Starring Bela Lugosi, Louise Currie, Wallace Ford, Henry Hall, Minerva Urecal
Directed by William Beaudine
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
After a scientific experiment results in giving him the appearance and mannerisms of an ape, Dr. James Brewster is ready to resort to murder to find a cure.
One of Lugosi's nine films for low-rent Monogram Pictures, this is probably his least dignified role among all of them, playing the mad scientist/ape who's covered with fur and bent over like a chimpanzee. And yet he remains absolutely watchable, playing the role seriously and with a grim malaise as he mourns his condition, becoming excited only at the prospect of killing others to save himself by obtaining their spinal fluid. Letting his arms sway at his sides like a real primate, we believe him in the part despite the low-budget trappings, and he becomes a true menace when stalking Currie in the film's lively climax. Currie was one of the more beautiful actresses to appear in a Monogram movie, and although her scenes with Ford mine tired gender humor we've seen a thousand times before, they have decent chemistry and make their characters appealing. The story's pretty lightweight and Beaudine's direction nothing special, but I enjoyed the music, and above all, Lugosi makes it worth watching.
Showing posts with label Louise Currie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Louise Currie. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Adventures Of Captain Marvel (1941)
Starring Tom Tyler, Frank Coghlan Jr., William Benedict, Louise Currie, Robert Strange
Directed by William Witney & John English
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
Young radio broadcaster Billy Batson is given the power to change into the mighty Captain Marvel, and uses it to protect his friends from a masked villain after an ancient and powerful weapon.
One of the all-time great movie serials, this production is tremendously entertaining, with an Agatha Christie-like plot in which the suspects are killed off one by one, and fantastic special effects from Howard and Theodore Lydecker, who combine a convincing dummy with excellent stunt work by David Sharpe to convey the illusion of Captain Marvel leaping into flight. Although Coghlan is a bit too old to accurately represent the Billy Batson of Captain Marvel's comic book adventures, his youthful voice and natural charm make him a fine protagonist who transforms into the super-powered Tyler with the classic cry of "Shazam!" in a well-executed puff of smoke. Not much else is adapted from the comics, but the Scorpion, the masked villain bedecked in a silken robe and possessing a delightfully sinister voice is among the finest to oppose any serial's hero. Although directors Witney and English helmed many worthy serials, to me this is by far their masterwork, with each chapter bringing forth new excitement and suspense. Be forewarned that fans of today's superheroes may be a bit shocked as Captain Marvel does not show much mercy to the villain's henchmen.
Directed by William Witney & John English
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
Young radio broadcaster Billy Batson is given the power to change into the mighty Captain Marvel, and uses it to protect his friends from a masked villain after an ancient and powerful weapon.
One of the all-time great movie serials, this production is tremendously entertaining, with an Agatha Christie-like plot in which the suspects are killed off one by one, and fantastic special effects from Howard and Theodore Lydecker, who combine a convincing dummy with excellent stunt work by David Sharpe to convey the illusion of Captain Marvel leaping into flight. Although Coghlan is a bit too old to accurately represent the Billy Batson of Captain Marvel's comic book adventures, his youthful voice and natural charm make him a fine protagonist who transforms into the super-powered Tyler with the classic cry of "Shazam!" in a well-executed puff of smoke. Not much else is adapted from the comics, but the Scorpion, the masked villain bedecked in a silken robe and possessing a delightfully sinister voice is among the finest to oppose any serial's hero. Although directors Witney and English helmed many worthy serials, to me this is by far their masterwork, with each chapter bringing forth new excitement and suspense. Be forewarned that fans of today's superheroes may be a bit shocked as Captain Marvel does not show much mercy to the villain's henchmen.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Voodoo Man (1944)
Starring Bela Lugosi, John Carradine, George Zucco, Wanda McKay, Louise Currie
Directed by William Beaudine
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
An obsessed doctor tries to restore his dead wife through voodoo rites performed on young women, turning them into mindless zombies.
This is one of my favorites of Lugosi's films for Monogram Pictures, affording the actor some intense closeups, and one of his best supporting casts from the studio. The voodoo rituals border on the silly, and accomplished actors Zucco and Carradine's roles are beneath their talents, as a voodoo priest spouting gibberish, and a dim-witted henchman respectively. Still, that makes for some kooky fun, and I couldn't help but be entertained.
Directed by William Beaudine
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
An obsessed doctor tries to restore his dead wife through voodoo rites performed on young women, turning them into mindless zombies.
This is one of my favorites of Lugosi's films for Monogram Pictures, affording the actor some intense closeups, and one of his best supporting casts from the studio. The voodoo rituals border on the silly, and accomplished actors Zucco and Carradine's roles are beneath their talents, as a voodoo priest spouting gibberish, and a dim-witted henchman respectively. Still, that makes for some kooky fun, and I couldn't help but be entertained.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)