Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: Sisters Olga and Myra run a gas station and motel in the middle of a southwestern desert. Olga is content with her life but the younger Myra dreams of something more and becomes resentful of her sister when Olga doesn't even want her going to a dance. What Myra doesn't know is Olga's protective nature comes from a complicated past. That past catches up to Olga, however, when her criminal ex-boyfriend, George, pulls into the station while fleeing to Mexico with his partner because of his part in a robbery and murder. To make matters worse, Olga realizes she still has feelings for George, even though she knows he is bad news and may be trying to rob two wealthy women staying overnight at the motel. Who's in it? The movie stars Aline MacMahon, Ann Dvorak , Preston Foster , Lyle Talbot , Ruth Donnelly and Glenda Farrell . Review: I'm not the kind of person who normally picks a movie solely because of the actors that star in it. However, when I came across H...

Synopsis: A wealthy woman is murdered by her husband and servants before burying her in the woods. As her killers search for her will, they discover an unexpected obstacle, her pet cat, Tabitha, a feline that is now is seeking revenge after witnessing the brutal slaying. This leads to a confrontation as the villains try to capture and kill Tabitha before she kills them or drives them insane. Who's in it? The film stars Andre Morell , Barbara Shelley , William Lucas, Conrad Phillips, Vanda Godsell and Bunkie. Review: My youngest daughter was at theater rehearsal, my wife was taking her adult ballet class, and my other daughter was doing homework, leaving me alone in the living room last night with just my cat, Stormcloud. Since she was there to watch it with me and it is almost Halloween, I decided to re-watch Shadow of a Cat . This is a movie that surprised me when I first watched it a few years ago. From the description, it seemed like a movie that could get extremely stupid v...

Synopsis: When stage magician John Harley "Duke" Duquesne dies, he leaves his entire estate to his estranged daughter, Cassie. The bequeathment comes with a condition though, Cassie must stay in his house for seven nights, so she can be a witness when he carries through with his promise to return from the dead. Cassie, along with her new friend, Val (who is secretly an undercover reporter), discover Duquesne's house is both full of artifacts from his shows and set up like a funhouse, with a variety of hidden scares. As a result, when strange things begin to occur at night, she doesn't know if they are just a trick or supernatural. Who's in it? The movie stars Connie Stevens, Dean Jones, Cesar Romero, Parley Baer , John Hoyt and Virginia Gregg. Review: I came across Two on a Guillotine last night and, while it was longer than I usually prefer for a morning movie, the plot sounded intriguing enough for me to add it to my library and give it a try. It proved to ...

Synopsis: Tex Haines, Dave Wyatt and Panhandle Perkins investigate the murder of a Native American and a fur trader who was likely killed by a local gang of outlaws for a stash of furs he had hidden away. Their investigation is hindered by a fake Indian agent who is part of the gang and tries to have Tex and Dave arrested for the murders. Who's in it? The movie stars Tex Ritter , Dave O'Brien , Guy Wilkerson , Lorraine Miller and Jack Ingram. Review: It had been a while since I last watched a singing cowboy movie so, while waiting for my daughter to get done with her theater rehearsal last night, I ended up selecting Frontier Fugitives for my morning movie. Overall, while nothing I would describe as particularly unique or special, it turned out to be a good choice. As far as the plot was concerned, it was fairly basic and cliché. You had clear good guys and bad guys, a motive (wanting to steal furs) that made sense for the setting, an attractive frontier woman (Miller) who ...

Synopsis: Rejected and ridiculed for his theories, Dr. Lorenzo Cameron has isolated himself with his daughter while conducting his experiments on his kind but slow-witted handyman, Petro. When he successfully uses a serum made with wolf's blood to turn Pedro into a wolf man, he deems the experiment a success. However, as the transformed Pedro roams the countryside and brutally murders the locals, he finds his colleagues are even less interested in accepting his work and he uses Pedro to get his revenge. Who's in it? The movie stars George Zucco , Glenn Strange , Johnny Downs , Anne Nagel and Gordon De Main. Review: I had The Mad Monster in my movie library for so long, I had completely forgotten it was there. So, when I came across the film last night, I decided to watch it this morning before I forgot about it again. Ironically, while not a terrible movie, it also proved to be a film that isn't very memorable. I think my biggest problem with this film is it is a bit t...

Synopsis: Steve Banks is a talented reporter but his hard drinking ways both put his career in jeopardy and have his wife, Margaret, seeking a divorce. When Banks gets a scoop regarding a drug ring, he attempts to use it to his advantage and get his job back. However, when the ringleader, Joe Reno, murders Banks' editor, Banks is the one blamed. Who's in it? The movie stars Robert Armstrong, Carole Lombard, Louis Payne, Tom Kennedy and Sam Hardy. Review: My first choice for a morning movie proved to be a bit dull so I quickly called an audible and selected Big News because it was the first film I came across that sounded interesting. After watching it, I have to say it was an OK choice. Banks (Armstrong) was an intriguing protagonist. He proved to be a clever and resourceful reporter throughout the movie. However, his heavy drinking, to the point he seemed to be blackout drunk at times, was as big an obstacle for him as any. At minimum, it destroyed his credibility but when ...

Synopsis: Thanks to books and movies, the word Viking generates certain images and ideas for most people. This non-fiction book explores the Viking legend and the history of the Scandinavian people it originates from.   Review: I'm not a big impulse shopper but that doesn't really apply whenever I'm in our local library and happen to see a book that I think would be interesting. That was the case when I checked out Embers of the Hands a couple weeks ago, while there to pick up a book I had on hold. After reading it, I would consider it a good impulse decision. The Viking Age is an intriguing part of human history because, while there is so much influenced by the sea-voyaging Scandinavians that fit that description, there is also very little actually known about them because, as this book notes, a lot of Viking history was written down by the people they conquered (and didn't have incentive to get the information right). The author of this book tries to correct that w...

Synopsis: When his wife, Vivian, is murdered, attorney Wayne Fletcher, who has been having an affair with his secretary, Donna Kincaid, becomes the primary suspect. While Fletcher arguably had the most to gain from her death, a case can also be made for a psychic, a stalker and a household of eccentric family members, especially when more people are murdered. Who's in it?  The movie stars Lon Chaney Jr. , Brenda Joyce, J. Edward Bromberg, Clara Blandick and Wilton Graff. Review:  One thing I've learned as I've watched Lon Chaney, Jr. movies is he was an actor who could play a variety of roles. While he's arguably best known for monster movies, he also was a great addition to other genres, including Pillow of Death . The thing that ultimately impressed me about this movie was the murder mystery. A lot of times with classic films like this, the mystery is a little too easy to figure out or, in way too many cases, the film actually reveals the killer early on. In this cas...

Synopsis: Teenager Dora gets an unexpected Halloween surprise when her doctor tells her she is pregnant. That evening, as she waits at home for her boyfriend so she can tell him the news, a group of trick-or-treating kids begin to torment her. As they grow increasingly violent, she realizes they are after her unborn child, which is now growing inside her at an abnormally fast rate. Who's in it? The movie stars Chloe Rose, Robert Patrick, Rossif Sutherland , Rachel Wilson and Peter DaCunha Review: I'm not the kind of person who will skip a movie just because it has low ratings because I've found my taste in films tends to differ from most people. However, Hellions is one of those films that made me regret that decision. I watch a lot of movies (obviously) and, every so often, I come across one that makes me think the filmmakers were doing some sort of drug, or mix of drugs, when they made it. This movie falls into that category. To be fair, the first half of the film act...

Synopsis: Lady Jane Ainsley hunts down vampire Armand Tesla in London during World War I and successfully stakes him, freeing his werewolf assistant from his curse. Twenty-four years later, with London under threat of bombing because of a new World War, Scotland Yard, not believing her vampire explanation, wants to charge her with murder. However, before that can happen, a bomb reopens Tesla's tomb and workers remove the stake, freeing him to regain control over his former assistant and seek revenge against the woman who defeated him. Who's in it? The movie stars Bela Lugosi ,  Frieda Inescort , Nina Foch, Roland Varno and Miles Manner. Review: My wife needed to take my daughter to a friend's house this evening (about a two-hour drive there and back) so, since I had some free time while waiting for her to safely return, I filled it with a movie. As far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong with a Bela Lugosi vampire movie, so I ended up watching The Return of the ...

Synopsis: While investigating the aftermath of a volcanic eruption in Mexico, geologists Dr. Hank Scott and Dr. Arturo Ramos learn the event has released a giant prehistoric scorpion that eats everything in its path. They, along with the Mexican army need to find a way to stop the creature before it gets to Mexico City. Who's in it? The movie stars Richard Denning , Carlos Rivas, Mara Corday, Carlos Múzquiz and Mario Navarro. Review: I wasn't planning on watching a monster movie this morning, but after failing to find an alternative, decided to give The Black Scorpion a try. It ended up being pretty much what I expected, a bunch of humans being terrorized by a big bug. However, it was still an entertaining film. I think one of the things I liked best about this movie is, unlike so many others in this genre, it didn't make the audience wait to see the creature. There was a little bit of build-up as the main characters were introduced but the scorpion itself became the ma...

Synopsis: After inventing a telescope that lets him see deep enough into space to see the distant past and a meteorite crashing in Africa long before human life, Dr. Janos Rukh leads an expedition to find the meteorite and after doing so, harvest an element dubbed Radium X. Rukh correctly believes Radium X can be used to heal people, but his exposure causes him to become infected and kill anything he touches. He is able to get his condition under control with the help of his colleague, Dr. Felix Benet. However, his obsession grows to the point his wife, Diana, leaves him for another man, and he grows even more isolated. When he learns Benet and another colleague, Sir Francis Stevens, have used his research for their own gain, he fakes his death and seeks revenge. Who's in it? The movie stars Boris Karloff , Bela Lugosi , Frances Drake , Frank Lawton and Walter Kingsford. Review: I started watching The Invisible Ray a couple years ago but got interrupted after the first 15 minu...

Synopsis: Medical student Donald Fettes is thrilled when the prominent Dr. Wolfe MacFarlane makes him his assistant. He becomes less thrilled when MacFarlane introduces him to the dark side of the profession, namely the acquisition of medical school cadavers from the local graverobber, John Gray. When a delicate surgery requires a practice body, Gray once again delivers, this time by murder. However, when MacFarlane attempts to end the business arrangement afterwards, Gray proves he isn't so easy to get rid of. Who's in it? The movie stars Boris Karloff , Henry Daniell, Russell Wade , Edith Atwater and Bela Lugosi. Review: I had heard of The Body Snatcher but never could seem to find time to watch it, despite it featuring two of my favorite 1940s stars in Karloff and Lugosi. I finally corrected that this morning and the movie more than lived up to my expectations. I think I can reasonably say this movie features Karloff in one of his best roles. John Gray is an intriguing c...

Synopsis: After his girlfriend, Sue, travels to Los Angeles to attempt to make it in Hollywood, New York pianist Al Roberts decides to follow her. Short on money, he hitchhikes across the country and thinks he finally caught a lucky break when Charles Haskell offers to drive him the rest of the way. When Haskell dies unexpectedly, Roberts becomes panicked and paranoid, believing he would be blamed. Desperate, he steals Haskell's wallet, clothes and car, intending to pretend to be the other man until he reached his destination. He seems to be in the clear but mistakenly picks up another hitchhiker, Vera, who knew the real Haskell, and uses that information to her advantage. Who's in it? The movie stars Tom Neal , Ann Savage , Claudia Drake, Edmund MacDonald and Tim Ryan. Review: I had another movie in mind this morning but couldn't find it right away in my library (wouldn't be the first time) so I wound up choosing Detour just because it was readily available. It end...

Synopsis: On the night of her high school graduation, June's beloved Uncle Joe has a mild heart attack. With him laid up, she convinces her girlfriends to help her run his struggling gas station. With their scantily clad bodies bringing in enough business to higher more of their classmates and even members of a local gang to open a service station and operate a tow truck, they become an overnight success. However, Mr. Friendly, the owner of the much-larger gas station across the street, is determined to see them fail. Who's in it? The movie stars Kirsten Baker, Linda Lawrence, Sandy Johnson, Rikki Marin, Leslie King and Huntz Hall . Review: I came across Gas Pump Girls a few days ago and while it wasn't a movie I would normally put on my list, I saw my favorite Bowery Boy, Huntz Hall, had a role in it and that alone made me curious enough to give it a try. I watched it this morning and it exceeded my expectations. The movie had pretty much what I thought I'd see in a...

Synopsis: After celebrating their engagement party, Danica Richards and Teddy Spencer travel with their friends Ava, Milo and Stevie to see the Fourth of July fireworks from a vantage point on a winding cliffside road overlooking the ocean. Teddy, who is drunk and high and standing in the middle of the road, accidentally causes a truck to swerve and go through the railing, killing the driver, Sam Cooper. The friends vow not to speak of their involvement but, a year later, are stalked by a killer wearing rain gear and carrying a hook. When they later learn their hometown of Southport, North Carolina was previously terrorized the same way, they seek help from the two survivors, Julie James and Ray Bronson. Who's in it? The movie stars Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders , Sarah Pidgeon, Freddie Prinze, Jr. , Jennifer Love Hewitt and Sarah Michelle Gellar . Review: While I surprisingly enjoyed the Scream reboot a few years ago, I still have some serious doubt about rebooting classic...

Synopsis: In 1907, English aristocrat Elinor Glyn published Three Weeks, a steamy romance novel that while controversial for the time, became a best seller and is credited with helping start a new sexual revolution that carried over into other forms of media, like the growing film industry. This biography discusses Elinor's life, her success and the unsatisfying marriage that inspired her novel. Review: I had heard the name Elinor Glyn before but honestly didn't know much about her other than she wrote a book that I would describe as the early 20th century equivalent of Fifty Shades of Grey, at least as far as impact/controversy are concerned . So, when I happened to come across Inventing the It Girl while searching for another book, I decided to get a copy through my library.  Overall, I would describe this biography as both informative and entertaining. The author does a great job setting the scene for the reader by describing both Elinor's life and England's gentr...

Synopsis: Barbara Beaurevel is an attractive woman and, thanks to an inheritance, also very wealthy. However, her grandmother's scandalous past is something she must keep secret to avoid being an outcast in 1890s New Orleans. As a result of this, and blackmail from her cousin, Paul, Barbara chooses not to travel with her lover, Dr. Mark Lukas, and when he returns to New Orleans, is devastated to learn Mark is now married to Corinne. Determined to get Mark back, Barbara offers Paul $50,000 to seduce Corinne and break up the married couple. Her plan has an unexpected twist however, Corinne's sudden and suspicious death. Who's in it? The movie stars Ava Gardner , Robert Mitchum , Melvyn Douglas , Janis Carter and Lucile Watson. Review: I came across My Forbidden Past on one of my movie channels last night and while I wasn't completely sure about the plot as it was described, I am a big enough of an Ava Gardner fan to give it a try. I was pleased to discover it was a g...

Synopsis: Seeking to earn a partnership in her father’s company, Sam agrees to oversee the demolition of a remote apartment building with a notorious past; the architect that designed it also murdered people and entombed his victims within its walls. Shortly after learning more about the hotel’s history, the engineer also learns her life is in danger. Who's in it?  The movie stars Mischa Barton , Deborah Kara Unger, Cameron Bright, Eugene Clark and Pascal Greggory. You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Walled In (2009) __________________________________________________________ Here are some reviews of other movies from 2009: Movie Review: Bride Wars (2009) Movie Review: Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet (2009) Movie Review: Mystery Team (2009) Movie Review: Survival of the Dead (2009)

Synopsis: Howard F. Howard grew up loving the Three Stooges and now, as an adult, his obsession has grown into something unhealthy, with him envisioning clips from their films everywhere he looks, costing him his job and putting his relationship with Beverly on the rocks. As he seeks help, he learns he isn't alone with his obsession and it is becoming an epidemic. Who's in it? The movies stars Josh Mostel , Melanie Chartoff, Sid Caesar, Victoria Jackson and the Three Stooges. Review: When I came across Stoogemania last night, my oldest daughter and I thought the same thing, it would just be a Three Stooges clip show. However, after not finding anything that was a must-watch film for this morning, I decided to give this movie a try. As it turns out, it wasn't quite the clip show I was expecting it to be, but I'm not convinced that was a good thing. I'll give the movie some props, it is certainly unique. Howard's (Mostel) obsession puts him in some interesting...

Synopsis: Nancy and Jimmy, a young couple working as medical assistants, witness a group of men murdering Judge Roger Shaw. When another man, recently released convict and musician John Ellman, is falsely accused of the murder, Nancy convinces Jimmy it is too dangerous for them to come forward and by the time she changes her mind, Ellman has already been convicted and executed. Seeking to right the wrong, their employer, Dr. Beaumont, brings Ellman back to life with a mechanical heart he has been developing. Ellman is alive but in an almost zombie-like state with no memory of what happened. However, a supernatural instinct lets him know who framed him and he begins to seek revenge. Who's in it? The movie stars Boris Karloff , Edmund Gwenn ,  Marguerite Churchill , Warren Hull and Ricardo Cortez . Review: As a general rule, I've found you can rarely go wrong with a Boris Karloff movie so, when I went in search of a film to watch this morning and saw The Walking Dead was ava...

Synopsis: In 1964, an Erie, Pennsylvania garage band becomes an overnight local success with their song "That Thing You Do" and the group, The Wonders, soon find themselves on tour with a top-selling record. However, as their success grows, cracks begin to form in their friendship, threatening their ability to stay together. Who's in it? The movie stars Tom Hanks , Liv Tyler, Tom Everett Scott , Steve Zahn ,  Johnathon Schaech and Ethan Embry . Review: My wife was taking adult dance (tap) lessons, my youngest daughter was at theater rehearsal, and my oldest daughter was working on her homework so, since I had some free time last night, I wound up looking for a movie to watch. I've seen That Thing You Do multiple times in the past, but it had been a while. So, when I came across it, I ended up watching it again. I did not regret that decision. There are a couple things I really like about this movie, which came out just a couple years after I graduated high school...