The key to the success of Rod Serling's original run of "The Twilight Zone" (and its enduring popularity) was ingenuity in all aspects of production. Obviously, the writing was almost always top-notch, with episodes boasting wildly clever premises from genre masters like Richard Matheson, Charles Beaumont, and George Clayton Johnson. Though the budgets were modest, directors employed all manner of trickery and inventive makeup effects to dazzle and/or terrify viewers. Meanwhile, the strange tales conjured by Serling's stable of scribes required fully committed performances from actors both established and new to the scene. They had to roll with the weirdness.
On certain occasions, however, Serling and his collaborators couldn't resort to special effects to transport their audience. Sometimes, they had to shell out some dough and wow 'em with the real thing. And sometimes this forced the director to scramble a good deal more than usual. Such was...
On certain occasions, however, Serling and his collaborators couldn't resort to special effects to transport their audience. Sometimes, they had to shell out some dough and wow 'em with the real thing. And sometimes this forced the director to scramble a good deal more than usual. Such was...
- 11/19/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
As an anthology television series, with new stories and new characters every single week, "The Twilight Zone" never had someone you could call a "main character." Audiences tuned in every week to see Jessica Fletcher catch killers on "Murder, She Wrote," and for Larry David to be a massive a-hole on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," but there was no single star in "The Twilight Zone."
There was, however, one person who appeared throughout the whole series, in pretty much every episode, if only briefly. His name was Rod Serling. He was already one of the most celebrated TV writers in the world when he created "The Twilight Zone," thanks to hard-hitting dramas like "Patterns" and "The Comedian," and his name was probably not unknown to many fans of televised programs when the series premiered. Over the course of "The Twilight Zone," he would introduce new episodes, tease upcoming stories, and generally...
There was, however, one person who appeared throughout the whole series, in pretty much every episode, if only briefly. His name was Rod Serling. He was already one of the most celebrated TV writers in the world when he created "The Twilight Zone," thanks to hard-hitting dramas like "Patterns" and "The Comedian," and his name was probably not unknown to many fans of televised programs when the series premiered. Over the course of "The Twilight Zone," he would introduce new episodes, tease upcoming stories, and generally...
- 10/6/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
Tim Burton has a reputation for being a rather eccentric individual, so even he will admit that it’s a “strange phenomenon” that he has had so much success working within the Hollywood studio system. But while he has had some great successes, he has also had – like any filmmaker – projects that he just couldn’t get into production. One of the most famous of those lost projects is Superman Lives, which is covered in the video embedded above. A movie Burton was going to direct with Nicolas Cage as Superman. Speaking in a masterclass at the Lumière Festival, Burton revealed (as reported by Deadline) there’s another entry on his list of lost projects that sounds quite interesting: a musical remake of House of Wax that would have starred Michael Jackson!
Here’s the passage that discusses the lost House of Wax remake:
“I have worked for several months on things that got rejected,...
Here’s the passage that discusses the lost House of Wax remake:
“I have worked for several months on things that got rejected,...
- 10/21/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Oscar-nominated screenwriter and producer Walter Bernstein, who survived the blacklist era by writing pseudonymous scripts for television and later wrote films including “Fail-Safe,” “The Front” and “Semi-Tough,” died on Jan. 22. He was 101.
Bernstein’s longtime friend and former WGA West president Howard Rodman shared the news of his death on Twitter Saturday. “Truly saddened to hear that Walter Bernstein – legendary screenwriter, and one of the great humans – died last night. He was 101. I feel so damn fortunate that three generations of our family got to know him.”
Truly saddened to hear that Walter Bernstein — legendary screenwriter, and one of the great humans — died last night. He was 101. I feel so damn fortunate that three generations of our family got to know him.
Here's Walter from 10 years ago, when he was a young man of 91. pic.twitter.com/yLGvTb3mJY
— Howard A. Rodman (@howardrodman) January 23, 2021
Bernstein’s promising writing career was...
Bernstein’s longtime friend and former WGA West president Howard Rodman shared the news of his death on Twitter Saturday. “Truly saddened to hear that Walter Bernstein – legendary screenwriter, and one of the great humans – died last night. He was 101. I feel so damn fortunate that three generations of our family got to know him.”
Truly saddened to hear that Walter Bernstein — legendary screenwriter, and one of the great humans — died last night. He was 101. I feel so damn fortunate that three generations of our family got to know him.
Here's Walter from 10 years ago, when he was a young man of 91. pic.twitter.com/yLGvTb3mJY
— Howard A. Rodman (@howardrodman) January 23, 2021
Bernstein’s promising writing career was...
- 1/23/2021
- by Richard Natale
- Variety Film + TV
Ring Twice for Miranda
Stage II at New York City Center Through April 16, 2017
During Ring Twice for Miranda, while witnessing the frequent long and drawn-out arguments scenes that pepper this play’s landscape, I was reminded of Andy Warhol’s Chelsea Girls. What kept your attention during that film’s interminable arguments among Warhol’s characters was hope of some kind of satisfying resolution. Playwright Alan Hruska is by trade a litigation lawyer, so he knows how to argue. Unfortunately his characters do not share his real life expertise. I kept saying to myself “come on, get on with it!” My impatience had me physically squirming much as I did when, eons ago, I first viewed Chelsea Girls! In addition, specters of the post-apocalyptic Spike Milligan/Richard Lester film collaboration The Bed Sitting Room floated about me. Absent from Miranda’s world was the clear social satire and whimsy which sustained Mr.
Stage II at New York City Center Through April 16, 2017
During Ring Twice for Miranda, while witnessing the frequent long and drawn-out arguments scenes that pepper this play’s landscape, I was reminded of Andy Warhol’s Chelsea Girls. What kept your attention during that film’s interminable arguments among Warhol’s characters was hope of some kind of satisfying resolution. Playwright Alan Hruska is by trade a litigation lawyer, so he knows how to argue. Unfortunately his characters do not share his real life expertise. I kept saying to myself “come on, get on with it!” My impatience had me physically squirming much as I did when, eons ago, I first viewed Chelsea Girls! In addition, specters of the post-apocalyptic Spike Milligan/Richard Lester film collaboration The Bed Sitting Room floated about me. Absent from Miranda’s world was the clear social satire and whimsy which sustained Mr.
- 2/15/2017
- by Jay Reisberg
- www.culturecatch.com
Coleen Gray in 'The Sleeping City' with Richard Conte. Coleen Gray after Fox: B Westerns and films noirs (See previous post: “Coleen Gray Actress: From Red River to Film Noir 'Good Girls'.”) Regarding the demise of her Fox career (the year after her divorce from Rod Amateau), Coleen Gray would recall for Confessions of a Scream Queen author Matt Beckoff: I thought that was the end of the world and that I was a total failure. I was a mass of insecurity and depended on agents. … Whether it was an 'A' picture or a 'B' picture didn't bother me. It could be a Western movie, a sci-fi film. A job was a job. You did the best with the script that you had. Fox had dropped Gray at a time of dramatic upheavals in the American film industry: fast-dwindling box office receipts as a result of competition from television,...
- 10/15/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Whether you’re all for 3D, or have reserved a special place in hell for those awkward glasses, it would seem that it is here to stay. Long before it turned into the latest service fee added onto the bill of your movie going experience, 3D was a fun (and new) twist for film lovers. And with House of Wax (1953), Warner Bros. created not only the first color major studio 3D film, but one of the finest horror films of the 50’s, period.
Released in April of ’53, House of Wax was a pricey venture (1 million Us to produce), but one that Warner Bros. was willing to bank on after the smash 3D success of Bwana Devil (1952), an independent production. By this point, the major studios were desperate to get people back to the movies, as that new and nasty little box called television halved theatre attendance. What they achieved with...
Released in April of ’53, House of Wax was a pricey venture (1 million Us to produce), but one that Warner Bros. was willing to bank on after the smash 3D success of Bwana Devil (1952), an independent production. By this point, the major studios were desperate to get people back to the movies, as that new and nasty little box called television halved theatre attendance. What they achieved with...
- 8/29/2015
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Each year, the Library of Congress selects 25 films to be named to the National Film Registry, a proclamation of commitment to preserving the chosen pictures for all time. They can be big studio pictures or experimental short films, goofball comedies or poetic meditations on life. The National Film Registery "showcases the extraordinary diversity of America’s film heritage and the disparate strands making it so vibrant" and by preserving the films, the Library of Congress hopes to "a crucial element of American creativity, culture and history.” This year’s selections span the period 1913 to 2004 and include a number of films you’re familiar with. Unless you’ve never heard of "Saving Private Ryan," "The Big Lebowski," “Rosemary’s Baby” or "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Highlights from the list include the aforementioned film, Arthur Penn’s Western "Little Big Man," John Lasseter’s 1986 animated film, “Luxo Jr.," 1953’s “House of Wax,...
- 12/17/2014
- by Matt Patches
- Hitfix
Spanning the years 1913-2004, the 25 films to be added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry for 2014 include Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby, Arthur Penn’s Little Big Man, John Hughes’ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski. The annual selection helps to ensure that the movies will be preserved for all time. This year’s list brings the number of films in the registry to 650.
Also on the list are John Lasseter’s 1986 animated film, Luxo Jr; the original Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory with Gene Wilder; and Howard Hawks’ classic 1959 Western Rio Bravo. Documentaries and silent films also make up part of the selection which represents titles that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant; they must also each be at least 10 years old. Check out the rundown of all 25 movies below:
2014 National Film Registry...
Also on the list are John Lasseter’s 1986 animated film, Luxo Jr; the original Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory with Gene Wilder; and Howard Hawks’ classic 1959 Western Rio Bravo. Documentaries and silent films also make up part of the selection which represents titles that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant; they must also each be at least 10 years old. Check out the rundown of all 25 movies below:
2014 National Film Registry...
- 12/17/2014
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
House of Wax from 1953 has the distinction of being one of the first color 3D films released by a major studio. In the new 60th Anniversary Blu-Ray from Warner Brothers, you can watch the film in its original format; if, that is, you happen to be in possession of a 3D television and Blu-Ray player. Even without the benefit of 3D, House of Wax is a enjoyable and lurid slice of 1950s cinema, featuring Vincent Price and numerous severed heads.
Price is Professor Henry Jarrod, a brilliant wax sculptor who’s a bit too attached to some of his creations. He’s a decent person, though, right up until his wax museum partner Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts) burns down the exhibit for the insurance money, trapping Jarrod and his creations. Alive but horribly scarred, Jarrod transforms into a murderous madman. He takes his revenge on Burke and then sets about...
Price is Professor Henry Jarrod, a brilliant wax sculptor who’s a bit too attached to some of his creations. He’s a decent person, though, right up until his wax museum partner Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts) burns down the exhibit for the insurance money, trapping Jarrod and his creations. Alive but horribly scarred, Jarrod transforms into a murderous madman. He takes his revenge on Burke and then sets about...
- 10/1/2013
- by Lauren Humphries-Brooks
- We Got This Covered
For the third year running, the World 3-D Film Expo has come to Hollywood, with 35 screenings of rare, classic 3-D prints spread out over two weeks at the resplendently restored and iconic Grauman’s Egyptian Theater.
This year, audiences are treated to a stellar lineup that includes House Of Wax, Creature From The Black Lagoon, Revenge Of The Creature, Jaws 3-D, Wings Of The Hawk, It Came From Outer Space, The Mad Magician, Robot Monster, Hondo, and many more.
The event began this past weekend, and I had the pleasure of being in attendance for a couple of the screenings. It was my first experience with the Expo, and it’s all been fantastic thus far. Over the next week, I’ll be discussing my experiences at the event (I’m attending four days), the movies, and the special guests in attendance (like The Julie Adams, Joe Alves, and Piper Laurie). In fact,...
This year, audiences are treated to a stellar lineup that includes House Of Wax, Creature From The Black Lagoon, Revenge Of The Creature, Jaws 3-D, Wings Of The Hawk, It Came From Outer Space, The Mad Magician, Robot Monster, Hondo, and many more.
The event began this past weekend, and I had the pleasure of being in attendance for a couple of the screenings. It was my first experience with the Expo, and it’s all been fantastic thus far. Over the next week, I’ll be discussing my experiences at the event (I’m attending four days), the movies, and the special guests in attendance (like The Julie Adams, Joe Alves, and Piper Laurie). In fact,...
- 9/10/2013
- by Andy Greene
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Got word this afternoon that a true classic, the original House Of Wax starring Vincent Price will be making a trip to Blu and it will be in 3D to boot.
Released in 3D in 1953 it remains one of Vincent Price’s most popular films.
The film, directed by André de Toth stars Vincent Price in one of his most popular and unforgettable roles, along with Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirk, Carolyn Jones, and Paul … Continue reading →...
Released in 3D in 1953 it remains one of Vincent Price’s most popular films.
The film, directed by André de Toth stars Vincent Price in one of his most popular and unforgettable roles, along with Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirk, Carolyn Jones, and Paul … Continue reading →...
- 7/1/2013
- by Dave Dreher
- Horror News
The original 1953 Vincent Price-starring horror classic House of Wax is getting ready to make its premiere on Blu-ray in 3D(!), and we have all of the details you need to know to get yourself dripping with anticipation!
The film, directed by André de Toth, stars Vincent Price in one of his most popular and unforgettable roles along with Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirk, Carolyn Jones, and Paul Picerni. In the movie a museum fire turns a handsome man (Price) into a human monster who steals bodies from morgue to create lifelike images in wax. Look for it on October 1st, 2013!
Special Features
House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Ever Seen Before featurette (New) Audio commentary Newsreel Theatrical Trailer Mystery of the Wax Museum 1933 feature film
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Get waxed in the comments section below!
The film, directed by André de Toth, stars Vincent Price in one of his most popular and unforgettable roles along with Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirk, Carolyn Jones, and Paul Picerni. In the movie a museum fire turns a handsome man (Price) into a human monster who steals bodies from morgue to create lifelike images in wax. Look for it on October 1st, 2013!
Special Features
House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Ever Seen Before featurette (New) Audio commentary Newsreel Theatrical Trailer Mystery of the Wax Museum 1933 feature film
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Get waxed in the comments section below!
- 7/1/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
With the 3D movie craze in full swing, it’s only fitting that Warner Bros. is looking to release one of the first feature length films shot in stereoscopic 3D as a 3D Blu-ray. 1953′s House of Wax will be available in Q3 2013, according to Blu-ray.com. At this time, no bonus features or additional release details have been announced, but we’re hoping that the movie will be available as a standard Blu-ray as well.
The movie stars Vincent Price as “Professor Henry Jarrod (Price), is a true artist whose wax sculptures are lifelike. He specializes in historical tableau’s such a Marie Antoinette or Joan of Arc. His business partner, Matthew Burke, needs some of his investment returned to him and pushes Jarrod to have more lurid exposes like a chamber of horrors.”
House of Wax was directed by André De Toth and also stars Carolyn Jones, Phyllis Kirk,...
The movie stars Vincent Price as “Professor Henry Jarrod (Price), is a true artist whose wax sculptures are lifelike. He specializes in historical tableau’s such a Marie Antoinette or Joan of Arc. His business partner, Matthew Burke, needs some of his investment returned to him and pushes Jarrod to have more lurid exposes like a chamber of horrors.”
House of Wax was directed by André De Toth and also stars Carolyn Jones, Phyllis Kirk,...
- 10/16/2012
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
They said it couldn’t be done. A fifth year of 31 Days of Horror? 31 more terror, gore and shower scene-filled movies worth highlighting? But Rejects always say die and never back away from a challenge (unless you count that time Kevin Carr was challenged to stop hot-waxing his belly hair in public), so we’ve rounded up the horror fans among us and put together another month’s worth of genre fun. Enjoy! Synopsis: In 1910 New York, brilliant artist and sculptor Henry Jarrod (Vincent Price) uses his skills to creature exquisite wax statues of historical figures. His greedy business partner Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts) wants him to develop more exploitative pieces so they can turn a greater profit. When Jarrod refuses, Burke sets fire to the wax museum so he can collect on the insurance. Jarrod, whom many thought perished in the fire, returns months later in a wheelchair with horribly scarred hands. He...
- 10/11/2012
- by Kevin Carr
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Well, the dog days of summer are fast approaching, and what better way to duck out of the heat than by spending a cool day inside, AC-blasting, with your Blu-ray player and an endless supply of chilled adult beverages. June sees the release of an Alfred Hitchcock classic (beautifully restored), a trio of Lina Wertmüller gems, a nearly lost Michael Curtiz effort, a movie about the sex lives of ghosts, and a plane crash survival tale sold on the, er, ample merits of its female lead.
“The 39 Steps” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1935)
Why You Should Care: Because “The 39 Steps,” a crackling (86 minutes!) spy thriller from Alfred Hitchcock, is one of the most beloved British movies of all time, coming in at fourth place in the British Film Institute’s poll of top British films, and more recently, named the 21st greatest British film of all time by movie magazine Total Film. The film,...
“The 39 Steps” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1935)
Why You Should Care: Because “The 39 Steps,” a crackling (86 minutes!) spy thriller from Alfred Hitchcock, is one of the most beloved British movies of all time, coming in at fourth place in the British Film Institute’s poll of top British films, and more recently, named the 21st greatest British film of all time by movie magazine Total Film. The film,...
- 6/7/2012
- by Drew Taylor
- The Playlist
Crime Wave
Directed and Andre de Toth
Screenplay by Crane Wilbur
U.S.A., 1954
Sometimes the merits of a film noir come down to how superbly directed and acted it is, simple as that. Truth be told, there are only so many variations of the same story which can be told within the genre for it to be considered as legitimately part of the club. In some ways, those are precisely the sources from which these films derive most of their strengths and memorable qualities. Noir is very much about style, which can be robustly dictated by smart direction and specific acting styles rather than by a script. That is not to say that a script is incapable of guiding the mood and shape of a story, but within noir, it is the former two ingredients which shine brightest more often than not. Director Andre de Toth, fondly remembered as...
Directed and Andre de Toth
Screenplay by Crane Wilbur
U.S.A., 1954
Sometimes the merits of a film noir come down to how superbly directed and acted it is, simple as that. Truth be told, there are only so many variations of the same story which can be told within the genre for it to be considered as legitimately part of the club. In some ways, those are precisely the sources from which these films derive most of their strengths and memorable qualities. Noir is very much about style, which can be robustly dictated by smart direction and specific acting styles rather than by a script. That is not to say that a script is incapable of guiding the mood and shape of a story, but within noir, it is the former two ingredients which shine brightest more often than not. Director Andre de Toth, fondly remembered as...
- 2/25/2012
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
Model and actress Doe Avedon Siegel, best known for her marriages to photographer Richard Avedon and to Dirty Harry movie director Don Siegel, died Sunday in Los Angeles. She was 86. Born Dorcas Nowell (on April 7, 1928) in Westbury, New York, she was discovered by Avedon, who married her in 1944. (Avedon herself told journalists she began her acting career while working as a waitress.) A highly romanticized version of their courtship was turned into a would-be play by Leonard Gershe, Funny Face, which finally was produced as a Paramount musical in 1957, starring Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn under the direction of Stanley Donen. By then, the Avedons had been divorced for six years. Doe Avedon's stage debut took place in 1948, in the Broadway production of N. Richard Nash's The Young and Fair, which also featured Julie Harris, Rita Gam, and future Oscar winner Mercedes McCambridge. For her efforts, Avedon was...
- 12/21/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Howard Keel on TCM Pt.2: Rose Marie, Pagan Love Song, Callaway Went Thataway Schedule (Et) and synopses from the TCM website: 6:00 Am Desperate Search (1953) A man fights to find his children after their plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness. Dir: Joseph Lewis. Cast: Howard Keel, Jane Greer, Patricia Medina. Bw-71 mins. 7:15 Am Fast Company (1953) The heiress to a racing stable uncovers underhanded dealings. Dir: John Sturges. Cast: Howard Keel, Polly Bergen, Marjorie Main. Bw-68 mins. 8:30 Am Kismet (1955) In this Arabian Nights musical "king of the beggars" infiltrates high society when his daughter is wooed by a handsome prince. Dir: Vincente Minnelli. Cast: Howard Keel, Ann Blyth, Dolores Gray. C-113 mins, Letterbox Format. 10:30 Am Rose Marie (1954) A trapper's daughter is torn between the Mountie who wants to civilize her and a dashing prospector. Dir: Mervyn LeRoy. Cast: Ann Blyth, Howard Keel, Fernando Lamas, Bert Lahr, Marjorie Main.
- 8/30/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
As a longtime 3D fan, I’ve been puzzled and discouraged to hear more than one director refer to “subtle use of 3D” in their films. Excuse me? I may be wrong, but I don’t think “subtle” and “3D” belong in the same sentence. The whole point of 3D is to provide an enhanced movie-watching experience. At its best, it can be a lot of fun—whether it’s Charles Bronson leaping out of the dark to pounce on Phyllis Kirk in House of Wax or a winged creature taking flight in How to Train Your Dragon. Director John Chu decided to have…...
- 8/6/2010
- Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy
Why is it the evil mastermind always gets all the glory? It’s the little bad guys of evil that do all the work, getting their hands dirty but never get any respect. Well, the movie geeks decided to change that. With the ongoing box office success of Despicable Me, and considering the little yellow Minions had a lot to do with the fun encountered on screen in that film, we’ve pooled our collective diabolical Movie Geek minds and have come up with a master plan of list making domination… the top ten best evil henchmen.
Honorable Mention: Nick Nack – The Man With The Golden Gun
He may be small, but don’t underestimate Nick Nack in his ability to get his evil duties done. As the quiet and subtle sidekick to Fransisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) he serves his boss on many levels. Herve Villechaize portrays this character, who...
Honorable Mention: Nick Nack – The Man With The Golden Gun
He may be small, but don’t underestimate Nick Nack in his ability to get his evil duties done. As the quiet and subtle sidekick to Fransisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) he serves his boss on many levels. Herve Villechaize portrays this character, who...
- 7/13/2010
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Phyllis Kirk, the star of horror classic House Of Wax, has died at the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in California. She was 79. The actress died on Thursday from a post-cerebral aneurysm, according to her former publicist. Kirk shot to fame as a model in the 1940s before embarking on a Broadway stage career. She made her Hollywood debut after signing to Samuel Goldwyn Productions in Our Very Own. As well as her scream queen role alongside Vincent Price in 1953's 3-D masterpiece House Of Wax, Kirk is also remembered as the screen wife of Peter Lawford in hit TV series The Thin Man. She ended her career as a publicist for TV network CBS and retired in 1992 to concentrate on her activism - she was an outspoken opponent of the death penalty.
- 10/23/2006
- WENN
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