1976 British TV Debate About the Paranormal

This odd bit of television history is far from the usual kind of thing I would post here but I found it oddly compelling. Most of the members of the public represented on this show seem sincere about their odd beliefs while a couple are clearly happy just to be on TV to soak up the attention. But this short conversation does present a wide range of ideas about unexplained phenomena which I think serves as a snapshot of where the thinking was on the subject in the 1970's. It is quite interesting in a typically British way. 

UFO (1970) - Art For Comics, Video Releases and Compilation Films

I'm taking a run through this Gerry Anderson series with an eye to finally seeing the entire thing. Now I wish I could lay my hands on the various comic strips and text stories that were produced as well! Time to hunt. 

The Bloody Pit #132 - AMERICAN RICKSHAW (1989)

John Hudson and the mighty Bobby Hazzard return to discuss this late 80’s mystical mystery filmed in Miami.

Directed by Sergio Martino, AMERICAN RICKSHAW (1989) surely would not be nearly as entertaining or as coherent if it had been handled by someone with less experience behind the camera. Juggling enough disparate elements for two movies Martino somehow makes it all come together in a mad mishmash of sex criminals, televangelists, magical fires, mysterious ladies and the stolen pig idol that starts the whole crazed affair. Along the way we are witness to Donald Pleasance drifting in and out of a Southern American accent which might be worth the price of the Blu-Ray all on its own. Our hero is played by Olympian Mitch Gaylord and, for some reason, his performance gets better the more unshaven and sweatier he becomes. Maybe desperation breeds more believable acting in professional athletes?

Our conversation meanders all over the film and its various strange elements as we attempt to come to grips with the way that the plot is both insane and – eventually – straightforward. Of course, it is impossible from the start to realize that this tale of a poor college student working as a rickshaw driver in Miami will transform into the endgame of a decades long mystic war between rival sorcerers so I think it is understandable that we can’t maintain a straight-line plot discussion. In fact, it might just be impossible to talk about AMERICAN RICKSHAW in a completely linear fashion. There are simply too many things going on all at the same time! Luckily, I think we only lose track of what we’re doing a couple of times with the worst moment being when we are nearly derailed by tales of small-town strip clubs. And Hudson is still obsessed with transparent simians. Of course.

If you have any comments or questions thebloodypit@gmail.com is the email address where notes or recordings can be sent. Thank you for listening to the show and please let others know if you enjoy what we do here.

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Tarzan Comic Book Covers

Wild, Wild Podcast #5 - WILD, WILD PLANET (1966)

It's the episode we've all been waiting for! Wild, Wild Planet, the movie that inspired the name of this podcast. Join Adrian and I as we both pour praise and occasional sarcasm on this science fiction wonder. Yes, we love it, but it's also a pretty crazy film that doesn't always make a lot of sense. "Why is Franco Nero in a knitted baby onesie?" is just one of the questions your hosts try to answer.

You can buy Wild, Wild Planet from the Warner Archive. It's not on Blu-ray yet, but if enough people buy this version then maybe they will take the hint!

At the close of the podcast you can hear the song "Wild, Wild Planet" by the band Several Mouth Parts. Check out their website to hear more crazy stuff like this!

We would love to hear what you think of this film too. You can contact us via Twitter and Instagram, or you can email us at wildwildpodcast@gmail.com

If you enjoy the show please subscribe, tell your friends and leave us a review!

 

Tarzan Meets Groo Comic Book!

Next week will see the publication of the first issue of 'Groo Meets Tarzan' and I can't wait to see how these two heroic adventurers handle themselves in a team-up. I'm not sure exactly how Groo's creator Sergio Aragones and long-time Groo writer Mark Evanier feature in the story, but after seeing the preview at this LINK I'll be picking up all four issues of this limited series.

The Land That Time Forgot - Book Cover Artwork

I'm about to reread this Burroughs classic and realized that I still have the copy I bought in 1979! I have no idea how I've hung on to it for decades but I'm glad I did.