As far as I'm concerned, this story was stolen from an EC comic written and illustrated by Al Feldstein from about 1953. It goes like this... A space craft lands in the California desert. Then, the alien creature inside takes over the minds of some local humans and animals and is able to control their actions, including, using them to create terror. He 'sees' through their eyes, get it?
The artwork used during the credit roll is awesome, the artist did more of the same for other Corman flicks including BEAST FROM HAUNTED CAVE, IT CONQUERED THE WORLD, NOT OF THIS EARTH and ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS. If anybloody knows the name of the artist, please leave a comment! In the bottom still, you see that Jonathan Haze was production manager. A year earlier, Jonathan had a part as the Mexican fisherman in the Corman flick, MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR.The maniacal, beat your brains out theme music is by John Bickford. Now, get this... This was the only film he ever worked on! But, you will notice in later Corman movies that the same manical, beat your brains out theme music is replicated time and time again even with their other composers.
Now it's time to bring in that fuzzy wuzzy lil' Dungeon hunchback freek, Ralphie The Tarantula. Ralphie walked all the way from over there (6 in tarantula miles) to push the big red 'GO' button once again and begin our Eariffic Earclip for... THE BEAST WITH A MILLION EYES!
Narration and voice of the Beast is by Bruce Whitmore, and, is the only movie he ever worked on!
Having a date farm in Indio isn't exactly wifey's idea of living... Here's Paul Birch and Lorna Thayer as Allan and Carol Kelley, she's going a bit stir crazy, being so far away from civilization and all...
Here's... 'Him!'
Guess what 'Him' likes?... 'Him', the deaf-mute helper, usually walks around with a scowl on his face and an axe in his hand!
'Him' also likes to watch teenage daughter, Sandra, go skinny dipping in the river!.. Jus' kidding, she has a one-piece bathing suit on!
As the space craft lands in a nearby sand dune, the loud sonic sound destroys a few of Carol's priceless treasures as it passes overhead!
Allen hops in his '41 Ford Woody and drives over to see if his neighbor, Ben, is okay, since the phone lines are down. Ben is played by Chester Conklin, Chester ended up with a whopping 306 screen credits!!'41 Ford Woody shout out to Dungeon pal, Teddy 'Bar', since he used to own one of them thar critters!
The family dog goes out to the sand dunes and finds the ship, and after receiving instructions form The Beast goes back home and attacks Carol! So, she has to kill it!
Loved those wind spinners when I was a little one!
Ben tells his cow, Sherry, to behave herself, right before she comes out of the barn and mows him down!
I put this still up to show what dressed up style for teenage girls looked like in 1955!
Another surprise, that's Dick Sargent as Deputy Larry Brewster, right before 'Him' clobbers him from the back seat! Larry is Sandra's boy friend.
'Him' defies The Beast and pays with his life.
The Beast works on Allan and Carol, but they fight back, now united as one, not afraid of the powerful force it's able to impose on their minds. Finally, The Beast falls over... Dead!
They watch as the space craft shoots back into space, never to be seen again, conquered by the simplest of things, good old love! Ghoulnight Everbloody!!..
5 comments:
talk about a taught domestic drama!
Paul Blaisdell rules!
idn't it bad enough hes a beast..hes gotta have a million eyes too!?
You say: "The manical, beat your brains out theme music is by John Bickford. Now, get this... This was the only film he ever worked on! But, you will notice in later Corman movies that the same manical, beat your brains out theme music is replicated time and time again even with their other composers."
Go to YouTube and play "Georg Solti conducts Shostakovich's 10th Symphony - 2nd Mvt."
-- Mark Leeper
WoW!
Tabonga! You're dad was Paul Blaisdell?!?!
I had no idea !
No wonder this is such a great blog!
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