Monster of the Day #3373

Following the debacle of Things (which I’ve always argued should be called “Stuff,” since its one of those plotless, one damn thing after another pictures), things got better. Of course, they pretty much had to. So I’ll amend that statement. Things got significantly better. That’s because GalaxyJane choose a Pam Grier movie, Friday Foster. Foster is a bit less rough, content-wise, then most of her Blaxploitation films. I don’t even think anyone drops the N-word, which is all but unique.

Friday Foster was a Brenda Starr-esque comic strip about a reporter, and Grier obviously fills the bill quite nicely. Of course the supporting cast is terrific, even for a Blaxploitatoin flick. Check this out: Yaphet Kotto. Godfrey Cambridge. Thalmus Rasulala. Scatman Crothers. Ted Lange. Carl Weathers. AND Eartha Kitt. Hot damn. Whities are represented, meanwhile, by Jim Backus. Director Arthur Marks, meanwhile, also helmed two of the very best Blaxploitation classics, Bucktown (which I think is on Amazon Prime) and the even better Detroit 9000. Seriously, if you haven’t seen those, find them and check them out.

The winning streak continued with the midnight showing of Ship of Monsters. This is the traditional (because of B-Fest) “Plan 9” slot, so we always shows a Grade A goofy ‘50s monster movie at that time. Anyway, the rest of us were appalled when Jane revealed she’d never seen this during any of the multiple times we watched it in various places, no needless to say we immediately scheduled it. That film is 100% delightful, I mean, we’re talking Super Inframan levels of fun. Just great stuff.

By the way, Mondo Macabre REALLY needs to put out a remastered blu ray for Ship of Monsters.

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The Rev.

Ship of Monsters is a movie everyone needs to see. A comedic singing cowboy who’s talented AND legitimately charming AND funny? His younger brother, who is not annoying, as well as funny AND helpful? Dirty jokes that go over kids’ heads and smack their parents right in the funny bone? Four of the best monsters you’ll ever see (especially Zok, who isn’t pictured)? A dour, sarcastic robot who falls in love with a jukebox? Two of the hottest women in Mexico (and as far as Lorena Velasquez, one of the hottest on the planet) running around in space swimsuits? A crazy plot twist halfway through that no one will see coming? A story that never drags, never bores, and builds to the greatest ending in cinematic history? Ken is not wrong to compare this to Super Inframan; this, too, is a movie that I will never regret re-watching, and will constantly show others because, seriously, everyone needs to see it.
Cullen Waters

I have never finished Friday Foster. There’s this scene, I think it’s just after the glorious Eartha Kitt exits the flick, where the Man himself, Yaphet Koto, is chasing after this shooter. The two of them get into this gun battle, and right in the middle of it, Koto, dressed to the nines, is taking cover and he gets this expression on his face and shouts, “What am I doing here?” And it’s at that moment I realize this is the high point of the flick. It can only go down hill from there.

And make no mistake, I’m liking the movie. I’m sure the rest of the film is quite good. But I’ve watched it twice and I’ve stopped there each time for the exact same reason.

My God was Yaphet Koto a neat actor. He didn’t appear in my neck of Filmdom very often, but when he did I was always glad to see him.
Beckoning Chasm

I have a downloaded version of this (without subtitles) that I got years ago, and I have yet to watch it for some reason.
🐻 bgbear_rnh

Arthur Marks was a big part of “Perry Mason” so expect him to be able to put out a quality product.
Rock Baker

My only complaint is that it’s so rapid-fire that I have trouble keeping up with the subtitles (and Mexican movies tend to be pretty talky in general). Here’s a case where a dub track really would’ve come in handy. I’ve never been the fastest reader, and there are so many great visuals that I wish I could just concentrate on the imagery. One of those cases where I sorta wish I just understood Spanish.
Galaxy Jane

I do not regret finally seeing Ship of Monsters in any way, shape or form, although I really want to watch it again because so much happens that you can’t keep up on just one watch.

I did something I never do and brought Friday Foster in blind, trusting that cast to come through with something worth watching and it definitely paid off.
Galaxy Jane

Kotto turning up in Freddy’s Dead, The Final Nightmare is definitely an odd experience.
Eric Hinkle

I agree with everything said here. Ship of Monsters is an amazing film and such a delight to watch. I’d sooner see it get an Oscar than most of the films that win in real life.
kgb_san_diego

Everyone. No doubt.

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