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Re: (Name that movie) I saw a movie in the theater when i was young (50's). All I remember about it is a group of people in a house after a nuclear war. They were not killed because the mountains surrounding them were made of lead. It seems all the animals had mutated into monsters.
One scene I remember is one of the people had a radiation burn on the side of his face, like a star or something to that effect. He was in bed at night and went outside for some reason. This sticks in my mind because it must have scared me...of course the movie was b/w. Any help would be appreciated. A.M. American International Pictures made two films using this story. The first time was in 1955 for the movie, "The Day the World Ended." This is the better of the two, shot in b/w and features the classic monster with a second set of little mutant arms hanging off the shoulders. In 1967, AIP needed a movie to pad their television syndication package and gave the script to director Larry Buchanan to shoot and retitled it "In the Year 2889." This version is an almost line-for-line remake, but shot in color and features mutants wearing some very simple monster makeup. From: Bob (re: The Crawling Eye, Creature with the Atom Brain) The Eyes have it! Allen Brooks was indeed a marvel and I do not mean Captain. Rugged and manly, he rescues Anne from her fainting spell on the train just so she can almost be killed three times by those pesky eyes. The bomber involved is not a fighter bomber but a real bomber through and through. It is the British version of the US B-57, the predecessor to the B-47, a much better known aircraft but as one can see from the movie, the B57 can do barrel rolls and loop de loops. Boy, some fun. All in all, I liked this movie. Yes, the effects at the end looked like eggs over easy with some really overcooked bacon as a side dish. The professor often looked like a Marx brother and his accent was almost inaudible or unnonunderstandable or however you say it. I give it 1/2 star out of 50. Good report. The opening scene of CWTAB is shocking and horrifying, creating a tense atmosphere that is culminated by Uncle Dave's (the Dead one) destroying Henrietta (the girl dolly). Of course, Mrs.Chet is continuing to make breakfast for Chet who has long since left for work. So, she has no idea about the atrocity being carried out in the living room (the poor dolly has been torn limb from limb). From: Wayne Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women. If you have insomnia, this movie will cure it. It has got to be the slowest movie in creation. This thing could be a ten minute video on YouTube. Amazingly, it was made in 1968 so, technically, it's not a '50's B-Movie "classic." It is, however, not even a B-Movie. It's more of a Z-movie as in, zzzzzzzzzz, because you'll be sleeping through most of it. Here's a bit of trivia, 2001: A Space Odyssey was also made in 1968. The contrast of quality in these two movies is beyond description. There is one small plus to this movie. There are nine fairly hot babes in this movie. Happily, they never move their lips and utter any lines. Everything they do is by "thought" projection, I guess. I spent most of my time hoping for a wardrobe malfunction but never got one. Those clam shells must have been glued on, darnit! Still, I didn't notice any all night Oh! and don't let me forget to mention Robot John. Really, you have to see this. There are no words in MY vocabulary to describe this. From: Jim (What's the name of that movie?) I hope y'all can help me. I am trying to remember the name of an old movie about giant snails (not The Monster that Challenged the World) that came up thru the floor. Very young and only saw it once, but the scenes that I remember are: Near the beginning the snails and humans are fighting it out one guy has his arm in snail's mouth up to shoulder then another guy uses an ax to cut off snail's mouth. When Drs remove the snail's mouth from arm, only bone is left. The guy goes Ahab on 'em and, in the end, is being eaten as the lab burns around the snails.
A.M.:
Jim, your question has been answered by our friend Richard. Anyway, color me red-faced because you're talking about a movie I reviewed and I STILL didn't recognize it. You're speaking of not snails, but the deadly blobs of the grim movie, "Caltiki, the Immortal Monster." Here's the clip you're referring to and the link to our Caltiki review.
From: Tony "Bam Bam" Bernetti Run! Don't walk to your local Borders book store. I feel twelve years old all over again. Some of the movies I've seen and some have been reviewed by AM but this is a virtual gold mine. It'll keep you in reviews for the next couple of years. This could put a strain on your marriage. (Hope not.) A.M.: I'll have to check that out - thanks! It's weird - finding anything that's 50's sci-fi is so rare. When you do find a movie or a t-shirt, it feels like your dreaming. From: Carlos (re: Mega Pirahna 2010) If Greg (Brady) is in it, I'm there. I watched the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms last night. Man, could Harry H. make cool monsters - the light house scene and the eating of the policeman are just great. The eating of that guy in Reptilicus had to have been a copy from this. But 20,000's looks almost real. Cool stuff. A.M.: Regarding Mega Pirahna, let me go on record - I'm not saying it's as good or as enjoyable as 50s monster movies, I'm just saying compared to the other Sci-Fi "original movies" (CGI,) I just thought this movie was way more enjoyable. It's as if they said, "Let's just see how ridiculous we can make this!" Since you mentioned 20,000 Fathoms, I thought this would be a good time to show off my prized Ray Harryhausen autograph. I met him at the Monster Bash in 1998 and he did not charge a dime for it. (Love ya, Ray!)
From: Alex (re: The Phantom Planet) I don't know whether it was on everywhere or a regional kind of ad in my area, but the "Lost" finale had a commercial for the hotel chain La Quinta Inns that used footage from The Phantom Planet (the "You know, captain..." dialogue that was made kind of famous by the MST3K version). It was a little surprising, because in spite of MST, I didn't know it was a big enough part of pop culture to show up in something like that. (I don't always like seeing movie clips worked into comical commercials, because it's been done so often, but that was too surprising NOT to be funny.)
A.M.: I really wish I'd seen that! Here's the line I found on another Web site: "You know something, Captain? Every year of my like I grow more and more convinced that the wisest and the best is to --SPEND OUR VACATION IN A BEAUTIFUL LA QUINTA INN!" From: Buddy (re: Caltiki) I just finished Caltiki for the second time! I would like to say that the movie was GREAT following the first viewing but I don't remember much after seeing Linda and the legs on that dancer. I don't know when I came to, but I had a puddle of drool in my lap. I am going to have to fight you over Linda or have a drinking contest - your pick. On to the review - Now I know why it scared the hell out of me as a kid. The special effects are really good for that time. The arm just blew me away and the eating of the guys was really neat. Skulls and goo. Very Cool! Glad to see Linda got to see Max ( The Rat ) get his before becoming room temp. The Monster was so very cool. And the Godzilla ( How do you say that in French?) Caltiki in the end brought back the BIG WOW memory. It was neat having the little scared to death kid emotions flare up watching this. What a COOL, COOL movie. Get this - my older brother was so scare by this movie as a kid he will NOT watch it or even talk about it today - What a big sissy! Before I exit I just want to say 'What in the HELL was that Gas Truck doing there? And how can a monster movie have 2 completely different dream effects with just a 45 year span between viewings? As a kid the monster was under my bed, as an adult I have Linda in my bed.
A.M.: The ending scene with the giant blob monster - fantastic! Seriously, it still looks very good even today. I was really impressed by that and I'm sure if I'd seen it as a kid, I would've been afraid to go out at night until I was 20. The story you told about your brother is funny. To him, Caltiki is like the movie Fight Club. He's like, "Rule number one: nobody talks about Caltiki." As for us fighting over Linda, it would be difficult for my wife to understand why I died fighting over an actress who died in 1995.
From: Wayne (re: Creeping Terror) I think I saw it once a LONG time ago, VERY late at night. If I recall correctly this "thing" crawled along the ground at about the speed of six chains per fortnight. People would see it coming and stand rooted in one spot for about ten minutes until the thing got close enough to "eat" them, I guess. Also, like seventy-five percent of the movie was narrated by a voice over; the actors had maybe ten lines total in the whole movie, not counting the screams. This one was BAD A.M.: I've never seen The Creeping Terror, but I'm hoping to find it at the Monster Bash this year. It seems to be a fan favorite. A.M.: I don't know what's in the water out there in Minnesota, but that area really loves bad movies! Like his Great Lake neighbors, MST3K, Christopher Mihm is synonymous with schlocky movies - except instead of just riffing them he's actually making them! Check out, “An Overview of the B-Movies of Christopher R. Mihm” by Sid Korpi From: Paul (re: The Alligator People) Just finished watching 'The Alligator People.' I can't believe I missed this one as a kid. I thought I had seen 'em all. It was great! The only issue I had with it is the matriarch and doctor folded like $2 suit cases at the persistence of a jilted woman who just wouldn't 'SHUT UP!' Loved the hook hand of L.C. Junior, the very cool Cobalt X-ray Machine, the really helpful maid (she folded like a $1 suit case), the DRAMATIC dialog and the neat swamp. I also loved the orderlies bedside manner of beating the crap out of the patients whenever they wanted a tan. I give this 2 thumbs Way Up.
A.M.: This link was sent to us by Joe Douglass - check out this hilarious b-movie spoof on Chinese food gone amok. It ain't Lo Mein, it's Lo MEAN!
From: Richard (re: Missile to the Moon review) Gezz-o-pete! I thought I was the only one on the planet (and the moon) who thought things were visiting the Throne Room while I was relaxing. I saw things in the woodwork, the tile patterns and the wall texture that would give you nightmares (or get you excited - your pick) but having "The Jackal" visit every time I was in there would have just been too much. Those eyes - Oh my god THOSE EYES! Have you talked with it yet? On to the review comment: YEEEHAWWWWW! So what do you think of a 6 year olds memory of a Cheesy Moon Walk Movie (no not Capricorn One)? That would be Many thanks for getting into 'My Trip'. That was a memory flogger! It makes I have a big grin remembering the escape scene with the starving (slow WOW! That was great! Thanks for being there to bring it back to life. Can't From: Wayne (re: B-movie science) You should have a contest to see who can come up with original "ideas" about how things "work" in these old B-movies. For example, I mentioned that if someone held another person against an electric fence in order to kill them, wouldn't the electricity conduct through the holdee and also kill the holder? In a normal universe that might happen but this killer was under the control of Kronos thereby rendering him impervious to normal electric shock. Only when Kronos' control had been broken would the good doctor be again subject to the normal laws of physics. A.M.: I like it, Wayne! But instead of a contest let's just have an open discussion called:
Everyone is invited to raise a puzzling, b-movie science question and make an explanation. Or perhaps add a different theory to someone else's. There are no wrong answers! E-mail yours to the Dead Letter Office today!!! (or, y'know, some other time.) From: Richard Dear B-Movies A.M.: Last night, just before beddy-bye, I decided to check my e-mail. I'm glad I did because yours made my day by an hour or so. Thank you! A.M.: R.I.P. Peter Graves 1926-2010 The B-world says goodbye to veteran actor Peter Graves who starred in Killers from Space, It Conquered the World and Beginning of the End. Graves will be best remembered for his hit TV show, Mission Impossible, but my favorite will always be his role as Captain Oveur in the comedy, Airplane! Roger Murdock: Flight 2-0-9'er, you are cleared for take-off. His most recent work included a commercial for Geico where he plays himself helping a female Geico customer tell her insurance story. Graves recites, "...so I put on some tangerine lip gloss and answered the door." From: Wayne (re: Tor Johnson) Do you remember the movie "Mighty Joe Young?" After "Joe" was brought to LA, I think, he's on display in a night club? (you figure it out) and he's engaged in a tug-of-war with ten "he-men." One of them was mentioned as The Angel - I think - and I wonder if that wasn't Tor Johnson. How's your research skills? BTW, the rescue scene at the orphanage at the end of Mighty Joe Young still brings tears to my eyes. Don't laugh, it's a touching scene.
A.M.: I loved watching Mighty Joe Young as a kid! I think even more than the Kong films. I mean, when that drunk threw bottles at him while Joe was in jail? Not cool, man! Anyway, here’s what I found out: The "other" Super Swedish Angel, Phil Olafsson, was a professional wrestler. The most famous wrestler with the title Super Swedish Angel was Tor Johnson; it is said that they once had a wrestling match to determine which one would be allowed to keep that moniker. Before eccentric wrestling manager Jack Pfefer came up with the Swedish Angel gimmick, Olafsson was a major wrestling star, primarily in the midwest. It is not recorded exactly when Olafsson began using the gimmick, but it was not long after the French Angel came on the scene. Pfefer was never above stealing a good idea. Olafsson’s unique appearance was a result of the disfiguring disease, acromegaly. A future wrestling star, Andre the Giant also suffered from the disease. Olafsson appeared in one movie. He was one of the wrestlers in the tug-of-war scene with Mighty Joe Young (1949). From: Bob "Igor" the Count (re: Caltiki) Dear Dead, Max is cool as the human villain who is so much more evil than the glob of volcano stuff, that is Caltiki, that one gasps at the thought. GASP!! In Max's greatest hits, I did find myself rooting for Max to meet the little girl so innocently approaching his hideout but when mother called her home, gosh darn it if his plans were not foiled again. Nyah, ah, aaah!! If I were rating on a four star system, I would give this movie 1 and 7/8 stars. This means it was fairly bad (closer to zero than to four) but it had some revealing features (Max, for one) and Linda (She's mine), the hot, hot, hot, as well as voluptuous (whatever that means) latin girl who loves Max so much she allows herself to be brutally treated by that bad, bad, man. Caltiki bit Max and chewed up his arm pretty good, only later to complete the devouring, reducing the man to a jello mold of goo with a skull inside. Great s/fx and I would have liked to see that scene in color but such was not to be. Love the site and keep up the radioactive work. A.M.: Thanks, Bobby! Watching "Max's greatest hits" again, I'm wondering if the actor did his own voiceover dubbing because he sounds like a 5-foot, 200 lb. mobster!
A.M.: Finally, a little press! (a few years ago.) I am such a procrastinator. Years ago a local newspaper called, “Neighbors” ran an article about a university that was showing b-movies in the evenings. My buddy, Steve, who worked for the paper, mentioned my website to the writer and I received the honor of a telephone interview! Now, I know I concoct a lot of Photoshop trickery, but this is on the up-and-up. However, I thought since this is Atomic Monsters.com, I may as well review the review. From: Alex (re: The Killer Shrews) I just re-read your Killer Shrews review. I have a reason to like seeing Gordon McClendon in it, because as a businessman, he started a big radio station in the Houston area where I live, which lasted a very long while. But I also think he was pretty convincing in the movie, in an "absent-minded professor" sort of way. About my only problem with the movie is the hurricane sub-plot, even though it's worked into it in a pretty clever way. But being on the Gulf Coast, I hate the things in and out of fiction!
A.M.: "Top Grossing film" I went to Big Lots the other day to feverishly flip through three-dollar DVDs when I noticed the movie, “Tremors 3.” What I found shocking (well, maybe not shocking, but at least startling...yes, I was definitely startled) was the fact that Michael Gross's name is above the title, thus reading... MICHAEL GROSS Now, I was a big fan of Mr. Gross when he played the father of Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, and I haven’t seen the Tremors sequels so I don’t know – maybe Tremors 3 is a great sci-fi movie, I don’t know. But I'd love to know how exactly Michael Gross got his name above the title which is usually a very big deal in Hollywood. I hope the conversation went something like this:
Or, it could have gone down like this:
From: Joe (re: The Killer Shrews) "I wish there was a deleted scene where Ann replies, "I'm from Sweden." Then Sherman says, "Yeah, I figured that out 24 hours ago." A.M.: I can't type LOL large enough! From: wvelasqu (re: Kronos) Yes, but if you hold someone against an electric fence, won't the A.M.: That is a great point! I never noticed that! Where were you when I was writing this drivel? Incidentally, Kronos is always a top three review according to my web stats. It must really be a beloved b-film.
A.M.: OK, listen up, people. All this social networking’s gone far enough. I don’t mind having a Facebook page because so many people are on Facebook, but as for all these other electronic leashes – forget it. I’m asked all the time,* “When are you going to create a Twitter account? Please, send us b-movie Tweets!” First of all, I barely know what you’re talking about. Second(ly), you’re out of your mind if you think I’m going to Bluetooth your Apple-pods, send Blackberries to your E-phones and there’s no WAY I’ll “find an app” for your Go Daddies. *Nobody’s ever asked. I won’t Bleetbox your 8-track players or send Diggs to your toaster ovens. I refuse to GluvSnap your coffee makers or Spruzer your Victor-Victrolas. I’ll never DZone your 9 irons or Hellotxt your Hoover uprights. I shant be Yigging your penny loafers and it’ll be a cold day in hell before I Fark your black labs. Your tooth fillings will never receive broadcasts from Yoolink and your rhododendrons will never receive Clickazoo widgets. If you want to read Atomic Monsters.com reviews (and I pray that you do), you’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way: Add this website to your favorites, like the Founding Fathers intended.
A.M.: Thanks to the fine folks at Zazzle, I was able to create my dream B-movie coffee mug! It features: The mug holds coffee, tea, water, beer, soda/pop, smoothie, iced tea, ice water, ice, pudding, jello, chicken fat, acorns, sweat, chicken fat smoothie or pens/pencils.
From: Alex (re: La Nave de los Monstruos) I hate to say it, but La Nave de los Monstruos is one Mexican horror SF film I've never gotten to see (except the excerpts here and on the "Monster Kids" site). I have seen a few of those famous / infamous K. Gordon Murray dubbed ones, and I've seen a lot of them on Spanish TV, which aren't dubbed OR subtitled. Not because I'm good at "getting" a film that isn't, but because what you always hear about Mexican horror films is true - that they're full of "atmosphere." (Of course, there are also the commercial breaks - an insurance ad on Spanish TV can be more titillating than a Victoria's Secret ad on English-speaking TV!) Lorena Velasquez was a very big name in these movies, but I've managed to miss most of hers, like this one and the "Wrestling Women" ones. A.M.: I purchased La Nave through the Turner Classic Movies web site -- the movies are supplied by Movies Unlimited. When I purchased the DVD, the description on the site read that their DVD is subtitled in English. This is not the case however but I noticed they did make that typo change since I reported it to them. I kept it anyway because the video is so crisp. From: Joe (re: Earth vs. the Spider) Bert I. Gordon's Earth Vs. The Spider contains a contender for The B-Monster Movie Classic Line Of All Time. The teen daughter is trapped in the giant spider cave because, to find her lost jewelry, she persuaded her boyfriend to return with her into the cave where they were nearly eaten by the spider a day ago. Her suddenly-distraught mother begins weeping. To console Mom, the town sheriff says, "(Now) you don't want to look at it like that, Mrs. Flynn. You got to remember that cave's a big place and THOSE KIDS HAVE A LOT OF SENSE. They'll find places where the spider can't get them." BTW -- thanks for the website. Only the right touch of sarcasm and irony tickles calloused ol' me , so my wife is amazed to find me belly-laughing and teary-eyed when I'm enjoying your reviews. Keep up the bad work! A.M.: I have to share a funny story. A friend of mine went to Copenhagen to attend a wedding. I said, "You have to get me a Reptilicus T-shirt or something!" She's like, "What is Reptilicus?!" So I explained. Long story short, a few months later I get an e-mail from her. This is all the e-mail said: Subject: Reptilicus "Couldn't find anything... people just laugh at me..."
From: Alex (re: The Wild World of Batwoman) I just saw The Wild World of Batwoman last night for only the second time, thanks to the MST3K episode. I agree with most of what you say, but I don't think that Katherine Victor is so forgettable. I think she was pretty good in the role (in a deadpan comedy sort of way, which was the obvious thing that was called for). Of course, even if I didn't think that, I'd consider her memorable for her - how should I put it? - her bat emblem. I agree about how easily the girls get kidnapped after all that training they've gone through (even considering that it's a comedy). I think the American Gladiator girls would've made quick work of those men, in or out of fiction. My only regret about it is that it wasn't in color. I know I'm as biased in favor of it as some people are against it, but I think a movie like this really needs to be in color. If the budget is what made it black and white, I think that's more regrettable than anything else about the low budget! A.M.: It would have been great to see Batwoman in color! I watch so many 50s movies I forget this one was made in the mid-60s. It could have had vivid color like the Batman TV series. As for Katherine Victor I suppose I could throw her a bone, uh, I mean, give her a break because I've only seen her act in this movie and the dreadful Teenage Zombies. So she's not exactly getting acting cues from Speilberg. And how would you like to be the one to paint that bat on her? From: Joe (re: my chipmunk story in the Invisible Invaders review) CHIPMUNK?...bahhhh, humbug! Everyone with half a Brain That Would Not Die recognizes that FLYING SQUIRRELS are the true Invisible Invaders! Heck, even when my wife claimed "something just ran over my face!", I couldn't see nuthin', in our dark bedroom. Their cunning invisibility caused me to unwittingly respond, "Oh, really!?" as I rolled over to go back to sleep. Then, the Invader invisibly ran across MYYYYY helpless face! Only THEN did I recognize the gravity of the situation, and it's threat to Life Upon Earth For Married Mankind As We Know It.
Reacting directly, I knew I needed to notify the Military And Let Them Take Care Of The Menace, or, at least switch on the light and use a resourcefully improvised weapon -- a bath towel -- to counterattack at half past midnite, sans radiation suit (well, or ANY suit). So -- WATCH THE SKIES! The Invaders From Trees are here, Jimmy! YOU'RRRRE NEXXXXXXXXXXXXTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A.M.: Joe, Thanks for the fantastic letter! I know when I've been trumped and a flying squirrel crawling over the face is a full house! Not to mention, a flying squirrel's eyes are nearly as bulbous as the eyes of the Saucer Men!
A.M.: This has to be seen to be believed. Artists and engineers combine their talents and love of things retro to create the 40-ft. Raygun Gothic Rocketship! Watch a video of it being made (video at the bottom of the page) Click here to watch the "launch" party with amazing fireworks! (If only I could've been there!)
From: Danny (re: Incredible Petrified World) Thank you for providing my wife and I a good hearty laugh with your 'Incredible" review! Actually, the movie's proven an incredible cure for insomnia - which is all the more incredible considering it's only a little over an hour long. I have a copy from one of those Mill Creek 50-movie packs. Unfortunately, the sound is somewhat warbled. I was thinking of "upgrading" to Something Weird's widescreen version. If anything, the movie also serves something of a music video for the classic Capitol Hi-Q underscore, as often seems to be the case with these old B-movies. Love the goofy music playing while they're touring the lizard zoo. Welcome to the extremely addicting, magical world of b-movie/b-show underscores, where familiar musical cues tend to pop up throughout these old flicks as often as some of the actors themselves. One of the most informative sites I've encountered on the subject so far is http://www.classicthemes.com/ - I've revisited this site many times over these past couple years. There's also a Ren & Stimpy cartoon "Spumboard" which features a wealth of information on the classic production music used throughout that series and others. Before Capitol Hi-Q, I've always been fascinated with the undercore used in a movie that perhaps makes "Incredible Petrified World" look like a masterpiece by comparison: "Curse of Bigfoot" - which uses many fantastic cues (mostly by composers Roger Roger and George Chase) from the Thomas Valentino library (aka "Major Records"). That music also turns up quite a bit in other movies, such as "The Blob" and "Terror from the year 5,000". Monstrous Movie Music offers a decent cd compilation of the complete soundtrack to "The Blob" along with other Valentino cues. Thanks again for the great laughs and new insights into the making of these classic pictures. (I'm going to pay especial attention to the scuba diver filmed on side of the rainy highway next time I view IPW). And please let us know of any expedition to locate that diving bell off the coast of California! A.M.: You see, folks? This is what happens when thoughtful B-movie fans write to the Deadletter Office -- I learn things. You might not learn things because you already knew them, but I learn things. For those of you who also never heard of Capitol Hi-Q, here's the definition from Wikipedia:
From: Ryan I made a Youtube 3-D video that pays homage to those Atomic Monster Movie trailers of yesteryear. It's called "Day of the Atomic Beast 3-D" (Catchy Huh?) you can check it out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0LMYFYDvPc I saw you had some funny short videos on your site and thought it might be A.M.: For those of you who don't own a pair of the old red and blue 3-D glasses, I found a web site that will send you a pair for free with a SASE. Keep in mind, I'm not endorsing them because I've never dealt with them, I'm just saying I found this web site: From: Murray (in Australia!!!) Hiya I remember going in about 1980 and seeing "It Came from Outer Space" in 3D at the From: Florian (in Germany!!!) Greetings A.M.: I'm usually lying on the floor crying because the movie won't end. But thank you for your kind letter. Just goes to show monster fans are the nicest people around the world! From: Robert (re: The Beast of Yucca Flats) Time to Tor for go to bed! No, wrong movie, that was Tor in the Unearthly with that underactor of all time, John Carridine (but that is another story). This movie was so politically incorrect, the mother being left by the husband alone on a deserted road on the highway, the opening where a nude(?) girl is strngl, uh, stnrgnda, uh, time to Tor for go to bed. I do not know where the big bad ol' Soviets got their agents from, but it had to be from the same bad actors guild that our FBI stars and the Mighty Javorsky (uh, make that Tor) came from. The law and order guys spent so much time wandering around in the desert, it is a marvel they had enough energy to tackle the 400+(?) pound Tor. And another thing, whatever happened to the deputy's wife in that clinging, barely long enough gown who was trying to get out of bed when he was called away by duty? Oh, the frustrations of being a cop in EuucchhhhA Flats. My overall opinion of this masterful flick: It is a gleeful little tale of woe and suffering to be enjoyed by the entire family (that is, if your family is a bunch of gorillas). No, actually, really, for the first time as never before I will state that this is a great, great piece of absolute trash, aka rubbish. Out of four stars, I give it five. A.M.: Did you know President Obama held ANOTHER beer summit to mend fences? We made it our latest desktop wallpaper! Visit the wallpaper page! A.M.: Don't forget to enter for a chance to win 2 DVDs in our latest prize giveaway! From: John Here is a question for you considering your vast experience with monster movies. Would it be worse to be a vampire that got turned into a zombie or a zombie that got turned into a vampire and would being a space or mutant vampire or zombie make any difference? A.M.: I think if you’re a classic, male vampire, you already have it made. You just have to watch out for sunlight and the occasional wooden cross-wielding do-gooder. Plus, you get to sleep all day, live in a castle, you get to turn yourself into a bat or wolf and then there’s the women! (Ladies, wearing a silver cross over your cleavage is a stopgap at best.) So being a vampire, then being bitten by a zombie now means that you crave brains but there’s already blood IN brains so that’s like killing two birds. The real drag is that now your Christopher Lee good looks will soon rot off your face making it much more difficult to get stranded ladies to spend the night in the castle. The vampire-hypnotism thing will do you no good after your eyes have fallen out of their sockets. Plus, with dead limbs, there’s no way you’re getting in and out of that coffin without help. Now let’s say you’re a zombie. The worst thing about being a zombie is, with your rigorlegs, you’re too slow to catch anybody. So it seems like changing into a bat would really let you get around, especially if you can dive-bomb a few craniums. So I’d have to go with a zombie with vampire powers. Of course I'm open to other suggestions. As for the mutant factor, if the X-men movies taught us anything it’s that all bets are off. From: Kathy (re: The Giant Claw) Thank you! I enjoyed the review, per usual. I often go back and read the old ones while waiting for more moments of new joy from you, so it was keen to see a new review of a reviewed movie. Also, here in California, we get thanked a lot for shopping at "wherever." I don't go to Wal-Mart usually (I'm union) but I've found that at Chick Fil-A, for example, they are very courteous and I wonder if it's a southern business thing, with courtesy towards customers being a high priority? I'm going to watch for thank-you's, as an experiment here in Sacramento, but can remember a thank-you from the coffee stand downstairs today so far. So we'll see. Well, "I'll" see anyway. Again, thanks for the fun site! A.M.: It makes me maddest when I do it to myself without thinking. It happened just today. "$3.39's your change..." So glad you enjoyed the review...THANK YOU for your letter and please visit Atomic Monsters.com in the future! From: Rich Great site! I'm trying to remember a movie I saw years ago. It was about guys who flew to the north pole and found a monster frozen in ice. They were going to bring him back but he thawed out and reaked havoc on their camp. Thanks A.M.: Thanks, Rich! From: Tommi (re: Killer Shrews) You mentioned that Rook climbed a tree to escape the little doggies in rat suits, but you didn't mention that the fattest guy in the film climbs the smallest twig of a tree on the ENTIRE ISLAND to escape his certain, inevitable, horrifying death. :-) This is my second favorite film, with The Giant Claw being first, and the Beast of Hollow Mountain being third - not on your site!!!! - gotta love that tongue sticking out from the monster's mouth as it races along to eat the local cowfolk. (Or how about Valley of Gwangi?) A.M.: I confess I've never seen Beast of Hollow Mountain but you make it sound intriguing! Or, to steal from Jerry McGuire, 'you had me at "cowfolk."' From: Richard I can recall a rather embarassing experience of backing out and ripping the speaker off in the window...oooops! I don't think I saw many Monster Movies in them, but that would have been fun. The last time I went was a double feature with my girlfriend, I don't remember much of the movies, though, (I wonder why). That was a really weird night, though, that went on to involve coming back to her farmhouse and having an 'Invasion of the Saucemen' (kind of) UFO-landing, let's go see what that was, at 2 in the morning adventure. That is a story in itself. Anyway,.................How about you all? Please tell your Monster Drive-in Memories here. A.M.: I was still a little kid when our town's, The White Way Drive-in closed. My brother took me to see the James Bond film Octopussy. Pre-dating kids carseats, I mostly remember riding in the back of my parents station wagon (dangerous, metal toys rolling all around me) and if I was lucky and turned my head to the back window in time as we passed, I could see a few seconds of a movie playing on the "giant outside TV!" I'd always hope for an action scene rather than a giant actor's head talking. I also remember seeing the people who lived across the street who would put out their lawn chairs and watch the movie because they could pick up the audio on a transistor radio. We thought they were the luckiest people in the world. From: Jeffrey (re: Creature with the Atom Brain) WHO ARE YOU??? I come in peace! I am human, I think, and I just read your A.M.: Thanks a lot Jeff, that means a lot! And let's not forget CWAB's resident housewife, Joyce. A role model for young women everywhere! Incidentally, CWAB is available on DVD in a Sam Katzman box set. After reading your e-mail I revisited the review and noticed my favorite video wasn't playing because it didn't survive the move from our old Internet Service Provider. It's the one called "What if they made a modern movie trailer for a 50s b-movie." Anyway, it's fixed now so if anyone would like to see it, it's on this page, top right. From: Russell (at NASA!) re: Phantom Planet I saw Phantom Planet on the BIG screen, a long time ago. The movie was 5 stars in 1961. If you wonder about the gravity plates, you might want to look up the Near Shoemaker probe. The asteroid Eros was discovered in August 13,1898 by Carl Gustav Witt, one of the reasons that Near was sent to Eros was the observed gravitational irregularities of Eros. It had been claimed that boulders had been observed rolling down hills and then supposedly disintegrating. Sound familiar? NASA's initial news release was quite different from what later appeared. (The initial release said what they had observed was going to force them to rethink what they thought they knew about gravity, later it became Eros posed interesting questions about gravity). One interesting thing, they said was Eros exerted a gravitational field of approximately 1/1000th of the earth, but if you due the geometry Eros only has a volume of approximately 1/331,902,321th of earth. Eros equals approximately 807 cubic miles and earth equals approximately 268,117,333,333 cubic miles. If the earth was pure hydrogen and Eros was pure uranium it still would not work out in the math department. Another interesting thing you might want to read up on is orbital parameters, and what is really required to orbit an object. Oh well - don't read to much. From: Galaxy Being (re: The Incredible Petrified World) That rates as one of the best reviews of a badly done movie I've ever read. Now we have another reason for these movies to exist. A.M.: Today's my birthday and that compliment's the best present I could have asked for - thank you. From: Patrick Iya, From: Glenn
I love "Village Of The Giants!!!" It was a film I saw over and over as a kid on television. I believe a remake should be in the works - we need fun movies NOW!!! A.M.: I just watched your video — it's not enough to type "LOL" - I actually laughed out loud at this well-edited, extremely funny video! Check this out, Village people. And I agree we do need more fun movies. You just reminded me I need to watch Village with my 4-year-old — she's going to love it. From: Terry (in the U.K.) Has anyone noticed the striking similarity of the flying saucer gas station to the saucer amusement-park ride in the OUTER LIMITS episode, "Second Chance?"
From: Alex (re: The Giant Claw) Thank you so much for this review (and your entire wonderful site) - I've been searching for this very movie for over twelve years (truth to tell, I did some other things inbetween :) One night in late '96, I finally managed to see "The Best Years of Our Lives" for the first time (not exactly a B-picture) - then, in a weird double feature, they showed this wonderful piece of crap. Initially, I thought "what the hell", hoping to relive my childhood memories of "Them" or "Tarantula" ... I was dead tired at about two thirty in the morning ... but when I saw the incredible papier-maché-creature, I was just laughing tears and couldn't turn the TV off! It looks worse than Goldie Hawn on a bad Botox day.
And great of you to mention the mohawk, I actually forgot about that lovely piece of early pre-punk Vivienne Westwood design art. Marvelous. From: Bill Now that I've found your website I'll be pestering you regularly...I should be working but, I'm taking my Government Coffee Break, so there. My comment on the Alligator People is more of a warning: Do not watch the movie with anyone who doesn't appreciate the subtle genius of 50s B-movies. My wife watched it with me and when Paul's voice changed, my wife thought it would be amusing to speak in the same style as Paul's voice for the next 3 hours. You have been warned. From: Robert Hi, I just read Steve's comments on Invasion Of The Saucer Men (see below). I don't have the DVD, but I do remember watching that scene on television years ago. From: Steve I need help in recalling scenes from Invasion of the Saucer Men. I live in the U.S. but have an all region DVD player so I purchased the Australian version. I originally saw this film back in the 1960's and as far as my memory serves me, this film has been edited for the DVD. I can recall scenes of the aliens dismantling Johnny's 1957 Ford as Johnny and Joan watched from their hiding place. I know that scene was in the original film as I can remember it clearly. The aliens used that percussion hammer and the wrench type tool to dismantle the car and eat the fender. Johnny said something like "They're eating my car!" Was this scene in the original film or not? I swear it was! Can anyone help? I wonder if an original script still exists or a 16mm film?
From: Vic Hello,
That was a scene for First Men In The Moon (1964). It was based on the novel by H. G. Wells and features excellent stop-motion animation by Ray Harryhausen. If you haven't already seen it I highly recomend it. A.M.: You're right, Vic - I had it in my collection but it didn't sound familiar. Thank you for the kind words and for solving our mystery! From: Alex
I've never seen "Caltiki," so I was very glad to see your review and all those excerpts. You mentioned the little girl being given an adult-sounding voice, and I wonder whether it might've been June Foray, who's done a thousand of them. I thought of that because she dubbed the voice for a child actress (even though the actress was famous herself) in one of the Twilight Zones. Unfortunately it sounded like exactly what it was - June Foray playing a little girl, right out of the Fractured Fairy Tales! So maybe she dubbed this little girl also. A.M.: I’ve never heard of June Foray, but I bet you’re right. The Internet Movie Data Base doesn’t list Caltiki as a movie she took part in, however the list is sometimes wrong or incomplete. It also claims many of her performances were uncredited due to various studio contractual reasons. For example, she never received credit for voicing Bugs Bunny’s Witch Hazel or Granny (owner of Tweety Bird) because Mel Blanc's contract called for exclusive voice credit. On an interesting side note, my wife and I burned a few CDs of old Disney LPs and the one my daughter has been listening to lately is Prince and the Pauper. My wife and I got a chuckle because the voice of the pauper obviously belongs to a woman…who I’ve now learned belongs to…June Foray! (Six degrees of June Foray?) So there you go – when you write to the Dead Letter Office, everybody learns something new!
Here's a great piece of sci-fi architecture called the Flying Saucer Gas Station which I found online while searching a web site called Roadside America. There are a few amusing stories about the gas station in it's heyday told by people related to the owner and those who have childhood memories of riding past it every day. From: Bob (re: Marx Toy Museum slideshow) Reptilicus is the great grandfather of regeneration. Shoot off a claw and you have a new beast!!!! How is that for reproduction! From: Merle
I will purchase any horror movie, sight unseen, if it was made in the 50's, 60's or 70's. Probably 85% of the movies I watch are bad. I must have hundreds of dvd's, still in shrink wrap, which I'll never find the time to watch. I'm almost 54, and I'm sure I'll leave this world before I get to watch all of these movies. The movies I find most disappointing are those which get great word of mouth reviews, have a significant budget and accomplished director, but the movie falls flat. I thought The Orphange was a big bust. After watching that movie, I decided all of the low budget trash I purchased on dvd is not such a waste of my time. I love your website, and always look forward to your film reviews. Thanks.
A.M.: I found some wonderful web pages called "Flying Saucers in Popular Culture" posted at www.ufopop.com. It features ufo-themed advertising and magazines but my favorite are actual newspaper clippings from the late 40s early 50s of alleged ufo incidents - fun stuff!
From: Joe (Atomic contest winner) I remember at a very young age watching THE GIANT CLAW on TV. I have enjoyed bad movies ever since that moment. As I have told my friends about TGC, "Once seen, never forgotten." I will carry the image of those giant eggs being shot the rest of my life. All I could think was an omelet as big as a battleship. I also enjoyed the moment when the bird picks up the train and all the cars stay connected as a toy train ( but not a real one) would. I really enjoy your website and hope someday to see THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE. Have you considered reviewing LEGEND OF DINOSAURS AND MONSTER BIRDS? It's an old favorite of mine (and I'm sure many others). I bought it recently on DVD and it is also available from NETFLIX. Good luck and thanks again for the book, A.M.: Congratulations, Joe! We have another fantastic contest coming up in few days so stay tuned everybody. I have to be honest and say I have never heard of Legend of Dinosaurs but now I can't wait to see it! Sounds like it's up there with Last Days of Planet Earth! I'll take this opportunity to thank all of you who visit and contribute to this letters page. It sure is a lot of fun to hear from fellow B-movie fans about your memories and favorites. Please keep them coming! From: David (re: Giant Claw) A.M.: I never noticed the things you mentioned in Giant Claw. I'll add them to the page and give you a shout-out - thanks, David. From: Jeff (re: A*P*E)
Just so you know, I actually saw it in the movies in 1976 (as a wee 9 year old) and yes it was in 3D! The effects were good enough to have me ducking much of the time. I introduced this movie to friends and it has become the stuff of legend with us. I still reguard it as the best bad film of all time (or at least up there with Plan 9 and The Executioner-aka Massacre Mafia Style). A.M.: Jeff, I could not agree more! Just thinking about the movie, "Ape" (I'm sorry -- "A*P*E") puts a smile on my face. You are SO lucky to have seen it in 3D. Those flaming arrows on strings must have been something! From: Alex I wanted to thank you belatedly for the Reptilicus review, because this is one of those movies that I and a lot of others are really sentimental about. Along with seeing the film itself early on, it also showed up on a few Paul Henning sitcoms, like Green Acres and Beverly Hillbillies. Oliver Douglas sits through it while babysitting a bunch of kids, Jethro watches it at a drive-in and ignores his date, then catches it the next night on TV, and ignores her all over again. (Paul Henning must have bought the rights or something like that; I don't really know how those things work.) It wasn't till one of the last times I saw it that I noticed that the comic relief actor bears a strong resemblance to Brad Garrett of Everybody Loves Raymond. The blond hair is almost the only big difference. A.M.: Hmm. I really don't see the resemblance:
From: A.M.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Marx toy museum. Louis Marx and Company, manufacturer of hundreds of popular toys including Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots and the Big Wheel, also produced the Tom Corbett Space Academy playset back in 1950. I took pictures of it complete and in mint condition not knowing if I was allowed (ask for forgiveness, not permission). It's a moot point since, sadly, the museum was forced to close this summer due to lack of funding. Rumors are they may have found new contributors since then but now I'm really getting off track. Anyway, for your enjoyment, I made a slideshow featuring photos I took of the playset of the 1950s TV show, "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet." From: Bob S. Hi , I just read the letter from Fred. I believe he may be talking about "Quartermas And The Pit" or "5,000,000 Years To Earth" This is an excellent movie, well written. Some of the effects are not the best, but it holds up well ! In Bob's letter (2nd letter down), the movie he is referring to is " First Men In The Moon," a Ray Harryhausen classic. From: Fred With regards to Marshall's e mail of "Are You Guy's For Real" (4th letter down), yes Marshall we're for real because we like "REAL" sci fi not that computer generated color crap they're making these days. 50's B/W sci fi is like a good wine "the older the better". And I'll bet one more thing, Marshall isn't all that old so he doesn't know about the Saturday afternoon matinee at the movies when a quarter got ya 4 hours of entertainment...or the Drive In where for a dollar a car load you got to see 2 or 3 movies and had a good chance of being with "Brenda" in the back seat. I've been building my personal collection for a few years now and I'm up to just over 200 flick. Little by little my goal is to have ALL the classic sci fi films made from 1949 to 1960. I need your help again in locating a film for my collection. I believe it was filmed in England, it was a black and white movie and I think the setting was London just after WWII. Some construction workers found what seemed to be a space craft buried in a very large basement. After the authorities and military finally got into the thing it was discovered there was an alien life form inside and I sort of remember the creatures having large eyes like bees and causing havoc after they got out of their craft. That's about all I can remember can anyone out there help me with From: Alex There's one thing in Marshall's letter (see 2 letters down) that I'm very neutral about, and that's the whole color vs. black and white argument (whether it's about monster movies or anything else). And when I'm NOT neutral about it, it's usually color that I like. So even though I DO like these earlier movies, black and white isn't really one of my reasons. A.M.: Excellent point. War of the Worlds and The Angry Red Planet are good examples of atomic-age horror brought to life with the assistance of color. I wonder what a color Invasion of the Saucer Men would have looked like? From: Sci-fi Bob Ekman I know you posted this over a year ago but i just came across your review on the 1957 sci-fi classic, KRONOS! Awesome page! It's my favorite sci-fi film and probably my second favorite film of all time! I own this film in just about every format available and have the Cacophonic Records sound track LP from 1988. I own this film in VHS (Starlog), Image laserdisc, 16mm flat, 16mm scope and 35mm scope and on DVD. I met Jeff Morrow at the San Jose Science Fiction and Fantasy Symposium back in early 1978! He was most proud of this production! This film gets overlooked, thank you for the review! From: Marshall Are you guys for real? How can you like this boring b/w crap. Color CGI horror movies are SO much better! Nice site, tho. A.M.: Hmm, I'll let the readers respond to this one. Anyone? From: Dick When we were kids by brothers and I would load up a red wagon with glass bottles and cans and take them to the dump to get money for them. We'd take the 10 cents we got and go to the movies to see a movie serial or a monster movie! From: Steve My brother invited my wife and me to dinner Saturday for a private viewing of The Tingler. The "Price" is right for me — free flick, free food. The Tingler was a riot. I loved the scene where Vincent Price puts the tingler back into the dead woman in about 3 seconds - and not a drop of blood. Classic From: Allen My favorite quote from Creature with the Atom Brain is by the TV anchor who says the report of zombie attacks is "so incredible that one can lend it little credence." Gotta love the redundancy! From: Alex As much as I enjoyed your review, I have one small comment about the "Die-A-Logue." I don't think the line was "researching researcher." I think it went something like this: From: Vernon (re: The Giant Gila Monster ) I particularly enjoyed the way the train when first viewed is a "streamliner," (think the movie Silver Streak ) then changed to a more modern freight diesel, then to a switch engine until bearing down on the bridge in it's Silver Streak form. After the crash it was a Switch Engine again. The boom mike floating into sight after one scene is also fun. Great movie! From: Gerald (re: Angry Red Planet ) Great review — very funny! I saw this picture right after it came out. I was 10 or 11, and loved it. Years later, I talked to (A.R.P. writer, producer) Mr. Sid Pink and he gave me a signed, screenplay reproduction for The Angry Red Planet that I still have today. Again — great review. If you were really into goof and corn in 1954-55 (and at the time we thought that was the greatest) we couldn't wait for Saturday to roll around and hope we had a dime in our pockets — yes a dime — to walk to the Essex walk-in theater in Miami Florida to watch The Batman Serial, made in 1943, starring Lewis Wilson as Batman, Douglas Croft as Robin, and William Austin as Alfred. It was made in a 15-part serial, but they just played it over and over, one serial a week. After it was over, a guy would come out on stage (theaters had them back then) and we would all compete in a yo-yo contest for a chance to win a new Duncan yo-yo. Oh yes...and if you had an extra 20 cents you got a cold drink and a small popcorn. Cool or what?? From: Matt Nothing clever or witty here — that's your department. Actually, it's the
From: Robert I just wanted to drop a line about the passing of Kerwin Matthews. He seemed like a really nice guy. Some people in the arts have a life long affect on one's life. I was very sad to hear of his passing.
One of my fondest memories growing up was seeing The 7th Voyage of Sinbad at the show when I was 7 years old. He carried the movie with great interaction with the creatures and a very good voice. I can still see my brothers and I waiting in line to get in. One of the joys was looking at the lobby cards and seeing all of those "neat guys." Voyage left quite an impression on my young self. I feel the same way about this movie as Ray Harryhausen felt about seeing King Kong at the movies! I fell in love with movies that day. I think I saw it 3 times in a couple of weeks back then. What a great acting job he did in the film! He also had very good screen presence. To this day, it is one of my favorite movies. I can watch it over and over. Thanks Captain Sinbad, for the fondest of memories! A.M.:
On a personal note: Yesterday (Father's Day), I took my two and a half-year-old daughter to the amusement park for her first "dark ride" experience on the scary and cheesy "Whacky Shack!" Despite my most encouraging, "Isn't this fun? It's scary but it's fun, right?" she wanted off. It could have been the twisting corridors with psychodelic, glow in the dark paint or the loud buzzers or nearly being "hit" by a runaway bus or the giant rats. But like any great dark ride, later she could laugh about it and wanted to ride it again!* I'll be accepting Father of the Year nominations shortly. *not really, no. From: Stephen (re: The Giant Claw ) Isn't that Joan Taylor, rather than Mara Corday? I could see how you might get these two brunette B-beauties confused but it was actually Mara (October 1958 Playmate) who starred with the prehistoric bird "as big as a battleship" while the lovely Joan Taylor screamed her way through Earth vs. the Flying Saucers.
From: Stephen (re: Manster) I saw this when I was a small child — 6 or 7 perhaps. Almost 50 years later, your review brought it all back. (Sigh) I had hoped that I was through with therapy. We do what we can, Stephen — thanks for writing! From: Kent
A.M.: This happens to me every time I see a horror movie with CGI: I'm watching a movie in a theatre and digital ghosts, dark mist and those, as my buddy Tom calls them, "little Chinese kids with their faces painted white" are jumping out of the woodwork. It's distracting because the computer effects are so bad. But then there will be a scene where a real hand will grab somebody's shoulder and the audience (myself included) jumps out of their seats! And I think, "Why don't they put more of that in it - things that actually scare you?" And speaking of remakes, I read Nicole Kidman will star in Invasion, a remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The movie has reportedly already had many problems. When the project began, fellow actor Daniel Craig was being used as mostly a background character. But since his rise to fame as the new James Bond, they are constantly rewriting the script to give him more screen time. Now, I've always heard that when they're writing a script as the movie's being shot -- that's the kiss of death. It's also hard not to notice a similarity: Tom Cruise, War of the Worlds...Nicole Kidman, Invasion of the Body Snatchers? From: Birdzilla, (re: The Giant Claw) With the computerized special effects they have these days, I'll bet they could make a giant bird that flew more realisticly and it would flap its wings just like a normal bird does and the neck would be much shorter. Make it look somewhat like the ROC from THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD. A.M.: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute. Replace everyone's favorite monsterous marionnette with CGI? Do away with the extra long neck swaying from side to side (which is bound to happen when you're flying at "supersonic speed"). I believe at some monster conventions you would be pelted with giant birdseed for even suggesting such a thing. From: Kent
I have to get something off my chest, other then the Tingler. What bean-counting, focus group watching, poll-taking, bottom line graphing, moron got ahold of the Sci-fi Channel? Who told them that CG of large animals is entertaining? I realize that money drives the engine, but who watches the same plot over and over with the only difference being what type of critter is used? I know, I know...fifties sci-fi was basically three plots with only the animals or aliens changing. But it was done with a class and a finesse that is missing in the fare that the Sci-fi Channel produces. Why can't they show the old black and whites on a retro show on Saturday night? This is where most of us cut our B movie teeth. Is it that the films are owned by an evil genius who is trying to drive the market price of these films up? Will he flood the market once a certain dollar figure is reached and thereby crash the industry? I always end up muttering to myself about who watches this CG crap. Then I realize that it's me and into the deck goes "The H Men" ahhhh blessed B-movie relief at last. A.M.: I have a problem with the Sci-fi Channel -- the violence. It never used to be an issue for me but now that I'm a parent of a toddler, there's just no way I can watch one of their movies now. We were channel surfing and a creature jumped out and began to disembowel someone and they show every intestine in full detail and this was in the afternoon. So unless I want to comfort a screaming child at 3 a.m. (I don't), it's bye-bye, Sci-Fi! From: Bob I have just discovered your website. What a joy! I was looking for 50's sci-fi movies on DVD. It was a great time to be a kid going to the movies in the 50's. My brothers and I would go every Saturday. I think my Mom wanted to get rid of us for a while. (I have 5 brothers and 2 sisters) and there was no more fun then Saturday afternoons!
The Giant Claw will always have a special place as one of my favorite memories. It was the first or second movie I ever saw at the show. "Try some of Pierre's applejack." — one of my favorite lines. I remember running home to tell the rest how "good" it was. I still to this day, have to watch it a few times a year, believe it or not! Bad cinema, but what fun it was ! The other thing I wanted to mention were the fun gimmicks at the theaters. I can still feel the buzz of the Tingler, see the nurse in the lobby, and my personal favorite..the thrill of the new screen sensation, Emergo! In The House On Haunted Hill, the part at the end when the skeleton comes out of the screen was great! I happened to be sitting on the aisle seat and the skeleton on a wire passed right over my head, while the audience screamed in horror! It kind of ruined it, but I still had fun! Movie going has not been that much fun since! I grew up on the west side of Chicago where there were plenty of theaters within a couple of miles. The admission was 25 cents, so it was fairly affordable for our family. We each got admission and 15 cents for popcorn. During the school holidays they would have kids handing out fliers for the day off features. Dig this, a couple of times they had a triple bill, my all time favorite ...get ready....King Kong, Mighty Joe Young and Godzilla! You have to see them on the big screen to truly appreciate them. The theater was always packed, popcorn boxes sailing everywhere, not an adult in sight! Everyone settled down once the feature started though. The 3D movies were always a treat! My favorites were Thirteen Ghosts and The Mask. It was neat looking at everyone else with their glasses on! I remember my Mom taking us to a great double bill — 13 Ghosts and Psycho! That was pretty scarey, as I was 8 years old! I have one other funny thing, to show you how kids were. One of my brothers friends ( I think it was Eddie Haskell) told me not to put my head on the seat because I will get lice!! So my next couple of trips to the movies were spent not putting my head on the seat! I was terrified! From: Fred
A.M.: Fred, You hit it on the scaly nose, my friend. The Monster of Piedras Blancas was designed by Jack Kevan who also worked as a make-up artist for The Creature from the Black Lagoon (although the design of the Creature is widely regarded as being designed by Milicent Patrick). Side note: the Monster's hands are the very same hands used a few years earlier by the Mole People.
From: Bob From: Virginia First question - why? Old one is just right late at night. Look how they tried to remake Psycho and how that turned out....awful ! Leave the classics alone. You know why - its the special effects they can do today. Take the real bad films like Amazing Colossal Man and do it. A.M.: I'm sure we all agree with you, Virginia, but the other answer is money. The disappointing Van Helsing raked in $120 million nationwide. The Creature remake is slated for a 2008 release according to the Internet Movie Database. The film is to be directed by Breck Eisner (son of Disney's Michael Eisner) who directed the Matthew McConaughey film Sahara. These plans often fall through but I'm guessing they will find some bankable actors to star in this remake of a famous film. It would be nice if for once...just once...they didn't change a single scale on his head. And I hope they let Ben Chapman and Julie Adams appear in cameos. From: Dan I'm curious...how do you find some of these movies? Manster, Giant Gila Monster, Beast From Yucca Flats and others are often available on compilations. However, Kronos and some others seem to hit me from out of the blue...I never even knew they existed. What would be a good resource you would recommend to "brush up" on some of these flicks? Every blue moon I catch a new radiation-fueled masterpiece on TCM, but it's always from flipping channels. Thoughts? A.M.: I remember seeing Godzilla vs. Megalon at the Library Theatre when I was about 8 years old with my buddy Mike. Neither one of us had any idea Godzilla was a guy in a costume. Afterward, we'd go outside and play "War of the Gargantuas" pretending to battle each other in slow motion. Forget video games, nothing's more fun than slugging your friend with a nice, soft rotted tree branch that shatters when you hit him (Don't try that at home). Anyway, I found Kronos recently at a Hollywood Video store that was getting rid of their vhs movies, along with Dr. Cyclops and Earth vs. Flying Saucers. I bought six movies that day at $3 a piece. The best advice I could give to find b-movie gems is to simply look everywhere. I've found some at dollar stores and even grocery stores if they have video departments. But don't drive yourself crazy looking for them because it's 99% luck. As for the cable channels, I used to display a TV guide on Atomic Monsters.com but I discovered they only run a few movies over and over again so it wasn't worth the time. But I'll give you some direct links for anyone who wants to print their monthly schedules: From: Bob, aka Count Igor A.M.: YOU'RE shocked?? I'm shocked at the thought of a Kronos sequel starring Jerry Lewis! And you're right -- the french probably would love it. Thanks for writing, Count! From: Dan A.M.: Dan sent us a copy of the fliers -- click here to view. From: Mark Just wanted to say that the Crawling Eye was one of those early scary movies that were unforgettable in the mind of a young kid. As you criticize this movie, please be respectful that it WAS a very scary movie for a ten-year old to be staying up late to watch! I agree that, when viewed through the eyes of an adult (40 yrs later), some movies seem so contrived and even silly - but - this was one of the movies I always wanted to see again but never could find (along with "The Thirteen Ghosts" and of course, "Frankenstein", "The Wolfman", and "Count Dracula"). A.M.: I wouldn't say we are "criticizing" these movies as much as we're just having a little fun with them. I imagine that's what the directors were doing back in the day when they flew model spaceships around on fishing line. And we wouldn't spend all this time and energy if we didn't really have a great fondness for them. From: Scott Blacksher A.M.: Thanks for writing, Scott. Fans of Marvel Comics art should definitely check out Scott's Web site listed above which features original artwork by George Tuska, Bob McLeod and more. From: T. Jones Hello, I am looking for a movie I saw as a child. It was set post-apocalyptic in a desert. The leads were a father and daughter (blond and pretty) they had a home and these people keep showing up for food, shelter, and what not. There was a gambler and his girlfriend, a "Hero" type (love interest for the daughter) and (don't laugh I did not write the film) an old miner and his mule. There was a monster that lived near the lake with little hands on his shoulders who tried to get the girl but she would go in the water and he would lie in wait. The mule went over the hill where the "Exposed" people were and the miner followed and eventually we find out the Monster left the daughter alone at the lake because the "CLEAN" water was deadly to the "Exposed" monsters and "Others". It was a black and white film and it has bugged me for years. Thanks A.M.: T., you have a good memory! The movie you're referring to is the Roger Corman classic, The Day the World Ended. Since you mentioned the monster that "lie in wait," I'll let you in on a little behind the scenes situation that occured while filming as told by Bob Burns in his book, "It Came from Bob's Basement." Bob was a close friend of Paul Blaisdell, the artist who created and wore the creature costume in the movie:
From: Marshall A.M.: I also have the VHS version. I'll let you know if I find a good version on DVD. That IS a great line of dialogue I'll have to go back and add that one -- thanks! In the case of the Giant Claw surrrounding himself with anti-matter, I guess I imagined the Giant Claw surrounding himself with a giant anti-matter bubble. So there would be air between the bubble (anti-matter) and himself (What the hell are we talking about???) Thanks for your letter and please keep visiting! From: "The Movie Collector" A.M.: Thanks for the letter! We hope Atomic Monsters.com continues to capture you like a gigantic optic nerve! From: John From: Steve From: Mike Mellenthin A.M.: Mike, I'm not kidding -- my brother and I LOVED the buzzard from the Warner Brothers cartoons (did his mother call him "Junior?") Remember the one where he flew headlong into the ground, into some old rib cage laying in the desert sand and when he came to, his head was sticking out of it and he thought it was his own rib cage? He was bawling like a baby. Not a very dangerous vulture! And the Giant Claw absolutely looks like him. I'll have to wait a little longer to see if my one-year-old daughter will watch any of these train wrecks with me -- but I won't hold my breath. Thanks for the kind words. From: Mike Mellenthin
For 1958 the effects were pretty standard for the day, and beat the hell out of the big grasshoppers, and made up lizards that we were used to seeing, however there were those moments that did bring a few chuckles even from us. We groaned when we were forced to see the somewhat scantly clad women, and felt that too much time was spent on the psychic connection scenes. We wanted the monster, and I must admit, when we saw it we were pretty impressed. I think the sound it made really added to the overall effect for us. Years later of course I see all the flaws, but I love it just the same, (better than a giant Gila Monster). I love your web site and read, and re-read your reviews. You have a great sense of humor, and I feel that you love these old gems just as much as I do, "Long Live Atomic Monsters" Best wishes, keep up the great work. A.M.: Thanks, Mike! It's enough to make an atomic monster blush! What about the rest of you -- any good memories of seeing b-movies in theatres? From: Kent From: David Mackay Ballard Personally, I think it is one of the WORST ideas EVER to try to remake The Creature from the Black Lagoon (or any of the 3 Creature films). Ben and Julie are absolutely right to be apprehensive at the idea, especially with the way that Universal has butchered their classic monsters with the godawful Stephen Sommers Mummy and Van Helsing movies recently. From: John Harris AM: We agree. What do you think they would do to the Creature in a remake movie? I am sure they would make the creature High Tech, and have him totally destroy a city, before they blew him into a million pieces, like the end of Jaws. From: Ron Barrier From: Mike Mellenthin
From:
Randy Jepsen
My older brother shared a similar hatred for Miss Jane Hathaway of The Beverly Hillbillies who he insisted was the ugliest woman on TV. Thanks for writing. From:
Mike Mellenthin From: Lou Jobe It was hot outside during the Cold War? Just kidding. It must've been great to watch B-movies on a big screen! Thanks for writing, Lou! From: G. Reid I loved Up All Night! Caroline was good but I'm more of a Rhonda Shear man. I remember watching The Pink Chiquitas starring Frank Stallone and Eartha Kitt. From:
Roi Klark
Universal needs to understand something -- Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster are based on books. So, the modern remakes that took us back closer to the book versions were always for the better. But with the Creature, the three films are equal to the classic monster books. These are the originals. The Gillman is a classic on its own. Mary Shelly's book was a classic before it was put to film, but the Gillman is its own classic. If they bring him back as he was, there would not be much need to change anything other than perhaps seeing his eyes move or making him more animated. And perhaps make it in 3D for obvious reasons. Now as for the story, I think it should not be a remake of any of the first three films, but a continuation. For example, a team interviews one of the adult children to one of the characters in the first films. The new crew goes to reinvestigate this story that only those that were there will talk about. Everyone else considers it to be a myth. They could build on it from there. I've been surfing the board looking for people who wish to converse about this. I feel that strong about it. The Creature truly is my favorite Universal Monster. And I truly think Ben and Julie should appear in the remake. Now THAT would make it even better. Thanks for letting me share my thoughts on the matter. P.S. ( I'm an artist a.k.a. Roi-EL. Here is some of my art for G-Fan magazine. Kaiju Collection by ROIEL from ROYAL CREATIONS/COMICS ) :-) Hope ya like it.
From: G. Reid From: Isiah From:
Doug Higley (professional voice actor) From: Starr
Sullivan From:
Le Plouhinec Valerie From: Gkrupa From: Andrew Borntreger (www.badmovies.org) From: Brian Shuman I read your review of (The Giant Claw), and you nailed it on the head. I would love to see this again; it stands out as one of the greatest B-flicks of all time. From: James Best (Rosco P. Coletrane himself!)
From: Mary Morris From: Paul Kulik Thanks for the kind words, Paul. Unfortunately, I didn't care much for Leeches as you'll see if you click on "It Conquered My Time." Who knows ... maybe I just need to see it again. I agree with you about the Leech movie...BUT, man, that Yvette Vickers...the original halloween candy. |
(all my spare time actually) sculpting 3-D representations of B movie monsters! Since I work with film scores filling my studio I would certainly get a lot of use out of the great CD you are offering in your contest. Currently I am sculpting a 1/1 scale head of everyone's favorite 
plays the same character in every movie & TV show he ever appeared in. His best acting was as the owner of The Lady Gay saloon on Gunsmoke in the early 60`s. The only time I have been able to tolerate him. So I begin watching 
of Dracula and remembered it on the USA Network's weekend movie show called Up All Night. The hostess, Caroline Schlitt introduced it as DRACULA'S DOG. The title was a bit laughable. But, the biggest shock for me was a brief cameo of actor Reggie Nalder (who played Barlowe, the vampire in the mini-series Salem's Lot), who was trying to protect the dog from Van Helsing. His euro-tinged accent did not help this film much. I remember a TV movie called DEVIL DOG: THE HOUND OF HELL. I felt it was a little more watchable than this one. DEVIL DOG just did nothing but be there and make things happen while looking like a loveable family dog. The climax where the dog reveals its true colors was even more frightening. 
I am not very proud
of killer shrews out of 83 feature pictures and hundreds of television
shows it was my least favorite. i did it as a favor to Ray Kellogg
who was the producer and a friend. 
