Roger Corman returns with THE BEAST WITH A MILLION EYES (1955, Kramarsky et al), starring Paul Birch, Lorna Thayer, Dona Cole and featuring the first collaboration between monster creator Paul Blaisdell and producer Roger Corman. Isolation, paranoia and killer birds threaten a local family, with love being the only way out of the surrealist horror the characters find themselves in. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 19:43; Discussion 35:28; Ranking 1:00:56
Dec 10, 2020•1 hr 15 min
We go back in time, briefly, to introduce esteemed B-movie producer Roger Corman to the Scream Scene universe with MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR (1954, Ordung). See the humble beginnings where Corman first steps into showbiz, as well as discussion about why he made it while Ed Wood did not. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 24:50; Discussion 34:56; Ranking 53:09
Dec 03, 2020•1 hr 6 min
From Ishirō Honda comes JÛ JIN YUKI OTOKO (1955), his followup to GOJIRA featuring Akira Takarada, Akemi Negishi and Sanshirō Sagara! Sealed away by Toho due to protests by the Buraku Liberation League, will this film hold up to its reputation? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 50:07; Discussion 1:08:28; Ranking 1:34:42
Nov 26, 2020•1 hr 48 min
Back from vacation, we sit down to watch THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955), the first and only film directed by Charles Laughton and starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish and Billy Chapin. With stylish stark lighting and intense tone setting, your deadicated hosts discuss horror for children and religion in this southern Gothic fable! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 1:11:45; Discussion 1:32:33; Ranking 2:07:23
Nov 19, 2020•2 hr 20 min
From Universal Pictures, it's CULT OF THE COBRA (1955, Lyon) slithering its way into your homes... and your hearts?! Starring Faith Domergue, Marshall Thompson, and Richard Long, the film questions if the real horror are the snakes, or post-war guilt! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 21:01; Discussion 47:04; Ranking 1:13:19
Nov 05, 2020•1 hr 21 min
The last 3D movie from "the golden age of 3D," it's REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (1955) from director Jack Arnold! Revenge is a dish best served like a cold fish as Gill-Man rampages across MarineLand! Starring John Agar, Lori Nelson and John Bromfield. Plus, the appearance of teens and the first acting job of... CLINT EASTWOOD?? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 27:30; Discussion 44:34; Ranking 1:13:49
Oct 29, 2020•1 hr 19 min
Submitted for your approval are THREE CASES OF MURDER (1955, Toye, Eady, More O'Ferrall, Welles), an anthology film from Britain featuring Alan Badel and Orson Welles. Some segments are better than others, but all are restrained in that British sort of way... are they thrilling enough to be horror? Context setting 00:00; First segment synopsis 32:04 and discussion 37:45; Second segment synopsis 45:33 and discussion 52:08; Third segment synopsis 1:03:13 and discussion 1:07:42; Ranking 1:14:47
Oct 21, 2020•1 hr 28 min
The screen's master of the WEIRD in his newest and most daring SHOCKER! Bela Lugosi stars in BRIDE OF THE MONSTER (1955) from Ed Wood! The film also stars Tony McCoy, Tor Johnson and Loretta King. Plus, hear your deadicated hosts talk about GLEN OR GLENDA and the pathos of Bela Lugosi! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 30:38; Discussion 46:40; Ranking 58:28
Oct 15, 2020•1 hr 7 min
Your deadicated hosts received an appeal of CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN (1943, Dmytryk), currently ranked at #62. To see the full list of films ranked, visit screamscenepodcast.tumblr.com
Oct 10, 2020•15 min
What came first, horror or thriller? Is something horror from what it inspires? Did the chicken or the egg come first? Your deadicated hosts ask the real, hard, philosophical questions as they watch LES DIABOLIQUES (1955, Clouzot) starring Véra Clouzot and Simone Signoret. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 39:08; Discussion 51:38; Ranking 1:09:41
Oct 08, 2020•1 hr 29 min
We enter the mysterious mind of Herbert Tevos for MESA OF LOST WOMEN (1953), directed by Tevos and Ron Ormond! There's a giant spider (gross) and sexy spider babes (better). Just what does this strange movie have in store for your hosts?? Starring Jackie Coogan, Robert Knapp, Harmon Stevens, Tandra Quinn, and featuring the voice of Lyle Talbot. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 23:54; Discussion 45:10; Ranking 56:34
Oct 01, 2020•1 hr 4 min
We go back in time to Finland for the earliest example of folk horror: 1952's VALKOINEN PEURA from director Erik Blomberg! The film, The White Reindeer in English, is a special fairytale featuring a vampiric were-reindeer witch inspired by Sami myth. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 29:01; Discussion 48:19; Ranking 1:11:16
Sep 24, 2020•1 hr 23 min
Out of the Himalayas comes THE SNOW CREATURE (1954) from director W. Lee Wilder! A B movie made by the off-brand director of the Wilder family, this horror film about a patchy Yeti is something that you may not want to experience yourself... Starring Paul Langton, William Phipps and Teru Shimada. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 30:51; Discussion 42:32; Ranking 1:04:57
Sep 16, 2020•1 hr 14 min
Your deadicated hosts travel to 1950s Japan to cover GOJIRA (1954) from director Ishiro Honda! Plus, a brief history of post-war Japan, the atomic bomb, and the origins of the daikaiju genre. A brief context-setting of Japan 00:00; Film background 18:45; Synopsis 1:33:02; Discussion 1:46:27; Ranking 2:28:22
Sep 10, 2020•2 hr 38 min
From Chano Urueta comes the 1954 Mexican horror LA BRUJA starring Lilia del Valle, Ramón Gay, and Julio Villarreal! A mad scientist, a witch, a secret Night Court... what could go wrong? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 7:25; Discussion 31:39; Ranking 42:52
Aug 27, 2020•47 min
From director John Brahm comes (right at you) THE MAD MAGICIAN (1954) starring Vincent Price, Mary Murphy, and Eva Gabor! This 3D picture from Columbia Pictures excites and thrills, but is its horror just an illusion? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 15:25; Discussion 38:03; Ranking 49:49
Aug 20, 2020•1 hr
Coming right at you! It's PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE (1954) from director Roy Del Ruth! This remake of 1932's MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE / adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's detective story still has some surprises in store... Starring Karl Malden, Claude Dauphin, Patricia Medina, and Steve Forrest, the film also has cameos from Merv Griffin, Charles Gemora, and The Flying Zacchinis! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 27:56; Discussion 53:12; Ranking 1:08:54
Aug 13, 2020•1 hr 15 min
Your dedicated hosts face off the 3D widescreen underwater horror CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954) from director Jack Arnold! Starring Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning and Ben Chapman & Ricou Browning as Gill Man himself! From the men who played Gill Man, to how the legacy of his designer Milicent Patrick was hidden for years, we dive deep into the depths of this iconic horror film. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 35:35; Discussion 48:51; Ranking 1:13:12
Aug 06, 2020•1 hr 23 min
We return to our regular timeline with EL MONSTRUO RESUCITADO, a 1953 Mexican horror film from director Chano Urueta, starring Miroslava and José María Linares-Rivas. See what this mix of Universal's greatest horror hits has in store! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:54; Discussion 38:39; Ranking 54:49
Jul 30, 2020•1 hr 6 min
We continue our tour through Mexican horror with EL HOMBRE SIN ROSTRO (1950) from father of Mexican horror Juan Bustillo Oro! This surrealist, film noir-inspired film stars Arturo de Córdova, Miguel Ángel Ferriz, and Carmen Molina. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 12:52; Discussion 32:44; Ranking 51:17
Jul 23, 2020•1 hr 3 min
We travel to 1935's Mexico for EL MISTERIO DEL ROSTRO PÁLIDO from the father of Mexican horror himself, Juan Bustillo Oro! The film stars familiar face Carlos Villarías, and newcomers Joaquín Busquets and Beatriz Ramos. This mad scientist Phantom of the Opera meet-cute is a film you won't want to miss! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 17:27; Discussion 36:13; Ranking 48:55
Jul 16, 2020•56 min
Your deadicated hosts put their heads together to watch DONOVAN'S BRAIN (1953) from director Felix Feist! This adaptation of Curt Siodmak's 1942 novel stars Lew Ayres, Nancy Davis, and Gene Evans. We've faced similar premises before, but how does this straight adaptation fare against the horror films that came before? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 27:45; Discussion 44:46; Ranking 59:02
Jul 08, 2020•1 hr 3 min
Beware what you find in... THE MAZE (1953)! From director and production designer William Cameron Menzies comes this Gothic horror 3D film starring Richard Carlson, Veronica Hurst, and Katherine Emery. Hear the background of the Allied Artists pictures Corporation and its long-lived producer Walter Mirisch! Plus, how does Salvador Dali factor in to this movie's story?? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 31:04; Discussion 39:43; Ranking 1:06:18
Jul 02, 2020•1 hr 19 min
It's horror for children! Your deadicated hosts face off INVADERS FROM MARS (1953) in this German expressionist, surrealist sci-fi flick! This indie film includes director/production designer William Cameron Menzies and stars Jimmy Hunt, Helena Carter, and Arthur Franz. And, Ben explains Eastmancolor, Supercinecolor, and how Menzies earned a name for himself as production designer of... GONE WITH THE WIND! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 41:24; Discussion 1:03:45; Ranking 1:39:15
Jun 25, 2020•1 hr 56 min
Your deadicated hosts travel to Turkey for the country's first horror film, DRAKULA İSTANBUL'DA (1953) from director Mehmet Muhtar! Starring Atif Kaptan as Dracula, Bülent Oran as Azmi (aka Jonathan Harker), and Annie Ball as Güzin (aka Mina). Hear about the history of Turkey, its film industry, and the Dracula adaptation the film is inspired by, Kazıklı Voyvoda by Ali Riza Seyfi. Book adaptation and history of Turkey 00:00; Film industry context setting 39:25; Synopsis 51:12; Discussion 1:07:28...
Jun 18, 2020•1 hr 59 min
Half man... half beast... all b-movie! It's THE NEANDERTHAL MAN (1953) from director E.A. Dupont and producers Aubrey Wisberg and Jack Pollexfen! There's a lot of yikes ahead, so prepare yourselves Creatures of the Night... Starring Robert Shayne, Joyce Terry, Richard Crane, Doris Merrick and Beverly Garland, this independent sci-fi horror film gives your deadicated hosts much to discuss! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 15:14; Discussion 46:36; Ranking 1:14:43
Jun 11, 2020•1 hr 31 min
Fantastic sights leap at you with IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953) with another film in 3D! Director Jack Arnold brings stars Richard Carlson and Barbara Rush to the screen with an alien design you have to see to believe! Will this Universal attempt at science fiction end well? What role does author Ray Bradbury play in this film? All this and more awaits you in this week's episode! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 39:52; Discussion 53:18; Ranking 1:14:10
Jun 04, 2020•1 hr 24 min
Arriving from the third dimension is Warner Brothers' HOUSE OF WAX (DeToth, 1953)! It's the film that kickstarts Vincent Price's second career in horror! Also starring Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirck, Carolyn Jones, Paul Picerni and... Charles Bronson?! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 50:55; Discussion 1:03:46; Ranking 1:30:47
May 28, 2020•1 hr 38 min
It's tropes galore with Universal Pictures' THE BLACK CASTLE (1952) from art-turned-film director Nathan Juran, starring Richard Greene, Stephen McNally, and Rita Corday, featuring Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney Jr! Alligator pits, torture basements, and duelling pistols... see what else awaits you in this week's Scream Scene! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 16:01; Discussion 30:36; Ranking 49:22
May 21, 2020•52 min
Charles Laughton and Boris Karloff return to a Universal horror film with THE STRANGE DOOR (1951, Pevney)! Based on a Robert Louis Stevenson story, the film proves Universal's B movie unit is not quite dead yet. Also in this episode, we cover a huge shift in the Hollywood studio contract system that ripples to today's industry standards. All this and more behind this strange door... Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 40:42; Discussion 57:15; Ranking 1:10:42
May 14, 2020•1 hr 18 min
