The Island Monster

The island of Ischia is held in the iron grip of a drug smuggling operation. The Italian government sends secret agent Mario Andreani to smoke out the organization's mysterious leader. Taking his young daughter with him, he soon befriends Don Gaetano, an elderly philanthropist who resides on the island. Little does he realize that Gaetano is secretly the leader of the drug ring. When Andreani comes close to uncovering his identity, the monstrous drug trafficker orders his hired killers to kidnap the agent's child. Andreani must now face an army of trained assassins to save his daughter's life.

The Island Monster may be the rarest entry in horror legend Boris Karloff's extensive filmography. The actor was at the time experiencing a resurgence on television, appearing in episodes of Suspense and Tales of Tomorrow. He had also recently cavorted on the big screen with one of America's favorite comedy teams in Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. While playing Captain Hook in Peter Pan on Broadway, Karloff was offered the starring role in a British TV series - Colonel March of Scotland Yard. The part would require him to relocate from New York to London. After filming the pilot episode, Boris and his wife Evie decided to take a "working holiday" in Rome, resulting in The Island Monster. Though Karloff enjoyed his vacation, he struggled on set. "No one in the outfit spoke English; I don't speak Italian," the King of Horror told Castle of Frankenstein magazine, "Just hopeless." Sadly, when the time came around to dub the picture for English-speaking audiences, Boris was unavailable, so a Karloff impersonator was employed. Curvy Italian actress Franca Marzi, who plays a sexy femme fatale, appeared in Federico Fellini's Nights of Cabiria (1957).

BONUS: Hollywood Hobbies (1935): Boris Karloff appears in this rare short subject that throws a spotlight on screen stars in their private lives. Boris is shown participating in a field hockey match, "no game for sissies" according to narrator Ted Husing. "Just look at that Frankenstein go after the ball!" Also featured are Clark Gable, Buster Crabbe, Richard Arlen, James Gleason, Jack Holt, and Walter Huston.

• mystery
• thriller