Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: Things move slow in Suddenly, California, giving Sheriff Tod Shaw plenty of free time to try to win the heart of a widowed mother, Ellen Benson. Tod's quiet routine experiences some upheaval, however, when it becomes a planned stop for the President of the United States and a group of would-be assassins led by gangster John Baron take him, Ellen, her father-in-law "Pop" and her young son, Pidge hostage in her home, intending to use the living room window to fire the kill shot. Who's in it? The movie stars Frank Sinatra, Sterling Hayden , James Gleason , Nancy Gates and Kim Charney. Review: I added the film Suddenly to my library a few days ago, partly because I haven't seen too many Frank Sinatra movies and partly because the plot sounded interesting. I found time to watch it this morning and was pleased with my choice. I'll start out by saying this film is very American. This includes plenty of talk about patriotism, including the idea of your l...

Synopsis: Small-town accountant Frank Bigelow takes a vacation in San Francisco and after a night of partying with other hotel guests, wakes up feeling sick. He learns he has been intentionally poisoned with an incurable luminous toxin and will die. Ignoring advice to check into a hospital, Bigelow goes in search of the person who murdered him. Who's in it? The movie stars Edmond O'Brien , Pamela Britton, Luther Adler, William Ching and Lynn Baggett. Review: I have quite a few movies in my library I intend to watch but while trying to pick one last night, I ended up coming across D. O. A.  It looked interesting and I'm always a fan of a good mystery, so I decided to give it a try this morning. While not quite what I was expecting, it was still a decent film. The thing that made this movie interesting is Bigelow (O'Brien) was just an ordinary guy. Sure, he was a bit of a womanizer who, at least at the beginning, was leading his personal secretary, Paula (Britton) on, ...

Synopsis: Professor Cosmo Jones, who recently graduated correspondence school with a degree in criminal psychology, witnesses a body being dumped in front of the police station and takes an interest in the case that results in him getting thrown in jail by Police Chief Murphy. After Pat Flanagan secures his release, the grateful Jones insists on helping the police sergeant catch both the killer and, later, the person who attempts to kidnap heiress Phyllis Blake. However, his meddling results in Flanagan being demoted and a misunderstanding that puts Flanagan's romance with Susan Fleming on the rocks. Who's in it? The movie stars Frank Graham, Edgar Kennedy , Gale Storm , Richard Cromwell, Gwen Kenyon and Mantan Moreland . Review: I still can't remember the name of the movie I thought I picked out a couple nights ago but, while searching for it again, I did come across Cosmo Jones in the Crime Smasher and thought it looked interesting enough to give a try. I watched it t...

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: Helen Martin is a good teacher, but that isn't enough to save her job when people learn she is the sister-in-law of Johnny Moon, a notorious gangster. When she is offered a teaching job at a women's reformatory, Helen is reluctant to accept it. She changes her mind, however, when she learns the school is secretly run by Moon and she has the opportunity to help political reformer Frank Donovan gather evidence against her brother-in-law, put him in prison and get her sister away from him. That opportunity is fraught with danger, however. Who's in it? The movie stars Arline Judge, Roger Clark, Robin Raymond, Jack Randall and Dorothy Burgess. Review: I didn't know what to expect when I started watching Girls in Chains this morning because the description didn't give a whole lot of detail. I still gave it a try and can honestly say it turned out to be a good choice. Helen (Judge) was an intriguing character. She was righteous and, even though her primary rea...

Synopsis: When several young women go missing before being found dead, the police and assistant district attorney are baffled. Reporter Nora Page, however, conducts her own investigation and finds a link between the women and a school of fine arts owned by a local gangster. There is just one problem, Nora's father, a talent agent, may be connected. Who's in it? The movie stars Astrid Allwyn, John Archer , H. B. Warner, Philip Van Zandt and Boyd Irwin. Review: I came across City of Missing Girls last night and, since I'm always game for a classic mystery/film noir, decided to add it to my list for this morning. Overall, I would describe it as an OK film but also in need of something a little bit more. I thought Nora Page (Allwyn) was an interesting character, a strong woman who wasn't afraid to stick her nose into situations, even if it put her in danger while, at the same time, clearly keeping her heart open for the assistant district attorney, James Horton (Archer)...

Synopsis: While having coffee at a diner, publicist Steve Christopher meets waitress Vicki Lynn and convinces her she could have a career in modeling. Vicki accepts his help and, with support from actor Robin Ray, she is soon on the cover of newspapers and magazines as well as having a steady income working as a nightclub singer. When Hollywood comes calling, she accepts, bringing her business arrangement with Steve to an abrupt end. When she is found murdered the next day, Steve becomes the primary suspect and police lieutenant. Ed Cornell is determined to make sure he gets the electric chair. Who's in it? The movie stars Elliott Reid , Jean Peters, Jeanne Crain, Richard Boone and Alexander D'Arcy. Review: I was flipping through movies last night in search for something to watch before starting my day today and Vicki caught my eye because it sounded like an interesting mystery. I finished it a short while ago and it was a film that did not disappoint. While Vicki's (P...

Synopsis: Myra Hudson was born wealthy but is making her own fortune as a successful playwright. While traveling by train from New York to her home in San Francisco, she bumps into Lester Blaine, an actor she fired from her latest play because he didn't look right for the part. They bond on the long journey and, soon after arriving in San Francisco, marry. She believes he loves her until her dictating machine inadvertently records Lester and his secret girlfriend, Irene, plotting to kill her. Who's in it? The movie stars Joan Crawford , Jack Palance , Gloria Grahame , Bruce Bennett and Virginia Huston. Review: I had started out watching a different movie this morning but after discovering that one was in a different language and it was too early to read subtitles, I ended up watching Sudden Fear instead. Overall, I have to say it was a good second choice. The movie's story is well-written. I especially liked how the film took the time to show Myra (Crawford) and Lester...

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 spending months trying to catch a serial killer calling himself "the Judge," Lt. Harry Grant is frustrated to the point he is thinking about quitting. To make matters worse, a persistent reporter, Ann Gorman, is following him around, looking for an inside scoop. Even Grant's brilliant idea to create a life-like mannequin replica of the Judge fails to prevent an eighth murder. However, with Ann's help, Grant is able to use a clue left behind at a crime scene to breathe new life into the case. Who's in it? The movie stars William Lundigan , Dorothy Patrick , Jeff Corey , Nestor Paiva and Edwin Max. Review: I had another movie picked out for this morning, but it must have disappeared from my library last night because I couldn't find it. Not wanting to spend too much time looking for it again, I opted to watch Follow Me Quietly instead. This, as it turns out, ended up being a great choice. Since the movie was only an hour in length, I was a b...

Synopsis: While driving through the desert on a vacation, John Emmett's car breaks down, forcing him to sell the vehicle for what he can and find an alternative means of transportation. He thinks he gets a break when Ann Nicholson offers him a lift to Santa Fe, New Mexico in exchange for sharing the driving duties. However, while stopping for coffee, he is approached by a woman claiming to be Ann's nurse who informs him Ann recently had a mental breakdown. A few hours later, after fleeing police seeking to arrest Ann, he learns she is wanted for murdering a CIA agent. Ann, however, claims she's not a killer and is instead a German immigrant who is trying to deliver top-secret missile plans to a scientist now working for the American government. Who's in it? The movie stars Ruth Roman , Sterling Hayden , Werner Klemperer , Jeanne Cooper and Richard Gaines . Review: I wasn't sure what to expect when I decided to watch 5 Steps to Danger on ScreenPix this morning. It...

Synopsis: Los Angeles private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by millionaire General Sherwood to quietly resolve a series of personal debts owed by his daughter, Carmen, to a bookseller by the name of Arthur Geiger, though Sherwood's other daughter, Vivian, believes her father actually wants Marlowe to locate the missing Sean Regan, Sherwood's protege. The case becomes more complicated when Geiger is murdered with Carmen in the room and someone uses it as a reason to blackmail the Sherwood family. Who's in it? The movie stars Humphrey Bogart , Lauren Bacall , Martha Vickers , John Ridgely and Elisha Cook Jr . Review: I've had The Big Sleep in my movie library for a few months but each time I've considered watching it, I ended up deciding on something else. I finally changed that this morning and was left with a positive, albeit somewhat mixed, opinion of the film. I'll start out by saying there were a lot of things I liked about this movie. Bogart and Bac...

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: After his dreams of becoming a champion are crushed by an eye injury that cost him his license, New York professional boxer Ernie Driscoll now drives a cab while trying to save enough to buy a gas station. Already in a foul mood after discovering his wife, Pauline, having an affair with career criminal Victor Rawlins, Ernie winds up with a warrant for his arrest when his actress friend, Linda James, tricks him into believing she needed his help as part of an elaborate Broadway audition, and he assaults the play's producers. To makes matters even worse, Ernie finds Pauline's strangled body in the back of his cab, and he realizes he is being framed for her murder. Who's in it? The movie stars John Payne , Evelyn Keyes , Brad Dexter , Peggie Castle and Frank Faylen . Review: I've had 99 River Street in my movie library for a few weeks and finally decided to watch it this morning because I was in a bit of a hurry and figured it would be fastest to just pick th...

Synopsis: When farmer Fred Morgan and his housekeeper, Sarah Watson, are murdered during a burglary, farmhand George Braden is arrested for the crime and to protect his wife, Ellen, signs a confession after 16 hours of interrogation. Doug Madison is asked to serve as Braden's defense attorney and initially declines until the pregnant Ellen convinces him of her husband's innocence. Madison remains determined to prove his client didn't commit murder, even after running out of money, having his girlfriend break up with him and Braden is convicted and sentenced to hang. Who's in it? The movie stars MacDonald Carey , Teresa Wright , Edgar Barrier , Adele Mara and Delores Moran. Review: I came across Count the Hours! a few nights ago and decided to add it to my library because I'm always game for a classic crime drama/mystery. I watched it this morning with no real expectations, but it turned out to be a great choice. There are quite a few things I liked about this m...

Synopsis: A financially strapped St. Louis Cardinals baseball team hopes to win the pennant after signing star pitcher Larry Kelly. However, a crime boss hoping to make a lot of gambling money tries to prevent that from happening, first by attempting to bribe Kelly then through violence. Who's in it? The movie stars Robert Young , Madge Evans , Ted Healy , David Landau and C. Henry Gordon. Review: I came across Death on the Diamond several days ago and thought it sounded interesting enough to add to my library. I wound up watching it this morning and it ended up being a good choice. The overall plot of the movie isn't too bad. If anything, it does a good job of portraying a very real problem professional sports faced during a time when ballplayers weren't making millions of dollars and clubs weren't always profitable. While some of that might have been taking to the extreme, such as shooting a player during a game, it still felt mostly realistic and that added to t...

Synopsis: Society columnist Claire Cummings marries a wealthy businessman but plans to continue a love affair with Les Burns. When her new husband discovers a love letter Claire is writing to Les, he returns to San Francisco with plans to divorce her. He is murdered before that happens, however, making Claire a suspect though she has a rock-solid alibi by being in Los Angeles when it happened. Who's in it? The movie stars Leslie Brooks , Robert Paige , Russ Vincent , Mildred Coles and James Griffith. Review: I added Blonde Ice to my movie list a couple days ago after coming across it on Amazon Prime Video. I had time to watch it this morning before heading to the office and it wound up being a good choice. I think the thing I liked most about this movie was the mystery surrounding Claire (Brooks). It was no secret she only married for money and, while the police didn't know it, she really was in San Francisco at the time of her husband's death, secretly flying there an...

Synopsis: A defense attorney, Craig Carlson feels an overwhelming sense of guilt after getting a murder acquittal for the woman he loves, Myra Leeds, only to discover she both committed the crime and is in love with another man. Determined to get both revenge and redemption, he attempts to fix things by putting her in a position where she'll need to murder him. Who's in it? The movie stars Raymond Burr , Angela Lansbury , Dick Foran , John Dehner and Denver Pyle. Review : When I came across Please Murder Me ! on Amazon Prime Video, my interest in watching it had more to do with the actors starring in it than the plot itself. As someone who loves murder mysteries, I was intrigued by a film that starred both the actor who played Perry Mason (Burr) and the star of Murder, She Wrote (Lansbury). Overall, it ended up being a good choice. I thought Myra's (Lansbury) murder trial was as entertaining as anything in this movie. It reminded me a lot of a Perry Mason episode, an...

Synopsis: After she receives a breakup letter from her GI boyfriend on her birthday, a distraught Norah Larkin has a drunken night out on the town with womanizing artist Harry Prebble at the Blue Gardenia restaurant only to have Prebble attempt to rape her. Norah wakes up the next morning hungover and with very little memory of the previous night but learns Prebble has been murdered with evidence pointing to her as his killer. Who's in it? The movie stars Anne Baxter , Richard Conte , Ann Sothern , Raymond Burr and Jeff Donnell. Review : We're reaching the time of year when my arthritic knees act up a bit and the only way I can sleep is by putting some heat on them before bed. Since this resulted in my wife going to bed before me tonight, I ended up finally watching The Blue Gardenia on Amazon Prime. Overall, I have to say it was a good choice. The mystery is a decent one, with Norah (Baxter) seemingly being the last person with Harry Prebble (Burr) before his death and wit...

Synopsis: An aspiring newspaper reporter, Michael Ward, is the key witness in a murder trial and his testimony helps convict Joe Briggs on mostly circumstantial evidence. As he begins to second guess what he saw, his neighbor is murdered, and the police make him the primary suspect for both murders. His only hope is his girlfriend, Jane, who needs to find a mysterious stranger that may be connected to the crimes. Who's in it? The movie stars John McGuire , Margaret Tallichet , Peter Lorre , Charles Halton and Elisha Cook, Jr. Review: I'm not a huge film noir fan and, under normal circumstances, might have passed this movie up. However, I do like Peter Lorre and, after seeing he was in this film, decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, while the premise was an interesting one, I just didn't enjoy this film as much as I was hoping I would. My biggest problem with this movie was, for a film that is only about an hour in length, there sure was an awful lot of filler. This i...