In the middle 1980s/ Way down on Level 31 …
Before MST3K there was … The Texas 27 Film Vault!
EPISODE ORIGINALLY BROADCAST: Saturday June 15th, 1985 from 10:30pm to 1:00am.
SERIAL: Before showing and mocking The Crybaby Killer our members of the Film Vault Corps (“the few, the proud, the sarcastic”) showed and mocked an episode of the Mascot Serial The Phantom Empire (1935).
In that classically campy serial Gene Autry played a singing cowboy who saves the world from an advanced underground civilization that comes complete with killer robots who wear cowboy hats.
FILM VAULT LORE: The movie ticket give-away this week was for Prizzi’s Honor.
THE MOVIE:
THE CRY BABY KILLER (1958) – Jack Nicholson made his film debut in this Roger Corman production. Jack plays a JD who mistakenly thinks he has shot two rival gang members to death and, believing he has nothing to lose, grabs hostages and holes up in a standoff with the police.
A media circus results as news crews come in to cover the incident and talking heads ponder the juvenile delinquency phenomenon. In better hands this could have provided riveting social commentary, but because it’s a Corman quickie it’s good just for laughs and a silly title song.
Brett Halsey, Carolyn Mitchell, Bruno Ve Sota and Corman himself make appearances in this cult classic.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Randy (right) and Richard way down on Level 31 hosting The Texas 27 Film Vault
IN THE NEAR FUTURE BALLADEER’S BLOG WILL PRESENT MORE TEXAS 27 FILM VAULT MILESTONES.
Be here to share the Film Vault Corp’s mission of “safeguarding America’s schlock-culture heritage”.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFO ON THIS SHOW –https://glitternight.com/texas-27-film-vault/
© Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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Nicholson was in some bombs.
Yes he was!
Awesome review dude! Keep writing.
Thanks! I will.
Great reviews of bad movies. I have to admit that I am a little bit shocked by “The Crybaby Killer”. Jack Nicholson is a phenomenal actor that built a lasting legacy. He built a reputation for playing strong characters in memorable movies during the 1970’s such as “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. As Murphy, he created a memorable character in the history of Cinema. So, it’s surprising that he also made bad movies earlier in his career. I was never aware of these so thanks for informing me.
Here’s why I loved Nicholson’s performance in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”:
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975) – Movie Review – The Film Buff (huilahimovie.reviews)