The Bloody Pit

I'm happy to have author David Annandale return to the podcast to talk about low budget genre cinema again! Severin has issued a fantastic Blu-Ray of the film UNKNOWN WORLD (1951) so we use this release to dig into the little-discussed science fiction movie. Often seen in terrible, dark prints in various places around the internet this one deserves more attention, so we were both thrilled that it is now sharp and beautiful in its black & white HD glory. Did it look this good in '51? For a film produced by a couple of special effects artists UNKNOWN WORLD certainly has a lot on its mind. It is one of the earliest examples of apocalyptic nuclear ‘doom warning' movies and we wonder if that fact is why it is less well known than later movies of this type. We discuss the cast and crew of this nine-day wonder including the oddity of the primary actor not getting screen credit. We lament the very few acting roles of the female lead and ramble through the credits of several other actors as well. We point out the solid effects work and marvel over the fantastic matte shots. Of course, we do acknowledge the weaknesses of the film and how its (intentionally?) dull middle segment can make the running time seem longer than it actually is. So, strap yourself in the Cyclotram and lets go caving! If you have anything to say about this film or any others that we have covered thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We thank you for listening and we'll be back soon. 

The show returns to the science fiction films of the 1970's with author Randy Fox! This time out we tackle DAMNATION ALLEY (1877) and make a sad discovery – neither of us like the film. Generally, I don't enjoy podcasting about films I'm not enthusiastic about but we explain how this episode came to be. Word to the wise – communication is key!   Anyway. We dig into the production of the film and go back to the source story from Roger Zelazny to compare page to screen. Spoiler alert – page wins. But we take note of the various films that seem directly inspired by Zelazny's tale and relate ways that this movie could have benefited from sticking closer to the story as written. We discuss the slashing of the budget and the commensurate drop in special effects quality. Neither Randy or I like one of the lead actors which is always a problem for entertainment value. Couple this with excellent character actors dying far too soon, as well as the female lead being given nothing to do and the printed version of this tale looks better all the time. No matter that the producers thought, a futuristic Convoy was not what the public wanted.   If you like DAMNATION ALLEY, by all means, let us know why at thebloodypit@gmail.com – we are curious. Thank you for listening and we'll be back soon. 

Troy and I return to the Inner Sanctum movies for the third in the series. DEAD MAN'S EYES (1944) presents us with Lon Chaney Jr. as a painter this time but he is once again involved in a low-simmering romantic triangle. There is hope for all of us, huh? A terrible accident renders him blind and in need of replacement corneas. Soon, a convenient murder is committed and we start to examine the small cast to figure out whodunnit. We dig into the cast and praise their work – for the most part. Troy puts forth an excellent alternate scenario that might have made the film more interesting while I complain that the first thirty minutes of the film plays like a tragic romance drama. Of course, once the corpse hits the floor things perk up with Thomas Gomez sliding into place as the police detective trying to find the killer. We wonder what director Reginald Le Borg thought of having to once again put Acquanetta through her stiff paces. And we debate the mystery the film is built around, arguing its merits and imagining different options. If you have any comments about the Inner Sanctum films or anything else we might have touched on, thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thanks for listening!

Our second episode focused on the films of Stuart Gordon brings us to FROM BEYOND (1986). Troy Guinn joins John Hudson and I as we flip on the Resonator to see the unseen, squishy horrors hiding in the dark. The uncut version of the film has only been widely available since the 2007 DVD release and we discuss some of the things that were spit onto the cutting room floor. The film sports a fantastic cast with Barbara Crampton and Jeffery Combs returning from REANIMATOR with the addition of Ken Foree they form a crime investigation team that gets far more than sane people are ready to accept. We examine the film's story structure and the clever scripting that allows for escalating weirdness without compromising the characters. The wild cinematography is discussed as is the use of colored lighting to represent the shift into visions of the hidden monsters all around us. We talk a little about the film's production as well as our reactions to the movie across the years. Hold onto your pineal glands and step into the attic with us, won't you! If you have anything to say about this film or any others that we have covered thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We thank you for listening and we'll be back soon.

I may have bitten off more than I can chew! I am joined by a pair of Marks – Mark Maddox and Mark Clark – to discuss STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES. Since episodes with either of them alone can stretch to more than two hours, putting them together with a subject this big was clearly tempting fate. We survive the show but this is easily the longest episode of The Bloody Pit ever! It might be best to listen to it in chunks. We dig into the Star Trek Animated Series and talk a bit about all twenty-two episodes. After some confusion we use the original broadcast order and give our thoughts on each one. This takes time and I complicated things by rereading the Alan Dean Foster Log Books for several of the stories. This means I can't stop myself from dropping in details that were used to flesh out the 22-minute shows until both Marks request that I stop. Rude! But then I bring up Spock Must Die by James Blish and Maddox gets reeled into the book-talk like the sucker he is! Before things are over we have chosen our favorite and least favorites from the series and pulled a couple of episodes apart looking for the tasty bits. If you listen carefully you will hear the moment we realize that this show will be far too long. You can also hear the individual moments when each of us gets our second wind and press on through the second season. You might also hear weeping. You have been warned. If you have any comments or sympathy for me thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. The plan is to get another episode out in a few weeks so keep your fingers crossed. And thank you for listening!

We take a trip to Vienna to see what Boris Karloff looks like in color! Or is that colour? Troy and I discuss THE CLIMAX (1944), Universal's attempt to craft a follow-up to their 1943 hit remake of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. They took a 1909 stage play, grafted on some Phantom elements and used the same sets from the previous year's film to create a beautiful looking final product. They even carried over some of the cast in similar roles. But did they make a good movie? We dig into the things we like and dislike about this often overlooked entry in the horror films of the 1940's. Both of us marvel at the opulent sets while being impressed by Susanna Foster's singing talents while wondering about the movie's running time. We examine some of our favorite cast members including Gale Sondergaard and Thomas Gomez. The multiple audiences that the film was trying to appeal to comes under scrutiny as we lament the fact that the horror portion of the mix seems to get little attention. Sometimes striving for broad appeal results in a work that pleases no one. As the episode goes on we give voice to our many questions about the story's details that require an almost supernatural suspension of disbelief. If you have any comments about THE CLIMAX thebloodypit@gmail.com is the address. If you want to hear me ramble on about movies and media even more my Patreon page is active. Thank you for listening!  

At long last Mark Maddox returns as we wrap up our look at the first six Star Trek feature films with STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. Since this is the last movie to showcase the entire original cast, we take the opportunity to mention how happy we are that VI was the film they went out on and that everyone gets chances to shine. I'm just thrilled we finally get Captain Sulu! We discuss the production push to get this into theaters to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the premiere of the TV show. We praise the return of Nicholas Meyer to the director's chair and point out the many touches that seem to stem from his involvement. This includes the joy of having the Wold Newton family tree brought into onscreen Star Trek, which is probably peak geekiness. The intricate nature of the film's plot comes under scrutiny with us listing the various elements that are woven together perfectly to move the story forward. We discuss the dialog with a few clips to give a taste of the intelligence of the script. Our admiration for the performances gets plenty of time and we single out Christopher Plummer's fantastic turn as Klingon General Chang. Just how much Shakespeare can be wedged into a Trek film, anyway? And is Chang the series' best villain? Others may disagree with us but we make our case.   If you have anything to add to the show thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to write. We love hearing from you and if you want to work ahead it looks like we will be talking about the Star Trek animated series in the future. Thank you for listening and we'll be back soon. 

This episode is the second part of my discussion of the films of Richard Cuhna with author Mark Clark. We focus on FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER and MISSILE TO THE MOON (1958) before we ramble off into talking about the Planet of the Apes franchise. Staying on topic is difficult for both of us! The cast of FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER (1958) is examined with lots of love directed at the amazingly villainous Donald Murphy as a descendant of grandaddy Frankenstein. One could only imagine what his character might have accomplished if he could gain some control over his libido. We look at the various funding methods used by mad scientists and the ways that suburban homeowners can somehow forget entire areas of their house exist! We also lament the lack of Jack Pierce's contributions to the monster makeup and wish he could have returned after his work on GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN as the film's monster look is oddly non-gender specific. As a science fiction/horror tale, the movie actually has a very rare pair of competent police officers, although their detective skills don't mean they will live through the investigation.   When our conversation turns to MISSILE TO THE MOON (1958) we praise the excellent rock monsters and a few of the performances but struggle to find more to love. Perhaps shifting from original screenplays to remaking a not very good film wasn't the best idea for Cunha and his collaborators. Still, there are things to enjoy in the movie, especially if you have a soft-spot for 50's science fiction tales told with more enthusiasm than fidelity to reality.   If you have any thoughts about the four genre films directed by Richard Cunha thebloodypit@gmail.com is where to send them. We both love these movies and return to them regularly. With some luck the missing two can be rescued from YouTube by an enterprising Blu-Ray company soon. 

Author Mark Clark joins me for the first of two episodes focused on director Richard Cunha's genre films. In 1958 Cunha directed four horror/sci-fi movies that have stood the test of time. This episode focuses on the first two of these little gems, GIANT OF THE UNKNOWN and SHE DEMONS which were originally released as a double feature. We both love these movies and have a good time digging into them. We end up discussing some production background and the casts as well as the reasons we think they are so charming. Each of them is a typical black & white 50's monster movie but with some peculiar choices made in presentation. As independent productions these films show a quality we refer to as feeling ‘handmade' that gives them a different vibe from other movies of the times. The stories are similar to the b-movie hits of their decade but a number of the creative choices made are what makes them unique. If you've never seen the Cunha films, two of them have been released on Blu-Ray recently and they are available on YouTube as well. Our next episode will focus on the final two films. If you have any comments on the four Richard Cunha directed monster movies thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening!

December brings our annual Holiday Horror episode. This year we discuss the legendary Canadian film BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974) and we have much to say. Turns out this is our tenth year of this Holiday tradition which surprised and slightly freaked me out. But Troy Guinn and John Hudson are rightly proud of our decade long series and glad to finally talk about the one that might have started the whole sub-genre. Sadly, our ages are starting to show, starting with the fact that none of us can remember when we first saw this classic horror film. Very strange. We dive right in and forego the usual plot synopsis in hopes that listeners will have seen the movie. We lament that we have never been able to read the 1976 novelization and note that a brand new one is coming out any day now. We talk about the actors quite a lot with Troy boldly stating that this is the best ensemble cast of any slasher film ever. Others may disagree. We take the time to point out that phone technology and the concept of an ‘obscene phone call' seem to have gone the way of the 8-track tape. And we discuss the sure directorial hand of Bob Clark while lamenting his 1990's career slide into profitable but inane children's films. Also, we ask the serious question of whether John Saxon ever actually solved a crime onscreen. This will require research! If you have thoughts on BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974) or any other Holiday Horror thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening and beware of attic monsters.

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce return to the show! I am joined by Beth Morris and Troy Guinn to discuss the next in Universal's long running Sherlock Holmes series featuring the legendary detective in the 1940's. This entry uses one of Arthur Conan Doyle's original short stories to provide the basic plot – or does it? We look at the film's very strong ties to a certain American crime fiction writer's famous story that the script seems to borrow from. Is this a mash-up of two tales that taste great together?   THE PEARL OF DEATH (1944) is a movie that doesn't spring to mind as one of the best of the Universal Holmes films but perhaps it should. The series' regulars are in fine form and returning guest actor Evelyn Ankers gets a lot to do as the main female baddie. She seems capable of getting any job in London and can disguise herself effectively in the bargain. In fact, this film has her character, Sherlock and the lead bad guy Giles Conover so often pretending to be someone else that it plays like there is a contest between them! And the film also sports the first screen appearances of Rondo Hatton as The Creeper. We talk a good deal about the way the plot unfolds and take note of how the screenplay seems to be digging into a Holmes character flaw to drive the story. Of course, there are the usual odd asides including a Tolkien reference that is quite out of place and a short debate about the correct size of a Yamaka or skullcap. We try to use our meager deductive reasoning skills but we tend to be more Watson than Holmes. Thank you for listening to the show and thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send any thoughts. Stay warm and we'll be back soon.

Author David Annandale joins me for the second time to talk about another 1940's horror film! This time we wade through STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP (1946) which is one of the more interesting examples of the output of the smallest of the Poverty Row studios - PRC (a.k.a. Producer's Releasing Corporation). This is a fascinating low budget film that manages to make its lack of resources a virtue by leaning into the creepy fog and mists to hide the set limitations. It's a favorite of both of us and we love getting to talk about it. STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP is actually a remake of a German movie made by the same director a decade before. We start the show by digging into the earlier film to compare the two and delineate their many differences. The American film is much more a horror tale than the 1936 German original with a dark foreboding hanging over the characters living in an isolated village. The 1946 film has the vengeful ghost of a wrongfully accused man stalking and strangling the men responsible for his death and extending his attacks to the male children of the families as well. Having watched this moody little gem repeatedly over the years we were surprised to only now take note of the heroic town mothers the movie presents. While the men flail around trying to find a ‘reasonable' excuse for the horrific events the female population works to deal directly with the problem. We note that this story element might be related to the changing view of women's place in society during the second world war and wonder if this was a conscious choice by the filmmakers. We may never know, but it shows just how intriguing this little film can be and points to how creativity can make a movie endlessly rewatchable. There are always thought-provoking things buried in this swamp to drag out of the muck! Mr. Annandale and I last discussed THE MONSTER MAKER and that episode can be found here. If you have any comments about this film or any other Poverty Row horror film thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening!

REANIMATOR (1985) was a pivotal moment in horror filmmaking for several reasons. First among them is that it announced the arrival of a major talent behind the camera – director Stuart Gordon. His screen career remains a wonder and with this episode we start a series in which we will examine the entirety of his directorial efforts. We might even take a look at the projects that he was involved with but were directed by others. I am joined by John Hudson to talk about this amazing film. We touch on the original 1922 H.P. Lovecraft story ‘Herbert West – Reanimator' and the creation of this adaptation starting as a possible television show to eventual big screen incarnation we now know. The cast is discussed with a general amazement at the near perfect choices made for each role. We note that even though this was Gordon's first feature film, his years of stage experience seems to have allowed him to understand both actors and audience in ways that translate well to cinema. It would be difficult to find a more sure-footed first movie. We talk about the dark humor that permeates the story including what has been called the world's first visual pun. Mostly we spend our time heaping praise on this one and explaining our love for it so be aware! If you have any comments thebloodypit@gmail.com is where to send them. We'll return to the films of Stuart Gordon as soon as possible. Thank you for listening!

Troy and I return to the quartet of mummy movies that Universal released in the 1940's! This time we examine one of the best of the lot, THE MUMMY'S GHOST (1944). The film has a number of great elements including an underappreciated heroic dog named Peanuts! As with all of these movies, the limping rhythms are the same but it's the style and energy of the piece that makes it a standout.   We discuss the three decade time jump from the previous movie and marvel at 1970's technology. The age of college students becomes a source of amusement as does the ineffectuality of the local police's attempts to capture the rampaging mummy. We talk a bit about the cast, noting where we've seen a number of the players before in Universal horror pictures. There is some speculation on the possible health effects of being shot at point blank range given that George Zucco's character from the last film is still alive decades later. And we are pleased to point out the rare chance to physically emote that Lon Chaney is afforded in a few scenes. Is this his best performance as a mummy?   If you have any comments on the Universal mummy movies or any other film we've covered thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening. 

My friend Chris Herzog joins me to talk about a serial from 1934 – THE RETURN OF CHANDU! Chris hasn't been on the show since we discussed the Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan films back in episode #15. It was Bela Lugosi's starring role that enticed him to come back for a conversation about this fantasy adventure in which the legendary horror actor plays the heroic lead! That's right - Lugosi is the hero in this twelve-part serial. Will wonders never cease?   We discuss the radio show Chandu the Magician, from which this was adapted and the 1932 film that preceded this production in which Lugosi played the villain, Roxor. Neither of us can think of another sequel that recasts the hero to be played by the actor who portrayed the bad guy in the original, but that's what happened with Chandu. We talk about the director's work in Hollywood and his other serials as well as his work with the great William Whitney. We point out the reused sets from KING KONG and marvel at the giant cat statue in the Lemurian temple set. Cool stuff! And we lament that Chandu's family seems to have been put on this earth to serve as eternal victims in need of rescuing. You think he could have let one of them die just to get the others to stay home next time!   If you are a Bela Lugosi fan or a fan of his various serials thebloodypit@gmail is the place to let that flag fly. And if you enjoy the show let us know. Thanks for listening. 

Author John Kenneth Muir returns to the show to discuss another science fiction television show! BLAKE'S 7 aired in Britain from 1978 to 1981 and was a major hit but was not renewed for a fifth season. That the show remains beloved decades later points to the typical short sighted BBC decision making process in such matters. With the recent announcement of Blu-Ray releases we decided that the time was right to talk about the show and our years long love of it. Since Mr. Muir has written a book on the subject, he is the perfect person to speak to about the show which was sold as ‘The Dirty Dozen in Space'. If you've never seen the series, we try to avoid most spoilers but a couple of things do leak through as we go along. Our conversation starts with how we each discovered the show and our initial reactions to the ‘anti-Star Trek' with the adult nature of the storytelling being our main focus. We discuss the dystopian universe presented and give a brief overview of the ‘rebels vs the federation' structure of the story. The dark and often cruel tone of the characters and the events they have to deal with is a topic we return to throughout the episode. We also fit in an examination of some of the classic science fiction tropes that the show uses and the creative spin the writers employ to include them. We had a great time digging into BLAKE'S 7 and we hope you will enjoy what we have to say even if you've not yet seen the series.  

Today the pond – tomorrow the world! Author Mark Clark returns to the show to talk about the epic (?) animal attack film FROGS (1972). We discuss that genre as well as the ecological horror sub-genre that this movie falls into comfortably. The goal with this episode was to limit ourselves to a single movie as a way to control the conversation, but that did not happen. Listing other 1970's eco-horror movies leads to a slippery slope that has us spending a little too much time talking about GODZILLA VS THE SMOG MONSTER. There is no reining us in! We discuss the cast and crew as we examine the film's rather relaxed pace. Mark lays the blame for most of the film's faults at the feet of the director and I have a hard time disagreeing. I admit to being shocked at the naked upper lip of Sam Elliot and remain convinced his character's name is significant in describing his place in the narrative. I mean, when the rich family being besieged by frogs is named Crockett the writers were clearly playing with descriptive nomenclature. Or they were just having a laugh. But the most interesting part of the show has to be Mark's theory about why the movie is named Frogs instead of after any of the more deadly creatures that assault the humans in the story. He may have something there but it had never occurred to me before.   If you have any thoughts on FROGS or any of the other ecological horror movies of the 1970's thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening! 

Troy Guinn and I return to Universal Land for the sequel to CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN – JUNGLE WOMAN (1944)! Is this the worst film the studio produced in the 1940's? We'll let you decided as we give our opinions and posit ways the film could have been better. Much better!   Attempting to imitate the successful Val Lewton productions at RKO, the producers of this non-jungle epic seemed to feel that simply aping the structure of CAT PEOPLE and copying the memorable set-pieces from that classic would be a winning formula. Sadly, that is far from the case as JUNGLE WOMAN comes up short in every category. Troy and I try to puzzle out the reasons for certain choices and debate the qualities of the acting in the titular role. Of course, any film with J. Carrol Naish has points of interest just because of his talent, but he seems to have been given a number of obstacles to creating a memorable ‘mad' scientist. A rushed production and a sub-par script are rarely a combination for a classic. On that point, we discuss the film's dialog with a certain line becoming a reoccurring audio drop in the show. Sorry about that!   If you have any comments about this film or any of the movies we've cover thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you very much for listening. We'll be back soon. 

HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980) is no normal Italian zombie film. Coming hard on the heels of both George Romero's genre-defining DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) and the now classic ZOMBIE (1979) from director Lucio Fulci this Bruno Mattei/Claudio Fragasso effort ‘borrows' elements from both. In some cases, the things recycled are surprising, such as the chunks of music composed by Goblin for Romero's film being inserted into the soundtrack. Other things that get borrowed are to be expected, like an attempt to one up the famous Fulci eye trauma sequence that made audiences worldwide to shudder. But the things that cause HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD to stick in most viewers' memories are the strange asides, terrible dialog, unexpected nudity and slow-motion stock footage of animals. Oh – and the bizarre tutu scene! No one ever forgets that. Three stalwart defenders of this twisted zombie epic join me to discuss the haphazard, sloppy film that was produced. They want to call it a classic. I just want to call it over! Troy Guinn, Jeff Nelson and John Hudson vigorously lay out a series of justifications for what I see as cinema crimes and finally manage to get me to admit to a few points of agreement. We examine the odd actions that characters in zombie film make for no discernable reason. We spend some time trying to figure out if the script was working its way through an exploitation checklist or if there was a less mercenary reason for the way things unfold. Each of us relates out history with the film and pick out favorite Bruno Mattei films from across his career. At some point we get lost in the possibilities of a 21st century BetaMax rental business but we retreat from that financially doomed idea soon enough. And we end the show with a unique musical contribution from Troy's oft-mentioned brother! If you have any comments about HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD or any Italian zombie films thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening!

Writer Randy Fox returns to discuss a classic science fiction film from the 1970's. A BOY AND HIS DOG (1975) was a box office flop initially but became a beloved cult movie pretty quickly. It is one of the very few adaptations of a Harlan Ellison story that got the author's 95% approval and we dig into the reasons for that in our discussion. Hugely influential, the film stands as a still relevant template for post-apocalyptic cinema all the way up to the recent TV series FALLOUT. Made for less than half a million dollars it is the rare low budget science fiction film that doesn't show its financial constraints and manages to turn some detriments into positives. Featuring a fine central performance from Don Johnson and excellent supporting work from his canine companion (voiced by actor/musician Tim McIntire) the movie brings the original story to life brilliantly. We discuss the differences from the novella and the reasons for them as well as the few smart improvements the script weaves into the tale. Randy and I share our histories with the film and our own encounters with the legendary Ellison over the years. We dig into the charges of misogyny and misanthropy that are often leveled at the movie pulling apart the details to search for defenses. We find a few.     If you have any comments about A BOY AND HIS DOG or other 1970's science fiction films thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening!

John Hudson and Bobby Hazzard join me for a raucous discussion of this bizarre Australian oddity. Are we able to figure out the story? What do we think of the main character? Do we maintain our sanity before the invisible chimp rears his furry head to fling poop everywhere? Thank goodness for the laughing audience in the room to keep us on track and aware of how silly we can be.   SONS OF STEEL (1988) is a film built out of bits & pieces of earlier films but without the budget necessary to pull it off. It seems to be assembled from random parts of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Blade Runner, Back to the Future, Max Headroom and a little barbarian imagery for texture. The film follows Black Alice, a pompous singer strutting around a dystopian near-future momentarily mourning his dead girlfriend and trying to become a rock star. Strangely, he is also somehow an environmental peace activist – or at least we are told this by agents of the Oceana government. (Did I mention that 1984 is ripped off as well?) The movie is a series of music videos struggling to tell a tale of revolution, love and violence but the most memorable moments are the very 80's songs scattered across the soundtrack. In Spiritus Wank'em!   If you have any thoughts on Black Alice, SONS OF STEEL or the sequel novels penning by the writer/director, thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening to the show! 

Mark Maddox and I continue our journey through the first six Star Trek movies and now reach THE FINAL FRONTIER (1989). We have been both dreading and looking forward to revisiting this film. Thirty-five years later is it still as bad we remember? Are there hidden moments of quality buried in this bad idea given cinematic form? Join us as we pull this thing apart and inspect it's sad remains. We use Shatner's own story of the production from his Movie Memories book to supplement the usual sources. It adds a lot to know the genesis of the film's basic story and emphasizes just how easily a poor central concept can cripple a project. Also, aspiring writers can take note of this film as a solid example of bad scriptwriting on nearly every level. Neither of us find much to admire in STAR TREK V but there are a few good moments. Sadly, those few quality elements have to rest side by side with insults to nearly every regular character and simply awful dialog. The film's humor mostly revolves around laughing ‘at' the characters and never ‘with' them. It undermines so many years of goodwill built up by the franchise for the sake of bad jokes, dumb ideas and idiotic coincidences that we can only be grateful it wasn't the last film to feature the original cast. Row, row, row your boat indeed. Comments about this film, the podcast or Star Trek in general can be sent to thebloodypit@gmail.com and we'll be happy to hear from you. Thank you for listening and we'll be back soon.

Troy and I poke our heads into a Universal Studio haunted house, spot vaudeville act Olsen & Johnson and run away. Well – not really. But our first viewing of this nearly forgotten comedy horror film is not the fun we might have hoped. Did we enjoy it at all? Give the show a listen and we'll point out the highs and lows. GHOST CATCHERS (1944) stars a number of very talented actors and singers but it also stars Olsen & Johnson – or, as I will eternally think of them, Faster & Louder. Nearly none of their supposed gift for humor translates effectively from the stage if this film is any indicator. The movie's silly plot is actually two different story ideas welded together with four songs and a lot of flat jokes. For both of us the film squandered what little goodwill we may have had for it in a certain horsey scene, but we'll let you discover that along the way. We were surprised that a couple of the songs were pretty great but when a horror comedy's highlight points out that it is more successful as a musical than anything else, there is a problem. (And we even get the title of the best song wrong in our discussion!) But funny is in the eye of the beholder so you may actually enjoy this odd Universal effort. And did we mention Lon Chaney's very small role?   If you have any comments about this film or vaudeville more broadly thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to write. Thank you for listening. 

It has been far too long since Troy and I gathered around the male bag….uuuhh…MAIL bag to find out what folks listening to the podcast think! Or, at least if they want to make fun of me. I'll take any attention, so - cool!   We are months behind checking out the email account so some of these messages date back to 2023. I apologize about this but also think sometimes the wait is worth it. I mean what other show has a discussion of Bruno Mattei, Japanese comedy/drama film series Tora-san, WAR OF THE WORLD's symbolism and the thousands of film appearances of actor Morris Ankrum. Clearly, The Bloody Pit is filling an important niche in the movie discussion podcast world! And did I mention we have a visit from Vincent Price? Or possibly his ghost. With a cold. It'll all make sense when you listen to the episode. Maybe.  And if you're interested in the podcast mentioned in the show that dives into the Golden Age of Ninja movies, you can give it a listen at this LINK.  For those who want to contribute to the next email episode thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send your thoughts. And thank you for listening! 

WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) and INVADERS FROM MARS (1953) are two of the most beloved of the dozens of science fiction movies from that paranoid Cold War decade. Author Mark Clark joins me to compare and contrast them as we look at the massive differences in scale, budget and point of view that give each film its unique feel. Recent Blu-Ray releases allow a fresh evaluation of these movies and we dig into them from angles both personal and societal. Spoilers rise from every sandpit, so be aware!   We tackle the magnificent WAR OF THE WORLDS first, examining the elements taken from the source novel as well as from the classic Orson Wells radio adaptation. We discuss the story structure and the cast of amazing character actors familiar at the time from both radio shows and film. Design concepts and the faint traces of the book's tripods are touched on before we dig into the film rushed to theaters to compete – INVADERS FROM MARS! The William Cameron Menzies production design is discussed as well as the ‘trashy science fiction magazines' that seemed to inspire some the incredible images. We argue a bit over our preferred length but both of us wish there was less military stock footage slowing things down. The alternate British ending is brought up and I detail how I wish the American version ended. We do go on!  If you have thoughts on either of these Martian invasion movies thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening. 

Mark Maddox returns to the show as we continue our journey through the first six Star Trek films. STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986) is one of the most popular of the series and stood for decades as the most profitable entry. The humor and clever plotting of the story still works nearly forty years later with the original cast shining with few exceptions. Of course, we pick at the minor complaints I have with the movie while Mark tells me I'm a killjoy who can only be happy with darkness and violence. That might be (slightly) true but I will leave that mirror reflection as something for others to examine alongside me as I make fun of Mark for sillier things. Much sillier things!   We discuss the film's production including our thoughts on the Eddie Murphy connection and how it would have changed all future Trek films. I lament the deletion of the pregnancy detail and the possible stories that could have come from it. I question the odd visual choice for depicting the time travel sequence while Mark's respect for me falls even further into a hole. Those hoping for the two us to argue will have a few moments of fun. The strangest of these comes from our discussion of cringy 80's humor with Mark somehow unable to remember one of the most common derogatory terms of the period. That man's mind is going!   If you have thoughts on Star Trek IV or the series in general thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We'll be back soon to tackle V – oh, my! Thanks for listening. 

I am joined by the bane of my podcasting existence John Hudson and the much nicer Bobby Hazzard to heap praise upon EATING RAOUL (1982).  This is the film I've always though of as ground zero for Paul Bartel appreciation and more than forty years later I think it still holds up as the perfect introduction to his comedic sensibilities. If you laugh your way through this film, chances are good that you will love his other movies as well. Even the ones that don't involves running over little old ladies to win a cross-country race or cannibalism.  We jump into the discussion by detailing our history with Bartel's work and what each of us find so appealing about his screen persona. All three of us bring some tales of the production history to the table with the start and stop nature of the filming process leading to information about locations and casting. We do eventually get to a synopsis of the plot and spoil most of the funnier moments so be aware that you should probably watch the movie before listening to us giggle our way though the many deaths by frying pan. Our peanut gallery has returned for this episode taking the time to laugh with and at us during the show. Long time podcast fans will recognize Beth and Steph from previous episodes but we also get some very funny contributions from Laura as well. Luckily, she keeps John in line and I will take any help I can get corralling the monkey-mad Mr. Hudson. Strap in for this one, folks and stay out of the hot tub!   The show can be reached at thebloodypit@gmail.com where we'll be thrilled to hear from you. You can also find the show on our Facebook page and wherever odder podcasts are downloaded. Thank you for listening. 

I welcome writer Holger Haase to the show to discuss the 1960's Dr. Mabuse films! Holger has written an essay published for Kindle called ‘The Many Masks of Dr. Mabuse: Mabuse in the 1960s'.  Reading this prompted me to finally talk directly to Holger. The two of us have known each other for decades but it took our mutual love of these German crime films to use the internet to speak in a non-text based way. It was a little weird.   We go (mostly) chronologically through the six films discussing each in turn. If you want to follow along at home here's a list of the movies we talk about in this episode: 1. THE 1000 EYES OF DR. MABUSE (1960) 2. THE RETURN OF DR. MABUSE (1961)  3. THE INVISIBLE DR. MABUSE (1962)  4. THE TESTEMENT OF DR. MABUSE (1962) 5. DR. MABUSE VS SCOTLAND YARD (1963) 6. THE DEATH RAY OF DR. MABUSE (1964) We touch on the cast members with extra attention to the ones that show up in multiple films even when their character's names mysteriously change. Scriptwriter Ladislas Fodor's impressive career is discussed as well as directors Fritz Lang and Harald Reinl who brought their many talents to the series. This series of films seems to have been forgotten over the past couple of decades, overshadowed by the original Lang films from 1922 and 1933. We hope to spur some interest in cinema fans curious to discover the hidden joys of these clever crime movies. They really are addictive!   If you have thoughts on the Mabuse films or the krimi cycle that they parallel thebloodypit@gmail.com is where you can send them. We'll be happy to hear from you. Thanks for listening. 

Troy and I return to the Universal Horrors of the 1940's to check out the fifth and last of the Invisible Man series. THE INVISIBLE MAN'S REVENGE (1944) is sometimes seen as a strong final entry but both of us find far too many loose ends and discordant elements to fully enjoy the film. I must caution you that we spoil this one completely early on and I find myself cursing more than normal as we discuss the questions the movie throws in our faces. Sorry about that.   This is an interesting film but mostly for the wrong reasons. We try to pinpoint all the spots where the original, nastier version of this story peeks through the softened final product. The amazing Gale Sondergaard is a victim of the alterations to the story and disappears after only two scenes – we were displeased by this! The timeline of the Robert Griffin character is confusing and neither of us can work out how he carried around a piece of paper with his name on it for five years but didn't know his own identity. I spend time marveling at how unlikable Griffin is throughout the story. Jon Hall does a great job in the role but he is playing a man with no redeeming qualities and a hair-trigger propensity for violence. This is our hero? Following on from the previous sequels we get the series' now standard irritating ‘humor' culminating in a dart competition that goes on forever. Both of us found this to be the weakest of the Universal Invisible Man cycle and would be curious to find fans of the film to defend it.   If you do want to stick up for THE INVISIBLE MAN'S REVENGE drop us a note at thebloodypit@gmail.com – we really are interested in hearing a defense of this one. 

2024 begins with a 1970's European horror gem! Bob Sargent joins Troy and I to discuss THE DEVIL'S WEDDING NIGHT (1973). It's a fun gothic story with Mark Damon and Rosalba Neri (still using the Sara Bay stage name) about vampires, the ring of the Nibelungen and nudity. Lots of nudity! Warning – we completely spoil this one. Sorry but we had to dissect the final scene with its multiple endings.  As usual with this trio we let Bob pick the film and this time he hit a home run. It turned out to be a first viewing for Troy and it was fascinating to have his fresh take on this old favorite. We talk about the film's genesis with star/producer Damon shopping the script around for a long while before getting it financed. The film is very much an R rated version of the Roger Corman Poe films done with a little less style and a lot less clothing. We pick at the story as we go along but each of us enjoyed the twin roles from the lead and sly, sexy performance from Neri. She is a sight to behold with her electric screen charisma registering here in gigawatts. Her abilities are impressive when just the slightest shift in the tilt of her head can communicate paragraphs of information.  We talk a bit about some of the anachronistic elements in the film and puzzle for a long time over where those satanic henchmen spend their time between virgin sacrifices. And we end up lamenting that this sleazy classic spawned no sequel! How did that happen?   If you have any comments on the film thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening and we'll be back soon. 

December brings our annual Holiday Horror episode! John Hudson and Troy Guinn join me to discuss the anthology film A CHRISTMAS HORROR STORY (2015) – we like it. We keep the conversation almost completely spoiler free with only a few third act details being alluded to as we go along. We talk about the possibility that Shatner might have ad-libbed some of his dialog as DJ Dangerous Dan and marvel at his ability to bend a syllable. Each of us picks our favorite of the stories presented and Troy points to some paths he thought the narrative might take that were skipped past. The darkly humorous nature of elements of the film are discussed with attention to how the laughs add to the entertainment level. We also bring up a couple of other recently seen Christmas horror movies as examples of our annual desire to see more of this subgenre. Toshi the cat visits us to rub up against the microphone and disrupt our trains of thought, such as they are. And the show ends with a brief tale about Mr. Hudson having been recognized as a recently published Cinema Sewer interviewer. Cool stuff! We hope everyone has a Happy Holiday season and if you have any comments about the show thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Stay safe and hug your loved ones. Thank you for listening.

Author Troy Howarth returns to the show to talk about the second feature film of Agatha Christie's TEN LITTLE INDIANS (1965). We compare it to the superior 1945 version and a couple of later attempts to bring this sturdy tale to the big screen. Both of us try to not spoil the story for those who have yet to experience the fun, but a few of the surprises do slip into the conversation.  We discuss the novel and its original title as well as the changes Christie made to her bestselling story when she adapted it for the stage. This beautifully photographed black and white movie is a stylish and well-cast progenitor of the slasher horror genre in which the mysterious killer murders his victims in darkly humorous ways, whittling the cast down for our entertainment. The cast is fascinating and we dig into the careers of several of them touching on their high and low points. Troy's appreciation of Dennis Price surfaces with me teasing him about a possible future writing project. Fingers crossed! I point to a couple of small things that stand out as ill-fitting or overlong but we both think highly of this strong revisioning of this always intriguing tale. I'm just not sure I'm ready for the Frank Stallone version.   If you have a favorite screen adaptation of this story let us know at thebloodypit@gmail.com – we'll be glad to hear from you. Thank you for listening and we'll be back soon. 

Author Randy Fox returns to the show so that we can continue our series on 1970's Science Fiction films! This time we look at the fascinating directorial debut of graphic designer Saul Bass, PHASE IV (1974). The film was a financial failure at the time of release but its status as a cult film has grown slowly over the decades.  We look at the many cinematic influences the film's story draws from including THE NAKED JUNGLE (1954), THE ANROMEDA STRAIN (1971) and 2001: A SPACE ODESSEY (1968). We marvel over the ant photography that allows the film to so clearly show us the world of these newly altered insects traveling into their hives and, at times, seemingly into their minds. We discuss the small cast even as I question why they bothered to give the characters proper names at all. Given Saul Bass' background as a visual artist it is no surprise that the film produces a dozen or more unforgettable images and we try to point out as many of them as possible. The choice to use a voiceover is put to the test with Randy's dreaded ‘professor with a pointer' serving as our classic example of going too far! We dig into the ways the human living spaces are presented in comparison to those of the ants and how a break in that alignment shows a specific communication change in the story. Of course, we occasionally veer off topic as things point us toward other subjects but I'm happy to say we always find our way back to the film under the magnifying glass.  Do you have thoughts about PHASE IV or other films that stuck with you even though you weren't sure if you liked them? If so, thebloodypit@gmail.com is the address to send those comments. Thank you for listening! 

Since we will be covering four more Inner Sanctum films in 2024 it was suggested that I might want to acquaint podcast listeners with some of the old radio shows. I love these wonderful horror and suspense tales but most folks have never sought them out. They are quite entertaining as examples of ‘Theater of the Mind' exercises and, as I explain in my introductions, the Inner Sanctum show may have been the starting point for a horror trope that persists to this day.  I have picked three interesting episodes that I think will give you a good idea of the tone the program trafficked in and there is even a performance from Boris Karloff to get us started! He is the main character in an adaptation of Poe's The Tell Tale Heart while Richard Widmark stars in the second grisly story about man's lust for immortality. The final story I chose because it fits the October season with the title A Corpse for Halloween. Enjoy! If you have any comments or suggestions thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thanks for listening and Happy Halloween! 

Beth Morris and Troy Guinn visit the show again to discuss another Sherlock Holmes film. This time out we fan away the fog to examine one of the gothic horrors of the series, THE SCARLET CLAW (1944)! Good timing, huh? After all, our detective duo start the tale by being hired by a dead woman! That is creepy.  We talk about the production of the film which started out as a potential return of Moriarty but eventually became ‘Sherlock Holmes in Canada' before the final bloody title was chosen. The story pulls heavily from The Hound of the Baskervilles but also seems to crib elements from the MGM film LONDON BY NIGHT (1937) as well. Of course, it also has a touch of Edgar Allan Poe evident in the name of the murder-stricken village. This is where the series leaves behind most of the modern details that were so much a part of the first three films Universal made. The traditional Holmesian Victorian period reasserts itself here with only the occasional 1940's feature entering the frame to remind us of the real world. We point out several problems we have with the film including the need to show Holmes being a bit of a doofus on more than one occasion. There has to be a better way to extend the mystery than making the great detective seem incompetent! Of course, we love the cast and have a lot of fun trying to remember the names of the movies and obscure serials in which certain actors had memorable roles. For the record, Virginia Horne played a Chinese villain in SECRET AGENT X-9 (1945) but neither Beth or I could pull that title from our fevered brains!   If you have any thoughts on the Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening and we'll be back soon. 

Mark Maddox returns for a discussion of the third Star Trek film – THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK! The odd number films are generally derided but both of us feel the positives outweigh the negatives in this one. Of course, we pick at every nit we can spot but we do also praise the film for the elements that stand tall and resurrect the dead!   We dig into the genesis (he he) of the story with Leonard Nimoy's desire to step into the director's chair leading to several interesting choices. We discuss what it means to be the middle chapter of a trilogy with Mark claiming that The Undiscovered Country is part of the story as well. I bring in details and story additions from the excellent novelization of the film by Vonda McIntire that enhance the story and the secondary characters. The casting of the Klingons is a point of contention with Doc Brown as an alien bad guy becoming an amusing cinema crossover I had not considered before. We lament the stage bound nature of the Genesis planet segments and agree that some location filming would have improved things overall. The special effects get some attention with the destruction of the Enterprise being singled out for praise and we also express our pleasure at having another performance from Mark Leonard as Sarek. This is turning into a fun revisit to this series of movies!   If you have any comments about Star Trek or anything else we've covered on the show thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We'd be thrilled to hear from you. Thank you for listening and we'll be back soon. 

I am joined by Troy Guinn and Jeff Nelson to talk about a Lucio Fulci movie once again! This time we swipe away the fog and try to get a clear look at CONQUEST (1983). This was the director's one entry in the brief 80's resurgence of the sword & sorcery genre inspired by the success of CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982) and THE BEASTMASTER (1982) and it has many more detractors than defenders. Where do you think we fall?   We talk about the history of bad VHS prints of the film and make a defense of the foggy, misty visual style of the cinematography. We do not defend the furry nunchakus, though. The film's main characters and the mythological stereotypes they fall into causes much discussion with the older mentor and younger student reversal becoming our focus. Of course, considering the period of Fulci's career in which this was made, we can't help but notice the movie's fascination with violence and depictions of the damage to the human body. We examine the puzzle of the villain's odd choice of hallucinatory substance to snort and wonder how this odd effect was discovered in this cruel world. The various cool monsters and dangerous creatures in the film get some love from us but the inclusion of zombies is questioned as a possible late addition. It's a lively conversation and we hope you'll enjoy it!   If you have anything to say about CONQUEST thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send your thoughts. Thank you for listening! 

Troy and I dive into the Universal Inner Sanctum films with a conversation about the first two of the series. There is much discussion of Lon Chaney's pencil-thin mustache and some speculation about the role that Gale Sondergaard might have had in each movie if her casting had worked out.   CALLING DR. DEATH (1943) presents Chaney as a successful psychologist who uses hypnotism as a treatment method. His marriage is falling apart but his cheating wife has no wish to be divorced causing him quite a bit of mental stress culminating in a blackout weekend and murder by blunt instrument. Did the good doctor kill his wife or is something more nefarious going on? We wade through lots of whispered voiceover from Lon and watch a Columbo prototype played by J. Carroll Naish hound the obvious suspect until the guilty party makes the wrong move. This is a very well-directed film and we talk about the director's clever visual choices as we go through the story.   WEIRD WOMAN (1944) is the first screen adaptation of Fritz Leiber's story ‘Conjure Wife' and gives us Lon Chaney miscast as an academic genius who returns from a book writing trip with a wife he robbed from the cradle. OK – the film doesn't seem to want us to think about that fact except that Lon keeps referring to her as a child and they sleep in separate bedrooms. The 1940's were a strange time. The film has an amazing cast with the great Evelyn Ankers cast against type as a mean-spirited ex-girlfriend. The misogyny levels are cranked pretty high and this is the start of the Inner Sanctum series' cliché of Chaney's character being the most desirable male on the planet which means there is some ‘cringe' involved in watching this one. But the film is very good and we discuss the surprising hatred directed at it from some fan quarters.   If you want to give us your opinion of the Inner Sanctum movies thebloodypit@gmail.com is the address to send your notes. We'd love to hear from you and thank you for listening to the show! 

**Word of warning – the first fifty minutes of the show has less than great audio. For some reason a buzzing was on the track and the only way I could eliminate it was to crush some of the less loud portions of the sound out. Sadly, this dropped most of the laughter from the amused ladies in the room and causes the softer ends of some words to be lost as well. I'm sorry about this – I'll work to make sure it doesn't happen again.** I am joined once again by Bobby Hazzard and John Hudson to roll around in Italian sleaze! This time I chose the film and, since I was in a post-apocalypse frame of mind, we end up talking about our first Bruno Mattei film. RATS NIGHT OF TERROR (1984) is probably my favorite of Mattei's efforts, which some will claim is damning it with faint praise – I can't disagree.  We talk about how we first encountered this mad movie and its regular video companion HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980). Tied into that, Huson notes the strong similarities of this film's plot to the classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968) siege scenario. Other post-apocalypse exploitation movies are used for comparison with this one coming in as a lesser effort in some way but not in others. The portentous ‘Star Wars' inspired opening voiceover has us trying to square the supposed 225 years ‘After the Bomb' timeline it provides but we do have a lot of un noting that the world ended in 2015. Actress Geretta Geretta has talked about this film on several occasions and we relate a few of her more interesting tales of working in Italian cinema without speaking the language. Other topics include dodging iguanas, buckets of rats and well-done fire stunts complete with some unfortunate animal cruelty. We do eventually end up spoiling the excellent ending, so you have been warned.   If you have any comments about this film or any other we've covered on the show thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We thank you for listening and we will do our best to avoid audio problems in the future. 

Mark Maddox and I return to the Star Trek feature films! This time we tackle the big one – the one that kept the franchise alive – STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982). It's an important film for Trek fans and also an important part of the astonishing list of genre releases from that year. We briefly discuss the other films from 1982 to demonstrate the pivotal nature of the cinema of that time and its long-term effect on the genre. For this episode we assume you have some knowledge of the film and spoilers are in every corner of every deck. You have been warned.   We each relate our personal history with the film starting with theatrical viewings and then we dig into the details that make this one a classic. The selection of Nicholas Meyer as director is pointed to as the choice that probably guaranteed the project's success with his melding of the various script ideas into a cohesive whole. The cast is discussed with Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley and Montalban singled out for praise for their excellent performances. Mark recounts his discouraging encounter with an odd form of homophobia when seeing the film for the first time and we compare the first film's special effects to the smaller budgeted sequel. The story's commentary on aging comes under scrutiny as both of us think about the changes in ourselves since this film came out. We ain't getting any younger, that's for sure!   If you have any comments about Star Trek thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We'll be back in a few weeks to continue this journey with Kirk and the gang and we hope you'll join us. 

Bob Sargent joins Troy and I to discuss KING OF KONG ISLAND (1968). Or is it just KONG ISLAND? And what connection to King Kong does this movie actually have? Spoiler alert – none! Because Mr. Sargent has a soft spot in his heart (and head) for this bizarre Italian production we examine it for signs of sanity. None were found, but along the way we learned a little about ourselves. Sort of. And for some reason we also talked about 70's rock group StoneGround. I can't understand why. For the curious, KING OF KONG ISLAND (1968) is a movie of many parts. It is roughly 20% jungle mercenary movie; 20% mad scientist tale; 20% revenge story; 20% jungle girl adventure and 20% family melodrama. It is also 100% nuts! While much of the advertising for the film centers around the jungle girl sections of the story we come to the conclusion that Eva (or the Scared Monkey as she is referred to most often) could be removed from the film with little detriment to the story. Of course, this would have eliminated the film's nudity so I don't think anyone involved would have agreed to do this. But the film has so much going on that it is difficult to stop watching as the madness unfolds. We see stuntman turned actor Brad Harris beefcake up the place with his exciting dance moves and flinty abs. We see veteran Hollywood tough guy Marc Lawrence play a mad scientist/Bond villain using surgically altered gorillas to control a jungle cave. We witness plenty of animal stock footage. It all adds up to a featue length movie. Really. Even if you haven't seen this cinematic epic there are things in the episode to entertain you. Troy's alternate title suggestions are inventive and arguably better than any of the ones actually used. Bob's attempts to explain his lifelong fascination with this whacky film lead us from a sweaty apartment in the 1980's to modern 21st century life – pity his poor wife! And bonus points to the listeners that can pinpoint the moment when I gave up on presenting a plot synopsis. Eventually you have to accept that things have gotten away from you. If you have seen KING OF KONG ISLAND and have something to add to our discussion thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send your thoughts. Thank you for listening!

This episode allows Troy and I answer a few emails and dart down a couple of rabbit holes that they bring to mind. We talk about giant bug movies, Brian Trenchard-Smith's career and post apocalyptic movies. A past guest on the show writes in to point out a missed opportunity to discuss MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME! I take the chance to offer a mea culpa about not discussing an important connection between two of the cast members of THE SPIDER WOMAN. I was aware the pair's previous work together but I skipped that part of my notes during our recording session. My only excuse is that I'm a major fan of the film in question and if you think the conversation in this episode ranges far and wide – whew. Talking about one of the greatest adventure films of all time just in passing would have been very difficult!  Thank you for listening and we'll be back on track with a normal episode soon. If you want to contribute to the email-bag thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to write. 

We rejoin the Universal Sherlock Holmes series with the fifth entry, THE SPIDER WOMAN (1944). Long considered one of the best of the run Beth, Troy and I relate our opinions in this episode's rambling discussion. Be aware that spoilers abound! Do we think it is one of the best of the Rathbone Holmes films? Maybe….. We dig into this one pointing out our likes, loves and various concerns about the story. We point out the numerous elements taken from several of the classic Arthur Conan Doyle stories and revel in the reference to the giant rat of Sumatra! We discuss the logic behind Holmes faking his own death and the inherent cruelty of that move. Of course, THE SPIDER WOMAN is the first of the series to feature a female villain and the casting could not have been better. Gale Sondergaard is brilliant in the title role with her sly smile and her expert delivery of the sharp dialog putting her well above other baddies that have faced Holmes.  Fully half the fun of the movie is watching her glide her way through her evil schemes. The other actors get fine moments too with Nigel Bruce and Dennis Hoey especially given scenes that show their characters under emotional strain. This is a tight, well-made film but we do find some things in it that don't work as well as we might wish.  If you have any comments on this film or any other we've covered thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening and we'll be back soon. 

I'm joined by Bobby Hazzard and John Hudson for our long-delayed discussion of STUNT ROCK (1978). Is it a movie with an actual narrative or is it an episodic mockumentary about stunts and rock & roll? And why is there a stage magic act happening at the same time? We go from the ‘shower thoughts' genesis of the film all the way through a listing of our favorite moments. Since the film's director has called it the worst film he ever made, we briefly talk about his other work for contrast and lament his inability to ever secure a big budget Hollywood project. But we also discover that he directed an almost completely hidden third sequel to a very popular 80's teen comedy that none of us were aware existed. Some things might be better left unexplored.  STUNT ROCK can be called many things but it can't be called boring. It feels like two different movies clumsily mashed together forcing each viewer to decide which half they prefer. Is it the hard rocking magic stage show of Los Angeles band Sorcery or watching Australian stuntman Grant Page defy death in about two dozen different ways? I know which way I lean but this movie is a bit of a Rorschach test so you end up seeing what your expectations lead you to see. And that is more philosophy than I ever thought I would attribute to STUNT ROCK. It has to be a mistake. But you should check it out for yourself.  If you have any comments or suggestions thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening and we'll be back soon. 

Troy Guinn joins me to discuss another Universal horror film of the 1940's! Although it is a mad scientist film THE MAD GHOUL (1943) stands out from the other films of its type in many ways. It's literate, mature script weaves interesting adult relationships into its fantastical narrative of college student zombification and graveyard surgery. Troy makes the claim that the film would be worth seeing even if the titular Ghoul was not part of the story but I think we all know why people were buying tickets – cardiectomies! Still, the more adult nature of the romantic complications in the story are interesting and the script gives the great George Zucco many chances to utter dialog that is a cut above the usual level of horror tales of the period. Often his delivery of a line is what makes a scene both believable and entertaining.  We discuss the cast and crew with an eye toward what the actors thought of the process and each other. We revel in the nasty details of the story and talk about the surprisingly dark stuff the film gets away with. Robert Armstrong as the comic reporter character gets some time in the spotlight as we fight the urge to call him by his KING KONG character name. And we express disappointment that although Evelyn Ankers gets a lot more to do in this movie than in SON OF DRACULA we still don't get the chance to hear her sing.  If you enjoy THE MAD GHOUL or even if you don't thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send your opinions, comments or suggestions. We'd be glad to her from you. Thank you for listening! 

Author Mark Clark returns to the show for a discussion of the giant bug movies of the 1950's!   I have always lumped the giant bug movies in with the other giant monster films of the decade but that is a sloppy way to think about these films. The big surprise is that when you separate out the films with various kinds of bugs it turns out there were only eight. Eight! The always ambitious Mark suggested doing a single show about all of them, and I thought it was a great idea. So, even though we might have bitten off more than we can comfortably chew, that is what we did. For those playing along at home here is the list –   Them! (1954) Tarantula (1955) The Deadly Mantis (1957) The Black Scorpion (1957) Beginning of the End (1957) Monster from Green Hell (1957) Cosmic Monsters (1958) Earth vs the Spider (1958)   As you can see, we spend a lot of time in 1957 but rest assured that we talk about all eight films in some detail. We dig into the things about each that we enjoy and the places where they fall down with Mark using some interesting classic rock comparisons along the way. He's a little odd. Along the way we decided to rank them from least to most favorite and we were shocked to see that there isn't much difference in our opinions. What is the world coming to?   If you want to rank the Big Bug movies of the 1950's thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send your list. We'd be glad to hear from you. Thanks for listening!

Mark Maddox joins me to discuss one of his favorite films of all time - STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979). Does Mark need medication or is he able to back up his opinion of this film that has served as an easy punchline for decades? And what do I think of the film? Will there be an argument? You might already know the answer. Thank goodness for Mark Clark's fine Start Trek FAQ books that serve to keep us on track. Mostly.  We discuss the years long genesis of the film touching on the planned ‘Phase II' concept that was supposed to bring Star Trek back to television. Mark talks about seeing the film theatrically in 1979 and his reaction to the big screen sight of the Enterprise. He then relates his love of the wormhole sequence and we examine its function within the story. Jerry Goldsmith's magnificent score is heaped with praise by both of us while Mark laments the use of the theme for The Next Generation television show. The production problems the film encountered get some attention with the foolish choice to lock in a premiere date before the film was even started coming under scrutiny. And the decision to begin shooting without a finished script can't go unremarked either! It's a miracle a coherent movie came out of this process in the end. Or course, it took a couple of decades for the thing to be really completed by the director but now we can see the film in the best light, flaws and all.  If you have any thoughts on the first Trek movie thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We hope to cover more the series in the near future so thoughts on those are welcome as well. Thank you for listening! 

This is a bit of a hybrid episode of the show. We welcome as a guest the owner and ‘head man in charge' of Orbit DVD of Ashville, NC – Mr. Marc McCloud! Troy and I have known Marc for decades and were surprised when he got in touch about his childhood trip to the Sid & Marty Krofft amusement part. He joins us to relate his recollections of that 1976 adventure and his subsequent fascination with lesser-known parks of the same kind. It makes for a lively stroll down memory lane and adds some detail to our Pufnstuf conversation from episode #167. The show is bookended by email reactions to our PUFNSTUF show with regular correspondent Kurt's Burning Man tale being a must-hear trip into unreality. Those Krofft creations are still able to conjure the most interesting flashbacks to a 1970's childhood! Other emails include a list of favorite sword & sandal movies from one writer and a question about the level of detail we can now find in UHD and Blu-Ray discs. Is it always a good thing? We discuss that at length along with a few extra topics that branch off naturally. As you might realize, the show goes on much longer than I expected! If you would like to add your voice to the next email show thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send your comments. Thank you for listening!

Lon Chaney Jr. gets little respect for his performance in this Universal Monster classic but Troy and I have a few things to say about that. In fact, we have a few things to say about a number of things in this fun chiller that we think is one of the best horror films of the decade. Indeed, we're so excited to talk about this one that we almost forgot to use a synopsis of the story for reference but we do eventually wind our way through the plot. Spoilers abound, so you have been warned! We talk about the production including the reason this long delayed sequel finally went before the cameras. The behind the scenes wrangling that saw one Siodmak brother exit the film as another one entered is a topic along with a detailed look at the very ‘film noir' filter that the story places over its horror tale. We discuss just how ‘Deep South' the setting really is and ruminate on the oddly vague midwestern feel of the movie. Just where is that swamp? Troy asks many questions about the film that I cannot answer including a long list of possible first time appearances of several vampiric cinema ideas that we all simple accept these days. I need to do more homework!   We hope you enjoy our discussion which concludes with a relevant email from a loyal listener. If you want to be a part of our next Email Show thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send your thoughts. Thank you for listening and we'll be back ASAP.  

For this very special episode five people have gathered to discuss an influential part of their childhood – H. R. Pufnstuf!  In particular we examine the movie that grew out of the children television show's immense popularity – PUFNSTUF (1970). So, grab your magic flute and come to Living Island for an adventure you'll never forget – no matter how hard you try. Wild, man! I am joined by Beth, Troy Guinn, John Hudson and Steph to talk about the biggest hit of Sid & Marty Krofft's many Saturday morning TV programs. Each of us relate our history with the various shows and what we thought of them as kids before diving into the specifics of the big screen version. We dig into the Krofft brothers' background as puppet performers, their early successes on the stage and the genesis of Pufnstuf as a character. We take note of a fun Universal Horror related song from their early 1960's adult puppet show and then turn things toward the amazing songs created for the film. We talk about the cast with Jack Wild's place in the hearts of young girls becoming a subject of some amusement while Billie Hayes' immortal Witchiepoo is lauded as the best reason to watch either the film or the television show. Favorite lines of dialog are quoted and we wonder aloud if some of the best bits were adlibbed by Miss Hayes or not. We also talk about Mama Cass Elliot's excellent performance as Witch Hazel and single out her song as a highlight. This really is a delightful movie! If you want to share your own memories of the old Sid & Marty Krofft shows thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We hope you enjoy this slightly chaotic trip into Saturday mornings past. Thank you for listening!

Mark Maddox returns to the show to talk about a pair of Italian Muscle Man epics! Both movies tell tales of one of the oldest reoccurring characters of cinema – Maciste! And if you think you've never heard of him you might know him under one of several aliases – in this case, Samson. We start with a look at the first of the 1960's film series, MACISTE IN THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS which was released in English speaking territories as SON OF SAMSON (1960). It stars Mark Forrest as the legendary strong man and Cuban dancer Chelo Alonso as the villainous Queen making things very difficult for the people of Egypt. We talk about the gorgeous location shooting and the film's bigger than average scale for a small budget effort. The film has several spectacular sequences of action and some surprising violence. It's a big colorful comic book of a movie! The second film is an even more impressive adventure. Former Tarzan actor Gordon Scott steps into the hero role for MACISTE AT THE COURT OF THE GREAT KHAN which was retitled SAMSON AND THE SEVEN MIRACLES OF THE WORLD (1961). This one has Maciste pop up in 13th Century China to rescue a Chinese prince and princess from the Tartars and then lead the population in a revolt. There are many stand out scenes with the amazing bar fight being my favorite. Watching Scott use part of the building to bash opponents as the place crumbles around him is what I call entertainment! But the showstopper must be the action set piece involving a horse-drawn chariot and our hero's stunning way of applying the brakes. Incredible! Of course, there is the occasional side road in the discussion but we amble back into the proper arena before we get attacked by lions. Thank you for listening and please review the show on your pod-catcher of choice. If you love the peplum genre too thebloodypit@gmail.com is where you can send us a list of your favorites. See you next time!