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THE MAN WHO TURNED TO STONE-1957-Strange goings-on at a women’s penitentiary as a group of scientists (lead by an oily Victor Jory) experiment on inmates and try to cover it up. Apparently they are all around 200 hundred years old and need healthy women of child bearing years to help them say young and not turn to stone when they die! I’m not making this up. How would you like to turn to stone when you die?
William Hudson (later the philandering husband in Bert I. Gordon’s ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN) investigates. Friedrich (Von) Ledebur is the zombie like Eric who eventually does turn to stone. He’d played Queequeg in John Huston’s MOBY DICK the year before and was in VOODOO ISLAND and THE 27TH DAY the same year as TMWTTS. Busy TV actress Ann Doran is Jory’s assistant. Also with Charlotte Austin, Jean Willes and Paul Cavanaugh. Hungarian born director Laszlo Kardos also provided the story for DANCE WITH ME HENRY, Abbott & Costello’s last movie.
I BURY THE LIVING-1958-A department store owner (Richard Boone, the same year he started his hit western HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL on TV) has to take over the operation of a cemetery for one year. The centerpiece of the dingy office is a large map of all the burial plots. Black pins in the map indicate that the plots are “occupied”, while white pins signify the owners are still living. When Boone accidentally puts black pins into the plot of a couple still alive, they die a few hours later. This happens several more times until Boone begins to think he has some kind of power over life and death. It’s a fairly interesting thriller (I’ve heard Stephen King says it’s one of his favorite movies..) but has a pretty improbable resolution..
Theodore Bikel (in terrible old man make-up) plays the soon to be retired caretaker. He was in THE DEFIANT ONES the same year. Also with Peggy Maurer, Robert Osterloh, Herbert Anderson (one year away from playing Mr. Mitchell on the long running DENNIS THE MENACE TV show). Cyril Delevanti and Russ Bender. Director Albert Band (Father of Charles & Richard) made the seldom seen FACE OF FIRE with Cameron Mitchell the same year. The once mighty Jack P. Pierce did the make-up for IBTL! Writer Louis Garfinkle later co-wrote THE DEERHUNTER.
RIDERS TO THE STARS-1954-Scientist Herbert Marshall needs a meteor from outer space. He and a group of scientists set out to find three men to fly rocket ships (with wings) into space a get one. William Lunigan (a busy TV actor at the time) is the scientist most qualified. He’s also Marshall’s son. He falls in love with Martha Hyer while being trained. Richard Carlson (who was in THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON the same year) co-stars and directs as well. I’ve read “film doctor” Herbert Strock directed some scenes un-credited. It’s an early serious science fiction tale (based on a story by Ivan Tors) and it’s in color! Curt Siodmak wrote the screenplay. |
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Posted by CavedogRob on 2008-03-02 11:30:07 | Rating: | Views: 266
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Excellent post! Must watch these movies.
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Posted by SubTomato
on 2008-03-03 01:21:31
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Thanks again for reading and commenting!
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Posted by CavedogRob
on 2008-03-03 22:06:02
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