Sunday, 31 October 2021
ROTTEN TOMATOES
Here's RT's list of the 95 horror films from the 1970's voted best by its reviewers. How many have you seen?
https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-1970s-horror-movies/
PRESENCE
The amorphous thing hung in the air above the house waiting. I placed a light in the window and prayed it would return to the world beyond.
I felt sure it was waiting for me.
HALLOWEEN HORROR QUIZ
Its Halloween. Its a Quiz. Its a Halloween Quiz! Go for it! Answer TWO each. Share the grue. OK.
1. Where is the film Halloween set?
2. Which true criminal inspired the film Texas Chainsaw Massacre?
3.Which classic horror actor speaks in Michael Jackson's Thriller?
4. In the world of toys what is the Mod Monster?
5. Who is the Kessler boy in horror?
6. Which monster was called Ymir?
7. Who is Star in the Lost Boys?
8. What falls over Harrington's car at the start of Night of the Demon?
9. What was the name of the retreat for werewolves in The Howling?
10. Who is Laurence Talbot in horror?
11. What was the name of the hotel in the Shining?
12. Which actor played the Lord of Summer Isle in The Wicker Man?
13. What is the name of the song constantly sung in the Denzel Washington flick Fallen?
14. Which actor played the old horror TV host in Fright Night?
15. Which Hitchcock film was inspired by the crimes of Ed Gein?
16. What is the premise of the film the Stepford Wives?
17. Which insect species is at the heart of Phase IV?
18. Nosferatu was played by which 2 German actors?
19. In Creepy/ Eerie comics by Warren Publishing often appeared 'Loathsome .....' what?
20. What was the name of the Doctor/ Clinic in the Cronenberg flick Rabid?
Truly Horrible - The Lindberg Monster Kits by Paul Adams
Hi and Happy Halloween!
The US kit company Aurora was famous for its Monster kits, most of which are based on various Universal movies from the 1920s (The Phantom of the Opera) to the 1950s (Creature From the Black Lagoon).
Seeing the success of these kits, which first appeared in 1962, other companies wanted a piece of the Monster pie, but Aurora had the rights to all the big name Monsters. Everyone else had to invent their own Monsters, and pit these unknown horrors against the likes of Dracula and Frankenstein. No contest.
Lindberg was a well known name, with a long history, but they were never in the Big Three. They produced several small groups of horror kits, including this set of four Monsters. They have appeared before on Moonbase Central, but I thought they deserved a closer look.
The Universal Monster Army site also devotes three pages to these kits.
Apart from this there is not a lot of information out there on the kits, just some photographs. They are not even listed on the Scalemates site.
There were four kits in the series. The box art has a horror movie look to it, perhaps trying to suggest a link to well known movie monsters. Wotan also suggested that they may have been inspired by American Indian ceremonial costumes and masks. They are certainly very similar.
No.272:50 Krimson Terror - perhaps based on The Masque of the Red Death (1964), which was a Roger Corman movie ? The figure has four arms.
No.273:50 Creeping Crusher - a vampire in its bat form ?
No.274:50 Green Ghoul - a Mummy, although the bands seem to be overlapping plates rather than bandages. Lobster Man ?
No.275:50 Mad Mangler - Frankenstein's Monster ? Two mouths.
Calling these models 'kits' is really pushing it!
On opening the box there are only two parts, front and rear body half, plus a tuft of coloured Monster Hair to glue on top of the head. The result resembles a Troll. The models all seem to be moulded in plain white plastic. If Lindberg had at least moulded them in different colours, it would have made them more attractive.
The colour of the Monster Hair seems to have varied, and was not a set colour for each kit. Height was about six inches or so.
There was a folded sheet of Assembly Plans, with photos of the model. Here are the written assembly instructions in full: Cement body halves 1 and 2 together. Next paint monster following colors on box cover. Now cement monster hair in place. See below.
Lindberg clearly put little effort or money in to these kits. Design and tooling costs would have been minimal given the lack of parts. Even in the most basic aircraft kit you could expect in excess of a dozen parts.
The copyright date on the side of the box is 1965. The box also says 'See these Lindberg Monsters at your hobby dealer'. Just below this is 'The Lindberg Line - for those who demand the best'.
The original retail price of these kits was 50 cents. The price being included in the catalogue number. For comparison, the Aurora movie monsters sold for 98 cents, but were twice the size, contained far more parts, and were much more detailed. They were far better value.
Having bought one of these kits, and seen what was in the box, how many monster fans would have wanted the rest of the series ? Reader Andy B says he was so disappointed, he took his kit back to the shop. How many others did the same thing ?
To the best of my knowledge these kits have not been re-issued, although resin copies seem to be available online.
Six photos, in three batches. All from Worthpoint or Ebay.
*
Lindberg Postscript!
This looks like an old comic book ad on Pinterest for the Lindberg Monster kits. Although there is no mention of the Lindberg name, the line is described as Unknown Creatures. Un-named...Un-tamed.
None of the models are named, and there is no mention of them being kits, nor do the pictures show the tufts of Monster Hair that were a feature of the Lindberg versions. Price $1 each. That is double what the Lindberg kits were, so are these a later re-issue, either by Lindberg or another company ?
No idea what the packaging was like. I am stumped. Could not find anything further on these. The company name at the bottom of the page is Victory Specialties, but I assume this is just a mail order company ? I cannot read the address.
Model numbers from the ad. I have added the Lindberg number and name for identification purposes only.
X201 is Lindberg No.272:50 Krimson Terror
X202 is No.273:50 Creeping Crusher
X203 is No.274:50 Green Ghoul
X204 is No.275:50 Mad Mangler
Let these terrifying intruders scare you out of this world. Plastic models...gory...grim...grotesque...5 1/2" high...These never-never-landers are available in four types...one uglier than the next. May be painted with plastic model paints...to suit the individual's horror taste.
This is everything I have on this range.
Happy Halloween!
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Marusan Monster Models
Hi Woodsy,
For Halloween, here is another company history from maxsmodels, on the Japanese firm Marusan.
They produced the first plastic kit in Japan, the Nautilus submarine in 1958, pre-dating all the better known Japanese brands.
They did a lot of monster kits, including Godzilla, and various SF craft. I had heard of this company, but had no idea they were so important, or produced so many kits.
Their last plastic kit was in 1975. As always, Max does a great job on these company histories. There are many others on his You Tube channel.
Yours Sincerely,
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Monster Kits : Ruined Buildings
Hi
Regarding the old Fundimensions monster kit dioramas, with giant insects and the like, later reissued by AMT/Ertl, and Airfix, here are a few short films from You Tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9bMR11M7cE
This one covers various kits, including a couple of the AMT/Ertl ones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAWsr3aI0Ic
Next up, the MPC 1:25 scale Jeep kit with cardboard cut-outs of Godzilla and power pylons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itQpxycEDdg&t=299s
There are also some videos devoted to a ruined city scene. This seems to be about 1:144 or 1:150 scale, and intended for use with Japanese giant robot kits. At least some of the parts seem to be N Gauge model railway items. This would also be ideal for use with various SF monsters, as the buildings come in a partly destroyed state. The model cars that come with the kit all seem to be fairly modern, for a proper 1950s B Movie look, you really should use 1950s or 1960s era model vehicles. Still fun though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8KI00LRFCo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rumwOcEpN0g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEDHJ5XLC-A
All very interesting, although I should think pretty expensive.
Happy Halloween,
Paul Adams from New Zealand
BACK BY UNPOPULAR DEMAND
Yep, it's that time when those hobblin', wobblin', snarlin', colourfully decaying, fun-lovers are unearthed and take over the streets of Glasto for the day.
Happy Halloween Moonbase!
Tony K
UK
Dracula Posters
Hi
From the Dark Corners movie review channel on You Tube is this look at 100 Years of Dracula Movie Posters. Yes, 100 years since the first movie with the word Dracula in the title first appeared, back in 1921. It is 56 minutes of pure Dracula movie history. Some of the films are famous, others so obscure I have never heard of them. All good fun.
Dark Corners has many reviews of bad and/or cult movies, and various specials, and is well worth a look, if you have not seen it before.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Saturday, 30 October 2021
"Quis est iste qui venit"
So its almost Halloween, Winter is close and the nights are drawing in. The scent of burning freights the air as the dry leaves of Autumn, raked into piles during the slow, chill afternoon smoulder in small bonfires across the land. Twigs and bare branches rustle and tap at the glass of curtained windows and dogs snuggle restless on hearth rugs, ears twitching alert at foreign sounds. Dinner is over and the dishes are piled up waiting to be washed, but a good strong cup of tea waits at your side as you sit back on your favourite chair and wonder how to pass a quiet evening.
At this time of year, a good dose of folk horror, or as its nearly All Hallows Eve - a smattering of classic supernature is always called for. There's something in the rushing clouds and the deep golden dawns that bring to mind the creepy and the unsettling, both in the story and the film. Over the last few weeks I have enjoyed a few of my favourite films, stories and tv series, which sit well with the time of year. Quatermass and the Pit, The Owl Service and the original Halloween.
One of the simplest and best tv ghost stories for me is Jonathan Millers excellent rendition of M.R James classic 'Whistle and I'll Come To You', filmed in 1968 for the BBC Omnibus series. Its an uncomplicated and quite spare production, almost echoing the 'hand camera' effect of the much later 'Blair Witch Project'. Michael Hordern steals the show as the stuffed shirted academic, who falls foul of the supernatural presence, which - even though it is represented in the most basic fashion, still manages to chill the blood with astonishing ease. The full play is freely available of Youtube and well worth a watch.
Just Whistle - https://youtu.be/mYjtxHHjZ00
And finally on to the big screen, the lavish and most unusual film, 'The Green Knight'. A take on the ancient Arthurian legend of the impetuous and reckless Sir Gawain and his struggle to confront the eponymous Green Knight, who mysteriously arrives one christmas morning to offer a challenge to Arthurs assembled knights. I approached this fully expecting an art-house or modern take on the legendary tale, with contemporary language and modern settings, as is so often the case with new productions of Shakespeare. But despite one or two curious elements and some very interesting titles, the film is a feast for the eye and food for the mind, as the convoluted story is meted out in a combination of mystical fantasy and historical pastische. The settings and costumery are lavish and spectacular and the acting equally enthralling. Dev Patel is an unusual choice for an arthurian hero, but make the role his own with a passion and purpose worthy of a knightly quest. Its not the most fast paced film and does require a little concentration and consideration in parts, but is well worth the effort spent on its viewing. Shortly available on Amazon Prime, I recommend it, not as a horror, but certainly as a mystical and supernatural adventure.
AT WAKEY MUSEUM
The escaping claw hand that Junior bought in a charity shop!
Wakefield museum's old toys
Past rock programmes with the Cribs from Wakefield ... and The Wedding Present playing too!
Dolls house living room through a tiny peep hole
Dolls house window through the same tiny peep hole
That Shirt from the Sixties by Double Two of Wakefield
Sindy knitting patterns by Sirdar of Wakefield back in the day.
Very interesting all round and Junior enjoyed it too!