SIX-HUNDRED & SIXTY SIX (1972) – Directed by Tom Doades and written by Marshall Riggan, this film is a very unusual blend of science fiction, horror, post-apocalypse drama and religious message. Cult actor Joe Turkel, perhaps best known as the ghostly Lloyd the Bartender in The Shining, stars as Colonel John Ferguson.
Before I go further I want to point out once again how films can serve as indicators of what was or was not prominent in the public consciousness during the time of their release. This particular movie came out in 1972, meaning that the use of gematria to arrive at 666 as the Number of the Beast was not yet as firmly lodged in the minds of movie-goers as it would be after The Omen became a sensation a few years later.
Obviously, a post-Omen film would not blow their story’s final reveal in the title, like we get with Six-Hundred & Sixty Six.
As our story begins, Colonel John Ferguson is reporting to a man called Tallman (Byron Clark) for his new position as Head of Operations at an underground installation in the American west. Conversation between the Colonel and Tallman, the highest civilian authority at the base, provides plenty of exposition.
It is an undisclosed time in the near future. The United States of America and “the United States of Europe” have been joined into one big political entity known as the New Roman Empire. In fact, Colonel Ferguson and his men refer to “Rome” as the nation they serve. Continue reading
While de facto Third Party President Trump’s legal challenges continue to play out, it’s a great way to highlight the clear vote fraud in the forever-tainted 2020 election. 
If it’s the Friday after Thanksgiving then it must be the start of Balladeer’s Blog’s Annual Christmas Carol-A-Thon! As always I review obscure versions of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol AND well-known versions. I also post new reviews each year PLUS rotate in old favorites from the past. Long past? No, YOUR past. 
Aren’t we all pretty fed up with the same versions of A Christmas Carol being rammed down our throats like Razzleberry Dressing every Christmas season while many of the clever but lesser known variations of the Dickens Yuletide classic languish in obscurity?
Two thousand fishermen from Cape Cod had gone off to enlist in the Continental Army, and in their absence the British had repeatedly landed raiding parties to harass the citizens.
De facto Third Party President Donald Trump, the hero of the working class and the poor against America’s corrupt political system, just picked up a few more First Downs on his desperation drive down the field with time running out in the 4th Quarter. A Judge has blocked final certification of Pennsylvania’s results pending a further hearing on Friday. (link below) 
Thanksgiving week rolls along here at Balladeer’s Blog with this look at some of the most enjoyable – on whatever level – B-movies from the one and only Leo Fong! Leo’s been called a poor man’s Bolo Yeung cross-bred with an even poorer man’s Joe Don Baker … but I was drunk when I called him that, so make of it what you will. 
MURDER IN THE ORIENT (1974) – Leo Fong IS Lao Tsu, but not THAT one, in this lethargic treasure quest/ revenge story. Leo (He’s ALWAYS Leo to me no matter what his character is named) learns his sister has been killed by the Golden Cobra crime gang. That gang is after a pair of samurai swords on which Imperial Japanese war criminals serving in World War Two engraved a split map leading to a fortune in stolen gold. 
A TALE OF TWO HALVES – The SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE took it on the road against the AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES. The Gyrenes led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter and 13-10 at Halftime. From there the Fire shut out Ave Maria University while going on top 17-13 to end the 3rd Quarter and ultimately winning the game 24-13. 
“GORILLA” WARFARE – Over in D2 the PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS visited the WEST TEXAS A&M BUFFALOES. The Gorillas were out in front of their opponents 14-7, 28-21 and 35-28 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters, respectively. In the 4th, Pitt State polished off the Buffaloes by a final count of 42-28. 
SPIRIT OF SIXTY-FOUR – This game pitted the DORDT COLLEGE DEFENDERS against their hosts the BRIAR CLIFF UNIVERSITY CHARGERS. The Defenders seized a 23-0 advantage in the opening Quarter and never looked back. Ultimately, Dordt College obliterated the Chargers to the tune of SIXTY-FOUR to NOTHING! 
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