Sunday, March 28, 2010

A Special Salute To Robert Culp's Sci-Fi Roles!





Robert Culp's Superb Sci-Fi Roles!

by

Dr.Franklin Ruehl,Ph.D.



While the late actor Robert Culp is being remembered for his TV series(such as "I Spy") as well as his films (such as "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice"), I would offer special commendation for his trio of outstanding sci-fi parts on the original "Outer Limits" TV series.

Specifically, in "Demon With A Glass Hand"(1964), he ably portrayed an anguished time traveller from earth's future who learned to his dismay that he was merely an android who was embedded with the DNA of all earthlings from 100 years in the future, protectng them from a plague designed to destroy alien invaders.

In "Corpus Earthling"(1963), he was ideal as a physician bedeviled by the fact that was the only human attuned to the presence of invisible parasitic alien invaders!

And,in "Architects of Fear"(1963), he was outstanding as a conflicted scientist who agreed to be transmogrified into an alien in a failed attempt to unite the peoples of the world!

For me, as a staunch sci-fi buff, these roles mark the high points of Culp's career!

May the Power of the Cosmos be with You!

Dr.Franklin Ruehl,Ph.D.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Intriguing Trivia Re The Late Actors Fess Parker & Peter Graves





Intriguing Trivia on the late Fess Parker & Peter Graves

By Dr.Franklin Ruehl,Ph.D.

Host of TV’s “Mysteries From Beyond the Other Dominion"

-Fess Parker: TV's "Davy Crockett" and "Daniel Boone" had a memorable cameo in "Them"(1954) as a bush pilot (Alan Crotty) confined to a cell to keep him mum about having seen colossal flying ants.
Disney execs viewed the film with an eye toward casting James Arness(an FBI agent in the film) as Davy Crockett, but were so impressed with Parker’s role that he was given the part that brought him both fame and fortune.



-Peter Graves: Probably best known for his "Mission: Impossible" TV role (1966-72), he essayed the parts of a scientist who made radio contact with Martians in "Red Planet Mars"(1952), locked horns with alien invaders in "Killers From Space"(1954), opposed a Venusian monster in "It Conquered The World"(1956), and destroyed gargantuan grasshoppers in "Beginning of the End"(1957).


And,here is my special tribute to the late actor Peter Graves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIVtgwNE8iI


May the Power of the Cosmos be with You!

Dr.Franklin Ruehl,Ph.D.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

2010: A Most Lamentable Oscars Ceremony!








Outrageous! Reprehensible! Unconscionable! These are some of the adjectives that I would apply to the 2010 Oscars for failing to pay homage to Farrah Fawcett and other entertainment notables who died during the past year, such as Richard Todd, Gene Barry, and Soupy Sales.

The Academy's lame excuse was that it was limited to 30 such mentions in its "In Memoriam" segment. But, why should any such limit be applied? In any given year, there may well be more than 30, and all deserve one final acknowledgment. T here is no logic behind such an arbitrary fixed number.

And, their other pathetic alibi that there was not ample time is absurd, considering how much time was wasted on frivolities. The Oscar programs tend to run over time every year, and this tribute segment, is, in my humble opinion, one of the most significant aspects of the show, paying final recognition to one’s contributions to the industry. After all, if they could devote several minutes on a tribute to one individual (John Hughes), then they could certainly expend a few extra seconds on a number of others!

Moreover, I was outraged at the abrupt end Tom Hanks gave to the ceremony, announcing the Best Picture winner as nothing more than an afterthought to the Best Director award. While only 2 films("Avatar" and Hurt Locker") were apparently in contention, all 10 candidates should have received acknowledgment, with a certain degree of drama being introduced before the announcement was made. This was undoubtedly the very worst Best Picture presentation in the history of the Academy Awards! And, the feeble justification that time was running out again simply does not wash!

Furthermore, while I was delighted to see a tribute to the horror genre, which I am a staunch fan of, I was disappointed that only short shrift was accorded to the classics(such as “Dracula” and “Frankenstein”) in contrast to the time devoted to more contemporary entries. And, I felt that Vincent Price, considering his extensive contributions to this field, should have been cited in some context here!

May the Power of the Cosmos be with You!

Dr.Franklin Ruehl,Ph.D.

Host of cable TV’s “Mysteries From Beyond the Other Dominion”