As is my usual custom, I've found myself over the last few weeks watching horror movies to celebrate Hallowe'en. While I've always been partial to the "monster" movies that Universal Studios produced in the 1930s and 1940s (particularly Dracula and Frankenstein), I found myself this year gravitating toward films that weren't necessarily scary, but just kind of spooky and humourous (like The Addams Family).
The other night, I pulled a DVD off the shelf that I have to confess I had not watched in at least 15 years, maybe even 20. To call it a B-movie would almost be insulting to B-movies. It's more like a D- or even an E-movie.
In the nearly 70 years since its initial release, it has garnered a devoted cult following and could possibly be described as being "so bad, it's good." And I will admit that, watching it again, I found it hard to look away. The writing, the acting, the delivery of the dialogue--it's just awful! But, strangely, it's still kind of enjoyable to watch. I may have to watch it more regularly.
What really fascinates me is how the film actually came about. Writer/director/producer Edward D. Wood Jr. shot some random footage of Bela Lugosi. He didn't initially know what he was going to do with it. When Lugosi died in 1956, Wood took the footage and decided to make a movie around it as a final tribute to his now legendary friend. The story involved an alien invasion and the raising of the dead.
Wood had an extraordinarily limited budget to make the movie--and it shows. In some shots of the flying saucers, you can actually see the strings suspending them. Cemetery tombstones were constructed of styrofoam. In one scene, an actor accidentally knocked one over and, if you look carefully, you can even see it being put back in place. I'm pretty sure at one point I even saw them swaying in the breeze.
And yet, somehow, against all odds, this film endures.
In 1994, Tim Burton released a movie about the making of this week's film starring Johnny Depp as Wood and Martin Landau as Lugosi. (The cast also included Sarah Jessica Parker, Bill Murray, Patricia Arquette, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jeffrey Jones, Lisa Marie, and George "The Animal" Steele. Burton even got a few cast members from the original movie to make cameo appearances.) If you're a fan of irony like I am, it's worth noting that that movie--Ed Wood--a movie about a notoriously bad movie actually went on to win two Academy Awards--Best Makeup and Best Supporting Actor for Landau's performance as Lugosi.
In hindsight, I can't believe I enjoyed the movie as much as I did--certainly more than I remember enjoying it in the past. Consequently, I feel compelled to recommend it this week, specifically for Hallowe'en. Originally released in 1957, this week, please enjoy what may be the original cult classic and what some claim is the worst movie ever made, Plan 9 From Outer Space.
As I stated in my album "sermon" I'll be taking a couple of weeks off. Until I return, stay safe, be good to your neighbours, and please remember that if at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Yours in peace, love, and rock 'n' roll!
The Reverend Will the Thrill
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