Our thoughts are with the people devastated by Hurricane Sandy and the loss of this historic American structure.
ON THIS DAY in 1938, Orson Welles’ Mercury Theater radio company performed H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds, causing widespread panic among the general public. In 1957, Welles’ broadcast and the ensuing events were recreated for the 1957 Westinghouse Studio One show titled THE NIGHT AMERICA TREMBLED.
Trick & Treat for October 29th:
BRIDE OF CHUCKY (1998; with Jennifer Tilly, Brad Dourif; directed by Ronny Yu)
Here’s an example of how it’s often best to leave well enough alone. It applies here in terms of this movie’s story, and the movie itself. A sequel to the mysteriously successful CHILD’S PLAY movies, BRIDE OF CHUCKY features Jennifer Tilly as Tiffany, the former girlfriend of a serial killer who became embodied within an extremely disturbing-looking doll named, of course, Chucky. Tiffany tampers in the doll’s domain when she decides to put Chucky back together again. Chucky shows his gratitude to Tiffany by tossing an electrical device into her bathwater, like James Bond did in the prologue to GOLDFINGER. This causes Tiffany to cast her fate with Chucky as his bride (long story), unlike in GOLDFINGER. The happy couple, for better or (mostly) worse, make their way to New Jersey for a honeymoon from Hell. We suggest you ease your pain by chewing on Chuckles, as you watch, jaw agape, Chucky and company chew the scenery. 
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.
If you spent most of your time watching movies this past week, you might have missed these articles here at Home Projectionist:
- Tricks & Treats: 31 Nights, 31 Frights, 31 Bites
- You Can’t Do This at Home: The Magic of Georges Méliès
- The Best Trick or Treat: Creepy Cocktails for Halloween movie viewing
- “I see you’ve got the pumpkin”: An objective Alfred Hitchcock film quiz
- THE EXORCIST (but this time it’s a sitcom)
- Haunting for this Halloween: the THRILLER series
- Art imitates life: Reel History
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ON THIS DAY in 1787, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni was performed for the first time at the Teatro di Pragain in Prague. In 1979, Joseph Losey directed DON GIOVANNI, a cinematic adaptation of the opera.
Trick & Treat for October 28th:
DONOVAN’S BRAIN (1953; with Lew Ayres, Nancy Davis; directed by Felix Feist)
No doubt you’ve encountered bodies without brains in your daily life. Like that lummox who cut in front of you in line. But how about a brain without a body? Can it exist on its own, with a little help from a brainy brain doctor? Lew Ayres plays that specialist with the good intentions of saving the cranium of accident victim Donovan, an industrial tycoon. However, things go awry (you didn’t expect a situation like this to go smoothly, did you?). Ayres, once a peaceful personality (as he famously was in real life) becomes aggressive and cruel, and it’s soon apparent that the disembodied brain is causing the side effects. DONOVAN’S BRAIN is a very good movie–creepy and intelligently written. Maybe not the “most fantastic story your startled eyes have ever beheld!”, as it’s billed, but there is an added layer of interest. Nancy Davis, future First Lady Nancy Reagan, plays Ayres’ wife in the movie. Davis by this time was married to Reagan, his second wife. Reagan’s first wife, Jane Wyman, had left Reagan for a relationship with Ayres, one that did not result in marriage. (Note: When I was little, my friends and I thought that eating Smarties would make us smart. Some would say that I am now living proof that our theory was flawed.) 
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 1903, author and journalist Evelyn Waugh was born. Waugh’s novel, BRIDESHEAD REVISITED, was adapted by the BBC for a 1981 TV series starring Jeremy Irons.
English: Screenshot from Le Voyage dans la lune (A Trip to the Moon) (1902) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
George Méliès, magician and magical filmmaker, made 520 short films from 1896 to 1913. What an honor and thrill it is to see a collection of these works of art narrated by his great granddaughter Marie-Hélène Lehérissey-Méliès. To make this ciné-concert even more special, the films are shown with brilliant piano accompaniment provided by his great-great grandson Lawrence Lehérissey-Méliès, who, by the way, is a spittin’ image of his legendary grandpa.
Home Projectionists thrive on creating cinematic experiences in their own abodes. This one, however, would be impossible to duplicate. Plan to get to Minneapolis, Ann Arbor, or Boston in the next couple of days to experience this must-see event. For a complete schedule, go to http://www.live-boutique.com/site/-Cine-concert-Georges-Melies-.html?mode=agenda
The ciné-concert features 15 of his masterful films, including my favorites, “The Man with the Rubber Head,” “Bluebeard,” “The Fairy Caraboose,” “Cake Walk Infernal,” and a fascinating re-enactment of the “Coronation of Edward VII.” Each and every one is a delight and treasure, showcasing the genius, spirit, and magic of Méliès brought to life by his innovative use of stop motion, time lapses, and dissolves, not to mention the beautiful hand tinting that appears in a few of the films.
It’s been more than 100 years since George Méliès brought his artistic visions to life. They’re still sheer cinema magic.
Gloria Bowman is a writer, storyteller, blogger, movie lover, freelance editor,
and author of the novel, Human Slices.
Access her blog at www.gloriabowman.com; on Twitter @GloriaBow
Trick & Treat for October 27th:
ZOTZ! (1962; with Tom Poston, Jim Backus; directed by William Castle)
Everyone knows Dots, the colorful gumdrops introduced in 1945 and sold at finer movie theaters everywhere. Safe to say not everyone knows about ZOTZ!, however. The cigar-chomping director and producer William Castle was coming off a string of fairly big hits, including MR. SARDONICUS, THE TINGLER, 13 GHOSTS, HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL and the underrated, PSYCHO-inspired HOMICIDE, when he apparently was “inspired” by Walt Disney’s 1961 blockbuster, THE ABSENT MINDED PROFESSOR. To say “inspired” is putting it kindly. Perhaps calling this a horror movie is a stretch, too, but ZOTZ! does have a few scary scenes–at least in the family movie sense.
The story involves a professor (Fred MacMurray—er, Tom Poston, that is) and an ancient, magical coin that he’s found. The coin isn’t legal tender, but it nevertheless does have some intriguing uses. Such as allowing the holder to simply point his or her finger at someone and a) cause them pain, b) make them move in slow motion, or c) kill them. It also makes a difference whether you say “Zotz!” or not. Needless to say, these monetary-induced powers must be used judiciously, and preferably by a person who doesn’t hold too many grudges. Poston is a pretty good guy, but naturally other folks wouldn’t mind having this currency for their own sinister desires. Among the usual suspects are the dreaded Russians (this being the early 60s after all). Not only do hijinks ensue, but it’s surprising that Disney didn’t sue as well. 
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.
The Holland Razor Blade
From the Witch’s Brew to the Devil’s Skin, check out Huffington Post’s compelling directory of Halloween cocktails for this weekend’s spooky movie watching parties. See them all at 21 Creepy Holiday Drinks.
ON THIS DAY in 1936, American socialite Wallis Simpson filed for divorce, eventually leading to marriage with King Edward VIII and his abdication to the throne. This event was dramatized in the 2005 BBC TV movie, WALLIS & EDWARD, starring Joely Richardson.
Trick & Treat for October 26th:
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956; with Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter; directed by Don Siegel)
“You don’t seem like yourself.” That’s an expression most of us have addressed a friend or family member with. Maybe they seem distracted, distant or moody. Most of the time, they eventually will be more like themselves again. But what if your spouse or sibling really wasn’t his or herself? What if some sort of entity had entered their physical beings while they were sleeping, transforming them into a cold, unfeeling sort of person–a person who almost wasn’t human anymore? That’s basically what transpires in this outstanding, classic bit of 50s celluloid paranoia. (Director Don Siegel insists he wasn’t doing a Commie/red scare parable, but judge for yourself). We’re in a middle-class, small community, not unlike those of 1950s TV shows like Father Knows Best, where the townsfolk are warm and friendly. But then the town’s doctor (Kevin McCarthy, perfectly cast) gradually realizes he can’t brush off complaints he’s getting about strange changes in temperaments. There’s something going on, and that something involves pods–squishy, gelatinous, creamy pods, growing in greenhouses, trucking around in trucks, waiting silently for the unsuspecting to nod off, peeling their outer layers and taking over people and their personalities, one at a time. Now, go ahead and enjoy your Cadbury’s Creme Egg bedtime snack. But don’t say we didn’t warn you. 
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.
Good evening. Do you have treats ready and waiting for the little trick-or-treaters? How about a skeleton by your front steps? Oh, an artificial one will do. Although, if you have a real one hanging around, or intend to have one available in the next few days, that’s even better. Perhaps you’ll want to dress it up to resemble Norman’s mother in PSYCHO. Like Mrs. Bates’ corpse, the other objects found in Hitchcock’s films didn’t lead to treats very often, as you’ll see in this tricky quiz.
Good luck, Mr. Thornhill, wherever you are…
Take the Quiz!(*The quiz title was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest: “Something wrong with your eyes?” “Yes”, says the sunglass-clad Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant), “They’re sensitive to questions”. When Eve nabs from Vandamm an object containing valuable government secrets, Roger says, “I see you’ve got the pumpkin.”)
ON THIS DAY in 1881, the gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. The event was dramatized in the 1957 John Sturges film, GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL, starring Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster.
Trick & Treat for October 25th:
CHILDREN OF THE CORN (1984; with Linda Hamilton, Peter Horton; directed by Fritz Kiersch)
Billed as “an adult nightmare”, the stars of this scary and groundbreaking film are the kids. One fine day, the kids decide to put on a show. The show: extermination of the adult population of Gatlin, Nebraska. This event presents the leader of the massacre, Malachai, with the dilemma of “How you gonna keep ’em (visitors) down on the farm after they’ve seen… no adults there. The obvious solution: capture adult visitors as sacrifices. Problem solved. Or is it? A couple on a road trip (Hamilton and Horton) come across a little boy who’s fleeing the creepy cornfields of Gatlin. An entity called “He Who Walks Behind the Rows” is not pleased with the outside interventions and various bad things ensue: broken necks, poisoned minds, storms, fire and brimstone, and said sacrifices among them. Not to mention damage to the tourist trade. “And a child shall lead them…” is the tagline for this movie, which is based on a Stephen King story. Speaking for yours truly, a child can lead me to candy corn, but can’t make me eat it, even under threats from a demon. I’ll take popcorn, thanks very much. 
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.
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