COMMANDO CODY vs. THE MOON MENACE / Feature Version - 1952

This is the 62 minute feature version of RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON now on DVD. The story goes like this... Strategic targets on Earth are being destroyed by an unknown weapon, government security head Henderson suspects that it's an "atomic ray" weapon originating from the Moon! He assigns Commando Cody, scientist and man of action with a secret flying suit, to investigate the matter. Soon, Cody is battling Earth thugs in the pay of Krog the Moon man and making trips in his experimental rocket to the Moon itself, in a perilous effort to thwart the planned invasion of Earth!

It stars George (FORBIDDEN PLANET) Wallace as Commando Cody, Aline (THE INVISIBLE MONSTER) Towne as Joan Gilbert, Roy (ZOMBIES OF THE STRATOSPHERE) Barcroft as Retic, William (LUCKY DEVILS) Bakewell as Ted Richards, Clayton (THE LONE RANGER) Moore as Graber and Peter (INVADERS FROM MARS) Brocco as Krog.

Everything starts when key targets are being destroyed on Earth. Commando Cody and the gang are assigned by the government with the task of finding out who's behind the attack. It's not long before an atomic ray device is found out to be the weapon of destruction, and that, it came from the Moon!

On Earth, Krog is in charge of organizing the attacks, he utilizes criminal earthlings to help carry out the destruction. Krog regularly checks in with the leader of the Moon, Retic.

Cody and his pals take their experimental rocket to the Moon, to get to the bottom of the invasion. They cruise over the buildings on the Moon before landing on the edge of city.

Cody breaks into Retik's room to get some answers, and, what do you think what happens next? I'll give you one guess!.............

After a big fight, our hero grabs an atomic ray weapon and runs to the edge of the city where Ted's waiting for him. Retic sends out a patrol vehicle to track Cody. Cool ass Moonmobile!

The vehicle finds Cody and Ted, so, they duck into a cave. But, the Moon men use a melting ray to try and bury the Earthlings. Luckily, the effort fails, saving the day!

So, Cody and the gang head back to Earth.

Here's a nice shot of our flying hero, Commando Cody, back on Earth now.

He locates the hidden Moon base in a cave in the mountains, Cody walks in on the culprits and another epic fight ensues!

Retic is there, visiting Earth, checking up on the progress. After Cody causes a pile of trouble, Retik takes off in his rocket and heads back to the Moon.

But, Cody grabs the truck holding the atomic ray weapon and simply shoots Retik's rocket out of the sky, ending this tale! Be back tomorrow when Eegah!! is working hard on yet another special post, just for you!!

HONEY WEST - Anne Francis - "The Swingin' Mrs. Jones" (1965)

I do believe it's about time we had a "Honey West" Wednesday in The Dungeon, and so finally, tonight is that time! In 1965 the TV show "Honey West" starring the incredible Anne Francis, featured the first female detective in a prime time series ever, and that was just for starters!

"Honey West" was a trailblazer. The people who produced it were smart, and my guess is they had been watching some German Krimi movies, because it's all there, the swingin' music and the smart ass wit, and wry humor! If not, either way, the bottom line is, "Honey West" rocks!

I might be a bit prejudiced in my adulation, but I've been in love with Anne Francis since she was Altaira Morbius in 1956, and for good reason, as you will soon find out!

Anne's very talented co-star was German born John Ericson, who was in some cool movies like "7 Faces Of Dr. Lao," and "The Bamboo Saucer!" John just turned 92 last September!

"The Swingin' Mrs. Jones" was the first episode of "Honey West" and aired on September 17, 1965!

Anne Francis was rockin' the mole a couple of decades before Cindy Crawford!

These shots are just from the opening credits!

This shot reminds me of one of those 'what do you see' puzzles, a couple about to kiss, or a skinny version of the "Venus Of Willendorf?"

"Honey West" was on for two seasons in 1965 and 1966. I'm bummed! I've only got the first season!

Here are two more reasons to love Anne Francis.........

.......She was one of those rare people that were in more than one episode of "The Twilight Zone!"

In 1960, Anne played Marsha White in the episode titled "The After Hours!"

And in 1963, she played Jess-Belle Stone in the episode called "Jesse-Belle!"

Too much information about Anne Francis and not enough about "Honey West?"

"That's Life, That's Tough!"- Gabriel and the Angels (1962)

Sadly, but inevitable for all of us, Anne Francis passed away in 2011 at the age of 80! Kind of strange but on the same day, 7 people were killed by lightning in South Africa, in the Philippines, a bus wreck killed 7 people, and a Chinese fishing boat capsized and killed 7 more!

 This is not only my favorite shot of Anne Francis, it's also my favorite shot of anybody! Do what you want in the course of your life, but you're gonna be hard pressed to ever find an image any cuter than this!

The epitome of cool, Dungeon hero Ray Danton is in this first episode too!!

 Ray Danton and Barton Mclane in a martini scene together? This is the kind of stuff that made the 60's so great!

Those were the days! "Honey West" has been around for quite a while, and I don't know who they're going to get to play her next time, but I think it's time for another round!
Drinks are on the house!! Let's get buzzing!!

DRAGONWYCK / DANGEROUSLY She Dared To LOVE! - 1946

Today's story is complicated, but basically, a Connecticut farm girl is recruited by a distant relative, an aristocratic patroon, to be governess to his young daughter in his Hudson Valley mansion. What happens next gets interesting real fast...

It stars Vincent (THE MAN!) Price as Nicholas Van Ryn, Gene (THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR) Tierney as Miranda Wells, Glenn (THE AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN, MUTINY IN OUTER SPACE, WOMEN OF THE PREHISTORIC PLANET) Langan as Dr. Jeff Turner, Walter (KONGO) Huston as Ephraim Wells and with a ton of other great actors.

To put things in historical perspective, well, here you go!..

Miranda gets a letter from a her distant relative, her mom reads it aloud to her. Her relative would like for her to come to his mansion to be his daughter's governess!

Her father finally allows her to go and she arrives at the estate. Her relative is Nicholas Van Ryn, a rich landlord. She's greeted by Nicholas and his wife.

We start to get a glimpse into Nicholas, he's a dominating landlord, all the farmers in the area have to answer to him about how much money they receive for their effort and he doesn't give a damn about their problems.

Later, the local doctor comes to the mansion to see what's wrong with the missus, she's suffering from an apparent cold. She dies soon after that. Glenn was very handsome.

Miranda decides to go back home. She says goodbye to Dr. Turner who has come to see her off.

But, Nicholas shows up at Miranda's house and asks her for her hand in marriage. After her father interrogates Nicholas, he gives in, they can marry...

Back at the ranch, Miranda requests a girl with a deformed leg to be her helper, but Nicholas rejects the request. He says that deformities make him uncomfortable... Uh-oh!

Then, Miranda tells Nicholas she's pregnant, he wants a male child more than anything, to carry on his ruling bloodline you know. You need to see this movie to understand all the twisted stuff going on, like, Nicholas doesn't believe in God, he believes in himself, which makes Miranda very upset, and he's naturally cruel.

All the townspeople hate Nicholas and make fun of him at the pub. He comes in unexpectedly and the place goes quiet. He asks Dr. Turner to come to his mansion, Miranda is having the baby and there are some complications.

Of course the doctor goes with Nicholas to the mansion. The baby has health problems and dies, but, not before Miranda had him baptized, which insults Nicholas to the core!

Nicholas, dejected, retreats to a dark room in the house and is now shooting up morphine and drinking heavily...

Classic Vinnie!!.. Dr. Turner comes in and tells Nicholas that he knows that he killed his first wife by putting poisonous flowers in her room... And... Nicholas goes berserk but ends up on the floor after the doc clocks him good!

At this point, Nicholas is hearing things, he leaves the place and goes to his throne chair in the garden. The townspeople show up and he tells them that he's ready to shoot them all!

As he points his gun, ready to shoot, someone in the crowd shoots him first... Nicholas dies and Miranda goes back to her parents. Check out Harry Morgan there on the right. So, tune in again on Wednesday when we continue down the old dusty Dungeon trail...