TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN / AIP - 1957 / Music by Paul Dunlap

Here we are again with Paul Dunlap at the musical helm. And, tonight's classic selection really says 'monster!' Shocking stuff for '57. So, here's the excellent theme, some instrumental music at 'make out point,' my favorite, when Frankie breaks into the girl's room, and, some action with screams!.. TEENAGE FRANKIE

 Whenever you see this, you know its the British version and it usually has a different title than the American film. The British movie NIGHT OF THE DEMON was released in the US as CURSE OF THE DEMON. AIP's INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN was shown in Britain as INVASION OF THE HELL CREATURES! 

 

And, that's why this title card doesn't say... I WAS A TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN!

 "I saw some kid go flying through the air! I think he landed over there!"

 Whit Bissell and Robert Burton take advantage of the situation and steal the body before the cops get there! 

 

Here, with Phyllis Coates, Whit is as creepy and cold-hearted as Michael Gough when it comes to love with the opposite sex! One interesting note is that Whit is also the mad scientist in I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF! 

 

Whit's new toy, Gary Conway! 

 

About 3 seconds earlier, Whit slaps the crap out of Phyllis, for real!!.. He's a pretty macho dude! 

 

Curious about Whit's activities, Phyllis screws up and has a key made to find out what's going on inside the lab. 

 

This is what's going on!!.. YOW!!

 Whit locks Phyllis in with the monster and, so, she gets thrown into... That's right!... An ALLIGATOR PIT!!

 Monsters are fairly inquisitive! 

 

And, there's nothing more interesting than a hot chick in lingerie, no matter what you are!.. Ask Tabonga!!

 Frankie just want a little kiss!.. Why girl run?! 

 

Whit and Gary go out looking for a new head! They find one, its Gary Conway's!

 Of course, the cops can't figure anything out! 

 

Whit has big plans for Gary, he wants to cut him up and transport him to England where he can, then, reassemble him and continue his twisted research!.. 

 

Gary has a violent tantrum (seriously, a tantrum!) and throws Whit into the alligator pit! Then, he gets caught up in the electrical circuits and turns the film color as he fries! He slumps down, dead... 

 

The cops finally show up, late, and Robert Burton tells 'em... "I'll never forget that face!"

 And, the alligator gets dessert!.. Whit Bissell!!

SCARED STIFF - Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis & Carmen Miranda (1953)

Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, well, there's not much new I can say about these showbiz icons, so let's just get with it! Here's some seriously cool photos and songs from the 1953 zany classic, "Scared Stiff!"

 The musical credits give you all the information you need to know!! 

 

This movie is all about music and starts right up with Dean's act at the club! 

 

Dorthy Malone plays the part of Rosie!! Dorthy meet Jerry before I beat the crap out of him!! 

 

Jiggers, the cops!!! 

 

When Jerry Lewis puts on his game face, he's really scary!! 

 

Time to sail off into the unknown, and for all you schmaltzy Dean lovers, here's "Dino" with a classic love song! 

 

Frank Fontaine as the obnoxious drunk on the pier would go on to have a number one record 9 years later with his "Songs I Sing On The Jackie Gleason Show" LP!! In character as Crazy Guggenheim, the non-drinking Fontaine, could barely put a sentence together, but had a smooth singing style out of character, just like Jim Nabors when he wasn't Gomer!! 

 

My favorite thing that Jerry Lewis does, is when he stands behind some one and mimics and mocks them!! That'll get me rolling on the floor every time!! 

 

Carmen Miranda as Carmelita Castinha performs here in her last film role, with the boys and "Bongo Bingo"! I love the countdown at the end! Defies comprehension to me! 

 

There's no way to forget "Enchiladas", even if you try, because just like in real life, they will come back to haunt you! Listen to this at your own risk and guard your crystal! 

 

And once again to justify the whole thing, see, there is actually a ghost!! 

 

"Carmen's Late", so of course, Jerry has to go on for her miming to a record! He almost pulls it off, and the crowd is just weird enough not to care! 

 

It might be her last movie, but backstage with the gang, Carmen doesn't look like she knew she was going to get this kind of send up! 

 

Super scary sequence giving new meaning to the word 'armchair!' 

 

Oh, it's Bob Hope and Bing Crosby!! Imagine that!!! How ironic!! And they're skeletons!!! Wow, how is that even possible or plausible? And, in the, Oh, Yeah, department, am I the only one who thinks it's hilarious that another Martin/Lewis movie made in the same year titled "The Caddy" had an actor in it whose name was Lewis Martin??? That's just weird!!!

THE SKULL - Elisabeth Lutyens - "The Skull" (1965)

Time for some colour, and if nothing else, "The Skull" is definitely a colourful film! Elisabeth Lutyens' music is outstanding as always, but this Amicus Production directed by fave Freddie Francis is disappointingly devoid of any swing this time around, but instead injected with fear, paranoia and claustrophobia!! 

Cheers! Have a nice day! 

 

I'm thinking if you're going to dig up the Marquis de Sade's grave, you're really just kinda asking for it!

 

Michael Gough is auctioning off the denizens of the devil!! Would you expect anything less?? 

 

Cute little guys will creep you out if you stare at them long enough!! 

 

"Guest Star" Christopher Lee as Sir Matthew Phillips is hearing those voices inside his head! He's got to have those sculptures and doesn't even know why! 

 

Peter Cushing as Dr. Christopher Maitland has a really cool collection of bizarre stuff! Kind of like a mini Ripley's "Believe It Or Not" museum! 

 

The Doc's study is just loaded with curiosities from all over the world, but he never can quite seem to have enough! 

 

Enter Patrick Wymark as sleazeball con man Anthony Marco, "Presenting the skull of The Marquis de Sade!!!" 

 

Here's yet one more cool Freddie Francis moment, this time as the point of view of "The Skull" itself!! 

 Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, one of the finest duo's to ever grace the screen, and they are both excellent in this film!! 

 

Chris has got a whole lot of cool stuff himself!! 

 

So, now, you've got "The Skull" and suddenly you're not in control of your own mind anymore! You're in the back seat of this squad car, and you just know something ain't right! Simple, surreal and effective!! 

 

"The Skull" is in control of the whole scene; what did I tell you about digging up that grave? 

 "The Skull" can control your mind, make you kill or kill you itself!! I'm thinking this is a good selling point for cremation!!!!