The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) - Newspaper Ad [Oakland Tribune]

August 18, 1996

This another fine example of one the most unique cinematic sub-genre offerings for the dedicated film geek. A movie where the story of its troubled production might be more interesting and entertaining than the film itself.

What began as Richard Stanley's first modest-to-large budget studio production ended as a messy and uneven patchwork credited to John Frankenheimer. For full details, I heartily recommend watching the David Gregory helmed documentary Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau. A work that is every bit as fascinating and confounding as Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse. The major difference between the two being that Apocalypse Now survived its production to become a critical and commercial hit, while The Island of Dr. Moreau... did not.

The big surprise when I uncovered and researched this ad was learning that David Thewlis had played the shellshocked protagonist Edward Douglas. His performance in the film led me to making an observation to a friend that "throughout the film he looks palpably disgusted and seems to be trying to wish himself to be any other place than where he is."

Thinking on it now, I cannot tell if that was a performance choice or not. I doubt Thewlis would ever deign to answer if asked.

I think I need to watch Lost Soul again, pronto...
 

Fright Flicks - Sticker #9

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 Dream Warriors (1987)

 

The Return of Count Yorga (1971) - Newspaper Ad [San Francisco Examiner]

August 17, 1971

One of the more memorable Creature Features viewing experiences of my youth. While not the greatest of vampiric cinematic achievements, The Return of Count Yorga did lodge a fistful of genuinely unsettling and creepy moments in my memory. 

The film's female lead was none other than Mariette Hartley, who has been a ubiquitous presence on television programming and movie screens from the 1960s up through 2024. Future Poltergeist and Coach star Craig T. Nelson also had a small part in the film. As did future screenwriter and frequent Mel Brooks collaborator Rudy De Luca.

If you have not seen this, I recommend you do so.

Alien 3 (1992) - Trading Card #63

Weyland-Yutani File No. M47699

Officer:    Francis Aaron

Occupation:    second in command on Fiorina 161

Notes:    low intelligence quotient, obedient, expendable

Somewhat distinguishable bald guy #4. Also the last of the quartet that are somewhat distinguishable from all the others. It's too bad that Star Pics did not figure out a way to make him card #85.
 

Fright Flicks - Sticker #8

Predator (1987)

 

Alien 3 (1992) - Trading Card #62

Weyland-Yutani File No. M51021

Officer:    Harold Andrews

Occupation:    superintendent of prison facility

Notes:    aggressive commander, strict; runs prison with a heavy hand

Somewhat distinguishable bald guy #3

"This is rumor control..." ah, Andrews. You did not stand a snowball's chance in hell of surviving into act two, but you were a fun, disbelieving irritant while you lasted. Brian Glover, who played Andrews, also had a small and memorable role in An American Werewolf in London. "Remember the Alamo!"
 

Psycho (1960) - Newspaper Ad [Oakland Tribune]

August 14, 1960

When I was much younger, and far more willing to believe the ballyhoo, I wondered how film venues enforced the "no admittance after the picture starts" requirement. The truth is they did not. While I am sure that the earliest (i.e. opening day or special early screening) showings made a bit of show of "enforcing" the supposed requirement, it was just marketing hype. Hitchcock was not all that different from William Castle, or any other exploitation film huckster, in that respect.

One casual, and debatable, observation on my part. Psycho might qualify as Hitchcock's last undisputed "significant" film, as well as his most famous work. While Hitchcock's post-Psycho filmography did offer up such entertaining and memorable highlights as The Birds and Frenzy, their successes, commercially and critically, were just a faint echo of the wallop that had been made by Psycho.

Fright Flicks - Sticker #7

 

An American Werewolf in London (1981) - Newspaper Ad [San Francisco Examiner]

August 13, 1981

Some lucky souls were able to see and enjoy a special sneak preview of An American Werewolf in London "on the eve of the full moon." I hope that each and every one of them had as much fun as I did, when I saw the film at the Century in Hayward, during its regular engagement.

My only real complaint about the film was that the werewolf was never shown with all that much lingering clarity.  We are just given glimpses and flashes of it. The best of which, for me, was when the gigantic beast, and it is indeed gigantic, approaches the escalator.

I think that is the very first glimpse of the beast the viewer is given and, dude, did my fourteen-year-old jaw drop to the floor when that happened.

Alien 3 (1992) - Trading Card #61

Weyland-Yutani File No. 132749

Prisoner:    Leonard Dillon

Offense:    rape and first degree murder, 2 counts

Distinguishing Marks:    small scar on left cheek

Notes:    leader of religious cult developing on Fiorina 161

Somewhat distinguishable bald guy #2

Whether or not Charles Dutton's character of Dillon is any more or less distinguishable from Charles Dance's character of Clemens depends on what characteristics of measrurmet one uses. On the surface, Dillon is easy to distinguish because he is only one of, I think, two people of color in the film. So there is that obvious trait.

But Dillon also delivers an excellent eulogy at the funeral for Newt and Hicks, as well as going mano-a-mano with the xenomorph during the climax in the lead works. So the character is given a lot to do and Dutton's charismatic presence gives him a stabilizing gravitas. It is not the least bit difficult to see him as a righteous and noble leader. He might be my favorite character in the film.