Stranger On The 3rd Floor [DVD] [1940], Very Good DVD, John McGuire, Elisha Cook
25 Jan, 2022
The Big Little Film
As Donald Rumsfeld might have said, Stranger on the Third Floor is a well-known unknown. It's a small-time production, both in terms of its length (just over an hour) and cast - the notable exception being Peter Lorre, who later became a star, but here receives third billing in an early creepy role. Whilst unremarkable at face value, Stranger on the Third Floor (no-one is stranger than Lorre) has nevertheless been credited as the very first Film Noir. The film was released in 1940 and would've been an inexpensive B-movie crime thriller of the type required to fill up movie theatre schedules. But in retrospect, it's not difficult to see the Noir elements: cynical and dissatisfied characters subsist in an Expressionist world of light and shadow where dreams succumb to the hand of fate. Later Noir characters would be impacted by the war and its aftermath, but here mental illness is the dark antagonistic force. Lorre's stranger danger is delicious enough, but who would've expected Stranger on the Third Floor to present a feverish Hitchcockian nightmare a good 5 years before Spellbound? So big claims are made for this little film and whilst it's well-known to experts, it remains relatively unknown to everybody else - unless they happen to hear about it from an expert, like I did.
VANGUARD T-120223AB ALLOY TRIPOD with bag
17 Mar, 2017
Decent mid-range kit
I'd recommend this to anyone who doesn't want to overspend on something that's more than they need, but is wary of spending too little and regretting it later.
The tripod's design, materials, build quality and functionality are very good, so it feels and operates like a proper piece of kit with no obvious weak spots, annoyances or fiddly bits. Its 5' height means no stooping to reach the viewfinder/screen, which is a big plus; its legs are wide and stable; fine adjustments for pan, tilt and height (using a crank on the centre shaft) are straightforward; and there's a quick flip to portrait feature, too.
This tripod is probably ideal for casual amateurs and GCSE/A level photography students, especially if you can pick one up for £20 or less, including postage.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Hollings Filled Natural Bones Dog Treats | Dogs
07 May, 2020
Bone under sofa makes Staffie sad
After trying a few different products from rawhide sticks to plastic bones we settled on these as the best option for our Staffie. He enjoys the filling and then gnaws the bone for days. They last a surprisingly long time, so he gets a lot of joy (except when they get stuck under the sofa) and we get value for money.