DAS VERRÄTERTOR - "Traitor's Gate" (1964)

"Das Verrätertor," now that's a mouthful, and the English translation as "The Traitor's Gate," or the betrayed gate, are words that just don't go together well, and I think that just kinda sets the mood for this Edgar Wallace Wednesday feature. Actually, when I got this, it was labeled "Trailor's Gate," and I was really have a hard time trying to figure out what in the Hell that meant!

 

"Das Verrätertor," was made in 1964, and is a little different from many of the Edgar Wallace films of the same time period, because they don't use the same players as much.

"Das Verrätertor" was a novel written by Edgar Wallace, but the screenplay was by Hammer's Jimmy Sangster credited as John Samson.

Something else that's different about this film is that it was directed by Dungeon fave Freddie Francis.
 

Gary Raymond was a co-star on the popular 60's TV show "The Rat Patrol" as Sergeant Jack Moffitt, but I think this was the only Edgar Wallace film he was in.

 

You just can't hardly have an Edgar Wallace movie without Klaus Kinski in it. There are a few, but usually he's lurking around in there somewhere!

Another unfamiliar face in Edgar Wallace films is Catherine Schell. This was only Catherine Schell's second on screen appearance, the first being "Lana, Queen Of The Amazons." She would later be in "Moon Zero Two," "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," and appear as Maya in "Space:1999." Catherine came from a royal bloodline, and her Father was a Baron, but World War II put and end to all that.

Margot Trooger was also not in a lot of the Edgar Wallace films, except for this one and "The Mysterious Magician," and "Again The Ringer."

Same thing with Albert Lieven, besides this film he was in "The Devil's Daffodil," and one episode of "The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre."

Und....(That's German for 'And' for you non-German speakers. It took me three years of high school German class to figure that out!).............Eddi Arent, who like Klaus Kinski was in almost every Wallace film!

(And personally, sometimes I wish he wasn't.)

The basic story here is that a group of crafty thieves try and steal the Crown Jewels which are housed in The Tower of London!

Maestro Peter Thomas was once again responsible for the music, and that's reason enough in my book, to watch this film!

Other than that, there's a lot of this..............."Hilf Mir!!"

 

"Was meinst du damit, dass ich albern aussehe?"

 

"Keine Sorge Boss, das wird ein Kinderspiel."

Just using the keys would have been the simplest solution!

But you just can't go wrong with a team of guys with cutting torches. Just ask anybody who has ever had their catalytic convertor stolen! Very Effective!

THE VAULT OF HORROR - "Below The Crypt Lies Death's Waiting-Room" (1973)

Tonight's Saturday Night Special is called "The Vault Of Horror" and like it's predecessor, "Tales From The Crypt," it's based on E.C. comics! These vignettes are written by Al Feldstein, and William M. Gaines!

The short story format of comics is perfect for an anthology of tales like this!

 They do a pretty fair job, but it's hard to compete with the original in the sicko department!

"The Vault Of Horror" is a movie about five guys trapped in a room together with a bunch of booze, and stories about their worst nightmares!

The first tale features Daniel (Warlords Of The Deep) Massey, and is titled............

.........."Midnight Mess!" 

He seems to have found himself in a vampire restaurant, and he's the main course!

The next bad dream is called "The Neat Job," and features the always marvelous Terry-Thomas as the most anal retentive OCD asshole on the planet!

But you have to admit that he's got a pretty damn cool bar!

The lovable Glynis (Lady Penelope Peasoup) Johns is the unfortunate wife who can't do anything right! I love that checkered ashtray!

She finally manges to put something in the right place!

(Now this shot in pure E.C.)

Next up is "This Trick'll Kill You" featuring Curd (Circus Of Love, Prisoners Of Love) Jürgens as a scheming magician and his equally greedy wife as played by Dawn (The Vampire Lovers) Addams.

Of course he kills the snake charmer and just like in "Cult Of The Cobra" .........

.........Somebody has to pay the price!

This would be a great postcard from Transylvania!

The fourth story called "Bargain In Death" features Michael (Mysterious Island) Craig as a man with a plan to fake his death and get buried alive to collect insurance money that fails, and a couple of shout outs to E.C. comics too!

The last nightmare titled "Drawn And Quartered" stars Tom (Dr. Who) Baker as a tortured Gauguinish artiste!

It seems that what he paints comes true!

Well, you probably saw that coming!!

This just seemed like the prefect place to end it, so while we're having a pensive moment, just in case you ever wondered, I'd just like to tell anybody who leaves comments, I know it's annoying, but even we have to prove we're not robots!

Thanx for tuning in!

THE DEATH KISS / K.B.S. Productions Inc. - 1932

Welcome to another Moldie Oldie Monday here at the Dungeon! Today we have a little murder-mystery comedy from way back in 1932, starring Bela Lugosi as studio executive Joseph Steiner.

Tagline reads... "Movie star MURDERED! KILLER on the loose!" The plot... "While filming the closing scene of "The Death Kiss", leading man Myles Brent is actually killed. Having played around with, or been married to, most of the women connected with the movie studio, there are lots of suspects. When leading lady Marcia Lane is arrested for the killing, her suiter, a studio writer, starts to investigate the killing in order to prove her innocence."

The stock music is by uncredited composer Arthur Lange, music director was Val Burton. Lange also composed music for THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND, CARNIVAL BOAT, RACKETY RAX, CALL HER SAVAGE, CURLY TOP, GIRLS' DORMITORY, SUBMARINE PATROL, THE UNDYING MONSTER, LADY OF BURLESQUE, PIN UP GIRL, JUNGLE PATROL, RANCHO NOTORIOUS and THE MAD MAGICIAN!

Rufus the Gnat has been pacing the pad and wants to 'drop the hammer' on the big red 'GO' button and start today's Eariffic Earclip for yer audio pleasure!.. THE DEATH KISS!

This movie was originally released with color tinted sequences!!

Something seems wrong on the set of "The Death Kiss!" And, wouldn't you know it, it's the last scene!!

Okay, tell him he's a good actor, but that he needs to get up because we have to shoot that part over!

Wow, nice office, gots atmospheric conditions...

Bela has an intense conversation with 'the poor man's Charles Laughton!'

The coppers arrive and turn up the heat on the suspects.

A young grip gets some advice from an old-timer. Remember, it's a comedy!

There are some similarities to HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER, like this scene where they are looking at the footage of the murder in the screening room, searching for clues, here, the projectionist is nearly blown up!

A studio cop just don't get no respect!

The photography director requested and got his 'arty shot!'

This shot is great, notice, that's a real block of ice, not a CGI!!

Adrienne Ames does a great job of being beautiful!

I know that hats make the man...

But, what the hell does this mean?!

We finally get a good look at the killer. The reason for murder was professional jealously, what else?!

Alright then, who wants to go get tore up?!..

Ghoulnight, everbloody!!