Retro Scary Movie: The Sentinel

Did you know the doorway to Hell was located in New York City? No, we're not talking about the plot of Ghostbusters (1984). Let's take a look at the 1977 thriller The Sentinel. Released toward the end of the occult movie cycle which began with films like Rosemary's Baby (1968) and The Exorcist (1973), the movie tells the story of fashion model Alison Parker, who moves into an apartment in a converted brownstone. She's a distraught young woman who has survived a suicide attempt. The other occupants of the building all act strangely, including an eccentric old man named Charles, who keeps trying to ingratiate himself with her, and insert himself into her life. Weird and disturbing events begin to swirl around Alison; she sleepwalks, has intense nightmares and flashbacks to her suicide attempt. When she complains about the constant noise her neighbors are making, she discovers there really aren't any other people in the building except herself and a blind priest named Father Halliran, who lives on the top floor. But what is causing these odd disturbances?

Alison's boyfriend Michael does some research on the building, and makes a startling discovery. The house is owned by the Catholic Church, and has an odd history. But who is Father Halliran? Is he trying to help Alison or harm her? And what about Michael? A cop keeps visiting Alison and telling her Michael may have been involved in the death of his wife. As the secrets of the building come to light, and the evil forces that are haunting her reveal themselves, Alison's true role in these events becomes clear. One thing is for certain; she has a very important part to play, and her life will never be the same. The Sentinel is perhaps not the best of the 1970s wave of satanic-themed horror tales, but it has some frightening and eerie moments. Directed by Michael Winner (best known for his work on several Charles Bronson films) the movie has what they used to call an "all-star" cast, including Burgess Meredith, John Carradine, Ava Gardner, Eli Wallach, Beverly D'Angelo, Chris Sarandon and Cristina Raines as Alison. You can also spot Jerry Ohrbach, Christopher Walken & Jeff Goldblum in minor roles.

The movie is based on a novel by Jeffrey Konvitz, who also co-wrote the screenplay. He did pen a sequel to The Sentinel, entitled The Guardian, which has not been adapted for the screen. If you're a fan of these types of movies, The Sentinel is worth a look. The location filming in New York City truly adds to the film's overall effectiveness. I remember seeing it on late night TV back in the early 80s, and it definitely creeped me out. It's sort of a combination of the haunted house and demonic sub-genres of horror. The Sentinel would make perfect October/Halloween themed viewing. It is available on Blu-ray from Scream Factory with some fine extras: three different commentary tracks, including one by author Konvitz as well as one by star Raines, and another by director Winner. There's also a video interview with the film's assistant director, and some trailers and ad art galleries. Here's a link to the original trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMIssiMkt04.

The Adventures of Steed and Mrs. Peel

Speak the words “Mrs. Peel, We’re Needed” in the company of a classic TV fan and you’ll likely bring back memories of The Avengers, which starred Patrick Macnee as government agent John Steed. Although Macnee had several co-stars over the course of the show’s six season run (including Honor Blackman as Cathy Gale) his best remembered partner is probably the lovely and dangerous Emma Peel, played by Diana Rigg. Their sparkling chemistry, as well as the show’s offbeat stories and very British sense of humor, were an instant hit with viewers when ABC began showing the Macnee-Rigg episodes in 1966. That was the first time The Avengers aired in the States, though it was actually the show’s fourth season. If you’re looking for a few episodes to watch to get the flavor of the series, I’d like to recommend these five episodes as a starting point:

Steed & Mrs. Peel go shopping in Death At Bargain Prices

“Death At Bargain Prices” – Season 4

An agent is mysteriously killed at a department store while searching for a missing scientist. Steed and Mrs. Peel are called upon to investigate. Emma goes undercover as a store employee, and Steed snoops around as a customer. As our heroes try to solve the agent’s murder and locate the scientist, they discover a nefarious plot to destroy London. This episode features some of the best scenes of the Macnee-Rigg era, with the usual excellent byplay between the two stars. It’s written by longtime Avengers scribe Brian Clemens, and directed by British cinema veteran Charles Crichton, who later went on to helm A Fish Called Wanda.

“Castle De’ath” – Season 4

It’s an eerie story about dead agents, ghosts, submarines, and the price of fish. At a Scottish castle, Steed is posing as a historian named “McSteed” and Emma as a consultant who wants to turn the place into a tourist attraction. The two brothers who live at the castle are at odds about what to do to honor their family legacy, but there’s more going on at this stately home than meets the eye. The episode gives viewers the opportunity to see Macnee in a kilt instead of his usual tailored suit and bowler, and Rigg wandering the castle in her nightgown. And just where does that iron maiden in the basement fit in? This entry features nice guest turns from British film and television stalwarts Gordon Jackson and Robert Urquhart as the sparring brothers of Clan De’ath.

“What The Butler Saw” – Season 4

Among a group of high-ranking officials, someone is leaking government secrets. In order to discover the culprit, Steed joins a butler training school (yes, you read that correctly) and Mrs. Peel has to cozy up to a womanizing member of the group. Macnee gets to wear a number of disguises in the episode (each a bit more outlandish than the last) and Emma tries something called “Operation Fascination” to land her target among the group. There’s a lot of sharp dialogue, and not so subtle nods to Get Smart’s famous “Cone of Silence,” and perhaps, 007 himself. This Brian Clemens penned outing is a great deal of fun.

“Who’s Who???” – Season 5

Most classic genre shows found themselves doing a body or mind switch tale at some point during their runs, and The Avengers was no exception. Enemy agents named Basil and Lola use an experimental machine to swap minds with our dynamic duo, leaving Steed and Mrs. Peel trapped in their bodies. It’s a delightfully daffy romp as the evil duo make the most of their time in our heroes’ bodies, and Steed and Mrs. Peel have to find a way to get back to where they belong. Kudos to the excellent performances by Macnee and Rigg, who have to act very unlike their normal selves, as well as Freddie Jones as Basil and Patricia Haines as Lola, who do a nice job playing Steed and Mrs. Peel in their bodies. Written by Philip Levene, and directed by John Llewellyn Moxey.

Mrs. Peel tries to solve the mystery of Murdersville

“Murdersville” – Season 5

Emma escorts an old friend to his new home in a small town. Soon after they arrive, mysterious things begin to happen. Her friend turns up dead, the body disappears, and no one will admit to ever having seen him. The townspeople have devised a very unique way of turning a profit by treating certain visitors to a one-way trip. As Emma tries to escape, she reaches out to Steed. Will he get to her in time? Or will she end up the latest casualty in “Murdersville?” This is one of the best episodes of Season 5, and features some wonderfully odd characters among the townspeople. If you're a credits watcher, pay close attention to Mrs. Peel’s phone call to Steed when she names their “children."

Rigg left the show at the end of its fifth season, and was replaced by Linda Thorson as Tara King for the series’ final year. The show was revived in the mid 1970s as The New Avengers, and during its two season run, Steed had a pair of partners, Gareth Hunt as Mike Gambit and a pre-Absolutely Fabulous Joanna Lumley as Purdey. Ironically, three of the show’s leads went on to be prominently featured in the James Bond film series: Blackman in Goldfinger, Rigg in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (in which Lumley also appeared, pre-New Avengers) and Macnee in A View To A Kill. The series has lived on in syndication, home video releases and online streaming ever since. All of the incarnations of The Avengers have their fans, except perhaps, the disastrous 1998 film version featuring Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some wonderful action-adventure tales featuring witty dialogue, colorful characters and of course, the sophisticated and extraordinary John Steed and Mrs. Emma Peel.

All Aboard...Hammer's Train of Terror

Christopher Fowler knows his horror film history. His excellent novel Hell Train is set during the mid 60s, when Hammer studios was turning out a cycle of popular horror films starring Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and a stable of reliable character actors. As our story opens, Screenwriter Shane Carter arrives in England to meet with Michael Carreras, the head of the studio. Carreras wants him to write a film for Hammer. Carter has just worked with Roger Corman on his Poe films, and is looking for a new project. The catch is that Carreras needs the screenplay in a week, so production can begin quickly. What follows is Carter’s vision of the screenplay as the novel’s main story, with some brief interludes set while he’s writing the movie.

Aboard a mysterious train called the Arkangel, we’re introduced to a variety of characters whose fates are intertwined. Once you board the train, you can’t leave until you’re “tested.” A creepy Conductor leads the passengers on a trip whose destination may be…hell itself. Along the way, terrifying creatures and strange phenomena plague the passengers, some of whom are not what they seem. As they struggle with demonic forces, it becomes apparent that not everyone will leave this journey alive…and perhaps some people aboard are already….not among the living. And why does one of the passengers, a young woman named Isabella, seem to find the train so familiar?

Fowler pokes gentle fun at many classic Hammer films (and those of their contemporary competitors Amicus and Tigon; you may find echoes of old favorites like Dr. Terror's House of Horrors) and throws in a freight car full of references and in-jokes for horror film fans. The main story set on the train is chilling; there are some neat set pieces, and some truly frightening moments. The novel is an expansion and re-imagining of Fowler's 2008 short story entitled "Arkangel." I would have liked to have seen more of the framing story, featuring Carter inter-acting with many of the Hammer films family, including a truly memorable scene with stars Lee and Cushing. Fowler could have written an entire novel set within the horror film industry of the 60s, and that really could have been something. Still, this book is head and shoulders above most of what passes for horror fiction these days. If you’re a fan of 60s and 70s horror, and you're looking for some old fashioned, Creature Features style fun, Hell Train is a ride you’ll want to take.