A nice merging of separate dramatic illustrations in yellow and black makes this Mexican lobby card for El Ahijado De La Muerte eye-catching, capturing the adventure fantasy tone of this noir western well.
A fun movie to watch even if not the definitive biography. I don't know what the hell they were thinking with that mini-series with Adrienne Brody, but I recommend you watch this instead. Also read Walter Gibson's book, Houdini's Escapes and Magic if you want to go behind the scenes.
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Continuing my postings on the American International pressbooks for the Vincent Price and Roger Corman collaborations, here's The Pit and the Pendulum, arguably one of the best examples of champagne artistry on a beer budget. The eerie chamber, the encroaching madness, and the razor sharp blade, descending with every swing, is sheer delight for horror fans with a classic leaning, visually and thematically. This pressbook follows the same format as before: contest coloring page (this time a terrifying one), a stylish caricature, tie-ins with Famous Monsters of Filmland and, for additional Barbara Steele coverage, Pageant Magazine, and lots more exploitation material. The large pressbook does justice to the poster art, too. Here's the comic book reader version: Download The Pit and the Pendulum Pressbook
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Okay, sure, the cover isn't all that inviting, but inside you'll find bats, cats, and beasts to thrill you. And wings, lots of wings and creepy things in glorious black and white (hmm, make that off-white, damn cheap paper).
Here's the comic book reader version: Download Chilling Tales of Horror v2-4
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Another exemplary American International pressbook, this time for Tales of Terror. Lots of tie-in promotions with a Dell comic book, Famous Monsters of Filmland ("a popular magazine which is carried by your local newstands and in drug store magazine racks"), a caricature for print media, a paperback book, a bookmark (gee, remember those?) and a contest coloring page. Richard Matheson adapts Poe's stories for screen and Roger Corman directs. With a few exceptions in recent memory, when was the last time a horror movie starred "name" actors like Rathbone, Price, and Lorre?
(Here's the comic book reader version: Download Tales of Terror Pressbook)
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American International's over-sized pressbook for House of Usher sells the Price, Poe, and terror quite well. And! There's a coloring page! What better way to promote horror than with a coloring page and crayons! Sadly, they didn't make the poster art the coloring page. Pity. Try getting those flesh tones right on the screaming woman in the coffin. Here's the comic book reader version: Download House of Usher Pressbook. Tattered gown white and morbid crimson would be hard to find in the crayon box, too.
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The Comedy of Terrors pressbook is filled with promotion: articles on the notable cast, lots of ballyhoo, and suitably black-humored illustrations. There's even an exclusive caricature and an interview record to hype the movie. Here's the comic book reader version: Download Comedy of Terrors Pressbook
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Here's the Mexican lobby card for the Columbia serial, Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom. Kirk Alyn, who also played the first screen Superman, stars in this 15 episode actioner.
Two things come to mind every time I see this Mexican lobby card for Captain Video, Master of the Stratosphere serial: The Honeymooners episode where Ralph and Norton attempt to share a television set, and THAT ray gun he's holding. I must have that ray gun!
Can't you just smell the chocolate? You don't need a golden ticket to read the Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory pressbook from Zombos' Closet. Here it is for your scrumdidilyumptious pleasure. Just don't let Slugworth get a hold of it. What this original movie has over its highly creative remake is more mystery. Not knowing Willy Wonka's backstory, he's more mysterious, more magical, and more sublime. Too many remakes mistake the flash of CGI and the unnecessary origin story as must haves, when they aren't needed for the story proper. ( Download Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Pressbook)
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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) PressbookRead More »
Here's the movie herald that came with the pressbook for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I like both the original and the remake, but there's just something a little more special about the original. I think leaving the mystery of Willy Wonka intact is why.
An exciting pressbook for an action adventure movie, the poster art for Sands of the Kalahari is vibrant and filled with drama and menace. And just look at that ballyhoo for the movie theater! Here's the comic reader version: Download Sands of Kalahari Pressbook
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