Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: A giant, prehistoric ancestor of the praying mantis is released from an iceberg in the Arctic. After attacking a military-run early warning radar system, the bug flies south and attacks both New York City and Washington D. C. while military officials and scientists try to figure out a way to stop it. Who's in it?  The movie stars Craig Stevens, William Hopper , Alix Talton, Phil Harvey and Donald Randolph. Review : I like most classic monster movies, but giant bug movies are admittedly my favorite. So, since it had been nearly a decade since I last watched The Deadly Mantis , I decided to take time this morning to see it again.  My opinion of it was pretty much what I remembered it being the last time I saw it - It's a film with good things going for it but falls short of what it could be. The overall plot of the film is OK. Many movies like this have bugs that are abnormally large because of a science experiment or exposure to nuclear radiation but, in this case, ...

Synopsis: Frustrated with the way Torchy Blane always beats them to the scoop, a group of reporters conspires to embarrass her on the eve of her wedding to Det. Steve McBride by hiring actor Harvey Hammond to pretend to be murdered. Their plot goes awry when Hammond really is killed, and Blane and MacBride investigate. Who's in it? The movie stars Glenda Farrell , Barton MacLane , Anne Nagel , William Hopper and Charley Foy. Review: I was in the mood for a classic murder mystery this morning and picked The Adventurous Blonde because it looked like it might be a halfway decent comedy as well. Even though I wasn't familiar with the Torchy Blane films that preceded it, leaving me a step behind when it came to some of the characters, it ended up being a good choice. I think the thing I liked most about this film was the paring of Blane (Farrell) and McBride (MacLane). There were times when they seemed like an unlikely couple but when it came to the murder, it was clear they ma...

Synopsis: On her 18th birthday, defiant Kay Allyn tries to marry her fiancé Jack Pierson, much to the chagrin of her father, J. C., who is president of an advertising firm and knows his daughter is just trying to get married to spite him. With the help of drifter Bruce "Butch" Baeder, the wedding is broken up and J. C. keeps Baeder around to make it difficult for Kay to sneak off to marry Jack by pretending to be Kay's husband. Kay, in turn, tries to outwit both of them by playing along with the charade. Who's in it? The movie stars Craig Reynolds , Ann Sheridan , William Hopper , Anne Nagel and Hugh O'Connell. Review: I've had this movie in my library for some time now and started watching it once or twice before turning it off after a few minutes. I finally got around to watching it in its entirety and it turned out to be better than expected. I will warn you; this movie is definitely dated. Yeah, most movies from this era are, especially when it comes t...

Synopsis: Harry Lynn, a talented but dimwitted semi-professional football player from a small town in Montana, is recruited to play for the Chicago Packers. He proves to be the real deal and has his team on the fast track for a national championship. However, his love life and a $5000 gambling debt threaten to derail him. Who's in it? The movie stars Bert Wheeler , Marie Wilson , Gloria Dickson , William Hopper and William Demarest . Synopsis: I came across this movie a couple days ago and, thinking it might be good for laugh or two, decided to watch it this morning before heading into the office. The movie, as it turns out, ended up exceeding my expectations. The love story between Harry (Wheeler) and his girlfriend, Maizie (Wilson), was actually pretty good, especially since it wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be. The part about him temporarily falling for another woman (Dickson) in Maizie's absence and nearly bringing an end to their relationship with an a...

Synopsis: Banker Hubert Kingery is killed at his hunting lodge shortly after telling his fellow bank officers he suspects one of them of embezzling $500,000. Police rule his death a suicide, partly because he was found in a locked room. However, his daughter, Gwen, doesn't believe it and hires private detective Lance O'Leary to investigate. Who's in it? The movie stars Dick Purcell , Ann Sheridan , Anne Nagel , William Hopper and Elspeth Dudgeon. Review:  I came across this movie on YouTube TV last night and added it to my library to watch this morning, while waking up enough to go out and clear the snow that fell while I was asleep. I like a good "locked room" mystery, and this one proved to be entertaining. I think the thing that I enjoyed most about this mystery was the large number of suspects who happened to be with the victim when he died and the way they all managed to act suspiciously around O'Leary (Purcell). Also, while the $500,000 seemed like the...