THE COUCH

Grant Williams

THE COUCH (1962). Director: Owen Crump

Charles Campbell (Grant Williams of The Monolith Monsters), psychiatric patient and ex-con, phones a police lieutenant (Simon Scott) and tells him he is going to kill someone exactly at 7 PM that evening -- and he does, more than once. Is there method to his madness? Campbell is dating Terry (Shirley Knight) -- the niece of his doctor (Onslow Stevens of Outside the Law) -- who also works as the shrink's receptionist, and boards in the home of the upbeat Mrs. Quimby (Hope Summers) and her nubile daughter Jean (Anne Helm). 

Shirley Knight with Williams

Robert Bloch scripted this post-Psycho "thriller" from an idea by Blake Edwards and director Crump but the results aren't as impressive as you might hope. Even though we know who the culprit is and what he'll do from the first (although there are still some minor surprises on that score), there are still plenty of opportunities for suspense, none of which are exploited that much by Crump, whose direction is generally uninspired. Frank Perkins' score is often quirky and interesting, but it does little to help the picture. On the plus side are the performances, with an especially notable Williams (The Incredible Shrinking Man) making a favorable impression, as does Knight. Another nifty element is that eerie old estate that is visited by the main couple while they're on a date. The amusing postscript is left to Hope Summers, who also scores as the sunny landlady who gets quite a shock at the finale. This is another movie that was in some ways influenced by Agatha Christie's classic "The A.B.C. Murders." Crump mostly directed documentaries and TV shows; this was his only American theatrical film.

Verdict: Williams certainly scores as an especially handsome psycho. **3/4. 

OUTSIDE THE LAW

Grant Williams, Ray Danton, Leigh Snowden

OUTSIDE THE LAW (1956). Director: Jack Arnold. 

Johnny Salvo (Ray Danton) was paroled from prison into the Army, and is now offered a chance for a complete pardon if he cooperates with the United States Treasury. A murdered soldier he knew overseas was involved with a gang of counterfeiters, and Johnny is told to go see the man's widow, Maria (Leigh Snowden), and find out what, if anything, she might know.  Complications include the fact that Johnny must report to his own father, Alec (Onslow Stevens of Sunset Serenade), whom he hates; and a sinister man named Don (Grant Williams), who has too tight a hold on Maria.

Ray Danton and Onslow Stevens

Outside the Law sets up an interesting situation but doesn't do that much with it. The stock music from a variety of composers does its best to work up what amounts to minimal excitement  even though there are fistfights, beatings and gunplay throughout. Danton, Williams, and especially Stevens give effective performances, but Leigh Snowden [Hod Rod Rumble] makes less of an impression even in her tight sweaters. Johnny went to jail because he "smashed an old woman to pieces" while driving drunk, but -- the victim being old and female -- this is completely glossed over and only mentioned once. You keep thinking this will come up again and Johnny might express some remorse, but apparently he's only angry at his father for not doing more for him. A major confrontation between the two never develops, and the situations that do develop -- such as a fairly well-handled fight between Johnny and Don -- are predictable. Danton was 25 when he made the film but looks older, while Stevens, who was 54, doesn't look that much older than Danton. Jack Arnold also directed the much zestier Tarantula. 

Verdict: Forgettable minor film noir with some decent performances. **. 

THE MONOLITH MONSTERS

The monolith monsters "attack"

THE MONOLITH MONSTERS (1957). Director: John Sherwood. Colorized.

Geologist Dave Miller (Grant Williams of Doomsday Machine) returns from a trip to discover the nearly petrified body of his partner, Ben (Phil Harvey of The Land Unknown). The office is wrecked and full of odd black rocks. Miller discovers a similar situation at the home of a little girl who was on a field trip with his gal pal, Cathy (Lola Albright). Now the child's parents are dead, their home is wrecked, and the girl's arm is nearly turned to stone. While Dr. Hendricks (Harry Jackson) does his best to save the child's life, Miller, Police Chief Corey (William Flaherty), Prof Flanders (Trevor Bardette of Jungle Girl) and Dr. Reynolds (Richard H. Cutting) try to figure out what the deal is with these rocks. Eventually it is determined that this strange material comes from a meteor, and that when it is exposed to water it expands ... and expands .. and apparently affects human tissue. If the population of the town isn't petrified -- literally -- the whole place may be wiped off the map by tons of crushing rocks!

Grant Williams must deal with giant rocks

The Monolith Monsters might have worked better as an episode of, say, Science Fiction Theater rather than a full-length movie as its menace -- however potentially disastrous the situation -- doesn't compare to rampaging dinosaurs or bad-tempered giant insects. These are just, well, rocks. However, the movie is fast-paced and entertaining, and the cast, including stalwart Williams, pretty Albright, and the rest, play it all with absolute conviction. Les Tremayne, who appeared in dozens of these "B" productions, distinguishes himself with his fine performance as frustrated small-town newspaper publisher, Martin Cochrane. 

Verdict: A lesser "monster" movie but not without interest. **1/2. 

DOOMSDAY MACHINE

Grant Williams and Bobby Van 

DOOMSDAY MACHINE (1976). Directors: Harry Hope; Lee Sholem. 

Several astronauts, including Colonel Price (Denny Miller), Major Mason (Grant Williams of The Leech Woman), and Danny (Bobby Van), are about to take off for a flight to Venus when they are told some of the other men must leave to make way for three women: Dr. Turner (Ruta Lee), Lt. Carlson (Lorri Scott), and Russian Major Bronski (Mala Powers of The Unknown Terror). Some of the men are appalled with this development, while others leer. Halfway or so through the journey, they discover that a nuclear chain reaction has completely obliterated the earth. Will the group manage to reach Venus, who will pair off with whom, and will Mason manage to restrain himself before he has his way with Carlson? Wise old Dr. Perry (Henry Wilcoxon) might have all the answers. 

Ruta Lee and Mala Powers

Doomsday Machine sat on the shelf for years because there was no money to finish the picture. Even when it was finally released it was never quite finished, as the ending --which drags and drags -- features two different actors and different voices as Danny and the Russian major wind up in a lost Soviet spaceship. The shame is that while Doomsday Machine is very, very low-budget, it boasts some very good performances and an interesting story that keeps you watching. The shape of the spaceship they are traveling in keeps changing, there are all kinds of technical errors, and the crew, although initially shocked, never have any real reaction to the loss of loved ones back on earth. 

Grant Williams

As the kind of sleazy Captain Mason, Williams probably gives the best performance in the film, but the others are all very credible. Casey Kasem plays a mission control officer back on earth and James Craig of The Cyclops is Dr. Haines. There is a creepy, uncredited score that borrows a bit from Forbidden Planet but certainly adds to the atmosphere. Lee Sholem also directed Pharaoh's Curse. 

Verdict: Interesting casting and storyline help cope with a miniscule budget and other problems. **1/2. 

THE LEECH WOMAN (Another view)

Grant Williams and Coleen Gray

THE LEECH WOMAN (1960). Director: Edward Dein. 

Wealthy June Talbot (Coleen Gray) is ten years older than her not-so-adoring husband, Dr. Paul Talbot (Phillip Terry), and his disaffection has driven her to drink. Paul gets an idea to make lots of moola when he encounters Malla (Estelle Hemsley), a native woman who claims to be over 140! Paul importunes June to travel to Africa with him -- along with guide Bertram Garvey (John Van Dreelen) -- so they can discover Malla's secret from her tribe. June discovers the secret -- and how! -- and returns to the States (sans Paul) looking so young and beautiful that she can masquerade as her own niece. She sets her cap for her "aunt's" gorgeous lawyer, Neil Foster (Grant Williams), which sets his fiancee Sally's (Gloria Talbott) teeth on edge. Meanwhile bodies of murdered men are being found in both New York and California ... 

Estelle Helmsley, made up to look even older

The Leech Woman is a fun B movie with an interesting premise that actually could have used another 15 minutes or half an hour to develop the characters and milk the situations further. The picture certainly exploits the universal terror of aging. Coleen Gray gives a vivid lead performance in this, although 73-year-old Estelle Helmsley (mother of comic actor Sherman Helmsley) makes a strong impression as well. (When Malla becomes young and beautiful again she is played by Kim Hamilton.) Phillip Terry, former husband of Joan Crawford, offers an effective portrait of a slimy opportunist. Van Dreelan is fine and Williams [The Incredible Shrinking Man] doesn't have to do much but look dreamy enough to excite the interest of both Sally and June, something the handsome blond easily accomplishes. 

Verdict: One woman's revenge on callous male age-bigots? ***. 

THE LEECH WOMAN

Coleen Gray and  Estelle Hemsley

THE LEECH WOMAN (1960). Director: Edward Dein. 

Dr. Paul Talbot (Phillip Terry) has driven his wife, June (Coleen Gray), to drink, and is even more contemptuous of her now that she's a dipsomaniac. However, when they encounter a woman named Malla (Estelle Hemsley), who claims she is 152-years-old and that her tribe back in Africa can make her young again, the Talbots lives begin a downward spiral into horror. 

Back to beauty: Coleen Gray

Malla believes that men grow distinguished with age but that an aged woman is pretty useless. Her tribe offers its old women one night of regained youth, beauty and love before dying. Oddly, one of the tribe's males has to be sacrificed in order for the woman to have one more night of life. Accompanied by their guide, Bertram (John Van Dreelen), the Talbots travel to Africa where June is offered her lost youth -- only she must pick the man for the sacrifice. Guess who's chosen? Using a powder derived from orchids combined with liquid from the pineal gland, June becomes young and sexy again. But for how long? And how many men will have to die in order for her to stay young?

Grant Williams and Coleen Gray

The Leech Woman is a fun movie if you don't take it seriously. The sequences in Africa are quite flavorful, with well-chosen clips of wild life and the like, and the scenes with the natives are all well-played. The movie becomes a bit stage-bound once the characters are back in the U.S., and not nearly enough is done with the film's basic premise of murder-for-youth. Gray gives a very good performance in a difficult role -- she pretends to be her own niece once she's young again -- but is on top of things all the way through. Terry is fine as the oily and distasteful Paul, Van Dreelen makes a convincing Bertram, and Grant Williams [Soldiers of Fortune] and Gloria Talbott are also good as June's somewhat sleazy lawyer and his over-anxious fiancee. Virtually every character in the movie is a certified creep. Irving Getz' score and a fast pace are decided assets. 

Verdict: Ridiculous but amusing horror flick with a solid lead performance. ***.

SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE

John Russell and Chick Chandler

SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE 1955 - 1957 syndicated television series.

This half hour show lasted two seasons and concerned the exploits of two adventurers who would do just about anything and go anywhere if the pay was right: Tim Kelly (John Russell) and Toubo Smith (Chick Chandler). The show used old sets from Republic films and serials as well as a lot of adroitly-employed stock footage. Russell and Chandler -- the former tall, handsome and macho, with a splendid physique, the latter short and plucky -- complimented each other perfectly.

Chandler and Russell

In one first season episode Kelly suggests that Toubo is getting too old and tired, should settle down and marry, he's over the hill. "A friend shouldn't say that to a friend," says an offended Toubo. "Who says you're a friend," replies Kelly "We travel around together," protests Toubo. To which Kelly replies, "I'm just keeping you out of trouble." The viewer honestly doesn't know if Kelly is joking or not, but in an episode in the second season, Kelly clearly risks his life to save his buddy's when the latter is nearly sacrificed to natives, so there's no doubt that there is a genuine bond of friendship between the two men.

John Russell before his Lawman TV series mustache

Soldiers of Fortune was not a classic series, but it was entertaining and (via stock footage and standing sets) managed to send the boys all over the world. Among the more memorable "A" episodes were the following: a woman is plagued by a voodoo cult in "Drums of Far Island;" a Chinese salesman in Limehouse is embroiled in a smuggling plot in "Hatchet Man;" sabotage holds up construction of an underwater tunnel in Cuba in "Sandhogs;" and the boys go undercover on a cargo ship with a sinister crew in "Crew of the Dolly D." 

Chick Chandler

Out of fifty-two episodes I have managed to see all but five, but at least half are of B+ quality. Guest-stars include Henry Brandon ("Greatest Beast" -- was an oil man killed by a Tibetan monster?); Jay Novello ("Vanishing Island" -- that  occasionally rises to the surface and holds a treasure); Beverly Garland ("Lady and the Lion" -- intrigue on an African film set); Jean Byron ("Tattooed Lady of Torima" -- a beautiful woman runs a diamond racket in Columbia); Michael Emmet ("Skull of the Inca" -- an educated native returns to headhunter land to find treasure and encounters giant lizards from One Million B.C. instead). 

"City of Doom" with Pamela Duncan

Also Grant Williams ("Lady of Rajmahal" -- a rajah's frightened wife wants to leave home with some priceless art treasures); Adele Jurgens ("Danger Sisters" -- two gals with a knife-throwing act get into trouble in Tangier); and Pamela Duncan ("The City of Doom" -- a maharajah's sister fears that a cult that is against progress will eventually destroy the city). Many episodes featured women whom at first seemed warm and sympathetic and turned out to have a dagger up their sleeves, and duplicitous characters of both sexes abounded. 

Verdict: Basically a fun if imperfect series that was easy to take. **1/2.