ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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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.

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

[Bud Brewster]

Good news! This rare classic is finally on DVD.

I've ordered mine!

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

[Maurice]

A little late or early for April Fools isn't it?
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* * *
"The absence of limitations is the enemy of art."
― Orson Welles

[Bud Brewster]

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.

http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/57502/Attack-of-the-Killer-Crabgrass-1958
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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)

[Gord Green]

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.

[Bud Brewster]

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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.


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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)

[MetroPolly]

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.

[orzel-w]

You'd better post an entry at IMDb if you expect to generate any kind of following, Bud.
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...or not...

WayneO
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[Bud Brewster]

[Bud Brewster]

[MetroPolly]

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?

[Bud Brewster]

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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)

[Gord Green]

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!

[orzel-w]