ALL SCI-FI

Bud Brewster · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 4:14 pm Post subject: The Mad Ghoul (1943)

That's right, George Zucco plays yet another mad you-know-what, a role for which he was born.

In this one he's gleefully sadistic, using his new mind control vapor to turn a good man into a pale, blank-faced automaton who obediently robs graves and pilfers vital organs. David Bruce is the good-guy-turned-slave, and he does more than just walk around stiffly with his arms outstretched -- a good performance in an unconventional role.

Evelyn Ankers is the heroine, Bruce's finance', until she falls in love with pianist Turhan Bey. Hot on the trail of Zucco and his mindless minion is a police detective, played by Robert Armstrong ("King Kong"). Armstrong sets a clever trap for the zombie by lying in a coffin and posing as a tempting corpse (ghoul bait!).

Spooky thrills and good imagination bolster this overlooked little gem, one of the better "Zucco the Mad Scientist" films. Directed by James Hogan.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

MetroPolly · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2016 12:12 pm Post subject:

This isn't a great film, IMO, but it's certainly good enough to watch. Personally, I don't think Zucco got half the recognition he deserved. Not to mention, he was pretty under utilized.

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

Not really relevant to the movie, but whenever I see certain names in the movie credits I think of one of MAD Magazine's pokes. Among the prizes to be awarded for a mock contest they listed "autographed 8x10 glossy photos of Regis Toomey and Turhan Bey".

I'm poisoned for life.
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WayneO
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orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

As an addendum to the above, I find Regis Toomey mentioned in the threads for Burke's Law, Shannon, and VTTBOTS.
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...or not...

WayneO
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Pow · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2023 11:10 pm Post subject:

David Bruce said that Universal Pictures legend Jack Pierce created the make-up for him. "My skin was green and I was given bright red hair, not that you can see it in black-&-white. The false skin applied to my face was murder to have it removed, it caused me bleeding. My wife was aghast when I came home at night from the studio when she saw my bloody face." Wikipedia.

Only Universal horror film to touch upon the subject of Zombies. IMDB.