Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: Carrie Singleton has plans to leave the small town of Clover Ridge, Connecticut until her uncle Bosco helps her land a job as the local library's head of programs and events. The money is good but Carrie's boss, Sally, clearly doesn't like her, another co-worker, Dorothy, thinks the job should have been hers and the only friend Carrie has is Evelyn, a now-deceased librarian who haunts the library and only Carrie and Carrie's young niece can see. To make matters worse, one of the first programs Carrie is in charge of turns to a disaster when a retired police detective, Al Buckley, is poisoned prior to revealing new details about one of Clover Ridge's most notorious unsolved crimes, the murder of Laura Foster. Feeling guilty, Carrie decides to help Laura's son, Jared, continue Al's work, only to find a series of dead ends, a complicated relationship with her investigative partner and her life in danger. Review: As I've mentioned, our local libr...

Synopsis: From the time he was born, Truman Burbank has had every move he makes watched by a now world-wide television audience, living his entire life in Seahaven Island, a fictional town located inside the world's largest television studio. Only the world's biggest celebrity is the one person on the planet who doesn't realize the people around him are all actors. This all changes when a stage light falls from the sky, setting off a series of events that makes Truman question everything about his life. Who's in it? The movie stars Jim Carrey, Ed Harris , Laura Linney , Noah Emmerich and Holland Taylor. Review: My daughter had theater rehearsal last night and, while killing time waiting to pick her up, I came across The Truman Show . It had been a while since I last watched this film in its entirety, so I did just that. And I wasn't disappointed by this choice. I think the thing that really makes this movie work is the plot seems so farfetched, but the story is c...

Synopsis: Theater critic Tony Woolrich is reviewing a play when an actor is murdered. Even though he is friends with the theater's owner, actor Cecil Moore, and the victim was Moore's brother, he is reluctant to investigate but does so after being chewed out by his editor. After a second murder is committed, the police believe an escape asylum inmate is to blame. However, Woolrich believes someone from Moore's past is targeting both the actor and his daughter, Claudia. Who's in it? The movie stars Dave O'Brien , Kay Aldridge, Alan Mowbray, Frank Jenks and Jack Mulhall. Review: I am gaining a whole new appreciation for just how busy actor Dave O'Brien was in the 1940s. It seems as though I can't scroll through my movie library without coming across a film he's in. This includes The Phantom of 42nd Street , which I decided to finally watch this morning. It ended up being a good choice. The movie's mystery is an interesting one. While Woolrich's (...

Synopsis: After being forced into retirement because of his age, Captain Jim Hadley is bored, depressed and angry about "outliving his usefulness." However, when his best friend is killed fighting a fire set by a serial arsonist, he gets out of his funk and helps his future son-in-law, Frank, track down the pyromaniac, an investigation that soon puts his family in danger. Who's in it? The movies stars J. Farrell MacDonald, Warren Hull , Polly Ann Young , Mary Gordon and George Pembroke . Review: After an active and exhausting weekend, I was falling asleep on the couch a bit earlier than expected and, when scouting for a movie to watch this morning, I mostly was choosing the first one that sounded halfway interesting and could be watched in the amount of time I had available. After a couple minutes, I chose The Last Alarm . For a short while, I wondered if I made a mistake with my choice. The first few scenes about Jim Hadley's (MacDonald) retirement seemed like they...

  I went to the grocery store without any idea in mind about what I wanted to make for dinner. My wife was doing some stuff at her sewing studio, and we had a small bag of ravioli that I could make for the girls so I focused on finding something I could make as a late dinner for two. I ended up purchasing Rana Chicken Alfredo Lasagna because it was on sale for a little less than $12. It was my first time trying this product and I wasn't sure what to expect but after making it last night, it is a product I wouldn't mind purchasing again. As far as meal prep goes, I couldn't ask for easier. I followed the microwave instructions, and the lasagna was ready to eat less than 10 minutes later. This was ideal because, with us already eating later than usual, I wouldn't have been a fan of anything that took a long time to make or dirtied a ton of dishes. Taste-wise, this exceeded my expectations. The sauce had a good flavor and there was quite a bit of chicken. This, in turn, al...

Synopsis: On the eve of convicted murderer Frank Pierce's execution, grocer Sam Morgan, feeling guilty about the testimony he gave at Pierce's trial, ends up at Cady's Lodge near the state prison so he can talk to the warden. He is unable to stop the execution, and his guilt only intensifies when another man confesses to the crime too late. Broken and angry, the once honest Sam helps Pierce's widow, Ellie, who is also staying at the lodge, find $160,000 Pierce stole from a bank and eventually falls in love with her. However, while they are waiting for the money to be forwarded from a post office box to the lodge, the real Mrs. Pierce shows up and soon after, Sam is told a detective from New York has also checked in. Who's in it? The movie stars James Brown , Merry Anders , Henry Corden, Roy Barcroft and Peggy Stewart. Review: As has happened many times before, I ended up coming across When the Clock Strikes while scrolling through my movie library in search of ...

I once again didn't get a whole lot of photos from my trail camera last night. This time, I am certain it's because the batteries are well past the need for replacement. However, the few photos I did get were decent and, once again, were of one of our neighborhood opossums. Here they are:

Synopsis: Seeking to find the man who killed his father, attorney Lamont Granston moonlights as a vigilante known as the Shadow. After capturing a pair of would-be burglars breaking into a safe belonging to another attorney, Chester Randall, Granston is discovered by police and assumes Randall's identity to hide the reason he was there.  His lie becomes more complicated when Randall receives a call summoning him to the home of the wealthy Caleb Delthiern and the police captain, Breen, insists on going with him. Granston is then forced to extend the lie even longer when Delthiern is murdered right next to him while attempting to change his will. Despite cautionary warnings from his assistant, Henry, Granston chooses to risk detection by investigating. Who's in it? The movie stars Rod La Rocque, Agnes Anderson, Norman Ainsley, Kenneth Harlan and Cy Kendall. Review: Much like with Dick Tracy prior to watching some of the films made in the 1940s, my only knowledge of the Shadow...

I got one of my trail cameras out again last night and was disappointed when I didn't have as many photos as I usually have. I'm not sure if it was a lack of activity or if the batteries are finally getting too low for the camera to work properly (possibly a combination of both). On the plus side, the opossums are back out, and I did manage to get a couple photos of one of them.

Synopsis: When a truckload of furs is stolen from a warehouse and the security guard is killed, Dick Tracy is called in to investigate. With the help of an informant who loses his life as a result, Tracy is able to trace the crime to a gang led by a criminal who calls himself "the Claw" because of a prosthetic hook hand. However, instead of arresting the Claw, he lays out a sting to find out who the criminal is working for. Who's in it? The movie stars Ralph Byrd , Lyle Latell , Kay Christopher, Jack Lambert and Ian Keith . Review: So, as it turns out, I watched the Dick Tracy movies in the wrong order. Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome was the fourth and last movie in the series, not the third. As a result, I corrected the problem this morning by watching Dick Tracy's Dilemma . I am going to say it was a good choice for a film. To be honest, the plot of the film isn't anything overly complicated. There is at least an attempt to create a bit of a mystery surrounding t...

I am squeezing the last life out of my trail camera batteries before buying new ones and made sure to place one of my cameras outside again last night. It was a bit warmer (though still colder than I would prefer for this time of year) and I had a little more activity on it, including a visit from some ducks. Here are some of the photos:

Synopsis: Pat Patton helps a fellow police officer by bringing in a drunk man who later appears to have died in the back of his car. The man, a criminal known as Gruesome, later revives in the morgue and escapes before later using the same gas that paralyzed him to rob a bank. Dick Tracy investigates and soon believes Gruesome's chemical is the work of a missing scientist. He is up against the clock though. A local news reporter is determined to print his story in a few hours, potentially jeopardizing Tracy's case. Who's in it? The movie stars Ralph Byrd, Boris Karloff , Anne Gwynne , Lyle Latell , Edward Ashley and June Clayworth. Review: I've had Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome on my watch list primarily because, as I've mentioned in the past, I'm a big Boris Karloff fan. So, now that I was caught up with the earlier Dick Tracy films, I made sure to watch it this morning. Sadly, I didn't like this one as much as the previous films, and not just because there...

I need to get some new batteries for my trail cameras but figured there was still enough battery life in one to give it a try outside last night. It was kind of cold and there wasn't a whole lot of activity in the backyard. I did, however, get a few photos of some stray cats that wandered into the yard (including one that looks so much like one of my cats, I had to verify they were both in the house).

Synopsis: Much to the dismay of Tess Trueheart, Dick Tracy's birthday celebration is interrupted by the murder of a man transporting $300,000 in diamonds enroute to jeweler Jules Sparkle. Tracy immediately begins to suspect an inside job and investigates two of Sparkle's employees, Mona Clyde and Simon Little. This soon puts him in the path of the man who committed the murder, Cueball, and eventually puts Tess's life in danger. Who's in it? The movie stars Morgan Conway , Anne Jeffreys , Lyle Latell , Dick Wessel and Paula Corday. Review: I wasn't certain if I would even have an opportunity to watch a movie this morning so, once I realized I did, I stuck to something familiar and gave Dick Tracy vs. Cueball a try. I had enjoyed the first Dick Tracy film in this series more than expected and, while this sequel wasn't quite as good, it still turned out to be an OK watch. Unlike the first movie, which had a bit of mystery relating to motive, this film was prett...

Synopsis: Rosyln takes a nightshift job cleaning up files at a recently closed hospital at the same time a serial killer known as the Nighthawk is attacking women. Roslyn's growing anxiety causes her to suspect her husband, Cole, a suspicion she discusses with Dr. Irvin Clement, the psychiatrist organizing the files in the hospital psych wing. During the course of her conversations with Dr. Clement, Rosyln is forced to face her mental health struggles caused by a traumatic childhood, causing her to grow even more unstable and unable to distinguish between what is real and what is in her head. Who's in it? The movie stars Sara Foster, Cary Elwes , Michael Biehn, Colleen Camp and Gabriel Mann. Review: After my wife and I took our daughter prom dress shopping this morning, I found I just didn't have the energy to do much else once we got home and, as I started to doze on the couch, my wife found Psych:9 on one of our movie channels. We ended up watching it and, even after...

Synopsis: On parole and living in her car, Millie Calloway is surprised and thrilled when she lands a job as a live-in housemaid for Nina Winchester, her husband Andrew and their daughter Cece. It seems like the perfect opportunity until Millie learns Nina has mental health issues that make her verbally abusive and physically violent. Unable to quit because it would mean going back to prison, Millie sticks it out and soon finds herself growing closer to Andrew, leading to them sleeping together and Andrew finally standing up to his wife. However, soon after, Millie learns the truth about what is really going on in the Winchester house. Who's in it? The movie stars Sydney Sweeney , Amanda Seyfried , Brandon Sklenar , Indiana Elle and Elizabeth Perkins. Review: We went from tornado-producing weather to freezing temperatures again, giving my wife and I another excuse to just stay home on a Saturday night and watch a movie. The Housemaid has been on my watch list for a couple weeks...

 A dog is out there barking. Who the heck is already mowing their lawn? Do you really need to blare that horn? I'm sure they'll be out in a minute, for your planned liaison. It's warmed back up outside. Enough for me to take advantage. The windows are open, people. Please be quiet, if you can manage. Hey, your car has an engine, that's great. It doesn't mean you need to rev it. And why are you shouting at each other. You're two feet away, turn the volume down, dammit. I am sure you love that music you're blaring. Probably some top artist. But the windows are open, jerks. Please cease and desist. _________________________________________________________________________ Feel free to read some of my other poems: In the Way (A Poem) Like an Egg (A Poem) Drive at Night (A Poem) Missing the Sun (A Poem)

Synopsis: While guarding an ancient scroll entrusted to him 60 years earlier and that gives him immortality, a Tibetan monk befriends a young pickpocket who, based on a prophecy handed down to him from his master, may be his successor. Unfortunately, before he can figure that out for sure, he must first protect the scroll from a former Nazi soldier and his associates. Who's in it?   The movie stars Seann William Scott, Yun-Fat Chow, Jaime King , Karel Roden and Victoria Smurfit. Review: The weather forecast (which fortunately didn't turn out to be as bad for us as predicted) once again kept my wife at home yesterday evening. Since we had nowhere to go and frozen pizza to eat, I looked for a movie to watch and settled on Bulletproof Monk . We had seen the movie before, but it was nearly a decade ago and I didn't remember a whole lot about it. After re-watching it, I can honestly say it was better than I did remember. Kar (Scott) and the "Monk with No Name" (Chow)...

 It's payday today. Most of that check is already spent. Sometimes it leaves my account so fast,  I wonder just where it went. I wish I could have just spent it on the things I enjoy. Use it on something I want or just on a day of play. It's just wishful thinking though Because I have bills to pay. Where did it all go wrong? How did I become such a dolt? I could be enjoying life to its fullest. Instead, I am a responsible adult. People are always saying to me "Unwind a bit, come out and have some fun." Sure, that would be great But it's easier said than done. They're probably having a blast, A time that is fine. I, however, was up early for work today. I'll be lucky if I stay awake until nine. I'm sure they'll talk about me behind my back And throw in the occasional insult. There's not much I can do about it though, Because I'm a responsible adult. My last doctor appointment didn't go so great My blood pressure is high, and so is my str...

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...