ALIEN OUTLAW (1985) – Starring Kari Anderson. Written and directed by Smoot … PHIL Smoot (Da dut da DAAA/ Da da-da). Phil was one Smoot operator and showed the imagination that low-budget filmmakers so often demonstrate but whose lack of financial resources prevents them from fully bringing that imagination to life.
Smoot got his start with the Dixie DeMille himself, Earl Owensby, often called “Roger Corman south of the Mason-Dixon Line.” And that wasn’t said as an insult. Like Corman, Owensby specialized in unpretentious B-movies that always made a profit due to budget-consciousness.
Before setting out on independent projects of his own, Phil Smoot worked in various capacities on Owensby’s North Carolina flicks like Challenge, The Brass Ring, Tales of the Third Dimension and many others.
With Alien Outlaw, Smoot showed the Owensby influence: North Carolina locations, meandering scenes that begged to be edited down and lots of annoying Southern-Fried humor that wouldn’t have made the cut on Hee Haw. On the plus side he also demonstrated a flair for fun B-movie premises that mixed genres.
Smoot’s other best-known work as writer-director was The Dark Power, a Toltec zombie horror film with Western elements (a work previously reviewed here at Balladeer’s Blog). Like The Dark Power, Alien Outlaw starred old, old, OLD Western actor Lash Larue, who was the middle man in the Whip-Wielding Action Star Trimurti, coming after Don Q: Son of Zorro and before Indiana Jones.
Alien Outlaw mixed Western elements with science fiction in a way that made you root for the film, despite the way Phil Smoot defeated himself at every turn. The potential was here to craft a fun, slick, modest money-maker which played like a Western version of a Tom Baker-era episode of Doctor Who. And with a butt-kicking female lead.
THE PREMISE: An alien spaceship lands in 1985 North Carolina and conceals itself by submerging in a body of water. That body of water is a stream the water level of which couldn’t even conceal a small car let alone a large space-craft.
THE POTENTIAL FIX: A lake or a make-believe cloaking device would have worked better.
THE STORY: A few aliens, wearing back-packs and masks to breathe our air, attack random people, take their guns and begin terrorizing the countryside. We are never told if their ship landed on Earth deliberately or made the best out of a crash landing. Nor are we told why aliens capable of interstellar flight have to confiscate primitive firearms. Continue reading
Balladeer’s Blog’s examination of the Justice Society’s World War Two-era stories continues. FOR PART ONE CLICK 
ALL STAR COMICS #24 (Spring 1945) 
Synopsis: This is the first issue to feature Mister Terrific and Wildcat as part of the Justice Society of America.
CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded UNIVERSITY OF ANTELOPE VALLEY PIONEERS mixed it up with the 3 seeds – the EMBRY-RIDDLE (AZ) AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Aeronauts). The Pioneers were on top 35-25 at Halftime but after the break the Eagles quickly pulled to within 3 points at 36-33. From there UAV got more separation, ultimately winning it 65-56 led by Hayden Hall’s 18 points. * THE PIONEERS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT * 
CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 2 seeds – the COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES – played the Cinderella 6th seeded SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be the Sea Gulls). A 33-25 Coyotes lead at the break transformed into a 70-55 triumph for College of Idaho when all was said and done. Matt Meyers led the way for the Coyotes with 19 points. * THE COYOTES ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT * 
GREAT PLAINS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title clash pitted the 2nd seeded UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES against the top seeds – the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS. Points flew like shrapnel in the 1st Half, which ended with the Mustangs up 49-46. After the break the Jimmies roared back for an 86-84 victory in this Instant Classic. Twenty points from Kevin Oberweiser led the University of Jamestown. * THE JIMMIES ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE GREAT PLAINS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT * 
THE BLOOD DRINKERS (1964) Also released as The Vampire People and Kulay Dugo Ang Gabi, this was the very first COLOR horror film made in the Philippines. 
KANSAS COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – In this tournament’s title tilt the 2 seeds – the SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS – took the court against the top seeded OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Moundbuilders were chasing the Eagles 36-34 at Halftime but outscored them 44-39 after the break for a 78-75 Upset. Cameron Hunt led Southwestern College with his Double Double of 29 points and 12 rebounds. * THE MOUNDBUILDERS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE KCAC TOURNAMENT * 
MIDEAST REGION: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 4th seeded JOHNSON UNIVERSITY (TN) ROYALS (formerly the Preachers) played the 2 seeds – the GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN COLLEGE LAKERS. The Lakers were on top 40-32 at the break but from there the Royals came storming back to win the game 84-78. Coby Jones’ 19 points led Johnson University. * THE ROYALS ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT * 
NORTH REGION: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This was a battle of chalk versus a Cinderella. The top seeds – the MARANATHA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SABERCATS – did battle with the 6th seeded MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE ARCHERS. The Archers, hoping for one more Upset, were hanging around, trailing the Sabercats by just 40-35 at Halftime. After the break Maranatha Baptist University put more and more separation between themselves and Moody Bible Institute for a 72-58 triumph. Jonathan Book’s Double Double of 19 points and 11 rebounds led the victors. * THE SABERCATS ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT * 
THE MANIPULATORS (1970) – The words “gritty” and “streetwise” seem never to be used when describing vintage television programs from Canada but they certainly apply to The Manipulators (Originally the title was to be The Clients). 
NORTH STAR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 3 seeds – the MAYVILLE STATE COMETS – played the 2nd seeded BELLEVUE (NE) BRUINS. The 1st Half ended with the Comets leading the Bruins by a score of 33-26. After the break Mayville State completed the Upset, offing Bellevue 66-55. Daniel Lindgren tossed in 18 points to lead the Comets. * THE COMETS ARE NSAA CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS * 
ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 3rd seeded VOORHEES COLLEGE TIGERS squared off against the 4 seeds – the COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS BOBCATS – for the AII title. The Tigers were on top 44-36 at Halftime but the Bobcats pulled off a 72-72 tie to end Regulation. The 1st Overtime wound up in an 82-82 deadlock but in the 2nd Voorhees College slashed their way to a 91-89 win led by Alex Brooks’ 24 points. * THE TIGERS ARE AII CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS *
DISTRICT 303: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Familiar rivals clashed in this District Tournament title tilt: The top seeds – the RICHLAND COLLEGE THUNDERDUCKS – and the 3rd seeded EASTFIELD COLLEGE HARVESTERS. The Thunderducks had eked out a 42-41 edge by the break then mustered 1 more point of separation from the Harvesters for an 82-80 victory. Caleb Williams led the way for Richland College with THIRTY-FOUR points. * THE THUNDERDUCKS ARE CHAMPIONS OF DISTRICT 303 * 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded UNION COLLEGE BULLDOGS took the court against the team in the 2 spot – the MONTREAT COLLEGE CAVALIERS. The Bulldogs were on top 33-29 at Halftime but the Cavaliers came roaring back to force Overtime with a 79-79 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session Union College outscored Montreat 16-6 for a 95-85 triumph. K.J. Duronslett led UC with a Double Double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. * THE BULLDOGS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE AAC TOURNAMENT * 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 8 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS – completed their incredible run through the CCAC tourney yesterday against the 3rd seeded GOVERNORS STATE JAGUARS. The Fighting Saints were chasing the Jaguars 28-27 at the break but came from behind for a 59-54 victory in this defense-heavy affair. Terrion Howard’s 18 points led USF. * THE FIGHTING SAINTS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CCAC TOURNAMANT * 
Balladeer’s Blog’s examination of the Justice Society’s World War Two-era stories continues. FOR PART ONE CLICK 
ALL STAR COMICS #23 (Winter 1944) 
Synopsis: The Courier newspaper has been covering the crime-spree of a supervillain calling himself the Psycho-Pirate because of his power over emotions. The Psycho-Pirate contacts the Courier to issue a challenge to the Justice Society of America to try to stop his crimes. 
