Jean Yarbrough (1901–1975)

Clever dialogue and interesting actors, even in small roles, make this noir story of man who fakes his death to get $50,000 in insurance money (worth about $660,000 in 2022 dollars), his scheming wife, her boyfriend, his son, and an eccentric and also scheming private eye fun from start to finish. As the private detective, the little known Johnstone White provides the most memorable performance. June Vincent, as the scheming wife, has the appropriate mix of allure to go with her cold, cold heart. Well done all around.… (meer)

Nel 1941, un aereo da trasporto Capelis XC-12, pilotato dal pilota James "Mac" McCarthy (Dick Purcell) in volo tra Cuba e Porto Rico, è a corto di carburante e viene spazzato via da una tempesta. McCarthy, incapace di intercettare trasmissioni radio nei Caraibi, sente un debole segnale radio. Dopo l'atterraggio di fortuna su un'isola remota, il suo passeggero Bill Summers (John Archer) e il suo servitore / cameriere nero, Jefferson Jackson (Mantan Moreland) si rifugiano in una villa di proprietà del Dr. Miklos Sangre (Henry Victor) e sua moglie Alyce ( Patricia Stacey).… (meer)

During World War Two, a trio of American's crash land their small plane on an unknown Caribbean island. They find refuge in the creepy mansion of Dr Sangre (Henry Victor) and are soon stumbling across voodoo rituals, personality transfer and intelligence gathering for the Nazis. "King of the Zombies" is a slight film directed with a plodding obviousness by Jean Yarbrough. The zombies are relegated to lumbering props with little horror and mystery attached to them here. There is plenty of racial stereotyping to cringe at, particularly man-servant Jeff, played with a sly, lippy relish by Mantan Moreland. Jeff conforms to the cowardly black man stereotype that was a cinematic staple of the time, leaving Moreland to run around shrieking and bugged-eyed in fright. There may, however, be more going on in Moreland's performance than first meets the eye. For a manservant he is incredibly mouthy and rude, talking to the white men very much as an equal. He is also the most astute of the trio of American's - it is he who initially understands the danger they are in and seeks to persuade his two white colleagues to flee. It is their arrogance and inability to take Jeff seriously that places their lives in danger. The character of Jeff is without doubt a racial stereotype but Mantan Moreland breathes a bit more subtlety and nuance into the character than is immediately apparent.… (meer)

Antologia drammatica documentaria sulla flotta di sottomarini della US Navy. Tutte le storie erano basate sui fatti e il realismo era accentuato dall'uso effettivo dei filmati di combattimento dagli archivi della Marina. Le storie furono variate tra il Sud Pacifico durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale e la Guerra di Corea. La serie fu ideata dal contrammiraglio Thomas M. Dykers, che si ritirò dalla Marina nel 1949 dopo 22 anni di servizio. La Marina gli prestò gli U.S.S. Sawfish per le riprese di diversi episodi.… (meer)