Public Domain Cinema: The Bat (1959)

Will this Shadow be a big one or mostly-just ignore?  Today's film is The Bat, more specifically the 1959 version starring Vincent Price.  It has been one I've considered doing for a long time, but now I will.  Well, I do already own it on DVD, after all.  I should eventually cover the 1926 and 1931 versions as well in the future, but there's no Price in them.  The film is one about mystery, murder and a million dollars.  That's alot of money now, but even more when you adjust for inflation.  Any of you good at Math could tell me how much that's exactly worth, but I can tell you that it is worth alot!  As such, murder will happen and continue to happen until someone finds it.  That is where The Bat comes in.  He's a stone-cold killer!  Now that Bill Finger (and some other guy) had created Batman some 16 years earlier, will this film version resemble the character that may have partially-inspired him?  All I know is that this version has Vincent Price, so it is off to a good start.  To see if it stalls or follows through, read on...

I know that this is not the film's fault, but, well, just look at what MY version of the Film looks like.  This is ominous foreshadowing if I ever saw it!

I can, however, fault them for using this cheap model.  I guess real Mansions didn't exist in 1959.

Seriously, don't rich people love to show off their Mansions?  Just say 'We'll put your house in movie' and you're set!

Anyhow, this Bank Manager explains to his Doctor (Price) that he stole (Dr. Evil fingers) $1 million and is willing to split it if he helps him fake his death.

Loving irony, Price promptly shoots him for real and burns the body to cover the evidence.

So begins the search of the man's house for the hidden money.  The Bat is working his way around the Estate, but has some trouble since people are living there right now.

I should note that some killings apparently happened off-screen between Scenes and The Bat is now a famous killer.  The Police Inspector- who's name is not important- is investigating all suspects, including Price...who is working to extract toxins from bats.

People continue to linger about the Estate and just plain get in the way.  Looks like The Bat is going to have to kill somebody (on-screen for once).

He is definitely not Batman now!

After alot of old-school dicking around (slow walking, phone lines cut, etc), the mystery comes down to this: which of these men is The Bat?

Considering that The Bat kills Price ten minutes before the climax, it is obviously The Inspector.

Naturally, it is the guy that NONE of the obvious clues led to.  That makes sense.

As the film wraps up, the lead Lady decides to address the audience directly.  It is worth noting that was based on a Play after all.

Clever nod or lazy recycling of the Ending- you decide!  The End.

This one is a bit creaky, just like the floorboards.  The basic Story elements- the mysterious killer, the missing fortune, the house full of potential victims- are all there.  It is easy to see why the Story works as a Play and was a hit as one.  As a film, it is alternately stretched too thin- implying multiple locations that it doesn't show- and pressed too tight- the same rooms used over and over again.  It is a weird thing for sure.  For example, Price has a few scenes at his own Lab, which feels odd in context to the 'Stuck at the Mansion' story of the rest of the film.  Later, they imply that he had a car accident off-camera.  To be fair, the way that scene plays out is part of the 'Who is The Bat' mystery later, so I can give that a pass.  The film tries to walk the awkward line between having the story feel like a claustrophobic play and being a full film.  In that regard, it is not exactly a success.  That said, I had no issues with the Acting and the old-timey story is presented well visually.  Fans of Old-School Cinema and writing will love it.  As for the rest of you, it doesn't hold up to the same scrutiny, feeling a bit older than it even is.  I can't imagine that the two groups will see eye-to-eye on this one...

Next up, a young couple meets Darth Vader on a Greek Island.  Considering the same guy who Wrote this made Island of Death, it won't be a fun trip.

Public Domain Cinema: The Last Man on Earth

At last, the origin of the original.  Today's film is The Last Man on Earth, which has been Public Domain for quite a long time.  Does that make it bad?  No, of course not.  Many Classics are Public Domain- many just suffer from business changes over the time since they were made.  The Universal Horror Films have stayed out of it, since Universal is still around to renew its copyright.  In contrast, the ownership of the infamous Poverty Row Films became anyone's guess and entered the Public Domain.  So let me break this film down for the five of you who don't know about.  It is the earliest adaptation of 'I Am Legend' by the late Richard Matheson, a work more famously known as The Omega Man.  While also famous for the 2007 Will Smith film (which I do like alot), the most famous version is not an official one- Night of the Living Dead.  There's no denying it- even George A. Romero says so.  Oddly, neither of the film's two Directors went on to do that much.  I will admit to being a bit biased here since the film stars Vincent Price.  Even so, I will give this film a fair, historical assessment.  Since the story has been redone so many times since then (including by The Asylum!), I will be less detailed and more comparative.  To find out more about a film you may not know (or don't remember that well), read on...

The world is not a good place.  Bodies are everywhere, cities are in ruin and life as we know it has ended.

More importantly, Feng Shui is dead!!!

Like he would do in all (I believe) versions, our Robert (last name changed for no reason) tries to call people on the radio, but never seems to get a response.

It is bad enough having to take out the trash all of the time.  Now imagine that you have to lug dead bodies into a fire to keep them from coming back to kill you.

Fun Fact: Price apparently lifted real bodies for all but the dumping scenes, since he wanted it to seem real.

If you doubt the Living Dead comparisons, I will just show you this and remind you that this film came out in 1964.  Moving on...

Okay- that was a lie.  Here we see Robert watching some talking heads (not the band) talk about the crisis (in a flashback btw).  Seem familiar?

One thing the 2007 Version has on this one is their choice (and use of the) dog.  In this one, it is a cute one.  In that one, it is a useful companion.

Of course, it still beats what The Asylum did- they just showed a picture of a dog (implying its death)!

Our lonely hero finds some company, but there has to be a catch here.  She probably wants to deliver a subpoena or something.

As it turns out, she is being treated for the Vampire/Zombie-like disease on a daily basis, but is not cured.  Her group wants Robert dead since he has apparently been killing people that could actually be cured.

He doesn't take the news well.

In a bleak ending, he is killed by the group.  There is at least some hope as his blood cures the lady and cold possibly lead to the salvation of mankind (just without him).

Feel free whether to discuss whether this is better than the 8 different endings used in 2007.  The End.

It is a bit creaky, but still a Classic.  Let it be said that The Last Man on Earth is a good movie.  It has many small faults that you could pick it apart by.  The tone is often too bleak, the Acting is not always great and the Pacing is odd.  It is notable that Matheson himself apparently didn't like Price being cast as the Lead.  I'm not sure who to agree with- I highly respect both men.  I have seen people tear this thing apart, while other still have called it 'Price's best film.'  To me, at least, that is still The Abominable Dr. Phibes.  The best way to describe Man is as the prototype for a great movie.  Due to budgetary issues (it was almost a Hammer film!) and issues with direction (it is competent, but that's it), it did not live up to its potential.  Even so, what other film has Vampire/Zombies, but replaced Steven Seagal with Vincent Price?  Yeah, exactly.  Man is an important part of Film History (even if it isn't great) and that's not just me making an ass out of myself...

Next up, another Vincent Price film that is in the Public Domain (on the same DVD).  Is the 3rd time the charm for this crime tale?  Stay tuned...