Hammer Time at the House of Franklin-Stein! Chris and Cindy discuss the 1966 film The Reptile! A mysterious black death plagues the residents of a small Cornish village. What kind of creature could be behind it, and who will save the day? Why, none other than Hammer’s greatest supporting player, Michael Ripper!
Then they slither to the comic crypt to check out Spider-Man’s first encounter with Dr. Curt Connor’s reptilian alter-ego, the Lizard from Amazing Spider-Man #6 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko!
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Clip credits:
The Reptile (1966) directed by John Gilling
Spider-Man (1967) animated series theme composed by Paul Francis Webster and Bob Harris, sung by the Billy Van Singers and the Laurie Bower Singers.
Incidental music from Spider-Man (1967) by Ray Ellis
“The House of Franklinstein” by Terry O’Malley, of Stop Calling Me Frank https://www.facebook.com/rockSCMF
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I have a soft spot for THE REPTILE. Hammer didn’t really do *that* many full on monsters, and even though the make-ups are a little dodgy, they’re weird and creepy enough to make it work. Like HORROR EXPRESS, thanks for covering a more obscure title.
And Chris, love your plot idea for a Lizard/Kraven SPIDER-MAN movie! I think that would have worked really well and been timely subject matter. Dylan Baker is an awesome actor, it’s a real shame we didn’t get to see him more in the series. When they finally got to The Lizard, IMO he was too big and monster-y and didn’t have any of that humanity the character had. It was just a big digital effect, ho hum.
On a separate note, I’ve really been enjoying Cindy as Tala. I might need to ask Kelley if she’s willing to try the accent.
Always happy to cover a Hammer film, even without Lee and Cushing! The Hammer films are just like a cozy blanket, or mac n’ cheese for me.
Dylan Baker is also really great in Trick R’ Treat. I’d love to cover that one sometime, but I haven’t cracked the code of covering an anthology in HoF style yet. Maybe someday.
To be honest, I kind of like Cindy’s Tala voice myself!
We are looking at watching the Hammer films after we finish w/ the Universal Monster movies. We just finished She-Wolf of London and have a handful to go.
As someone whose academic training was in theology (Master’s degree only; no PhD), the idea of a theologian/Doctor of Divinity being a main character is very interesting. The scene where Dr. Franklyn explains that he’s not an MD reminded me of a funny story.
A pastor had been awarded an honorary doctorate from a local university. And some parishioners and other folks in town started referring to him as “Doctor Wilson”. One day, the phone rang at the pastor’s home and his young daughter answered the phone.
“Is Dr. Wilson home?” a voice said. “I was wondering if he could help me.”
“He isn’t here right now,” the girl said, “but there is something you should probably know. He isn’t the kind of doctor who will do you any good!”
My wife and I enjoy British mystery/detective shows and we watch one each Sunday night. I like to play a game of “Find the Doctor Who actor” during these episodes. It sounds as if the Hammer films would also be fertile ground for that.
She-Wolf of London? Hoo, that’s a rough one. It defintely does NOT deliver the film you’re expecting.
So don’t call Dr. Wilson if a snake/human hybrid is loose and infecting people with their venom? Good to know!
The Doctor Who/Hammer vin diagram is two circles almost exactly overtop one another. SO much crossover there! If it were a drinking game you’d be snookered after one Hammer box set!
Chris, if you don’t mind me asking, do you pre-screen the movies before Cindy watches them? Do you watch these types of movies when you aren’t prepping for House of Franklinstein? I agree with her that you can do whatever you want to people but leave the dogs alone.
I’ve never seen The Reptile. I saw Rasputin on TV a couple of times back in the 80s, so I would think that The Reptile would have been part of the same syndication package. The Reptile doesn’t seem to be streaming anywhere that I could find. For some unknown reason, I got recommended the Notebook. It makes me wonder what my dog is watching when I’m not home. Maybe she knows how to work the remote and isn’t telling me.
The Lizard has always been one of my favorite Spider-Man villains, probably because I had his mego and he was in my first Spider-Man treasury. Even though it was before I was born, the Stan Lee/Steve Ditko run on Spider-Man is still my favorite Marvel run of all time. I was introduced to it in those shrunken down Pocket Book paperbacks…not the best way to experience it. When Marvel Tales was reprinting the Lee/Ditko run and Stern and Romita Jr. were on Spider-man…well, that was a great time to be a Spider-Man fan.
I own Tala’s first appearance. She really didn’t seem so slutty back then.
Cindy has at least partially seen every movie we cover…except for Dr. Phibes, which she famously hated. I watch them year round, and she sometimes watches them with me, sometimes is just in the room and kinda watching.
The Reptile is NOT streaming anywhere, which is a shame and just proves that the promise of streaming is a lot of bunk. I had to buy the Blu-Ray. I thought I had the film in a Hammer box set, but I did not. I think I got The Notebook recommended to me as well!
The early 80s were definitely a Golden Age for Spidey, between the monthly reprints of Lee/Ditko/Romita, and the Stern/Romita Jr/DeFalco/Frenz run!
Our portrayal of Tala is a spoof on her character in Justice League Unlimited, where she bounced from Grodd, to Lex, to the Flash (kinda) to Grodd again. Thanks again to our favorite Isamu Hideakai Yukinori for suggesting we bring her into the HoF cast!
Sorry. I meant 70s comics Tala wasn’t as slutty as JLU Tala. I knew y’all were referencing JLU Tala. Hey, I’m nerdy. I watched JLU…and listened to your podcast, too.
I figured you knew, I was kind of clarifying for folks in general in case they weren’t aware of Tala, or her portrayal on JLU. Which we turned into a running gag. Which will culminate in the next episode!
Oh, man. When you guys mentioned the kitten in your synopsis, my first thought was: “Oh, no…” So glad the kitty made it through (I’m with Cindy about the kids ‘n’ pets rule).
Otherwise, though, I’d never even heard of the film, but I really like the idea of it; I agree with you that the Reptile should be revisited – it’s a rock-solid horror monster concept.
I particularly liked the comic you covered this time around, because I love the early Lee/Ditko Spider-man – it’s by far my favorite of the early Marvel Silver Age titles. And ASM #6 is a great issue; the Lizard is indeed a great adversary. Although as an aside, I have to say there are times that I wished that this was his only outing, just because I’ve always liked the character of Dr. Conners and felt bad that he was cursed with being the Lizard. I’ve always liked that he and Spider-man became friends, and I liked it when he showed up and *didn’t* become the Lizard (like, e.g., in Spectacular Spider-man Annual #3, when he helped cure John Jameson of being Man-Wolf).
Oh, and by the way, I also like your plot for a Spider-man vs. Lizard vs. Kraven movie.
Glad to spread the word about The Reptile! I don’t think there’s a true dud in Hammer’s horror library. They are all entertaining, if nothing else. Some of the later 70s films get a little thread bare, but there are a few gems as well. Again, all entertaining to one degree or another.
I agree, I wish they’d just let Connors stay Connors. Every Lizard story has pretty much been the first one re-heated.
I’m glad you liked my movie plot. Someone call Sam Raimi. We can still make this happen!
Wasn’t familiar with the Reptile before this–not even sure if I’d ever heard of it–but it sounds like I should give it a look.
It’s a little obscure, and unfortunately right now kind of hard to watch, but the Blu-Ray is fairly affordable. But highly reocmmended!
Fire purifies!!!
Now ‘The House of Franklinstein’ 2025 is complete!
Liked this story and the snake woman. I can remember seeing a picture of this in a monster book I read as a kid and being terrified. I think this would be a perfect double feature with “The Wasp Woman”.
Did it just for you, Anj. Now I want to go watch Twins of Evil again. Maybe the theme will get me in the mood to wrap up JLUCast too…
The Wasp Woman? Hmmm…we haven’t really done any of those bonkers 50s/60s B-pictures. I saw that one on Svengoolie a while back. Not a bad idea…
Great show, Cindy and Chris. I never heard of this movie, but I love the idea of it. love the practical effects on the reptile, even with the uneven eyes. She looks super gross and upsetting. Solid work. The only thing better is if for one scene they gave her a Rasputin beard just for synergy.. Anyway, you two do such a great job of painting the verbal picture of these movies, plus explaining all the background stories. I look forward to the HOF (also the initials for Hall of Fame… coincidence?) all year. Great stuff!
Now I want to Photoshop a Rasputin beard on The Reptile. Thanks for commenting on us “painting the verbal picture”. I sometimes wonder as I slave away on the synopsis if it’s worth it, but since these films are often new to listeners, I guess it is!