THE SECRET OF THE MUMMY (1982, 1983) – This Brazilian horror film was released as O Segredo da Mumia in 1982 and with English subtitles as The Secret of the Mummy in 1983. It was directed by the one and only Ivan Cardoso aka Ivan the Terrible to fans.
That nickname was not an insult but was a sincere compliment to the cult horror film director, playing on the real-life Ivan the Terrible and his frightful reputation. Cardoso previously served as an Assistant Director to Brazil’s King of Horror – Coffin Joe himself! (For my look at eight Coffin Joe films click HERE.)
The Secret of the Mummy is a terrific starting point for Ivan’s movies, whether you’re interested in foreign cinema or looking for a change of pace in a mummy flick. It’s also a good introduction to his eccentric style – frequent changes between black & white footage and color footage, riffs on global cinema and periodic insertions of bizarre sex comedy. Continue reading
Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog takes another look at the perennial question – Is career criminal, accused rapist, proven racist and illegitimate politician Joe Biden vermin or is he instead a large clump of bacteria sculpted into human form? 
As those Martin Luther King People of Courage the Hodge Twins have observed “We have lost so much faith in the Democrat Party. These people are a bunch of liars!” 
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 
IRON MAN Vol 1 #62 (September 1973) 
Whiplash is practicing by whipping to pieces steel statues of Iron Man while indulging in a Villain Rant about how 
THE SECRET OF THE LOCH (1934) – So America gave the world King Kong in 1933, eh? Well, the Empire strikes back! Milton Rosmer directed this neglected British film that was co-written by THE Charles Bennett and edited by THE David Lean. The Loch Ness Monster is featured and is found to be responsible for multiple mysterious deaths around the Loch, though only one on-screen instance of the monster devouring a human occurs in the movie. 
Seymour Hicks stars as Professor Heggie and seems to think he’s still performing in Silent Movies, given his hilarious overacting. Heggie believes in the existence of the Loch Ness Monster but seems even less credible than modern-day people who claim to have spotted the beastie.
Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog takes another look at the damage being done by the career criminal Joe Biden. 
ACCOUNT OF AN EXPEDITION TO THE INTERIOR OF NEW HOLLAND (1837) – Written by multiple parties, with Lady Mary Fox, Richard Whateley and Lord Holland the likeliest authors. “New Holland” was an old name for Australia. In 1860 the novel was reissued under the title preface The Southlanders. 
Southland boasts a population of roughly four million and is divided into eleven distinct regions which, though under one overall parliamentary government, enjoy a large amount of internal sovereignty. Some regions are republics and others live under a hereditary monarchy. In several of the republics, however, their chief executive figure is still called a king despite being elected.
TAXIARCHOI – Written by Eupolis, who – along with Aristophanes and Cratinus – was one of the Big Three of Attic Old Comedy. The premise serves as a pointed reminder of the inherent ugliness in all taxation – that the power to impose and collect taxes is, ultimately, backed up by the use of force.
As ever, Balladeer’s Blog would be just fine if both the Democrat and Republican political parties – or the “Royal Houses” as I call them – splintered into multiple smaller parties. Yet, overseas – and for some smug people right here in the U.S. – a certain prejudice is still prevalent. That prejudice is the false notion that Republican voters are “stupid” and Democrat voters are “intelligent.” That notion is absurd even as sweeping generalizations go. 
Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog takes another look at the ongoing war that 21st Century Democrats wage on the rest of us. We need Third Parties.
