Cinema Saturday Presents : The Lost Skeleton of
Year: 2001
Run time: 1hr 30 min
Rating: PG
Movie Grade: B+
Principle Cast:
Director/Writer/Dr. Paul Armstrong: Larry Blamire
Fay Masterson :Betty Armstrong
Andrew Parks: Kro-Bar
Susan McConnell: Lattis
Brian Howe: Dr. Roger Fleming
Jennifer Blaire: Animala
Skeleton: Himself
Synopsis: A meteorite lands on earth carrying a precious mineral that is sought after by a psychic Skeleton, two bumbling aliens and a geologist.
Spoiler free review: If you love old B movies or you just
love to make fun of them this comedic parody of those wonderful silver era
films is a treat for you.
Review:
usually when a backwater blog tells you that they are going to review a black and white independent film one would expect some sort of pretentious French film about the meaninglessness of life while focusing on someone’s eye ball for 15 minutes. But not here, this cinema Saturday were going to visit the greatest independent satire of 1950 B movies starring a skeleton ever made, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra.
The actors all deserves awards for how well they play terrible actors in a fifties B movie. I mean it must take some real discipline to purposely try and overact a scene or intentionally delay a cue. Andrew Parks, who plays Kro-Bar even admits that is motivation for playing the character was imagining himself as a small time actor and the character of Kro-bar was the best role he had ever gotten in his life so he was going to ham it up in hopes of being noticed, it’s this kind of dedication to a practically no budget film that personally I think helps the movie feel more genuine. I can’t help but be caught up in the infectious zeal that the crew has for their movie.
Larry Blamire's immense commitment to his project is clearly demonstrated by how many hats he juggled during this movie as was writer, director, and actor, really helps the film feel like a labor of love rather then some of the soulless studio cash grabs that get put out on a regular basis.
…. hmmm, I wonder.
. nearly all the props for the film were either bought on ebay or found around the cabin where the film was shot.
:38: not even a full minute and it already feels like a real B movie. This is going to be great!
7:10: And Now you Know: these animal shots were filmed by the crew then later edited to the film to make them look like stock footage.
15:17-32 that is some serious dedication to a mad scientist laugh, how does he not pass out?
17:41 Fleming is using a children’s Jr. science kit to do his experiments. It’s little touches like this that make the movie.
20:10 that look when even you don’t know what your own alien device does
23:58: I love that the aliens must take these completely unnecessary poses to transform.
27:26: These names are so much more ridicules then their alien names.
29:35 everyone has made this face when having guests over at some point
30:24 probably one of the best lines in the movie.
35:00 sheesh, that is a mouthful. I wonder how many takes it took to complete that sentence.
38:00 When your dinner guest suggests something so outrageous that you have to wonder is that something I need to worry about?
41: in the span of three minutes the exact phrase “horrible mutilations” is worked into the script nine times.
43: the dinner party is arguably the best sequence of the movie.
44:40: The Skeletons conversational dialogue never fails to make me laugh.
52:47 And Now You Know pt 2: the click from Animala was a cue for the camera crew to know that
the dance sequence was starting.
53: I have no idea why being four different forest Animals give Animala hypnotics powers…. But I’m absolutely on bored with it.
1:02:00: I like that he must give out his full name and title
1:05:43: that’s a spit take right there.
1:08:00 that’s what you’re going take away from all this is?
1:11:00 those two came over a 1000 miles? … wait, they would have had to travel…Oh! I get it, funny.
1:16:47: that long pause as you know he is considering licking it.
1:20:25 I love how Paul not only comes in after his wife but basically just uses her same quip.
1:22:03 fight of the century.
Review:
usually when a backwater blog tells you that they are going to review a black and white independent film one would expect some sort of pretentious French film about the meaninglessness of life while focusing on someone’s eye ball for 15 minutes. But not here, this cinema Saturday were going to visit the greatest independent satire of 1950 B movies starring a skeleton ever made, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra.
Many modern movies have tried to imitate or parody the old
low budget drive in B movies from the 50’s and 60’s but capturing that era’s
unique quirkiness is no easy task and many would be filmmakers fail to achieve
that delicate balance between being pleasantly cheesy and just being plain
bad. Most of these failures might be
because most films simply try to mimic another old B movie instead trying to
put their own personal spin on an old idea while or perhaps they just expect
the audience to be less critical “because it’s satire”, either way most of
these films end up in the same garbage heap as their predecessors.
Then comes the Lost Skeleton of Cadavra which hits that
corny sweet spot. The films “accidentally on purpose” style of bad film making
really sells the whole movie on being knowingly satirist while also staying
true to the essence of what made the old black and white films fun. I have honestly never seen a crew work so
hard at being purposely terrible and still come out with such an amazing finished
product.
The actors all deserves awards for how well they play terrible actors in a fifties B movie. I mean it must take some real discipline to purposely try and overact a scene or intentionally delay a cue. Andrew Parks, who plays Kro-Bar even admits that is motivation for playing the character was imagining himself as a small time actor and the character of Kro-bar was the best role he had ever gotten in his life so he was going to ham it up in hopes of being noticed, it’s this kind of dedication to a practically no budget film that personally I think helps the movie feel more genuine. I can’t help but be caught up in the infectious zeal that the crew has for their movie.
Lost Skeleton is delightfully cheesy but this double edge
sword is the reason Lost Skeleton will not resonate with everyone. Lost Skeleton of Cadavra is not trying to
be a “good” movie it is purposely cheap with Z grade special effects,
questionable editing and cringe inducing dialogue which may be a turn off to someone
who has no love or experience with the genera. Like most satire Lost Skeleton of Cadavra
needs a certain appreciation for the genera it is making fun of otherwise the main
point of the humor will be lost on the viewer.
Larry Blamire's immense commitment to his project is clearly demonstrated by how many hats he juggled during this movie as was writer, director, and actor, really helps the film feel like a labor of love rather then some of the soulless studio cash grabs that get put out on a regular basis.
Lost Skeleton Of Cadavra might not be everyone’s cup of tea
but it is arguably among the best parody B movie out there and he cheapness of the film only adds to the appeal. Any lover of Shockley Sci-fi will most certainly fine themselves completely enraptured by the side splitting
comedy that Is The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra.
But humans are such fickle creatures, can they ever truly be pleased?
But humans are such fickle creatures, can they ever truly be pleased?
…. hmmm, I wonder.
….. Oh well.
Fast facts:
. nearly all the props for the film were either bought on ebay or found around the cabin where the film was shot.
. filmed at the infamous Bronson canyon, the cost of the permits’
needed to film at this location were the film’s most costly expense. Running them nearly a tenth of their budget.
. during one shoot the team had to bribe a noisy
construction crew to leave for an hour so they could finish shooting a sequence.
. a sequel was produced with the hopes of doing a third film
but lack of funding caused the project to be abandoned.
Quotes:
Ranger Brad: Oh, say... You don't believe those old legends
about the Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, do you?
Dr. Roger Fleming: Ranger Brad, I'm a scientist, I don't
believe in anything.
Kro-Bar: You know, this talking that we are doing is very
helpful in getting to know your people and mine. Why, as we observed you from
afar, we thought of you as little more than pleasant entertaining monkeys, so
dirty and foul.
Dr. Paul Armstrong: I don't understand. Why does she need an
Amish terrarium?
Betty Armstrong: Don't the Amish live in open air, like us?
Dr. Paul Armstrong: Of course, Betty, it's absurd. Putting
the Amish in glass cases would be inhumane.
Skeleton: Stop that giggling. It makes me uncomfortable.
Mini Commentary:
:38: not even a full minute and it already feels like a real B movie. This is going to be great!
7:10: And Now you Know: these animal shots were filmed by the crew then later edited to the film to make them look like stock footage.
15:17-32 that is some serious dedication to a mad scientist laugh, how does he not pass out?
17:41 Fleming is using a children’s Jr. science kit to do his experiments. It’s little touches like this that make the movie.
20:10 that look when even you don’t know what your own alien device does
23:58: I love that the aliens must take these completely unnecessary poses to transform.
27:26: These names are so much more ridicules then their alien names.
29:35 everyone has made this face when having guests over at some point
30:24 probably one of the best lines in the movie.
35:00 sheesh, that is a mouthful. I wonder how many takes it took to complete that sentence.
38:00 When your dinner guest suggests something so outrageous that you have to wonder is that something I need to worry about?
41: in the span of three minutes the exact phrase “horrible mutilations” is worked into the script nine times.
43: the dinner party is arguably the best sequence of the movie.
44:40: The Skeletons conversational dialogue never fails to make me laugh.
52:47 And Now You Know pt 2: the click from Animala was a cue for the camera crew to know that
the dance sequence was starting.
53: I have no idea why being four different forest Animals give Animala hypnotics powers…. But I’m absolutely on bored with it.
1:02:00: I like that he must give out his full name and title
1:05:43: that’s a spit take right there.
1:08:00 that’s what you’re going take away from all this is?
1:11:00 those two came over a 1000 miles? … wait, they would have had to travel…Oh! I get it, funny.
1:16:47: that long pause as you know he is considering licking it.
1:20:25 I love how Paul not only comes in after his wife but basically just uses her same quip.
1:22:03 fight of the century.
BE ASTOUNDED BY THE HYPNOTIC DANCE OF THE SEDUCTIVE ANIMALA!!
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