Saturday, February 7, 2009

DIE TODESSTRAHLEN DES DR. MABUSE - Carlos Diernhammer & Oskar Sala - " The Death Ray Mirror of Dr. Mabuse" (1964)

"The Death Ray Mirror of Dr. Mabuse" is just one more in a massive string of excellent films made in Germany in the 60's. The score for this film was composed by a fellow we have not written about before, Carlos Diernhammer, and he only has a handful of other credits, but just like Peter Sandloff and Peter Thomas, and some others, he swings with the best of them!!
Any interesting electronic bits are the work of the master, Oskar Scala!!

I love these German Dr. Mabuse and Edgar Wallace flicks, but our buddy in Berlin, the king of trash and roll, Lord Litter, tells us, that we really need to find some Jerry Cotton films, so we're really lookin' forward to those, but it's been a pretty elusive search so far! Hey Netflix, we love you, man, but how about the whole Edgar Wallace/Jerry Cotton catalogue??? Let's see if that works!!!

First we must extract the information from Professor Pohland via shock treatment! "It wasn't I, it was Mabuse, he made me lie!"

Checkin' in with The Boss, 1967 style!!

Mr. Peter van Eyck plays the part of Major Bob Anders, an interesting character to be sure. Not the best looking, smartest or toughest guy in the world, but he gets the job done, and always makes an interesting story out of it!

Major Bob brings along his friend Judy, the distraction of perfection, played by Cretian beauty Queen Rika Dialina, in an attempt to make himself look more normal. Judy just came along to have fun, and can't figure out what's going on at all, but always brings up something insightful that points to some important clue!!

Yo, Ho, Ho, Ship #13 as seen through binoculars!! Where we come from, it just doesn't get any better than that! That's class!!

Speaking of class, how about this shot? What could possibly be next?

Yoko Tani as the cunning little cat, and our hero, before and after the bedroom!

Here it is!! The one, the only, the amazing "Death Ray Mirror!" Death rays bounce off the moon and come back and kill you, and this is just a private enterprise!!

Turns out The Boss is not only the boss, but he's also Dr. Mabuse! Whoa! Major conflict here!

"It wasn't I, it was Mabuse, he made me lie!"

Friday, February 6, 2009

EQUINOX - Jaime Mendoza-Nava - "The Beast" (1970)

Welcome to the new Funky Friday Night Out Of Control Freak-Out! Just pay attention and nobody will get hurt! Just for kicks, we're going to venture off into the 70's for a few weeks on Fridays, and let's get it going with yet another Jack H. Harris Überclassic, from the year 1970, "Equinox"!!!!

Kudos to Bolivian composer Jaime Mendoza-Nava for an outstanding soundtrack! The music playing on the radio in the car is beyond classic sleaze! This film was also released under the title "The Beast" and used the voices of our hero, Forrest J. Ackerman, Chuck Niles of "Teenage Zombies" fame, and also had 8 time Hugo award winning Science Fiction writer Fritz Leiber Jr. in it. What other movie can make those claims?

This young man is David Fielding played by Edward Connell in his first acting role!

Sound man Jack Woods has his only acting job ever here as Asmodeus, or as he is also known, "The Boss!" Did I mention that Jack Woods also wrote and directed this film?

Then Cinematographer Mike Hoover starts throwing this stuff at you!

I'm sure all you TV freaks out there recognised the voice of Herb Tarlek, that crazy plaid pants salesman in 89 episodes of "WKRP In Cincinnati" from 1978-1982 played by the fabulous Frank Bonner here in his first credited film role!

When you first see "Equinox" all you can think is how bad it looks compared to something like Harryhausen's "The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad," but in retrospect, this movie really isn't half bad!!!

The Boss comes back to finish up some business!

I can't figure out why David keeps calling out for some guy named Mike Ross! I don't see any other reference to a Mike Ross anywhere else in the film or in the credits! Very Freakish!

Now you can see why this was also Edward Connell's only and last film role!!

I've got two words for you, it's that simple! "Equinox" Rocks, and that's why we're here! Raise your freak flag high!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

THE NAVY vs THE NIGHT MONSTERS / Standard Club of California Productions Inc. - 1966 / Music by Greene, Salter + Stevens

Tonight, Tabonga feature Triffid-like cousins, THE NIGHT MONSTERS!! Boy, this is some whack out flick, too, no kiddin'...

Unspecial music is stock from composers Walter Greene, Leith Stevens and Hans J. Salter. But, anyway, here is THE NAVY vs THE NIGHT MONSTERS!

When flick begin wif' dude like this, well, you in for bumpy ride!!

Two second later, he accidently let go of balloon and it fly away! And, he do it twice!!

Okay, back to story... They find big plant in Antarctic and airplane that carry it crash on island where Mamie Van Doren working as Candy Striper! Anthony Eisley star as base commander.

Dude was nominated for Academy Award, but, he not win!..

Tabonga throw this in for all guys out there!!..

You welcome!

Okay, back to story!.. Doctor and top brass out for walk on Saturday morning and almost step in poop!

Bobby Van have short movie career!

Lookit this! A lil' baby Night Monster bite big tough guy and he faint!.. Then, take two guy to capture puny lil' baby monster! Dang!.. That one reason why 'Monsters Rule!!'

Dungeon pal Billy Gray was real trooper on set! For small bump, he let Night Monster rip left arm off!! So, you think you so tough?!!

Not since ATTACK OF THE (THE) EYE CREATURES have Tabonga be so confused about what time is it?!! And, like, where in Hell did jungle go?

Make you glad that it over though!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

EL MUNDO DE LOS VAMPIROS - Gustavo César Carrión etc. - "The World Of The Vampires" (1961)

Ola!!! Hey, I am here tonight to tell you that "The World Of Vampires" is one loco flick, and I hope you really really like organ music!!!!

Guillermo Murray as Count Sergio Subotai carries the whole show!!

Personally, I'm thinkin' that Vampire World would be a good name for some amusement park, and right here is one of the major attractions!

The count is looking like he needs a little more blood and a little less cheese as he pumps out this pre Iron Butterly classic!

There ain't nobody that's going to try and argue that this bone organ isn't pretty damn cool!!

When The Count shows up, you just never know how people are going to react, but one thing for sure is, indifference is non-existent!

Not only checking out The Count, everybody seems to be checking out somebody else too!!

The Count does what appears to be "The Hustle" or maybe possibly 'The Funky Chicken!"

And catches the attention of all the ladies in the room!!

Cut to the distinguished Rudolph Summers doing a demonstration of his 'ugly music' that makes babies cry and dogs howl! He's sure, and I'm sure, you won't understand!

I think I've said this before, but a lot of the time this whole vampire thing doesn't really seem to be that bad of an idea!!! Welcome to Vampire World!! We hope you enjoy eternity!!! Hell Yeah!!!

Monster Music

Monster Music
AAARRGGHHH!!!! Ya'll Come On Back Now, Y'Hear??