Monthly Archives: August 2024

Teenage Monster (1957) – Friday Night At The Home Drive-In

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Poster for Teenage Monster (1957)Teenage Monster / Meteor Man (1957) by #JacquesRMarquette
w/#AnneGwynne #GilPerkins #GloriaCastillo

An Old West town is terrorized by a teenager who has been transformed into a monster by the rays of a meteor.

“A teenage titan of terror on a lustful binge that paralyzed a town with fear!”

#SciFi #Horror
#NotQuiteClassicCinema
#FridayNightAtTheHomeDriveIn

Last week I watched Teenage Monster (1957), also known as Meteor Man. As the opening credits rolled, I didn’t recognize a single name. None of the cast members, nor the writer – or even the producer/director, Jacques Marquette.  Something told me that Teenage Monster was not a studio picture… Continue reading →

The Flying Saucer (1950) – Friday Night At The Home Drive-In

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Poster for The Flying Saucer (1950)The Flying Saucer (1950) by #MikelConrad
w/#PatGarrison #HantzvonTeuffen

The CIA sends a rich playboy to Alaska to investigate flying saucer sightings.

“Streaking out of the unknown comes a strange new terror!”

“Have we visitors from outer space?”

\#SciFi #Thriller
#NotQuiteClassicCinema
#FridayNightAtTheHomeDriveIn

The Flying Saucer (1950) was apparently the first movie ever made about a flying saucer.  It even starts with an acknowledgement of those in authority who made the release of The Flying Saucer possible at this time. Hmmm… sounds like it was a very serious project, and that the director really wanted to get the facts right. Perhaps we’ll all learn something before the movie is through…

The first thing I learned while watching the credits is that Mikel Conrad not only stars in it, but he came up with the original story – and he directed it. So if nothing else, we’ll know who to blame if The Flying Saucer turns out to be a dud…

Shhh… It’s starting! Continue reading →

Invasion of the Animal People (1959) – Friday Night At The Home Drive-In

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Poster for Invasion of the Animal People (1959)Invasion of the Animal People AKA Terror in the Midnight Sun (1959)
by #VirgilWVogel #JerryWarren
w/#BarbaraWilson #StenGester #JohnCarradine

Aliens release a giant furry beast in northern Sweden.

“Could it Happen? See and Decide for Yourself!”

“Monsters walk the earth in ravishing rampage of clawing fury!”

#SciFi #Horror
#NotQuiteClassicCinema
#FridayNightAtTheHomeDriveIn

I had never seen Invasion of the Animal People (1959) before last week. Imagine my surprise when the movie starts up and John Carradine appears on the screen. He directly addresses us, making a speech to the camera. I had no idea that he was even in this movie. Perhaps it’s going to be better than I thought…

By the time he finishes talking and the credits begin, I feel so pumped that I know there’s no way that the rest of the movie is going to live up to this…

Wait – Jerry Warren co-directed this movie? Will the surprises never cease? The only thing is, I’m not sure if that’s good news or bad… Continue reading →

Voodoo Woman (1957) – Friday Night At The Home Drive-In

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Poster for Voodoo Woman (1957)Voodoo Woman (1957) by #EdwardLCahn
w/#MarlaEnglish #TomConway #MikeConnors #MaryEllenKay

A mad doctor combines science and voodoo to create an indestructible woman.

“A woman by day… a monster by night!”

“We’re doing it Chaka. White man’s science and the black voodoo.”

#SciFi #Horror
#NotQuiteClassicCinema
#FridayNightAtTheHomeDriveIn

We can thank executive producers Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson for Voodoo Woman (1957). They are, of course, the founders of American International Pictures. And they have given decades of joy to B-movie fans all around the world. Together – and apart – they are responsible for so many classics (or Not Quite Classics), and personal favourites of mine, that I can’t even begin to list them.

The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), Blacula (1972), The Legend of Hell House (1973) — just to name a few.

Voodoo Woman (1957) is not a film I’d ever seen before, and I didn’t know anything about it. Could it be a lost classic? Doubtful, but I decided to give it a shot… Continue reading →

The Cosmic Man (1959) – Friday Night At The Home Drive-In

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Poster for The Cosmic Man (1959)The Cosmic Man (1959) by #HerbertSGreene
w/#JohnCarradine #BruceBennett #AngelaGreene

An alien with the power of invisibility arrives on Earth to discourage mankind’s misuse of nuclear energy.

“Ghost creature from space!”

“Is it True? Are Creatures from Space watching us NOW?”

#SciFi
#NotQuiteClassicCinema
#FridayNightAtTheHomeDriveIn

The first thing I noticed about The Cosmic Man (1959) is that it stars John Carradine, who is legendary among genre fans. He has over three hundred and fifty acting credits in film and television, including classics made by the likes of John Ford and Cecil B. DeMille. But in his later years, he appeared in a whole slew of horror, science fiction, and other B-movies. And this is probably what he is most revered for (at least by people like me). Continue reading →