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Tag Archives: William Castle

Another Stroll Down Movie Memory Lame

Hello and welcome to another late Lame Post Friday post.  I even got up up later this Saturday morning than I usually do, having stayed up later on Friday night.  I am sitting in silence, other than the sound of my furnace and the irregular tip tip tip of my stylus pecking in one letter at a time.  I hope to purchase a new laptop at some point.  Then I can ten finger type in more places and postures.

Yesterday was a Blogger’s Sad Day.  It would have been my husband Steven’s 68th birthday.  Birthdays were a big deal for him.  He always made mine special, and I tried to do the same for him.  I felt relieved that I did not have to work (took the whole day because I had an appointment).  I thought I should do something to mark the occasion.

Lots of screaming in this movie, but nothing like the scream queens of the ’70’s.

Since watching movies together was one of our favorite things, I popped in one of our all time favorites, House on Haunted Hill, the original William Castle version, starring Vincent Price (I have no use for the remake).  The first time we saw this, I was in the army.  We had taken the long drive to my first duty station, gotten signed into billeting, and had time to relax. It was a Friday, and I didn’t have to sign into my unit till Monday.  We saw House on Haunted Hill was going to be on AMC, back when AMC was good and showed all movies.  We loved it!

I think her braids are too tight.

Next I went to The Bad Seed, another long time favorite.  This goes all the way back to Norwood, NY, where we lived in the ’90’s and spent a considerable amount of time renting videos.  I miss those rental places!  I know, some people prefer streaming and the fact that they can sit on their butt in sweats and watch whatever.  I loved going to the place and walking around, finding things I didn’t know I wanted to find.

So this my stroll down Memory Lame.  See how I looped back to Lame Post Friday?  Sometimes I think I’m clever, but I daresay I flatter myself.

 

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Just a Few Mid-Week Monsters

Once again I wussed out on Wednesday.  Once again I have no good excuse so will not attempt to offer one.  However, since I did not make a Monstrous Monday post, I will indulge in some Mid-Week Monsters.  I do like monsters.

“You’re late with your blog post? I’ll get you for that!”

Here is the creepy guy from Carnival of Souls, one of my favorites.  So unsettling with a minimum of special effects, so scary with no blood and gore.  I know, most horror fans love the blood and gore.  I confess to being squeamish.

If it’s blood and gore you want…

 

Some bloody, gory movies I enjoy were made by Hammer Films in the 1960’s and ’70’s.  I just loves me some Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.

Not monsters, but monstrously talented.

I was looking for a picture of Peter Cushing and found this one, including Vincent Price.  Price was not in any of the Hammer horrors, but he gave delightful performances in several produced by William Castle and Roger Corman, two more of my favorites.

Ah, there’s Cushing in action.

There! I found one with Lee and Cushing!  I guess I can use a picture of a mummy to wrap things up (couldn’t resist a pun; I rarely can).

 

One Sunday with Triple Cheese, Please!

I said earlier I might try for a Sunday Cinema Post,  and here I am, on Sunday, having watched a few movies, and ready to make a blog post.  My husband, Steve, graciously agreed to watch cheesy horror movies.  Accordingly, I located a VHS cassette I picked up at a rummage sale of Monster from Green Hell.  I could not exactly remember how the plot unfolded but hoped it would not be too slow.  That is Steve’s usual problem with that sort of movie: too slow!  I fear he is often right.

And I think I have insect problems!

A scary scene, no?  Yes, it is.  Unfortunately, we had to sit through HOURS of guys walking through Africa, stock footage of animals panicking, and various other slow scenes explaining what was or was about to happen.  And, yes, it felt like hours, even though the whole movie clocks in at 71 minutes, according to the box.  My bad!  I should have remembered.

“Scream! Scream for your lives!”

I knew we would have better luck when I put in The Tingler.  William Castle and Vincent Price, there could be no possible objection.  It is one of my favorites.

It is really not so romantic as all that.

We moved on to a Vincent Price/Agnes Moorehead vehicle, The Bat.  That is a fun movie too, although it does not pay to think too hard about it.  I don’t want to say it has plot holes, but you could probably strain spaghetti through the script.

It was a very relaxing Sunday afternoon.  I feel a little bad that I got almost nothing useful done, but you’ll have that.  At least I’ll have that.  In the meantime,  I am over 250 words,  posting on time.  Score!  Bring on the week!

 

I Wish I Was Invisible

It is time once again for a Monstrous Monday Post. It has been a semi-monstrous day, but I will not elaborate on that. For one reason, I am pecking one letter at a time with the stylus on my Tablet, and the device is being rather uncooperative. Predictive text is not the least bit attuned to what I might be trying to say, and autocorrect is a bitch.

Never mind all that, let me find a picture of a monster to brighten our day.

He really disappears into his character.

Here is Claude Rains as The Invisible Man. He is a real actor’s actor. Bette Davis loved working with him. They never did a horror movie together, alas.

A peek into the creative process.

I couldn’t find anything that related to the first photo, but here is a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a William Castle production. Castle is the guy with the cigar. The seated fellow is Vincent Price. I don’t know who the ghouls are, but I love their outfits.

Another fashionable ensemble.

I can’t find another good movie monster in my Media Library, so here is a picture of our skeleton Bonita in her 2020 Halloween outfit. The black tulips are from a murder mystery.

I am afraid this has been a rather disjointed post, but you’ll have that, especially with me. I’ll try for more Mohawk Valley Adventures as the week progresses, but no promises. Still, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

Cheerful Monsters?

I feel I ought not make another whiny Monday post, as some of my Monstrous Monday Posts turn out to be. Yet, I am feeling monstrous. Perhaps I could be monstrous but cheerful.

Looks like a fun bunch to me!

Who could be uncheered by William Castle, Vincent Price, and friends? I could get into watching a Castle/Price collaboration about now. However, I would probably want to go to bed before the end. I am on overtime so get up unreasonably early and get very tired by the end of the day (NOT whining! Merely explaining why I am not watching a movie) (It also explains why this post is turning out to be kind of dumb).

A tense confrontation.

The above is from The Terror, a Roger Corman romp, starring Jack Nicholson and Boris Karloff. I like a Corman/Karloff collaboration, too. Plus, it has the charm of alliteration. Regular readers know I love alliteration.

An even rompier movie.

And here is a Price/Karloff collaboration, with Peter Lorre and Jack Nicholson thrown in for good measure, The Raven. I must get that one on DVD for my collection.

Well, now I am feeling quite cheerful, thinking about these movies I love. Additionally, I am approaching 200 words. Regular readers (I think I still have some) know I call that respectable. At any rate, I made it through another Monstrous Monday. I hope to see you all again on Tired Tuesday, as I fear it will be (not whining now either, just predicting).

Me Whine? On Monstrous Monday?

I am going to make a Monstrous Monday Post. For one reason, I recently downloaded a really cool picture.

A f

And I STILL can’t add a caption! Anyways, this is Vincent Price, William Castle, and friends.

The other reason I wanted to do a Monstrous Monday Post is that I am TIRED! I do not want to go on about it, though. It would constitute whining. I hate to be called a whiner. Come to think about it, usually when somebody says I’m whining, I don’t feel I really am. Do others have that experience? I would imagine they do.

But I digress. Perhaps I could find a picture of a whiny monster, just to tie things together.

I don’t know that I would call this whining, but no doubt somebody would. At least we can agree it is a monster (I just KNOW somebody out there is disagreeing) (you know who you are).

If I can find just one more monster picture, I can get to 200 words, hit Publish, and call this a blog post. These are my rules for me. Judge me if you are so inclined.

Waaaait a minute! That’s not a monster, that’s me! I guess I can be monstrous at times. And isn’t it better to wine than whine? Discuss amongst yourselves.

Svengoolie, Can You Help Me Now?

Hello and welcome to another Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post. I suppose it could be a Scattered Sunday, though, because I have been all over the map.

I went on a long run this morning, did some house cleaning, grocery shopped, and mowed the lawn (no small task with my non-power mower and wimpy muscles). However, as is often the case, the highlight of my day was sitting in front of the television knitting.

He is the man, yes.

I enjoyed not one but two episodes of Svengoolie on my DVR. One was a Roger Corman movie with the rather unfitting title of The Undead. The other was a made-for-tv movie from 972 called Gargoyles.

In between Svengoolies, we saw House on Haunted Hill (the original William Castle/Vincent Price version) and Murder By Death, two of our go-to silly movies.

Aaand it seems my Tablet will not allow me to download pictures of those movies. No doubt I am too technologically ignorant for these things. In any case, I am soon switching over to Snapped, my usual Sunday thing.

I really need a wine glass with the logo.

It is becoming increasingly clear to me that I must reorganize and revitalize my life so that Monday does not bear down on me with swoon-inducing force. Unfortunately, I have few ideas on how to accomplish this. I guess all I can do is pick up my knitting and drive on. At least I have made my Sunday post on Sunday. As always, thank you for tuning in.

Short Straitjacket Post

This will be a Tired Tuesday Post. For one reason, I am so tired I almost forgot to make a blog post. What’s that all about, me?

Me, trying to sleep. The heads represent my petty problems.

When in doubt, throw in a picture. This is Joan Crawford in Straitjacket, a William Castle classic involving Crawford chopping off a couple of heads. I think many of us have considered taking an axe to our enemies, figuratively speaking, of course. Then perhaps we realize that violence is not the answer, and severed heads make rather a mess. Or so I have heard.

Teeheehee.

Here is the end shot from Straitjacket. It has always amused me.

A much better use for an axe.

I guess this is a Straitjacket post. And a short post. But why not end on Joan Crawford with a cake? Maybe tomorrow I will try again for the post I just couldn’t finish on Monday. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

New Year’s with Vincent

I interrupt my New Year’s Eve celebrations to make a blog post. It was easy for my husband, Steven, and I to heed the calls to stay home and not gather for the holiday, because that is what we usually do for New Year’s Eve. Sweat pants, wine, and movies. What more could we ask?

I could ask that my Media Library be more organized, for one thing. We are watching familiar movies, and I know I have pictures of them. Movie pictures add so much to a post like this.

The master at work.

Our first movie was House on Haunted Hill, the original starring Vincent Price, directed by William Castle.  It is one of our perennial favorites. 

Me, trying to scroll through all my pictures.

I have some even better pictures of that movie, but it is too difficult to find them.  Perhaps I will make a New Year’s Resolution to find out how to better organize my photos.

We continued with both Price and Castle with The Tingler.

He’s feeding her a line, and she’s got him on a string.

I paused in my making a blog post to watch Carolyn Jones’ scenes in House of Wax, starring Vincent Price but not directed by William Castle. 

Now that I am over 200 words, I shall feel free to return to my holiday libations and movie viewing.  Happy New Year, everyone!

 

Mid-Week Monsters, Random and Related

I promised myself I could do a Mid-Week Monsters Post. Who could be uncheered by monsters? That is an homage to Winnie the Pooh, who famously said, “Who could be uncheered by a balloon?” I may have that quote wrong, but nobody is perfect.

It is no shame to be unable to pick.

Regular readers know who my personal favorite is, but I love them all.

He is fine, yes.

I continue with a picture of one of my personally owned monsters, Harold Ghoul. I got him at a neighbor’s garage sale last summer. I gave him the name.

He’s scary!

Back to movie monsters with my beloved Nosferatu. I am currently reading an annotated version of Dracula by Bram Stoker. It is absorbing and educational.

Talk about a hot flash!

Here is a dramatic scene from Horror Hotel, another favorite of mine. I guess this week’s monsters are not particularly interrelated, despite my using Nosferatu twice. But what is wrong with a random stroll among monstrous memories?

Not exactly a monster, but close enough.

Here is a picture tangentially related to the first one. Vincent Price was in The Fly. This particular picture is not from that movie, but please bear in mind my earlier assertion about nobody being perfect. In fact, I am not a fan of The Fly, but I LOVE House on Haunted Hill.

One of my favorite purveyors of monsters.

This picture is related to the one immediately previous. It is of the producer-director extraordinaire William Castle, coaching one of the other actors in House on Haunted Hill.

My Mid-Week Monsters Post has, indeed, cheered me up. I hope my readers are reasonably entertained. Happy Wednesday, everyone!