HANGOVER SQUARE (1945). Could almost be a retread of THE LODGER with same director, same basic plot, two actors. from LT (Laird Cregar//George Sanders) and many technicians. But feel this has more atmosphere and is actually more frightening with Laird giving a wonderful performance as a seriously damaged composer with Kudos also going to gorgeous Linda Darnell as one of the most duplicitous characters ever, although her final scene is pretty nasty.
From what I heard on the commentary, this was a strife filled production with Cregar desperately trying to lose weight to play Leading Man roles instead of villains (From this and THE LODGER, You can see the weight loss) and seems to have been somewhat confused about his sexual orientation, which back then could haver seriously hampered his careeer. Lots of bickering throughout than some reshoots after primary filming and after Laird had alienated just about everyone. Sadly, all the aggravation Laird put himself through was for naught as he passed away at a too young age of 31::sad::. ***1/2

If you have Amazon prime there is a two hour and forty five minute version of “Horrible Horror” hosted by Zacherely. Movie clips from some real doozies from the 50s / 60s.
Lots of fun and best served with cold beer or whatever smoke you may have.

Sweet! Thanks for the heads-up!

anything for you sweetie::wink::

I got this on VHS back in 1987, a couple of months before my Daughter was born...a TRULY GREAT party tape.
Did find it odd that there are some GOOD films on here like NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, CARNIVAL OF SOULS and ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN>

12 angry men

Probably the best court drama I ever saw. Very watchable. I think of Few Good Men, JFK, Brockovich as contenders.

ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>

Probably the first of the Classic Universals I was able to see...a little bit anyway. Had about 5 FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND and a CASTLE OF FRANKENSTEIN, so was a liitle familiar with titles etc. Saw a picture of Lou standing next to Glenn Strange in the TV Guide which piqued my interest. I was about 8 going on 9 at this time and my Parents would go to parties and leave me and my Brother at a Nursery for a cheap babysitter. Got home and caught the last few minutes starting with Dracula and The Wolfman are chasing each other. Some years later, read the "Fearbook" in FM #105 and finally in Spring 1978, it was playing on TV and really liked it (was truly disheartened years later, watching on regular TV and a commercial break meant the WHOLE scene where Lou returns Talbott's grip was cut-Bastards!)

Have watched it many times over the years and still think it's absolutely one of the BEST films ever---will always be in my Top 10. The Monsters come off with dignity and respect and A&C were never better. Just love "The Moving Candle", Lou's reaction when he first sees The Monster ("Oooooo-WOW!!"::big grin::),
Lou returning the suitcase and writing the note, pulling the quilt over the Monster and the scene where Lou yanks off the tablecloth and his reaction to the camera is guaranteed to send my wife into hysterics... and that's really scratching the service. Good Greg Mank commentary also. *****

In Cold Blood (1967)
7/10

Based on true story of two criminals who who go to steal from a small farmer's safe, but find no safe end up with only $40, and they murder all four family members. Then they sort of meander around avoiding the police, in and out of Mexico, as we see a couple detectives get some incites on the murders and murderers. Based on a book by Truman Capote.

It's crime drama, bordering and melodrama. I thought it had a rather pokey pace, and it didn't inspire me to want to know who the murderers were or why they did it. ‎The flashback reveals were a bit perplexing, and unsatisfying as explanations for the murders. Robert Blake‎, and especially ‎Scott Wilson, do a great job acting, it just wasn't exciting or all that interesting.

The two leads are good and while it has a grim premise (I think it was FANGORIA who called it "The HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER of it's day"), it does poke around and don't find the musical score all that either.

THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES (1962). The effect alcohol has on a Young couples lives is shown in wrenching almost frightening detail. THE LOST WEEKEND (1945) has gotten more of the praise, but Ray Milland's character is such a sclub, you don't really care about him. You like Jack Lemmon and especially Lee Remick-how lovely and vulnerable she is- and hoping there will be some salvation for them. ****

Watched this last Saturday night:
Attachment 19523
Superb.

THIS ISLAND EARTH (1955). Many positive things here-camera work , an awesome score, bright Technicolor, really good special effects, a cool Monster and I like Faith Domergue.
Sadly, the story moves at a snail's pace, the Monster is sadly underused and >>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > it seems our hero/heroine pack up and leave barely a minute after they reach Metaluna!
Worth seeing once, but won't see it again. ***

Well said, Frye! I only saw This Island Earth once, maybe 20 years ago. Considering how wonderful and mind blowing the spaceship, new planet and alien monster are, it's such a shame the scientists are held up in the little house/lab for the first half to three-quarters of the film.

THE MUMMY'S CURSE (1944). At least Universal came up with names for their sequels, instead of something generic like THE MUMMY 5, which to have been the trend for the past few decades.
Despite a new name and some great scenes (Kharis rising, Virginia Christine doing her makeover-she is very good-, Tanthe Berte knocking dust off Kharis, the tumbling walls), this is stil like many of the numbered sequels-it basically rehashes old ideas, doesn't make much sense and seems thrown together.
Cast is decent; Virginia is very good in parts and I find Kay Harding quite charming. Martin Koslek delivers his usual good performance (and as usual, up to no good!) and I believe Peter Coe is the ONLY High Preist in the series who doesn't throw over the mission for a pretty face!
Have heard Lon JR HATED playing Kharis and You can practically feel it in his performance; he, probably more than the rest of us, was probably just glad it was over! **

HOMICIDAL (1961). William Castle makes his version of PSYCHO, complete with the "Coward's Corner". Sadly, this lacks the fun of earlier films and the story is needlessly complicated...was hoping Vincent Price would turn up in here somewhere. LOVE the two films he and Castle made togeather! **1/2

Colossus of New York (1957)
7/10

A genius scientist (Ross Martin), who was working on planting crops in inhospitable regions to prevent world starvation, gets hit by a truck and dies. His brain surgeon father, and automation expert brother, incorporate his brain into a robot. What follows is questions of soul, body, family, life, morality in regards to the dangers of cybernetics and artificial life.

Colossus of New York oscillates between genius and laughable clunky moments. Some of the lines are profound; some of the acted scenes are adept and emotionally palpable, and others are darn right cornball and cringe worthy. The film has some fine sets and special effects as well. The subject matter is now approaching modern and it's themes are still valid. As the last quarter of the film reveals an unrefined script and feels like a hack job, the film would have greatly benefited from a budget and schedule that aloud for rewrites and reshoots. Still, the short 70 minute runtime allows one to enjoy the finer aspects of the film without burning a hole in one's chair.

DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951). Truly great film about a visiting ETI who has a message for us that may be wonderful or end up in catastrophe, depending on our behavior. Well acted by all principals and actually kind of frightening during the title sequence>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILIER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>> that shows how incredibly DEPENDANT we are on automation and I can't even begin to imagine the chaos some almost 70 years later if that happened, especially if people were denied use of their Cell phones for more than a minute. *****

Not horror by any means but I was in a very nostalgic mood earlier and watched "With Six You Get Eggroll". And I can only think of one other on this forum who will have the slightest idea what I'm talking about.

BLOODY MAMA (1969). Very admiring of Roger Corman's production abilities, but don't really care for most of what he directs; just doesn't work for me. This is a loosely based drama of Ma Barker and her brood and just about every loathsome quality in people you can imagine is here, starting with the first scene. Cast is very good, however, with Shelley Winters stealing every scene she's in, and also has Pat ingle, Scatman Crothers, Don Stroud, Bruce Dern and a very young Robert DeNiro. **

::big grin::::stick out tongue::

THE AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN (1957). Not that it's saying much, but feel this is Bert I Gordon's (BIG) best film, although he obviously didn't have extra cash for special effects and most of them here are pretty threadbare. Decent story of a kind act of humanity being horribly punished by the fickle finger of fate and a good performance by Glenn Langan. Also, dig the inventive use of a hypodermic needle! ***

I saw this as a kid and the hypo scene devastated me. It's a real horror film, a true gut punch. But I only saw it once as a kid, hard to remember. Have to see it again sometime.

THE BLACK ZOO (1963). Herman Cohen production with nasty Michael Gough (other than BATMAN, don't think he was EVER kind) using his private zoo to get back at various enemies and pretty sadistic for the time. ***

MR HOBBS TAKES A VACATION (1962). Jimmy Stewart is a burned out business man who wants to take a vacation with wife Maureen O'Hara (still incredibly lovely) but she has rented a beach house for their two younger children, two grown up daughters with their families, a cook (Minerva Urcal from THE APE MAN) and dropping ins.
Of course the house is less than satisfactory and family situation not so hot, but things do get better.
Decent enough story with JS getting most of the laughs with his befuddled, exasperated moments with this group of people he loves, but can't quite figure out (including John Saxon as a brainy Son-In-Law).
Personally, I would have told all these people I was going on a drive to pick up Ice Cream...and keep on driving. **1/2

Duck Soup (1933)
7/10

Wackiness and clever lines is what it's about. The story isn't that cohesive, and certainly not pertinent, but if you must know, it's about a fictional country called Freedonia that's going bankrupt. One wealthy widow will make a lone only if Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx) is made "president". Firefly wants her money via marriage, as does the ambassador (Louis Calhern) of neighboring country Sylvanian, which hires Chico and Harpo Marx to spy on Firefly and eventually invades.

Basically, the Marx brothers are wacky and break the forth wall while everyone else plays it straight. There really isn't any great social commentary, though some want to see it. Also, the Marx brothers did not write the script. There's a great famous scene where Chico dresses like Firefly while spying on him in his palace and breaks a giant mirror. When Firefly arrives, Chico mimics everything Firefly does as though he's the reflection.

THE BIG SLEEP (1946). Just finished reading the Raymond Chandler source novel and have always liked this one immensely. Such great dialogue and poweful turns by Bogart, Elisha Cook, Martha Vickers (great as the slutty hophead-also in CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN and also at one time Mrs Mickey Rooney::shocked::!) and Dorothy Malone. Even though the story is amazingly convuluted, the film doesn't suffer at all.

Remember Sculpt had mentioned an alternate version (1945), which is what I watched this time. Apparantly, Lauren Bacal's films after TO HAVE AND TO HAVE NOT were less than successful, so Warners figured more scenes with Bogart would help (By this time, thy were married) and the film was released almost a year later. While the 1945 version is more linear, the 1946 version has more scenes, some trimming of parts which really didn't help the story much and even a different actress playing Mrs Eddie Mars. As far as I'm concerned, the 46 version is the one to watch and definitely in my Bogie Top 10. ***1/2 (1945), ***** (46)

Interesting to hear a review of the 45, never seen it. Yeah, the film has such a fast pace and punchy, the details of the story don't matter much. Maybe you can PM me where you happened to come across the 45 version?

HORROR ISLAND (1941). Despite the impressive technical aspects, this is just an awful waste of time with Dick Foran and two annoying sidekicks offering a cruise to an island with an old mansion and maybe buried trasure. Feel the script was supposed to be funny and is just exasperating.
Dick Foran (THE MUMMY'S HAND) is somewhat engaging here as is Peggy Moran (also in TMH), but that's about all I can say about it.
According to UNIVERSAL HORRORS (a 1990 book about the 1931-46 Scare flicks from them-if You like these films, this Brunas Brothers/Tom Weaver tome is essential), the production on this was extremely rushed with everyone working long days. Might have been better if Exec producer Ben Pivar (noticed his name in a lot of Universal's that don't cut it) lenghtened the schedule and the $. *

Looking for the name of one of the Creature Feature/Chiller Theater B&W's
 

Hi all, I'm a newbie here, I have been trying to find anything on an old B&W
horror movie that was aired late 60's - 70's the movie was aired on Creature
features and Chiller, near as I can remember the name was either Return from
the Ashes or Return to the Ashes, it was actually 4 short movies the only one
I can clearly remember had to do with a vampyre taking in a border and at the
end tries to feast on him on the front porch of the house but to the vampyer's
surprise the full moon changes the border into a werewolf and he attacks the
vamp end of story, if anyone even knows the name of the classic horror flick
please let me know, many thanks !

This is RETURN FROM THE PAST aka DR TERROR'S GALLERY OF HORRORS (1967). Michael Weldon's PSYCHTRONIC ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FILM mentions the scene You spoke about.
Pretty sure You could find this on YOUTUBE.
Hope this helps.

CALLING DR DEATH (1943). While the openings of the INNER SANCTUM's creeped me out at 10-11 (the guy in the Crystal Ball), even then I felt the films weren't all that impressive and as a Geeezer getting close to 60::sad::, it's even more difficult to watch them.
Love Lon Chaney JR and know He was put in the IS series for Marquee Value, but he is just not convincing as an Intellectual/ Babe Magnet. The endless voice overs and self flaggelation just add to the overall mediocrity.
Decent cast helps a little with harrassing J Carroll Naish (HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE MAD MONSTER), Fay Helm (THE WOLF MAN, CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN, NIGHT MONSTER), Ramsay Ames (THE MUMMY'S GHOST), David Bruce (THE MAD GHOUL) and lovely Patricia Morison (DRESSED TO KILL, HITLER'S MADMAN and much Broadway) who is the only reason You might want to watch this. *1/2

One little word makes all the difference !
 

Thanks very much FryeDwight, I have been searching for years looking for the info you gave me, don't know how I ever got "past" switched with "ashes", I have another movie I've been looking for also with no luck because I probably
did it again with the name, hope you don't mind me asking you about it, this
movie started with a bunch of people being invited to a party, later some of
the guests wind up with their throats ripped out and the group decides it's a werewolf amongst them, they pass out silver bullets to everyone and one by one they put the bullet in their mouths to prove they are not the werewolf, it turns out to be a woman at the table, for some reason I thought this was
"Night of the Blood Beast" but I was mistaken, any ideas ?

Glad to have helped Avian 7::big grin::

Very sure the other film is THE BEAST MUST DIE! (1974) with Calvin Lockheart and Peter Cushing. Reading your descriptions reminded me of when my wife and I saw it on an October vaca some years back. Probably on YOUTUBE also.
Good Luck!

THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE (1946). Great sets and genuinely atmospheric camerawork-particularly shadows-still can't save this listless melodrama of a recently mute servant girl being targeted by a Serial killer dispatching "Less than Perfect" women. Lots of annoying characters-particularly Kent Smith and Ethel Barrymore- don't help either and surprised the poor servant girl didn't collapse of exaustion due to all the piddling errands she is sent on. As usual, Elsa Lanchester gets the best lines. She is the best part of this and an early performance by Rhonda Fleming who was incredibly babealicious even back then::love::. **

SEVEN MEN FROM NOW (1956). Decent Bud Botteler western with Randolph Scott searching for his wife's murders, encountering a couple of homesteaders and a seriously evil Lee Marvin. One of Gail Russell's (THE UNINVITED) last films before her early and sad demise. ***

Dracula Has Risen From The Grave

THE VALLEY OF GWANGI (1969). A dinosaur Western that takes a little while to get going, but stick with it and You'll probably enjoy. Ray Harryhausen's effects work are probably the best he ever did, with the title character appropriately meanacing, although You certainly will feel for him towards the end. Most frightening part is HOW MUCH Richard Carlson (THE CREATURE VROM THEBLACK LAGOON, IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE) looks like Mitch Peleggi (THE X FILES, SUPERNATURAL)! ***1/2

What'd you think of it, Scarecrows?

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946). And It's a Wonderful Film. Hard to believe this was sort of a box office dud in its day and really didn't pick up steam until its copyright expired and TV stations began showing it around Xmas. While it's been derided as "Corny", think it's anything but. There is a Happy ending, but the hell our protagonist goes through makes it a welcome one. I really like Jimmy Stewart and don't think he was ever better than as George Bailey, the decent guy who seems to catch more unlucky breaks than anything else; the anguished desperation as he clutches his youngest son gives me goosebumps.
Excellent cast as well, with Lionel Barrymore (despicible), Samuel S Hinds (THE RAVEN, MAN MADE MONSTER), Gloria Grahame (THE BIG HEAT, BLOOD AND LACE), Ward Bond and (especially) Donna Reed shining. *****

In my top 5 favorite Christmas movies!