who manage to make sense of this piecework monstrosity should switch off their VCRs and seek immediate professional help. Sundry title variations include The Man with the Synthetic Brain, The Fiend with the Atomic Brain, The Fiend with the Electronic Brain, The Fiend with the Synthetic Brain... you should begin to notice a vague pattern here. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
King Amir (Reed Hadley), the beloved leader of a small Middle Eastern country named Khaleed, is sick with terminal cancer and he isn't prepared to die. His confidants arrange with an American scientist to carry out an experimental operation: Amir's brain will be transplanted into the skull of a healthy new body, allowing him to cheat death and continue ruling as a benevolent despot. When he succumbs, the corpse is rushed to the United States, where Dr. Trenton (Kent Taylor) immediately removes the brain and places it in a specially prepared receptacle. Trenton sends Amir's associates away so he can finish the procedure, but as they drive down a steep mountain road, their car is besieged by a menacing driver who succeeds in forcing them off a cliff. Robert (Grant Williams) survives, and suspects that someone is trying to usurp Amir's throne. Meanwhile, the mad doctor dispatches his servant Gor (John Bloom) to find him a healthy male body for Amir to inhabit. Gor, a hulking monstrosity with a twisted face and a child's intelligence, is too clumsy in his horrible task, and Dr. Trenton deems the victim unusable. But Amir's brain can only live outside of the body for a matter of hours, even though they keep it nourished with plenty of fresh human blood (obtained by keeping some teenage girls chained in the basement and tapping them like kegs). Gor is picked to host the transplanted brain, despite his hideous scars, and when Amir awakens and discovers the horrific body the doctor has given him, he goes mad. Robert returns to save his leader, but now Dr. Trenton is demanding control over Khaleed, and special electrodes he secretly implanted in Amir's brain mean he might succeed. Directed by Al Adamson, this gory shocker features Adamson regulars like Zandor Vorkov, Angelo Rossitto, and Regina Carrol. ~ Fred Beldin, Rovi
Bikers, Nazis, Mafiosi, and the FBI all clash in this wild and wooly exploitation picture from director Al Adamson. Mark Adams (John Gabriel) is an FBI agent who has been assigned to infiltrate an organized crime ring that has obtained a set of printing plates that will allow them to produce nearly perfect counterfeit 20-dollar bills. The plates were made in Germany during World War II, and were discovered by a radical right-wing group hoping to restore the Nazi Party to power. The American gangsters are in cahoots with a group of wealthy American neo-Nazis sympathetic to the new German cause, led by fugitive war criminal Count von Delberg (Kent Taylor); the count has in turn recruited a vicious motorcycle gang, the Bloody Devils, to do his dirty work. Also featuring Broderick Crawford, John Carradine, and Col. Harland Sanders (the latter in a shameless plug for Kentucky Fried Chicken), Hell's Bloody Devils was produced under the titles The Fakers and Operation M as a straightforward espionage thriller; when distributors balked at the finished product, Al Adamson and producer Samuel M. Sherman added the biker subplot, and gave the product a more exploitive title. Shorn of the motorcycle gang footage, the film was also released as Smashing the Crime Syndicate. Nelson Riddle co-wrote the film's theme song, and Laszlo Kovacs and Gary Graver were among the cameramen. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Gabriel, Kent Taylor, (more)
- 1970
Captain Lee Mitchell (Stuart Whitman) is the American officer who joins the British in an attempt to smuggle scientist Von Heinken (Pinkas Braun) out of Germany. The group also assists refugees trying to escape the wrath of the Nazis. Mitchell must quickly mold an inexperienced unit of British soldiers into an effective unit before the Russian tank squadron invades Munich. SS troops and Allies engage in fierce combat as both sides try to capture the noted scientist in this routine World War II drama. The film was made in 1968 but not released until 1970. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stuart Whitman, John Collin, (more)
The hunt for a gigantic African gorilla provides the basis for this adventure-fantasy. A circus manager leads the expedition right into a native ambush. The explorers are captured and slated to become human sacrifices when the towering title primate shows up and destroys everything. Fortunately, the explorers escape and find safety in an enormous cave that proves to be filled with priceless jewels. If the travelers can escape Gorga's wrath, they might find themselves wealthy men. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
The Mojave desert becomes a battleground when vicious bikers go on a killing spree, causing innocent would-be victims to get bloody revenge. Classic exploitation film violence and action ensues. This low-budget film marks the comeback of formerly popular child actor Russ Tamblyn who goes against type and plays the leader of the motorcycle pack. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Russ Tamblyn, Scott Brady, (more)
The Philippine splatterfest Brides of Blood has also been released as Brides of the Beast, Island of Living Horror and Grave Desires. You get the idea. Anyway, the resident monsters are the spawn of nuclear radiation. These horrid creatures prey upon beautiful, undressed women; they have sex with their victims (by consent!), then gobble up the poor girls. John Ashley, an American actor who was a mainstay of the Philippine horror industry of the 1960s, tries to stem the monster uprising, along with dedicated scientist Kent Taylor and his onscreen wife, Beverly Powers, played by well-proportioned heroine Beverly Hills. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1965
In this western, a cavalry sergeant is wrongly court-martialed. To reclaim his good name, he takes over a patrol that just lost its leader in an Indian attack. He leads the regiment to Fort Courageous, but is appalled to discover that the Indians attacked and massacred all but one of its inhabitants. The hardy little group must now fight the renegades on their own. The ex-sergeant plans a brilliant strategy that culminates in winning the Indian's respect. They leave the fort alone and peace is restored. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1964
This is the first of numerous westerns produced by A.C. Lyles which became famous not for their stories but for who played in them--all the stars being veterans not often seen on the screen anymore. As far as plot line, essentially we have a badguy who has become a good guy (read that ex gunfighter turned judge) and meets his past in his own court room. ~ Tana Hobart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dale Robertson, Yvonne De Carlo, (more)
The hand of an exploded astronaut takes on a life of its own in this unintentionally funny horror film that begins when the hand is discovered near the crash site by a naive young med student who takes it home as a grisly souvenir. He has no idea that the hand has been possessed by a strange, murderous alien who gradually begins to take over the hapless med student. Suddenly people all around town are found mysteriously strangled to death and now only a very hungry cat can save the rest of them. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Breck, Kent Taylor, (more)
- 1963
In this mystery a Yankee gambler travels to Puerto Rico to see his brother. He soon discovers that his brother has been murdered for his involvement with a stolen diamond. The surviving brother begins to investigate the death, but is hindered by police detectives. The hero eventually finds the murderers, retrieves the diamond, and hands the whole thing over to the police. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1963
Those ever-sneaky Martians are at it again in this sci-fi horror outing that closely resembles Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This time, the crafty invaders are in the process of making exact doubles of an entire town and then killing the original models. The terrifying facts are discovered by a scientist working at Cape Canaveral who is trying to figure out why a recent Martian probe simply exploded after landing on the Red Planet. The fellow has been in Florida working on the project for so long that his wife in California is about to divorce him. Wanting to save his marriage and see his family, he goes home and suddenly ends up fighting for not only his own life, but for all Humanity. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1962
Set in the mid-19th century during the California Gold Rush when the long-time Spanish residents of the territory found themselves being pushed off their ancestral lands by the avaricious prospectors, this exciting historical adventure tells of the exploits of a daring Spanish outlaw who plays Robin Hood to help his people. When prospectors ambush some of his band, the Firebrand rides out for bloody revenge against the killers and the one who betrayed him. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1962
In this western, a notorious gunfighter's son is captured by a ruthless, bullying sheriff. He manages to escape and get revenge. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1961
In this complex western, set in Arizona during the 1870s, a cowboy kills a wanted man, goes to collect the $8,000 reward and instead meets the late outlaw's partner who is trying to get the reward for himself. The cowboy encounters more trouble when the dead man's little brother shows up looking for revenge. The town sheriff decides to settle the whole mess by exhuming the body and examining it. En route to the cemetery, the hero meets the little brother's guardian who falls in love with the stranger, but cannot understand why the money is so important to him. At the gravesite, they are appalled to discover that the Apaches, who adored the outlaw, have stolen his corpse. The outlaw's partner then shoots the sheriff and they all ride off. Suddenly the Indians attack, and to save the rest, the wounded partner sacrifices himself. After he dies, the hero suddenly realizes that love is better than money. Simultaneously, the vengeful little brother understands that his older sibling really was a bad man and probably deserved to die. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gene Nelson, Kent Taylor, (more)
- 1960
In every way a routine western except for its excellent color photography, Walk Tall by "B"-movie director Maury Dexter relates the struggles of lawman Ed Trask (Willard Parker) to bring in outlaw Ed Carter (Kent Taylor). Carter nearly provokes a war when he and his gang brutally raid a Shoshone community. After Trask captures Carter and leads him off to be tried, troubles begin. Aside from the fact that Carter's henchmen are after Trask, there are problems created both by poisonous snakes and by the poisonous bigotry of a young woman. When push comes to shove, Trask has back-up because a whole legion of Shoshone warriors would also like to see justice done. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Willard Parker, Joyce Meadows, (more)
- 1958
There's a measure of sympathy for the Apaches at the beginning of Fort Bowie. Under the tyrannical rule of ambitious Major Wharton (P. Ian Douglas), a cavalry detachment slaughters a band of Apache who've arrived with the intention of surrendering. A counterattack is inevitable, but before this happens the story is sidetracked by the jealous behavior of Colonel Garrett (Kent Taylor). When stalwart young Captain Thompson (Ben Johnson) resists the romantic overtures of Garrett's wife Allison (Jan Harrison), she screams "Rape!" and Thompson finds himself facing court-martial and execution. This plot strand and several others are resolved after the Cavalry is forced to attack its own fort following an Apache takeover. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ben Johnson, Jan Harrison, (more)
- 1958
In a seminal version of his Death Wish characterization, Charles Bronson plays Alan Avery, a mild-manned L.A. schoolteacher who elects to stay mum after witnessing a gangland slaying. Forced to testify against the killers by the cops, Avery is turn terrorized by the Mob, who subsequently bring about the death of Avery's pregnant wife Edie (Gloria Henry). Meek and mild no longer, the outraged Avery embarks upon a one-man vendetta against the villains. The climax occurs in the posh mansion of gang boss Maxie Matthews (John Doucette)--who, as it turns out, isn't really worth killing. Based on a novel by Ovid Demaris, Gang War was one of a group of inexpensive second features released by 20th Century-Fox for the drive-in crowd. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charles Bronson, Kent Taylor, (more)
- 1957
In this thriller, an American visits England and finds himself entangled with international spies after they kidnap a famous scientist and he ends up with a briefcase containing a secret formula. Rather than call the Yard, the fellow decides he will solve this by himself. But it is too much for him and eventually he teams up with the Yard inspectors and the case is solved. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1957
Frontier peacekeeper Sheriff Galt (Sterling Hayden) faces a crisis of conscience in The Iron Sheriff. In the aftermath of a robbery-murder, Galt follows the trail of evidence directly to his own son, Benjie (Darryl Hickman). Sworn to uphold the law at all costs, Galt is grimly determined to see that Benjie will receive a fair trial without any coercion on his part. But the townsfolk have already decided that the sheriff will try to spring the boy, and a lynch-mob mentality slows festers its way through the community. As the trial proceeds, it becomes obvious that Benjie is going to hang for his alleged crime, but there's still one or two surprises in store. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sterling Hayden, Constance Ford, (more)
This little film noir is freely adapted from James M. Cain's novel Love's Lovely Counterfeit, the story of a gangster working for a powerful Don who is fighting to retain control of the city's criminal activities when an honest mayoral candidate launches a strong anti-crime campaign. In a desperate attempt to derail his career, the Don assigns the hood to go digging for any dirt that can be used against the troublesome candidate. He finds some, but during the investigation he has fallen in love with the candidate's beautiful red-headed secretary and ends up double-crossing his boss. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Payne, Arlene Dahl, (more)
- 1956
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A series of mysterious deaths of fishermen and swimmers along a stretch of beach attract the attention of scientist Dr. Ted Stevens (Kent Taylor) and government investigator William Grant (Rodney Bell) -- they both want to know why the victims and their boats all show signs of exposure to atomic radiation, and if there's a connection between the deaths and the nearby Pacific College of Oceanography, run by Professor King (Michael Whalen); and they're also interested in why King's assistant, George Thomas (Phillip Pine), is always lurking around the beach, often armed with a spear gun. Stevens establishes a friendship with King's daughter Lois (Cathy Downs) that turns to romance, but he's principally concerned with finding out about an apparent source of radiation on the ocean floor, and what its connection might be with the unearthly sea creature rumored to be stalking that section of the beach. Helene Stanton hangs around in a fairly revealing (for the time) bathing suit, waiting on the beach for some top-secret information, and Vivi Janiss overacts nicely as a woman with too much on her mind for her own good. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kent Taylor, Cathy Downs, (more)
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