Forgotten Horror Gems Vol. 2 - Dr. Cyclops (1940)

Well, last week I kicked off a new series called Forgotten Horror Gems.  For those that are just joining the blog, here's how it works.  I pored through listings of horror movies from 1920 - 1989 and looked for films I hadn't seen.  Admittedly, that list is actually pretty short considering all of the movies that were released over that period.  I'm not bragging.  I could have been using that time to solve world hunger but hey... it is what it is.

Over the next twelve months, I'm going to work my way through the list and amazingly, my wife and daughter both agreed they'd like to participate in this as well.

So without further ado, I present to you a movie that I've been intrigued by since I was a child.  I've seen stills from it in magazines like Famous Monsters of Filmland, but amazingly I'd never actually seen the film.  So here we go!

  
First of all, how beautiful is that poster art?  I don't want to get too far off on a tangent here, but my friend Mike Carvalho was the one who first really opened my eyes to the beauty of classic movie posters.  I may post more about that at another time, but just let me say that you will not find a poster that looks anything like this coming out of a movie studio today.  Look at those colors!  Look at the unfeeling, malevolent expression of the mad doctor and the fear on his victim's face.

That's how you sell a movie!

Okay, rant ended.

Dr. Cyclops is about a well-regarded scientist who has secluded himself in a laboratory in the jungles of the Amazon.  While that may seem weird, the truth is he's there because of a giant deposit of pitchblende, a mix of uranium and radium if I understand the explanation correctly.  This geological cache of radioactive riches holds a key to the experiments he's conducting.

He has one problem though.  His eyesight is horrible.  Despite thick, coke-bottle lenses, he's now lost the ability to look into his microscope clearly, so he summons three scientists from America to come verify something for him.  The three travel thousands of miles through the jungle and once they arrive and confirm his theory he thanks them and asks them to leave.  

Needless to say, these three (four if you count the mule driver) didn't travel all that way just to look in a microscope for literally five minutes and be turned away.  They want to know more.

Soon, they find out first hand what the doctor has been working on.  He's discovered a way to shrink living beings and their confirmation of his theory removes the last obstacle he had in making the process safe for his subjects.  In order to keep them from returning to the mainland with his secrets, he shrinks them to try to keep them captive.  Of course, they escape and then have to dodge the terrors of the jungle itself before finding a way to deal with the mad doctor and return to their normal size.

Now, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that Dr. Cyclops is a great movie.  Personally, I have never been exactly wowed by movies about people being shrunk down to the size of dolls.  I just feel like it's a gimmick that quickly runs its course.  That said, Dr. Cyclops does have some pretty amazing effects and while most of the performances are standard, Albert Dekker's performance as the title character shines.  He's not the kind of mad scientist who is doing evil unknowingly (a la Dr. Frankenstein).  He truly is evil, making some horrific decisions including randomly killing his subjects. 

The version of this we watched was in gorgeous Technicolor also.  It was a joy to see with all the heavily saturated greens of the jungle throughout.  The very first scene has some crazy "fish tank" blue lighting thing happening with ripples flowing across the walls and the doctor.  Seriously cool!

But all this aside, how is it as a movie?  Well, I'll ask the girls to explain.

Karen:  First of all, I felt deceived by the movie title.  I was expecting a giant cyclops monster.  I had no idea where the movie was going so when it turned out that wasn't the case, I felt a little cheated.

Lilith:  That didn't bother me because I didn't know the name of the movie. I came down after the credits.

Karen:  Aside from that though, I liked this.  I really liked the small people and how everything became giant; like sewing needles become giant weapons in their hands, etc.  It made me think about all the prop departments and how they had to make this stuff.

Lilith:  I liked how they would all work together to defeat the doctor.  It reminded me of the scene in Cinderella where all the mice and birds come together to sew her dress.  

Okay, all this is great, but what about the story itself?  Did you like that?

Karen:  Honestly, I did.  It was fun and nostalgic, but the acting was atrocious and some of the dialogue was horrible.  It was still fun to watch.  I loved how they paraded all of these exotic animals around just to try to convince you it was really shot in the jungle.  I swear, there's a point where thirty animals show up one at a time on screen and to be honest, I'm not even sure they all really exist in the same jungle.  It was like being at the zoo.

Lilith:  I forgot about the tiny horse!  They were mean to the tiny horse!

Karen:  Yes, I wanted the tiny horse for my own. He was really cute, but they treated him very badly!

Lilith:  Yeah, when that guy slams the door shut on his box, that was just rude!

To be clear, people die in this movie but the tiny horse is not harmed in any way.  Slamming the box shut was the extent of the harm done to the horse, but this seems to have stood out to the girls.

So, to wrap things up:

1. Dr. Cyclops is not about a cyclops, but isn't a bad film.

2. It looks really nice but the acting isn't the best.

3. When you're shrunken by a mad doctor and want to escape, just remember that 'Teamwork Makes the Dream Work.'

4. Don't be a jerk to the tiny horse.

From my perspective, it's a fun watch but not essential.  If you're looking for a nostalgic trip one night, you could do worse than to check this out.  You can find it streaming on Amazon Prime.  If you'd like a look at the trailer, here you go!

Next week, we'll go back to the black and white classics for a forgotten Boris Karloff movie.

Until then, check out my series on exploring Japan or visit my Amazon Author's page!

See you soon!

   

Quality Family Time - October 2018 Edition - Week 1

Well, another October is upon us.  For those of you who've followed the blog for a while, you know that in our house that can only mean one thing.  It's time for two months of horror movies!

Why two months?  

Because we found we couldn't get our favorites in, plus new films, without starting in September!

This year we've already been through quite a few.  There was one though, one special one that I've been saving, that I was looking forward to more than all the others.  A movie that I've had on my short list for two years, knowing that my wife and daughter would get sucked in and simultaneously hate it.  

That movie is Battle Royale (2000).

Battle Royale tells the story of a ninth grade class who are beyond saving.  It seems kids just don't respect their elders the way they used to, so society passed the BR Act.  As kids make their way through the school levels, the worst and most disrespectful get sorted to a very special class.  At the end of their ninth grade year, this class is drugged and sent to an uninhabited island in the Sea of Japan.  There, they are each given food, water, a map, and one weapon.  They're also fitted with fashionable shock collars that will explode if they break any of the rules.  Over the next three days, they must hunt each other or die themselves.  The only remaining survivor will be allowed off the island.

Now, why would I be looking forward to showing this as opposed to any other horror film?  It's simple actually.  As you've probably guessed from reading the blog, they're pretty obsessed with Japanese pop culture.  Anyone whose seen Battle Royale knows that rule number one is not to get attached to any of the characters.  By definition of the rules, you only have a 1 in 42 chance of picking the winner.  Remember how they hated Train to Busan because so many people die?  This is like that one on steroids!

So two nights ago, we fired up a double feature of Cabin in the Woods (Lil and Karen's pick) and Battle Royale.  First I was surprised how well these two movies go together.  On the surface, they definitely have the same "bones" as far as their respective stories.  Without spoiling Cabin in the Woods for the handful of people reading this that haven't seen it, let's just say that the circumstances surrounding the protagonists have eerily similar set ups.

That said, all of my anticipation did not have the payoff I'd hoped for.  Mostly, there was mild complaining.

Karen:  This movie has absolutely no plot whatsoever!

Karen:  I do like the guy who shouts everything.  I'm going to start doing that.  Just yelling out what I want everyone to do.

For the most part, Lil stayed quiet.  When it was all said and done, I asked what they thought.  Karen's complaint stayed the same.  No plot until the last 20 minutes or so and then you understand just who you should be rooting for.  

I looked to Lil for something, anything that would tell me that deep down, she really did like it but didn't want to admit it.  Instead, she just stared back and then said everything I needed to know.

Lil:  I REALLY did hate that.

Yes!  And she'll be asking to see it again in few years.

Of the ones we've seen so far, here are the winners and losers.

Winners (as voted on by everyone)
Monster on the Campus
The Thing From Another World
It Came From Beneath The Sea
Momsy, Nonny, Sonny and Girly (Thanks to Mike and Lynn and The Annual 24-Hour Film Fest for introducing me to this one.)
The Grudge  (American version)
The Cabin in the Woods
Dracula (1931)
Slither
Rosemary's Baby  (Based on the conversation alone, I'd say this has been Karen's favorite so far this year.)
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
Piranha 3-D
Cat People
Attack of the Crab Monsters


Winners (Cary only)
The Masque of the Red Death
Battle Royale


Losers
The Woman Eater  (Too much talking.  Not enough woman eating.)

Gigantis: The Fire Monster  (This is a repackaging of Godzilla Raids Again that was marketed to American audiences.  The narration is laughable at first, then really annoying.  Stay away from this one and watch the subtitled Toho version)

Exploring Japan Vol. 9 - Godzilla!!!!!

Those of you who know me or have read the blog for a while know I’m a monster fan at heart.  You’ve probably been asking yourself why it’s taking me so long to address Godzilla in all of these posts about visiting Japan.  Well the fact is, he’s more difficult to find than you’d think.  Sure, you’ll see him in the occasional gachapon machine and you can find toys in most decent toy stores, but there’s no Godzilla museum or even a decent exhibit in a Toho theater. Instead, you have to travel around and check out multiple sites that have a few things here and there.

First up, you can visit the Toho theater in Shibuya.  On the third floor, you’ll find the original Gojira statue that used to sit outside in a courtyard area.  As you can see, it’s kind of small given the subject matter, but it’s a cool statue nonetheless.

It was moved here after it was replaced by this statue in that same courtyard.  This version is the same one seen in the excellent Shin-Gojira that was a huge hit in Japan in 2016.  It’s bigger than the original but still, it’s not Godzilla-sized and it's just a statue in a courtyard.

What you really want to see is something big, crazy and loud, right?

There’s only one of those and it’s in Shinjuku.  That’s right, the same Shinjuku that I described last week as a little on the shady side.  The Hotel Gracery partnered with Toho in constructing a giant Gojira head and claws on its roof.  

Even from a distance, it looks like he’s about to come right over the building.  It’s located (conveniently) on Godzilla street.  

Take the elevator up to the lobby and you’ll be confronted with this awesome display featuring every single Toho Gojira movie poster in chronological order, from the original all the way through Shin-Gojira.  

Then, you can walk out onto the roof and see the big guy up close and personal.  

The base features famous scenes and an area where you can activate a low roar and sound effects.  The real treat is to be there when the giant head comes to life. Steam and lights begin pouring from its mouth and it lets out with a very loud roar!

Once you’ve finished looking around, if you still want a little more Gojira related fun, head to the hotel’s café and you can order a themed dessert.  I can’t vouch for them because we weren't hungry, but the main one is meant to resemble elevated train tracks and I’m sure playing with your food in this situation would not be frowned upon.

These are the major Gojira attractions in Tokyo proper, however there are others outside the area that we didn’t get to.  

For instance, there’s the giant slide at this playground called Kurihama Flower Park in Kanagawa.  

There’s also a giant footprint and plaque in Kanonzaki commemorating where the beast first made landfall in the original film.  

For years there was a slide and statue here also but it deteriorated and was torn down in the 1970’s. 

Finally, for those who are diehards who really want to spend a day getting closer to their favorite film, you can visit any number of major sites that were replicated in miniature and destroyed by the man in the rubber suit.  Here’s a quick list of some you can easily see by foot, train or river cruise.

Tokyo Tower – featured in multiple movies this was destroyed in many kaiju films from Gojira to Gamera.  At the time of Godzilla’s heydey it was one of the tallest structures in the city measuring 333 feet high.  It’s now been overshadowed by Toyko’s Sky Tree Tower which has been voted by Japanese fans as the structure they’d most like to see destroyed in the next film.

National Diet Building – This is the home of the Japanese parliament and accounts say that people cheered in 1954 when Gojira destroyed part of it.  This was because there was still a lot of resistance to the proposed Treaty of Mutual Cooperation between Japan and the U.S.  In 2003, the big guy came back to finish the job with help from Mechagodzilla in Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.

Ginza District – This is a very upscale area and in 1954 certain places within it were iconic.  That’s why Godzilla made it a point to smash the Matsuzakaya department store and the giant clock that tops Wako, another building that every Japanese native would recognize.  The Ginza district has been featured in many of the sequels as well.

Odaiba – This is an artificial island in Tokyo Bay that houses hotels, a mall (that felt a little too American to us), a giant ferris wheel and can now be accessed by monorail.  It was destroyed in Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000). Notice the ferris wheel on the far right in the picture above.

Kachidoki Bridge – This drawbridge was completely obliterated in the 1954 original film.  You can see it by taking a river cruise down from Asakusa to Hamarikyu Garden.  That same cruise will take you all the way to Odaiba if you want, but the Garden is a great place to wander and you shouldn’t miss it.

And that’s your Godzilla tour of Tokyo!  Next week, I’ll take you to a place even more horrible than anything ever imagined in any Godzilla film ever made:  Sanrio Puroland a.k.a. Hello Kitty Land.

Until then, if you want something almost as frightening to tide you over, check out my Amazon Author’s page.

See you next week!

Horror Histories Vol. 12 - How Santa Inspired The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) is the very best movie about a Chainsaw Massacre that doesn’t actually show a chainsaw massacre.  That's true!  Not one chainsaw actually touches flesh in the entire runtime of the film.  For those who have never seen it, I know you don’t believe me.  You’re thinking that I’m fooling you into watching something that’s going to be super gory and gross.  I’m not though. 

Yes, a chainsaw does appear in the film, repeatedly and yes, the film is about a family of violent murderers.  No, it’s not something for everyone, but a common misconception that started in schoolyards nationwide back in the 1970’s is that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a supremely gory movie.  Instead, it gets its chills and scares from superbly measured camerawork and a phenomenal script that oozes dread.

Now, most people who love horror movies can point right away to the inspiration behind this one.  While we don’t see Leatherface and his family carving up human victims, we do see artifacts of their past deeds scattered around their house.  There are ornaments made of bones, furniture with bone decorations and that mask our villain wears definitely came from someone else’s face.  This all brings to mind a real life serial killer named Ed Gein who famously dug up graves and took trophies to make everything from furniture to clothing.  I won’t go into specifics but if you want to read something truly disturbing, check out his page on Wikipedia.

What many people don’t know is that Tobe Hooper was initially inspired by something even more horrifying than Ed Gein.

Christmas shopping.

Hooper gave an interview where he detailed what happened.  He was in the hardware department of a store and the Christmas shopping season was in full swing.  Hooper was not a fan of crowds so already, he was anxious to get out.  As his anxiety began to build, he found himself staring at a display of chainsaws.  His next thought was (and this is a direct quote), “Well, if I pick this damn thing up and start it, they’ll part like the Red Sea and I can get out of here.”

I know that's not Santa in the picture above, but it's as close as I could find.

Hooper had been looking for a horror story to film.  He was a big fan of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead and wanted to make an independent feature to get his name out there.  With the realization that the chainsaw was potentially a violent and bloody weapon and not just a tool for lumberjacks, he soon started researching and writing.

See, the Holiday Season really does bring out the best in all of us, right?

If you want more horror that happens around the holidays, check out my book The Wash.  Seriously, holidays are involved.  Check it out!

See you next time!

Horror Histories Vol. 11 - The Expedition That Inspired King Kong!

For years now, a small subgroup of movie fans have argued about which monster would win in a fight;  King Kong or Godzilla.  Many people who like one of those also like the other but you’ll find some rabid fans in both camps who fixate on their favorite.  Personally, my favorite will always be King Kong (1933) but that’s tinged with nostalgia.  Growing up, one of our local stations (WTOG Channel 44 out of Tampa, FL) used to show it once a year, uninterrupted by commercials and let me tell you, it was an EVENT!  At least to middle-school-aged Cary it was an event.

That said though, I’m still a sucker for a Godzilla movie and what you may not know is that without a real life giant lizard, the story of King Kong may never have been written.  It’s a fact and it all begins with an adventurer who was born into the Vanderbilt fortune. 

His name was William Douglas Burden.  He was Harvard educated and in 1928, absolutely dying to find an adventure he could hang his hat on.  Burden wasn’t the kind of guy who enjoyed the plush, lavish lifestyle his parents and relatives enjoyed. Instead, he was more comfortable with a machete in-hand, hacking through a jungle and soon he figured out how to make his dreams of adventure happen.  There was an animal discussed among scientists that begged for further research.  The problem was, no one had been able to capture one.

The Komodo Dragon is a meat eating beast that lives in what is now Indonesia.  At the time, the island fell under Dutch rule, so Burden wrote for and was granted permission to lead an expedition to Komodo and bring back at least one of the giant lizards. 

Long story made short, he did just that.  In fact, he brought back three and two were put on display at the Bronx Zoo briefly.  They died in captivity.  However, they made quite a sensation.  Estimates put crowds at close to 30,000 people a day, visiting just to get a glimpse of the dragons.  Also on display in the Komodo dragon exhibit was a stuffed gorilla.  Believe it or not, that garnered crowds as big as the ones waiting to see the dragons themselves.  

  

Which is where Kong comes in.  See, one of Burden’s close friends was Merian C. Cooper.  Cooper had turned his attentions to Hollywood after leading a life of adventure himself.  He’d spent time as a bomber pilot and was a prisoner of war in a Soviet camp for nine months.  He escaped from the camp and made it to the Latvian border and freedom.  By the time he and Burden were palling around in New York, he was already enamored with film and while his Wikipedia page will tell you that Cooper thought of the idea for King Kong in a dream, it’s hard to ignore some signs that point directly to Burden’s Komodo Dragon.

For instance, Burden and his expedition brought cameras and filmed their exploits.  The films were used to drum up the excitement around the exhibit.  Cooper borrowed that angle for Kong.  Burden’s wife accompanied him on the expedition.  She ran the cameras and at one point came face to face with a Komodo dragon while the hunter assigned to accompany her was away.  He came back and shot the beast before it could get to her.  The idea of a beautiful socialite along on the expedition was another thing that Cooper borrowed for the film.

Finally, Burden had come up with a special name for his find.  He called them “King Komodo”.  Yep.  Cooper borrowed that also.  He kept the setting in New York and added something that he and Burden had talked about.  That was the idea that maybe the dragons died at the zoo because they were homesick for their native land. 

Now, this takes nothing away from King Kong.  The film is groundbreaking and the script is fantastic.  I say this a lot here but, this movie is a classic for a reason.  King Kong is one of those movies that everyone should see at least once.  That said, without Burden’s expedition to capture a living dinosaur, Cooper’s giant gorilla movie would have been a completely different film altogether.

Looking for something to read this weekend that has giant monsters wrecking cities?  Well… I got nothing.  That’s not entirely true.  I’ve got a few things on my Amazon Author’s page for you to check out but none of them have giant monsters.  Still, you may enjoy them so click on this link and see what's there.

And go watch King Kong!