12/22/2007
You get a choice of holiday or non-holiday Sven tonight, depending on when you tune in- if you’re in advanced holiday mode, then you want to tune in to Me-TV at 1 am- when, by popular demand, we bring you the Svensurrounded holiday classic- “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” –featuring a young Pia Zadora (Ms. Zadora was a major discussion topic on the “Svengoolieweb” Yahoo group this past week!) Plenty of fun added to this cheesy flick, thanks to the Sven crew, plus a load of our holiday songs and bits.
In non-holiday mode, or just looking for a classic horror flick to watch while trimming the tree, wrapping the gifts, or spiking the eggnog? Well, then, settle in for the 9 pm WCIU Sven showing of an encore performance of the horror flick that launched filmdom’s championship monster that held that title for many years- it’s the amazing Boris Karloff in the original “Frankenstein!” See the reason why Boris went from appearing in the credits as “?” to being so wildly popular that he was billed simply as “Karloff!” (or, sometimes, as “Karloff the Uncanny…”) and his name became synonymous with horror.
You also get another look at the versatile Universal stock player who showed up in so many of the horror films of this era, Dwight Frye-as the hunchbacked lab assistant Fritz.(Watch for the somewhat amusing moment when he’s walking up the curving staircase, muttering to himself, and pauses to adjust his hosiery!) we also mention in the show how Boris had removed his dental plate to give him more of the gaunt, hollow-cheeked look of a cadaver- but, if you watch carefully, especially in a scene where Fritz is torturing him with a torch (how poetic!)-you’ll see that Boris had his choppers in for a few scenes!
It’s an amazing coincidence that this man who became a sensation who could bring terror into the hearts of the movie audience is remembered during this time of year for his beloved narration of the animated Chuck Jones classic “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” Supposedly, Dr. Seuss was a little worried about Boris doing the narration, because he thought it might be too scary-but was pleased with the end result. Boris’s delightful work as a storyteller in that TV special has given him additional fame that will live on every holiday season.
But- tonight- he gets his props as the Monster who made him famous! For extra fun, watch both “Frankenstein” AND “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,” and see what’s scarier- the monster, or the acting in “Martians!”
In non-holiday mode, or just looking for a classic horror flick to watch while trimming the tree, wrapping the gifts, or spiking the eggnog? Well, then, settle in for the 9 pm WCIU Sven showing of an encore performance of the horror flick that launched filmdom’s championship monster that held that title for many years- it’s the amazing Boris Karloff in the original “Frankenstein!” See the reason why Boris went from appearing in the credits as “?” to being so wildly popular that he was billed simply as “Karloff!” (or, sometimes, as “Karloff the Uncanny…”) and his name became synonymous with horror.
You also get another look at the versatile Universal stock player who showed up in so many of the horror films of this era, Dwight Frye-as the hunchbacked lab assistant Fritz.(Watch for the somewhat amusing moment when he’s walking up the curving staircase, muttering to himself, and pauses to adjust his hosiery!) we also mention in the show how Boris had removed his dental plate to give him more of the gaunt, hollow-cheeked look of a cadaver- but, if you watch carefully, especially in a scene where Fritz is torturing him with a torch (how poetic!)-you’ll see that Boris had his choppers in for a few scenes!
It’s an amazing coincidence that this man who became a sensation who could bring terror into the hearts of the movie audience is remembered during this time of year for his beloved narration of the animated Chuck Jones classic “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” Supposedly, Dr. Seuss was a little worried about Boris doing the narration, because he thought it might be too scary-but was pleased with the end result. Boris’s delightful work as a storyteller in that TV special has given him additional fame that will live on every holiday season.
But- tonight- he gets his props as the Monster who made him famous! For extra fun, watch both “Frankenstein” AND “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,” and see what’s scarier- the monster, or the acting in “Martians!”
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