Black Dragons

With a budget of, say, over $100 (which is what Republic appears to have spent on this) this could have been a much more intriguing film. Potential plot of sabatours being removed from this world (ie, getting killed) doesnt come close to fullfilling its promise. Still, it has its moments, and Mr Lugosi is real fun to watch. Not highly recommended, but there are worse ways to fill an hour.

We are treated to eavesdropping on a cabal of fifth-column industrialist leaders snickering over their misdeeds.

So, is this going to be a two-dimensional sabotage movie where the good guys figure out who the bad guys are just in time to save the bacon?

No. This is more insidious. It looks like the cabal has another secret that will be detected and corrected, not out of patriotism but revenge.

Can you guess the secret before it is played out?

Bela Lugosi Dr. Melcher - aka Monsieur Colomb, Cell Prisoner, gets to make his signature light on his eyes look.

Joan Barclay as Alice Saunders plays the love interest.

This is probably the most ridiculous of Bela Lugosi`s nine Monogram movies of the early 1940s, and considering that they include such films as The Ape Man, Voodoo Man, and the Corpse Vanishes, this is quite an accomplishment. This picture, quickly produced following the Pearl Harbour attack, features a gang of Japanese saboteurs posing as US industrialists and their many perils. They say things like "These Americans are like children. They quickly forget the fire that burns their fingers", and "I wish we could blow up more ammunition dumps before we have to leave". The dialogue among them is other worldly! Meanwhile, Bela shows up claiming to be a "very sick man". He tries to project a jaded and philosophical image, saying things like "All men are in danger of dying, the question is when", "One must not flirt with destiny", and "Do you know which way you`re really going?". When the leading lady falls into his arms, he says "Mine can be dangerous", then adds "it`s nothing to worry your pretty head about". A film with both Bela Lugosi and ridiculous dialogue, a great combination.

The plot of this movie concerns Bela Lugosi killing off rich powerful Americans. Why this is occurring isn't explained until the very end and even then it makes no sense. I have the feeling this was one type of thriller that they grafted a war angle on to when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

Is this a good movie? Not in the conventional sense. Its a warm and fuzzy film with some murder and Bela and feels like the all night monster movie marathons that used to play on TV. I've seen this film several times now, usually late at night, and it some how comforts me. I don't know if its a childhood thing or what but its nice to know that somethings never change, like the (not quite) bad Bela movies of old.

Should you see it? Why not, it can't hurt. Its a movie that makes no sense and just sort of is. Just remember if you so watch it make sure you're tucked into bed and the lights are off...

Poor Bela Lugosi. Just another day at work. A group of saboteurs attempting to disrupt the American war effort from the inside. It's pretty hard to figure out at first because, while we know these guys are up to something, their method of operation just isn't very clear. I won't spoil it, but the ending in pretty amazing. There are a series of murders perpetrated by our hero. A police force that doesn't know what is going on. What a coincidence that all the victims seem to come and go from the same house. There are comments like, "A true patriot would do this or that." It's obvious while suspicion abounds most of the world wouldn't know a spy or a subversive if it jumped up and bit them. I also was surprised to see Clayton Moore (the Lone Ranger) in a romantic role. I never realized that he ever did anything other than sit on a horse. There is, of course, the smugness of the criminals as they think that they are immune from the killer's guest list. Anyway, Bela is sort of a good guy and a bad guy rolled into one. The best scene in the movie is at the end, but I won't spoil it. As a curiosity, and a period piece, it may be fun to watch for some people.