The Phantom Creeps (1939): Classic Bela Lugosi

     Universal Studios made The Phantom Creeps (1939) as a twelve part serial. It gained a slightly wider audience ten years later when it was redistributed as an uncut film. It has a little bit of everything in it... Sci-Fi, espionage, chases, adventure, explosions, bad acting. The works.

     Bela Lugosi plays Dr. Zorka, a mad scientist whose revolutionary inventions have piqued the interest of both the government and spies.

     One notable creation is an indestructible robot, capable of inflicting catastrophic damage at his whim.

     His colleague tries to persuade him to turn his secrets over, but Zorka refuses, planning to utilize them for his own purposes. He goes into hiding, then on the run as the authorities set to raid his laboratory. A pretty reporter gains interest in the case and goes as a stowaway upon an airplane that carries Zorka's wife amongst others.

    Zorka fakes his own death in a car crash, and the same day his wife is killed in a plane crash.

     This is the last straw, and Dr. Zorka begins to lose it, going on a rampage bent on world domination. Utilizing his various inventions in his plan, he puts on a de-visualizing belt that renders him invisible and better able to get into mischief.

     The race is on to stop Zorka before it is too late. Car chases and plane pursuits abound (one shot using footage from the Hindenburg disaster). Time is running out...

The Phantom Creeps- movie trailer

Joe Madaus: Profiles from the Quiet-D Illustrations

Joe Madaus, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     On Quiet Desperation, Joe Madaus played the character of Lucky, a former member of the fake Irish accent punk band- The Bus Stop Brawlers. According to Chippah, Lucky was a master guitar finger-picker. Later on, hopeful for a career in comedy, he became an intern at The Comedy Studio. Though owner, Rick Jenkins, claimed he only gave him the job so that Lucky would be preoccupied with menial tasks, and no longer have time to perform.

Lucky and the Bus Stop Brawlers

The beginning of Lucky's comedy career

The end of Lucky's comedy career. Internship at The Comedy Studio

     In real life, as co-creator of Quiet Desperation, Joe Madaus played an integral part in the development of the show through his great cinematography, editing and direction. He is also an accomplished stand-up comedian, and runs his own production studio- Madhaus Productions.

Check out some cool links here: http://thephoenix.com/boston/arts/79116-dance-monkey-joe-madaus/ and here: http://www.myspace.com/joemadaus

Joe Madaus- stand-up comedy

More of Joe's film/editing work

Haunted: Dead or Alive

Niki Luparelli interview- shot by Joe Madaus

Quiet Desperation #6, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Gammera the Invincible (1966): Classic B Movies

     Riding on the success of Godzilla from a decade earlier, Gammera the Invincible (1966) isn't too bad if you're into the whole "guy in a rubber suit" monster thing. I happen like such things for their campiness, so for what it is, I got what I expected to see in this film.
     A Soviet jet is flying in U.S. air space over the arctic and U.S. forces are in hot pursuit.

     After several warnings, the U.S. jets shoot down the Soviet one. Unfortunately, it was carrying a bomb and it explodes on impact.

     The force generated is enough to wake up Gammera, a giant prehistoric turtle that has been imprisoned in the ice for millions of years.

     Gammera is pretty pissed off after being awakened from his long nap, and goes on a rampage. For some reason, Tokyo is his intended destination.

     Natives in the area where Gammera originated somehow have knowledge of this creature that is supposed to have been hidden for millions of years, and they hand over a stone tablet that contains secret ancient information.

     While passing the surrounding islands, a turtle-obsessed boy encounters the monster. At first Gammera is hostile, but winds up saving the boy instead. This act, in the boys mind, makes them best friends. He spends the rest of his time in the movie trying to reconnect with his "buddy."

     Meanwhile, the scientists and authorities are in a panic as to how to contain the situation and stop the monster from continuing his path of destruction. Their first plan, to freeze him and then blow him up with dynamite, backfires. It turns out Gammera can retreat into his shell and convert himself into a sort of flying saucer.

     Their second plan... Plan Z, has to work or all is lost...

Gammera the Invincible- movie trailer

Speak Easily (1932): Classic Buster Keaton (Obscure Films)

     Buster Keaton never really made a smooth transition from silent films to talkies. Silent pictures captured him in his true element and finest form. Talkies... were tougher for him. His voice was awkward and lackadaisical. His comedy style was better suited to physical comedy, he never perfected verbal timing and delivery. Still, there is always that certain feeling when you see his name that you know the film will somehow be worthwhile, even if it is a talkie.

     In Speak Easily (1932), Buster plays a book-smart College professor, completely naive to real life and common sense. 

     In an effort to get him to live life to it's fullest, a fellow faculty member convinces Buster that he has inherited $750,000. Eager to splurge his new-found wealth, Buster heads off to explore the world. At a train station, he meets a pretty young girl who is part of a traveling dance troupe. He is immediately smitten. 

     The shows manager, played by Jimmy Durante, convinces Buster to tag along, and in the process convinces him to finance the show with his mythical money. 

     Naive Buster goes along with everything that comes at him, experiencing a plethora of life events within a short time, including spending time with the sexy ladies in the dance group. When one says she worked at a Speakeasy, he corrects her grammar saying it is , "Speak Easily", hence the title. 

     He ends up getting drunk, a new feeling for him. 

     And then waking up with a woman, not quite knowing what had happened the night before. 

     With all this promised money comes debt, and when the collectors come calling, what is Buster to do?

scene from Speak Easily

New Illustration: Quiet Desperation #7 (Rob Potylo and Casey Desmond)

Quiet Desperation #7, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     This new illustration, #7 in the Quiet D series, attempts to sum up and depict the friendship of Rob Potylo and Casey Desmond both on the show and in real life. I chose the bright red background for obvious reasons. And there is a thinly-veiled Renaissance art reference hidden in it...

Quiet Desperation (Act Two)- Episode Three

Roadsteamer Shitcom Episode Nine

Casey Desmond and Rob Potylo working on music

visit http://www.quietd.com/ for more on Quiet Desperation

Casey Desmond, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Rob Potylo, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Casey, Rob and Alf, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Rob Potylo, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Sean Sullivan: Profiles from the Quiet-D Illustrations

Sean Sullivan, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     In his role as Chippah, the Noiseboard troll, Sean Sullivan has one of the most memorable characters on Quiet Desperation. Chippah, the former front man of The Bus Stop Brawlers,  hates all music that is not fake Irish accent punk rock, but he especially hates Rob Potylo's music. He spends every spare moment online, bashing Rob, even more so now after being banned from the message board for too many complaints. Chippah blames Rob, but he has continued his work... starting a new message board- "The New Super Duper Noiseboard."

Quiet D episode 4- "The Noiseboard"

Chippah's reaction to being banned from the message board

Quiet D Act 2- Episode 3. More thoughts from Chippah

     In real life, Sean Sullivan is one of the top stand-up comedians in Boston. He is a damn good, versatile actor as well. His website, http://comedy.sean-sullivan.com/, states "Sean Sullivan has secured his place in the Boston comedy scene by pursuing new and innovative ways of entertaining audiences. With his quick wit and strong improvisational talents, audiences never exactly know what they are about to get when he takes the stage."

Sean Sullivan vs. An Old Guy Heckler

An Interview with Sean Sullivan

Another Acting Project

Quiet Desperation #6, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946): Classic Films from Comic Strips

     It is always interesting to see weird characters from comics (either books or strips) come to life in film. You never know how much the director's vision differed from that of the artist. It can be immensely successful, and vice versa. The old Dick Tracy comic strips are full of oddball types, some with strange physical anomalies, that can be hard for live actors to portray. Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946) is not only entertaining, but it manages to keep some of the humor and characterizations of the original cartoon.

     Cueball, a recently released convict, gets hired to intercept a shipment of diamonds on an ocean liner. In the ensuing struggle, Cueball kills the man who was holding the precious stones.

     Dick Tracy, homicide detective, and his partner, are called in to investigate. 

     Having raised the scale of the crime from theft to murder, the dealers who commissioned Cueball to steal the diamonds get nervous under questioning. 

    Cueball hides out in a local watering hole, The Dripping Dagger, that is sympathetic to criminals.

     The conspirators were ripping him off in the first place, only paying him a fraction of their worth.

 When Cueball finds this out, further murders take place... The diamond cutter who got cold feet... 

The unscrupulous Antique dealer, who was to have paid the heavy sum for the stones... 

the bar owner, who plans to steal the rocks and turn Cueball in... 

and the sneaky secretary, who plans to negotiate a separate deal to sell the hot diamonds on her own...

     Dick Tracy's girlfriend, Tess, is willingly set up to pose as the potential buyer of the stolen goods. She is kidnapped by Cueball in the process. 

     It's up to Dick Tracy to save her in time...

a scene from Dick Tracy vs. Cueball

Misery (1990): Films for Winter

     Based on the novel by Stephen King, Misery (1990) has a good claustrophobic Winter atmosphere. Director Rob Reiner gives the viewer the sense of being stuck indoors, but aware of the impassable roads and heavy snow drifts. Of course, for the protagonist, snow is the least of his worries.

     Paul Sheldon is a novelist. Having just completed his book at a remote cabin in the dead of Winter, he prepares to return to the civilized world.

     The harsh conditions from a major storm make driving treacherous, and it eventually throws Paul's car off the road into a ditch.

     He is rescued, but is severely injured.

     He awakens in the home of Annie Wilkes, a former nurse who claims to be his biggest fan. At first she cares for Paul with gentle hands and the utmost kindness.

     This changes when she reads the manuscript of Paul's latest book. In it, he kills off Annie's favorite character. This proves too much and she begins to get crazier and more psychotic.

     It becomes apparent that Paul is not going to be rescued. No one knows he survived the crash or his whereabouts. Annie Wilkes plans to keep him there for herself. The local sheriff is investigating, but the snow storm had covered Paul's car at first, and clues are hard to find. When the car is found, he is presumed dead.

     Paul ventures out of his room while Annie is out and discovers a disturbing scrapbook detailing Annie's sick, murderous past.

     Annie finds out Paul has been leaving his room and makes sure he won't do so again...

     Annie Wilkes is never going to let him leave her side.

      Drastic measures have to be taken if Paul is to escape and to ensure his survival... Does he have the strength to persevere?

Misery- movie trailer