ON THIS DAY in 1492, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus’ three ships, the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, made landfall on the Bahama Islands. The event was documented in the 1992 Ridley Scott film, 1492: CONQUEST OF PARADISE, starring Gérard Depardieu.
THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1932; starring Boris Karloff, Melvyn Douglas, Charles Laughton, Gloria Stuart; directed by James Whale)
This group should have checked with Travelocity’s “roaming gnome” before setting out on a nighttime drive through the English countryside. Just in case they were to find themselves on a lonely road in the middle of nowhere during a raging thunderstorm. Murphy’s Law being what it is, that’s exactly what happens to these folks, and as they run into trouble there is nary a Holiday Inn in sight. Luckily (or unluckily, as luck would have it), there’s shelter nearby, in the form of an old, dark… well, you know the rest. And so, what we have here in this terrific, classic film, is a variety of individuals much like those in later movies such as GRAND HOTEL. Except this group’s overnight stay turns out to be much less than grand. The guests include stuffy Raymond Massey, war vet Melvyn Douglas, delicate Gloria Stuart (the elderly Rose in James Cameron’s TITANIC), and the rich, repulsive Charles Laughton. Director James Whale (BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) assembles them in the title location, where they come to realize that the permanent residents of the house (who include an alcoholic Boris Karloff and a pyromaniac) have some unfortunate and disturbing “issues” that will require much more than chocolate therapy–Hershey’s Special Dark or otherwise–to work out. 
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
ON THIS DAY in 1954, the Communist national independence coalition, the Viet Minh, took control of North Vietnam during the First Indochina War. The 1958 film, THE QUIET AMERICAN, with Michael Redgrave, based on the Graham Greene novel, was set during the period immediately preceding this event.
GODZILLA (1972; with Raymond Burr; directed by Ishiro Honda)
“A bull in a china shop” might be an apt but understated description of this classic and genuinely frightening monster movie. Released in Japan in 1954 as Gojira, the great-grandfather of all Asian giant lizard films came out two years later in the U.S. with the Americanized addition of Raymond Burr. Burr is reporter Steve Martin, broadcasting the story not of King Tut but of the newly-crowned “King of the Monsters”–the 40-story, fire-breathing, upright-walking and ungraceful Godzilla himself. The big-footed, oversized reptile–a victim of post-war a-bomb testing–emits a horrifying growl as he runs amok on his periodic strolls through Tokyo, seeking revenge on whatever person, place or thing strikes his fancy at the moment. The huge success of the film sent Toho Studios on a relentless Godzilla rampage over the years, as countless sequels stomped their way through movie theaters. In each of them, you can count on at least a few of Godzilla’s patented, crispy rice crunches, as he tours, and tears, his way through his beloved Japan. Get in the spirit of things, and imagine yourself to be King of the Monsters as your powerful jaws bite that helpless Crunch bar. 
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
ON THIS DAY in 1985, U.S. Navy jets intercepted the Egyptian plane carrying the Achille Lauro cruise ship hijackers, forcing it to land in Sicily. The 1990 made-for-TV film, VOYAGE OF TERROR: THE ACHILLE LAURO AFFAIR, with Burt Lancaster and Eva Marie Saint, documented the incident.
THE GORE GORE GIRLS (1972; with Henny Youngman; directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis)
Suzie Cream Puff. It’s not the original name for the Goo Goo Cluster. No, Suzie was a stripper. “Was”, ‘cuz now Suzie’s career has been cut short, seeing as how she’s been brutally murdered. The savage killer is on the loose, but a determined and spunky Chicago newspaper reporter has hired a private investigator, albeit a very obnoxious one. Meanwhile, stripper Candy Cane becomes victim number two. This prompts the P.I. to suspect the strip club’s somewhat unstable bartender. His instability is evidenced by the fact that he draws faces on vegetables that he then proceeds to smash with his bare hands. But before you know it, there’s another ghastly murder of yet another stripper. Expanding the investigation, the P.I. questions the Donald Trump of strip clubs, a Mr. Mobilie (played incongruously by Borscht Belt-type comedian Henny Youngman). Nothing more about the story need be revealed (although plenty of other things do get revealed during the course of the film, if you know what we mean). Eventually, the actors face the camera and ask you to leave them alone. You may have already done so by that time. The gooey combo of marshmallow and caramel within a Goo Goo Cluster isn’t to everyone’s taste. The same goes for the gore and guts of this downright trashy, early 70s slasher film. 
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
ON THIS DAY in 1940, John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England. The 2009 film, NOWHERE BOY, with Aaron Johnson and Kristin Scott Thomas, documented the early days of Lennon’s life.
ROSEMARY’S BABY (1968; Mia Farrow, John Cassavettes, Ruth Gordon; directed by Roman Polanski)
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I paranoid… or are they all in it together?!?”, this unnerving film will most likely not help your condition. It begins when Mrs. Rosemary Woodhouse (Farrow) and her aspiring, talented stage actor husband, Guy (Cassavetes) sign a lease at Manhattan’s vintage Bramford Apartments (in reality the Dakota). In short order, the bright, young couple are greeted by their elderly neighbors, the eccentric Castevets, Minnie (Ruth Gordon) and Roman. Minnie’s a busy body, but seems harmless enough. Roman’s jolly but a bit stuffy. At first, Rosemary and Guy are amused. Soon though, Guy is spending more time with the ritualistic Roman and less with his now pregnant wife. The expectant Rosemary accepts the gift of a peculiar necklace from the intrusive Minnie, who sends Rosemary to an unusual sort of baby doctor (Ralph Bellamy). Strange (and deadly) things happen. Now very isolated and increasingly worried, Rosemary loses weight and begins to wonder whether she’s lost her mind. Chocolate mousse, as you will see, would be the devilish choice here. But since that’d be difficult to handle, we instead recommend R. Crumb’s Devil Girl Choco-Bar. “It’s BAD for you!”, says the label. If only Rosemary had gotten the same advice about socializing with Minnie and Roman.
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
ON THIS DAY in 1871, the Great Chicago Fire began, killing hundreds and destroying over 34 blocks of the city. The 1937 drama, IN OLD CHICAGO, starring Tyrone Power and Don Ameche, depicted the conflagration.
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959; Vincent Price; directed by William Castle) Debonair millionaire Fredrick Loren (Price) is having a birthday party for his fourth wife, Annabelle. Since it is well known that Fredrick and Annabelle’s house on the hill has been the site of seven (give or take) horrible deaths, Fredrick is compelled to offer invitees an incentive to RSVP besides the birthday cake. The enticement: $10,000 in cash for each of the five, if they’ll spend the entire night. Feeling it’s better to receive than to give, they accept Fredrick’s generosity, and the five guests gather at the house. When midnight arrives, the doors of the Loren home are locked tight, and the dour party games begin. In light of the fact that Fredrick parts with only $50,000 and not 100, we suggest eating only one-half of your 100 Grand candy bar, and save the other 50 grand to consume tomorrow. If, that is, you make it through the night… 
If you spent most of your time watching movies this past week, you might have missed these articles here at Home Projectionist:
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ON THIS DAY in 1955, American poet Allen Ginsberg debuted his landmark poem Howl at the Six Gallery in San Francisco. This event was depicted in the 2010 film, HOWL, starring James Franco, David Strathairn, and Jon Hamm.
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
CIRCUS OF HORRORS (1960; with Anton Diffring, Donald Pleasance; directed by Sidney Hayers) You’ve heard of people who are dying to get into the world of the circus? Well, hurry, hurry, hurry, to this fast-paced, British horror film, where they’re dying to get out of it! Or, to put it another way, they’re dying because they want out. And for good reasons. It seems that the big top’s owner (who also happens to be a plastic surgeon of dubious reputation) might be responsible for certain, ghastly “unscheduled performances”. Namely, freakish “accidents” that befall the women of the circus. If this underrated and frightening movie isn’t freakish and ghastly enough for you, just bite into a few circus peanuts.
ON THIS DAY in 1927, THE JAZZ SINGER, the first feature film with synchronized dialogue, starring Al Jolson, premiered at the Warners’ Theater in New York City. The event was dramatized in the 1946 biographical film, THE JOLSON STORY, starring Larry Parks.
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
REPULSION (1965; with Catherine Deneuve; directed by Roman Polanski) We’ve all had lost weekends, spent alone in our apartments eating candy bars. However, it is hoped that none of us have had one like that which Catherine Deneuve’s character, Carole, experiences in this, one of Polanski’s earliest films. The director at the time was very broke; perhaps he was on the verge of a collapse, which would help explain what this troubled Belgian manicurist endures. Despite living in an upbeat, swinging part of London, we see her slowly but surely, over the course of a Saturday and Sunday, have a complete mental breakdown. What happens to, and around, Carole, will explain why our suggested treat is a Krackel.
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