A
BUCKET OF BLOOD (1959)
Starring
Dick Miller, Barboura Morris, Antony Carbone, Julian Burton, Ed
Nelson, Bert Convy. Directed by Roger Corman. (66
min)
AVAILABLE
ON DVD FROM OLIVE
FILMS
Review
by Mr. Paws😸
Who
didn't
love Dick Miller? Not only did
the guy appear
in every movie ever made, he was
the sole reason anyone knew
what the hell a Kentucky Harvester was.
Everyone
had to start somewhere and decades before he became Joe Dante's good
luck charm, Miller was Roger Corman's go-to guy. The two made dozens
of drive-in delights together and only Corman ever saw fit to cast
him in lead roles. One such film was A
Bucket of Blood.
Olive Films released a bare-bones DVD of the
film in
2018. Dick Miller has-since passed away and
I
can’t think of a more appropriate
eulogy
than a Blu-ray restoration
of his magnum opus, accompanied
by
a batch of charming,
previously
unseen bonus features dedicated mostly to him.
 |
| "I'm gonna need more clay for those." |
A
Bucket of Blood
is a
micro-budget horror comedy that features Miller as Walter Paisley,
the dimwitted busboy of an ultra-hip coffee bar where artists and
poets hang out. To them - as well as his boss, Leonard - he's a fool.
But Walter wants to be an artist, too,
mostly
to impress co-corker Carla (Barboura Morris). When he accidentally
kills a cat, Walter gets the idea to cover the animal in clay and
claim it as his first sculpture, which he calls Dead Cat.
Dead
Cat is a hit with the locals, who now praise Walter as a genius. So
he continues making his "art," murdering several hapless
folks and turning them into sculptures. Leonard soon discovers what
Walter's been doing, but seeing potential profit, he decides to host
an exhibit of the kid's work rather than turn him in.
 |
| Walter brings a frying pan to a gunfight. |
A
Bucket of Blood is
typical Corman of the time. Shot cheaply and quickly, the film has a
twisted sense of humor that helps the viewers overlook its technical
shortcomings, making it sort-of a kindred spirit to the more
legendary Little Shop of Horrors (which
was shot on many of the same sets). Miller, of course, goes all-in
with a wonderfully goofy performance.
But
the main reason to pick this up is for the bonus features (outlined
below), most of which pay affectionate tribute to Miller and the
kitschy
classic
that gave him the rare opportunity carry an entire film. Throwing
in a great 4K restoration and amusing cover art, this is a huge
upgrade over the DVD release.
Rest
in Peace Dick Miller. You’re already missed.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
FEATURETTES
- “Creation is. All Else is Not” (Producer/director Roger
Corman discusses the film and Dick Miller’s role); “Call Me
Paisley” (Miller and his wife, Laine, in a charming interview).
AUDIO
INTERVIEW – With screenwriter Charles B. Griffith.
AUDIO
COMMENTARY – By Elijah Drenner, who directed the documentary,
That Guy, Dick Miller.
“BITS
OF BUCKET” - Video essay. Includes clips and text of unused
scenes.
ESSAY
– By Miller biographer Caelum Vatnsdal (the same essay is
included in a supplemental booklet).
9
MINUTE GERMAN PROLOGUE – From 1962, where film was marketed as
a sequel to House of Wax (subtitled).
SUPER
8 DIGEST VERSION – I remember these things...little 8 minute
reels you could play on projectors at home.
ENGLISH
& GERMAN THEATRICAL TRAILERS
ON-SET
PHOTO GALLERY
KITTY CONSENSUS:
PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS.
No comments:
Post a Comment