I love movies but more importantly, I love film history! I have a great desire to research films and actors (male and female) and find out the true story, especially those that have been forgotten. How did this film get made? How did an actor get successful and why did they disappear. And here, on RU-vid, I share all that I have learned with you because I figure, that if I find it fascinating, others might as well. So come join me and feel free to share your knowledge with me! They call me Old Man Kelley, but you can call me Jeff.
Fantastic, Jeff! I, too, first saw Virginia in "The Philadelphia Story", and was blown away by how funny she was. "Who is this kid?", I wondered. When I read her name in the credits, it rang no bells, and I couldn't believe she was not a bigger star than she was. I had no idea she had such a long (and yet short-lived) career, and how sad that she only lived to 41. It makes little sense that studios didn't want to cast her in adult roles, as she appears to have been a fine little dramatic actress as well as comedienne. Anyway, thanks for all the research and care you put into these deep dives of yours. You should have your own weekly show on TCM!
I love him and whenever I see him in any entertainment platform I always think how much joy he brings to the world. Thank you for sharing all this information about Mr. Cook, Jr.
Thank you so much. I've been trying to remember what movie this is since it scared the poop right outta me as a child. When I tried to look it up there was so much conflicting info because of not only the nature of it's production, but also its use on MST3K. I'm so grateful to know for sure.
Pod People and Cave Dwellers were the first two MST3K VHS tapes I bought in the 90s, and my kids watched both of them so many times. So many times. "It's got nothing to do with pods, it's got nothing to do with people, it's got everything to do with HURTING." Thanks Jeff!
I find it amusing when in those now ancient 1980s flicks the directors try to pander to then current youth subcultures by inventing pop groups playing dreck of a type that no one on earth was listening to. Were radios unavailable in Spain?
It's never been a good idea for older people to try to appeal to the youth. There always off that mark. I wonder if the songs from this film actually got radio play!
I don't know what to tell you, man. I sense your impatience here, but I don't hate the Ator movies. I grew up at just the right time for Conan, Beastmaster, He-Man, etc. Muscle dudes waving swords around -- that was a lot of my childhood right there. Ator is the dumbest, cheapest version of that, but I'm still moderately entertained by him and his stupid adventures. And #301 is one of my favorite MST3K episodes ever. When Ator starts hang-gliding... well, it's just sublime.
You don't need to tell me anything. You love it! I get it. There are plenty of films I love that most don't. That is what is so great about movies, something for everyone! My opinion is just my opinion. No big deal! Thanks for watching.
Back in the early 90s I had just begun working at the sports department of a major newspaper, where I started out editing copy. To get away from the hubbub on the sports floor, I would go back to a quieter place (features department) and edit my copy in peace. One Saturday I turned on a TV and tuned it in to Comedy Central while I worked. That first week there was no sound (I can't remember why), but it was showing MST3K (the "Black Scorpion"), and I had no idea what the hell I was watching. Being a Harryhausen/O'Brien fan, I immediately recognized the movie but couldn't figure out why there were silhouetted figures at the bottom. The following week I tuned in again, this time with sound. They were showing "Cave Dwellers," and I was immediately hooked. I now live in China, and one of the things that helps keep me connected with my former life is watching MST3K, and "Cave Dwellers" remains my all-time favorite episode. Sorry for the lengthy message, but this shook up a lot of great memories for me.
Carolyn Brandt, Ray Dennis Steckler's former wife and regular actress in his films mentions him in a Q&A. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jNBU2pXKcwc.htmlsi=kWa6p9dlzZt7dgQo&t=1939
@@zeusbrothersentertainment7901 It's more than liking it. I think the plot's good, the concept of free marketeers in space is solid, it's fairly good on the science with no sounds in a vacuum and explosive decompression...it didn't have a big budget but I don't care so much about that. For me it has a lot of rewatchability.
Miss Marsh was was so beautiful and had that sweet voice and cute accent, She was a vastly underrated actress and in the early 30's was the equal Bette Davis but their careers went in opposite directions
Finally got around to watching this. Great job. Besides A Place in the Sun I've barely ever seen the guy but he certainly did have an interesting life. I think it was his ego that brought him down.
This movie is dark and has a depressing vibe, but that’s what I love about it. It’s since become both a movie I enjoy on its own and a comfort MST episode for me.
In 1990 she was 60 years old, I think she looked pretty good for 60. She didn't have any plastic surgery done on her face, like others who are 60 and want to make us think they're still 30. She should have done herself and Richard a favor and divorced him the first time, if a career was what she was after. He made it clear that he didn't want her to work. He may have lived longer with less stress, and it could not have been good for their kids with the constant strife. 29:12 she comes across as a little bitchy. Btw, she's 94 now.
Instead of the knee-jerk sexism reaction isn’t it way more likely that the reason for her sparse Wikipedia page was the fairly modest popularity level? Instead of feeling sorry for a person who got the life most others can only dream of by being in Steven Spielberg movies, blockbusters, and a hit TV show, maybe feel happy for wildly successful actress.
Though not exactly perfect reprensentation. The fact that both men and women had equal STEM job levels was pretty ahead of it's time, especially for early sci fi films. But apart from that, there were times it seemed like the actresses did get hurt by being shoved around by their costars. I get they probably had limited takes, but it took any little form of entertainment away from me. But undoubtedly, Bert I. Gordon did improve his filmmaking skills. And even made his last film in 2015, which is a psycological thriller, outside of his usual stuff. And he was 92-93 years old at the time!
I agree. Having two female on the crew was fantastic, until he portrayed them as helpless, scared women who run into the arms of a man as soon as they see a snake. I also agree that Mr. Gordon improved and i enjoyed many of his later films.
Allow me to give you some unsolicited advice: if you consider plot to be necessary in a film, then stay away from anything directed by John Cassavetes!
@@zeusbrothersentertainment7901 Oh, I don't disagree. I'm kind of fascinated by his films (there's a bunch on RU-vid and I've seen all of those), but I sometimes find myself saying "is this going ANYWHERE??" 😄
My only positive remark is that I like the incidental/background music. I'm pretty sure it was public domain but I always end up humming along with it.
Yes, I should have mentioned the music, There is a bit when the get off the rocket that I think gets a little much, but, yes, for the most part, it world really well. Thanks!
Yeah, I have something good to say about this film: Bert I. Gordon made mistakes in King Dinosaur that he seems to've learned from. Were his subsequent films cinematic masterpieces? Of course not, but most of them (the ones I've seen at any rate) have more or less interesting plots, and better special effects. Like you I am entertained by The Amazing Colossal Man, Puppet People, etc. I've often wondered about the V-2 footage used in so many 1950s and 60s sci-fi films. Would those films exist without it? Maybe, maybe not. 🚀
That Davy Jones song you mentioned, "Annabell Lee", isn't exactly an original composition. The lyrics seem to be taken from the Edgar Allen Poe poem of the same name. 🙂
Small world, Jeff. I have worked in the toy industry myself for 28 yrs! My first 21 were in the Toys R Us corporate office here in NJ; my last 7 for a toy manufacturer (offices in NJ, but our owners are in Japan). If you feel comfortable enough to share, which company are you with? If you don't feel comfortable sharing, I understand. When I think of Illinois, I think Tomy and VTech, but I don't know where you are in the state, in relation to them.
Hi Tom, I work for a company called Learning Resources. We make educational toy for young children. A few of out product development people came from VTech.
@@zeusbrothersentertainment7901 Ah, in my TRU tenure, I never worked in the Learning categories, so I never had occasion to work with your company. Plenty of years in Action Figures, Games, Toy Sports, and Video Games. It was a good run, and a shame that corporate mismanagement had to bring our company to its sad demise. Ah well, life goes on. Best regards!
I don't think I'd watch this movie without Joel and the 'bots, but I don't exactly hate The Hellcats. I have some affection for the biker movie fad of the late '60s and early '70s, and the involvement of Tony Cardoza adds additional interest. The music may not be appropriate, but the songs are still catchy. I particularly like "I'm Up" by Somebody's Chyldren. I'd describe the music as psychedelic bubblegum pop. I know there's a soundtrack LP (a rarity for MST3K movies), and I wouldn't turn down a copy. Overall, what makes The Hellcats interesting is just the opportunity to see the clothes and cars and motorcycles of the era. (And it's not as unpleasant as The Sidehackers, so there's that.) Years ago, I wrote a bunch of one-act plays inspired by MST3K movies. One of them was based on The Hellcats. The plot had Ross Hagen and some of the other bikers working at a grocery store because they'd given up on their counterculture existence and decided to go straight. One day, Linda shows up and she's really disappointed in all of them. Ross Hagen tries to prove he's still a rebel by dumping some food all over the floor, but then his manager makes him clean it up.
I can understand what you are saying about the music. I hope I didn't come off as hating it. I didn't. It, for me, just didn't work in the film. A movie that shows a young girl getting strangled to death shouldn't have bubblegum pop. I liek what you said about writing one-act plays based on films such this. I am working on a podcast which is a talkoff on old radion shows and a few of the stories I've written are based on old b-films.
@@zeusbrothersentertainment7901 I did a whole series of plays based on MST movies. Some are ones you've covered on your show, like The Crawling Hand, Robot Monster, Sidehackers, and Catalina Caper. The Catalina Caper one was fun. It was basically a sequel set at a ski resort. Even Little Richard comes back to sing a song! (This was inspired by James Brown guesting in Ski Party.) Everybody's having a great time... until they get their draft notices.
The reason why this episode's host segments seem lazy is because the principle cast was doing promotional work so most of the writers were gone when they wrote the script.
Please make a video about THE JAZZ SINGER 1952 that was directed by Michael Curtiz & starred Danny Thomas & Peggy Lee. Its a brilliant, supremely made musical but isnt as famous as the other versions, the 1927 Jolson original & the 1980 Neil Diamond remake.
@@zeusbrothersentertainment7901thankyou that'll be brilliant, I only make these suggestions because I'm a big fan of your videos The Danny Thomas Peggy Lee Jazz Singer is a largely forgotten gem & one of the greatest underrated Hollywood musicals, it was directed by the legendary Michael Curtiz & I would love to see what you could do with the subject
