And We're Back

I hate to admit it, but I have neglected this blog/website for a while. Since then the blip.tv account was deleted (because it did not have new and up-to-date content). Over the next couple of weeks I will be uploading videos to a new YouTube channel and updating previous posts was links to the new YoutTube videos. For now, keep your eyes one the Men in Fedoras Facebook, Twitter and Google+ page for more announcements as we move into 2015.

Bees in Paradise (1944)

This is the first of a new series of old black and white films that I will be posting. These films will all have one thing in common, the comedy talents of British comedian Arthur Askey. You will notice that many of these films share the same actors.

In this particular film set during World War II, Arthur and three of his friends n are forced to bail out their damaged bomber over the ocean. Fortunately, they land on a beautiful island with beautiful women. Unfortunately for them, they discover that the women rule the island with an iron hand. To make matters worse they are pursued by the women, each of whom wants to mate. However, mating ends in death for the man, like in the bee culture. Since it is from the 40s it is very tame and very funny. Look forward for more Arthur Askey in the following weeks.

Captain Scarlett (1953)

This is another fun action film. This one is like Robin Hood and is set in 1800s. Enjoy.


In the years following the fall of Napoleon, Captain Scarlett (Richard Greene) returns to France to discover that his lands have been seized by an unscrupulous nobleman. After saving Princess Maria (Leonora Amar) and being joined by a man named Pierre (Nedrick Young) who has also lost his lands, the group proceeds on a series of adventures in the fight for justice.

The Son of Monte Cristo (1940)

This is a funny film. It is basically a Zorro story by a different name. Quite enjoyable actors, plot and pacing. And great sword fights.


In 1865, General Gurko Lanen is dictator of "Lichtenburg" in the Balkans. The rightful ruler, Grand Duchess Zona, hopes to get aid from Napoleon III of France. The visiting Count of Monte Cristo falls for Zona and undertakes to help her, masquerading as a foppish banker and a masked freedom fighter. The rest is rapid-fire intrigue and derring-do. This film follows the same general story line as the Zorro stories.

Down Among the Z Men (1952)

Now that the Undersea Kingdom serial is over, it's time to enjoy some comedy. This movie stars the Goon Show, a famous British comedy radio show. This was one of their few incursions into visual media. Enjoy.


Harry Jones (Secombe) is a clerk in Mr. Crab's general mercantile store and an amateur actor in community theatre, where he is currently playing a Scotland Yard inspector, "Batts of the Yard". When the absentminded Prof. Osrick Purehart (Bentine) leaves a secret military formula in the store, mayhem ensues as two suspicious secret agents, who have been shadowing the professor, question Harry regarding the formula. In an attempt to return the formula to the professor, Harry goes to an Army post, Camp Warwell, where he is mistakenly enlisted in the Z Men, ostensibly an elite unit guarding atomic secrets but in reality a ragtag group of reservists, retreads, and others of marginal (at best) competence. One of the "secret service men", in reality the enemy spies, kidnap and impersonate an adjutant newly assigned to the camp. The post?s commander, Colonel Bloodnok (Sellers), has been assigned for security purposes a supposed "daughter" (Carole Carr) who is actually a female MI5 operative. Harry soon becomes smitten with the "daughter," and they work together to foil an attempt by the secret agents to purloin Prof. Pureheart?s formula.

Sappy Birthday (1942)

This short stars Andy Clyde, a Scottish actor who spent over 40 years in pictures. Clyde was most famous for playing a recurring character on Lassie and one of Hopalong Cassidy's sidekicks.


Andy Clyde wishes to go golfing but his wife and brother-in-law, Hector, are convinced that Andy needs to go on a picnic with them. Andy is not 100% in favor of this change in his plans and tries every way he knows to avoid the picnic plan. He and Hector discuss it rather loudly and wake up the policeman next door who is sleeping. This leads to further complications.

Undersea Kingdom: Chapter 12 - Ascent to the Upperworld

Part 12 of 12


Ray 'Crash' Corrigan, a recent graduate of Annapolis, travels with Professor Norton, his Son Billy, and plucky reporter Diana Compton to the Undersea Kingdom of Atlantis to locate the cause of series of earthquakes. When they arrive Crash and his friends become embroiled in battle between warring Atlanteans.