STRIKE ME DEADLY - H.B. Barnum - "Strange Are The Ways Of Love" (1963)

"Strike Me Deadly" is a pure example of low budget film making at it's economical finest, by one of the masters of WTF?!, Ted V. Mikels in his premiere effort! You might only know Ted from his Astro-Zombies-Corpse Grinders-Worm Eaters features, but everybody had to start somewhere, and this is where it all began for Ted! Completed in 1958, "Strike Me Deadly" would not be released until 1963!

"Strike Me Deadly" is kinda like an elongated Twilight Zone episode! There's a murder out in the woods, and a lone firefighter is the witness! The killer is a guy named Al played by co-author Steve Ihnat, who has gone on to have a considerable contribution to the movie and TV industry with roles in "Outer Limits," "Gunsmoke," and "Star Trek" etc.

The first twenty minutes or so is a chase scene through the woods, with some stock forest fire footage mixed in! It's quite brilliant really, and highlighted by some excellent shots like this from cinematographer Basil Bradbury, the illegitimate son of Basil Rathbone, and Ray Bradbury! I can say that because Basil also has the distinguished position of having done the cinematography for that classic film and Dungeon inspiration, "Invasion Of The Star Creatures" among his three credits!

Ain't this just a beautiful transition shot from past to present? So let's start back at the beginning and the events leading up to this untimely situation, and see where we end up again! The main music for "Strike Me Deadly" was composed by Nicholas Carras, a gentleman whose credits are almost unparalleled in Monster Movie history since he gets the credits on "She Demons," "Missile To The Moon," "Frankenstein's Daughter," and "The Astro Zombies!"

It's a night out on the town, and room-hoppin' is the name of the game, Copper, Sage, and Ranch, all they left out was Romper Room!

Unlike the government, Ted was a smart cat, and only needed a handful of actors to get his point across, and the main ingredients in this cocktail are this fine couple, Jimmy and Lori Grant played respectively by Gary Clarke and Jeannine Riley, no, not the "Harper Valley PTA" one, that was Jeannie C. Riley!

In the list of credits, there is the name of one H.B. Barnum, and as far as I can find out, it's this cat right here playing the piano and singing, and if it is, I'll tell you one thing, he's one heavy cat, and Ted V. Mikels or H.B. himself can correct me if I'm wrong, but H.B. was a pianist, writer, arranger and producer who has been working like forever.

Gary Clarke is another guy we couldn't do without because of his roles in the movies "How To Make A Monster" and "Missile To The Moon," countless 60's TV shows and more! If nothing else, and there's plenty more, Jeannie Riley will be remembered forever for her ongoing role of Billie Jo Bradley in 72 episodes of "Petticoat Junction!"

Hidle Brown Barnum recorded "El Pizza" using the name Dudley, that was a parody of Marty Robbins big hit "El Paso," and he has worked with everybody from The Coasters to Al Wilson, with time for Frank Sinatra and Aretha in between! I don't know exactly who the percussionist is!

Time for Al, the maniac/writer to get himself introduced into the action!

For me, the bar scene was the highlight of the movie, and the tunes are timeless, but what else is new?

But then, eating with chopsticks is always good too!!

Gary and Jeannine are the perfect 1958-1963 nuclear family, and are ripe to be terrorized!!!

And that's just the way that Steve and Ted wrote the story!!

CLUTCH CARGO / Cambria Studios Prod. - 1959

Herro everbloody, this time we gots a classic limited animation cartoon on Moldie Oldie Monday, here at The Dungeon! CLUTCH CARGO was billed as television's first comic strip!!

This is the second installment of CLUTCH CARGO, this time Clutch, Spinner and Paddlefoot head for the Moon!! In a later episode, they even go to Mars!!!

Come on in, lil' Rufus The Gnat, an' push that there big red 'GO' button and start today's Eariffic Earclip a-rollin'... Here's Clutch and the gang in OPERATION MOON BEAM! Love those bongos!

Here's Professor Nachtwurst and his lovely assistant transporting the new recruits to the launch site.

They arrive at the launch facility. Back in '59, anyone could own a rocket, if they had the money naturally! The rocket looks identical to the one used by SPACE ANGEL, another Cambria Studios series.

Then, they're buzzed by a low flying Panther Jet. Is someone giving them a warning?

They try on space suits...

They experience zero gravity...

Then, they take a wild ride in the Professor's rocket sled for the final test. They pass with flying colors.

Well, it's off to the Moon, don't forget to send a postcard!!

On the way to the Moon, they are passed by another unidentified spaceship!

Looks like the US is the first to plant a flag on the Moon!

Swampy pops out from behind a rock and is mistaken for a Moon Man!

Then, their old nemesis, Carney, shows up to cause a pile of trouble for everbloody.

Carney wants their rocket and will go to any lengths to take it! Hmmm, I wonder what his plans for Moon Girl are?

He's got a paralyzing ray gun and has a decent aim! Looks like they're doing some kind of funky Moon dance!

Carney gets tripped up by Paddlefoot and loses his ray gun to Moon Girl, then, he gets it!

Why the hell does Moon Girl have a southern accent?.. Weird!

At least she looks hot!!

As Clutch and the gang head back to Earth, Moon Girl waves goodbye to them... "Toodles y'all, come back, ya hear?!"

SOYLENT GREEN - Fred Myrow - "First Stage Removal" (1973)

As a public service, and in an an effort to get everybody to better appreciate the life we have today, here's another dreary vision of the future with no vampire bats, but just a whole lot of harsh reality!

It's 2022, and the future has not gone far enough, or yet fully degraded to Judge Dredd(2079-2132)standards, but it isn't quite the garden of paradise it used to be, that's for sure, and food seems to be a real problem! "SOYLENT GREEN" as it is seen here, is the main staple, and/or the only staple, depending how how much wealth and power you don't have!

"Soylent Green" had an all-star cast that included Whit(Teenage Frankenstein)Bissell as the Big Cheese, Governor Santini, in one of the smaller roles!

I'm sure you've probably seen this classic buddy movie starring Charlton Heston as Detective Thorn, and Edward G. Robinson as his best friend, Sol Roth, and if not, why not?? It's like mandatory!!

This vision of the future is very overpopulated, do the math, how far off could they be? You gotta go through this just to get out of your apartment!

The music for "Soylent Green" was created by a wonderful composer named Fred Myrow! Fred had classical roots and training, and not only wrote the music for this movie, and the "Phantasm" flicks, he also orchestrated music for the likes of Jim Morrison, Van Dyke Parks, and Brian Wilson!

Just like today, some peoples have got it better than others, there is no middle class, just the godforsaken poor, and what's left of the rich! These rather wealthy folks are Joseph Cotten as William R. Simonson, the man with the most, and the lovely Leigh Taylor-Young as his companion Shirl! Check it out, they still have video games in the future!

This IS a movie about food! The affluent can afford the finer things in life, and even though it might not look like much to you, compare it to a steady diet of nothing but "Soylent Green" biscuits, and see what you got!!

This is an excellent shot of where all the high rollers dwell, but security is not as tight as it should be!!

There's been a murder!!!

Detective Thorn is assigned to the case, where he is introduced to Chuck"The Mad Bomber"Connors as the quite unsavory Tab Fielding! Even as a cop, he's poor as Hell, so he gladly takes advantage of the situation, and helps himself to some booze, and another super luxury, a hot shower!!

There's only one person that Thorn would share with, and that's his pal Sol!

And when he shows him the meat, onions, and apples he scored, it makes Sol cry! Meat, of all things was the rarest of them all!

The guys take their time to truly savor the moment!

Shirl and all her good lookin' girlfriends are considered to be nothing more than furniture!

The only thing that could possibly be better than eating was to be able to take another hot shower, but this time with a woman. The future is so miserable, the most common things you would take for granted today, are elevated to the level of Nirvana! Not to say that taking a shower with Leigh Taylor-Young was a common task! That face will be forever embedded in my mind, if for nothing else than her role in "I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!" She had a look that was just captivating!

Hey, good inspiration for a band name!!

"Step out of the line, the man comes and takes you away!" - Buffalo Springfield

In the kind and greener future, the government offers euthanasia to it's citizens! You don't even have to be sick, if you're just tired of living, that's good enough. Dick "Eight Is Enough" Van Patten ushers Sol to his final destination, and they make it seem like it's going to be the most beautiful moment ever! The weird thing is that notorious tough guy Edgar G. Robinson actually did pass away before "Soylent Green" was ever released!

There are no winners in this movie, the future is uglier than sin, and what exactly is Thorn going to be able to do about it? Not a whole lot! Now go do what the government wants you to, even though it makes no sense at all, go change the time on your clock!