TALES OF TOMORROW / "Verdict From Space" - 1951

This is the very first  episode from this wild series. In the story, Gordon Kent is on trial for the murder of a scientist while visiting a cave thought to have alien machinery hidden behind a locked door. Gordon tries to explain to the judge and jury what they found inside the cave, and the implications it might have for future of mankind. It stars Lon (YANKEE DOODLE DANDY) McCallister and Martin (JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBERG) Brandt.

The prosecutor asks Gordon about his involvement in the death of Professor Sykes and presumably the $5000 Gordon had in his possession was also stolen from the scientist. The prosecutor has grilled him incessantly and now it's time for the jury to deliberate their decision. His defense attorney (a real freaking A-Hole) leaves the courtroom, oh and, good luck there!

Here's the notes his attorney was taking during the prosecution!

Here's Gordon's special blowtorch gun that's part of the story...

Now we flashback as Gordon recounts the events of that evening. We are now in his workshop, he's ready to go to bed when there's an intrusion...

A Professor Sykes demands some of Gordon's time, and he's there because of his blowtorch gun, but Gordon wants him to leave!

After listening to the Professor's spiel, Gordon agrees to help after he's paid $5000 for his participation in opening a door to a room full of alien machinery!

They find the cave but haven't found any door. Gordon's starting to wonder if the Professor has flipped his lid.

Lo and behold, there's the door, Gordon then uses his torch on the lock.

They discover that the aliens have been monitoring Earth for the last million yeas, and the current timeline denotes a sudden concern by the aliens over the use of nuclear weapons and their destructive powers...

They think one piece of hardware is a communication device, and as they surmise its use the place starts to fall apart and the cavern space is beginning to cave in.

Gordon makes it out okay but the Professor gets conked on the head by a falling rock.

Live TV... The makeup artist only had a few seconds to create this effect, looks like they used a spatula on his face! Anyway, he dies after he tells Gordon that he must warn everyone about the potential invasion...

And like today, try and tell the truth and have brick-head people believe it. He's found guilty.

And just as Gordon's being sentenced, there are some tremendous sounds coming from above.

It's an attack by the aliens and the noise is their thundering spaceships, Gordon kneels on a chair as the others watch in horror.

The screen goes black and all you can hear are the alien ships attacking, and it is so cool!! This is a great episode, catch it if you can!

DER UNHEIMLICHE MÖNCH - "The Sinister Monk" (1965)

 

It's a Sinister Saturday Night Special down in The Dungeon with another Edgar Wallace tale of woe, "Der Unheimliche Mönch," oder auf Englisch................................

 

 

........."The Sinister Monk!"

 

"We know where to find him, it's right about here, in London some place!"

And this would be the him in question! This is a story of cold-blooded murderer, and what happens after a young girl is murdered in a famous English boarding school.

 "The Sinister Monk" has an all-star cast that includes:

Harald (The Brides Of Fu Manchu) Leipnitz as Inspector Bratt, the man who has to untangle the whole mess!

 

Perennial Dungeon favourite Karin Dor is Gwendolin Gilmore, the girl who inherited the money, because of course, there has to be a girl who inherits the money, and a seriously nasty family who all want to get their mitts on it!

"The entire country lives in terror. The newspapers call the mad killer "The Sinister Monk."

Siegfried (The Mysterious Magician) Lowitz is the villainous Sir Richard.

Ilse (The Curse Of The Hidden Vault) Steppat is Lady Patricia.

 

Hartmut (Überfahrt) Reck is the sniveling Ronny.

Uta (The Oblong Box) Levka is Lola.

Rudolf (The College Girl Murders) Schündler is the eccentric mask making in house artiste!

Dieter (Curse Of The Blood Ghouls) Eppler is Sir William. 

There are a lot of Sirs in this film, but not many gentlemen!

"Who is "The Sinister Monk?"

Siegfried (Room 13) Schürenberg is back as Sir John, a role he would play for at least six more movies after this. "The Sinister Monk" was also the last of this series of Edgar Wallace films that was in black and white.

Und..........Last but not least is Eddi Arent as Smith, who if I counted correctly was in eighteen of these Edgar Wallace masterpieces!

 

Let us not forget the man who wrote this show, Mr. Edgar Wallace!

And his Co-star, the man who wrote the score, the always astounding, Maestro Peter Thomas!

SPACE PATROL UK / "The Wandering Asteroid" - 1963

Since our pal Paul from Oz expressed an interest in this title, I feel obliged to add this one to our long list of posts. So, here we go...

An asteroid has been knocked out of its orbit and it looks like it's headed toward Mars... Time to do some math!

The Space Patrol is notified about the event which sends everyone scrambling to figure out what to do about the situation, and, they haven't much time to come up with a plan!

Then they find out the asteroid is headed for the capital of Mars! Help Mister Wizard!!

The Galasphere is powered by Gamma Rays, and Yobba Rays, oh Hell yeah!

I showed this shot because I'm intrigued by that candy cane/barber pole thingamabob!

Guys!! Better freakin' hurry, the damn thing's bearing down on Mars!!!

The Galasphere is headed to the asteroid with a bomb in tow in a metal carrier attached by a tow line that looks a lot like an old fashioned telephone cord.

So, the gang land on the asteroid and Colonel Raeburn goes out on his Hover Jet to find a site where they can set up the bomb.

After a few more problems that cause time delays, it seems that their drilling tools didn't allow for such hard surface rock, well, it's going to take longer than expected...

Then there is a problem with the fuse and there's only 3 minutes before the place blows. Raeburn orders Slim back to the ship and get ready to take off without him if he doesn't make it back in time before the explosion!

Colonel Raeburn makes it back with no time to spare but as they lift off the engine is dragging even at full speed... (damn, it's always something!)

So, they detach the the seed pod and they just make it!

Raeburn watches as the asteroid is blown to smithereens.

And, the usual ending as the gang recounts the events of the day on their way back to Earth. Now it's time for us to come back to Earth too!