Once More Into The Beach...Movies

The eyes are like two limpid pools
But guys, not the cue balls in ghouls!
It's haunted, the sea
And daunted you'll be
Surprise! This thing chews human fools!

The make-out session between Antony Carbone and Betsy Jones-Moreland is interrupted by the Creature from the Haunted Sea (Roger Corman; 1961).

Bring Me the Head of Roger Corman

This beast tears the head from the neck
Deceased, guys have bled all to heck
This picture's so bad
Dead victims stay mad
At least they see red, not this dreck.

Night of the Blood Beast (Bernard L. Kowalski;1958) was produced by exploitation expert Roger Corman and his brother Gene.

Interred Sandman

When you sleep in the grave, do you dream?
Counting sheep would be brave, it would seem
When you find you're interred
Does your mind become blurred?
Buried deep, do you rave, rant and scream? 

David Cairns

Ray Milland stars in The Premature Burial (Roger Corman; 1962), which was based on the story by Edgar Allen Poe. 

Stone-Age Kicks

No adult that they know understands
Teen culture aglow, holding hands
The norm at their age
Is hormones will rage
Resulting from overstuffed glands.

Robert Vaughn and Darrah Marshall in a lobby card for Teenage Caveman (Roger Corman; 1958). Title by David Cairns, still kicking.

The Man From "UNK!"

Why live in a cave dusk till dawn?
Are you driven to crave what's long-gone?
You're a hot-headed teen
On the potholing scene
What gives with the shave, Robert Vaughan?

David Cairns

Robert Vaughn is the Teenage Caveman (Roger Corman; 1958). Our Limerick Lexicon tells us that 'potholing' is a UK term for spelunking or cave exploring. Throwback Thursdays has thrown us a curve.

Death's Door Prize

Though the plague to his doorstep had spread 

His own Satanist orgy he'd led
There this skunk who liked watching
Such drunken debauching
Found he hated the horror of red.

Vincent Price and Jane Asher in Masque of the Red Death (Roger Corman, 1964). 

Never Say Diabolism

When his date starts to spin on a pole
Then his fête's just beginning to roll
Such deplorable revelry
Makes adorable devilry,
And to Satan this Prince gave his soul.          

Vincent Price and Jane Asher in Masque of the Red Death. Image source: Can't Stop the Movies. Title by devil-may-care David Cairns.

Invitation to the Danse Macabre

I'm throwing this special soirée
There's a show, and a hellish buffet
Please r.s.v.p.
Me a.s.a.p.
If you don't, there's the Devil to pay.



Vincent Price and Patrick Magee in Masque of the Red Death (1964).

Bored to (Red) Death

An ape's set aflame by a troll!
Is my gala way out of control?
No, the decadent floor show
(Half-nekkid and more so)
I'd say's rather tame, on the whole.

Yet the bash is a riot of sin
And my castle is wild with the din
An orgy contiguous
With morals ambiguous...
Like some hash-house in Weimar Berlin.

Patrick Magee and Vincent Price enjoy the Masque of the Red Death (Roger Corman, 1964). Image source: Dial V for Vintage.

Gorillas in Their Midst

You can dress as an ape and make hay
Chasing babes all across the parquet
But if you're ignited
By that midget you slighted
You're our next pyrotechnic display.

David Cairns


That's one way to keep warm in December. Skip Martin plays the vengeful midget "Hop-Toad" in Masque of the Red Death (Roger Corman, 1964). Image source: Chilling Scenes of Dreadful Villainy.

Black and White and Red Death All Over

The third of my rooms-in-a-row
Is as pure as the new driven snow
Though it's fun to contrast
With the one that comes last,
I wouldn't just scoot to and fro.



All the chambers are vividly hued
Like a rainbow they'll lift any mood
This last one excluded
It's black and secluded
And most dames who go in leave unglued.



As they enter they're taken aback
Coming next is a panic attack
When they suddenly find
All the colors combined
Are as black as Lord Satan's own crack.

Vincent Price gives Jane Asher the fifty-cent tour in Masque of the Red Death (Roger Corman, 1964).

Purple Reign

While his subjects get less and must ration,
For this royal excess is the fashion
"These rainbow interiors,"
He explains to inferiors,
"Best express my most decadent passion."


First the yellow, then comes the purple chamber. Vincent Price lords it over Patrick Magee, Hazel Court and Jane Asher in Roger Corman's Masque of the Red Death.  Image source: Dial V for Vintage.

Little Red Corvid

                             The raven's a fav'rite of Poe
                           Corman crams it in every show
                                  With a merciless peck
                                   It rips open her neck
                       That'll teach Hazel Court to eat crow.

                                       David Cairns

Raven, falcon, crow, whatever -- in Masque of the Red Death, Hazel Court finds dating Vincent Price is for the birds. Image source: Temple of Schlock, which features an interview with Court.

Green Glow the Rushes

The exceeding game Hazel Court
Was a scream-queen grand dame and good sport
Green-lighted in panic,
In a rite quite Satanic
With demons she came to cavort.



To please evil Prince Prospero (Vincent Price), Juliana (Hazel Court) offers herself to Satan in Masque of the Red Death (Roger Corman, 1964). Title by green-around-the-gills David Cairns.

The Fall of the 'Hose of Asher

On a date this inveterate flirter
Simply hates not to get to pervert her
Though a prince, he's a slimeball
So just give him some time, ya'll
And to Satan I'll bet he'll convert her.

Vincent Price and Jane Asher in Masque of the Red Death (Roger Corman, 1964). Title by devilish David Cairns.

Better Red than Dead

Price's Prospero can't abide scarlet,                    
But has hots for a red-headed starlet      
With Asher or Court
He'll gladly consort
One's quite proper, one's Satan's own harlot.              

David Cairns


Vincent Price as Satanist Prince Prospero, Jane Asher and Hazel Court in The Masque of the Red Death (Roger Corman, 1964). David Cairns remembers Hazel Court at Shadowplay.

Red Rag to a Ball

My masque is a vivid diversion
With provision for ev'ry perversion
What color's your coat in?
Vermilion's verboten!
Your host has a fervent aversion.

David Cairns



Vincent Price is Prince Prospero, decadent host of the Masque of the Red Death (Roger Corman, 1964). Our Vincentennial tribute to the movie-master of the morbid will return in December, with more on Red Death, plus Dr. Phibes, Theater of Blood, and more, more, more! In the meantime, stay tuned for a month of November Noir.

Red Raver, Red Raver, Let David Come Quaver

At my masque you can drink and be merry
Amontillado's the very best sherry
But my castle abode
Has a rigid dress code
So please don't wear anything cherry.

David Cairns


Vincent Price is Prince Prospero, decadent host of the Masque of the Red Death (Roger Corman, 1964). I think David is the real Vincent Price fan around here.

Spoons on the Left, Pitchforks on the Right

You're welcome to enter my masque
Where in decadent splendor you'll bask    
While you mingle dear guest,
I've a single request:
Do whatever the Devil will ask.      

Vincent Price is a cruel, jaded Satanist (unlike all those kind, naive Satanists),  in The Masque of the Red Death (Roger Corman, 1964). Image source:  Title by Satanic Norm Knott.

X-Ray Milland

 

With help of some eye-drops named "X"
a scientist doesn't need specs
He starts to look through
what comes into view
and acts just like Oedipus Rex.

Ray Milland stars in Roger Corman's sci-fi vision, X-The Man With the X-Ray Eyes (1966).