Hoping to cure his violent seizures, a man agrees to a series of experimental microcomputers inserted into his brain but inadvertently discovers that violence now triggers a pleasurable response!
This is a film by writer, and director Ranald MacDougall who wrote screenplays for such films as The Unsuspected 1947, Possessed 1947, Mildred Pierce 1945, and The Naked Jungle 1954.
With writing credits to M.P. Shiel from their novel “The Purple Cloud”, Ferdinand Reyher’s “End of The World” and co-written by MacDougall. Harry Belafonteis an uncredited producer of the film.
With an incredibly evocative score by Miklós Rózsa (Spellbound 1944, Double Indemnity 1945) and a Noirish framework by cinematography Harold Marzorati, it’s an edgy adventure for Noir and Sci-fi fans alike.
This could be considered a Socio-Noir experience, as it deals at times frankly with the issue of race and gender, while not as critically as it might be dealt with today, for its time, it approaches the subject matter with a narrative that starts the conversation.
Filmed with gritty realism, set in an urban milieu with characters who are flawed and in conflict with each other and their surroundings.
Harry Belafonte plays Ralph Burton a miner trapped under the city for several days as a result of a cave-in. After days of isolation and deprivation, he manages to dig himself out of his underground grave.
Soon after he discovers that the entire population of Earth has been destroyed by nuclear holocaust.
He ventures to New York City and stumbles upon a once thriving metropolis that is now a desolate urbane wasteland, not unlike the landscape that Charlton Heston’s Neville faced in post-apocalyptic L.A.
Much like Neville, Ralph sets up a home for himself but is suddenly thrown into flux by the discovery of Inger Stevens as Sarah Crandall, the last surviving female on Earth.
The World, The Flesh and The Devil is an allegorical journey about desolation, survival, human nature, sacrifice, and the evolution of men and women trying to define themselves.
Thrown into the mix of this newly formed friendship between the only living black man and white woman, intrudes a third character Mel Ferrerwho plays Benson Thacker a white entitled privileged male who has somehow navigated a small boat into the NYC harbor.
The triangle is formed and the tensions play out in a script that might have been penned by Rod Serling, who often took on the issue of race, class, and at times, but less so, gender with his thoughtful philosophical Sci-fi television show The Twilight Zone.
The two men struggle over who will be the dominant male suitor… who will take ownership of Sarah as if she weren’t already the last female on earth, her sexuality becomes amplified, her body thus systematically objectified to the nth degree, and does she even have a say in choosing neither of the men at all…white or black!
Try and catch this lesser-known post-apocalyptic tale filmed way back in the late 50s!
“The only problem we have is that there are two of us and only one of her!”“Why don’t you toss a coin!”
“This is New York, as no man has ever seen it. Empty, deserted, it’s teaming millions gone…! This is the setting for the most unusual picture ever filmed. The most daring idea or attempted in motion picture entertainment. The last three people alone in the world. What are the emotions of this girl? Facing a future that no woman before her has ever known. What of the man torn by basic human emotion as they stand on the brink of the unknown? Here is the film that crashes through time and the future. It may stun you, and shock you, but above all, it will grip your imagination as no film has ever done!”
“What would you do if you were one of the last three people on earth!”
Charlton Heston plays Army doctor Robert Neville, a lone man living in post apocalyptic solitary urban confinement amidst a burned out Los Angeles, Foraging for supplies by day, and fending off a siege of mutated vampiric survivors by night.
Neville crusades to hold onto his humanity while struggling to create a cure for the plague that wiped out most of the human race.The film is pure 70s driven cautionary tale with a fantastic cast and some great nail biting scenes. One of my favorites from the decade!
Based on the novel ‘I Am Legend’ by Richard Matheson and directed by Boris Sagal (The man responsible for Rod Serling’s (TV series Pilot)"“ Night Gallery (1969) (segment “The Cemetery”) a favorite piece of television horror for me!
Anthony Zerbeplays Matthias the cult leader of the plague ridden remnants of civilization, who’s fanatical quest to conquer Neville and make him one of them is chilling.
The film also stars the wonderful Rosalind Cash as Lisa, Neville’s potential ‘Eve’ in the new garden of Eden he desperately tries to create, if he can perfect the anti-dote to the plague in time! Neville is framed as a Jesus figure at the end of the film.
Matheson’s story had been screened in the 1964 starring Vincent Price as Dr. Robert Morgan. The Last Man on Earth is powerfully evocative and unnerving, and holds up as a great bit of visual story telling even today.
Vincent Price in The Last Man On Earth based on Matheson’s I Am Legend
“Pray for the last man alive. Because he’s not alone.”
Released by A.I.P and directed by Gene Fowler Jr (I Married A Monster From Outer Space 1958), this fabulous bit of schlock brings you the ever tearful, keenly thoughtful, always Pa Ingalls in a very different light.
Michael Landon plays a rage filled, maladjusted teenager Tony Rivers, who is regressed back into an animalistic throwback, a drooling werewolf by Dr Alfred Brandon (Whit Bissell) who uses hypnotherapy for his evil experiment with this angry youth. ‘A scientist maddened by the mystery of the werewolf.’
The already volatile Tony starts attacking practicing gymnasts and classmates alike.
“a savage lust to kill”
When he’s not furry and foaming at the mouth he’s abusive to his girlfriend (Yvonne Lime),throws tantrums, is bitter, throws milk and beats up his friends.
KINO VIDEO’s colorized version of H.Rider Haggard’s fantastical tale of immortality and passions literally on fire!~ Directed by Lansing C Holden and Irving Pichel
I am planning a more in depth overview of this beautiful film that plays like a surrealist opera, with extravagant choreography and fantastic art and visual design. Massive quasi Sumerian /Deco sets by Art Director Van Nest Polglase and set direction by Thomas Little. A stunning score by Max Steiner
 Costume Design by Aline Bernstein and Harold Miles
Randolph Scott plays Leo Vincey the descendant of his identical looking ancestor who claims to have visited an ancient lost land over 500 years ago, where exists the secret of immortality within the eternal flames of a mystic fire. Over seen by an immortal Queen called ‘She’ the entrancingly beautiful Helen Gahagan
Vincey sets out with family friend Horace Holly, the wonderful Nigel Bruce to discover this mysterious legend, taking along with him as well, the beautiful Tanya Dugmore (Helen Mack), a guide’s daughter.
They struggle through the frozen terrain of the Russian arctic, until they stumble upon Kor, the hidden civilization brutally reigned over by the vicious Queen She. Once She sets her sights on Leo, she believes that it is her beloved John Vincey, her long lost lover who left her behind 500 years ago!
“From H. Rider Haggard’s weird, wondrous story of the beautiful woman who bathed in flame and lived 500 years .. at last to find her first love at this very hour!”
An ex-Nazi mad scientist uses radio-controlled atomic-powered zombies in his quest to help an exiled American gangster return to power.
Starring Richard Denning and is Directed by one of my faves Edward L Cahn(It!, The Terror From Outer Space -1958 Invisible Invaders 1959, and The Four Skulls of Jonathon Drake 1959) Story and Screenplay by the great Curt Siodmak (Black Friday 1940, The Wolfman 1941 and I Walk With A Zombie 1943)
SNAP… CRACKLE… POP!!!!!!
“A dead man walks the streets to stalk his prey! So terrifying only screams can describe it!”
Picture it…1661 Mexico, the Baron Vitelius of Astara has been sentenced to be burned alive at the stake by the Holy Inquisition of Mexico for witchcraft, necromancy, and crimes against nature!
Behold the papery comet!
But as he stands frying in the flames of justice, as in all good revenge/horror films the Baron swears vengeance against the descendants of the Inquisitors.
Now…300 years later, coinciding with a comet that streaks overhead like a fiery paper cut out in all its glory of early special effectiveness, on the night of the Baron’s execution, he is resurrected as a brain-eating fiend that wreaks havoc and brain-sucking retribution on all the descendants of the Inquisitor. Nothing like a steamy pewter serving dish of fresh brains…yum!
Directed by Chano Urueta and starring Abel Salazar(Curse of The Crying Woman 1963, The Vampire 1957)as the Baron Vitelius/Brainiac. Also starring Ariadna Welter and David Silva. A fabulous Mexican Horror film from the 60s that just sort of stays with you…!
“See horrible and insane killings as the Count turns into a monster and seeks his revenge!”
Writer/Director Curtis Harrington’s (Night Tide 1961, Games 1967 What’s The Matter With Helen 1971) space fantasy about a female alien specie emblazoned with a silver 60s bee hive hairstyle and a proclivity for drinking blood and laying eggs, takes over the crew of a rescue ship sent to Mars. Starring the swarthy John Saxon, as astronaut Allan Brenner Basil Rathbone as Dr. Farraday Judi Meredith as Laura James Dennis Hopper, Paul Grant, Florence Marley as Alien Blood Queen, and a cameo spot for Forrest J Ackerman as Dr. Farraday’s aid.
“A deathless witch who devours men…turns the milky way into a galaxy of GORE!!!!!!!”
A crew of daring space explorers landing on Venus…are captured by long-limbed beauties! They take them to their leader…the queen of outer space.
They are the only men on the whole planet. Oh boy! But!!!… Will they ever be able to return to Earth?????
Starring Zsa Zsa Gaboras Talleah, Eric Flemingas Capt. Neal Patterson, Paul Birch as Prof.Konrad, Dave Willock as Lt. Mike Cruze and Lisa Davis as Motiya, Laurie Mitchell as Queen Yilana, and Barbara Darrow as Kaeel. Directed by Edward Bernds and written for the screen by Charles Beaumont from a story by Ben Hecht.
“You’ll see a revolt that brings the planet under the domination of strangely masked females who HATE and FEAR the male animal!!!!!”
Happy Trailers MonsterGirl -who doesn’t hate the male animal…
Directed by Arthur Crabtree and adapted from a story by Amelia Reynolds Long called ‘ The Thought Monster.’ Weird Tales, March 1930. Cover by C. C. Senf. Featuring the story “The Thought-Monster.”
This is Amelia Reynolds Long. A Sci-Fi geek with glasses. A girl after my own heart! See guys aren’t the only ones not only loving this stuff but creating it as well! Cheers to Amelia Long! With original music by Buxton Orr and the special effects credit listed as Ruppel & Nordhoff, and some very fun sound design by Peter Davies as sound recordist and Terry Poulton as dubbing editor. It takes work to bring to life monsters, in particular making little invisible brain creatures scrape, scratch, and crawl along floors, roofs, and trees! One of THE best Sci-fi/Horror hybrids of the 50s! And certainly, one of my all-time favorite films of the genre, Fiend Without A Face plays out like a fantastic nightmare. It is truly what makes classic Sci-Fi and Horror so memorable. Given the choice between claymation brain creatures crawling on their spinal columns or any new CGI version as such, I’d pick whimsical every time!
Prof. R.E. Walgate (Kynaston Reeves) starts experimenting with the mental forces of telekinetic power. He configures a lab that draws energy from the nearby nuclear power plant. All the farmers in the area are worried about their cows’ low milking yield and blame the military somehow. All the darn jets flying overheard scaring the cattle. Given the growing mistrust of the military being so close by, when people start mysteriously winding up dead, it sends a wave of panic through the village. Walgate proceeds to unleash an invisible force, a creature that evolves with cunning intelligence and ultimately breaks free from the lab, consuming the nuclear power from the plant and terrorizing the hard-working farm folk. In the end, the horror is realized as they materialize into a fully embodied ‘brain’ creature, which is fantastical and captivating to watch as they descend upon this little rural English town. Can Major Cummings played by Marshall Thompson figure out a way to stop them before they suck the brains out of all humanity? The film also stars Kim Parker as Barbara Griselle, Prof. Walgate’s assistant, and Maj. Cummings love interest.Yet another Science Vs The Military fable built into the narrative …Who will be the hero in the end in this cautionary tale of being careful what you wish for…don’t tamper with the unknown forces of nature and the ensuing invisible monsters that crawl and creep and hang from the trees like little Beasties!!!!!!! Like fiends without faces!
“New Horrors! Mad Science Spawns Evil Fiends! …Taking form before your horrified eyes!”
Ground Breaking Sultan of Cult Film, The King of the B-Movie Roger Corman’s sublime alien invader sci-fi film from the 50s, has some slick low-budget Noiresque qualities and more than a tinge of the vampire mythos. Starring from Corman’s pool of his familiars in acting talent, Paul Birch ( The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962, Beast With a Million Eyes 1955) plays the mysterious Paul Johnson an agent sent from the planet Davana to seek out blood for his dying race. The omnipresent and always wonderful actress of film and television Beverly Garland plays Nadine Storey the capable nurse who Johnson chooses to give him blood transfusions.
In the meantime Johnson terrorizes California with his creepy sunglasses and little impish head-crushing, flying bat creature, that’s been described as an inverted umbrella! Yet another Paul Blaisdell goodie!
More than a little shade of Film Noir.
Somewhat like if a Brussels sprout had legs and could fly: The Flying Bat Creature!
“Somewhere in the world, there stalks a thing that is…Not of This Earth!”
