S2E12 - Public Domain Zombies w/ Messiah of Evil (1974) & White Zombie (32)

Philena Franklin is back but she's still on strike with SAG AFTRA so we've got some PUBLIC DOMAIN ZOMBIES for our first of two special HALLOWEEN episodes! First, we have rights-free ghouls invading a Ralph's in Burbank in MESSIAH OF EVIL (1974) from Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, the forgotten Lucasfilm power couple who later brought you HOWARD THE DUCK (1986). After really getting disturbing letters from her artist father, a young woman named Arletty (Marianna Hill) goes to the creepy coastal town of Point Dume to find out what's going on. She finds a polyamorous threesome, strange people gathering to stare at the sea at night, and, yes, flesh-eating zombies with blood streaming from their eyes. Also starring Elisha Cook, Jr., whom Greg calls the greatest film noir patsy of all time, and Royal Dano, Disneyland's voice of Abe Lincoln. Now streaming on Prime, Shudder and just about everywhere else--it's public domain! Next, we have Bela Lugosi himself in WHITE ZOMBIE, widely considered to be the first zombie flick ever. A rich plantation owner wants Bela to put a voodoo spell on the woman he loves, but gets so much more than he bargained for. This movie has some of the creepiest zombies ever and one of Bela's best performances, and a banger of an opening score according to Greg. The best print of White Zombie is streaming Kanopy, a free video streaming service available through participating public libraries. This episode is a bit of long one because we're so happy to have the full crew back again. We open with some talk of the Hollywood strikes, the end of Netflix DVDs by mail, a review of Sean Howe's new book AGENTS OF CHAOS, Cory's encounter with Pat Morita, and so much more. OMFYS Hosts: Bob Calhoun, Philena Franklin, Cory Sklar and Greg Franklin MUSIC Theme song: Chaki the Funk Wizard "We Get Stoned All Night Long" by Three Stoned Men, courtesy of John Blackwell "Minor Lament for Solo Bass" by John Patitucci, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library "Swan Lake" Op.20 by Tchaikovsky, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Movie and trailer audio courtesy of Archive.org Instagram/Facebook (Meta): oldmoviesforyoungstoners Bluesky: @oldmoviesystoners.bsky.social Twitter (X): OM4YStoners Contact: oldmoviesforyoungstoners AT gmail DOT com