It’s Monster Rally time! Troy and I have been looking forward to discussing this Universal Horror film for a long time. Easily one of the most fun of the studio’s 1940’s horror films HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944) has extraordinary highs and some bizarre lows. We dig into every single one we can think of including my obsession with werewolf footwear. I’ll admit that I may have been overprepared for this episode which explains how the show’s running time stretches to double the length of the film itself!

Think of this episode as an unofficial eleventh entry in the most recent season of Wild, Wild Podcast. When Adrian Smith and I discovered that ZORRO THE AVENGER (1962) had no real connection to Italy we dropped it and reviewed another Zorro movie instead. But we had already watched this one and wanted to talk about it as well. Since this is a Spanish production it has many connections to the films of Paul Naschy so we could have just as easily made this an episode of the Naschycast. And wait until you learn who wrote the script!

We ramble a bit but were trying to keep this show as brief as Adrian prefers the Wild, Wild Podcast episodes to be. We fail in the attempt, but there was a solid effort made, I promise! The history of cinematic Zorro adventures is touched on with favorite versions of the character listed. As I state in the show, most Zorro films seem to tell the same tale with a few variations so the joys here are noticing the choices made in casting and emphasis. American actor Frank Latimore plays our hero and the legendary Howard Vernon is the villainous Colonel Clarence. The cast of female actors includes Maria Silva years before she was a victim of the Blind Dead or clashed with a certain Spanish werewolf. We don’t spoil the film as it is easy to catch online but we do make a plea for a better-looking version to be made available. 

If you have any comments about Zorro or anything else we covered in this episode (we really did ramble) [email protected] is the place to send them. Thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon!

Mark Maddox returns to discuss a giant monster movie from Denmark! Yes – REPTILICUS (1961) is either the shame or pride of Danish cinema depending on who you ask. Much like THE GIANT CLAW (1957) it asks a lot of the audience whenever the titular creature is onscreen. For many fans of genre film, the willing suspension of disbelief is too heavy a lift even though the first act setup involves an intriguing premise. So what do Mark and I think of it? Hang on tight!

Chris Herzog returns to the show to discuss one of the best of Republic Pictures’ serials. NYOKA AND THE TIGERMEN (1942) is a fantastic example of the chapterplay form but gets forgotten when people talk about the best the studio produced. Revisiting this action-packed adventure proves that it deserves to be mentioned as one of the finest serials ever made. Where is the Blu-Ray?

We discuss the cast in some detail and relate a few behind the scenes anecdotes. Since this is one of only eight serials lead by a female character, we spend some time on how Nyoka both conforms to and breaks from the usual conventions of the format. It’s nice to have an action hero woman mixing it up in the fights and killing bad guys rather than finding new ways to be knocked unconscious! The lead villain is a woman as well giving us a driven Queen Vultura bent on destroying all who stand in her way. Dangerous females indeed! We also get the future Lone Ranger as one of the good guys ably assisted by the excellent stunt team that Republic always used. They will make you believe in leaping over tables and from great heights. And I can’t stop myself from pointing out how many members of the cast show up in various Poverty Row horror films with Bela Lugosi. Sorry about my fixations but you really should see the trainwreck that is BLACK DRAGONS (1942). And did we mention the gorilla named Satan? 

If you have any comments or suggestions about the show [email protected] is the place to send them. We love hearing from you and hope you enjoy the podcast. 

Universal’s output in 1944 was packed with horror tales and MURDER IN THE BLUE ROOM seems a likely addition to that list of chillers. At least until you realize that a firm 20% of the film’s scant running time is taken up by song & dance numbers! Yes, its another horror comedy with a script that started life as a Ritz Brothers feature, but don’t let that scare you off. The chills may be lacking but the entertainment value is surprisingly high. And there is a ghost enlivening the proceedings. Oh! And a murder as well. 

Troy Guinn and I take a run through this humorous creeper and find ourselves having more fun than expected. The credit for that goes to the talented cast so we spend a lot of time talking about the stars and a few of the amazing bit players as well. Where else other than in this movie are you going to hear actor Ian Wolfe say the word ‘Zut’? The film has several great songs and I include Troy’s favorite tune in the show because it is far too catchy to ignore. We discuss the plot shenanigans and the script’s careful skipping past a subject usually forbidden by the Hays Code. Mention is made of the award-winning career of one of the screenwriters and we point to areas in the dialog where his efforts might be heard. Also, we point the curious to the first English language version of this tale, THE SECRET OF THE BLUE ROOM (1933), as a better source of horror thrills if not toe-tapping fun. This 1944 version might serve as a good pairing with that minor classic but only if we can ever get a better-looking print. Come on, Universal.

If you have any song recommendations from a scary film [email protected] is where to send them. And let us know what you think of this film and the podcast in general too. Thank you for listening! 

In the Cult Italian Movie category THE VISITOR (1979) stands out for many reasons. It is made up of equal parts science fiction, thriller and religious high strangeness shot through with touches of CARRIE and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. For years it was considered one of the least comprehensible movies ever made but with the restoration of the full running time in 2010 it is now only mildly incomprehensible. Indeed, with enough squinting and reading between the lines it is almost possible to find a narrative thread that only occasionally feels absurd. Ridiculous to the point of silliness THE VISITOR defies rational concepts and logical progression of story. Let some other movie have police investigations that go somewhere or examples of simple cause and effect in human reactions to inexplicable events. This film scoffs at such needless exercises. And don’t get me started on the exploding basketball that everyone ignores!

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?

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!

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, [email protected] 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 [email protected] is the place to send them. We thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon.