Steven Helmer Publications

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...

Synopsis: When Lillian Hubbard goes on trial for the murder of her fiancée, Harley Forsythe, private investigator Michael Shayne is assigned to the jury. After a key witness is killed by a knife thrower in the courtroom, Hubbard looks guilty to some jurors. Shayne, however, believes she's innocent and, after swiping the knife before it could be taken as evidence, sneaks out of his hotel room to conduct his own investigation with the help of newspaper reporter Judy Taylor. Complicating things is photographer Roy Higgins, who is determined to catch Shayne in the act, something that could result in the detective being sent to jail. Who's in it? The movie stars Lloyd Nolan , Marjorie Weaver , Phil Silvers , Janis Carter and Joan Valerie. Review: I was feeling a bit tired and called it an early night last night. Before going to bed, I looked for a film to watch this morning and picked Just Off Broadway because it was the first one that popped up that looked halfway decent. Afte...

Synopsis: Prominent defense attorney John Morland is found dead in a crashed car, but police quickly determine it wasn't an accident and, instead, Morland had been murdered beforehand. The investigation leads to multiple suspects - Morland's wife, Catherine, his legal partner, James O'Neill, a wanted fugitive by the name of Red Bailey and even the district attorney, Richard Conroy. Who's in it? The movie stars Jean Rogers , Richard Travis , John Eldredge , Douglas Fowley and Robert Shayne . Review: I didn't have an opportunity to pre-select a movie for this morning because of getting home late last night (my daughter had another community theater performance). As a result, I picked Backlash solely because it was alphabetically one of the first movies saved in my library. As it turns out, it was a good choice. This movie is a solid murder mystery. In addition to the mystery surrounding Morland's (Eldredge) decision to drive to San Francisco, there were a ton...

Synopsis: After his wife, Grace, loses their baby during childbirth, a mournful Henry Shanway gets drunk at a Boston tavern. When he is told his yellow Ford is parked illegally, B-girl Vivian Heldon offers to help him move it only to later leave him on the side of the road miles out of town when he sobers up enough to realize she is using his car to drive to the Cape. Six months later, the stolen car and Vivian's skeletal remains are both found, resulting in Shanway being arrested for murder. However, while most people, including Grace, believe he is guilty, Police Lieutenant Peter Morales has doubts and continues to investigate. Who's in it? The movie stars Ricardo Montalban , Sally Forrest , Elsa Lanchester , Bruce Bennett and Marshall Thompson . Review: I've had Mystery Street saved to my movie library for a few months but every time I intended to watch it, I would find another movie instead. I finally changed that this morning and, overall, it turned out to be an i...

Synopsis: When real estate agent Summer Elswick is found murdered inside a house she was showing, Detective Tom Nichols is assigned to investigate the case and discovers a wide range of suspects that include her ex-husband and area drug dealers. However, as he investigates further, he discovers there is a whole lot more going on in the rural Maine town he and his wife, Judy, recently began calling home. Who's in it? The movie stars Benicio Del Toro , Justin Timberlake , Alicia Silverstone , Eric Bogosian and Frances Fisher . Review: With the winter weather limiting what we were able to do this weekend, my wife and I watched multiple movies. Some we enjoyed. Others, like Reptile , weren't as good as we expected them to be. As is the case with many movies in this genre, the premise wasn't terrible, but the execution needed a bit of work, at least in my opinion. Simply put, for a movie about a murder investigation that potentially includes a community-wide conspiracy, it wa...

Synopsis : A photographer that specializes in baby portraits poses as a detective to impress a beautiful woman and, a few days later, winds up in jail for murder. As he faces execution, he tells a group of reporters how he got there. Who's in it? The movie stars Bob Hope , Dorothy Lamour , Peter Lorre , Ann Doran and Lon Chaney, Jr . Review: I don't watch many Bob Hope movies but, on occasion, come across one that looks somewhat unique. That was the case with this film, which I happened to find this morning and, after watching it, I have to say it was a good choice. From a comedy standpoint, this film was pretty much what I would expect from a Bob Hope film. There is some slapstick, but the best parts are the result of Hope's quick wit. My favorite scenes had to be that weird golf game at the sanitarium and the way he escaped his pursuers by convincing numerous women in an apartment building he was their lover. I also have to say I loved Lon Chaney Jr.'s character in ...

Synopsis : As World War II breaks out in Europe, San Francisco private detective Lou Peckinpaugh finds himself accused of his partner's murder. In addition to trying to clear his name, he is hired to track down a valuable diamond necklace. Who's in it? The movie stars Peter Falk , Ann-Margret , Eileen Brennan , Dom DeLuise and Madeline Kahn. Review: I was scrolling through movies on YouTube TV the other day and came across this film. Since it sounded intriguing, I added it to my list and found time to watch it yesterday evening. Overall, I have to say the movie, which is a spoof of classic films like Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon , was entertaining. I think the thing that really got my attention when watching this movie was the surprisingly long list of recognizable actors and actresses. Some of them, like Falk, Brennan and Kahn were in more prominent roles but even the minor characters had some familiar faces, such as David Ogden Stiers , Phil Silvers and Abe Vigoda ...