Celluloid Days

Rondo Hatton was a reporter/sportswriter in Tampa, Florida but he had a problem. He suffered from the awful effects of acromegaly, which gave him unique facial features. He used his strange appearance to make a career in Hollywood. His films include The Pearl of Death, The Jungle Captive, The Spider Woman Strikes Back, House of Horrors, and The Brute Man.

Jack Hill wrote and directed the classic American black comedy horror film, Spider Baby. This movie stars Lon Chaney Jr., Jill Banner, Carol Ohmart, Quinn Redeker, Beverly Washburn, Sid Haig, Mary Mitchel, Karl Schanzer, and Mantan Moreland. Learn more than you ever wanted to know about this strange black-and-white film. 

Yvette Vickers was born Yvette Iola Vedder on August 26, 1928. She was an American actress, pin-up model, and singer. Her two most famous films were Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) as Honey Parker, and Liz Walker in Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959). She was also photographed by Russ Meyer for Playboy's Playmate of the Month in the July 1959 issue. Yvette has an interesting life story and I hope I told it well.Here is a link to John O'Dowd website about Ms. VickersREMEMBERING MY FRIEND, THE BEAUTIFUL YVETTE VICKERS

How about we talk about the science-fiction from 1971 in the film adaption of Michael Crichton's novel, The Andromeda Strain? It was directed by Robert Wise and stars Arthur Hill, James Olson, Kate Reid, David Wayne, and Paula Kelly. It is the story of a team of scientists who investigate a deadly organism of extraterrestrial origin.

Today I talk about John Hughes's film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. This film was from 1986 and stars Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, and Alan Ruck, with supporting roles from Jennifer Grey, Jeffrey Jones, Cindy Pickett, Edie McClurg, and Lyman Ward. Learn a little about the history of this classic! 

It's my 80th episode so I thought I'd talk about one of my favorite films, Orson Welles' Citizen Kane. In this show, I will do a lot of rambling because there is so much to talk about. I could have made this show 10 times as long if I talked about everything I wanted to. I hope you enjoy it!

In this week's show, I talk about The Psychotronic Man from 1979. This film was written, produced and starred Peter G. Spelson and was directed by Jack M. Sell, It is the story of a man who goes on a murder spree after getting psychotronic powers. It was filmed all in Chicago without permits. It was also features on Rifftrax! 

In this episode, I talk about Madge Meredith, who, in the late 40s, was accused and convicted of kidnapping and assault and was sentenced to 5 to life in Tehachapi prison. Two and a half years later, the California State Assembly issued a report concluding: "The case of Miss Meredith, from beginning to end, is a mockery of investigation, of defense counseling, of trial procedure, and of justice itself." 

This thrilling episode, Sam Peckinpah's 1970 forgotten classic, The Ballad of Cable Hogue. Starring Jason Robards, Stella Stevens, and David Warner, this was a change of pace for Peckinpah. Find out all about it by listening!

In this episode, I talk about the 1987 film, Evil Dead 2, Dead by Dawn. Of course, I also talk about Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and more. Join us, won't you?

In this episode, I talk about the 1939 film Lucky Night, starring Robert Taylor and Myrna Loy and directed by Norman Taurog. It is the story of two people who meet in a park, win a lot of money, get drunk, get married, and try to make their life together work.

If I told you we were going to watch a film that stars John Huston, Mel Ferrer, Glenn Ford, Lance Henriksen, and Shelley Winters, would you be interested? I would, after all, they all made great films back in the day. But The Visitor was from 1979! It is a science fiction horror film directed by Giulio Paradisi (credited as Michael J. Paradise). This is one that must be seen to be believed!

Today I look at the fantastic 2004 zombie comedy film, Shaun of the Dead. Directed by Edgar Wright and written by Wright and Simon Pegg, I am a big fan of this flick. Pegg stars as Shaun, a downtrodden salesman in London who is caught in a zombie apocalypse with his friend Ed (Nick Frost). The film also features Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Bill Nighy, and Penelope Wilton. It is the first installment in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy. 

In this episode, I look at the 1966 Czechoslovakian surrealist comedy-drama film, Daisies! This masterpiece was written and directed by Věra Chytilová and stars Jitka Cerhová and Ivana Karbanová. It is regarded as a milestone of the Czechoslovak New Wave movement! Find out my thoughts on the bizarre little film! You can email me a daysofcelluloid@gmail.com

In this episode, I look at the bizarre film from 1971, the British dark comedy horror film, The Abominable Dr. Phibes. This film was directed by Robert Fuest and stars Vincent Price, Joseph Cotten, Peter Jeffrey, and Virginia North. It is the story of comic revenge! Find out more than you ever wanted to know about this fantastic film!

This week I look at the classic Larry Blamire film, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra from 2001. This delightful comedy is a parody of 1950s-style science fiction B films.  Written and directed by Larry, it stars Fay Masterson, Andrew Parks, Susan McConnell, Brian Howe, and Jennifer Blaire. You don't know the Lost Skeleton but you will! “This horrible mutilation has a whole lot of people on a whole lot of edges.”

In this episode, we look at another film based on a true story. This week, Hidden Figures from 2016. This is the story of Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), who worked at NASA during the Space Race. How much is real and how much is fiction? Find out!

In this episode, I do something a little different. I talk about the sad life of child actor, Scotty Beckett. You might know Scotty as Winky, the comic sidekick in the popular TV show Rocky Jones, Space Ranger. He had a very troubled life.

It's time for me to watch a film I have not seen before, so today I watch the George Lucas directed Francis Ford Coppola produced 1971 American social science fiction film, THX 1138. This film started out as a student film called Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB and was the first film from American Zoetrope. It was a box office failure, but without that failure, we might not of had The Godfather or Star Wars!

It is time to talk about one of my favorite films. This time, the original Godzilla from 1954. Directed by Ishirō Honda and starring Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata, and Takashi Shimura. If you have never seen this film before, it is a lot better than you might think!

In the stimulating episode, I look at the 1979 film, Escape from Alcatraz, the American prison action thriller film starring Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Fred Ward, Jack Thibeau, and Larry Hankin. Directed by Don Siegel, this film is based on the true story of Frank Morris and his buddies who attempt to escape from the maximum security prison. In this show, I talk about what is right and what is wrong with this picture. Join me, won't you?

It is the final Monday of the month and that means that Nancy and I are going to talk about a film featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000. When is a movie not a movie? When it is Monster a Go-Go from 1965. I'll give you a little history about the film and Nancy will have some fun reminiscing about the MST3k episode.

This week I look at the 1933 film Bombshell. This classic was directed by Victor Fleming and stars Jean Harlow, Lee Tracy, Frank Morgan, Franchot Tone, Pat O'Brien, Una Merkel, and Ted Healy. This movie also gives me an excuse to talk about one of the defining figures of the pre-Code era, the one and only Jean Harlow. Please join me.  You can email me at daysofcelluloid@gmail.com

It's time to talk about one of my favorite films, the 1946 American film noir, The Big Sleep. Directed by Howard Hawks and based on a novel by Raymond Chandler, this classic stars Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Martha Vickers, and Dorothy Malone. This wonderful but confusing film has a strange history. Film Noirchives: THE BIG SLEEP

This week I look at the classic film Apollo 13 from 1995. I examine this film and separate the facts from the fabrications. This American space docudrama film was directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Ed Harris, and Gary Sinise. And Russell joins me and talks about other films that depict people taking trips to the moon! Join us, won't you?

It is the last Monday of the month and that means that Nancy and I are going to talk about a film featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000. In this episode, we are talking about 12 to the Moon from 1960. I'll give you a little history about the film and Nancy will have some fun reminiscing about the MST3k episode.

In this episode, we look at the 1974 science fantasy film, Zardoz. This thrilling picture was written, produced, and directed by John Boorman and starred Sean Connery and Charlotte Rampling. Joining me today are Nancy, Gordon, and Russell. Find out what the four of us thought of this film! 

In this episode, I talk about one of my favorite films, Excalibur from 1981. This is an epic medieval fantasy film directed, co-written, and produced by John Boorman, that retells the legend of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, based loosely on the 15th-century Arthurian romance Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory. Russell also joins me and tells us a little about the history of the King Arthur Legend.

This week we look at the film Man of a Thousand Faces from 1957, starring James Cagney, Dorothy Malone, Jane Greer, and Jim Backus. It is the story of the life and times of silent screen actor, Lon Chaney. Or is it? Find out how accurate this film is. And as a bonus, Russell will tell you all about his son, Lon Chaney Jr., or Creighton Tull Chaney.

To celebrate Australia Day, Russell takes over the show to chat about the 1959 film On The Beach, Directed by Stanley Kramer and starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins, and Donna Anderson. This film is about.. the end of the world. Enjoy!

This week we look at the Mamie Van Doren classic film, Untamed Youth. I'll talk about Van Doren and the film, and Nancy will join me in the second half to talk about that Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode from the first season.

On this episode, I watch a film I have never seen before, the 1972 Bob Fosse American musical period drama film, Cabaret. The film stars Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem, Marisa Berenson, Fritz Wepper, and Joel Grey. Cabaret earned a total of 10 Academy Award nominations (winning 8 of them) and holds the record for most Academy Awards for a film that did not also win Best Picture.

This week, I look at one of my favorite films, the 1987 comedy, Raising Arizona, written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. This wonderful film stars Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson, William Forsythe, John Goodman, Frances McDormand, Sam McMurray, and Randall "Tex" Cobb. Come join me as I tell you a little bit about this film!

Here are a few links you may find interestingThe Haunted World Of Edward D Wood Jr (1995)Incredibly Strange Film Show - Ed WoodTHE PLAN 9 COMPANION: A PLAN 9 DocumentaryRed Skelton Show with Bela LugosiBela Lugosi just out of rehab(1955)

The legendarily bad movie "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" got the full Mystery Science Theater 3000 treatment in their third season. Join Nancy and Jeff as we cover this fan favorite episode! Merry Christmas!

When a Glasgow disk jockey is dumped by his kleptomaniac girlfriend just before Christmas, his misery is interrupted by running afoul of an ice cream vendor turf war. Join Nancy Frye as she takes a look at the 1984 Bill Forsyth dark comedy, "Comfort and Joy". “Comfort and Joy” is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b7eQNcZxEM0“When Bill Paterson Met Bill Forsyth” https://youtu.be/zl5d4o1c8_E

Join Gordon and Nancy Frye for a brief look at three Christmas films you've probably never seen, let alone heard of. "A Midnight Clear" (1992), "Joyeux Noel" (2005), and "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale" (2010). "A Midnight Clear is everywhere for free, usually with ads, and on Prime for rent."Joyeux Noel" is on Apple TV (or Tubi, with ads)Rare Exports is on Hulu, and the Rare Exports shorts are on YouTube:https://youtu.be/V65zvJHd120https://youtu.be/0EkgzL0qGYc

Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the War Department asked the newly-formed Navy Field Photo Unit to quickly generate a documentary showing the world that the US was not only un-phased but raring to retaliate. What they actually got was...something else. Join Gordon and Nancy to talk about this 1943 documentary film.The short (discussed) version: https://youtu.be/_uBKVz9k_CMThe long version: https://youtu.be/gb7XUDlhz6kMark Harris lecture on "Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the 2nd World War":  https://youtu.be/_l8GWJPuhLAAudrey Amidon's article at the Natl. Archives: https://unwritten-record.blogs.archives.gov/2014/12/03/its-no-citizen-kane-legendary-cinematographer-gregg-toland-directs-december-7th/

In this spine-tingling episode, we take on the 1966 spy film Secret Agent Super Dragon. I'll talk about the original film and Nancy will tackle the Mystery Science Theater 3000 version. This film was directed by Giorgio Ferroni and stars Ray Danton, Margaret Lee, Carlo D'Angelo. Jess Hahn, and Marisa Mell. Can Super Dragon stop an evil organization was taking over the world?

You can watch this wonderful film here!Detour (1945)

In this episode, I look at the fantastic American independent black comedy film, Living in Oblivion, written and directed by Tom DiCillo. This classic stars Steve Buscemi, Catherine Keener, Dermot Mulroney, Danielle von Zerneck, James LeGros, and Peter Dinklage in his film debut. It's a low-budget film about all the problems of making a low-budget film.

In 1957, Paramount Pictures made a film of the famous gunfight and the events that lead up to the killing. It was called Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, directed by John Sturges and starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming, Jo Van Fleet, and John Ireland. Just how accurate is this movie? Well as it turns out, not very. Nancy and Gordon join me in talking about the classic American western.

It is Halloween so we look at the 1931 Universal classic, Dracula. This film stars Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Helen Chandler, Dwight Frye, and Edward Van Sloan. It is an American pre-Code supernatural horror film directed and co-produced by Tod Browning. I'll take about the English Language version and Russell will dig a little into the Spanish version, made at the same time. Happy Halloween!

If you'd like to see my mini-doc on Coleman Francis, here are the linksThe Search for Coleman Francis!The Search for Coleman Francis Part 2

This week, we look at the 1964 film, The Ghost of Sierra de Cobre. It was written and directed by Joseph Stefano and stars Martin Landau, Judith Anderson, Diane Baker, and Tom Simcox. It is the story of a blind man who gets phone calls from his dead mother, and his wife hires an architect to look into the problem. And what does all this have to do with what happened at Sierra de Cobre? It is a very atmospheric made-for-TV film.

Some Links to the Sources I usedSci-Fi Zone on FacebookThe Beatles Uncommon Chords A HARD DAY'S NIGHT Album by Mike PachelliA Hard Day's Night: Criterion Releases 4K UHD - Solzy at the moviesTHE BEATLES | A HARD DAY'S NIGHT | Documentary FilmRichard Lester on the Beatles and A Hard Day's Night - BFI

Here are a few links you may be interested in.The Making of the Elephant ManThe True Story of The Elephant ManThe Elephant Man: a study in human dignity by Ashley Montagu

You Can watch both the original film and the MST3K version on YouTubeThe Crawling Hand (1963)The Crawling Hand MST3K (1989)Rod Lauren - If I Had A Girl

To watch Unknown Chaplin:Unknown Chaplin: I -- My Happiest YearsUnknown Chaplin - Episode 2 (The Great Director)Unknown Chaplin - Episode 3 (Hidden Treasures)

In this episode, I talk about the life and time of French illusionist, actor, and film director, Georges Méliès. He was one of the considered among the most important early science fiction films, known for his use of special effects, popularizing such techniques as substitution splices, multiple exposures, time-lapse photography, dissolves, and hand-painted color.

In this week's episode, we are talking about lost world type film. You know, those films where a group of people find an island or a planet filled with prehistoric animals, dinosaurs and such as The Lost World (1925), Unknown Island (1948), Lost Continent (1951), King Dinosaur (1955), The Land That Time Forgot (1974) and much, much more! I hope you will join us!