Scream Scene Podcast

What would auteur theory have to say about Jerry Warren? Listen and find out! Jerry Warren produces, writes and directs MAN BEAST (1956) starring Tom Maruzzi, Virginia Maynor and Brianne Murphy. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 16:58; Discussion 24:46; Ranking 39:05

They're here! And you're next!! Your deadicated hosts enter 1956 with INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS from director Don Siegel and producer Walter Wanger, based on the Jack Finney novel. The film is often viewed with a Cold War, Red Scare lens, but is it really Communism we're supposed to be afraid of? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 43:38; Discussion 1:00:33; Ranking 1:35:49

From the studio that brought us Roger Corman, it's THE PHANTOM FROM 10,000 LEAGUES (1955, Milner) featuring Kent Taylor, Cathy Downs and a sad mutated sea serpent! The film includes our first female suit actor Norma Hanson and a few other easter eggs... but will this horror be "excellent" or will it sputter out to sea? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 16:19; Discussion 38:19; Ranking 1:02:00

So you find yourself locked in a shelter with 6 strangers after a nuclear war, fending off starvation and mutants alike? Consider this movie a how-to guide! It's DAY THE WORLD ENDED (1955) directed by Roger Corman with Richard Denning, Lori Nelson and Paul Birch! A precursor to the likes of THE LAST MAN ON EARTH and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, will your deadicated hosts survive to the end? Listen an...

The experimental and surreal DEMENTIA (1955, Parker) aka DAUGHTER OF HORROR confounds and delights your deadicated hosts! The strange offspring of film noir and German expressionism stars Adrienne Barrett and Bruno Ve Sota with music by George Antheil. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 33:43; Discussion 50:49; Ranking 1:28:14

Hammer Film Productions begins their journey into horror with THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT (1955)! From director Val Guest, this sci-fi horror flick makes a splash on British and American silver screens. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 37:53; Discussion 54:43; Ranking 1:14:01

Roger Corman returns with THE BEAST WITH A MILLION EYES (1955, Kramarsky et al), starring Paul Birch, Lorna Thayer, Dona Cole and featuring the first collaboration between monster creator Paul Blaisdell and producer Roger Corman. Isolation, paranoia and killer birds threaten a local family, with love being the only way out of the surrealist horror the characters find themselves in. Context setting...

We go back in time, briefly, to introduce esteemed B-movie producer Roger Corman to the Scream Scene universe with MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR (1954, Ordung). See the humble beginnings where Corman first steps into showbiz, as well as discussion about why he made it while Ed Wood did not. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 24:50; Discussion 34:56; Ranking 53:09

From Ishirō Honda comes JÛ JIN YUKI OTOKO (1955), his followup to GOJIRA featuring Akira Takarada, Akemi Negishi and Sanshirō Sagara! Sealed away by Toho due to protests by the Buraku Liberation League, will this film hold up to its reputation? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 50:07; Discussion 1:08:28; Ranking 1:34:42

Back from vacation, we sit down to watch THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955), the first and only film directed by Charles Laughton and starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish and Billy Chapin. With stylish stark lighting and intense tone setting, your deadicated hosts discuss horror for children and religion in this southern Gothic fable! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 1:11:45; Discussi...

From Universal Pictures, it's CULT OF THE COBRA (1955, Lyon) slithering its way into your homes... and your hearts?! Starring Faith Domergue, Marshall Thompson, and Richard Long, the film questions if the real horror are the snakes, or post-war guilt! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 21:01; Discussion 47:04; Ranking 1:13:19

The last 3D movie from "the golden age of 3D," it's REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (1955) from director Jack Arnold! Revenge is a dish best served like a cold fish as Gill-Man rampages across MarineLand! Starring John Agar, Lori Nelson and John Bromfield. Plus, the appearance of teens and the first acting job of... CLINT EASTWOOD?? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 27:30; Discussion 44:34; Ranking 1:13:49

Submitted for your approval are THREE CASES OF MURDER (1955, Toye, Eady, More O'Ferrall, Welles), an anthology film from Britain featuring Alan Badel and Orson Welles. Some segments are better than others, but all are restrained in that British sort of way... are they thrilling enough to be horror? Context setting 00:00; First segment synopsis 32:04 and discussion 37:45; Second segment synopsis 45...

The screen's master of the WEIRD in his newest and most daring SHOCKER! Bela Lugosi stars in BRIDE OF THE MONSTER (1955) from Ed Wood! The film also stars Tony McCoy, Tor Johnson and Loretta King. Plus, hear your deadicated hosts talk about GLEN OR GLENDA and the pathos of Bela Lugosi! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 30:38; Discussion 46:40; Ranking 58:28

Your deadicated hosts received an appeal of CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN (1943, Dmytryk), currently ranked at #62. To see the full list of films ranked, visit screamscenepodcast.tumblr.com

What came first, horror or thriller? Is something horror from what it inspires? Did the chicken or the egg come first? Your deadicated hosts ask the real, hard, philosophical questions as they watch LES DIABOLIQUES (1955, Clouzot) starring Véra Clouzot and Simone Signoret. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 39:08; Discussion 51:38; Ranking 1:09:41

We enter the mysterious mind of Herbert Tevos for MESA OF LOST WOMEN (1953), directed by Tevos and Ron Ormond! There's a giant spider (gross) and sexy spider babes (better). Just what does this strange movie have in store for your hosts?? Starring Jackie Coogan, Robert Knapp, Harmon Stevens, Tandra Quinn, and featuring the voice of Lyle Talbot. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 23:54; Discussion 45:...

We go back in time to Finland for the earliest example of folk horror: 1952's VALKOINEN PEURA from director Erik Blomberg! The film, The White Reindeer in English, is a special fairytale featuring a vampiric were-reindeer witch inspired by Sami myth. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 29:01; Discussion 48:19; Ranking 1:11:16

Out of the Himalayas comes THE SNOW CREATURE (1954) from director W. Lee Wilder! A B movie made by the off-brand director of the Wilder family, this horror film about a patchy Yeti is something that you may not want to experience yourself... Starring Paul Langton, William Phipps and Teru Shimada. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 30:51; Discussion 42:32; Ranking 1:04:57

Your deadicated hosts travel to 1950s Japan to cover GOJIRA (1954) from director Ishiro Honda! Plus, a brief history of post-war Japan, the atomic bomb, and the origins of the daikaiju genre. A brief context-setting of Japan 00:00; Film background 18:45; Synopsis 1:33:02; Discussion 1:46:27; Ranking 2:28:22

From Chano Urueta comes the 1954 Mexican horror LA BRUJA starring Lilia del Valle, Ramón Gay, and Julio Villarreal! A mad scientist, a witch, a secret Night Court... what could go wrong? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 7:25; Discussion 31:39; Ranking 42:52

From director John Brahm comes (right at you) THE MAD MAGICIAN (1954) starring Vincent Price, Mary Murphy, and Eva Gabor! This 3D picture from Columbia Pictures excites and thrills, but is its horror just an illusion? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 15:25; Discussion 38:03; Ranking 49:49

Coming right at you! It's PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE (1954) from director Roy Del Ruth! This remake of 1932's MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE / adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's detective story still has some surprises in store... Starring Karl Malden, Claude Dauphin, Patricia Medina, and Steve Forrest, the film also has cameos from Merv Griffin, Charles Gemora, and The Flying Zacchinis! Context setting 00...

Your dedicated hosts face off the 3D widescreen underwater horror CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954) from director Jack Arnold! Starring Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning and Ben Chapman & Ricou Browning as Gill Man himself! From the men who played Gill Man, to how the legacy of his designer Milicent Patrick was hidden for years, we dive deep into the depths of this iconic horror fi...

We return to our regular timeline with EL MONSTRUO RESUCITADO, a 1953 Mexican horror film from director Chano Urueta, starring Miroslava and José María Linares-Rivas. See what this mix of Universal's greatest horror hits has in store! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:54; Discussion 38:39; Ranking 54:49