Directed by Joseph H. Lewis
Starring Anna May Wong, Noel Madison, Leslie Denison, Nedrick Young, Dan Seymour, Dennis Moore
Here we go! Another PRC picture gets a little respect. Film Masters is bringing Joseph H. Lewis’ Bombs Over Burma (1942, AKA The Devil’s Sister) to DVD later this month. It’s a WWII story of a school teacher (Anna May Wong) helping stop the destruction of a crucial bridge by the Japanese and an English spy.
The Hannibal 8 
So, uh … How’s this gonna look, though?
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Coming from Film Masters, it’ll look good. I’ve been really happy with their stuff so far. I’m glad this kind of stuff is being rescued from the hell of Alpha Video.
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Ned Young wrote The Defiant Ones and won the Academy Award.
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Yes Barry, and Lewis often offered the blacklisted Young a lifeline-from GUN CRAZY to TERROR IN A TEXAS TOWN.
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Well, this has more than made my day-I hope Film Masters previous two Poverty Row releases sold well enough for them to continue-need I add THESE RELEASES MUST BE SUPPORTED if we want more of the same.
The only previous releases have been borderline unwatchable and the Lewis film is powerful indeed-the director at his most grimly hard edged. As a duo I actually prefer William Nigh’s THE LADY FROM CHUNGKING and I hope Film Masters will give that little gem a suitable treatment
Some of those PRC films really are little gems and even Sam Newfield could really knock one out of the park from time to time. Newfield’s APOLOGY FOR MURDER is wonderful despite much cloning of DOUBLE INDENMITY and Paramount even tried to block the film’s release. Ann Savage does her best Stanwyck impression as she leads Hugh Beaumont down the trail to destruction. The double whammy climax has a blood drenched Spillane like impact but the films not done yet-65 minutes of heart stopping tension-sorry Billy 🙂
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Wow, I’d kinda forgotten Apology For Murder. That’s a GREAT one!
You’re right, John. If we buy ’em, they’ll make more. It’s that simple.
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Very interestingly Film Masters have just put a version of John Reinhardt’s striking anti Nazi movie OPEN SECRET (1947) on you tube from a raw scan of the 16mm and it’s never looked better. The imperfections on the left hand side,I guess are to stop folks downloading this great new version. I do hope Film Masters give us a copy on physical media.
There were a trio of Poverty Row Anti Nazi/Anti Fascist movies in the late 40’s detailing mainly blue collar vets getting entangled in their web. The other two are Jack Bernhard’s VIOLENCE (available on Warner Archive) and Walter Colmes THE BURNING CROSS recently released in Italy from a raw scan of the original 35mm Italian neg. The Italian version is far superior to online versions. THE BURNING CROSS was picked up by Lippert in America and Exclusive/Hammer in the UK.
I’ve always had a fascination of these little known directors who rate merely as sidebars in film history and it’s interesting that Colmes Republic thriller THE WOMAN WHO CAME BACK is being given the de luxe treatment from Australia’s Imprint sourced from a brand new 4K scan-I cannot wait for that one.
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Another Colmes picture that has been on my tracking list for some time now is ROAD TO THE BIG HOUSE as I’m a sucker for vintage prison pictures. Like THE BURNING CROSS the film was made for Colmes’ Somerset Pictures and released By Lippert in America and Exclusive/Hammer in the UK…..anybody seen this one?
Colmes other Republic title IDENTITY UNKNOWN with Richard Arlen can be viewed in HD on you tube.
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All this stuff sounds terrific.
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The transfer from Film Masters is stellar and none of the horrible neg damage on other versions-I hope sales justify FM releasing more of these PRC Monogram gems.
After CONVICT’S CODE I’ve become quiet a fan of Anne Nagel but what a tragic life she had yet so beautiful elegant and talented.
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I’m working on a review now. You’re so right, John, this thing looks terrific. And a cool little movie, too.
I bet all of us could nominate about a thousand movies for treatment like this!
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I actually prefer THE LADY FROM CHUNGKING which let’s Wong strut her slinky stuff as she plays up to a War Lord-it’s certainly lighter in tone.
Film Masters have done a wonderful restoration of BOMBS OVER BURMA certainly compared to what was available before. Speaking of lovely Anne Nagel there’s a cool 4K UHD version of A BRIDE FOR HENRY (1937) on youtube it looks wonderful and features tragic Anne in her prime-if you are in the mood for a Monogram Romantic Comedy please indulge.
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Film Masters keep knocking ’em out of the park. They are prepping Bill Karn’s DOOR TO DOOR MANIAC (1961) with a 4K restoration from master elements. Cast includes Johnny Cash,Donald Woods,Merle Travis & Ronnie Howard. The even rarer exploitation flick RIGHT HAND OF THE DEVIL is among the extras……cannot wait for this one.
UK TV viewers are currently enjoying Karns ultra cheap TV series Dangerous Assignment starring Brian Donlevy I’m enjoying every episode thus far-great vintage cheap thrills courtesy of Talking Pictures TV the only UK TV station worth watching these days.
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