Overrated and overhyped

From my favorite movies..

As Good As It Gets

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Rumours abound about what may go on at a creepy mansion just out of town. The house is owned by Dr. Eric Vornoff who is conducting experiments to turn people into super-beings through the use of atomic power. Reporter Janet Lawton decides to look into what is going there and its possible connection to men that have disappeared in the area. Bride of the Monster is another ridiculous Ed Wood film that hardly makes any sense both in terms of story but also in terms of it's title as a whole plus the whole octopus thing was annoying admit it. (0/10)

"Home? I have no home. Hunted. Despised! Living like an animal!"One of screen icon Bela Lugosis' final completed roles is as the mad scientist Dr. Eric Vornoff, in this, one of the notorious efforts for schlock creator Edward D. Wood, Jr. Vornoff lives in an estate by a swamp where he conducts experiments in turning ordinary humans into atomic "super beings". He also utilizes the services of a henchman (Tor Johnson, amusing as always) and keeps a pet octopus on the premises. Headstrong journalist Janet Lawton (Loretta King) sniffs out a story and wanders into Vornoffs' domain."Bride of the Monster" may have been done on the ultra-cheap, but that does not mean it necessarily reeks of incompetence. Wood does manage to crank out an entertaining (if patently ridiculous) story and make a watchable film that runs a trim 69 minutes. He also gives Lugosi his last great hurrah by providing him with a role (and monologue) that the actor obviously relished. Truthfully, the film wouldn't be quite as memorable if Bela weren't playing Vornoff for everything that the part was worth.Budgetary restrictions are most hilariously apparent when it comes to the octopus. Wood alternates between stock footage of octopi and an absurd rubber prop that requires the actors playing the victims to do a fair amount of the work in death scenes. But the film does have good atmosphere, and a moderately effective lab set.The supporting cast has its moments. King is appealingly feisty, and Tony McCoy is passable as her hunky fiancee / hero, a detective lieutenant. (McCoys' father, a rancher (who retains an executive producer credit), financed "Bride" on the condition that his son get one of the principal roles.) Harvey B. Dunn is fun as McCoys' superior, a police captain whose pet bird is often perched on his shoulder. Former Wood companion Dolores Fuller has a regrettably minor role as a colleague of Janets'. And Woods' repertory player Paul Marco is typically a hoot as a dimwitted cop.Decent cinematography (credited to two men, Ted Allan and William C. Thompson), and music (by Frank Worth) further assist in making "Bride" a B picture to cherish.Eight out of 10.

This is an Ed wood classic. It includes the regular "actors" night/day scene confusion, rubber monsters, and stock footage interjected regardless of background. Wrestler Toj Johnson, veteran of 31 films, provided his expertise being able to play a mute (unless whipped) a role he would encore. This was the era when cars looked like tanks and bras were fashioned after bullets. I'm not sure the title was truly fitting. And what was that major league mushroom cloud at the end?They don't make films like this anymore, well unfortunately they do.

Bride Of The Monster was Bela Lugosi's last completed film and was done for that legendary director of bad movies, Ed Wood, Jr. At least Lugosi didn't live to see Plan Nine From Outer Space, he was spared that humiliation.Once again Bela is a mad scientist who has a scheme to create a race of atomic supermen and he's got a great old prototype in Tor Johnson formerly the Swedish Angel of pro wrestling fame. In fact Tor's nocturnal wanderings have given rise to a monster legend in and around Lugosi's secluded digs in the woods. That and the pet giant octopus he keeps around for no discernible reason other than to dispose of unwanted guests.Bela has all kinds of people on his trail, the cops, a Lois Lane type reporter who is girlfriend to one of the cops and another scientist from Lugosi's home country who wants to bring him back so he can do his work there. Bela however is a believer that a prophet has no honor in his home country and disposes of that unwanted guest via the octopus.The octopus and Ed Wood's inability to use it somewhat realistically are the main reasons that this Ed Wood classic is remembered today. I just read a very thorough biography of Lugosi and the rubber octopus was the one John Wayne struggled with in Wake Of The Red Witch. It was the property of Republic Pictures. But Republic was slowly going out of business so Wood got the thing from Herbert J. Yates somehow, he rented it, Yates sold it to him in a fire sale, or he just gave it to him there not being a big market for giant rubber octopuses. Now that thing would bring thousands of dollars in an on line auction if it still exists. Even with a missing tentacle, broken off during the shooting of Bride Of The Monster.Not much else to recommend it, cheesy sets, acting on the junior high school level, and a man with no eye for special effects directing this epic. Still worth a few laughs though.