The Gargon Terror!

Top 10 Reasons to Watch BSG

2008-03-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

Here's a trickle of goodness to pass the time while waiting for April 4th... Top ten reasons to watch Battlestar Galactica, from last night's Late Show.

(thanks Phil, for sending this in)

Star Trek TOS on the Web

2008-03-06T10:37:00.000-08:00

I love the internet.

CBS.com has all three seasons of the original 1966 Star Trek series up to watch. Looks like they're from the same source as the original series DVD sets (ie, not the remastered editions).

They've also currently got the first two seasons of The Twilight Zone, and the first season of Hawaii Five-O (just sayin, for all you other 60s TV fanatics out there).

Now, if I could only find the time to watch all this stuff...

What if...

2008-03-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

What if Saul Bass had designed the titles for Star Wars?

via drawn.ca via boingboing

Ray Harryhausen

2008-02-27T15:07:00.000-08:00

There's a tribute to Ray Harryhausen in today's SF Chronicle!

Last week, Mike and I jumped at the opportunity to go to the Raphael Theater to see Ray Harryhausen talk about his life and career. The format was a Q&A with fellow visual effects giants Denis Muren, Phil Tippet, and Craig Barron along with Harryhausen restoration producer (and close friend) Arnold Kunert. Yep, most of the people responsible for creating the things that inspired me to persue a career in animation were there, talking about where they found their inspiration (in the Cyclops from the 7th Voyage of Sinbad, of course). It was awesome.

Enjoy the article! Oh, and this montage of Harryhausen's work:

For All Mankind!

2008-02-25T18:00:00.000-08:00

Yay! My favorite Sci-Fi Rockabilly band, The Phenomenauts, are having a CD release party for their upcoming album "For All Mankind" at Slim's in San Francisco... and they're bringing friends!

Saturday, March 29th at 9pm. I'll be there. Will you?

Astrona

2008-02-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

I just stumbled upon this awesome science fiction art journal, Astrona, while looking for the artwork of John Berkey.

I certainly found a lot more than I was looking for! There seems to be thousands of high resolution astronomical and science fiction illustrations for your browsing pleasure. Go check it out!

(Oh, and I found Astrona by way of another amazing blog that I was also instantly smitten with: Lines and Colors.)

Miss Vampira!!

2008-01-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

"The ever-beautiful flowers she had planted with her own hands became nothing more than the lost roses of her cheeks."

We lost a great legend in Horror Movie Host history on Thursday. Maila Nurmi, known to most as Vampira, has passed. Metafilter compiled a great list of links about her. I recommend you check them out!

Stephen Chow's Sci-Fi Kung Fu Epic "CJ7" Trailer

2007-11-26T13:43:00.000-08:00

First mentioned nearly a year ago right here on The Gargon Terror, Stephen Chow, director and star of the immensely fun Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer, has since completed his sci-fi project CJ7. And the hilarious trailer has just hit teh internets- enjoy!

Lost Twilight Zone Episode: The Planet of the Apes

2007-11-07T16:06:00.000-08:00

This looks like it's been around for a while, but I just discovered it. An amazing reimagining of The Planet of the Apes as a Twilight Zone episode! Damn good work, RogerRmjet, damn good work.

Go to the creator's website for more information on this project.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Star Trek TOS "The Menagerie" Remastered - Coming To Theatres!‏

2007-10-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

Great news, fellow Trekkers! Stone cold classic Star Trek episode "The Menagerie" (with scenes from series pilot "The Cage" with Captain Pike in command of the Enterprise) is coming to theater near you- one night only, November 13th! For the first time ever, an episode of the original series will be on the big screen. And it will be 2006's remastered version, with new digital effect shots and beautifully restored picture and sound. Do not miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. For more info including participating theaters and showtimes, check the official site.

New George Takei Star Trek Episode Premiering Soon!

2007-08-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

This Thursday, August 23rd, a brand new episode of the fan-created Star Trek: New Voyages "World Enough And Time" featuring George Takei as Hikaru Sulu and Grace Lee Whitney as Janice Rand will premiere! Trekkers the world over can find it streaming on the New Voyages website from the Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills at both 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM EST in high definition video. Each screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the cast and writer/director Marc Scott Zicree.

Zicree is a former Star Trek: The Next Generation writer who penned the script with fellow Trek alumni Michael Reaves. The original idea for "World Enough And Time", depicting an aged Sulu raising a family on an alien planet, was by Reaves and intended for the aborted 1970's Star Trek Phase II series. So it promises to be a better than average fan-created episode. Plus, industry veterans were recruited to help, including concept artist Iain McCaig (designer of Star Wars' Darth Maul and Queen Amidala) and Oscar and Emmy winning makeup, effects (there are over 700 effects shots in the episode!) and storyboard artists.

Go boldly, check out the trailer on the New Voyages website and sign up for the stream today! Gargon Terror correspondents should be tuning in and will report back with our thoughts after the show...

Trailers From Hell

2007-07-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

Appreciate trailers and stories about b-movies from the pros who know what they're talking about!!!

As the blurb says:

"Joe Dante's Metaluna Productions, The Nickels Group and Elizabeth Stanley Pictures, proudly announce the kick-off of Trailers from Hell (TFH), a new series that will be delivered online and via mobile devices throughout the world. TFH is a series that showcases classic-era movie Previews of Coming Attractions with particular emphasis on the lurid, the extreme and the outrageous.

"Viewers can opt to watch the original trailers intact and/or enjoy the previews punctuated with pithy and humorous commentary by iconic genre filmmakers."

Awesome site! Go now!

Virtual Vertigo Tour: Part Ten

2007-06-07T20:50:00.000-07:00

After wining and dining Judy, Scotty convinces her to ditch work the next day so they can wander around the Palace of Fine Arts:

Click on the picture for a pinpoint location in Google Maps.

... and go shopping in Union Square- on Post Street to be precise. First we stop at a flower stand (which is still in the same location today on the right side), and then we cross the street to Ransohoffs Boutique (which is currently vacant, according to the Google StreetView image) to buy Judy a gray "Madeleine Suit."

Click on the picture for a pinpoint location in Google Maps.

And that, my friends, is the last San Francisco location in the film. Thank you for coming along with me on this Virtual Vertigo Tour. Now get out there and see the actual locations!

Virtual Vertigo Tour: Part Nine

2007-06-07T20:25:00.000-07:00

After Scotty leaves the Sanitarium, he retraces Madeleine's steps. He ends up back at the flower shop on Grant Avenue and he just happens to spot the darker haired Judy Barton (AKA Madeleine Elster) for the first time.

Click on the picture for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

The camera pans to reveal the rest of the block:

Click on the picture for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

Scotty then follows Judy to her residence at the Empire Hotel (now the York Hotel):

Click on the picture for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

Virtual Vertigo Tour: Part Eight

2007-06-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

After Madeleine jumps out of the bell tower at Mission San Juan Bautista, Scotty begins his descent into "acute melancholia, together with a guilt complex." He checks into this sanitarium at 351 Buena Vista Avenue East, which is now an apartment complex. You can live there!

Click the picture for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

After Midge (Barbara Bel Geddes), Scotty's friend, gives up on him at the sanitarium, Hitchcock throws in a nice panorama of San Francisco as seen from the top of Twin Peaks to create a thematic break in the movie.

Unfortunately, the Google Van didn't think it necessary to actually drive all the way up to the vantage point:

Click here for a panoramic view of San Francisco in 1958!

Virtual Vertigo Tour: Part Seven

2007-06-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

Today we're starting our tour at Union Square, the corner of Geary and Stockton to be precise.

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

There's no reason why this shot of Union Square is in the movie except that it's a picturesque place to show dawn breaking. This is the morning that Madeleine shows up at Scotty's apartment and convinces him to take her for a ride to Mission San Juan Bautista- where she (spoiler alert) ends up jumping out of the bell tower.

Virtual Vertigo Tour: Part Six

2007-06-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

Today we're taking the scenic route. After leaving the Legion of Honor the second time in the film, Kim Novak's character Madeleine Elster drives East on El Camino Del Mar:

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

Taking the longer way around through the Richmond District and entering the Presidio at the Presidio Street entrance (instead of just entering at 25th avenue, where they just were):

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

Making their way down to Fort Point Rd (apparently now called Long Avenue and Marine Drive):

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

... to arrive at our destination, just below the Golden Gate Bridge at Fort Point, where Madeleine throws herself into the bay while entranced by the spirit of Carlotta Valdes:

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

And here it is as Hitchcock framed it (I'm starting to think the Google folks were inspired by Hitch):

Virtual Vertigo Tour: Part Five

2007-06-05T22:08:00.000-07:00

After leaving the Mission Dolores, Scotty continues to follow Madeleine on her cruise through The City (that's what us Bay Area folks call San Francisco)...

On our way to the next stop, Madeleine makes an illegal left turn onto Market Street from Castro Street, heading West:

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

Notice the "No Left Turn" sign on the right side of the picture.

And now we're driving west on 17th street near Diamond:

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

And finally we arrive at our destination; The California Palace of the Legion of Honor:

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

Madeleine is clearly not in her right mind. Here we see her parked on the lawn.

Virtual Vertigo Tour: Part Four

2007-06-04T22:38:00.000-07:00

For our last stop of the day, we bring you to Mission Dolores, the location where Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak) went to visit the grave of her alter-ego Carlotta Valdes.

It looks like the Google photo vehicle didn't make it down that one block of Dolores, but this shot from 16th street is pretty close:

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

Virtual Vertigo Tour: Part Three

2007-06-04T22:22:00.000-07:00

Driving down Bush Street, Madeleine takes a right down Grant Avenue. At the intersection, if you look to your left, you'll see the famous entrance to Chinatown.

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

Now we're driving the wrong way down Grant to take a left into the alley where the back of the flower shop is located. Notice that the lamp posts are the only things that are familiar about the 1958 version of this street. In reality, the alley that Madeleine turns down isn't the alley that she ends up in, and is a few blocks behind her:

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

After warping space through the magic of film editing, Madeleine arrives at Claude Lane, and the rear entrance to the flower shop where she buys the bouquet of flowers to take to our destination in Part Four.

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

For this post, I referenced Vertigo... Then and Now quite a bit. It's a great resource and I heartily recommend it for more factoids about the locations of Vertigo.

Virtual Vertigo Tour: Part Two

2007-06-04T21:41:00.000-07:00

For our second stop on the virtual tour, we've arrived at 1000 Mason Street- The location of the Brocklebank Apartments, home of Gavin and Madeleine Elster (Tom Helmore and Kim Novak), where Scotty first picks up Madeleine's trail:

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

And as seen in the film:

Virtual Vertigo Tour: Part One

2007-06-04T21:13:00.000-07:00

Well, since Google released the Street View feature on Google Maps and shattered any sense of privacy I might have had, I figured I'd take advantage of the information that's out there and post a virtual tour of San Francisco as seen in Hitchcock's Vertigo (1958)...

Although it's not the first notable location in the film, it is the first location that I found on Google Maps and the inspiration for this project. Our first stop, Detective John "Scotty" Ferguson's (James Stewart) apartment:

Click the photo for a pinpoint location on Google Maps.

And here is how it looked in the film. It's cool that Google got almost the exact same angle in their drive-by:

Other Vertigo location websites you might want to check out:
Vertigo... Then and Now
Film in America: Vertigo
Vertigo Movie Tour of San Francisco
Vertigo (a fan's photo tour of SF)

R.I.P. Kurt Vonnegut

2007-04-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

Kurt Vonnegut passed away this past Tuesday night. I just wanted to mention that I wrote a little tribute to him on my personal blog last night, which is named after a science fiction concept he invented in his book The Sirens of Titan.

Check it out here.

Cut 'Em Off At The Past!

2007-04-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't experienced the Firesign Theatre. I recommend you do. They are far-out-edly awesome. They are like if you took a Pink Floyd concept album, took out the music, and made it funny. Firesign Theatre creates an other world of studio-formed hilarity you may never have experienced before. Or maybe you have, and you want to again. And you should. Who wouldn't??

I thoroughly enjoyed side B of 1969's "How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All?" this morning. It was the adventures of Nick Danger, Third Eye! in a private eye caper involving time-travel! How cool is that? :)

Listen to the intro...

...then buy the album! Then sit back and sink into Firesign Theatre!!

The Boy from Out of This World

2007-02-15T08:49:00.000-08:00

User 'By the Author' left a comment on the last blog entry here at gargonterror.com, informing us that there is a documentary in the works about the production of Teenagers From Outer Space called The Boy from Out of This World. I don't know about the rest of you out in Internetland, but we here at gargonterror.com are very excited by this news!

Check out the documentary production blog, which is an awesome resource by itself:
The Boy from Out of This World

Who knew there were diehard TFOS fans out there? Awesome!