scary nuns
 

We seem to be stretching the idea of horror movie to some movies that most people don't fit in that category. This isn't a complaint. I will seize any excuse to discuss some of my favorite movies.
I sometimes find myself whistling a certain tune, and think "What am I whistling?" Then I wack my head an cry "Good grief! It's the theme music to The Trouble with Angels, a 1960s Disney live-action comedy starring Hayley Mills. Well, it's a horror movie if you find nuns scary (The Nun.)

The "Real Time" means. as far as I know, that the events take up the same amount of time as the length of the film.

Without trying to give away too much of the film, the Pluck is when he is doing better than he or anyone else thought he would be doing and the Bad Luck is when the outcome is different than what was expected.
Convoluted as all get out, I will concede, but hope this clears it up a bit before You actually see the film
What Bogart film is that? THE BIG HEAT is by Fritz Lang with Glenn Ford. The Bogie one doesn't sound familiar to Me. Love Bogart, so any info You give would be appreciated-Thanks::big grin::!

It feels odd having to post Psycho in here since the movie still holds up today.

I definetily want to see it again.

Sorry, I meant The Big Sleep (1946). ::big grin:: It was the big something.

Yeah, they stay with Bogart in every scene, or almost, near by outside a room. And it's over a fairly short period of time. So it's not real time. Rope is a real time film.

Well, thanks for the info. TBS is a great film!

DRACULA (1931). For Xmas, my Supervisor got me a six pack of the Classic Universal Monsters, saying to me how he was "...taking a chance You might have these!" The set includes D, FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, THE INVISIBLE MAN, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN and THE WOLF MAN. While I do have all of them, this edition does have real sharp picture quality and additional Special Features, which will make this a keeper.
As I've said before, DRACULA is a well made film with SO MANY good moments and then so much dullness...so incredibly stagey and showing Director Todd Browning's inexperience/unease with Talkies. But the good is so good (particularly in the Castle) that I'll just usually read while the dull stuff is playing and still throw out the ::love:: for Bela Lugosi and Dwight Frye. **1/2

Next up is FRANKENSTEIN....

That's a very nice Universal set of films! I'm sure that wasn't cheap. Well, at least that wouldn't have been cheap in the recent past. What kind of special features do they have? I wonder if these directors or actors ever did a commentary on the films? Probably wouldn't have been recorded while they were watching the film (like they do today) but a smart guy could line up commentary during the film that fits (although I'm sure there wouldn't be commentary for every scene).

I think 2.5 (out of 5?) is the lowest I've seen you give Dracula. It has some slow spots, and I think Harken, the father, Mina and Lucy are rather drab, but Bela, Frye and Van Slone are really good, and they drive the film. I tend to go by my first viewing, which was during the day with my mom, and I was riveted. I'd never watch the film late night when I'm sleepy, unless I want to sleep there, and get woken up with a scream. ::big grin::

I watched THE SET-UP (1949), and maybe I was checking it out too late at night, but found it a little humdrum... I really liked the first 30min setup or so, the couple, the boxing life of the new guy and mental degradation of the older boxer, and the manager taking the bribe. But the boxing sequences are pretty lame to be going on so long. The ending seemed a bit anticlimactic, in the sense what happened was about what I expected, and not very dramatic or dynamic, and the the ending seemed pretty abrupt. Maybe it sounds silly, but I wished they had condensed the film into an hour and then the next 30 mins into their new life.

real time
 

Movies shot in "real time." "Real time" is a phrase we didn't use to have a use for. Like when I go to a coffee shop and ask for my iced coffee in a "glass glass."

Personally, I wouldn't have minded seeing some of their new life...some happiness was needed.
The set I got has new Extras for DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY and THE WOLFMAN, so 4 out of six not bad. Along with all the original extras are some new commentaries for D, F and TM and good docs on Bela, Boris, Lon and Jack Pierce.

THE MUMMY (1932). This one I appreciate more as I get older. While it's still very slow paced and almost a remake of DRACULA in many parts, still has some kickass moments, one of the best openers ever for any film and such a tragic love story throughout. One of my favorite Karloff turns and LOVE the extreme close up of him after Edwards "I'd break your dried flesh to pieces"...apparently the Film makers did too as it's repeated a few times! ****

And it is steller looking (the mummy). Do they have any commentaries that play with the film? What do they have for the mummy?

Happy to help!
DRACULA-David Skal (a great one) and Steve Haberman
FRANKENSTEIN-Rudy Behlmer, Christopher Freyling
THE MUMMY-Paul Jensen, Rick Baker/Scott Essman/Steve Haberman/ Bob Burns/Brent Armstrong
THE INVISIBLE MAN-Rudy Behlmer
BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN-Scott MacQueen
THE WOLF MAN-Tom W order a eaver and an new feature about the film.
Enjoy the old ones and also the new, but would have liked Greg Mank to do a new one or two

PATHS OF GLORY (1957). Early Stanley Kubrick that has lots of zip along with the great camera work You would associate with him. Takes place during WW1 where things are at a standstill and two French generals (Adolphe Menjou and George Macready are both despicable) order an attack on a German position that is pretty much a disaster. Instead of taking blame, they choose three scapegoats and it's up to Kirk Douglas (VERY good here) to try to help them. Fantastic film on all levels with an amazing battle sequence, sets and performances, especially by Douglas, Ralph Meeker and Timothy Carey. Was banned in France after its release and may still be. *****

A Christmas Carol, 1938. 8/10

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THE GORGAN (1964). While the titular monster isn't so much, this Hammer has, in my opinion, aged a lot better than many of the time. Great sets and music and some real good performances by Christopher Lee (one of his better ones), Peter Cushing and Barbara Shelley. ***1/2

I've actually never seen this one, though I seem to recall starting it one Saturday afternoon and bailing on it, as a kid. Not that any of the Hammer films were for kids, but they became staples in the 'creature feature' TV format, and Gorgon was probably least accessible to a kids sensibilities.

DAD, believe that's from the 1951 version with Alister Sim.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938). Pretty much agree with your rating (8/10). There have been many versions of the Dickens story, but like this one the best. Really good sets and Reginald Owen shines as Scrooge. Only beef I can have is a few aspects of the story pertaining to why Scrooge is the way he is are missing (revealed in more detail in 1951's version). Figured MGM had the capital to include them in the story.
Really good, though, overall and lots of cast members who were in other genre favorites: Gene Lockheart (MIRACLE ON 34th STREET), Terry Kilburn (THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, FIEND WITHOUT A FACE), Leo G Carroll (TOWER OF LONDON, TARANTULA), Billy Bevan (DRACULA'S DAUGHTER, RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE), Harry Cording (THE BLACK CAT, many Sherlock Holmes), Olaf Hytten (GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN, many Sherlock Holmes), Forrester Harvey (THE INVISIBLE MAN), Halliwell Hobbes (DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE, many Sherlock Holmes) and June Lockheart ( SHE WOLF OF LONDON and TV's LOST IN SPACE). ****

Zombie's Lake (1981)

I've a question regarding this film: Why would they, of all things, make a German stormtrooper one of the most compassionate zombies in horror history?!

It's a Momma!

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In Christmas Carol '38, I like the scene where all the kids are so happy discovering pops brought home a goose, they open up the covering and all the kids happily rubdown the dead goose!

It looks like a nice tight and cosey version of the story. I know I've seen it, but I don't remember it all that well.

Why do you say they were compassionate? In a trailer I saw they just looked like slow moving biters to me.

The trailer obviously didn't show you that one zombie had a daughter that lived in the town and he wouldn't kill her and let others do the same, he guarded her.

CHARLIE CHAN'S MURDER CRUISE/ CHARLIE CHAN IN PANAMA (both 1940)

Had never seen any of the series with Sidney Toler playing the inscrutable CC, and may be awhile before doing again. Decent pace on both films (single disc) with lots of cool supporting actors, particularly Lionel Atwill::love:: in both. Both were made by Paramount, but they both have a 1940's Universal vibe: silly, rushed and unfunny comedy relief. CCIP does get some help from pretty accurate naming of various spots in Panama that I remember from living in the Canal Zone from 1973-76. The biggest liability is the inclusion of "Number Two Son" played by Victor Sen Young...almost every scene gets thrown into the toilet by his character and almost wish Charle would put him in the Army or feed him to the sharks. In the same year, Young was very good in THE LETTER, playing an extremely conniving aide and he also ended playing Hop Sing on BONANZA!

CCMC-**1/2
CCIP-**

BELA LUGOSI MEETS A BROOKLYN GORILLA (1952). While it is as interesting as its title, Bela does get some good scenes in here. Also known as THE BOYS FROM BROOKLYN, the boys in question being Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo. Duke isn't much, but Sammy looks and acts almost uncannily as a young Jerry Lewis...and about as annoying as Jerry could be too! **

You were in PCZ 73-76? What was that like? I watched a netflix doc on the PCZ a few months ago. Do you think the US should have given back full ownership/control to the state of Panama?

I always wondered about this movie. Has a title you'd never forget. I assume Bela is not playing himself, right? I think I always wondered if it would be too silly. Is this a comedy or serious?

Hi Sculpt::big grin::
PCZ was an intersting time. My Dad was stationed in Norfolk VA befpre PCZ and we left there in a nasty Blizzard with Charleston SC our destination, but we got rerouted to Jacksonville FL as Charleston was snowed in. Took a train the next day and by the time we got to Charleston, we were straded and the National Guard had to collect us and remember getting to the airport and getting a NIGHTMARE magazine and picking up VAMPIRELLA #23 and a wrestling magazine the next day as we waited hours for the plane to come. When we finally landed, could not believe how warm it was after all the cold and how it stayed that way year round other than a dry period of a few months. The CZ was very Americanized with all the things You would expect from small town America. Lots of swimming pools, Bowling alleys,and all the Monster/wrestling/ Comic magazines I wanted! My Mom had a bit of a wanderlust, so lots of day trips to Pacific/Atlantic sides of the country, the Canal itself and old Panama City which we lived next to. Joined the Boy Scouts and several hikes involving a trip to an island and through a jungle path Henry Morgan carved to get to Panama City.
Even as a little kid, could feel the resentment from the locals about US presence and was appalled when Carter signed it over and figured at least, US should get some payment for building the thing, but politics don't really mesh on entertaiment boards. Crazy thing was, after my Dad's tour was over, we got shipped to an Army base above Chicago IL right next to Lake Michigan, so back to snow!~

BLMABG has Bela's name for Marquee value-he is called Dr Zabor in the film. He helps, but movie still geys a ** from me.

From a US interest perspective, it's too bad the canal zone wasn't at the border of two countries; where the US would have had an easier time purchasing the land. As it is, it's right down the middle of the Panama nation, so to purchase it would literally slice the nation into two, something the people of Panama would not like at all.

I'm glad they didn't, but this is where you would have expected the CIA try to foment a North Vs South Panama, with one of them breaking off to form their own country, making it easier for the US to force a purchase.

I think the US should have tried to purchase the land with a name-your-price amount. I can't remember now, but I assume Panama refused. Next, the US should have tried to give all the Net income from the canal to Panama in return for owner-operations. Lastly, if the US had to, give all income from the canal to Panama in return for owner-operations -- it would be worth it to the US. I don't know if those were offered Panama, but it's done now.

Gorilla -- It would be funny if Bela became Dracula and fought the gorilla. That's what people want. ::big grin::

The Shuttered Room, 1969. 7/10

Director: David Greene

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LOVE FROM A STRANGER (1937). Pretty good Agatha Christie story (and it has a future Miss Marple -Joan Hickson-in one of her first roles) that has good performances by Ann Harding , whose engagement to snooty Ronnie is broken due to her winning a lottery and meeting smooth talking Basil Rathbone and of course, things are not quite what they appear to be.
Some slow spots, but really not bad overall and quite exciting towards the end as BR goes into total Looney Tunes phase. Directed by Rowland V Lee who later directed Basil in two more expensive productions-SON OF FRANKENSTEIN and TOWER OF LONDON-a couple of years down the road. ***

I LOVE Agatha Christie!!!

"Would you like to see the kitchen?" LOL Looks like a fun film. Would guess a totally different movie altogether if you switch year numbers Love from a Stranger (1973). Did you ever see Tower of London? I don't think I had even heard of it.


Isle of the Dead (1945)
7/10

Classic dark drama starring Boris Karloff as a General Pherides, who takes a one day respite from the Balkan Wars of 1912 to take American reporter Oliver Davis (Marc Cramer) to see a nearby island were the General's wife is buried. There's a spectre of plague, and they, with a small group already there, are forced to stay until the threat passes. The visitors then must deal with an accusation that a sickly woman's young greek companion Thea (Ellen Drew) is a vorvolaka, a malevolent force in human form.

The film has rich effective black and white cinematography and starts out intriguing enough, as Karloff is a cold and dutiful general who struggles with conflicting beliefs, civil duties and compassion. As the 1hr 11min film moves into the second half, the characters and scenes lose sharpness and purpose, making for a slow pace and seemingly meandering plot; but the poetic end comes quick enough.

Kind of had a fondness for "Are You going to believe that doddering old Fool or Me?'" or even "Faster! FASTER!!"::big grin::

Kind of ambivalent of IOTD, certainly not bad, but just doesn't gel all the way for me. Knew there were production problems throughout the shooting which may have caused said feelings.

THE CAINE MUTINY (1953). The "Romantic Leads" are nothing special, but good performances by Van Johnson, Jose Ferrer and Lee Marvin help out. Also, probably Humphrey Bogart's BEST performance-he truly makes the film worth seeing; his twitchy paranoid Captain Queeg is right up there with Sam Spade, Phillip Marlowe and Fred C Dobbs. Only spoiler I can possibly offer is Fred MacMurray's character is SUCH a bitch. ***

THE MANSTER (1962, athough different dates have been shown). Back when I discovered the absolute joy of spending hours visiting Fan sites on the Internet, one of my favorites was the very much missed EC-ECENTRIC CINEMA which had a sense of fun with decent reviews, good photos/sound clips and very fair rating system. What made Me fall in love was their statement "Sometimes We ENJOY Bad Movies" and THE MANSTER belongs in that category. For this one, EC had a trio of pictures at the top which said "Half Man...Half Monster...ALL JERK!"::big grin::
While the circumstances of becoming the title creature are not his fault , Larry becomes a nasty drunken whoremaster and You really don't care what happens to him, although the end result is quite humorous. More frightening is that Larry looks like a cross between William H Macy and Lon Chaney JR!
While this review looks critical, this is a fun little flick that should be checked out for the sheer lunacy of it. Even more bizarre is the fact that the married couple here (Larry/Linda) met on the set and actually had a long happy marriage togeather! ****

On my list! Is whoremaster one of the creature's powers? ::big grin::

Could be, Sculpt! He DOES to seem to get more moxie as the film continues.

THE WILD BUNCH (1969). "It ain't like the old Days, but it will do" says Edmond O'Brien to Robert Ryan towards the end, and this could probably also suffice for the Western genre itself. While there has always been some dustiness in westerns, John Wayne/Gary Cooper et al always looked clean and noble and The "Bunch" is anything but. They are filthy and absolutely amoral, despite a "Code" they have. Probably the best Western ever made with a first rate cast, wonderful scenery and one of the most violent films I've ever seen, in particular the final Gun battle-it's literally a squib overdose and one can only imagine the reactions to original audiences. *****

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT>>>>>>>>>. While this is a classic, albeit grimy film, one scene I do not like at all. Not at all fond of arachnids nor insects, but deplore the scene where children are pushing a couple of scorpions into Red ants, then setting it all on fire. Maybe it was director Sam Peckinpah's way to say that life is cheap and brutish...perhaps, but I don't like seeing animals killed just for exploitation (which is why I hate most of the Jungle cannibal films), especially when he shows this about six times.

Horrors of Malformed Men. 1969. 8/10


Director: Teruo Ishii



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THE GHOST AND MRS MUIR (1947). Wonderful romantic love story between a widowed woman and aghost. Good turns by lovely Gene Tierney, rex Harrison, George Sanders and Anna Lee.
Two commentaries that are very informative by Greg Kimble and Jeanine Basinger suffer with the addition of Christopher Husted (who talks about the Bernard Herrmann score, but seems to relish telling tales of Bern's abrasive behavior) and Kenneth Geist (Joseph Mankiewicz biographer who does not seem to like the film at all, criticizing Gene's performance, simply mean comments of the actress playing grown up Anna, referring to Harrison as "corporeal" at least three times and basically being a bitch!). *****

I've never seen this, 5 stars is some high praise from you. Sounds like a feel good film for sure.

Too bad about the commentary. Very strange people recounting a film from 1947 would be attacking each other. Doesn't time heal all wounds? Unless the interviewer was trying to drag this stuff out of them? How old is much of this material for the commentary?

Definitely a feelgood movie-we got the DVD around 2005-07 and not sure how old the commentaries are. Both sets seemed to get along, but I felt the extra commentators were not needed. For commentary excellence, I really like Greg Mank (so much trivia/info and absolutely no dead air) along with David Skal, Rudy Behlmer and Scott MacQueen.

THE UNEARTHLY (1957). May have mentioned this one before, but don't really recall and I feel the more love TU receives is all for the better/. nAn over the top John Carradine, while running a sanitarium, is really using it as a front to procure Guinea pigs for his experiments with a man made gland with all sorts of wacky goings on. Always liked JC and even though he made a LOT of turkeys, he NEVER gave a walk through performance and he just shines in here. Also with Tor Johnson, Allison Hayes (the 50 Foot woman herself!), Sally Todd (FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER as well as a PLAYBOY Playmate), Marilyn Buford (Miss America 1946) and an actor who ended up in the POLICE ACADEMY movies engaging in fisticuffs with his son. ****

THE LODGER (1944). I find this Jack The Ripper film a little overrated, although Merle Oberon and Sir Cedric Hardwicke give decent turns. But Laird Cregar steals the film as the titular character and is the main reason to see this, especially towards the end. Some exceptional camera angles also. ***

Charlie Chan
 

I know that some Asian Americans have protested against Charlie Chan as a stereotype. I think one of the things they object to in him is that he has such nice manners. In America it isn't considered manly to be polite.
I guess Warner Oland belong to the long list of non-Asian actors who have played Asians. Like in the Manchurian Candidate, Henry Silva (a Puerto Rican) is supposed to be a Korean, and Kigh Diegh (a New Yorker of Egyptian parentage) is supposed to be Chinese.
For old film buffs, check out Warner Oland in his brief appearance as a werewolf in Werewolf of London.
And for non-Asian actors who have played Asians, how could I leave out Boris Karloff in "The mask of Fu Manchu." I have read all the Fu Manchu novels, and I am a big Karloff fan, and I haven't seen this movie.
And Myrna Loy (The Thin Man) played Fu Manchu's daughter, as I learned from reading Famous Monsters of Filmland a long time ago.

HOLD THAT GHOST 1941

Not as good as Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein but had its moments.

Joan Davis steals the show

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I've seen Mask of Fu Manchu. It's weird. And it is unambiguously racist.

speaking of " unambiguously racist" the "Me and my Shadow" routine in "Hold That Ghost" had me cringing.

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