315. House of Bamboo (1955) - Fuller. Co-stars Robert Stack and Robert Ryan 102 minutes. A remake of "Street with no Name" filmed on location in Japan. An ex-serviceman (Stack) who infiltrates a gang of ex-GI's headed by Robert Ryan. Pros:Beautiful wide-screen photography of 1950s Japan, Robert Ryan, Shirley Yamaguchi. Cons: Story drags at time, Robert Stack is boring. One of the first US films shot in Japan, the movie was a success. Summary: A Routine Film-noir story made enjoyable by the 50s Japanese setting/photography and Robert Ryan. Rating **1/2
316. The Crimson Kimono (1958) Fuller. Stars Steven Shigata. B&W 85 minutes. Low budget B movie about a pair of detectives investigating a strippers death in Japan-town Los Angeles. The movie is has three positives: Shigata is good as the Japanese-American detective, the movie some interesting shots of the Japanese section of LA circa 1959 and there are a few good action scenes. But that's about it. The soundtrack is awful, the script is bad, the story routine, and the acting ranges from amateurish to barely adequate. Summary: Were it not for Fuller's name and Japanese American angle this movie would be completely forgotten. Rating **
317. White Dog (1982) Fuller. The story: a white German Shepard has been trained to attack - and kill - black people. Kristy McNichols, Burl Ives and Paul Winfeld try to reprogram him. One of the dumbest movie I've ever seen. Boring, predictable, and without any intentional humor. Oh, and filmed with all the passion and budget of a bad TV movie-of-the-week. What's worse the direction, the story, the human acting or the dialogue? I can't say - its all bad. Of course idiots will see all kinds of hidden powerful statements about RACISM. He's a WHITE dog who hates BLACK People. Wow, subtle. No doubt some University professor has already written a 50 page article called "White Dog: Symbolism, Racism, and films of the Sam Fuller" I will however give the Dogs credit. What acting! Whining on cue, snarling on cue, even chasing rabbits on cue! And all for a bowl of dog food and a pet. Always believable and without any babbling about "the method." The dogs gets four wags of my tail - the movie one. Rating *
318. Underworld USA (1961) - Fuller. Co-stars Clift Robertson and Deloras Dorn. B&W 98 minutes. A young hood (Robertson) joins the mob to seek revenge against 4 gangsters who killed his father. Really nothing more than an expanded TV "Untouchables" episode less Winchell and Stack. The production values and sets look the same. The story has a certain amount of energy and narrative drive, but its routine, and the Fuller dialogue ranges from corny or flat to adequate. However, there is no chemistry between Dorn and Robertson. The supporting actors are barely adequate except for Richard Rust as the dapper, sunglassed hit man and Richard Emhardt. Summary: The only reason to watch the movie - aside a few good action scenes - is Robertson who's quite good as the revenge obsessed hood. Rating ** 1/2
318. Naked Kiss (1964) - Fuller. Stars Constance Towers. A former prostitute moves to a small town seeking peace but finds perverse secrets instead. B&W 98 minutes. There are a few good scenes and Constance Towers is excellent in the lead role, but "Naked Kiss" has the usual Fuller film flaws. Most of the acting is bad, the soundtrack is awful...etc. see my review of "Shock Corridor." Some good scenes: Towers seduced while the Venice home movie plays, the revel of the dark secret, the creepy kids song. Too bad the rest is a 2nd rate Peyton Place and the often praised opening scene struck me as absurd as a bald, 110 lbs Towers with stick arms beats up her 165 lbs Pimp with a shoe. Summary: Just more evidence that Fuller should have stuck with direction and hired a good script writer and a good editor. Rating **
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