For the 100th episode John Hudson returns for
another discussion of an Antonio Margheriti film! It’s taken a long time to
finally get to triple digits and I’m happy to say that we treat the occasion
with very little reverence. In fact, it’s just like every other episode Hudson
and I’ve done together with him constantly messing with me while I try desperately
to keep things on track. I wouldn’t have it any other way!
BATTLE OF THE WORLDS (1961) is the second of Margheriti’s
science fiction films. As with his other cinematic SF adventures he directed
the film while also overseeing the special effects. It was this movie that convinced
the money people at MGM that he could be trusted to make cheap but good-looking
space movies leading to the financing of his quartet of Gamma One films in 1965-67. For years this one was a staple of
Saturday afternoon TV broadcasts but after decades of public domain copies
(both VHS and DVD) it seems improbable that we’ll ever get a Blu-Ray of this
fun film. It is the presence of the great Claude Rains that makes this one to
seek out for fans of his decades long career and he lifts this movie on his
shoulders in every scene. It’s a shame YouTube is the current best way to see
the film because a special edition video release would bring deserved attention
to both the director and the often neglected 1960’s space opera genre. Special
effects may have advanced well past this film’s day but the care on view is
still worth more widespread attention.
Mr. Hudson and I start the show with a discussion of some
recent viewings and a side conversation about Stephen King’s output over the last
couple of decades. Those expecting certain invisible creatures to get mentioned
won’t be disappointed even if I was. As usual. Sometimes I wonder why I
tolerate this guy!
Any comments can be sent to thebloodypit@gmail.com or dropped over
on the show’s FaceBook page. We’d be glad to hear from you as we plot the next
one hundred episodes!
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