Vintage Batman Toys

 

Audio - Fear on 4: Gobble Gobble by Paul Burns

"The fourth series of Fear on 4 began with this very Christmassy - and rather bleak - tale of one man's attempt to buy a turkey from a depressed farmer on Christmas Eve. 

Broadcast on Christmas Eve in 1992, this episode was repeated two years later on New Year's Eve, in deference to its particularly seasonal plotline." 

Poster Art for NOSFERATU (2024)

The Bloody Pit #206 - THE PEARL OF DEATH (1944)

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce return to the show! I am joined by Beth Morris and Troy Guinn to discuss the next in Universal’s long running Sherlock Holmes series featuring the legendary detective in the 1940’s. This entry uses one of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original short stories to provide the basic plot – or does it? We look at the film’s very strong ties to a certain American crime fiction writer’s famous story that the script seems to borrow from. Is this a mash-up of two tales that taste great together?  

THE PEARL OF DEATH (1944) is a movie that doesn’t spring to mind as one of the best of the Universal Holmes films but perhaps it should. The series’ regulars are in fine form and returning guest actor Evelyn Ankers gets a lot to do as the main female baddie. She seems capable of getting any job in London and can disguise herself effectively in the bargain. In fact, this film has her character, Sherlock and the lead bad guy Giles Conover so often pretending to be someone else that it plays like there is a contest between them! And the film also sports the first screen appearances of Rondo Hatton as The Creeper. We talk a good deal about the way the plot unfolds and take note of how the screenplay seems to be digging into a Holmes character flaw to drive the story. Of course, there are the usual odd asides including a Tolkien reference that is quite out of place and a short debate about the correct size of a Yamaka or skullcap. We try to use our meager deductive reasoning skills but we tend to be more Watson than Holmes.

Thank you for listening to the show and thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send any thoughts. Stay warm and we’ll be back soon.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Remember to share the roast beast.

 

Video - PEARL OF DEATH (1944)

For those following along at home, here is the next film we are covering on The Bloody Pit podcast. It's the excellent Sherlock Holmes adventure based on the short story 'The Six Napoleons'. A better 69 minutes of 1940's mystery thriller fun would be hard to find!

Thanksgiving Comic Book Images!

Happy Turkey Day!