Films of Bert I. Gordon – Empire of the Ants (1977)

Empire of the Ants
Release date: July 1977

Cast:
Joan Collins as Marilyn Fryser
Robert Lansing as Dan Stokely
John David Carson as Joe Morrison
Pamela Susan Shoop as Coreen Bradford
Albert Salmi as Sheriff Art Kinkade 

Based on the story by H.G. Wells
Screenplay by Jack Turley
Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Oh my God! They’re herding us like cattle! 

Plot:
When ants are exposed to radioactive waste, they grow to enormous size and plague a crooked real estate woman and her prospective clients on a remote island.

Richard’s Thoughts:
I’ve seen this maybe once too often as some of the flaws were a little more visible to me this go around. That wannabe Jaws music had escaped me before but once you notice it, it’s hard to avoid it. I wish the special effects were better but they come across more effective here than in the previous year’s The Food of the Gods. And we get better character development in this one too. Yes, you gotta throw logic out the window on this one but, overall, still not a bad flick for a late night viewing.

Karla’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed this one more the first time I saw it. There’s too much that just doesn’t make sense. How do the ants multiply so quickly? They should have died on the beach and mutated far too quickly. And they just spray the pheromones to take control of the humans? I felt sorry for the old couple but for the most part, the bad people died first and the good people survived. Well, at least a little longer and Joan Collins wasn’t exactly good. There was way too much screaming and why did the music sound so much like the Jaws score? No, I don’t think I’ll watch this one again. 

Trivia:
Reportedly, the audio tapes were thrown into a swamp towards the end of shooting when the sound man had an argument with Bert, resulting in large portions of the film having to be looped.

Films of Bert I. Gordon – The Spider (1958) & The Food of the Gods (1976)

In episode 80 of the Classic Horrors Club podcast, Jeff and I celebrate the life and career of Bert I. Gordon, known by many (thanks to Forrest J. Ackerman) as Mr. B.I.G. You probably know him as the director of such classics as The Amazing Colossal Man and Beginning of the End, but he had a career spanning six decades. We’ll talk about most of his films and dig deep into two of them: The Spider (1958) and The Food of the Gods (1976).

Then, be sure to check out the video companion on our YouTube channel! Put faces to the words… if you dare!

Call us at (616) 649-2582 (CLUB), email at classichorrors.club@gmail.com or join us in our clubhouse at https://www.facebook.com/groups/classichorrors.club/!

We’d also appreciate if you’d give us an honest rating on Apple Podcasts or SoundCloud. Thank you!

You can find Jeff at:

• Classic Horrors Club
• Codex Omniversa

Coming up next month, Jeff and I begin our 4th annual Summer at the Drive-In with a double feature that’s sure to be a Shockorama! We’ll visit the Bel-Air Drive-In Theatre in 1966 as we watch Billy the Kid vs. Dracula and Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter!

Films of Bert I. Gordon – Necromancy (1972)

Necromancy
Release date: September 22, 1972

Cast:
Orson Welles as Mr. Cato
Pamela Franklin as Lori Brandon
Lee Purcell as Priscilla
Michael Ontkean as Frank Brandon
Harvey Jason as Dr. Jay 

Written by Gail March & Bert I. Gordon
Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Life to the dead and death to the living.

Plot:
Mr. Cato is the head of a witches coven seeking the power of necromancy to bring his son back from the dead.

Richard’s Thoughts:
I had never heard of this one before doing some research on Mr. B.I.G. and Orson Welles in a lead role immediately stirred my interests. Unfortunately, his role is far too small as he is one of the more interesting elements of the story. The story tends to meander around without any solid direction and Lori’s character tends to be a little annoying at times. There are elements of a good story, if not unoriginal (Rosemary’s Baby anyone?), but the end result is simply confusing at times with lots of plot holes that are never really addressed. I might watch this again but I’m not expecting it to make any more sense with repeated viewings.

Trivia:
Released in the early 80s as a soft-core film under the title of The Witching with additional nudity and a different ending.

Films of Bert I. Gordon – Picture Mommy Dead (1966)

Picture Mommy Dead
Release date: November 2, 1966

Cast:
Don Ameche as Edward Shelley
Martha Hyer as Francine Shelley
Susan Gordon as Susan Shelley
Zsa Zsa Gabor as Jessica Flagmore Shelley

Screenplay by Robert Sherman
Directed by Bert I. Gordon

I loved you once. But, you became poor – and I became bored. So bored, I could die!

Plot:
When Susan is released from a mental asylum, she returns home to find her father has remarried to a woman only interested in the money, which is running out. But there is a necklace missing since the night Susan witnessed her mother’s death…or was it murder?

Richard’s Thoughts:
I had seen this one once before and immediately remembered most of it as soon as I saw Susan walking away from the asylum. I actually enjoyed this one more than I probably should because it certainly has some flaws. For starters, young Susan becomes tiresome and a bit annoying as she is still struggling mentally with the death/murder of her mother. There’s also some plot holes along the way and the ending leaves a few questions as to what comes next for the father and daughter.  That said, it’s still a well-made film and, in many ways, one of the more accomplished films that Bert I. Gordon made. It’s a little campy at times but if you don’t let that hold you back too much, I think there’s definitely something here to enjoy. I’d watch this one again.  

Trivia:
Bert considered some 90 other actresses before he decided to cast his daughter Susan in the role of Susan Shelley. This would be her last film.

Films of Bert I. Gordon – Village of the Giants (1965)

Village of the Giants
Release date: October 20, 1965

Cast:
Tommy Kirk as Mike
Johnny Crawford as Horsey
Beau Bridges as Fred
Ron Howard as Genius 

Based on the novel The Food of the Gods and How it Came to Earth by H.G. Wells
Screenplay by Alan Caillou
Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Teen-agers zoom to supersize and terrorize a town!

Plot:
A young boy known as Genius creates a mysterious substance called Goo that causes animals and humans to grow to an enormous size. When a group of rowdy teenagers eat some, they soon begin to terrorize the town and it’s up to the local kids to stop them.

Richard’s Thoughts:
I have seen this one once before and I didn’t care for it originally. On this second viewing, I went in with a different mindset, knowing that none of it was to be taken seriously. The end result was a much better experience but, to be honest, the movie still isn’t really that good. However, it crosses that “so bad it’s good” line. It’s all goofy fun from the infectious music (which I love) to the ridiculous dancing and hilarious goofs (the size of the props don’t match the giant teenagers). I’m still left wondering how the teens get in and out of the old movie theater so easily but logic must be thrown out the window. It’s a far cry from the original source material but sometimes you want to turn your brain off and just be mindlessly entertained. On that level, this movie succeeds and yes, I’d probably watch it again when I’m in the right mood. 

Trivia:
Future pop music sensation Toni Basil plays a dancing character called Red and is the choreographer for the film.

Films of Bert I. Gordon – The Magic Sword (1962)

The Magic Sword
Release date: February 22, 1962

Cast:
Basil Rathbone as Lodac
Estelle Winwood as Sybil
Gary Lockwood as Sir George
Anne Helm as Princess Helene
Liam Sullivan as Sir Branton

Screenplay by Bernard C. Schoenfeld
Story & Directed by Bert I. Gordon

The most incredible weapon ever wielded.

Plot:
Sir George begins a quest to save a princess from an evil wizard using the weapons of his sorceress foster mother with the help of six knights.

Richard’s Thoughts:
This was a second viewing for me and I liked it even more this time. It’s a fun-filled sword and sorcery flick that reminds me of something I might have watched on a weekend afternoon as a kid. It’s a simple adventure of good vs. evil with a young Gary Lockwood turning in a good performance as our hero and the great Basil Rathbone wonderfully playing an evil wizard. I wish they would have had the money to do stop motion animation for the dragon, as that really would have elevated this movie. But the dragon we get isn’t that bad, just not quite animated enough. That said, I’d recommend this one and will definitely watch it again. 

Karla’s Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this one as it’s my favorite Bert I. Gordon film to date. It has a good story with characters you can genuinely like. Basil Rathbone was great as the evil wizard. The special effects are weak, especially the dragon, but you can look past those issues. Of course, the happy ending always leaves me satisfied as the guy gets the girl and the knights all returned for more adventures. I’d watch this one again.

Trivia:
Richard Kiel reportedly played an uncredited “Pinhead #1” under the name Dick Kiel.

Films of Bert I. Gordon – Tormented (1960)

Tormented
Release date: September 22, 1960

Cast:
Richard Carlson as Tom Stewart
Susan Gordon as Sandy Hubbard
Lugene Sanders as Meg Hubbard
Juli Reding as Vi Mason
Joe Turkel as Nick the Blackmailer
Lillian Adams as Mrs. Ellis 

Screenplay by George Worthing Yates
Story & Directed by Bert I. Gordon

It’s bad enough to accept a musician into this family,
but a jazz musician is asking too damn much.

Plot:
Tom is ready to marry his fiance but the ghost of his ex has other plans.

Richard’s Thoughts:
This was a second viewing and after many years, I appreciate this movie much more now. Yes, some of the special effects are cheap but the overall ghost story is entertaining. Richard Carlson saves the film with his “star” power, even if his character is a bit of a cad and, eventually, a murderer (spoiler alert). It’s hard to figure out who we’re supposed to like and feel sorry for, and the ending isn’t a cheerful one, but it’s not a bad movie. I loved the jazz score at times but it sometimes seemed a little out of place. Worthing watching at least once. 

Karla’s Thoughts:
I had no sympathies for any of the characters so I was really unsure of who I was supposed to be cheering on. It certainly wasn’t Tom or his ex or his fiance. Even little Sandy was a bit annoying at times. Probably the only character worth anything was Mrs. Ellis. So, non-likeable characters and an unhappy ending means I won’t be watching this one again.

Trivia:
The film was edited down into a pilot episode for a potential television series called Famous Ghost Stories with Vincent Price as the host.

Films of Bert I. Gordon – The Boy and the Pirates (1960)

The Boy and the Pirates
Release date: April 13, 1960

Cast:
Charles Herbert as Jimmy Warren
Susan Gordon as Katrina Van Keif/Kathy
Murven Vye as Blackbeard
Paul Guilfoyle as Snipe
Joe Turkel as Abu the Genie

Screenplay by Jerry Sackheim & Lillie Hayward
Story, Produced & Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Walk the decks of adventure.

Plot:
A young boy rescues a genie from a bottle and is transported to the time of pirates and the infamous Blackbeard. 

Richard’s Thoughts:
For some reason, I couldn’t ever really get into this one. The adventure sequences were good but not great. Moments where there should have been comedy are lacking and there just seemed to be a lack of magical charm that are essential for films like this. I liked Charles Herbert but Susan Gordon always comes across a little flat in her performance. Not bad but not great. It’s a serviceable film that offers a little fun from time to time. That said, I’m glad I watched but doubt I will revisit it. 

Karla’s Thoughts:
I think Bert I. Gordon should have made more films like this one. It starts out a little rough as the boys parents came across as real assholes but once the adventure moves into the past, I think it starts to get a lot more enjoyable. Blackbeard wasn’t a horrible man, just misguided by greed. I was sad to see that Snipe didn’t make it. The genie’s storyline was a different take than what I’d seen before. Overall, I enjoyed it but not sure I’d watch it again.

Trivia:
This was Bert I. Gordon’s first feature film in color.

Films of Bert I. Gordon – Attack of the Puppet People (1958)

Attack of the Puppet People
Release date: April 1958

Cast:
John Agar as Bob Westley
John Hoyt as Mr. Franz
June Keny as Sally Reynolds
Michael Mark as Emil
Jack Kosslyn as Sgt. Paterson 

Screenplay by George Worthing Yates
Story & Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Doll dwarfs vs. the crushing giant beasts

Plot:
When secretary Sally’s fiance Bob disappears, she soon discovers her boss is much more than a simple dollmaker.

Richard’s Thoughts:
There are definitely better “people shrunk down” films out there. Dr. Cyclops (1940) is far superior and probably my favorite, while some would argue The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) is at the top of the list. That said, this entry into the sub-genre is not bad. The special effects are fairly good and the story is entertaining enough, if not nearly as compelling as other similar films. Agar and Hoyt help to elevate the film but I found the other supporting character’s attitudes a little odd as they seemed more than okay with being small. Definitely worth checking out on a rainy afternoon or a late-night marathon of shrunken man vs. giant “beast” films.     

Trivia:
Bob and Sally are watching The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) at the drive-in.

Films of Bert I. Gordon – The Amazing Colossal Podcast

It’s time for another journey back to 2017, this time for episode 4 of the Classic Horrors Club Podcast! In this episode, Jeff and I take a look at not one but two classics from the legendary Mr. B.I.G., Bert I. Gordon…The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) and War of the Colossal Beast (1958).

A special thank you to Jeff who resurrected this “lost” episode as it’s once again available for everyone to listen to for the first time in years.

Enjoy and be kind. It was only our fourth episode and we were still in search of our groove. That said, tell ’em Monster Movie Kid sent ya!