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The rights to Brit author Sax Rohmer’s oriental super-villain ‘Dr. Fu Manchu’, previously appearing in television, radio, comic strips, comic books and movies, is now in the public domain for a new series of 1930’s set mystery films:

"...the supervillain's evil plots of world-domination...

"...are marked by his extensive use...

_

"...of street gangs and compromised members of elite secret societies to do his dirty work...

"...or by using fungi, bacilli and other viral chemical weapons to de-populate humanity..."

Christopher Lee played the character in "The Face of Fu Manchu" (1965), "The Brides of Fu Manchu" (1966)…

…"The Vengeance of Fu Manchu" (1967), "The Blood of Fu Manchu" (1968) and "The Castle of Fu Manchu" (1969).

Click the images to enlarge...

Every year, the comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000 celebrates Thanksgiving with their Turkey Day marathon – and this year’s marathon is being called the Potluck of the Stars Marathon, because they’ve scored some cool celebrity guests! Not only will Mystery Science Theater 3000 stars Joel Hodgson, Jonah Ray, Mary Jo Pehl, Emily Marsh, and Felicia Day be involved, but the likes of Mark Hamill, Mike Flanagan, Matthew Lillard, David Dastmalchian, Kumail Nanjiani, and Bryan Fuller will also be showing up to present their favorite episodes of the show!

Here’s the information on the Turkey Day Potluck of the Stars Marathon: Hosted by Jonah Ray, this year’s marathon features celebrity MSTies David Dastmalchian, Mike Flanagan, Bryan Fuller, Mark Hamill, Matthew Lillard and Kumail Nanjiani and MST3K stalwarts Joel Hodgson, Felicia Day, Emily Marsh, and Mary Jo Pehl, all of whom will share a favorite MST3K episode with their fellow fans.

The inspiration for Marvel Comics super-villain 'The Mandarin', 'Dr. Fu Manchu' was introduced in a series of 14 detective novels by Brit author Sax Rohmer, also appearing in television, radio, comic strips, comic books and movies, as portrayed by Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee:

"...the supervillain's evil plots of world-domination...

"...are marked by his extensive use...

"...of thugs, street gangs and compromised members of elite secret societies to do his dirty work...

"...or by using fungi, bacilli and other chemical weapons to slowly destroy humanity..."

Christopher Lee played the character in "The Face of Fu Manchu" (1965), "The Brides of Fu Manchu" (1966), "The Vengeance of Fu Manchu" (1967), "The Blood of Fu Manchu" (1968) and "The Castle of Fu Manchu" (1969).

Click the images to enlarge...

'Dr. Fu Manchu', the inspiration for Marvel Comics super-villain 'The Mandarin', appearing in Marvel Studios'"Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" was introduced in a series of 14 detective novels by Brit author Sax Rohmer, also appearing in television dramas, radio plays, comic strips, comic books and in the movies, portrayed by Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee:

"...the supervillain's evil plots of world-domination...

"...are marked by his extensive use...

"...of thugs, street gangs and compromised members of elite secret societies to do his dirty work...

"...or by using fungi, bacilli and other chemical weapons to slowly destroy humanity..."

Christopher Lee played the character in "The Face of Fu Manchu" (1965), "The Brides of Fu Manchu" (1966), "The Vengeance of Fu Manchu" (1967), "The Blood of Fu Manchu" (1968) and "The Castle of Fu Manchu" (1969). 

Click the images to enlarge...

The inspiration for Marvel Comics super-villain 'The Mandarin', 'Dr. Fu Manchu' was introduced in a series of 14 detective novels by Brit author Sax Rohmer, before spinning off into live-action television, radio, comic strips, comic books and in the movies, as portrayed by Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee:

"...the supervillain's evil plots of world-domination...

"...are marked by his extensive use...

"...of thugs, street gangs and compromised members of elite secret societies to do his dirty work...

"...or by using fungi, bacilli and other chemical weapons to slowly destroy humanity..."

Christopher Lee played the character in "The Face of Fu Manchu" (1965), "The Brides of Fu Manchu" (1966), "The Vengeance of Fu Manchu" (1967), "The Blood of Fu Manchu" (1968) and "The Castle of Fu Manchu" (1969). 

Click the images to enlarge...

The inspiration for Marvel Comics super-villain 'The Mandarin', due to return in Marvel Studios' "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings", 'Dr. Fu Manchu' was introduced in a series of 14 detective novels by Brit author Sax Rohmer, also appearing on television, radio, comic strips, comic books and in movies, as portrayed by Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee:

"...the supervillain's evil plots of world-domination...

"...are marked by his extensive use...

"...of thugs, street gangs and compromised members of elite secret societies to do his dirty work...

"...or by using fungi, bacilli and other chemical weapons to slowly destroy humanity..."

Christopher Lee played the character in "The Face of Fu Manchu" (1965), "The Brides of Fu Manchu" (1966), "The Vengeance of Fu Manchu" (1967), "The Blood of Fu Manchu" (1968) and "The Castle of Fu Manchu" (1969).

Click the images to enlarge...

Happy Memorial Day, everyone! While you’re off enjoying some much-needed downtime with friends and family, we’ve gone ahead and put together a recap of this week’s horror and sci-fi home entertainment releases that are coming our way on May 30th.

For those of you cult film aficionados out there, get those wallets ready, because there’s a bunch of great titles arriving on Blu-ray this Tuesday, including Blackenstein, Evil Ed, The Blood of Fu Manchu / The Castle of Fu Manchu double feature, The Hearse, The Undertaker, Slaughterhouse Rock, and Hide and Go Shriek.

As far as new genre films go, The Blackcoat’s Daughter (one of my personal favorites of 2017) and Rupture are making their way to Blu-ray and DVD, with the Shock-o-Rama box set also coming out on DVD.

The Blackcoat’s Daughter (Lionsgate, Blu-ray & DVD)

Beautiful and haunted Joan (Emma Roberts) makes...

Dark Horse's The Strange Case of the Disappearing Man comic book series tops today's Horror Highlights, which also includes Wizard World Cleveland, new releases (respectively) from Cavity Colors and Blue Underground, Apocalypse Kiss, and the New Jersey Horror Con.

The Strange Case of the Disappearing Man Comic Book Series: Press Release: "Milwaukie, Ore., (March 14, 2017)—Victorian horror fans, rejoice! Dark Horse is delighted to announce the follow-up to 2011’s cult classic The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde, with The Strange Case of the Disappearing Man. Mr. Hyde’s Cole Haddon brings fans even more Thomas Adye adventures, while Sebastián Cabrol (Thief: Tales from the City, Caliban) lends his beautiful art to the story, and Hernán Cabrera (Caliban) brings the art to life with his gorgeously grotesque color palette.

The Strange Case of the Disappearing Man finds Inspector Thomas Adye of Scotland Yard struggling to return to normalcy after his run-in with...

Dr. Orloff’s Monster

Blu-ray

Redemption / Kino Lorber

1964 / B&W / 1:66 widescreen / 84 min. / El secreto del Dr. Orloff, Brides of Dr. Jekyll, Les maitresses du Dr. Jekyll / Street Date February 7, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95

Starring: Hugo Blanco, Agnès Spaak, Marcelo Arroita-Jáuregui, Luisa Sala, Perla Cristal, Magda Maldonado, Pepe Rubio, Pastor Serrador, Daniel Blumer, Manuel Guitián, Mer Casas.

Cinematography: Alfonso Nieva

Film Editor: Á Serrano

Original Music: Fernando García Morcillo, Daniel White

Written by: Jesús Franco, Nicole Guettard, A. Norévo

Produced by: Marius Lesoeur

Directed by Jesús Franco

Arguing the merits of Jesús Franco seems a blind alley to me. I know academic film writers that have seen dozens of his films and who assure me that they perceive an artist amid all the exploitation and pornography. Why not? I continue to see Franco as a fringe filmmaker of little talent and less interest. Keep anything up long enough and it...

Mystery Science Theater 3000 is one of those shows that got its hooks into me quickly, but eventually I just lost track of. I’m not even sure how the timing of it worked out, but somehow, I just didn’t seem to watch it anymore.

Die-hard fans may count themselves as far more excited to see these multi-film releases hitting shelves, but I’m glad to get the chance to touch base with a series I once loved, but missed out on.

The Xxiii release showcases four films, naturally of varying genres, plus a nice selection of bonus features, going so far as to somehow include the MST3K-ified The Incredible Mr. Limpet (which I must have seen 5,000 times as a kid) as a bonus.

It’s the usual brand of off-beat comedy commentary, with Joel, Mike, Tom Servo, and Crow T. Robot letting these old works of “art...

So Christopher Lee, the 88 year old British actor, is to be honoured with an Academy Fellowship (read, Lifetime Achievement Award) at tonight’s BAFTAs ceremony in London, clearly the highlight of the night’s activites.

Lee has been a dominant figure in British, European (he’s fluent in Italian and German, proficient in French) and American cinema since 1948 and holds the Guinness World Record for the most acting credits: a staggering 268… and counting. Whilst I’m inclined to say that it’s about time he was bestowed with such an honour, I hope that it doesn’t encourage him to consider retiring.

With his roots well and truly within the low budget offerings of Hammer Studios, Lee has gone on to become the most enduring British actor of all time. Along with the fantastic Peter Cushing, Lee managed to bring a touch of class and superior acting ability to his Hammer adventures.