A Book Lover's Devilish Journey

In The Club Dumas (1993) by Arturo Perez-Reverte, rare book "finder" Lucas Corso is hired to authenticate a lost chapter of the Alexandre Dumas classic, The Three Musketeers. This eventually leads him on a journey to find two copies of a rare book called “The Nine Doors to the Kingdom of Shadows.” This book can supposedly be used to contact the devil himself. Corso becomes embroiled in a chase for this unearthly tome, as various allies and enemies try to either aid him or hinder his progress. It's a search that may just bring Corso more than he bargained for in the beginning.

Perez-Reverte’s novel features many in-jokes for bibliophiles and lovers of classic literature. Chapter sub-headings include quotes from famous fictional characters, including Poe’s famous detective, Arsene Lupin. As Corso tracks down the book, many pages features drawings, quotes and clues that aid Corso in his search.  We find out information as Corso does, along the way. Much of the trivia and in jokes revolves around The Three Musketeers, as characters and situations reflect those in the famous adventure story. The novel has elegant settings and interesting characters, including obsessive book dealers, forgers, devil worshippers and a mysterious girl whose origins (and true motives for helping Corso) are unclear.

The most well drawn character is Corso. He is a lover of books, but he's been corrupted by the nature of his work. We get inside his head, and understand how he thinks. He’s been an unscrupulous man, and, as the search goes on, he starts to doubt if he’s taken the right path in life. The plot keeps you intrigued as the search for the book goes on, with trips to Spain and Portugal along the way, colorfully rendered by the author. The novel is a treat for mystery fans that like working out all the angles of a puzzling story. Portions of the novel were turned into the movie The Ninth Gate (1999), starring Johnny Depp, but significant changes were made to the story for that screen adaptation. The Club Dumas is an intriguing book, and fans of literary mysteries will enjoy Perez-Reverte’s thinking man’s thriller. Perez-Reverte is the author of several other historical and literary themed thrillers, including 1990's The Flanders Panel, but The Club Dumas is one of his best.

An Eerie, Haunting "Carnival of Souls"

Candace Hilligoss and friend in Carnival of Souls

Carnival of Souls (1962) is one of those films that truly fits the definition of the term “cult movie.” Made on a small budget, it retains its reputation as an offbeat exercise in horror. The story concerns Mary Henry, who survives a terrible car accident after a drag race. She then heads to Utah to begin working as a church organist. But as she settles into her new surroundings, a ghostly man keeps appearing to her and haunting her. She also has moments where she feels disconnected from reality, and it seems like no one can see or hear her. Why is she being drawn to an abandoned carnival outside town? Is she being pursued by an otherworldly presence? Or is there an even more terrifying reason why these strange events are centered on Mary?

The ultimate twist in the movie will seem less shocking to today’s audiences, who have seen a host of similar reveals on TV shows like The Twilight Zone, and in modern films like The Sixth Sense. The "surprise" ending works very well in the context of the story. It’s a tribute to the cast & crew that they get so much out of so little in this eerie thriller. There are some truly spooky sequences that really stay with you after seeing the movie. Producer-director Herk Harvey, who had previously worked on educational and industrial films, shot the movie on location in Utah. He employed mostly local actors, except for lead Candace Hilligoss. Amazingly, Hilligoss (who’s excellent in the role of Mary) only made one other film. She also did a handful of television appearances and some stage work. However, it's this film for which genre fans most fondly remember her.

While it was not a success on its original release, Carnival of Souls gained fans from countless late night TV showings and occasional festival screenings over the years. The movie has influenced many filmmakers, including George Romero and David Lynch. I remember seeing it on late night television as a kid. It was unsettling, and it left you feeling uneasy, like you'd just seen something very different from the usual horror fare. This is a strange, offbeat film that plays more like a meditation on life and death than a straight ahead terror tale. The movie had fallen into the public domain for many years, and inferior video copies were available in bargain bins at video stores and discount outlets. In 2000, the outstanding specialty label The Criterion Collection released an excellent two-disc edition of the film that includes two versions of the movie, a retrospective documentary and other extras. Criterion also released an updated version of their disc on Blu-ray in 2016. The movie is also available for digital download and viewing on various sites. Here's a link to the trailer for Carnival of Souls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqMEbW7Pe2I.

The Dark Truth Behind "The Locket"

As a dedicated film fan, I’ll often seek out the movies that have slipped through the cracks, the ones that I’ve missed viewing over the years. I recently caught up with the 1946 film The Locket, starring Laraine Day, Robert Mitchum and Brian Aherne. It’s an intriguing, noir-flavored story of a woman named Nancy, and her relationships with three very different men. As the story begins, Nancy (played by Day) is going to marry her fiancé John. But a man bursts into the house, and demands to speak to the groom. The man is Dr. Harry Blair (Brian Aherne) and he wants to warn the groom about the woman he’s about to marry. In fact, Blair says that HE was married to her, and it led to his ruin. He begs John to listen to his story. And what a story it is!

Robert Mitchum and Laraine Day

Thus begins the puzzle-box flashback structure of the film, as Blair relates the details of his relationship with Nancy. But it isn’t just his story. As his tale unfolds in flashback, we move into another flashback showing the story of the man Nancy was with when she met Blair, an artist played by Mitchum. During that story, we flashback even further, to a pivotal moment in Nancy’s childhood, which involves the locket of the title. So it’s a flashback within a flashback, within a flashback. Confused yet? It all works marvelously well in this moody tale of love, lies, deception and murder. Nancy appears to be the woman of these men’s dreams. But she’s a far more complex character than she seems on the surface.

Director John Brahm (who also helmed 1944’s The Lodger) does an excellent job of creating an atmosphere filled with dread and impending doom. He’s aided by master cinematographer Nicholas Musaraca, who also displayed his masterful talents on such classics as Cat People (1942) and Out of the Past (1947). The cast is perfect; Mitchum (who’s on the cusp of stardom here) is good in an atypical role as the artist who falls in love with his idealized image of Nancy, but realizes too late that his image of her is not the real person. Aherne is marvelous as Blair, who doesn’t heed the Mitchum character’s warnings about Nancy’s true nature, and comes to regret it. Laraine Day is excellent as Nancy, whose almost coquettish persona hides the darker shadings of her real self.

The offbeat structure actually works in the film's favor, as each flashback reveals a little more of the truth about Nancy, leading to a twist I won’t reveal here. Suffice it to say that you’ll be asking yourself at the conclusion of the film if her experiences are caused by fate or coincidence. The Locket is something of a “psychological noir,” a trend that was in vogue around the time of its release, along with films like Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound (1945) and the later Robert Taylor vehicle High Wall (1947), featuring psychoanalysis as a pivotal plot point. If you’re in the mood for an old-fashioned thriller, featuring a solid cast and an impressive visual style, seek out The Locket. It’s available on DVD from Warner Archive, and has also aired on Turner Classic Movies, most recently as part of host Eddie Muller’s Noir Alley series.

The Ten Best Albums From Elton John

Here's another recent piece I did for CultureSonar, the arts & entertainment website. This time out it's a look at the top ten albums from Elton John. See if you agree with my choices. Follow the link below the picture to access the article, and thanks for reading! You can find my other articles using the search function. Also, please check out the other fine writing from my colleagues on the site!

http://www.culturesonar.com/top-10-albums-of-elton-john/

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 would 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.