Rapiers & Ruffles Movie Poster Art

The films of the current season of Wild, Wild Podcast are on my mind!

 

The Bloody Pit #219 - NYOKA AND THE TIGERMAN (1942)

Chris Herzog returns to the show to discuss one of the best of Republic Pictures’ serials. NYOKA AND THE TIGERMEN (1942) is a fantastic example of the chapterplay form but gets forgotten when people talk about the best the studio produced. Revisiting this action-packed adventure proves that it deserves to be mentioned as one of the finest serials ever made. Where is the Blu-Ray?

We discuss the cast in some detail and relate a few behind the scenes anecdotes. Since this is one of only eight serials lead by a female character, we spend some time on how Nyoka both conforms to and breaks from the usual conventions of the format. It’s nice to have an action hero woman mixing it up in the fights and killing bad guys rather than finding new ways to be knocked unconscious! The lead villain is a woman as well giving us a driven Queen Vultura bent on destroying all who stand in her way. Dangerous females indeed! We also get the future Lone Ranger as one of the good guys ably assisted by the excellent stunt team that Republic always used. They will make you believe in leaping over tables and from great heights. And I can’t stop myself from pointing out how many members of the cast show up in various Poverty Row horror films with Bela Lugosi. Sorry about my fixations but you really should see the trainwreck that is BLACK DRAGONS (1942). And did we mention the gorilla named Satan?

If you have any comments or suggestions about the show thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We love hearing from you and hope you enjoy the podcast. 

JUNGLE GIRL (1941) Poster Art and Lobby Card

 

Space:1999 Japanese End Titles for Season One

Of all the things I might change about the first season of Space:1999 the music is not one of them. What an odd choice! I would love to get a translation of the vocals. 

What I Watched in July 2025

EDDINGTON (2025) is Ari Aster’s latest movie and, after weeks of thought, I consider it brilliant. And I feel sure that the best way to describe it is as a movie about a data center being built in New Mexico. Seriously. That is the underlying element of the story that is the catalyst for all the madness that unfolds. The 2020 Covid lockdown pushes things to the breaking point and creates the tensions that erupt into violence but the corporate goal of using the town’s water supply wins out. All the human interactions, failed dreams and dark deeds are merely the details that allow the wealthy to get what they want while the deluded poor are discarded or destroyed. It’s a cruel world and this film is a harsh mirror showing our petty concerns being manipulated to distract from the truly important things. Welcome to 2025. 

The List

MEGAN 2.0 (2025) – 8 

THE DRACULA SAGA (1973) – 7 (rewatch)

ZORRO AND THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1963) – 7 

BODY PUZZLE (1992) – 7 (rewatch)

SPIRAL (1998) – 6 (takes the Ring story in an odd direction)

ASH (2025) – 7 (fascinating sci-fi horror)

WRATH OF MAN (2021) – 8 (rewatch)

SECRET OF THE CHATEAU (1934) – 6 (old dark house murder mystery)

FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN (2025) – 6 

SUPERMAN (2025) – 8 

EYES BEHIND THE WALL (1977) – 6 (interesting drama about voyeurism with John Phillip Law) 

THE STRANGLER OF BLACKMOOR CASTLE (1963) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

THE DEAD DON’T DIE (1975) – 5 (TV movie penned by Robert Bloch needs a restoration)

EDDINGTON (2025) – 7 

SUPERMAN (2025) – 8 (rewatch)

ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (1959) – 5 (rewatch on Blu)

MURDER IN THE BLUE ROOM (1944) – 6 

THE LAST MAN TO HANG (1956) – 6 (interesting British courtroom drama) 

FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (2025) – 8 

LORD EDGEWARE DIES (1933) – 6 (Poirot adaptation) 

SWITCHBLADE SISTERS (1975) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

Wild, Wild Podcast - ZENABEL (1969)

Wild, Wild Podcast have jumped forwards in time from the safe, family-friendly adventures of the early 1960s to the hedonistic, anything goes year of 1969 to meet Zenabel, sometimes known as "The Naked General." With this film we near the end of our Rapiers and Ruffles season, and also perhaps Rod's tether, with this Italian sex comedy from the director of House at the Edge of the Park, Phantom of Death and Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man. Ruggero Deodato may be many things as a director but how does he handle comedy? With nudity, of course! Lots and lots of nudity. 

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Poster Art and Lobby Cards for NYOKA AND THE TIGERMEN (1942) a.k.a. Perils of Nyoka

Podcast on the horizon!