“Terror by Night” is a 1946 American film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, and Alan Mowbray. The movie is part of the Sherlock Holmes film series, based on the detective stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The film follows Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they board a train bound for London, where they are to deliver the famous diamond, the Star of Rhodesia, to its new owner. However, the diamond is stolen and a passenger is murdered, leaving Holmes and Watson to solve the crime and recover the diamond.

As they investigate, they encounter a cast of suspicious characters, including a mysterious woman, a master thief, and a man with a secret agenda. With the help of a clever disguise and some quick thinking, Holmes must uncover the true culprit before they can escape with the valuable diamond.

“Terror by Night” is a thrilling and suspenseful mystery film that showcases the brilliance of Sherlock Holmes and the loyal support of Dr. Watson. With its intricate plot and clever twists, it is a must-see for fans of the detective genre.

Directors:
Roy William Neill

Writer:
Frank Gruber, Arthur Conan Doyle

Stars:
Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Alan Mowbray

“Quicksand” is a 1950 American film noir directed by Irving Pichel. The movie stars Mickey Rooney as a young man named Dan Brady who works at a gas station in a small California town. Dan is bored with his life and dreams of making it big.

One day, while browsing a local store, Dan meets a beautiful woman named Vera Novak, played by Jeanne Cagney. Vera is a femme fatale who seduces Dan and lures him into a web of deceit and crime.

Vera convinces Dan to lend her money and take her out on the town. She leads him to a gambling den, where Dan loses all his money and ends up owing a dangerous criminal named Nick Garcos, played by Peter Lorre.

Desperate to pay off his debt, Dan steals from his workplace and gets caught. He ends up in jail, and his life spirals out of control as he becomes more deeply involved with Vera and Nick’s criminal activities.

Throughout the film, Dan’s attempts to escape his predicament are constantly thwarted, and he finds himself sinking deeper into the quicksand of his own making. The movie ends with a tense, dramatic confrontation between Dan and Nick, with Vera caught in the middle.

Overall, “Quicksand” is a classic example of film noir, featuring themes of greed, lust, and betrayal. The film is notable for its strong performances, particularly by Rooney and Lorre, as well as its moody, atmospheric cinematography.

Directors:
Irving Pichel

Writer:
Robert Smith

Stars:
Mickey Rooney, Jeanne Cagney, Barbara Bates

“Kansas City Confidential” is a 1952 film noir directed by Phil Karlson. The film follows an ex-convict named Joe Rolfe (John Payne), who is falsely accused of robbing an armored truck that carried a significant amount of money. Rolfe embarks on a mission to clear his name and find the real culprits behind the heist.

The robbery was orchestrated by a mastermind criminal named “Mr. Big,” who hired three men to carry out the job. The robbers wore masks to conceal their identities, and the stolen money was laundered through a Mexican casino.

As Rolfe begins to investigate, he encounters the three robbers, who are all unaware of each other’s identities, as Mr. Big insisted that they remain anonymous. They are Pete Harris (Jack Elam), Boyd Kane (Neville Brand), and Tony Romano (Lee Van Cleef).

Rolfe also meets the daughter of the armored truck company’s owner, Helen Foster (Coleen Gray), who is trying to find her father’s stolen money. Together, they track down the robbers and eventually discover Mr. Big’s true identity.

The film’s twist ending reveals the surprising truth behind the robbery, and Rolfe and Helen are finally able to bring the criminals to justice.

Overall, “Kansas City Confidential” is a thrilling and suspenseful film that is considered a classic in the film noir genre.

Directors:
Phil Karlson

Writer:
George Bruce, Harry Essex, Harold Greene

Stars:
John Payne, Coleen Gray, Preston Foster

Jail Bait is a film noir crime drama released in 1954 directed by Edward D. Wood Jr. The movie follows the story of a young man named Don Gregor (played by Steve Reeves), who is forced to go on the run with his girlfriend, Myrna (played by Dolores Fuller), after accidentally killing her father in a struggle.

As they try to escape the law, Don and Myrna come across a shady plastic surgeon named Dr. Otto Frank (played by Herbert Rawlinson), who offers to help Don change his appearance in exchange for money. Don takes the deal, but soon finds out that Dr. Frank is a wanted criminal who plans to use him as a pawn in a bank robbery.

Meanwhile, Don’s younger sister, who works for the police department, is desperately trying to clear his name and bring him back home. As the tension and danger escalate, Don must decide whether to go through with the robbery or risk everything to do the right thing and turn himself in to the authorities.

Jail Bait is notable for being one of the early works of Edward D. Wood Jr., who is now considered a cult figure in cinema history for his unconventional directing style and the infamous cult classic film Plan 9 from Outer Space.

Directors:
Edward D. Wood Jr.

Writer:
Alex Gordon, Edward D. Wood Jr.

Stars:
Lyle Talbot, Dolores Fuller, Herbert Rawlinson