When Jack Russell heard that his old pal Vampirella had been captured by a mad scientist bent on "curing" her of vampirism, and that she wouldn't be able to make it to his Halloween party, he immediately leapt into action. He fought his way into the villain's lair and liberated her. Because that's what friends do.
Friends do whatever friends can do for each other to make sure they can't attend Halloween parties. Most of us will just offer to be the designated driver, but sometimes a rescue mission or some other form of intervention might need to be undertaken!
Betty Boop's Penthouse (1933) Starring: Mae Questel, Jack Mercer, and Billy Murray Directors: Dave Fleischer and Willard Bowsky
Rating: Six of Ten Stars
Betty Boop is enjoying a quiet day of gardening and frolicking and singing in her penthouse garden when she attracts the lecherous attention of the proprietors of a mad science lab, Bimbo and Koko, in a neighboring building. Unfortunately, while the pair admire Betty, an experiment goes awry and a monster gets loose!
"Betty Boop's Penthouse" isn't the strongest of the Boop cartoons, but it's noteworthy for being one of a handful of times where Fleischer stars Bimbo, Koko, and Betty all appeared in the same short film. It has its moments, but the music is so-so and there's only one gag that is truly hilarious. Nothing here falls flat or is particularly bad--this just isn't as strong an effort as the best Boops.
I think Bimbo and Koko make a good pair of mad scientists, and I like the way they get their come-uppance... but the film seems to run out of steam in its final minutes, as the unleashed product of mad science goes after Betty. The ending is bad, but it lacks punch. In that way, I suppose it's matches everything else in this short--it's not bad but it's not particularly good either--but I still wanted more.
But you can take a few minutes to see whether I'm judging this cartoon too harshly by clicking below and watching it from this very post. (And if you have even more time, you can let me and everyone else know what YOU think of it, in the comments section!)
At Shades of Gray, we're pulling out all the stops to ensure the perfect staff party for Halloween!
First, we had a staff meeting and gathered input from those working onsite, as well as remotely.
Then, Clara Bow made sure the Halloween Spirits were properly summoned...
... and Elizabeth Montgomery took point in getting the pumpkins carved and ready...
... while Mother Hubbard and Judy Garland made sure the famous Shades of Gray Halloween Punch (because it wouldn't be a party without it) was brewed properly with the right amount of pumpkin spice, almond milk, and spirits!
Finally, as a service to all of our readers, we dispatched Vera-Ellen to visit with rain gods and goddesses Raijin, Tohil, Shala, and Bunzi. We hope she'll get them to make the weather friendly for the trick-or-treaters!
Hollywood on Parade (A-8) (1933) Starring: Eddie Borden, Bonnie Poe, Gayne Whitman, Bela Lugosi, Charlie Murray, George Sidney, Dorothy Burgess, Charles Murray, Marie Prevost, and Rex Bell
Director: Louis Lewyn
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
Wax figures of actors in their famous roles from the late 1920s and early 1930s come to life, and comedian Eddie Borden (Borden) tries to rescue Betty Boop (Poe) after she is attacked by Dracula (Lugosi).
"Hollywood on Parade" was an anthology series produced by Paramount to be shown in theaters before the main features. Some episodes were newsreel-style mockumentaries, others were mini-variety shows, and some, like the one we're featuring today is a series of related comedy skits tied together by a fanciful central story concept. Features that were present in each and every installment, however, were actors appearing as themselves or fictionalized versions of them based on their public image or whatever character they've portrayed that was most famous. The series also relied heavily on contemporary cultural and film references that would be well-known to audiences but may be very obscure to many modern viewers.
This is the first time we're featuring a "Hollywood on Parade" episode on this blog, and we think it's perfect not only for this forum, but for this time of year. Several of the actors featured are in films that have been reviewed and/or can be viewed in posts here at the blog. Even if some of the specifics of some references in this film may not be clear in their origins to many modern viewers, the genres and foibles they are having fun with are general enough in classic films and fiction that the jokes still work. Plus, given how often Betty Boop and Dracula are featured in posts around here, this is a perfect bit of fun as the Halloween festivities here at Shades of Gray approach their high point.
Click below and sit back. We think you'll like this film... and we think you LOVE it if you're into Pre-Code films, Betty Boop cartoons, and Universal's Dracula flicks!
On International Dance Day 2022, the ballerinas ran off into the wild. We're trying to keep track of them, and we'll try to bring you updates on the last Wednesday of each month until International Dance Day 2023.
Halloween is almost here, and we were starting to get worried. Could the ballerinas defend themselves against the Creatures of the Night, not to mentions various ghouls and hobgoblins? How will they survive?
Some are going to try to blend in with the zombies...
... some are going to try to blend in with the ghosts...
... others are going to play dead until the danger has passed....
... but most of them are going to bravely confront the creatures.
Because they have legs that can kick holes in stone walls.
Slow Danse with the Dead makes a second appearance during the 2022 Halloween festivities with the video for "Say Goodbye". We almost held this to be the final post for the line-up on the 31st, but we decided we'd share it to show that even the Shades of Gray Back-Up Easter Bunnies appear to be getting in on the Halloween action.
In all seriousness, this lead single off Slow Danse with the Dead's recent EP, Strangers in the Dark, is supported by a neat video. Both in, and the song, are worth your time... and will help spark that Halloween Spirit! Click and enjoy the dark vibes!
We're one week away from the Big Night--Halloween--so here's a song and video that's equal parts pretty and spooky... so you can get your week started in a pleasant way but still keep the Halloween Spirit building!
South African actress Charlize Theron is part of an all-star cast in "The School for Good and Evil", a film adaptation of a fantasy novel by the same title that's debuting on Netflix today. Go check it out... once you're done admiring our gallery of photos!
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