Good morning, gentle readers, and welcome to The Daily Grindhouse for Friday, March 15, 2024. Here's hoping that your Friday puts you in the happiest of possible moods, ready for your weekend, and raring to read what trivia I've found and put in front of you on the Daily Citation Page.
Well, well, well ... it's a bit overcast here in the Other Land Down Under (aka Arizona) this morning. I got up a bit early, found myself a bit tuckered, went back to bed for a little extra, then ran a few errands out and about. When I left the house, it actually looked like it was clearing up, thank you very much, but now that I'm back home it's definitely all clouded over again. It definitely looks like rain, but I'm not seeing anything in the local forecast. Weird. Maybe I'll check again later.
Honing in on the task at hand ... wowza. There's a good deal of birthdays, movie releases, and whatnot worthy of attention this morning. In fact, there's so many I'm having some minor trouble picking and choosing which to highlight, but maybe I'll do something a bit different and draw some focus to more as opposed to less. You know me: normally, I try to bring you just what I feel are the biggest and brightest anniversaries ... but, seriously, there's a good deal catching my eye.
So ... buckle up, folks. This is gonna be fun.
Well, well, well ... it's a bit overcast here in the Other Land Down Under (aka Arizona) this morning. I got up a bit early, found myself a bit tuckered, went back to bed for a little extra, then ran a few errands out and about. When I left the house, it actually looked like it was clearing up, thank you very much, but now that I'm back home it's definitely all clouded over again. It definitely looks like rain, but I'm not seeing anything in the local forecast. Weird. Maybe I'll check again later.
Honing in on the task at hand ... wowza. There's a good deal of birthdays, movie releases, and whatnot worthy of attention this morning. In fact, there's so many I'm having some minor trouble picking and choosing which to highlight, but maybe I'll do something a bit different and draw some focus to more as opposed to less. You know me: normally, I try to bring you just what I feel are the biggest and brightest anniversaries ... but, seriously, there's a good deal catching my eye.
So ... buckle up, folks. This is gonna be fun.
I know, I know, I know ... but who you gonna call, right?
On this day in all the way back in the year of 1957, genre auteur Edward Wood Jr. delivered one of his singular efforts to the cinema: Plan 9 From Outer Space may not have ruffled as many feathers back in the day as it could've, but somehow -- against all hope -- it has endured, rising like a Phoenix from the ashes to the height of being christened one of the worst motion pictures ever made.
Woof!
I know, I know, I know. I hear you. It's bad, right? Why are we celebrating bad?
Well, that's a very convoluted question, and it could bring a reasonably convoluted answers; and yet I'll keep it simple: even such cinematic stinkery as Plan 9 has brought folks into the realms of the Fantastic. Audiences have shown up to see this one on the silver screen at festivals, special screenings, and the like; and if even one of those airings has helped to put Science Fiction and Fantasy in the minds of potential fans then it's done at the very least what any genre production could, should, and would do.
Yes, it's awful ... but it's OUR awful.
Embrace it. Celebrate it for what it is on this day ... and tell it 'Happy Birthday.'
On this day in all the way back in the year of 1957, genre auteur Edward Wood Jr. delivered one of his singular efforts to the cinema: Plan 9 From Outer Space may not have ruffled as many feathers back in the day as it could've, but somehow -- against all hope -- it has endured, rising like a Phoenix from the ashes to the height of being christened one of the worst motion pictures ever made.
Woof!
I know, I know, I know. I hear you. It's bad, right? Why are we celebrating bad?
Well, that's a very convoluted question, and it could bring a reasonably convoluted answers; and yet I'll keep it simple: even such cinematic stinkery as Plan 9 has brought folks into the realms of the Fantastic. Audiences have shown up to see this one on the silver screen at festivals, special screenings, and the like; and if even one of those airings has helped to put Science Fiction and Fantasy in the minds of potential fans then it's done at the very least what any genre production could, should, and would do.
Yes, it's awful ... but it's OUR awful.
Embrace it. Celebrate it for what it is on this day ... and tell it 'Happy Birthday.'
There is a contingent of fans who worship at the trough of Hammer Films.
I may not exactly be one of them, but that's not to say that I don't have an incredible amount of respect and admiration for what Hammer Studios accomplished and continues to do years after their prominence in the marketplace of cinema. I do, but I'll also admit that the films are fueled by more ideas than they might be money; and still those blood, sweat, and tears deserves a bit of extra attention when their efforts come up in our rotation.
That said, one of the studios' more revered efforts -- Frankenstein Created Woman -- first came to the silver screen on this day back in 1967. The feature starred the legendary Peter Cushing, the luminous Susan Denberg, and Thorley Walters, Robert Morris, and Duncan Lamont in key roles. Here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"After being reanimated, Baron Frankenstein transfers the soul of an executed young man into the body of his lover, prompting her to kill the men who wronged them."
Though I can't say with absolute certainty, I believe strongly that I've seen this one. I think I caught it when it was broadcast on Turner Classic Movies, but I'll also say I could be confusing it with another of Hammer's output. Honestly, a few of the prominent ones kinda/sorta blend together in my mind, so I'm hesitant to say much about it. However, I'll always give it a shout because -- quite frankly -- that's my day job.
I may not exactly be one of them, but that's not to say that I don't have an incredible amount of respect and admiration for what Hammer Studios accomplished and continues to do years after their prominence in the marketplace of cinema. I do, but I'll also admit that the films are fueled by more ideas than they might be money; and still those blood, sweat, and tears deserves a bit of extra attention when their efforts come up in our rotation.
That said, one of the studios' more revered efforts -- Frankenstein Created Woman -- first came to the silver screen on this day back in 1967. The feature starred the legendary Peter Cushing, the luminous Susan Denberg, and Thorley Walters, Robert Morris, and Duncan Lamont in key roles. Here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"After being reanimated, Baron Frankenstein transfers the soul of an executed young man into the body of his lover, prompting her to kill the men who wronged them."
Though I can't say with absolute certainty, I believe strongly that I've seen this one. I think I caught it when it was broadcast on Turner Classic Movies, but I'll also say I could be confusing it with another of Hammer's output. Honestly, a few of the prominent ones kinda/sorta blend together in my mind, so I'm hesitant to say much about it. However, I'll always give it a shout because -- quite frankly -- that's my day job.
There are those who say that Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five is one of the best ever written. Having not read it myself, I can't say. I did start it one time, and -- for whatever reason -- I set it aside and picked up something else. Maybe I'll get back to it one day for posterity's sake ... but I have seen the flick that was first screened theatrically on this day all the way back in 1972 ... and, yes, it's a pretty solid winner.
For those unfamiliar with the work, here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Billy Pilgrim has mysteriously become unstuck in time. He goes on an uncontrollable trip back and forth from his birth in New York to life on a distant planet and back again to the horrors of the 1945 fire-bombing of Dresden."
I'd suggest that -- as is often the case with adaptations -- it might not be the most accessible for all audiences. Essentially, it's a heavily anti-war film (in my opinion as well as that of others), and I realize that topic alone might not strike a chord with discerning moviegoers. Still, it boasts some great ideas and some winning performers so I'm happy to give it an enthusiastic thumbs up to my readership. I've even reviewed it for SciFiHistory.Net, so those inclined to know more can head on over to the Reviews Section.
For those unfamiliar with the work, here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Billy Pilgrim has mysteriously become unstuck in time. He goes on an uncontrollable trip back and forth from his birth in New York to life on a distant planet and back again to the horrors of the 1945 fire-bombing of Dresden."
I'd suggest that -- as is often the case with adaptations -- it might not be the most accessible for all audiences. Essentially, it's a heavily anti-war film (in my opinion as well as that of others), and I realize that topic alone might not strike a chord with discerning moviegoers. Still, it boasts some great ideas and some winning performers so I'm happy to give it an enthusiastic thumbs up to my readership. I've even reviewed it for SciFiHistory.Net, so those inclined to know more can head on over to the Reviews Section.
It should go without saying that 2023 wasn't all that long ago. In fact, checking the calendar on my desk, it was only just last year ... but history is made each and every day, my friends, so I'll occasionally point you in a winning direction if I think it's worthy of your undivided attention.
Now, that said, I'm not gaga over the whole Evil Dead franchise as are so many fanboys and fangirls. The truth is I'm very familiar with the original films and the Starz Network TV show as well; while it has elements I enjoy, the fact remains that it's something I can take or leave depending upon my mood. I was hesistant, indeed, to even watch 2023's Evil Dead Rise -- which premiered on this day just a year ago -- but I'm glad I did. I had a helluva lot of fun with it, and I thought the flick feverishly re-invigorated the franchise for the modern era.
Dare I add?
I think it was -- without a doubt -- one of the bloodiest features I've ever come across; and that's certainly saying something. You have to be OK with seeing blood, folks, and that's my bottom line ... because the blood is PERVASIVE from start-to-finish. Granted, it isn't only about the blood, but I don't want to mislead any of you. This one is about as bloody as was humanly and inhumanly possible. Yes, it's that wet and sticky.
You've been warned.
Now, that said, I'm not gaga over the whole Evil Dead franchise as are so many fanboys and fangirls. The truth is I'm very familiar with the original films and the Starz Network TV show as well; while it has elements I enjoy, the fact remains that it's something I can take or leave depending upon my mood. I was hesistant, indeed, to even watch 2023's Evil Dead Rise -- which premiered on this day just a year ago -- but I'm glad I did. I had a helluva lot of fun with it, and I thought the flick feverishly re-invigorated the franchise for the modern era.
Dare I add?
I think it was -- without a doubt -- one of the bloodiest features I've ever come across; and that's certainly saying something. You have to be OK with seeing blood, folks, and that's my bottom line ... because the blood is PERVASIVE from start-to-finish. Granted, it isn't only about the blood, but I don't want to mislead any of you. This one is about as bloody as was humanly and inhumanly possible. Yes, it's that wet and sticky.
You've been warned.
Respectfully, there's a great deal more; and you've now reached the point wherein I encourage each and every one of you to head on over to the Daily Citation Page for March 15th to check out its SciFi, Fantasy, and Horror goodness. I give you my word: there's something for everyone over there, so please check it out.
As always, thank you for reading ... thank you for sharing ... thank you for being a fan ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
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