Moviedrome Mondays: The Andromeda Strain (1971) and Fiend Without a Face (1958)

by John Charet

Series 7 of Moviedrome opens with a double bill consisting of two science-fiction films – one is a Hollywood product and the other was financed independently.

The Andromeda Strain (1971)

I would like to give a special shout-out to Steve (click here to view his youtube channel), a loyal visitor to this site. A month or two ago, he found/uploaded a version of Alex Cox’s Moviedrome introduction to director Robert Wise’s 1971 science-fiction thriller The Andromeda Strain, that I will be posting a link to below. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was May 15, 1994 (read here). with the exception of his thoughts on They Live (I love that film), I agree with everything else Cox states (eloquently as usual) about this film. As for myself, I would rank The Andromeda Strain alongside Westworld (both the movie and the cable-television series) and Jurassic Park as my three favorite film adaptations of a Michael Crichton property. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Robert Wise films (read here).

Here is a link to Steve’s youtube video of Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to The Andromeda Strain

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer


Fiend Without a Face (1958)

I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to director Arthur Crabtree’s low-budget 1958 British cult B-monster movie Fiend Without a Face. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was May 16, 1994 (read here). Once again, I agree with Cox completely. When it comes to 1950’s horror/science-fiction films, Fiend Without a Face benefits largely from inventive special effects (stop-motion animation was reportedly used to create the brain creatures) and (shocking for it’s time) a fair share of blood and gore.

Here is a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to Fiend Without a Face

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer

Moviedrome Mondays: Carrie (1976)

by John Charet

I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to director Brian De Palma’s 1976 horror classic Carrie. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was September 26, 1993 (read here). Series six ends on a high note as I am a huge fan of both Carrie and the work of it’s filmmaker (De Palma in this case). Along with Salem’s Lot, The Shining, The Dead Zone and The Dark Half, Carrie ranks as one of my five personal favorite film adaptations of a Stephen King novel. As usual, Cox offers up another insightful commentary. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Brian De Palma films (read here).

Here is a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to Carrie

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer

Moviedrome Mondays: What Have I Done to Deserve This? (1984)

by John Charet

I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar’s 1984 black comedy-drama What Have I Done to Deserve This?. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was September 20, 1993 (read here). Not much I can add here except to say that Cox’s thoughts on Spanish cinema in general is truly fascinating. As for myself, I have always been a huge fan of director/writer Pedro Almodovar’s films and while I would not rank What Have I Done to Deserve This? as high as some of his later works (Pain and Glory, Talk to Her and All About My Mother), it is still a great film nonetheless. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Pedro Almodovar films (read here).

Here is a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to What Have I Done to Deserve This?

Here is another youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to What Have I Done to Deserve This?

UPDATE 11/03/2021: Here is Steve’s (a regular visitor to this site) youtube upload of Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to What Have I Done to Deserve This? Click here to view his youtube channel

Since I could not find a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer, click here to see some youtube video links featuring one or two scenes of the film

Moviedrome Mondays: Requiescant (1967)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Carlo Lizzani’s 1967 spaghetti western Requiescant, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was September 6, 1993 (read here). Not much to add here except to say that I agree with every single word of praise that Cox lavishes on this genuine spaghetti western gem.

Update: 11/17/2022: Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Requiescant

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer

Here is a Spaghetti Western Database (SWDb) link to Alex Cox’s 20 favorite ones in the sub-genre (NOTE: Once again, I have seen most, but not all of these titles)

Here is a link to a 2009 Guardian Article in which Cox picks his 10 favorite on-screen exits from the sub-genre

Here is an Amazon link to learn more about Cox’s take on the spaghetti western in his 2009 book 10,000 Ways to Die: A Director’s Take on the Spaghetti Western

Moviedrome Mondays: Face to Face (1967)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Sergio Sollima’s 1967 spaghetti western Face to Face, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 29, 1993 (read here). While 1966’s The Big Gundown still ranks as my number one favorite of Sollima’s spaghetti westerns, Face to Face, not to mention Run, Man, Run! made the following year, prove to be every bit as electrifying. Speaking of which, it has been alleged that Sollima considered Face to Face to be his personal favorite of the bunch (read here). If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Sergio Sollima films (read here).

Update: 11/17/2022: Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Face to Face

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer

Here is an Amazon link to learn more about Alex Cox’s take on the spaghetti western in his 2009 book 10,000 Ways to Die: A Director’s Take on the Spaghetti Western

Moviedrome Mondays: The Big Combo (1955)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing cult B-filmmaker Joseph H. Lewis 1955 film noir gem The Big Combo, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 23, 1993 (read here). I could not state any of Cox’s sentiments about this film any better. 1950’s Gun Crazy may be Lewis number one greatest film, but The Big Combo (also directed by him) proves to be every bit as (If not more) masterful as that earlier film. Now everything about The Big Combo is undeniably brilliant, but the true standout aspect of this film lies in John Alton’s dazzling cinematography, which is evident from it’s first frame to it’s iconic final shot. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Joseph H. Lewis films (read here).

Since I could not find a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer, readers will have to either watch the film on the aforementioned website (click here) or find it on Blu-Ray/DVD (click here). In addition, If you are a UK visitor to my site (some of my dear readers live there), click here for the link to what may be the Region 2 Blu-Ray/DVD of the film.

Moviedrome Mondays: The Long Riders (1980)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing action director Walter Hill’s 1980 western The Long Riders, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 15, 1993 (read here). While it may not be my number one favorite film dealing (whether on the surface or in the center) with infamous outlaw Jesse James and his gang (that honor goes to 2007’s The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), I nevertheless adore The Long Riders on a whole. The selling points here are the bloody shootouts (a homage to Sam Peckinpah), Ry Cooder’s music score and most fittingly, a cast of real-life actor brothers. The ones in this case would be The Keaches (James and Stacy), The Carradines (David, Keith and Robert), The Quaids (Dennis and Randy) and The Guests (Christopher and Nicolas). Along with his 2004 pilot episode of Deadwood, The Long Riders ranks as two of director Walter Hill’s great westerns. I also admire 1993’s Geronimo: An American Legend, 1995’s Wild Bill and his 2006 two-part television miniseries Broken Trail. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Walter Hill films (read here).


Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer

Moviedrome Mondays: Run of the Arrow (1957) and Verboten! (1959)

by John Charet

This week’s Moviedrome Monday is a double bill entry consisting of two films by legendary cult director Samuel Fuller.


Run of the Arrow (1957)

Though I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Samuel Fuller’s 1957 revisionist western Run of the Arrow, I found the next best thing. Back in the summer of 2008, Cox served as presenter for a three-night BBC Four special entitled Five Westerns and all of his intros for them can be viewed on youtube. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 8, 1993 (read here). Notwithstanding his brief put-down of Clint Eastwood and Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street, I absolutely agree with Cox on every single thing he says states here about Run of the Arrow. Though I am amazed that Cox did not bring up that tidbit of it being one of the earliest American films to use blood squibs during it’s gunfights (read here and here). While it may not be the first western to paint Native Americans (the Sioux in this case) in a more positive light, Run of the Arrow does serve as an underrated example of one for devotees of the genre like myself. In addition, it is also far superior to Kevin Costner’s mediocre 1990 oscar-winning western epic Dances with Wolves. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Samuel Fuller films (read here).

Here is a youtube video link to Part 1 (his intro for Run of the Arrow is in part 2) of Alex Cox’s intro to the first two films from BBC Four’s three-night 2008 special Five Westerns

Here is a youtube video link to Part 2 (his intro for Run of the Arrow is in this one) of Alex Cox’s intro to the last three films from BBC Four’s three-night 2008 special Five Westerns

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer


Verboten! (1959)

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Samuel Fuller’s 1959 post-WWII drama Verboten!, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 8, 1993 (read here). Unlike Cox, I had no problem at all with the camerawork and as with Run of the Arrow, it is Fuller’s typically two-fisted approach to form and content that shapes Verboten! as one of his many masterpieces. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Samuel Fuller films (read here).

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer

Moviedrome Mondays: Django (1966) and Grim Prairie Tales (1990)

by John Charet

This week’s Moviedrome Monday entry is a double bill consisting of two very different kinds of westerns. In this case, it would be the spaghetti western and an anthology horror western.


Django (1966)

I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to Italian director Sergio Corbucci’s 1966 iconic spaghetti western Django. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 1, 1993 (read here). As usual, Cox gives another eloquent introduction. Not unlike his intro to Corbucci’s The Great Silence (shown on Moviedrome back in 1990), it is fascinating to hear everything about how this spaghetti western was made to it’s release history. I too agree that Django tops all of the other Yojimbo imitations, which include fellow Italian director Sergio Leone’s A Fistful of Dollars from two years earlier in 1964. Though Cox does not outright say it, I too would rank Corbucci higher than Leone in the pantheon of the great directors of spaghetti westerns. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Sergio Corbucci films (read here).

Here is a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to Django

Here is a youtube video link to what may be the US trailer for the film

Here is a youtube video link to what may be the film’s Italian trailer

Here is a youtube video link of British film critic Mark Kermode talking about it as one of his BFI player choices of the week

Here is a Spaghetti Western Database (SWDb) link to Alex Cox’s 20 favorite ones in the sub-genre (NOTE: I have seen most, but not all of these titles)

Here is an Amazon link to learn more about Alex Cox’s take on the spaghetti western in his 2009 book 10,000 Ways to Die: A Director’s Take on the Spaghetti Western


Grim Prairie Tales (1990)

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Wayne Coe’s 1990 independent cult horror western Grim Prairie Tales, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 1, 1993 (read here). Once again, I nod in agreement with Cox. While far from a great or very good anthology horror film, it is nevertheless a good one overall. As Cox so eloquently implies though, it is Janusz Kaminski’s cinematography and the presence of it’s two lead actors (James Earl Jones and Brad Dourif) that really stand out. Aside from VHS, Grim Prairie Tales has (to the best of my knowledge) never been given a Blu-Ray/DVD release (or at least here in the US), nevertheless, I did watch it on youtube awhile back (click here).

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer