AUGUST 2000
We here at B Monster HQ proffer our heartiest hopes that
you're blissfully enduring this blistering summer in the
air-conditioned comfort of your home entertainment center.
May you find the following tally of tantalizing tidbits
and trivia a breath of fresh air!
THE B MOVIE MONTH IN REVIEW
SERIALFEST 2001
Diehard serials buffs are already aware that "SerialFest
2001" is shaping up nicely. Highlights include the screening
of a 35mm print of "The Crimson Ghost" in its entirety --
in an actual movie theater! 16mm prints of the classic serial
will be shown in the hotel three chapters at a time, accompanied
by assorted shorts and cartoons. "The Chinatown Mystery,"
recently restored by legendary B-movie producer Sam Sherman
will be shown, as well as "Brenda Starr, Reporter" and the
recently unearthed Yakima Canutt western "Wild Horse Canyon."
And check out the scheduled guests: Frank (Junior) Coghlan
("The Adventures of Captain Marvel") Adrian Booth ("Perils
of Nyoka") Alan G. Barbour (Author) Sam Sherman (Producer)
and more! It all gets started March 16, 2001 in Toronto.
Visit the following link for details -- http://pub1.ezboard.com/fmovieserialmessageboardsserialfest2001
YVETTE EVENTS
Still a cover girl over 40 years after her sultry star turns
in "Attack of the Giant Leeches" and "Attack of the 50 Foot
Woman," Yvette Vickers, in a photo lovingly colored by Dave
Stevens, graces the cover of the current issue of "Cult
Movies." An extensive interview covers the career of everyone's
favorite sci-fi sex kitten and includes some rare stills
and a rarely seen caricature by legendary Broadway cartoonist
Al Hirschfeld.
Vickers is currently busy compiling her memoirs for publication
in the not-to-distant future, and she will soon head back
into the recording studio to begin work on her second CD.
The first, "A Tribute to Charlie and Maria," comprised of
songs composed by Yvette's parents, is still available.
Write to: PO Box 720-664, Pinon Hills, CA, 92372
MUCH MORE MARA
And speaking of starlet sightings, you might want to check
out the official Web site of Mara Corday, Playboy centerfold,
pinup fave and star of "Tarantula," The Giant Claw," "Black
Scorpion" and many others. Mara's site manages to encompass
every aspect her career. There's a lengthy and comprehensive
bio, a "Movie Gallery Tour" which, as of our last visit,
was under construction and, of course, a generous selection
of stills, pinups and Playboy collector cards for sale,
all of which can be autographed by Corday. (A handy electronic
order form is included.) So pay her a visit, drop her a
line, and don't forget to tell her The B Monster sent you!
http://www.maracorday.com
"HONEY WEST" AMONG THE BEST
Our good friend Anne Francis is never far from the spotlight.
TV Guide has named "Honey West" one of the top 25 detectives
in television history. The real mystery is why Honey didn't
make the No. 1 spot (which went to James "Rockford Files"
Garner). Anne, you wuz robbed!
BETSY'S BEST FRIENDS
Betsy Jones-Moreland, star of "Creature From the Haunted
Sea," "Last Woman On Earth," and The B Monster's personal
favorite Viking Woman (of "Viking Women and the Sea Serpent")
is the President and Executive Director of Questover Animal
Rescue Fund, Inc. As such, she donates all proceeds from
the sale of autographed memorabilia to this most worthy
cause. To make a donation or learn more, write: Questover
Animal Rescue Fund, Inc. 2665 Strozier Avenue El Monte,
CA, 91733-2021
BIG DOINS' AT BICKNELL
Sometime ago, we alerted you to the existence of The Bicknell
International Film Festival. As previously mentioned, this
year's festivities celebrate the films of Al Adamson ("Dracula
vs. Frankenstein," Brain of Blood"). "King B, The Fine Films
Of Al Adamson" got under way July 21, 2000 at the historic
Wayne Theatre in Bicknell, Utah. Bicknell is located 18
miles west of beautiful Capitol Reef National Park in south-central
Utah. Affectionately known as Utah's OTHER film festival,
the BIFF is proud to be the smallest film festival in the
world. Featuring the longest and fastest parade (eight miles
from nearby Torrey, Utah, sometimes exceeding speeds of
50 mph) and the only film fest with its own swap meet, the
BIFF is a film festival with down-home charm -- and plenty
of free parking!
Why Al Adamson? The late director owned The Rim Rock Inn
in Torrey, Utah, just down the street from the festival's
location. According to festival promoters, "He ran it into
the ground ... but that's another story." (It seems that
all the locals have an Adamsom anecdote to share, so, if
you plan on attending, be prepared.) The Rim Rock is back
in business after being remodeled, renovated and repaired.
B-movie icon Sam Sherman, Adamson's business partner and
producer, was the featured guest at the Saturday Seminar.
Adamson's cinematographer, Gary Graver, was also there.
For more info, follow this link: http://www.waynetheatre.com/biff.html
ASI-MOVE OVER, MICHAEL CRICHTON
Author Issac Asimov is hotter than ever! No fewer than five
projects based on the works of the late science fiction
author are in preparation, including: -- An animated film
based on Asimov's "Norby, the Mixed Up Robot," with Janet
Asimov serving as a creative consultant. -- An ambitious
attempt to film Asimov's monumental "Foundation" with Shekhar
("The Bandit Queen") Kapur directing. -- A rendition of
"I, Robot," to be produced by John ("Doctor Doolittle" "Dudley
Do-Right") Davis. -- A star vehicle for Demi Moore based
on "The Ugly Little Boy," produced by Moore and Denise ("Ed
Wood," "Message in a Bottle") DiNovi. -- A Gary Goldman
script based on Asimov's "End of Eternity," to be directed
by Ridley ("Alien," "Blade Runner," "Gladiator") Scott.
TAKING "THE TIME MACHINE" OUT FOR A SPIN
40 years after the release of "The Time Machine" comes a
collector's edition video called "The Journey Back," featuring
original star Rod Taylor, Alan Young, the late Whit Bissell
and collector non-pareil Bob Burns. The video chronicles
the original building and subsequent reconstruction of the
original Time Machine prop, and introduces never-before-seen
outtakes. Of special interest is an eight-minute sequel
to producer George Pal's 1960 film, scripted by David Duncan,
who wrote the original's screenplay, with Taylor and Young
recreating their original roles.
A PLANET WHERE WAHLBERG EVOLVED FROM HESTON?
Mark ("Boogie Nights," "The Perfect Storm") Wahlberg has
signed on to play the lead in director Tim Burton's "Planet
of the Apes" remake. Filming begins this autumn for a summer
2001 release. No word yet as to who'll replace Roddy McDowall
and Maurice Evans as the planet's only British apes.
AND YES, THEY'RE REMAKING "THE WIZARD OF OZ"
Sort of. And they kinda, sorta already did (remember the
glitzy Broadway hit, "The Wiz?") Now Dorothy, Toto and her
heartless, brainless, courageless companions get a hip-hop,
'N the Hood makeover. Fox TV is producing what's been tentatively
titled "The O.Z." Already cast are Queen Latifah as The
Good Witch, Patti LaBelle as The Wicked Witch, Busta Rhymes
as The Cowardly Lion and Ginuwine as the Scarecrow.
"HIGH" NEWS
No, we're not about to let you forget that Turner is remaking
"High Noon." Opposite Tom ("Alien," "Contact") Skeritt,
who inherits Gary Cooper's Oscar-winning role, Michael ("Reservoir
Dogs," "Species") Madsen will appear as vengeful killer
Frank Miller, played in the original film by Ian MacDonald.
THE HORROR 100
The results are in! According to an AOL Classic Horror Film
Message Boards poll, these are the top 100 (or favorite)
horror films of all time!
1. Bride of Frankenstein
2. Psycho
3. Nosferatu
4. King Kong
5. The Exorcist
6. Frankenstein
7. The Haunting
8. The Invisible Man
9. Horror of Dracula
10. Night of the Living Dead
11. The Black Cat (Karloff/Lugosi)
12. Halloween
13. Island of Lost Souls
14. The Cat People
15. The Phantom of the Opera
16. The Abominable Dr. Phibes
17. The Old Dark House
18. The Body Snatcher
19. The Creature from the Black Lagoon
20. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
21. Rosemary's Baby
22. The Mummy
23. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
24. The Wolf Man
25. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
26. Jaws
27. Curse of the Demon
28. Dracula
29. The Thing (1951)
30. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
31. Black Sunday
32. House on Haunted Hill
33. The Raven
34. Dracula's Daughter
35. The Night Stalker
36. Dawn of the Dead
37. Evil Dead 2
38. Theater of Blood
39. The Silence of the Lambs
40. Carrie
41. White Zombie
42. Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man
43. Alien
44. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
45. Carnival of Souls
46. Son of Dracula
47. Masque of the Red Death
48. The Most Dangerous Game
49. The Innocents
50. Pit and the Pendulum
51. The Mummy's Hand
52. Brides of Dracula
53. Mystery of the Wax Museum
54. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms
55. Deep Red
56. The Birds
57. Dead of Night
58. I Walked with a Zombie
59. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Charles Laughton)
60. Son of Frankenstein
61. The Tomb of Ligeia
62. Suspiria
63. Vampyr
64. Godzilla
65. Eyes Without a Face
66. Dracula (Spanish version)
67. Nosferatu the Vampyre
68. Werewolf of London
69. Peeping Tom
70. The Shining
71. The Blob
72. The Fly (original)
73. Ghost of Frankenstein
74. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
75. The Wicker Man
76. Them!
77. Don't Look Now
78. Mad Love
79. The Uninvited
80. Tarantula
81. The Dead Zone
82. Murder by Decree
83. House of Wax
84. Godzilla Vs. Mothra
85. Daughters of Darkness
86. The Walking Dead
87. Curse of Frankenstein
88. Hellraiser
89. Young Frankenstein
90. Kiss of the Vampire
91. Aliens
92. The Evil Dead
93. House of Frankenstein
94. An American Werewolf in London
95. Diabolique
96. Alice, Sweet Alice
97. Black Sabbath
98. The Thing (1982)
99. Blood and Black Lace
100. Witchfinder General
We demand a recount! Where are "Giant From the Unknown"
and "Creature With the Atom Brain?"
DEAR B MONSTER
Q: I was wondering if you could tell me where "The Thing"
was filmed. Was it in Alaska or the North Pole? My brother
and I are very curious. We are big fans of the movie and
your Web site.
A: Exteriors for the original 1951 "The Thing From Another
World" were shot in Cut Bank, Montana. Shooting couldn't
begin until it snowed, and the production was delayed as
cast and crew waited days on end for a snowfall that took
its time arriving.
Q: In addition to the other credits you mentioned in your
last newsletter, Andrew Faulds also turned up in the controversial
"The Devils" directed in 1971 by Ken Russell, a worthy addition
to anyone's canon. I also remember seeing David Tomlinson
in a later episode of the Lee Majors teleseries "The Fall
Guy."
A: Thanks for the additional info. We need more readers
such as yourself to help keep us on our toes.
NEW ON VIDEO
TALES OF TOMORROW
The good folks at Englewood Entertainment are serving up
a third helping of the pioneering sci fi/fantasy TV series.
This particular set is of special interest as it features
an episode called "The Evil Within," which prominently features
a young Rod Steiger and an even younger James Dean. While
the story isn't altogether compelling, it affords us a rare
opportunity to watch two future stars hone their dramatic
chops.
SUPERNOVA
Did anybody see this thing as it zipped in and out of theaters
at light speed? Producers blew $60 million on this problem-plagued
derivative dud. A glance at the promotional copy for the
film is revealing: "When their vessel, the Nightingale 229,
answers an emergency distress signal from a distant galaxy,
the crew soon finds itself in danger from the mysterious
young man they rescue, the alien artifact he smuggled aboard
and the gravitational pull of a giant star about to go supernova
..." Enough, already. The plots of a dozen previous, superior
films rolled into one doesn't make for a better movie.
Big names in the cast: James Spader, Angela Bassett, Robert
Forster. But they, like all involved, seem to be on automatic
pilot, plodding through the same high-tech space disaster
plot we've seen a hundred times. Original director Walter
Hill left the production before completion and no less than
Francis Ford Coppola stepped in to do a salvage job -- to
no avail.
NEW ON DVD
All of the following DVD releases come to us from Image
Entertainment. Some are long-awaited, others could have
waited indefinitely:
BLACK SABBATH
Mario Bava's 1963 horror anthology is comprised of three
stories hosted by Boris Karloff, who stars in one of the
episodes. Atmospheric though it is, its distinctly European
feel leaves us a little cold. Included among the DVD extras:
A Bava filmography and biography, production stills, the
original theatrical trailer and some deleted footage seeing
the light of day for the first time.
FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER
Director Richard Cunha's notoriously thrifty and immensely
enjoyable addition to the Frankenstein canon. Donald Murphy,
Sandra Knight, Sally Todd and B Monster fave John Ashley
star. Don't walk out for popcorn during the poolside shindig
featuring the swinging sounds of The Page Cavanaugh trio.
MY SON, THE VAMPIRE
We suppose that, even in the heyday of the Old Mother Riley
series, Arthur Lucan was something of an acquired taste.
(The Mother Riley series, featuring Lucan in drag as the
title character, enjoyed a healthy run in Britain throughout
the 40s and 50s.) Bringing poor old Bela on board to be
the butt of Lucan's humor must have seemed like a great
idea at the time, but man, does it not play today!
KRONOS
One of our favorite 1950s sci fi flicks. (Even though we'll
never understand Jeff Morrow's plan for destroying the monster
-- it works, that's the important thing, right?) The cast
is a B-movie who's who: Morrow, John Emery, Morris Ankrum,
George O'Hanlon. And the beeping, booping, bizarro animated
robot gives this modest shocker a genuinely otherworldly
feel. Best of all, it's presented in the original "Regalscope"
format!
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Michael F. Blake, whose books are available through Vestal
Press or at http://www.amazon.com
Harris Lentz III, whose books are available at http://www.mcfarlandpub.com
Bob Madison, whose books are available through Midnight
Marquee Press or at http://www.amazon.com
Bryan Senn, whose books are available at http://www.mcfarlandpub.com
and at http://www.midmar.com/books.html
Tom Weaver, whose books are available at http://www.mcfarlandpub.com
and at http://www.midmar.com/books.html
PARTING BLURB
"If your flesh doesn't crawl, it's on too tight!" -- The
Night Visitor
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