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!

 

Film Noir Poster Art

Video - STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP (1946)

A kind podcast listener pointed out that this film is on YouTube! Thank you, Scott! So if you want to see what David Annandale and I were babbling about in the most recent episode of The Bloody Pit, here you are. 

Wild, Wild Podcast S8:Ep2 - ACID - DELIRIUM OF THE SENSES (1968)

Grab your copy of ‘From Russia With Love’ and suck those LSD-infused corners with us as we trip out in New York City with Beatniks, Bohemians and off-Broadway performers. Just watch out for those Mafioso drug dealers - they have shoes in your size and they're not afraid to use them!

We would love to hear from you if you have any favorite psychedelic Italian films, or if you've ever danced naked in one of Manhattan's fountains. You can contact us on Twitter and Instagram or by email at wildwildpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find our YouTube channel here.

We also now have a small but developing merch store on Zazzle, so check it out if you have always wanted to wear our logo in public.

Please also remember to rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice!

Creature Commandos Cover Gallery

I am looking forward to the upcoming animated version of this bizarre DC Comics team. I picked up the trade collection of this a few years ago and love the stories and the wild concept. I will now concentrate on willing a complete Weird War Tales release into existence.

The Bloody Pit #205 - STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP (1946)

 Author David Annandale joins me for the second time to talk about another 1940’s horror film! This time we wade through STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP (1946) which is one of the more interesting examples of the output of the smallest of the Poverty Row studios - PRC (a.k.a. Producer’s Releasing Corporation). This is a fascinating low budget film that manages to make its lack of resources a virtue by leaning into the creepy fog and mists to hide the set limitations. It’s a favorite of both of us and we love getting to talk about it.

STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP is actually a remake of a German movie made by the same director a decade before. We start the show by digging into the earlier film to compare the two and delineate their many differences. The American film is much more a horror tale than the 1936 German original with a dark foreboding hanging over the characters living in an isolated village. The 1946 film has the vengeful ghost of a wrongfully accused man stalking and strangling the men responsible for his death and extending his attacks to the male children of the families as well. Having watched this moody little gem repeatedly over the years we were surprised to only now take note of the heroic town mothers the movie presents. While the men flail around trying to find a ‘reasonable’ excuse for the horrific events the female population works to deal directly with the problem. We note that this story element might be related to the changing view of women’s place in society during the second world war and wonder if this was a conscious choice by the filmmakers. We may never know, but it shows just how intriguing this little film can be and points to how creativity can make a movie endlessly rewatchable. There are always thought-provoking things buried in this swamp to drag out of the muck!

Mr. Annandale and I last discussed THE MONSTER MAKER and that episode can be found here. If you have any comments about this film or any other Poverty Row horror film thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening!

Patreon - The Children of the Corn Series

Because steaming service Shudder just added the first five Children of the Corn sequels I could not stop myself from finally watching them. This was partially an attempt to answer a recent question about which long-term horror franchise is the worst. I have many thoughts. Save me from working my way through the entire Hellraiser run!

I opened this post up to all members of my Patreon so if you are curious just head over there and join up.

 

Vintage Media Tie-In Games

I played a few of these in my youth but not most of them. Is there a game from your childhood that you have fond memories of playing?

 

DC's Original Suicide Squad Cover Gallery

Wild, Wild Podcast Season 8: Ep 1 - LSD - FLESH OF THE DEVIL (1967)

Turn on, tune in and drop out with Adrian and I as we enter the wild, wild world of 1960s psychedelics. In this episode we take a trip with secret super-agent Rex Miller as he infiltrates the evil international crime organization E.C.H.O. (just don't ask anyone what it stands for) and foils their plans to drug the world with LSD. At least, that's what might be going on. It's honestly hard to tell.

We would love to hear from you if you have any favorite psychedelic Italian films, or if you've ever had a powerful radio transmitter inserted into your body. You can contact us on Twitter and Instagram or by email at wildwildpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find our YouTube channel here.

We also now have a small but developing merch store on Zazzle, so check it out if you have always wanted to wear our logo in public.

Please also remember to rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice!

Latest Patreon Audio Post - Dancing Among the October Views

Brief reviews of THE PRIMEVILS, SMILE 2 and a smattering of other movies.

 

What I Watched in October 2024

Although I SAW THE TV GLOW (2024) is an interesting movie, it never really connected with me. That is not to say that I think it is a bad film - it’s just one that doesn’t work for me. I can see what the story is doing and I’m impressed by the goal and the style (not to mention the excellent central performance) but I was never engaged with what I was watching. To be clear, I think the fault may lie with me rather than the film itself. It is such a sad tale and told in such a detached fashion that it feels purposely distancing so maybe my reaction isn’t as off as I fear it might be. I think the last time I saw a movie so drenched in a sense of melancholia it might have been INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (2013) or ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (2004) but both of those films were easier for me to identify with and enjoy. I’m not sure if this disconnect relates more to the genre ISTTVG sits within or if it is that the depressive time of life the main character is enduring is less relatable for me now. I can imagine a younger person in their twenties having a very different reaction to this film and possibly a profound, emotional one at that. The final scene with the main character apologizing to his co-workers brought real tears to my eyes as it is the type of situation I find compelling and relatable in a heartbreaking way. That need to calm people and assure them that the fault is with you and not them is tragic and very much part of my mental makeup. The constant sense of loss the film exudes can be a painful, off-putting experience but that last scene feels emotionally right. In the end I know I will one day return to this film to see if my reaction remains the same or if anticipating that final scene colors my view of the story that leads to it. 

The List 

THE STRANGLER (1964) – 6 (solid thriller) 

ODDITY (2024) – 8 

SALEM’S LOT (2024) – 7 (wish it was longer but it is gorgeous) 

CANDYMAN (2021) – 8 (rewatch) 

SALEM’S LOT (2004) – 6 (Cable TV version isn’t bad)

BARON BLOOD (1972) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

THE CURSE OF THE VOODOO (1965) – 5 (rewatch)

TOWER OF EVIL (1972) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

THE NEANDERTHAL MAN (1953) – 4 (overwritten and overacted mad science tale) (rewatch on Blu)

THE 13TH FLOOR (1988) – 3 (Australian horror film that is mostly dull) 

THE WOMAN WHO CAME BACK (1946) – 6 (is it a reincarnated witch? Maybe.) 

STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP (1946) – 6 (rewatch)

SALEM’S LOT (2024) – 7 (rewatch)

BODIES BODIES BODIES (2022) – 5 (only catches fire in the final act and never very funny) 

PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES (2023) – 4 (pretty dull and pointless) 

HALLOWEEN II (1981) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

THE HAUNTED HOUSE OF HORROR (1969) – 6 (Tigon production is not bad)

BLACK SABBATH (1963) – 9 (rewatch on Blu) 

DRACULA – PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1966) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

THE BLOOD ON SATAN’S CLAW (1971) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

THE PRIMEVALS (2023) – 6 (fun stop-motion adventure 50 years in the making)

I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943) – 9 (rewatch)

HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944) – 7 (rewatch) 

SHE DEVIL (1957) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) 

FINAL PRAYER (a.k.a. The Borderlands) (2013) – 7 (British found footage creeper about a team investigating a possible miracle) 

I SAW THE TV GLOW (2024) – 5 (melancholy drips from every scene and the intense sadness of the main character is palpable but it didn’t really connect with me)

THE PHANTOM SPEAKS (1945) – 6 (rewatch on Blu)

THE UNKNOWN TERROR (1957) – 6 (rewatch on  Blu)

THE LADY AND THE MONSTER (1945) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

SMILE 2 (2024) – 7 

MARK OF THE VAMPIRE (1935) – 7 (rewatch on Blu) 

THE WITCH’S MIRROR (1962) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

DRACULA’S DAUGHTER (1936) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

THE MASK OF SATAN (1989) – 6 (Lamberto Bava’s version of the tale) (rewatch)

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween!

 

Video - THE MASK OF SATAN (1989)

This is not the classic Mario Bava film from 1960. This is the film of the same title directed by his son Lamberto Bava for Italian television in 1989. It uses the same story for inspiration but plays out like the third DEMONS movie with lots of possessions, a doomed romantic relationship, some demonic seduction and lots of surreal happenings that cast doubt on everything we are shown. The effects work by Italian master Sergio Stivaletti is pretty great and the cast throws themselves into the madness. This won't be everyone's cup of tea but I enjoy it and wish a Blu-Ray existed.  

DC's Weird War Tales Cover Gallery