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Weekend Discussion Thread: A Movie Element that Actually ImpressedAlert emailer “Torgo02” wonders:
My pick would be the sets in “Magic Voyage of Sinbad” especially the Indian scenes. It’s actually pretty impressive. Your choice? 88 Replies to “Weekend Discussion Thread: A Movie Element that Actually Impressed”Commenting at Satellite News
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Hey, thanks for using my WDT idea! I have to apologize at how incoherent my message was. Honestly, I think I typed that up on my iPhone while at happy hour…
As SittingDuck said in #11, my “impressive detail” is from Mole People. I should have included that in my email. I blame the alcohol.
I’m pleased to see we all find unique things to admire, even in MST-caliber movies. Silver lining and all that…
Also I think the Crawling Eye is a terrific premise and monster.. especially as they ‘dive’ slowly into the atmosphere. Also the gorgeous psychic sisters.
And it’s the only alien invasion movie set in Switzerland!
@ #43: I’ve love to get an MP3 of that Monster a Go-Go phone sound for my ringtone :-)
I second all the admiration for the Russo-Finnish films.
@19 sol-survivor – I was always impressed with the mountain of men effect as well. I think they covered a small hill, probably a cone-shaped pile of gravel, with one layer of men. When Kalin rides up the mountain of men, he climbs the far side of the mountain, so the camera can’t see that he’s riding on bare dirt, not on the backs of his men.
The other visual that is amazing to me in that film is when the Tugars are marching toward Ilya Muromets’s homeland. The ground appears covered with solders all the way to the horizon. As Crow put it: “now THAT is a horde!”
Despite some overacting and haminess, the confrontation between the French and Russian astronauts in “12 to the Moon” is quite well done. The fact that the writers didn’t go the obvious route of making the Russian the traitorous villain is impressive given the time period, and the dialogue is actually well-written. (“I betray no one, particularly not myself!”)
Murdock Hauser @13 mentioned “Tormented”, and the spooky and atmospheric use of the lighthouse. I agree!
The Dead Talk Back had a good premise, I thought. A couple of adjustments and it could’ve been a decent film. I’m also a sucker for movies with occidental period details (the cityscape while the cops are chasing down the photographer, the street tour of late 60s Los Angeles in Girl with Gold Boots, etc.) because they fascinate me.
Bride of the Monster is also such a watchable film and would’ve been so much better if Ed Wood had better sets and got 100% from all of his actors.
There’s a reason they ran Peter Graves’ speech from the end of ‘It Conquered the World’ four times.
Also, remember in ‘Attack of the the Eye Creatures’ when the monsters… uh, well, the score… er, okay, the time that one actor was… you know what? Nevermind.
I agree with poster #5 regarding The Creeping Terror. That movie is so terribly awful, with literally no redeeming qualities, but the premise of the carpet creature’s reason to be on Earth is quite novel for such a low grade film. It is a wonder that more of the films made back then didn’t actually try and come up something a little more clever than just having an alien come to Earth and start destroying things – because that’s what aliens do you know – without any real explanation.
I also love the effects in The Black Scorpion as well. it is a shame that it was at the end of Obie’s career and so much of the film suffered from a poor script, mediocre acting and what I would assume was a limited budget.
The mention of Susan Gordon from ‘Tormented’ is rightly deserved.
Tom: “You’re not afraid of me, are you?”
Sandy: “I never used to be.”
That line still makes me shudder, her delivery is spot-on.
Even though the movie is nowhere close to deserving 2 1/2 stars, I always liked the turtle aliens and laserblast effect in, well… ‘Laserblast’
Watch Sho Kosugi in any of his scenes. The man can move.
@ #54: At least we hope it was a pile of gravel with a single layer of people. This being filmed in Soviet-era Russia, it’s within the realm of possibility that they used an actual pile of human bodies. :shock:
Village of the Giants: I love The Beau Brummels songs. Particularly “When it Comes to Your Love.” In the Go Go scene (prior to the ducks entering), there’s a fantastic moment during “When it Comes to Your Love” where all instrumentation and vocals drop except for the lead guitar riff and drums. Everyone’s dancing continues uninterrupted to the beat and then the music kicks back in. I love it. It’s a great visual to accompany that part of the song.
San Francisco International: I like Clu Gulager’s performance in it. Dana Elcar, despite having that RIDICULOUS plotline with the hippy, is also very good. He’s working with awful material and does his best.
Space Travelers: Hackman’s good in anything. Also, Richard Crenna and Gregory Peck are both good. Peck is just reliable. Not much range or an interesting role, but, his talent is evident throughout. And when Crenna gets emotional, it’s believable.
Track of the Moonbeast: “California Lady” played by the “Band Who Played California Lady.”
Red Zone Cuba: The crackling dialogue. Just kidding. There is nothing redeeming.
i know a lot of people have commented on the visuals from the Russo-Finnish films, but the Herc movies were quite scenic themselves, and Steve Reeves was not a horrible actor.
I’ve always felt that Patsy Parsons did a good job with her Cleolanta character in the Rocky Jones serials.
@#53 — I can extract a sound file of that if you want it. Do you want a repeating “Brrr, Brrr, Brr” or just the one “Brr” with Joel saying “Unbelievable”?
Um, sorry to go off-topic here, yet I’m sure we were all beyond impressed with that realistic phone sound. Not.
I usually say Rowsdower, but he is the antithesis of impressive. Instead I would say Mamie Van Doren’s, um, Two assets I find very impressive.
Speaking of Gerry Anderson, this is really happening!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1558089494/thunderbirds-1965-new-episodes-from-1960s-recordin
As there was a Thunderbirds parody in Joel’s Tv Wheel, I suspect he’s a fan. :)
I’ve always enjoyed Bruno VeSota’s performances, but he really impressed me in “Daddy-O”. Quite a versatile actor, and unlike some of the Corman regulars, I don’t think he ever went over the top.
The Russian/Finnish movies all are impressive in their scope and production values.
The Painted Hills had some nice scenery, and a very beloved dog.
“Untamed Youth” is actually interesting because of the “honor farm” scam, and even threw in the story of a judge corrupted by love…and a female one at that.
Also, “Gunslinger” should have props because the main hero and villain are both women. John Ireland is just the guy in the middle.
FYI, depending on your phone, you can get ANYTHING as a ringtone; some phones will do it for you, some you have to trim and convert a sound file, but none of it costs anything. Either investigate, or bribe a 14-year-old male with a case of Mountain Dew to do it for you.
Having said that, I realize that my current ringtone, the opening of “Touch of Gray,” is pretty lame. (My previous ringtone was Peter Cushing crying, “You cannot mesmerize me, I’m British!” from At the Earth’s Core). I need to replace it with an MST-related sound clip.
THERE, Sampo! There’s a topic. Given that you can make a ringtone for free out of any sound file– Great MST ringtones! Torgo’s theme? Mr. B Natural’s Happy King? You’re in a crowded Starbuck’s, and your incoming call introduces itself as the music at the dance in Creeping terror?
Jeebus, I’m not going to sleep tonight.
I always liked Peter Breck’s offbeat performance in The Beatniks. He seemed to be in his own, more interesting movie.
I would like to say Derek from Teenagers From Outer Space was a great character, he was sweet, sensitive and adorable.
“But the court of ardent beauty will back me all the way!”
Count me in as another Bruno VeSota fan. He has a large onscreen presense, and his performance in the Giant Leeches is one of the best things about the movie.
And I’ve been a fan of the movie Phase 4 since I watched it on VHS in the 80’s. It’s a very well made film that makes you think, even if it ultimately makes no sense. And Lynn Fredrick’s performance as Kendra is possibly my favorite female character in a MST’d movie.
@72 , a WDT of ringtones is such a good idea that it’s been done: https://www.mst3kinfo.com/?p=14837 However, that was a couple of years ago and perhaps it could be revisited.
Also, while I am neither 14 years old nor male, and I don’t even ask to be bribed with Mountain Dew, I like to extract sound clips for ringtones. Just not sure where to put them online to make them available to others. Sampo, is there a spot here at Satellite News to upload files for general consumption? I mean, doesn’t everyone want the theme song to “Danger!! Death Ray”????
I’d say Parts: The Clonus Horror on a whole was a pretty solid film despite its limited talent and resources. Solid enough that Michael Bay tried to rip it off! And its downer of an ending was very memorable.
I agree with a lot of what’s been said already.
I’m going to throw in something very brief & specific. Near the end of HORROR OF PARTY BEACH (generally an all around dog) there is a shot of the pickle-mouthed fish men charging up a hill toward our heroes. The film is speeded (sped?) up (presumably because the poor guys in the suits couldn’t move fast enough). The herky jerky movement created by the sped (speeded?) up film actually gives it a rather creepy feel. It only lasts for a few seconds then we’re back to all the sodium nonsense.
Also, I’m with Crow. Whenever I watch ANGELS REVENGE I just give in & look at the breasts.
the first murder in ‘Horror of Party Beach’ always gets me, believe it or not. The way they intercut the attack with the party gives it a very eerie vibe, like the party-goers are actually cheering for her death in some sort of ritual sacrifice/Kitty Genovese thing. Only time I’ve seen that effect used again was in ‘Slither’, and it works there too.
The twist ending in “Teen-Age Caveman”. Yes, I’ll admit I didn’t see it coming the first time.
Wow! I just looked up Peggy Moffitt…yes I sure do remember her as a model (just as famous a look as Twiggy). Dear sweet irony, isn’t there a line in the movie about why Flo is doing time? Something about she stole money to buy makeup and beauty treatments…ha, ha, ha.
The Mole People was written by László Görög who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Story (what later became Best Screenplay).
@57 – Because it was only 71 minutes long?
Not sure if this is impressive (maybe more overlooked): Robot Monster is a dark, dark movie. Lots of small children being strangled.
That was great! Fits in really well with Host Segment 3 from Girls Town as well.
True. On the other hand, John Ireland’s ability to bilocate was pretty impressive. Almost as impressive as the icky elf guy teleporting into the scene in “Girl In Gold Boots”. ;)
@ #84: Just one, actually. Still pretty dark, though.
I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: I do like how “Gunslnger” incorporates real life episodes from the battles of Fort Donelson and Missionary Ridge into the backstory of John Ireland’s character.