Monster of the Day #1386 (Update)

One of the reasons Universal reigned supreme with horror was that while the larger majors all wanted a piece of that sweet horror box office, they were clearly embarrassed to be making such fare. Hell, even in the ’50s Jack Warner went out of his way to attempt to sabotage Them!, which despite his efforts–or arguably because of them–went on to become Warner Bros. top box office attraction that year.

Anyway, whether it was sniffiness by the majors or a lack of money by the skid row studios, most of the competitors fielded some pretty rudimentary, not to mention economical, man-monsters. Here’s an extreme example, with a burly guy proving in the end to be a rather tepid monster.

UPDATE: As noted by you guys, the above picture actually features the ‘monster’ being attacked by Mike Mazurki. Who to be fair to me looks more threatening than the film’s putative monster. Here’s that fellow below, looking especially terrifying in his suspenders.

  • Ericb

    Rahr, I’m not a monsta!

  • Eric Hinkle

    That explanation makes the studios sound like fools. Why would you deliberately sabotage your own people, then complain that the subpar movie they produced doesn’t make any money?

    Then again I don’t get the artists I’ve seen online who rave about how their hoped-for audience is all losers and scum, and then act surprised that no one wants to commission them.

  • Flangepart

    That be EGO for ya. I guess Roger Corman is just a realist about the stuff he does. “It pays the bills. And I get to direct some of the best looking naked women in movies.”

  • bgbear_rnh

    Mike Mazurki isn’t it? Monstrous looking, but in real life a well educated and friendly guy.

  • bgbear_rnh

    Interesting. I did not catch on that the apparent victim (J. Carrol Naish) is the monster with Mike Mazurki getting the upper hand. Weak monster indeed.

  • Gamera977

    Well for example the whole ‘Sad Puppies’ Hugo flap. You had people giving a science fiction/ fantasy award to stories with almost no SF/Fantasy elements because they more interested in pushing a social justice agenda. Apparently you have lots of people who think fun is low-class and to be ashamed of.

  • sandra

    Where’s the monster ? All I see is Mike Mazurki. The other guy looks more like Tor Johnson than J. Carroll Nash to me.

  • sandra

    If this weeks’ theme is ‘non-monstrous monsters’ can we expect a picture of the unfortunate Rondo Hatton ?

  • bgbear_rnh

    Can’t you see J. Carroll’s were-monkey hair. It is perfect.

  • SteveWD

    Pretty sure that’s him. You know, of all the roles he had, my personal favorite just might be the episode of Gilligan where he switched bodies with Ginger.

  • bgbear_rnh

    Yes and the Beverly Hillbilly’s with the Boston Strong Girl (he played her father) vs. Rebecca of Donnybrook Farm.

  • Oh, I get this week’s theme. It’s “Make Lil Cullen Cry”. Monsters who looked like people (vampires excepted) were almost as bad as rarely seen monsters.

    Though I will confess a fondness for Man Made Monster. Although I keep confusing it with The Indestructible Man.

  • Rock Baker

    “I’m in here. Feels good.” Always gives me a laugh!

  • Eric Hinkle

    Was that the episode that ended with Granny going into the ring and beating the ‘villains’ single-handed?

  • bgbear_rnh

    yes, Phillip Marlowe could have used Grannie when he was dealing with Moose Malone.

  • The Rev.

    I’ve not heard of this flap. Your description, however, disinclines me to find out about it, since I’d rather not have my blood boiling this early in the morning.

  • Grr, the fact that they no-awarded freaking Jim Butcher because us wrongfans like him too still burns my ass. The only good thing that’s come out of it for me is finding some really fun stuff out there for a change by actively seeking out whichever authors are pissing off the Hugo gatekeepers this week.

  • That whole brouhaha over the Sad Puppies astounds me. It was so obviously not what the Puppy Kickers said it was, and yet the Kickers kept right on with their narrative, like no one else could see. just jaw dropping.

    I’m going to be honest, the past few years have been very interesting in the Chinese curse sort of way.