After the success of he previous years Tales From The Crypt, Amicus films produced another anthology horror movie of five segments taken from EC comics (in)famous pre-code horror comics. Although this film was less well received it’s still a favourite of mine. The first story followed the comic strip fairly well but also improved it by adding a murderous reason why the brother was tracking down his sister…
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
The UK version of the comic Classics Illustrated published the movie adaption of DN in December 1962. The USA version of the comic declined to publish it as it was deemed to be not worthy of publication to their target audience of educated children. The rights were obtained by DC comics and instead of waiting for the film to be released in America (May 1963) they proceeded to publish in January 1963. Sales were poor and the comic strip was heavily edited to remove all dialogue considered to be demeaning and was shamefully redrawn to remove all racial skin colour for fear of upsetting the good folk of the Southern states. According to DC comics Jamaica has no black population whatsoever. Unfortunately, I do not have the British version to post but below is the splash page which you can compare to the DC version.
Part one of the DC version…
Part Two will be posted next Sunday…
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
thanks for posting this in particular CoolHand, its probably worthy of more discussion once youve posted all parts. the comic book adaptation is a obscure bit of James Bond history I dont think I've ever seen discussed in our forum before. and I never realised it came out before the film! I wonder if any American audiences decided to see the film because theyd read the comic?
According to reports the sales of the DC comic were poor so I doubt many would have been encouraged to see it. I have never seen a copy of the British version - it’s that rare!
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
This adaption is drawn by Trevor Goring and Brian Bolland from a Steve Moore script.
All zombie films suffer from being compared to George A Romeo’s films and the Walking Dead series, but I still hold a liking for this atmospheric Hammer movie - the cemetery scene where the dead come to life is still potent stuff…
To be concluded tomorrow…
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
Lord, that's close to the movie! Interestingly (at least to me) it doesn't look all that close to the Daily Express comic strip version. Perhaps it will as the story progresses.
Before speech balloons were used in comic strips comic stories were told by descriptive text and interestingly this method is used in this retelling of One Million Years B.C., as of course no recognisable language was used.
To be continued…
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
The brontosaurus didn’t make it to the finished film as money was running out, but it was in the original script and it’s nice to see what would have happened if the budget had allowed…
Next…the return of Father Shandor…
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
This was written and drawn by someone called Dave G Chester who I have no further detail on whatsoever, maybe just as well as the story is hackneyed and the artwork is trying to emulate the EC horror comics, but very much failing to do so…
Next…Part Three of Creature From The Black Lagoon.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
It loses something when Bond and Dent fire at the same time, like Han Solo and Greedo in later versions of "A New Hope". And it's just weird to see Quarrel like that!
Comments
The Vault Of Horror (1973) Segment One:
After the success of he previous years Tales From The Crypt, Amicus films produced another anthology horror movie of five segments taken from EC comics (in)famous pre-code horror comics. Although this film was less well received it’s still a favourite of mine. The first story followed the comic strip fairly well but also improved it by adding a murderous reason why the brother was tracking down his sister…
The Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954) Part One
This comic strip first published in 1993 is a good rendition of the 1954 movie.
Part Two will be on this thread next Saturday.
Tomorrow will show part one of the comic strip from the movie Dr. No.
DR. NO (1962)
The UK version of the comic Classics Illustrated published the movie adaption of DN in December 1962. The USA version of the comic declined to publish it as it was deemed to be not worthy of publication to their target audience of educated children. The rights were obtained by DC comics and instead of waiting for the film to be released in America (May 1963) they proceeded to publish in January 1963. Sales were poor and the comic strip was heavily edited to remove all dialogue considered to be demeaning and was shamefully redrawn to remove all racial skin colour for fear of upsetting the good folk of the Southern states. According to DC comics Jamaica has no black population whatsoever. Unfortunately, I do not have the British version to post but below is the splash page which you can compare to the DC version.
Part one of the DC version…
Part Two will be posted next Sunday…
I have a trashed up copy of the DC Comics version
thanks for posting this in particular CoolHand, its probably worthy of more discussion once youve posted all parts. the comic book adaptation is a obscure bit of James Bond history I dont think I've ever seen discussed in our forum before. and I never realised it came out before the film! I wonder if any American audiences decided to see the film because theyd read the comic?
Yes @caractacus potts a discussion would be very good 😊
According to reports the sales of the DC comic were poor so I doubt many would have been encouraged to see it. I have never seen a copy of the British version - it’s that rare!
Van Helsing’s Terror Tales #10:
That one I liked, it's better than it's predecessor.
PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES (1966)
This adaption is drawn by Trevor Goring and Brian Bolland from a Steve Moore script.
All zombie films suffer from being compared to George A Romeo’s films and the Walking Dead series, but I still hold a liking for this atmospheric Hammer movie - the cemetery scene where the dead come to life is still potent stuff…
To be concluded tomorrow…
Good version of a favourite Hammer film. Thanks, CHB.
PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES (1966) Part Two:
And thanks again, whichever vault you keep finding these in!
You’re more than welcome, Barbel, there’s plenty more in the vault and when that’s finished it’s opening time at the crypt!
The Vault Of Horror (1973) Segment Two:
This one starred the fabulous Terry-Thomas as the obsessive neat freak, called OCD nowadays. The film followed the comic-strip pretty well.
Van Helsing’s Terror Tales #11:
Artwork by Brian Lewis from a very predictable Steve Parkhouse script…
I'm not a good judge of artwork (but I know what I like 😁) but as you say that's a hackneyed and unsurprising script
The Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954) Part Two:
To be continued next Saturday…
DR. NO (1962) Part Two:
To be continued next Sunday…
Lord, that's close to the movie! Interestingly (at least to me) it doesn't look all that close to the Daily Express comic strip version. Perhaps it will as the story progresses.
ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. (1966) Part One:
Artwork by John Bolton.
Before speech balloons were used in comic strips comic stories were told by descriptive text and interestingly this method is used in this retelling of One Million Years B.C., as of course no recognisable language was used.
To be continued…
ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. (1966) Part Two:
The brontosaurus didn’t make it to the finished film as money was running out, but it was in the original script and it’s nice to see what would have happened if the budget had allowed…
Next…the return of Father Shandor…
Thanks, CHB, I liked that one and of course am looking forward to more from Father Shandor.
Father Shandor #2:
Artwork by John Bolton from an Alan Moore script…
I like this story, and Bolton’s artwork is excellent.
Next…Vault Of Horror movie : Segment 3…
I liked it too; I think I've said this already (when has that ever stopped me?) but I would have enjoyed more filmic adventures with the Father.
The Vault Of Horror (1973) Segment Three:
This one starred our own Curt Jurgens as the villainous magician. The movie adapted this story pretty closely with only a few variations…
Van Helsing’s Terror Tales #12:
This was written and drawn by someone called Dave G Chester who I have no further detail on whatsoever, maybe just as well as the story is hackneyed and the artwork is trying to emulate the EC horror comics, but very much failing to do so…
Next…Part Three of Creature From The Black Lagoon.
Yes, that one wasn't very good. Still, better stuff tomorrow!
The Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954) Part Three:
To be concluded next Saturday…
Tomorrow…Dr. No continues…
As ever, I'm enjoying this and looking forward to DN.
DR. NO (1962) Part Three:
Due to the strict rules laid down by the Comic Code Authority, there is no in-panel sex or killing.
To be concluded next Sunday…
It loses something when Bond and Dent fire at the same time, like Han Solo and Greedo in later versions of "A New Hope". And it's just weird to see Quarrel like that!