Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: Three Texas Rangers, Tex, Jim and Panhandle, are hunting a gang of outlaws known as the Devils Brand Gang because of a devil-related calling card they leave behind at their crimes. They are able to track down the gang and their leader, Jack Varno, thanks to a letter from Molly Dawson, whose uncle was killed by Varno's men and is now struggling to keep her ranch because of their rustling.  Needing evidence, Panhandle manages to infiltrate the gang. However, Varno isn't fooled long and their lives, along with Molly's life, are soon in danger. Who's in it? The movie stars Dave O'Brien , James Newill, Guy Wilkerson , Ellen Hall and I. Stanford Jolley . Review: I was undecided about what movie to watch this morning, so I just went through my library and picked the first movie that caught my eye. That ended up being Brand of the Devil. Overall, I would put this in the same category most classic westerns end up in - entertaining but nothing that is necessaril...

When people talk about a movie, the main characters and the stars who play them are usually the ones who come to mind. However, as an avid movie watcher, I know the best films are the ones with strong supporting players who don't always get the fanfare they deserve and, in some cases, are even wrongfully vilified (or correctly vilified). Some of these supporting characters are even intriguing enough to justify their own film - either a spin-off movie or an origin story. While this has happened, there are plenty that didn't get that love that should have. Here are four I think are perfect examples, though not necessarily by the same actor/actress for obvious reasons. Maleva - The Wolf Man (1941) Before there was Larry Talbot ( Lon Chaney, Jr. ), there was Bela ( Bela Lugosi ), the gypsy fortune teller who bit Larry and changed him into a werewolf.  While Bela's origin story might also have merit, it is his mother, Maleva (Maria Ouspenskaya) who has always intrigued me most. ...

Synopsis: Even though they still correspond by mail, Jane Marple hasn't seen her long-time friend, Carrie Louise in years. That changes, however, when Carrie Louise's sister, Ruth, suspects something is wrong and arranges for Miss Marple to stay at Carrie Louise's estate, Stonygates, under the pretense being a post-war charity case. Soon after arriving, Christian Gulbrandsen, Carrie Louise's stepson from a previous marriage and one of the overseers of the juvenile delinquent home located on the property, is murdered. During the course of the investigation, another sinister truth is revealed - Christian believed someone was trying to kill Carrie Louise. Review: Our library is officially closed for a month as of yesterday, but I made sure to be prepared by checking out a stack of books to hold me until it's re-opened. This included They Do it With Mirrors , which I finished reading early this morning. I think I can honestly say this was the best Miss Marple book I...

Synopsis: After helping his college football team to a win on the East Coast, star football player John Hawks meets beautiful heiress Alison Corning at a party. Alison, taking a shine to Hawks, convinces her father, Stephen, to hire him as a stockbroker but the job doesn't work out because Hawks doesn't like the way Stephen swindles widows and the poor. Determined to make money without taking advantage of the innocent and knowing Stephen also runs a bootlegging operation, Hawks uses his ship, Corsair , to hijack boats owned by Stephen's partner, Big John, and sells the spoils to Stephen at a discount. However, it is only a matter of time before Big John comes up with a plan to stop him. Who's in it? The movie stars Chester Morris , Thelma Todd, Fred Kohler, Emmett Corrigan and Ned Sparks. Review: I thought about watching another Dick Tracy movie this morning but changed my mind when I came across Corsair and thought it sounded interesting. After I finished watching ...

We had late-night tornado sirens last night which, fortunately, led to no damage but did leave both of us feeling exhausted today. So, rather than try to focus while watching a new movie, I decided to put on Alien because I'd seen it enough times to know what happened if I fell asleep. Here are some thoughts I had while re-watching it: I am admittedly not a science expert but I'm pretty sure smoking cigarettes in an oxygenated environment, like Nostromo would have had, isn't a good idea. Then again, they were using flame throwers without incident, so I guess the only danger as far as this movie was concerned was lung cancer. Why did the entire crew need to go to the planet? Nostromo had a shuttle, why not just send two or three to the planet on that rather than risk everyone's lives and the ship itself? John Hurt 's death scene is one of the best things about this movie. He did come a bit close to overacting, but he was one of the few crew members to go out in ...

Synopsis: After superhuman David Dunn, now known as the Overseer, tracks down Kevin Wendall Crumb, aka the Horde, and frees the teenagers Crumb has kidnapped, the two men battle it out but are soon both captured by a team led by Dr. Ellie Staple, who institutionalizes the men in the same facility currently holding supervillain Elijah Price, who now calls himself Mr. Glass. Dr. Staple tells the men their powers aren't real and instead are the result of delusions created by a brain condition she believes she can surgically correct. Glass, however, suspects they are being lied to and works out an escape plan that will also expose the truth. Who's in it? The movie stars Samuel L. Jackson , James McAvoy , Bruce Willis , Anya Taylor-Joy and Sarah Paulson. Review: My wife and I planned on watching Glass last summer, after first watching Unbreakable and Split . However, the movie wasn't available on any of our streaming services or at our library and I wasn't sure I'd...