Scream Scene Podcast

We continue our tour through Mexican horror with EL HOMBRE SIN ROSTRO (1950) from father of Mexican horror Juan Bustillo Oro! This surrealist, film noir-inspired film stars Arturo de Córdova, Miguel Ángel Ferriz, and Carmen Molina. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 12:52; Discussion 32:44; Ranking 51:17

We travel to 1935's Mexico for EL MISTERIO DEL ROSTRO PÁLIDO from the father of Mexican horror himself, Juan Bustillo Oro! The film stars familiar face Carlos Villarías, and newcomers Joaquín Busquets and Beatriz Ramos. This mad scientist Phantom of the Opera meet-cute is a film you won't want to miss! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 17:27; Discussion 36:13; Ranking 48:55

Your deadicated hosts put their heads together to watch DONOVAN'S BRAIN (1953) from director Felix Feist! This adaptation of Curt Siodmak's 1942 novel stars Lew Ayres, Nancy Davis, and Gene Evans. We've faced similar premises before, but how does this straight adaptation fare against the horror films that came before? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 27:45; Discussion 44:46; Ranking 59:02

Beware what you find in... THE MAZE (1953)! From director and production designer William Cameron Menzies comes this Gothic horror 3D film starring Richard Carlson, Veronica Hurst, and Katherine Emery. Hear the background of the Allied Artists pictures Corporation and its long-lived producer Walter Mirisch! Plus, how does Salvador Dali factor in to this movie's story?? Context setting 00:00; Synop...

It's horror for children! Your deadicated hosts face off INVADERS FROM MARS (1953) in this German expressionist, surrealist sci-fi flick! This indie film includes director/production designer William Cameron Menzies and stars Jimmy Hunt, Helena Carter, and Arthur Franz. And, Ben explains Eastmancolor, Supercinecolor, and how Menzies earned a name for himself as production designer of... GONE WITH...

Your deadicated hosts travel to Turkey for the country's first horror film, DRAKULA İSTANBUL'DA (1953) from director Mehmet Muhtar! Starring Atif Kaptan as Dracula, Bülent Oran as Azmi (aka Jonathan Harker), and Annie Ball as Güzin (aka Mina). Hear about the history of Turkey, its film industry, and the Dracula adaptation the film is inspired by, Kazıklı Voyvoda by Ali Riza Seyfi. Book adaptation...

Half man... half beast... all b-movie! It's THE NEANDERTHAL MAN (1953) from director E.A. Dupont and producers Aubrey Wisberg and Jack Pollexfen! There's a lot of yikes ahead, so prepare yourselves Creatures of the Night... Starring Robert Shayne, Joyce Terry, Richard Crane, Doris Merrick and Beverly Garland, this independent sci-fi horror film gives your deadicated hosts much to discuss! Context...

Fantastic sights leap at you with IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953) with another film in 3D! Director Jack Arnold brings stars Richard Carlson and Barbara Rush to the screen with an alien design you have to see to believe! Will this Universal attempt at science fiction end well? What role does author Ray Bradbury play in this film? All this and more awaits you in this week's episode! Context setting...

Arriving from the third dimension is Warner Brothers' HOUSE OF WAX (DeToth, 1953)! It's the film that kickstarts Vincent Price's second career in horror! Also starring Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirck, Carolyn Jones, Paul Picerni and... Charles Bronson?! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 50:55; Discussion 1:03:46; Ranking 1:30:47

It's tropes galore with Universal Pictures' THE BLACK CASTLE (1952) from art-turned-film director Nathan Juran, starring Richard Greene, Stephen McNally, and Rita Corday, featuring Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney Jr! Alligator pits, torture basements, and duelling pistols... see what else awaits you in this week's Scream Scene! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 16:01; Discussion 30:36; Ranking 49:22

Charles Laughton and Boris Karloff return to a Universal horror film with THE STRANGE DOOR (1951, Pevney)! Based on a Robert Louis Stevenson story, the film proves Universal's B movie unit is not quite dead yet. Also in this episode, we cover a huge shift in the Hollywood studio contract system that ripples to today's industry standards. All this and more behind this strange door... Context settin...

Do the sins of the father fall on the son? Find out in our coverage of 1951's THE SON OF DR. JEKYLL from director Seymour Friedman! Out of Columbia Pictures comes this sequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novel Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. But what would the House Un-American Activities Committee have to do with a 1950s horror movie? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 28:21; Discussion...

Curt Siodmak and Lon Chaney Jr return in BRIDE OF THE GORILLA (1951), with Siodmak's directorial debut! Beefcake Raymond Burr stars in this Val Lewton-styled Wolf Man remake set in the Amazon! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 20:23; Discussion 34:16; Ranking 57:38

What does a sci fi horror movie look like? Director Edgar Ulmer gives it a shot with 1951's THE MAN FROM PLANET X, starring Robert Clarke, Margaret Field, William Schallert and Roy Engel. Produced and written by Jack Pollexfen and Aubrey Wisberg. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 32:15; Discussion 51:42; Ranking 1:13:23

It's 1951! UFOs, the Cold War, and the Sci-Fi genre get covered in our context setting, then an in-depth look at Christian Nyby's THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD! This Howard Hawks film stars Kenneth Tobey, Margaret Sheridan, Robert Cornthwaite, James Arness, and many other character actors. Cultural context setting 00:00; Film context setting 42:05; Synopsis 1:12:15; Discussion 1:25:23; Ranking 1:57...

We head to 1940's Nazi occupied France for LE LOUP DES MALVENEUR (1943) from director Guillaume Radot, starring Madeleine Sologne, Pierre Renoir, Gabrielle Dorziat & Michel Marsay. Can the French emulate the Universal Pictures style enough to be horror? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 26:28; Discussion 45:44; Ranking 1:01:34

We travel to Japan for 1949's YOTSUYA KAIDAN from director Keisuke Kinoshita, starring Kinuyo Tanaka & Ken Uehara! From its origins as a Kabuki play, to what Japan's post-war film industry looks like, we introduce Japan's most famous ghost story to Scream Scene listeners. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 53:02; Discussion 1:11:14; Ranking 1:42:41

It's the film Martin Scorsese claims as "one of the few true classic of supernatural cinema;" it's 1949's THE QUEEN OF SPADES from director Thorold Dickinson and starring Anton Walbrook, Edith Evans, and Yvonne Mitchell. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 26:57; Discussion 37:02; Ranking 1:04:25

Your deadicated hosts travel to Russia and back in time for 1916's PIKOVAYA DAMA aka THE QUEEN OF SPADES! Director Yakov Protazanov adapts the Aleksandr Pushkin short story featuring Ivan Mosjoukine in the title role. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 28:52; Discussion 34:34; Ranking 52:14

Your deadicated hosts tackle the 1948 film THE MONKEY'S PAW from directors Norman Lee and Barbara Toy! It's the first time we're covering this timeless story, and we'll share what we know of the author, how effective the film is, and just where the film ranks as horror. Starring Milton Rosmer, Megs Jenkins, Michael Martin Harvey, and many more, will this UK film from the Butcher's Film Service hav...

From Jean Yarbrough and Reliance Pictures comes THE CREEPER (1948)! While the film takes the name of his character, the film has more in common with CAT PEOPLE than Rondo Hatton (maybe, kinda, sorta). Starring Janis Wilson, Onslow Stevens, & John Baragrey. Context Setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:21; Discussion 19:48; Ranking 47:49

From Eagle-Lion Films and director Bernard Vorhaus comes THE AMAZING MR. X / THE SPIRITUALIST (1948)! Turhan Bey stars alongside Lynn Bari and Cathy O'Donnell, but can his charm save this big-budget B-movie? We swoon over the stylish cinematography from John Alton and struggle with the old-fashioned flavour of Crane Wilbur's writing. But at the end of the day, what genre is this? Context setting 0...

It's Bela Lugosi in colour in SCARED TO DEATH (1947) from director Christy Cabanne! This bonkers movie also stars George Zucco, Molly Lamont, Douglas Fowley and many others. It can only be experienced for yourself, so sit back and enjoy the ride! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 13:28; Discussion 27:53; Ranking 48:41

From director Robert Florey comes 1946's THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS starring Peter Lorre, Robert Alda, Andrea King and J Carrol Naish! Writer Curt Siodmak adapts the short story from WF Harvey for the unlikely Warner Bros Studio. Does Robert Florey learn from his earlier tone mistakes in MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE, or is horror more than he can HANDle? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 30:36; Discus...

74 years after his death, your deadicated hosts review Rondo Hatton's last film THE BRUTE MAN (1946)! It's the most famous of Hatton's Creeper films, co-starring Jane Adams, Tom Neal, and Jan Wiley, and directed by Jean Yarbrough. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 23:53; Discussion 31:48; Ranking 55:00