Tormented (1960)

November 16, 2021 Ken Miller Leave a comment

Tom Stewart (Richard Carlson), a jazz pianist living in an island community, is haunted by the ghost of his ex girlfriend Vi Mason (Juli Reding), who he allowed to fall to her death from a lighthouse.

Vi hangs from the top of the lighthouse and Tom doesn't come to her aid — Vi hangs from the top of the lighthouse and Tom doesn’t come to her aid

I like this cheesy B&W ghost flick quite a bit!

Come on, Richard, these are special effects in a Bert I Gordon movie: it's no good pretending you can't see them! — Come on, Richard, these are special effects in a Bert I Gordon movie: it’s no good pretending you can’t see them!

TORMENTED, directed by Bert I Gordon (who swaps his usual giant creatures for a ghostly gal this time), features a neat little story that keeps you interested as you watch Carlson becoming ever more paranoid, repeatedly seeing the ghostly Reding… who very often appears just as a head, a hand or footprints. At one point Carlson thinks he finds Reding’s drowned corpse but it becomes just a pile of seaweed: is he losing his mind?

The ghostly hand crawls across the carpet

Tom 'sees' Vi's disembodied head... or is it a plant vase? — Tom ‘sees’ Vi’s disembodied head… or is it just a vase of flowers?

There’s an enjoyable soundtrack that is jazzy with creepy moments, director Gordon’s daughter Susan is pretty good as young sis Sandy, the special effects are very simple yet quirkily effective in their own way and, well, TORMENTED has a novel vibe all its own.

The special effects are pretty simple, but I like them! — The special effects are not THAT special, but I like them!

Nick the blackmailing beatnik (Joe Turkel) — Nick the blackmailing beatnik ferryman is played by Joe Turkel

Lugene Sanders plays Tom's fiancée Meg Hubbard — Lugene Sanders plays Tom’s fiancée Meg Hubbard

Juli Reding, as the vengeful spirit Vi, looks like she had a fun time in her role, playfully harassing Richard Carlson’s character Tom throughout the film…

…”Tom Stewart killed me! Tom Stewart killed me!”

Here are some colourful posters for TORMENTED…

DVD covers…

Killer Creature Double Feature DVD cover

Finally, some lobby cards…

This Mexican lobby card adds some blood!

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973)

November 14, 2021 Ken Miller Leave a comment

Kali: one of Ray Harryhausen's greatest creations! — Kali: one of Ray Harryhausen’s greatest creations!

Sinbad (John Phillip Law), his crew, a Vizier (Douglas Wilmer) and a slave girl called Margiana (Caroline Munro) undertake a voyage to find the legendary Fountain of Destiny in Lemuria, but a master of black arts, Koura (Tom Baker), is also set on acquiring the Fountain’s gifts to conquer the land of Marabia.

Directed by Gordon (SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN) Hessler, this movie was the second of three Ray Harryhausen Sinbad films released by Columbia Pictures (the other two were THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD and SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER) and it’s my personal favourite.

Margiana is offered up to the God of the Single Eye... a centaur! — Margiana is offered up to the God of the Single Eye… a centaur!

For me THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD has the best ‘feel’ of the three Harryhausen Sinbad productions: the lighting is great, the sets are marvellous, it has the best dialogue, and the general atmosphere is a satisfying mix of seriousness, fantasy, adventure and humour.

Sinbad fights for his life in a fine-looking Lemurian temple set — Sinbad fights for his life in a moody Lemurian temple set

The score by composer Miklós Rózsa is wonderful, especially during the exciting sword fight between Sinbad’s crew and a statue of Kali. Rózsa had provided the music for THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (1940), a favourite film of Ray’s. THE THIEF OF BAGDAD had also featured green-skinned men and this Sinbad adventure has similar green tribesmen.

The main selling point of any Ray Harryhausen production is the chance to enjoy Ray’s stop-motion effects and THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD has a fine selection of animated adversaries, including the aforementioned many-armed Kali. Along with the Kali fight scene, the initial sequence that introduces Kali is also very well-done: the fact that Ray, through his stop-motion skills, imbues the six-armed statue with ‘life’ and then proceeds to show her dancing too is just amazing.

Other stop-motion creations include a wooden ship’s figurehead and winged homunculi. The scene in which Koura creates the second small homunculus from a jar of leaves and chemicals is effectively done, with the tiny creature acting as if it has just been born.

'Birth' of the homunculus — ‘Birth’ of the homunculus

Koura uses his dark magic to animate the figurehead on Sinbad's ship — Koura uses his dark magic to animate the figurehead on Sinbad’s ship

There is also an impressive cyclopean centaur, which kidnaps Margiana, then does battle with a griffin!

Some folks moan that the griffin just kind of strolls into the story to have a fight with the centaur and then gets killed. But this winged creature is performing a role set out in a prophecy told to Sinbad by the Oracle of All Knowledge (played by an uncredited Robert Shaw in striking makeup) and so, for me, the sudden appearance works fine because the griffin is functioning as part of the prophecy (which states “Destiny is a place where both good and evil wait” – the griffin obviously personifies the good) and when we see it get wounded by Koura so that the centaur can gain the upper hand in the battle, the griffin is again playing its part in the prophecy (“for it is the deeds of weak and mortal men that may tip the scales one way or the other.”)

The horned Oracle of All Knowledge is consulted

Lobby card shows Sinbad taking on the centaur

Tom Baker, as Koura, ageing every time he uses his magic, is the best villain in the Sinbad trilogy of films, I think. John Phillip Law is a fine Sinbad (the best!) and the lovely Caroline Munro adds glamour as slave girl Margiana, dripping sex appeal in all her scenes. Douglas (JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS) Wilmer, as the badly burned Vizier, is hidden by a mask for most of the running time, but his voice is a great contribution to the film.

Tom Baker as Koura, surrounded by green tribesmen

The Vizier reveals his scarred face to act as a distraction, so that Sinbad can escape the green men. — Douglas Wilmer as the Vizier reveals his scarred face to act as a distraction, so that the protagonists can escape the green men.

Sinbad offers the Vizier a crown of untold riches

Ultimately, I think this Sinbad film stands out because its story uses the overarching theme of Destiny very well, in a script written by Brian Clemens that includes lots of chat peppered with praise to Allah, humour and colourful aphorisms: “My heart is filled with courage! But I have very cowardly legs.”

“Trust in Allah, but tie up your camel!”

Kali will be a real handful in a fight! — Kali is a real handful!

Some posters for the film…

Lobby cards…

VHS, DVD and Blu-ray covers…

Marvel Comics did an adaptation of the movie…

Publicity photo…

Finally, here’s a Ray Harryhausen concept drawing that shows a proposed fight between the centaur and a giant Neanderthal Man…

The Neanderthal Man was replaced with a griffin in GOLDEN VOYAGE, but a Troglodyte would feature in SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER — The Neanderthal Man was replaced with the griffin in GOLDEN VOYAGE, but a big Troglodyte would feature in SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER

Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)

November 6, 2021 Ken Miller Leave a comment

This Columbia Pictures sci-fi film was directed by Fred F. Sears, produced by Charles H. Schneer, and stars Hugh (THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL) Marlowe, Joan (20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH) Taylor and Morris (THE GIANT CLAW) Ankrum.

The storyline was suggested by the bestselling non-fiction book ‘Flying Saucers from Outer Space’ by Major Donald Keyhoe, though the plot in the movie goes the full-on route of pulpy, full-scale alien invasion. Yes! This is what we want!

The iconic Ray Harryhausen-created flying saucers, of course, are the main draw for this fun flick. They are so, well, flying saucer-ish! This is how UFOs should look!

Ray's super-cool saucers! — Ray’s super-cool saucers!

I like how, at one point, the aliens initially try to negotiate a takeover without conflict because they don’t want to rule a messed-up world, but when they realise this isn’t going to happen… they simply throw their two human captives out of one of their craft mid-flight! Spiteful, nasty aliens!

Ray Harryhausen had considered portraying the aliens as animated worm-like beings, but the extraterrestrials in the movie were eventually portrayed as aliens wearing body armour made from solidified electricity (via men-in-suits, not stop-motion models). We do get a glimpse of an alien’s hairless, lined visage when its helmet is removed. ..

An alien's face is revealed — An alien’s face is revealed

This is one of the few 50s extraterrestrial invasion movies to actually deliver on what the posters promised: mass saucer attacks and lots of property destruction!

Here’s a whole bunch of posters for the movie (the Italians, as usual, produced some gorgeous artwork for their posters)…

Italian poster - illustration by Anselmo Ballester — Italian poster – illustration by Anselmo Ballester

French poster - nice, loose artwork by Georges Kerfyser — French poster: nice, loose art style by Georges Kerfyser

Swedish poster: this one's very lively looking! — Swedish poster: this one’s very lively looking!

Italian Locandina movie poster (Anselmo Ballester art)

Some DVD, Blu-ray and VHS covers…

Lobby cards for the movie…

Lobby card - run away! — Lobby card – run away!

Assorted assets…

Okay, here’s a pressbook for the film…

Some cool art by Sam Williams, from 2016…

Finally, here’s the cover of the book that inspired the film…

Posters for The Thief of Bagdad (1940)

November 4, 2021 Ken Miller 1 Comment

Detail from the Spanish 1978 re-release poster

This British Technicolor fantasy film was produced by Alexander Korda, boasts great production design and it stars Sabu!

The sequence I like most in this magical movie is Abu’s (Sabu) mission to steal the All-Seeing Eye jewel in the Temple of the Goddess of Light. He has to deal with arrow-firing green-skinned men, he has to scale a giant statue, fight a giant spider on its web and make sure he doesn’t fall into a pool of giant octopi. The design of the temple is wonderful.

Sabu on his quest to attain the All-Seeing Eye — Abu on his quest to attain the All-Seeing Eye

Watch out, Abu: there are octopi at the bottom of the pit!

The movie also has a great score by Miklós Rózsa (who also did the music for THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD), a memorable genie (Rex Ingram) and a fine villain: the cunning Jaffar, played by Conrad Veidt.

A massive genie's foot! — A massive genie’s foot!

Here are just some of the posters that have been produced for this film. Get ready for lots of renditions of Sabu astride a flying carpet and giant, laughing genies!

Enjoy…

Italian poster: love the mad look in Conrad Veidt's eyes! — Italian poster: I love the mad look in Conrad Veidt’s eyes!

US Kino International 1978 re-release one sheet poster

Danish poster: this one's a fun take on the subject matter — Danish poster: this one’s a fun take on the subject matter

Italian poster - art by Anselmo Ballester — Italian poster – art by Anselmo Ballester

Some lobby cards…

Some DVD and Blu-ray covers…

Finally, some assorted bits and pieces…

Movie ad. I really like the angle the illustrator chose to depict the genie from: dynamic! — Movie ad. I really like the angle the illustrator chose to depict the genie from: dynamic stuff!

Night Tide (1961)

November 3, 2021 Ken Miller Leave a comment

Dennis Hopper is tormented by an octopus on a couch!

Lonely sailor Johnny Drake (Dennis Hopper), on shore leave in Santa Monica, is attracted to the young woman named Mora (Linda Lawson) he sees at a jazz club. Johnny strikes up a friendship with her and discovers that Mora makes her living on the pier playing a mermaid in a sideshow attraction run by Captain Samuel Murdock (Gavin Muir).

Johnny and Mora become closer, they hang out whenever he’s in town, and Johnny realises that Mora believes she is actually a siren. He is also told by Ellen (Luana Anders), the daughter of the merry-go-round operator, that two of Mora’s previous boyfriends went missing and some people think Mora killed them. Johnny doesn’t believe any of this, but he finds it hard to convince Mora she is suffering from some kind of delusion. It is only after tragedy strikes that Johnny discovers the truth, which is linked to the charming but manipulative Captain Murdock.

Don't trust Captain Murdock... — Don’t trust Captain Murdock…

Johnny becomes more and more attracted to Mora

I love this movie!

Set around Venice Beach and Santa Monica, NIGHT TIDE gains a lot by being based in these beach town locations, which lend the production a distinctive, quirky vibe.

A young-looking, handsome Dennis Hopper is really good as the likeable sailor protagonist, adding little bits method mannerisms into his performance. A lot of the time he’s just walking around the boardwalk, not doing a lot, but Hopper remains interesting to watch nonetheless. Linda Lawson is good too, imbuing Mora with a truly mysterious quality.

This is a great scene in the crashing waves under the pier

Written and directed by Curtis (QUEEN OF BLOOD) Harrington, NIGHT TIDE has the same ‘feel’ as CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962): both are distinctive, unusual, low budget, dream-like movies that are a little rough around the edges but are both memorable viewing experiences.

Mora earns a living as a sideshow mermaid... but is she a real siren? — Mora earns a living as a sideshow mermaid… but is she a real siren?

Though NIGHT TIDE’s resolution is not supernatural in nature, the movie has made it onto the Monster Zone blog site because it features a brief nightmare scene, where we see Johnny tormented by an octopus! There’s also a dream scene in which Johnny sees Mona as a real mermaid.

Another shot from the Dennis-Hopper-and-octopus nightmare scene: why not?! It's fun! — Another shot from the Dennis-Hopper-and-octopus nightmare scene: why not?! It’s fun!

A mermaid's tail under the covers... — A mermaid’s tail under the covers…

The exposition at the end is clunky, but this is a minor quibble, as the film is atmospheric, arty and dreamy. It definitely sticks in the mind. Give NIGHT TIDE a watch and let it cast its spell on you…

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)

October 29, 2021 Ken Miller Leave a comment

The atomic submarine Seaview must race across the oceans to fire a nuclear missile into the Van Allen belt, which is on fire and threatening all life on Earth. The hope is that the nuclear explosion will put out the burning belt!

Starring Walter (FORBIDDEN PLANET) Pidgeon, Peter (THE RAVEN) Lorre, Joan (THE WITCHES) Fontaine, Barbara (7 FACES OF DR. LAO) Eden and Frankie Avalon, this Irwin Allen production features silly science (the Van Allen belt catches ‘fire’ and ice blocks sink, etc) but it is full of incident! There’s sabotage, a fight with a squid, an encounter with a giant octopus in the Mariana Trench, a sequence in an undersea minefield and a torpedo attack by a pursuing sub.

The undersea minefield sequence is pretty tense

Peter Lore has a smoke — Peter Lorre has a smoke

Walter Pidgeon and Peter Lore have a smoke — Walter Pidgeon and Peter Lorre both have a smoke

Unlike the TV series that followed, there’s a lot of conflict between Admiral Nelson, Captain Crane and the crew members, with a mutiny narrowly averted. At one point Admiral Nelson does a ‘Patton’ and slaps a junior member of the crew (Avalon) for malingering.

VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA is certainly a colourful flick. I especially like the shot of New York bathed in the red hot glow of the burning sky, plus the moody view of the undersea minefield vista looks pretty good.

This film also, of course, introduced us to the super-cool Seaview submarine!

Can Miguel Alvarez (far right), played by Michael Ansara, be trusted?

Barbara Eden and Michael Ansara were a couple in real life

The film’s world-in-peril plot hints at Irwin Allen’s interest in the disaster genre he would become closely associated with in the future, with the likes of THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974) and WHEN TIME RAN OUT (1980).

Okay, here are some posters…

Some lobby cards…

Italian 'photobusta'-style lobby card — Italian ‘photobusta’-style lobby card

Finally, one more shot of the Seaview sub…

The Seaview surfaces... — The Seaview surfaces… cool!

Posters for Rodan (1956)

October 26, 2021 Ken Miller Leave a comment

Directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, this Toho classic features some fine supersonic destruction, two Rodans, some cool giant bugs and a rather touching monster ending set during a volcanic eruption triggered by missiles.

Here is a whole bunch of posters for the kaiju-pterosaur flick for you to enjoy…

Italian poster: I love this one, even though Rodan doesn't breath fire in the movie! — Italian poster: I love this one, even though Rodan doesn’t breath fire in the movie!

Italian poster: love this one too! The Italian poster artists were awesome!

Some lobby cards…

DVD and VHS covers…

Paramount VHS cover. This reminds me of the style of art seen on the Topps 'Dinosaurs Attack!' trading cards — Paramount VHS cover. This reminds me of the style of art seen on the Topps ‘Dinosaurs Attack!’ trading cards

Super 8mm home movie box art…

Here’s a niiiiiiice illustration depicting Rodan…

Finally, here’s a shot from the fiery, rather sad end of the movie…

Posters for the movies of Brett Piper

October 23, 2021 Ken Miller 1 Comment

Brett Piper is a prolific low budget film maker who has directed (plus written and created the special effects for) films like QUEEN CRAB (2015), A NYMPHOID BARBARIAN IN DINOSAUR HELL (1990) and ARACHNIA (2003). His first film was the ultra low budget sci-fi movie MYSTERIOUS PLANET (1982), which featured a giant, two-headed stop-motion snail.

Brett includes stop-motion effects in a lot of his movies. A fan of Ray Harryhausen films, King Kong, etc, Brett produces the animation himself, including the building of the puppets. In fact, he is really keeping the live action/stop-motion art form alive, for which he gets my utmost respect!

Here are posters, video covers, etc, for movies that Brett has directed (and for which he also created the stop-motion effects, monster costumes, miniatures and so on)…

UK video box art for the first film Brett directed: Mysterious Planet (1982)

German video box art for Mysterious Planet (1982)

Battle For The Lost Planet: nice art! — Battle For The Lost Planet (1986): nice art!

Battle For the Lost Planet was also known as Galaxy Destroyer

Battle For The Lost Planet / Mutant War Blu-ray + DVD combo pack cover

Mutant War preliminary original art by Luis Dominguez — Mutant War (1988) preliminary original art by Luis Dominguez

A Nymphoid Barbarian In Dinosaur Hell (aka Dark Fortress) DVD cover

Japanese VHS cover for A Nymphoid Barbarian In Dinosaur Hell (1990)

Japanese VHS sleeve for A Nymphoid Barbarian In Dinosaur Hell

Mmm... this one's a pretty misleading piece of artwork for the movie — Mmm… this one’s a pretty misleading piece of artwork for the movie

"They live... They suck..." — “They live… They suck…” They Bite

Drainiac! (2000): an impactful DVD cover!

Alternative poster designs for Screaming Dead

'Shock-O-Rama Horror Collection' DVD cover — Shock-O-Rama Horror Collection DVD cover

"She has awakened... and she's hungry!" — “She has awakened… and she’s hungry!”

Here are posters, DVD covers, etc, for just some of the other films Brett has been linked with. He didn’t direct any of these films, but provided such services as special effects, makeup, miniatures and so on. For one of the films Brett was the ‘tentacle wrangler’! Some of these flicks are really super-low budget, such as those directed by Mark Polonia (ZILLAFOOT, SHARKENSTEIN, AMITYVILLE DEATH HOUSE, etc) – but Mark certainly knows how to promote them via cool covers regardless of the low-low budgets!

Raiders Of the Living Dead (1986) – Brett wrote the screenplay

Blood Red Planet (2000) - Brett provided the miniature effects — Blood Red Planet (2000) – Brett provided the miniature effects

Gorilla Warfare: Battle of the Apes (2002) - Brett's credit was: miniature effects — Gorilla Warfare: Battle of the Apes (2002) – Brett’s credit was: miniature effects

Bikini Girls On Dinosaur Planet (2005) - Brett was special effects technician — Bikini Girls On Dinosaur Planet (2005) – Brett was special effects technician

Splatter Beach (2007) DVD cover - Brett was director of photography — Splatter Beach (2007) DVD cover – Brett was director of photography

Killer Rack (2015) - Brett was stop motion supervisor — Killer Rack (2015) – Brett was stop motion supervisor

Amityville Death House (2015) - Brett provided the special effects make-up — Amityville Death House (2015) – Brett provided the special effects make-up

Jurassic Prey (2015) - Brett oversaw the dinosaur design — Jurassic Prey (2015) – Brett oversaw the dinosaur design

Sharkenstein (2016) - Brett provided the special effects — Sharkenstein (2016) – Brett provided the special effects

ZillaFoot (2019) - Brett was special effects supervisor — ZillaFoot (2019) – Brett was special effects supervisor

Lycanimator (2018) - Brett's credit was 'tentacle wrangler: special effects'! — Lycanimator (2018) – Brett’s credit was ‘tentacle wrangler: special effects’!

Here’s a behind the scenes shot from Brett’s REDNECK MUTANTS, showing a stop-motion bug monster model and a gorgeous house miniature.

Finally, here’s one of the stop-motion critters from A NYMPHOID BARBARIAN IN DINOSAUR HELL…

H.G. Wells’ First Men in the Moon (2017)

October 17, 2021 Ken Miller 2 Comments

Two Victorian gentlemen take a trip to the moon and encounter an underground civilisation created by beings known as Selenites.

Eccentric scientist Cavor's sphere is ready for launch — Eccentric scientist Cavor’s sphere is ready for launch

The protagonists arrive on the moon... — The protagonists arrive on the moon…

...and are captured by Selenites — …and are captured by Selenites

A Selenite holds a prodder-type staff that can give off electric shocks

This is animator Brett Piper’s adaptation of the H.G. Wells science fiction classic – and it is told in just seven minutes. Yikes! The story certainly zips along at a cracking pace.

Selenites are bred to perform specific tasks for their society

A Selenite with big legs & feet runs on a treadmill that helps to power the subterranean world — A Selenite with big legs & feet runs on a treadmill to help power the subterranean world

Brett, who has created such fun full-length, low budget stop-motion gems as A NYMPHOID BARBARIAN IN DINOSAUR HELL (1990), ARACHNIA (2003), CLAWS (2015) and TRICLOPS (2016), handles this project with a deft, light touch.

A Selenite tinkers with some apparatus — A thinker Selenite tinkers with some apparatus

I especially liked the depiction of the different, amusing types of Selenites (really strong ones, really tiny ones, etc) and the conversation the protagonists have with the Grand Lunar, explaining to him the war-like nature of mankind, is cool (and quite damning).

An audience with the leader of the selenites: the Grand Lunar

"You mean to say that Earthmen are constantly killing each other in huge numbers for no apparent purpose?" — Grand Lunar: “You mean to say that Earthmen are constantly killing each other in huge numbers for no apparent purpose?”

This Selenite's a heavy-lifter! — This strong Selenite is a heavy-lifter!

A Selenite scientist uses a specifically-designed nose to sniff out different chemicals

A front view shot of the Grand Lunar stop-motion model used in the film

Profile view of the Grand Lunar stop-motion model. Love how the back of the throne supports his massive cranium!

Selenites are shocked at the thought of the large-scale wars on Earth

The stop-motion models are charming, built with a great economy of design, Dave Fitzgerald‘s vocal work is also perfect for the production and I liked Brett’s depiction of the mooncalf (a food source for the Selenites) as a kind of grey-skinned, semi-comical quadruped with small antenna-like protrusions on its bulky head.

Since making FIRST MEN IN THE MOON Brett has tackled a TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA short and has now just finished his mini-version of JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH. Hopefully all of these adaptations will be released together one day!

FIRST MEN IN THE MOON is available as an extra on the DVD for Brett’s OUTPOST EARTH.

Double Bill Movie Posters!

October 15, 2021 Ken Miller 5 Comments

Ah, those were the days… when movies were often released as double bills in the theatres! Such fond memories!

Here’s a selection of double feature posters to feast your eyes on. As I hunted for cool examples to share I realised I had seen a fair few of these myself, when I was a kid in Tamworth.

Anyway, scroll through the posters and enjoy…