CORRIDORS OF BLOOD (1958, although there have been release dates as late as 1962). Boris Karloff is very good as an eminent surgeon who in the 1850's is trying desperately to find a way to sedate patients during surgery so no pain will be involved-kind of grim settings and a realization that "surgery" normally meant amputation or severe agony. He experiments with several chemicals until He finds a solution that works; unfortunately, He has ended up being addicted to his experimental elixir and having to associate with people He normally would cross the street to avoid. Lots of Hammer people in here including a very seedy Christopher Lee, a very young and lovely Yvonne Romain (CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF) and Francis Matthews (REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN and DRACULA, PRINCE OF DARKNESS). ***

Quatermass 2 1957 ★★★

This sequel to the cult classic Quatermass delves a bit deeper into the horror and the scarier parts. That makes it more of a fun watch, seeing how they now have more of a budget for special effects.

Of course, it's still a fifties flick, so the effects are not up to the standards that were developed in the seventies. But it is in a way interesting to see how Hammer are dveeloping their craft, thus going into the genre powerhouse they later would become.

Side note: The way a lot of these people talk is the stereotypical cliché a lot of people have in mind when they think of Britain. Shown in the obliviousness when Quatermass first encounters the invaders. I say, old chap, what's all this then?

A fun watch and available on YT for those interested.

PHANTOM FROM 10,000 LEAGUES (1955). Last film from ARC studios before they became AIP and made their name with films like this, many made with low budgets, but better than You would think. Something is killing people offshore and scientists as well as people with different agendas trying to solve the problem. There are many funny lines (no doubt, unintentional) and it dawned on Me that many of the people in the film wear the same outfit throughout::shocked:: and how one character goes by the nom deplume of "Ted Baxter" -all I could think of was THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, and there's even a Mr Grant too! While it's not a bad little film in its way, it loses a lot by one of the WORST looking monsters imaginable and loses even more by showing it early::confused::::confused::? **1/2

WAR OF THE SATELLITES (1958). Roger Corman quickie about a space program attempts in reaching a certain point in the galaxy and hopefully not be destroyed as the past several have. The special effects are so-so, but interesting how Corman got this made and released barely two months after SPUTNIK and I could swear it's ol' Roger himself reading reports. Very nice seeing that reliable character actor Dick Miller get top billing and also a good performance by Susan Cabot (THE WASP WOMAN herself) who looks lovely here. **1/2

CRY OF THE WEREWOLF (1944). I had never really heard anything good about this Columbia Pictures effort, but it's better than I thought it would be. The Griffin Jay (He wrote many 40's Mummy scripts for Universal, CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN and RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE) story involves a home that used to be owned by a gypsy werewolf woman has been turned into a haunted attraction and laboratory. Some murders occur and it's up to the local police (led by always abrasive Barton McClain and low IQ cops) and the murdered victims son and his bride to be. Meanwhile, there is a nearby gypsy camp nearby who is not happy with this investigation...

Some good mood and atmosphere here with elements of THE WOLF MAN and screenwriter Jay was definitely influenced by the Val Lewton films of that time; You would almost swear You were watching CAT PEOPLE in parts. Nina Foch, Blanche Yurka and lovely Osa Massen are solid, but our leading man "Bob" is a pompous pendantic jerk and You're hoping something bad happens to him. In real life, something did. "Bob" is played by Stephen Crane who left show biz to become a restauranteur, married Lana Turner (twice) and was the father of her daughter who ending up shooting Lana's abusive gangster boyfriend in the late 50's. ***

CRY OF THE WEREWOLF (1944). I had never really heard anything good about this Columbia Pictures effort, but it's better than I thought it would be. The Griffin Jay (He wrote many 40's Mummy scripts for Universal, CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN and RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE) story involves a home that used to be owned by a gypsy werewolf woman has been turned into a haunted attraction and laboratory. Some murders occur and it's up to the local police (led by always abrasive Barton McClain and low IQ cops) and the murdered victims son and his bride to be. Meanwhile, there is a nearby gypsy camp nearby who is not happy with this investigation...

Some good mood and atmosphere here with elements of THE WOLF MAN and screenwriter Jay was definitely influenced by the Val Lewton films of that time; You would almost swear You were watching CAT PEOPLE in parts. Nina Foch, Blanche Yurka and lovely Osa Massen are solid, but our leading man "Bob" is a pompous pendantic jerk and You're hoping something bad happens to him. In real life, something did. "Bob" is played by Stephen Crane who left show biz to become a restauranteur, married Lana Turner (twice) and was the father of her daughter who ending up shooting Lana's abusive gangster boyfriend in the late 50's. ***

I was in error...Lana's daughter Cheryl actually stabbed Johnny Stomponato (Lana's beau) which led to his death. The stabbing may have been more accidental as Cheryl was trying to protect her mother. It's a pretty interesting True Crime story.