Stewie Speaks! The heart of BellMojo sounds off on his Halloween hits! Dig it, baby!
Oct 31, 2009 Cool Stuff
Hello all, Stew Goldstein here. For all those that don’t know me, I am the silent partner in Bellmojo, and by silent, I mean I don’t talk very much. Well, Patrick Kennedy, who I’m sure you’re all very familiar with, had asked me to put together a Halloween horror movie column and so here it is.
I’ve decided to focus on three choice films from before 1970.
Ready?
Good, then let’s begin.
For the first choice I’ve decided to go with one of my favorite films of all time
There are three kinds of people in this world: you either favor the Marx Brothers, the Three Stooges or Abbott & Costello. In my world your choice has a lot to say about you. I’m certain in your world this means absolutely nothing.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Abbott & Costello. Anyone that grew up in the New York Metro area in the 1970s remembers every Sunday morning at 11:30, WPIX would air an Abbott & Costello film.It didn’t matter which one it was to me, as long as I got to see my A&C movie.
THE WISTFUL WIDOW OF WAGON GAP: You bet!
PARDON MY SARONG: I was there!
But the one I always wanted; was the one with the funniest moments; the one with the most daring escapes; the one with the monsters!
ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN
Dracula!
Frankenstein!
And the Wolf Man!!!
The holy trinity of monsters. Sure, say what you will about the Mummy, or the Gill-Man, or the Phantom of the Opera, but they’re all second-stringers when compared to these guys.
And the casting! C’mon Lugosi as Dracula! Lon Chaney Jr as Lawrence Talbot, the Wolf Man! Oh man, I really used to love the Wolf Man as a kid; I used to snarl my upper lip, growl and bound from the couch, all stalky-like after watching this movie. And, Glenn Strange as Frankenstein’s monster! While nowhere near as good as Karloff, Mr Strange, having played the monster before, was the next best choice.
And then, of course, there are the boys and they have never been better! In this one, they play a pair of bumbling baggage handlers — I know what you’re thinking, they’re really showing their range as actors here, but let me ask you something, if they played buttoned-down physicists, would you be laughing?
Well, to make a long story short, the boys are supposed to deliver crates containing the Frankenstein Monster and Dracula’s coffin to MacDougal’s House of Horrors and, of course, the monsters rise and escape! With the intention of furthering Dracula’s nefarious plan of providing Frankenstein with a new brain, Costello’s.
From there we have some of the greatest gags the boys have ever done or re-done as may be the case, especially the bit with the moving candle. But who cares? It’s still funny.
The main reason this film is considered one of the best comedy-horror films ever made is due to the fact that monsters play it straight; they’re not used for comedic effect, that’s what Abbott & Costello are for.
In my opinion every moment of this film is a gem, from the animated opening credits to the final surprise guest.
So, if you’ve never seen it do yourself, a favor and rent it and if you have seen it, see it again — you won’t be disappointed.
As I’m sitting here writing this I’m feeling a bit under the weather. Sick, fever, chills, hallucinating the Dalai Lama and the Pope each want me for their rugby teams ( I can only play for one, which will it be, which will it be?) and it had gotten me thinking about another film, or rather a particular segment of another film that will also give you the chills.
BLACK SABBATH
What we have here is a 3 part horror film by the late great Italian horror director Mario Bava. I’m gonna tell you right now, you don’t have to watch the whole thing.
Skip the segment THE TELEPHONE — it’s basically just a standard crime piece with no real great payoff.
You should watch THE WURDULAK if only for the presence of Boris Karloff as the title character. The Wurdulak is a vampire that feeds only on those that they love — so family members beware! Apart from Karloff’s great performance as the eponymous monster the main things to look for in this piece are the same things you want to pay attention to in most of Bava’s later films and that is the fantastical color schemes and the eerie sets. Nobody filmed like Bava (on a side note — check out the Japanese film KWAIDAN for another great example of remarkable use of color in film, and, of course, Argento’s SUSPIRIA & INFERNO but we’ll get to those another time)
The real reason to watch BLACK SABBATH is for the one short segment called THE DROP OF WATER. Without a doubt one of the most chilling horror films ever made. To break the story down, a nurse steals a dead medium’s ring but the medium is not going to go quietly unto her grave without it.. This is one of the few films that scared the living heck out of me as a child and still makes me shudder every time I think about it. You might want to consider leaving the lights on when watching this.
Word of warning about the DVD — it is from the original Italian version which means that, crime of crimes, Boris Karloff is actually dubbed into Italian — which was very disappointing not being able to hear the legend’s iconic voice.
Watch THE DROP OF WATER anyway!
This next film has always been a favorite of mine ever since I first saw it one Saturday afternoon on channel 5…
THE FLESH EATERS
This film has it all! A tough-as-nails takes-no-guff charter pilot, a drunken washed-up actress, a sexy young love interest, a German scientist with a shadowy past (played perfectly by Martin Kosleck , if you close your eyes while the movie is on you could swear you could smell the alcohol on his breath), deadly microbes in the water (the title creatures) that will pick your bones clean until you sound like a wind chime, and even a beatnik named Omar! Can you dig it, daddy-o?
There’s much more, but to tell would be giving away the great surprises this movie has in store for the uninitiated. It’s a treat of pure pulpy horror that never fails to impress with each viewing.
An interesting side note to this film, the editor was Radley Metzger who later moved on to direct some of the more memorable porn films of the 70’s such as THE LICKERISH QUARTET, CAMILLE 2000, and THE OPENING OF MISTY BEETHOVEN.
With a pedigree like that behind this film how, can you not want to watch it now?
And remember, “The only people who will not be sterilized with fear are those among you who are already DEAD!”
Well that draws this article to a close but I would like to leave you with some other choices for consideration:
FRANKENSTEIN
THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN
DRACULA (1931) — not as good as the Frankenstein films, it plays more like a filmed stage play but it does have Lugosi.
THE WOLF MAN
THE MUMMY — both the Universal and Hammer versions.
THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON — one of the coolest looking monsters ever.
KWAIDAN — Japanese ghost stories of extreme beauty.
THEM — Giant ants, what more could you want?
PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES — more creepiness from Mario Bava.
CURSE OF THE DEMON — Dana Andrews haunted/hunted by what may or may not be a real demon. Fantastic direction by Jacques Tourneur that will keep you guessing until the end.
HORROR OF DRACULA — Christopher Lee playing the count for the first time! Peter Cushing as Van Helsing! Classic Hammer.
CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN — Still Lee and Cushing, still great.
THE BLOB — fun, fun, fun.
THE HAUNTING — forget the crappy remake and go back to Robert Wise’s original.
FREAKS — take a step into the world of the crazy Tod Browning for this lurid tale.
THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS — despite what you may think of the man, Roman Polanski has made one heck of an entertaining vampire film that will leave you laughing.
HOUSE OF WAX — Vincent Price, do you need more?
FRANKENSTEIN’S BLOODY TERROR — insane Paul Naschy horror vehicle with werewolves & vampires. Strangely though, no Frankenstein.
SPIDER BABY — horror, comedy, whatever you want to call it but worth a look. And Lon Chaney Jr sings the theme song!
BLACK SUNDAY — another Mario Bava classic starring the eerily beautiful Barbara Steele.
TARANTULA — more giant insect mayhem. Look for a young Clint Eastwood at the end as a fighter pilot.
THE LAST MAN ON EARTH — not a great film but the closest adaptation to Richard Matheson’s classic I AM LEGEND that we’re likely to get. Oh, and Vincent Price is in this, too!
PSYCHO & THE BIRDS — Two horror classics by a master at the peak of his powers.
THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD — The original shocker; the granddaddy of modern horror. See it again, its still great.
Tags: Abbot & Costello, Halloween, horror, Mario Bava, Paul Naschy, Stewart Goldstein
Edgar Allen Poe’s works read in Brooklyn
Oct 27, 2009 Cool Stuff
One of the very talented folks I have met trawling the digital depths, Joseph Vitaliano Jr., will be giving his first public reading of classic works of Edgar Allen Poe this Friday @ 9PM at Baboo’s Books in Brooklyn, NYC!
Something from our friend Aldrin “Buzz” Aw
Oct 27, 2009 Cool Stuff
I just thought this was really funny. I met Buzz at a con ages ago, and I have to tell you, he’s a mensch. Check him out at justbuzz.com
Halloween Trivia from our sistah at She Never Slept!
Oct 22, 2009 Cool Stuff, Friends of Bellmojo
Hey, folks, just wanted to remind everyone to visit She Never Slept everyday till Halloween for the 13 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN trivia contest that Sarah L. Gerhardt has put together, as of this post it will day 4. Yeah, I know, I been busy! But check it out, Sarah is giving away some really cool prizes. Today’s winner will be awarded a Cthulhu Fish emblem and Yellow Sign sticker from Dagon Industries! For those of you that don’t know, I am writing reviews for Ms. Gerhardt, and I better get cracking on my next or my gray matter is going to end up in a Mi-Go Brain Cylinder!
Tags: Cthulhu, Dagon, Free Stuff, Halloween, Prizes, Sarah L. Gerhardt, She Never Slept, Yellow Sign
Descendant of Anne Frank’s Tree to be planted in NYC
Oct 20, 2009 Cool Stuff
At one of BellMojo’s forays out to meet James Ellroy, I had the pleasure of meeting a young lady by the name of Jennifer Horn. Little did I realize at the time that Ms. Horn was a professor at Columbia University, teaching plant identification, but that she is also helping to bring one of ten horse chestnut saplings – progeny from the very tree Anne Frank gazed upon – to various institutions in the United States, including the World Trade Center site.
Allow me to let Ms. Horn speak for herself,
“Anne Frank’s story and diary resonated strongly with me as a young person, and when I saw a, well, a branch between plants and her story, I was motivated to reach out to the Anne Frank Center and volunteer any services they may need.
Using experience I acquired from writing and reviewing RFPs for the City Planning Department and the Wildlife Conservation Society, I worked with Yvonne Simons and other staff at the Center in preparing a Request for Proposals that would be sent to institutions interested in obtaining a tree. I also was a member of the committee that reviewed the proposals and ultimately selected the institutions which will receive the saplings.”
For more info you can read Jennifer’s blog here!
Royal Flush Festival hits NYC!
Oct 15, 2009 Cool Stuff, Friends of Bellmojo, News
Folks, if you are in the NYC area this weekend and you don’t make it to the Royal Flush Festival, you are doing yourself a great disservice! 13 NY Premier Indie Film Screenings, 3 Art Exhibits, 6 Live Concerts, 2 Days of Panels and 5 Nights of Killer Parties!
Hey, there hipster-kids, got nothing to do, hanging out on a street corner in the East Village, pissed off that Chanchi hasn’t gotten back from copping over on Ave D and because the Tranny turned out to be a real girl? Well, get your emaciated, faux-hawked, skinny-jean wearing ass over to The Royal Flush Festival! 13 NY Premier Indie Film Screenings, 3 Art Exhibits, 6 Live Concerts, 2 Days of Panels and 5 Nights of Killer Parties! Oh, and by the way, wearing a t-shirt with Che Guevera’s face branded across it is exactly what the old man would have wanted. This little piece of beligerence was brought to you by Patrick J. Kennedy, and the opinions therein are in no way endorsed by The Royal Flush Festival. My feet are still cold and I am cranky. Tomorrow, my report from the Big Apple Comic Con!
Tags: Art, Independent film, Music, NYC, Royal Flush magazine
Help Grimjack Creator John Ostrander Fight Glaucoma!
Oct 13, 2009 Cool Stuff
Want out help out with a good cause? John Ostrander, co-creator of (Possibly my favorite comic EVER!) Girmjack, has long fought his battle with Glaucoma valiantly. According to Grimjack Editor Mike Gold,” Recently the pressure in his eyes has gone up -not a good sign. He’s had several surgeries in Boston along with all sorts of other expensive treatments that, of course, are not covered by his meager health insurance (the freelancer’s dilemma). Visit Comix 4 Sight and you can bid on really cool comic book memorabilia to help benefit one of the best writers in the business.
HP Lovecraft Film Fest & Cthulhu Con
Oct 13, 2009 Cool Stuff
If you have been paying attention around here, you will know that I, Patrick J. Kennedy, have been writing reviews for She Never Slept, a really cool horror, s.f. and strange fiction site, run by the very diligent Ms. Sarah L. Gerhardt. They recently hosted the HP Lovecraft Film Festival and you can check out all the pics and reviews on the site!
The Party Revue Live in Bellmore, NY! Friday, October 16th at 10pm
Oct 10, 2009 Cool Stuff
If you want to see some of New York’s finest session musicians, playing a night of great Rock and Roll covers, come on down to the Pool House Billiards Hall & Pub, this Friday and see The Party Revue. There is NO COVER and we are also offering a $30 Top-Shelf Open Bar from 10pm-2am and we mean TOP-SHELF! Bottled and tap beer, mixed drinks, martinis, shots, Jaeger-bombs and cordials! 
BelMojo Founder Provides His Opinion On Something? Shocking!
Oct 10, 2009 Cool Stuff
Patrick J. Kennedy (Hey, that’s me!) is going to providing reviews for the site She Never Slept. It’s a horror, sci-fi, strange fiction site for discerning fans, particularly those that like the works of H.P. Lovecraft! The first review is for a great liitle kid’s comic called Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom!
Tags: H.P. Lovecraft., horror, sci-fi, She Never Slept