Wild, Wild Podcast - PUMAMAN (1980)

When the space gods delivered a golden mask to the Aztec people on a mountain plateau thousands of years ago, little did they know that one day a man in black leather would steal it, and it would be up to an unsuspecting American paleontologist working at the Natural History Museum in London to stop him, calling upon his innate super powers to do so. Because he is the PUMAMAN! He can fly! He can teleport! He can rip cars open with his bare hands! He can stop bullets! Oh wait, he can't do that - if he gets shot he will die, just like any ordinary schlub in a cape. Seems a bit of an oversight when they were doling out the super powers but space gods are gonna do their own thing. So with the help of an Aztec High Priest and the daughter of the Dutch Ambassador, he will have to push himself to his very limits to stop the evil Donald Pleasence. Will he succeed? Will Pumaman be such a box office smash that it will launch a whole series of Pumaman films? Tune in to find out.

It's a new season, dedicated to that great quiet man of British cinema, Donald Pleasence, who spent a great deal of time in the 1980s in Italy. Clearly making Pumaman didn't put him off entirely. So join Rod and Adrian as they begin to explore some of these films, both the good and the bad.

We would love to hear from you about your favorite Donald Pleasence films from this period, or if you have ever been thrown out of a high window by a tall Mexican. All things of interest can be found at the show's LINKTREE. 

Video - The History of the Monster Cereals: Count Chocula, Franken Berry, Boo Berry

This video is a good explainer for those curious about how the Monster Kid craze of the 1960's gave birth to the General Mills Monster cereals and the color changing controversies that made bathroom trips concerning! If only Yummy Mummy was available every year at Halloween time. 

BLACK DRAGONS (1942) Poster Art and Lobby Cards

Without a doubt this is one of the most incoherent movies I have ever watched more than ten times. And I'll watch it again, I promise!

 

Classic Serial Poster Art

 

Comic - GRAY LADY

Currently sitting on your local comic book shop's shelves is this one-shot horror comic that deserves more attention. It plays like a stand alone movie that just needs to be financed and shot.

 

A car accident leaves part of a small family dead and a dangerous supernatural force in pursuit of the remainder. Enter a woman that can talk to the dead and you have a tight little thriller.

 

If Hollywood is searching for new horror tales this one could be the perfect winter-set chiller. 

LINK

 

Poster art for THE FABULOUS WORLD OF JULES VERNE (1961)

 

If you've never seen this fantastic film you really should seek it out! Made by Czech animator-turned-director Karel Zeman as a loving tribute to the novels of Jules Verne with the title of Invention for Destruction, it was released in 1958. In 1961 the film was belatedly released in the United States under this more famous title and by that time it had won numerous awards around the world. It is incredibly entertaining and unlike nearly anything you've ever seen before. 

KNIVES OF THE AVENGER (1966) Poster Art

This film just seems to get better every time I come back to it. Surely one of Mario Bava's most underrated.