Fantastic special effects and fast pace keep this horror science fiction movie still enjoyable to watch. Wikipedia mentions it's the first American horror movie to use the three-strip technicolor process. Albert Dekker is especially sinister and dangerous as a scientist with no moral center. The colorful poster art uses Dr. Cyclops and Doctor Cyclops in its titles.
Abbott and Costello weren't the only comedians to romp around with monsters.
Okay, giant mollusk monsters doesn't sound very scary, but the gooey stuff they spewed out was pretty disgusting. So there's that. One of my favorite 1950s monster movies. Of course, the men do all the heavy lifting and the women scream a lot. That speargun looks oddly placed, doesn't it?
One of my favorite science fiction movies. As a young boy I was fascinated by the costumes and storyline. Here's the pressbook.
Here are beautiful examples of the artistic depth of illustration to be found in Mexican lobby cards.
Here's another good viewing choice for Halloween. The beatnik culture vibe is so straight from the fridge, dad!
A very excited Mexican lobby card for Jesus Franco's The Awful Dr. Orloff.
Of the many actors who have portrayed Professor Moriarty in the movies, my two favorites are George Zucco and Henry Daniell. Both comprised that sinister reptilian physical appearance with the noted diabolical intellect quite well. Basil Rathbone, of course, will always remain one of the key Holmes' players. It was a shame Nigel Bruce, as Dr. Watson, was directed to be a bumbling idiot in the Rathbone and Bruce pairing, but their series, taken as a whole, even with bringing Holmes into the then contemporary period of the Second World War, was an entertaining canon in itself. In fact, revitalizing Holmes by making him part of the war effort was a stroke of marketing and budgetary brilliance and a breadth of fresh air to the venerable detective.
Not a very appealing Mexican lobby card for Lucio Fulci's Young Dracula, but it is a horror-comedy so that explains the illustration. The overwhelming use of text, uneven colors, large sizing, and ill-chosen typeface, makes this lobby card so-so and haphazard in layout.
Read my review of this solid entry into the creepy slasher genre.