The theme of today's lengthy program was "B" films. I was not interested in revisiting "Among the Living" (I much prefer "The Monster and the Girl" from the same director). I also passed on "Street of Chance" which was a Cornell Woolrich adaptation that did not equal other films based upon his writings. I am of the opinion that "The Black Curtain" episode of the "Alfred Hitchcock Hour" with Richard Basehart is superior to "Street of Chance." I skipped "Dr. Broadway" as well because I had already seen it.
Charles Barton managed to find a bit role for Lou Costello's brother-in-law, Joe Kirk, who used to break up Lou on live television by speaking to him in Italian from time to time, as a private investigator in "Smooth as Silk." Overall, it was passably good entertainment for a quickie.
"So Dark the Night" lived up to its reputation and the screening was watched by a respectable crowd. Director Joseph Lewis had directed an inexpensive film for Monogram a few years early entitled "The Invisible Ghost" which contained similar scenes and camera angles on a microscopic budget. Bela Lugosi was the lead actor and Lewis managed to elevate the low rent production. "So Dark the Night" is also a "B" film, but Columbia had a better back lot and production resources.
It was good to see some familiar faces after a two and half year absence. Some of the younger guys and dolls were dressed in vintage apparel. Eddie Muller was busy so I did not get an opportunity to chat with him. I also figured that it would be more polite to let the newcomers spend time with the master of ceremonies.
As much as I like the films of Cy Endfield in general, I could not bring myself to sit through "The Argyle Secrets." It was one of the director's first films and it is definitely a lesser effort that is almost as bad as "Close-up" from Eagle Lion.
Dan
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