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¡Ai Caramba! It’s the best movie ever made about a killer Spanish Conquistador from beyond the grave. This is probably the most satisfying of Richard Cunha’s monster romps despite being rudimentary in all respects. The script is dire and the monster just a generic bogeyman, but the actors are pleasant and the locations attractive. The filmmakers had the last laugh anyway, as the plain-wrap show garnered a nationwide theatrical release. The Film Detective wisely brought on Tom Weaver to front the extras, as he had the picture fully documented years ago.

Giant from the Unknown

Blu-ray

The Film Detective

1958 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 78 min. / Street Date January 15, 2021 / Available from The Film Detective / 24.95

Starring: Ed Kemmer, Sally Fraser, Bob Steele, Morris Ankrum, Buddy Baer, Gary Crutcher, Oliver Blake, Jolene Brand, Billy Dix.

Cinematography: Dick Cunha

Makeup: Jack P. Pierce

Original Music: Albert Glasser

Written by Frank Hart Taussig, Ralph Brooke

Produced by Marc Frederick,...

Available in Blu-ray & DVD, the 1958 Science-Fiction Cult Classic Giant From The Unknown Returns in Limited-Edition. Giant Cult Film Collector’s Box Set for the Holidays; General Release Scheduled for Jan. 19th. Check out the Trailer:

The Film Detective (Tfd), a classic media streaming network and film archive that restores and distributes classic films for today’s cord-cutters, announces the release of Richard E. Cunha’s science-fiction classic, Giant from the Unknown(1958),on limited-edition Blu-ray and DVD. The Giant from the Unknownrelease comes as the latest in a series of restorations in collaboration with The Wade Williams Collection.

For the first time ever, Tfd presents film fans with the ultimate cinematic experience, offering Giant from the Unknown in a Limited-Edition Giant Cult Film Box Set, available to order now through Nov. 13 from Tfd store via Imagen, delivered by Dec. 17 in time for the holidays.

Cult classic fans who order the Limited-Edition...

Bert I. Gordon rides again, with an excellent encoding of one of his more popular sci-fi monster-ramas. Pert ‘n’ perky June Kenney is so brave that she keeps going back to ‘that old cave outside of town,’ despite not knowing how many giant spiders are on the loose. Teenagers in their thirties and their bebop-crazy rock ‘n’ roll are no match for Gordon’s titanic, screaming arachnid. This spidey is just plain shifty, the kind of unscrupulous fiend that colors his crayons outside the (matte) lines … in crimson B&w blood! June Kenney’s mom knows her girl only two well: “… I hope she hasn’t gone back to that cave.” With some excellent extras, namely about a million rare behind-the-scenes stills from Tom Weaver.

The Spider

Blu-ray

Scream Factory

1958 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 73 min. / Earth vs. The Spider / Street Date June 23, 2020

Starring: Ed Kemmer, June Kenney, Gene Persson, Gene Roth,...

1964: Another World's Pat murdered Tom Baxter.

1967: Dark Shadows' Barnabas charmed Julia.

1995: Loving's Neil proposed to Kate.

2004: Gh's Jason begged Sam to live after they lost their baby."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1962: Joseph Allen, who played roles in CBS soap operas Love of Life (Miles Pardee) and The Edge of Night, died at age 44.

1964: On Another World, Frank Andrews (Peter Brandon) arrived home and found Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman) standing over the dead body of his roommate, Tom Baxter (Nicholas Pryor).

1965: On Days of our Lives second episode, Marie Horton...

With anticipation building for Angelina Jolie's "Maleficent," due May 30, it's worth noting that the source of her live-action remake, Disney's animated "Sleeping Beauty," marks its 55th anniversary this week. Released on January 29, 1959, the movie was only a modest hit at the time, but over the years, it earned acclaim for its gorgeous wide-screen visuals, its memorable music, and its unforgettable villainess.

It's a movie you probably watched many times as a child, and yet there are still some things you probably don't know about "Sleeping Beauty," including its connections to Bugs Bunny, "The Andy Griffith Show," and the British royal family.

Here's a list of 25 such items you can stack on your spindle -- but be careful to shield your fingertip.

1. "Sleeping Beauty" is adapted from both the Charles Perrault and Brothers Grimm versions of the classic fairy tale. In Perrault, the princess's name is Aurora; in Grimm, it's Briar Rose.

Phyllis Avery, who played the wife of Ray Milland in 75 episodes of the 1953-55 CBS comedy Meet Mr. McNulty, died May 19 of heart failure at her home in Los Angeles. She was 88.

During her 50-year career, the petite blonde had roles in numerous television shows including the CBS soap opera The Clear Horizon as Anne Shelby (1960-1962) where she starred opposite Ed Kemmer (and Denise Alexander).