Hello!

Fans of Mario Bava potentially have something to love or hate in a big screening / concert event this Halloween in Los Angeles. The United Theater on Broadway will present a full opera written to be sung to a presentation of Mario Bava’s muscleman costume epic Hercules in the Haunted World, the Technicolor fantasy starring Reg Park and Christopher Lee. The new opera is called  Hercules vs Vampires.  Its music score is by Patrick Morganelli.

A full description is at the link; the ‘campy, vampy’ show describes itself as a “thrilling blend of cinema and live performance [that] transforms the film’s mythic characters into operatic larger-than-life legends. It’s high art meets high camp, with equal parts beef and cheese for an unforgettable Halloween weekend.”

That makes me think that   Ercole al centro della Terra is going be the focus of an MST3K-like roasting. But saying so sounds like reviewing something before seeing it.

The synopsis given follow the story of the original movie; the website says that the new Opera score replaces the original soundtrack, with singing in English. The duration given makes it looks as if about 10 minutes have been cut from the film’s running time. It’s the kind of show where the audience is encouraged to come in costume. Sounds like a new thrill for Rocky Horror folk.

Dependable Michael McQuarrie finds a winner, one that supplies needed information to survive in the modern world.

It’s a public service film by the Navy, about safety in offices. These people have to go to extreme lengths to find the hazards of office work — which becomes a non-stop string of slapstick stunts. We think this one was more to entertain viewers being subjected to informational films. Did serious casualties really come from office buildings as well as the sea lanes?  Gee, why couldn’t WW2 office workers work from home, we ask.

The primary actress doing the pratfalls appears to be channeling Betty Hutton … at least in my humble opinion. A brunet gets herself felt up (our judgment) when she falls off a stepladder. It’s murder in the workplace, honest.

Does the main title music sound like it came from Warners? This is not a cheap-looking short subject. Wish we could identify the leading players.

Thanks for reading! — Glenn Erickson