Films - The Canned Film Festival

Back in the 80s there was a show called the "Cannedmovie walking around with his cape in front of his face.
Film Festival". The concept was simple. Show a film soWatch this and "Robot Monster" the same night. You'll
bad that people would enjoy watching it. This idea wasbe laughing until bed time.Looking for more laughs?
later expanded to "Mystery Science Theater" whereThere's always "Bride Of The Monster" starring Bela
not only the films were shown but dialogue andLugosi before he died. Of course, watching this movie
comments added to them which made the viewingyou'd never know it. The plot is pretty simple Dr.
even more hilarious. The original concept didn't last long.Varnoff, played by Lugosi, captures twelve men for
As a matter of fact, you could only see the "Cannedthis experiment which involves turning them into
Film Festival" in the summer of 1986. But it was longsupermen using atomic energy. Well, a newspaper
enough to see some of the worst movies everwoman by the name of Loretta King, played by Janet
made.Like what?Let's start off with the laughableLawton, gets too nosey for her own good and falls
"Robot Monster" said to be THE worst movie everinto the evil clutches of Varnoff. For the laughs, there's
made right up there with another one that we'll reviewan octopus that in the end is strangling Varnoff. The
later. This movie is about an invasion from the Moon. Aproblem with the scene is that it is obvious that Lugosi
monster is sent to the Earth as an advance scoutinghimself is actually wrapping the arms around himself.
party for the invasion. The monster is a gorilla in whatThen, if that isn't enough, as the good people escape,
looks like a Diver Dan diving suit by the name ofthere is an atomic explosion and mushroom cloud no
Ro-Man. At one part of the movie when it appearsmore than a few hundred yards away from them and
that Ro-Man is starting to have feelings for the Earthyet they are not even touched by it. Just too funny for
girl, the leader from the moon asks him "Are you awords.The Canned Film Festival gave us many
ro-man or a hu-man?" Seeing this movie will leave youmoments like these. And though the series itself only
in stitches for hours. One of the most unintentionallylasted that one summer, it made others realize that
funny science fictions of all time.Then of course therethere was a market for really bad movies, a market
was the cult classic "Plan 9 From Outer Space" whichthat would suck in those who just couldn't get enough
was about invaders from another planet hatching theirof them. Mystery Science Theater picked up where
"Plan 9" to infiltrate the government by sendingthe festival left off. And while it was okay, it never
zombies into it. Bela Lugosi died after just two days ofreally gave us what the original gave us. And for that
production and the man they got to replace him was awe will always be grateful.
head taller, looked nothing like him and spent the whole