NABONGA - "Weird Loves" (1944)

I think it's about time for another Gorilla Suit Saturday Night Special in The Dungeon, so tonight I've got one of the true classic gorilla suit movies, from 1944, it's Tabonga's third cousin on the primate side......

......"NABONGA" also known as "GORILLA."

An  African Airways plane full of stolen Jewelry has gone down in the jungle! The only passengers are a man and his young daughter.

After the plane crashes, the devious man shoots the pilot, and the girl is whisked off into the deep dark depths of the jungle by a large gorilla!

 The next thing you know it must be about eight years later, and all the local people know about the white witch of the jungle who has powers over some of the animals, especially one gorilla in particular!

A few days ago he was drinking martinis with Ray Danton, and now he's back in the jungle where he belongs! Barton MacLane is Carl Hurst, but he reminds me a lot of George Bush!

Buster (Flash Gordon) Crabbe as Ray Gorman needs to find that treasure, and Prince (South of Suez) Modupe as Tobo is more than happy to help him, since Ray just stopped another man from stabbing him.

Fifi D'Orsay as Marie was actually Canadian but you'd never guess it from the her accent or this outfit!

She's Carl's little henchwoman!

Tobo draws this very detailed map that shows how to get to the downed plane wreckage!

Ray Gorman has no idea what he's getting himself into!

Julie London was only 18 when this film was made!

If you spent as much time in thrift stores as I have looking at records, you would have seen Julie London's whole catalogue of music at some point. The smokey, sultry, sexy singer was probably only outdone by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass in the 'donated to charity' department!

Buster does a good job of looking genuinely terrified by Ray Corrigan, the man inside the gorilla suit!

Ray Gorman and the white witch have a tentative relationship. He kind of likes her, but he really only wants the jewels, and she kind of likes him, but she's not giving them up because they're hers!

Somebody should have remade this film a few years ago, and used Drew Barrymore as the white witch! Asking who does her hair or where she gets her clothes would almost make as much sense as asking.......

......How Ray and Marie put this gorilla trap together in about 15 minutes!

Carl and Marie end up getting their just rewards!

Dig deep folks! We still needs it!!

More not truth in advertising! Her picture isn't even in this one, and in all the other posters Julie London has the smallest credits, but then Ray Corrigan has no poster credits, and is known only as Nbonga, so I guess it all works out!!

COMMANDO CODY vs. THE MOON MENACE / Feature Version - 1952

This is the 62 minute feature version of RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON now on DVD. The story goes like this... Strategic targets on Earth are being destroyed by an unknown weapon, government security head Henderson suspects that it's an "atomic ray" weapon originating from the Moon! He assigns Commando Cody, scientist and man of action with a secret flying suit, to investigate the matter. Soon, Cody is battling Earth thugs in the pay of Krog the Moon man and making trips in his experimental rocket to the Moon itself, in a perilous effort to thwart the planned invasion of Earth!

It stars George (FORBIDDEN PLANET) Wallace as Commando Cody, Aline (THE INVISIBLE MONSTER) Towne as Joan Gilbert, Roy (ZOMBIES OF THE STRATOSPHERE) Barcroft as Retic, William (LUCKY DEVILS) Bakewell as Ted Richards, Clayton (THE LONE RANGER) Moore as Graber and Peter (INVADERS FROM MARS) Brocco as Krog.

Everything starts when key targets are being destroyed on Earth. Commando Cody and the gang are assigned by the government with the task of finding out who's behind the attack. It's not long before an atomic ray device is found out to be the weapon of destruction, and that, it came from the Moon!

On Earth, Krog is in charge of organizing the attacks, he utilizes criminal earthlings to help carry out the destruction. Krog regularly checks in with the leader of the Moon, Retic.

Cody and his pals take their experimental rocket to the Moon, to get to the bottom of the invasion. They cruise over the buildings on the Moon before landing on the edge of city.

Cody breaks into Retik's room to get some answers, and, what do you think what happens next? I'll give you one guess!.............

After a big fight, our hero grabs an atomic ray weapon and runs to the edge of the city where Ted's waiting for him. Retic sends out a patrol vehicle to track Cody. Cool ass Moonmobile!

The vehicle finds Cody and Ted, so, they duck into a cave. But, the Moon men use a melting ray to try and bury the Earthlings. Luckily, the effort fails, saving the day!

So, Cody and the gang head back to Earth.

Here's a nice shot of our flying hero, Commando Cody, back on Earth now.

He locates the hidden Moon base in a cave in the mountains, Cody walks in on the culprits and another epic fight ensues!

Retic is there, visiting Earth, checking up on the progress. After Cody causes a pile of trouble, Retik takes off in his rocket and heads back to the Moon.

But, Cody grabs the truck holding the atomic ray weapon and simply shoots Retik's rocket out of the sky, ending this tale! Be back tomorrow when Eegah!! is working hard on yet another special post, just for you!!

HONEY WEST - Anne Francis - "The Swingin' Mrs. Jones" (1965)

I do believe it's about time we had a "Honey West" Wednesday in The Dungeon, and so finally, tonight is that time! In 1965 the TV show "Honey West" starring the incredible Anne Francis, featured the first female detective in a prime time series ever, and that was just for starters!

"Honey West" was a trailblazer. The people who produced it were smart, and my guess is they had been watching some German Krimi movies, because it's all there, the swingin' music and the smart ass wit, and wry humor! If not, either way, the bottom line is, "Honey West" rocks!

I might be a bit prejudiced in my adulation, but I've been in love with Anne Francis since she was Altaira Morbius in 1956, and for good reason, as you will soon find out!

Anne's very talented co-star was German born John Ericson, who was in some cool movies like "7 Faces Of Dr. Lao," and "The Bamboo Saucer!" John just turned 92 last September!

"The Swingin' Mrs. Jones" was the first episode of "Honey West" and aired on September 17, 1965!

Anne Francis was rockin' the mole a couple of decades before Cindy Crawford!

These shots are just from the opening credits!

This shot reminds me of one of those 'what do you see' puzzles, a couple about to kiss, or a skinny version of the "Venus Of Willendorf?"

"Honey West" was on for two seasons in 1965 and 1966. I'm bummed! I've only got the first season!

Here are two more reasons to love Anne Francis.........

.......She was one of those rare people that were in more than one episode of "The Twilight Zone!"

In 1960, Anne played Marsha White in the episode titled "The After Hours!"

And in 1963, she played Jess-Belle Stone in the episode called "Jesse-Belle!"

Too much information about Anne Francis and not enough about "Honey West?"

"That's Life, That's Tough!"- Gabriel and the Angels (1962)

Sadly, but inevitable for all of us, Anne Francis passed away in 2011 at the age of 80! Kind of strange but on the same day, 7 people were killed by lightning in South Africa, in the Philippines, a bus wreck killed 7 people, and a Chinese fishing boat capsized and killed 7 more!

 This is not only my favorite shot of Anne Francis, it's also my favorite shot of anybody! Do what you want in the course of your life, but you're gonna be hard pressed to ever find an image any cuter than this!

The epitome of cool, Dungeon hero Ray Danton is in this first episode too!!

 Ray Danton and Barton Mclane in a martini scene together? This is the kind of stuff that made the 60's so great!

Those were the days! "Honey West" has been around for quite a while, and I don't know who they're going to get to play her next time, but I think it's time for another round!
Drinks are on the house!! Let's get buzzing!!