Blog Entry #16 ---- Showcase on NICK ADAMS.
DIE MONSTER DIE, FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD,
and THE OUTER LIMITS Fun & Games episode.
Up first ---- Boris Karloff is radioactive.---- What would you do if your Dad glowed in the dark?
DIE MONSTER DIE
MONSTER OF TERROR
STARRING BORIS KARLOFF, NICK ADAMS,and Susan Farmer
Produced by Samuel Arkoff, and James Nicholson
Directed by Daniel Haller
Based on the book, The Color of Space by H.P. Lovecraft
RELEASED BY AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL PICTURES
US/ENGLAND ---1965
Stephen Reinhart is a young American (played by Nick Adams) that travels to a rural village in
England to meet the parents of his new fiance Susan Witley (Susan Farmer).After he arrives at the village by train, he asks for help to get to the Witley Estate. He is met with defiance, and people not wanting anything to do with the Witleys. One person tells him how to get there, so
off he goes for a long walk.
As Stephen walks through the countryside near the estate, it resembles land after a huge fire. The land seems destroyed, eaten away, and barren. No life at all. Totally decayed. ---Spooky!
Finally reaching the doorway of the castle estate, Stephen is told to go away, and that he is not welcome by Susan's father, wheelchair bound Nathum Witley (Boris Karloff).
Stephen gets in, saying he was invited by Mrs. Witley (Freda Jackson).
SUSAN IS VERY OBVIOUSLY HAPPY TO SEE HER FIANC , AND STEPHEN BEGINS TO SNOOP AROUND TO SEE WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON.
Susan's mother is very ill, and hides behind drapes so she won't be seen.
The reason why she invited Stephen is to get Susan as far away from the castle as he can. Susan cannot become a part of what is happening there she warns.
SUSAN AND STEPHEN DISCOVER THE LARGE GREENHOUSE HOUSES PLANT LIFE THAT HAS GROWN TO HUGE PROPORTIONS. WEIRD FRIGHTENING WAILS COME DEEP BELOW.Witley discovered years before a meteor that crashed on his land.
It processed strange powers he thought would be good for mankind, but the radioactivity eventually destroyed the land, sickened his wife and butler,
made huge mutated creatures, and the huge vegetation.
Susan's mother soon gets yucky scary, and attacks!
THE RADIOACTIVITY FINALLY TURNS WITLEY INTO A GLOWING, EVIL MONSTER FOR THE FINALE!
WATCH OUT FOR BORIS! HE NOT ONLY GLOWS IN THE DARK, HE ALSO GOES ON A KILLING RAMPAGE!!!
MY RATING ------ B MINUS
AMERICAN-INTERNATIONAL HAD ANOTHER DRIVE-IN HORROR HIT WITH DIE MONSTER DIE,
after all the Vincent Price-Edgar Allan Poe films they produced.
THIS WAS DANIEL HALLER'S FIRST DIRECTORIAL JOB, AFTER BEING A VERY CAPABLE ART DIRECTOR ON THE POE FILMS. HALLER MADE A GOOD OLD FASHIONED, SOLID HORROR, UTILIZING EVERY DOLLAR OUT OF A VERY LOW BUDGET. THE SETTINGS AND VISUALS IN COLORSCOPE LOOKED GREAT ON THE BIG SCREEN.The characters portrayed by Karloff and Adams were the strength of the film.Adam's young toughness, and Karloff's old eeriness both rang true.
The let's burn 'em up finale was really predictable, taking away from an excellent opening with the creepy situations building some tension of coming doom.
After a solid theater release, this was shown on television a kazillion
times.
It was a staple on
New York's Channel 7 for years.
LUCKILY IT HAD A GREAT RELEASE ON VIDEO IN THE SCOPE WIDESCREEN FORMAT.
DIE MONSTER DIE STILL WORKS TODAY AS AN OLD FASHIONED CREEPY MOVIE.NICK ADAMS WAS A GOOD ACTOR THAT WAS VERY CAPABLE, BUT NEVER REALLY HIT A HOME RUN. HE HAD SOME SOLID ROLES IN THE 1950'S, INCLUDING HIS STARRING ROLE ON THE CIVIL WAR ERA TV SHOW,
The Rebel.
HE WAS FEATURED IN A BUNCH OF HOLLYWOOD FILMS LIKE REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, MR. ROBERTS, AND PILLOW TALK. TWILIGHT OF HONOR WAS A GREAT PART FOR NICK IN 1963, BEING NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR.BY THE MID SIXTIES HE WENT TO C AND THEN D MOVIES. HIS LAST ROLES WERE IN 1967 & 1968, AN OUTER SPACE MINOR PROGRAMMER TITLED MISSION MARS, AND A JUST BARELY RELEASED MEXICAN FILM
CALLED LOS ASESINOS.
HE DIED FROM AN OVERDOSE OF DRUGS PRESCRIBED FOR A NERVOUS DISORDER ON FEBRUARY 7, 1968.
VERY SAD, BECAUSE HE NEVER HID HIS STRIDE. HE WOULD HAVE GROWN INTO A BETTER ACTOR THAN WE SAW.
.A CLASSIC MONSTER MAGAZINE FROM THE SIXTIES! ONE OF THE BEST.
AMERICAN AND GERMAN LOBBY CARDS.
PRETTY PIN-UPS OF SUSAN FARMER.
SUSAN CO-STARRING WITH ROGER MOORE IN THE SAINT.
SECOND ----------------NICK ADAMS JOINS THE JAPANESE TOHO PRODUCTION TEAM!
TOHO MADE GODZILLA, RODAN, AND MOTHRA HOUSEHOLD WORDS.WHY NOT FRANKENSTEIN? ---- ESPECIALLY WHEN FRANKIE IS 50 FEET HIGH!
FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLDFRANKENSTEIN VS. BARAGONFRANKENSTEIN VS THE GIANT DEVILFISH
STARRING NICK ADAMSAKIRA TAKARADA, KUMI MIZUNO, AND KOJI FURUHATA AS THE MONSTER.
PRODUCED BY HENRY G. SAPERSTEIN (REMEMBER MR. MAGOO CARTOONS)DIRECTED BY INOSHIRO HONDA (FAMOUS FOR GOJIRA AKA. GODZILLA)A TOHO PRODUCTION (THE SIGN OF QUALITY)RELEASED BY AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL PICTURES (AT A DRIVE IN THEATER NEAR YOU)
JAPAN/US ---- 1966
THE HEART OF FRANKENSTEIN CANNOT DIE!
GET READY THIS IS ONE MOVIE THAT IS SOOOO BAD, IT'S ALMOST GOOD.
AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II, A SCIENTIST IN WAR TORN EUROPE KEPT THE STILL BEATING HEART OF FRANKENSTEIN ALIVE. THE NAZIS TAKE IT, AND IT'S SHIPPED OFF BY SUBMARINE TO JAPAN.
IT IS NOW SAFE IN A LAB IN HIROSHIMA. YEAH, REAL SAFE.
THE NUCLEAR BOMB HITS HIROSHIMA, AND THE NOW RADIOACTIVE HEART GOES MISSING FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.
A FERAL BOY LIVING IN A CAVE, EATS IT, THEN STARTS MUTATING AND HE STARTS GROWING, AND GROWING!
SCIENTISTS DR. JAMES BOWEN FROM AMERICA (NICK ADAMS), AND LOCALS DR. SUEKO TOGAMI (KUMI MIZUNO), AND DR. YUZO KAWAJI (AKIRA TAKARADA) TAKE INTEREST IN THE BOY, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE GOES AFTERVARIOUS FOOD SOURCES LIKE KILLING A DOG, AND VARIOUS LIVESTOCK. HE GROWING AT AN ALARMING RATE, WITH A BUNCH OF SUIT SIZES IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES RUNNING TIME.
THEY SOON LEARN ABOUT THE MISSING FRANKIE HEART, AND PUT 2 AND 2 TOGETHER. GENIUSES.
NOW DRINK YOUR MILK, AND GROW UP TO BE A GOOD MONSTER.
PUBERTY KICKS IN EARLY, CAUSE HE LIKES SUEKO.
MY FAVORITE LINE IN THIS GRADE D FILM---- HE OBVIOUSLY LOOKS CAUCASIAN.
SUEKO ATTEMPTS TO HOUSEBREAK THE WILD BOY. NOT MUCH LUCK.GODZILLA RERUNS AGAIN!
DR. KAWAJI WANTS TO PROVE THE GROWING BOY IS NOW A MUTANT FRANKENSTEIN. HE CUTS OFF HIS HAND TO SEE IF ONE WILL GROW BACK LIKE THE ORIGINAL MONSTER. CHOP CHOP. THE HAND REGROWS, AND THE SEPARATED HAND STAYS ALIVE. NO THEY KNOW FOR SURE.
THE HAND IS ALIVE!!!! MUST BE BATTERY OPERATED AND MADE IN JAPAN.
FRANK GROWS TO GIANT SIZE, AND NEEDS TO BE PUT UNDER LOCK AND KEY. NEWSPAPER REPORTERS COME TO GET THE STORY OF THE YEAR, AND TAKE FLASH PICTURES. FLASHES ARE A BIG NO-NO.FRANKIE FLIPS OUT, AND GETS OUT FAST!FIRST STOP, SUEKO'S APARTMENT TO SAY GOODBYE. HE CAN'T COME IN, SO HE JUST HANGS OUT NEXT TO HER BALCONY TO HAVE A CHAT.
OMG HE'S HUGE!!! SAYS SUEKO.
NOW SINCE THIS IS A TOHO MONSTER MOVIE, A GOOD OLD FASHIONED RUBBER SUITED MONSTER NAMED BARAGON COMES TO WRECK HAVOC. THEN OUR NEW BIG FRANKIE HAS TO FIGHT HIM, OR IT TO THE DEATH.LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
OH NO, WHAT SHOULD WE DO? SAYS DR. KAWAJI.OH NO, WHAT SHOULD WE DO? SAYS DR. BOWEN.OH NO, WHAT SHOULD WE DO? SAYS DR. SUEKO.
DR. BOWEN KNOWS WHAT TO DO!HE LIKES SAKI, AND HE REALLY LIKES DR. SUEKO IN A KIMONO.WOW SUEKO, AM I HUNG OVER FROM ALL THAT SAKI I DRANK.WOW JAMES, YOU WERE WILDER THAN THESE MONSTERS LAST NIGHT!WHAT A WAY TO EARN A LIVING. TAKE THAT YOU RUBBER MONSTER!THE BIG FIGHT AND THEN FIERY FINALE. BYE BYE BARAGON! BYE BYE FRANKIE!I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD 2 TO COME OUT FOR OVER 47 YEARS. VERY DISAPPOINTED. C'MON--- THERE HAVE BEEN A TON OF GODZILLA MOVIES.
MY RATING ----- D PLUS
IT'S SO AWFUL, YOU JUST HAVE TO LOVE IT!
THIS HAD A GREAT RELEASE FROM AMERICAN-INTERNATIONAL PICTURES IN THE US.
SHOWN FOR YEARS ON TV, LIKE THE 4:30 MOVIE ON CHANNEL 7 IN NYC YEARS AGO.
AND IT'S BEEN A FAVORITE ON VIDEO EVER SINCE. CHECK IT OUT.FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND. ISSUE #39 IN 1966. DEDICATED TO THIS UNBELIEVABLE FILM. LONG BEFORE HOME VIDEO WAS EVEN THOUGHT OF, PEOPLE BOUGHT 8MM MOVIES. THEY ACTUALLY HAD THIS FOR SALE BACK IN THE 60'S & 70'S. THREE MINUTES OF 8MM FILM, IN BLACK AND WHITE, WITH NO SOUND, AND COST ABOUT $5. ---- IT WAS EXCITING TO HAVE TOHO ON YOUR HOME MOVIE SCREEN.
LOVELY PIN-UPS OF KUMI MIZUNO. AND KUMI TODAY.
ORIGINALLY TITLED FRANKENSTEIN VS. THE GIANT DEVILFISH. THIS MONSTER WAS FEATURED TOWARD THE BEGINNING OF THE FILM, BUT WAS EDITED OUT. IS THERE ANOTHER VERSION OUT THERE SOMEWHERE WITH THIS LOVEABLE CREATURE IN IT?JAPANESE POSTER, AND ORIGINAL AMERICAN INSERT POSTER BELOW.I SAW THIS ORIGINALLY IN THE US ARMY MOVIE THEATER AT FORT MONMOUTH, NJ. ANDA SECOND TIME (I WAS A GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT) IN A DOUBLE FEATURE WITH JERRY LEWIS' COMEDY THE BIG MOUTH AT THE NOW LONG SINCE TORN DOWN MARINE THEATER IN HIGHLANDS, NJ.A FIGHT BROKE OUT IN THE THEATER, AND THEY HAD TO STOP THE SHOW. WHAT A MEMORY.
IT'S STILL ALIVE! HE MUST BE FRANKENSTEIN. IF NOT, WE'RE IN THE WRONG DAMN MOVIE.NICK ADAMS AND KUMI MIZUNO WERE TOGETHER AGAIN IN MONSTER ZERO, ALONG WITH THE ADORABLE MONSTER GODZILLA.KUMI WAS ALSO IN WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS, WITH RUSS TAMBLYN.
POSTER FOR MONSTER ZERO/INVASION OF THE ASTROS. ---- THEIR ROMANTIC SCENE BELOW.
THIRD NICK ADAM'S FAVORITE OF MINE! ---- FUN AND GAMES!
There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat, there is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to... The Outer Limits!
SEASON ONE--- EPISODE 27----1964
Of all the episodes of this fantastic program, Fun and Games must be my favorite.
Mankind here on Earth always had it's competitions to win, many quite violent, like the ancient Roman Gladiators.
Two unknowing humans were teleported to a far away planet Andera to compete in an advanced species version of Fun and Games. The society of Andera have progressed so far to eliminate war, jealousy, and are not driven by desires. Since they are now a bored society, they take pleasure in watching for amusement a mortal combat to the death. A male and female of two species, one human couple from Earth with intelligence, and the second alien couple, very monster like from a primitive, violent world named Calco would compete on an empty satellite planet.
Nick Adams plays Mike Benson, an ex-boxer and two bit criminal about to get caught in a crime.
Nancy Malone plays Laura Hanley, a lonely, idealistic divorcee from the clean side of life.
They are given a choice to compete, if they say no, or if they lose, Earth will be destroyed within a five year period giving Anderans more entertainment to watch.
MIKE AT FIRST, WANTS NO PART OF THIS, SINCE HE KNOWS WHAT THE PAIN OF LOSING FEELS LIKE.
LAURA WANTS TO SAVE THE WORLD, SO SHE AGREES. BENSON MAKES A SPLIT SECOND DECISION TO GO, NOT WANTING TO BE CAGED IN JAIL AGAIN.
THE PLANET IS UNCOMFORTABLY HOT, EVEN WITH A NEARBY RIVER OF LAVA.
THE BEASTS HAVE TWO ADVANTAGES TO MAKE UP FOR THEIR LACK OF INTELLIGENCE.
EACH TEAM HAS ENOUGH SUSTAINABLE FOOD FOR 5 DAYS.
THE MALE MONSTER KILLS THE FEMALE TO MAKE THE FOOD LAST FOR 10 DAYS.
THE SECOND ADVANTAGE, A ULTRA SHARP BOOMERANG AS A WEAPON.
WILL TEAMWORK AND INTELLIGENCE WIN OVER RUTHLESS ANIMAL VIOLENCE?
THE FUN AND GAMES NOW BEGIN.
MY RATING ----- A MINUSTHIS EPISODE AIRED IN MARCH OF 1964.IT WAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE GREAT WRITING OF THIS SERIES. NOT ONLY AN INTRIGUING PLOT, BUT A FEW TWISTS RIGHT TILL THE END.NICK ADAMS SHOWED A LOT BEHIND THE TOUGH GUY PERSONA. FEAR AND DESPERATION SHOWED THROUGHOUT THE HOUR SHOW. ONE OF HIS BEST ROLES. NANCY MALONE'S CHARACTER SHOWED DEPTH, IN A PART THAT COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE SHALLOW.THE SERIES IS STILL POPULAR ALMOST 50 YEARS LATER.MANY MARATHONS AIRING MULTIPLE EPISODES ON HOLIDAYS ARE STILL GETTING VIEWERS.THE WHOLE SERIES HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON DVD TOO.SHOW A MARATHON AT YOUR HOME.NICK ADAMS HAD A GREAT TV SERIES CALLED THE REBEL WHICH AIRED FROM 1959 TO 1961.HE PLAYED JOHNNY YUMA, AN ANGRY EX-CONFEDERATE SOLDIER ROAMING THE OLD WEST DURING THE POST CIVIL WAR PERIOD. THIS SERIES PUT HIM ON THE MAP WITH HIS ACTING TALENT.
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GREAT HEIST MOVIES!TWO GREAT MARIO BAVA FLICKS!
THE CHEESIEST---THE GREEN SLIME!EDDIE CONSTANTINE AT HIS BEST.
THERE'S NO SPY BETTER THAN A EURO-SPY!
MORE ON JOACHIM FUCHSBERGER!
1963 SCARE FEST----- HORROR CASTLE AKA. CASTLE OF TERROR.
BIG EURO-STAR---- RICHARD HARRISON.
SEAN FLYNN (ERROL'S SON)----EURO-FILM STAR, THEN TURNED PHOTOJOURNALIST.WENT MISSING IN CAMBODIA IN 1971, AND STILL MIA TODAY. BELIEVED TO BE KILLED BY CAPTORS.
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