The Mask of Fu Manchu

[Anim8rFSK]

I recently watched the classic 1932 horror film
starring Boris Karloff as Fu Manchu in an early
speaking role.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I would not call "Mask" a horror film.
The mere presence of Boris Karloff does not a horror film make.
I'd call it an adventure film if I had to classify it.
I've not seen this in several years but recall that I did enjoy it - a lot!
I read several of Rohmer's Fu Manchu stories years ago (before I saw this
film).
Now if only someone would make a decent Doc Savage film!

There's a 'fan edit' of Doc where they cut out all the silly stuff ...
and ended up with like a one hour show that plays like any given
Universal TV show of the era. I think they cut TOO deep; I'd use the
theme song at least over the credits. But it's interesting to see how
close they came to making a good Doc film at the time. Did you know
that Buddy Hackett *wanted* to play Monk?

alt.fan.doc-savage
added, 'cause God knows it needs the traffic. :)

[Space Ranger]

Post by Anim8rFSK
There's a 'fan edit' of Doc where they cut out all the silly stuff ...
and ended up with like a one hour show that plays like any given
Universal TV show of the era. I think they cut TOO deep; I'd use the
theme song at least over the credits. But it's interesting to see how
close they came to making a good Doc film at the time. Did you know
that Buddy Hackett *wanted* to play Monk?
alt.fan.doc-savage
added, 'cause God knows it needs the traffic. :)

I've been following the current edit process on the fanedit.org forum.
The fan editor made a decent cut of the movie a few years ago, but
with the release of the DVD as source material, he's now doing a very
major re-edit that is pretty remarkable. He has gone so far as to
remove the rhinestones from Sea's lapels and to record new foley
tracks. I saw an interim cut and it was very good at that point but
the editor is continuing to fine tune it. I hope he will be ready to
release the finished cut soon.

[Dave]

There are plenty of cringe-worthy moment in th eDOC SAVAGE movie, but
you still have to give George Pal credit for faithfulness to the
material.

Five yearss down the road, Spielberg does a 1930s actioner -- what
would RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK have looked like with 1/20th the budget,
all back-lot shooting, and Ron Ely as indiana Jones?

And faithfulness counts for something. Those of us old enough to
remember that the biggest "shocker" moment in JAWS was when Richard
Dreyfuss ISN''T eaten by the shark, like he was in the book.

Dave

[Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)]

Post by Dave
There are plenty of cringe-worthy moment in th eDOC SAVAGE movie, but
you still have to give George Pal credit for faithfulness to the
material.
Five yearss down the road, Spielberg does a 1930s actioner -- what
would RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK have looked like with 1/20th the budget,
all back-lot shooting, and Ron Ely as indiana Jones?
And faithfulness counts for something. Those of us old enough to
remember that the biggest "shocker" moment in JAWS was when Richard
Dreyfuss ISN''T eaten by the shark, like he was in the book.

His character also didn't have a pointless and sordid affair with Mrs.
Brody, like he did in the book. Benchley was involved in the production
and seemed quite pleased with the result. I think JAWS is one of the
canonical examples of "Movie better than the book".

Post by Dave
Dave

[Anim8rFSK]

Post by Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)

Post by Dave
There are plenty of cringe-worthy moment in th eDOC SAVAGE movie, but
you still have to give George Pal credit for faithfulness to the
material.
Five yearss down the road, Spielberg does a 1930s actioner -- what
would RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK have looked like with 1/20th the budget,
all back-lot shooting, and Ron Ely as indiana Jones?
And faithfulness counts for something. Those of us old enough to
remember that the biggest "shocker" moment in JAWS was when Richard
Dreyfuss ISN''T eaten by the shark, like he was in the book.

His character also didn't have a pointless and sordid affair with Mrs.
Brody, like he did in the book.

Which is exactly the point where I knew he'd live. :)

I *hate* Chapter 7 or whatever it was. You can go right from the
chapter before to the chapter after and not only not miss it, but be
better off without it. It only serves to make the Dreyfuss character
deserve to die.

Benchley was involved in the production

Post by Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)
and seemed quite pleased with the result. I think JAWS is one of the
canonical examples of "Movie better than the book".

Oh, definitely. You don't even notice how painfully blatantly the
material is ripping off Moby Dick. Of course 'better than the book' is
standard, and easy, with Benchley books.

[Dave]

Peter Benchley wrote other books? Seriously, dude?

Wait, I know he wrote at least one, which became the inspiration for
that incredible poster of Jaqualine Bissett in a wet t-shirt...

dave

[Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)]

Post by Dave
Peter Benchley wrote other books? Seriously, dude?
Wait, I know he wrote at least one, which became the inspiration for
that incredible poster of Jaqualine Bissett in a wet t-shirt...

The Deep.

He's actually written quite a few novels, and a pretty large proportion
of them have been filmed for the big screen or the small.

[Moriarty]

On Jul 18, 9:07 pm, "Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)"

Post by Dave
Peter Benchley wrote other books? Seriously, dude?
Wait, I know he wrote at least one, which became the inspiration for
that incredible poster of Jaqualine Bissett in a wet t-shirt...

        The Deep.
        He's actually written quite a few novels, and a pretty large proportion
of them have been filmed for the big screen or the small.

Also _The Island_, the movie of which starred Michael Caine, who
somehow managed to find a WORSE movie to be in than Jaws: The Revenge.

-Moriarty

[Anim8rFSK]

In article

Post by Moriarty
On Jul 18, 9:07 pm, "Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)"

Post by Dave
Peter Benchley wrote other books? Seriously, dude?
Wait, I know he wrote at least one, which became the inspiration for
that incredible poster of Jaqualine Bissett in a wet t-shirt...

        The Deep.
        He's actually written quite a few novels, and a pretty large proportion
of them have been filmed for the big screen or the small.

Also The Island , the movie of which starred Michael Caine, who
somehow managed to find a WORSE movie to be in than Jaws: The Revenge.

from Wiki:

Peter Benchley Books

* Jaws (1974)
* The Deep (1976)
* The Island (1979)
* The Girl of the Sea of Cortez (1982)
* Q Clearance (1986)
* Rummies (1989)
* Beast (1991)
* White Shark (novel) (1994)
* Creature (re publishing of White Shark) (1997)


Peter Benchley Films

* Jaws, 1975 film adaptation; actor: Interviewer.
* The Deep, 1977 film adaptation
* Jaws 2, based on characters from Jaws
* The Island, 1980 film adaptation
* Jaws 3-D (a.k.a. Jaws 3), based on characters from Jaws
* Jaws: The Revenge, a fourth film based on characters from Jaws
* Dolphin Cove, 1989 TV series
* The Beast, 1996 TV film adaptation
* Creature_(TV_movie), 1998 TV film adaptation
* Amazon, 1999 TV series

[Invid Fan]

In article

Post by Moriarty
On Jul 18, 9:07 pm, "Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)"

Post by Dave
Peter Benchley wrote other books? Seriously, dude?
Wait, I know he wrote at least one, which became the inspiration for
that incredible poster of Jaqualine Bissett in a wet t-shirt...

        The Deep.
        He's actually written quite a few novels, and a pretty large proportion
of them have been filmed for the big screen or the small.

Also _The Island_, the movie of which starred Michael Caine, who
somehow managed to find a WORSE movie to be in than Jaws: The Revenge.

There's a wonderful quote of Michael Caine about Jaws 4, to the effect
of "I haven't seen the finished movie, but I have seen the house it
paid for and it's lovely!"

[Anim8rFSK]

In article

Post by Dave
Peter Benchley wrote other books? Seriously, dude?
Wait, I know he wrote at least one, which became the inspiration for
that incredible poster of Jaqualine Bissett in a wet t-shirt...
dave

Right. Now picture the plot of THE DEEP, boringly typed out by a no
talent writer, without Jaqueline Bisset ...

[Michael Black]

Post by Dave
Peter Benchley wrote other books? Seriously, dude?
Wait, I know he wrote at least one, which became the inspiration for
that incredible poster of Jaqualine Bissett in a wet t-shirt...

He wrote "The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming", that was
turned into a movie.

Wait, that was his father's book.

Michael