THE SKELETON OF MRS. MORALES / Alfa Film S.A. - 1960

It's South Of The Border Friday at The Dungeon, this time we gots a weird black comedy about a sexually repressed taxidermist who finds solace in his job while his frigid and deformed wife psychologically tortures him because of his devotion to stuffed animals!! This is a very rare movie which the DVD currently sells for $80 on Amazon!

Here's a nice little sound clip from this wild flick for your approval, sooooo, you can push the big red 'GO' button over by our stuffed Blob, NOW, Rufus The Gnat!.. Here's a taste of... THE SKELETON OF MRS. MORALES!

The movie starts with nosey women keeping an eye on local taxidermist Dr. Morales because he's, you know, loco in the cabeza!

If that isn't bad enough, even the men want to know... What's up Doc?

The doctor's wife is a frail but demanding woman and likes to tongue lash her hubby for fun.

His answer is to have a big chug of straight vodka and spend time with his little buddies!

The wife goes out for awhile so the doctor tells the maid to cook him a thick steak with fries!

Whoopsie!...

Nice exchange of glances!

Couldn't resist showing these late fifties toys and kids attire! The battery powered airplane's propellers spun when turned on.

The doc's wife has mysteriously disappeared so city officials visit his workshop to question him. Gee, I wonder whose skeleton that is there?..

Anyway, they take the doctor in and lock him up in a cell in the courtroom!! (better hope he doesn't have to go number two) There, he listens to witnesses' testimony and sometimes he consults with the Skeleton of Mrs. Morales!

But, the doc's acquitted and it's a gay time for all! Bring on the booze!! (hic!)

It's a wild finish as a parade of ten caskets and followers makes its way down the lane to the cemetery with the camera turning upside down on the final casket! Now, that's art!! Looks like we'll return tomorrow for another Saturday Night Special!!

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND - Chapter One - "Lost In Space" (1951)

 As far as I can figure, there have been approximately nine different shows of different ilks titled "The Mysterious Island" either based on, or loosely based on Jules Verne's classic novel "L'Ile Mysterieuse!" The first one was a silent film made in 1929 starring Lionel Barrymore, and the latest one was made in 2012 and stars The Rock, Dwayne Johnson!

Tonight's feature was a 15 episode serial made in 1951, aka "Captain Harding's Fabulous Adventures!"

The short bombastic theme was written by the always entertaining Mischa Bakaleinikoff of "The Giant Claw," "20 Million Miles To Earth," etc. fame!

 I am just showing you the cast credits so you can fully appreciate the character's names! Rulu, Shard, Gideon, Nemo, Moley, and Neb, sounds like a Disney cartoon to me!

 The first chapter was titled of all things, "Lost In Space!" So here you go, 

 Richard (Rocky Jones, Space Ranger) Crane is Captain Cyrus Harding of the Union Army! Richard was a busy man, and even though he only lived to be 50, he somehow managed to rack up 133 acting credits to his name!

 The Confederate Army has one of them there fancy air balloons for spying on those Yankees!

 What a chore it would be to try and gather up all the binocular shots that have been used over the years in cinematic history!

 Captain Harding is taken prisoner, and since they didn't have any POW camps, he is taken to a fellow's house who lives behind the lines! Mr. Jackson doesn't really cotton to Yankees much, but since his dawg seems to like this stranger, he reckons it'll be all right!

 Pretty good accommodations! I guess it's just understood that they can't escape without getting killed when they cross the line, but the Captain has got a plan, and is just about to meet a guy who will be willing to join him!

 So the biggest hurricane on record is brewing, so what better time to steal the Confederate airship! They find themselves out over the ocean somewhere, and they are dropping fast! When there is nothing else to throw out, Captain Harding jumps hoping it will make it so the other guys can land safely!

 They didn't delve into it deep enough in the first episode, but I'm pretty sure this is Captain Nemo who has just saved Captain Harding from drowning! He walks towards a mountainside, and poof, just disappears!

 There are pirates off the coast of wherever the air balloon landed...........

 ............And out of nowhere, a spaceship comes whirling in and lands on the island!

 Now things are starting to get interesting, and the WTF!? factor goes way up!

 This is obviously not your run of the mill every day island native tribe, and their Mother's never taught them not to run with spears! Speaking of spears, what's with the groovy kink in the shaft? Is that just for looks or what?

 

The volcano on the island erupts, and it really captures the attention of the natives who immediately go into prayer mode! 

 The guys mange to make it to a big cave before it's too late, and that's just about enough action for one episode!

 "Mysterious Island" is another serial that I searched for years to find a copy. After I finally found one, then I found out it streams on Amazon Prime free for members! Episode number one was pretty cool! I'm kind of excited to see some more of them! At about 17 minutes each, there's not really enough time to fall asleep!

THE QUATERMASS CONCLUSION / Euston Films, Thames Television - 1979

Welp, here's the last chapter in the Quatermass series from the great British sci-fi writer Nigel Kneale. It's the edited theatrical version of the 1979 Quatermass four part mini-series set in near future. Professor Quatermass (this time John Mills) tries to save his granddaughter from the clutches of a popular but sinister cult called the Planet People that performs raptures.

Here's a sound clip from this classic story, sooooo, you can push the big red 'GO' button located there by our Quatermass Pit Xperiment from Space, NOW, Ralphie The Tarantula!.. Here's... THE QUATERMASS CONCLUSION!

The story starts with Quatermass going on British TV and negates the government's talking points on how to advance into the future with all the disarray around the world caused by a seemingly unstoppable alien menace threatening the Earth's youth.

Quatermass has only one quest now, that is to find his lost daughter who he believes has joined one of the cult tribes that wander the countryside.

Stonehenge plays a big part in the movie, this is where the alien force manifests itself. Here, Quatermass and the police try and quell an uprising from the Planet People cult.

Quatermass investigates Stonehenge after the latest alien manifestation.

Also discovered there is this, I guess, star child that gets some comfort after her ordeal.

Meanwhile, in space, government leaders have put a mission there to try and stop the alien menace from using Earth as a target for their cosmic influence.

But, it doesn't work and the mission is doomed as the shuttle is destroyed by the intense ray.

Things get worse as the alien influence advances its message around the world.

Special equipment is brought in to destroy the alien ray as it arrives at Stonehenge.

Then, Qustermass finally finds his lost daughter amongst the crowd of people that's gathered.

The ray is on its way!!..

Quatermass suffers a heart attack but his daughter helps him complete the mission! You'll need to see this little gem if you want to know how it all turns out... Tune in again on Wednesday when we'll be back for another Dose of the Dungeon!