From a castle somewhere in Ohio to the Paris of the mid-1930s we go for the second film in our "tranvestite musicals" pairing, courtesy of master director Blake Edwards! This time, it's a starving former opera singer, Victoria Grant (Julie Andrews) who, thanks to a chance meeting with cabaret performer Carole 'Toddy' Todd (Robert Preston), winds up as a woman, pretending to be a man, pretending to be woman, as they embark on a musical con to become rich and famous, and Victoria becomes Count Victor Grazinsky, Polish aristocrat, and Europe's greatest female impersonator! And it would have worked, were it not for the arrival of King Marchand (James Garner), his moll/girlfriend Norma Cassidy (Lesley Ann Warren) and his bodyguard 'Squash' Bernstein (Alex Karras) to witness Victor's debut. After King is smitten with Victoria, he refuses to admit that "he" is really not a "she" and embarkes on a mission to get the girl (after he proves she IS a girl). It's am amazing romp and a true tour de force for both Andrews and Preston! And then, the trio reveal why they're going with horror comedies for this Halloween's pairing, and which two films made the list!
This week we review a cult film. Okay, we review THE cult film. Our pairing is "transvestite musicals" and we're starting with the grand marshal of them all, the theatrical play-turned-movie-turned-Broadway smash, the midnight movie to end all midnight movies! That's right, it's time to get your toast and your Scott toilet paper ready, we're looking at 1975's flop-turned-cult-classic, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show!" And, although it's now meant to be accompanied by a veritable ton of audience participation, the trio are looking at it solely as a stand-alone film! Created by Richard O'Brien (who also plays "Riff Raff" in the film), and directed by Jim Sharman, the film stars Tim Curry (in his first cinematic role) as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a mad scientist (and also a lyrically-proclaimed transvestite) who, with his assistants Riff Raff and Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and groupie Columbia (Nell Campbell), is throwing a party to celebrate his Frankenstein-esque animation of his "monster," a hunk known only as Rocky (Peter Hinwood). But the surprise appearance of conservative couple Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and his fiance Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon), and later Brad's mentor Dr. Everett V. Scott (Jonathan Adams) throw a wrench in his plans, which are further interrupted by the narrator and criminologist (Charles Gray) and the doctor's previous attempt, known only as Eddie (Meatloaf). This is a one-of-a-kind experience, and the fact that it's STILL being show in midnight theatres around the world is a testament to its creativity and the lasting power of its ultimate message!
Part two of our pairing of films about satanic children covers birth through age five in 1976's horror classic "The Omen!" Written by David Seltzer and directed by the late, great Richard Donner, this is the story of newly-minted American Ambassador to England Robert Thorn (the incredible Gregory Peck) and his wife, Katherine (Lee Remick). The film begins with Katherine's newly-born baby dying and a priest convincing Robert to accept another child, born at the same time, in its place. He accepts, keeps the truth from his wife, and they name the child Damien (Harvey Stephens). At first, all is idyllic but, as the child grows, strange things begin to happen. At Damien's birthday party, his nanny commits suicide in a very vivid and public way after the appearance of a demonic hound. This is followed by the appearance of Mrs. Baylock (Billie Whitelaw),a new nanny neither parent hired, the arrival of Father Brennan (Patrick Troughton of "Dr. Who" fame), a fanatical priest who tries to warn Robert about the truth of his son, and a phone call from photographer Keith Jennings (David Warner) who has photographic evidence of something being not-quite-right. After meeting with monastic priest Carl Bugenhagen (Leo McKern), Robert realizes he must take action. But will he be able to? Will it work? And finally, the geeks and g.i.t. reveal which two totally fabulous musicals make up their next pairing!
Satanic children are the theme for this pairing of horror films, starting with conception through birth in 1968's Roman Polanski-directed "Rosemary's Baby!" Polanski also wrote the screenplay based on the novel by Ira Levin. The film tells the story of Guy (John Cassavetes) and Rosemary (Mia Farrow) Woodhouse, attractive newlyweds looking for their first apartment together. Guy is an up-and-coming actor, while Rosemary is a homemaker who is soon adopted by eccentric elderly neighbors Roman (Sidney Blackmer) and Minnie (Ruth Gordon) Castevet who live next door. Their friend Hutch (Maurice Evans) is sad to see them move away but remains supportive. When Rosemary finds out she's pregnant, Minnie sends her to her trusted physician, Dr. Sapirstein (Ralph Bellamy) who takes Rosemary under his wing. But when Rosemary starts having severe pains, and no one else seems overly concerned, she begins to wonder. When Hutch is suddenly struck down, Rosemary receives a book from him about witches, adding to Rosemary's paranoia. Is there actually something evil going on or is Rosemary just becoming paranoid?
The second film in our pairing celebrating the movie serials of old moves ahead 7 years to another episodic hero, the legendary Zorro! Directed by Martin Campbell, "The Mask of Zorro" (1998) tells the story of the original Zorro, Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins), and his capture and the kidnapping of his infant daughter. Flash forward 20 years and we meet the infamous Murrieta Brothers, Joaquin (Victor Rivers) and Alejandro (Antonio Banderas), wanted outlaws who are... different than they seem at first. After a run-in with the remorseless Captain Harrison Love (Matt Letscher) who is working for the original Zorro's nemesis, Don Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson), fate intervenes and connects Diego and Alejandro, and the former agrees to tutor the latter and help him become the new Zorro! Plus, with Montero's return comes the return of Elena Montero (Catherine Zeta-Jones), actually Elana de la Vega, and, as they say, the plot thickens! Plus, because, according to Jeff's calendar, Halloween season starts September 1st, find out what two classic horror films will be featured in the next episode!
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