Mortuary (1983)

Released on September 2nd, 1983.

Mortuary (1983)

Mary Beth McDonough was known for TV roles such as the Waltons but also did fun stuff like:

Snowballing (1984) a hot dogging romp on the slopes  

and 

Funland (1987) a dark comedy starring David L. Lander as a psycho amusement park clown. 

Mary Beth McDonough

Lynda Day George (It Happened at Lakewood Manor) and Christopher George were real life husband and wife and frequent collaborators on movies such as Pieces (1982) and Day of the Animals (1977).

I can’t ever bring up Day of the Animals without pointing out that a shirtless Leslie Nielsen wrestles a bear in a thunderstorm in this movie. That’s more than worth the price of admission as far as I’m concerned. 

Christopher George died suddenly of a heart attack shortly after Mortuary. Lynda retired from acting a short time later. 

Lynda Day George and Christopher George

A young Bill Paxton is by far the highlight of Mortuary. 

There is a great scene where he inexplicably skips through a graveyard carrying a bouquet of flowers. 

I thought this would be the highlight of this movie until the final half hour where he just shines. 

Bill Paxton

Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare

Zombi aka Dawn of the Dead

Also on this date:

The Dead Kennedys Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables released in 1980

Zombi aka Dawn of the Dead

On this day in 1979 a 118 minute cut of George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead premiered in Turin, Italy. 

Zombi aka Dawn of the Dead

This edit (entitled Zombi), was influenced and financed by Dario Argento. It features a lot more Goblin and gore than does the 127 minute US version released the following April by Romero.

Goblin

Gore

They had a similar deal previously on Romero’s Vampire flick Martin (1977).

Romero’s Martin 

Check out this great Ultimate Edition DVD set. It has the US theatrical release, Argento’s Euro edit and the 139 minutes extended cut that premiered at Cannes Film Festival.

Dawn of the Dead Ultimate Edition DVD set

Also on this date:

Yvonne De Carlo was born in 1922

Related:

Zombi v Shark

Night of the Living Dead

Frederic March

Frederic March

Frederic March starred in such classics as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1931), Anna Karenina (1935) and the original version of A Star is Born (1937). 

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

His career spanned nearly 50 years until his passing in 1975. 

The most recent remake of A Star is Born starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga premiered on August 31st, 2018. 

Coincidentally, Frederic March was born on August 31st, 1897.

R. Crumb

 

Robert Crumb was born on August 30th, 1943. 

R. Crumb’s front cover of Big Brother & the Holding Company’s Cheap Thrills Gatefold. 

Also on this date:

Wes Craven’s The Last House on the Left was released in 1972. 

The Skeleton Dance

 

The Skeleton Dance was released on August 20th, 1929.

This Danse macabre inspired animated short was the first of the Silly Symphony series directed and produced by Walt Disney. 

Related:

Hell’s Bells

Ghost Town Frolics

Also on this date:

William Friedkin born in 1935

Ben Gazzara

Ben Gazzara’s career spanned over half a century in film, television and stage in the US and Europe. 

Biago Anthony Gazzara

On stage...

...and television

 

I’d like to say their was a Gazzara-ssance in the late 80’s into the 90’s but looking at his filmography the man had never stopped working.

Road House (1989)

That not so deceptive smile. 

If you see this smile run. 

In Vincent Gallo’s Buffalo ‘66 (1998)

Born August 28th, 1930.

Also on this date:

Barbara Bach was born in 1946

Let’s Scare Jessica to Death

On August 27th, 1971 Let’s Scare Jessica to Death premiered in NYC.

This psychological slow burn had a great score and easily held my attention for the full 89 minutes.

That’s saying something since the internet ate my brain. 

Mariclare Costello and Zohra Lampert

Also on this date:

Glen Matlock was born in 1956

Yvette Vickers

Yvette Vickers was born on August 26th, 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Vickers in Attack of the 50 ft. Woman

with Sally Kellerman

 

Yvette Vickers (1928-2010)

Also on this date:

Ola Ray born in 1960