THE SECRET OF THE TELEGIAN (1960) Widescreen

THE SECRET OF THE TELEGIAN (1960)
(aka Denso Ningen, The Telegian, The Telegraphed Man)

Review: Men are being murdered by a psycho called "The Telegian," who uses a mind-transmitting machine to teleport himself to his victims. Widescreen, in English, no subtitles. Quality A

Directed by: Jun Fukuda
Starring: Koji Tsuruta

The Crimson Cult/The Crimson Altar/The Curse of the Crimson Altar/The Reincarnation/Spirit of the Dead/Witch House (1968)

Seeing this fascinating, but mostly forgotten, witchcraft flick from the Hammer wannabes at Tigon Studios really brought home a realization that had been working its way to the front of my brain for some time now. The English really need to come up with a new formula for horror movie titles! Seriously, how many times can you call a movie “The Curse of Whatever” before people get sick of it? The Curse of Frankenstein, The Curse of the Werewolf, The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb, Curse of the Demon, The Curse of the Fly, The Curse of the Crimson Altar— enough, already! We Americans saw this trend for creeping evil that it was, however, and when this movie played on this side of the Atlantic, it did so under the much snappier title The Crimson Cult.

Faster, Pussycat! Kill!…Kill! (1965)

Director: Russ Meyer
Cast: Tura Satana, Lori Williams, Haji, Susan Bernards, Suart Lancaster
RM Films International Inc. / B&W / NTSC R1 / Unrated / Fullscreen / Mono / 83 mins / Purchase from DIABOLIKDVD.COM
While out in the desert seeking thrills and racing their cars, three sexy and tough go-go dancers meet a nice young couple just looking to run some time trials for their car. Varla (Tura Satana), the leader of the gang of go-go dancers, wants to emasculate the guy and show how big her balls are so she challenges him to a race. Of course she cheats a little and a fight ensues in which she kills him with her bare hands. Instead of leaving any witnesses, they drug and kidnap his girlfriend.


While fueling up for their getaway, they see a huge, muscle-bound man loading up his truck and are told by the attendant that the guy lives on a farm with his father and they just came into lots of cash and they keep it right there on the farm. This gives Varla a bright idea; they follow the big dude to his farm. Make up a story about how the girl they kidnapped was in a car accident with her boyfriend and her parents paid Varla and Co. to find and bring her back home. But they need a place to freshen up and rest and the farm looks like a great place. All the while, they will look for the stash of cash.

Targets (1968)

SYNOPSIS:
“Peter Bogdanovich’s debut feature is a thinly disguised account of ex-marine Charles Whitman, who, after murdering his mother and his wife, armed himself with a number of rifles and handguns and on a sunny 1966 Texas morning, began a shooting spree that killed fourteen people and wounded thirty-two people. Bogdanovich’s version tells two stories concurrently, about an aging horror-film star who feels that his type of movie monster has become passé, and the other about a father-hating gun freak who goes on a rampage to get even with his dad by shooting at people from the top of a water tower and then from behind a drive-in movie screen.” (courtesy IMDB)

Manster DVD (1960)

Experiments turn to treachery when mad scientist Suzuki needs a test subject for his newest serum that can radically alter humans. His chance arrives when American reporter Larry Standford stops by for an interview and Suzuki secretly infects the reporter. With the formula coursing through his veins, Standford begins to feel his moods change and in a startling scene discovers an eye growing out of his shoulder. Another creature is literally growing inside of him, driving him to commit a series of murders. Completely transformed into a two-headed monster, he returns to Suzuki's laboratory. Their confrontation builds to a fiery climax at the mouth of a volcanic inferno. Once seen, The Manster is hard to forget, containing a gruesome gallery of monsters and memorable special effects.

Sanjuro (1962) - Akira Kurosawa

Language: Japanese (English srt subtitles included)

Country: Japan

Genre: Action | Adventure | Comedy | Drama

Director: Akira Kurosawa

Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Keiju Kobayashi, Yuzo Kayama

Synopsis: Toshiro Mifune swaggers and snarls to brilliant comic effect in Akira Kurosawa’s tightly paced, beautifully composed Sanjuro. In this sly companion piece to Yojimbo, jaded samurai Sanjuro helps an idealistic group of young warriors weed out their clan’s evil influences, and in the process turns their image of a “proper” samurai on its ear. Less brazen in tone than its predecessor but equally entertaining, this classic character’s return is a masterpiece in its own right.

GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA (GODZILLA VS. THE THING) (1964)

GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA (GODZILLA VS. THE THING) (1964)

Director: Ishiro Honda
Classic Media

In 1962, KING KONG VS. GODZILLA was released in Japan to a tremendous audience response. In fact, it became the highest grossing Godzilla film in Japan up until that time. In 1963, the film was released to excellent box office in the United States (albeit in a highly adulterated version). The following year, Toho executives were looking for Godzilla’s next foe and found one in the form of their 1961 success, Mothra. The result: GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA was created and one of the most fondly remembered “kaiju” (monster) films was born. In the fall of 1964, American International Pictures (AIP) released the film in the U.S. as GODZILLA VS. THE THING and double billed it with the Czech import, VOYAGE TO THE END OF THE UNIVERSE where it did quite good business and to this day, still has a special place in the hearts of genre fans.

13 Ghosts (1960)

I feel really bad that most older sci-fi and horror movies are no considered B movies. At the time of their released most were on the cutting edge of film technology. The stories might not be considered the best by todays standards but for the time they were made, these plots were just as normal as any normal flick we watch today. The giant ants of "Them!" could be compared to any normal horror flick today, just with more story and less mutilated bodies. So looking at this movie should be looked at with not just eyes of today, but through the eyes of the golden age of cinema.

I know more people have probably seen the 2001 "remake" (and I use that term in the absolute loosest terms possible and I mean lose like a 96 year old prostitute who has been working everyday for 86 years.) However, that movie is blasphemous to this wonder and classic film.

This film was directed by William Castle who was a master director and movie magician of his time. He made some great horror movies in his day and he loved having gimmicks for his flick. His 1959 movie, "The Tingler", rigged up seats to vibrate and were used to scare people during the movie whenever the monster showed up. Likewise, this movie was filmed in "Illusion-O". The audience would put on special glasses when the characters in the movie did. This allowed only those wearing the glasses to see the ghosts. Wonderful, classic '60's movie nostalgia. The movie also stars Martin Milner who played Pete Malloy in the wonderful "Adam-12" series.

Buck Zorba (isn't that a cool and creepy last name?) is having trouble providing for his family. Their power has just been turned off and their furniture is reprocessed. However, lawyer Ben Rush (Milner) contacts Buck and informs his that Buck's reclusive uncle, Cyrus Zorba, has passed away and left his house to Buck. There's just one catch, through his world travels, Cyrus has captured 12 ghosts and invented some special glasses to see them. Ben also informs the family that Cyrus has hidden a great deal of his wealth in the house somewhere. Seeing as the movie is called "13 Ghosts" and not 12 ghosts, someone in the story will become the 13th. But who?

Grade - A+

Although I was never able to see the movie with the Illusion-O glasses, I was very impressed with the visuals in this movie. I remember the first time when I saw this when I was young, the movie did scare me. The ghosts are both funny and scary. The housekeeper who looks like witch is one of the most entertaining characters just the way she plays the creepy personality. The kid in this movie is pretty entertaining too. This is a perfect example of why old horror movies are superior than today's flicks. This movie relied on showing ghosts, sure, but it also has a great story line. You get scared by some of the ghost and the sayonce scene. Then you have to guess who is going to be the 13th ghost, where the money is, and what's going on. If you're a fan of old horror movies, this is a must see.

Vintage Screams: Key Genre Films 1960s

Throughout the sixties, Hammer studios continued with their blood-and-thunder remakes, including The Curse Of The Werewolf (1960), The Two Faces Of Doctor Jekyll (1960), The Brides Of Dracula (1960), The Phantom Of The Opera (1962), Kiss Of The Vampire (1964), The Evil Of Frankenstein (1964) and Dracula Prince Of Darkness (1966). Hammer also delved into other aspects of fantasy over the next few years: Science fiction in Five Million Years To Earth (1967), lesbian vampires in The Vampire Lovers (1970), witchcraft in Plague Of The Zombies (1966) and The Witches (1966), and prehistory in One Million Years BC (1966) and When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth (1970). Altogether, Hammer produced more than seventy features that fall into the fantasy genre – from monsters to psychos – and while the vast majority of these films were little more than rehashes of past successes, there’s no denying the effect they had on the genre as a whole.

Brides of Dracula (1960)

Synopsis


The Brides of Dracula is a 1960 British Hammer Horror film directed by Terence Fisher. It is a sequel to Hammer's original Dracula (USA: Horror of Dracula) (1958). Alternative working titles were Dracula 2 and Disciple Of Dracula. Dracula does not appear in the film (Christopher Lee would reprise his role in the 1966 Dracula: Prince of Darkness) and is mentioned only twice, once in the prologue, once by Van Helsing.

Dead Eyes Of London / The Ghost (1961) [DVD - Region 1]

Double Shock Show When movie audiences went to see the double bill of The Ghost and Dead Eyes of London in the mid-1960s, they were doubtless unaware that they were about to witness remarkable representations of Italian gothic horror and German "krimi" noir. Riccardo Freda, director of The Ghost (1963), frequently eschewed supernatural monsters to focus his grim stories on the fallible nature of man. This attention provided his films with an emotional depth lacking in many other gothics of the time. A tour-de-force performance by horror queen Barbara Steele, a well-executed intricate script, and striking scenes such as a vicious open-razor assault make The Ghost a perennial favorite in top-ten lists of classic euro-horrors.

DIABOLIK (Italian-French co-production, 1967)

DIABOLIK (Italian-French co-production, 1967)
Director/Cinematographer: Mario Bava
Story: Angela and Luciana Guissani, Dino Maiuri, and Adriano Baracco
Screenplay: Mario Bava, Dino Maiuri, and Tudor Gates
Camera operator: Antonio Rinaldi
Editing: Romana Fortini
Music: Ennio Morricone
Main players: John Phillip Law (Diabolik); Marisa Mell (Eva); Michel Piccoli (Inspector Ginco); Adolfo Celi (Ralph Valmont); Terry-Thomas (Minister of the Interior / Minister of Finance); Claudio Gora (Police Commissioner); Mario Donen; Federico Boido
Alternate title: Danger: Diabolik
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

ROUTE 66: SEASON THREE, VOLUME ONE (1962-1963)

ROUTE 66: SEASON THREE, VOLUME ONE (1962-1963)

Directors: (Various)
Infinity Entertainment

From 1960 to 1964, two young swingin’ bachelors by the names of Tod Stiles (Martin Milner) and Buz Murdock (George Maharis) roamed the greater part of the United States in their pristine Corvette. Traveling from one city to another, ROUTE 66 was the only show at the time to ever move its cast and crew around with its story. Our heroes encountered just about every social and moral dilemma possible throughout their journeys -- probably more than THE FUGITIVE’s Dr. Richard Kimble -- but they always came out on top (plus, they weren't on the run). Some problems had to be resolved with fists -- others, brains. Often, a poor misguided soul needed to find their way -- and sometimes, Tod and Buz had took a break from the drama and indulged in a little carefree comedy.

Psycho 1960 movie

If you haven't seen it:
You haven't seen Psycho? Really? You should see it as soon as possible before someone spoils the ending for you. Even if you haven't seen it and you don't know the end, I imagine you know about the scene in the ... oh, I don't know whether to mention it or not...perhaps not.

Let's just say that it stars Janet Leigh as a young woman who steals money from her employer, and flees in her car. Her journey is rather more eventful than she would have preferred.

One of the things that made Psycho such a successful thriller, was that it took its audience completely by surprise. Many of the techniques used have often been copied by modern film makers, so the surprises might not shock viewers the way they used to, but it still worth seeing before someone tells you about the...oops, nearly!

Dead Or Alive DVD (Takashi Miike) (NTSC Region 1)

Dead Or Alive DVD (Takashi Miike) (NTSC Region 1)
A prostitute plunges to her death clutching a bag of drugs, a furtive men's room tryst climaxes in a geyser of blood, an after-dinner shotgun blast graphically puts a new spin on bulimia, a stripper writhes, a mysterious knife-thrower takes aim and a gangster snorts a line of white powder stretching to infinity...and that's merely the first ten minutes. From Takashi Miike (Audition,Ichi the Killer), 'one of the most exciting, versatile directors working today' (The New York Post), comes a film of such kaleidoscopic mayhem and frenzied violence that it defies hyperbole. Burlesquing and surpassing every other full-bore, double-barreled Asian crime thriller, Dead or Alive conjures up a harrowing urban fever-dream where 'the images are so astonishing, you'll feel you inhaled them.' (The San FranciscoChronicle).
In Tokyo's crime ridden Shinjuku district, emotionally and financially bankrupt Detective Jojima (Show Aikawa) plays referee in a gangland turf war pitting the Japanese Yakuza Mafia against a bloodthirsty band of Chinese immigrant gangsters. But Jojima's obligation to his terminally ill daughter and ruthless Chinese mobster Ryuichi's (Riki Takeuchi) sentimental devotion to his ersatz family of misfit assassins threatens to add their own corpses to the landslide of fresh bodies littering Tokyo. Miike depicts Dead Or Alive's gruesome acts of excess and debasement with shockingly graphic relish.

NTSC Region 1
Japanese with English Subtitles
Anamorphic Widescreen

Brides of Dracula, The (1960)

• Director: Terence Fisher
• Producer: Anthony Hinds
• Writer: Jimmy Sangster, Peter Bryan
• Cast: Peter Cushing, Martita Hunt, Yvonne Monlaur, Freda Jackson, David Peel, Miles Malleson, Henry Oscar, Mona Washbourne, Andree Melly, Victor Brooks, Fred Johnson, Michael Ripper, Norman Pierce, Vera Cook, Marie Deveruex

EYE OF THE DEVIL

(Warner Archives; Dir: J. Lee Thompson; Starring: Deborah Kerr, David Niven, Donald Pleasence, David Hemmings, Sharon Tate; 1966)

Though it's a little mannered, Donald Pleasence, David Hemmings and especially Sharon Tate cut through the sophistication to shake things up. Their performances are right in line with the astonishing opening of this film that's as exciting as anything I've seen, due to its very New Wave-influenced construction. Deborah Kerr discovers witchcraft in the family as she follows her husband (David Niven) to his ancestral estate in the French countryside.

Night Tide (1961)

Night Tide (1961)

Dennis Hopper stars as a beguiled sailor, convinced that sideshow sweetie Linda Lawson is a real live mermaid. Cult director Curtis Harrington (Queen of Blood) fashioned this atmospheric chiller out of meager ingredients and came up with a moody, if slow-moving fantasy. The seamy seaside setting is well-utilized and the offbeat premise has helped the film accrue a cult following. But it's the quirky cast that brings life to the thing: Dennis Hopper, nuttily engaging, as always, Luana (Dementia 13) Anders, everyone's favorite "heavy," Bruno Ve Sota, and sultry lounge chanteuse Linda Lawson as the chick 'o the sea.