Episode 37--Horror Film Casting (Fantasy League)

Good Evening!

Tonight, I play director, as I cast adaptations of classic Gothic novels. What if Vincent Price had played Dracula? Would you like to see have seen Audrey Hepburn as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera? I do!

I give a character-by-character breakdown, and cast these famous monsters.

I would also like note that today would have been the 98th birthday of Peter Cushing. May 27th is, oddly enough, the 89th birthday of Sir Christopher Lee and the would-be 100th birthday of Vincent Price! While I've talked about Price and Cushing before, I have yet to give Sir Christopher his just due. I will rectify that omission soon enough. In this episode I pay tribute to these three icons, while playing fantasy director.

I invite you, the listener, to play along. Who would you cast in these roles?

As always, you can listen to the bloody goodness here. Or, you can download from archive.org

http://www.archive.org/details/TheFlyPaperDungeonEpisode37--horrorFilmCastingfantasyLeague

This Week's Videos
Vincent Price interviewed by Terry Wogan

Peter Cushing on Wogan (this was Cushing's final interview)

Sir Christopher Lee sings on film for the first time!

This Week's Links
My episodes on Vincent Price and Peter Cushing
Price: http://flypaperdungeon.blogspot.com/2011/01/episode-23-vincent-price-double-feature.html
Cushing: http://flypaperdungeon.blogspot.com/2011/03/episode-29-peter-cushing-part-one.html

Next Week: James Whale's Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein

Episode 35: Horror Trends In History (Horror Through the Ages)

The history of horror is a varied one. Only Science Fiction is anywhere near as diversified. Trends have come and stayed? Yes, even when certain trends are dominant (think Jason and Freddy in the 80's), they never completely subside. Despite the slew of slasher flicks in the 1980's, and the revivial of zombies and vampires in recent years--trends in horror subside, but never completely die (just like Dracula, Freddy, Jason, your nightmares about gym class in high school).


If Ben Franklin is right, "The only thing that is certain in life is death and taxes," then we can be assured that horror trends (and your favorite monsters) will recycle, but never fade away.

As always, you can listen to the undead goodness here, or on Archive.org
http://www.archive.org/details/TheFlyPaperDungeon--episode35HorrorTrendsInHistory


This Week's Videos
Laetitia Casta stars in another fright fest The Island

The Teaser for Buddy Holly is Alive and Well and Living on Ganymeade

Episode 29--Peter Cushing (Part One)

Hello my lovely deviants!

This week, I review the Hammer Frankenstein films, starring Peter Cushing!

Cushing is one of the seminal faces of horror. He acted in numerous films in the genre--for both Hammer, Amicus, and other British studios at the time. He is also familiar to fans of Star Wars for his turn as Grand Moff Tarkin, the only man who could control Vader's murderous impulses. Cushing played some of the best-known filmic and literary characters of all time. He is the only actor to have played all of the following: Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, Baron Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes, and Dr. Who. He often co-starred with his friend, and colleage, Sir. Christopher Lee--usually in an adverserial role. The two would go on to co-star in over twenty films together!

This week's episode is a starting point for the work of this lovely human being, and phenominal actor.

As always, you can listen to the reanimated goodness here, or you can download the show from Archive.org
 
http://www.archive.org/details/TheFlyPaperDungeon--episode29--peterCushingpartOne

The Week's Videos

Peter Cushing tells his life story


Peter Cushing's final interview with Terry Wogan (Cushing's final TV appearance)


The Dead Hour (internet-based anthology show)
http://www.thedeadhour.com/index.html

Episode Two: Alcoholic Vampire


This Week's Links
Guillermo Del Toro's New Proeject, "Pacific Rim" is revealed!
http://www.quietearth.us/articles/2011/03/11/Guillermo-del-Toros-PACIFIC-RIM-sounds-fing-crazy
(Thanks to The Quiet Earth for this story)

Today marks the 137th birthday of Houdini! This week also marks the passing of his last surving assistant, Dorothy Young.
http://blog.movies.yahoo.com/blog/987-houdinis-last-living-assistant-dies-but-his-legend-lives-on