HORROR MOVIES 101

Another Sad Farewell...

   David Carradine was found dead in his hotel room in Bankok yesterday.   He was 72.   The reports of the cause of death are, at this point, sketchy at best but it sounds like a suicide.   You can read the AOL news story here...

   David Carradine Dies; Suicide Reported .

   David, eldest son of legendary actor John Carradine, was among my favorite actors of all time and I thouroghly enjoyed every role I've seen him in.   He was a veteran actor with over 200 movies and TV shows to his credit.   My introduction to David Carradine, like most people, was the legendary TV show  Kung Fu (1972-1975).   An interesting note...   this TV show was written specifically for the biggest martial arts star at that time...   Bruce Lee!   At the last minute the studio exec's decided that Bruce Lee looked "too oriental" and sought out a more American looking actor who looked "somewhat" oriental and David Carradine's career was about to take off!   David began learning martial arts only AFTER he began filming  Kung Fu .   All of his "Kung Fu" moves in that show were simple choreography or, as he described it, like dancing.   In other words, he was faking it.   It would have been a different show if Bruce Lee were the star but it wasn't meant to be.   Oh well...   it was a great TV show that launched a fantastic career.  

   I next saw Mr. Carradine in a series of GREAT movies beginning with...

   Death Race 2000  (1975) ;   As "Frankenstein", David has a plan to assassinate the dictorial President of the United States.   "It's a "hand" grenade..." ...

   Cannonball!  (1976) ;   David was participating in an illegal cross-country race before Burt Reynolds ever thought of it.

   Thunder and Lightning  (1977) ;   David is a moon-runner in Florida driving a beefed-up '57 chevy with girlfriend Kate Jackson by his side...   Eat your heart out, Burt Reynolds...

   Circle of Iron  (1978) ;   Mr. Carradine plays multiple roles in this, most excellent, martial arts film.   I never get tired of watching this one....   in fact, I think I will watch it again tonight!   The original screenplay was co-written by Bruce Lee and James Coburn!

   The Long Riders  (1980) ;   David was Cole Younger in this family-fest that featured the Keach brothers as the James's and the Carradine brothers as the Youngers.   A great and underapreciated western that has a violence level on a par with the best of them...

   Q  (1982) ;   David is a police detective (along with Richard "Shaft" Roundtree) trying to solve the mystery of the giant flying lizard that has been eating the inhabitants of New York in this GREAT tongue-in-cheek giant-monster movie.

   Lone Wolf McQuade  (1983) ;   David battles Chuck Norris...   David loses...

   Sonny Boy  (1989) ;   David is a psochotic transvestite called "Pearl" ...

   Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat  (1990) ;   David steps into the shoes of his famous father playing "Dracula" in this offshoot of the classic...

   Evil Toons  (1992) ;   Mr. Carradine has a minor role in this Fred Olen Ray T & A fest...

   Waxwork II: Lost in Time  (1992) ;   Another minor role in a pretty good movie...

   Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror  (1998) ;   See above...

   And, of course, his triumphant return in  Kill Bill I and II ...

   David Carradine was an amazing actor and an inspiration for me in many ways.   He will be missed.

                                                                       < GOR >

Re:Another Sad Farewell...

What were the qualities of him as an actor that really appealed to you?  I'm curious because I really do not see him as the greatest actor.  Even though he found himself in some pretty interesting and bizzare films (although he was in a lot of crap as well).

And regarding his death.  The curernt buzz is some kind of accidentally hanging due to auto erotic asphyxiation.  He was definitely naked when they found him and had rope around his "body" and some sources say his "genitals".  And according to the news feed on IMDB "a statement from Carradine's representative indicates the actor died when a sex act went wrong. "

Re:Another Sad Farewell...

Risselada:

What were the qualities of him as an actor that really appealed to you?  I'm curious because I really do not see him as the greatest actor.  Even though he found himself in some pretty interesting and bizzare films (although he was in a lot of crap as well).

   David Carradine never looked like he was acting.   His portrayal of different characters was so natural and relaxed that David Carradine actually BECAME that character,   be it  Kwai Chang Caine  or  Bill  from the  Kill Bill  movies.   David Carradine WAS  "Kwai Chang Caine"  from  Kung Fu .   David Carradine WAS  "Bill"  from  Kill Bill .   David Carradine WAS  "Frankenstein"  in  Death Race 2000 .   The entire time that you are watching these performances you KNOW that you are watching David Carradine and yet that doesn't matter...   He BECOMES the character that you are watching...   It is effortless and fluid and there are no signs that he is "acting" at all.   Some other actors who posessed this talent...

   John Wayne, CHARLETON HESTON, William Holden, Clint Eastwood, Yul Brynner, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. ,  BORIS KARLOFF , Vincent Price, Bruce Campbell, Eli Wallach, Dwight Frye, LINDA BLAIR ...

   As I mentioned before, David Carradine was magnificent in everything I have ever seen him in.   THAT is what qualifies him as a "great" actor in my book, Rizzo.

                                                                     < GOR >

Re:Another Sad Farewell...

Risselada:

And regarding his death.  The curernt buzz is some kind of accidentally hanging due to auto erotic asphyxiation.  He was definitely naked when they found him and had rope around his "body" and some sources say his "genitals".  And according to the news feed on IMDB "a statement from Carradine's representative indicates the actor died when a sex act went wrong. "

   The mystery deepens...   the investigation continues...   Here is the latest I have read...

   Carradine's Family Suspicious of Death | TMZ.com

                                                                                   < GOR >

Re:Another Sad Farewell...

Dr_Gor:

Risselada:

And regarding his death.  The curernt buzz is some kind of accidentally hanging due to auto erotic asphyxiation.  He was definitely naked when they found him and had rope around his "body" and some sources say his "genitals".  And according to the news feed on IMDB "a statement from Carradine's representative indicates the actor died when a sex act went wrong. "

   The mystery deepens...   the investigation continues...   Here is the latest I have read...

   Carradine's Family Suspicious of Death | TMZ.com

                                                                                   < GOR >

   And this...

   David Carradine Dies in Bangkok

   We have not heard the last of this one...

                                                                             < GOR >

Re:Another Sad Farewell...

I'm back, finally, had to get a new computer.  ugh.

Anyway, that was a very good description of his acting style Gor.  I agree completely, he was usually so laid back and just had that effortless style.  I remember Sunday afternoons that I would watch Kung Fu when I was little.  I just really liked his soft spoken voice and his demeanor.  My favorite was Kill Bill, just really liked him there, evil but nice.  Also liked Dead and Breakfast, funny quirky movie, and sooooooooo many more.  It's sad to think he won't be making any more movies.

June

Re:Another Sad Farewell...

Dr_Gor:

Risselada:

What were the qualities of him as an actor that really appealed to you?  I'm curious because I really do not see him as the greatest actor.  Even though he found himself in some pretty interesting and bizzare films (although he was in a lot of crap as well).

   David Carradine never looked like he was acting.   His portrayal of different characters was so natural and relaxed that David Carradine actually BECAME that character,   be it  Kwai Chang Caine  or  Bill  from the  Kill Bill  movies.   David Carradine WAS  "Kwai Chang Caine"  from  Kung Fu .   David Carradine WAS  "Bill"  from  Kill Bill .   David Carradine WAS  "Frankenstein"  in  Death Race 2000 .   The entire time that you are watching these performances you KNOW that you are watching David Carradine and yet that doesn't matter...   He BECOMES the character that you are watching...   It is effortless and fluid and there are no signs that he is "acting" at all.   Some other actors who posessed this talent...

   John Wayne, CHARLETON HESTON, William Holden, Clint Eastwood, Yul Brynner, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. ,  BORIS KARLOFF , Vincent Price, Bruce Campbell, Eli Wallach, Dwight Frye, LINDA BLAIR ...

   As I mentioned before, David Carradine was magnificent in everything I have ever seen him in.   THAT is what qualifies him as a "great" actor in my book, Rizzo.

                                                                     < GOR >

I see what you are saying when you say you always know it is David Carradine.  Like John Wayne, I don't know if he had a huge range.  But John Wayne had a presence no doubt.

That's a good list of actors there.  I'm not sure if I'm familiar with Dwight Frye though.

Re:Another Sad Farewell...

I really couldn't believe it when I heard it. It seemed like not that long ago he was the focus of Beatrix's life in the Kill Bill movies and to hear not only that he was found dead, but hanged in a closet, it was a real shocker.  You can guarantee he will be missed by Kung Fu and Kill Bill fans, among many others.

Re:Another Sad Farewell...

Risselada:

I see what you are saying when you say you always know it is David Carradine.  Like John Wayne, I don't know if he had a huge range.  But John Wayne had a presence no doubt.

That's a good list of actors there.  I'm not sure if I'm familiar with Dwight Frye though.

   Well you will soon be familiar with  Dwight Frye ...   as all good Horror fans should be....

    Dwight Frye was a great "character-actor" of the 1930's and 40's.   He was  "Renfield"  in  Dracula  and the "hunchback- assistant" , Fritz, in  Frankenstein .   He then went on to appear in the next SEVERAL  "Frankenstein"  movies including ;

   "Bride of..." , "Son of..." , "Ghost of..." and others...

   Here is a link that will help you...

  Dwight Frye ...

                                                                                < GOR >

Re:Another Sad Farewell...

Dr_Gor:

Risselada:

I see what you are saying when you say you always know it is David Carradine.  Like John Wayne, I don't know if he had a huge range.  But John Wayne had a presence no doubt.

That's a good list of actors there.  I'm not sure if I'm familiar with Dwight Frye though.

   Well you will soon be familiar with  Dwight Frye ...   as all good Horror fans should be....

    Dwight Frye was a great "character-actor" of the 1930's and 40's.   He was  "Renfield"  in  Dracula  and the "hunchback- assistant" , Fritz, in  Frankenstein .   He then went on to appear in the next SEVERAL  "Frankenstein"  movies including ;

   "Bride of..." , "Son of..." , "Ghost of..." and others...

   Here is a link that will help you...

  Dwight Frye ...

                                                                                < GOR >

Oh yeah, I have seen him in Dracula and Frankenstein.  I do remember them talking about him on the audio commentary on Dracula now.  Yeah he was good in that.