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Post by dem on Oct 25, 2007 7:52:47 GMT
One for Mr. Black .... John Burke - Dr. Terror's House Of Horrors (Pan, 1965) Werewolf, Vampire, Malignant Vine, Voodoo God, Disembodied hand ...
Each was to play its horrific part in the lives of five ordinary men brought together in a railway compartment. So prophesised Dr. Schreck, their sinister companion. To each of them he unfolded a terrifying glimpse of the future ... Entertaining and faithful novelisation of the all-star Amicus anthology. Weird casting saw D.J. Alan "Fluff" Freeman terrified by his hostile plants ( Creeping Vine) and Roy "Record-breakers" Castle as a terrifying trumpet player in a jazz band ( Voodoo). The Cush is on top form as the tarot-dealing personification of Death. Other stories are Vampire, Werewolf and Disembodied Hand. Nice to see that critic Franklin Marsh (Christopher Lee) comes to a sticky end.  |
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Post by sadako on Nov 10, 2008 11:40:23 GMT
Good that this finally came out on widescreen DVD in the UK.
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Post by valdemar on Apr 5, 2012 21:50:11 GMT
It's a cracking movie, full of macabre touches, and yet so full of charm, it is a pleasure to watch, again and again. Yes, there is nastiness, but not of a mean-spirited kind.
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Post by dem on Aug 17, 2015 7:48:58 GMT
"The 8.43 to Bradley is now standing at Platform 9. Fast to Bradley. The express to Bradley at Platform 9 ..."Following recent rematch with Jack Oleck's undemanding Vault Of Horror novelization, its the turn of John Burke and Dr. Terror's House Of Horrors. Early one June morning, six mismatched strangers share a train compartment. Unfortunately, one of these is Franklyn Marsh, the curmudgeonly celebrity art critic, who begrudges the company of mere mortals. It threatens to be an uncomfortable journey until doddery old codger Sandor Schreck, Doctor of Metaphysics (or "nonsense," according to Marsh) whips out a Tarot pack and offers to foretell their futures. Jim Dawson, architect, being a good-natured chap, humours him out of sympathy. Dr. Schreck lays down five from his pack of doom. Jim falls into a disturbing dream ... Werewolf: "It might be better if we were not to meddle, Mr. James. Some things are better left alone." Jim Dawson, the last of his line, returns to Unga in the Outer Hebrides on the request of Mrs. Dierdre Biddulph, the glamorous, wealthy young widow who bought the Dawson family home. Mrs. Biddulph is planning extensive renovations to the property - despite shunning the company of her few neighbours, she reckons the place could use a ballroom - and Jim begins his survey in the cellar with old Caleb McFarlane, the gardener. What's this? A fake wall! A few swings of the crowbar later, and they are gazing down upon the coffin of Cosmo Waldemar, the legendary lycanthrope, executed by Jim's ancestors! Waldemar swore that some day he would return to claim his rightful property and see a Dawson replace him in the box. Mumbo jumbo, no doubt, except that night sees the first of a series of new werewolf murders, Valda, Caleb's beautiful grand-daughter, cut down in her prime. No longer the Doubting Thomas, Jim fashions six silver bullets for his rifle. But ..... Moral. Never trust a "young" widow who was robbed of her husband two centuries ago. Malignant Vine: "Plants propagated swiftly and inexorably. A plant with intelligence and determination could take over the world. Before human beings realized what was happening it could have stretched, entrenched itself, and worked out its plan of campaign." Thank you, the late Dr. Drake, because that's exactly what happens in Milton Subotsky's Day Of The Triffids! Bill Rogers and happy family - Ann, little Carol (eight), and Rusty the dog - return to Bradley from a holiday at the seaside to find their home infiltrated by voracious, multiple-brained, trouser-attacking killer vine. Bill takes a sample cutting to his pal, Dr. Hopkins at the local Ministry of Ag. lab, but it's D.O.A. Intrigued, Hopkins allows his young subordinate, Drake, to move in with the family and gain a better understanding of the situation. He does - at huge personal cost. It's not quite the Triffid apocalypse as, turns out, the creepers are terrified of fire - for the time being ..... Pet lovers be warned. This is a proper Plants Hate You!, so enjoy that playful little bow wow while you can.
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Post by dem on Aug 17, 2015 15:39:11 GMT
"Biff began to run. He swung around a corner and came face to face with a gruesome poster for a horror movie. A corner of it tore away from the wall and flapped at him."Voodoo God: Biff Bailey, wisecracking Jazz-funk legend, hauls his trumpet to the island of Paiti in the West Indies to share a bill at the Dupont Club. From his first night, Bailey is enchanted by the drum-heavy voodoo rhythm that has everyone on their feet, but the friendly patrons turn frosty when he whistles along or comments on the ugly-beautiful charms they wear. Fellow jazz fiend Sammy Coin, Cockney ex-pat, advises him that these people take their religion very seriously and "you ain't that denomination." Bill won't take the hint. He knows a potential smash hit tune when he hears one, and, alerted by drums in the night, sneaks into the woods to spy on a real-life nude voodoo ceremony. That rhythm again! Even as he's scribbling down the notes, a big black hand lands on his shoulder. Vrim, the High Priest, wants to know what the Hell this honky peeping tom thinks he's about. When Bailey explains that he's only interested in recording that crazy beat, Vrim is livid. "It belongs to the Dambala. It has been known only to his people - his own people, and no others - for centuries." "For centuries? Then it must be out of copy-write. I can just take it anyway. Its what they call public domain, see, and -" Safely back home in London, Bailey features the stolen rhythm into his act and dreams of making his first £million. But Dambala is not amused. First he trashes the club mid-Biff's performance, then he stalks the thieving trumpeter to his home. It is all too much for Bailey, who ... faints (That ending needs a bit of work). In the movie, Voodoo God is played for laughs (even if it doesn't get many), but Burke takes it absolutely straight, incorporating Subotsky's(?) potted history of shifting modern jazz trends. Musicians referenced include Stravinsky, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, and Kenny Ball.
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Post by pulphack on Aug 18, 2015 4:56:24 GMT
I doubt Roy Castle could have played it straight, given his background (youtube him and Jimmy James and watch the incredibly absurd and odd sketch about the cardboard box under his arm), but what the hey - I think the book is better than the film in some respects, even though I do have asoft spot for the movie. Also worth mentioning the music in this section of the film, as it was composed by and features the wonderful Tubby Hayes, one of the few Brit jazzers of the time who could take on the Americans without feeling inferior - and best them. Died at 38, far too young, but left some great albums behind him.
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Post by dem on Aug 18, 2015 7:03:44 GMT
I think the book is better than the film in some respects, even though I do have asoft spot for the movie. I like the movie as much as the next man, but the individual stories aren't always all that, and it's to Mr. Burke's credit that he gets the most from some pretty weak material, working wonders on Voodoo God and Malignant Vine in particular.  Franklyn Marsh. "He analysed current artistic trends and ferreted out the intellectual prostitutes.": My fave episode in the flick is far the best trad HORROR story in the book. Up until now it could be argued that none of the passengers have actually done anything much to deserve their dooms (Biff Bailey pilfered the voodoo beat but he never once claimed it as his own composition). All that changes when tortured artist turned feared celebrity critic, Franklyn Marsh, steps under the spotlight. Franklyn's campaign versus pretentious rubbish masquerading as modern art is rooted in an unswerving belief that, should he get rid of the opposition, the public will finally recognise his genius. It's all going so well until his #1 pet hate, Eric Landor, makes a baboon's arse out of him in public (although for some mysterious reason, in Burke's novelization, a five year old boy stands in for the chimp). Landor then takes to stalking the critic, disturbing his mojo during a prestigious gig at the Cockaigne Banquet. Humiliated yet again, Marsh's thoughts turn to murder, and he's terrible at it, fluffing a simple hit and run. Landor survives but wishes he hadn't as the cowardly attack has cost him his painting hand. A week later, he completes what Marsh set out to achieve. He kills himself. Even Marsh feels a little sick about that. We now enter familiar The Beast With Five Fingers territory as a shrivelled, blackened stump seeks out Marsh wherever he goes until it achieves a suitably poetic retribution. |
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Post by mattofthespurs on Aug 18, 2015 10:49:21 GMT
Lovely limited edition blu ray steelbook coming out in October for this.
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Post by dem on Aug 18, 2015 16:51:39 GMT
"They all watched Schreck. The others in the compartment concentrated as though willing him to find something for Bob Carroll as unpleasant as the fates he had predicted for them."
Vampire: Possibly owes something to Richard Matheson's No Such Thing As A Vampire. Dr. Bob Carroll returns from Europe to Pemberton, New England, with a bride, Nicole, the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. But why does she turn into a bat and fly out the window at night when she thinks he's asleep? Little Johnny Ellis falls sick through blood loss. Crafty old Dr. Blake - who has taken an instant dislike to Nicole - identifies the twin red marks on the kid's neck as VAMPIRE bites and welcomes the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. When the bat next pays Johnny a visit, Blake steps out from the shadows and wings it with a bullet. The following morning, Bob is horrified Nicole can't explain away a gaping wound to her arm.
Blakey persuades Bob there's only one thing for it. Nicole isn't human, and the kindest thing he can do for his wife is drive a sharp stake through her heart. Like a mug, the naive younger doctor complies.
... and so back to the framing story, which culminates in the train finally arriving at Bradley Station. The five relieved, if bewildered passengers step onto a deserted platform. A newspaper falls from the sky and wraps around Marsh's trouser leg. The headline does not make comfortable reading.
Have to say, the ending is far more powerful on screen, but otherwise Mr. Burke is his usual, dependable self.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2015 17:58:10 GMT
Lovely limited edition blu ray steelbook coming out in October for this. And I've written the liner notes for the steelbook too! It's going to look lovely |
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Post by mattofthespurs on Aug 19, 2015 15:09:30 GMT
Lovely limited edition blu ray steelbook coming out in October for this. And I've written the liner notes for the steelbook too! It's going to look lovely Really! Ah. Fuck it. Cancelled my order...  |
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Post by Mike Brough on Jan 30, 2016 8:38:27 GMT
Just watching a recording of last night's showing on The Horror Channel. It's a film I thought I'd seen but the first story isn't familiar. I may save this for later when I can accompany it with a wee whisky.
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Post by Mike Brough on Jan 30, 2016 20:33:44 GMT
Well, wee (large) whiskys imbibed and that was a great example of the genre. Each story was worth watching as was the denouement. I was surprised by how good/natural Roy Castle and Alan Freeman were.
I'll watch again tomorrow as the hangover wears off.
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Post by helrunar on Jun 1, 2016 22:47:12 GMT
I love this movie. This one and THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD and TALES FROM THE CRYPT all embody the sense of atmosphere and style featured in the books this site celebrates. Peter Cushing was at his most quietly macabre in the framing story.
H.
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Post by andydecker on Nov 5, 2023 13:23:09 GMT
John Burke - Die Todeskarten des Dr. Schreck (Heyne Publishing, Germany, 1965, 159 pages)
The express of terror left the station at 8:43. When did he arrive?
The five men boarding the train at a fine morning in July never had met before. How could they have known that the old men boarding last would play a fatal role in their lives? They thought the old man just wanted to give them the creeps, but they had underestimated him. Trustingly they let him show the cards, those mysterios, evil cards, which told them the future, a deadly future ...
A horror-triller at the border between imagination and reality.
I had luck and could get a translation copy fast and for a nice price. Also watched the movie again. I have to follow the already written judgements here. Burke made the stories much better then they are on screen. He gave them depth and made them work better. Especially Voodoo God and Werewolf are elevated from meh to good. Even Vampire, which never gets above a lazy rip-off of an pre-code Atlas horror comic, makes here a kind of sense.
This edition is a rare example for novelisations at the time which actually used motives of the movie poster and stills. It may not have worked well as the movie appeared only a year later on the screen according to some databases. It was published in a paperback mainstream edition.
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