Children of the Stars (2012)

Director: Bill Perrine

Composer: Bill Perrine

Starring: Ruth Norman, Charles Spiegel, Lani Calvert, Decie Hook, Kevin Kennedy, Tracey Kennedy, Billie McIntyre, William Proctor, David Reynolds, Dan Smith, Diana Tumminia

More info: IMDb,  www.childrenofthestars.com

Tagline: Science Fiction is real

Plot: (from www.childrenofthestars.com) Using rare archival footage and interviews, Children of the Stars chronicles a UFO contactee group as they relive their past lives on other planets by making their own science fiction films.  In 1973, Ruth Norman, a 73 year old widow and self described cosmic visionary purchased 67 acres of land in the mountains east of San Diego, California as a landing site for the Space Brothers, emissaries from the Intergalactic Confederation. Nearly 40 years later, a group of dedicated followers still await their arrival. At the Unarius Academy of Science death does not exist, Nicola Tesla was a Space Brother, Satan drove a Cadillac and science fiction is real. To relive their pasts the students film their own sci-fi extravaganzas with the increasingly extravagant Ruth Norman as the star and the lines between fantasy and reality dissolve. Using spectacular footage from original Unarius films and Hollywood Sci-Fi flicks to illustrate, comment upon, and subvert interviews with the remaining Unarius students, “Children of the Stars” covers millions of years, hundreds of galaxies and dozens of B movies to present a sympathetic look at faith and how people justify it in different ways.

In 1973, Ruth Norman, a 73 year old widow and self described cosmic visionary purchased 67 acres of land in the mountains east of San Diego, California as a landing site for the Space Brothers, emissaries from the Intergalactic Confederation. Nearly 40 years later, a group of dedicated followers still await their arrival.

At the Unarius Academy of Science death does not exist, Nicola Tesla was a Space Brother, Satan drove a Cadillac and science fiction is real. To relive their pasts the students film their own sci-fi extravaganzas with the increasingly extravagant Ruth Norman as the star and the lines between fantasy and reality dissolve.
Using spectacular footage from original Unarius films and Hollywood Sci-Fi flicks to illustrate, comment upon, and subvert interviews with the remaining Unarius students, “Children of the Stars” covers millions of years, hundreds of galaxies and dozens of B movies to present a sympathetic look at faith and how people justify it in different ways.
- See more at: http://www.billingsgate.org/children/index.html#sthash.UTRxrczo.dpuf

In 1973, Ruth Norman, a 73 year old widow and self described cosmic visionary purchased 67 acres of land in the mountains east of San Diego, California as a landing site for the Space Brothers, emissaries from the Intergalactic Confederation. Nearly 40 years later, a group of dedicated followers still await their arrival.

At the Unarius Academy of Science death does not exist, Nicola Tesla was a Space Brother, Satan drove a Cadillac and science fiction is real. To relive their pasts the students film their own sci-fi extravaganzas with the increasingly extravagant Ruth Norman as the star and the lines between fantasy and reality dissolve.
Using spectacular footage from original Unarius films and Hollywood Sci-Fi flicks to illustrate, comment upon, and subvert interviews with the remaining Unarius students, “Children of the Stars” covers millions of years, hundreds of galaxies and dozens of B movies to present a sympathetic look at faith and how people justify it in different ways.
- See more at: http://www.billingsgate.org/children/index.html#sthash.UTRxrczo.dpuf

In 1973, Ruth Norman, a 73 year old widow and self described cosmic visionary purchased 67 acres of land in the mountains east of San Diego, California as a landing site for the Space Brothers, emissaries from the Intergalactic Confederation. Nearly 40 years later, a group of dedicated followers still await their arrival.

At the Unarius Academy of Science death does not exist, Nicola Tesla was a Space Brother, Satan drove a Cadillac and science fiction is real. To relive their pasts the students film their own sci-fi extravaganzas with the increasingly extravagant Ruth Norman as the star and the lines between fantasy and reality dissolve.
Using spectacular footage from original Unarius films and Hollywood Sci-Fi flicks to illustrate, comment upon, and subvert interviews with the remaining Unarius students, “Children of the Stars” covers millions of years, hundreds of galaxies and dozens of B movies to present a sympathetic look at faith and how people justify it in different ways.
- See more at: http://www.billingsgate.org/children/index.html#sthash.UTRxrczo.dpuf

My rating: 7.5/10

Will I watch it again? Nah.

I'm largely going to let these images speak for themselves...

This is for real, y'all.  Remember Paul Dooley's character in WAITING FOR GUFFMAN (1996), the guy who tells the story about his UFO abduction?  Yeah, these folks are exactly like him.  Exactly.  I was captivated by this from the first minute and I stayed in disbelief until the end.  Bill Perrine delivers a film that shows you who they are and what they believe.  It doesn't judge.  The guests interviewed tell their unflinching stories with such passion.  I'm on the other side of the screen slack-jawed and giggly.  I think they're delusional as all get-out.  For those who don't believe in this and/or religion, it's hilarious.  They claim Gene Roddenberry was one of them, although I'm sure he didn't know it.  And they all knew that the alien landing was going to be postponed when 9/11 happened. They made their own science fiction movies (as a matter of factual record).  I have GOT to see them.  We see clips in this film and it looks like stuff that's right up my alley.  Randin Graves' score is nice and under the current of the film.  It's a very well done documentary.  I'm uncertain if he believes this or if he thinks they're off their nutters like most of us would.  I suspect that it's the latter and that he professional enough to know how to make a great film and keep any opinion about his subject out of it.  There's no two ways about it, this is a cult and it's the most peaceful and amusing cult I've ever had the pleasure of coming across.

Jennie: Wife/Child (1968)

Directors: Robert Carl Cohen, James Landi

Writer:???

Composer: Michael Terr

Starring: Jack Lester, Beverly Lunsford, Jim Reader, Virginia Wood, Richard Cowl, David Allan, Don Epperson

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Jennie is 'Lolita' and 'Candy' wrapped up in one!

Plot:  You know the story...young Jennie (Lunsford) is married to the MUCH older farmer, Albert (Lester).  Dissatissfied, she looks for lovin' with hubby's dim-witted farm hand, Mario (Reader).  Jennie doesn't stop there, she wants Albert's money so they plot to take it.  When Albert finds out he has plans of his own.

My rating: 6/10

Will I watch it again? No.

This sounds like the makin's of a fun little exploitationer but it's only the beginning of one.  If only it'd been Russ Meyer that made this with Stuart Lancaster in the lead of Albert...wait, this sounds exactly like something he'd do...Hmmmmm.  Consider this a much tamer and less interesting version of a classic Meyer picture.  There's no nudity, although it certainly hints that there'd be...

Something else that makes this unlike a Meyer picture is the female lead in Jennie is weak in the beginning.  Throughout the film she becomes stronger as her hatred for her hubby grows as does her desperation to get away from him. The picture's less than an hour and a half (which helps) but it does take a 45 minute movie and nearly doubles it, creating some drag periodically.  It doesn't help that Mario is an idiot (boy, do I hate this type of character).

How funny could a Davy Crockett comic book possibly be?

Jim Reader plays it too doofus-y and stupid.  That hurts.  The rest of the performances are fine, actually.  Jack Lester reminded me of Stuart Lancaster but without his spark of fun and timing.  But there's one thing that felt weird and that's the lack of nudity.  It's hinted at a few times and there's a glimpse of Jennie skinny dipping but that's it.  It's one of those cases where having some would have help spice up the picture a little.  It's also shot in beautiful black & white and in the 60s which lends itself to exploitation pictures like this.  One thing you might find fun are the songs written specifically for the film which even include the character's names in the lyrics.  They're not all that great but they are kind of fun.  The birthday suit song is cute. 

The best part of the picture is when Albert has his Lolita bride and her lover chained in the basement and he's out digging their graves.  It's in the video above and it's a great sequence that looks like it's going to deliver a great payoff.  Unfortunately the film ends happily for everyone.  It's one of three hicksploitation pictures on a Something Weird Video DVD which doesn't have much for extras save for one trailer and the usual gallery of exploitation art with audio trailers.  Here's hoping that COMMON LAW WIFE (1963) and MOONSHINE LOVE (1969) are good enough to make the disc worth the purchase.

The Ark of the Sun God (1984)

Original title: I Sopravvissuti dela citta Morta

Director: Antonio Margheriti

Writers: Giovanni Paolucci, Giovanni Simonelli

Composer: Aldo Tamborelli

Starring: David Warbeck, John Steiner, Susie Sudlow, Luciano Pigozzi, Ricardo Palacios, Achille Brugnini, Aytekin Akkaya, Suleyman Turan, Nick Alexander, Domiziano Arcangeli, John Gayford, Susan Spafford, Pat Starke

More info: IMDb

Tagline: The powerful story of one man's quest for the greatest prize of all

Plot: A safecracker takes a job where he must go to Istanbul and steal a scepter that once belonged to the god Gilgamesh but is now in the temple of a secret cult.

My rating: 4/10

Will I watch it again? No.

I'd rather watch a STAR WARS (1977) knock off than one of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981).  At least they're usually in outer space and they've got some semblance of a budget (albeit they're almost always low).  With the RAIDERS rip-offs, the budgets are low and they're usually set in contemporary times ('cause, you know, budget).  This is one of them.  Woof.  You can only blame the English dub so far (in this case, not very) as the acting is silly and over the top, the sets are cheap, the camerawork is cheap, and so on.  It's obvious the 'inspiration' came from Raiders but I was constantly reminded of that MUCH better picture.  This one is a cheap, picture with nothing to offer.  I can usually find something good in any film but not this one.  The only nice thing I can say, really, is that it's not a complete bore.

Blonde in Bondage (1957)

Original title: Blondin i Fara

Director: Robert Brandt

Writers: Peter Bourne, Borje Nyberg

Composer: Charles Redland

Starring: Mark Miller, Anita Thallaug, Lars Ekborg, Ruth Johansson, Birgitta Ander, Anita Strindberg, Eva Strandmark, Stig Jarrel, Dangy Helander, Norma Sjoholm, Sangrid Nerf, Borje Melvig, Ralph Brown, John starck, Bo Bjelfvenstam, Peter Lindgren, Ernest von Klipstein, Alexander von Baumgarten, Sture Brautmuller

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Her body screamed for the thing she hated!

Plot: Larry Brand (Miller) is an American reporter on assignment in Sweden where he discovers a drug ring that's destroying lives, including one night club performer he's sweet on. To save his gal, Larry must blow the lid off these dope pushers and save Sweden from becoming as awesome as the U.S. of A.

My rating: 6.5/10

Will I watch it again? No, but I'll watch the kick ass chase in the fun house scene at the end.

Don't get your hopes up like me and look at the poster, see the tagline, know that it was made in Sweden and think the title means it's going to deliver something juicy and full of exploitation goodness.  Nope.  The bondage is Mona's (Thallaug) addiction to smack.  No ropes or whips or chains or naughtiness.  Nope.  It's a crime thriller and a pretty good one with some good performances and fun lead actor with Mark Miller.  He's great.  His voice sounds just like George Lazenby and he's got a playfulness about him that's relaxed and aloof.  The story works and the pacing is OK (sometimes it drags a little) but the ending will perk your ass up.  It's THE best chase, gunfight I've seen that takes place in a carnival fun house.  While the movie might not be up to snuff to watch it again, I'll certainly revisit the last ten minutes of solid action, thrilling fun.  It's in the public domain so you'll be able to watch it online for free (above) or you can pick up the super cheap Alpha release. 

Assassin of Youth (1937)

Director: Elmer Clifton

Writers: Charles A. Brown, Elmer Clifton, Leo J. McCarth

Composer: ???

Starring: Luana Walters, Arthur Gardner, Dorothy Short, Earl Dwire, Fern Emmett, Henry Roquemore, Fay McKenzie, Michael Owen, Dorothy Vaughan, Hudson Faucett, Gay Sheridan, Edwin Johnson, Edward Hearn, Jack Ingram, Eva McKenzie

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Puff--Party--Tragedy!

Plot:  A high-school girl gets involved with a ring of teenage marijuana smokers and starts down the road to ruin. A reporter poses as a soda jerk to infiltrate the gang of teen dope fiends.

My rating: 6/10

Will I watch it again?  Nah.

Here's one of a few movies in the 30s to warn the public on the evils of marijuana.  It starts with giggles and gettin' nekkid and ends with...

YIKES!  Don't bring that shit to my house!

 Doobies make you do that?

 Time makes this more amusing and entertaining than the message it sends.  It's not much over an hour (72 minutes) but it has some slow spots.  Don't let that deter you.  The reefer parties are silly and you've more subplots than what you'd usually get with something like this - Joan stands to inherit some money from a dead aunt or something and Art is a newspaper man who gets a job as a soda jerk so he get the big scoop (story, not ice cream).  The funniest part is this broad, the Paul Revere of old ladies who ride their scooters through town yelling out the news.  Hilarious.

The Witchmaker (1969)

Director: William O. Brown

Writer: William O. Brown

Composer: Jaime Mendoza-Nava

Starring: Anthony Eisley, Thordis Brandt, Alvy Moore, John Lodge, Shelby Grant, Tony Benson, Robyn Millan, Warrene Ott, Helene Winston, Burt Mustin, Rudy Haydel, Teska Moreau, Kathy Lynn, Sue Bernard, Howard Viet, Nancy Crawford, Patricia Wymer, Carolyn Rhodimer, Larry Vincent, Gwen Lipscomb, Valya Garanda, Diane Webber, Del Kaye, L.Q. Jones

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Their Form Is Human But They Have Crossed Over ... Is There Sex After Death?

Plot:  A series of brutal witchcraft-oriented murders has taken place in a lonely southern bayou. Moore takes a research group deep into the bayou to investigate suspected paranormal events. One of his crew is the descendant of an ancient witch. When the local group of witches finds this out, they decide that she must be brought into their satanic web.

My rating: 5/10

Will I watch it again? No.

The first half hour is quite good.  The atmosphere is great (I watched a really dirty widescreen print that gave it that groovy drive-in vibe), the performances were good, story, music, etc.  There was a lot of promise.  But then the second half hour felt like more than twice that.  I hit the timer button and there was still another half hour left to go. The last fifteen go by pretty quickly and the ending was great but there's no escaping the incredible drag you get in that middle third.  It was tough to get through.  If something were done about that this would be a pretty good witch flick in the swamps of Louisiana that would be great to see on the big screen.  Sadly, giving the many opportunities they had for nudity, it was always cleverly or humorously circumvented. 

See that fella in the middle?  That's John Lodge playing Luther the Berserk.  What's weird is that when he's inside his cave home, he's articulate and smart.  Outside...he's a child like oaf.  Strange.  It was AWESOME seeing Alvy 'Hank Kimball' (GREEN ACRES) Moore. 

He's always a welcome sight when he shows up in a picture and he's got a big role, too.  I guess that's not surprising since he was an executive producer.  I loved him on GREEN ACRES, along with everybody else on that show.  It really pains me that this didn't have a tighter mid section.  The movie is probably twenty minutes too long, with at least one long scene of exposition too many.   It was neat seeing that L.Q. Jones was also an executive producer.  He and Moore must have been pals since they worked together as actors and producers for a number of films.  That's neat.

Shivers (1975)

Director: David Cronenberg

Writer: David Cronenberg

Composer: ???, but it's supervised by Ivan Reitman!!!

Starring: Paul Hampton, Joe Silver, Lynn Lowry, Allan Kolman, Susan Petrie, Barbara Steele, Ronald Mlodzik, Barry Baldaro, Camil Ducharme

More info: IMDb

Tagline: T-E-R-R-O-R beyond the power of priest or science to exorcise!

Plot: The residents of a suburban high-rise apartment building are being infected by a strain of parasites that turn them into mindless, sex-crazed fiends out to infect others by the slightest sexual contact.

My rating: 7.5/10

Will I watch it again? Nah.  Twice is fine.

Nice flick!  It starts off with a soothing commercial for an upscale condo community and jumps right into...

Then some dude attacks this school girl ferociously and gets all biology class on her ass.  70s Cronenberg reminds me of 70s Romero.  There's something about how they worked with actors that makes that era of their films special.  Cronenberg made a lot of very good pictures in his first few years and you can definitely spot an early artist coming into his own.  The story might move too slowly for some but I think it works beautifully.  There's plenty of gore, lots of nudity (rarely feeling gratuitous) a good story (think INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956) mixed with THE HIDDEN (1987)), fine performances and a neat little ending.  It's enough to put back on the 'let's keep watching this' list but I've got tens of thousands of movies to watch and I've already seen this one twice.  It's easily worth a watch so find it and have some fun with a good ole 70s Canadian horror picture.