We Had A Camp Fest Last Saturday, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Unable to subject ourselves again to "War Of The Gargantuas, we opted to watch two camp offerings.  The better of them, "What Ever Happened To Aunt Alice?," I first saw at the RKO State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey, back in 1969.  Fifty-four years later, it is still hoot.

                                               Geraldine Page plays a widow who has been left penniless by her husband.  To keep up her lavish lifestyle, she hires women as housekeeper/companions, finds out how much they are worth, and if satisfied, knock them off, burying them in her garden, and planting pine trees on top of them.  It is fascinating how the film is edited, as when an additional pine tree is shown, we know another woman has been bumped off.

                                                    But Mildred Dunnock and Ruth Gordon are the kickers.  Dunnock is bumped off early, but she does put up a good fight.  But when Geraldine and Ruth go at it, you say "Go, Ruthie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  Unfortunately, she does not make it, Geraldine is eventually caught, and the film has a famous last line, delivered by Geraldine herself.

                                                        The cinematography makes it look like it should have been a made-for-TV movie.  But it became a part of the "What Ever Happened To...." franchise.  Robert Aldrich had a hand in it, so it was destined for the theaters.

                                                            The actresses make the show.  I don't think they needed much direction.  After blocking out their moves, I am sure the director turned the camera on them, saying, "OK, now do what you do."

                                                               You are in for a laugh riot of horror if you watch this.

                                                               Alas--

                         Because the legend fascinates me, we opted to watch the "American Horror Stories"--also by Ryan Murphy--episode, "Bloody Mary."  What I was interested in was an exploration of the legend; how it came to be, and whether or not a real woman inspired Bloody Mary.  The legend says if one looks into the mirror and says her name three times, something will happen, she will appear, and there will be consequences.  As several schoolgirls in this story find out, which, with them, at times veers away from Bloody Mary and more toward Slenderman, though the latter is not mentioned.  There are shocks and a surprising twist at the end, which I can tell you is right out of Robeert Marasco's 1973 novel, "Burnt Offerings," which was filmed in 1976 with Bette Davis, Oliver Reed and Karen Black.  With Burgess Meredith and Eileen Heckart stealing the show.  This episode needed at least one or two actors of this caliber to work.  Anyone interested in "Bloody Mary" won't miss it, but as escapist entertainment, it is ultimately disappointing.

                          Still, with 'Aunt Alice,' the evening was not a total waste.  I know that "Svengoolie" is running a favorite this Saturday, and I am telling you now, not to miss it.  More to be revealed at a later time.

                              Ta, ta, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!