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Monday, December 20

Tod Slaughter Blogathon

This week something special is happening. Yes I know its Christmas week, and I am very much looking forward to the howliday – but that isn’t what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the Tod Slaughter Blogathon that is going on all week long, spearheaded by Joe Monster over at the From Beyond Depraved blog!

All week long bloggers all across the cybersphere will be writing about Tod Slaughter. What’s that? You’ve no idea who Tod Slaughter is? Well that’s okay, you’re in the majority. Nowadays not many people remember Tod Slaughter – but back in the 30’s and 40’s in jolly old England Tod Slaughter was a well known horror movie actor. He did some stage work before finding his true calling in cinema, and one of his earliest and perhaps best known roles is that of Sweeney Todd in SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET.

This movie was made in 1936, 71 years before Johnny Depp and Tim Burton would put out that musical monstrosity based on the same character.  Sweeney Todd is the tale of a barber by the same name who gave his customers a shave that was a little too close for comfort - he would murder them for their money, or “polish them off,” as he was apt to put it. He disposed of the bodies with the help of his accomplice, Mrs. Lovett, who would bake their bodies into meat pies and sell them to the unsuspecting public in her pie shop! The businesses of these partners in crime and cannibalism were attached by means of a shared basement, again unknown to the public.


This movie is actually based an old English folk tale that dates back to the early 1800s. There is some debate whether it is a true story or folklore – I like to believe it is indeed based on fact. In the Tod Slaughter movie, he invites wealthy clients into his barber shop for a shave and a haircut. Oftentimes he singles out weary sailors just returning from months long voyages at sea, their pockets brimming with their newly gained pay. He would seat them in the barber’s chair, lather them up for a close shave before “polishing them off.” What happened next was Sweeney would throw a hidden lever and the chair, which was actually located on a trap door, would flip over, dumping the unsuspecting victim into the basement. There the victim would crack his skull on the concrete below, and Todd would follow them down with a straight razor and slit their throats for good measure.

 Them Mrs. Lovett would take over, baking their remains into meat pies and burning the bodies in a large oven to dispose of the evidence. In the film version the cannibalistic overtures are severely toned down and merely hinted at: after all, this was 1936, and this is some pretty gruesome subject matter we're talking about. Sweeney Todd is a sneaky cuss though, and he cheats his business partner at every opportunity, hoarding away jewels and cash before she knows about it.


Todd Slaughter plays the role with gusto, bringing a real maniacal zeal to the part of Sweeney Todd. His diabolical laugh, charming smile, and over the top delivery make for a rollicking good time. It is easy to see why Slaughter became popular. He would go on to make a number of successful horror movies including The Crimes of Stephen Hawke, The Face at the Window, and Crimes at the Dark House. But it is his portrayal of Sweeney Todd that he is best remembered for - definitely one worth seeing. Here's to Tod Slaughter, the grand old maniac of British cinema!

And for a final treat - here's the entire movie, SWEENEY TODD THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET - Scary Christmas!!

Thursday, December 16

Alice Cooper in Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced yesterday that Alice Cooper is among the latest inductees. All I can say is – about Damn Time!

Alice Cooper is probably the person who is my single greatest influence, both in my career as a horror host and a singer in a horror band. I first discovered Alice when I stumbled across a box of cassette tapes of my uncles. They were tucked away in an upstairs closet at my grandmother’s house, and at the time I didn’t know Alice Cooper from Alice in Wonderland, but something made me give them a listen.

The two Alice tapes he had were Goes to Hell and Welcome to my Nightmare… my world was changed. I had never heard anything so cool in my life! This guy was singing about spiders, and death and necrophilia and he even had Vincent Price on his record!! I wore those tapes out and started buying every Cooper album I could get my hands on. By the time I was in college I had them all, from Easy Action and Pretties for You all the way through Da Da and Special Forces to the newly released Constrictor.

Constrictor was Alice’s big comeback album, where he returned to his horror roots. He toured that year and came to Nashville and I was right there front of the stage digging it. The tour was called the "Nightmare Returns Tour" and I have some great photos from that show, and thought this a good time to share them...

Love that jacket!

Alice's Teenage Frankenstein. 

He actually put this monster together via an old magician's trick. He had a series of empty boxes he showed to the audience. He stacked them up on top of one another, stuck an arm on one side, then the other, a head on top, then the thing got up and waled around while he sang Teenage Frankenstein. When the song was over he kicked the monster over and they were just empty boxes again. Sweet!

ELECTED (to the Hall of Fame - yay!)!
 Alice's monster guitarist, Kane Roberts. Dude was ripped!

 Alice loses his head!

 Not sure what he was singing here - perhaps Sick Things.


 Billion Dollar Babies!

 If you are touring for an album called Constrictor you gotta have a boa!

 Cold Ethyl - still frigid as an eskimo pie!

 Only Women Bleed...

Stage dancer who shook her money maker - and helped torture Alice.
I think she came out during the song Go to Hell.

According to the Alice Cooper website the date of the show was Jan 2, 1986 at the Municipal Auditorium. I remember the opening band was the Vinnie Vincent Invasion. They were terrible! The songs they did, again according to the website...

Love It To Death (1971):
Ballad Of Dwight Fry / I'm Eighteen
Killer (1971):
Under My Wheels / Be My Lover
School's Out (1972):
School's Out
Billion Dollar Babies (1973):
I Love The Dead / Elected / Billion Dollar Babies / No More Mr Nice Guy / Sick Things
Welcome To My Nightmare (1975):
Welcome To My Nightmare / Only Women Bleed / Cold Ethyl
Alice Cooper Goes To Hell (1976):
Go To Hell
Constrictor (1986):
The World Needs Guts / Give It Up / Teenage Frankenstein


I remember I dressed as Alice one Halloween in college – I have a picture somewhere and if I find it I’ll post it too. I took my youngest son to see Alice twice this year on the Gruesome Twosome tour with Rob Zombie. You can imagine my pride when we walked up to the merch table and I told Luke he could pick one tshirt – so he had to choose between Rob or Alice – and he chose Alice. That’s my boy!

I’ve been hosting horror movies for a dozen years now, wearing costumes and makeup much like Alice, and I even sing in my own shock rock band now, so I feel the Alice influence has come full circle. I really hope to get to meet him one day and shake his hand and just say thanks for everything. Alice is a one of a kind, a true innovator and a worthy addition to the Hall of Fame.

Here’s to you, Alice. You rock!

Tuesday, December 14

Midnight - John Russo

This is a really cool poster I ran across recently - it is for a movie called Midnight. Not only have I not seen this one, I was not even aware of it. It was made in 1982, and was written and directed by John Russo. Wow! How'd this one escape my notice?



GREAT tagline... When the dead drink the blood of the living!
A quick search over at Youtube turned up the trailer...


and best of all, the entire movie there too:



Man you gotta love the internet! Guess I have me some late night movie watchin' to do!!

Monday, December 13

New Layout

Did a bit of housekeeping here on the blog-site, and added a new layout template. Hope you guys like it. It has some of the same features but an updated feel to it, as well as the featured video link.

It has been a cold weekend here in TN and a snowy one too. Hope you're all staying warm.

Here's a cool little video I ran across on youtube recently - it is the two greatest horror icons, Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff singing a song called "We're Horrible Men." Not sure what this is from originally, a radio show most likely - According to the person who posted it on youtube it came from a Bela Lugosi compilation CD called "Bela Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula." Pretty darn cool!

Thursday, December 9

Italian Zombie Movie Prize Pack winners

Time to announce the winners for the latest Gangrene Giveaway - congrats to the winners, captainstrangelife and cjmolina!! Thanks to everyone for entering, and to learn more about the Italian Zombie Movie go to: http://www.italianzombiemovie.com


Tuesday, December 7

December 7, 1941


69 years ago today the Japanese launched a cowardly sneak attack on American forces stationed at Pearl Harbor. December 7th, 1941 will always, as President Roosevelt proclaimed, be remembered as “a date that will live in infamy.” Here’s to the close to 2500 soldiers and civilians who lost their lives that day.

Thursday, December 2

Gangrene Giveaway - Win Free Paul Naschy original art!

Last but not least for the Paul Naschy Blogathon I am kicking off my latest Gangrene Giveaway, a piece of original art by comic artist Rob Brown. He did a fantastic drawing of Paul in full wolf form - to win this, all you have to do is subscribe to my youtube channel and leave a comment on the video page there telling me what your favorite Paul Naschy film is. That's it - I'll pick a winner in a few weeks!! thanks to the Vicar and Due for hosting the Naschy Blogathon - it's been a blast!!

Shirley Corrigan talks about Paul Naschy

I contacted Shirley Corrigan, Paul Naschy's leading lady in DR. JEKYLL AND THE WEREWOLF and asked a few questions about Paul Naschy and shooting that film. In particular, I asked if she knew of Naschy before shooting this film, and about that freezing cold room where they shot an interior scene that was so cold you could see the actors' breath in the film! Here is what she had to say...


Dear Larry,
The Serra Navado is a high range of mountains that lie outside Madrid. It was winter and very, very cold indeed... miserable.
I had never worked with Paul Naschy (before). On and off the set he sadly had no personality at all, he never spoke to me. I never saw him talking or walking around where we were shooting... most strange. I've never had this experience before, ever. He was pleasant, that is all I can say, professional. I am just pleased he did not flirt with me. Very strange indeed, I just never saw him. I think the part was quite challenging.

Sounds to me like Naschy was a bit stand-offish, but still friendly when working together. In my opinion he was probably just very focused on his work, all business. As she says, he was professional, and pleasant. He also was a family man, so the fact he didn't hit on her is good news. Interesting peek into Naschy circa 1972, on the set of Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf.

Roots of the wolf

Paul Naschy was born on September 6, 1934 in Madrid, Spain. His birth name was Jacinto Alvarez Molina. The Spanish Civil War broke out shortly after his birth, lasting from from July 1936 to April 1939. It was a violent war that affected the entire country, and an estimated 500,000 lives were lost during the conflict.

The post-war years had to make for a tough childhood. A new authoritarian, fascist regime had taken over and the country was trying to rebuild itself. Add to that World War II, which lasted from 1939 to 1945, and this was a highly volatile period of young Jacinto’s life. Spain was able to avoid directly entering WWII, but they were in constant danger of being dragged into the conflict, especially with fighting taking place in nearby France and Hitler demanding Spain join the Axis forces. There was warfare in Jacinto’s life until age 11 – a difficult thing to imagine nowadays.

During these years movies were a rare treat that Jacinto’s mother would take him to when possible. One can imagine how much these afternoon escapes must have meant to him. A chance to get away from the horrors of real life and disappear into a darkened room for an hour and a half (or so) must have been bliss, especially when the movie was one such as young Jacinto saw one afternoon at age 11.

Universal released the first of its monster rallies, FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN, in March of 1943. Studies have shown that during times of warfare there is an increase in production of horror films, and this was definitely the case with Universal in the 1940s, which put out no less than 23 horror pictures from 1939-1945. A print of FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN made its way from America to a theater in Madrid, Spain, in 1945, and it was there that a future film legend was born.

This film made a major impression on Jacinto and would later be cited by him as a leading influence on his own horror film career. I wonder what writer Curt Siodmak would say about his film being the catalyst for a future film legend? I also wonder if Naschy ever got a chance to meet any of the folks responsible for FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN, such as actors Lon Chaney and Bela Lugosi, writer Siodmak, or makeup artist Jack Pierce, whose amazing wolfman makeup undeniably influenced his own werewolf makeup as character Waldemar Daninsky.

Jacinto got into the film industry at age 26, working for years in mostly uncredited roles until 1968 when he made the first of his werewolf pictures, LA MARCA DEL HOMBRE-LOBO, a.k.a MARK OF THE WOLFMAN, best known as FRANKENSTEIN’S BLOODY TERROR, a film he himself wrote and starred in. This was the first of two werewolf pictures he would make that year, the other being LAS NOCHES DEL HOMBRE LOBO, a.k.a. NIGHTS OF THE WEREWOLF.

The influence of that fateful day in a movie theater in Madrid certainly showed through as Jacinto created a character that would go on to 12 “sequels:”

(1968) - La marca del Hombre-lobo aka Frankenstein's Bloody Terror
(1968) - Las noches del Hombre Lobo
(1970) - Los monstruos del terror aka Assignment Terror
(1971) - La noche de Walpurgis aka The Werewolf Versus the Vampire Woman
(1972) - La furia del Hombre Lobo... aka The Fury of the Wolf Man
(1972) - Dr. Jekyll y el Hombre Lobo ... aka Dr. Jekyll and the Wolfman
(1973) - El retorno de Walpurgis aka Curse of the Devil
(1975) - La maldición de la bestia aka Night of the Howling Beast
(1981) - El retorno del Hombre-Lobo ... aka The Night of the Werewolf
(1983) - La bestia y la espada mágica
(1987) - El aullido del diablo
(1996) - Licántropo: El asesino de la luna llena ... aka "Lycantropus: The Moonlight Murders"
(2004) - Tomb of the Werewolf (V) Played by Paul Naschy

So besides being a terrific film (it is one of my favorite Universal pictures), the fact it inspired young Jacinto to go on to an influential career as a horror star is yet another reason to love FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN.

You know, it’s ironic to think that, in a sense, Lawrence Talbot created Waldemar Daninsky. What is it that the old gypsy, Maleva, said in the first Wolf Man movie? “Whoever is bitten by a werewolf and lives becomes a werewolf himself.” Well, young Jacinto was bitten by a werewolf in that theater in 1945, and the curse came full circle with Frankenstein’s Bloody Terror in 1968. Who knows how many others Waldemar has, in turn, “bitten,” and so the curse continues…

Here’s to Waldemar and Lawrence, may they stalk the silver screens forever.

Tuesday, November 30

The Naschy Blogathon - Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf continued further...

Dr. Jekyll y el Hombre Lobo
a.k.a. Dr. Jekyll and the Wolfman - 1972

Paul Naschy enjoyed the good fortune to be the man calling the shots in his films, as he wrote, starred in and even directed many of them. Therefore he, like most good filmmakers, surrounded himself with actors he knew and trusted. Many of the cast members from the film I've been discussing for the Naschy Blogathon, DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN, had either already worked with Naschy or would go on to work with him again in the future. Let’s take a look at the principals in this picture, and their pictorial relation with the Spanish Lon Chaney…

Shirley Corrigan

Shirley plays Justine in this picture, and of course is unable to resist the charms of Waldemar Daninsky. Shirley is stunningly beautiful - I have to seek out more of her work.

She has 24 film credits on IMDB, including, interestingly, an uncredited bit as a partygoer in the Dario Argento film FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET. Her last film was THE LITTLE ARCHIMEDES in 1979. She is one of the few cast members who did not go on to work with Naschy again. This is what she had to say about Naschy in an interview from her website:

"When I first arrived in Madrid and was getting to know Paul Naschy, we would go to his house where he invited me to meet his family - they were all very lovely, and very hospitable. Then we decided we would go out together and talk about the script, but it became impossible because there were about 300 people waiting outside the restaurant for autographs! It was like a stampede, He kept saying to the public: "This is Senorita Shirley Corrigan, a beautiful girl from England. She's bringing me good luck. He was such a generous man. I liked working with him, he was very respectful to me and always said, 'You're much too good!'"
Her official website is: http://www.shirleycorrigan.com/


Jack Taylor – Dr. Henry Jekyll

Jack plays the cool Dr. Henry Jekyll, a man harboring a long secret love for Justine. He is the grandson of the infamous Dr. Jekyll, and tries to help cure Waldemar of his curse, thanks to the pleading of Justine.

He was born in Oregon City, Oregon in 1926. He made over a hundred movies ncluding CONAN THE BARBARIAN, THE VAMPIRE’S NIGHT ORGY, Jess Franco’s COUNT DRACULA (with Christopher Lee), and THE NINTH GATE. He worked with Paul Naschy in several films – EXORCISMO (1975), DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1972), and THE MUMMY’S REVENGE (1973). Worked with Naschy again in 1973 in the giallo EL ASESINO ESTÁ ENTRE LOS TRECE. He is still acting to this day, averaging one or two films a year, and even had a film come out in 2010 called AGNOSIA.


Mirta Miller – Sandra
She plays Dr. Jekyll’s assistant and lover, Sandra. She is a bad, bad woman, and is insanely jealous of Justine. She is the catalyst of the chain of events that bring disaster to Waldemar in London.


Born in 1948, she appeared in 77 movies, including BOLERO with Bo Derek. Her most recent film came out in 2004 titled SUCEDIÓ EN ESPAÑA. She appeared in a number of movies with Paul Naschy including COUNT DRACULA’S GREAT LOVE (1972), VENGEANCE OF THE ZOMBIES (1973), DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1972), TODOS LOS GRITOS DEL SILENCIO (1975), and EL ÚLTIMO KAMIKAZE (1984, written directed and starring Paul Naschy).


Jose Marco – Imre
Jose plays Justine’s husband in the beginning of this film. Naschy pulls a bit of a Hitchcockian fake out here, introducing us to Imre and leading us to believe he is the lead character. But, like the husbands of beautiful women in many Naschy films, he is quickly disposed of – the easier for Naschy to steal her heart!


Born in 1925 - Although he only appeared in DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN for a brief period he is actually a very well known Spanish actor. He has appeared in close to 80 films including FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (bit part), and HORROR EXPRESS – in fact he had already appeared in more than 60 films by the time DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN was made. He appeared in several other Naschy films including WEREWOLF VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN (1971), FURY OF THE WOLFMAN (1972), LOS CANTROBROS (1980 – written and directed by Paul Naschy who also has a role in this one) and EL VÉRTIGO DEL CRIMEN (1970).


Luis Induni – Otvos
Luis plays Otvos, leader of a local group of thugs. He and his men follow Imre and Justine to the graveyard, murder him, and try to rape Justine, before being foiled by an enraged Waldemar.

Born in 1920, Luis died in Dec 1979. He appeared in over 200 titles, including a number of spaghetti westerns. He appeared with Naschy in NIGHT OF THE HOWLING BEAST (1975), EXORCISMO (1975), DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1972), DEVIL’S POSSESSED (1974), FURY OF JOHNNY KID (1967), LA DIOSA SALVAJE (1975), SECUESTRO (1976).


Barta Barri – Gyogyo, the inn-keeper
Barta plays Gyogo the Inn Keeper. I really like this character, as it feels like a nod to the Dracula pictures of old, where the local in keeper warns the travelers not to go near the Dracula’s castle. Plus he has a glorious moustache! In just one of many twists in this picture, the inn keeper isn’t exactly what he appears – in fact, he is working in cahoots with Otvos and his men.

Barta was born in 1911 – he made over 130 pictures. He worked with Naschy in the pictures WEREWOLF VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN (1971), DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1972), THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE DARK (1976), 1001 NIGHTS (1968).


Luis Gaspar – Thurko, Otvos's thug
I am not 100% sure the thug above is Luis - I could only find two other pictures of him, both recent ones, but I see some similarity between the two and think I have the correct thug...
Luis made close to 50 films, including several Naschy pictures: WEREWOLF VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN (1971), THE MUMMY’S REVENGE (1973), DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1972)


Elsa Zabala – Uswika Bathory
Elsa plays the spooky old witch who lives with Waldemar in his black castle. The townsfolk are all scared of her - until one of them cuts her head off and presents it like a trophy to the angry mob!

Elsa appeared with Naschy in the CURSE OF THE DEVIL (1973), HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB (1973), VENGEANCE OF THE ZOMBIES (1973), DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1972).


Even this street walker, the second woman murdered by Daninsky once he wolfs-out in London (and who appears onscreen only for a minute or so), was in WEREWOLF VS THE VAMPIRE WOMAN the year before. She was played by actress Marissa Tovar.

So this was one cast that was pretty familiar with one another. Probably made for a smooth shoot, and certainly one Naschy felt comfortable with.

Monday, November 29

Paul Naschy Blogathon - Dr. Jekyll and the Wolfman continued

For part two of the Paul Naschy Blogathon here I thought I'd share a few screen captures from DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN. There is a whole lot going on in this movie, and some really cool visuals. I just grabbed a few stills from some of the highlights...

Justine and Imre, newlyweds - this guy HAS to be loaded
cause she's WAAAY outta his league...

The cozy family burial grounds...

trouble with the locals...

Oh crap!

Thins are definitely looking grim...

Waldemar to the rescue!

Imre who?

Your new boyfriend has a secret... a big hairy one.

All this and a mad scientist too? This movie has it all!

Hyde-o-vision

Daninsky-Hyde - what a handsome fella!

The man enjoys his work - a real hands on kinda guy!

Naw, he doesn't stand out at all...

Not one of Justine's better days...

Oooh that's gotta hurt!

Uh oh...