Thursday, February 28, 2008

Is the Moon made of Green Cheese?


George Pal the fantastic film maker (I met him at the San Diego Comic Con right after Doc Savage was released) Planted the seeds into our flowering imaginations so brilliantly. Who can ever forget the original WAR OF THE WORLDS or TIME MACHINE?. The vastly under-rated SEVEN FACES OF DR. LAO or the Funtastic Puppetoons???

Lippert Pictures heard about the expensive DESTINATION MOON and rushed the cheaply made (yet, still fun) ROCKETSHIP X-M into release. Here is not only a great example of a 50s sci fi poster art, but my favorite Spaceship design from the period.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Another "Nice" Mess..........


The artists did'nt have the famous saying wrong, the film makers did. Oliver Hardy always stated "Here's Another Nice Mess You've Gotten Me Into", to his Comedy Partner Stan Laurel. Never the less, this is one of the team's best Comedy Classics. And here is a great and rare example of the art of Al Hershfeld. The prolific artist lived well into his 90s! His caracitures are among the best ever made.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Lost is right!


When Irwin Allen announced he was re-making the classic LOST WORLD (1925), fans of stop motion rejoiced. When it was "rumored" that Willis O'Brien (the animator of KING KONG (1933) might be involved, fans screamed HOORAY! When Irwin Allen opted for using Iguanas and Baby Alligators with fins glued to their backs, fans SAID WTF!? I admit that although Irwin did use real live lizards to portray his dinosaurs, I still enjoyed it. And as a young fan of babes, I also enjoyed Jill St. John and Vitina Marcus as the YUM YUM Native Girl. A deluxe dvd has been released and is well worth picking up.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Cagney in a Breezy Dramedy!


If you have not had the chance to see many (or any) of the great pre-code Cagney's, do so. They are among the easiest to watch with modern eyes. In BLONDE CRAZY (1931), Cagney easily discovers the inner motivation of the character he is given, and makes that character immediately likeable. His interaction in this film with the cute as heck Joan Blondell is clever and amusing. It would be great if a new generation were to discover this fine all around great perfomer.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Boris & Bela Foriegn One Sheet


Very cool one sheet to the ultra-classic THE BLACK CAT (1934). In this movie, Boris is a Satan Worshipper and Bela is the Good Guy!!! This art shows yet again, that the foriegn poster designers knew their stuff.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

The Monster Demands a Mate!!!!


Besides being a bonifide classic of the cinema, B.O.F. has what is my all time favorite pre-1940 music score by Franz Waxman. Not familier with the score?....GO ORDER IT NOW!!!!

Monday, February 11, 2008

Will Lionel Never Learn ???!!!


Lionel Atwill just loved terrorizing Fay Wray! As we saw previously, Lionel (a.k.a. Dr. X) wanted lovely Fay. He also wanted her in MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM (1933). Then in THE VAMPIRE BAT (1933) (as seen here) he wants her yet again! It just goes to show you, you don't have to be a "Mad", Mad Scientist to want Fay. Just a Horny Scientist.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Boris! Bela! and special guest Basil!


Simply magnificient Title Card to the original 1939 release of this great movie. Boris would portray the Monster here for the last time in a theatrical film. Bela was introduced as the "Creepy" Igor. In my opinion, his best creation next to Dracula.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Do You Know........


Another fine example of the poster art of Reynold Brown. You can see why his work is among the most collectable by poster conoseurs, conesaurs..........ummmmmmmmmmmm, movie fans. At the end of the film, a mad guys collection of Monster Heads burst into flames. This sequence was indeed filmed in color. They actually burned several creations by famed "Make it damn impressive for very little money cause we at A.I.P. are cheap" imagineeer, Paul Blaisdell. It is on DvD, and If you get the chance see it.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Get Out The Melted Butter!


I'm always amazed at how Monsters know exactly what we the audience (guys anyway) think they should grab! In the months to come, we will see poster art that usually portrays all sorts of Creatures that obviously "want" the company of the fairer sex.

As far as making a Giant Crab the creature, I am less afraid and more leaning towards figuring out how to make a steamer pot that will cook something that BIG!

Thursday, February 7, 2008

You can't beat a Looney Tune!


Unlike other studios that made one sheets for each individual cartoon release, Warner Bros. made stock one sheets. They would make an 8X10 of the cartoons title complete with character and the theatre would glue it to the poster! That is why you see that empty space in the upper right. Among my favorite cartoons are any that team Daffy & Porky. Just watch BOOBS IN THE WOODS sometime.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Inspired by the Creature From The Black Lagoon


Anyone else remember this 1966 Underwater Thrill Ride?! As a kid, I always marveled at the intricate costume of the Creature. The Scales, The Glowing Red Eyes. But mostly, the fact that the costume designer gave the Creature a large hump in the back. That hump, looked suspiciously like a couple of Scuba Tanks! Someone please release this on DvD!!!!




Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Fay Wray marks the X..... spot in my Heart!


What cool images! Look at that oh so smug face of Lionel Atwill. And the beauty of Miss Wray transfers easily to this great poster art.

....Why A Duck?


Here is an extrtemely rare insert (14X36) to the Marx Brothers 1st Film. Still funny today, this gem was made in 1929!

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Boris Karloff goes APE!


A neat little Z picture as Boris must gather spinal fluid to cure his ingenue (Translation, Hot Babe) of Polio. He does it by dressing up as an Ape. Why? cause an Ape escaped from a local Zoo and has been killing people. Boris kills the Ape, skins it, wears the skin and WA LA! fresh spinal fluid!.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Rather Racy Poster, don't ya think!?


This would have made me rush out to my local theatre! I mean besides the fact that It featured a Great Cast!.

King Kong is Coming!


Here is a window card form the original 1933 release. No doubt you will notice that the girl in Kongs hand is indeed....TOPLESS! Gotta love the pre-code artwork.

The Best of the Sherlock Holmes


You simply cannot beat Basil Rathbone as the Sleuth from Baker Street. Here is one of several different designed posters from the first in that great series. Special mention must be made of George Zucco as Holmes Protagonist, Moriarty.

Friday, February 1, 2008

When Bela met Lon!


Bela Lugosi who at first turned down the role of the Frankenstein Monster, became that creation in this 1943 Gem.