Anything by Roger Corman is worth watching. His autobiography (How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime) is fun reading, too. Long may he live! He's one of the few individuals featured in most of these reviews who's still with us. 🕷️🕸️
Richard Matheson is one the few writers who can get me to watch a film. The title was confusing , it made me think it was a vampire flick. Instead we get a drawn out TWILIGHT ZONE that was more cofusing then anything.
Fun Fact: Dick Miller, who played Murray Futterman in Gremlins and Gremlins 2 appears as one of the people signing his soul in Satan's Book, playing as the Leper.
I was...really impressed by what Corman and Griffiths accomplished on such a tight budget, and thought the movie's stage-bound feel worked in its favor, making it kind of a dark fairy tale.
Saw this on "Svengoolie" not long ago. The end amused me. I was also amused when I accidentally hit the wrong thing and was asked if I were 18 or older, given that I'm probably closer to being your grandmother's age than your mother's.
I saw the film when I was very young; I thought it was very intriguing, despite all its flaws. The other Corman films mentioned in this review are also flawed, but intriguing. Thanks for the review. I've been trying to remember its title for years. I'll see if I can purchase it somewhere.
I just watched this here on YT...found a decent FREE upload ... never heard of this Corman movie...& loved it...the Gravedigger is my favorite character along w/Meg Maud...TY *Dark Corners Review*
Though the movie might be bad. I kinda like the premise. Almost sounds like something David Lynch could have made. Even though i would really prefer to see his version.
I agree totally. This is one of Corman's best. Clearly written to catch the Bridie Murphy news of the day, it also shows Corman's being influenced by Ingmar Bergman. Treat the special effects and settings as you would when watching a play. A good story is more enjoyable than a. bad CGI spectacular. Love this movie!
When a project has Ed Wood, Jerry Warren or Jay Simms (the latter wrote two Godawful films--"The Killer Shrews" and "The Giant Gila Monster"--before jumping to television) in the credits, take notice.
I saw this when I was little and remember liking it. I can never remember the title though, and will probably forget it again a month from now. All I remembered about it was the hypnosis sending her back in time and her future selves asking her to sacrifice herself so that they can live.
I used to have this movie via one of those silent Castle Films abbreviated 4-5 minute 8MM movies back in the 1970s. Been a favorite of mine through that and countless airings on New York City's WPIX-TV and it's Chiller Theater.
4:38 I'm getting a definite "Les yeux sans visage" vibe from our heroine's face here. I thought that Satan was being played by Vladek Sheybal, auditioning for his part in "The Apple". Turns out it was Richard Devon instead (apparently, as part of a long career in film and TV; he voiced Ewoks in Star Wars).
I like this movie a lot. It's too bad they couldn't think of a better, more imaginative title because it's one of the most unique horror films of the decade, and anticipates Corman's Poe cycle. I disagree that it's badly made; nearly all of Corman's movies as a director surmount their paltry budgets with skill and intelligence, and this is no exception. Plus how can I hate a movie that features Allison Hayes, Dick Miller AND Billy Barty?
Yes, as an 11 year old, I loved this thing. I'm glad to have lived long enough to be able to go back and see it again. It has many corny moments and cheap "special" effects, but the theme is intriguing and... Allison Hayes.
George Worthing Yates (1901-1975) wrote the screenplays for such movies as The Amazing Colossal Man, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, and Conquest of Space among many others.
Screenwriters whose names can attract me to a movie? Nigel Kneale, Wesley Strick, Douglas Heyes, Jimmy Sangster, Jeb Stuart, Dudley Nichols, Leigh Brackett, Curt Siodmak, Reginald Rose.
I found this film on MST3K, and LOVE LOVE LOVE. The riffing is a nice touch, but honestly, this film os a GOOD film. The time-travel stuff holds up as well as that in both EndGame and T2, so I don't see what this guy is going on about. The acting is not bad--when you consider that the individuals were really trying to do their best. Among the reasons to watch this film are Diana who starts the film as a detacted and cold hooker, just wanting to 'get on with it' so that she can 'get back to making money', and the Old Witch who gives a cackling good performance on par with those given by the 3 hags in 'Hocus Pocus'. Pen-dra-gon (that is HOW they pronounce it in the film), and Quintus are both stiff as their roles demand that they be, and the grave digger is as mindless as one would want him to be. So, yeah, watch this film. Remember, any film you haven't seen is a new release.
I'd viewed this several times, quietly commending the actors for trying their very best with dialogue that simply didn't fit their mouths. I'd only lately learned how that dialogue was originally written. Whether or not that would have worked, seek and find the stage plays of Christopher Fry, in particular the somewhat relevant The Lady's Not for Burning. Fry could and did adapt his style; he also wrote poetry. The only other poet I can offhand think of who came up with a screenplay was Dylan Thomas.
MST3k has a good bit of fun with the singing gravedigger in the film. He is an enjoyable character, as is Otis's wife in one of the witch roles, despite her clay chin snd nose. .
Charles Griffith was insanely creative, pretty much the best of Corman was written by him. Oh and Allison Hayes who was way hot was a pioneering force in supplement regulation in the u.s. though it sadly cost it her life.
@5:37 Tibet? What happened to Nep-al @3:08 (as he pronounced it)? Why wasn't it "Tib-et" also? if you're going to screw up names, at least be consistent about it! Oh, wait. Now I get it. The people of "Nep-al" are descendants of Kryptonians that unknown to Jor-El had also built a spacecraft and followed baby Kal-El to Earth! They were of a different family. They were of the house of Al. LOL
I have not seen "The Undead" in over forty years, but I remember liking it, though granted I was much younger. (HOWEVER, I will still go out of my way to see anything Allison Hayes is in.) Dark Corners Reviews are always excellent, but this one did not note that the film is certainly a response to the 1950s Bridey Murphy craze and overall interest in reincarnation at that time. Joe Dante discusses "The Undead" on his Trailers from Hell website at . (I hope I can cite another website without Dark Corners' personnel punishing me by making me stand in a dark corner.)
Behold the subtle working of Dark Corners' talents, and pray they may never turn their interest...upon you. Mwwwa Ha Ha Ha Ha! Is it just me, or does Allison Hayes look way hotter in this movie than in 50 Foot Woman? Maybe it's her hair. I also enjoy Mel Welles in this film, though not in the same capacity. Maybe it's his hair. I'd also have to go with Richard Matheson in terms of marquee screenwriters. I can't say I'd watch something just because he wrote it, but when I see his name I know what I watch will at least be interesting.
I like THE UNDEAD a lot better than you did, and I really think Corman did a pretty impressive job on a low budget, creating a stylized mock-Shakespeare fantasy realm.
Uhhh...maybe it means Un-dead, as in, if she alters time, her past self will be Un-deaded in history. ...or maybe I'm stretching way too far for on this.
At one point Pendragon leaves Helene to go find the gravedigger, but obviously has memory issues, because he goes instead to the Tower of Death to look for Helene.... Helene should have clung to life, married Pendragon and not worried about reincarnations that she won't even be aware of!
And be sure to visit Meg Maud's house the next time your in Southern California: www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g32070-d4743712-Reviews-The_Spadena_House_Aka_the_Witch_s_House-Beverly_Hills_California.html www.movie-locations.com/movies/u/Undead-1957.php
A "So bad it's good" category movie--but since the plot is about a hooker's past--life hypnotic regression to medieval England, where she's a persecuted witch about to be executed, one wonders why Roger Corman chose to entitle it, The Undead. No vampires or zombies appear in this shoestring--budget film. Comes across as intriguing in places, though. 😅😅😅
The title is surely about the choice she has to make; to live in the medieval past and snuff out all her future lives, or to die so they might live. Her future lives are the 'undead' if she makes that choice.
Brits: insulting you for mispronouncing archaic names also Brits: butchering names of other people and cultures and not understanding why someone is upset 🙄
as always, your videos make even the crappiest holiday, workday, bank holiday, suspended workday, scheduled root canal, surprise work evaluation (etc., etc., etc., and whatnot), slightly bareable (or bearable) by watching your hysterically funny critiques of the crappiest, shittiest, most godawful, horrific, nonsensical, cheap, badly made, rubbish ridden films the world over. It makes typing this run on sentence all the more worthwile. ALSO......my Dad REALLY enjoyed your mummy films retrospective. Believe it or not, I use your channel to help teach my father learn the use of his cpu as well as to surf the net. Many thanksfor all you do
Anything by Roger Corman is worth watching. His autobiography (How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime) is fun reading, too. Long may he live! He's one of the few individuals featured in most of these reviews who's still with us. 🕷️🕸️
Richard Matheson is one the few writers who can get me to watch a film. The title was confusing , it made me think it was a vampire flick. Instead we get a drawn out TWILIGHT ZONE that was more cofusing then anything.
Fun Fact: Dick Miller, who played Murray Futterman in Gremlins and Gremlins 2 appears as one of the people signing his soul in Satan's Book, playing as the Leper.
He appeared in over 50 Corman films, despite originally telling Corman he was a writer.
@KV-85 контрмера Dick Miller improves any movie he appears il
I was...really impressed by what Corman and Griffiths accomplished on such a tight budget, and thought the movie's stage-bound feel worked in its favor, making it kind of a dark fairy tale.
Saw this on "Svengoolie" not long ago. The end amused me. I was also amused when I accidentally hit the wrong thing and was asked if I were 18 or older, given that I'm probably closer to being your grandmother's age than your mother's.
I saw the film when I was very young; I thought it was very intriguing, despite all its flaws. The other Corman films mentioned in this review are also flawed, but intriguing. Thanks for the review. I've been trying to remember its title for years. I'll see if I can purchase it somewhere.
I just watched this here on YT...found a decent FREE upload ... never heard of this Corman movie...& loved it...the Gravedigger is my favorite character along w/Meg Maud...TY *Dark Corners Review*
Though the movie might be bad. I kinda like the premise. Almost sounds like something David Lynch could have made. Even though i would really prefer to see his version.
No, a musical
@@Bigbadwhitecracker wait. This movie was a musical?
Probably my favorite Corman film along with LITTLE SHOP BUCKET OF BLOOD and NOT OF THIS EARTH. Really great and unusual movie. I love it.
I agree totally. This is one of Corman's best. Clearly written to catch the Bridie Murphy news of the day, it also shows Corman's being influenced by Ingmar Bergman. Treat the special effects and settings as you would when watching a play. A good story is more enjoyable than a. bad CGI spectacular. Love this movie!
Other marquee writers: Richard Matheson, Charles Beaumont, and Charles Griffth's occasional partner in crime, Mark Hanna.
Matheson was the first one to come to mind. Ya beat me to it. :D
Sounds like your a fan of the Twilight Zone
Charles Beaumont was a well poisoner
When a project has Ed Wood, Jerry Warren or Jay Simms (the latter wrote two Godawful films--"The Killer Shrews" and "The Giant Gila Monster"--before jumping to television) in the credits, take notice.
I saw this when I was little and remember liking it. I can never remember the title though, and will probably forget it again a month from now. All I remembered about it was the hypnosis sending her back in time and her future selves asking her to sacrifice herself so that they can live.
Dick Miller! Americas answer to Michael Ripper!!
I used to have this movie via one of those silent Castle Films abbreviated 4-5 minute 8MM movies back in the 1970s. Been a favorite of mine through that and countless airings on New York City's WPIX-TV and it's Chiller Theater.
++Dark Corners Reviews
I really like The Undead in 1957. Along with King of the Zombies. Can you do the review of King of the Zombies, please?
4:38 I'm getting a definite "Les yeux sans visage" vibe from our heroine's face here.
I thought that Satan was being played by Vladek Sheybal, auditioning for his part in "The Apple". Turns out it was Richard Devon instead (apparently, as part of a long career in film and TV; he voiced Ewoks in Star Wars).
I like this movie a lot. It's too bad they couldn't think of a better, more imaginative title because it's one of the most unique horror films of the decade, and anticipates Corman's Poe cycle. I disagree that it's badly made; nearly all of Corman's movies as a director surmount their paltry budgets with skill and intelligence, and this is no exception. Plus how can I hate a movie that features Allison Hayes, Dick Miller AND Billy Barty?
Yes, as an 11 year old, I loved this thing. I'm glad to have lived long enough to be able to go back and see it again.
It has many corny moments and cheap "special" effects, but the theme is intriguing and... Allison Hayes.
So true!
I love Allison Hayes.
George Worthing Yates (1901-1975) wrote the screenplays for such movies as The Amazing Colossal Man, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, and Conquest of Space among many others.
Screenwriters whose names can attract me to a movie? Nigel Kneale, Wesley Strick, Douglas Heyes, Jimmy Sangster, Jeb Stuart, Dudley Nichols, Leigh Brackett, Curt Siodmak, Reginald Rose.
I found this film on MST3K, and LOVE LOVE LOVE. The riffing is a nice touch, but honestly, this film os a GOOD film. The time-travel stuff holds up as well as that in both EndGame and T2, so I don't see what this guy is going on about. The acting is not bad--when you consider that the individuals were really trying to do their best. Among the reasons to watch this film are Diana who starts the film as a detacted and cold hooker, just wanting to 'get on with it' so that she can 'get back to making money', and the Old Witch who gives a cackling good performance on par with those given by the 3 hags in 'Hocus Pocus'. Pen-dra-gon (that is HOW they pronounce it in the film), and Quintus are both stiff as their roles demand that they be, and the grave digger is as mindless as one would want him to be. So, yeah, watch this film. Remember, any film you haven't seen is a new release.
Gravedigger Smolkin is the breakout character of this movie!
I liked this movie.
I'd viewed this several times, quietly commending the actors for trying their very best with dialogue that simply didn't fit their mouths. I'd only lately learned how that dialogue was originally written. Whether or not that would have worked, seek and find the stage plays of Christopher Fry, in particular the somewhat relevant The Lady's Not for Burning. Fry could and did adapt his style; he also wrote poetry. The only other poet I can offhand think of who came up with a screenplay was Dylan Thomas.
MST3k has a good bit of fun with the singing gravedigger in the film. He is an enjoyable character, as is Otis's wife in one of the witch roles, despite her clay chin snd nose. .
Allison Hayes, nuff said.
I immediately rewatched this video, and I still find the film's plot baffling!
Where does it confuse you? Maybe I can help.
Reminds me a little of Bioshock Infinite. ...or as I like to call it "Me, Myself and I ...and Her"
Looking forward to watching and critiquing the movie
Charles Griffith was insanely creative, pretty much the best of Corman was written by him. Oh and Allison Hayes who was way hot was a pioneering force in supplement regulation in the u.s. though it sadly cost it her life.
I love this movie. It’s one of my all time favorites.
I watched The Undead in July 2023. The scriptwriter certainly strived to be Shakespearean with the movie’s gravedigger and his musical ditties
"There. Sure glad I don't look stupid in this."
Is this also known as Danse Macabre?
I love this movie!
The Imp & Ghost Dancers...yep!!!
@5:37 Tibet? What happened to Nep-al @3:08 (as he pronounced it)? Why wasn't it "Tib-et" also? if you're going to screw up names, at least be consistent about it! Oh, wait. Now I get it. The people of "Nep-al" are descendants of Kryptonians that unknown to Jor-El had also built a spacecraft and followed baby Kal-El to Earth! They were of a different family. They were of the house of Al. LOL
I have not seen "The Undead" in over forty years, but I remember liking it, though granted I was much younger. (HOWEVER, I will still go out of my way to see anything Allison Hayes is in.) Dark Corners Reviews are always excellent, but this one did not note that the film is certainly a response to the 1950s Bridey Murphy craze and overall interest in reincarnation at that time. Joe Dante discusses "The Undead" on his Trailers from Hell website at . (I hope I can cite another website without Dark Corners' personnel punishing me by making me stand in a dark corner.)
I loved this movie as a kid.
No you didn't.
The genius of Roger Corman-$$$🙏👌👻❣️
Poor Alison. The FDA. Needs to monitor supplements😢
Check out the Allison Hayes channel
5 more reasons to watch this: 50 ft Allison Hayes Billy Barty, Dorothy Neumann, Richard Devon and Dick Miller
Behold the subtle working of Dark Corners' talents, and pray they may never turn their interest...upon you. Mwwwa Ha Ha Ha Ha!
Is it just me, or does Allison Hayes look way hotter in this movie than in 50 Foot Woman? Maybe it's her hair.
I also enjoy Mel Welles in this film, though not in the same capacity. Maybe it's his hair.
I'd also have to go with Richard Matheson in terms of marquee screenwriters. I can't say I'd watch something just because he wrote it, but when I see his name I know what I watch will at least be interesting.
Allison Hayes definitely looks bewitching in this film.
A movie isn't a bad movie if you can enjoy it for what it is :)
I like THE UNDEAD a lot better than you did, and I really think Corman did a pretty impressive job on a low budget, creating a stylized mock-Shakespeare fantasy realm.
Jerome Bixby wrote scripts for a few "B" movies and for the original "Star Trek."
If she sacrifices herself, dies right?! Then how will that allow future lives from her to exisit? I'm confused.
Svengoolie showing this tonight
Found this because of MST3K and was utterly charmed by it! Not a great movie, but fun and engaging.
I didn't know there were nipple priest 🤭😆
Pendragon. It rhymes with Pentagon.
I request The Stink of Flesh (2005).
I found The Undead a pretty decent movie given it's limitation of budget. Not sure whet that says about my taste in movie.
It was something.
where the hell do you film these man i can see your breath!
England.
Uhhh...maybe it means Un-dead, as in, if she alters time, her past self will be Un-deaded in history. ...or maybe I'm stretching way too far for on this.
"Her Type"?
Not a screenwriter, but any film based on or ripping off writer Philip K Dick will have something of interest to it.
At one point Pendragon leaves Helene to go find the gravedigger, but obviously has memory issues, because he goes instead to the Tower of Death to look for Helene.... Helene should have clung to life, married Pendragon and not worried about reincarnations that she won't even be aware of!
He went to the tower of death because Lydia tricked him.
AND BILLY BARTY!!!
This movie is a great load of nonsense and I absolutely ADORE it. It is one of my go-to "comfort" films.
And be sure to visit Meg Maud's house the next time your in Southern California:
www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g32070-d4743712-Reviews-The_Spadena_House_Aka_the_Witch_s_House-Beverly_Hills_California.html
www.movie-locations.com/movies/u/Undead-1957.php
🎉
🍄
MST3K had a ball with this one. Except the original was/is a lot funnier. Corman deserves credit. He knew how to survive on micro small movie budgets.
I'd watch anything written by Paddy Chayefsky.
Funny how she can turn into an iguana, an animal that won't be discovered for another 400-600 years.
Yeah, but there were still iguanas out there. Everyone else just wandered what the hell she was.
A "So bad it's good" category movie--but since the plot is about a hooker's past--life hypnotic regression to medieval England, where she's a persecuted witch about to be executed, one wonders why Roger Corman chose to entitle it, The Undead. No vampires or zombies appear in this shoestring--budget film.
Comes across as intriguing in places, though. 😅😅😅
The title is surely about the choice she has to make; to live in the medieval past and snuff out all her future lives, or to die so they might live. Her future lives are the 'undead' if she makes that choice.
Brits: insulting you for mispronouncing archaic names
also Brits: butchering names of other people and cultures and not understanding why someone is upset 🙄
as always, your videos make even the crappiest holiday, workday, bank holiday, suspended workday, scheduled root canal, surprise work evaluation (etc., etc., etc., and whatnot), slightly bareable (or bearable) by watching your hysterically funny critiques of the crappiest, shittiest, most godawful, horrific, nonsensical, cheap, badly made, rubbish ridden films the world over. It makes typing this run on sentence all the more worthwile. ALSO......my Dad REALLY enjoyed your mummy films retrospective. Believe it or not, I use your channel to help teach my father learn the use of his cpu as well as to surf the net. Many thanksfor all you do
Hilarious!
I don’t understand why she won’t reincarnate unless she dies now.
Yes you do.
@@scarygary-qq1pj No, I don't
Horrible horrible choice so funny
So another words they believe in the Theory of Relativity...
and reincarnation of course.
When you think about it, it isn't really as rubbish for a 1950's movie, compared to let's say honey shrunk the kids.