Shogun Assassin (1981) - Newspaper Ad

San Francisco Examiner - January 16, 1981

Shogun Assassin was the Americanized edit of the first two Lone Wolf and Cub movies, Sword of Vengeance and Baby Cart at the River Styx, into a single feature. While I have the first two films, I do not have a memory of seeing this version. Even though I do remember its release and the excoriating review Gene Siskel gave the film.

But I do have the limited edition soundtrack of Shogun Assassin that was released by BSX Records in 2022.

Being a New World Pictures theatrical release, it comes as no surprise that it was coupled with a re-release of 1980's Humanoids from the Deep at most venues. Although the Balboa Theatre, which I once lived three blocks from, had it coupled with a re-release of 1977's The Hills Have Eyes.

The debt The Mandalorian owes to Lone Wolf and Cub, or to Shogun Assassin, is quite obvious and acknowledged. I got quite the geeky giggle when the first film's "Choose your destiny" scene was restaged in, of all things, and episode of The Book of Boba Fett.

 

Lady Death: Dark Alliance - Trading Card #62

Nemesis!

In the hopes of killing the Asian vampire called Jade forever, the mysterious Progeny sent the Iron Racer to kill her. A perfect mixture of science and magic, the Racer is no match for Jade's rage.
 

Home Box Office - Newspaper Ad

Oakland Tribune - January 15, 1978

Of the six films listed in this Home Box Office ad, I have seen two. Those would be Futureworld (1976) and Empire of the Ants (1977). But I had, or have, some pop culture awareness of another three of them. The novel Audrey Rose was a bookstore staple in the late 70s and early 80s, and I think I watched the first Sounder at some point in 1989 or 1990, and I had heard of, but still have yet to see, Bugsy Malone.

Birch Interval is the only one I had never heard of. A quick check of the IMDB revealed why, the film is a fish-out-of-water melodrama about an eleven year old girl spending a summer in the rural home of relatives who live near an Amish community. Not something I would have found as interesting or intriguing as, say, Futureworld or Empire of the Ants, way back in 1978. But today I would more amiable to giving it a look, should I ever stumble across it while scouring a streaming service for something "different" to watch.

Fright Flicks - Trading Card #26

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

 

Tremors (1990) - Newspaper Ad

San Francisco Examiner - January 14, 1990

This scan of an ad for a Sneak Preview of Tremors in the Sunday Examiner/Chronicle Datebook might be a tad murky, and thus hard to see, but what is not the slightest bit murky is my complete and utter love for this delightful 'little' monster movie. I went to see it twice on its opening day and have watched it countless times since.

I have also seen all the sequels and own a DVD set of the complete, albeit very short-lived, monster-of-the-week formatted television series that ran on the Sci-Fi (maybe SyFy by then) Channel.

"Damn prairie dog burrow!" 
 

Lady Death: Dark Alliance - Trading Card #61

Comedy and Tragedy

Before her life was changed forever by vampire, Chastity wanted to be an actress and model. Little did she know that the twin masks signifying drama would come to represent her life - a combination of utter comedy and heart-wrenching tragedy.
 

Silent Scream (1979) - Newspaper Ad

Oakland Tribune - January 13, 1980

Although I had a friend that would paraphrase Silent Scream's hyperbolic tagline as, "Boredom so sudden, there is no time to yawn." I enjoyed the movie, for what it was. Silent Scream would also be the second time I would see Barbara Steele on the big screen at the Alameda Southshore Twin. The first time having been way back in 1978, when we went and saw Piranha. At least she had dialogue in that movie. In Silent Scream, which also seems to be her final film appearance, I think, she was silent throughout.

I also got a kick out of seeing actor-comedian Avery Schrieber, who I recognized from his Dorito commercials and game show appearances, in a small, and serious, role as a cop.

Fright Flicks - Trading Card #25

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 Dream Warriors (1987)

"I said, 'Where's the fucking bourbon!?!"

Not that it needs pointing out, but... The arm and torso visible to Freddy's left, along with his fatigued-glazed expression of indifference, give away that this is a behind the scenes photo and not a still from the actual movie.

Great White [The Last Shark / L'ultimo Squalo (1981)] - Newspaper Ad

San Francisco Examiner - January 12, 1982

Sandwiched between screenings of the far superior Raiders of the Lost was this sneak preview for what was fast to become an infamous footnote in exploitation film history.

Universal Pictures was not all that impressed with, nor the slightest bit appreciative of, this blatant Italian knock-off of Jaws and Jaws 2. They filed a legal complaint and got the movie pulled from theatrical release. Although readily available in markets outside the United States territories, and thus available to stream on a variety of online sites, a legitimate release of the film remains frustratingly off the table.
 

Lady Death: Dark Alliance - Trading Card #60

On Guard

Victimized herself by supernatural evil, Chastity now hunts those who seek to prey on others. Under Chastity's watch, none shall hurt the innocent.