Sunday, February 17, 2008

TERROR OF THE BLOODHUNTERS - Jerry Warren - "Bloodhunters Dance" (1962)

Well, this is post #301, so do some exploring while you're here, there's a lot of treasures to be found. Tonight we have another island adventure with a great title, "Terror Of The Bloodhunters", that's not too awful scary, but there was a shot of a shrunken head, and it is a Jerry Warren film, and if "She Gods Of Shark Reef" is a horror movie, then so is this! Another one of those fantastic deep philosophical films with Jerry footage combined with some old movie he got somewhere. 
 
It really looked like he tried to blend them better on this one, but the foliage in Jerry's footage is like woods, not jungle, and his white girls native dancing is hilarious juxtaposed with the other footage he used. Oh, well, that's Jerry, you gotta love him, or it's unwatchable and we love him here, so on a one to ten scale, we give this film a thirteen! 
 
Look at that native girl do the "Death Shimmy!" 
 
From all we can find out, this is the only movie that Dorothy Haney was ever in. Here, as Marlene, she gives Whorf the look!! Oh, yeah, and what kind of name is Whorf? 
 
Another classic 'cheapest police station in the world' by Jerry Warren, this time in South America. It looks like he spent about 87 cents more on this set than the one in "Teenage Zombies." 
 
And what's with this shot where Robert Clarke as Steve is holding the branch in front of Marlene's eyes! 
 
Once again, it's Jerry doing the music in the guise of Erich Blomberg. We sneaked in some outrageous narration from the trailer, and then you will hear the cool tribal rhythms from the opening credits of "Terror Of The Bloodhunters"!!! Hey, I need to go wander around in the desert somewhere for a couple of days and clear out my head, and Tabonga took off chasing one of them Jerry Warren native girls. We should oughta find our way back in 2 or 3 days. Til then, Later...............Go rent a movie!!!

Saturday, February 16, 2008

LEMON GROVE KIDS MEET THE MONSTERS - Don Snyder - "We're The Lemon Grove Kids" (1965)

You might be wondering why we havn't covered anything by the other classic 1960's el-cheapo, no budget film maker, Ray Dennis Steckler here. Let me just tell you that all of Ray's films are still available, full of crazy and cool music, and out of all the people we've talked about here, he's the only one still out working and promoting his movies himself, and that you should go out and buy each and every one of them!!! Some weirdo named Greg Goodsell has been leaving a bunch of comments on this blog lately, and if you'll follow this link, you can read an article written by him that will tell you more about Ray Dennis Steckler. Greg just did an interview with Ray for "Screem" magazine coming out in March, so he's got a lot of inside and up to date information to share. Steckler for details: Ray Dennis Steckler's Incredibly Strange New Career Path 
 Here's a great 86 second blast From The Kids Band intro music. 
 
Ray Dennis Steckler, Gopher, Cash Flagg, Cindy Lou Sutters, Etc himself! 
 
Don Snyder wrote and sang the theme for "We're The Lemon Grove Kids", which is probably the best kid's movie ever made!!!

Friday, February 15, 2008

ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES - Alexander Laszlo - "Trilogy" (1959)

Unfortunately for all of us, at the end of last year we lost another one of the people that made the whole B-Movie scene as cool as it was. I'm referring to classic director Bernie Kowalski, who not only directed this great film "Attack Of The Giant Leeches", but also "Hot Car Girl" and "Night Of The Blood Beast" before doing a hoard of cowboy and cop TV shows until just a few years ago! Anyone who was ever lucky enough to meet Bernie, would tell you that he was always a class act, easy to talk to, and forever a gentleman! He'll be sorely missed, but at least the man left a legacy of film and video that will never be forgotten!!!
Okay, so here we have some of the exact same music from Alexander Laszlo in the theme that was used for the theme of "Beast In The Haunted Cave", but back in 1959, you didn't notice stuff like that!! Here's the opening theme music to "Attack Of The Giant Leeches".

The music on the jukebox is swinging as Lem the poacher, portrayed by George Cisar, is spinning his laughable tales of unknown critters.

Then Liz, portrayed by the ravishing Yvette Vickers enters the room!

There seems to be more to this story that what they're letting on. Now, why are Liz and Dave married? Was it arranged or deranged? She doesn't really seem to like him much!

Liz is disgusted by and despises her husband Dave, and yet she continues to tease him. 

Then Dave's good buddy Cal gives him some advice, yeah, he'll be around all right!

Two seconds later, Cal's ready to jump in the sack with Liz!! What a pal!! 
 
Dave, played by the master Bruno Vesota, is not really as dumb as Cal and Liz might have thought! 

Karma Time!!!
And this is all before the movie really gets going! I just read where someone just remade this movie, good luck it's pretty tough to remake perfection!!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

CONQUEST OF SPACE - Van Cleave - "Me And Rosie, Too" (1955)

Now here's a guy, Van Cleave, with another remarkable resume of cool flicks! Check out some of these titles! Besides "Conquest Of Space", Van Cleave composed the music for "The Colossus of New York", "The Space Children", "Robinson Crusoe On Mars", "Project X" and at least 12 "Twilight Zone" episodes, besides many other assorted TV and movie titles! 
 
You know, Ross, how being up in space for a long time makes you kinda kooky! 
 
"Anything a cat can do,"Me and Rosie can do, too!!"
 Two-timing Rosie was played by Joan Shawlee. From "Irma LaDouce" to "The Wild Angels" with "The Rifleman" and "Dick Van Dyke" along for good measure, this woman had one incredible career well into the 80's, before leaving us in 1987. Thanks for the memories Joan! 
 
Listening to Phil Foster as Jackie, it doesn't take a lot of imagination to think of him in a series of 1950's shorts where he played a character named 'Brooklyn'!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

THE WILD WILD PLANET (Criminali Della Galassia) - Angelo Francesco Lavagnino - "Connie, You're Drunk" (1965)

"The Wild Wild Planet" is such a fascinating movie, and we covered the theme and most of the details a few months back, but there is still more outer space party music by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino to get down with! So here you go.... 
 
"I'm having dinner with the corporation, okay??" 
 
" I like to be treated as a lady, not a buddy!" She just twisted the hell out of Mike's arm, but now she insists she wants to be treated like a lady! Right, Connie!! 
 
 Eat fire, space scum!!! 
 
Back on terra firma, it's "I just hate the sight of you!", but she's still drinking so don't worry, because everything's gonna be all right Mike!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

BLOOD BATH (Track Of The Vampire) - Ron Stein - "Max" (1966)

"Track Of The Vampire" is actually a pretty good movie with some very jazzy music by Ron Stein and Mark Lowry, but the problem is, and I hate to say it, is this....... 
 
These hipsters just aren't that hip.............. 
 
and Karl Schanzer as Max the artist, who was also in "Dementia 13" and "Spider Baby" is just not believable in this role as a whacked out artist type character. 
 
"Quantum Painting?" "Bucket Of Blood" or "Dementia" are much better choices for "Beat-Noir-Cool!"

Monday, February 11, 2008

THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Fred Katz - "The My Name Is Seymour Suite" (1960)

Here's about 5 minutes of joy that I threw together a couple of months ago. It's been fermenting about long enough and I think it's ready to be unleashed. Here's some of "The Little Shop Of Horrors" musical and comedy segments filtered through my mind into one massive mini-mix I call "The My Name Is Seymour Suite."
 For years I thought Dodie Drake was Mitzi McCall for some reason! 
 
What can you say about the cop scene? "Lost one!" 
 
Meri Welles as Leonora Clyde is another character never to be duplicated! 
 
One of the greatest chase scenes of all time!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

ROCKETSHIP X-M - Ferde Grofé Sr. - "Walkin Around On Mars" (1950)

The only movie we've been able to find from the year 1950 that had any music that wasn't strictly orchestral is "Rocketship X-M", but if there's only going to be one, at least it's a really good one!! Classic composer Ferde Grofé Sr. used the talents of the number one 'go to guy' when you needed the spooky sound, Dr. Samuel Hoffman on the theremin quite nicely! Together they made this walk on Mars a lot more than just interesting! Mind-boggling Podiatrist, Dr. Hoffman established the sound everyone to this day associates with a scary or spacey scene, and will dwell in the "Dwrayger Dungeon" Hall Of Fame for eternity for his contributions to cool horror sounds! Dr. Samuel Hoffman, we salute you!!! 
 
So, Okay, just try and imagine, it's 1950, do you think anything could look cooler than this? I seriously doubt it! 
 
You just automatically can tell it's Mars by the color! 
 
Here's some of that classic "Space Theremin"!!

Saturday, February 9, 2008

MAD MONSTER PARTY? - Maury Laws - "The Opening" (1969)

Just barely making it under the wire on numerous levels, the animated "Mad Monster Party?" had some incredible talent working on it, like Boris Karloff, Mad magazine's Harvey Kurtzman and Jack Davis, and the musical genius of Maury Laws, and I can't quite put my finger on it, but something's missing, actually a lot of something's missing! 
 
Quite interesting from a historical perspective, this movie, and the soundtrack are still readily available today to rent or buy, so we'll leave all the 'real' songs behind, and just whet your appetite with this jazzy taste from the opening sequence. Is it really a "Mad Monster Party?"
 I guess you'll just have to find out on your own!!!

Friday, February 8, 2008

KONG ISLAND (Eva, La Venere Selvaggia) - Roberto Pregadio - "In The Bar" (1968)

Blood Island, Kong Island, who cares, as long as it's in the Pacific somewhere! 
 
Here we got "Bullethole" Brad Harris in the bar, first with Ursula played by Adrianna Alben..... 
 
........then danicng with Diana played by Ursula Davis! 
 
then spotting Turk, and getting saved by a man who is not his type! You might need to rent the movie to figure it all out! The jammin' Super Suave Island Sounds continue by Roberto Pregadio!

Monster Music

Monster Music
AAARRGGHHH!!!! Ya'll Come On Back Now, Y'Hear??