…is our way of getting the latest hot-off-the-wire info to you; reviews, previews, scoops on horror films in production, newsworthy monster curiosities, bulletins, and other grues-flashes. There are several contributors to our hodge-podge Teletype page … BILL FERET, our man in Show Biz (he’s a professional actor, singer, dancer with the impressive resume list of stage, film and TV credits to his name), makes use of his vast professional experiences and leads to Feret-out items of interest to monster fans, and duly report on them in his flashing Walter-Wind-chill manner.
LEAPING LIZARDS! … or rather: “ambling amphibians?” frogs are upon us!
AIP is at present shooting “FROGS” in Florida. This is about an EEEEEk-ological monster. Starred are Ray Milland and Judy Pace. While the previously announced “LIVING DEAD” has been retitled “THE FROG.” George Sanders and Beryl Reid are in this one which concerns motorcyclists and occultism. Potential new titles: “My Heart Went Leaping”, “Hell’s Reptiles on Wheels?” or “Hell’s Angels Get Warts!” (?)
Keep thine eyes glued to your TV set for KING KONG to endorse Volkswagon.
There seems to be a fetish for Monsters in Advertising. Binaca Mouth Spray is the most noticeable. There are hordes of others. Looks like monsters sell. Reminds us of comedian Stan Freberg’s album-fable entitled “Grey-Flannel Hat-full of Teenaged Werewolves” the heart-wrenchingly sad tale of a normal, well-adjusted werewolf who by day (Horrors!) turns (shudder!) uncontrollably into (ye gods!) an Advertising Man.
..; Look for: “THE LIVING DEAD” with George Sanders, “THE BEAST IN THE CELLAR,” “A TOUCH OF MELISSA,” “CAULDRON OF BLOOD,” “CRUCIBLE OF HORROR,” (How ’bout a Glass of Gore” or “Thermos-jug of Terror”? “Decanter of Doom?) and a new George Pal production “DIE THE YOUNG.”
AIP’s also giving us “GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER“. This one’s a real one; kiddies! No Kidding! The said monster lives on pollution. Wish we had a few of those monsters in real life. The title song has to be “Smog gets in your eyes.”
Up and coming is “THE RESURRECTION OF ZACHARY WHEELER.” A really top-notch science-fiction/medical opus, it’s somewhat the same rip-off as “THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN.” Tight and crisp direction by Robert Wynn lends authenticity to the portrayal of Leslie Nielsen, Bradford Dillman, James Daly, and Angie Dickinson. The pic was filmed in a new process of tape-to-film and seems to have been a rather successful experiment. With the desolate setting of the New Mexican desert, Hithcockian intrigue and the sci-fi plot, this is sure to be a hair-raiser, or at least a Zachair-raiser.
Follow the bouncing eyeballs to the re-issue of “HOUSE OF WAX,” in the original 3-D process. This time around, Charles Bronson, then an unknown, gets billing above, the then-star, Phyllis Kirk.
Veteran villain Vincent Price, is doing an encore of “THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES,” and there’s to be a sequel to “WILLARD” called … natch … “BEN,” starring Joseph Campanella. Sequels usually need something to bolster them up … a song, perhaps? (“… the way you wear your rat…”)
Russ Meyer plans a change of pace from his usual sexpot-boilers with a thriller called “THE ELEVEN.” He’s been scouting for an Austrian-type castle setting … in Macon, Georgia? “Well shut my moat!”
Ken Russell‘s “THE DEVILS” is a superb film about Church-run witch-hunts, possession, and persecution … but it’s a gory little number. Bring your stomach liners, it’s worth it…
Public TV is planning a special titled “BETWEEN TIME AND TIMBUKTU,” described as an “existentialist space satire,” based on several Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.. works, including “Cat’s Cradle,” “Player Piano,” and “Welcome to the Monkey House.” Bob and Ray will be among the performers. Bob and Ray are the funniest comedy duo radio was ever graced with.
OUTER SPACE: Oh, boy. Lovers of the dreadful have an object for worship in this item. Now, we’ve seen evil-smelly-awful invaders bent on – ominous bass chord – Ruling The World zapped by seawater, volcanoes, bacteria, rockets, artillery, fission, fusion, fire, electricity, chemicals, earthquakes, other invaders and natural mutation, to cite a few improbabilities. Yog, you will be pleased to hear, is done in by sonic waves from bats. Yep, this incredibly malevolent, supremely cunning baddie is cheep-cheep cheeped to death. And that’s the best part…
Acting honors go to the bats.
And … are … you ready? … A new country and Western album just released by “Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen” entitled “LOST IN THE OZONE” (I believe that was the first chapter title in the film serial.) Some of the numbers on the platter must be “O-Zone River,” “The Wizard of Oze,” and “Nobody Oze the Trouble I Seen.”