April 1, 2023

The "Favorite Stars in B Movies" Blogathon: Day 2

Blogathon banner - Jack Nicholson in The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

Happy April Fools’ Day, and welcome to Day 2 of the blogathon! Today is the day for practical jokes, but don’t worry, we won’t bait you with a tantalizing link to a notable B movie only to redirect you to an online discussion of microscopic fungi instead (apologies to any mycologists who may be reading this).

Here at Films From Beyond we’re serious about having fun with B movies, and the purpose of the blogathon is to showcase the talents of bloggers who share that philosophy.

Day 1 of the blogathon featured a plethora of actors and actresses in a variety of genre roles, from mind control victims (Ian Ogilvy), to post-apocalyptic death-racers (Sylvester Stallone), to mad scientists (Joseph Cotten), to accused murderers (John Garfield), to family men battling juvenile delinquents (Alan Ladd), to cops and star witnesses running from the mob (Charles McGraw and Marie Windsor), to “ham” actors just being themselves (John Carradine).

Day 2 promises to be just as diverse and fun-filled, so on with the show!

Dustin at Horror and Sons profiles the stars you should know, the ones you might know, and others you probably don't know in the alien invader film Without Warning (1980).

Screenshot - Ralph Meeker and Neville Brand in Without Warning (1980)

Terence at A Shroud of Thoughts delves into the backstory of how Rory Calhoun ended up making Farmer Vincent's Fritters in Motel Hell (1980).

Poster - Motel Hell (1980)

Andrew at The Stop Button analyzes Michael Landon's anger management issues in I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957).

Still - Michael Landon in I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)

Grand Old Movies enumerates all the guilty pleasures to be had watching Joan Crawford bond with a primitive cave dweller in Trog (1970).

Screenshot - Joan Crawford in Trog (1970)

Andrew at Maniacs and Monsters keeps score on Roy Scheider's performance in the baseball-horror mashup Night Game (1989).

Screenshot - Roy Scheider in Night Game (1989)

That's not all folks! Stay tuned for Day 3 of the blogathon, right here at Films From Beyond!

March 31, 2023

Welcome to Day 1 of the "Favorite Stars in B Movies" Blogathon!

Blogathon banner - Orson Welles in Bert I. Gordon's Necromancy (1972)

It’s been over 12 years in the making... I started Films From Beyond in November 2010, and I’m only now getting around to hosting my first blogathon! I’m gratified that the theme of "Favorite Stars in B Movies" has proven to be so popular; the lineup for the next three days is an intriguing mix of star performances in a variety of B’s spanning six decades. And a couple of contributions will be overviews of B movie careers.

If you’re inspired to join in, it's not too late! See the Announcement page for guidelines, and feel free to share your link by emailing me, brschuck66@yahoo.com, messaging me on Twitter (@brschuck66), or using the comments on this page.

Many thanks to everyone who signed up and/or helped promote the blogathon on their sites or social media! You’ve made this first blogathon effort so much fun!

Before we get to today’s entries, here’s a favorite quote about working in B movies from a man who knew them well:

“I don't resent being identified with B science fiction movies at all. Why should I? Even though they were not considered top of the line, for those people that like sci-fi, I guess they were fun. My whole feeling about working as an actor is, if I give anybody any enjoyment, I'm doing my job, and that's what counts.” - John Agar

And now, without further ado, here's the first lineup of talented bloggers who have no reservations whatsoever writing about B movies and their stars:

Gill at Realweegiemidget Reviews conjures up an early Ian Ogilvy film role in The Sorcerers (1967).

Screenshot - Boris Karloff and Ian Ogilvy in The Sorcerers (1967)

Rich at By Rich Watson remembers a pre-Rocky Sylvester Stallone in Roger Corman's Death Race 2000 (1975).

Screenshot - Sylvester Stallone in Death Race 2000 (1975)

At Maniacs and Monsters, Michael's catch-of-the-day is Joseph Cotten's performance in Island of the Fishmen (1979).

Screenshot - Joseph Cotten in Island of the Fishmen (1979)

Ruth at Silver Screenings puts out an all points bulletin for John Garfield in They Made Me a Criminal (1939).

Still - John Garfield in They Made Me a Criminal (1939)

Jo at The Last Drive In serves up generous portions of ham in her two-part look at the B movie career of John Carradine: Part 1 | Part 2.

Still - John Carradine in House of Dracula (1945)

Mike at Mike's Movie Room keeps tabs on Alan Ladd as he battles a violent gang in 13 West Street (1962).

Screenshot - Alan Ladd in 13 West Street (1962)

Christianne at Krell Laboratories finds the performances of Marie Windsor and Charles McGraw anything but marginal in The Narrow Margin (1952).

Screenshot - Charles McGraw and Marie Windsor in The Narrow Margin (1952)

That's all for now -- visit us tomorrow for more great posts!