I'm not even going to intro these - watch and enjoy!
Until next post - you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
.
Friday, October 12, 2012
The Video Vault of Mora Tau 10/12/12!
Let's scare up some cool video clips then, shall we?
I'm not even going to intro these - watch and enjoy!
I'm not even going to intro these - watch and enjoy!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Then Man with One Dies!
Man With Two Lives (Monogram, 1942)
Before the Camera:
Edward Norris (I Was a Communist for the FBI)
Marlo Dwyer (Follow Me Quietly)
Edward Keane (Captain America - the serial!)
Hugh Sothern (Captain America - the serial!)
Eleanor Lawson (You'll Find Out)
Frederick Burton (The Saint in New York)
and
Kenne Duncan (The Astounding She-Monster)
Behind the Camera:
Directed by Phil Rosen
Produced by A.W. Hackel
Written by Joseph Hoffman
I think this flick was inspired a lot by the 1940 Karloff/Lugosi picture Black Friday, but it also manages to echo the interesting Wes Craven TV movie Chiller (1985) decades before it aired. Young Phillip Bennett (Norris) has a promising future ahead of him; the son of a prominent banker, he's engaged to Louise (Lawson) and he's a medical student studying under the brilliant-but-eccentric Dr. Clark (Keane). Clark has radical ideas about bringing the dead back to life, an experiment he has performed successfully several times on animals, and now he feels he's ready to move on to humans. If only someone close to him would die so he could convince the family to let him test out his theory on the body!
Suddenly, Phillip has a car accident! It is terrible, involving stunts and everything! He dies! Dr. Clark wastes no convincing Poppa Bennett (Burton) to let him try out the process. At midnight, natch, because that's the creepiest time he could come up with.
Coincidentally, a vicious gang leader named Panino invents a sandwich grilled at the same time on both sides...no, wait, that's some guy named Panini, and he's not in the movie. Panino is due to pay for his crimes by taking a ride on the lightning (that's tough guy talk for being executed in the electric chair, see?) at midnight. And no, sorry, that's not a coincidence. In any case, moments after midnight, Dr. Clark finishes, and success! Phillip lives! However, the family is less than thrilled when the previously bright and sunny Phillip is now a sullen mope who spends hours staring through a window at the city outside. Good thing then, the family's not around when Phil sneaks out to the wrong side of town and busts in on a meeting of Panino's old gang using their secret knock, gets all tough guy on the gang's new leader, and shoots him dead! (Lesson #1: If a guy's first act as new head of your mob is to kill the old head of your mob it might be time for a new mob...) Phillip then takes over the outfit, including Panino's girlfriend Helen (Dwyer), and leads them into a new crime spree of epic proportions. Phillip's a great crime boss and the gang adores him...except for the weird way he does everything EXACTLY like Panino...could there be a connection? Considering the title of the movie, what do you think?
This turned out to be a pretty good movie, considering it was a bit of a rip from Black Friday. A lot of Monogram movies from this period are stodgy and creaky, but this one works. It sets up an interesting story, and stays on track for almost all of its brief running time (62 minutes). The ending almost derails the whole movie, and you could turn it off at 61 minutes and have a satisfying movie experience. Or you can let that last minute unspool before your eyes and see where our cliche endings come from. Most of the credit for this one falls on the shoulders of young Norris, who does a great job playing two different men in one body. The rest of the cast is okay, but Norris should be more famous than he is from the evidence here. It also provides some weird subtext to the movie that he really looks like Jason Lee sans mustache in a lot of his scenes.There are also the expected giggles at some of the dialogue, as 70 years have changed our slang enough to completely alter the following exchanges:
About the time you fully absorb this and start to laugh, Phil suddenly shoots the gang leader in cold blood, prompting your laughter to double when you realize he actually is.
And:
Basically, though this is a very low budget flick, with quite a bit of talking, the talking is good, with conversations about the "transmigration of souls" and stuff like that. One word not spoken anywhere in the movie is "reincarnation" though my fast research shows it was in use certainly by the 1920's. Still in all, some good if farfetched ideas and a sterling performance from Edward Norris overcome the low budget and talky script and bring this over the finish line as a recommendation for anyone who likes a good old fashioned flick now and again. Check it out!
Let's Get Out of Here ?
At around 27:30, Edward Norris drops The Line on his new girlfriend Margo Dwyer; she's also his old girlfriend, but she doesn't know it.
Eye Candy ?
Margo Dwyer almost makes it onto the list, but is ultimately defeated by two many long skirts and feathered hats (see above).
When he's right, he's right. Until next post - you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
Before the Camera:
Edward Norris (I Was a Communist for the FBI)
Marlo Dwyer (Follow Me Quietly)
Edward Keane (Captain America - the serial!)
Hugh Sothern (Captain America - the serial!)
Eleanor Lawson (You'll Find Out)
Frederick Burton (The Saint in New York)
and
Kenne Duncan (The Astounding She-Monster)
Behind the Camera:
Directed by Phil Rosen
Produced by A.W. Hackel
Written by Joseph Hoffman
I think this flick was inspired a lot by the 1940 Karloff/Lugosi picture Black Friday, but it also manages to echo the interesting Wes Craven TV movie Chiller (1985) decades before it aired. Young Phillip Bennett (Norris) has a promising future ahead of him; the son of a prominent banker, he's engaged to Louise (Lawson) and he's a medical student studying under the brilliant-but-eccentric Dr. Clark (Keane). Clark has radical ideas about bringing the dead back to life, an experiment he has performed successfully several times on animals, and now he feels he's ready to move on to humans. If only someone close to him would die so he could convince the family to let him test out his theory on the body!
CRASH!
Suddenly, Phillip has a car accident! It is terrible, involving stunts and everything! He dies! Dr. Clark wastes no convincing Poppa Bennett (Burton) to let him try out the process. At midnight, natch, because that's the creepiest time he could come up with.
Coincidentally, a vicious gang leader named Panino invents a sandwich grilled at the same time on both sides...no, wait, that's some guy named Panini, and he's not in the movie. Panino is due to pay for his crimes by taking a ride on the lightning (that's tough guy talk for being executed in the electric chair, see?) at midnight. And no, sorry, that's not a coincidence. In any case, moments after midnight, Dr. Clark finishes, and success! Phillip lives! However, the family is less than thrilled when the previously bright and sunny Phillip is now a sullen mope who spends hours staring through a window at the city outside. Good thing then, the family's not around when Phil sneaks out to the wrong side of town and busts in on a meeting of Panino's old gang using their secret knock, gets all tough guy on the gang's new leader, and shoots him dead! (Lesson #1: If a guy's first act as new head of your mob is to kill the old head of your mob it might be time for a new mob...) Phillip then takes over the outfit, including Panino's girlfriend Helen (Dwyer), and leads them into a new crime spree of epic proportions. Phillip's a great crime boss and the gang adores him...except for the weird way he does everything EXACTLY like Panino...could there be a connection? Considering the title of the movie, what do you think?
 |
| Edward Norris and Margo Dwyer get steamy, 1942 style. |
This turned out to be a pretty good movie, considering it was a bit of a rip from Black Friday. A lot of Monogram movies from this period are stodgy and creaky, but this one works. It sets up an interesting story, and stays on track for almost all of its brief running time (62 minutes). The ending almost derails the whole movie, and you could turn it off at 61 minutes and have a satisfying movie experience. Or you can let that last minute unspool before your eyes and see where our cliche endings come from. Most of the credit for this one falls on the shoulders of young Norris, who does a great job playing two different men in one body. The rest of the cast is okay, but Norris should be more famous than he is from the evidence here. It also provides some weird subtext to the movie that he really looks like Jason Lee sans mustache in a lot of his scenes.There are also the expected giggles at some of the dialogue, as 70 years have changed our slang enough to completely alter the following exchanges:
(Right after Phillip busts in on Panino's old gang, he is challenged by the new leader, then one of the other criminals - Gimpy - wants to know if he's a police officer)
Gimpy: "How do we know you're not a dick?"
About the time you fully absorb this and start to laugh, Phil suddenly shoots the gang leader in cold blood, prompting your laughter to double when you realize he actually is.
And:
(New girlfriend Helen is chatting with one of the gang members about how tightlipped ol' Phil is) Helen: "Except when we make love, and then he says all the right stuff."
Back then people thought about the picture above when she said that,
now they picture the couple nude oil wrestling.
Basically, though this is a very low budget flick, with quite a bit of talking, the talking is good, with conversations about the "transmigration of souls" and stuff like that. One word not spoken anywhere in the movie is "reincarnation" though my fast research shows it was in use certainly by the 1920's. Still in all, some good if farfetched ideas and a sterling performance from Edward Norris overcome the low budget and talky script and bring this over the finish line as a recommendation for anyone who likes a good old fashioned flick now and again. Check it out!
Let's Get Out of Here ?
At around 27:30, Edward Norris drops The Line on his new girlfriend Margo Dwyer; she's also his old girlfriend, but she doesn't know it.
Eye Candy ?
Margo Dwyer almost makes it onto the list, but is ultimately defeated by two many long skirts and feathered hats (see above).
Buddha Man's Capsule Review
 |
| Buddha Man says "Man with Two Lives is okay, but Black Friday is better!" |
When he's right, he's right. Until next post - you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
TenList Presents: Halloween Horror Hotties 2012!
Another bevy of beauty!
1. Karen Mistal - Return of the Killer Tomatoes
2. Britt Ekland - The Wicker Man
3. Jewel Shepard - Return of the Living Dead
4. Kristi Ray - Pieces of Talent
5. Madeline Smith - Theater of Blood
6. Stacey Nelkin - Halloween III: Season of the Witch
7. Melissa Lukon - Butchered
8. Jill Banner - Spider Baby
9. Jennifer Lyons - Return of the Killer Shrews
10. Suzanne Pleshette - The Birds
Wow - I'm going off to take a cold shower - and until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
1. Karen Mistal - Return of the Killer Tomatoes
2. Britt Ekland - The Wicker Man
3. Jewel Shepard - Return of the Living Dead
4. Kristi Ray - Pieces of Talent
5. Madeline Smith - Theater of Blood
6. Stacey Nelkin - Halloween III: Season of the Witch
7. Melissa Lukon - Butchered
8. Jill Banner - Spider Baby
9. Jennifer Lyons - Return of the Killer Shrews
10. Suzanne Pleshette - The Birds
Wow - I'm going off to take a cold shower - and until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Less Industrial Light, More Magic!
Equinox (Tonylyn Productions, 1970)
Before the Camera:
Edward Connell (Dave)
Barbara Hewitt (Susan)
Frank Bonner (Jim) - as Frank Boers, Jr.
Robin Christopher (Vicki)
Jack Woods (Asmodeus)
Forrest Ackerman (Voice on the Tape)
and
Fritz Leiber (Dr. Waterman)
Behind the Camera:
Directed by Jack Woods, Dennis Muren (uncredited), and Mark Thomas McGee (uncredited)
Produced by Jack H. Harris and Dennis Muren
Written by Jack Woods
Story by Mark Thomas McGee
Four young people - Dave, Susan, Jim and Vicki - head into the woods to look for Dr. Arthur Watermann, a scientist and one of their professors. Despite the seriousness of trying to find the older man, the group treats the trip like an outing, bringing along a picnic. Things start to get weird when they hear creepy laughter emanating from a dark and forboding cave they pass. Exploring the cave, they are frightened by a strange old man who yells at them and then gives them an ancient book.
Leaving the cave, they glimpse a mysterious castle in the woods, then they find that Dr. Waterman's cabin has been destroyed - first looking like some kind of explosion from within, until Jim notices the wreckage looks more like something shoving in on the structure, imploding it. A forest ranger who calls himself Asmodeus watches over the teenagers, proving more sinister with each appearance. Then monsters begin to show up, trying to steal the book back from the kids. As they try to find their way back to their car, the quartet realizes they have to keep the book from falling into the hands of the monsters at all costs. Who will survive, and what will be left of them?
This was a movie I got to see once way back in the day on the Chiller Theater show one Saturday night - I think it got yanked out of the vault for showing because Dennis Muren was becoming sorta famous for his special effects work on the Star Wars movies - and I seem to remember KPLR Channel 11 touting the movie that way. "From the special effects men who brought you Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back!" I thought the movie was cool, because it has so much stop motion effects work in it - which I've been a fan since first seeing King Kong (1933) and later reading about how it was made.
Later I read about how this movie came about - and found that story pretty interesting too. Dennis Muren and his pals - among them stop motion animators Jim Danforth and Dave Allen - made a short film called The Equinox...A Journey into the Supernatural for $6500. It ran about 70 minutes. It came out well enough that producer Jack H. Harris bought the movie and then had film editor Jack Woods shoot additional footage with the original stars a few years later to strengthen the story and bring the running time up to 80 minutes. Harris was no stranger to this kind of thing - having done the same with John Carpenter's student film Dark Star - adding footage to make it a feature film.
But the real reason Equinox works so well in my opinion - it is one of the rare movies that effectively make use of Lovecraftian horror - and that makes this somewhat slow moving flick well worth a watch. The acting is just fair - with a soundtrack that makes the actors sound dubbed by others at times - but it's very neat to see Frank Bonner some years before he played Herb on WKRP in Cincinatti. The special effects are incredibly well done for the budget involved - and it's amazing to see what a real budget allowed them to do in a galaxy far, far away a few years later. However, it must be said that comparing the stop-motion to Ray Harryhausen's best work shows this animation to be of a lower quality - but that is putting these students up against the best of the best - not really a fair comparison. In addition to the stop-motion animated creatures - there is one costumed guy who is put into the scenes looking like he's ten or twelve feet tall - and the effect is seamless - I couldn't tell there was a special effect going on - except that the guy is bigger than any human ever, so it had to be a special effect! It's also neat to note that Ed Begley Jr. was on the crew!
If you enjoy the writings of H.P. Lovecraft - I highly recommend this movie. I give a qualified recommendation to any horror fan - just be willing to go with the movie - which does have a stately pace in the middle sections; and does occasionally have the characters acting a little dense in order to keep things moving. A lot of internet articles make note that The Evil Dead seems to have been inspired by this movie - small cast, remote woods location, Book of Evil, - but they point it out almost as if Raimi and co. were ripping this movie off or plagiarizing it. WTH? Yes, I definitely think the Evil Dead creators had seen this movie when they started work on theirs - but other than those three details - and a general Lovecraft feel - the movies are completely unlike each other. I think they'd make a corker double feature, actually. In any case - if you like horror on a budget I definitely say check this one out!
Let's Get Out of Here ?
At around 48:00 Robin Christopher has had enough Lovecraftian horror for one day.
She gives it ten minutes, then repeats her wish to leg it for the nearest horizon with her friends at approximately the 58:00 mark.
Then Edward Connell gets in on the act at about 1:09:00.
Eye Candy ?
Both ladies are cute (but interestingly both blonde and both wearing blue - making them a bit indistinguishable from each other) and neither get the showcase to bring the Va-Va-Va-Voom.
Sorry ladies!
Buddha Man really has a way with words, doesn't he? Until next post - roughly 24 hours from now - you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
Before the Camera:
Edward Connell (Dave)
Barbara Hewitt (Susan)
Frank Bonner (Jim) - as Frank Boers, Jr.
Robin Christopher (Vicki)
Jack Woods (Asmodeus)
Forrest Ackerman (Voice on the Tape)
and
Fritz Leiber (Dr. Waterman)
Behind the Camera:
Directed by Jack Woods, Dennis Muren (uncredited), and Mark Thomas McGee (uncredited)
Produced by Jack H. Harris and Dennis Muren
Written by Jack Woods
Story by Mark Thomas McGee
Four young people - Dave, Susan, Jim and Vicki - head into the woods to look for Dr. Arthur Watermann, a scientist and one of their professors. Despite the seriousness of trying to find the older man, the group treats the trip like an outing, bringing along a picnic. Things start to get weird when they hear creepy laughter emanating from a dark and forboding cave they pass. Exploring the cave, they are frightened by a strange old man who yells at them and then gives them an ancient book.
Leaving the cave, they glimpse a mysterious castle in the woods, then they find that Dr. Waterman's cabin has been destroyed - first looking like some kind of explosion from within, until Jim notices the wreckage looks more like something shoving in on the structure, imploding it. A forest ranger who calls himself Asmodeus watches over the teenagers, proving more sinister with each appearance. Then monsters begin to show up, trying to steal the book back from the kids. As they try to find their way back to their car, the quartet realizes they have to keep the book from falling into the hands of the monsters at all costs. Who will survive, and what will be left of them?
 |
| All right, I'll show one monster. But only the one from the poster up there. |
This was a movie I got to see once way back in the day on the Chiller Theater show one Saturday night - I think it got yanked out of the vault for showing because Dennis Muren was becoming sorta famous for his special effects work on the Star Wars movies - and I seem to remember KPLR Channel 11 touting the movie that way. "From the special effects men who brought you Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back!" I thought the movie was cool, because it has so much stop motion effects work in it - which I've been a fan since first seeing King Kong (1933) and later reading about how it was made.
Later I read about how this movie came about - and found that story pretty interesting too. Dennis Muren and his pals - among them stop motion animators Jim Danforth and Dave Allen - made a short film called The Equinox...A Journey into the Supernatural for $6500. It ran about 70 minutes. It came out well enough that producer Jack H. Harris bought the movie and then had film editor Jack Woods shoot additional footage with the original stars a few years later to strengthen the story and bring the running time up to 80 minutes. Harris was no stranger to this kind of thing - having done the same with John Carpenter's student film Dark Star - adding footage to make it a feature film.
But the real reason Equinox works so well in my opinion - it is one of the rare movies that effectively make use of Lovecraftian horror - and that makes this somewhat slow moving flick well worth a watch. The acting is just fair - with a soundtrack that makes the actors sound dubbed by others at times - but it's very neat to see Frank Bonner some years before he played Herb on WKRP in Cincinatti. The special effects are incredibly well done for the budget involved - and it's amazing to see what a real budget allowed them to do in a galaxy far, far away a few years later. However, it must be said that comparing the stop-motion to Ray Harryhausen's best work shows this animation to be of a lower quality - but that is putting these students up against the best of the best - not really a fair comparison. In addition to the stop-motion animated creatures - there is one costumed guy who is put into the scenes looking like he's ten or twelve feet tall - and the effect is seamless - I couldn't tell there was a special effect going on - except that the guy is bigger than any human ever, so it had to be a special effect! It's also neat to note that Ed Begley Jr. was on the crew!
If you enjoy the writings of H.P. Lovecraft - I highly recommend this movie. I give a qualified recommendation to any horror fan - just be willing to go with the movie - which does have a stately pace in the middle sections; and does occasionally have the characters acting a little dense in order to keep things moving. A lot of internet articles make note that The Evil Dead seems to have been inspired by this movie - small cast, remote woods location, Book of Evil, - but they point it out almost as if Raimi and co. were ripping this movie off or plagiarizing it. WTH? Yes, I definitely think the Evil Dead creators had seen this movie when they started work on theirs - but other than those three details - and a general Lovecraft feel - the movies are completely unlike each other. I think they'd make a corker double feature, actually. In any case - if you like horror on a budget I definitely say check this one out!
Let's Get Out of Here ?
At around 48:00 Robin Christopher has had enough Lovecraftian horror for one day.
She gives it ten minutes, then repeats her wish to leg it for the nearest horizon with her friends at approximately the 58:00 mark.
Then Edward Connell gets in on the act at about 1:09:00.
Eye Candy ?
Both ladies are cute (but interestingly both blonde and both wearing blue - making them a bit indistinguishable from each other) and neither get the showcase to bring the Va-Va-Va-Voom.
Sorry ladies!
Buddha Man's Capsule Review
 |
| Buddha Man says "When Equinox - open the door - to a good movie!" |
Buddha Man really has a way with words, doesn't he? Until next post - roughly 24 hours from now - you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
Monday, October 8, 2012
Maniacal Movie Poster Monday #89!
Dolls (Empire Pictures, 1987)
I have loved this movie ever since I first rented it on VHS back in the day - it is a marvelous little gem - well worth tracking down.
Zombie Strippers (Triumph Films, 2008)
This goofy flick got plugged into last year's Crazy Movie Weekend: Halloween Horrorfest - and it worked well with a crowd. Not a great movie, but worth a watch.
Terror Train (20th Century Fox, 1980)
I've always rather liked this old school slasher that Jamie Lee Curtis did in the wake of Halloween. Light on gore, but with some good atmosphere and terrific cinematography - I find this miles ahead of Prom Night.
Until tomorrow, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pieces of Talent Worldwide Online Screening!
Exciting news all!
Remember that independent horror movie that I got to see in a cast and crew screening this past spring? Well, Pieces of Talent is available in a special online screening program from their website:
The initial screening price was $5.55, but they have done a couple of sales in the days since, and the price has been as low as $2.99. That is the listed sale price through October. However, it could be either of those or anywhere in between when you get to the site - but even $5.55 is a good price to watch this flick - and I highly recommend it. You make the payment through Paypal, and the film is yours to view for 24 hours.
So far, my pals who have taken the chance have come back with positive reviews themselves.
After this special screening period is over - I'm not sure where Pieces of Talent will next turn up - so if you're interested in seeing it - this is a good time to do it. Sometimes the negotiations for a video release or theatrical run can take more than a year to nail down.
Here is my review from the screening - spoiler free, if you want to check it out before purchasing a view.
Hope you check it out and enjoy it! Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
Remember that independent horror movie that I got to see in a cast and crew screening this past spring? Well, Pieces of Talent is available in a special online screening program from their website:
The initial screening price was $5.55, but they have done a couple of sales in the days since, and the price has been as low as $2.99. That is the listed sale price through October. However, it could be either of those or anywhere in between when you get to the site - but even $5.55 is a good price to watch this flick - and I highly recommend it. You make the payment through Paypal, and the film is yours to view for 24 hours.
So far, my pals who have taken the chance have come back with positive reviews themselves.
After this special screening period is over - I'm not sure where Pieces of Talent will next turn up - so if you're interested in seeing it - this is a good time to do it. Sometimes the negotiations for a video release or theatrical run can take more than a year to nail down.
Here is my review from the screening - spoiler free, if you want to check it out before purchasing a view.
Hope you check it out and enjoy it! Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Saturday Night at the Movies 10/6/12!
Who cares what picture we see?
Christopher Lee most certainly does, so let's pick this:
Christopher Lee most certainly does, so let's pick this:
I saw this one way back on a Sunday afternoon showing on KPLR channel 11 - the reason I remember so well is they promoted the crap out of the showing for some reason - but I really liked the movie and watched it a couple more times when it aired on Chiller Theater in the years after that first viewing.
Since then the movie seems to have fallen into the public domain and has turned up on bargain VHS and DVD - but I haven't seen it since way back when.
I do however have the fancy new Blu-Ray which is supposed to look amazing after all those murky VHS-to-DVD rips - and we could be seeing the crystal clarity of it as soon as tonight - if you'd care to venture out on this October evening to come to my house...
Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
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