Mark Maddox joins me to discuss X THE UNKNOWN (1956) and
relate a few personal stories about his history with it. Here’s a hint - always
accept an invitation to have dinner with Frazier Hines! We use an outline of
the film’s plot to dig into the things that work and the things that don’t. We
remark on the sometimes shockingly adult nature of the story’s choices with
dead kids, randy nurses and melting faces being unexpected spices in the radioactive
stew. We spend a little time on the impressive cast with attention paid to the
amazing Leo McKern and Michael Ripper who gets to shout some fun threats at his
soldier underlings. Mark is clear-eyed in his assessment of the film’s various
special effects sequences and I lodge a few minor complaints about the first
act’s pace and the script’s expository scientific babble. We do ramble off
topic a few times – OK – several times! But we always link things back to the movie
under the microscope. I promise.
If you have any comments or suggestions please write the
podcast at thebloodypit@gmail.com
and we’ll try to get you your thoughts on the next show Mark and I record in
May. Thank you for listening!
3 comments:
I don't like the idea that there are no 10/10 movies. For me, Bob Dylan as an artist is 10/10 but that does not mean "Murder Most Foul" or his Christian period work well for me. It means he is in the highest level of a songwriter and (scoff if you like) singer I can imagine. Daniel Day Lewis is seen as the most amazing of actors; he could not do the likable personality acting that James Garner does (who I would argue is just as good) but that is not seen as a flaw.
I feel like there are tens all the time in what you are attracted to and it can vary from the cute, extra kind woman at the bank to Mae West for her humor or Susan Sontag for her intellect to 80's Bo Derek. People have no trouble saying their significant others are perfect to them, even as they don't end every argument satisfactory or don't buy good birthday presents.
If the woman I chose to spend my life with can rack up a 10/10 surely a movie can. And I submit that a 10/10 film can even have flaws. Flaws are some time a given when a film is striving towards something little seen or attempted before. The Begotten, Zelig, Bulworth, Bonnie and Clyde, Wizards (Ralph Bakshi), Dr, Caligari. These are breathtaking for me, and I am sure you have equally brave films that push something or even just make you happier than any others and deserve not to be saddled with a nine.
The above comment was meant for Mr. Maddox of course.
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