The Show of Shows (1929)

Warner Bros.
Directed by John G. Adolfi
My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Turner Classic Movies)

Long, tedious parade of stage acts, featuring mostly dancing girls in elaborately choreographed and synchronized routines. Frank Fay is the master of ceremonies, and he does manage to keep things afloat with some deft comedy. One sequence, a "Chinese Fantasy", is in color to provide a break from the monotony. The last couple of acts become almost surreal, including John Barrymore's soliloquy from Richard III, which looks like it comes from a different movie altogether, and another elaborate dance piece featuring human chandeliers.

Strange Alibi (1941)

Warner Bros
Directed by D. Ross Lederman
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Turner Classic Movies)

Fast-paced story of police detective who fakes a falling out with the department in order to undercover with the mob. The trail leads right to the top of the precinct, but he gets framed for murder before he can expose them. Sent to prison, he fights with and convict and spends time in the hole. He escapes but the witness he was counting on to prove his innocence turns up dead. He kidnaps the governor and frames the crooked cops. Contrived but a lot of fun, almost serial-like in its manic pacing and cliffhanger situations. Memorable quote: "This town is so dirty it crawls".

Exit Smiling (1926)

MGM
Directed by Sam Taylor
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Turner Classic Movies)

Beatrice Lillie works as a maid for a traveling theater show. She finally gets an opportunity on stage when the leading lady doesn't show up for a performance. This leads to more parts as a substitute, often with hilarious results. Her stint as a man is one of the best scenes in the film. She gets a part for a struggling actor in a run down town, then falls in love with him. Their budding romance is a mild diversion, but ultimately it's all about the comedy of Lillie, which works more times than not.

Hands Over the City (1963)

Warner Bros.
Directed by Francesco Rosi
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Turner Classic Movies)

Corrupt politicians in Naples, Italy, argue endlessly over who is responsible for the tragic collapse of a building. All signs point to Rod Steiger, a greedy councilman who is funneling money to his construction company. However, he's got powerful political allies who won't let him take the fall. It's also an election year, but Steiger manages to get reelected and the cycle continues. Political corruption is as relevant as ever, but this is not exactly gripping film-making. Steiger's performance is muted by a dubbed voice in Italian.

Fire Maidens of Outer Space (1956)

Saturn Films
Directed by Cy Roth
My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Blu-ray, Olive Films)

A group of astronauts, all men, travel to one of Jupiter's moons in search of life. They find the lost civilization of Atlantis, which consists of one old man, a "creature" outside of a protective wall and dozens of young, beautiful girls in short Roman togas. The women drug the men with wine and then pair off with them in  hopes of preserving their civilization. The "creature", a skinny dude in a hockey mask, occasionally shows up to terrorize the girls. Hilariously awful in every respect, with constant cigarette smoking (even in the "space flight") and a hopelessly outdated sexist point-of-view.

Hot Stuff (1979)

Columbia Pictures
Directed by Dom DeLuise
My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Sony Movie Channel)

A team of Miami police officers convert a pawn shop into a sting operation to catch criminals trying to fence stolen goods. It's a non-stop parade of over-the-hill character actors trying to be funny and failing miserably. Dom DeLuise, who also directed, smokes pot and laughs uncontrollably. Jerry Reed, who sings the title song combining disco and country music, attempts to recreate his Smokey and the Bandit persona. Only Suzanne Pleshette adds some class to the proceedings, but she looks lost. A nearly plot-less concoction that is shockingly unfunny.

Warlords of the 21st Century (1982)

New World Pictures
Directed by Harley Cokeliss
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Shout! Factory)

In a post-war barren landscape, a group of savage marauders in an armored truck kill, torture and kidnap local residents trying to eek out a peaceful existence. Their leader becomes fixated on a girl who abandoned him and joined a commune. The truck destroys most of the settlement but he must fight a loner who has come to her rescue and fallen in love with her. A Mad Max derivative filmed in New Zealand, with endless shots of motorcycles racing across fields, fiery explosions and worst of all a totally predictable plot.

Deathsport (1978)

New World Pictures
Directed by Henry Suso and Allan Arkush
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Shout! Factory)

In a distant post-nuclear wasteland, desert survivors are rounded up by men on motorcycles and taken to a futuristic city where they battle to the death in a giant arena. David Carradine and Claudia Jennings are the latest victims, but they use their wits and fighting skills to escape. They are pursued by madman Richard Lynch and more men on motorcycles. Despite a few atmospheric scenes, and a synthesizer soundtrack featuring Jerry Garcia on guitar, this is really just an excuse for explosions, point-of-view motorcycle shots and Claudia naked.

Moving Violation (1976)

Twentieth Century-Fox Film
Directed by Charles S. Dubin
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Shout! Factory)

Hippie/Vietnam vet Stephen McHattie is accosted by the local police in a small town. Later he picks up local ice cream stand beauty Kay Lenz. They witness a murder by the sheriff while making out, and go on the run in a series of stolen vehicles. The film is a mix of Badlands and Smokey and the Bandit: young, idealistic lovers pursued by bad cops. McHattie and Lenz are no Sheen and Spacek, and the sheriff here is pure evil rather than the good-natured Buford T. Justice played by Jackie Gleason. As a result, it's not sure if it wants to be a  serious drama or a comedy-action drive-in picture. The chase scenes are marred by the use of fast motion.

Fighting Mad (1976)

Twentieth Century-Fox Film
Directed by Jonathan Demme
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Shout! Factory)

Good ole boy Peter Fonda takes on a coal mining company when it tries to buy his family's ranch. He soon finds out the company has the law, and the politicians, on his payroll, and they won't go down easily. When he doesn't succumb to their threats of violence, they don't hesitate to resort to murder. This riles Fonda up even more, leading to a final violent confrontation. Entertaining if contrived southern-fried drive-in fodder.