KISS ME DEADLY (1955) – Episode 192 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
Release Date: 12/14/2024
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
Chad picks the direct-to-video Eighties "treasure," THE DEAD NEXT DOOR (1989). The then teenage director, J.R. Bookwalter, truly accomplishes something remarkable given his age and his choice of film stock: Super-8 film. Is the film any good? Well, that's the debate. The practical special effects are quite enjoyable and bloody, quite possibly making the film and the viewing experience what it is. Technically, however, the dialog is cringe, the acting is amateurish, the editing even more so. But, dude, it was filmed on SUPER-8 with mostly local talent and a screenplay with solid ideas for its...
info_outlineDecades of Horror | Horror News Radio
The Grue-Crew travel to outer space on Al Adamson's XB-13 spacecraft in his Seventies shlock fest, HORROR OF THE BLOOD MONSTERS (1970). John Carradine is along for the ride sitting comfortably in lawn furniture space chairs. The alien skies are red, green, blue, and yellow in Spectrum-X color effects. Uh-huh. The groovy opening vampire scenes are quickly replaced with a lack-luster crew of space jockeys as they encounter a beautiful alien looking into the distance at scene cut from a little known Pilipino sci-fi film. The creatures include vampire cavemen, lobster men, bat men, and dinosaurs...
info_outlineDecades of Horror | Horror News Radio
The Grue-Crew continue their Roger Corman - Vincent Price - Edgar Allan Poe adventure with THE TOMB OF LIGEIA (1964). All cats beware! The conversations explore the cast of characters, the director (Roger Corman), the screenwriter (Robert Towne), the cinematographer (Arthur Grant), Vincent Price, Elizabeth Shepherd, and… what's up with Lady Ligeia and Lady Rowena. Enjoy! THE TOMB OF LIGEIA (1964) Episode 224 - Decades of Horror The Classic Era Synopsis: "A man's obsession with his dead wife drives a wedge between him and his new bride." - IMDb Quote: "Christopher, not ten minutes ago...
info_outlineDecades of Horror | Horror News Radio
The Grue-Crew revisit the Arnold Schwarzenegger action, sci-fi, horror fan favorite, PREDATOR (1987). The direction from John McTieran, the creature design from Stan Winston, the score from Alan Silvesti, the cinematography from Donald McAlpine, and the cast all add up to a marvelous, thrilling cinematic experience that holds up today. And that case, c'mon, in addition to Arnold, the boasts Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carillo, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Landham, Richard Chaves, R.G. Armstrong, Shane Black, and Kevin Peter Hall as the Predator. And, let's not forget the quotes: "If it bleed, we...
info_outlineDecades of Horror | Horror News Radio
For episode 261 of Decades of Horror 1970s, Chad picks the troubled Seventies disaster sci-fi flick, DAMNATION ALLEY (1977), featuring Jan-Michael Vincent and George Peppard. The Grue-Crew somehow find the fun and adventure in this awkward train-wreck dud. The film was doomed from the start: bad special effects, botched adaptation of a popular novel, and a race to the finished line against the film that would change how Sci-Fi movies look and feel forever. That film, of course, was Star Wars. Will the Grue-Crew find any rewarding and memorable moments to discuss? Oh, yeah, but not for the...
info_outlineDecades of Horror | Horror News Radio
For this episode, Doc decided it was time to dive into Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe films with the lush, chilling classic, THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1964). The film's cast includes Vincent Price, Hazel Court, and Jane Asher. The cinematography from Nicolas Roeg is exquisite. Revisiting this film illustrates Roger Corman's talent at its best. A must-see for horror fans, Roger Corman fans, Vincent Price fans, and Edgar Allan Poe fans alike. Enjoy! - The Grue-Crew The Masque of the Red Death (1964) Decades of Horror The Classic Era - Episode 223 Synopsis: "A European prince terrorizes the...
info_outlineDecades of Horror | Horror News Radio
The Grue-Crew line up for Bill's pick, EXCALIBUR (1981), a fantasy horror-adjacent epic featuring an amazing cast and stunning visuals. This take on the Arthurian legend is a must watch and deserves attention and discussion. EXCALIBUR (1981) Decades of Horror 1980s - Episode 304 Quote: "A dream to some, a nightmare to others!" - Merlin Synopsis: "Merlin the magician helps Arthur Pendragon unite the Britons around the Round Table of Camelot, even as dark forces conspire to tear it apart." - IMDb Director: John Boorman Writer: John Boorman, Thomas Malory, Rospo Pallenberg Cast: Nigel...
info_outlineDecades of Horror | Horror News Radio
Horror Comedies from the1970s, Doc selects the often overlooked or outright forgotten horror comedy from the Seventies, ARNOLD (1973), from director Georg Fenady (Terror in the Wax Museum), featuring Stella Stevens and Roddy McDowall. ARNOLD (1973) Episode 260 - Decades of Horror 1970s The various murders are set up in a way The Abominable Dr. Phibes would relish and in the fashion of an imaginative whodunit or Giallo film. The humor is old-fashioned and more suitable for TV than the cinema. The cast - Stella Stevens, Roddy McDowall, Ella Lanchester - are quite a joy to watch....
info_outlineDecades of Horror | Horror News Radio
For episode 222, Chad chooses the often overlooked spectacle from Toho and Ishiro Honda, THE MYSTERIANS (1957). The movie begins with an entertaining, albeit goofy-looking, pointy-nosed kaiju Moguera. Somehow this robot giant monster still works in its own way and the Grue-Crew have their fun with all the shenanigans. Then the actual alien race of Mysterians ghost-light the cast as they plan their invasion. Earth is prepared to battle, however. Check out the review of THE MYSTERIANS and share your thoughts. “The tragedy of the Mysterians is a good example for us! Don’t use science in the...
info_outlineDecades of Horror | Horror News Radio
Exploring 80s Slashers - HELL NIGHT (1981) Decades of Horror - Episode 303 Doc Rotten selects a little known, often overlooked slasher from the early 1980s featuring Linda Blair, Peter Barton, and Vincent Van Patton. HELL NIGHT (1981) sends four college fraternity and sorority pledges to Garth Manor to stay the night in the haunted mansion. Fake Scooby-Doo scares throughout... until the actual monster shows up to pick the cast off... one by one. Sounds like a great premise, right?! Gory, gruesome fun certainly, Eh?! Sigh, only 25% of the Grue-Crew champion the results while the others are...
info_outline“Look, Mike, I like you. I like the way you handle yourself. You seem like a reasonable man. Why don’t we make a deal? What’s it worth to you to drag your considerable talents back to the gutter you crawled out of?” Wow. Where would you want him to drag himself if you didn’t like him? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Doc Rotten, and Jeff Mohr along with guest Bill Mulligan – as they take a deep, deep dive into Kiss Me Deadly (1955), a horror-adjacent, science-fiction film noir.
Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 192 – Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel!
Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content!
https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine
ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/
Synopsis: A doomed female hitchhiker pulls Mike Hammer into a deadly whirlpool of intrigue, revolving around a mysterious “great whatsit.”
- Directed by: Robert Aldrich
- Writing Credits: A.I. Bezzerides (screenplay); Mickey Spillane (novel)
- Cinematography by: Ernest Laszlo (photography by)
- Produced by: Robert Aldrich (producer); Victor Saville (executive producer) (uncredited)
- Selected Cast:
- Ralph Meeker as Mike Hammer
- Maxine Cooper as Velda Wickman
- Cloris Leachman as Christina Bailey
- Gaby Rodgers as Lily Carver
- Wesley Addy as Lt. Pat Murphy
- Albert Dekker as Dr. G.E. Soberin
- Paul Stewart as Carl Evello
- Nick Dennis as Nick Va Va Voom
- Jack Elam as Charlie Max
- Jack Lambert as Sugar Smallhouse
- Mort Marshall as Ray Diker
- Marian Carr as Friday (as Marion Carr)
- Juano Hernandez as Eddie Yeager
- Marjorie Bennett as Manager
- Fortunio Bonanova as Carmen Trivago
- Strother Martin as Harvey Wallace
- Mady Comfort as Nightclub Singer (as Madi Comfort)
- James McCallion as Horace
- Jesslyn Fax as Horace’s Wife
- Robert Cornthwaite as FBI Agent
- James Seay as FBI Agent
- Silvio Minciotti as Mover
- Paul Richards as Attacker
- Percy Helton as Doc Kennedy
- Leigh Snowden as Cheesecake
- Jerry Zinneman as Sammy
- Kitty White as Club Vocalist
- Ben Morris as Radio Announcer
- Sam Balter as Radio Announcer (voice)
- Joe Hernandez as Radio Announcer (voice)
- Bing Russell as Police Detective (uncredited)
- Charles Lane as Doctor (uncredited)
- Eddie Beal as Sideman (uncredited)
- Leonard Bremen as Man in Parked Car (uncredited)
- Yvonne Doughty as Receptionist (uncredited)
- John George as Popcorn Vendor (uncredited)
- Art Loggins as Bartender (uncredited)
- Mara McAfee as Nurse (uncredited)
- Leonard Mudie as Athletic Club Clerk (uncredited)
Kiss Me Deadly (1955) might not be a certifiable horror movie, but this extraordinary film noir is certainly horror adjacent. Director Robert Aldrich, cinematographer Ernest Laszlo, and screenplay writer A. I. Bezzerides do themselves proud in this adaptation of the Mickey Spillane novel. Ralph Meeker, as antihero Mike Hammer, is supported by superb performances from a long list of recognizable character actors. Film noir — even horror adjacent science fiction film noir — is not for everyone, and indeed, the Classic Era Grue Crew are divided. Either way, Kiss Me Deadly must be seen, and there is much for the crew to discuss. Where else will you find a search for a “great whatsit?”
At the time of this writing, Kiss Me Deadly (1955) is available to stream from the Classic Sci-Fi Movie Channel and on physical media as a Blu-ray disc from Criterion.
Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Next in their very flexible schedule – this one chosen by Daphne – is Earth vs. the Spider (1958), aka The Spider! Yes, it’s time for a B-I-G movie, as in Bert I. Gordon! The Grue Crew can’t wait!
Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com
To each of you from each of them, “Thank you so much for watching and listening!”