SOMETHING TO CONSIDER:

 

COLLECTIBLE TIME: NECA'S SILVER SCREEN, TOONY TERRORS LUGOSI DRACULA (B/W)

 

"Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make!" 

Bram Stoker/Lugosi/Dracula 

I visited Walmart to purchase workout wristbands, and though they were listed in stock, they were nowhere to be found; no employee cared to assist me. Disgruntled, I cussed under my breath and wandered, then saw it: an on-sale, NECA Toony Terror, Bela Lugosi, Count Dracula (black-and-white, Greyscale, "Silver Screen" edition) figure.

My vain pursuit for wristbands had been remedied, for it led to this, and yes, I bought it. How could I not?

The figure stands 6" but looks larger (at least to my eyes) in its fanciful, window-box packaging (adorned by stylish, silver-foil lettering). It even includes a castle-wall, coffin-bound cutout on the back, with Drac equipped with candle and ornate stick, just as he appeared when descending the stairs to greet Dwight Frye's Renfield in Tod Browning's 1931 classic. 

This is by no means a new, NECA release (with such having premiered in late 2024), but as will sometimes happen with these floating, in-circuit products, they have a peculiar way of finding the right person at the right time.

I'm glad this one found me. 

Long Live the Immortal Lugosi. Long Live the Undead Count!

MR. LOBO'S CINEMA INSOMNIA: BELA LUGOSI MEETS A BROOKLYN GORILLA, THIS SATURDAY

Mr. Lobo's Cinema Insomnia 25th Anniversary is upon us, and as a positive precursor (the first in a series of such salutes), our gracious host is showing one of the greatest, "misunderstood" movies of all time: Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (aka The Boys From Brooklyn). The 1952 oddity will manifest this Saturday Night (March 28) on Twitch, OSI74/Roku and Amazon Fire, with the preshow shenanigans starting at 10pm. (BTW: The historic contents are set to land on an illustrious, collectible Blu-ray, which one can preorder at https://www.osi74.com/.)

When I was a wee lad and discovered Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, I mistook Sammy Petrillo for Jerry Lewis and thought that Duke Mitchell was an alternate costar before Dean Martin came along. Of course, I was wrong, but being that I couldn't read the time, let alone research the matter, I just went with the flow, nurturing my misconception. 

Directed by William (Ghost Chasers) Beaudine and written by Tim (Dead Men Tell) Ryan, the plot pits Petrillo and Mitchell, who portray "themselves," against Lugosi's mad scientist, Dr. Zabor, who wants to implant Mitchell's brain into a gorilla on Kola Kola Island. The headlining duo is chased by lusty, native women (Muriel Landers and Charlita), with Ramona the Chimp layering on much of the mush, as she falls for Petrillo who's happy to ape Lewis throughout every speck of the calamity. Honey-voiced Mitchell cuts in to share his breezy tunes, as Lugosi dons his supreme, sinister form. 

Despite the fact that Lewis wished to seize the flick (i.e. stomp it into oblivion), Brooklyn Gorilla managed to make the prevalent, UHF rounds, and because of its surreal nature, it now inspires further, misunderstood fun, thanks to Mr. Lobo, who parenthesizes it with Lewis-loving, MDA Labor Day Telethon, parody skits, joined by Sally the Zombie Cheerleader, Dr. Sphincter, Countess Bloodsugar (Jessie Seeherman), Dark Sarcasma (Penny Dreadful in disguise!), Dr. Sarcofiguy (John Dimes), the Horsen Milken (Reel 7) Girl and her nifty puppet, Professor Shrimply, good ol' Kogarilla, good ol' Romana and the pugnacious, Petrillo impersonator, Gary Blemish (who, if one can believe the audacity, pitches a Birth of a Nation rock opera), plus a number of surprise guests and fan greetings. To embellish this prolific succession, there are time-warping, nostalgic segments that cover Mr. Lobo's vast, informative career. That's right. This one leaps all over the place to ensure one's utmost, wraparound pleasure.  

It should go without saying that Mr. Lobo's Cinema Insomnia Presents Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla will go down as a wild winner; so make it a point to be part of the untamed hijinks this monumental, Saturday night!

LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #51: SCHRECK, LUGOSI, ROMAIN & MORE

Little Shoppe of Horrors #51 brims of many dark beauties and is headlined by Jeff Preston's Max Shreck/Count Orlok portrait.

To accompany the Nosferatu, making-of details, Issue #51 contains two articles on Hammer's Macdonald Carey/Oliver Reed, radioactive gem, (These Are) the Damned, represented by a cast-driven, Stewart McKissick back cover. 

There's also an interview with of one of horror's all-time sexiest, Yvonne Romain of The Curse of the Werewolf, Devil Doll, Night Creatures, Corridors of Blood and Circus of Horrors, with a colorful, inside-cover collage by Neil D. Vokes. 

Then, to cap off the main features, readers are treated to a look at Hammer's first horror submission, The Mystery of the Mary Celeste (Phantom Ship), starring none other than Bela Lugosi, with inside-back cover artwork by Adele Noufaux. 

Among its outstanding bonuses, Little Shoppe #51 includes a rare glimpse into Hammer's unmade, Bram Stoker biopic, A Victim of His Imagination, plus an interview with Witchfinder General (Conqueror Worm)'s Robert Russell, buffered by other grand, sinister supplements. 

Little Shoppe #51 is comprehensive and fun: ideal for quenching any horror fan's scholarly thirst. 

Order at 

https://www.littleshoppeofhorrors.com/LSoH51.htm

CLASSIC MONSTERS OF THE MOVIES #33: CHANEY, STEVENS, LUGOSI, PITT & MORE

Classic Monsters of the Movies #33 leads the charge with Erle C. Kenton's The Ghost of Frankenstein, accentuated by Daniel Horne's potent, Lon Chaney Jr./Frankenstein Monster portrait-cover. 

In addition to Chaney's famed portrayal, Issue #33 contains articles on Hammer's Countess Dracula (featuring the arousing Ingrid Pitt); monster-movie, musical tunes; a look at character-actor supreme, Onslow (House of Dracula/The Monster and the Girl) Stevens; the revered, monster-bash series, Penny Dreadful; and 1941's underrated but enduring The Black Cat (a quality, Bela Lugosi retooling of The Cat and the Canary).  

Credit for the spine-tingling ingredients goes to Nige Burton, Jamie Jones, Alex Hopkins, David Huckvale and Marcus Turner, who excel in their knowledge and appreciation of their subject matters. 

As with all Classic Monsters issues, #33 is full of riveting photos and graphics, in addition to the ever informative "Sweeney Todd's Cellar," which assesses several new, novelty products, thus making this 68-page installment a winner for all fans of Gothic horror. 

Order at 

https://www.classic-monsters.com/shop/product/classic-monsters-magazine-issue-33/

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

LUGOSI'S DRACULA 1931: REVISED EDITION (A CLASSIC MONSTERS OF THE MOVIES TRIBUTE)

Dedicated to the late, great author/researcher, David J. Skal, Nige Burton and Jamie Jones' revised, deluxe edition of Classic Monsters of the Movies' 2015 Dracula edition is one that all Bela Lugosi and Tod Browning fans must possess.

In this respect, the 36-page commemoration is even more satisfying in its current, polished format, featuring a heap of stunning photos from the famous, cinematic production and of course, a wealth of hearty, historical background to support its making, strewn with fun facts, trivia and quotes. 

Along with the enthralling Lugosi, the authors give readers much to nibble on regarding Dracula's iconic ensemble: Dwight Frye, Edward Van Sloan, Helen Chandler, David Manners, Frances Dade, Herbert Dunston, Joan Standing, Charles K. Gerrard and more.  

What's more, Burton and Jones give ample reason why Browning's adaptation of Bram Stoker's epic novel became a landmark, thanks in no small part to Karl (The Mummy) Freund's ethereal photography and producer Carl Laemmle Jr.'s presiding support. 

Though criticized for its arguable staginess, Dracula wouldn't hold such profound, surreal weight if it had been rendered any other way. The same can be said of Burton and Jones' honorable edition, which captures the mystique of this Universal, horror classic in ways that so many competing texts could only hope to achieve. 

Order at 

https://www.classic-monsters.com/shop/product/dracula-1931-ultimate-guide-new-edition-magazine/?goal=0_5227eecab9-c0bc094d04-21511551&mc_cid=c0bc094d04&mc_eid=f3aab20d1d