BIRDS IN A SUITCASE - "Part 03" (1968)

 

Tonight's Wild Wednesday is the finale of Birds In A Suitcase, and the ladies of the final ten episodes of "Man In A Suitcase." Episode twenty-one was titled "No Friend of Mine" and featured Phillipa Gail as the wife of a wealthy saboteur in Africa.

In 1971 Phillipa was in a film called "She'll Follow You Anywhere," or as it was released in the U.S., "Passion Potion." Phillipa passed away in 1999, a victim of cancer, at the age of 56.

 

Episode number twenty-two titled "Jigsaw Man" had more than it's share of female characters in it that included Nike Arrighi, who was also in episode seventeen in a larger role.

Shivaun (The Prisoner) O'Casey as Francine just turned 82 yesterday!
 

Bridget (Horse In The House) Armstrong is Louise. Bridget is now 84 years old.

Last but not least is Brenda Lawrence as Marcia. Brenda also had a very small role in Episode three.

Episode twenty-three titled "Web With Four Spiders" starred Jacqueline (Gutter Girls) Ellis as the wife of a lawyer in big trouble.

Episode 24 was called "Which Way Did He Go, McGill?" and featured Rachelle (Son Of Dracula) in one of her only two credits.

The main actress is this episode was Jennifer Jayne as Joy Howells. Jennifer will always be remembered for her parts in "The Crawling Eye," and especially....

 

 .......... "They Came From Beyond Space." Jennifer passed away in 2006 at the age of 74.

 A few of these episodes were directed by Dungeon Hero Freddie Francis, who also directed "They Came From Beyond Space."

 

Episode twenty-five titled "Property Of A Gentleman" has Justine Lord in it as Jane Farson, the daughter of a very wealthy man!

Justine was in the screen classics "Maniac," and "Deadlier Than The Male." Born in 1937, Justine is now 84 years young!

 

Episode number twenty-six titled "The Revolutionaries," has Sonia (Never Take Candy From A Stranger) Fox as Chantal Maza, the daughter of an exiled Swedish Doctor.

Marga Roche as Toni Olsson has only one other credit to her name, the classic "Some Girls Do."

Episode 27 was "Who's Mad Now," and had Austrailian born Audine (Alien Visitor) Leith as an ex old girlfriend of McGill's who is in trouble.

Luanshya Greer has the role of the mad Diana. Luanshya was also in the very last episode of "Man In A Suitcase." Besides that, she was also in "They Came From Beyond Space," and two episodes of "Dr. Who" as Lizan. Very versatile, Luanshya also has seventeen credits as a writer.

Episode twenty-eight named "Three Blinks Of The Eyes" features Faith (The Curse Of King Tut's Tomb) Brook as Eleanor Duzac, an older woman with an unfaithful younger husband. Faith died in 2012 at the age of 90.

The girlfriend of Eleanor's aforementioned unfaithful husband is Bulgarian born Dora (The Dirty Dozen) Reisser, as Janine Dufont. A well known British fashion designer, Dora is now 79 years of age.

Episode twenty-nine was called "Castle In The Clouds," and has Gay Hamilton as Magda, the mistress of a British big shot. In episode five, Gay had a smaller part as a Brunette.

 

Gay was the star of the show, but there was also a short scene that had Jan Williams in it as a cleaning lady. James Bond fans will remember Jan as Red Grant's masseuse in "From Russia With Love."

The last episode of "Man In A Suitcase" is called "Night Flight To Andorra" and has Luanshya Greer, who we just saw in episode twenty-seven, as a tourist in the wrong place at the completely wrong time!

 

I'll round this out with the provacative Nita (The Crimson Cult, The Love Factor) Lorraine, and a toast to the the rest of the lovely birds who graced this show. Nita is now 79. 

That's it for the birds, and now it's time for the bats, and the "Countdown To Halloween 2021."

THE SCI-FI And HORROR MOVIES Of Director HERBERT L. STROCK

It's time to pay some homage to the director who gave us some of our favorite sci-fi and horror movies from the fifties. Besides his work in movies, he also directed 19 episodes of SCIENCE FICTION THEATRE for TV and more..

Here's one they played a lot on local TV in the fifties, it always freaked me out near the end, and loved the magnetized lawnmower in the hardware store. Herb was uncredited for his work on this one as he was an up and coming director in 1953 for this Ivan Tors production.

A year later in 1954 Herb worked as assistant director ( directed by Richard Carlson ) on RIDERS TO THE STARS. This is another movie they played a lot on TV back then. What I remember most is this astronaut that gets toasted by a meteor! Really creepy part for a six year old.

Also in 1954 Herb was the director for GOG, filmed in 3-D, wow! They also played this movie a lot on local TV, soon after it's theatrical release. It had some crazy moments to be sure.

Then in 1957, Herman Cohen called on Herb to direct this all time classic horror flick, can't remember when it played on TV for the first time. Herb stated that he loved working with Whit Bissell, always on time, knew his lines and could play any character he was assigned. The amputated leg was almost considered too shocking for the kids!

The same year he worked on another Cohen movie, BLOOD OF DRACULA. This movie is one crazy murder fest featuring the song "Puppy Love" by Jerry Blaine, who also contributed the song "Eenie Meenie Miny Moe" for I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF.

Cohen called on Herb once again in 1958 to direct one of my favorite movies, HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER. It starred Robert H. Harris as the bad guy, Pete, Paul Brinegar as his helper Rivero, Gary Conway as the Teenage Frankenstein and Gary Clarke as the Teenage Werewolf.

In 1962 Herb directed Lon Chaney in THE DEVIL'S MESSENGER, which has the devil using his rolodex where he has the names of all the souls assigned to Hell. This is one boring movie and comes across as some TWILIGHT ZONE episodes.

Herb even worked for Joseph F. Robertson by directing this insane little movie. Here's some awesome trivia... Burt Reynolds did two screen-tests for the role of the teen character, Paul Lawrence, but his acting was so wooden, Rod Lauren got the part!!! Wild.

In 1980, Herb was assistant director on MONSTROID, which starred James Mitchum, John Carradine, Philip Carey and Anthony Eisley. This cursed film was started in 1971 and it was up to Herb to finish it up. I think I read that Andrea Hartford, the love interest, committed suicide soon after wrapping up the production, over insecurity and being dumped by her lover, so sad!

Last on the list is this sexy horror film also from 1980, based on everyone's favorite novel "Conjure Wife" by Fritz Lieber. It stars Teri Garr, Richard Benjamin and Lana Turner. So, here's our little salute to the fifties monster movie director, Herbert L. Strock.

BIRDS IN A SUITCASE Part 02 (1967-1968)

   This week's Saturday Night Special is Part 02 of "Birds In A Suitcase," a tribute to all the talented and beautiful women who were in "Man In A Suitcase." 

Episode eleven was titled "Dead Man's Shoes," and featured Jayne (Tales From The Crypt) Sofiano as Juliette Crowther, the close friend of a man in deep trouble.

 

Jayne was born in Israel, but she did most of her acting in England, where I assume she still lives today.

 

 

Episode twelve was titled "Find The Lady," and had two international beauties in it. Norma (A Study In Terror) Foster as Angela was born in South Africa. It's really amazing how most of these gals are well into their seventies, and still alive. Norma is one of them.

 

The gal who got the most onscreen time though was Jeanne Roland as the double dealing Francesca. Jeanne was born in Burma, and was in "Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb," and was James Bond's masseuse in "You Only Live Twice," and yes, she's still around too.

Episode thirteen was simply titled "The Bridge," and had Jane Merrow as Annabelle Fenchurch.

 

Jane Merrow's career goes all the way back to the Herbert Lom version of "Phantom Of The Opera," where she played a showgirl, and besides a host of other things, was in the remake of "The Horror At 37,000 Feet" with William Shatner. Jane was still working as of last year, and hopefully will continue long into the future.

Episode fourteen was titled "The Man Who Stood Still," and highlighted the talents of Jeanna L'Esty as the lovely Leocadia Iglesias.
 

If you appear on one show fifty times, it only counts as one credit, so despite the fact that Jeanna has only five credits to her name, she was on "Man In A Suitcase" twice. Those cool spit curl sideburns make Jeanna look like she is from some exotic place, but she was born in Middlesex, England. She is also alive and kicking today at the age of 74.

Episode 15 was titled "Burden Of Proof," and co-stars Nicola Pagett as the wife of a diplomat in some deep, deep trouble!

Nicola was born in Cairo, Egypt, and is very elegant looking, so it's no wonder she was chosen for the starring role in a 1977 TV mini series called "Anna Karenina." Sadly, I have to tell you that Nicola passed away just six months ago at the age of 75.

Explosive episode sixteen was called "The Whisper" and had Sheila (The Curse Of The Werewolf) Brennan in it as the wife of an African plantation owner with some personality problems.

Sheila is of Irish descent, and should be about 90 years old these days.

 

Episode seventeen was titled "Why They Killed Nolan," and features Nike Arrighi as Angela Cunliffe, the young girlfriend of a married man.
 

Nike was born in France, and was in  some cool flicks like "The Devil Rides Out," "Day For Night," "Countess Dracula," and "The Perfume Of The Lady In Black." She just turned 74 a couple of months ago.

Episode eighteen titled "The Boston Square" is almost entirely devoid of female characters, although at the beginning there is a brief appearance by Alexandra (Prehistoric Women) Stevenson, as a secretary. An internet search for Alexandra comes up with zero biographical information unless you think she was a former professional tennis player born in 1980, or twelve years after this show was made.

Later on there is an even briefer appearance by Jeanna L'Esty as a stewardess. As you'll recall, Jeanna also appeared in episode number fourteen, but in a much larger role.

 

 Episode nineteen brings back a couple of  actresses who were in other episodes. Jacqueline Pearce who had a very small part in episode seven is back in a major role as a spy and ex-girlfriend of McGill's.

Wendy Hall who had a fairly big role in episode eight is back in a minuscule role as a hotel receptionist.

Episode twenty titled "Blind Spot" had Felicity Kendal in it as a blind woman.

Felicity Kendal has had a fabulous career, and has had many continuing roles in TV shows like "The Good Life," and "Rosemary And Thyme." She'll be 75 years young today, and I can't think of a better place to end this Part 02 than that! 

Happy Birthday Felicity!