“Orang Ikan” – Two Posters and the Trailer are Here!
The trailer for Orang Ikan is here.
Deal me in.
Category: Movies
“The Corpse Vanishes” (1942) starring Bela Lugosi / Z-View
The Corpse Vanishes (1942)
Director: Wallace Fox
Screenplay: Harvey Gates; story by Sam Robins, Gerald Schnitzer
Stars: Bela Lugosi, Luana Walters, Tristram Coffin, Vince Barnett and Angelo Rossitto.
Tagline: KIDNAPPED BRIDES Are The Victims Of His Terror! Prepare to shudder when you see the strange practices of this doctor who sacrificed beautiful women for the sake of a mad love!
The Plot…
Someone is killing young brides on their wedding day. No one can figure out why they are dying. Or who is stealing their corpses. Then Patricia Hunter (Walters), a young reporter, notices the brides are all wearing orchid corsages. She decides to investigate.
The clues lead Patricia to Dr. Lorenz (Lugosi). Lorenz lives in a remote mansion with his younger wife. Dr. Lorenz seems nice enough, but the wife is a bit cold. When a terrible storm hits and washes out the bridge to town, Patricia is forced to spend the night.
What Patricia doesn’t know is…
- …Dr. Lorenz has been behind the murders of the brides. Lorenz takes their glandular fluids for injection into his wife. These fluids make his elderly wife appear young for a brief time.
- …in the Doctor’s cellar laboratory a crazy old hag and her two sons live. One of the sons is a cruel dwarf. The other is a feebleminded hulk. The three assist Dr. Lorenz with the murders.
- …also in the cellar is a room with the bodies of the dead brides.
Patricia doesn’t know these things… but she is about to find out.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Beware of poor copies. The movie is in the public domain.
Angelo Rossitto plays the dwarf son. Mr. Rossitto is best known for his roles in Tod Browning’s Freaks and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. His career spanned 60 years and over 100 resume credits.
The Corpse Vanishes is a low-budget, quickly shot B picture and it plays like one.
The Corpse Vanishes (1942) rates 2 of 5 stars.
ROCKYfest 2024
Last year the city of Philadelphia held the first Rocky Day. Rocky Day was a city holiday to celebrate the release of Rocky in 1976. Rocky Day was such a hit that this year it has expanded into Rockyfest! Rockyfest will feature city-wide events that run from November 29th – December 8th.
The schedule of events include:
- November 29 – December 8: The Rocky Philadelphia Bus Tour
- December 3: Rocky Day
- December 4: Real Life Rockys Mural Unveiling
- December 5: Southpaws Yappy Hour at the Docks
- December 6: Rocky Date Night at Penn Ice Rink
- December 6 – 8: Rocky Movie Marathon
- December 6 – 7: Rocky U with Dr. Farber
- December 7: Rocky Date Night at The Zoo
Attend for the day or the entire week plus! A great time is guaranteed for Rocky/Stallone fans.
“The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story” (2006) / Z-View
The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story (2006)
Stars: Dusty Rhodes, Dick “the Bruiser” Afflis, Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, Eric Bischoff, Tully Blanchard, Gerald Brisco, John Cena, Ted DiBiase, Ric Flair, Terry Funk, Superstar Billy Graham, Mike Graham, Jimmy Hart, Bobby Heenan, Jerry Lawler, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Vince McMahon, Dick Murdock, Gene Okerland, Pat Patterson, Roddy Piper, Bruce Prichard, Harley Race, Dustin Rhodes, Ron Simmons and Hulk Hogan.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
The life story of Dusty Rhodes. Born the son of a plumber in Austin, Texas, he became one of the most beloved professional wrestlers in the world.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Dusty Rhodes, at one time, was one of the highest paid and most successful wrestlers in the world. Everywhere he went Rhodes rose to the top. Even when Dusty Rhodes was older, he was wanted as a writer and booker for promotions.
What I admire about Dusty is that he was able to figure out how to make each situation he was in work. Even when Vince McMahon gave Rhodes a silly persona and a polka-dot outfit, Rhodes was able to make the character a fan favorite.
Rhodes was king on a microphone. His “hard times” speech is considered a classic by wrestling fans. One of my favorite Rhodes’ quotes is: “I have wined and dined with kings and queens and I’ve slept in alleys and dined on pork and beans”.
The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story (2006) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“White Zombie” (1932) starring Bela Lugosi / Z-View
White Zombie (1932)
Director: Victor Halperin
Screenplay: Garnett Weston based on THE MAGIC ISLAND by William Seabrook
Stars: Bela Lugosi, Madge Bellamy, Robert Frazer, John Harron, Brandon Hurst, Clarence Muse and Frederick Peters.
Tagline: With These Zombie Eyes he rendered her powerless – With This Zombie Grip he made her perform his every desire!
The Plot…
Madeleine Short (Bellamy) and her fiancé Neil Parker (Harron) arrive in Haiti. They are guests of Charles Beaumont (Frazer) and staying on his huge plantation. Charles secretly loves Madeleine and wishes she would marry him. Desperate to have Madeline, Charles visits ‘Murder’ Legendre (Lugosi).
Murder is the owner of a huge plantation. Everyone knows that Murder’s plantation is worked by Haitian zombie slaves. Murder has the ability to turn people into mindless beings that follow his every command. Charles wants Madeleine to love him. He believes Murder can make this happen.
Murder agrees to help. But the truth is he has other plans for Madeleine.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
White Zombie was filmed in less than two weeks on a budget of $50,000.00. Reportedly up to 10% of the budget was Lugosi’s salary.
White Zombie was one of Bela Lugosi’s favorites of the films he made.
Beware of poor copies since the film went into public domain in 1960.
White Zombie (1932) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Tarzan and the She-Devil” (1953) starring Lex Barker, Joyce MacKenzie & Raymond Burr / Z-View
Tarzan and the She-Devil (1953)
Director: Kurt Neumann
Screenplay: Karl Kamb, Carroll Young; based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Stars: Lex Barker, Joyce Mackenzie, Raymond Burr, Monique van Vooren, Tom Conway, Michael Granger, Fred Aldrich, Ben Astar, Ben Astar, George Barrows, Robert Bice, Mara Corday and Henry Brandon.
Tagline: TARZAN FACES HIS GREATEST PERIL!… when he clashes with the ruthless, alluring Queen of the Ivory Thieves… in the BEST of all the Tarzans!
The Plot…
Vargo (Burr) convinces Lyra, the She-Devil (van Vooren) to take her “soldiers” and join him on an expedition to kill a large herd of elephants for their tusks. Vargo isn’t worried about Tarzan.
But he should be.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The fifth and final Tarzan film starring Lex Barker.
I wish the movie was a nice as the poster.
Tarzan and the She-Devil (1953) rates 2 of 5 stars.
RIP: Ron Ely
Yesterday it was announced that Ron Ely died of natural causes on on September 29, 2024, at the age of 86.
Mr. Ely was best known for his role as Tarzan on the NBC series of the same name. The series ran for 57 episodes over the course of two seasons. Mr. Ely performed most of his stunts throughout the series and suffered multiple injuries.
Prior to Tarzan, Ron Ely appeared in supporting feature film roles and guest spots on television series. After the series ended Mr. Ely continued acting on television and feature films for the rest of his career. Although Ron Ely retired from acting in 2001, he came back to appear in the television movie Expecting Amish in 2014.
Ron Ely also authored two excellent detective novels, NIGHT SHADOWS and EAST BEACH.
Television projects that feature Ron Ely include: Father Knows Best; Steve Canyon; Playhouse 90; How to Marry a Millionaire; The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis; The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp; The Aquanauts (18 episodes); Thriller; Tarzan (57 episodes); The Courtship of Eddie’s Father; Ironside; Marcus Welby, MD; Wonder Woman; Face the Music; The Love Boat (3 episodes); Matt Houston; Hotel; Fantasy Island (5 episodes); Blacke’s Magic; Sea Hunt (22 episodes); Superboy; The Hat Squad; LA Law; Hawkeye; Renegade (2 episodes); Sheena and Expecting Amish.
Feature films that Ron Ely appeared in include: South Pacific; The Fiend Who Walked the West; Night of the Grizzly and Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze.
I probably first saw Ron Ely in Tarzan. I loved that Mr. Ely’s Tarzan was not only physical but also intelligent. I have great memories of watching the series with my grandfather. Then going out to play Tarzan with my other friends. After the series ended I enjoyed seeing Mr. Ely in television roles and movies.
Mr. Ely was also an excellent writer. I own his two detective novels and always hoped there would be more.
Out thoughts and prayers go out to Rob Ely’s family, friends and fans.
Cowboy Sheriff / Clint Eastwood by Paul Gulacy!
Paul Gulacy is best known for his work on Master of Kung Fu with Doug Moench. It was the series that kept me in comics when I hit the age where girls and sports became more important. But today we’re not looking at Shang Chi. Instead we have a Gulacy painting of a cowboy sheriff (Clint Eastwood?).
“The Eichmann Trial” (2023) directed by Elliott Levitt / Z-View
The Eichmann Trial (2023)
Director: Elliot Levitt
The Plot…
Fifteen years after the end of World War II, Nazi Adolf Eichmann was captured where he was living in Argentina. Eichmann was then transported to Jerusalem to stand trial. Eichmann was charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes against the Jewish people, and membership in a criminal organization.
The trial lasted 56 days and garnered world-wide coverage. Over 100 witnesses were called. There were thousands of pages of documents. Eichmann admitted that he didn’t like Jews and viewed them as the enemy. Eichmann further admitted he made the statement: “I will leap into my grave laughing because the feeling that I have five million human beings on my conscience is for me a source of extraordinary satisfaction.” Eichmann claimed his statement was about the Soviets. Eichmann’s defense was that he hadn’t personally killed anyone and he was just following orders.
Eichmann was found guilty on 15 counts of crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes against the Jews, Poles, Slovenes, and Roma, and membership in three criminal organizations (the Gestapo, the SD, and the SS). The judges ruled that Eichmann had not simply been following orders but had been a Nazi true-believer and one of the key principals in genocide. Eichmann was sentenced to death by hanging.
Appeals for clemency were heard by the Israeli Supreme Court and Israeli President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi to no avail. Adolf Eichmann was executed by hanging on June 1, 1962.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Eichmann Trial is an excellent documentary. Kudos for director Elliott Levitt for his use of trial, news and other vintage footage to not only cover the trial but to place its importance in a historical context.
The Eichmann Trial (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“Man on Fire” (2004) written by Brian Helgeland, directed by Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning & Christopher Walken / Z-View
Man on Fire (2004)
Director: Tony Scott
Screenplay: Brian Helgeland based on MAN ON FIRE by A. J. Quinnell
Stars: Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell, Marc Anthony, Giancarlo Giannini, Rachel Ticotin, Jesús Ochoa and Mickey Rourke.
Tagline: You don’t need a saint… You need a savior.
The Plot…
Ex-CIA operative John Creasey (Washington) is in a bad way. He’s burnt out, out of shape and drinks too much. Creasey’s guilt over past missions makes him question living. Then an old CIA buddy, Paul Rayburn (Walken) throws Creasey a lifeline.
Samuel Ramos (Anthony), a wealthy Mexican, needs protection for his young daughter Pita (Fanning). Kidnappings in Mexico are on the rise. Ramos’ insurance policy requires a full time bodyguard. Creasey is reluctant to take the job, but needs the work. Initially cold and professional to Pita, she slowly wins him over. Creasey stops drinking as much. His attitude towards life improves.
Then the unthinkable happens.
As two crooked Mexican Federales block the street kidnappers come for Pita. Creasey kills four but is shot repeatedly as Pita is kidnapped. Negotiations for Pita’s return go on as Creasey recovers. Ten million dollars is the demand for Pita’s return. When the ransom drop goes sideways, the money is taken, but Pita isn’t returned.
The family gets a call from the kidnappers. Because of the ambush, Pita will be lost forever.
Still not fully recovered, Creasey promises to kill everyone involved in Pita’s kidnapping.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Screenwriter Brian “LA Confidential” Helgeland was in a video store. He asked the clerk to recommend a good movie. “Man on Fire” (1987) was suggested. The clerk who suggested the film was Quentin Tarantino.
For filming in Mexico, bodyguards were provided for the stars. Tony Scott had been warned his production had been targeted. Several crew members ended up being robbed at gunpoint. Mexico City’s Chief of Police served as a consultant. It was his hope the movie would raise awareness about the rash of kidnappings.
The novel takes place in Italy, but when this version was being made, Mexico had become infamous for kidnappings. So the location was changed.
If you enjoy noir, then Man on Fire is for you.
Dakota Fanning is amazing in this role. Watching her and Denzel Washington in their scenes is like viewing a masterclass of acting.
Christopher Walken has a great line when he says about Denzel’s character: “A man can be an artist… in anything, food, whatever. It depends on how good he is at it. Creasy’s art is death. He’s about to paint his masterpiece.”
Man on Fire (2004) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald” (1964) / Z-View
The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (1964)
Director: Larry Buchanan
Screenplay: Larry Buchanan
Stars: George R. Russell, George Edgley, Arthur Nations and Bill Thurman.
Tagline: Not a Newsreel…A Full Length Motion Picture, Filmed Secretly in Dallas
The Plot…
This low budget film simulates/speculates how the trial of Lee Harvey Oswald would have went down had he not been murdered.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
With a running time of 98 minutes we get an abridgement of the “Cliff Notes” version of the trial.
It’s hard to believe that the trial for the murder of the century could be so boring.
The actors who appeared in this film didn’t go on to become big stars. Bill Thurman appears as a witness. The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald is the first credit on his resume. Thurman would go on to appear in films such as The Last Picture Show; The Sugarland Express; Close Encounters of the Third Kind; Places in the Heart and Silverado.
The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (1964) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“The Bride of Frankenstein” by Bruce Timm!
The Bride by the amazing Bruce Timm.
“Love Lies Bleeding” (2024) directed by Rose Glass, starring Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian & Ed Harris / Z-View
Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
Director: Rose Glass
Screenplay: Rose Glass, Weronika Tofilska
Stars: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Ed Harris, Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, Matthew Blood-Smyth, Tait Fletcher and Keith Jardine.
Tagline: Revenge gets ripped.
The Plot…
Lou’s (Stewart) life sucks.
Lou and her dad, Lou Sr. (Harris) don’t talk. He’s a major drug dealer and a killer. Lou Sr. appears to be a business man that owns a gun range and a warehouse gym. They’re just fronts. Lou manages the gym. FBI agents have tried to get Lou to turn against her dad. As much as she hates him, Lou refuses to cooperate. The only reason Lou sticks around is her sister Beth. Beth’s in a terrible marriage. Her husband is physically and mentally abusive.
So yeah, Lou’s life sucks.
Then one night Jackie (O’Brient) comes into the gym. Jackie is a bodybuilder on her way to Vegas for a competition. Lou and Jackie hit it off. One thing leads to another and Lou invites Jackie to stay at her place. In no time, Lou and Jackie fall in love… or at least a volatile relationship.
Who would guess it would lead to murder and reveal her father’s buried secrets?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Katy O’Brien used to be a competitive body builder and is a former three time champion. She exudes charisma.
There are a couple of times where what we see on screen isn’t actually happening but is instead a metaphor for changes the character is feeling. It’s a bold move.
Love Lies Bleeding (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Variety Picks the 100 Greatest (Best?) Horror Movies of All-Time!
Variety came up with their list of The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time. Before we get into that, how about the sweet cover by Franco Francavilla? You know he loved that assignment.
I’ve seen 69 of the 100 films that they chose.
The cover says Variety chose the 100 Greatest, while the article says the 100 Best. To me there’s a difference. The greatest, in my mind, refers to the film’s quality and the impact it had on the genre. The best would take into account, just the film’s quality. With that said, here in alphabetical order are my top ten choices for the greatest horror movies of all time.
- 28 Days Later (2002) – reinvigorated zombie films (although many argue the monsters aren’t zombies) and let them run fast.
- Alien (1979) – a haunted house movie in space, but instead of a ghost we got a new kind of alien. Spawned a franchise.
- Dracula (1931) – one of Universal’s classic horror monsters.
- Exorcist (1973) – based on the best selling novel of the same name. The Exorcist is a film that will stay with you and provide scares even when the film is over.
- Frankenstein (1931) – another of Universal’s classic horror monsters.
- Halloween (1978) – John Carpenter’s low budget film spawned a new type of horror film. Most focused not on the suspense but on the big, brainless killer that cannot be stopped.
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) – One of the best horror films from the 1950s and an all-time great.
- Night of the Living Dead (1968) – If George Romero made a dime from every zombie movie, tv, comic book, or novel his film influenced, he’d have been a multi-millionaire.
- Psycho (1960) – Groundbreaking. I love how Hitchcock morphs a crime movie into a horror film.
- Thing, The (1981) – Considered a box office failure on its release, it is now considered a classic.
“‘Salem’s Lot” (2024) written & directed by Gary Dauberman / Z-View
‘Salem’s Lot (2024)
Director: Gary Dauberman
Screenplay: Gary Dauberman; based on ‘SALEM’S LOT by Stephen King
Stars: Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Jordan Preston Carter, Alfre Woodard, Bill Camp, John Benjamin Hickey, Nicholas Crovetti, Spencer Treat Clark, Alexander Ward, Danielle Perry, Debra Christofferson, William Sadler, Timothy John Smith, Cade Woodward, Joseph Marrella and Pilou Asbæk.
Tagline: Be careful what you invite inside.
The Plot…
R.T. Straker (Asbæk), a mysterious foreign man, recently moved to Jerusalem’s Lot. Straker bought the infamous, old Marston house. No one lived there for years because of the murders. Since Straker arrived strange things have been set in motion.
On the way home from school Ralphie Glick (Woodward) disappears. Search parties find no clues. Soon others will disappear or die with no logical explanation. But how could one logically explain a vampire is preying on those in ‘Salem’s Lot?
A writer named Ben (Pullman), his girlfriend Susan (Leigh), Dr. Cody (Woodward) and eleven year old Mark Petrie (Carter) come to realize they are facing a vampire. The infestation is spreading. What chance do they have?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
This is the fourth adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. Tobe Hooper directed the 1979 Salem’s Lot mini-series. Larry Cohen helmed the 1987 theatrical release A Return to Salem’s Lot. A new Salem’s Lot mini-series aired in 2004 and starred Rob Lowe.
I liked this version, but feel that it might have been better served as a mini-series. Writer/director Gary Dauberman has a great feel for the material. There were several interesting/iconic scenes and shots but overall the story felt rushed. We needed a slow burn/discovery of exactly what was going on in ‘Salem’s Lot. I wanted to see more.
Kudos for coming up with the tree house scene.
If there is ever an extended cut for ‘Salem’s Lot, I’m there.
‘Salem’s Lot (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
