Friday, April 20, 2012

Kiss Me Monster Stills

Well, We hate to admit it, but we've just got to take a break! Doing this every single day for over a year is starting to take it's toll, so before we go completely mad, and start acting more like some of the characters in these movies, we are going to try and get a little rest and recuperation.

When we started, we had no idea it was going to go on this long, and we probably still have another 6 months to a year of every day posting to get ready for ya'll! So, we're going to take two weeks or 13 days off, and come back fresh in time for the most festive time of the year, the Eve Of All Saint's Day!

And for all of you dedicated people who come here every day, sorry, but please don't have a conniption fit. Stroll through the archive, listen to "Room 13" or '4-D Man" again,(might be a good time to leave comments on how much you can't live without us) or just take a break yourself, but do come back! As the good Reverend Tom Frost might say, "We are not dead, but only sleeping!" So mark your abacus, cause we're gonna be back on October 5th for another raucous round of amazing titles like "Invisible Man Vs The Fly", "The Living Corpse", "Monster Of The Volcano", "Fear Of The Mummy" and so mucho mas more!!!

So, let's get this thing going and ending, with this tasty little tidbit from Jerry van Rooyen, and what would be more perfect than the ending credits from a film we've already written about three times before, Jess Franco's "Küß Mich, Monster" a tight little instrumental that sounds a whole lot like classic Doc Severinsen "Tonight Show" 'let's break to commercial' music, and stage left, we're outta here!! Peace!!!

Godzilla Stills

Hell, we just couldn't wait any longer!!!

If this doesn't look like Halloween, I'll eat Hedorah's shorts!

We've got a whole new slew of ever so obscure titles in the can for you, and this Halloween Countdown 2008 provides us a with a great opportunity to post something about one of our most favorite movies, even tho it's from the 70's!!

So, without further delay, let's just kick off this next round a day early, with some music to whet the tastes of even the most hardcore monster aficionados!!!

"Gojira Tai Hedorâ" has got it all! It's a classic romp, and an opus adventure that has some of the furthest-out rockin' music you'll ever hear, a message, and monsters!!!

So before the end of the world, or at least until All Saint's Day gets here, you've still got time to find yourself a copy of this film, ingest some forbidden substance, break out your old fish head mask, and prepare yourself to party!!

Here is what we like to call the ultimate "Godzilla Vs. Hedorah Jam!"

I could go on forever and a day about this film, and there's about 1000 screen captures I'd like to show you, but I've still got some partying to do myself.

Tomorrow night Rodan gets us started again, and will take us back to the 50's where we belong, with the Eugène Lourié classic "The Colossus of New York!" Stay tuned!!

Colossus Stills With Ross Martin

Van Cleave does the music, and, boy, does this theme stand out in a crowd!! Also, its not every day that we post a Paramount title. Them and Columbia both have the problem of being too 'middle of the road' for us when it comes to monster movie music.

But, this theme is totally awesome and really says... THE COLOSSUS OF NEW YORK!

SOUNDCLIP NOT AVAILABLE

The movie starts off with a bang as Ross Martin, playing Jeremy Spensser, and, who has just won the Nobel Peace Prize, gets run over by a truck barrelling through an alley.

In it's defense, the truck did say 'dodge!'

Here's the problem!.. Jeremy was the world's authority in developing a food product that will save the Earth from famine due to overpopulation, a common theme in the '50's, like in TARANTULA.

Jeremy's father and brother, both doctors, figure out a way to get Jeremy back and reclaim his legacy. So, they make him into a giant hulk with a bad attitude!.. Wow, genius!!

Here's another problem, he has a son and hot wife!.. And, guess what?!.. Jeremy's brother is trying to hit on the wifey, and, Jeremy... err... The Colossus, knows about it!!!..

The Colossus walks under water to get to brother Henry, who's headed for the hills, but, Henry gets a big surprise instead. You see, Colossus has developed awesome new powers, like frying your sorry ass with heat vision!!!.. Goodbye, dear brother!! The still with a bridge in the background is a common element in Eugène Lourié films!

Ed Wolff plays The Colossus. Here's a great still as he breaks through some glass at the UN. He then starts randomly toasting people in the crowd!!

Somedays, it jes' don't pay to be a cop!

Check it out, we could use The Colossus in Washington!!

The Colossus gets turned off by his son, then he falls to the floor!.. Anyway, Jeremy went from wanting to save the Earth to wanting to kill everyone!!.. Hey, just like in real life!!

House On Skull Mountain Stills With Victor French

Let's set the record straight! In my humble opinion, there probably hasn't been a great voodoo movie made since "The Dead One" in 1961!

That being said, "House On Skull Mountain" doesn't stand a ghost of a chance! One thing though, I don't know how much money they spent on this awesome opening shot, but they got their money's worth, and it sure as Hell is my new wallpaper!

I love this roadside attraction shot! Skull Mountain is a pretty swell place, "Having A Great Time, Wish You Were Here!"

And now for a word from one of my best friends, Squeaky Doorknocker! "Velcome!"

- Voodoo Stuff, circa 1974 -

This is Mike Evans as Phillippe Wilette, I'll introduce him first, because he's the first to go! Mike made quite a name for himself on TV after he got this film out of his system. Not only did he have the forever recurring role as Lionel Jefferson in both "All In The Family" and "The Jeffersons," he was also the creator and writer of the TV series "Good Times!" Needless to say, his smart aleck persona doesn't work that well outside of the TV sitcom! Michael passed away back in 2006 at 57!

The family's motto is the same as that of the New York Police Department, "Faithful Until Death!"

There was a lot of thinking going on in this film, and here's an interesting tip of the hat to famed American illustrator Charles Allan Gilbert and his artwork entitled "All Is Vanity!"

Here's the whole basic cast left to right, Lloyd Nelson as The Sheriff, who came up through the Jerry Warren Skool of film making, with roles in "The Incredible Petrified World," "Creature Of The Walking Dead," and "The Wide World Of Batwoman! Victor (Highway To Heaven) French as cousin Dr. Andrew Cunningham, the only white guy in the family, Janee (Scream, Blacula, Scream) Michelle as cousin Lorena Christophe, Xernona (Trumpet Awards) Clayton as cousin Harriet Johnson, Jean (Voodoo) Durand as the evil Thomas Pettione, and Ella Woods as the housekeeper Louette in her only role ever!

There is plenty of voodoo drum music in "House On Skull Mountain," and I'm a big fan of percussion, but some of these scenes go on forever, then right in the middle they throw in a love song called "Love Has Gently Come This Morning" when the only two cousins left are out on the town! While this might have been the only movie Etta Woods was in, she was also the one singing this song!

The fare is $5.00, where do you want to go Lady? Hell??

The balance of the music was created by the extraordinaire Jerrold Immel in his first outing, who is responsible for among other achievements, composing the theme to some timeless TV classics like "Dallas," "Knot's Landing," and "Walker, Texas Ranger!"

I thought Louette was on the dark side, but Thomas turned the tide against her! Thomas had some real issues that are unclear, except that he was just inherently evil!

The locals are so caught up in the voodoo that they don't even notice Dr. Cunningham sneaking into the scene!

Bring on the machete, one of the great equalizers of the world, but it isn't enough!

What a banquet of beauties, and except for Janee Michelle in the middle, I don't even know their names!

At the beginning of the movie, in her only role ever, Mary J. Todd McKenzie as Voodoo Queen and Grandma Pauline Christophe dies, and she had sent out letters for all the cousins to come to Skull Mountain! You never got the feeling that she had summoned them to be murdered, so when Thomas brings her back from the grave........

.....Well, let's just say this is the last finger in the world you'd want to pull!!!

Evil Thomas is blown out a second story window, and crashes to death down on the hard cold concrete veranda!

Grandma takes the taxi back to Hell, and the happy cousins couple have a lot of soul searching to do!! A Lot!!!