THE MAGIC SWORD (1962) question in Men Behind the Monsters Forum

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THE MAGIC SWORD (1962) question

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Sid Terror

THE MAGIC SWORD (1962) question

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Aug 11 10 6:50 PM

Does anyone know who actually did the sculpting and prep work for the "Witch" mask Maila Nurmi wore in THE MAGIC SWORD?

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IzzyVanHalen

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Aug 11 10 6:53 PM

I have no idea, but Daniel C. Stripeke is credited as makeup artist and Arthur Friedrich is credited as props guy, so perhaps a combination of those two gentlemen?

I just checked Stripeke on IMDB. He has quite the CV!

The Reel Deal: bad movies and the geeks who love them.

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Sid Terror

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Aug 11 10 8:16 PM

Daniel C. Stripeke. Cool. I think he was actually an Oscar winner, I know he has been nominated a couple times.

Last Edited By: Sid Terror Aug 11 10 8:31 PM. Edited 1 times.

doctor kiss

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Aug 11 10 8:37 PM

It was indeed Daniel Striepeke, whose making of the mask was specifically mentioned in a brief publicity piece (that managed to work in an unlikely 666 reference) for the movie:

... Striepeke used more than 25 gallons of latex rubber, 4 pounds of turkey feathers, and vats of paints and special cosmetics, utilizing his extensive knowledge of chemistry, plastics, and rubber catalysts. His hardest task was transforming TV's Vampira, Maila Nurmi, into a grotesque hag. First taking a life impression of Miss Nurmi's lovely face, he modeled the hag-head in clay: six stages and 66 hours later he came up with the final mould. ...

'Make-Up Man Has Magic in State Offer', Uniontown Morning Herald (PA), April 30, 1962, p.9

Ted Newsom

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Aug 11 10 9:02 PM

Wow. What a load! LOL!

Sid Terror

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Aug 12 10 5:22 AM

Thanks Dr. Kiss!

>>>His hardest task was transforming TV's Vampira, Maila Nurmi, into a grotesque hag. First taking a life impression of Miss Nurmi's lovely face, he modeled the hag-head in clay: six stages and 66 hours later he came up with the final mould. ...<<<

I still find it amazing that 7 years after THE VAMPIRA SHOW went off the air, strictly a local show never seen outside of the Los Angeles area mind you, she was still well known enough and a big enough deal to get a featured mention in a Pennsylvania news paper. I've heard people try and say no one heard of her until the Medved bros Golden Turkey book rediscovered her, which is the bunk. Umm, LIFE magazine anyone?

Some shots of Maila and Maila as The Hag from THE MAGIC SWORD...

And she still had her patented Vampira finger nails!

BTW: TRIVIA FROM MAILA: For personal appearance (of which she made many at her height) as Vampira and for other location photo shoots, she had sheer nylon gloves made that the long finger nails were attached to. Saved time during costume changes and emergency restroom breaks if needed.

Last Edited By: Sid Terror Aug 12 10 5:57 AM. Edited 3 times.

Sid Terror

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Aug 12 10 5:55 AM

Ted Newsom wrote:
Wow. What a load! LOL!

Not necessarily, Ted. Sure it was written up flowery, but that blurb in the PA paper has more truth to it than you might think. THE MAGIC SWORD was full of a lot of other special make-ups and creatures other than just the "Hag" make-up / mask Maila wore. I'd say 25 gallons of latex would be fairly believable. I've easily gone through a couple gallons just doing one mask design and some back-up duplicates on a show.

horrorfilmx

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Aug 12 10 7:43 AM

Yeah, when the article mentioned "four pounds of turkey feathers" I figured they were referring to those weird bird-headed creatures at Lodac's castle. If Streipeke was in charge of all those make-ups he had his hands full. My favorite credit to Magic Sword is Ross Wheat's for "Dragon Trainer."

clore103051

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Aug 12 10 12:39 PM

horrorfilmx wrote:
My favorite credit to Magic Sword is Ross Wheat's for "Dragon Trainer."

Someone had to teach it how to "go" on the newspaper.

Ted Newsom

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Aug 12 10 10:28 PM

Sorry-- I read it as 25 gallons of latex to create HER make-up!

HalLane

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Aug 14 10 2:16 PM

Any way you look at it, 25 gallons is one load of drippy rubber.

I always think of Dan Striepeke as the "Apes" guy (as in Planet Of .... ), but I guess he's done quite a few Tom Hanks movies, too. As in just about ALL of 'em. Tom must wanna look good.

Or good 'n rubbery.

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horrorfilmx

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Aug 14 10 3:44 PM

Don't forget he also produced Sssssss!

Sid Terror

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Aug 14 10 6:43 PM

horrorfilmx wrote:
Don't forget he also produced Sssssss!

And also came up with the original story.

I find it interesting that though he was uncredited as creative make-up designer on that film, he let John Chambers head the department and take credit. I wonder what the backstory is on that? Sounds like it may be interesting though.

horrorfilmx

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Aug 14 10 7:15 PM

It seems not to be unusual for a make-up man turned producer (or director) to hire someone else to do the make-up on his film, as I believe Stan Winston did on Pumpkinhead and Tom Savini did on some projects. I suppose it's no different than Freddie Francis not acting as DP on the features he directed. One job at a time is plenty.

Ted Newsom

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Aug 15 10 10:10 AM

Re: Maila Nurmi in The Hag. I always thought someone else played the "Hag" in her normal form. Not true? (And if it is true, like I suspected, it seems nuts, because she was quite a looker.)

TomWeaver999

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Aug 15 10 10:13 AM

Danielle de Metz, co-star of director Ed Bernds' RETURN OF THE FLY and VALLEY OF THE DRAGONS, plays the pretty French woman who kisses one of the knights, and then transforms into the hag.

Ted Newsom

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Aug 15 10 12:15 PM

That's what I thought. Silly. Gorgeous woman, that Nurmi lady, and not to avail yourself of that... tsk tsk...

CreepingBride

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Aug 15 10 11:46 PM

Ted Newsom wrote:
Sorry-- I read it as 25 gallons of latex to create HER make-up!

Me too.. that and the four pounds of turkey feathers...

DrPaulArmstrong

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Aug 16 10 9:23 AM

Wait a second, don't we see Maila as herself (or her Hag's self) at the beginning of the film (see above pic) when her eyes get all glowy and stuff? I always assumed the farm girl was a disguise the Hag assumed--thus the casting of de Metz as a rustic, buxom farm girl type.

Of course, I know when I assume I make an assu of m and e. Or something like that.

DrPaulArmstrong

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Aug 16 10 11:34 AM

I should hasten to add that, in the day-to-day workings of hags, I am no expert--I'm no hagologist. Heck, I'm not even a croneographer.

Sid Terror

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Aug 16 10 6:47 PM

We had already seen Maila's face and character. Danielle de Metz was playing, yes, another disguise for Maila's character so we wouldn't see her and say "There is that evil character again, watch out for her!". A surprise in the storyline preserved. Then when she transforms to "The Hag" again, of course it is Maila in the mask.

Confusing for Maila fans, but not in the context of the storyline.

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