GANJA & HESS (1973) – Duane Jones, immortalized as “the black guy who got screwed over at the end of Night of the Living Dead“, also starred in this offbeat, artsy vampire film which was also released as Blood Couple and many other titles.
Back in 2011, when I reviewed Nine Blaxploitation Horror Movies from the 1970s I mentioned leaving out Ganja & Hess because it was a serious film, not a quickie exploitation flick like Blacula, Blackenstein, Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde and many others. I said I’d review it in the future. Well, 14 years later, here we go!
Duane Jones portrayed Dr. Hess Green, an anthropologist who has discovered the ancient ruins of Myrthia, an African settlement populated by vampires. Green’s assistant George Meda, played by Bill Gunn (this film’s writer and director), becomes possessed by the evil spirit of Myrthia’s ancient queen (Mabel King of What’s Happening!!). Continue reading
CRATES – Crates’ career spanned from approximately the 450s B.C. to the 430s B.C. We have fragments from nine or ten comedies from an unknown total output. From other sources we know that comedies as stage productions began sometime around 500 B.C. or earlier so Crates came fairly early to the artform. 
NEIGHBORS – We do not have even a hypothetical year for this work, unfortunately. Since titles sometimes referred to the all-important Chorus of a Greek comedy there is speculation that the chorus members were “Neighbors” of some sort (Duh!) but nothing is known about the plot.
THE SCARECROW (1972) – Gene Wilder, Blythe Danner, Nina Foch, Pete Duel and Will Geer starred in this Hollywood Television Theatre production that first aired January 10th, 1972. Long time readers of Balladeer’s Blog may recall my remarks on previous Halloweens about how underused I feel scarecrows still are in Halloween movies. 
Percy MacKaye stretched the story out and altered some of the themes, so The Scarecrow is an adaptation of Feathertop, not a faithful dramatization of it. Gene Wilder portrays the scarecrow.
EERIE TALES (1919) – Conrad “Major Strasser from Casablanca” Veidt is, in my opinion, the most neglected figure from silent horror films. In this German work Veidt co-stars with Reinhold Schunzel and Anita Berber. The three portray various characters throughout the film. 
THE WERE-WOLF (1896) – By Clemence Annie Housman. Halloween month continues at Balladeer’s Blog! This neglected story features a female author writing about a FEMALE WEREWOLF so that makes it a bit special right there.
TOPPLING NUMBER FOUR – In NCAA Division 2, the number 15 CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY WILDCATS visited the 4th ranked UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT THE PERMIAN BASIN FALCONS. The Falcons were on top 7-3 come Halftime and 14-10 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, the Wildcats came from behind for a 27-14 Upset victory. 
NUMBER EIGHT TAKES A FALL – Staying in D2 for a moment, the NORTHERN STATE WOLVES played host to the country’s number 8 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AT DULUTH BULLDOGS. A 10-7 1st Quarter edge for the Wolves became 20-10 by the midpoint. After the break, the Bulldogs rallied but fell short as Northern State held on tight in a 34-31 triumph.
ANOTHER NUMBER EIGHT FOLLOWS – Over in the NAIA, the 14th ranked CARROLL COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS traveled to face the number 8 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA-WESTERN BULLDOGS. At the Half, the Fighting Saints put UMW on Upset Alert with their 28-14 advantage. From there CC held on to win the game 42-34. 
This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog looks at Cassie Hack, the horror superheroine who battles a long line of slashers as stylishly as Buffy fought vampires. 
HACK/ SLASH Vol 1 #1 (Apr 2004) 
Readers are now dropped into the main story, set years later when Cassie Hack has established herself as a roving heroine who battles living and undead slashers alongside her African American sidekick – the hulking, gasmask-wearing Vlad. He views Cassie like a daughter and wields meat cleavers and butcher’s knives in battle. 
NUMBER TWO ROLLS – The 2nd ranked team in NCAA Division 2 football – the HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON – traveled to face the SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE SAVAGE STORM. A 14-0 1st Quarter lead for the Bison became 21-7 by Halftime. Harding U. shut out the Savage Storm from there as they won the game by a final score of 35-7.
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER NINE – Last night the JONES COLLEGE BOBCATS played host to the nation’s 9th ranked HINDS COLLEGE EAGLES. A 7-7 tie in the opening Quarter morphed into a 24-14 Bobcats advantage at the Half. After the break, the two teams wound up exchanging Touchdowns in a 31-21 Upset victory for Jones College. 
POSSESSION (1981) – Halloween Month continues here at Balladeer’s Blog with a review of the thoroughly bizarre cult film Possession, from Polish director Andrzej Zulawksi. Because I review everything from mild horror films to extreme works, I’m offering my usual COURTESY WARNING for readers who prefer less transgressive movies. 
I’m far from alone in praising Possession to the Heavens, so my take on it may seem like a mere rehashing for those who are already passionate fans. However, in my opinion only the full 2 hour and 4-minute version is worth watching, not the trimmed-down versions. 
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