DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS [1962]

 "AND I REALLY GOT HOT WHEN I SAW JANETTE SCOTT FIGHT A TRIFFID THAT SPITS POISON AND KILLS!" 

Not my first rodeo with the 1962 classic DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS but this time, as I did the other day with Vincent Van Dahl's new CREATURE FEATURES, I thought I'd revisit the film in the company of a horror host.  This may become a trend here on this Countdown to Halloween; that is, amongst my "new first time watches", I may also revisit old faves by rewatching them on horror hosts' programmes such as the aforementioned CREATURE FEATURES (which has all their episodes on youtube and their own website) as well as Count Gore de Vol's own webprogramme of CREATURE FEATURE and Mr. Lobo's CINEMA INSOMNIA programmes.  I've already purchased a nice little stack of dvds from both Count Gore and Mr. Lobo and this would be a perfect opportunity to watch them all! 

Tonight I popped in Count Gore de Vol's hosting of DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS which is a super duper movie classic of the early 60's British horror cycle.  John Wyndam's novel finds it's first film adaptation here directed by Steve Sekely (HOLLOW TRIUMPH aka THE SCAR, REVENGE OF THE ZOMBIES) and starring Howard Keel as hero Bill Mason who is in hospital with his eyes bandaged so he cannot peep at the bizarre meteor shower that results in most of the earth's population going blind and being at the mercy of the carnivorous and dangerously-mobile  triffid plants. 

Mason soon teams up with a runaway little girl Susan played by Janina Faye (HORROR OF DRACULA, NEVER TAKE SWEETS FROM A STRANGER); child actors are never my favourite thing but Faye is rather superb in her role.  Trapped in a remote lighthouse are the bickering couple Karen & Tom Goodwin who also retain their sight but have to fight off an invasion of triffids all by themselves.  Karen is played by the spectacular Janette Scott (Hammer's PARANOIAC and William Castle's THE OLD DARK HOUSE) while her drunken, surly hubby is played by Kieron Moore (DOCTOR BLOOD'S COFFIN, THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN).    I just love Kieron Moore's line as he disects one of the triffids: "All plants move!  But they don't usually pull themselves out of the ground and chase you!"  It's also nice to see veteran actor Mervyn Johns (DEAD OF NIGHT, WENT THE DAY WELL and the aforementioned OLD DARK HOUSE) along for the ride as well as DOCTOR WHO's own granddaughter Carole Ann Ford in attendance.  This is a fine sci-fi horror movie which epitomises especially the long list of wonderful British non-Hammer flicks from THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE, ISLAND OF TERROR and many others.  It's not, however, the best screen adaptation of the novel; which would be the BBC-TV series in 1981 starring John Duttine and Emma Relph.  This is, however, a terrific creature feature and it's even more fun to watch along with Count Gore as he attempts to grow his own triffid.  Of course, you should already be a fan of Count Gore but if not, immediately go visit his website if you know what's good for you.