Thriller
Rod Lott
I should have listened to Ron Backer. In his new book, Mystery Movie Series of 1930s Hollywood, he more or less warns would-be audiences away from trying any of the early 1930s’ half-dozen movies based on Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason character.

Family
Rod Lott
Unlike Madonna, Dick Tracy has aged quite well. Although considered somewhat of a disappointment upon its summer of 1990 release, unfairly attached with Batman-level expectations, Warren Beatty's film actually is quite successful in achieving its goals, which is even more apparent now that it's made a long-overdue Blu-ray debut from Walt Disney Studios.

Thriller
Rod Lott
Following a half-dozen Perry Mason movies into the Warner Archive store are the half-dozen Philo Vance films that make up his Murder Case Collection. While S.S. Van Dine’s “dilettante detective” is nowhere near as well-known today as Erle Stanley Gardner’s attorney-at-law, this is the better set by bounds.

Documentary
Alyssa Grimley
Burn
7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday
Moore Warren Theatre
1000 Telephone, Moore
detroitfirefilm.org
$15-$20