Ralph Bates Biography

Fans of Hammer Horror should be well aware of the name of Ralph Bates. He was one of the next generation stars of Hammer, one to take the lead from the likes of Cushing and Lee and continue the tradition that they started. Unfortunately, Hammer didn’t last that much longer. In that short time though, Bates did appear in a few of their pictures and always turning a memorable performance. He appeared in Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970), The Horror of Frankenstein (1970), Lust for a Vampire (1971), Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971), and Fear in the Night (1972). It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if Hammer would have continued their ran of cinematic terrors.

But now you can learn all about those films, as well as the rest of Bates career and life in this new biography from author Christopher Gullo, entitled simply Ralph Bates: A Biography. Published by Midnight Marquee, it covers the actor’s life from his childhood, where he started to develop an interests in the theater, as well as once he started working with Hammer, and the multiple television appearances that he made.

With 165 family photos, including many never-before-seen ones, as well as getting to hear from over 70 different family, friends, and co-workers that the author sought out for this book, all helps to show the life of this incredibly talented man. Gullo is donating all his personal proceeds from the sale of this book to the Ralph Bates Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund. This was created to honor Bates, who passed away in 1991 from this disease.

To order it from Midnight Marquee, just click HERE.

Mystery Photo 9-24

A little late today, but still got it posted. Busy weekend at the Drive-in, so it kind of drained me on Sunday. Getting too old to be staying up so late!

Anyway, our photo from last week was of course from Dario Argento’s Tenebre (1982). Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Wendy Bodine, Troy Howarth, Bryan Martinez, Baron Martino, and William Wilson.

Now to this week’s photo, which again, might be a little tougher. Or not. Take a look and see what you can come up with. I will say there is a little trick here, but since it’s almost October, I figured I’d start early. Please remember not to post your answers here, so that others can have a chance. Just send me your guess in an email (jon@kitleyskrypt.com). Good Luck!

Night of the Living Dead 50th Anniversary Screenings!

 

That’s right, folks. It was 50 years ago that George Romero changed the face of horror cinema when he released his zombies onto the world in his little indie film Night of the Living Dead. I’m pretty sure all horror fans out there have seen Night, probably more than a few times. But have you had the chance to see it on the big screen? No? Then now is your chance.

Mystery Photo 9-17

Just as I expected, we didn’t get too many correct responses from our last photo. Had a few good guesses, but the only one that came through was Hoby Abernathy. It might make you feel better by knowing that according to author Caelum Vatnsdal, he stated that this film “just might be the rarest Canadian horror film ever made.” The film is Corpse Eaters and came out in 1974. It did get a DVD release some time ago, but even those are pretty tough to find. It is available on YouTube though, so I would suggest checking it out. Don’t expect a lost classic, but it is cheesy and fun.

So let’s get to this week’s photo, which I will say might be a wee bit easier than that last one. As always, please remember not to post your answers here so others can have a chance at guessing. Just send your answers to us in an email (jon@kitleyskrypt.com). Good Luck!

Dust-to-Dawn Horrorfest at the Midway Next Weekend!

Next weekend we will be heading out the Midway Drive-In for their annual Dust-to-Dawn Horrorfest, and this year they have one hell of a lineup. Then again, they always do! This year’s lineup consists of the following titles:

• The Thing (1982) – John Carpenter’s incredible remake that has never lost its impact!
• The Blob (1988) – Chuck Russell & Frank Darabont’s excellent remake of this great classic, and one that still holds up.
• The Funhouse (1981) – One of Tobe Hooper’s lesser known films but that is a great chapter to his long career.
• Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (1988) – With a title like that, can you tell it was directed by Fred Olen Ray? Starring Linnea Quigley, Michelle Bauer, and Leatherface himself, Gunnar Hansen. As the ads say, “They Charge an Arm and a Leg!”

Vault of Frankenstein Book

One of the many things that I’ve loved about the fact that this year is the 200th Anniversary of when Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, was first published, is the attention that it has been getting. Especially in the book world! I think I have picked up more books on Frankenstein, the original novel, Shelley, and the movies, this year than I have in over the last decade. And that is definitely a good thing, that Shelley’s creation and all its decedents are getting this much attention. And now, coming out later this month, is another title, The Vault of Frankenstein: 200 Years of the World’s Most Famous Monster, by Paul Ruditis.

Since I’ve just ordered my copy, all I can say about this book is what is listed on the Amazon page, but it looks pretty fun and will be a welcome edition to my Frankenstein section in my library. It retails for $29.99 and is a 176 pages that is filled with different aspects about Shelley, the novel, the films, as well as the cultural impact that it has made over the last two centuries.

A bonus to this book is the memorabilia replicas that have been created for the book, that comes in an envelope that has little movie posters, the playbill for the first stage adaptation of Shelley’s novel, and much more.

The book comes out in a couple of weeks, I’m sure I’ll have a full review posted at some point. But until then, let’s keep this Frankenstein celebration moving!

Soundtrack Review: More Music from the Further

More Music from the Further
Released by Void Recordings, 2018.
27 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 50:41 min.
Music By Joseph Bishara

What we have here are unreleased and/or developmental pieces from the first three Insidious pictures, that are on “display” here for audiences to hear. It is interesting to hear parts of scores, as opposed to hearing it as a whole. But it still works.

I’ve always found that there are two different types of scores. Sometimes they are intermixed or sometimes they keep themselves separate. One of them is more of an orchestrated score, filled with melodies and themes, that grab hold with an emotional hook to the listener. Then there are those that are more…sounds. Some might call them noise but I think that takes away any decision on how it should sound or that it isn’t planned. It could be a low rumbling or buzzing sound. It could just the sound of a bow being slowly rubbed across the strings on a cello. No melody, not theme, just a sound to hook into an emotion as well, but using a different approach. Some might have a preference, but it doesn’t mean that either way is more effective than the other.