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Attack of the Killer Crabgrass (1958)
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 12:17 am    Post subject: Attack of the Killer Crabgrass (1958) Reply with quote

_________

A genuine "lost" movie. Phil Tucker directed this grim little yarn with an anti-racist message.

Kent Taylor (The Day Mars Invaded Earth) plays an average suburban family man who uses an experimental new fertilizer on his lawn.

_________

His crabgrass evolves intelligence, grows to huge proportions, takes over his house, kills his family, and applies for citizenship.

The film's closing scene shows the father of the crabgrass family mowing the front lawn to prevent the dandelions from evolving intelligence, moving into the neighborhood, and lowering property values.

This film, more than any other, demonstrates Phil Tucker's amazing ability to operate within strict budgetary limitations. Attack of the Killer Crabgrass was filmed on a shoestring budget with an 8mm camera on a Sunday afternoon at Tucker's house after he consumed eighteen Budweiser beers.

Some film critics accuse Tucker of making the movie just to trick Kent Taylor into mowing his lawn for him. If so, it worked.

Following the film's initial release, Tucker decided the story needed a more shocking ending, so he filmed a new one.

The Crabgrass family is deported to Taiwan, a country in which crabgrass is considered a rare delicacy. One year later Tucker released a sequel, Attack of the Giant Taiwanese.

The ads featured the line, "They're moving into your neighborhood!"


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_________________
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Fri Aug 12, 2022 3:16 pm; edited 11 times in total
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 8:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good news! This rare classic is finally on DVD.

I've ordered mine!


___________

The DVD has a commentary by director Phil Tucker . . . or rather, his gardener, who said that originally he had a much larger roll in the movie, but it was cut out. In the theatrical version, he's only seen trimming the hedges.

Originally he mowed the entire front lawn. He suspects Tucker had no film in his camera. He just wanted his grass cut.

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


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Maurice
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 3:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A little late or early for April Fools isn't it?
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 10:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh, contraire, Maurice! This must be a legitimate movie because it has a thread on the Classic Horror Film Board! Would such an distinguished site tolerate spurious nonsense which endeavors to promote bogus cinematic efforts?

Non, mon ami!

Here's the link to their thread. Wink

http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/57502/Attack-of-the-Killer-Crabgrass-1958

UPDATE 2024: The sit admins of CHFB remove the popular thread because of the movies controversial nature! Sad

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 2:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

More fascinating trivia about this lost classic.

In 1981, director Phil Tucker planned an ambitious remake of Attack of the Killer Crabgrass, and he wanted it to include big name stars.

Sadly, his attempts to recruit top talent were met with unenthusiastic responses.



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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Wed Aug 28, 2024 10:16 am; edited 3 times in total
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Gord Green
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 11:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote



My favorite scene from the movie is when the crabgrass absorbed Kent's medicine cabinet and got high on Sudafed and Viagra, then it attacked his wife in the driveway.
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Yes, that scene is especially disturbing. Phil Tucker's own wife, Nicole, starred as the wife in this low budget film.

There was a rumor that the DVD had "deleted scenes" which included nudity for that part of the story, but it just turned out to be a quick shot of Phil Tucker's wife getting out of the bathtub, which Tucker made accidentally while playing around with his 8mm camera.



___________


Mr. and Mrs. Tucker had a troubled marriage, owing to the fact that his lovely wife was frequently unfaithful. In fact, it was a comment about her from Tucker's Mexican gardener that gave Tucker the original idea for Attack of the Killer Crabgrass.

According to legend, Manuel Trabajo (whose surname, ironically enough, means "labor" in English) told Phil that, "You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think, señor!"

Manuel's English might have been imperfect, but Phil understood what the wise old Mexican meant.

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


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MetroPolly
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 7:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bud, I have nothing but the highest respect for you, but I have to call your bluff here.

I looked at the CHFB link, and YOU are the one who originally posted it there. Amazingly, you used the EXACT same pics and wording here too.

Unless you can prove definitively that this movie actually exists (as in a youtube or even a download link) I'm gonna have to call bull pucky on this one.
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orzel-w
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You'd better post an entry at IMDb if you expect to generate any kind of following, Bud.
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WayneO
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

orzel-w wrote:
You'd better post an entry at IMDb if you expect to generate any kind of following, Bud.

I've tried. They refuse to acknowledge the existence of this classic! It's a conspiracy, I tell ya! A damn conspiracy! Shocked
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 3:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MetroPolly wrote:
I looked at the CHFB link, and YOU are the one who originally posted it there. Amazingly, you used the EXACT same pics and wording here too.

Next I suppose you'll say you haven't heard about the proposed big-budget sequel!

Godzilla vs the Killer Crabgrass!

No? Well, folks, I'm proud to announce that I've been asked to appear in the sequel to this rare movie, starring opposite a certain lady known to one and all on this highly respected board! 😎

The poster below serves as the official announcement for this project, now in preproduction. The first teaser trailers will be on Youtube soon.



_________


I hope you'll all respect Miss Morris' shy nature by not hounding her for photos and autographs. She's a sensitive artist who values her privacy.
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


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MetroPolly
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh, I can sign autographs for my adoring fans, but it'll cost ya.

Incidentally, Bud, do I appear in front of the camera, or do my credits only include screenwriting?
Cool
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Since when does a screenwriter get her name at the top of the poster!?

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Wed Aug 28, 2024 10:25 am; edited 1 time in total
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Gord Green
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 12:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Aha!

I've heard of this "Pamela Morris"! I've heard that any film featuring her is a guaranteed blockbuster!

This sequel is having great success on the "Dark Net" where concepts that would not be accepted by the main stream are embraced for their audacity and uniqueness of vision.

As I understand it, the Crabgrass from the Unknown mutates to give Godzilla a massive yeast infection.



Who knew that Godzilla was NOT a masculine noun!!!

Vast quantities of antibiotics were required to bring the crabgrass into defeat.

Great movie! Watch it at your own risk!
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orzel-w
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 1:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bud Brewster wrote:
Since when does a screenwriter get her name at the top of the poster!?

In the Kelvin Universe?
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