Edward D. Wood JR thread

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

[JoeS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoeS]

The Truth can finally be revealed!

[JoeS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoeS]

THE FINAL CURTAIN (1957). Ed Wood's unsold TV pilot is basically a radio drama with pictures. Duke Moore stumbles around a large empty theater while Dudley Manlove drones Ed Wood's dialogue on and on and on. When the Duke finally comes across a 'surprise' behind a door (Jeannie Stevens) it looks like dialogue might break out.............but, no. Duke closes the door and Manlove drones some more.
Cinematographer William C. Thompson gives it a better look than it deserves. The music and sound FX aren't bad, but, again, those latter two elements would have worked just as well on radio.
It's no surprise that even in an era with shows like Lights Out and Tales of the Unexpected, there were no takers for this talky nothing of a pilot. At least Wood got to recycle some of it for NIGHT OF THE GHOULS.

[JoeS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoeS]

I belatedly read Rudolph Grey's book Nightmare Of Ecstasy this week. It's a mixed bag.

On one hand, it's great that Grey was able to gather together so many folks who knew Wood while they were still alive and willing to talk about the man. In that way, it's an invaluable document. He also managed to locate a good amount of Wood's actual notes, writings, scripts etc.. According to his research much of it disappeared over the years as Wood's life hit the skids and he had to sell off and/or abandon much of it during his last years.

On the other, Grey doesn't show much scholarship here. It's like a large unmoderated chatroom where a bunch of Wood's rogues gallery of friends just toss out old stories. The large group of characters isn't properly introduced (and the 'Biographical Notes' at the back of the book doesn't help much), context is rarely given and as others have noted, they often contradict one another (Grey warns in the introduction that he isn't going to play 'referee'). It's certainly a great collection of bits and pieces, but it can be a frustrating read. I often found myself asking, "Now who is this person? And, what relevence does he have to Wood?!" The effect is sometimes like walking into someone else's family reunion, without introductions, and being expected to know who is who and knowing what they are talking about.

Still, if you stick with it, a portrait of Wood emerges, and it's not a particularly positive one (and sadly, neither is Bela Lugosi's). As limited a talent as he may have been, he did get some projects filmed, completed and shown. But, he burned out early, drank himself to oblivion and was dead by the age of 54.

Grey spends too much space talking about his final drunken years and not enough about the films and TV shows he worked on -- some of which are never discussed in the main text at all, and are relegated to the rather unsatisfactory filmography in the back of the book.

Sadly, most of the folks who Grey interviewed are gone now, so this will still remain the main book on Ed Wood. Too bad a little more attention to editing and notating his research wasn't done.

[Killer Meteor Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Killer Meteor]

I had that impression as well. Some of the interviewees are very unreliable.

[Jobla Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jobla]

A few years ago, there was some talk that an updated, expanded edition of NIGHTMARE OF ECSTASY would be released. However, for whatever reason, it didn't happen.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Great article on Ed Wood player Paul Marco (aka Kelton the cop):

https://willsloanesq.wordpress.com/2...l-marco-story/

[Jobla Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jobla]

McFarland has a new book entitled DAD MADE DIRTY MOVIES, about Stephen Apostolof and his films such as ORGY OF THE DEAD. I haven't received the book, but it's on sale at a 40% discount during McFarland's Horror Books sale, which I believe extends through October 16th. All of their horror related books (primarily books about film) are on sale for the 40% discount.

There was an earlier documentary also called DAD MADE DIRTY MOVIES, but I've never had the chance to see that film. Both the film and the book were created with the cooperation of the Apostolof family.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Ed Wood's death certificate can now be viewed online, which is weird.

https://d2rights.blogspot.com/2020/1...12-eddies.html

[Killer Meteor Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Killer Meteor]

Dwight Frye's death certificate listed his occupation as "tool designer."

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

[Dom D Spoon! Find all posts View Profile Close Dom D]

Still, if you stick with it, a portrait of Wood emerges, and it's not a particularly positive one (and sadly, neither is Bela Lugosi's). As limited a talent as he may have been, he did get some projects filmed, completed and shown. But, he burned out early, drank himself to oblivion and was dead by the age of 54..

Wood is a bit of a hero of mine. I want to read the book but if it's showing Wood to be a bit of a bastard then I should probably skip it. Don't need another hero tarnished.

[Jack J Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jack J]

O_O

Where's this from, Ian? Are we getting (new) bluray releases of Ed Wood's films?

I checked their fb page but couldn't find any info about the film.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

It was from Gold Ninja's twitter feed. I think they're just working on the one for now. I wouldn't assume there's a set in the works from them or anything like that.

[Jack J Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jack J]

It was from Gold Ninja's twitter feed. I think they're just working on the one for now. I wouldn't assume there's a set in the works from them or anything like that.

Ahh, okay. Thanks. I had a look at their fb page but couldn't find anything.