NAKED CITY: DVD Update

A couple of years ago I posted about the detective/crime drama NAKED CITY. At the time there were a few "Best of" DVD collections. But now the complete series is out in a boxed set (four seasons on 29 DVDs!).  From the episodes I've sampled so far the image and sound quality is great. amazon has it on sale at $99 which is 44% off retail.

I have nothing to complain about since this is presented in excellent quality and at a decent price. I do wish there had been an effort at some behind the scenes features or a few commentary tracks. Be that at is may, this is an extraordinary chance to get all 138 episodes.

Wellman Audiobooks

As of October 22nd 2013 audible.com will be releasing two audio adaptations of what looks to be the NightShade Books collections of Wellman stories. Volumes 1 & 2 will be THIRD CRY TO LEGBA AND OTHER INVOCATIONS and THE DEVIL IS NOT MOCKED AND OTHER WARNINGS. The producers seem to promise that all five of the NightShade collections will be adapted. Special thanks to Bill Ekhardt for the heads up!

THIRD CRY TO LEGBA is described thus: "This audiobook collects Wellman’s John Thunstone and Lee Corbet stories, written between 1943 and 1979. These stories combine the mystical and horrific with traditional Southern folk tales and legends. These stories also reveal a post-World War II modernism that make them much more then pulp romanticism. The paranoia and cynicism of modern weird icons, such as The X-files, may well have had their genesis in the pulp musings of Manly Wade Wellman. Indeed the intensely driven, idealistic occult investigator, John Thunstone, could be a pulp/noir stand-in for Fox Mulder. ©2000 Frances Wellman (P)2013 Audible, Inc."

And THE DEVIL IS NOT MOCKED as: "Wellman’s work will be remembered, and should be preserved because it combines the dark gothic tradition of the American pulps with a detailed snapshot of regional history and culture. This mixture is shown through the lens of the American modernist tradition, revealing something that is larger than the sum of its parts. Volume two of a five volume set collecting all of Wellman's Appalachian fantasy stories. ©2001 The Estate of Manly Wade Wellman (P)2013 Audible, Inc."

Also available now are GIANTS FROM ETERNITY in the audio collection A GALAXY TRILOGY Vol 3 and an audiobook adaptation of the single Wellman adaptation to THE TWILIGHT ZONE, Still Valley.
This article is re-posted from manlywadewellman.com

The Mill at Calder's End

Whether you've been lucky enough to see it in full at festivals or at least the trailer, you may have been drawn to Kevin McTurk's curious puppet show-turned-short film called THE NARRATIVE OF VICTOR KARLOCH.  The imagery is stark and powerful, the atmosphere electric with fear of the unknown. All of the major visuals and characters brought to life via puppets, practical effects and miniature sets.

Karloch was produced by Heather Henson's Handmade Puppet Dreams project and the Jim Henson Foundation. The film hit the festival circuit and on special occasions had live performances.

If you have been aching to see this supernatural puppet show but hadn't the chance. Soon you will, and even more, you'll be able to help contribute to the next installment of the "Spirit Cabinet" series, of which Karloch is the first.  McTurk is now raising funds for THE MILL AT CALDER'S END. Another Victornian ghost story cut from the clothe of Poe, Lovecraft, Bava and Hammer films.

Artistic contributors to the project include Hellboy's Mike Mignola and B.P.R.D. and The Marquis Guy Davis. Karloch starred the voices of Elijah Wood and Christopher Lloyd while Calder's Mill stars Barbara Steele and Jason Flemyng.

Head over to the kickstarter page to check out more in-depth info on the production!