2 Shorts

 

 (imdb)

LE SPECTRE ROUGE-(THE RED SPECTRE)-1907-This silent 9 MINUTE short was made in Spain by two directors and was influenced by Georges Melies. A skeletal demon does lots of magical tricks thanks to the use of many optical film tricks. It's crude but clever (hey, it was made over a hundred years ago!) and features great tinted color scenes. Sometimes confused with SATAN S'AMUSE made the same year by the same directing team.

 (imdb)

Il CASO VALDEMAR-1936-Weird, haunting silent short adaptation of the Poe story done in Italy. It might be hard to follow if you're not familiar with the story (I am and still found it a little mind boggling). It's sometimes referred to as the first "gore film" and I can see why in the climax. 26 years later Roger Corman used the same story for the third segment of TALES OF TERROR. It's only 12 minutes, judge for yourself:

https://youtu.be/qz3bw_21K8M?feature=shared 

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Rabbit Magic

 

 (imdb)

GET TO KNOW YOUR RABBIT-1972-Crazy counterculture comedy about an executive (Tom Smothers) who quits his high-pressure job to become a tap-dancing magician trained by Mr. Delasandro (Orson Welles).

He's hounded by his boss (John Astin) to come back. He goes on the road and is pretty much a success at gin mills and strip joints. He meets a “terrific looking girl” (Katherine Ross) and they have an affair. Later he gets pulled back into the corporate lifestyle but has his way in the end. Allen Garfield, Charles Lane, King Moody and M.Emmett Walsh are also in it. Timothy Carey appears un-billed as a cop.

Director Brian De Palma made this offbeat comedy the same year as SISTERS and two years after HI MOM! His next movie would be PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE IN 1974.

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Corman In Argentina

 

 (IMDB)

WARRIORS OF THE LOST KINGDOM-1985-A young sorcerer Simon (Vidal Peterson) sees his king and father killed and his kingdom destroyed. His princess girlfriend Aura (Dolores Michaels) is imprisoned. Simon is given a magical ring that transports him and his hairy companion Colfax away but the dummy loses the ring. Along the way he meets drunken smart ass warrior Kor (Bo Svenson) who eventually helps him fight the evil wizard Shurka (Thom Christopher), free his girl and win back his kingdom. 

This was one of seven movies Roger Corman produced and filmed in Argentina. It was written by Ed Naha and directed by Hector Olivera (BARBARIAN QUEEN).

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The Original Harry Potter

TROLL-1986-An ugly troll (Phil Fontacaro) pretends to be a little girl and terrorizes her dysfunctional family (Michael Moriarty and Shelly Hack) and the idiot tenants in their apartment building. After turning Pete (Sonny Bono) into a plant, the troll turns the apartment into a breeding ground for other trolls. He turns a dwarf professor (also Fontacaro) into an elf and wants to rule the world. The landlady (June Lockhart) has a singing mushroom and knows magic. She becomes young (Junes's real life daughter Anne) but is turned into a tree sump. A kid named Harry Potter (Noah Hathaway from THE NEVER ENDING STORY) must fight a giant bat creature to save his sister and everyone else. 

Typical Empire production for the time, part fantasy, part horror film. Special effects artist John Carl Buechler also made CELLER DWELLER and FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE NEW BLOOD soon after this. It was followed by TROLL 2 and TROLL 3 which aren't sequels. 

Because of the name of the lead character and the fantasy elements some think this is where JK Rowling got her idea for her Harry Potter series.

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The Magic of Chan

CHARLIE CHAN AT TREASURE ISLAND-1939-While flying from Hawaii to San Francisco the intrepid phony Asian detective (Sidney Toler) and number 2 son Jimmy (Sen Yung) investigate the murder of Chan's friend, a writer who just completed his new novel. A suspicious insurance agent (Douglass Dumbrille) steals the manuscript. After breaking the bad news to the writer's wife, CC is “kidnapped” by the SF police because their chief (Donald MacBride) is an old friend of his. He meets another old friend Pete Lewis (Douglas Fowley), a reporter who introduces Chan to The Great Rhadini (Cesar Romero), a famous magician/illusionist who's mind reading assistant is Lewis' girlfriend Eve Cairo (Pauline Moore). Through them Chan learns about Dr. Zodiac, a magician/guru who seems to be involved in some recent murders (including the writer who received a mysterious radiogram that mentioned Scorpio). The trio decide visit the doc at his headquarters. After a seance like demonstration he threatens them with a gun and they leave. Zodiac talks in a deep voice (Gerald Mohr) and looks like someone in disguise. Later Eve gives an exhibition of her psychic powers and kind of convinces Chan they are real. After investigating and the discovery that Dr. Z is wearing a disguise, Rhadini challenges Dr. Z to a contest which he accepts. An elaborate stage show is performed and eventually after another murder the real identity of  Dr. Zodiac is revealed. He'd gathered much info on people who came to him for a reading and was using blackmail. 

One of three Chan mysteries Norman Foster directed. He also made 5 in the MR. MOTO series. In 1943 he'd work with Orson Welles on JOURNEY INTO FEAR and IT'S ALL TRUE. 

The one up: CHARLIE CHAN IN THE CITY OF DARKNESS.

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No Pain, No Money

THE BRASS TEAPOT-2012-A married couple of likable losers Alice (Juno Temple) & John (Michael Angarano) find a ancient teapot that gives them money every time they feel pain. Of course this leads to many comic situations as they try and figure out new ways to feel more pain and get more money. After the guy has it appraised on an “Antiques Roadshow” type TV show many people want it including some Hasidic Jews who beat John up to try and steal it! A Korean doctor (Steve Park) shows up and explains the history of the 2000 year old teapot and how the couple are actually in a lot of trouble. Things get a little more serious later on but the story goes on too long. Apparently director Ramaa Mosley used a short film with the same title as basis for this, her first feature film.

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Quoth The Raven....

THE RAVEN-1963-This comedy-horror film begins with Vincent Price reciting part of Edgar Allen Poe's “The Raven”. Then we are introduced to Dr. Craven (Price) a sorcerer who longs for his dead love Lenore. After his daughter Estelle (Olive Strugess) brings him some hot milk he is visited by a real life raven who demands some wine. Later using ingredients from his father's lab Craven turns the wise cracking raven into his true form, that of fellow sorcerer Dr. Bedlo (Peter Lorre) who was turned into a bird by the evil Dr. Scarabus, another sorcerer who dethroned Craven's father's position as grand master of the brotherhood of magicians years before. Bedlo wants revenge on Scarabus and wants Craven to help but Craven wants no part of it until Bedlo informs him that his lost love is with Scarabus. 

After fending off an attack by Craven's bewitched servant, Craven, Bedlo, Estelle and Bedlo's son Rexford (Jack Nicholson) go to confront Scarabus (Boris Karloff) who welcomes them with open arms. While dining Bedlo once again challenges Scarabus to a duel and seems to die. They are urged to stay the night and Craven sees Lenore (Hazel Court) at his bedroom window. Of course, it turns out Lenore is not dead but living with Scarabus who's wealth and power made her leave Craven. While Rexford is snooping around the castle, he discovers his father is not dead (it was a trick by Bedlo to deceive Scarabus). Eventually they are all held prisoner by the doctor, however in the finale Craven and Scarabus have an inventive magical duel where Craven defeats Scarabus and rejects Lenore who in turn has rejected Scarabus. 

Shot in 15 days by Roger Corman, it's been said that the inspiration for this feature was the Richard Matheson penned “The Black Cat” segment from the earlier TALES OF TERROR. Corman and Matheson liked doing the comedy scenes and thought a full-length film movie was in order. Although stories abound about behind the scenes gripes and complaints (Karloff upset at Lorre's ad-libs, animosity between Lorre and Nicolson) everyone seems to be having a fine time and really throwing themselves into their roles. Samuel Z. Arkoff and James Nicolson were the executive producers on this AIP production along with many long time Corman collaborators: Les Baxter (music), Floyd Crosby (cinematographer) and Daniel Haller (production design).

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Mad Magic

THE MAD MAGICIAN-1954-Gallico the Great (Vincent Price) a guy who's made illusions for other magicians now wants to have his own act. Unfortunately before he can use his new buzz saw trick his pompous boss Ross (Donald Randolph) closes down his show (he also stole Gallico's wife). Ross gloats Gallico into killing him with his buzz saw. He puts Ross' head in a suitcase and his assistant Karen (Mary Murphy) who is engaged to Alan Bruce, a police lieutenant (Patrick O'Neal) takes his bag by mistake. After he gets it back he disguises himself as Ross and sneaks the real corpse into a college victory celebration bonfire. Then he creates a new identity. When his bitchy ex-wife Claire (Eva Gabor) shows up looking for Ross she guesses his secret and he kills her. He later creates a new illusion “The Crematorium” which rival magician The Great Rinaldi (John Emery) wants to steal. He too figures out Gallico's secret and so of course signs his own death warrant. Gallico impersonates Rinaldi but Alan uses fingerprints to figure it all out. Gallico almost burns Alan alive but Karen and the landlady help save him and Gallico is burned up in his own invention.

If you think THE MAD MAGICIAN was influenced by HOUSE OF WAX which Vincent Price starred in the year before you're probably right in more ways than one. It was written by HOW screenwriter Crane Wilbur, a very busy writer/director who's career went back to silent films. He and Price would work together again in 1959's THE BAT.

Although not having the budget of House of Wax, THE MAD MAGICIAN has some nice twists although Gallico's disguises aren't always that great. And once again his character really isn't a bad guy, it's mostly the people around him: a mean boss, a bitchy ex-wife, a rival performer. They insult him and try to cheat and steal and really “ask” to be killed.

German born director John Brahm had made several unusual film noirs (THE LODGER, HANGOVER SQUARE, THE UNDYING MONSTER) but soon after this went into television. Like HOUSE OF WAX, THE MAD MAGICIAN was also shot in 3-D! 

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The Magic of Mr. BIG

THE MAGIC SWORD-1962-A sorceress named Sibyl (Estelle Parsons) lives with a chimp and her two headed servant in an underground cave. Also there is her adopted son George (Gary Lockwood) who falls in love with princess Helene (Anne Helms) who's image he sees in a magic pond. When he sees her menaced by a spirit with green eyes he wants to help her. She's then kidnapped by evil sorcerer Lodac (Basil Rathbone) who plans to feed her to his dragon as revenge on her father, the king (Merrit Stone). George insists on helping her but Sibyl says he's too young to take on such a powerful foe. Foolishly, she shows him some gifts he will receive when he's 21: a magic horse, a suit of armor and a sword and 6 knights from different nations. Wickedly, he traps her in the cellar and takes the items. He and the six knights travel to the king and announce they will save the princess despite having to face Lodac's “seven curses” on the way. The king's man Brandon (Liam Sullivan) goes with them and it's clear from the start he is up to no good (of course he's in league with Lodac). 

The curses include a giant ogre (not a good effect), a deadly lake, a French pleasant woman who becomes a vampire like hag (Maila Nurmi aka Vampira), extreme heat and creepy green ghost heads. All the knights are killed and George has to enter Lodac's castle by himself encountering mean dwarfs and weird bald servants who eat little people. Thanks to Sybil's meddling, George loses all his magic power and is imprisoned. While the princess is readied for dragon food, the little people escape their cages and free George who gets his magic back and slays the two headed fire breathing dragon (that looks like Gorgo). Brandon's head winds up on a trophy wall and Sibyl turns into a panther and kills Lodac. Somehow all the deceased knights show up alive at George's wedding to the princess.

THE MAGIC SWORD was directed by Mr. BIG himself Burt I. Gordon who after overseeing such low budget but entertaining 50's drive-in “classics” like THE AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN (and it's sequel) and ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE seems to have taken one giant leap with this technicolor sword and sorcery adventure tale. While the imaginative SFX (created by BIG and his wife Flora) aren't the greatest the inclusion of Rathbone, Lockwood, Winwood, Sullivan and Vampira make this seem like an all star cast! I think I saw Angelo Rossitto in one scene.

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Wizards

WIZARDS-1977-I realize 1977 was a long time ago but I found this Ralph Bakshi production a little disappointing. It's very crude and cartoonish and I thought some of the voices and characters don't quite mesh with the overall story of two wizard brothers: Avatar, a good guy who uses magic and Blackwolf, who uses the last remains of technology to conquer the post-apocalyptic Earth which resembles Tolkien's Middle Earth. There are elves, fairies, wizard, mutants and strange robots. Avatar is joined by a fairy princess Elinore, the elf warrior Weehawk and a rebel robot named Peace. To get his armies in a frenzy Blackwolf shows his troops WW2 footage including speeches by Hitler. There are some violent scenes but it almost seems to be aimed at children.

Despite some obstacles WIZARDS was a success for Bakshi and it led to him doing the first half of his often criticized THE LORD OF THE RINGS the next year. (the second half was never made).

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Zotz!

ZOTZ!-1962-This is fun black & white comedy from “gimmick director” William Castle (he made MR. SARDONICUS the year before).

A mild mannered professor (Tom Poston) comes in possession of an ancient coin that gives him special powers. When he says the word “zotz” things go in slow motion. When he points his finger at a person they feel intense pain. When he combines them they cause death! He makes most of his friends think he’s crazy and fails to make a US general (Fred Clark) believe him. He’s eventually captured by communists (a henchman is played by Mike Mazurki) but battles his way out and becomes a hero.

Jim Backus plays another professor and rival for the affections a female prof. (Julia Meade). The dean of the college where they teach is played by Cecil Kellaway and his wife is Margaret Dumont! (in her second to last film) 50’s-60’s TV comedian Louis Nye has a cameo. Poston was later in another Castle film, a remake of THE OLD DARK HOUSE.

When I was little kids used to go around pointing their index finger and saying “zotz” a lot. You were of course suppose to slow down when they did that but since I didn’t see this film till years later I was never really in on the joke! It’s based on a novel by a guy who wrote scripts for TV’s VICTORY AT SEA!

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Shout About It

THE SHOUT-1978-A weird guy named Crossely (Alan Bates) claims he can kill with a magical “shout” he learned while living with Aborigines. He comes between a married couple (Suzanna York and John Hurt) and seems to cast a spell on the wife. He rants a lot to a score keeper (Tim Curry) while watching a cricket game at an insane asylum. This ambiguous talky film leaves it to the viewer to decide what was really happening by the time the story ends. Also with Jim Broadbent in his film debut.

From Jerzy Skolimowski, the director of DEEP END it's based on a story by Robert Graves.

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Talking Chimp

CARNIVAL MAGIC-1981-In this low budget family oriented film a struggling carnival is given new life when their main attraction becomes magician Markov the Magnificent (Don Stewart) and his talking chimp named Alex (played by Trudi the chimp). All goes well until a jealous lion tamer sells Alex to a doctor who wants to dissect him! All the circus rubes get together to rescue him. The chimp (who grumbles more than talks but considering the low budget that's about all they could do) drives a car. There's some romantic sub-plots but the acting and script are below average. It was filmed in North and South Carolina.

This was one of the last films directed by Al Adamson (who was killed in 1995) and features his real life wife Regina Carroll (about the only "name" in the cast) in her last role (she died in 1992). I don't think it has ever been released on VHS or DVD making it one of Adamson's least seen films but once again TCM came through and showed at 2 am one night! Adamson made his last film LOST 2 years later.

It ends with the promise of MORE CARNIVAL MAGIC but alas it was never to be...

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The Prestige

THE PRESTIGE-2006-Between his two BATMAN movies director Christopher Nolan made this unusual tale using two of his BAT-stars. Two rival magicians Robert Angier (post Wolverine Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (post Batman Christian Bale) try to learn how each other perform their tricks/illusions. Robert becomes obsessed with learning the secret to Alfred’s “The Transformed Man”.

This movie would have been better if it weren’t told in (sometimes confusing) flashbacks and if Bale hadn’t whispered so much. It also has an improbable twist ending that is kind of ridiculous. Michael Caine (Bale’s BATMAN co-star) is good as the man behind the magic but the highlight is David Bowie’s small role as Nikola Tesla. Also with Scarlett Johanssen, Piper Perabo, Roger Rees, Andy Serkis and Christopher Neame.

"Poetry is what gets lost in translation"-Robert Frost

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