scsu1975 Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 Fairly dull horror opus, with almost no action. Talent-challenged Marla English and Lance Fuller play a couple of crumbs who hire Joe Mannix ... er, Touch (Mike) Connors, to lead them into the jungle in search of gold. Meanwhile, mad doctor Tom Conway performs experiments on a native babe, turning her into a 6-foot Estelle Getty on steroids. Unfortunately, the native girl does not have the killer instinct that Conway desires, but English does. So guess who is Conway's next patient? Connors saves his own skin, and manages to snag Conway's wife in the process. Tom Conway gives a bore-de-force performance. You've never seen him like this. His trademark pencil-thin moustache is missing. He literally speaks without moving his lips (this time, through mind control). His eyebrows are knit together in an almost simian appearance. He wears the most ridiculous headpiece in the history of hatdom. And he manages to get off a lengthy diatribe with only two glances as his cue cards. Marla English drinks her fingers, while Lance Fuller gazes at the worm crawling up Paul Dubov's head. Mary Ellen Kay flips off Otis Greene, who plays Bobo the houseboy. Marla English auditions for The Letter. A lounge singer puts the moves on Noel Coward. Good luck, lady. This scene is not nearly as suggestive as it looks. Well, I guess when you gotta go, you gotta go. "You were interfering with my work, Susan. Nobody's going to stand in my way, not even you. If we had it do over again, we'd know better, wouldn't we, Susan? You wouldn't have married a man of my age and I wouldn't have undertaken to play nursemaid to a whimpering shallow woman who's been crying homesick for the past seven years." This is when you know your acting career is over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 Don't pack up your reviews, Rich---sometimes these threads are the only laugh I get all day! Poor Tom! I had no idea he did so many of these....these...excursions. P.S. He does look like Noelie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrinceSaliano Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 This needs to be on TCM Underground, along with SHE CREATURE (1956). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsu1975 Posted June 25, 2009 Author Share Posted June 25, 2009 > {quote:title=PrinceSaliano wrote:}{quote} > This needs to be on TCM Underground, along with SHE CREATURE (1956). I agree. A "Tom Conway/Paul Dubov/Marla English/Lance Fuller/Paul Blaisdell as the title monster" retrospective is long overdue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CineMaven Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 This might be on par with "Alligator People." I've seen this many years ago. I'll have to watch it on the link you sent us and see if it's as good as you say. Huh? ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OllieTSB Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Rich, another fantastic review, making yet another film a truly classic post. "Ya gotta go when..." And I really DO cringe every time I see revolvers in a woman's hand. Letter-itis, is what I'm calling this bizarre affliection. I thought about "CM-itis" but those that was a tad obscure. Besides, she'd hit me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollywoodGolightly Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 > {quote:title=PrinceSaliano wrote:}{quote} > This needs to be on TCM Underground, along with SHE CREATURE (1956). That's not a bad idea. Actually, it might even be a good idea for TCM to ask Rich if he's interested in programming the Underground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsu1975 Posted June 25, 2009 Author Share Posted June 25, 2009 > {quote:title=HollywoodGolightly wrote:}{quote} > > {quote:title=PrinceSaliano wrote:}{quote} > > This needs to be on TCM Underground, along with SHE CREATURE (1956). > > That's not a bad idea. Actually, it might even be a good idea for TCM to ask Rich if he's interested in programming the Underground. I'd be happy too, once my teaching gig is up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronxgirl48 Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Talk to me, Samuel Z. Arkoff, tell me all about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollywoodGolightly Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 > {quote:title=scsu1975 wrote:}{quote} > I'd be happy too, once my teaching gig is up. I hope you're not kidding, I really think you'd make a great TCM Underground programmer/presenter. I cannot think of anyone else I'd rather see introducing those movies, and if you're half as funny on-screen as you're online... well, you get the picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsu1975 Posted June 26, 2009 Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 I'm twice as funny offline as I am online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollywoodGolightly Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 > {quote:title=scsu1975 wrote:}{quote} > I'm twice as funny offline as I am online. Even better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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