I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF

Michael Landon as teen wolf

          













 I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF (1957). Director: Gene Fowler, Jr.

"This is modern America -- not a hamlet in the Carpathian mountains!"

Tony Rivers (Michael Landon), who has serious anger management issues, is sent to a nutty psychiatrist named Dr. Brandon (Whit Bissell). Brandon has developed the insane theory that the only way to save mankind is to regress it back to its primitive state. To this end he experiments on poor Tony, using hypnotic regression to turn him more or less into a werewolf. Teenage Werewolf works on the level of an old horror comic book story, is nevertheless played more or less straight, and is not a bad picture. There is a genuinely well-done attack scene in a forest [greatly abetted by the performance of victim Michael Rougas] and the wolf make up is reasonably effective (even if the teeth could use a little work). Landon and Bissell give very good performances, and there's nice work from Louise Lewis as the concerned principle Ferguson, and Malcolm Atterbury as Tony's father. Guy Williams [Captain Sindbad] and Robert Griffin [Monster from Green Hell] are the cops on the case. The movie probably could have done without the "Eenie Meenie Minee Mo" number sung by the teens. Yvonne Lime makes virtually no impression as Tony's girlfriend. Released on a double-bill with I was a Teenage Frankenstein.

Verdict: Fun if downbeat horror flick. ***

DAMON AND PYTHIAS

DAMON AND PYTHIAS (aka Il tiranno di Siracusa/1962). Director: Curtis Bernhardt.

Pythias (Don Burnett) leaves his angry pregnant wife in Athens and travels to Syracuse on a political mission. There he encounters the thief Damon (Guy Williams of Captain Sindbad), but after some unpleasant moments the two become allies against the tyrannical King Dionysius (Arnoldo Foa), leading to Pythias being condemned to death. Impressed with Pythias' noble nature, Damon makes an amazing offer and sacrifice. This is an entertaining if unspectacular and pretty faithful rendition of the legendary platonic friendship with good performances from the two leads. Ilaria Occhini is zesty as Pythias' fiery and passionate wife, and Liana Orfei is fine as Damon's girlfriend. It's a surprise that veteran director Bernhardt (Possessed; My Reputation) helmed this foreign entry; this was his next to last film. Burnett is an appealing, attractive actor but he only made a few movies. NOTE: Available from Warner Archives Collection in a new remastered and widescreen edition.

Verdict: The ending almost brings a lump to your throat. ***. 

CAPTAIN SINDBAD

Guy Williams as Sindbad

CAPTAIN SINDBAD (1963). Director: Byron Haskin.

In the mythical kingdom of Baristan, the evil El Karem (Pedro Armendariz), who's taken the throne from the elderly king, tries to kill off the Princess Jana's (Heidi Bruhl) lover, the dashing hero Captain Sindbad (Guy Williams). Easier said than done, although El Karem puts Sindbad in an arena with an invisible monster [we only see its footprints a la Forbidden Planet] and has the distinct advantage of being unkillable. Commanded by El Kerim, the court wizard Galgo (Abraham Sofaer) has magically placed the former's heart in a tower in the middle of a swamp, protecting him from death. Sindbad and his men brave the swamp and face hungry gators, whirlpools that suck down the men, man-eating vines, and a mechanical hydra [this last creation is a well-made and busy beastie but it takes a far second to the stop-motion Ray Harryhausen hydra in Jason and the Argonauts, which came out the same year]. The movie wisely intercuts from the desperate race to smash El Karem's heart in the tower to the approaching execution of the princess, whose head is to be stepped on by an elephant! Although the effects aren't in the same league, this is one of the better fantasy films made in the wake of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad [the correct spelling of the Arabian nights hero's name is actually with a "d"]. Williams makes a properly dashing Sindbad, Bruhl is very pretty and capable, and Armendariz is a fairly zesty bad guy. Sofaer's comedy relief antics are somewhat tiresome. Colonel Kabar, El Karim's right hand man, is well played by the incredibly versatile Henry Brandon: Barnaby in Babes in Toyland, Fu Manchu in Drums of Fu Manchu, and the hermit in The Land Unknown. The musical score seems to be a steal from a Borodin piece popularly known as "Stranger in Paradise." Excellent scenic design, especially in the colorful and sinister swampland. Bruhl appeared mostly in German films, while most of Williams' appearances were on television. After making a great many Mexican and American films, Armendariz died the same year of this film's release at 51 [he committed suicide to avoid a painful death from cancer, possibly contracted while working on The Conquerer] after making a final screen appearance in From Russia With Love.

Verdict: Highly entertaining fantasy with some decent effects work and generally good performances. ***.