Tag Archives: William Castle

But What About Joan Crawford?

Posted on October 19, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

So it’s another bad blogging week.  Sue me.  I’ll work on having some Mohawk Valley adventures this weekend and go for a better week next time.  That is the beauty of blogging: you can try again tomorrow.  The fact is, although I am feeling better than yesterday, the lightheadedness that plagues me continues to do so (my computer seems to think that lightheadedness is not word, but if lightheaded is, why not lightheadedness?  Discuss among yourselves).

I don’t have a suit that spiffy, and to my knowledge, nobody has pointed a gun at me. I rather think a gun would have more of an effect on me than on an actual zombie.

This is from The Walking Dead (1936).  It was posted by a Facebook page I Like, B-Movie Mania, and I said, “Ooh, that’s me!”

And that’s about all I have for this week’s Non-Sequitur Thursday post.  However, I can’t let it end here.  There must be other pictures that are appropriate.  Let me look.

“…and soon they’ll come for you!”

Here’s a haunted look, if you like.  It’s that guy from House on Haunted Hill (1959), produced and directed by my beloved William Castle. That actor was also in Rosemary’s Baby (1968), which was produced but not directed by Castle.  Whenever I refer to him as merely “Castle,” I flash on the Nathan Fillon television show.  I loved that show, especially the divine Susan Sullivan.

She is marvelous.

I may have crossed a line myself, blog-wise.  No matter.  I’m over 200 words.  Once I think of a title, I have a blog post.  Happy Thursday, everyone.

 

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Sunday Cinema, in Progress

Posted on October 15, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I should make my blog post before it got any later, although I was tempted to wait until at least the next movie.  We began the movie watching portion of our day early so are able to get more movies in.  Naturally I wanted to watch all Halloween movies (I always want to watch all Halloween movies, but during October is the time it is easiest to get away with).  We began with a DVD which was loaned to me by a work friend, Phantom of the Opera (1943), colorized.

This is the reaction you might get when you try to take a girl home on the first date.

I did not realize this was the Claude Rains version.  I love Claude Rains!  I’m not sure I loved the movie, although I did love the ending.  Perhaps I’ll write a blog post about it.  I have not done a movie write-up in a long time.  I love doing movie write-ups.

After Phantom of the Opera, I suggested House of Wax (1953), because Vincent Price has a deformed face, kind of like the Phantom (acquired by different means but with a similar personality-warping effect).  For another reason, I knew House of Wax moved along faster.  I like a movie that moves right along.

Yes, that is Charles Bronson in the center. Vincent Price is hiding his deformed face, by the way.

This brought us to 2 p.m., when I knew Snapped was on.  We decided to check that out before going on with our movies.  Sunday is a good day for Snapped, after all.  Unfortunately, it was the episode about Amy Fisher. I was hoping for one I had not seen, so we reopened the movie debate early.

Any excuse to re-share the picture of our friend Ellie in “Amy Fisher: The Musical.”

At last we settled on House on Haunted Hill, because it stars Vincent Price.  I like to have a connection between my movies.  Additionally, this is a William Castle movie.  I loves me some William Castle!

I guess she doesn’t have a thing for skinny guys.

Oh dear, as I typed this in, House on Haunted Hill got finished. Now I must debate with Steven as to which movie to watch next.  More Vincent Price?  Another William Castle?  Or maybe something with a house.  Or a hill. Happy Sunday, everyone.

 

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Martians, Vampires, Prank Phone Calls, It’s Sunday Cinema!

Posted on October 1, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a Cinema Sunday post?  I have not watched that many movies today, but I have not done a whole lot else either.  I went running, I went shopping (grocery and other), I made a salad and other stuff for this week’s lunches, I cooked a nice dinner for Steven and me.  Perhaps this will be a rambling post, more of a Scattered Sunday.

While I was chopping and mixing, Steven put in Signs (2002).  Back when I used to like M Night Shyamalan movies.  But let’s not get into that right now.  I have not seen any of his recent stuff.

I just flashed on the Roger Miller “Hat” song, “Hey, Kid, where’d you get the Lid?”

After Signs, Steven let me pick, and I chose Dracula (1931).  It is more atmospheric than plot-driven, but I gotta love me some Bela Lugosi and Dwight Frye.

Ooh, those eyes!

I have to say, though, the movie does not chug right along, the way I like a movie too.  What can I say?  It’s just my taste in theatre.  After a highly respected classic, I wanted to watch a William Castle movie, which one might argue is a classic of a different sort (although I am no hand at argument).  We decided on I Saw What You Did.  It’s silly fun.  Of course, these days it is not so easy to make prank phone calls.  I never could make them successfully; people always recognize my voice.  But at least Joan Crawford never yelled at me!

I’d sure as hell go!

Now we are looking at Snapped while I make this blog post, but I’m not loving the episode on now.  I wonder if I could talk Steven into House on Haunted Hill.

When I was done screaming, I’d ask him for a few diet tips.

 

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Words, Work, What to Do?

Posted on June 29, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I did not make my Non-Sequitur Thursday post on Thursday.  Judge me if you like, I shall not explain, because explanations are tiresome.  I am sitting at my laptop with coffee at 4:30 in the morning (which is actually a normal time for me to be out of bed on a workday), and I’m going to type a few words and hit publish.  Then on to my last day of work before two weeks off, yes.

Here is a Freudian typo:  when I went to put “workday” just now, my fingers first typed “word.”  Since I want to be a writer (technically I am a writer, but I dream of finishing longer things than blog posts and murder mysteries), I find that appropriate.  Next Freudian typo:  I typed “wend” instead of “went.” This implies that I am wending my way through this post. Quite appropriate for a Non-Sequitur Thursday.

“Ah, about that…”

I thought I would throw in a picture of Nosferatu, just because.  On the one hand, I feel that makes this more of a non-sequitur post.  On the other hand, if you actually say you are making a non-sequitur, I think it makes it less of a non-sequitur.  And now I veer into half-baked philosophy, the purview (I love that word, purview) of Lame Post Friday.  And since it is, in fact, actually Friday, now I am veering back into sequitur territory.  What is a blogger to do?

Which is not the same thing as “I saw what you did there.”

When in doubt, throw in another picture.  I loves me some William Castle.

Incidentally, this is what I felt like yesterday, when I missed posting.

I just grabbed the next picture I saw in my Media Library (“Media Library” should be said in snooty tones), because I want to finish this up.  I am over 300 words, which is a little long for a foolish post, especially a late one.  If only I could think of a silly headline, my life would be perfect.  Late Happy Thursday and Early Happy Friday, folks!

 

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Monsters on Monday, What’s Not to Like?

Posted on June 5, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had a couple of authentic Mohawk Valley adventures I was going to write about,  but I’m tired.  Sorry, folks, I’ve had a rough weekend and a tough Monday — oh, I KNOW other people work much harder than I do and have a much harder time.  I’ll stop whining, I really will.  My point is, as I was idly scrolling down Facebook, trying to work up some ambition, I came across an awesome still from The Invisible Man, and, well, you know me and monster movies.  We are having another Monstrous Monday.

“But, Darling, I never loved you for your looks!”

Claude Rains and Gloria Stuart, what’s not to like?  Naturally I kept scrolling to see if I could get lucky and find a couple of more pictures.

They don’t do newspaper ads like this any more!

I LOOOOVE The Raven!  I only recently saw it for the first time, having DVR’d it from TCM.  I feel certain my husband will give me the DVD for my birthday or Christmas sometime.  Maybe on a boxed set of Roger Corman movies.  I like Roger Corman almost as much as I like William Castle.

I think this also works as a depiction of the popular conception of Monday.

This is one out of my Media Library.  Since I mentioned William Castle, I just had to include a picture of House on Haunted Hill (the 1959 original, of course), one of our go-to movies.  So entertaining!

Alas, one cannot enjoy Percepto while watching this on DVD!

Oh, how silly of me.  I went looking in my Library for William Castle, completely forgetting that I had just downloaded a movie poster from one of his flicks!  It just goes to show how truly tired I am.  I’m leaving the other picture in, though, because who couldn’t like to see a scary ghost and a screaming woman on Monstrous Monday?  No promises, but I’ll try not to be so tired on Tuesday.

 

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Not Cheesy on Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on May 21, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

We were supposed to be watching cheesy movies.  I am wearing my t-shirt from Original Herkimer Cheese, which says, “Keepin’ It Cheesy Since 1949.”

The moment I saw this shirt, I knew I had to own it one day.

I gave Original Herkimer Cheese one of my favorite plugs in a murder mystery for the Herkimer County Historical Society.

One character tells another she looks remarkably like Frangelica Inferno, “Uh, not that I watch porn movies.”

Character that looks like Frangelica:  “She was not a porn star!  Those were art films!”

Another character:  “Oh, please, those movies are as cheesy as Chutter from Original Herkimer Cheese!”

I do love chutter, and Original Herkimer Cheese.  But I digress. My original subject was cheesy movies, which I adore to watch on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  We watched a good one last night, The Tingler, starring Vincent Price and directed by William Castle.  We thought of continuing the Price/Castle theme today with House on Haunted Hill.  However, I had also mentioned All About Eve as a possibility.  Steven was more interested in All About Eve.  How could I possibly object to a Bette Davis classic?

After All About Eve, Steve suggested another favorite of ours, Being Julia, starring the divine Annette Bening.  In addition to being one of my all time favorite movies, this one seemed related to All About Eve, because both are about highly talented, greatly admired stage actresses who have just a little bit of trouble in their offstage lives.

I am having a bit of trouble in my offstage life these days, as well as onstage, but how tiresome of me it would be to cry about it now, even on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  Additionally, I have movies to watch.  For a blog post, this will have to do.  I hope to see you all again on Monstrous Monday.

 

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Oh, Snap! No Movies to Watch!

Posted on February 26, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Who, me? Write a blog post?

I had the distinct urge to open with a picture of Nosferatu.  It is Wrist to Forehead Sunday, and this post is going to be foolish, short on substance, but possibly long on monster movie pictures.  I offer no excuse for my perfidy (isn’t that a nice word?) but will drive on with the post.

“You don’t like my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post?”

This is blurrier than the picture of Joan Crawford with an ax that I usually post.  However, this one does not have the silly caption about giving Mommy the candy.  Sometimes when I watch a movie like Straitjacket, that I love to pop in periodically, I feel a little sad, because I have to wait a certain amount of time before I watch it again.  I’m in the mood lately that I only want to watch all my old favorite movies.  It is fortunate that I have a lot of old, favorite movies.  However, the selection is not infinite.

Now there’s a photo montage!

It is not yet time to watch House on Haunted Hill either.  I stole the above from a group I recently joined about William Castle, one of my most admired people.  I do not have nearly enough William Castle movies in my collection.

Most probably I will end the day, as I end many Sunday, by watching Snapped. And that is not bad for a Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  Hope to see you all on Middle-aged Musings Monday.

When I snap, it usually means something else. Just saying.

 

 

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Wordless, Witless, and William Castle

Posted on February 22, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was thinking I would have a Wordless Wednesday instead of my usual Wuss-out Wednesday, and I thought calling it “Wordless or Witless?”.  I am feeling witless.  I’m not feeling particularly wordless, but since my words are mostly whiny, we’ll go with it.  So I need to look for some pictures.

A book I must look for.

I’m in a group for William Castle aficionados, and somebody shared this picture of a book they recommend.  Full disclosure:  I include it because my husband reads this blog and I want to give him gift ideas.  William Castle, for the sadly uninitiated, was a producer and director of horror movies in the 1950’s and ’60’s.  I’m a big fan.

“Lie right down here, dear. This won’t hurt a bit.”

Here is Vincent Price and Patricia Cutts in The Tingler.  He is a dedicated doctor, not to say a mad scientist, and she is his no-good wealthy socialite wife.

He’s not asking her if he can have this dance.

This is Carol Ohmart, who plays Vincent Price’s no-good wife in House on Haunted Hill.  Vincent Price does not have good luck with wives in William Castle movies.  I’m thinking he does not do much better with Roger Corman.  Ah, Roger Corman.  There’s a topic for another blog post.  I have some more cheesy horror movies to watch.

 

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Severed Head Saturday?

Posted on February 4, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

What can I say, I like movies where somebody loses his head.  Not ALL movies where that happens, of course.  I don’t need to see the blood spurting out or anything really disgusting like that.  I am not a fan of the graphic violence.  And I like people to get their heads chopped off for a good reason, like greed, jealousy or being blackmailed.  Come to think of it, I always prefer murder for a reason, be it a movie, novel or true crime show.  You know, not some psycho, weirdo serial killer.  But I digress.

I had started to write a cooking post for tonight, and I have a couple of local business shout-outs I could write.  But I let it go too late in the day, and I’m tired.  We are looking at a Forensic Files right now (murder for the reason of greed, but not by losing a head).  Then we will put in a movie.  My vote is for Strait Jacket. I am in a William Castle kind of a mood, and, as I said to begin with, I like movies with severed heads.

Of course, it isn’t all severed heads with Mr. Castle.

And here’s the showman himself.  I never heard what kind of lobby gimmick if any he included with this flick.  That might be a good thing to research sometime.  I wonder if anybody has written a definitive biography of William Castle.  I’ll have to check.

The caption is not a line from the movie, or even anything to do with the movie, but I kind of like it.

Of course another reason to watch Strait Jacket is the wonderful Joan Crawford.  She is very good in the part, and I have to respect an actress who takes parts in cheesy horror movies in order to keep working.  And what’s wrong with cheesy horror movies anyways?  I find them more entertaining than a lot of Oscar bait.  But that’s a whole other blog post.  Happy Saturday, everybody.

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Not Tired, Tingler!

Posted on January 31, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

So there I was, watching The Tingler with my dear husband Steven, because I thought I could write a post about a cheesy movie instead about how tired I am (it is Tired Tuesday, after all) (oh, it really, truly IS).  I opened my laptop to look for some photos to pep up the post (since apparently pepping myself up is beyond possibility), and on searching “The Tingler” on Facebook discovered that I have already written a blog post about it!

I was in a Vincent Price kind of mood.

I had been thinking about Vincent Price during the day, probably because of the picture I put in yesterday’s post.  Then again, any day is a good day for Vincent Price.  I did manage to find a couple of photos from the movie.

He ought to be looking so hangdog because the science in this movie is so spurious.

If you look in the background of that picture, you can see the skeleton that I believe was also featured in House on Haunted Hill, another favorite of ours.  Steven pointed out a couple other similarities in the movies, namely the un-loving, sneaky wife.

This looks a little racier than it actually is in the film.

Does the evil wife get her comeuppance? I shall not say, regarding either movie.  For one reason, I did not include a spoiler alert.  For anther reason, watch the movie yourself!  Either movie!  Any Vincent Price movie!  Any William Castle movie!  Comment what you watched.  I love it when I get comments.

 

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