Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Ed Wood

Horror Behind the Camera Movie Music

When it comes to classic horror, not all the screams are on-screen.

This week on “Picture Perfect,” we’ll peer around the shower curtain for selections from “Hitchcock” (2012), a behind-the-scenes look at the making of “Psycho,” with music by Danny Elfman; “Matinee” (1993), with John Goodman as a William Castlesque filmmaker, promoting his latest B-movie monsterpiece against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis, with music by Jerry Goldsmith; “Gods and Monsters” (1998), set during the final days of James Whale, director of “Frankenstein” and “The Invisible Man,” with music by Carter Burwell; and “Ed Wood” (1994), Tim Burton’s love-letter to a director notorious for having helmed some of the worst movies ever made, including “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” with bongo-and-theremin-laden music by Howard Shore.

Art imitates life, on “Behind-the-Scenes Horror,” on “Picture Perfect,” music for the movies, this Saturday evening at 6:00 EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

October 22, 2022
Plan 9 to Silent Running Sci-Fi Movie Chat

Forget Plan 1 through 8. “Plan 9” is where it’s at.

We’d like to thank Michael Rizzo and Marybeth Ritkouski for dropping by last night to break bread over Ed, and the “Citizen Kane” of bad movies, “Plan 9 from Outer Space.”

Earlier in the week, M&M kindly had us to their table to talk about Tim Burton’s biopic, about resourceful – though perhaps a little out of touch – “Plan 9” director, “Ed Wood.” Their show, SciFi Distilled, is livestreamed on Facebook every Wednesday at 7 pm EDT. You can eavesdrop on our conversation here:

Friday is Arbor Day. It was actually on Earth Day that Roy and I decided our next topic should be “Silent Running” (1972), a sci-fi cult classic with environmental overtones.

Join us as we chat about space botanist Bruce Dern and his robot sidekicks, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, on their reforestation mission in a floating geodesic greenhouse near Saturn. Peter Schickele wrote the music. Folk icon Joan Baez lends just the right touch of counterculture verisimilitude.

This is one of only two movies directed by special effects legend Douglas Trumbull (of “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” fame).

I think you’ll agree, Dern must have been raising more than just trees in that greenhouse. Join us for a trippy discussion of “Silent Running,” on the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. Our pupils will be dilated, and we’ll be fanning the room with psychedelic album covers. Everyone will be spacing-out, as we livestream on Facebook, next Friday evening at a special time – one half hour later than usual – 7:30 EDT.

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

April 24, 2021
Plan 9 From Outer Space Worst Movie Ever?

As a follow-up to last night’s all-too-brief discussion about “Ed Wood” (1994) on SciFi Distilled, Roy and I will welcome our erstwhile hosts, Mike and Marybeth, to “Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner” for a follow-up chat about Wood’s pablum opus, “Plan 9 from Outer Space” (1959).

Widely embraced as the worst movie ever made, “Plan 9” is like “The Day the Earth Stood Still” gone horribly wrong. Commander Eros and his saucer people resurrect the earth’s dead in order to get the world’s governments to take them seriously on their intergalactic mission of peace. Or something like that.

Ludicrously scripted, cheaply shot, cringeworthily acted, and artlessly executed, the film stars Swedish wrestler Tor Johnson, pioneering TV host Vampira, and faded horror icon Bela Lugosi. This is one riveting, flabbergasting train wreck.

The “Plan” is for all of us to hang together, on the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. Join us as we livestream on Facebook! The comments section will yawn like the grave, this Friday evening at 7:00 EDT.

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

April 22, 2021
Ed Wood Week Celebration Plan 9 & More

PULL THE STRING! PULL THE STRING!

Ed Wood Week is under way!

I hope you’ll join Roy and me in celebration of “Anniversary Month,” first with Michael Rizzo and Marybeth Ritkouski on “Sci-Fi Distilled,” and a conversation about Tim Burton’s love letter to the quixotic, no-budget film director, “Ed Wood” (1994).

Then Mike and Marybeth will join us for a spot of tea inside the saucer, on “Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner,” and a chat about Wood’s most notorious creation, “Plan 9 from Outer Space” (1959). “Plan 9” inevitably floats to the top of any list devoted to the worst movies ever made.

By comparison, Wood makes Burton seem like Orson Welles. Interestingly, Burton’s most successful movies have been those with “Ed” in the title (or perhaps “Pee-Wee”). In his best film since “Edward Scissorhands,” Burton reunites with Johnny Depp as the fatally optimistic, ever-resourceful, angora-wearing Wood, who flourishes blissfully on another plane. Martin Landau earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his poignant and profane turn as faded horror icon Bela Lugosi. Howard Shore’s theremin-laden, lounge-infused score lends to the kooky fun.

Both discussions will be livestreamed on Facebook (“Ed Wood” on “Sci Fi Distilled,” Wednesday at 7 pm EDT, and “Plan 9” on “Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner,” Friday at 7 pm EDT).

It’s been a full year of cocktails and tie-dye! Celebrate with your firecrackers in the comments sections. Join us for a chat about Ed and the dead. It’s a crossdresser crossover with extraterrestrial intervention, this Wednesday and Friday evenings at 7:00 EDT!

“Ed Wood” on SciFi Distilled

“Plan 9” on Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner

Bevare! Take care!

April 20, 2021
Ghost Busters 1975 & Ed Wood Week Podcast

On last night’s show about “The Ghost Busters” (1975 – not 1984), we ruminate on Saturday morning cartoons, the Bowery Boys, Vaudeville, and Charles Nelson Reilly. Our special guest, Roy’s son, Ryan Bjellquist-Ledger, lends his own perspective as our millennial correspondent.

I hope you’ll join us next time for Ed Wood Week. First, Michael Rizzo and Marybeth Ritkouski will host Roy and me on their show, “Sci-Fi Distilled,” for a discussion about Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood” (1994), Wednesday at 7 pm EDT.

Then it will be our turn to host Mike and Marybeth, when we talk about Wood’s most notorious creation, “Plan 9 from Outer Space” (1959) – invariably categorized as one of the worst movies ever made – on “Roy’s Tie Dye Sci Fi Corner,” Friday at 7 pm EDT.

What kind of Wood doesn’t float? Tune in for our protracted responses. Our respective shows livestream on Facebook next Wednesday and Friday at 7 pm!

For “Ed Wood”: SciFi Distilled

For “Plan 9”: Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner

Remember: future events such as these will affect you in the future!

April 17, 2021

Tag Cloud

RECENT POSTS