Nick Kolakowski’s UNTIL THE END: 11 Stories of Terror and Wonder (Tales from the Underside)!

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Nick Kolakowski’s Until the End features eleven stories of terror and wonder.  Here’s the synopsis…

A woman moves her family into a house full of spirits… but who’s really haunting who? In the depths of an icy planet, a bored A.I. plots its escape… and it’s willing to kill anyone who stands in its way. The dead return for one big evening, all with their own secret missions.

These are just a few of the 11 tales in Until the End, an anthology of terror and wonder designed to keep you awake well into the night.

If this sounds like your jam, you know what to do.

“Horses” – The College Film Project of Sly Stallone & John Herzfeld!

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When Sly Stallone was in college, he and his buddy, John Herzfeld worked on a project together called Horses.  It was a film that involved time travel.  Sadly it was never completed.  Here is a photo from the project that I cleaned up a bit.  Sly and Herzfeld stayed lifelong friends and both went on to careers in Hollywood.  They worked together on the feature films Reach Me and Escape Plan: The Extractors.

“Wee Wee Monsieur” (1938) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Wee Wee Monsieur (1938)

Director:  Del Lord

Writer:  Searle Kramer

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Vernon Dent, William Irving, Bud Jamison, Ethelreda Leopold and John Rand.

Tagline:   None.

The Plot…

Larry, Curly and Moe are artists living in Paris.  When the landlord calls the police to collect overdue rent, our guys take off.  On the lam, the boys accidently sign up for the French Foreign Legion!

When their Captain is captured, Larry, Curly and Moe are sent to infiltrate the fortress.  They are to find and escape with the Captain.  If they fail, it means certain death.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Stooges gain entry into the fort by disguising as Santa Claus.  They would repeat this gag in Malice in the Palace (1949) with Shemp replacing Curly.  Since they are disguised as Santas, they were able to use some of the same footage!

Wee Wee Monsieur (1938) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Slippery Silks” (1936) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Slippery Silks (1936)

Director:  Jack White

Writer:  Ewart Adamson

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Loretta Andrews, Symona Boniface, Vernon Dent and William Irving.

Tagline:   None.

The Plot…

Larry, Curly and Moe are carpenters who accidently destroy a priceless antique cabinet.  The owner of the antique vows revenge.  Once away from the danger, our guys learn that they’ve inherited a designer dress boutique.  Our guys as fashion designers?  Why not?

They are hired to put on a fashion show by a rich woman.  During the event they realize that the woman’s husband is the man who owned the priceless antique that they destroyed!  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Slipper Silks features the Stooges’ first pie/pastry fight.  Actually one pie is thrown and the rest are cream puffs.

When the owner of the priceless cabinet asks, “Are you sure this work will be in competent hands?” Curly responds, “Soitenly, we’re all incompetent.”

Slippery Silks (1936) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Sly Stallone as Jack Carter by Brian Shearer!

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Brian Shearer is a professional artist/illustrator.  He is best known for his art on titles such as G.I. Joe, Transformers, Dr. Who as well as his creator-owned graphic novels, Gunship Thunderpunch and William the Last. When I saw that Brian was doing live-stream sketch sessions, I jumped on board and got his awesome take as Sly Stallone as Jack Carter.  You can see more of Brian’s art at his website or his Twitter posts.

“A Pain in the Pullman” (1936) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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A Pain in the Pullman (1936)

Director:  Jack White

Writer:  Jack White

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Phyllis Crane, Bud Jamison, Ethelreda Leopold and James C. Morton.

Tagline:   None.

The Plot…

Larry, Curly and Moe are small time performers who get a job that requires them to travel by train with their pet monkey.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

A Pain in the Pullman is the longest Stooges’ short.  It clocks in at 19 minutes, 46 seconds.

Moe gets to say his classic: “Wake up and go to sleep!”

Moe was allergic and disliked shellfish.  He’s not acting and his aversion becomes evident in the scene where the boys are eating crab.  And how about Curly pulling the meat out and then eating the shell!

A Pain in the Pullman (1936) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Sharky’s Machine” Directed by /Starring Burt Reynolds – Check Out This Cool Mini-Documentary!

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Sharky’s Machine is an under-rated gem.  Starring and directed by Burt Reynolds, it features an amazing cast and soundtrack.  Check out this documentary and then (re)watch the film.  You can thank me later.  ; )

Gator McKlusky examines the 1982 film “Sharky’s Machine” with a focus on the amazing career of Burt Reynolds. Taken from the documentary “The Burt Reynolds Story” available on this channel. Be sure and check out the other segments and chapters for this in-depth series, documented in the unique way that has helped make this a fan favorite.

Written by Al Glasgow & Craig Cefola
Video by Craig Cefola
Open Music by Wheelhouse Junction
Ending Music by New Messiah

“Pardon My Scotch” (1935) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Pardon My Scotch (1935)

Director:  Del Lord

Writer:  Andrew Bennison

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, James C. Morton, Symona Boniface, Alec Craig and Billy Gilbert.

Tagline:   They’ll KILTIE you with laughter!

The Plot…

Larry, Curly and Moe are carpenters working on a drugstore project.  When the owner (who sells bootleg hooch) has to leave, he puts our boys in charge.  That’s when a customer asks for a “prescription” drink.  Our guys go in the back and mix up a cocktail that knocks the man for a loop… and he loves it!  The man hires the boys to provide their “Breath of Heather” for a big party at his boss’ house.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There’s a scene where a table Moe is standing on is cut in half. Moe crashes to the ground and actually broke his ribs. To Moe’s credit he finished the scene and then collapsed in pain.  He was rushed to the hospital.  The scene we see is what actually happened.

Pardon My Scotch features a Stooge classic. Moe facing Curly says, “Point to your right”.  Moe and Curly point in opposite directions.  Curly also briefly recreates the “dancing bread” bit made famous by Charlie Chaplin.

Pardon My Scotch (1935) rates 4 of 5 stars.

The All-Time Best Horror Franchises!

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/Film recently posted Bee Delores’ list of The 15 Best Horror Franchises, Ranked.  So I thought I’d play along.  Before you click over to see Delores’ rationale, here are how our rankings stacked up.  Also, I would have found spots on my list for Dracula, Frankenstein and The Creature From the Black Lagoon.

Delores

Zablo
15. Hannibal Lecter 15. Child’s Play
14. Saw 14. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
13. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 13. A Nightmare on Elm Street
12. A Nightmare on Elm Street 12. Paranormal Activity
11. Halloween 11. Friday the 13th
10. Paranormal Activity 10. The Evil Dead
9. Alien 9. Final Destination
8. Friday the 13th 8. Scream
7. Psycho 7. Saw
6. The Conjuring 6. The Conjuring
5. Final Destination 5. Psycho
4. The Living Dead 4. Hannibal Lecter
3. Child’s Play 3. Halloween
2. The Evil Dead 2. Alien
1. Scream 1. The Living Dead

“Easy Street” (1917) starring Charlie Chaplin / Z-View

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Easy Street (1917)

Director:  Charles Chaplin

Writer:  Charles Chaplin, Vincent Bryan, Maverick Terrell

Stars: Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell, Albert Austin, Lloyd Bacon and Henry Bergman 

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

When a tramp (Chaplin) meets a mission worker, he is inspired to get a job and win her over.  The only job that he can find is as a policeman on Easy Street.  The folks living on Easy Street are terrorized by a huge bully.  He beats and robs at will.  The police that have been sent in before have had no luck in bringing him in.  What chance does the little tramp have against a giant?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The scene with Chaplin using a street lamp to fight the bully is inspired.

Easy Street (1917) rates 3 of 5 stars.