The much-missed Gary Loggins loved Halloween and he loved the old, frequently subversive cartoons from the 1930s. He was a particular fan of the Fleischer Brothers so it only seems right that today, on Halloween, we should share one of those cartoons. Here is 1930’s Swing You Sinners.
In this bizarre cartoon, a dog named Bimbo attempts to steal a chicken. After the police chase him into a cemetery, Bimbo is confronted by ghosts, demons, and apparently death. Shockingly, there is no escape offered in this film. Abandon all hope!
I guess chicken theft was a really huge problem in 1930.
This trailer has been out for a few days but, with all the activity surrounding Horrorthon and Halloween, I’m only getting a chance to watch and share it.
September 5th is a film based on the true story of the murder of 9 Israeli athletes by terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics. It’s a tragic story, one that already served as the basis for Steven Spielberg’s Munich. September 5th appears to focus on the coverage of the hostage situation and the ethical question of whether or not terrorist scum should be given free air time. It’s not a question for which I have an easy answer. Obviously, covering terrorism can inspire other terrorists. At the same time, people do need to know what’s going on. The trailer also mentions (and I hope the film will explore) the fact that the games continued, even with athletes being held hostage and subsequently being murdered by their captors.
The trailer impressed me. I’m hoping that the film lives up to the trailer. This is an important story and one that feels very relevant today.
Thanks to the one and only John Carpenter, the version of this sweet little song that The Chordettes recorded in the 1950s will be forever associated with the Night He Came Home. Sadly, none of the Chordettes are with us anymore and I haven’t been able to find any interviews about how they felt about their song of teenage love being used in Halloween.
I’d like to think they would have appreciated it. Michael Myers may not have had hair like Liberace but he did have a mask that looked a lot like William Shatner.
Tonight’s horror scene that I love is from the 1982 film, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, a film that has finally started to be recognized for being the horror classic that it is.
In this scene, Conal Cochran (Dan O’Herlihy) explains not only the origins of Halloween but he also discusses how he’s going to make Halloween great again. This scene is probably the best in the film and it’s almost entirely due to O’Herlihy’s wonderfully menacing performance as Conal Cochran.
Vincent Price was born, at the start of the 20th Century, in St. Louis, Missouri. When he first began his film career in the 1930s, he was promoted as a leading man and he was even tested for the role of Ashley Wilkes in Gone With TheWind. (Imagine that!) However, Price would find his greatest fame as a horror icon.
Among the fans of Price’s horror films was a young animator named Tim Burton. In 1982, Price and Burton would work together for the first time, with Price providing the narration for a short, stop motion film that Burton had written and directed. Called Vincent, the film was about a seven year-old boy named Vincent who wanted to be — can you guess? — Vincent Price! The six-minute film follows Vincent as he gets involved in all sorts of macabre activities. Of course, as Vincent’s mom points out, Vincent isn’t actually a monster or mad scientist. He’s just a creative child with an overactive imagination. (To say the short feels autobiographical on Burton’s part would be an understatement.) The animation is outstanding and full of wit but it really is Vincent Price’s wonderful narration that makes this short film a classic.
Both Price and Burton would later call making this film one of the most creatively rewarding collaborations of their respective careers.
When I first saw that this trailer was for a film called Lake George, I automatically thought of Lake Placid and assumed that this was another film about a giant crocodile.
Well, it’s not. Apparently, it’s a film in which Jeremy Renner Shea Whigham plays a criminal who is forced to do one last job. However, when he falls in love with the woman he was supposed to kill, they go on a road trip instead.
4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.
Today’s director is one of the most important names in the history of American horror cinema, George Romero!
4 Shots From 4 George Romero Films
Night of the Living Dead (1968, dir by George Romero, DP: George Romero)
Season of the Witch (1973, dir by George Romero, DP: George Romero)
Dawn of the Dead (1978, dir by George Romero, DP: Michael Gornick)
Creepshow (1982, dir by George Romero, written by Stephen King, DP: Michael Gornick)
Released in 1958, How To Make A Monster is a clever little horror satire from American International Pictures in which the stars of Teenage Werewolf and Teenage Frankenstein are hypnotized into believing that they actually are the monsters that they played! The main culprit is a movie makeup artist (Robert H. Harris) who has been deemed obsolete by the new bosses at AIP.
Dawn of the Dead (1978, dir by George Romero, DP: Michael Gornick)
Dario Argento not only produced and edited the European cut for 1978’s Dawn of the Dead, he also introduced George Romero to Goblin. The Italian band, famous for their horror movie soundtracks, provided the classic score to Dawn of the Dead.
(Admittedly, the score is is used far more prominently in Argento’s cut of the film than in Romero’s.)
For today’s horror song of the day, here is Goblin’s Main Theme From Dawn of the Dead.
Here are 6 trailers for the Thursday before Halloween!
The Monster Squad (1987)
I swear, there are some people out there who really, really love this movie. And good for them! Love is what makes the world go round. Personally, I’ve never watched it but it seems like everyday, someone on twitter makes a comment about the wolfman having nards.
2. Trick ‘R’ Treat (2007)
This is another movie that people around me seem to love. Strangely, I haven’t seen it, though the trailer seems to suggest that it’s something that I would enjoy. So, consider this my promise to you — next year, I will review Trick ‘R’ Treat for horrorthon!
3. Trick or Treat (1986)
“Rock and roll will never die!” And neither will Halloween.
However, make no mistake about it …. horror is not just a Halloween thing. It can infect any holiday….
4. New Year’s Evil (1980)
From director Garry Marshall comes an all-star film about the moments that make us who we are and the one night when everyone is celebrating…. oh wait. Sorry, wrong movie. This is actually a Canadian film that featured a killer who commits a murder in every time zone at the stroke of midnight. I’m not sure why anyone would think that was a viable plan but it was the 80s and cocaine was everywhere.
So, to make clear …. Garry Marshall was in no way involved with this film.
5. Slaughterhouse Rock (1988)
New Year’s Evil was not the only slasher film to feature a soundtrack of rockin’ 80s music! There was also Slaughterhouse Rock, which had a Devo soundtrack and which featured Toni Basil in a small but key supporting role!
Finally, let’s finish things off with one more horror musical spectacular.
6. Black Roses (1988)
OH MY GOD, LOOK AT THOSE DELOREANS!
Still, despite their really cool cars, this band is not a band to listen to. There’s only way you can get your band to sound as bad as the one in this movie and that’s too make a deal with the the devil! Losing your soul to sound terrible …. it’s just not worth it.
Though, admittedly, those car are pretty freaking cool….
Anyway, Happy Eve of Halloween! Enjoy these trailers and be sure to enjoy some wonderful films as well!
Through the Shattered Lens 