RAB'S REVIEWS

Hello and welcome si-fier to another Rab's Reviews. A friend 'lent' me an old Bush Black and White Console Cabinet Television Model TUG 12.

He said, "Why not enter into the mood of things, and watch the movie on this old Bush black and white console t.v. add some authenticity as you review the show, so as a little tribute to si-fiers long ago, this I did.

I must say this old Black and White Bush t.v. took a 'wee' while to warm up, just like the film, but well worth the effort, for there are many rewards to be gleaned from this movie, as only the committed si-fier will know.....

A young Amreican couple are cuddling each other in a convertible in a layby, to the sound of some great 'Do-Wap' music, some chilling orchestral music builds, a heart rendering scream is heard,the picture fades, and the titles roll.....

Welcome Si-Fier to another adventure in Black and White land, a compendium of emotions awaits you under the guise of.....

BEGINNING OF THE END 1957 si-fi Movie.

Just trying to comprehend, the comprehensibility of this incomprehensible title, has me writhing on the floor blowing bubbles from the side of my mouth.

Two Policemen in car 254 are patrolling the area, the scenery in the background is moving but car 254 is not, (this is an illusory ploy by the film makers which has fooled me again and again, look out for it throughout the movie) They pull over to where the young couple had been, and find their convertible a torn, tangled, wreckage, (no sign of the couple). One officier suspects foul play. The driver of the vehicle was a Mr William Summerfield, (Ludlow address). Investigators arrive and find a 'girls sweater'. Car 254 is sent to Ludlow to locate Mr Summerfields house, and reports back.."The whole town of Ludlow has been destroyed", "send help lots of help quick"....(screeching ghoulish music is played...oooeeerrr)

Cut to a new scene and a beautiful young woman driving along the countryside in her convertible (so real), approaches a road block, soldiers with automatic weapons draw near, she is told she can't pass and to follow the arrows. She pulls over gets out of the car, taking her camera, she tries to persuade one of the gaurds to let her through and is told, "the old man says no one is to get through, no one is what the old man said". So she drives away, stops gets out of her car, climbs some hills, and takes a picture, (you will love the sight of this old American flash camera, usually carried by people from the press), but a soldier quickly snatches the camera out of her hand saying "no pictures allowed mame". She goes to the Commanding officier, and sees Captain Bartlett. We find out that this is no other than Miss Audrey Aims, who covered the Korean war and has written a book, and she now works for the National Wire Service, and gives her word she won't publish anything, and is told "last night a town with a population of 150 people was completely destroyed, vanished, no bodies, no nothing." "150 people just don't vanish into thin air," says Audery. Captain Bartlett asks, "we're still trying to find out what happened, would you like to 'sit-in' Miss Aims.

A witness comes into the office and is questioned about the overnight events in Ludlow, and asked if he noticed anything strange about the town or people, anything unusal. He replies he heard something like thunder, and about midnight a plane went overhead. Thats all Dave has to offer, but a very 'Droll' telephone operator is questioned and is very helpfull. Audrey is introduced to Colonel Sturgeon he remarks, "I've read alot of your stuff and seen alot of your photographs". The Colonel is going to Ludlow, Audrey wants to go with him, but is not allowed, she also wants her camera back, and (just to keep us all in suspence) says "there has to be a logical explanation for all this, a town with 150 people doesn't just dissapear." Captain Bartlett says, "this one did."

(Good things come to those who wait...) At this point I thought there isn't much happening, but just when I was about to give up, one of the most imaginative, contrivances ever to be conceived by Man takes place...I refer to The in car telephone call, (Hands free it's not) I will say very little about the telephone call Audery makes from her convertable, a person to person call to Norman Taggart. What you will witness here you will tell your children about, and I have come to the conclusion that 'the great british telephone box', was invented after someone had watched this 'acting'. Note how Mr Taggart is a very fast writer as his pencil speeds across the paper. Audrey drives back to the road block outside Ludlow looking for her camera. Norman phones back and tells her, "the only people who have been playing around with radioactive materials are the U.S. dept of Agriculture, an experimental project in illinois Experimental Station. Audrey heads out to the Station in her 'American Convertible with white walled tyres', she goes into a greenhouse, there are some intresting yet suspicious looking potted plants.Wait till you see the size of these beauties, "you'll think you are watching Irwin Allen's Land Of The Giants." she tries to talk to a deaf mute, (Frank) a radition accident has left him in this condition. She meets the project director a Mr Wain Wright, explaining she's trying to find out what happened in Ludlow, and how she thinks radition might have something to do with it. Wain doesn't think so, as the radition isotopes he uses isn't explosive, "your answer isn't here," he says. So Audery checks out the giant strawberries, Wain comments, "this is the future for the American farmer, and all farmers everywhere," but there's a bit of a problem, you can't eat them. Audrey asks"how do they get so big," Wain explains "Radition causes photosynthesis which makes the growing process to continue night and day, acting like an artificial Sun that never sets."

So it's back into the 'non-movable-white-walled-convertible' and back to illinois national grand H.Q. Audrey meets the Colonel who will not let her go to Ludlow, but he soon gives-in to her questioning, and makes Bartlett drive her to Ludlow....adding, "I hope you have a strong Stomach." Eventually Audrey and the audience get to see Ludlow, and it looks like the 'Left-Overs' from a Tsunami, Audrey takes photographs as they drive through the town, (quite a large town for 150 people and the roads are uneffected) but the 'unmovable-convertible' can go anywhere. Audrey recalls the different wars she has covered as a photographer. Bartlett says, "you must be used to it by now," Audrey replies, "Captain some things you never get used to."

Audrey returns to Wain's giant fruit stall, and asks him to take her to the warehouse that was destroyed 3 months ago. So of they go all three, Audrey, Frank (the deaf mute), and Wain, (in the 'horizontal-convertible-telephone-box). I really love these 'Driving along the road scenes', and I do hope the si-fier is convinced that the convertible is actually moving. Audrey informs the occupants that she was born inquisitive and Inherited her 'photography' from her Father. Wain tells her he's always been a scientist, (everyone in this film has read one of Audrey's articles at some point in their lives including Wain!!!) They arrive at the warehouse, which is a mass of wreckage strewn everywhere, (Wain puts fourth a well scienced statement) "some force pushed these walls out from the inside." The deaf mute beckons them over and they discover that the ground is completely barron, they chat abit about jobs and work. Audrey wants to get some shots and goes for her camera.

A strange noise is heard......at last!!!! the audience get to see some 'state of the art' "Kinematography" and a strange creature appears from behind some corrugated-iron.

WOW !!!!....It's a Giant Locust...Yes ! Si-Fi enthusiasts this is a Giant Insect Movie, (I held out on you as not to spoil it for you), just look at the 'Kinematics' of this creature, this makes the movie very special indeed, in that they are not only giant grasshoppers, but they are the type that are 'sort-of-see-through', looking somewhat out of place, Im sure that the cinemas of yesteryear 'rang-out' with screams of terrified people. The Giant locust has taken Frank (deaf mute) by surprise, poor Frank tries to scream, but being a deaf mute he can't. Audrey sees what has happened and tells Wain, "Franks gone you can't save him," (a fine piece of acting Frank) Audrey and Wain get into the car and speed off.

Back at H.Q. Wain has an explanation for all the events thats happened he tells Tom, "locusts giant locusts," "Giant locusts are responsible for all this, 8 feet tall vicious merciless killers, some locusts must have gotten into the greenhouse, and ate some of the giant food, and became giant locusts, each one has the strength of ten men." So Tom takes Wain back, with a truck load of fully armed soldiers to see if the giant grasshoppers are still there. The soldiers dismount and 'fan-out' around the wreckage, and Wain shows Tom the 'spot'. No body is found so they go into the woods. (the orchestration is becoming very tense now, and the 'trenchant' si-fi observer will instinctively know something is about to happen, I wonder what it will be?) One of the soldiers says to his mate, "maybe we could train one of these giant 'what's-it's'to pull a plough." (more operatic music, strumming, thrumming, and vamping, danger must surely be nigh!) Sure enough some high pitched grasshopper noises are heard, and everyone is listening intently wondering what it is making all the noise, sure enough a Giant locust appears. (this is intoxication frame by frame, this is the stuff 'tantrums' are made of) the soldiers 'let-loose' with all the 'firepower' they have, and make a retreat. The hoppers are in hot persuit and one or two of the soldiers 'buy-it'. Hope is not lost, what looks like a Gatling Gun is mounted on the back of the truck, and a soldier 'lets-rip' at the Giant Insectile Creatures, but all this 'fire-power' has absolutely no effect on the Giant Cicada, so the soldiers make their escape in the Army truck. Every available man is needed, plus air-support to Bomb 'them' out of the forest, 3 infantry units deployed in 3 hours for 100 locusts, Wain says "It's not enough." Wain and Audrey deside to go to Washington to see some 'Top-Brass', Wain delivers the hard facts to Audrey, "we've got to convince them Audrey," "we may be witnessing the beginning of an era that'll mean the complete annihilation of man." Audrey says "Annihilation." Wain says "Annihilation......THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

We are in Washington now, and Wain is making a presentation, along with a film show to all the 'top-brass' and congress, saying "If a tiny locust can do all this damage, imagine what a locust as big as a man can do, and growing bigger," "we haven't much time." The Congress believe that the illionis national gaurd can handle the situation, but an unexpected telephone call from Ludlow changes everything, when the news that the grasshoppers have broken through the National Gaurd Line. The 'Top-Brass' make their appologies.

The General and Wain are sitting in an Aeroplane bound for Paxton Ludlow, they are discussing plans, the voice from the radio informs the General, they can't land in Paxton, and tell the General that the giant locusts have 'Over-Run' Paxton at 1400 Hrs. (look out for the antediluvian 'Bakelite' radio, they don't make them like that anymore) so next stop has to be Chicago. The General recieves a tele-message from General John Short to.....DEFEND CHICAGO AT ALL COSTS.....Refugees are pouring into Chicago now, food is running low, meanwhile thousands of troops are being deployed.

Back at the Lab Wain is studying locust behaviour, and has come up with the idea of shipping 2000 gallons of posion to the front-line, but a telephone call informs Wain, that the last batch of posion didn't even slow the locusts down, he tells his colleagues, "the stuffs no good forget it."

Many towns and cities have already been destroyed. Some 'Doom-watching' music is playing.....Ahhh the hopelessness of it all, with the probability of complete and utter destruction,....(this is the best black and white music I have ever heard) and to 'top' it all, there's a newspaper on the desk with the Headlines, 'CHICAGO NEXT.' Audrey arrivies and lighten things up a bit by telling Wain, "you're doing everything you can," but Wain has sunk to unimaginable depths and replies, "the time will come when the beasts shall inherit the Earth."

The scenario changes, we see a battlefield, hundreds of military tanks, foot soldiers, all manner of vehicles along with the best fire-power America can 'muster-up', rumbling across a plain somewhere in Chicago, looking for locusts. A background news report tells us that General Hanson is confident he can keep the 'meanace' at bay, the air force, and marines are moving in, back-up for the Army. (every man and his dog.) The viewer will witness this report on a wonderful television set that your Granny might have watched. (look out for this scene, check out the legs on the t.v. stand....best ever.) The reporter informs us, that before the locusts attack, they let out a high pitched 'screech' and when the 'screech' reaches it's maxium they attack. Back at H.Q. officies all is going to plan, suddenly the noise from 1000 locusts are heard. In the streets outside multitudes of people are running around like 'headless chickens' panic has taken grip of Chicago. Meanwhile the army has set up a 'front' with soldiers, tanks, and Artillery as the locusts appear, an officier shouts, "hold your fire men," as the locusts draw near. Suddenly all hell breaks loose, handguns, atomatics, tank shells, flame throwers, and (did I mention Bazookas) 'let-rip.' These are great Scenographical images, "this is what the cinema ticket holder long ago came to see." As I watch I think Realistically this could be happening anywhere in the World, especially when I see a sky filled with choppers, these are the best Helicopters I have ever saw in my life. Do you remember a television programme called "Whirlybirds" (if you haven't seen at least 1 episode, make it your business to do so) boy!!! this takes me back to my youth.

So the locusts breach all the might of the American front line. The reporter announces, "that the giant locusts have reached Chicago southside." There is total intimidation, along with a state of terror, stampedes, and palpitating pandemonium in the streets, all the major roads are blocked with cars full of fleeing Americans, while a voice from a 'tannoy' announcement is heard, "Do not Panic!," "Do not Panic!," The locusts have entered well into the city now, chasing people, and climbimg skyscrapers.

We focus on a beautiful young lady inside one of the skyscrapers, wearing nothing but a bath towel, she is gently brushing her hair, and in the window behind her, the terrifying head of a giant locust appears, the window is broken, and the lady turns around and screams. (Method acting takes over.....see as the woman turns, both her hands lift the table and overturn it for effect, it really can't get any better than this. I imagine long winter hours spent alone, in deep thought and mediation, treading back and fourth, chiselling away at her very soul and heart to manufacture and decipher for us this moment of 'ballet' and bring it to boards of theatreland......may I say thankyou, thankyou so much dear lady, I will never forget this piece of acting.)

At H.Q. officies Audrey and Wain enter and meet the General who informs them that the locusts have stopped their advance, Wain informs the General, "when the temperature drops to 68' the locusts just stop moving, and when the sun comes out they'll be active again." The General tells Wain "there's a B52 bomber ready with an Atom bomb aboard." Wain says, "you can't drop an Atomic bomb on Chicago," General speaks, "but Washington has given permission to do just that, so the city has to be evacuated, we drop at dawn." Audrey suggests that the 'Early Settlers' drove the locusts into the lake. This gives Wain an Idea, "we can't drive them, but we could attract them, if we could reproduce their call it might work General," Wain continues, "have you ever been duck hunting General," The General thinks for a minute, then says, "the duck call." Now the General is convinced, he asks Wain, "What do you need." Wain tells the General "I need an 'Osio ossicillator', 2 audio amplifiers, the most powerfull you can get, an ossicillope, and some high frequency radio equipment, and a boat." The General responds, "what ever you need we'll get," Wain suggests, "well there's one thing I have to get my-self, something that will tell me I've succeeded," "Whats that?" says the General. Wain tells him, "A live giant Grasshopper."

So the plan to lure the Grasshoppers, is put into action. Troops are employed "hither and thither." Wain and the General enter into an alleyway, (menacing music is playing, Wain accidently kicks and empty tin can, which makes me jump,) we hera some 'hopper' noises and a giant locust rises out of the basement in front of them. Wain and the General 'Don' gassmasks, and deploy some gass bombs at the 'see-through' locust. (great 'super-duper' effects) Wain runs out of the alley, blows a whistle and shouts, "come on men, we've got one in here," and lots of troops run into the alley.

Back at Washington H.Q. they have a giant locust captured and put in a glass case for observation, Wain and Audrey are experimenting on the locust, trying to find the right 'sound' that will lure the creatures, "the polygraph will record the reactions," says Wain. An assistant asks, "How does it work?" (Dear si-fier always pay attention to a question like this, they crop up quite often in these old movies, for the answer to these questions will enhance and enlighten your knowledge of the universe, it will also give you an insight in the 'Psyche' of the writer) Wain replies, "I just attach the wires of the polygraph, to the two copper strips at the base of the cage, the locusts like every other living thing has, galvanic reflexes or electrical charges in direct ratio to it's activity or emotional stimulation." Audery says, "I don't understand." (tut-tut) Wain explains again and Audrey says, "It's like a lie detector test isn't it." (best line in the movie) also listen out for the noise the lie detector makes, (I really enjoyed that), the Colonel walks in and tells Wain, "you've had your chance, it's the Air-force's turn," and calls General Wagner at the air base. Wain returns to his experimentation, but there may be no time left, the Bomb drops in 90 minutes. Audrey won't leave Wain, she wants to stay with him even though an A-Bomb is gonna drop soon. The Colonel tells Wain, "there's a get-a-way car waiting outside, and if he's sucessful to contact him right away so he can stop the bomb. The streets of Chicago are desolate now, evacuated, and back at the experimental lab Wain and Audrey are hard at work, (the clock on the wall reminds us there is not much time left).

Suddenly they 'hit' the right 'frequency' and the 'needles' on the polygraph machine 'run amok', just as this happens the locust breaks out of it's glass cage, and devours an assistant, Wain 'lets-loose' with a sub-machine gun, and the 'hopper' becomes 'hopper-stew'. They have found the right frequency now, and Colonel Hanson has to be informed, for it is only Colonel Hanson who can STOP the A-Bomb. (there are some great aerial shots of a B-52 bomber being diverted from it's flight path...Phew!!!) Colonel Hanson radios Wain and tells him, "the show is all yours Wain wright, get the equipment into the boat on the lake, and I'll be your 'Pied Piper'." (look out for this 'mind-boggling' scene a speed boat, speeding across a lake, there is something 'Pseudo' about it. In fact this is 'Pseudoblepsis' at it's very best, indeed this film is a film based on Pseudoblepsis, and untill one watches, the boat speeding across the lake the 'word' 'Pseudoblepsis' will mean nothing to you.) The temperature is rising and the locusts are starting to move, a helicopter is tracking their movements, meanwhile the General is on board the boat on the lake as the Grasshoppers invade the city.

A high pitched frequency is sounded from the top of a skyscraper over all the city to attract the grasshoppers. The emergency lab is now completely surrounded by locusts, a poor soldier on the roof doesn't see the giant locust behind him and 'buys-it'. There are some excellent scenes of the locusts climbing up the skyscrapers, (very unsettling), but if you look closely enough dear si-fier, you might detect that it is grasshoppers just walking across photographs of skyscrapers, (this is the stuff 'Pseudoblepsis' is made from). Wain has to hold-out a while longer because all the locusts have not reached the downtown area yet, the all clear is given, and Colonel Hanson, who is out on the lake, turns on his Amplifier to lure the locusts into the lake, meanwhile a 'running-battle' is taking place at H.Q. lab. (some good scenes as the grasshoppers are being shot of the skyscrapers) The locusts begin to retreat towards the noise from the boat, and as the locusts enter into the water they die.

Wain takes Audrey into his arms and hugs her, (romantic, loving music is playing in the background) they don't even kiss,.....Ahhh!!...the age of innocence....it's all over.

 

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY.........JACK MARTA

MUSIC COMPOSED AND CONDUCTED BY.........ALBERT GLASSER

SPECIAL TECHNICAL EFFECTS........BERT I GORDON

SOUND EFFECTS MEN.....................DOUGLAS STEWART / GEORGE J EPPICH

SCREEN PLAY..................................FRED FREIBERGER / LESTER GORN

PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY........BERT I GORDON.

To the people I have listed above and many others involved in the making of..

"THE BEGINNING OF THE END", I say this, From the infinite boundaries of the universe, there was a time allotted, where each individual would be brought together......the result,

A transcendant Movie. nay! nay!..Sovereignty reigns supreme in this supernormal production, to delight audiences for years to come.....a big Thank-you to all....

Done