Wonderful character development!

A Major Disappointment

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Although interiors were filmed at RKO Studios, this film was not released by RKO and has been difficult to obtain, but now an excellent print has surfaced on an Alpha DVD. Why the excitement? It was the first movie to be directed by Norman Foster (whom Orson Welles regarded as the best director in the world – aside from himself, of course!) Foster was an actor at this stage of his career but soon switched full-time to directing, In fact, he abandoned acting altogether after playing a bit in his Mysterious Mr. Moto (1938), but resumed his acting career in 1972. His most famous film was the Orson Welles vehicle, Journey Intro Fear (1942), which Welles himself partially re-edited and re-shot. (Fortunately, both versions are available on DVD, and both have played on TV in the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, England and France). Anyway, getting back to I Cover Chinatown, this movie was largely shot on location in San Francisco's Chinatown. Theodore Von Eltz is the villain you love to hiss, and then, of course, there's Elaine Sheppard, here making little impression despite her impressive debut as the female lead in the Clyde Beatty serial, Darkest Africa. (Miss Sheppard was nothing if not determined. When her first attempt at a movie career gradually petered out in 1940, she started at the top again in 1943, and when that gradually petered out in 1945, she started again at the top in 1951. But this third time, there were no further takers. I suppose she could have gone into TV, but I'm glad to say she didn't choose that route. Presumably, she wanted success in the movies, or nothing! An admirable ambition, but you can see why she didn't make the grade. She's a fine actress, but she doesn't stay in the mind. I saw this movie last night but already I've forgotten what she looked like, although I can picture just about everyone else in the cast firmly in my mind, including Eddie Gribbon – not an actor known to me at all despite his 204 credits – who has only a very, very small role).

If you're a film collector there's always a few films from your childhood you've been looking for for years. I Cover Chinatown was the last on my bucket list. It just became available From Satellite Media Production. I hadn't known the name of the film or its stars. Fortunately, I found it listed in the Forgotten Horrors book and would occasionally search for it on the net.The film is a cheap indie that rises above these restrictions to produce a nice comedy/drama with horror touches. It benefits from exteriors shot in San Francisco, obviously taken with a silent era camera. The chase through the streets is a precursor to Bullit. The major players are excellent. Norman Foster is both hero and director. As his star faded he jumped at the chance to direct which opened a whole new career for him. Theodore Von Eltz plays a cold blooded killer most believably. Elaine Shepard is both fetching and strong. A competent heroine. She deserved a better career than she had. The comedy elements are unfortunate as they usually are in films like these but I never forgot the beard sightings. Overall, worth your time.

A rare gem, one more from RKO studios. I realize that there are many films which remain to be discovered. This one is short, fast paced and pleasant to Watch. Some accents of comedy for a crime flick. I was Lucky to get a very good copy, from a nearly perfect 16mm print. I don't know if TCM may air it in the future, but why not?The topic has already been told before, in the plot lines, so I won't repeat it. That's the first of Norman Foster's features. But do not expect any surprises in it, except a rather good car chase in the end, in the Streets of San Francisco. With also a surprising editing. I'll continue to search for more stuff like this kind. I'll never be bored of it.