Here’s one for fans of 1950s sci-fi films. Influenced everyone from Roky Erickson to George Romero.

This time around: Brain transplants. I skipped the comedies for now. The article is long enough as it is. I still missed a couple though.

Here’s a freebie on my Substack. If you have a Roku box, the 1962 film is available now on their Classic Reels channel. open.substack.com/pub/jimmorto...

Okay, let’s try that again. Three movies about the three biggest bands at the time. The movies are as different from each over as they can be. Link in comments.

If Douglas Adams wrote a history of Germany, you might get something like this. The audiobook version is particularly good thanks to an excellent narrator. Available on Hoopla.

My landlady likes to give me food. I’m very grateful for this, but I’m clearly falling behind in my bean consumption.

I had intended to put this one behind the pay wall, but I screwed up. Oh well. Enjoy everyone!

My article on German juvenile delinquent films is up on Substack. jimmorton.substack.com/p/juvenile-d...

I'm finally firing up my Substack. Thanks to those of you who have already subscribed. I'll be posting a mix of free and subscription stuff every week, so there should be something for everyone. The articles that required the most work will be available only to paid subscribers.

😂🤣😂

Here are my most recent books. One is a novelization of a science fiction film, and the other is a mystery written in the style of a 1950s mystery Think Erle Stanley Garner or Frederic Brown). You can buy them on Amazon, but they also have copies at Café Suspiro in San Francisco (1246 Folsom St).

Could “Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard” be considered an oxymoron? 😜

I understand @stephenking.bsky.social said that in 20 to 30 years, many people will deny they voted for Trump. It won’t take that long. When I was hitchhiking across the country in 1975-76, I asked people everywhere if they voted for Nixon. Not a single person admitted they did.

I, for one, will be glad to see this thing go. Some attempts at public art and architecture look awful at first, but eventually grow on people. It worked fine when the freeway was still there because it matched the ugliness of that structure, but now it's just an eyesore.

Targeting journalists + protestors filming for social media is not an accident. Fascists are doing all they can to intimidate and suppress any and all critical or oppositional media.

Before I get too excited about the Musk/Trump breakup, I remember that the WWE is an important part of Trump’s success. He’s just using that format. I wouldn’t be surprised if a cage match comes next.

Note to anyone planning to do an audiobook narration of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: First, learn how “victuals” pronounced.

I was clicking though the movie list on Amazon, when I came across this. Colorized? The film was shot in Technicolor! What the hell does that mean?

Following up my 20 comic books, here's one that doesn't fall neatly into any category. One of my very favorite books by one of my very favorite cartoonists.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Last but not least…

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 19.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 18.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 17.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 16.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 15.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 14.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 13.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 12.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 11.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 10.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 9.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 8.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 7.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 6.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 5.

20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 4.

Here are 20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 3.

Here are 20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 2.

Here are 20 comics that have stayed with me or influenced me—one comic per day for 20 days, in no particular order. There are no explanations, no reviews, just covers. Starting with…

While it’s no masterpiece, The Ezzera & Gore-Girl Horror Anthology was more entertaining than I expected. Sure, it’s cheaply made and the acting is weak, but, unlike most of these straight-to-streaming videos, it managed to keep me entertained. On Tubi.

I saw SORCERER when it came out. I thought it was great. Unfortunately, too many critics shot it down, seeing it as a remake of WAGES OF FEAR. It’s more of a reimagining. Now it’s considered a classic. Great soundtrack too. youtu.be/d6khax1ZHMk?...

LADYBUG LADYBUG is a 1963 film that is less about the Cold War than the effect of keeping everyone in a state a fear, making it very relevant today. Available on YouTube. youtu.be/Or4BVyzR8Ww?...

So many people are heaping hate on EMILIA PÉREZ that I almost wish I could defend it. But I can’t. If you want to see a movie that tackles trans issues with intelligence, watch I SAW THE TV GLOW instead.

RED ROOMS is on Shudder. No jump scares, no gore, and no onscreen kills, and yet it still manages to be creepy as hell.

I watched SISSY last night, not expecting much, so I was surprised that it’s a darkly funny little horror film about a Gen-Z hen party gone wrong. There’s one kill in this film that made me go Whoa! Rewind!

Last night’s movie: TOMORROW AT TEN, the story of a manhunt for a kidnapped child who is locked in a room with a bomb. A very good thriller that is not well known—probably because of its use of a golliwog doll. On Tubi.

“I used to think of politics as essentially driven by rationality. Now I recognize that the processes of the human mind are much more emotional and complicated. It feels as though the era of the Enlightenment has ended; we are back in a time of superstition and conspiracy theories.” – Robert Harris

Within, stood a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck of colour.… The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth …

I enjoyed HERETIC. Although Mormons are at the center of the story, it’s a good examination of all monotheistic religions. Some clever references here that are easy to miss.