Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: After surviving her in-laws hunting her on her wedding night, Grace wakes up in a hospital and learns she is facing charges of murder and arson. That turns out to be the least of her problems though. Her survival has resulted in the high seat of a council of satanists being vacated and she is forced to participate in a new game with multiple families trying to kill her before dawn. This time, however, she has her estranged younger sister handcuffed to her. Who's in it? The movie stars Samara Weaving , Kathryn Newton , Elijah Wood , Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy. Review: When I heard there was going to be a Ready or Not 2 , I was honestly skeptical. I did enjoy the first movie more than I thought I would. However, it ended in a way that didn't exactly seem like it was setting up a sequel and there was a seven-year gap between the films being made. My wife and I did end up watching the movie last night anyway and were both very entertained. There were a cou...

Synopsis: After his gang stops another shipment of vital supplies to a remote wild west town, Malgrove believes he'll be able to buy the local ranches for pennies on the dollar and mine them for gold. However, his plan has one sudden and unexpected obstacle, a stranger, John Carruthers, who has ridden into town and is helping the local sheriff investigate. Who's in it? The movie stars John Wayne , George 'Gabby' Hayes , Eleanor Hunt, Edward Peil, Sr. and Yakima Canutt . Review: I had time to scroll through movies while waiting for my daughter to get done with work last night and ultimately decided on Blue Steel . I watched it this morning and thought it was a good choice. One of the first things I noticed about this movie is it had a bit of a silent film-feel to it. There's not a ton of dialog and a lot of the story is told through body language and a whole lot of horse riding. This works in the movie's favor, I think. The plot isn't anything overly compl...

Synopsis: While on an African safari with her parents and fiancé, Eleanor Reed is rescued from the mud by a loin-cloth-wearing man who calls himself Tarzan and eventually spends a day together with the jungle man. Tarzan soon needs to come to the rescue again when a chieftain, Ben Alleu Bey, kidnaps Eleanor so he can make her part of his harem. Who's in it? The movie stars Glenn Morris, Eleanor Holm, Hedda Hopper , C. Henry Gordon, George Meeker and George Barbier. Review: I've had Tarzan's Revenge in my movie library for months and just never got around to watching it. I decided to finally do that this morning and, while it wasn't a terrible movie, it also wasn't as good as I was hoping. I'll start out with the positives. Glenn Morris makes a halfway decent Tarzan. He had the yell down, looked the part and has decent chemistry with his love interest, Eleanor (Holm). The movie also has some solid supporting characters. Eleanor's mother, Penny (Hopper), ...

Synopsis: Forced to commit acts of violence to repay the millions he owes the Russian mob, Hutch Mansell decides he needs a break and goes on vacation with his family to Plummerville, Wisconsin, a tourist trap he visited as a kid, resulting in one of his few happy memories. However, an altercation at an arcade on his first night there quickly escalates, putting Hutch at odds with the local police and then the crime boss they work for. Who's in it? The movie stars Bob Odenkirk , Connie Nielsen , Christopher Lloyd , John Ortiz, Sharon Stone and Colin Hanks. Review: My wife and I watched Nobody a few days ago and enjoyed it enough to want to see the sequel. So, with nothing better to do yesterday evening, thanks mostly to the ungodly heat and humidity outside, we settled down on the couch and watched Nobody 2 . After seeing it, I think I liked the original a bit more but also think this is one of the few sequels that manages to recapture at least some of the magic. I think the thi...

Synopsis: Cowboy Chris Morrell is caring for Nina, a young half Native American whose white father abandoned her now-deceased mother before she was born. When a piece of land leased in her mother's name strikes oil, Chris seeks to find Nina's father and gain guardianship of the girl to help her cash in on the newly discovered wealth and be taken care of. However, a gang of outlaws led by Sam Black are looking to steal the claim, putting Nina in danger. As a further complication, Chris is framed for an armed robbery. Who's in it? The movie stars John Wayne , Sheila Terry , Shirley Jean Rickert, Yakima Canutt and Jack Rockwell. Review: I must have forgotten what day it was because I overslept by nearly thirty minutes this morning. However, I have a built-in time buffer and modified morning routine for that very scenario and still had time to watch a short film before I needed to worry about heading into the office. This resulted in ' Neath the Arizona Skies being the...

Synopsis: After years of working as an "auditor" and killing people on behalf of multiple government agencies, Hutch Mansell has retired and is attempting to live an ordinary life as an accountant, husband and father. However, a home break-in sets off a series of events that awakens his violent side, and Hutch finds himself in a feud with a Russian mobster that increasingly grows more violent. Who's in it? The movie stars Bob Odenkirk, Aleksey Serebryakov, Connie Nielson , Christopher Lloyd and Colin Salmon. Review: When my wife and I recently came across Nobody 2 , we realized we never saw the first film and made sure to add it to our library so we could correct that. We finally watched Nobody last night and both enjoyed it. I think the thing I found I liked most about this film was how there was a good mix of comedy, but I could still describe it as an action thriller. That isn't always a combination that works in films like this. Some end up becoming too goofy...

The film Die Hard is a staple in my house. I think I put the movie on at least once per month, though by this point it has mostly just been as background noise with me only paying attention during the highlights. However, I put it on again last night and with nothing to distract me, did wind up paying attention to the whole film (or at least most of it). As I did, one thought popped into my head. Who was the inside man working with Hans Gruber ( Alan Rickman ) and his gang of terrorists? While the movie doesn't explicitly state there is someone withing the Nakatomi Corporation that is working with Gruber and his men, the evidence is there if you pay attention. First, the security in Nakatomi Plaza is atrocious, to the point it seems almost by design.  There is a lone security guard who doesn't check identification and a computerized directory that lists the names of everyone in the building. John McClane ( Bruce Willis ) was obviously the good guy in the film but could have ju...

Synopsis: After having her passport lost or stolen while on tour in a British West African colony, American singer Nora Brooks is stranded at a hotel while waiting for replacement documentation that will allow her to return to the United States. When a fight breaks out during one of her performances, leaving a man dead, Nora runs into the jungle and eventually takes refuge in a camp run by paleontologist Larry Mason. What she doesn't know is the deceased bar patron was carrying documents exposing a Nazi spy ring and those papers were stashed in her jacket before she fled, painting a target on her back. Who's in it? The movie stars Arline Judge , John "Dusty" King, Mantan Moreland , Arthur O'Connell and Laurence Criner. Review: I came across Law of the Jungle last night and since it sounded somewhat interesting, added it to my movie library. I decided to watch the film right away this morning and unfortunately, while the premise was decent, the execution was la...

Synopsis: Single mother Sadie Martin runs a riverboat in Alaska as a way of funding her daughter, Helen's, education at a boarding school. In addition to being a place to drink and gamble, the boat is a vital mode of transportation for miners traveling to and from their claims. When Helen arrives unexpectedly, Sadie, not wanting her daughter to follow in her footsteps, feels compelled to sell her boat to mining executive John Thorne so the two women can return to civilization. However, she ends up sticking around when the empowered Thorne begins stealing her friends' mining claims and killing those who oppose him. Who's in it? The movie stars Irene Rich, Charles Bickford, June Carlson, Dave O'Brien , Melvin Lang and Tristram Coffin. Review: I was running a bit behind this morning again and with limited time to pick a movie to watch, I went with the first film that seemed remotely interesting. This ended up being Queen of the Yukon . Overall, it turned out to be a goo...

Synopsis: When his train conductor father is killed in an intentionally caused wreck, pilot Larry Baker vows to find the man responsible for both that crash and a series of other wrecks plaguing the L & R Railroad. This proves to be more difficult than expected when he learns "the Wrecker" is able to disguise himself as anyone. Who's in it? The movie stars John Wayne , Shirley Grey, Conway Tearle, Tully Marshall and Edmund Breese. Review: This may make me sound a bit un-American, but I've never been a huge fan of John Wayne movies. Look, the man was a legend and I'm not denying that. It's just his most famous films essentially have him playing the same character in a different setting, to the point I can't identify the movie on sight, just that it is a John Wayne film. That said, when I came across The Hurricane Express , I was intrigued. It was a film that starred Wayne before he was a household name and that, along with what sounded like an inter...

It's Memorial Day and with my annual trip to local cemeteries to pay respects to family members who served (including my dad and grandfather) already behind me, it likely will be a day when I end up watching some of the many war movies that are bound to be on TV. While I'm not a huge war movie fan, there are some that are must-watches whenever I come across them on one of my movie channels. Some of these are obvious choices, others might be a surprise, especially when compared to better-known films but they just speak to me. Below are my five favorites but, before watching, please be sure to take a moment to remember and thank those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Glory (1989) This movie, in my opinion is THE movie to watch if you want a Civil War film. It's one of Matthew Broderick 's best roles and he had a strong supporting cast that includes Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington . There are some great, realistic battle scenes and a solid story (though maybe not comp...

Synopsis: When Ken Mitchell arrives to claim a cattle ranch left to him by his late uncle, he discovers he is unwanted by the local farmers who hated his uncle because of unscrupulous business practices that have them about to lose their land. Believing his uncle was being forced to work for someone else and knowing the locals won't accept his word or charity, Mitchell infiltrates a gang led by the real villain, Collins. He then pretends to help Mitchell carry out his land-grab plan while simultaneously secretly sabotaging that plan as a masked vigilante called the Phantom Rancher. Who's in it? The movie stars Ken Maynard, Dorothy Short , Harry Harvey, Ted Adams, Dave O'Brien and Tarzan. Review: In what is making me sound a bit like a broken record, I woke up this morning planning to watch another movie but found myself unable to located it in my library and quickly called an audible to another film. This film ended up being Phantom Rancher . While I did have a few doub...

Synopsis: While herding horses to Jean Loring's ranch and with plans to stay with his friend, Taffy Baker and her brother, Burt, Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers come across an orphaned fawn. Roy takes the animal to his friend, Captain "Cap" Foster and learns there is a group of professionally armed poachers in the area. When Cap is later murdered by the poachers, Roy begins to suspect Jean as being involved and thinks Burt knows something about it. However, when he attempts to investigate, he finds his own life in danger. Who's in it? The movie stars Roy Rogers , Trigger , Andy Devine , Jane Frazee, Stephanie Bachelor and Harold Landon. Review: I overslept this morning and was concerned I wouldn't have time to watch a movie. However, I managed to decide on Springtime in the Sierras with just enough time to spare. Overall, I have to say it was a Roy Rogers film that exceeded my expectations. The thing that surprised me most about this movie is it wasn...

Synopsis: Just days from a forced retirement at reduced benefits, veteran train engineer Frank Barnes is tasked with training an arrogant rookie conductor, Will Colston. Their routine day changes when a trainyard error sends a locomotive hauling 39 cars and dangerous chemicals hurtling down the mainline at fast speeds and without anyone driving it. After barely getting out of its path and against the wishes of their boss, Frank and Will begin chasing the train down, hoping to slow or stop it before it derails and causes a catastrophic event. Who's in it? The movie stars Denzel Washington , Chris Pine , Rosario Dawson, Kevin Dunn and Kevin Corrigan. Review: My wife decided to work in her sewing studio last night so, after mowing my mom's lawn, I came home and settled in with a movie until she got home. I had seen Unstoppable before, but it had been a while, so I gave it another try. Overall, I still thought it was a decent choice. This is, in all honesty, a disaster movie tha...

Synopsis: Years after being Shanghaied and held prisoner on a ship, Don Ricardo returns to 1830s California and learns his cousin, Jose, arranged for him to be both kidnapped and murdered. Believing Ricardo is dead, Jose has laid claim to Ricardo's ranch and has his eyes set on Ricardo's love, Dorothea. With his skills with a sword deteriorated and needing proof of his cousin's deception, Ricardo disguises himself as a peasant and pairs up with another man, Lugo, who once saved him when he was a boy. Who's in it? The movie stars Fred Coby, Lita Baron, Paul Newlan, Anthony Warde, David Leonard and Martin Garralaga. Review: I added Don Ricardo Returns to my library a few weeks ago because I am a big Zorro fan and this movie was written by Zorro author Johnston McCulley. Unfortunately, while there were some similarities to The Mark of Zorro and other Zorro-related films, this did fall a bit short of my expectations. I am going to start out by saying there were things ...

Synopsis: Former United States Marshal Buck Roberts is looking forward to retirement on his cattle ranch but is called into action one more time when stagecoaches are robbed outside Mesa City, Arizona and threaten to put stagecoach owner Ruth Masters out of business. Roberts suspects local saloon owner Steve Taggart of being behind the robberies in an attempt to seize control of Ruth's business but before he can find proof, is framed and arrested. Fortunately, Roberts has reinforcements already in Mesa City. Who's in it? The movie stars Buck Jones, Tim McCoy, Raymond Hatton, Luana Walters and Tristram Coffin . Review: I didn't get an opportunity last night to pick out a movie for this morning, so I ended up just choosing the first one that could be watched in about an hour. That turned out to be Arizona Bound. While it wasn't my favorite classic western, it still turned out to be a decent choice. The plot itself was fairly simplistic. There was no attempt to create ...

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...

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: 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...

Synopsis: Two airplanes carrying shipments of gold are both forced to make emergency landings and are then robbed and their pilots killed by a gang of outlaws. Sheriff Roy Rogers investigates and soon suspects the outlaws are working for a local businessman seeking to drive the airport out of business with help from an inside man so he can purchase the land. Who's in it? The movie stars Roy Rogers , Betty Richards, Andy Devine, George Meeker and Trigger. Review: I overslept by about 15 minutes this morning, which both threw off my routine and meant I wasn't able to watch the movie I had planned on watching. As an alternative, I ended up selecting The Gay Ranchero because it was shorter in length. At first, I wasn't sure if I would like the film, but it turned out to be a halfway decent western. The main plot itself was about as predictable as you would expect from a movie like this. Even before Sheriff Roy (Rogers) had his theories, it was both reasonably clear who was ...