Author Archive: Retro

Chaney in dual role as a detective and the deformed assistant to an international jewel thief. The detective tracks the thief to Singapore, then must impersonate the killer’s assistant to bring the thief to justice. Made slightly before “The Shadow of Silk Lennox”, this film is the first time actor Creighton Chaney began billing himself as Lon Chaney Jr. Dir. Fred Newmeyer

Naval officer Travis disguises as an enemy agent to destroy a spy ring in Alaska.

Richard Levinson and William Link serve up another Thinking Man’s murder mystery with the made-for-television Rehearsal for Murder. Playwright Robert Preston is on the verge of marrying glamorous film star Lynn Redgrave. But a scant few hours after her Broadway debut, Redgrave is found dead, an apparent suicide. Convinced that Redgrave was murdered, Preston contacts the most likely suspects and assembles them in an empty theatre, ostensibly to read through his latest play. But Preston locks the doors and uses his play as a means to, in the words of Hamlet, “catch the conscience” of the killer. Filmed under the working title Cold Reading, Rehearsal for Murder was the winner of the Edgar Award, a prize bestowed annually by the Mystery Writers of America. It was first broadcast on May 26, 1982.

Long standing rivalry between brothers escalates when one sets up a competitive cargo flying business and moves in on his brother’s girl. Dir. Sterling Campbell.

A no-nonsense, by the book Marine officer battles chaos when he takes command of the military academy he attended as a boy. He finds the place has gone to seed and sets out to shape up the unruly, undisciplined cadets.

Three cons escape during a jailbreak and one uses his wits to prove another was framed.

Stunt-filled action adventure as survivors of a shipwreck land on different parts of a treasure-stocked island, and begin separate search parties to find the loot. Produced by Bernard B. Ray (Raymond K. Johnson). Dir. Harry S. Webb

Fun-filled comedy about a gambling hobo who wins a haunted country club.

WWII pilot returns home and must use his flying skills to help his best friend’s widow with her near-bankrupt logging camp. Produced by William H. Pine and William C. Thomas. Dir. Frank McDonald