YOG THE SPACE AMOEBA

1970/Director: Ishirô Honda/Writer: Ei Ogawa

Cast: Akira Kubo, Atsuko Takahashi, Kenji Sahara, Yukiko Kobayashi, Kenji Sahara, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Yû Fujiki, Noritake Saito

I sometimes notice how I neglect topics I am very interested in here. For one example I have yet to review a single Vincent Price film here though I have dozens here waiting to be praised. Another area of ‘film criticism’ I am remiss in maintaining is the Japanese kaiju (strange monster) films, and in particular the excellent films of Ishiro Honda. I had to search my own site to find that I have in fact a couple Honda film here already and that was King Kong Escapes and Frankenstein Conquers the World and I have Matango (Attack of the Mushroom People) available for viewing at the Uranium Café Matinee, unless Google Video has yanked it since the last time I checked. While I have seen plenty if kaiju eiga (monster films) I am a bit lost in the genre outside the films of Ishiro Honda and his TOHO works. There are other memorable kaiju eiga director such as Jun Fukuda but overall I just never get tired of Honda’s vision. Honda worked with special effects master Eiji Tsuburaya create some of the most memorable ‘men in rubber suit’ monster ever to stomp an urban area to rubble. And while I am on that, lest I forget, I actually read a couple reviews online of Yog: The Space Amoeba that said things like “you can tell it is just a guy in a monster costume” and then the review would go on to criticize the acting and other special effects. Even sarcastically mocking the miniatures of cities and villages. Now while I myself may poke a little fun and there I want it to be clear that I love these films and any jabs I give are directed at the film with zero malice on my part. Anyone who brutalizes an Ishiro Honda film because it has guys running around in rubber suits is missing the entire point. I may not know that that point is myself come to think of it but I just like these films and I need to do more posts on them here.

MORE YOG THE SPACE AMOEBA RIGHT HERE >>

Yet another update on some of the people behind the drive-in classic The Monster and the Stripper (aka The Exotic Ones).  First I have been meaing to post a link to a long and interesting interview and article with one of the dancers of the film Diane Jordan. I was actually going to copy and it paste the article but I now realize it is simply too long. I am re-reading now over some instant coffee and it is an amazing story. The link can be found here:

Diane Jordan by John O’Dowd

The work put into this by writer John O’Dowd is of a thoroughly professional quality. I did put the section of the interview that pertains to her involved with The Monster and the Stripper at the bottom of this post. Diane is a wonderful and charming person who has sent me a few emails and her warmth shines through in them. I myself am a southern boy having lived outside for one year as a kid. The stories in the article of Diane meeting and working with some of the big names in Nashville at the time is fascinating.

Seems there has been a bit of a reunion –or the beginnings of one anyway- between Diane, Tim Ormond and their co-star from Monster Georgette Dante. If I and this humble site had even the slightest thing to do with that I am thrilled and wish them all the best as they reminisce over their adventures since they last saw each other. Seems Georgette is involved to some degree in a huge Burlesque festival being held in New Orleans this September and there will be a screening of The Monster and the Stripper. The event is organized by one Rick DeLaup and a link is available here:

New Orleans Burlesque Festival

And on a sadder note Tim Ormond’s family house was devastated by the flooding in Tennessee. I have a couple images and one must remember that what you are seeing is the 2nd floor of the houses. I have a small comment from Tim and he seems likes a real nice guy and it is just too bad this happened to him. I wish him the best and at the same time was happy to hear that he had contacted Georgette after many long years. Here are some of Tim’s comments on the situation:

Just touching base and filling in a few people on what’s happened in my life in the past months.
But before I write about that, I JUST this minute got off the phone with Georgette, this is the first time we’ve spoke in a MANY years (more than I care to mention). Georgette will be in New Orleans in mid September at a Burlesque festival, where they will show “Monster”, should be fun.
For me, I am recovering from the floods that hit my area in May. My place was totally wiped out and I lost pretty much everything. I was able to salvage most of the stills from my mom and dad’s early years, and the movies masters were stored off site, so they are safe.
Here’s a couple of links that will show you the flood (or go to youtube and type “Nashville Flood”). [I uploaded the images here-Bill]
When you see these keep in mind I lived on the first floor, the pictures show the second floor, my place was COMPLETELY underwater.

Here is a long and interesting interview with Tim by Jack Sargeant from his book Suture 2 that foucuses a lot on Ron Ormond’s Christian propaganda films made with the Rev. Estus Pirkle. It also provides some fresh history and biographical information fans may be interestd in reading:

Tim Ormond interviewd by Jack Sargeant

I hope after reading this some of my readers may be inclined to go out and search for this rare and genuine cult classic by Ron Ormond. It was one of the longest posts I have ever written and I am truly happy it has sparked some responses from the wonderful and interesting people involved in its making. I wish them all the best and hope they stay in touch and let me know how things go with Georgette who played the most interesting character in the film with the exception of the monster itself played by singer Sleepy LaBeef. My original article is here:

The Monster and the Stripper

Open the ‘read more’ link below and check out the story from Diane’s interview with John O’Dowd about her experiences on the set on The Monster and the Stripper and of working with Ron and June Ormond.

EXCERPT FROM THE JOHN O’DOWD INTERVIEW WITH DIANE JORDON ABOUT THE MONSTER AND THE STRIPPER >>

MARYJANE

1968/Director: Maury Dexter/Writers: Maury Dexter, Richard Gautier

Cast: Fabian, Diane McBain, Kevin Coughlin, Michael Margotta, Robert Lipton, Patty McCormack, Terri Garr, , Garry Marshall, Richard Gautier (uncredited)

“Many, many, many years ago, when I was young, there was a singer in the United States whose name was Fabian. Some of you who are my age remember.”There were three of us in it [the Fabian fan club of which she was president]. But we took it very seriously,”

Hillary Clinton
University of Santo Tomas
November 13, 2009

Maryjane is an entertaining little piece of 60’s AIP marijuana exploitation starring teen idol Fabian as high school art teacher Phil Blake. When Blake isn’t working on nailing the frigid girl with a big secret Elli Holden (Diane McBaine) he is trying to hold on to his job and stay out of jail after he confesses to school administrators and the town sheriff he smoked some grass in college and trying to stop ‘good kid’ –but total moody, sniveling wuss- Michael Margotta (Jerry Blackburn) from trying to join the school reefer gang ominously called the Mary Janes. The Mary Janes look like harmless extras from Happy Days. These were the good old days when doper teens all wore letter jackets –since they usually played football- and knit sweaters and the girls looked like proper little cheerleaders. The film was directed by Maury Dexter who did other AIP exploitation gems like The Mini-Skirt Mob, Wild on the Beach, The young Animals and Hell’s Belles. Actually I am not 100% sure if all of those films are AIP productions but the titles sure sound like they should be. Dexter co-wrote the script with Richard (Dick) Gautier whose face would be familiar to anyone who watched prime-time TV in the 70’s. Fabian’s singing career was waning at this time and he made a few pictures for AIP including A Bullit for Pretty Boy Floyd, also directed by Dexter. Gauiter has a brief uncredited role as a prisoner in the film. Also appearing briefly in the film are pretty Teri Garr as a party girl and producer Garry (Happy Days) Marshall as a gas station attendant. The film’s obligatory bad girl is played by the original Bad Seed herself Patty McCormick.

The twisted faces of marijuana addicts! Wasted youth in windbreakers and turtle necks.

The film is not that bad really though certainly a cheese classic. The acting is not really terrible and the photography and color looked great. Even the ‘day for night’ shots are better than average. The film of course garners harsh criticism online from marijuana apologist who feel the sacred herb is beyond reproach and not in any way unhealthy nor does it impair driving or other motor skills. I think these old films were written and shot with tongue firmly in cheek and with most of the cast and crew buzzed out of their gourds on something or another while it was being made. Look at some of the other AIP drug films like The Trip. Can you imagine that Bruce Dern never fried a brain cell or two. I simply think one has to ‘turn off the old mind, relax and float down stream’ while watching these films and forget about social commentaries. Of course the films throws a few in anyway such as when Blake tries to convince the appalled school administrators that weed is less harmful than cigarettes or alcohol and what a shock to find out little miss goody two shoes Elli the history teachers is far beyond grass. Football jock and drug dealer Jordon Bates (Kevin Coughlin) has finally got her hooked on smack, which is where –we all know by know- smoking the devil’s weed leads all who inhale its evil fumes. Lots of unintentional laughs but not over the top or preachy. Good shit.

CLICK HERE FOR ORIGINAL VIDEO CPATURES FROM MARYJANE >>

Once a person has entered into the realm of 60’s nudist picture he has entered a realm where even angels fear to tread. The stuff was pioneered by the likes of Dave Friedman, Doris Wishman and H.G. Lewis and most of it has become available again to the desirous public due to the noble efforts of the fine folks over at Something Weird Video. In our jaded day and age we take for the granted the effect a bouncy cellulite endowed ass had on our fathers and grandfathers. The films where shot on nudist colonies –and therefore were of social and cultural value- and shown in art house theaters as opposed to more lucrative drive-in theaters of the day. Even great films like the Japanese classic Onibaba were shown in these sleazy little art theaters because there is a scene that showed bare breasts. The nudist films pushed the envelope as much as it could be pushed in the day and age and 1965’s The Beast That Killed Woman is a good starting point for the novice –such as myself- to begin his exploration of what early exploitation film makers were trying to get away with. By the time The Beast That Killed Women –released as a SWV double feature along with The Monster of Camp Sunshine which I am conducting a search for now- the film makers had decided that the films have higher degree of quality is some sort of storyline or plot where injected. Early nudist films where simply actual mondo style documentaries, at best, of flabby white families playing volleyball and sitting around campfires singing in the buff all day. Film maker Barry Mahon took this already engaging concept to the next logical level by having a guy in a hokey monkey suit run around the camp and kill girls. Well, a girl anyway. The movie should be called The Beast Who Kills One Woman actually. There is never explanation as to why a short gorilla is on the loose and why it is stalking the peace loving nekked members of this particular nudist camp but there you have it. There is equally no explanation why some members decide to stay at the camp anyway and why some members sleep in bungalows without doors.

Those that do not sleep in those stalker friendly bungalows sleep in barracks with bunk beds. There is often dispute as who gets to sleep on top and sometimes the girls sit in there see through black panties on the bed and engage in inane dialog about the ‘monster’ outside. Sometimes they boost each other up to the top bunk by shoving each other’s butt or when they hear a sound the girl on top jumps down to the bottom bunk and they both hide under the cover. This happens quite a lot actually. What else that happens a lot is shameless out of shape 60′s nude people walking about doing nothing. Just doing nothing. When they walk away from the camera they are completely nude but the ones coming towards the camera have their naughty bits strategically covered by a towel or shorts. Sometimes maybe two girls jump up and down and try to get a towel off a wall, or a group plays volleyball to run in an endless queue –showing their backsides one after the other- and jump into the pool.  Some people are not nude however. Luckily some fat, hairy guys wear some sort of shorts. There are even some black girls at this nudist camp showing that Mahon was an equal opportunity pervert and visionary.

The dialog is hopelessly ridiculous at best and I have to be honest and confess I was hitting the fast forward at the last part of the film even though it only runs about 60 minutes. I know my dad and his buddies probably thought this was hot stuff but I have become far too jaded to be able to just sit and watch a line of butts prance off to the swimming pool without at lack the minimum of believable dialog or grade z acting to hold things together. Naked women alone just can’t do it for me anymore. The ape suit is one of the worst I have ever seen but I am a sucker for a guy in a monkey suit film so the fakier the suit the happier I am. I sort of wish there had been more of the hairy little guy and some sort of attempt to explain where he came from and why the nudists piss him off so much. The color on this little film. Very bright and vibrant. You just don’t see this kind of color anymore and I think that is a shame. While basically a total cheese festand it is a little fun at times. It is fun to watch the nudity down played all the time.The only time nudity is even mentioned is when our hospital bed ridden hero Byron (played, I think, by Mahon) tells the interviewing detective how his wife Delores got him into being a nudist –a bit like Adam blaming Eve here I think- and how the whole deal started because she needed to go to the camp to get an even tan. Why is Byron in the hospital? What tragedy befell him? I think you’ll have to see that –all along with all those brazen nekked 60’s ladies- with your own eyes to believe it.

A THUMBNAIL GALLERY FOR THE BEAST KILELD WOMEN RIGHT HERE >>

QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE

1958/Director: Edward Bernds/Writers: Charles Beaumont, Ben Hecht

Cast: Zsa Zsa Gabor, Eric Fleming, Dave Willock, Laurie Mitchell, Lisa Davis, Paul Birch, Patrick Waltz

Producer of many cheesy sci-fi yarns Walter Wanger had just finished serving a four month prison sentence for shooting his wife’s (Joan Bennet) suspected lover in the leg and crotch – only four months since he successfully pleaded temporary insanity -when he began to put together this project based on a story by Ben Hecht. Hecht’s original story was more of a farce but Wanger wanted it the story to be more serious and turned the production over to Ben Schwalb. Schwalb had worked for Sam Katzman on some Bowry Boy episodes and director Edward Bernds  had done some of those Bowry Boy films and some Three Stooges as well. I guess that is way Queen of Outer Space is sort of an odd little story at best. Many of the props and costumes seem to be left-overs from other sci-fi films – Forbidden Planet, World Without End, Flight to Mars – and the actors are playing it pretty straight but it is a cheese fest from the get go.

The film follows a story line that had already become familiar in previous sci-fi films of  the early 50′s – Cat Women of the Moon, Missile to the Moon (see my reviews at the link), Abbot and Costello Go to Mars, Fire Maidens from Outer Spce and others I will get around to here one day – and that is an adventure built around a group of male astronauts stranded on a planet of beautiful Amazon type women. The women are usually sexually frustrated and really seem to like Earthmen from the USA the best. Crew includes Eric Fleming and Paul Birch and the queen is Laurie Mitchell and her rival is prima donna Zsa Zsa Gabor. Story has it that Gabor was so difficult to work with that Ben Schwalb wound up in the hospital from stress and ulcers. The story’s action takes place on Venus -often the number choice for space amazon adventures – and there is a great spider in the cave sequence that usually accompanies these space maiden films. The color is nice and while the story drags for the most part it is worth the moments when the dialog gets really strange and to see the maidens drooling over the earth guys. The scene at the end where a flock of vivacious and nubile Venusian girls are pawing all over an ecstatic Paul Birch – as egg-head Professor Konrad – sums it all up. Fans of cheesy sci-fi, like myself, will love it. Others may be a bit confused by it all.

IT CONQUERED THE WORLD

1956/Director: Roger Corman/Writer: Lou Rusoff

Cast: Peter Graves, Beverly Garland, Lee Van Cleef, Sally Fraser, Dick Miller, Jonathan Haze, Taggart Casey

I had originally planned to do this as a guest post Nate Yapp’s awesome Classic Horror site. I asked Nate for a film he needed reviewed and he suggested this one but as I am a master of procrastination way too much time has now gone by and if Nate reads this I apologize. Also my own sites suffer from neglect and regular posting and need to have something added to them once in a while as well. So thanks Nate for the offer and sorry for my scattered brained approach to horror-cult film blogging. I do not think I have the focus to be a dependable guest blogger. If you do not know about his site please go check it out. Like The Uranium Café it focuses on classic-cult-cheese classics and its focus stays primarily on films and offers guest posters a chance to to add a review to the archives. My restless nature has my site venture off into music and comic books sometimes as well and soon I am beginning a new series on movers and shakers behind the scenes of ‘great’ films, music and artwork. Some people in my bulging draft folder now include Sam Katzman, Paul Blaisdell (who did the makeup effects for this posts film), Edward L. Kahn and others. I went through a period of ‘blogging depression’ and apathy.  I think I am over that for now and Uranium Willy is back in the saddle for the time being but no doubt will slip off again.

Today’s post features a film that is surely among the classics of great American cheese. It Conquered the World may be one of the best example’s Roger Corman’s amazing ability to squeeze everything possible from a low budget and tight production schedule. Like many low budget horror/sci-fi films from the period there is a lot of dialog, rather than nail biting action and suspense, to carry the film. Now you either love all this dialog or you hate it. Many people find it all unbearably boring while others, like your humble  reviewer here, find the corny dialog, crazy scientific explanations and pompous messages more enjoyable than the action scenes. Just look at this sample from the film’s ending where  hero Paul Nelson (played by the late Peter Graves) muses over the actions of his misguided friend Tom Anderson (Lee Van Cleef):

He learned almost too late that man is a feeling creature… and because of it, the greatest in the universe. He learned too late for himself that men have to find their own way, to make their own mistakes. There can’t be any gift of perfection from outside ourselves. And when men seek such perfection… they find only death… fire… loss… disillusionment… the end of everything that’s gone forward. Men have always sought an end to the toil and misery, but it can’t be given, it has to be achieved. There is hope, but it has to come from inside, from Man himself.

I think he could have added “Goodnight sweet Prince” at the end there and it would have become as timeless as anything the Immortal Bard himself would have penned.

SEE HOW IT CONQUERED THE WORLD HERE >>

INVISIBLE INVADERS

1959/Director: Edward L. Cahn/Writer: Samuel Newman

Cast: John Agar, Jean Byron, Philip Tonge, Robert Hutton, John Carradine, Hal Torey

I just am not really into blogging much lately for whatever reason. Not the end of the world if I blog regularly or not I suppose. But since I brought up the subject of the end of the world I can think of no better segue into this post’s film, Invisible Invaders. This is a film I think I saw when I was ten years old or so and have not seen it again until only recently. But it is film that has stuck in my mind all this time for it images of reanimated corpses that have many people have come to feel must have been some influence on later films like The Last Man on Earth and George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. I would not go so far as to say Invisible Invaders is a zombie film in the sense that we today are familiar with zombie films but I would say it serves as a sort of bridge between old time zombie films more modern living dead features. The film resembles more in its concept of alien beings using re-animated corpses to attack and defeat the Earth from to none other than Ed Wood’s Plan Nine from Outer Space which came out later in the same year of 1959. The really early zombie films had zombies that were typically under some sort of ‘voodoo’ type spell and were controlled by some witch doctor or white man who has been in the jungle long enough to learn the rituals necessary to bring a dead man back to life and have said dead man do his bidding. Modern zombies, since Romero and his Italian imitators, are either the flesh eating living dead or humans infected with some virus that drives them into a homicidal frenzy. Invisible Invaders rests somewhere in the middle of these great epochs of the shuffling dead.

While the dead are not ravenous flesh eaters they are still driven to kill living human beings (though not only with their bare hands as we shall see). They are not controlled by a witch doctor but they are manipulated nonetheless by some type of intelligence outside their own instincts. And unlike the army of living dead in Ed Wood’s entertaining Plan 9 (an army of basically Vampira and Tor Johnson) Invisible Invaders features hordes of chalk faced corpses lumbering over hillsides (most of them wearing Wall Street suits) that created the images that haunted me as a little lad. Of course now I am much older and I watch a film like Invisible Invaders not to terrified but to be entertained with outrageously bad acting and dialog as well as gigantic plot holes, confusing stock footage and pretentious, unnecessary narration. Invisible Invaders is indeed a cheese classic by director Edward L. Cahn (It! The Terror from Beyond Space, The She Creature and another living dead classic Zombies of Mora Tau) but it is also a fairly well made low budget sc-fi film with great b/w photography by Maury Gertsman and for the most part a thoroughly enjoyable little sci-fi flick.

SEE MORE INVISBLE INVADERS RIGHT HERE >>