It Came From The Man Cave!: Classic Monsters

Showing posts with label Classic Monsters. Show all posts

NO CHAINS Can Hold It! NO TOMB Can Seal It!

The Mummy's Ghost
1944 | NR | 1Hr 1 Min | Horror | Universal

Director:

Reginald Le Borg
Writers:

Griffin Jay

Henry Sucher
Stars:

Lon Chaney Jr.

John Carradine

Robert Lowery

An Egyptian high priest travels to America to reclaim the bodies of ancient Egyptian princess Ananka and her living guardian mummy Kharis. Learning that Ananka's spirit has been reincarnated into another body, he kidnaps a young woman of Egyptian descent with a mysterious resemblance to the princess. However, the high priest's greedy desires cause him to lose control of the mummy.

"The Mummy's Ghost" will haunt MeTV tonight at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7central, and, if you're unsure of the run time in your area, please consult your local listings and/or visit www.metv.com for both time and channel. MeTV invites you to join the many fans who live -Tweet during the show on Twitter- just make sure to use the hashtag #svengoolie.

Sorry I missed a few days but man the girls are keeping me busy, Ella next musical is tonight with Broadway Backwards and both girls are hard at work for Elf the Musical next month! Not to mention all the crazy Halloween activities sprinkled into our day.

I promise to post pictures soon! Have a spooky weekend everybody.

The tomb of a thousand terrors!

The Mummy's Hand
1940 | NR | 1Hr 7 Min | Horror | Universal

Director: Christy Cabanne

Writer: Griffin Jay

Stars:

Dick Foran

Peggy Moran

Wallace Ford

A couple of comical, out-of-work archaeologists (Dick Foran and Wallace Ford) in Egypt discover evidence of the burial place of the ancient Egyptian princess Ananka. After receiving funding from an eccentric magician (Cecil Kellaway) and his beautiful daughter (Peggy Moran), they set out into the desert only to be terrorized by a sinister high priest (George Zucco) and the living mummy Kharis (Tom Tyler) who are the guardians of Ananka^Òs tomb.

Several shots and sequences in this film (including the scene where Kharis is punished by being buried alive) are lifted directly from Universal's 1932 original version of The Mummy, the studio's philosophy is: "Why re-stage and re-shoot something we've already got in the can?"

In all four Kharis movies, we get that famous mummy disfigured and presumably useless right arm. This action is still mimicked today. Tyler's right arm is bent out at the elbow with his hand on his chest, and Chaney's hand and arm are tight against his chest. However, both are quick to bring the arm out to full use when picking up the heroine in each movie. Also, both Tyler and Cheney were right-handed, and both used their weaker hands to strangle their victims.

The House Of Ghosts

While researching Haunted House for the Countdown to Halloween I ran into a movie from 1908. The House of Ghosts is a French short film directed by Segundo de Chomón. The film features stop-motion animation and is considered to be one of the earliest cinematic depictions of a haunted house.

As the story goes two men and a woman stop at a small house in the woods. Inside, they experience numerous instances of paranormal activity, including disappearing furniture; a stereotypical ghost; the movement of cutlery and food on their own; ball lightning; unexplained tilting of the entire home; and a grotesque being with claw-like fingers that attempts to eat the trio.

What I really like about the version that I'm posting for you is that somebody took the time to restore the movie but add some elements as well. From the simple blue gels to interesting choice of music the House of Ghost should satisfy you on this cold and damp night.

Make sure to take a moment to comment below and definitely check out the other Bloggers Counting Down To Halloween by clicking here 🎃

The Mummy Tonight On Svengoolie

The Mummy
1932 | NR | 1Hr 13 Min | Horror | Universal

Director: Karl Freund

Writer: Nina Wilcox Putnam

Stars:

Boris Karloff

Zita Johann

David Manners

In 1921 a field expedition in Egypt discovers the mummy of ancient Egyptian prince Im-Ho-Tep, who was condemned and buried alive for sacrilege. Also found in the tomb is the Scroll of Thoth, which can bring the dead back to life. One night a young member of the expedition reads the Scroll out loud, and then goes insane, realizing that he has brought Im-Ho-Tep back to life. Ten years later, disguised as a modern Egyptian, the mummy attempts to reunite with his lost love, an ancient princess who has been reincarnated into a beautiful young woman.

"The Mummy" comes to life tonight on MeTV at 8 pm eastern/pacific,7 central, or check local listings and/or visit www.metv.com for time and channel where you are. MeTV again invites you to live -Tweet during the show on Twitter- using the hashtag #svengoolie – with the scores of other fans who keep Sven trending nationally each week!

40 Years Later, Evil Returns Home

Halloween
2018 | R | 1 Hr 46 Min | Horror | Blumhouse

Director: David Gordon Green

Writers: Jeff Fradley and David Gordon Green

Stars:

Jamie Lee Curtis

Judy Greer

Andi Matichak

Nick Castle

Synopsis:

Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers (Nick Castle and James Jude Courtney), the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.

Well, I did it check one off the bucket list finally. Halloween is by far my favorite franchise and Michial Myer is one of the top 3 killers of all time. So why did I miss this last year in the theatre its simple, I wanted to forget about all the hype and what everybody said about the new flick. What I ended up, in the end, was a mixed bag of emotions. so where do I begin? How about the bad first...

This one is going to get me some hate but here it goes, Jamie Lee Curtis. Yep, I said it her storyline was just bad! I wanted her to be the strong woman they wanted her to be but instead, she came off as a nut job. Did she really have to live in a dump with panic rooms and booby traps? I wanted her just to be a badass bitch that lived a normal life but yet trained on the back half to kill Michael is that too much to ask? Her storyline changed the face of the franchise and honestly, I'm not happy with that. Second, this now takes away from my favorite movie in the series Halloween 2 which no longer exists in the timeline, ugh! This really pisses me off sorry. On to the good...

When Michael is on the screen this movie is at its strongest. The imagery that they used to block him in was perfect. In fact, the gas station scene was so intense despite the fact we saw all of it in the trailer. It was incredibly powerful and *Spoiler* when he drove up in the pickup truck I squealed with joy like a little kid once again. I'm 50/50 on the mask tho just not feeling the worn outlook I get that it had to age over time but it was looking dangerously close to Rob Zombie's mask, and that took me out of the moment a few times. But Halloween was not a total loss on to the Great!

Andi Matichak is a true find and one of the brights lights in Halloween! She came off as a badass leading the way, unlike her grandmother. (From IMBD) The role of Allyson, Laurie's granddaughter, became somewhat of a coveted role. Multiple popular actresses including Lucy Hale and Emma Roberts met with Danny McBride to personally talk about the movie. However, the studio decided that they wanted to go back to the roots of the first movie and cast an unknown actress, similar to how Jamie Lee Curtis was cast in the original. The music is also a very strong piece of driving this movie. The music is composed by John Carpenter, his son Cody and his godson Daniel Davies. The trio had previously collaborated on John Carpenter's Lost Themes and Lost Themes II albums.

The Gore or Death senses are downright amazing! A true throwback to the 80's slasher flicks. Sure the first one was truly scary and not gory but this one brings the blood and in a good way. So, in the end, did I like Halloween and simply put YES did it blow me away and become one of the greats well, No! The good outweighed the bad leaving me wanting those sequels provided Lori becomes a normal badass.

3 Bloody Brains out of 5

Are you having fun with the Countdown to Halloween yet? If so make sure to subscribe to this blog so you can follow along with my randomness all year! Also with the weekend here make sure you check out the other bloggers over at The Countdown To Halloween.

Leave a comment below it lets me know you are out there.

Dracula

Dracula
1931 | PG | 1 Hr 15 Min | Horror | Universal

Directors:

Tod Browning

Karl Freund (uncredited)

Writers:

Bram Stoker

Hamilton Deane

Stars: Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, David Manners

After a harrowing ride through the Carpathian mountains in eastern Europe, Renfield enters castle Dracula to finalize the transferral of Carfax Abbey in London to Count Dracula, who is in actuality a vampire. Renfield is drugged by the eerily hypnotic count, and turned into one of his thralls, protecting him during his sea voyage to London. After sucking the blood and turning the young Lucy Weston into a vampire, Dracula turns his attention to her friend Mina Seward, daughter of Dr. Seward who then calls in a specialist, Dr. Van Helsing, to diagnose the sudden deterioration of Mina's health. Van Helsing, realizing that Dracula is indeed a vampire, tries to prepare Mina's fiance, John Harker, and Dr. Seward for what is to come and the measures that will have to be taken to prevent Mina from becoming one of the undead.

Frank

Hot and Bothered

Just signed up for Hot & Bothered the Films of 1932 blog event in July. Fingers crossed I will be able to unleash the thrills of Monster Walks!

People in an old dark house on a stormy night are menaced by a killer ape.

For more info or to sign up yourself head over to Once Upon a Scream

Turner Classic Movies in October.

Turner Classic Movies has released their October schedule. Movies highlights are...

TWO ON A GUILLOTINE
HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL '58
THE HAUNTING '63
BURNT OFFERINGS
HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS
RATTLERS
THE SWARM
HUSH...HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE
BATMAN`S LAST CHANCE '49
X THE UNKNOWN
DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE 20
CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED
VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED
CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE
FREAKS
DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS
FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN
DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE
FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED
THE BODY SNATCHER
ISLE OF THE DEAD
BEDLAM
DOCTOR X
WHITE ZOMBIE
DEMENTIA 13
THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS
HOUSE OF WAX '53
THE TINGLER
THE DEVIL`S BRIDE
CURSE OF THE DEMON

Looks like a lot of Vincent Price for Halloween this year. I hope White Zombie is one of the restored versions. For more info here is the link. TCM October

H.G. Well's Fantastic Sensation Tonight On Svengoolie

Director: James Whale

Writers: H.G. Wells

Stars:

Claude Rains

Gloria Stuart

William Harrigan

Working in Dr. Cranley's laboratory, scientist Jack Griffin was always given the latitude to conduct some of his own experiments. His sudden departure, however, has Cranley's daughter Flora worried about him. Griffin has taken a room at the nearby Lion's Head Inn, hoping to reverse an experiment he conducted on himself that made him invisible. Unfortunately, the drug he used has also warped his mind, making him aggressive and dangerous. He's prepared to do whatever it takes to restore his appearance, and several will die in the process.

“Invisible Man” airs tonight on MeTV at 10 pm eastern/pacific, 9 central, and check local listings- especially our friends in San Diego at the big Comic-Con! In our home city of Chicago, viewers get one more look at the land-locked “Creature Walks Among Us” at 11 am on WCIU.

Ugh, I can not wait for the Universal Monsters to be done! Don't get me wrong I love watching them but it is all Sven has been showing for a few years now. I'm ready for some fresh movies.

These are the TALONS of The Vampire Bat

Source: DVD

Director: Frank R. Strayer

Writer: Edward T. Lowe Jr.

Stars:

Lionel Atwill

Fay Wray

Melvyn Douglas

Story:

In the small village of Kleinshloss, the locals are scared with a serial killer that is draining the blood of his victims, and the Burgomaster Gustave Schoen is convinced that a vampire is responsible for the deaths. The skeptical police inspector Karl Brettschneider is reluctant to accept the existence of vampires, but the local doctor Otto Von Newman shows literature about cases of vampirism inclusive in Amazon. When the apple street vendor Martha Mueller is murdered, the prime suspect becomes the slow Herman Gleib, a man with a mind of a child that loves bats. The group of vigilantes chases Herman, while Dr. Von Newman's housemaid Georgiana is attacked by the killer.

I love when somebody starts talking about a movie and you're intrigued to sit down and watch it. Well, that is kind of what happened here the only thing is they were talking about The Bat, not the Vampire Bat so I will have to look into that as well. As for Vampire Bat what a pleasant surprise.

Now the print I watched was from the Bouns Feature on Trailers From Hell DVD it claims to be a New Digital Transfer. Well, it looks ok but they did not put too much time or money into the restoration of this movie. Never the less it looks good enough and the scratch's or bad spoke holes do not slow down the movie to bad. There are a few scene that you wish were in better shape but for a poverty row movie that is still around I will take what I can. Now some spoilers might come from this so do not read too far into it if you plan on watching this.

Terror Is Loose In the City! My Summer of 1982!

Director: Jack Arnold

Writers: Martin Berkeley

Stars:

John Agar

Lori Nelson

John Bromfield

Plot:
The Creature from the Black Lagoon is back! This time he's captured by scientists and transported to an aquarium in south Florida. Naturally, he's attracted to the lovely female scientist and manages to escape and kidnap her, heading to Jacksonville, presumably to catch a Jaguars game.

I don't think I will ever forget the summer of 1982 and how it will live on through stories that I can't wait to tell my grandkids someday. All though just like my girls they won't care but for me it was a life-changing summer. We had Mrs. Pac-Man, Jack and Diane, Pudding Pop's, and the introduction to Skittles.

It was also the start to my infatuation with Universal Monsters. So a little background, my mom would watch Yellow Screaming Theatre and Svengoolie I was quickly turned on to Horror Host's and their groovy black and white scares! So when the Son of Svengoolie was promoting (very heavily mind you) The Revenge of the Creature in **Gasp** 3D!! I knew it was going to be a family affair. It was all I could talk about it's all I could think about! Well, that and the Chicago White Sox were winning ugly as well that summer.

Now, there was a small catch this was sponsored by 7-11 and that is where you had to go to pick up the magic 3D glasses. But for me living in a small rural town 2 hours south of the windy city that was to be a huge problem. At the age of 11 there was no way of driving myself.

Somehow though my father and grandmother had to make a business trip to the city and bless their hearts went out of the way to find a 7-11 just to please a son. Yep, my mom is the reason for my love of Svengoolie. Some of my favorite memories were watching his show on those hot summer afternoons.

Well, that glorious night finally arrived and we all gathered around the warm glow of the 19" television. I could hardly sit still long enough to eat popcorn and drink my RC Cola (a staple during our family movie nights).

Ah, the Goolie has arrived and so has the Creature in all his 3D coolness. Well sort of, see I guess the 3D gag did not really work and what was to be one of the biggest nights in TV with Host's all over America beaming us the magic that was to be well...it flopped. I guess it was kind of an embarrassment something the Rich Koz (Svengoolie) jokes about still to this day.

I would not have know that it was not working that night I too busy having my eyes glued to the screen. I'm pretty sure my dad gave up and went upstairs to watch the ball game but mom and sat watching with those great Red and Blue glasses on. I knew who the Gil-Man was in fact I knew all about the Universal Monsters just never saw them in 3D so the thought of the Creature jumping off of the screen was a thrill.

Sure the movie itself was mediocre at best and something I only need to revisit every few years or so. But that summer was magic I never missed Svengoolie for years to come even when he moved to a later timeslot on a Saturday night, my friends new they had to wait or join me.

Thanks to VHS and video rental stores being so close the Summer of 1982 was the year I became a Monster Kid! Nothing was better browsing those isles looking for the coolest cover art not caring what it was. It was also the summer that I watch one of the greatest movies of all time Night of The Living Dead. And I have my mom and Svengoolie to thank. Do you think Koz would mind if I just call him dad?

May you find your great summer moment!

As for The Revenge of the Creature in 3D, I still give you...

3 Bloody Brians

I know this was to be about Cabin Fever: Patient Zero but I have been feeling under the weather all weekend and was never up to watching it. Inspiration struck on my way home about that wonderful summer of 1982! Make sure you are checking out some of the other bloggers during The Beach Party Blogathon.

Filthy Animals Tonight on Svengoolie

Director: Erle C. Kenton

Writers: Waldemar Young

Stars:

Charles Laughton

Bela Lugosi

Richard Arlen

An obsessed scientist conducts profane experiments in evolution, eventually establishing himself as the self-styled demigod to a race of mutated, half-human abominations.

I Saw What You Did To My Black Cat!

To keep up with my Vacation movie marathon last night was time to clean up my Tivo a little bit and watch a few Svengoolie's from the past month. First up

Black Cat (1934)

Bela Lugosi and Bori Karloff teamed up for the first of six pairings, this time in a story about a young couple traveling by train through Hungary (always a bad idea in the movies). They meet Dr. Vitus Werdegast (Lugosi) on the train, a psychiatrist who’s going to visit his Austrian friend, Hjalmar Poelzig (Karloff), who’s spent the last 15 years in a notorious prison camp. But the train crashes, the young woman is injured, and the trio ends up journeying to the forboding home of Poelzig. Bad things happen after that. Poelzig, by the way, was based in part on infamous British occultist Aleister Crowley.

There is a lot to like here. The custom where iconic the musical score was spot on and the first to run an entire movie. Of course the cast was wonderful. But two things really stuck out in my mind for a 1934 movie. The house and its interior where just as much a character in the movie as the two stars. The metallic look the hard angles made for a fun watch.

But the thing I enjoyed the most was the camera work. John J. Mescall who was the Cinematographer on more than 90 movies really shined in this one. He really got down to different levels for his abstract angles and off center movement that you can see in the works of today's greats like Sam Rami. His use of shadow and light where brilliant at times. This added to the film in such a wonderful way.

If you have not seen Black Cat yet you owe it to your self. Karloff's outfit is amazing and Lugosi is fantastic as always. This is a great team with a fun package from camera angles to music that make this a fun watch.

Black Cat I give you

4 Bloody Brains out of 5

Bazinga!

Next up the William Castle Joan Crawford vehicle...

The king arrives

Director: Gareth Edwards

Writers: Max Borenstein

Stars:

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Elizabeth Olsen

Bryan Cranston

In 1999, the Janjira nuclear plant was mysteriously destroyed with most hands lost including supervisor Joe Brody's colleague and wife, Sandra. Years later, Joe's son, Ford, a US Navy ordnance disposal officer, must go to Japan to help his estranged father who obsessively searches for the truth of the incident. In doing so, father and son discover the disaster's secret cause on the wreck's very grounds. This enables them to witness the reawakening of a terrible threat to all of Humanity, which is made all the worse with a second secret revival elsewhere. Against this cataclysm, the only hope for the world may be Godzilla, but the challenge for the King of the Monsters will be great even as Humanity struggles to understand the destructive ally they have.

Face off against the Muto

I have said it once and I will say it again Godzilla was the first film I watched hosted by Svengoolie (Gerry G Bishop back in the 70's) with my mother. I remember it being one of those super hot summer days that you could not do much outside in the heat. They seemed to have run many of those Godzilla movies in the coming years because I was hooked and could not get enough of them. Now I'm not one of those super fans or anything like that but I would like to go and visit G-Fest one of these days in Chicago.

Godzilla is the first truly joyous popcorn action movie I have seen this week so far. I did not want to get up in fear of missing something, I kept forgetting I could pause the movie. Sure Godzilla was not the star of his own movie and it works for me. He is a bit player that stands out and is almost as good looking as Elizabeth Olsen.

So many people out there bashed this movie for many things including to say this was not much better than the 1998 flick. I say they are wrong! Godzilla did not lose his touch in this movie at all.What you don't like that he is the HERO? So you did not watch all fan-beloved, kid-friendly G films? What is wrong with you Godzilla is a Hero! And this feels like a disaster movie... well yeah that is what makes Godzilla movies fun to watch the way he and his battle mate don't care what town they are destroying while the duke it out.

60 years after his first big screen appearance Godzilla 2014 nailed it. I can't wait for the day we see him take on King Kong or Mecha Godzilla on the big screen. I will not wait for this to hit the home theater and I will stop listing to my friends who obviously don't get it. If you're a fan of giant monsters you will like this movie if not it might come off as a snooze fest at times. But give yourself a chance to warm up to the big guy you might find yourself cheering on this lug of a lizard.

4 1/2 Bloody Brains out of 5

They hear him! They feel him! But they can't stop him!

Director: Joe May

Writers:

H.G. Wells (characters)

Joe May (story),

Stars:

Cedric Hardwicke

Vincent Price

Nan Grey

Geoffrey Radcliffe, the wealthy owner of a coal mining operation, is running out of time. In two hours, he is set to be executed for the murder of his brother, a murder he did not commit. His fiancée, Helen Manson, is frantic. Geoffrey's cousin, Richard Cobb, tells her that he has done everything he can. Geoffrey's only hope is his friend, Dr. Frank Griffin. Griffin's late brother once discovered a secret drug that makes a human being invisible. The only trouble is, it also turns its subject mad. But now Geoffrey, Helen and Dr. Griffin have no other choice. Griffin visits Geoffrey at the prison and administers the drug. Soon Geoffrey, made invisible, is able to escape. As the wily Inspector Sampson of Scotland Yard searches for the escaped convict, Griffin frantically searches for an antidote and Geoffrey frantically searches for the real killer. Time is short. Geoffrey is slowly but surely going insane.

Did you know that this is Vincent Price's first horror film, 13 years before House of Wax (1953) typecast him in the genre. He also provided the voice of the Invisble Man in Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948).

From Svengoolie's blog:

This is a pretty good entry in the Universal “Invisible” series- boasting some distinguished stars like Price and Sir Cedric Hardwicke- as well as nicely-pulled-off special effects for the era. We’ll give you behind the scenes info, and point out an inconsistency or two. This is truly a fun show to wind up our 2014!

“Invisible Man Returns” shows up (oh, lord) tonight on MeTV at 10 pm eastern/pacific, 9 central, or, check local listings. Chicago viewers get one more look at the phone fun fright “I Saw What You Did” on our sister station, WCIU, at 11 am.

Speaking of returns- our good friends Steve and Johnnie have returned to WGN radio to do some fill-in during the holiday season- and have kindly invited me to visit with them! So- I’ll drop by 720 AM on Monday at a little after 1 pm to spend some times with my good friends- and I hope you’ll listen in! I’m guessing, if you miss it, it’ll be available as a podcast as well.

Learn the Price of invisibility tonight- as we wrap up our 2014 series of Sven shows!