FLAXY MARTIN

FLAXY MARTIN (1949). Director: Richard L. Bare. 

Although the hard-as-nails title character is played by Virginia Mayo, the real protagonist is lawyer Walter Colby (Zachary Scott), who's sick and tired of having to get off the scum who work for hood Hap Richie (Douglas Kennedy). When one of them murders a blackmailing lady named Peggy (Helen Westcott), Colby decides to take the rap when Flaxy, whom he loves, is suspected of the crime. On the run Colby runs into good girl Nora (Dorothy Malone), and proceeds to have some not-so-interesting battles with gunsels and the like. Mayo doesn't have that much to do in the film; she's okay if a little obvious. Scott offers another brisk, almost-on-the-edge portrayal. Studio bosses didn't think Dorothy Malone had much sex appeal when she was a brunette, and this picture proves it -- she looked and did much better as a blond. Douglas Kennedy was also in The Amazing Transparent Man and others. Many years later Richard L. Bare wrote and directed Wicked, Wicked (1973). 

Verdict: Pretty forgettable noir lite. **.

MONSTER ON THE CAMPUS

MONSTER ON THE CAMPUS (1958). Director: Jack Arnold. 

Professor: "Don't open the door! It might escape!" Girl student: "Who cares!?" 

The trouble all starts for Professor Donald Blake (Arthur Franz) when he orders a dead coelcanth for his college science lab. The blood of the prehistoric fish has properties that inexplicably turn back the clock on any species that comes into contact with it. A dog becomes an ancient wolf, a dragonfly grows to giant size, and Professor Blake ... ? Well, somebody has to be the monster on the campus and it might as well be him. Franz gives a good -- not great -- performance in the film, but he's certainly better than the wooden Troy Donahue, who's one of his students. Joanna Moore plays Blake's fiancee Madeline, and Helen Westcott is a colleague and his first pitiful victim. Although the pace drags a bit at the end, the film is generally fast-moving and entertaining. Ross Elliot, who appeared in many genre films, is a police sergeant; Whit Bissell plays a doctor. The make-up and the dragonfly are creditable. Some creepy and suspenseful scenes; ably directed by Arnold. It doesn't hurt that the film seems to use the same score as Arnold's Tarantula. Westcott was also in The Invisible Avenger and Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Franz's best performance was in The Sniper. 

Verdict: Could have been called The Astounding Fish-Monster! ***

ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE

ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1953). Director: Charles Lamont.

Bud and Lou are cast as American visitors to 19th century London who become bobbies so they can compare police methods (although it's hard to imagine any American Police department wanting them on the force). Meanwhile, a mad killer with a twisted face is on the loose. Craig Stevens is detective Bruce Adams, who has a hankering for pretty women's rights advocate Vicky Edwards (Helen Westcott). Vicky is the ward of kindly Dr. Jekyll (Boris Karloff) who, unbeknownst to her, has a hankering for her, and decides to use his evil Mr. Hyde persona to kill off handsome rival Bruce. Bud and Lou are, of course, in the middle of all this. There are amusing chase scenes and a very funny sequence when Lou is accidentally turned into a kind of giant mouse! The Women's rights advocates sing "Equal Rights for Women" while kicking up their legs! Karloff is excellent, almost giving a serious performance in the film.

Verdict: Lots of fun for A & C aficionados. ***.