Ed Wood: His Many Masterpieces

[on:]

I've always been an Ed Wood fan, he got me hooked on cheesy sci-fi movies, he never forgot the little people in his life (which is why so many of them ended up in his movies), and he always took whatever hardships life tossed him with a smile. For those of you who do not know who Ed Wood is, I shall explain:
Ed Wood had always had a fascination with horror movies as a kid. When he grew up, he worked a hard job at a small movie studio just for the atmosphere. He befriended actor Bela Lugosi (the original Dracula), Vampira (the inspiration for Elvira), and many other weirdos and druggies who became his friends and cast members over the years. Every movie he ever made was a bomb but he was always enthusiastic and treated his movies like they were his children. Oh, he was also a hetero-transvesite with a fetish for Angora sweaters.
So, now pick your favorite Ed Wood movie.
And remember, future events such as these will affect you in the future.

[Reply #1 on:]

In my opinion nothing beats Glen or Glenda.  Funny, disturbing, cheesy and charming.  Ed Wood put his all into that role.  It wasn't much, but it was memorable.  Plan 9 is a close second.  That scene with the black car driving down the dirt road, over and over again.  Whenever there was a car scene in the movie it was that one.  In the airplane cockpit set, notice the backdrop is a shower curtain complete with large plastic rings 

Ed Wood rules.

Tim Burton's movie about Wood is one of my favourite all time flicks.  Johnny Depp was excellent as Wood, but Martin Landau as Lugosi stole the show and was full value for his Oscar.

Pull the Strings!

[Reply #2 on:]

This belongs in the TV and movie forum 

[Reply #3 on:]

Well, this was meant to talk about Ed Wood himself and not just the movies but I'm extremely tired, so I understand (hey, at least it's publicity).

Anyway, my vote has to go to Plan 9 From Outer Space. This was a movie with bad acting, bad effects, and a plot that could've worked well with any other director/writer. It is the epiphany of all that is "Ed Wood".
I liked "Bride of the Monster". It was so close to being a good movie and is pretty underrated because of it's director. It's no worse than any other B-movies of the 50's.

[Reply #4 on:]

Plan 9 is the only one I've ever seen, so I would feel bad voting.  But I imagine you won't find many respondents who've actually seen all nine of these films.

[Reply #5 on:]

I've watched a lot of the Ed Wood films on this list, but I've gotta go with Plan 9.  It's just so bad, that it's good.  When they read directly from the script(Ah yes, plan 9...) or the actor that replaced Lugosi after he passed away (keep that cloak up guy...keep it up to your face!).  Just classic, and on top of that, you've got Tor Johnson!  A great movie, especially if you like really bad movies. 

Sometimes, with so many remakes being done today, I'm kinda surprised that no one has tried to remake this film, aka, re-imagining it.  Planet of the Apes, anyone?   

[Reply #6 on:]

Um...there was a remake of Plan 9 but it was uh...Plan 69 From Outer Space. I've never seen it myself but I uh, heard of it.
And yes, Martin Landau's performance in "Ed Wood" was brilliant. The scene where he almost commits suicide is very emotional.

Ed Wood: Come on Bela. Put down the gun and I'll make you a drink. What do you want?
Bela Lugosi: Formaldehyde.
Ed Wood: Will that be on the rocks?
(Bela drops the gun and starts crying and apologizing to Ed)

[Reply #7 on:]

Three of the movies on the list were on MST3K (they also saw another, The Sinister Urge).  From watching that show, I can say Ed Wood is considered the worst director ever because he's well known.  Watch Manos: The Hands of Fate or The Creeping Terror, or the works of Coleman Francis and Ray Dennis Steckler, and you'll wonder what the big deal is about Wood's awfulness.

[Reply #8 on:]

Hate to nit-pick, but The Unearthly was not an Ed Wood film; it just had Tor Johnson in it.

I did a Google search on Ed Wood and appparently someone's made a sequel to Plan 9: "Brian Robbers From Outer Space."  I'd shudder, but I did an (intentionally) bad animated film in Grade 11 called Plan 9 3/4 From Outer Space using Army Men.

Gotta love Burton's Ed Wood, the only movie that makes you want to go out and see some of the worst films of all time.

[Reply #9 on:]

Yeah, but there were rumors Ed Wood had involvement in "The Unearthly". There were just too many things in that movie that were Wood-esque and it seems a pretty weird coincindence that Tor Johnson character was named "Lobo". People say Ed Wood put a few things in, plus I needed some more options. Lots of Ed Wood's movies (especially his later ones) were porn flicks and I wanted to put most of his attempts at mainstream cinema on the poll.
And I bought Plan 9 From Outer Space on DVD for seven bucks. The movie is hilarious and has interviews with cast members of Burton's Ed Wood and actual friends of Wood (Depp, Landau, the real Vampira, etc.). I consider seven bucks for it a good buy.

[Reply #10 on:]

SEVEN BUCKS?  It's $35-40 everytime I've seen it!  You lucky bastid.  Is it the disc that also has the documentary Flying Saucers Over Hollywood?

[Reply #11 on:]

No, I've never seen Flying Saucers Over Hollywood. I bought it at a local electronics store last halloween (they had tons of old cheesy sci-fi movies for sale on DVD and VHS). The cheapest I've seen it for on the web is 10 dollars at Amazon.com.

[Reply #12 on:]

Wow...Someone mentioned Steckler. That's awesome.  Rat Fink A Boo-Boo!!!