Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: After Melinda Marshall gets hired to sing at Carnegie Hall, she, her sister Susanna, and their father Col. Marshall move from Georgia to New York and lease an old house. Almost immediately after moving in, the family begins to see and hear strange things. Believing the house is haunted, they accept help from their goofy neighbors, Ole and Chic. Things take a serious turn when the home's caretaker is found murdered. Who's in it? The movie stars Chic Johnson, Ole Olsen, Gloria Jean, Martha O'Driscoll, Walter Catlett and Lon Chaney, Jr. Review: I picked Ghost Catchers this morning because the description incorrectly described it as an East Side Kids film. After discovering, via the opening credits, that wasn't the case, I still decided to watch the movie because some of the most entertaining films I've watched were by accident. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case this time. I guess, to start, I am going to say this film's overall plot wasn't a...

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: After attempting to replicate Frankenstein's experiments, Dr. Gustave Niemann is sent to prison. Niemann, however, escapes with the help of another inmate, Daniel, a hunchback who is looking for a new body. The pair commit murder to take over a traveling horror exhibit and resurrect Dracula, whose body is one of the attractions, to get revenge on the man who sent Niemann to prison. Later, they meet the Wolf Man and come across the original Frankenstein's monster. Who's in it? The movie stars Boris Karloff , John Carradine , Glenn Strange , Lon Chaney, Jr . and Anne Gwynne. Review: I had some time yesterday evening while my wife was at her sewing studio so, since I recently re-watched Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man , I figured I would give House of Frankenstein another try as well. I didn't remember much about this movie, other than I recalled not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. After re-watching it, I now remember why I had that opinion. On the s...

Synopsis: Seeking a cure for his werewolf curse, Larry Talbot travels to Ludwig Frankenstein's castle only to discover it has been burned to the ground and the monster still lives. Who's in it? The movie stars Bela Lugosi , Patric Knowles , Dwight Frye , Lionel Atwill and Lon Chaney Jr. Synopsis: It had been ages since I last watched Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man so, when I came across it this morning, I just had to take the time to watch it again. Unfortunately, while I usually enjoy the original Universal monster movies and the expanded universe that was created by them long before that became a regular thing, this one wasn't as good as I remembered. My biggest problem with this movie is, despite the title, Frankenstein's monster (Lugosi) and the Wolf Man (Chaney) share surprisingly little screen time. I would describe this as a film that was more or less a sequel to The Wolf Man that happens to have a cameo from the other monster that lasted only about 10 min...

Synopsis: When two of his friends disappear while in Austria, Sir Ronald Burton suspects the sinister Count Karl von Bruno may be the person responsible. Traveling under an alias, Burton decides to investigate. However, von Bruno quickly sees through the ruse and Burton's life is soon in danger as he tries to escape the trap-filled castle. Who's in it? The movie stars Richard Greene, Boris Karloff , Lon Chaney, Jr. , Paula Corday and Stephen McNally. Review: I had some free time yesterday evening while waiting to start dinner and my wife was at her sewing studio. So, I decided to fill it by re-watching The Black Castle for the first time in several years. The movie, once again, did not disappoint. Despite the film being classified as a horror movie and starring two horror movie legends, Karloff and Chaney, I would disagree with that description. Instead, I would put this movie in the swashbuckling action film category.  Part of the reason for this was the casting of Greene (...

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: Three years after her test pilot boyfriend, Bruce, crashed in a restricted region in Mexico, Susan Winter, believing he may still be alive despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, insists on conducting a search. Despite warnings, she and three men fly into the region, which they learn has high levels of radiation. They discover the radiation has caused many of the native species to grow gigantic in size. However, their biggest surprise is the cyclops that traps them in a cave. Who's in it? The movie stars Gloria Talbott, James Craig, Tom Drake, Duncan "Dean" Parkin and Lon Chaney, Jr. Review: I had another movie in mind for this morning but while looking for that one, I came across The Cyclops . Since it had been a while since I watched a Lon Chaney, Jr. film, I figured I'd give it a try instead and wasn't disappointed. The movie is pretty much what you would expect from a 1950s science fiction film. The wild "monsters" are clearly just ...

Synopsis: While awaiting execution for a murder he claimed he didn't commit, Dr. Gordon Ramsay is rescued by a former colleague, Sir Joel Cadman, who uses a potion he refers to as "the Black Sleep" to make it look like Ramsay died in his cell. Cadman takes Ramsay to his estate and asks for his help with his medical experiments involving the human brain, which Cadman is performing so he can learn how to remove a tumor from his comatose wife. To Ramsay's horror, Cadman is experimenting on live people and leaving the survivors in a state of madness and deformity. Who's in it? The movie stars Basil Rathbone , Herbert Rudley , Bela Lugosi , Tor Johnson and Lon Chaney, Jr. Review: I came across The Black Sleep on Amazon Prime last night and mostly because it had a who's who of classic horror movie stars in its cast, I decided to watch it this morning. It ended up being a great choice. I think the thing I liked most about this movie was Cadman (Rathbone). He was...

Synopsis: A scientist performs an experiment on the recently executed criminal Charles "The Butcher" Benton and unintentionally brings him back to life and makes him seemingly indestructible. The resurrected Benton immediately begins stalking the three accomplices he believes betrayed him, leaving a wake of dead bodies in his path. Who's in it? The movie stars Lon Chaney Jr. , Max Showalter , Marian Carr , Ross Elliott and Stuart Randall. Review: A spring blizzard ruined any plans I had today and, while waiting for there to be enough snow on the ground to justify using my snow blower, I looked for something to watch. I've had this film on my list for a while now and decided to finally give it a try. The movie turned out not to be quite what I was expecting, it was much more of a crime drama than a classic horror film, but I still enjoyed it. I think the overall plot ended up being a lot better than I thought it would be. I'm still unclear about what the scient...

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: While traveling by train with his new bride, Jane, Paul Webster receives a telegram and, without explanation, gets off the train at the next stop and disappears. Jane begins a search for her husband and eventually finds a clue that leads her to a plantation in the Louisiana bayou. When she resists the owner's efforts to get her to leave, she eventually learns Paul was part of a medical experiment that healed his injuries from a plane crash but also has him slowly turning into a reptile. Who's in it? The movie stars Beverly Garland , George Macready , Frieda Inescort , Richard Crane and Lon Chaney, Jr. Review: I came across this movie a few days ago and, while I had some doubts about it, wound up adding it to my library. I decided to watch it before heading into the office this morning and the film ended up exceeding my expectations. I think the thing I liked most about this film was the mystery surrounding Paul (Crane) and his disappearance. Based on the movie...