The HORROR And SCI-FI MOVIES Of GLORIA TALBOTT 1957-60

Today we have the Horror and Sci-Fi Movies of Gloria Talbott, and although there are only four, they're good ones... Gloria was born in 1931 outside of LA in Glendale, a city co-founded by her grandfather! Growing up in the shadows of the Hollywood studios, she was lured to acting and landed small parts in films like MAYTIME IN 1937, SWEET AND LOWDOWN in 1943, A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN in 1945 and ended up with a hefty 117 acting credits.

Mr. BIG hooks Gloria up with THE CYCLOPS in 1957, her first horror flick (with sci-fi implications), it also stars Lon Chaney, James Craig and Tom Drake.

Her very next role would be in another horror movie, DAUGHTER OF DR. JEKYLL, this one's directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. She stars with John Agar and Arthur Shields in a story about a young woman who discovers she's the daughter of the infamous Dr. Jekyll, she begins to believe that she may also have a split personality, where one's a murdering monster!

In 1958, Gloria plays Madge, wife of a space invader in the great sci-fi thriller, I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE. I just watched this one again a few days ago, so much fun! It also stars Tom Tyron, Peter Baldwin, Valerie Allen, Ty Hardin and Maxie Rosenbloom.

Last on the list is THE LEECH WOMAN from 1960. Although it looks like Gloria has the upper hand in the photo, she becomes the next victim in this tale of horror. Also stars Coleen Gray, Grant Williams and Phillip Terry.

That's it kids, that's it for today, Eegah!! is up to bat tomorrow with our last post for June, 2018. Detention for those who are absent or late!

THE SPACE CHILDREN - Van Cleave - "The Theme" (1958)

What a great movie "The Space Children" is, and it's definitely at the top of the list of 'films I need to watch again real soon,' and should also be on yours, and here's the reasons why!!!! 

 

Director Jack Arnold put out an unprecedented and amazing array of films in the 50's with titles like "It Came From Outer Space", "This Island Earth", "Tarantula" and "The Amazing Shrinking Man" to name a few before becoming a major TV director who, among other things produced and directed a large number of "Gilligan's Island" episodes. Sadly Jack left this planet back in 1992, but his legacy will be forever remembered through his massive body of work!!! 

 

"The Space Children" is a veritable pile of acting talent too big to detail, but here's a few choice tidbits! Just to start off with, we have Peggy Webber of "Screaming Skull" fame, and veteran heavy Adam Williams! 

 

In the backseat, on the left there's Johnny Crawford of "The Rifleman" as Ken Brewster, here in a very early role, and on the right, child actor Michel Ray who quit acting in 1964, was a member of the 1968 UK Olympic Ski Team, and in 2002 inherited over 50% of the Heineken Beer empire worth over 4 billion dollars! Hey Mike, we love your work, man, if you ever need any help with anything!!! 

 

The set is sparse but ingenious, set up some trailers on the coast! Sweet!! 

 

And to round out this cast of wonders, first off, smoking a cigarette, you've got the Professor from "Gilligan's Island" Russell Johnson in the weird role as the abusive stepfather. Then, you've got Uncle Fester Jackie Coogan in a straight role as Hank Johnson! There's Ty Hardin as 'The Sentry' who would go on to have his own cowboy TV show as "Bronco Layne," and child star Sandy Descher discovered at the age of 3! The list goes on and on! What a cast!! 

 

The excellent theme is the product of the Maestro Van Cleave!

BERSERK - Herman Cohen -"Your Front Row Seat To Murder!" (1967)

This Saturday Night Special has some extra hot sauce on it, and lives up to it's title because it's..

"BERSERK!"

"BERSERK" is an extra special movie on multiple levels, but I'll just try and hit some of the high points! "BERSERK" was a Herman Cohen production, and without Herman Cohen, we wouldn't have had many of the best 50's and 60's horror and monster movies! Seriously, Herman was responsible for I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF, I WAS A TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN, BLOOD OF DRACULA, HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM, KONGA, BLACK ZOO, and HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER, but despite all that, Tabonga will never forgive him for destroying all the original Paul Blaisdell monster masks in the fire in HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER!

"BERSERK" has a super amazing all-star cast that includes Joan Crawford and Michael Gough!

Dwrayger Dungeon 101!

Nice shot of Joan!

Although I must admit, Michael's role is short-lived!!

"BERSERK" is very similar to "Horrors Of The Black Museum," and "Black Zoo," in fact, it probably should have been titled "BLACKSERK!"

Joan spends a lot of time skulking around the circus in that red cape like some kind of bloodsucker!

It's not often you get to see a good old fashioned cat fight anymore! 

This must have completely mortified Joan!

Again, what an amazing array of 60's Pop culture!

Left to right, Judy Geeson, Ty Hardin, Joanie, and The Siren of Swindon, Diana Dors!

 

As expected, this 'saw the woman in half' trick didn't work out that great for Diana!

Right about here was the most WTF!?  moment watching movies I've had lately! You know what, I'll just let you judge for yourself!  Watch it right here, "The Freak Song"  and let me know what you think! Had Herman Cohen been influenced by the musical version of "Jack The Giant Killer?" What a great group, and the chrome dome gentleman on the far right is Dungeon Hero Milton Reid!

I really didn't know that Batman and Robin were in the circus in 1967!

Herman Cohen must have really liked the circus, or it just made for a cheap but interesting stage for his movie, and personally I liked "BERSERK" a lot, but I would have liked it a lot better minus about 25 minutes of real time circus acts!

"BERSERK" is a movie that's just dying to be seen! Watch it as a triple feature with "Black Zoo," and "Horrors Of The Black Museum!!!
Now that's an original 60's power trio!!