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Bud Brewster
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Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17637
Location: North Carolina
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 Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:16 pm Post subject: The Blob (1958) |
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A successful combination of sincere horror and sly camp from director Irvin S. Yeaworth, Jr.
Steve McQueen (in one of his first roles) plays a teenager who runs afoul a shapeless alien which emerges from a hollow meteorite and hungrily engulfs everyone it touches.
The more it eats, the bigger it gets, until finally it surrounds a trailer-sized cafe with Steve and his girl friend (Aneta Corseaut from "The Andy Griffith Show") trapped inside.
The blob's first victim is played by Olin Howlin, the colorful old drunk from Them.
The Blob manages to be downright spooky, despite being shot on a low budget and possessing a funny rock-and-roll title theme which makes no attempt to put anyone in the mood for a scary movie. It was one of the few color science fiction films of the 1950s, and the memory of that bright red gelatinous mass pursuing its victims is one of the 1950s' most treasured mental souvenirs.
Japan released their own blob-monster movie the same year, The H-Man, directed by Inoshiro Honda (Japan's Jack Arnold), who gave us Godzilla, Rodan, and many others.
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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 Sun Apr 10, 2022 5:48 pm; edited 7 times in total |
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scotpens
Space Sector Commander
Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 919
Location: The Left Coast
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| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: The Blob - (1958) |
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| Bud Brewster wrote: | | Steve McQueen (in one of his first roles) plays a teenager who runs afoul a shapeless alien which emerges from a hollow meteorite and hungrily engulfs everyone it touches. |
This picture deserves a mention in the "oldest teenagers on film" category. McQueen was 27 at the time -- and looked his age.
| Bud Brewster wrote: | | The Blob manages to be downright spooky, despite being shot on a low budget and possessing a funny rock-and-roll title theme which makes no attempt to put anyone in the mood for a scary movie. |
Written by none other than Burt Bacharach and Mack David (Hal's brother). The opening titles were originally going to use serious "scary" music by the film's composer, Ralph Carmichael.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaaTY24Roto
Frankly, I think the silly "Beware of the Blob" song works better. It puts the audience in a frame of mind not to take the picture too seriously.
I mean, let's face it, the Blob is kind of lame as movie monsters go. True, the way it kills is pretty horrific -- being engulfed and digested alive is a rather nasty way to die. But the thing moves so damn slow! If you want to avoid being the Blob's dinner, all you have to do is outrun it (pretty easy) or just step out of its way.
Trivia note: According to Wiki, The Blob was shot in and around Valley Forge, PA, and came in at $10,000 under budget! |
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Krel
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| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:45 pm Post subject: Re: The Blob - (1958) |
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| scotpens wrote: | | This picture deserves a mention in the "oldest teenagers on film" category. McQueen was 27 at the time -- and looked his age. |
He really didn't play a teenager. They wanted him to, but he pointed out that in no way could he be mistaken as a teenager. Although I think his character was suppose to be in his early twenties.
| scotpens wrote: | | Written by none other than Burt Bacharach and Mack David (Hal's brother). The opening titles were originally going to use serious "scary" music by the film's composer, Ralph Carmichael. |
Burt Bacharach also sang "Beware the Blob", using vocal overlay to become The Five Blobs! This is what Vic Mizzy did when he sang "The Addams Family" theme.
| scotpens wrote: | | I mean, let's face it, the Blob is kind of lame as movie monsters go. True, the way it kills is pretty horrific -- being engulfed and digested alive is a rather nasty way to die. But the thing moves so damn slow! If you want to avoid being the Blob's dinner, all you have to do is outrun it (pretty easy) or just step out of its way. |
But the Blob did clean out a barroom. How drunk do you have to be not to notice your fellow drinkers getting devoured? You would think that the screams would provide a hint that something is amiss. The Blob could fit through very tiny spaces, most victims seemed to have been taken by surprise, like the would-be adulterer mechanic in the garage.
| scotpens wrote: | | Trivia note: According to Wiki, The Blob was shot in and around Valley Forge, PA, and came in at $10,000 under budget! |
The film was made by an agency that filmed commercials who wanted to see if they could make a movie. "The Blob" was successful, so they made a second movie, "The 4D Man".
When they were filming at the studio, Steve McQueen used to go out back and target shoot with his .45, shooting cans off the head of his German Shepard. The agency was concerned, as their families were often at the studio. Then one day Steve McQueen missed the can. He quit target shooting at the studio after that.
David. |
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Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
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Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 3:04 pm Post subject: Re: The Blob - (1958) |
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| Krel wrote: | | But the Blob did clean out a barroom. How drunk do you have to be not to notice your fellow drinkers getting devoured? You would think that the screams would provide a hint that something is amiss. The Blob could fit through very tiny spaces, most victims seemed to have been taken by surprise, like the would-be adulterer mechanic in the garage. |
Sneaking up was definitely the Blob's method of attack. But I don't remember the barroom scene you mentioned. If memory serves, the attacks consisted of:
The old man who was the first victim.
The doctor's nurse who was cornered in the examination room.
The doctor who was trapped in an adjacent room.
The auto mechanic who was under a car.
The attempted attack on Steve and Aneta, twarted by the cold air in the grocery store freezer.
The theater's projectionist in the small projection room.
I think that was it. The Blob chased the patrons out of the theater and it tried to get Steve the other folks in the dinner, but it failed to do so.
Did I miss anybody?
About that title theme -- I love it! It's almost as good as Johnny Cymbal's wonderful pop tune for Robinson Crusoe on Mars.
Enjoy it right now!
_________________
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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 Sep 22, 2021 9:59 am; edited 2 times in total |
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orzel-w
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Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1865
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| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: The Blob - (1958) |
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| Bud Brewster wrote: | | About that title theme -- I love it! |
A couple years ago I converted it to a karaoke track to perform at Halloween.
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...or not...
WayneO
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Krel
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| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 5:40 pm Post subject: Re: The Blob - (1958) |
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| Bud Brewster wrote: | Sneaking up was definitely the Blob's method of attack. But I don't remember the barroom scene you mentioned.
Did I miss anybody? |
It wasn't shown, but there was a scene where the Deputy talked about finding the empty barroom, with cigarettes still burning in the ashtrays. I believe he may have mentioned a couple of others, but it was the description of the barroom that stayed with me. It gave me the creeps.
David. |
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scotpens
Space Sector Commander
Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 919
Location: The Left Coast
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| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 9:09 pm Post subject: Re: The Blob - (1958) |
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| Krel wrote: | | Burt Bacharach also sang "Beware the Blob", using vocal overlay to become The Five Blobs! This is what Vic Mizzy did when he sang "The Addams Family" theme. |
The Five Blobs were (was?) a singer/musician named Bernie Knee.
| Krel wrote: | | When they were filming at the studio, Steve McQueen used to go out back and target shoot with his .45, shooting cans off the head of his German Shepard. The agency was concerned, as their families were often at the studio. Then one day Steve McQueen missed the can. He quit target shooting at the studio after that. |
"Damn, that's the fourth dog I've lost in six months!" |
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Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17637
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 10:09 pm Post subject: Re: The Blob - (1958) |
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| Krel wrote: | | It wasn't shown, but there was a scene where the Deputy talked about finding the empty barroom, with cigarettes still burning in the ashtrays. I believe he may have mentioned a couple of others, but it was the description of the barroom that stayed with me. It gave me the creeps. |
All these years, and I never caught that line! Thanks, David. That is a fascinating bit of detail about the movie.
_________________
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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 Thu Jul 06, 2017 2:13 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Robert (Butch) Day
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 12:02 am Post subject: |
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Steve was an excellent shot — sharp shooter, in fact. He didn't kill his dog (contrary to reports) but missing even ONE shot pissed him off.
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Bud Brewster
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Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 12:36 am Post subject: |
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| Robert (Butch) Day wrote: | | Steve was an excellent shot — sharp shooter, in fact. He didn't kill his dog (contrary to reports) but missing even ONE shot pissed him off. |
I'm thinkin' it didn't make the dog real happy, either . . . 
_________________
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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 Mar 02, 2018 10:59 am; edited 3 times in total |
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Krel
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 8:28 am Post subject: |
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| Robert (Butch) Day wrote: | | Steve was an excellent shot — sharp shooter, in fact. He didn't kill his dog (contrary to reports) but missing even ONE shot pissed him off. |
Well he was a U.S. Marine. The story was in an interview with the owner of the commercial studio about the movie. Perhaps, because he was peeved that Steve McQueen was target shooting at the studio, the story was his revenge.
David. |
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Brent Gair
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Joined: 21 Nov 2014
Posts: 466
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 9:56 am Post subject: Re: The Blob (1958) |
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| scotpens wrote: | | This picture deserves a mention in the "oldest teenagers on film" category. McQueen was 27 at the time -- and looked his age. |
Slightly off-topic...but even higher on that list is Stockard Channing who played a high school senior at age 34 in GREASE  . |
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Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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Brent, you must be pulling our legs! Stockard Channing was entirely believable as a pimple-faced teenie booper in Grease. Her youthful good looks are timeless. She could still play that part today!
See?
Ouch . . . 
Okay, wait -- I must have been thinking of Olivia Newton John.  Now that lady hasn't aged a day since she was 18 years old!
Oh, gosh . . . I guess Olivia missed an appointment with the cosmetic surgeon. But hey, how 'bout that John Travolta? That guy could still play Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back Kotter!
I mean, just look at him!
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Damn, wrong again.  Gee, time has not been kind to these people.
But wait! I know exactly who John could play!
The Blob!
_________________
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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 Sep 22, 2021 10:05 am; edited 4 times in total |
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Krel
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| Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: The Blob (1958) |
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| scotpens wrote: | | The Five Blobs were (was?) a singer/musician named Bernie Knee. |
That's interesting, I have always read that it was Burt Bacharach that wrote and sang the song. I'm going to look up Bernie Knee and see what other songs he did. Thanks. |
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Bud Brewster
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Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17637
Location: North Carolina
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