Giant from the Unknown (1958)

"All white men die!", 24 November 2009

Local geologist Wayne Brooks (Ed Kemmer) teams up with visiting archaeologist Dr. Fredrick Cleveland (Morris Ankrum) to search the local mountains for the remains of a 300+ year old Spanish conquistador and a reputed giant of a man named Vargas. Another draw for Brooks is the opportunity to spend a little time with the Dr.'s vacuous but attractive daughter, Janet (Sally Fraser). The team is about to give up when Janet accidentally discovers a Spanish graveyard. But is there more here than helmets and breastplates? It's not long before the giant Vargas makes his return and sets his own sights on young Janet and anything else he can maim and destroy.

By all rights, I've most likely overrated Giant from the Unknown. It features a multitude of easily identifiable weaknesses – a plot that moves at the break-neck pace of a slug, the dim-witted Janet randomly stumbling on the Spanish artifacts, Sheriff Parker's beyond ridiculous persecution of Brooks (Why in God's name would anyone think that Brooks would be running around the country-side slaughtering cows and destroying hen houses?), Bob Steele's laughably bad performance as Parker, the whole notion of Vargas "living" in a sort of suspended animation for 350 years, and the poorly done special effects in the film's finale. Giant from the Unknown literally has everything you could hope to find in any regular bad movie. It would be easy to write it all off as badly made 50s junk, but for whatever reason and despite these many shortcomings, I found myself inexplicably enjoying the movie. Entertainment can be different from one person to the next. And, it's often difficult to put a finger on what you find entertaining in a movie. All I know is that for most of Giant from the Unknown, I was entertained. I went for the characters, I got a kick out of legend Jack Pierce's Vargas make-up, and I enjoyed the acting of Keemer and especially Ankrum. Ankrum is one of those actors who's good in everything I've seen him in. Sure, it takes some patience to get through the slow parts in Giant from the Unknown (and there are a bunch of 'em), but it's worth it. There's a good little movie here if you just look for it. Like I said, it's difficult to explain, but I'm giving this one a 6/10.

6/10

Missile to the Moon (1958)

I'm still waiting for the evening gown portion of the show, 12 April 2008

Fans of serious science fiction need not bother. In fact, to call Missile to the Moon a "science fiction" movie is something of a misstatement. "Fiction" – sure. "Science" – not on your life. Any resemblance Missile to the Moon may have with actual science is purely coincidental and, most likely, unintentional. But that doesn't mean it's not entertaining. Taken for what it is (a 1958 low-budget drive-in b-movie), it's not half bad. Sure, the rock creatures look fake and the giant spider is obviously a puppet and the inhabitants of the moon are straight off an Atlantic City beauty show runway, but all these things only add to the fun of the movie. It's kooky stuff like this that always seems to appeal to me. Don't take it too seriously and you just might enjoy it. There are a couple of other positives. One, the film is nicely paced so that at only 78 minutes it doesn't overstay its welcome. And two, the movie looks far better than it should given its meager budget. I'd say that the cinematographer, Meredith M. Nicholson, got it right. In the end, Missile to the Moon may not be the greatest movie ever made, but as a piece of entertainment, it's certainly better than its 2.4 IMDb rating. For what it's worth, I'll give it a 6/10.

6/10

Night of the Blood Beast (1958)

"A wounded animal that large isn't good!", 26 October 2007

I've been trying to write a plot summary for several minutes now and can't seem to do it. But with a movie as bad as Night of the Blood Beast the plot hardly matters. An astronaut crash lands and is believed dead. His body later reanimates, but is found to be carrying the embryos of some strange alien life-form. But how did they get there? And where's the alien that implanted the strange creatures in Maj. John Corcoran's body?

IMDb lists the runtime for Night of the Blood Beast at 62 minutes. Is that right? 62 minutes? It had to be longer than that. It felt interminable to me. Even with the MST3K commentary (which was very funny by the way), the actual movie felt much, much longer. And it's pretty much a snoozer from beginning to end. I like a lot of these alien invasion type movies of the 50s, but not this one. It failed to grab my interest on any level. The baby aliens were too silly looking to be taken seriously, the titular blood beast was pathetic, and none of the characters did anything for me. Add to that the usual low-budget Roger Corman trappings and you've got a real loser of a movie.

3/10

The Fly (1958)

"It'd be funny if life wasn't so sacred.", 14 October 2007

To begin with, I'm going to skip the normal plot summary. Most people probably know it anyway - a scientist has a horrific accident and turns himself into half man, half fly. And please don't misunderstand what I'm writing – I like and enjoy The Fly. My rating should be proof of that. But am I alone in thinking that The Fly may be a bit overrated? Actually, the term "overrated" is probably the wrong word as I'm not talking about the movie's rating per se. What I mean, is there anyone who cares that is not familiar with the movie or some of the more iconic images from The Fly whether they've seen the movie or not? Sure the movie is great once the creature makes an appearance, but for 2/3 of the film, it's pure melodrama of the worst kind.

Another question I have regarding The Fly, why is this seemingly one of Vincent Price's most beloved movies? He's neither villain nor hero – he's just there. So why all the acclaim for Vincent Price when it come to The Fly? I don't get it.

But what I do understand about The Fly is that regardless of my problems and questions, it's a fun movie that never fails to entertain. The acting is solid and the movie looks great. The Fly actually features some real atmosphere. And I find the unmasking scene second only to the one in The Phantom of the Opera (1925) as far as iconic scenes of this type go. Finally, I'm a huge fan of the special effects. Whether it's the fly's head on the human body or the human head on the fly's body, the special effects are a blast.

7/10

The Wild Women of Wongo (1958)

"Dance!", 15 September 2007

When you're writing about a movie as brutally bad as The Wild Women of Wongo, going through an elaborate plot description seems somehow completely unnecessary. So, very briefly, the movie is about the tribe of Wongo where the women are beautiful, but the men aren't. They meet the Goona tribe where the men are beautiful, but he women aren't. It doesn't take a clairvoyant to see where this is headed. Throw in some of the worst acting imaginable, a sub-plot about ape men that goes nowhere, a laughably ridiculous dance sequence, and a parrot so annoying you'll want to strangle the nearest ornithologist and you've got The Wild Women of Wongo. If it all wasn't so laughably bad I would call it one of worst movies I've ever seen.

Fortunately for me, I saw the new DVD from The Film Crew. If you're not familiar with The Film Crew, it's sort of like Mystery Science Theater 3000 - eight years removed. Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett are back at it, riffing really bad movies. The Wild Women of Wongo is their third release as The Film Crew (Hollywood After Dark and Killers from Space being the first two) and easily the most funny. It's often as funny as some of the best stuff the guys did on MST3K. So, while I've only rated The Wild Women of Wongo a 2/10, I'll give The Film Crew commentary a 4/5 on my MST3K rating scale.

2/10

War of the Colossal Beast (1958)

"How do you reason with a 60 foot giant?", 14 September 2007

War of the Colossal Beat continues the story of Col. Glenn Manning that began in The Amazing Colossal Man. I'm not really sure why Mr. B.I.G. felt the need to do a sequel (Who am I kidding? He saw an opportunity to make some money.) as there's really nothing new to cover. It's the same basic premise with the same low budget special effects and similar bad acting. Add a few plot details concerning Manning terrorizing the Mexican countryside and you've got War of the Colossal Beast. And that's the biggest problem I have with the movie. The whole thing has that "been there, don't that" feel to it.

Still, if you're a fan of this kind of stuff like I am, there are moments to enjoy. For example, Manning's first appearance always catches me off-guard. I jump every time I watch the movie. Second, and it may seem silly, but I get a real kick out of the scene where Manning picks up the truck to eat the bread out of the back. Too funny! Finally, I do like the ending. The added color is a very nice touch.

3/10

The Return of Dracula (1958)

"I have come to bring you Death.", 11 September 2007

Posing as a foreign relative, Count Dracula moves to an idyllic 1950s American town to look for a fresh batch of victims. Other than the odd hours he tends to keep, the family he's moved in with doesn't suspect anything out of the ordinary. They explain away his eccentricities to either being tired or his European heritage. But a couple of unusual deaths in the small town catch the eye and attention of an investigator hot on Dracula's trail. Can he track down Dracula before anyone else dies?

I've got to agree with several of the other comments on IMDb – The Return of Dracula is one spooky and fun little movie. It's also a real under-seen gem from the 50s that deserves a much wider audience. The movie's got a lot more atmosphere going for it than most of the other, cheaply made, b-type films of the period. Francis Lederer is suave and creepy enough to pull off the role of Bellac Gordal aka Dracula. There were at least two instances where I nearly jumped out of my skin as the camera panned to find Lederer. The score is another contributing factor to the eeriness of the movie. It hits all the right notes (pun intended). But my favorite moment in The Return of Dracula has to be the staking scene. It may go by quickly, but it's awesome. I won't spoil for those who haven't seen it, so I'll just say that it's one of those unexpected moments that make discovering these oddball 50s movies such a blast.

7/10

Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958)

"You know everyone's seeing satellites these days.", 15 August 2007

Nancy Archer (Allison Hayes) is a wealthy woman with a cheating husband. But that's really the least of her problems. One night while out in the desert, Nancy runs into a giant from outer space. She is found the next morning unconscious on top of her pool house. While under the care of her doctor, something strange begins to happen to Nancy. She begins to grow. In no time at all, Nancy is as big as the alien she ran into. And at 50' tall, there's nothing stopping her from putting a halt to her husband's cheating ways.

How in the world can you watch Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman and not have a good time? I think some people take movies like this too seriously and are so busy analyzing the poor special effects, the cheap sets, the ridiculously large plot holes, the iffy acting, and the rest of what gives this movie its charm that they don't know how to sit back, relax, and just enjoy it. Is Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman good? Well, no, not in the traditional sense. But I've seen it at least a half a dozen times and it's never failed to entertain. If you enjoy campy 50s movies at all, this is one that's not to be missed. Still not convinced? Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman also features 50s B-movie icon Allison Hayes in a bed sheet bikini. That's reason enough to tune in!

6/10

Queen of Outer Space (1958)

"Hiya, dolls. Glad to hear you're on our side.", 31 July 2007

When a mysterious ray destroys a space station and sends a spaceship hurtling off course, a group of astronauts finds themselves on a strange, seemingly deserted planet. Seemingly deserted, that is, until the inhabitants of Venus make themselves known to the astronauts and take them prisoner. The first thing the group of Earthlings notices (and how could they help but notice) is that Venus is inhabited by women only – there are no men. Fearing the group of men might be an advance team scouting for a possible invasion from Earth, the Venusian Queen sentences the astronauts to death. But a scientist named Talleah (Zsa Zsa Gabor) would rather make love - not war. She leads a group opposed to the Queen's ways and does what she can to help the men escape.

Queen of Outer Space is another of those movies that I find very difficult to rate. On the one hand, you've got an incredible amount of camp appeal. The movie is a mix of Zsa Zsa as a scientist who can't stand still without posing, some inspired set design, vivid colors, leggy Venusian women in short skirts and high-heels, wacky dialogue delivered with a completely straight face, arcane sexist jokes, and some of the best unintentional (at least I think it was unintentional) humor you can find. It's so completely off the wall and deliciously silly that I cannot help but like it. But where there's one hand, you usually find the other. The movie has its share of problems that I cannot overlook. Chief among them is some very uneven pacing and a plot that has a tendency to drag. Add to that some less that stellar acting from some of cast and what seems to be disinterest on the part of others, I can't rate Queen of Outer Space as high as I would like. In the end, I've taken the easy way out once again. I've split the difference and given the movie a 5/10 - while it may be a camp lover's dream, there are problems that kept me from fully enjoying the Queen of Outer Space.

5/10

The Thing That Couldn't Die (1958)

Divining for Heads, 4 May 2007

While out divining for water, a young psychic woman named Jessica Burns (Carolyn Kearney) stumbles upon something else altogether. She discovers a chest that has been buried for centuries on her aunt's ranch. Instead of the treasure her aunt is hoping for, the chest contains the head of Gideon Drew, a devil worshiper who was beheaded by Sir Francis Drake. Telepathically controlling the hired-hand who opened the chest, Drew's head goes on a murderous spree in search of the rest of his body – also buried on Jessica's aunt's farm. While Jessica is certain she feels the presence of evil, can she put a stop to Drew's plans and will she be in time to prevent his becoming whole?

I thought I was fairly familiar with most of Universal's horror output prior to 1960, but this is one Universal film from the 50s that certainly gets little mention. While The Thing That Couldn't Die isn't what I would call a "good" movie, it does have a few things going for it. First, the film has some interesting ideas and is actually rather ambitious. Director Will Cowan, whether by luck or intention, is able to give the movie some nice atmosphere from time-to-time. And, the special effects involving the head are certainly creepy. But the whole project is undone by the acting. I'm shocked to learn that any of the supposed "actors" in this thing ever appeared in anything else. You would think that this was a "one and done" type of movie for most of those involved. Kearney is the worst offender. She's horrible. Also, The Thing That Couldn't Die may have been a bit too ambitious for its own good. Given the budget and other limitations, there was no way the movie could aspire to its more lofty ideas. Finally, the movie ends rather abruptly. Just as things are starting to get interesting, The End. What's that about?

4/10

Terror from the Year 5000 (1958)

Inept, dull, monotonous, laughable, clumsy, horrible, etc., 26 April 2007

I admit it – if it wasn't for a copy of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 version of Terror from the Year 5000, I doubt I would have ever had the intestinal fortitude to sit through this thing. It's bad in every way a movie can be bad. I've often seen (and even occasionally used) the expression, "So bad it's good". Well that doesn't ring true with Terror from the Year 5000. It's so bad it's bad. If I were asked to do a one word review, "inept" comes to mind and satisfactorily describes the movie. Other fitting one word reviews would include: dull, monotonous, laughable, clumsy, horrible, etc. Skip it at all costs.

The MST3K commentary was actually quite funny. Two of my favorite running gags throughout the episode were the continuous riffing on the male lead each time he found himself shirtless and Servo's announcements and explanations regarding "Terror" being delayed from making an appearance in the movie. Both are laugh out loud funny. Good stuff!

2/10

Bell Book and Candle (1958)

"I may sound like a lunatic, but I'm not crazy!", 24 April 2007

Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak) is a witch. Secretly, she's attracted to her quite normal neighbor Shep Henderson (James Stewart). She casts a spell on Shep that forces him to dump his fiancé and fall for her. Things are going along quite nicely until Gillian discovers she really cares for this mortal man. She decides to tell him her secret. But how will Shep react when he finds out that he was "tricked" into falling in love with Gillian?

As far as light-hearted 1950s comedies go, Bell Book and Candle is good, but nothing spectacular. It's an enjoyable enough watch and should appeal to almost anyone who sits down with it. Just don't go into the movie expecting the greatest thing since sliced bread. The movie's cute, funny at times, and touching in the end. Kim Novak and James Stewart do their best and have some real chemistry. Novak (as others have pointed out) looks quite incredible in an understated sort of way. The supporting cast with Jack Lemmon, Hermione Gingold, and Elsa Lanchester is often laugh-out-loud funny and steals a lot of the spotlight from Novak and Stewart. The biggest problem I see is that Bell Book and Candle can't quite decide what kind of movie it wants to be. Is it a screwball comedy? Is it a romantic comedy? Is it a supernatural comedy? Had director Richard Quine stuck with just one approach, the movie might have been even better and more memorable.

7/10

The Space Children (1958)

The rating for The Space Children on IMDb is as puzzling to me as any I've run across, 19 April 2007

I've seen a lot of weird things on IMDb, but the rating for The Space Children is as puzzling to me as any I've run across. 2.1?!?! I couldn't disagree any more. 2.1 is getting close to Manos territory. The Space Children may not be the best movie I've ever seen, but it doesn't deserve a 2.1. Why the low rating? I blame MST3K. I enjoy the show, but as I've argued any number of times, some of the movies that they lampooned didn't deserve it. Take a look at the reviews on IMDb. You can split them into two wildly divergent groups – those users who appear to only know The Space Children because of MST3K and those who have seen it on its own. The comments from the MST3K crowd always seem to mention Uncle Fester (Jackie Coogan) in a bathing suit as if it's one of the most important moments in the film. In contrast, many of the comments from non-MST3K viewers reminisce about seeing The Space Children during their childhood. Maybe it's not just an MST3K thing but an overall generational thing as well. Whatever, I tend to side with those who enjoy the movie for what it is.

And what is it? The Space Children is a nice little cautionary 50s sci-fi film that speaks to the dangers of nuclear proliferation. Jack Arnold, one of the best genre directors of the 50s, does his usual workmanlike job with the movie. It's not flashy, but it certainly looks good. The Space Children obviously was made on a limited budget. As a result, the special effects are also limited and Arnold focuses more on the people. A lot of what happens is implied. But that's not necessarily a weakness. Too often, low-budget sci-fi films from this period look ridiculous because of the desire for elaborate special effects (i.e. monster and aliens) that outstripped the funding it would require. The acting, while not outstanding, is solid. Even the kids, who can be annoying at times in this kind of movie, come off looking pretty good. The cast will be familiar to many who grew up watching television in the 60s. Overall I've got no big complaints with The Space Children. Not a bad way to spend just over an hour.

7/10

Big Deal on Madonna Street (1958)

- I soliti ignoti
I loved it!, 4 September 2006

Two weeks ago, I had never even heard of Big Deal on Madonna Street. Now I consider it one of the very best, most enjoyable films I've ever seen. I loved it! The movie is essentially a spoof of the many Italian (and I like to think other European) heist films so common in the 1950s. Director Mario Monicelli and the many credited screenwriters nail the essence (and absurdity) of the genre perfectly. I actually found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion - and that's quite the accomplishment. While watching Big Deal on Madonna Street, I kept picturing the film Rififi in my mind and replacing the hardened, serious criminals in that movie with this bunch of misfits. It's pure genius. Fans of European heist films owe it to themselves to check out this movie.

Other than the comedy, the acting is the highlight of the movie. Vittorio Gassman, Marcello Mastroianni, Memmo Carotenuto, Renato Salvatori and the rest seem to perform effortlessly. It's a joy to watch such a talented cast. My only complaint with Big Deal on Madonna Street (and the only reason I didn't rate it a 10/10) is the way Claudia Cardinale's character is used. More Cardinale is always a good thing.

9/10

Horror of Dracula (1958)

"I am Dracula and I welcome you to my house.", 19 July 2006

When Hammer began their horror cycle in the 50s, they were smart to begin with what are essentially remakes of two of Universal's most well known and successful films – Frankenstein and Dracula. Hammer may have started the ball rolling with The Curse of Frankenstein, but to me, Hammer's second, The Horror of Dracula, is the best movie Hammer made and a vast improvement over Universal's iconic Dracula.

Why do I call The Horror of Dracula Hammer's best and an improvement Universal's film? Three things immediately come to mind – Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and the screenplay and direction. While Bela Lugosi may be a more familiar face to the average movie fan, I've always felt that Lee took what Lugosi did and improved on it. The image of Lee with his bloodshot eyes and bared, bloody fangs is a more frightening visage to me than Lugosi's stare. Lee brought athleticism and vitality to the role. He made Dracula a real physical threat. In short, he made Dracula threatening.

As with Lee vs. Lugosi, Peter Cushing is an improvement over Edward Van Sloan in the role of Van Helsing. The difference is that here the improvement is more apparent and undeniable. Face it, Sloan was a stiff. As interesting as some of his characters ideas may have been, I could never picture the man doing any real battle with a vampire. Cushing, on the other hand, is a whirlwind of activity. He has the same interesting ideas about vampire folklore, but with a physical presence that can actually stand-up to Dracula. In short, Cushing simply is Van Helsing.

Finally, I enjoy the screenplay and direction of The Horror of Dracula more than that of Dracula. Why? Too much of Dracula seems stage-bound. Everything and everyone seems confined to whatever set they happen to be on. It also doesn't help that much of the direction in Dracula is of the "plant and shoot" variety. I realize that this was the case with many early films, but that doesn't mean I like it. In The Horror of Dracula, characters don't feel as confined. Terence Fisher gives the actors the freedom to move. You get the impression that the characters come and go at will. It may be an unfair comparison for movies made some 27 years apart, but this has always been one of my biggest complaints with Dracula. (For the record, I don't have this problem with most of Universal's other classic films like Frankenstein or The Invisible Man, to give just two examples.)

Hammer made many horror films over the years that I consider to be among my favorites. But none equal The Horror of Dracula. I realize that all I've done here is compare two different versions of the same story, but the comparisons are the best way I can think of to express what I like about Hammer's film. In this day and age of bad horror remakes, it's a little odd to me that my favorite Hammer film is a remake.

9/10

Earth vs. the Spider (1958)

One Small, Sleepy Town vs the Spider would have been a more appropriate title, 23 January 2006

When it comes to giant bug movies, Earth vs the Spider is one of my favorites. Yeah, parts of it are definitely corny and unbelievable, but for me, these things only add to the movie's charm. What's not to like about watching Fred Ziffel getting backed into a corner by a giant spider? And the special effects, while not up to today's standards, are really nicely done. I've seen a lot of big bug movies that don't look half as good as this one does. Another highlight is the casual way the cave is blown-up and, later, the way our heroes are rescued. They just don't make 'em like that anymore. Good stuff!

I suppose my biggest complaint with Earth vs the Spider has always been with the title. A more appropriate title would have been One Small, Sleepy Town vs the Spider.

6/10

She Demons (1958)

Better than its reputation would suggest, 4 July 2005

A small group of people become shipwrecked on a seemingly deserted island. When one member of their group is attacked by a hideous looking female, the others realize they are not alone. Following the sound of a drum, the groups stumbles upon a Nazi encampment where all sorts of experiments are performed on several caged females. The group is discovered and must fight for their lives if they aren't to become the next Nazi casualties.

I found She Demons much better than its reputation would suggest. I can obviously see the problems with the movie, but much of it is enjoyable in a corny, cheesy, 50s sort of way. Any movie with Nazis on a tropical island in 1958 has to have some fun, goof-ball moments. And the production values are above average for a 50s B-quickie like this. Many of the stage-bound sets overcome their limited budgets.

And then there's the cast. The survivors are as unlikely a group as you'll see. First, there's the rich, spoiled beauty played by Irish McCalla. She has a way of delivering lines as I would imagine a living statue might - very little real emotion. Second is our hero played by Tod Griffin. A more buffoonish lead I've never seen. He's one of those guys you see in older movies who insists on pulling up his pants to his armpits. He also is fond of spouting some incredibly silly dialogue. Finally, Victor Sen Yung is the flunky. He was annoying as Charlie Chan's Number 1 son and is equally annoying here. He has the same delivery and tries out some of the same lame jokes.

One scene in She Demons warrants special mention. When our group of castaways comes across the Nazi doctor, they naturally ask about his fiendish plan. What follows is the usual Mad Scientist Reveals His Whole Plan Scene. But this one is more detailed that most. His response has to be the longest explanation a mad genius ever gave in a movie. It goes on and on and on... I found it to be quite a hoot.

If you're a fan of silly 50s horror/sci-fi movies, you might find a thing or two to enjoy here.

5/10

The Screaming Skull (1958)

Someone wake me when it's over, 15 April 2005

A newlywed couple move into the home of the husband's dead former wife. It's not long before the new wife begins to have the feeling that someone doesn't want her in the house. She sees skulls all around the house. But when the husband investigates, he can't find anything. Is someone trying to drive her back to the asylum that she was recently discharged from? Or, is the ghost of the dead wife trying to get the new wife out of her house?
This is the first time that I've watched The Screaming Skull without the assistance of the MST3K crew. And, it will in all likelihood be the last time I watch it this way. Can you say dull? I'm not talking ordinary dull - I'm talking watching grass grow dull. There are great stretches of the movie where nothing happens. The screen could have gone blank and I would have gotten as much entertainment out of it. The characters drone on and on with the most monotonous conversations imaginable. The Screaming Skull could probably be marketed as a sleep aide.

The actors don't help matters much. Most of them deliver lines with the conviction normally reserved for a grade school play. I haven't looked it up, but I would be shocked to find that anyone associated with this movie ever appeared in anything of cinematic value. I won't even go into the script the actors are given to work with. Let's just say that the characters are given some of the most idiotic lines ever uttered on film.

You've been warned! Either avoid this one at all costs or, at least, seek out the MST3K version.

1/10

Corridors of Blood (1958)

Wonderful Performance by Karloff, 5 February 2005

Corridors of Blood is the story of a doctor trying to discover the secret of painless surgery. While less a horror film and more a study of the decline in an individual caused by drug addiction, it does have several creepy and frightening moments. Some of the surgery sequences are gruesome. And, any film with both Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee has got to have its share of horror moments.

The basic story - Karloff plays the doctor. He experiments on himself with the gas he is developing to be used in surgery. He becomes addicted to the narcotics he is using. Soon, he is unable to function and is released from his position as a surgeon. He meets up with a couple of baddies played by Lee and Francis De Wolff who agree to help him get the drugs he needs. All Karloff has to do is sign some blank death certificates. Revealing anymore of the story would be too much.

Karloff is terrific as the doctor. You can feel his anguish and pain as he realizes what the drugs have done to him. But, you can also see the underlying need he has for the gas. Lee is so incredibly ruthless. His character (Resurrection Joe) kills with no remorse or qualms. This is one character I would have liked to see more of in other films. Also present is an excellent supporting cast lead by De Wolff and Nigel Green.

Corridors of Blood excels at atmosphere. Even with the small budget, the director (Robert Day) is able to portray the seediness and depravity of the Seven Dials area. Perfect! Not a great film, Corridors of Blood is, however, good and very watchable. Karloff's performance alone is reason enough to see this film.

7/10