AL FELDSTEIN (1925 - 2014)

AS MOST EVERYONE KNOWS BY NOW, THE GREAT ARTIST, WRITER AND EDITOR OF E.C. COMICS RECENTLY DIED. 

There were perhaps more flashy, superstar artists of E.C.'s classic "New Trend" era in the 1950's but Al Feldstein was the backbone of the line and the bedrock on which it's legacy stands to this day.  Often described as spiky and difficult to work with by his comic-book colleagues, Feldstein was just the opposite when it came to his fans.  Al Feldstein first met William Gaines when the latter was taking over E.C. Comics after the death of his father.  At first, Gaines leapt onto hot trends such as teenage (a la ARCHIE) comics until Al suggested they lead with something different rather than follow the pack.  On one of their many trips to the roller derby, Feldstein mentioned how he loved the old radio horror programmes when he was a boy:  INNER SANCTUM, LIGHTS OUT and THE WITCH'S TALE among others.  Wouldn't it be a good idea to bring that to comics? 

Gaines was a little tentative at first and tried out the idea in already existing comics:  "THE CRYPT OF TERROR" began as a one-story feature in E.C.'s "CRIME PATROL", "THE VAULT OF HORROR" auditioned in "WAR AGAINST CRIME" and "THE HAUNT OF FEAR" tried out in "CRIME SUSPENSTORIES".  The horror stories became so popular that they branched out into three titles of their own (the former morphing into "TALES FROM THE CRYPT").  The "New Trend" titles also included such now-legendary titles as the sci-fi "WEIRD SCIENCE" and "WEIRD FANTASY" and the crime-thrillers "CRIME SUSPENSETORIES" and "SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES".  All of the most famous E.C. titles were co-created and usually written (or at least plotted) by Al Feldstein.  Into this mix was also added the irreverent satirical humor comics "PANIC" and "MAD"; the latter would change to a full-size B&W magazine once the Congress and the Comics Code Authority had crushed the life out of E.C.'s horror and "New Trend" line-up of titles. 

While Harvey Kurtzman for years got the sole credit for making "MAD" into the cultural icon it became, his association with the title was brief -- ending in 1956.  Al Feldstein, however, was the editor of MAD MAGAZINE for decades until his retirement in 1984.  Al retired to a life of painting western and nature art in Montana as well as becoming an elder statesman of the comic book world and appearing occasionally at conventions.  Al Feldstein writing for those classic E.C. comics is unparalleled but his superb artwork was also the equal of any of the legendary artists for which the comic book company became famous.  I thought I'd include just some of my favourite E.C. covers by the late, great Al Feldstein.

 

 

 

      

DOCTOR WHO: THE WEB OF FEAR

IT WAS WITH JOYOUS PIPING OF THE DOCTOR'S RECORDER THAT THE WORLD GREETED THE REDISCOVERY OF (ALMOST) TWO LOST DOCTOR WHO STORIES LAST FALL. 

 

I resisted the urge to download "THE WEB OF FEAR" and "ENEMY OF THE WORLD" at the time but waited until the DVD release. . . and now finally I've just now watched "THE WEB OF FEAR".  While the story still lacks episode three, it is still one of the biggest DOCTOR WHO finds in the past quarter century.  "ENEMY OF THE WORLD" is the first full lost story rediscovered since 1992 but, while a priceless find, it still pales in my mind compared to the restoration of most of "THE WEB OF FEAR" to us.  Previously, all we had of the story was episode one and, since the very first time I saw it over a decade ago, "THE WEB OF FEAR" has been one story which I always dreamed most of seeing in its entirety.  The first episode has been one of my favourite Troughton episodes all this time.  So, it was with particular joy and fandango-dancing that I learned of it's (almost total) rediscovery.  Now, as wonderful as all this is, it still leaves one open to a very real danger; such skyrocketing expectations usually result in an inevitable disappointment.  How can something built up so much in one's mind ever measure up?  While I never harboured delusions that the story would be some sort of lost masterpiece, I had always hoped that it would be as good as the first episode was.  So, it was with a sense of realistic optimism that I sat down to view this lost story.  And happily, I can honestly say it is one terrific fun-fest!

 

"THE WEB OF FEAR" is the sequel to the Yeti's first appearance in "THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMEN" the year before.  The first episode (which we've always had) finds the Doctor (Patrick Troughton), Jamie (Frazer Hines) and Victoria (Deborah Watling) landing in contemporary (circa 1968) London after the TARDIS was temporarily stranded in space and covered in thick cobwebs.

  They find themselves in a strangely deserted London underground which is crawling with Yeti.  All of London has been evacuated and a small military group is bivouacked inside the underground trying to come up with some way to combat the seemingly-impervious furballs who are being controlled by the Great Intelligence (from the original story).  Also returning is Professor Travers (Jack Watling . . . yes relation) and his scientist-daughter Anne (Tina Packer); the Prof met the Yeti and the Doctor in Tibet 30 years earlier (in "THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMEN" storyline).  Travers got hold of the last surviving Yeti and a control sphere; he sold the robot to a museum which has had the Yeti on display ever since.  Sadly for London, Travers' tinkering with the control sphere reactivates the Yeti  and starts the whole mess up again.  The Doctor, the military (led by Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart) and the Travers meet up in the underground where they all become hemmed in by the Great Intelligence's web-fungus (the beloved Troughton-era foam machine) and try to think up ways to beat the foe. 

Between the dark and candlelit spooky museum and the dark and darker London underground, episode 1 was always a Hammer Horror-like tour de force with splendid camerawork and a good dose of the gothic creeps.  The rediscovery of all but episode 3 shows off the splendid direction of Dougie Camfield which remains at a very high standard throughout.  The lighting, for once, is kept very dark but still light enough to see everything that's going on.  Most of the six episodes take place solely in the London Underground with only a brief foray topside for a street battle between the Yeti and the military; this sequence gives the Yeti the same opportunity the Daleks and Cybermen had to trod the streets of London (but without visiting the monuments).  Camfield, as usual, provides an action-packed battle sequence which is top notch.  The pace throughout all six episodes never flags for a second and there seems to be no evident padding despite the story's length.  Sadly, the only episode still lost is the third which has been the "holy grail" of DOCTOR WHO fans because it features the very first appearance of Nicholas Courtney as Lethbridge-Stewart the future Brigadier.  Episode 3 on the DVD features the audio paired with still photographs as a reconstruction.  Now, many of these reconstructions can be torture to sit through but this one somehow is quite good as these things go.  Naturally, I'd much rather have the original episode but this reconstruction is passable and not painful at all.  

One of the most revealing things about the rediscovery of these episodes is just what a fantastic companion Anne Travers (Tina Packer) would've been.  If I remember correctly, she was at least briefly considered for just such an outcome.  Oh, if only the Doctor and Jamie had grabbed Anne Travers and pulled her into the TARDIS while accidentally-on-purpose leaving Victoria behind with the Professor!  Victoria was always a rubbish character (through no fault of Deborah Watling) who did little but cringe and scream and whine a lot; this was the way she was written and there's not much Watling could do with the character under those circumstances.  Victoria is actually the stereotype of what the general public thinks a DOCTOR WHO companion is like.  Anne, on the other hand, would've made the perfect companion; as played by Tina Packer she's a brilliant scientist as well as demonstrably brave and built for action scenes.  She's a Liz Shaw about 2 years early.  Of course, the makers of DOCTOR WHO didn't know how to handle Liz Shaw's character so they probably would've been just as at sea with Anne Travers.  Funny how they never seemed to have trouble creating a very capable woman character when she was a guest star but not when she was a recurring character -- although they did get it right with Zoe soon enough.  Alas, for us and for Anne Travers, however, it wasn't to be.  

 

"THE WEB OF FEAR", while not great art, is a great six-episode thrill ride with robot Yeti firing web guns in a London Underground flooded with fungus (soap suds) in a classic example of the tried-and-true DOCTOR WHO base-under-siege story.  And I, for one, am extremely thrilled that it now exists once again for all of us to view from behind the sofa. 

 

DR. SHOCKER'S VAULT OF HORROR

NO INDEED . . . BELIEVE IT OR DON'T BUT I'M NOT ACTUALLY DEAD . . . . JUST UNDEAD. 

We undead tend to move a little slow therefore the activity on this blog has been a little sparse so far this year.  Will I be able to rectify that?  I don't know as yet but this is my first shot across the bow:  the new(ish) DVD from LOST's Daniel Roebuck (you've got a little Arznt on ya) and JOHN DIES AT THE END's Chuck Williams. 

Already nominated for a Rondo Award (see the "Vote in this year's Rondo Awards" link down there on the right hand column to vote now), DR. SHOCKER'S VAULT OF HORROR is something of a follow-up to their 10th anniversary DVD "HALLOWEEN:  THE HAPPY HAUNTING OF AMERICA" double disc extravaganza.  This new DVD is more of the same; a trick-or-treat bag stuffed full of treats which focus mainly on horror collecting.  Roebuck once again hosts as Dr. Shocker; his loving tribute to the late great TV horror host Dr. Shock (Joe Zawislak) whom he watched (as did I) on Philadelphia's Channel 17 ("The Great Entertainer" and purveyor of today's "Antenna TV" network).  Chuck Williams returns as the dim-witted Igor. 

While I didn't have the DVD in time for last year's Halloween festivities, I surely plan to re-watch it when October rolls around because, like so many other great Halloweenie-themed DVDs of recent years (HALLOWEEN:  THE HAPPY HAUNTING OF AMERICA, THE WITCH'S DUNGEON, THE COMPLETE BOB WILKINS CREATURE FEATURES, GROTESQUERIES and the re-released THE ZACHERLEY ARCHIVES and HORRIBLE HORROR:  THE SPECIAL EDITION).  In fact, there's a gloriously growing pile of Halloween-themed DVDs which celebrate the season and I couldn't be more pleased about it.  It was such a DVD (Something Weird's MONSTERS CRASH THE PAJAMA PARTY) which, in fact, decided me on buying my first DVD player back in 2000!  But back to Dr. Shocker . . .

Roebuck and Williams (as the Doc and Igor) provide a short comedy introduction on a horror set which fans of the original Dr. Shock will instantly recognize as very similar to his 1970s MAD THEATER and HORROR THEATER set.  As seen in the picture above, there is the painted-stonework wall behind with a framed painting of Dr. Shocker while in front of the pair of ghouls is a long counter -- all this instantly calls back my youthful viewing of Dr. Shock.  Then we go into the meat of the DVD:  a 45 minute-or-so documentary called MONSTERMANIACS celebrating the "Monster Kid" generation who grew up watching classic (and not so classic) monster movies on TV when the "Shock Theater" package was released to TV horror hosts like Zacherley and Vampira. 

This love of horror grew into an adult mania for collecting all those vintage horror collectibles which they couldn't afford when they were kids.  A rather heartfelt autobiographical piece by Roebuck himself introduces a host of other like-minded horror collectors as well as such luminaries as director Guillermo del Toro and Rob Zombie. 

This documentary is narrated by fellow LOSTie Jorge Garcia and, as I said, focuses strongly on the iconic magazine FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND as well as the much-loved and rather shady CAPTAIN COMPANY ads which always featured in the back pages of the mag hawking scads of horror merchandise. 

We get to see in the DVD not only the ads but also the actual collectibles such as the classic BIG FRANKIE,

the beautiful Aurora monster model kits,

the 8" bendable monster figures,

the rather affordable Topstone monster masks

and the outrageously unaffordable (to a kid back then) but mesmerizingly-fantastic Don Post monster masks. 

And much, much more.  After all, Roebuck himself curated his very own Forrest J. Ackerman-like monster collectible museum so he knows of what he raves. 

While the MONSTERMANIACS documentary only goes on for about three-quarters of an hour, there is a wealth of special features which bring the total viewing time to over two hours.  I actually wish many of the special features had been edited into the body of the documentary because they relate directly to the topics covered.  

Particularly I speak of short features on the Imagineering Inc. make-up kits which featured the well-remembered "Scar Stuf" and "Vampire Blood" (which was recalled when it was thought it made a group of children ill when it turns out they actually all had the flu!). 

Imagineering Inc. also made everything from those plastic vampire teeth to an early semi-make-up/semi-appliance kit called "THE FACE" which featured plastic appliances (much like what would become commonplace in movie-making a decade later) which you could apply to your face and then blend in with make-up to transform yourself into a werewolf or a skullface.

There is a live on stage presentation at a horror convention focusing about the Captain Company products hosted by Daniel Roebuck with a panel including Donald F. Glut (author of my beloved 70's horror comic book THE OCCULT FILES OF DR. SPEKTOR) as well as Don Post Jr.  There is also a live on stage comedy production which itself has been nominated for a Rondo Award:  FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN - THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE"! 

Introduced by Bela Lugosi Jr. and Ron Chaney, the comedy skit features a parody of presidential debates with candidate the Frankenstein's Monster going against the Wolf Man (Roebuck in full makeup) and it's genuinely funny for once!  Next we have Roebuck and Williams hitting the road for "A PARANORMAL TOUR OF HAUNTED HOLLYWOOD" and then a tour of the Arizona Gillman's impressive horror collection centering around, of course, THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON.  A funny gag reel as well as a 3-D photo gallery of Roebuck's horror museum

(3-D glasses are included in the DVD case as well as a membership card to the Dr. Shocker fan club and an autographed (by you) photo.  Rounding out the festivities is a superb short film perfect for Halloween viewing:  Sky Soleil's "HOW MY DAD KILLED DRACULA" starring (naturally) Daniel Roebuck in a truly wonderful short film which would make a perfect Halloween double-feature with FLIP. 

As you might have guessed, DR. SHOCKER'S VAULT OF HORROR is a whole lot of fun for anyone who loves horror and Halloween.  The dvd itself took five years to make relying on donations from horror fans themselves and the love and care really shows in this terrific celebration of the monsters we all love.  You really should check it out.

THE 2013 PENGUIN AWARD WINNERS

WAIT NO MORE, SLAVERING MUSIC HOUNDS . . . THE WINNERS ARE CROWNED.

 

 

SONG OF THE YEAR

 

GOLD ON THE CEILING  -  THE BLACK KEYS

 

 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

III  -  CHICKENFOOT

 

 

COVER SONG OF THE YEAR (It's a tie!)

 

 

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN  -  HEART

and

 

CRAZY  -  PETULA CLARK

 

 

DUET OF THE YEAR

 

 

GET LUCKY  -  DAFT PUNK & PHARRELL WILLIAMS

 

 

BEST COVER ART

 

 

THE 2ND LAW  -  MUSE

 

 

 

You may watch the winners in the videos posted below -- for as long as they last, that is.

The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling (Official Music Video)

Chickenfoot - "Something Going Wrong" Official Music Video

HEART - STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN in HD - The Kennedy Center Honors LED ZEPPELI...

Petula Clark * Crazy

Daft Punk - Get Lucky (Full Video)

THE BUTCHER'S BILL 2013

EVERY DECEMBER, AS THE YEAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE, IT IS MY SAD DUTY TO LIST THE NOTABLES WHO LEFT US THIS YEAR. 

Take a moment to read the names and remember.

• PATTI PAGE, singer  "Tennessee Waltz", "Doggie in the Window"
• CHARLES CHILTON,  BBC radio writer/producer/presenter "Journey Into Space"
• SAMMY JOHNS, singer  "Chevy Van"
• NED WERTIMER, actor  "The Jeffersons"
• MARIANGELA MELATO, actress  "Swept Away", "Flash Gordon"
• NAGISA OSHIMA, director  "In the Realm of the Senses"
• CONRAD BAIN, actor  "Maude", "Diff'rent Strokes"
• PAULINE PHILLIPS, columnist  "Dear Abby"
• MICHAEL WINNER, director  "Burke and Hare", "Death Wish"
• SALLY STARR, TV host
• RALPH COLLIER, radio host  "Collier at Large"
• BERNARD HORSFALL, actor  "Dr. Who: The War Games", "Dr. Who: The Deadly Assassin"
• LEROY "SUGARFOOT" BONNER, singer  "Ohio Players"
• PATTY ANDREWS, singer  "The Andrews Sisters"
• ED KOCH, politician  "Former Mayor of New York"
• JOHN KERR, actor  "Pit and the Pendulum", "South Pacific"
• REG PRESLEY, singer  "The Troggs"
• TONY SHERIDAN, singer  "My Bonnie"
• RICHARD BRIERS, actor  "The Good Life"
• ELSPET GRAY, actress  "Solo", "The Black Adder"
• OTIS "DAMON" HARRIS, singer  "The Temptations"
• DAN TOLER, guitarist  "Allman Brothers Band"
• C. EVERETT KOOP, former U.S. Surgeon General
• RICHARD STREET, singer  "The Temptations"
• ADAM STRANGE, director
• VAN CLIBURN, pianist
• RAY CUSICK, designer  "Doctor Who", "The Daleks"
• BONNIE FRANKLIN, actress  "One Day at a Time"
• BOBBY ROGERS, singer  "The Miracles"
• ALVIN LEE, guitarist  "Ten Years After"
• DEL TENNEY, director  "I Eat Your Skin",  "Horror at Party Beach"
• CLAUDE KING, singer  "Wolverton Mountain"
• CLIVE BURR, drummer  "Iron Maiden"
• MALACHI THRONE, actor  "Star Trek"
• BOBBY SMITH, singer  "The Spinners"
• FRANK THORNTON, actor  "Are You Being Served?"
• JAMES HERBERT, author  "The Rats"
• RISE STEVENS, soprano
• RICK HAUTALA, author  "Night Stone", "The Mountain King"
• CHINUA ACHEBE, author  "Things Fall Apart"
• RICHARD GRIFFITHS, actor  "Harry Potter series", "Gormenghast"
• PHIL RAMONE, record producer
• BOB CLARKE, artist  "Mad Magazine"
• MILO O'SHEA, actor  "Theatre of Blood", "Barbarella"
• JESUS FRANCO, director  "Count Dracula", "Dracula vs. Frankenstein"
• ROGER EBERT, film critic
• CARMINE INFANTINO, artist  "The Flash", "Batman"
• BASIL COPPER, author  "Dark Things", "Necropolis"
• MARGARET THATCHER, politician  "Former British Prime Minister"
• ANNETTE FUNICELLO, actress/singer  "Beach Blanket Bingo"
• JONATHAN WINTERS, comedian
• SIR COLIN DAVIS, conductor
• RICHARD LEPARMENTIER, actor  "Star Wars"
• PAT SUMMERALL, TV sportscaster
• ALLAN ARBUS, actor  "M*A*S*H*", "Coffy"
• RICHIE HAVENS, singer
• GEORGE JONES, singer  "He Stopped Loving Her Today"
• DEANNA DURBIN, singer/actress
• RAY HARRYHAUSEN, filmmaker/special effects  "Jason and the Argonauts"
• BRYAN FORBES, actor/director  "League of Gentlemen", "The Stepford Wives"
• DR. JOYCE BROTHERS, psychologist/TV personality
• DICK TRICKLE, NASCAR driver
• ALAN O'DAY, singer/songwriter  "Undercover Angel"
• RAY MANZAREK, musician  "The Doors"
• STEVE FORREST, actor  "S.W.A.T."
• MARVIN JUNIOR, singer  "The Dells"
• JEAN STAPLETON, actress  "All In the Family"
• MANDAWUY YUNUPINGU, singer  "Yothu Yindi"
• FRANK LAUTENBERG, New Jersey Senator
• DEACON JONES, football player  "Los Angeles Rams"
• JOEY COVINGTON, drummer  "Jefferson Airplane"
• ESTHER WILLIAMS, actress  "Neptune's Daughter", "Bathing Beauty"
• MAXINE STUART, actress  "Twilight Zone - Eye of the Beholder"
• RICHARD RAMIREZ, serial killer
• HARRY LEWIS, actor  "Key Largo", "Gun Crazy"
• IAIN BANKS, author  "The Wasp Factory"
• SLIM WHITMAN, singer  "Indian Love Call"
• KIM THOMPSON, editor/publisher  "Fantagraphics", "The Comics Journal"
• JAMES GANDOLFINI, actor  "The Sopranos", "In the Loop"
• MICHAEL BAIGENT, author  "Holy Blood, Holy Grail"
• ELLIOT REID, actor  "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", "CBS Radio Mystery Theater"
• GARY DAVID GOLDBERG, writer/producer  "Family Ties"
• RICHARD MATHESON, author  "The Shrinking Man", "I Am Legend", "Twilight Zone"
• BOBBY "BLUE" BLAND, singer
• ALAN MYERS, drummer  "Devo"
• LAU KAR-LEUNG, director  "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin"
• JIM KELLY, actor  "Enter the Dragon", "Black Belt Jones"
• BOB CARTER, TV horror host  "Sammy Terry"
• ANNA WING, actress  "EastEnders"
• ALAN WHICKER, TV host  "Whicker's World"
• MEL SMITH, actor/comedian  "Not the 9 O'clock News", "Brain Donors"
• HELEN THOMAS, journalist "White House press corps"
• J.J. CALE, songwriter/musician  "After Midnight", "Call Me the Breeze", "Cocaine"
• EILEEN BRENNAN, actress  "Private Benjamin", "Murder By Death"
• MICHAEL ANSARA, actor  "Star Trek"
• GEORGE DUKE, jazz musician
• JACK CLEMENT, singer/songwriter/producer  "Sun Records"
• KAREN BLACK, actress  "Trilogy of Terror"
• HAJI, actress  "Faster Pussycat!  Kill!  Kill!"
• EYDIE GORME, singer
• LOUIS KILLEN, folk singer
• AMY WALLACE, author  "The People's Almanac", "The Book of Lists"
• HENRY POLIC II, actor  "When Things Were Rotten", "Batman: The Animated Series"
• BERT LANCE, politician
• ELMORE LEONARD, author  "Jackie Brown", "3:10 To Yuma", "Get Shorty"
• MARIAN MCPARTLAND, jazz musician
• TED POST, director  "Hang 'Em High", "Magnum Force"
• DENNIS FARINA, actor  "Snatch"
• JULIE HARRIS, actress  "The Haunting", "East of Eden"
• GERARD MURPHY, actor  "Dr. Who: Silver Nemesis", "Father Ted", "Batman Begins"
• DAVID FROST, TV broadcaster  "That Was the Week That Was", "The Frost Report"
• FREDERICK POHL, author
• LOUISE CURRIE, actress  "You'll Find Out", "Voodoo Man", "Adventures of Captain Marvel", "Citizen Kane"
• OTTO SANDER, actor  "Wings of Desire", "Das Boot"
• JERRY G. BISHOP, TV horror host  "Svengoolie"
• RICHARD C. SARAFIAN, director  "Vanishing Point", "Bound"
• JAY ROBINSON, actor  "Dr. Shrinker", "Star Trek - Elaan of Troyius"
• TOM CLANCY, author  "Patriot Games", "The Hunt for Red October"
• PHIL CHEVRON, musician  "The Pogues"
• CAL SMITH, singer  "Country Bumpkin"
• KUMAR PALLANA, actor  "The Royal Tenenbaums"
• SCOTT CARPENTER, astronaut
• DAPHNE CALDER, actress  "The Overlanders"
• LOU SCHEIMER, TV producer  "Filmation"
• MARCIA WALLACE, actress  "The Bob Newhart Show"
• LOU REED, musician  "Walk On the Wild Side"
• NIGEL DAVENPORT, actor  "A Man For All Seasons", "Dracula (1973)", "Peeping Tom"
• NICK CARDY, comic book artist  "Aquaman", "Teen Titans"
• MANFRED ROMMEL, German politician
• SIR JOHN TAVENER, composer
• PAUL MANTEE, actor  "Robinson Crusoe on Mars"
• AL PLASTINO, comic book artist  "Superman"
• CHICO HAMILTON, jazz drummer
• TONY MUSANTE, actor  "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage"
• OLIVER CHEATHAM, singer  "Get Down Saturday Night"
• JEAN KENT, actress  "The Prince and the Showgirl", "The Haunted Strangler"
• PAUL WALKER, actor  "The Fast and the Furious", "Pleasantville"
• TABU LEY ROCHEREAU, singer
• JUNIOR MURVIN, singer  "Police and Thieves"
• BARRY JACKSON, actor  "Dr. Who - The Armageddon Factor", "Dr. Who - The Romans"
• NELSON MANDELA, activist/politician
• COLIN WILSON, author  "Unsolved Mysteries"
• ELEANOR PARKER, actress  "The Naked Jungle"
• AUDREY TOTTER, actress  "The Postman Always Rings Twice", "Medical Center"
• TOM LAUGHLIN, actor  "Billy Jack"
• PETER O'TOOLE, actor  "The Lion In Winter", "Becket", "Lawrence of Arabia"
• JOAN FONTAINE, actress  "Rebecca", "Suspicion"
• RAY PRICE, singer  "For the Good Times", "Heartaches By the Number"
• JOHN EISENHOWER, historian/ambassador
• JOHN FORTUNE, comedian  "Bird and Fortune"

Portrait of the Grim Reaper by Steve Ring.

UNOFFICIAL FLICKERS PROJECT 2013 CONCLUSION

WHILE I WASN'T ACTUALLY DOING AN "OFFICIAL" FLICKERS PROJECT THIS YEAR (LIKE THE ONE I DID IN 2012), I DID POST LAST MAY THE FIRST 100 FILMS I WATCHED THIS YEAR.  Click on the "Flickers Project" label to view the first 100.  As promised, here I am again to post the remainder of the films I watched this year.  Will there be an "official" Flickers Project in 2014?  I haven't decided yet.  But until then . . . I provide a listing of the rest of the films as well as THIS LINK which will take you to my "Letterboxd" list where you will see all the films beautifully displayed with their pretty little movie posters.  Enjoy.

• 101)  ASYLUM
• 102)  POSTMAN'S KNOCK
• 103)  THE X FROM OUTER SPACE
• 104)  GOKE BODY SNATCHER FROM HELL
• 105)  THE LIVING SKELETON
• 106)  GENOCIDE
• 107)  CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN
• 108)  DJANGO
• 109)  GOLDEN BAT
• 110)  THE INVISIBLE DR. MABUSE
• 111)  Z CHANNEL:  A MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION
• 112)  CASH ON DEMAND
• 113)  THE PASSENGER
• 114)  LE MAGNIFIQUE
• 115)  THE LEGACY
• 116)  GAMES
• 117)  WITCHCRAFT
• 118)  BEHIND THE CANDELABRA
• 119)  MOONRISE KINGDOM
• 120)  THE EARTH DIES SCREAMING
• 121)  PIRATES OF BLOOD RIVER
• 122)  THE DEVIL-SHIP PIRATES
• 123)  THE FULL MONTY
• 124)  THE STRANGLERS OF BOMBAY
• 125)  THE TERROR OF THE TONGS
• 126)  THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1943)
• 127)  SITTING TARGET
• 128)  THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN
• 129)  CHERISH
• 130)  SMASHING TIME
• 131)  HOUSE IN NIGHTMARE PARK
• 132)  NEVER TOO YOUNG TO ROCK
• 133)  CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON
• 134)  DESTINATION MOON
• 135)  THE RUNAWAY BUS
• 136)  AMERICAN SCARY
• 137)  THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD
• 138)  MISERY
• 139)  THE LOVE WE MAKE
• 140)  ROCK 'N' ROLL EXPOSED:  THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF BOB GRUEN
• 141)  56 UP
• 142)  THE HINDENBURG:  THE UNTOLD STORY
• 143)  HANDS OF THE RIPPER
• 144)  STALKER
• 145)  MON ONCLE
• 146)  MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
• 147)  LOVE, MARILYN
• 148)  ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
• 149)  RICHARD PRYOR:  OMIT THE LOGIC
• 150)  NIGHT TIDE
• 151)  MAN ON THE MOON
• 152)  COFFEE AND CIGARETTES
• 153)  MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S
• 154)  GIGANTIC (A TALE OF TWO JOHNS)
• 155)  GHOST RIDER:  SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE
• 156)  LINCOLN
• 157)  JUSTICE LEAGUE:  DOOM
• 158)  DJANGO UNCHAINED
• 159)  HILLBILLYS IN A HAUNTED HOUSE
• 160)  CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
• 161)  WAIT UNTIL DARK
• 162)  CASTING BY
• 163)  THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS
• 164)  AMPHIBIAN MAN
• 165)  MONTEREY POP
• 166)  THE ABCS OF DEATH
• 167)  ROBIN HOOD (1973)
• 168)  SNATCH
• 169)  ROLLERBALL
• 170)  CHINATOWN
• 171)  GEORGE HARRISON:  LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD
• 172)  STEALING LINCOLN'S BODY
• 173)  THE HORDE
• 174)  CAR WASH
• 175)  BILLY JACK
• 176)  JOHN DIES AT THE END
• 177)  THE LORDS OF SALEM
• 178)  THE HOWLING
• 179)  THE ROBOT VS. THE AZTEC MUMMY
• 180)  AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON
• 181)  THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE
• 182)  DEMONS
• 183)  STRANGE AEONS:  THE THING ON THE DOORSTEP
• 184)  THE RING
• 185)  SEVEN
• 186)  ZODIAC
• 187)  TERROR TRAIN
• 188)  SILVER BULLET
• 189)  THE STRANGER
• 190)  NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED
• 191)  THE BATMAN VS. DRACULA
• 192)  INFERNO
• 193)  THE TESTAMENT OF ORPHEUS
• 194)  MOTHER JOAN OF THE ANGELS
• 195)  LE DEUXIEME SOUFFLE aka SECOND BREATH
• 196)  THE COLOR OUT OF SPACE
• 197)  THE GHOST OF GREVILLE LODGE
• 198)  JUSTICE LEAGUE:  THE FLASHPOINT PARADOX
• 199)  PICKMAN'S MUSE
• 200)  THE NIGHT STRANGLER
• 201)  THE WHISPERER IN DARKNESS
• 202)  KING LEAR (KOROL LIR)
• 203)  GERMANY IN AUTUMN
• 204)  LA BELLE ET LA BETE aka BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
• 205)  THE AWAKENING (2011)
• 206)  MIDNIGHT MOVIES
• 207)  HENRY V  (1989)
• 208)  HITCHCOCK
• 209)  SHARKNADO
• 210)  DEMONS 2
• 211)  HORRIBLE HORROR:  THE SPECIAL EDITION
• 212)  THE SHADOW KNOWS
• 213)  THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR
• 214)  GOD BLESS OZZY OSBOURNE
• 215)  RISE OF THE GUARDIANS
• 216)  MARS ATTACKS
• 217)  COMIC BOOK VILLAINS
• 218)  TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL
• 219)  V/H/S
• 220)  ROMAN POLANSKI:  ODD MAN OUT
• 221)  CHILLERAMA
• 222)  THE TWO WORLDS OF JENNIE LOGAN
• 223)  SEDUCED AND ABANDONED (2013)
• 224)  NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT
• 225)  THE LIVING COFFIN
• 226)  CURSE OF THE CRYING WOMAN
• 227)  HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN
• 228)  DRACULA A.D. 1972
• 229)  THE MUMMY
• 230)  DAWN OF THE DEAD
• 231)  DOCTOR MORDRID
• 232)  THE DEAD ONE
• 233)  HIS GIRL FRIDAY
• 234)  STROMBOLI
• 235)  EUROPA '51
• 236)  FLESH AND FANTASY
• 237)  VIAGGIO IN ITALIA
• 238)  THE UNINVITED
• 239)  AFTER HOURS
• 240)  TWENTIETH CENTURY
• 241)  THE PRODUCERS
• 242)  MINISTRY OF FEAR
• 243)  PARKLAND
• 244)  THE LOST WEEKEND
• 245)  I MARRIED A WITCH
• 246)  ME AND ORSON WELLES
• 247)  THE WOMEN
• 248)  A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA
• 249)  SEEDPEOPLE
• 250)  DEMONIC TOYS
• 251)  DOLLMAN VS. DEMONIC TOYS
• 252)  SPIRIT TRAP
• 253)  THIS GUN FOR HIRE
• 254)  JFK
• 255)  WHOOPI GOLDBERG PRESENTS MOMS MABLEY
• 256)  CHILD OF GLASS
• 257)  AN ADVENTURE IN SPACE AND TIME
• 258)  AMAZING GRACE
• 259)  SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS
• 260)  A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
• 261)  LOVE ME TONIGHT
• 262)  RED 2
• 263)  LURED
• 264)  PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
• 265)  THE SECRET GARDEN (1949)
• 266)  EVIL UNDER THE SUN
• 267)  THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT
• 268)  ONE NIGHT IN THE TROPICS
• 269)  HOT FUZZ
• 270)  EASY LIVING (1937)
• 271)  THE MORE THE MERRIER
• 272)  THE KNACK . . . AND HOW TO GET IT
• 273)  THE GOOD FAIRY
• 274)  PACIFIC RIM
• 275)  BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK
• 276)  DOGORA
• 277)  TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT
• 278)  NOW YOU SEE ME
• 279)  SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER . . . AND SPRING
• 280)  NOBODY'S FOOL
• 281)  MRS. BROWN
• 282)  HIT THE ICE
• 283)  IN SOCIETY
• 284)  TOWER OF LONDON
• 285)  DESK SET
• 286)  CHASING TROUBLE
• 287)  CABIN IN THE WOODS
• 288)  THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER
• 289)  YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU
• 290)  WHITE CHRISTMAS
• 291)  THE MATRIX
• 292)  THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN
• 293)  BEWARE OF MR. BAKER
• 294)  THE LION IN WINTER
• 295)  EASY TO WED
• 296)  THE EMPEROR'S NIGHTINGALE
• 297)  THE INFORMER
• 298)  LAST MAN STANDING
• 299)  THE SEVENTH VICTIM
• 300)  NIGHT OF THE DEMON
• 301)  DEAD OF NIGHT
• 302)  ROPE
• 303)  ANCHORMAN:  THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY
• 304)  CONSTANTINE
• 305)  LOST IN TRANSLATION
• 306)  MAN OF STEEL
• 307)  JEFFREY BERNARD IS UNWELL
• 308)  DRIVE
• 309)  DIE HARD
• 310)  THE BISHOP'S WIFE
• 311)  CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT
• 312)  A CHRISTMAS STORY
• 313)  HOLIDAY
• 314)  CASABLANCA
• 315)  JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS
• 316)  THE THIEF OF BAGDAD
• 317)  RESERVOIR DOGS
• 318)  THE EYES OF CHARLES SAND
• 319)  STAMOUL QUEST
• 320)  THE WORLD'S END
• 321)  IT MIGHT GET LOUD
• 322)  OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL
• 323)  THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD
• 324)  THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES
• 325)  KONGA (1961)
• 326)  THE CONJURING

ODD COUPLES WE NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE PART 3

MY, IT'S BEEN A WHILE.  Two years, in fact, since the last installment of this extremely infrequent little feature I introduced and then quickly forgot about.  Simply put, here I post photos of incongruous pairings of famous people.  For the previous two examples of odd couplery, click on the "Odd Couples" label at the bottom of this post.  But here we have a very unlikely photo from the golden age of Hollywood.  While the pairing of Basil Rathbone and Marlene Dietrich isn't that odd (they would appear in movies together), it's their appearance together in character from two different movies set in two different historical eras which delights.  We see here Basil Rathbone in character as Richard III from the film TOWER OF LONDON and Marlene Dietrich as her character Frenchy from DESTRY RIDES AGAIN; both films being shot simultaneously.  I first came across this pic in the new 50th anniversary issue of MIDNIGHT MARQUEE (congrats, Gary & Sue) where it is captioned with the very funny (and FJA-like) pun: 

"MY KINGDOM FOR A WHORE!"

 

Perhaps I might be allowed my own little attempt:  "See what the boys in the throne room will have."  Or perhaps not.  

A Star In the Night 1945

PENGUIN AWARDS NOMINEES 2013

BETTER LATE THAN SORRY. 

Hectic time.  And consequently this penguin has been a little spaced -- as you can see from the photo.  I usually name the nominees post-Thanksgiving.  Well, this is technically post-Thanksgiving but it's usually a tad bit CLOSER to Thanksgiving than Christmas.  Beg the Congress's pardon.  However, now that we're here, let's get this shindig shundug.  Here are the nominees for the 2013 Penguin Awards.  As always, the winners will be announced (hopefully) sometime between Christmas and New Year's.

SONG OF THE YEAR

 

BURN IT DOWN  -  Linkin Park

CASTLE OF GLASS  -  Linkin Park

CLOISONNE  -  They Might Be Giants

COLD COLD HEARTS  -  The Launderettes
DEAR FATHER  -  Black Sabbath

DOOM AND GLOOM  -  The Rolling Stones

GET LUCKY  -  Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams

GOLD ON THE CEILING  -  The Black Keys

HOME AGAIN  -  Elton John

I SAT BY THE OCEAN  -  Queens of the Stone Age

LITTLE BLACK SUBMARINES  -  The Black Keys

LONER  -  Black Sabbath

MADNESS  -  Muse

MY SONGS KNOW WHAT YOU DID IN THE DARK (LIGHT 'EM UP)  -  Fall Out Boy

PANIC STATION  -  Muse

THE PHOENIX  -  Fall Out Boy

RED HANDS  -  Walk Off the Earth
SOMETHING GOING WRONG  -  Chickenfoot

TRIPLE MANTRA  -  Nirinjan Kaur

 

 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

 

CHURCH OF REVERB  -  Messer Chups

EL CAMINO  -  The Black Keys

LEAVING EDEN  -  Carolina Chocolate Drops
...LIKE CLOCKWORK  -  Queens of the Stone Age

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES  -  Daft Punk

SAVE ROCK AND ROLL  -  Fall Out Boy

THE 2ND LAW  -  Muse
13  -  Black Sabbath
III  -  Chickenfoot

TOM RUSH CELEBRATES 50 YEARS IN MUSIC  -  Tom Rush & Friends

 

 

DUET OF THE YEAR

 

GET LUCKY  -  Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams

ROSE TATTOO  -  Dropkick Murphys & Bruce Springsteen

TOUCH  -  Daft Punk & Paul Williams

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR  -  Mary J. Blige & Barbra Steisand

 

 

COVER SONG OF THE YEAR

 

CRAZY  -  Petula Clark

FOREVER YOUNG (LIVE)  -  Brandi Carlile

HARLEM NOCTURNE  -  Messer Chups

SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW  -  Walk Off the Earth

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN (LIVE)  -  Heart

YOU BE ILLIN'  -  Carolina Chocolate Drops

 

 

BEST ALBUM COVER ART

 

CHURCH OF REVERB  -  Messer Chups

THE DIVING BOARD  -  Elton John

 

GRRR!  -  The Rolling Stones
 

 

...LIKE CLOCKWORK  -  Queens of the Stone Age
 

SAVE ROCK AND ROLL  -  Fall Out Boy
 

THE 2ND LAW  -  Muse



National Film Board of Canada - The Great Toy Robbery