Wilma Flintstone

 

A Quick Look: MONSTER ZERO (1965/70 - color)

   MONSTER ZERO is remembered not only as a fine Godzilla movie, but a good picture in general terms. Co-produced by American Henry Saperstein, the film starred Nick Adams alongside Japan's heartthrob Akira Takarada and the exotic beauty Kumi Mizuno. In the film, astronauts explore the newly-discovered Planet X and find it to be inhabited by a race ruled by machines. They've been having some trouble lately with Ghidrah, the three-headed monster -whom they've named Monster Zero. "Everything is numbered here. The Monster is Zero." The Xians beg our help, to loan them Godzilla and Rodan to fight off the space dragon, in exchange for the formula of miracle cure. When the tape containing this formula is played, however, the Xians announce a double-cross, and send their collection of monsters marching against Earth cities! Meanwhile, Nick has been seeing a girl who turns out to be an Xian agent! 

 

   MONSTER ZERO is set in the 1990's, placing itself outside the timeline of the other films, giving the results a vague Gerry Anderson flavor which is quite welcome (presumably, then, DESTROY ALL MONSTERS could be considered a more or less direct sequel). A wonderful cast brings to life a strong assortment of characters in a breathlessly-paced adventure from an exceptionally strong script. Filmed in 1965, the film was the first in the series to rely on stock footage to help reduce costs. For some reason, it didn't come to American shores until 1970 on a double bill with THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS -itself held back since 1966. Adams and Mizuno had a great screen chemistry, also making FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD the same year. (They also made a spy epic called THE KILLING BOTTLE. Despite being prepared for American release about three times, however, the film never made it to the States.) 

 

   MONSTER ZERO is great stuff, one of those perfect 60's adventure movies. The film is sometimes called by it's British title, INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER -the title on the very nice DVD release from Classic Media (but the print itself has the MONSTER ZERO title, so don't worry). It's 80's video/TV title, meanwhile, was "Godzilla vs Monster Zero."

Do enjoy your Summer!

 

Out-of-this-world Pinup Girl

 

A Quick Look: ATRAGON (1965-color)

   Here's another import from Japan, and in my experience one of the rarer such films. ATRAGON tells of an attack on the surface world by the undersea kingdom of the Mu Empire. Mu, for all it's primitiveness, possesses futuristic technology, flying saucers, and the ability to control earthquakes. Mankind's only hope rests in an embittered former Imperial Japanese Navy Officer and his fantastic futuristic submarine, Atragon. Atragon was built at the end of the War to turn the tide of battle back in Japan's favor, but the Land of the Rising Sun surrendered before the ship could be sent into battle. Though the times have passed up her Captain, he must put aside his baggage and march into action against the Mu forces. Complex character study supports engaging adventure story, complete with Toho's customary giant monster -in this case a huge serpent worshiped by the Mu. Elements of the plot would be re-hashed several times over the next several decades. GODZILLA VS MEGALON was a more kiddie matinee version of the same story, while THE WAR IN SPACE re-purposed the plot for use in a space opera. Manda, the giant serpent, would wash back into the Godzilla series when the beast was selected to be one of the returning giants featured in DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (the US posters for the film even named Manda among the major players). Though only as quick stock shots from that film, Manda would be seen throughout the remaining films of the original Godzilla cycle. Atragon itself was only one of numerous flying submarines with drilling cones in the nose section to be highlighted in Japanese pop culture! The film is finally available in a nice scope transfer on American DVD, but unfortunately the superior AIP release dub remains missing. Reportedly, the American DVD distributor wanted to include the better dub, but they were prevented from doing so by Toho itself!

June the Dragon

 Although I've not yet had the investment capital to follow through, the fact remains that I'm first and foremost an idea man. Here's one that came to me as I was going to sleep the other night. A fun cartoon show might be "June The Dragon", about a medieval village at first rather nervous to learn that a dragon has moved to town, only to discover said dragon is a sugar-sweet pie-maker eager to make friends and enter commerce with the locals. Here's a concept drawing which gives one an idea of what I was thinking. Although, given my general disinterest in medieval aesthetics, I'm more than willing to sell the idea to anyone interested in developing it further.

A Quick Look: THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1960)

   As a director, Roger Corman sometimes did things just to see if he could. Known for his speed, Corman decided to put himself to the test and shoot a picture in two days. That film was THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (and it ultimately took two and 1/2 days shooting). Perpetual loser Seymour comes up with a new hybrid plant, which quickly makes him a heralded genius of the botanical world -much to the delight of his boss, flower shop owner Muschnik. This gives Seymour the courage to begin a romantic relationship with co-worker Audrey, after whom he has also named his new plant. But Audrey Jr. soon proves to be more of a handful than Seymour bargained for -when the talking plant develops an appetite for human flesh! Filmed for peanuts, but sporting a good cast (trivia nuts will note a young Jack Nicholson as a masochistic dental patient) and sharp script, the film became a hit. And, like so many weeds, it refused to die! In the early 70's, a porno called PLEASE DON'T EAT MY MOTHER used the earlier film's story as a frame-work. Then "The Little Shop Of Horrors" became a smash musical stage production. That, in turn, was adapted to the screen in the form of big-budgeted musical comedy LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS in the 1980's! This new version, sporting an all-star cast and eye-popping special effects, was an even bigger hit than the original. It spawned a very short-lived Saturday morning cartoon show (seriously, I even caught the pilot first-run). Seems I've heard rumors of yet another film version of the play being in the works, and of course the play continues to be mounted by regional companies. That is one healthy plant. "Feed me!!"