NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST

The scene with the hanging corpse

NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST (1958). Director: Bernard L. Kowalski. Produced by Gene and Roger Corman. Colorized.

An astronaut named John (Michael Emmet) returns to earth in his capsule and appears to be dead. However, he eventually comes to life and blood tests reveal that certain creatures are gestating inside his body. This is, of course, unnerving to his fiancee, Dr. Julie Benson (Angela Greene), as well as colleagues Steve (John Baer), Donna (Georgianna Carter), Dave (Ed Nelson, of T-Bird Gang), and Dr. Wyman (Tyler McVey of Teenage Thunder). An equally disquieting development is that an extraterrestrial creature somehow managed to make it to Earth, a huge thing with a parrot-like head that invades the lab and causes death and havoc. John is convinced the creature is nevertheless benevolent, but the others aren't so sure. 

Concerned trio: Nelson, Emmet, and Baer

Night of the Blood Beast resembles a gruesome horror comic book. Although we now know that spaceship launchings employ hundreds if not thousands of technicians and scientists, this space trip is handled by just this very small group of people. If you can simply accept that this aspect is a convenience of (very) low-budget filmmaking, you might enjoy this rather creepy movie which grows on me each time I see it. Although the reaction to a dead, mutilated corpse might not be as intense as one would have expected, the acting is generally credible. The influences on the later Alien are obvious. Emmet and McVey appeared together in Attack of the Giant Leeches, which was also directed by Kowalksi. Alexander Laszlo reuses the score for that film for Blood Beast. 

Verdict: Color, as usual, adds a new dimension to the horror. ***. 

CITY OF SHADOWS

Victor McLaglen and John Baer

CITY OF SHADOWS (1955). Director: William Witney. Colorized. 

Small-timer "Big Tim" Channing (Victor McLaglen) meets up with Dan Mason (John Baer of Guns Girls and Gangsters) when the latter is just 12-years-old and putting slugs in slot machines. The two form a bond and inspire each other until Tim becomes a big-time racketeer and Dan is about to graduate law school, using his and other's expertise to keep Tim out of jail. Dan changes his tune when he falls in love with Fern (Kathleen Crowley of The Flame Barrier), the daughter of a prominent lawyer whose brains Dan wanted to pick. He decides to help Tim go legit, but is unaware that Tim's associates are still playing it fast and loose. Before long Tim, Dan and Fern are all on the run from gangsters. 

Baer with Kathleen Crowley

City of Shadows tosses in a lot of over-familiar elements but the picture works because it's fast-paced and well-acted by all. McLaglen plays the usual Hollywood version of a gangster, all joviality and with a heart of gold, although this type is generally seen in comedies. Good-looking and adept, Baer displays leading man charisma and ability as Dan Mason, and Kathleen Crowley offers another one of her solid and effective portrayals. Others in the cast include Frank Ferguson [The Big Night] as the D.A., Anthony Caruso as another mobster, Richard Reeves as a bad-tempered gunsel, Richard Travis as an undercover agent, and June Vincent as a secretary to Mason when he starts his own insurance/security firm but who secretly reports to Caruso. The script for this could have come out of the thirties. Serial specialist William Witney keeps things moving, and there's an exciting climax and chase on a ski lift. 

Verdict: More than acceptable crime thriller with a good cast. ***. 

NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST

Ed Nelson and Michael Emmet

NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST (1958). Director: Bernard L. Kowalski. Produced by Gene Corman. Executive Producer: Roger Corman. 

Major John Corcoran (Michael Emmet) has flown deeper into outer space than anyone before. Unfortunately, when his rocket lands back on earth he appears to be dead. Along with his heartbroken fiancee, Dr. Julie Benson (Angela Greene), his body is taken back to a make-shift lab by Dr. Wyman (Tyler McVey of Teenage Thunder), Dave Randall (Ed Nelson of Attack of the Crab Monsters), Steve Dunlap (John Baer), and Donna Bixby (Georgianna Carter). But in the lab they discover that John's blood pressure is normal and he doesn't quite seem to be deceased. There's something strange about his blood, and there appear to be organisms using his body for a breeding ground. John eventually revives, even as the monstrous parent of said organisms -- a bear-like creature with claws and a parrot-like head -- breaks in and causes havoc. 

John Baer and Angela Greene

Night of the Blood Beast isn't as well known as other Roger Corman productions, but I believe it has been seen by many filmmakers who were undeniably influenced by it. (The creatures inside John's chest remind one of Alien). The actors all play with conviction, and show the fear and upsetment, indeed depression, that they would be feeling under the circumstances. They also have to deal with the dilemma of wondering if the alien is benign, despite his gruesome murdering of one of their number, or as dangerous to the human race as an initially sympathetic John comes to believe. The creature itself, a stunt man (Ross Sturlin) who must have been sweating like crazy under the costume, is effective enough for this low-budget outing. 

Michael Emmet

Aside from Ed Nelson, none of the others became part of executive producer Corman's stock company. Gorgianna Carter had only two more credits after this, although Angela Greene had over a hundred credits overall. Tyler McVey had over 200 credits! John Baer starred on the TV series Terry and the Pirates and also amassed quite a few credits. An amusing aspect of Night of the Blood Beast is the outlandish notion that only a mere handful of people -- and not one of whom is a physicist or rocket scientist -- are on hand when the rocket crashes back to earth! The other scientific aspects of the script are also a bit fantastic. But the movie is still creepy, atmospheric, and fun. Michael Emmet also had a good part in director Kowalski's Attack of the Giant Leeches; he was actually a good actor. 

Verdict: I confess I have a higher opinion of this movie than most people. ***.