Movie Review: Tombs of the Blind Dead

Tombs of the Blind Dead (La noche del terror ciego) a.k.a The Night of the Blind Terror a.k.a Tombs of the Evil Dead a.k.a Crypt of the Blind Dead a.k.a Night of the Blind Dead a.k.a Tombs of the Blind Zombies a.k.a Mark of the Devil Part V: Night of the Blind Terror a.k.a Mark of the Devil, Part 4: Tombs of the Blind Dead a.k.a Revenge from Planet Ape 

Interfilme, Plata Films S.A., Spain, Portugal, 1972.

Betty (Lone Fleming) meets her old friend Virginia (María Elena Arpón). Virginia's friend Roger (César Burner) suggests a countryside weekend. Jealous Virginia does not seem to be particularly happy about the plan. At school the girls had a brief lesbian romance. The train trip brings out painful memories and Virginia decides to take a hike near a ruined Berzano village. 

Virginia, Betty and Roger

Virginia explores the ruins

Little do they know that terrible fate awaits those who trespass the Tombs of the Blind Dead. Virginia makes herself cozy in the ruined monastery. At night the Blind Dead rise from their graves. Roger and Betty try to find Virginia but she is already murdered by the Blind Dead.

The Riding Dead

You look a bit dusty

Betty's assistant Nina (Verónica Llimerá) and Professor Candal (Francisco Sanz) tell them the story of the Templar Knights. Centuries ago devil worshipping Templars sacrificed virgins to gain immortality. They were executed for their crimes and the crows ate their eyes. Because they are blind they navigate by sounds. The police do not believe the Professor but blame smugglers. Roger and Betty decide to contact the smugglers to find out the truth. 

Nina

The Templars when they were living

Smugglers Maria (María Silva) and Pedro (José Thelman)

This is very atmospheric horror with creepy music and cool revenants in filthy cloaks. Filming locations in Pelayos de la Presa, monastery of El Cercon and monastery of Santa Maria la Real de Valdeiglesias near Madrid look great. For a horror film there is more than usual amount of telenovela drama. It is not perfect as it is slow as a zombie and seems to recycle some film material about the Blind Dead rising from the grave. There is also some illogical action by Betty and Roger, would they really trust the smugglers enough to spend a night with them in the ruins? Still the nightmarish atmosphere overcomes the weaknesses. The girls are pretty and María Elena Arpón looks a lot like one Finnish meteorologist.

Watching the Blind Dead ride their undead horses in slow motion makes one wonder if Peter Jackson took some inspiration for the depiction of Ringwraiths in "LotR." To exploit the "Planet of the Apes" hype this film was also released in drive-in theatres as "Revenge from Planet Ape" with narration explaining that after humans won the war against apes, some undead apes returned with a vengeance. 

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#45. Horror movie with a poster that you think is cool) 

Rating: Very good

Starring: Lone Fleming, César Burner, María Elena Arpón (as Helen Harp), José Thelman (as Joseph Thelman), Rufino Inglés, Verónica Llimerá, Simón Arriaga, Francisco Sanz, Juan Cortés, Andrés Isbert, Antonio Orengo, José Camoiras, María Silva, Britt Nichols, Pedro Sempson 

Director: Amando de Ossorio

Movie Review: The Egg and I

The Egg and I

Universal International Pictures, USA, 1947.

The movie is based on humorous memoir by Betty MacDonald.

Betty MacDonald's (Claudette Colbert) husband Bob (Fred MacMurray, who later played the original inventor of Flubber in "The Absent Minded Professor") buys a chicken farm. Of course it needs a bit furnishing first. Or maybe a bit more. The work is hard and the neighbours are eccentric. City girl Betty is clueless about the animals. The pig is stubborn and the chicks are too cute. Luckily scary and ferocious hunting dog Sport is really a coward. 

Betty and Bob

Farm needs some work

Cleopatra the Pig

The neighbouring family Kettle has smart son Tom (Richard Long) who helps them to get the chicken farm running. Ma and Pa Kettle (Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride) are lazy and loan items without ever returning them. They have over dozen kids and they do not remember everyone's name. However the MacDonalds find them nice and friendly.

The chicks

Ma and Pa Kettle

Tom Kettle

Harriet Putnam (Louise Allbritton) from Bella Vista Dairy Farm helps them get an egg contract from Mr. Henty (Donald MacBride). Miss Putham is a bit too friendly, thinks Betty. The farm life is stressful to Betty. There is a joke referencing Claudette Colbert's previous film career: while eating ham made from pig named Cleopatra, Betty remarks that she is not a cannibal (Claudette Colbert played Cleopatra in 1934 film).

Harriet Putnam

Bob being open minded

Pa Kettle's moonshine still causes a fire that threatens to burn their farm down. The friendly community helps them rebuild the farm. Bob is too enthustiastic about the farm and neglects Betty. Betty's nerves are tight and their marriage gets in crisis. How will it end?

A country comedy classic does not follow the original book very faithfully, but adds new characters and omits the fact that in real life Betty and Bob divorced. Also middle-aged Claudette and Fred look old for their roles, in the book they were about twenty. As a stand-alone film it has good old fashioned situation comedy and the Kettle family steals the scenes. The style of the comedy brings in mind the comedies of Lucille Ball, where the heroine gets into awkward situations. The film inspired many rural TV-comedies and it was followed by series of nine films focusing on the adventures of Ma and Pa Kettle.

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#2. Movie that is based on a book)

Rating: Good

Starring: Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, Marjorie Main, Louise Allbritton, Percy Kilbride, Richard Long, Billy House, Ida Moore, Donald MacBride, Samuel S. Hinds, Esther Dale, Elisabeth Risdon, John Berkes, Victor Potel, Fuzzy Knight, Isabel O'Madigan, Dorothy Vaughan 

Director: Chester Erskine

Movie Review: Morning Glory (2010)

Morning Glory 

Paramount Pictures, Bad Robot, Goldcrest Pictures, USA, 2010. 

Becky (Rachel McAdams) is plucky producer of popular morning TV show. She is committed to her work and she is single. Her career ends because the corporate wants to pave way for a new future channel leader. Jerry Barnes (Jeff Goldblum) gives her a new job opportunity as executive producer of mediocre morning TV show Daybreak.

Becky Fuller

Jerry Barnes

Second producer Lenny (John Pankow)

The work atmosphere is bad and the hosts of the show Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) and Paul McVee (Ty Burrell) are weird. Becky fires Paul for his low work morale. Becky wants to hire her idol, famous but rude journalist Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford). Mike is not interested but his contract with the channel requires him to appear on the air or he loses his contract. Becky meets romantic interest man candy Adam Bennett (Patrick Wilson).

Paul McVee

Colleen Peck

Adam Bennett

The show is struggling and the channel threatens to cancel it. Becky invents wacky gimmicks to raise the ratings but Mike makes her work difficult. Weatherman Ernie Appleby (Matt Malloy) is sent to test a new roller coaster, experience a jet fighter ride and he also gets a tattoo on live broadcast. Mike does not want to play but is interested only in serious news topics.

Mike Pomeroy

It was quite fun, with good and eccentric cast. Harrison Ford is grumpier than ever. Energetic Rachel McAdams is like younger generation Julia Roberts and this is definitely her show. The romantic subplot is bit smaller than I expected as the main focus is watching how Becky tries to keep the show running. And also it offers a humoristic view on the backstage of a morning TV show. This is not meant to challenge "Network" as a media satire but works nicely as a lighthearted comedy.

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#12. Movie whose name refers to part of a day)

Rating: Good

Starring: Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford, Noah Bean, Jack Davidson, Vanessa Aspillaga, Jeff Hiller, Linda Powell, Mike Hydeck, Joseph J. Vargas, Mario Frieson, Kevin Herbst, Jerome Weinstein, Steve Park, David Fonteno, Patti D'Arbanville, Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Wilson, Ty Burrell, Adrian Martinez, John Pankow, J. Elaine Marcos, Matt Malloy, Rizwan Manji, Jay Russell, Finnerty Steeves, Rick Younger, Arden Myrin, Caroline Clay, Katie Hyde, Allen Warnock, Welker White, Maddie Corman, Jeremy Beiler, Jonathan Forte, Kevin Pariseau, Christopher Sieber, Elizabeth Keifer, Lauren Cohn, Jayne Houdyshell, Miguel A. Hernandez Jr., Alice Callahan, Miles O'Brien, Elaine Kaufman, Bob Schieffer, Morley Safer, Chris Matthews, Don Roy King, Robert Caminiti, Stefani Cohen, Gray Winslow, Kristine Nielsen, Paul Urcioli, Rosalynd Darling, Gio Perez, Pepper Binkley, Steve McAuliff, Vincent J. Robinson, 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, DJ Whoo Kid, Lloyd Banks, Don Hewitt, Reed Birney, Carmen M. Herlihy, Bruce Altman, Kathleen McNenny, Jason Kravits, John Bundy
Director: Roger Michell