Friday, October 11, 2019

A CARTOONIST'S NIGHTMARE / Looney Tunes Horror Cartoon With Beans - 1935

Here's a great little WB cartoon from 1935, it's all about what can happen if you're a cartoonist working late at night... This is the first appearance of Beans The Cat where he teams up with the cartoonist to put some villains in their place, after they pull the artist into the cartoon with them!.. Happy Halloween Countdown!

Here's a look at the cartoon factory, where everyone's running around getting their work done before the whistle blows, bringing the day to an end.

I highly recommend the book "Termite Terrace" if you can find a copy, it's about the antics this group of artists from this time period pulled at Warner Bros. when they were at that original old run down studio, they named, Termite Terrace. You will not believe the pranks these clever guys and gals played on the executives! I give it a 10.

After the whistle blows, the employees quickly hurry out of the building. You'll notice Oliver Hardy there, but the last person with the artwork is actually Bob Clampett...

The night watchman makes his rounds and notices one cartoonist is working late. After a word with him, the watchman leaves and the artist just keeps on drawing...

He's working on a story about Beans, who is about to go up against a brutish demon character. The cartoonist is getting tired, so, he draws some bars to keep the monster away from our little hero while he catches a few winks...

The animator immediately falls asleep in his chair.

Then suddenly, the monster pulls the artist into the scene! After punching the guy a number of times, the thing drags his artistic nemesis into the room of Cartoon Villains.

And guess what's in store for him in that room... Right, many more punches!!

In the meantime, Beans gets a gift from a friend!

The monsters give the cartoonist a pencil and make him draw a deep hole! Then, they throw him in, only to be saved by a small tree branch... Watch yer keister bro!!

Beans shows up to save the day, he throws our guy a pencil and he draws a handy old ladder!

And, Beans has another plan, it has to do with grease. It must be good, see how adoringly he eyeballs that grease gun!.. Something very special indeed!

The plan works like greased lightning!! Zip, zop, they all slip and slide into the pit... Best part is when the cartoonist socks the demon monster right in the mush before it falls into the pit.

Now it's time to pull out his handy eraser and erase that freakin' pit away!

Well, the cartoonist shakes Bean's hand and all is well in cartoon land. Problem is that he was dreaming the whole time!

Our artist quickly grabs his pen and pulls the monster and prison bars back in...

Then, he draws a giant pile of ice cream for Beans to chow down on, for all the help he gave him in slumber land!

Join us again tomorrow when we will have more Halloween Countdown spookiness for you and them, here, at The Dungeon!!

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

POPEYE THE SAILOR - "Spooky Swabs" (1957)

Tonight's Haunted Hallowednesday feature is a Popeye cartoon from 1957!

The title is "Spooky Swabs," and if it spooks Popeye, who has had every possible type of horrific experience, then you know it's pretty stinkin' scary!

Popeye and Olive Oyl are lost at sea for some unknown reason. Kids don't care why, because that's not what the story is about.

The story is about they come across a large sailing ship and are saved!

The story is about the ship is haunted, and has been for a long time!

Unfortunately for Popeye and Olive Oyl, the ghosts are quite content, and don't wish to be disturbed!

Popeye and Olive are unphased at first!

Then the ghosts start playing dirty tricks on them!

They even have Olive walk the plank, but Popeye is able to save her!

Unfortunately she lands face first in a mop bucket!

The whole thing is starting to get to Olive a bit!

The ghosts decide to throw a full-fledged mutiny!

Luckily there was an urn of "Ye King's Spinach" on board for some reason!

Popeye downs the spinach and proceeds to kick a lot of ghost ass!

Olive stitches the ghosts together.....

.......And at least the good for nothing sons of bitches are good for something!

Oyl's well that ends well. Popeye just might get some tonight!
After the Fleischer Brothers were no longer running the show, and Bluto turned into Brutus, they totally lost me. By comparison, these cartoons were flat and dull, but I actually liked this one for some stupid reason!

Monday, October 7, 2019

DRACULA / The Story Of The Strangest Passion The World Has Ever Known! - 1931

Here's a Halloween Countdown treat, one we have never done until now! In our story, the ancient vampire Count Dracula arrives in England and begins to prey upon the virtuous young lady, Mina. The monster has arrived!! One strange thing about this movie is that there's absolutely no music from beginning to end!

I showed the Realart poster from when it was reissued in 1951, 20 years after it was originally released. A truly awesome horror poster!!

It stars Bela (WHITE ZOMBIE) Lugosi, Helen (DANCE HALL HOSTESS) Chandler, David (THE MUMMY) Manners, Dwight (FRANKENSTEIN) Frye, Edward (DRACULA'S DAUGHTER) Van Sloan, Herbert (THE MONKEY'S PAW) Bunston and Frances (THE SHE-WOLF) Dade.

After a harrowing ride through the Carpathian mountains in eastern Europe, Renfield is told what he can expect to find at Dracila's castle from a local. But, Renfield doesn't believe in silly superstitions...

So, the carriage only takes Renfield so far and he must take another one to get to Dracula's castle. He's picked up by a mysterious mute character (Dracula) and rides away into the night...

Renfield is there to finalize the transferral of Carfax Abbey in London to Count Dracula. After the papers are signed, Dracula drugs Renfield and he's doomed to do the vampire's bidding...

Here are Dracula's playmates, they'd love to dig their fangs into Renfield's neck!

The voyage to London doesn't go well for the ship's crew, as you can see. The authorities also find Renfield in the hold, he's now a raving lunatic!

Once in London, Dracula seeks out a pretty young lady, and Mina is her name-o!

At the Seward Sanitarium, Renfield is catching and eating insects like flies and spiders, he thinks that their blood will keep him alive! A worker grabs his meal and tosses it out, making Renfield extremely agitated!

Old Drac has fanged Mina in the neck and she's starting to have strange feelings. Van Helsing inspects the bite marks and tells the others that she has been bitten by a vampire!

When the count shows up for a visit, Van Helsing notices that there is no image of him in a mirror. He plays a trick on Dracula and shows him the box with a mirror in it. He immediately knocks the box out of our hero's hands with a look of anger, and he leaves...

Later, when Dracula tries to impose his will on Van Helsing, well, a small cross sends the vampire running for the exit. Love the look on Bela's face!

It had to happen, when Dracula thinks Renfield has inadvertently brought people to the castle, he tosses the little guy down the stairs!

Van Helsing and John Harker are there to save Mina for the vampire's clutches, where they locate Dracula sleeping in his coffin!

It's fairly anti climactic when Van Helsing quietly puts a stake through the vampire's heart, as Drac just goes... Ugh! That's it. Then Van Helsing proclaims that Dracula is dead, never ever to return! WTF?!.. How many freakin' vampire movies are there anyway, jeez!.. Like, join us again on Wednesday when we'll hand out more Halloween Countdown Treats!!

Monster Music

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