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DOCTOR X (1932)
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EYES WITHOUT A FACE (1959)
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Frankenstein-1931.
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THE LOST WORLD (1925). This silent film, to be honest, creaks a plenty. Wallace Beery as Professer Challenger is discredited and mocked after seeing real dinosaurs, so with a new team, goes back to get real evidence. Silent films can be hard going, but this print looked nice and even a music score (From one of those 100 Films sets). The main thing, of course, are the Dinos created by Willis O'Brien (later of KING KONG)-quite impressive , even from this early period. My wife, with her talent for faces, also spotted a younger Holmes Herbert (Dr Jekyll AND MR HYDE, MARK OF THE VAMPIRE, THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY'S CURSE to name a few).
Also noticed that KING KONG took a lot from this-many similar plot lines. *** |
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CAMP ON BLOOD ISLAND (1958). Gritty B/W Hammer War film involving British Soldiers being held in a Japanese POW camp, along with a separate camp for Women and Children. Some similarities to BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, but on it's own terms, not bad at all, being quite suspenseful in parts, especially when the Prisoners find out Japan has surrendered and knowing if the vicious Camp Commander receives the news, a brutal death for them is all but a given. Many Hammer vets in here like Andre Morrell (HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, THE MUMMY'S SHROUD, CASH ON DEMAND), Barbara Shelley (DRACULA, PRINCE OF DARKNESS, VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED, RASPUTIN and very good here), Michael Gwynn (REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN, VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED), Richard Wordsworth (THE CREEPING UNKNOWN), Michael Ripper (too many to mention) , and Phillip Brown (Uncle Owen from STAR WARS).
Good attention to detail, with many of the cast looking like they are soaked with perspiration from Malaysian heat. Also amazing how they found so many thin actors; Wordsworth looks almost skeletal. Only thing that really doesn't work is casting the Japanese characters; one of the Officers looks like Jamie Farr and as much as I enjoy Ripper in his films, I don't think anyone could take him seriously as a Japanese driver. *** |
Attack of the giant leeches
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HANDS OF A STRANGER (1962). This is another retelling of THE HANDS OF ORLAC, where a gifted musicians hands are destroyed in an accident and He has new ones grafted on that seem to have a mind of their own. Nothing original, but not bad at all and better than I remembered. Good seeing Irish McCalla (SHE DEMONS and SHEENA) and an early role for Sally Kellerman ("Hot Lips" in the movie version of M*A*S*H). Noticed the Doctor who performs the surgery has an "interesting" Bedside manner... He bitch slaps about three people in here!::shocked:: ***
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The black raven
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