Horror Movies Are Better When They Are About Something
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- čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
- / @terrytalksmovies
This time I look at two blaxploitation horror movies directed by William Crain in the 1970s. Both have some salient social commentary to them.
Blacula: amzn.to/4dX3m12
Dr. Black, Mr Hyde: amzn.to/4bvC28h
00:00 Introduction To My Misspent Youth.
01:49 Blacula
08:01 Dr Black Mr Hyde
12:24 Summary and Outro.
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William Marshall. I could listen to him read the phone book and still enjoy his voice.
That deep, resonant baritone really delivered.
… both he, and the late, Roger Corman.
He does have a magnificent baritone.
Thank you for covering these old Blaxploitation films. My earliest exposure to William Marshall was Dr. Richard Daystrom on Star Trek. His talent was underutilized.
He did a hell of a lot of stage work and I suspect that's where his heart was.
It's kind of strange how, though we saw Uhura on STAR TREK every week, Marshall's Dr. Daystrom is the only Black Male actor in a significant role the original series had that I can remember.
At the same time he was doing PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION was also in production - it would've been nice if they'd had Dr. Daystrom show up to check on Data, rather than Dr. Bruce Maddox.
Thank you for mentioning “The Ultimate Computer “ episode of “Star Trek “.Marshall gives a wonderful performance as Dr. Daystrom.
Seeing the movie "Badasss" by Mario Van Peeples and hearing interviews with his father Melvin really opened my eyes to the genre being much more than simply "exploitation" and in some cases a platform for the directors and actors to make movies they actually wanted to see and contain themes that resonate with a more "urban" crowd at the time.
There's so much cultural history in many blaxploitation movies, particularly the ones made by people of colour or which were strongly influenced by them. The genre should be respected for that reason.
Good point.
Although I didn't realize you were using a teleprompter, once you mentioned it, I decided that your delivery and flow were rock solid. I realize it will require a full script ahead of time, but the results in this video seem to indicate it will be worth it.
Thanks so much for the feedback. There's a learning curve to teleprompters but I want to cram more info in, so it's probably worthwhile.
Svengoolie ran "Scream, Blacula, Scream" last weekend. It is, indeed, not as good as the original, but Marshall and Pam Grier both do very well in their roles. One other TV episode with William Marshall you can look for is "The Vulcan Affair", the pilot episode for "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.".
He was always a professional and never phoned in a role.
Ned from Spain with another comment. William Marshall had an incredible voice and presence. Did you ever see him on an episode of the original Star Trek ? The one where he's a well lauded scientist whose creation, the M 5 computer goes on a rampage ? He's fabulous in that too. Love all the actresses Vonetta, Rosalind and Denise, who got be a main character on the groundbreaking 1970s TV show Room 222.
William MARSHALL, but I understand what you mean. A great theatrical actor.
@@terrytalksmovies Sorry, it's stupid O'clock where I am . I'll edit it that mistake right now. Thanks for understanding !
Quite true.
You are right, the insight one gains from getting real f++king old is a plus, along with all those senior discounts.The general decline of the mind, body, eyesight, and hearing, not so much.
Yeah that stuff sucks but discount cinema tickets are a plus. I don't need them because of my magical Australian Film Critics Association membership card which gets me in for free, but before that, it was great!
Sad but true.
You know, I've read a lot of spilled ink, all of it good, about "Blacula" and I think it's high time I finally see it...cheers!
Please do, Jose. It's great.
I've always loved William Marshall but I never knew about his Broadway pedigree. That's f*@$ing awesome!! Thank you for that
My pleasure. The man had some serious theatrical chops.
Have always loved these! Blacula especially. I forgot that William Marshall was the King of Cartoons on Pee Wee’s Playhouse. Good actor! Great video Terry!
Thanks! William Marshall was also The Video Pirate in Amazon Women On The Moon.
@@terrytalksmovies oh yes! He wasn’t intimidated by the VHS FBI warning I remember! Hehe
The 70s was really a great time for pushing boundaries and expanding points of view. Today these two films would be reviled by Outrage Tubers as being woke. Sometimes I miss the days when those opinions were relegated to the letters to the editor column of Starlog magazine where they could easily be ignored....
Thanks for the two recommendations Terry 😊
If anyone describes anything as woke in a pejorative way, I immediately dismiss their opinion and wonder whether everyone sat on one side of the church at their parents' wedding.
William Marshall was one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. It is so sad he never received the kind of recognition he deserved. Blacula (Prince Mamwalde) was the most regal of ALL vampires. Sadly, in later years he was reduced to playing the King of Cartoons on Pee Wee's Playhouse.
Have you seen who was on Pee Wee's Playhouse? Laurence Fishburne, Whoopi Goldberg, Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Joan Rivers, Oprah, Little Richard, K.D. Laing, Grace Jones. That show had a killer cast.
@@terrytalksmovies Very true. It just always seemed to me to be such a waste for a talent as big as Marshall's. But you are quite right...there were a number of very notable actors on the show.
Bite your damned tongue.
He was AMAZING as the King of Cartoons
@@fletchkeilman2205 He WAS amazing as the King of Cartoons. I apologize if I sounded like he wasn't. It's just that he was one of the most talented actors of the 20th century and ended up doing a bit on a kids' show....BUT it was one HELL of a kids' show!
I recently co-wrote a horror film script and we worked hard to anchor the horror aspects to some deeper social themes but without sacrificing - lol - other more vital elemenst such as plenty of jump scares and gore.
That's how to do it. You still need jump scares and gore.
Scream, Blacula, Scream is actually pretty good. The denouement at Blacula's manor is a heartily intense battle.
I'll check it out later. Thanks for the tip.
It also includes the scintillating power of Pam !
I remember watching these movies, made for some great date nights.
Cool!
It’s kind of ridiculous to think of Laurence Olivier in blackface-then again,it was the 1960s and a lot of people thought that was still acceptable.I can only imagine how marvelous Mr. Marshall’s portrayal of Othello was.
It's a pity there's no record of Marshall's Othello. It would've been really interesting.
Haven't been into blaxploitation films because of the exploitation part of the title. This episode has changed that, so well done.
Enjoy, Brett. There are some great films there.
My guess is he threw them in the Pat Boone section of the record store. No loss. Lol, yeah, these are great movies. Blackula, I've seen several times. I'll have to check out Dr Black, Mr Hyde.
I'm not sure he was aiming the dude with any accuracy. 😀😉
William Marshall guest starred in Star Trek in the 60s as a scientist losing his mind who created a parnoid computer. Recently saw Bill Gunn's Ganja and hess which is an artsy black vampire film from 1973. Not sure I totally got it but maybe too high end for a blacksploitation film. Spike Lee remade it. Also saw Sugar Hill which is a blackploitation horror film where a women enlists a voodoo priestess to send zombies to kill the mafia men who murdered her boyfriend.
I'm still looking for a watchable copy of Ganja and Hess. Sugar Hill I love. I have the blu-ray of SH.
The cast on Blackula is fantastic. I wish Thalmus Rasulala had been a bigger star. William Marshall always brought class to whatever he appeared in.
I always like Bernie Casey. I think his appearance in Boxcar Bertha is my favorite.
I'm pretty sure I own both of these films, and they probably need a re-watch.
Bernie Casey was also Felix Leiter in Never Say Never Again.
Blacula and The Grand Silence.
Two of my favorite films that have the lovely Vonetta McGee
She was also good in The Eiger Sanction.
Another film that William Marshall did that is a decent blaxsploitation film is Abby from 1974. I initially knew about it because the director (William Girdler) is from my hometown of Louisville Kentucky and a majority of the film is shot there as well.
Colloquially known as the ‘Black Exorcist’ I believe it got into some legal trouble with Warner Brothers as a result. I believe it is still hard to get a physical copy of as well.
However I think it’s been uploaded onto CZcams and can be viewed there. I’d give it a recommendation and a decent watch
Abby really works. BTW, I;ve been to Louisville. Wonderful people there and I had breakfast up at the top of the Galt House.
Poor Rosalind Cash, she just can't get away from albino ghouls. First in The Omega Man, then in Dr Black, Mr Hyde.
I thought Bernie Casey was good in The Martian Chronicles series.
He was good in a lot of things.
No clue the second movie existed . Deeply disturbing but well earned plot line. Look like should Stevie be uncomfortable and check it out. You sir are a gift.
Go for it. I hope you like it. Finding obscure films that have solid underpinnings is a great thing to do.
An excellent piece, Terry. BTW, if you think Olivier in black-face is offensive, check out "The 49th Parallel', where he plays a Quebecois. 🙂 No wonder they're trying to separate!
Yep. Olivier was hammy AF in a lot of cinema, though his Shakespearean movies are masterpieces.
Hi Terry, if you're a 'certain age', Blaxploitation movies are compulsory viewing. I've always enjoyed William Marshall's work. I've also had a bit of an interest in Gordon Pinsent. He narrated a Canadian documentary, 'The Devil at Your Heels' (maybe worth a review ;) )...
Pinsent also played the US President in Colossus The Forbin Project.
@@terrytalksmovies Funny you should say that. I'm just about to watch Colussus right now. What were they thinking? You can't have a Canadian play the US President...
There were surprisingly few blaxploitation/horror films made in the 70's, and most of them are surprisingly good.
Blackenstein is pretty bad but the Exorcist rip off Abby is good, as is Sugar Hill.
@@terrytalksmovies I nearly mentioned "Blackenstein" as the odd one out. It's just unforgivingly dull. "Sugar Hill" is a particular favorite. Marki Bey was a childhood crush!
I agree, there were some wild ones like Ganja and Hess and JD's Revenge, but I gotta mention 1995s Tales From the Hood !
Blacula is terrific. I've just downloaded Mr Hyde and look forward to it. Cheers Terry
Enjoy, Dan!
I watched Blacula at the drive-in.
Cool! It's a perfect drive-in movie.
Love this Terry and thanks for making it !
My pleasure. They were fun movies.
I'm liking and commenting at barely two minutes into this vid because it feels like you made it just for me (though I'm not actually that narcissistic to believe it) I had a similar misspent youth also as a descendant of colonizer shitheals, exploitation movies are inherently problematic but the smart ones lean into that to make a progressive point that would otherwise be slapped down by the gatekeepers. Every genre of film is better when it's about something but horror gets away with it better than most🤘
Many of the exploitation movies were made by lefties and they slid their social perspectives into the movies by making them for small studios like AIP. It was a smart move and it had long term results. Glad to meet another leftie yob, mate.
@@terrytalksmovies I'm glad for that too. And, again, I must express my jealousy of your very awesome hat. 👍
I have Blackula in my collection it's great but I didn't know about Dr Black I will watch
Go for it!
It would be awesome to have William Marshals voice on gps.
Can I have Ann-Margret instead?
This was great! I had no idea about Dr. Black, Mr Hyde! Will definitely go check that out!! Cheers!!
My pleasure, Claude. It's worth it.
Yep
Agreed. 😉📽😀
Right on!!✊🏿
Outta sight, brother!
Black folks need to produce and act in more horror nowadays. Jordan Peele has a good start.
There is this documentary about black horror creators en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_Noire:_A_History_of_Black_Horror which is definitely worth checking out with a notepad at your side. 😀
@@terrytalksmovies Props! 👍🏽👍🏽