THE MONSTER TIMES TELETYPE
… 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.
For you old Star-Trekkies, William Shatner is soon to turn up on an episode of ABC-TV’S THE SIXTH SENSE, entitled original-ishly DEATH AT THE TOP OF THE STARS, it concerns a man who plays piano masterfully in a trancelike state, sort of a sonambuliberace. It’s such a pity that this series, which has vast potential, is nowhere up to the par it should be. With all that ESP flying around, you’d think they could see all their failings in advance.
T-V, by the way, is due for a fantastic influx of horror and suspense films, ABC’S NIGHT-STALKER, had the highest rating of any made-for-T-V movie yet, in fact they’re going to release it as a theatrical movie. THE SCREAMING WOMAN, also on ABC, as well as CBS’s SHE WAITS, also had unusually high ratings.
Not to be outdone, NBC is readying a pilot for a prospective series, starring Hugh O’Brian, called PROBE. Something akin to a space-age MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, only with missions more impossible.
The old faithfuls are at it again. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee are winding up shooting on HORROR EXPRESS in Madrid, and are going in, together again, THE CREEPING FLESH, back home again at Shepperton Studios.
Marlon Brando is starring in a new theatrical film, THE NIGHTCOMERS, and with a title like that, you might think it was about beachcombers who work the evening (graveyard) shift … it’s not. Do you remember that all-time super-duper stalker-shocker called THE INNOCENTS, based on Henry James’ TURN OF THE SCREW? If you do, then perhaps you recall those dear, dread, awful apparitions, ‘Miss Jessel’ and ‘Peter Quint’. THAT’S what THE NIGHTCOMERS is about!!!
The Incredible Shrinking Man is returning, only this time it’s a different fellow, and he’s a ‘mite’ smaller. Tigon British Films, is readying for release COLD WAR IN A COUNTRY GARDEN, (the titles mislead more and more), dealing with a hero who is of an inch tall.
Also from Tigon comes DEATHWATCH, starring lan Bannen, Judy Geeson, and in a guest star role, George Sanders.
With all these GUNKY titles around, perhaps you shied away from BLOOD ON SATAN’S CLAW, because it looked … gunky? Anyway, hurry to see it, before the blood clawts.
After much hassle, and reported negotiations time and time again, AIP is! truly going to film H.G. Wells’ WHEN THE SLEEPER WAKES. James H. Nicholson will produce it independently himself. Hooray!
Shirley Jackson’s marvelously malignant WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN A CASTLE, will finally be before the cameras soon. It’s about time, too. 1 happened to catch the theatrical version of it in Washington, D.C. in preview a few years ago, starring Shirley Knight. It was a remarkable piece of macabre, but it never did see broadway, because perhaps it resembled THE BAD SEED too much. Much more could have been done with it, and I think the film medium will capture all the nuances a live production couldn’t. It could easily possess all the fright and terror that Miss Jackson’s THE HAUNTING did.
OBITUARY
Died: EDWIN M. APRILL JR., February 6, 1972, in an automobile accident. He is survived by a wife and two daughters. Those who are involved in comics, science fiction or just plain nostalgia, on either pro or fan level are grateful to the many contributions to the whole popular arts community for which Ed Aprill was responsible. He was one of the first great fan-publishers, printing giant collections of sturdy paper and slick permanent paper covers of THE SPIRIT, BUCK ROGERS, JOHNNY COMET (Frazetta’s comic strip), as well as his special regular publication, CARTOONISTS’ SHOWCASE, which reprinted in huge size, old EC horror-sci-fi artist Al Williamson’s current comic strip, SECRET AGENT X-9/CORRIGAN, as well as MODESTY BLAISE, and TARZAN, among others. His passing is mourned by all who knew him.
With the incredible success of “Willard” there seems to be a boom on malicious mammals. I’ve already told you about the sequel “Ben.” but soon to be multiplying the malice will be RABBITS. It stars Stuart Whitman, Rory Calhoun, and Psycho-delectable Janet Leigh. ‘Twould be nice if it had an Eastertime release, don’t you think? PETER RABID? PETER COTTONTAIL GOES APE?’ INVASION OF THE BUNNY BEAST? What with the current money-making degenerate hippy “Jeezus-Freek” fad, we wouldn’t be surprised if the producers of RABBITS try to pick up on that fundamentalist of markets by having a crucified Easter Bunny. Anything for the old green kale stuff. Lettuce pray!
I’m sure all of my friends (fiends?) in the New York area, are going to run to see the play SYDNEY AND THE WEREWOLF’S WIDOW, as soon as it opens. It stars Telly Savalas and Geraldine Page. It’s about … the widow of a werewolf!. Really! And the man who wants to marry her, but is a little worried about her two not-so-darling little children by her … er … previous … husband (?) who … was a … werewolf! The kids are, shall we say, a Little Strange. The girl is into Voodoo and things, while the boy bays at the moon.
Independent International will be releasing FRANKENSTEIN’S BLOODY TERROR, in 3-D, BLOOD OF GHASTLY HORROR, and DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN. I am horribly, and bloodily aghast-ly. Isn’t everyone?!
A New York-based firm, Kirt Films, will release CARNIVAL OF BLOOD, and CURSE OF THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN shortly.
The creators of JESUS CHRIST, SUPERSTAR, Tim Rice (lyrics) and Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) are going to pen a new filmusicalization of PETER PAN. Lionel Jeffries, whom you’ve seen dozens of times in sci-fi and horror films, is directing. The “second star to the right” may never be the same, but I trust Mr. Jeffries.
Master musician Richard Rodgers is! collaborating on a musical version of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. The two geniuses who brought you WEST SIDE STORY, Jerry Robbins and Leonard Bernstein, are planning a musical version of “The Dybbuk,” which deals with demon possession.
As you have seen, both Television and Films are surging with gruesomeness, and don’t think it hasn’t crept into the theatre world as well. Gwen Verdon, in her first straight play, 5 the star of a suspense shocker called CHILDREN, CHILDREN in which she plays a baby-sitter to some “rather nasty” wards.
The creator of the musical hit OLIVER, Lionel Bart, has a musical version of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME in the offing. The score of QUASIMODO will be released as a two-record album prior to the Broadway production, ala the success of J.C. Superduper. I can just hear Quasi humming … “If I were a bell…” or “..The bells are ringing for me and. and Esmerelda’s little ditty to him … “There’s the kinda walk you walk …” Maybe they could call it … “The Sound of Mumbling?” (Would someone investing in the show be called an … “Hunch” backker?)
We’re going back to the PLANET OF THE APES for another sequel – CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Roddy McDowell again stars along with Don Murray and Natalie Trundy. Stay away from this one in droves! Yecch!
Scheduled for a Broadway opening on April is a new “Supernatural drama” titled A GHOST STORY. Starring in it are Julie Harris (of the “Haunting” fame) and Richard Kiley. It concerns a couple who take refuge in an old, decaying Victorian home in New England during a snowstorm. Miss Harris is truly an adept “Screamer” and should be really super.
Don’t expect the film version of CABARET to be a soft shoe – song and dance type of musical. It’ll be more like a song-and-dance macabre. Word has it that Liza Minelli’s ‘Sally Bowles’ won’t be quite as goody-two-shoes as depicted on Broadway and Joel Grey’s characterization of the Emcee will be more towards the Satanic figure originally intended. The atmosphere of the CABARET, The Kit Kat Club, will be one of gothic foreboding and dark malignancy, with all of its bizarre tenants contributing to what I hope will be a truly sinister film.
Broadway Producer, David Merrick, has finally turned to films and is filming his successful, spine-tingling drama CHILD’S PLAY. The action takes play in an English boys school, with mucho mysterious happenings, malevolent! atmosphere reeking, and youthful sadism. With the impressive presence of Robert Preston, Beau Bridges and James Mason, you can expect a winner.
The musical version of “LOST HORIZON” entitled SHANGRI-LA, didn’t take on Broadway a few years ago, but Ross Hunter is readying an altogether new multi-million dollar film version, with music by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. This could be a blockbuster, and you know Mr. Hunter’s films are usually Shangri-la-vish!
Denise Nicholas, of ROOM 222 is the heroine in the all-black modern-day version of BLACULA. William Marshall, noted Shakespearean actor, essays the title role.
And if it isn’t a horror film, it should be, with a title like RARE BLUE APES OF CANNIBAL ISLE. IT AIN’T A MUSICAL COMEDY!
NECROMANCY will star Orson Welles and Pamela Franklin. Its original title was THE TOY FACTORY, and I can see the reason for the title change. I happen to adore Pam Franklin, too. I wish they’d give her lotsa meaty roles, because I really feel she’ll be a superstar someday. Her previous roles as wicked children were all masterpieces, but she’s quite the luscious lady now!
And from a new firm called Universal Entertainment Corporation (No relation to Universal) comes a flood of evil epics … TARZANA, THE WILD GIRL, .. THE MAD BUTCHER, starring Victor Buono the baneful babes … THE WEREWOLF VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMAN (a gory LOVE STORY?) … THE SPECTRE OF EDGAR ALLEN POE … LEGACY OF BLOOD … BIG FOOT … CURSE OF BIGFOOT. THE DEVIL, YOU SAY … and DEATHTRAP. That’s a heap of horror! Will there! be THE TOE OF BIGFOOT. Sounds like a TV series potential: STUB THE STARS.
And finally, sci-fi author Karel Capek! (WAR OF THE NEWTS) had one of his works turned into an opera entitled THE MAKROPOULOS AFFAIR, which concerns a woman who is 342 years old. Wagnerian soprano, Maralin Niska, a sort of Raquel Welch Valkyrie, gave a stunning performance in the Los Angeles production, which utilized colored films, and elaborate sets all of a fantasy dream-like nature. Hopefully, the New York City Opera will be bringing it here too. Write them and demand it. Dig – a horror-science-fiction opera set in the future with way-out (and occasional) costumes … and sung in ENGLISH fer a change!
Enough is enough, that’s plenty to keep you busy for 2 weeks. Get those postcards and letters rolling into the Metropolitan Opera Company … and be sure to mention THE MONSTER TIMES to ’em! Imagine a monster opera: GORGO & BESS, or THE MAD BARBER OF TRAN-SEVILLE-ANIA!