An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960) in '50s Horror and Sci-Fi Forum

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An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)

Author	Comment
BijouBob8mm	Re: An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)	#21	[-]
Sep 13 07 12:08 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* they shot the poodle Now THAT would have brought a smile to David Hedison! Love the photo, Skelton!!!
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skelton knaggs	Re: An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)	#22	[-]
Sep 13 07 12:32 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Coleen Gray could never woo me away from Gloria Talbott (despite Gloria's unbecoming hairdo in this movie). I dunno daddyo. It looks like Coleen could give a dern good run for the money.
Monsterpal	Re: An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)	#23	[-]
Sep 13 07 1:34 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	In that still, it looks like Colleen is sitting on a piano keyboard. She's right purty, though.
Zombie Dad	Re: An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)	#24	[-]
Sep 13 07 1:51 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Purty, yes. And a very good actress, I've always thought. ZD
Tumak	Re: An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)	#25	[-]
Sep 13 07 2:14 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I'm somehow related to Coleen Gray by marriage. I've never met her. My mother, when she was a girl, met Coleen at some sort of extended family get-together. Mom remembers her as one of the most amazingly beautiful women she's ever seen.
M F Berry	Re: An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)	#26	[-]
Sep 13 07 5:04 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Odd that the strike, pending or otherwise, would affect it, except in minor on-set ways You're right, Ted ... my bad. I dug out my interview transcription and Mr. Hedison was talking about an actors' strike, which also took place in 1960: "You know, there was a strike right in the middle of the film. I think we were about two weeks into filming and then there was a big actors strike. So I didnt work for a month it seemed like a month, I dont know really how long it was and then we went back to work and finished the film." This strike, of course, affected multiple films, notably including The Magnificent Seven.
GAKENSTEIN	Re: An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)	#27	[-]
Sep 13 07 10:01 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Universal seems to have created a whole sub-genre of movie about Monsters In Tents. Yep, and with eye candy gals like Gloria Talbott and Julie Adams, another sub-genre of movie about pitching tents! Homina, homina!! "Supernatural perhaps...baloney, perhaps not!"
Andrew Kidd	Re: An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)	#28	[-]
Sep 30 07 7:39 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The main problem with The Leech Woman, besides the sloppy and awkward story structure, is that there isn't a single sympathetic character in the entire film. Grant Williams is supposed to be a good guy, but his willingess to cheat so easily makes him as much a misogynist slimeball as Philip Terry's abusive doctor in my book. We think for a while that maybe Gloria Talbott will be the person we'll root for, but once she pulls a gun on Gray, it all goes out the window.
FrozenGhost	Re: An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)	#29	[-]
Sep 30 07 8:41 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I thought the hardboiled characters and downbeat ending gave the film a minor distinction that could have been turned into a major one with a little more imagination and behind-the-camera talent. If the director had worked some grit and atmosphere into the movie, and with additional help on the budget and script side, it could have been a unique and truly nilhilistic movie. As it is, the picture is so flat and unconvincing, it fizzles in the memory the moment it ends.
Rapfred	Re: An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)	#30	[-]
Oct 1 07 2:19 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Like most Edward Dein movies, this one's nothing if not unique. Crummy as it is, THE LEECH WOMAN is a work of such pathological misanthropy that it's almost bracingly bleak. I don't think I've ever seen a horror picture with a more callous cast of characters (although several Herman Cohen films come close). Dein's people are so hardboiled they're thirty minutes.* Top shttheel honors go to the usually affable Phillip Terry, who brutalizes Coleen Gray with such convincing gusto that I can't help thinking he was doing some serious sense memory work here -- i.e., dredging up residual feelings of hostility toward ex-wife Joan Crawford. *Ten more than record holder Chuck Tatum of ACE IN THE HOLE.
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THE Steve Johnson	Re: An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)	#31	[-]
Oct 1 07 12:08 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Unique does not even begin to describe Dein's SHACK OUT ON 101, where international espionage of global implications plays out in a greasy spoon run by -- help me: Keenan Wynn? -- and frequented by Frank Lovejoy's scientist The Professor, where short-order cook Slob (Lee Marvin, really gambling with a fledgling career) compares biceps with the guys and turns out to be other than what he seems. The sets are nearly LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS cheap, the action unbelievable, and the dialog priceless, but it's all surprisingly self-aware and just about as much fun as you can have in not much more than 60 minutes. If you get BEAT THE DEVIL you might get this one. Now if only I could remember who never returned my cherished VHS...
Rapfred	Re: Psychedelic SHACK	#32	[-]
Oct 1 07 3:20 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Yes, Keenan runs the eponymous greasy spoon. The aforementioned Wynn/Marvin Let's Compare Biceps scene is one of the quirkiest dishes on SHACK's eccentric menu. For my money, the W. T. F. blue plate special is the Whit Bissell on white bread with loaded harpoon on the side. There's only one SHACK OUT ON 101. Accept no substitutes.
DrPaulArmstrong		#33	[-]
Oct 4 07 12:46 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Man, I agree with you guys--the most dysfunctional cast of characters since THE KILLING. It's such an odd aspect that we found it added to the overall enjoyment. We were also impressed with how good everyone's aim was with that ring. Favorite howler: the continually post-dubbed native porter, whose lips never move despite a constant barrage of high-pitched chatter.
Professor Von X		#34	[-]
Oct 9 07 12:31 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	>The main problem with The Leech Woman, besides the sloppy and awkward story structure, is that there isn't a single sympathetic character in the entire film. Grant Williams is supposed to be a good guy, but his willingess to cheat so easily makes him as much a misogynist slimeball as Philip Terry's abusive doctor in my book. We think for a while that maybe Gloria Talbott will be the person we'll root for, but once she pulls a gun on Gray, it all goes out the window. Couldn't agree more, Andrew. EVERYONE in this movie deserved anything they got. And I can't actually think of a more misogynistic film. Professor Von X
Dr Acula		#35	[-]
Nov 10 07 10:17 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Just watched this, and I thought it was surpisingly weird. It straarted off like a nasty-attitude drama for about 10 minutes, then it became a full-fledged jungle adventure film/fanbtasy with elements not unlike SHE, then it tuned into a short version of a wolfman/Jekell & Hyde where one person with two personalities tried not to get caught. It had the plot of about 3 flims squished into 75 or so minutes of wild, lurching plot. I did find symapthy for the characters - they were flawed, but nobody seemed to get what they desrved, and the level of drama was in keeping with other B films & early tv of the time... it might as well have been Jack Webb coming around to the house at the end. My God, what's Bond doing?... I think he's attempting re-entry, sir. http://www.eccentric-cinema.com/ Cole's Comics: All About Jack Cole http://colescomics.blogspot.com/
TomWeaver999		#36	[-]
May 1 12 2:23 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Condolences to Coleen Gray: I just learned that her husband of umpty-ump years, Fritz, passed away (Alzheimer's) about six weeks ago. Some CHFBers may have met him because he did occasionally go to monstuh movie conventions and autograph shows with her.
Monsterpal		#37	[-]
May 1 12 6:18 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	My condolences to Ms. Gray. She had quite a career, co-starring with John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Victor Mature, and Tyrone Power, and directed by Howard Hawks, Henry Hathaway, Edmound Goulding, and Edward Dein.
Jay Maggio		#38	[-]
Nov 18 12 9:23 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	well, I watched this recently on MST3000 w/ Mike,Gypsy, Crowbott and the cute little Tom Servo gumball machine, I will admit some of their wisecracking was funny. As far as unsympathetic characters go, I felt kind of sorry for Colleen as she was so mistreated and used by her abusive husband,shes kind of like a kindred spirit to the Wasp Women, who also became caught up in the madness of youth and beauty. Yes, williams characdter was disappointing as the oh so ready, willing to cheat w/ Terry, and I just liked seeing Gloria in the movie w/ Colleen and Grant, so 50s.. Aside from the phony shots of Africa, its a good nostalgic flick...(; I believe Ms.Gray just celebrated her 90th! Pretty Kim Hamilton who played young Malla was married to Hogan's Hero's Warner Klemperer, as Rowan & Martin would say, I didnt know that!(;
Edkkakumon		#39	[-]
Nov 19 12 5:16 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	That makes two of us. The film has a disjointed feel, but it's not bad. The first half is typical safari fair, but the second Jekyll/Hyde act is when the story gets interesting. The film also has another link to the Wasp Woman- Both end up falling to their doom. Qoute of the month " Turn left at the fork in the road." " Oh, Kermittttt."- The Muppet Movie
Jay Maggio		#40	[-]
Nov 19 12 9:48 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Both end up falling to their doom. yea, right, another connection, all for beauty and youth! I was kind of taken aback by Gloria's hairdo, really took away from her attractiveness..
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An observation on THE LEECH WOMAN(1960)