Its fun to read as you hear!


 

Even way back in the 70's we were treated to Action Comics. Marvel but together a series of comic book and record sets based on the Classic Monsters. I sure with you today Dracula! 

Fall Harvest on Hallmark Channel


Harvest Moon
2015 | Color | 120 Min | 16:9 | G | Stereo | Drama | Hallmark Channel 

Director: 
Peter DeLuise

Writers: 
J.P. Martin
Ron Oliver

Stars: 
Willie Aames
Tony Alcantar
Lynda Boyd

After her family has to file for bankruptcy, a young woman moves to the country in hopes of fixing up a struggling pumpkin farm that her father bought as an investment. Hoping to get the family back on their feet financially, she finds purpose and love.





Yes, I have a soft spot in my heart for love story's too! So this year when I heard Hallmark was running a few Fall Harvest movies I was more than happy to give them a shot. Like most families and households in America, Halllmark Channel will be on for hours on end in December watching Christmas movies. Hallmark had four movies this year, but I only caught two of them. Like all the other Hallmark movies, they are pretty predictable and you can pretty much figure out the outcome in the first 20 minutes. The hard part would have to be can the movie keep you interested the rest of the time. 

I think Willie Aames has aged well

Pino Donaggio's The Tourist Trap


One of the scariest movies I watched this year was Tourist Trap from 1979. One of the greatest parts had to be the soundtrack. These great tunes will surely haunt your mind.


If you want to read more about the movie check out my review here. And make sure you check out all the other blogs celebrating Halloween here. 

The story of the strangest Passion the world has ever known!


Dracula
1931 | B&W | 85 Min | 1.20:1 | NA | Mono | Horror | Universal 

Director: Tod Browning

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.

If Dracula does not get you into the Halloween spirit what will? But tonight will be a little different as Sven will be showing the version featuring the musical soundtrack created by Philip Glass and The Kronos Quartet. Glass was commissioned by Universal to create the score to provide a new dimension to the film, which, aside from the opening “Swan Lake” theme and opera house scene, was devoid of any musical accompaniment.

From Svengoolie.com

“Dracula” runs tonight on MeTV-10 pm eastern/pacific, 9 central, or check local listings. NOTE: If you are not finding us where you normally do- please go to www.metvnetwork.com – click on “where to watch”- and enter your zip code to see who runs MeTV in your area. If you don’t have us anymore- please contact MeTV at that site to let them know that you’ll miss us! 

Make  a long night of it by listening for me with my pal Dave Plier on WGN radio (720AM) after 2:15 or so- we’ll have the honor of chatting with Lou Costello’s daughter Chris-to discuss her dad and “Uncle Bud”, and, of course,“A & C Meet Frankenstein”! And this weekend- I’m proud to be featured in the “Parade’s Picks” section of the weekly national “Parade” magazine supplement that many of you find in your Sunday newspaper with a link to a full article about me! - See more at: http://svengoolie.com/?p=8092#sthash.bxyvasMA.dpuf

They'll scare your pants off...and give you the chill of your life!


Hillbillys in a Haunted House
1967 | Color | 87 Min | 1.85:1 | PG | Mono | Comedy/Horror/Musical | Woolner Brothers Pictures

Source: ConTv.com


Director: Jean Yarbrough

Writers: Duke Yelton

Stars: 
Ferlin Husky
Joi Lansing
Don Bowman
Basil Rathbone
Lon Chaney Jr
John Carradine

Country singers on their way to Nashville have car trouble, forcing them to stop at an old haunted mansion. Soon they realize that the house is not only haunted but is also the headquarters of a ring of international spies after a top secret formula for rocket fuel.

Oh boy, where do I start with this one? Let's start with the title and the cast. Sounds pretty solid to be you get some big hitters the word Hillbilly and Haunted House. Pretty promising too so let sit back and relax to some country jams good looking gam's and Lon Chaney. 

Halloween Food Porn


One of the best things during the Fall season is by far the food. And one of the things for me are Eggo's Pumpkin Spice Waffles! Boy have they been hard to find this year as well. In fact, I have only seen them once at Target. I need to stock up on these this year they are by far the only Eggo I will eat. Now if toaster strudel would bring back their Pumpkin Pie flavored pastry I will die happy.


I have been a little disappointed this year with the lack of time to pick up season brews. In fact, all I had been a Sweet Potato Ale early in the season which, by the way, was fantastic. So what are some of the things you dig this season?

Part of the Countdown to Halloween Blog Hop.

Lumpkin the Pumpkin Rare VHS



Lumpkin the Pumpkin
1994 | Color | 22 Min | 1.37:1 | G | Stereo | Animated | Lions Gate 

Music by Bobby Goldsboro 


It's Halloween! A contest is on among the spooky witches and jack-o'-lanterns to see who can frighten the children the most. But Tara the Good Witch and Lumpkin the Pumpkin don't want to be scary or play tricks. They show the girls and boys how to really enjoy Halloween and how to stay safe too. Singer Bobby Goldsboro narrates and sings this happy tale of tricks, treats, and Halloween fun.

Picked up this VHS early in the season for 20 cents and felt I could not go wrong it's a Halloween special that I have never seen. Well was it worth it, hmm maybe.

The cartoon was not intended to be scary and geared toward younger children. Being this was produced by PBS the  main emphasis is education and safety during trick or treating. The whole idea is not about scaring anyone in order to have fun on Halloween when we are out trick or treating.



In fact, Tara the young witch stops a group of younger kids playing a trick on an old lady that was in reality very nice and more afraid of the kids. Well thank goodness Tara and Lumpkin do not want to scare anybody.


The show was narrated by singer Bobby Goldsboro who after retiring from music he went on to do a few animated kid shows. The songs are really the only fun thing for me after watching this show. The voices were kind of rough the animation was crude to the point that The Worst Witch from the 70's with its psychedelic colors looked better than this. Just misses its mark. 


Well sorry, folks this gem is not out on DVD which is good for me as my VHS is bringing in anywhere from 7 to 32 dollars. But thanks to the glory of YouTube you can find it there. Lumpkin was worth my 20 cents but that was about it. I recommend going the free route if you want to check this out. Or by my VHS tape for ten bucks. 

2 Bloody Brains



Tonight on Svengoolie


Cat and the Canary
1939 | B&W | 72 Min | 1.37:1 | NA | Mono | Comedy/Horror | Paramount Pictures 


Director: Elliott Nugent

Writers: Walter DeLeon

Stars: 
Bob Hope
Paulette Goddard
John Beal

Ten years have passed since the death of millionaire, Cyrus Norman. Cosby, Cyrus' attorney, has gathered Cyrus' 6 remaining relatives to his New Orleans' mansion for Cyrus' "reading of the will". To the others disappointment, Joyce is the sole heir, but, due to a streak of insanity running in the family, a second will have been made in case Joyce falls victim to it. This puts Joyce in danger. Suddenly, Miss Lu, Cyrus' maid, appears and warns them that the spirits have told her that one of them will die that night. Following this, Hendrick, a prison guard, warns them that, "The Cat", a homicidal maniac has escaped. This sets up Cyrus' relatives with a night filled with murders, mysteries, and intrigue.

Did you know this movie is  one of over 700 Paramount productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, that were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since. Because of legal complications, this particular title was not included in the original television package and was not televised until several years later.

Sven showed The Ghost Breakers not to long ago and Bob Hope was fun to watch in that one. Needless to say, I have high hopes for this one. Make sure to check out your local listings for time and channel in your area. Let me know if you tuned in and how you liked Cat and the Canary.

Also, get into the Halloween spirit by checking in with other bloggers over at www.countdowntohalloween.com

Evil beyond evil...


Witchhouse
1999 | Color | 72 Min | 1.37:1 | R | Stereo | Horror | Full Moon Pictures

Source: VHS 

Director: 
David DeCoteau (as Jack Reed)

Writers: 
Charles Band
Neal Marshall Stevens

Stars: 
Matt Raftery
Monica Serene Garnich
Brooke Mueller

May Day 1998 - Dunwich, Massachusetts. In an old mansion, a teenage party is about to take a terrifying turn... When a group of seven kids is invited over by their strange classmate ELIZABETH for a little "get together," they soon become unwitting participants in a horrific sacrificial ritual. LILITH, Elizabeth's ancestor, has returned from the dead to exact her revenge upon the descendants of those that brutally murdered her in a witch hunt 300 years ago.


So I was trying to watch The Tenant today as it is on my bucket list for this Halloween. Needless to say, I could not do it I'm an hour into it and it's soooooo slow. So being that I was alone today I thought why not hit those thrift shops. Low and behold out of the corner of my eye I spotted the Full Moon logo in the VHS section. I must admit it is still fun to find these on VHS being this was the hay day for the company. Now the cover is pretty beaten up and has a few stickers on the front due to being an ex-rental. That did not stop me from popping this bad boy in once I got home. How did it fair well read on and see?

What kind of a thing is it?

Night Monster
1942 | B&W | 73 Min | 1.37:1 | NR | Mono | Horror | Universal

Director: Ford Beebe

Writer: Clarence Upson Young

Stars:
Bela Lugosi
Lionel Atwill
Leif Erickson


Dr. Lynn Harper, psychologist, has been called out to the old Ingston Mansion, a dark and mysterious place with a very bad reputation, in order to make an assessment of the sanity of Margaret Ingston, daughter of patriarch Kurt Ingston. She claims to be sane, but she is clearly very disturbed; we can't be certain, although the doctor gives her a clean bill of health. But then Dick Baldwin shows up on the scene, just when Dr. Lynne has been receiving thinly veiled threats from the inhabitants of the house.




I have not been having much luck latly with watching Svengoolie. First Hold that Ghost was out of Sync and that bummed me out then the movie I was looking forward to Monster On Campus did not DVR thanks to a Northwestern Football game. Normally I'm pretty happy about the Wildcats on TV but not that day! Then came along Night Monster and... well....