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"Turn Down Your Lights (Where applicable)"
Experiment #205 ~ ROCKET ATTACK USA (1959?) with short
The Phantom Creeps (1939) ~ (Ch.2)
Original Air Date: October 27, 1990
Genre: Thriller
Studio: Exploit Films Productions
Starring: Monica Davis, John McKay, Daniel Kern, Edward Czerniuk, Arthur Metrano
Directed By: Barry Mahon
Theatrical Running Time: 71 Minutes
Tagline: "From Another Continent... Destruction!!! Panic!!! ...before the Rocket Strikes!"
... But FIRST! ...
Short:
Chapter 2: 'Death Stalks the Highway'
Total Number of Chapters: 12
Genre: Serial Sci-Fi/Mystery
Studio: Commonwealth Pictures Corporation
Starring: Bela Lugosi, Robert Kent, Dorothy Arnold, Regis Toomey, Jack C. Smith
Directed By: Ford Beebe
Chapter Running Time: 22 Minutes
Tagline: "12 Spine-Shivering Action Chapters!"
Shorts Chapter Synopsis:
The plane flying to the accident scene where Dr. Zorka is believed to have been killed, crashes. Jean Drew, reporter, parachutes to safety. Bob West, of the Military Intelligence Department, survives the crash. The pilot is in a state of suspended animation, however Dr. Zorka's wife is killed in the crash. Bob returns to Zorka's laboratory and overcomes Monk, Zorka's assistant, then pursues a fugitive automobile into the hills, believing it contains someone who has learned Zorka's secrets. Dr. Mallory, former associate of Zorka's, is assisting the authorities in their investigation of Zorka's laboratory. Jean is with Bob when he finds a strange disc planted by the invisible Dr. Zorka in the abandoned automobile. Bob is knocked unconscious and he and the automobile plunge over a cliff. Can Bob possibly survive?!
Find out in Chapter Three of '
The Phantom Creeps'.
...and now... OUR FEATURE PRESENTATION!
Film Synopsis: Communists launch an Earth orbiting satellite. The United States, fearing the worst send a spy to Russia to uncover the soviets' missile plans. Meanwhile the Commies are plotting to nuke New York City, which they succeed in doing.
Intro: Joel gives Tom Servo a haircut. ("Yeah, you kind of look like that guy from '
House Party'.
Invention Exchange:
Joel was going to present the
Mexican Jumping Bean-Bag Chair (good for rearranging the furniture, improving circulation for the elderly, etc...but Gypsy ate it. "She's got 'Montezuma's Revenge' like you wouldn't believe!"), so instead he offers the
Mexican Candy Adding Machine (the paper roll has those little 'dot' candies on it so you can "eat your losses" if needed).
The Mads counter with
Water Polo (a foosball table, caulked and filled with water).
Host Segments:
Host 1: Joel and the bots discuss the 'cold war' era and the 'Charlie McCarthey' hearings. (Howdy Doody turns informant and implicates Gumby, Pokey, Kukla and Ollie of participating in un-american activities. Based on the testimony of the duck from '
You Bet Your Life', Jerry Mahoney, Knucklehead Smith and Farfel never worked in this town again. Lamb Chop puts the finger on Davey and Goliath).
Host 2: The 'Civil Defense Quiz Bowl' game show (brought to you by 'The Grace of God' and chocolaty 'Cocoa Bombs'). Questions are answered by the contestants in the categories of 'Pop-Up', 'Propaganda', 'Civil Defense Myths and Legends' and the 'Fall-Out Elimination Round'.
Host 3: Joel and the bots meet 'Soory Androplei' (
Mike Nelson) and his bots via the Hexfield Viewscreen. They are the Russian counterpart to the 'Satellite of Love'.
End: Joel and the Bots are incensed as to the negative nature of the film. Joel reads a fan letter. The Mads are happy with this weeks results.
Stinger: "Help Me!"
Items of Note:
~ This the first episode that ends with a 'stinger'. A stinger is usually a snippet or line of dialogue from the film that is so outrageous, ridiculous or out of context from the movie that it is just hilarious on it's own.
~ The Hexfield Viewscreen is no longer the cheesy window-shade we've seen in the past, but a nice opening and closing spiral hatch.
~ At the end of the first host segment, as the trio re-enter the theater, Joel fumbles the hand off of Tom Servo to Kevin and Tom tips over for a moment.
Personal Notes:
~ The strongest 'riff' session of the season so far.
~ A truly depressing film, but a brilliant piece of 1950's anti-communist propaganda.
~ More stock footage than I've ever seen so far.
The 'Riffs': Some more great one-liners in this one like "Spread out, man. You smell like a manure salesman with a mouthful of samples!" and "Darned old apocalypse warnings. I just ignore them.". Full of cultural references from 'Dune' to 'Frank Lloyd Wright', to 'John Cougar' to Zappa's 'Joe's Garage' this episode is very well written.
Rating: 2-1/2'Fallout Shelters' out of 5
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