It’s a double feature like none other! The majority of the trailer (understandably, in my opinion) is devoted to clips from I Drink Your Blood. What is I Drink Your Blood about? It’s about a little kid who gets rid of a bunch of annoying hippies by giving them food that has been infected with rabies!
2. Grizzly (1976)
Wow, I wonder where they got the idea for this movie from!
3. The Crater Lake Monster (1977)
Awwww! What a cute monster!
4. Cathy’s Curse (1977)
Beware of Cathy …. and her doll too!
5. Jennifer (1978)
A bullied teenage girl has psychic powers …. hmmmm, this sounds familiar….
6. The Children (1980)
“Something terrifying has happened to the Children!” This actually a pretty scary film but somehow, the trailer is even scarier.
93 years ago, on this date, Menahem Golan was born in Israel. After serving in the Israeli Air Force, Golan would attend the Old Vic Theater School in London before returning to Israel and launching his legendary career in film. With his cousin, Yoram Globus, and using Roger Corman as both a mentor and a inspiration, Golan would go on to producer and direct some of the most successful films in Israeli history. Eventually, Golan and Globus would purchase Cannon Films and would be responsible for some of the greatest (in a fashion) films of the 80s.
Though Golan was best-known as a producer, he never stopped directing. Today, on what would have been his birthday, Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse Trailers presents 6 trailers for 6 Golan films!
Lepke (1975)
After finding great success in Israel, Golan first attempted to break into the American market with this biopic about the head of the Mafia’s Murder, Inc., Louis “Lepke” Buchalter. Though the budget was low, Golan managed to get a name — in this case, Tony Curtis — to play the lead role. As you can tell, the trailer wanted to make sure that you knew that this film was about Lepke.
2. Enter the Ninja (1981)
This was, I think, the first film that Golan directed after buying Cannon Films. How great is Enter the Ninja? It stars Franco Nero as a ninja! Seriously, you don’t get much greater than that. Anyway, as I think I’ve stared on this site before, Enter the Ninja is a lot of fun and Franco Nero was the sexiest ninja of the 80s.
3. The Delta Force (1986)
Chuck Norris was a Cannon mainstay and it seems appropriate that he starred in The Delta Force, a film that was very important to Golan. The Delta Force was essentially a remake of an 1977’s Operation Thunderbolt, an Israeli film that earned Golan his only Oscar nominations when it was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. The Delta Force did not receive any Oscar nominations but it has a legion of fans. Our own Jedediah Leland has frequently described this film as being the greatest ever made. I don’t know if I’d go that far but still, it is always satisfying to see Chuck blow up the bad guys at the end of the movie.
4. Mack the Knife (1989)
Menahem Golan directs a musical! Unfortunately, this film has never received a proper DVD or Blu-ray release. Though it was a Cannon production, Golan and Globus had a falling out (one that was, at least partially, caused by Golan spending money on films like Mack The Knife) and Golan ended up distributing this film himself. I find the trailer to be intriguing. The film itself is on YouTube so I’ll watch it someday …. maybe.
5. Hit The Dutchman (1992)
Much like Lepke, this film is about a real-life gangster. In this case, the gangster was Dutch Schultz. Interestingly enough, the trailer suggest that Al Capone was active in New York whereas everyone knows that, though Capone did get his start in New York, he didn’t become a prominent gangster until he relocated to Chicago.
6. Crime and Punishment (2002)
Finally, this adaptation of the great novel was a bit of passion project for Golan. He filmed it in Russia in 1993 but, because of financial difficulties, it was not given a release until 2002.
Originally, I was going to devote this latest edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse Trailers to all of the Friday the 13th films but then I heard the sad news that the great character actor Fred Ward had passed away at the age of 79. Needless to say, I changed my plans. There will be many Friday the 13ths but there was only one Fred Ward.
Fred Ward lived a life that could have been a movie. He ran away from home at a young age. He spent three years in the Air Force. He spent some time as a boxer. He worked as a lumberjack in Alaska. He worked as a cook. He worked as a janitor. He spent some time in Rome, dubbing Italian films for the American market. Much like Lance Henriksen, someone from Fred Ward’s tough background may have seemed like an unlikely actor but he proved himself to be one of our most memorable. Ward brought an authenticity to even the wildest of parts. He was a smart actor who could play dumb and, by most accounts, a down-to-Earth nice guy who could be totally intimidating on screen. He was one of the best. Here are 6 Fred Ward trailers.
Time Rider (1983)
After appearing in a few supporting roles (most memorably as a trigger-happy redneck in Southern Comfort), Fred Ward had his first starring role in Time Rider. In this film, Ward plays a dirt bike rider who travels through time.
2. Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
After playing tragic astronaut Gus Grissom in 1983’s The Right Stuff, Ward was cast as Remo Williams in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. Ward performed all of his own stunts and, if the film had been a success, he would have had a chance to be an American James Bond. Unfortunately, Remo Williams bombed at the box office and was only later appreciated by fans of action cinema.
3. Tremors (1990)
Perhaps the most beloved of all of Fred Ward’s films, this horror comedy featured Ward, Kevin Bacon, and a bunch of killer worms. What could have been a standard B-movie was elevated by a witty script, energetic direction, and Bacon and Ward’s playful performances. The way that Ward and Bacon bounced dialogue off of each other was almost as fun as all the monster mayhem.
4. Miami Blues (1990)
The same year that Tremors came out, Ward co-starred with Alec Baldwin and Jennifer Jason Leigh in Miami Blues, a film that showed all three of those performers at their best.
5. Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
In this film, which was made for HBO, Fred Ward plays a role that was perfect for him. He’s a tough, hard-boiled P.I. working the mean streets of Los Angeles in 1948. The catch? In this version of 1948, everyone uses magic! This is a fun movie and I recommend it to everyone.
6. Full Disclosure (2001)
Even though Ward’s career as a leading man slowed down a bit in recent years, he still appeared in movies and often, he was the best (any maybe only) reason to watch them. I’ve never seen Full Disclosure but if I ever do track it down, it will be because of Fred Ward.
1967 was a great year for the movie so perhaps it’s understandable that the Academy somehow overlooked Chappaqua. Still, this film was far more deserving a nomination than Doctor Doolittle.
2. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1971)
Valley of the Dolls received an Oscar nominations for its score. However, it’s unofficial sequel didn’t even receive that. Not a single nomination went to Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, not even Best Original Song. In 1970, the Academy just wasn’t ready.
3. Coffy (1973)
Ellen Burstyn certainly deserved the Oscar for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore but still, how could the Academy not nominate Pam Grier for her work in Coffy?
4. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
The Academy will probably never embrace the zombie genre. They certainly weren’t prepared to do so in 1978. That said, it’s way past time to give Tom Savini an honorary award.
5. The Warriors (1979)
The Warriors is another classic that went unnominated. Not even the music got a nomination. David Patrick Kelly was totally snubbed. The Baseball Furies should have been sitting in front row on Oscar night. It’s a true shame.
Since this week started with Sergio Leone’s birthday, it only seems appropriate that today’s edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse Trailers should be dedicated to the Western. Here are 6 classic Spaghetti western trailers!
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
It only makes sense that we should start things off with a trailer from a Leone film and it makes further sense that film should be The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. It’s all here, from the classic Ennio Morricone score to the unforgettable staring contest between Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach.
2. Sabata (1969)
While Clint Eastwood was able to use his appearances in Leone’s westerns to restart his American film career, Lee Van Cleef remained in Italy. After playing the villainous Angel Eyes, Van Cleef played the hero Sabata. This trailer is very, very 60s.
3. Django (1966)
Franco Nero never appeared in a Sergio Leone film but he was a favorite of the famous “other Sergio,” Sergio Corbucci. In Corbucci’s Django, Nero played the haunted title character, making his way across the west with a deadly coffin.
4. Django Kill (1967)
Django was such a hit that a number of other films were made about other haunted, amoral gunslingers named Django. Whether or not they were all the same Django was left to the audience to decide. In Django Kill, Tomas Milian played the title character and found himself in a surreal hellscape, surrounded by people who were obsessed with gold.
5. The Great Silence (1968)
The Great Silence was one of the greatest of the spaghetti westerns, featuring Klaus Kinski in one of his best and most villainous roles. Unfortunately, like many of the better spaghetti westerns, it initially did not get a proper release in the States. Fortunately, it has since been rediscovered.
6. Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)
And finally, to close things out, here’s one last Sergio Leone trailer. Sadly underappreciated when first released, Once Upon A Time In The West has since come to be recognized as a masterpiece.
Since today is Boris Karloff’s birthday, I thought I would devote this edition to everyone’s favorite reanimated corpse, Frankenstein’s Monster! Over the years, there’s been a lot of movies about the Monster. Here are the trailers for six of them!
The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
Believe it or not, there was a time when it was felt that the story of Frankenstein and his Monster has been played out. With the Universal films bringing in less and less money, many felt that the Monster’s days were behind it. Then, Hammer, Peter Cushing, and Christopher Lee came along and said, “No! This is what Frankenstein is all about!”
At least, I assume that’s what they said. I hope they did.
2. Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter (1965)
You can’t keep a good Frankenstein down as Jesse James discovered in this 1965 western.
3. Lady Frankenstein (1971)
In this Italian film, the Baron’s daughter continues her father’s scientific experiments! I guess Jesse James wasn’t the only one to meet Frankenstein’s Daughter!
4. Flesh for Frankenstein (a.k.a. Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein) (1973)
Udo Kier is the Baron and Andy Warhol may have been the producer of this film. Or he may have just lended his name out for the money. It depends on who you ask.
5. Blackenstein (1973)
Of course, following the success of Blacula, there was a blaxploitation take on Frankenstein.
6. Frankenhooker (1990)
And, of course, who can forget Frankenhooker?
I hope that your Halloween is full of the type of creativity and scientific curiosity that made the Frankenstein family legendary!
We are rapidly reaching the halfway mark of our October horrorthon here at the Shattered Lens. By the time we reach the end of the first half at midnight on Saturday, we will have published over 200 posts. During the second half, we’ll publish …. well, let’s not speculate. You never know. The world could end tomorrow and, as a result, we might never post again. What’s important is that I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and I look forward to seeing what we accomplish during the rest of the month!
(That said, I’m hoping for another 250 to 300 or so posts. 500 FOR OCTOBER! It seems like a reasonable go. We’ll see!)
Anyway, today seems like a good time for another edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse Trailers! And, since today is Jack Arnold’s birthday, it only seems appropriate that today’s edition deals with giant creature features!
Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)
From director Larry Cohen, it’s Q The Winged Serpent! I’ve seen this movie and it’s undeniably entertaining. On the one hand, you’ve got the serpent flying around and looking all dangerous. Then you’ve got David Carradine and Richard Roundtree kind of sleepwalking through their roles. And then, suddenly, Michael Moriarty shows up and gives this brilliant, method-influenced performance. It’s an odd film but it’s hard not to like that Claymation flying serpent.
2. The Giant Spider Invasion (1975)
From Wisconsin’s own Bill Rebane, here’s the trailer for The Giant Spider Invasion! This is probably Rebane’s best film. If you’re trying to frighten your audience, you can’t go wrong with a giant spider.
3. Empire of the Ants (1977)
What’s the only thing scarier than a giant spider? A giant ant, of course! This film is from Bert I. Gordon, a director so obsessed with films about giant monsters that he was actually nicknamed Mr. BIG. (Of course, it also helped that those were his initials.)
4. Food of the Gods (1976)
Speaking of Bert I. Gordon, he was also responsible for this film, Food of the Gods. Like Empire of the Ants, it was based (however loosely) on a novel by H.G. Wells. Two old farmers feed the food of the Gods to the local animals and things do not go well. For some reason, a football player played by Marjoe Gortner decides to investigate. Shouldn’t he be practicing for the big game? Gordon missed an opportunity here by not having a giant-sized Marjoe Gortner.
5. Night of the Lepus (1972)
As frightening as those previous trailers were, can anything prepare you for the terror of killer rabbits!? This movie is proof positive that rabbits look cute no matter who they’re killing.
6. Village of the Giants (1965)
In the end, though, the greatest monster will always be man. By the way, this is another Bert I. Gordon film. Beau Bridges turns into a giant and plots to conquer the world. Only a young Ron Howard can stop him.
I hope you’re having a wonderful October! Never stop watching the shadows!
It’s the holiday season and you know what that means!
Or maybe you don’t. Sometimes, I forget that not everyone can read my mind. Anyway, I used to do a weekly post of my favorite grindhouse trailers. Eventually, it went from being a weekly thing to being an occasional thing, largely due to the fact that there’s only so many trailers available on YouTube. Now, Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse and Exploitation Film Trailers is something that I usually only bring out on a holiday.
Like Halloween!
So, with that in mind, here are 6 trailers for the first Sunday of October! By the way, these trailers might contain some material that some viewers might find objectionable. To be honest, if you’re reading this site in October, you’re probably used to horrific imagery and there’s nothing here that will really upset you. But, y’know …. better to pretend to care than to not care at all!
I Dismember Mama (1972)
This is probably one of the best known of the classic grindhouse trailers. It features very little footage from the film (which, despite the title, is apparently fairly tame) but it does feature interviews with actors playing the people who supposedly watched it. Interestingly enough, the recent film version of Dear Evan Hansen did the same thing.
2. A Night to Dismember (1984)
Oh, Doris! This trailer for Doris Wishman’s A Night To Dismember goes on for a bit but that’s kind of the key to it’s charm.
3. Blood Cult (1985)
Blood Cult is often cited as being the first direct-to-video film. And the film definitely has a home movie feel to it …. as does the trailer!
4. Blood Beach (1981)
If Blood Cult is not your thing, how about Blood Beach? This film has the grainy aesthetic of the best low-budget grindhouse trailers.
5. Blood Feast (1963)
Since we’ve already got a blood theme going here, this seems like an appropriate place for the trailer for the first gore film, Herschell Gordon Lewis’s Blood Feast! Have you ever had an Egyptian feast?
6. 2,000 Maniacs (1964)
And finally, let’s wrap up today’s edition with another blood-soaked trailer from Herschell Gordon Lewis. 2,000 Maniacs is Lewis’s take on Brigadoon. Not surprisingly, this trailer features almost as much music as the trailer for Dear Evan Hansen.
Lisa Marie’s Grindhouse Trailers will return next week, with more trailer that may or may not be connected to Dear Evan Hansen!
In the Purge universe, America is given a single night to commit all of the crimes it wants without any consequence. The Forever Purge – the fourth film in the series – seeks to answer a question that has yet to be asked in any of the films before it: What if the Purge lasted longer than a night? It’s a different angle for the series, hopefully a good one.
The Forever Purge stars Ana de la Reguera (Narcos), Will Patton (The Mothman Prophecies), Josh Lucas (Ford v. Ferrari), Tenoch Huerta (Days of Grace), and Leven Rambin (Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters). The film is set to release around the 4th of July.
Or maybe you don’t. Sometimes, I forget that not everyone can read my mind. Anyway, I used to do a weekly post of my favorite grindhouse trailers. Eventually, it went from being a weekly thing to being an occasional thing, largely due to the fact that there’s only so many trailers available on YouTube. Now, Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse and Exploitation Film Trailers is something that I usually only bring out on a holiday.
Like today!
So, 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 the Eve of Halloween! Enjoy these trailer and be sure to enjoy some wonderful films as well!
Through the Shattered Lens 