THE MIGHTY PEKING MAN / Shaw Bros. - 1977

Seems like producer Dino De Laurentis opened a big can of Guzanos back in 1976 with his remake of KING KONG. Shortly after that, there was the campy piece of crud, QUEEN KONG, and then tonight's offering from Hong Kong, THE MIGHTY PEKING MAN! The original title is GOLIATHON and it's rated PG-13.

Welcome everbloody to Friday Night Drive-In, here at The Dungeon, with yer host Tabonga and his lil' helper freek, Ralphie The Tarantula!!

The music is composed by a Dungeon Favorite, Yung-Yu Chen! Mr. Chen had 174 composing credits and worked on all these productions and more... DUEL OF THE IRON FIST, THE HUMAN GODDESS, THE DEVIL'S MIRROR, SEVEN BLOWS OF THE DRAGON, FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH, SACRED KNIVES OF VENGENCE, BLACK TAVERN, THE BASTARD, THE PIRATE, THE SUGAR DADDIES, BRUCE TAKES DRAGON TOWN, THE GODFATHER FROM HONG KONG, 5 MASTERS OF DEATH, INFRAMAN, BRUCE LEE AGAINST SUPERMEN, MY BEWITCHED WIFE, NAKED FISTS OF TERROR, BIG BAD SIS, KILLER CLANS, CRAZY SEX, THE OILY MANIAC, THE DRUG CONNECTION, COBRA GIRL, KUNG FU WARLORDS, MANTIS FISTS AND TIGER CLAWS OF SHAOLIN, PALACE CARNAGE, FIVE DEADLY VENOMS, LOVE OF THE WHITE SNAKE, BANK BUSTERS, CRIPPLED AVENGERS, THE RECKLESS CRICKET and SHAOLIN HELLGATE! phew

Okay Ralphie, c'mon in and take care of bidniz... In other woids, it's time to push that big red 'GO' button that's attached to our Eariffic Earclip for tonight, here's... THE MIGHTY PEKING MAN!

After reading about the Peking Man in the newspapers, a group of explorers set out and locate the area where the creature had been sighted. They set up camp.

Here's popular Danny Lee as Johnnie Fang, he doesn't notice the big ape's hand coming up behind him! Danny had 120 acting credits and 22 producing credits, not bad!

Here's what the movie's all about for Tabonga, stunning knockout Evelyne Kraft as half naked jungle girl and pal to the big ape, Ah Wei! She's the reason the movies rated PG-13! We'll get to that...

Sadly, she recently died suddenly of heart failure in Jan., 2009, at the age of 57 and had long retired from film. She had 13 acting credits.

Ah Wei shows Johnnie the wreckage of her parent's plane.

She recounts how the Peking Man saved her from the wreck and raised her in the jungle. So, where did her clothes comes from?

Then, of all things, Ah Wei gets bitten by a viper very near the danger zone, Johnnie first sucks the venom out of the wound, then applies this poultice to it!

This scene is totally whack, but very fun at the same time!

Evelyne's left boob hangs out of her top for probably a total of 2-3 minutes throughout the movie, making things quite enjoyable!

Here, see strips off her new clothes and throws them out the porthole, she hates them that much! They were short shorts and a tight fitting top!

Here's a shot of the sleazy cast of characters trying to make a buck off the Peking Man back in Hong Kong, then the world... Hey, look, there's Goober!!

The P Man is F'ing C Sik!!! Look at them big old feets!.. Anybloody gots a giant feather?

All they can do is ride it out, but at least they're inside something!

It looks like he had to sit on his own poop, so, it's a good thing there was a storm!!

When they get to Hong Kong, everbloody's all excited to get a peek at the Peking Man!

But, all anybloody wants to do is throw rotten tomatoes at him! No matter how hard I try, I don't get it!

You'd think Dick Cheney was running the show!

Two great shots as the P Man escapes into the city!

Of course, the military has to get involved!

Lookin' both ways!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....

...ZERO!!

It's pretty gruesome to watch P Man in flames before he plunges over the side of the building to his flaming death.

Johnnie carries Ah Wei to safety after the wild ordeal.

Ghoulnight Everbloody!!

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?!"