Category Archives: Uncategorized

TERROR FROM THE YEAR 5000 (1958) was one of innumerable low budget B&W American International horror/sci-fi movies that flooded local TV stations in the early 1960s. I first saw it in 1961 when I was 9 years and unlike other AIP favorites such as THE AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN, THE SCREAMING SKULL, and EARTH-vs-THE SPIDER, itContinue reading “TERROR FROM THE YEAR 5000 (1958): Interesting Premise Defeated By Low Budget Production”

After the runaway success of the 1953 3-D HOUSE OF WAX with Vincent Price, Warner Brothers followed it up with another turn-of-the-20th century horror film, THE PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE. Also successful but not as well known, PHANTOM is much harder to view. In fact, as of 2025, it has yet to receive aContinue reading “PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE (1954) A Companion Piece To HOUSE OF WAX”

It hs been over 60 years since Clayton Moore & Jay Silverheels last rode off into the sunset. With his white horse, white hat, black mask, and silver bullets, the Lone Ranger was an errant knight who came to save the day aided by his faithful squire Tonto. Moore, a veteran of B movie serials,Continue reading “THE LEGEND OF THE LONE RANGER (1981): Not As Bad As Most Reviewers Say”

THE LITTLE AMERICAN was the second of two movies that Mary Pickford and Cecil B. De Mille made together in 1917 (the other was A ROMANCE OF THE REDWOODS). It would be the only time that they would work together. While both films were very successful at the box office, Pickford and De Mille continuallyContinue reading “THE LITTLE AMERICAN (1917): De Mille & Pickford Together”

At last we finally have a quality release of Orson Welles’ fascinating but ill-fated 1948 production of “the Scottish play”. After its negative reception, Welles would make only one more movie in Hollywood (TOUCH OF EVIL) and that was 10 years later. The 3 Shakespearean films have now resurfaced in close to their original versions.Continue reading “Orson Welles’ MACBETH (1948): Shakespeare as Film Noir”

The first time I came across Orson Welles’ OTHELLO was in 1980 in Charleston SC. The Spoleto Festival that year was honoring Welles with a showing of all the movies that he had directed. The most recently completed (and the last one he finished) was the 1979 documentary FILMING OTHELLO which goes into great detail showing theContinue reading “Orson Welles’ OTHELLO (1952): Finally A Quality Version With Subtitles”

It has been almost 60 years since Orson Welles completed CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (1965) which was more frequently known as FALSTAFF until its recent restoration. It had been available off and on over the years in various versions most of which suffered from a poorly synchronized soundtrack which first happened when the movie was inContinue reading “CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT / FALSTAFF (1965); Orson Welles’ Shakespearean Masterpiece”

Every lover of film has had a pivotal film experience, the movie that made such an impact on them that they have never forgotten it. For me WITCHFINDER GENERAL is that film. I first saw it in 1969 as THE CONQUERER WORM (AIP’s American release title designed to cash in on the Vincent Price/Edgar AllanContinue reading “WITCHFINDER GENERAL / THE CONQUEROR WORM (1968)”

I clearly remember seeing this American International release in 1970 when it first came out and really disliking it. The movie was directed by Gordon Hessler who became AIP’s go to Poe director after Roger Corman moved on. It really seemed like a slipshod affair with a jumbled storyline and poor editing. I’m rather surprisedContinue reading “CRY OF THE BANSHEE (1970): WITCHFINDER GENERAL 2”

The trinity of producer Louis (Deke) M. Heyward, writer Christopher Wicking, and director Gordon Hessler, under the auspices of American International, were responsible for a series of 4 British horror movies from 1969-1971. 3 of these were marketed as Edgar Allan Poe movies. Their approach to the Gothic horror film reflects the cynical attitudes expressedContinue reading “THE OBLONG BOX (1969): The First Of The Price/Poe Pictures Not Directed By Roger Corman”