The final movie of alluring blonde, June Lang, who was blacklisted by all the major Hollywood studios for not doing as she was told. Ordered to make a movie in England in 1938, even though war was likely to break out at any moment, she was blacklisted when she defied the studio, left England and returned to Hollywood. And no sooner had she got back into the studios' good books, she married a mobster. June claimed she didn't know he was a mobster, even though everyone else in Hollywood was well aware of this fact. A shame! She was a fine actress, and at least her final movie was a good one. That is pretty amazing since the studio is PRC, a studio at the bottom of the bottom. So don't let anyone ever tell you that PRC never made a good movie. That bottom-of-the-rung, telephone booth of a studio did make at least one watchable film – this one! Of course filming at a real lighthouse helps. So do good performances from John Litel, Don Castle and the lovely June.
8 Reviews
Hard to believe, but PRC did make at least one good movie...
JohnHowardReid21 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Well Acted Triangle
boblipton15 February 2019
June Lang and Don Castle are talking about getting married. When she makes a surprise visit to the lighthouse where she thinks he's in charge, she discovers he works for John Litel and is away visiting his wife. To get revenge, she marries Litel and comes to live at the lighthouse, where Castle tells her he has been trying to get a divorce. Then Litel has an accident.
This bleak triangle is from PRC films, so I didn't expect much from it. Certainly the story has been done many times. The good acting, however, is a compensation. June Lang, in her last role on the big screen, is sullen and sultry. Walter Strenge's dark photography is effective. The two-shots look like old-line Lasky Lighting.
Strenge was another of those well-respected cinematographers who never got out of the Bs and spent a decade or two shooting television shows. Despite those unprepossessing credits, he was nominated for a Best B&W Cinematography Oscar for a B western, served as president of the ASC from 1958 through 1960, and developed the standard field-of-depth charts.
This bleak triangle is from PRC films, so I didn't expect much from it. Certainly the story has been done many times. The good acting, however, is a compensation. June Lang, in her last role on the big screen, is sullen and sultry. Walter Strenge's dark photography is effective. The two-shots look like old-line Lasky Lighting.
Strenge was another of those well-respected cinematographers who never got out of the Bs and spent a decade or two shooting television shows. Despite those unprepossessing credits, he was nominated for a Best B&W Cinematography Oscar for a B western, served as president of the ASC from 1958 through 1960, and developed the standard field-of-depth charts.
Decent melodrama with a hint of noir.
gordonl5631 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This PRC quickie stars John Litel, Don Castle, June Lang and Marion Martin.
Litel is in charge of a small harbour lighthouse with Castle as his assistant. It is a somewhat dull life that is only broken by the twice a month weekend visits to town. Castle, a womanizing cad, is seeing June Lang at the moment. He is having a great time while stringing her along with promises of marriage.
Lang pushes the marriage angle so Castle just stays away. After a month or two goes by Lang takes a boat out to the lighthouse. She wants to know one way or the other what gives. She meets Litel who informs her that Castle is in town seeing his wife. "His wife!" Lang has been played and she knows it.
She invites Litel to stop by and see her next time he is in town. Litel does and soon falls for Lang. Lang is just plotting a bit of payback on Castle. Litel and Lang have a quick courtship and then get married. The pair take up residence on the island. Castle is of course surprised by the appearance of his former dolly.
Both Castle and Lang play it cool and pretend not to know each other. He tells Lang that the reason he had stopped seeing her was that he was getting a divorce. Once that was final he had intended to marry her. Has Lang made a mistake? Does Castle really love her? Of course not, the so called wife turns out to be a bar room pick up. Lang, who has started to have real feelings for Litel, tells Castle to drop dead.
It does not take long before Castle starts making moves on Lang. Now that he can't have her, Lang becomes all the more desirable. He arranges a little accident for Litel. It is just a matter of luck that Litel ends up in the hospital and not the morgue. A broken leg and such require several weeks of bed rest before Litel and Lang can return to the lighthouse.
When they do, Lang tells Castle to pack his bags and leave the island. She does love Litel and wants nothing more to do with Castle. Castle does not take this well and goes after Litel with a large wrench. There is a knock down drag out with Litel doing a decent job of defending himself. Just as Castle gets the upper hand, Lang pulls a large pistol and waves it at Castle. Castle is tossed off the island and Lang comes clean with Litel about her past. Litel and Lang embrace. THE END
Though this is more of a melodrama than a noir, it is IMO well worth a look. I must admit to a real fondness for these bottom of the barrel specials. The acting is fine with Litel turning in a solid performance. Lang and Castle are equally up to the task.
Litel was in THE CRIMSON CANARY. THE MADONNA'S SECRET, SMOOTH AS SILK, THE GUILTY, KEY LARGO, PITFALL, TWO DOLLAR BETTOR, WOMAN IN HIDING, DOUBLE JEOPARDY, KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE. Castle had roles in THE GUILTY, THE INVISIBLE WALL, I WOULDN'T BE IN YOUR SHOES, ROSES ARE RED and the under rated, HIGH TIDE.
The director was German Frank Wisbar. His American films had titles like STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP and THE DEVIL BAT'S DAUGHTER. He did however make several good WW2 films about wartime Germany. These are, SHARKS AND LITTLE FISH and STALINGRAD: DOGS, DO YOU WANT TO LIVE FOREVER. The d of p was Walter Strenge. His work included, MILLION DOLLAR PURSUIT, SECRETS OF MONTE CARLO, HIT AND RUN and CRY TERROR.
The writing staff was R.B. Churchill and Don Martin. Martin was involved in HOT CARS, THE VIOLENT ROAD, THE DEADLIEST SIN, SHED NO TEARS, SHAKEDOWN, DESTINATION MURDER and THE PRETENDER.
Litel is in charge of a small harbour lighthouse with Castle as his assistant. It is a somewhat dull life that is only broken by the twice a month weekend visits to town. Castle, a womanizing cad, is seeing June Lang at the moment. He is having a great time while stringing her along with promises of marriage.
Lang pushes the marriage angle so Castle just stays away. After a month or two goes by Lang takes a boat out to the lighthouse. She wants to know one way or the other what gives. She meets Litel who informs her that Castle is in town seeing his wife. "His wife!" Lang has been played and she knows it.
She invites Litel to stop by and see her next time he is in town. Litel does and soon falls for Lang. Lang is just plotting a bit of payback on Castle. Litel and Lang have a quick courtship and then get married. The pair take up residence on the island. Castle is of course surprised by the appearance of his former dolly.
Both Castle and Lang play it cool and pretend not to know each other. He tells Lang that the reason he had stopped seeing her was that he was getting a divorce. Once that was final he had intended to marry her. Has Lang made a mistake? Does Castle really love her? Of course not, the so called wife turns out to be a bar room pick up. Lang, who has started to have real feelings for Litel, tells Castle to drop dead.
It does not take long before Castle starts making moves on Lang. Now that he can't have her, Lang becomes all the more desirable. He arranges a little accident for Litel. It is just a matter of luck that Litel ends up in the hospital and not the morgue. A broken leg and such require several weeks of bed rest before Litel and Lang can return to the lighthouse.
When they do, Lang tells Castle to pack his bags and leave the island. She does love Litel and wants nothing more to do with Castle. Castle does not take this well and goes after Litel with a large wrench. There is a knock down drag out with Litel doing a decent job of defending himself. Just as Castle gets the upper hand, Lang pulls a large pistol and waves it at Castle. Castle is tossed off the island and Lang comes clean with Litel about her past. Litel and Lang embrace. THE END
Though this is more of a melodrama than a noir, it is IMO well worth a look. I must admit to a real fondness for these bottom of the barrel specials. The acting is fine with Litel turning in a solid performance. Lang and Castle are equally up to the task.
Litel was in THE CRIMSON CANARY. THE MADONNA'S SECRET, SMOOTH AS SILK, THE GUILTY, KEY LARGO, PITFALL, TWO DOLLAR BETTOR, WOMAN IN HIDING, DOUBLE JEOPARDY, KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE. Castle had roles in THE GUILTY, THE INVISIBLE WALL, I WOULDN'T BE IN YOUR SHOES, ROSES ARE RED and the under rated, HIGH TIDE.
The director was German Frank Wisbar. His American films had titles like STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP and THE DEVIL BAT'S DAUGHTER. He did however make several good WW2 films about wartime Germany. These are, SHARKS AND LITTLE FISH and STALINGRAD: DOGS, DO YOU WANT TO LIVE FOREVER. The d of p was Walter Strenge. His work included, MILLION DOLLAR PURSUIT, SECRETS OF MONTE CARLO, HIT AND RUN and CRY TERROR.
The writing staff was R.B. Churchill and Don Martin. Martin was involved in HOT CARS, THE VIOLENT ROAD, THE DEADLIEST SIN, SHED NO TEARS, SHAKEDOWN, DESTINATION MURDER and THE PRETENDER.
For a cheap B-romance, it's awfully enjoyable.
planktonrules14 February 2021
Sam (Don Castle) is the assistant lighthouse keeper and he works for Hank (John Litel) and things seem fine...at least at first. However, Sam is a shirker who always comes up with excuses to leave each weekend...leaving Hank all alone. And, on these weekends Sam is out chasing women...especially with Connie (June Lang). However, eventually Connie realizes that Sam is a jerk and he isn't just seeing her but other women...and he's married! Clearly Sam is a jerk. At this point, Connie does something impulsive and stupid. After meeting Hank, she decides to marry him...in part, to hurt Sam. Naturally, there will be unintended consequences.
While the film sounds like a murder mystery waiting to happen, the film is actually a decent little romance. Now I am not saying it's brilliant and it's an amazing film, but for a cheap B-movie, it comes off amazingly well....and clearly exceeded my expectations. Worth seeing.
While the film sounds like a murder mystery waiting to happen, the film is actually a decent little romance. Now I am not saying it's brilliant and it's an amazing film, but for a cheap B-movie, it comes off amazingly well....and clearly exceeded my expectations. Worth seeing.
Solid small scale drama
dbborroughs30 November 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Girl loves assistant lighthouse keeper. He loves all the girls. When she finds out he's married she goes after his boss. when she moves on to the island to be with her new hubby the assistant is now suddenly interested. A triangle is formed until she decides she loves her husband-so the assistant tries to kill his boss.
More potboiler than anything, this is a decidedly b movie drama that plays out its story in an hour and gets off. Not the greatest thing since sliced bread but an okay way to kill an hour. Worth seeing if you stumble across it.
7 out of 10
More potboiler than anything, this is a decidedly b movie drama that plays out its story in an hour and gets off. Not the greatest thing since sliced bread but an okay way to kill an hour. Worth seeing if you stumble across it.
7 out of 10
lighthouse
mossgrymk23 August 2023
Frank Wisbar's stark, elemental direction has an almost Pabst like quality and, when you consider that it was done on a budget somewhat less than dinner for two at the French Laundry, is most impressive. Unfortunately, the analogy to classic silent film extends to the writing and acting. The dialogue is little better than white cue cards on a black background and the acting ranges from decent (John Litel) to acceptable (Don Castle) to godawful (June Lang). Ben Mankiewicz opined that, if given a chance, Ms. Lang could have been a star. I would append "and about two hundred sessions with Lee Strasberg" to that opinion. B minus.
Pretty raunchy cinema.
mark.waltz12 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
"When a young woman marries an older man, chances are, she's not interested in his body." So said Bea Arthur on one episode of "Golden Girls", and obviously, she never saw this extremely low budget film noir made by PRC in the late 1940's. The seemingly dour June Lang is upset because her lover Don Castle seems to be spending an awful lot of time away from her, and all of a sudden she finds out that he has a wife. Out of the blue, she announces to her trashy friend, Marion Martin, that she is going to marry castles lighthouse co-worker, John Litel. At that moment, Litel is planning to propose to her, and after they are married, Lang learns that castle was actually getting a divorce so he could propose to her. With the three of them living in the lighthouse, tensions arise, and when Martin pays a visit and gets drunk, much of lines past is spilled, making Litel slightly suspicious. Further suspicions arise when Litel has an accident and must turn over his duties in the lighthouse to Castle, making a visiting insurance agent cast suspicions on Lang's intentions. But by this time, Lang has declared her love for her older husband and Castle has become obsessed with winning her back, casting more suspicions that something foul is up.
There have been several great film noir where a younger, trashy seeming woman is married to an older man, and as interesting as it is, "Lighthouse" is not one of them. The motivations of Lang and Castle's characters aren't completely believable, and the sudden betrayal of Castle towards Litel just does not ring true. Marion Martin, a character actress I have enjoyed in her many film appearances as blousy bleach blonde trollops, gives the most energetic performance in the film, and her drunken scene is actually pretty good. The fact that an insurance investigator would show up and go out of his way to insinuate foul play by the wife towards the husband, is another major flaw, as he does it with no subtlety at all. Made late in the history of the low-budget PRC Studios, this has intriguing moments but isn't up there with their Noir Classics of a few years earlier, "Decoy" and "Detour".
There have been several great film noir where a younger, trashy seeming woman is married to an older man, and as interesting as it is, "Lighthouse" is not one of them. The motivations of Lang and Castle's characters aren't completely believable, and the sudden betrayal of Castle towards Litel just does not ring true. Marion Martin, a character actress I have enjoyed in her many film appearances as blousy bleach blonde trollops, gives the most energetic performance in the film, and her drunken scene is actually pretty good. The fact that an insurance investigator would show up and go out of his way to insinuate foul play by the wife towards the husband, is another major flaw, as he does it with no subtlety at all. Made late in the history of the low-budget PRC Studios, this has intriguing moments but isn't up there with their Noir Classics of a few years earlier, "Decoy" and "Detour".
Average Triangle Film - Lighthouse
arthur_tafero1 February 2024
The real star of this film, other than the B actors and C actresses that play their roles in the movie is the lighthouse itself. The location creates an atmosphere of loneliness and desperation that few other locations have. The acting by the male stars is barely acceptable, while the acting from the female side is dreadful. The direction is pretty good, but it cannot save the horrendous dialogue, which felt like it was given out on the day the scene was shot. The fact that the film was made at all on such a low budget is a tribute to the producer and director. However, the end result is not really worth your time.
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