Steve-171

Okay, once you get past the fact that Mitchell and Petrillo are Dean and Jerry knockoffs, you could do worse than this film. Charlita as Princess Nona is great eye candy, Lugosi does his best with the material he's given, and the production values, music especially (except for the vocals) are better than you'd think for the $50k cost of production. The final glimpses of the characters are a hoot. Written by Tim Ryan, a minor actor in late Charlie Chan films, and husband of Grannie on the Beverly Hillbillies. All in all, WAY better than many late Lugosi cheapies.

Okay, I've seen this thing twice. As a kid, it was totally insane, or at least that's what the grownups kept telling me. Seen through adult eyes, it's a little different. As a serial, it's floating on the muck at the bottom of the barrel. Campy, hammy performances, especially "Stage" Boyd as the maniac ruler, and Claudia Dell, who cringes and flutters like Glinda the Good Witch on crack. Kane Richmond tries hard. But there are points of interest. George Hayes does a fair job of acting before he turned sidekick and was dubbed Gabby. Special effects are pretty good for the time. With a few beers and friends, this could be a fine party tape.

Not to be taken at one sitting. Spread out over a week or two it is much easier to get involved. Some good characters, plot that is not too nonsensical. Head bad guy Watkin went on to be Perry White in the Superman serials. Keye Luke affects an oriental accent he didn't have. Comic highlight (unintentional) is Ferronti, the gangster in the last couple of chapters, who is a walking greasy cliche. All in all, fair Universal product. Don't pay more than ten bucks for it, tho...