How Much Longer to Halloween?
So…how much longer to Halloween?
Eerie No. 1 Ashcan Edition
While discussing horrible things (movie related, of course) with Professor Kinema one sunny Sunday, he tossed this replica of Eerie No. 1's 24-page ashcan, 1st edition, over to me. While I vaguely knew about it, I had never seen this pocket-sized first issue, which was quickly slapped together in 1965 by Warren Publishing, and distributed briefly to lock in the magazine title's name before a rival used it, or so the story goes.
Here's the entire ashcan for your edification pleasure (although the stories were pulled from Creepy issues). From what I've read on the web, this replica indicates it's from the 1st edition because: on page 18, panel 5, what should be recognized as the back of a bald-headed man in the upper left corner shows only black; and in the margins of certain pages you can see the paste-up instructions. Bootleg copies abound, making it a difficult item to purchase without authenticating it first. Warren complained about the bootleg copies in Creepy No. 81 (see page at the end).
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Movie Pressbook: The Devil Within Her (1975)
This one has my vote for silliest poster artwork in a horror movie. The Devil Within Her movie itself has some unintended, but very silly moments. Joan Collins is a trooper for sure.
Dr. Morbid’s Haunted House and House of Frankenstein
In Lake George, NY
I spent Father's Day in Lake George, New York, visiting some old haunts. Not one for the boating pleasures of the Lake, I always have a memorably morbid time every visit paid to House of Frankenstein's Wax Museum. With wife and son (sadly, they aren't horror fans) cowering behind me, we made our way through the dark, narrow passageways. I laughed, they cringed, at the tormented waxwork figures depicting scenes of gruesome cruelty, blood-letting, and monster mayhem. It never gets old for me, even though I've visited House of Frankenstein since way back in the 1970s, when it first opened. The hanging body-bag room really freaked them out, but we eventually made it through with limbs and composure intact.
When they went back to the hotel to splash in the indoor pool, I visited Dr. Morbid's Haunted House for the first time. Same owners as House of Frankenstein, I think, but Dr. Morbid's is a haunt attraction with live performers creeping about. The theme is a haunted waxworks factory, a demented owner, questionable business practices, and some disgruntled–and dismembered–former employees. My ghoulish host was insane, screechy, and acted appropos to the creepy proceedings as she led the way through the scary environs. I was the only visitor for this tour; I hate going it alone, but hell, I'm a horror blogger, damnit, it's my job to be scared! Seasoned pro that I am (and in horror, 'seasoned pro' can take on some interesting meanings), I jumped a few times and slowed cautiously before turning dark corners. Loved it.
Heading back to the hotel, I couldn't believe my horror fan luck. Next to the indoor pool stood an Addams Family Pinball game! Man, every Father's Day should be this much fun.
Movie Pressbook: Mill of the Stone Women (1960)
Exploitation suggestions include telephone greeting, radio spots, coffin in lobby, whispering campaign, you know, the usual…
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Professor Kinema Remembers Ray Bradbury
In the 1970s I wrote a letter to Ray Bradbury inquiring about what would be involved in adapting some of his stories for a TV series. Basically it was for information on my part, since there was no potential for a TV series existing…for me, that is. He promptly wrote back informing me that all of his stories belonged to him, personally and completely. He then mentioned what the price of the film rights would be for each of the stories I mentioned. Needless to say, it was way out of my class. He concluded the letter with a word of encouragement. ‘Why not write something original?’ Most other authors (at least those who would bother to answer) would simply say something like, ‘Buzz off kid, not interested…unless you could come up with the extraordinary fee for what I’ve written.’
Mr. Bradbury encouraged one to write.
In the early 1990s at Unkka Forry’s birthday weekend I had the pleasure to actually meet him in the Ackermansion. He kindly autographed several items for me and posed for an informal picture. These inscribed items not only contained his signature, but the date of the inscription. This serves as a fond memory of the day I encountered the ‘Dean of Science Fiction Writers.’ He had been labeled a science fiction author, but in articles I’ve read about him he prefered to be considered a Fantasist.
We chatted briefly. I didn’t bring up the letter I wrote to him. No doubt hundreds have been written to him. He wouldn’t have an immediate recollection of mine. At the birthday event he got up and related a few fond thoughts about his boyhood and lifelong friend, Forry. One comment he made about what he shared with the Ackermonster was “We both grew old…but we never grew up. ”
A great epitaph for not only Forry Ackerman and Ray Bradbury, but for all of us who love living in the realm of the Fantasist.
Professor Kinema (Jim Knusch)
Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
Zombos Says: Good
In Disney’s groundbreaking 1937 animated version of the Snow White fairy tale, the wonderfully wicked and least kid-friendly moments take place in the Dark Forest, when the witch-queen is spellcasting, and when she plummets to her death after being chased by the rosy-cheeked dwarves. In Snow White and the Huntsman, Charlize Theron as the monomania-driven Ravenna provides splendidly wicked moments throughout, returning this Brothers Grimm story to its darker meaning of sorcery, depravity, vanity, and the lust for power. The few glimmers of romance seen flashing between Snow White (Kristen Stewart), the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) who saves her, and her childhood friend William (Sam Claflin) who blames himself for abandoning her, pale against Theron’s mordsdurst for eternal beauty. If Mirror, Mirror left you with a Pop Rocks candy aftertaste, here’s your chance to replace it with the bite of a mature licorice liqueur.
Ravenna seduces then kills Snow White’s father, King Magnus (Noah Huntley), and imprisons her in the castle’s North Tower. As Snow White grows into a fair young lady, Ravenna ravages the countryside, draining the beauty and youth from attractive female villagers to remain the fairest of all; until Snow White becomes of age that is, and the Magic Mirror warns the Queen that to remain the fairest and gain eternal beauty, she must eat Snow White’s heart.
Ravenna sends her white-haired, Moe haircut-styled, brother (Sam Spruell) to fetch Snow White. He fails and Snow White takes a powder to the Dark Forest. Ominous black shrouded figures, gnarled, black shriveled trees, and creepy big black bugs galore play on her mind and she swoons, luckily landing on the one dry spot of ground in an otherwise murky nightmare of marshes and muck. Ravenna sends Eric the Huntsman to bring her back with the promise of bringing his wife back from the dead. She lies, so Eric sides with Snow White and takes her out of the Dark Forest, where they meet a small group of women who have disfigured themselves so Ravenna will leave them alone. Her brother doesn’t, and Eric must quickly return to protect Snow White.
Ms. White not only enchants the Huntsman into helping her, but also the sourpuss dwarves (Mini-Me versions of Bob Hoskins, Ian McShane, Ray Winstone, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan, Johnny Harris, Nick Frost, and Brian Gleeson) who capture her and Eric. She also beguiles a bridge-watching troll, some fairies, many cute woodland creatures, adorable one-eyed mushrooms, and a majestically rendered white stag, in CGI animated scenes that harken back to Disney’s hand-animated ones.
At Ravenna’s “mirror, mirror, on the wall…” this Magic Mirror flows golden across the floor and forms into a tall, shrouded figure with a male voice to reassure her she’s still the fairest or to give direction on how to stay the fairest. A telling moment comes when Ravenna is speaking with the golden figure as her brother watches unnoticed. He doesn’t see the figure standing in front of his sister and he doesn’t hear it speaking to her. I suddenly thought it’s all in her mind! The mirror isn’t magic. The male figure is her solace and her guilt personified.
The battle between good and evil in Snow White and the Huntsman reminded me of Ridley Scott’s Legend. Although the stakes are somewhat different, Ravenna is as evil and purposeful as Legend‘s Lord of Darkness, and Snow White is as determined as Jack in stopping her and restoring the balance of goodness to the land. Unlike previous versions of the Snow White story, romance and housekeeping are not the priorities here, but beauty is.
Ravenna’s beauty runs only as deep as her skin; Snow White’s beauty runs to her soul.
Movie Pressbook: Twisted Nerve (1968)
Ever notice how troubled youth in horror movies always reach for sharp implements first instead of talking to a guidance counselor? Or use those sharp implements on the guidance counselor (or other suitable authority figure) instead of more constructive communication? Go figure.
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