"Flash Gordon" On Comet

Above, Buster Crabbe (center) and Charles Middleton (right) in Flash Gordon.

Not since the 1960s had I the pleasure of watching the old Buster Crabbe Flash Gordon serials of the 1930s. They are based on Alex Raymond's comic strip.

As I now am able to get the Comet TV network here in New Mexico, I am enjoying watching episodes of Flash Gordon (1936). Comet TV plays them on Sunday nights.

They were three serials in all and they were produced by Universal Pictures for Saturday matinees. It is said that these serials inspired George Lucas into creating Star Wars.



Along with Crabbe in the title role, the serial starred Jean Rogers as Dale Arden, Charles Middleton as Ming the Merciless, Priscilla Lawson as Princess Aura and Frank Shanno as Dr. Alexis Zarkov.

Although the effects are primitive and the budgets were on the low side, they are still fun to watch. Since Universal was producing these, stock footage from Frankenstein and other movies were incorporated. Also, music cues from Universal's library were also used. I recognized some from Bride of Frankenstein and The Black Cat.

Quite often, I find watching these old films more entertaining than today's high-tech productions. 

Home Accessory

Above, this nice accessory is in my back yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I posted the above photo on Facebook and commented that the only thing missing is a noose.

If it were used for hangings, it would have to just used for short people as the thing stands only six feet high.

It came with the house and is in the back yard.

Some interesting comments were posted about it:

That's your field dressing station ready to go. 

Yes. AKA deer skinning pole. (They come portable and truck mounted now. The one on Armand's property was built before New Mexico was a state I believe.) 

Poelzig pole. 

"How does it feel to hang on your own embalming rack, Hjalmar?"

Bit by bit! 

My pal here can bring you the rope...

 Rope a dope! 

 A nice lantern? 

Mail bag pole? Make sure you get out there before the train goes by.

Horror and Monster Weekend

Above, actress Caroline Munro and Armand at last year's Monsterpalooza.

This weekend will be a busy one.

Monsterpalooza opens tomorrow evening at 6:00 PM at the Burbank Marriott Hotel & Convention Center (across the street from Bob Hope Airport).  The show runs through Sunday.  For info, go here.

Then, on Saturday night, a special screening of The Black Cat, starring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi will be held at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood.  I've already purchased my tickets for that.

My best bet for Monsterpalooza will be Friday night as I have the screening Saturday night and a heavy work schedule the rest of the weekend.

"The Black Cat" At The Chinese Theater

Above, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and David Manners in "The Black Cat."

Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi will haunt the Chinese Theater in Hollywood on April 13:

On Saturday April 13th, Kirk Hammett and Mad Monster Magazine will proudly present a special screening of 1934's macabre masterpiece "The Black Cat" at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, CA. One of Kirk’s favorite films of all time, and the first to pair his favorite actors Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi together, "The Black Cat" weaves a tale of mounting terror and tension as a pair of innocent newlyweds find themselves in the center of an unfolding nightmare revolving around Lugosi and Karloff's characters. A ground-breaking piece of cinema, we proudly invite you to join us for an audience-interactive Q&A with Kirk Hammett and friends before the screening. There will also be contests, prizes and exclusive merchandise, as well as monster goodies from KVH Toys and copies of Kirk's critically-acclaimed 2012 book “Too Much Horror Business”.

8:00 PM Doors/Monster Mingle Grab merchandise, view original props from the movie "The Black Cat", and other monster activities!

9:00 PM Q&A with Kirk Hammett and Friends

9:45 PM Screening Universal Pictures “The Black Cat" directed by Edgar G. Ulmer
 

"The Raven" (1935)

Above, Bela Lugosi as Poe fanatic Dr. Richard Vollin.

Following The Black Cat, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi were teamed again in 1935's The Raven.   In this movie, the roles were switched to having Lugosi play the mad Dr. Richard Vollin and Karloff playing the hunted, but sympathetic criminal Edmond Bateman.  In The Black Cat, Lugosi was the "good guy" and Karloff the "bad guy."

Above, Jean Thatcher (Irene Ware) and Dr. Vollin (Lugosi).

In The Raven, Lugosi saves the life of dancer Jean Thatcher (Irene Ware) and falls in love with her.  Vollin is an Edgar Allan Poe fanatic who has built torture devices as described in Poe's stories.

Above, Vollin unveils Bateman's (Boris Karloff) ugly face so he will do "ugly things."

Vollin disfigures Bateman to force him to do his bidding ("If one is hideously ugly, he will do ugly things," is Vollin's reasoning).   Judge Thatcher (Jean's father played by Samuel S. Hinds) objects to Jean being involved with Vollin.  Thatcher confronts Vollin, causing Vollin's mind to snap.

Above, Vollin  falling deeper into madness.

Vollin decides to host an overnight party at his mansion.  When his guests retire for the night, Vollin switches on various devices to prevent his guests from leaving and to torture those who denied him his "great love."

Above, Dr. Vollin has gone completely bonkers.

The Raven is a fun movie with Lugosi as his most exuberant as the mad Dr. Vollin.  He almost goes over-the-top in his portrayal.   Karloff carries off the sympathetic Bateman role well under heavy facial make-up and manages to give a Frankenstein Monster growl or two.

Bateman turns on Vollin and puts Vollin in one of his own torture devices after being shot by Vollin.
The Raven was directed by Louis Friedlander (later known as Lew Landers, he directed some episodes of the Adventures of Superman in the 1950s).

The Invisible Ray, with Karloff and Lugosi, followed The Raven in 1936.

"The Black Cat" (1934)

Above, before the mayhem, Lugosi, Karloff and Manners do some social drinking.

Universal Pictures's The Black Cat (1934) was the first pairing of their horror superstars Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi and my personal favorite of the pairings.  Fortunately, The Black Cat was produced during the heyday of Universal horror movies.

Above, Boris Karloff (Poelzig) and Bela Lugosi (Werdegast).

The movie centers around a mad architect, Hjalmar Poelzig (Karloff) who lives in an art deco mansion built atop a fortress left over from the first World War.  Dr. Vitus Werdegast (Lugosi) is a driven man on a quest to find his wife and daughter (both played by Lucille Lund).

Lugosi is joined by a newlywed couple, Peter and Joan Alison (David Manners and Jacqueline Wells) after meeting them on the Orient Express.  They are later involved in an automobile accident and take refuge at Herr Poelzig's mansion.

Above, Werdegast is about to be led to the body of his wife by Poelzig.

 Unfortunately, Herr Poelzig is the high priest of a coven of Satan-worshippers who plans to make Joan the sacrifice in the group's next ceremony.

Above, Joan tells Werdegast that she saw his daughter Karen alive.

Werdegast finds out that his wife is dead and her embalmed corpse on display in the chart room of the old fortress below the Poelzig mansion in a glass case.  As he is about to shoot Poelzig, a black cat appears, causing Werdegast to recoil in fright.

Werdegast and his assistant take advantage of a diversion caused by a fainting woman at the Satanic ceremony to rescue Joan.  As they are escaping, Joan reveals to Werdegast that his daughter Karen (Lund) is alive, but finds that Poelzig had just murdered her.  After a fight, Werdegast shackles Poelzig on Poelzig's own embalming rack and proceeds to skin him alive.

Above, after being shackled onto his own embalming rack, Poelzig is told by Werdegast that he's about to be skinned.

The Black Cat was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and was suggested by the Edgar Allan Poe story.

This was one of Lugosi's best acting roles and Karloff carried off the evil Poelzig role quite nicely.   This was David Manners's best roles as he wasn't stiff like he was in Dracula (1931) and The Mummy (1932).  The art deco sets added to the surreal atmosphere.

The Black Cat also contained some great script lines  (Lugosi's "Supernatural, perhaps.  Baloney, perhaps not."  And, Karloff's  "Did you hear that, Vitus?   Even the phone is dead!").

The Black Cat was produced while Universal was still controlled by Carl Laemmle and was followed by The Raven (1935) and The Invisible Ray (1936), each starring Karloff and Lugosi.