Tag: Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter

  • Kronos Vampire Hunter & David Frankham Discussion

    Kronos Vampire Hunter & David Frankham Discussion

    Last night, Roy and I were armed to the teeth for a discussion of “Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter.” For once, the digressions were practically necessary to the conversation about this off-the-wall Hammer cult classic, in which basically anything goes. Is it horror? Swashbuckler? Spaghetti western? Japanese chanbara? The program has been archived for your belated enjoyment here:

    Tomorrow night, we’ll speak with actor David Frankham, on a special Sunday edition of Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. Frankham’s resume encompasses a colorful cross-section of classic film and television. In particular, he has been elevated to a kind of “Star Trek” nobility for his role in the original series episode “Is There in Truth No Beauty?” He also co-starred in the film “Master of the World,” with Vincent Price and Charles Bronson, which we only just discussed the week before last.

    Regrettably, because of technical issues at Trekonderoga, our conversation had to be rescheduled. We hope you used that extra time to prepare! Leave your questions in the comments section, during a frank discussion with David Frankham, when we livestream on Facebook, tomorrow evening at 7:00 EDT!

    https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

    In the meantime, watch Frankham transform into a monstrous skeleton, as a “magician,” in the opener of this classic episode of Boris Karloff’s “Thriller.” The episode also features Henry Daniell and Marion Ross, later “Mrs. C” on “Happy Days!”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkKHxCBPLv8

  • Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter A Hammer Horror Gem

    Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter A Hammer Horror Gem

    The pen may be mightier than the sword – but the sword is mightier than the vampire. At least when it’s wielded by Captain Kronos!

    Tomorrow being the first of October, I hope you’ll indulge Roy and me, as we anticipate Halloween with a month’s worth of movie horror, on “Roy’s Tie Dye Sci Fi Corner,” beginning with the cult curio “Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter” (1974).

    Ever wonder what would happen if a Van Helsing-type enlisted D’Artagnan in the fight against Dracula? This looney late entry in Hammer horror is the brainchild of writer-director Brian Clemens (a relation of Mark Twain!), who contributed so much to the cool and quirkily compelling television series “The Avengers.”

    When a mysterious presence begins draining the youth out of the region’s comely young women, who you gonna call? Kronos (Horst Janson), the cigarillo-smoking, samurai sword-wielding soldier-of-fortune, and his sidekick, Professor Hieronymous Grost (John Cater), authority on all things supernatural – who, for added flavor, also happens to be a hunchback!

    Upon arrival, Kronos’ first act is to liberate Carla (Caroline Munro of “The Golden Voyage of Sinbad,” “The Spy Who Loved Me,” and “Starcrash”), a free-spirit sentenced to the stocks for dancing on a Sunday. So there’s plenty of eye candy to go with the tongue-in-cheek thrills. Janson also spends most of the movie with his shirt off.

    Stylized and suggestive, as opposed to workman-like and explicit, “Captain Kronos” is a cut above. It’s hard to believe this film merited an R-rating at the time of release. Now it wouldn’t even crack a PG-13.

    It was originally hoped that Kronos’ vampire adventure would be the start a series, with our heroes traveling from place to place and through time to combat the forces of darkness. Sadly, the House of Hammer collapsed not too long after.

    We meet sharp fangs with sharpened swords, as we discuss “Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter,” on the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. Order extra garlic on your pizza when you join us in the comments section as we livestream on Facebook, this Friday evening at 7:00 EDT!

    https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner


    PLEASE NOTE: Our conversation with actor David Frankham, postponed from last week’s Trekonderoga, due to technical difficulties, will take place this Sunday at 7 p.m.!

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