X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes

X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes

American International Pictures

September 19, 1963

Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

I like that the main characters all seem to be doctors.  Corman directed, and that's it for this collection.

Premature Burial

Premature Burial

American International Pictures

March 7, 1962

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Kind of boring, but I really liked the sets and costumes.  This is based on Poe and directed by Corman.

A Bucket of Blood

A Bucket of Blood

American International Pictures

October 21, 1959

Comedy, Horror

DVD
D+

Marked down a notch for killing a cat (even if it's done offscreen and unconvincingly), this is definitely not on the level of Corman's Little Shop of Horrors.

Bloody Mama

Bloody Mama

American International Pictures

March 24, 1970
Crime Drama, Historical Drama

DVD
F+

Not only full of "shock value," but the dialogue is poor, including the exchange between Pa and Ma Barker that runs roughly, "Why can't I go?"/ "You gotta stay here"/ "But why can't I go?"/ "You gotta stay here."  Corman directed.

The Wild Angels

The Wild Angels

American International Pictures

July 20, 1966

Action
DVD
C-

I liked the cinematography and the music (by future Lt. Governor Mike Curb), and the first quarter hour was surprisingly nonviolent.  Corman directed.  I didn't see Bogdanovich in an uncredited role, but he also was an uncredited scriptwriter.

The Young Racers

The Young Racers

American International Pictures

January 1963

Sports Drama

DVD
D

Pretty dull and I kept wishing I were watching Beach Party instead.  Roger Corman directed.

The Trip (1967)

The Trip (1967)

American International Pictures

August 23, 1967

Drama?

DVD
D+

I've tried to watch this before, but it's surprisingly dull, except for the set design.  Jack Nicholson wrote and Roger Corman directed.

Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It

Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It

American International Pictures

September 1970
Comedy, Sci-Fi
DVD
C+

More interesting than entertaining I think, including the then shortly to be very recognizable faces who don't get enough to do, the actresses especially.  Roger Corman directed, and this is in a Corman collection alphabetized under "Roger."

Night of the Blood Beast

Night of the Blood Beast

AIP

August 1958

Sci-Fi

DVD

D+

Despite the lurid title, pretty dull, especially compared to Corman's Little Shop of Horrors.  Corman co-wrote but Bernard L. Kowalski directed.  This is on a monster movie 12-pack, so we'll be going out of order for awhile.

Master of the World

Master of the World

AIP

May 1961

Historical Drama, Sci-Fi

DVD
B-

On the one hand, this is a zany American International Picture, with everything from very obviously recycled footage to a supporting cast that includes silent film comedian Snub Pollard, once ubiquitous Vito Scotti (his first name misspelled in the credits), and random beefcake crew.  And on the other hand, it's an earnest examination of the meaning of war and weaponry, with Vincent Price as the misguided genius.  And, yes, Charles Bronson is the hero who gets the girl, even though she's engaged and never seems to actually end the engagement onscreen.  I haven't read the Jules Verne novels this is based on and I'm sure that a lot was changed for the adaptation, but I was entertained in a different way than by most movies, especially in this project.  William Witney directed.

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

AIP etc.

August 5, 1960

Horror, Crime Comedy?

DVD
B-

This remains a very strange film, even knowing the backstory.  From the young Jack Nicholson cameo to the very New-Yorky-looking Los Angeles to the comedy style (including the obvious Dragnet parody), it is definitely unsettling, and that's not even getting into the hungry plant.  I wouldn't say this is a great film, but it is certainly entertaining, and at times even sweet.  Roger Corman directed and co-wrote.

The Last House on the Left (1972)

The Last House on the Left (1972)

AIP

August 30, 1972

Crime Drama

DVD
D

I tuned out before it got violent, but it's not like it was a good film in the first quarter hour.  Wes Craven directed and co-wrote.

Breaker! Breaker!

Breaker! Breaker!
AIP
April 1, 1977
Action
DVD
C-

I freely admit that I would probably rate this lower if it weren't so frickin' '70s in its look and sound.  Still not my genre, but shrug, it wasn't like it was painful to watch fifteen minutes of not much happening besides Chuck Norris hanging out with his onscreen brother and eating in a diner.  Don Hulette directed.