Sunday, October 5, 2008

THE COLOSSUS OF NEW YORK / Paramount Pictures - 1958 / Music by Van Cleave

So, welcome back, tonight we have a really great movie!.. THE COLOSSUS OF NEW YORK!! Directed by Dungeon favorite Eugène Lourié of THE GIANT BEHEMOTH and GORGO fame, both already posted here! Give them a search...

Van Cleave does the music, and, boy, does this theme stand out in a crowd!! Also, its not every day that we post a Paramount title. Them and Columbia both have the problem of being too 'middle of the road' for us when it comes to monster movie music.

But, this theme is totally awesome and really says... THE COLOSSUS OF NEW YORK!

SOUNDCLIP NOT AVAILABLE

The movie starts off with a bang as Ross Martin, playing Jeremy Spensser, and, who has just won the Nobel Peace Prize, gets run over by a truck barrelling through an alley.

In it's defense, the truck did say 'dodge!'

Here's the problem!.. Jeremy was the world's authority in developing a food product that will save the Earth from famine due to overpopulation, a common theme in the '50's, like in TARANTULA.

Jeremy's father and brother, both doctors, figure out a way to get Jeremy back and reclaim his legacy. So, they make him into a giant hulk with a bad attitude!.. Wow, genius!!

Here's another problem, he has a son and hot wife!.. And, guess what?!.. Jeremy's brother is trying to hit on the wifey, and, Jeremy... err... The Colossus, knows about it!!!..

The Colossus walks under water to get to brother Henry, who's headed for the hills, but, Henry gets a big surprise instead. You see, Colossus has developed awesome new powers, like frying your sorry ass with heat vision!!!.. Goodbye, dear brother!! The still with a bridge in the background is a common element in Eugène Lourié films!

Ed Wolff plays The Colossus. Here's a great still as he breaks through some glass at the UN. He then starts randomly toasting people in the crowd!!

Somedays, it jes' don't pay to be a cop!

Check it out, we could use The Colossus in Washington!!

The Colossus gets turned off by his son, then he falls to the floor!.. Anyway, Jeremy went from wanting to save the Earth to wanting to kill everyone!!.. Hey, just like in real life!!

And, since its the month of Halloween, here's an added bonus. Back in 1988 the garage band, Hermanos Guzanos, was having this tune played on WMFU radio in NJ by none other than Kaz (writer on Sponge Bob) on his excellent late night show, 'Midnight Lounge!'

Here's Hermanos Guzanos doing COLOSSUS OF NEW YORK from their X-13 album!

6 comments:

Lisa said...

Glad to see the amazing "Colossus of New York" featured here. What a movie! Eerie, the monster is unlike anything else in movies...well, maybe the Golem, but that's about as close as you're going to get. And his clothing -- he looks like he's about to go onstage to play Hamlet. Love him walking underwater, just scary...and his tortured decency when he knows he's gone over the edge. Great to see Ross Martin -- and then hear him -- throughout the movie as the Colossus. Just an unusual gem that sticks with you once you've seen it!

Greg Goodsell said...

Love the stark piano score.

Anonymous said...

GREAT REVIEW!!!! This is my ALL TIME favorite Sci Fi, Horror, Metal Frankenstein movie!!!
its atmospheric and creepy and I LOVE the house where all of it takes place!
AWESOME old movie!!
thanks
Huggs and Screams
Kimberly Lynn Cole
horror actress

Eegah!! and Tabonga! said...

Hey Kimberly,
Thanx for taking the time to drop in and say Hi, maybe we'll get a chance to write about one of your movies some day!!

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Gargantuan Media said...

"Four score puny human and 7 minutes ago, Colossus came unto New York to fry hum some random pedestrians."

Hehe. This movie is awful bad.

I sent it up as well at my blog.

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