Cryptology #3 Spring 2025 (magazine review).
We could have devoted the third issue of ‘Cryptology’ to the Mars problem. You know, the invasion stuff happened before we realised Mars had a habitation problem. Before discussing the Mars problem further, writer Steve Kronenberg examines the poster work of Reynold Brown (1907-1991). If the name doesn’t mean anything to you, look up the ‘Attack Of The 50ft Woman’s poster. That poster is one of Brown’s works, and he created many horror posters; however, it has been noted that the studios did not compensate him adequately.
Not all of his posters were based on scenes in the film. The poster mentioned earlier does not appear in the film, although I have not seen it myself yet. I have added it to my list of films to watch. Health warnings should be added to this magazine about the urge to get films missed. Brown’s best skill was to watch the film and paint his posters from memory. Photo stills weren’t available at that stage of production when he painted. Although not mentioned in the article, I did check to see if Brown’s posters had been collected in a book. Back in 2009, but the price now has become extortionate. Some publisher needs to do a reprint.
Writer Michael Price looks at the work of Paul Blaisdell (1927-1983). Before he went into model work in B-films, he was also a comic strip artist, starting off when he was in the military. To be fair to his work in films, his monsters were created on a very cheap budget and should have been in the shadows. Instead, the directors decide to put them in full light. These days, we would call that production mismanagement and not directing it to where the budget was needed.
The reason Blaisdell’s work comes first is ‘Invasion Of The Saucer-Men’ (1957). Compare how they look to the creatures of the ‘Mars Attacks!’ cards from 1962. Although writer Steve Kronenberg points out these were based off Wallace Wood’s designs from Weird Science # 16 from 1952, I did end up wondering who influenced whom and for the imagery to stick. I can’t recall the early release of these card sets in the UK, although I think they had some circulation in the late 1960s here, although they didn’t take my fancy. Mind you, I can’t recall ‘Invasion Of The Saucer-Men’ being shown here either. Maybe that explains why the 1996 film didn’t appeal to me as well. We have an alien species out to commit genocide on other worlds, and we have our homegrown versions. But if you want to see these Martians in all their forms over the years, you’ll be at home here, especially as some card images are updated and become model kits.
Writer Phil Hore explores Orson Welles’ ‘War Of The Worlds’ broadcast but actually uses it as a starting point, pointing out it wasn’t the first that had populations thinking real invasions were going on who didn’t pay attention to the opening in the radio broadcast. Interestingly, the first came in 1926 in London with a massive crime wave. Sadly, the last was in Ecuador in 1949, where the radio station was set on fire and several people died. I doubt if such a thing would work today. There’s too much diversity of viewers and listeners, and it would need a diverse number of channels doing it to make it work.
Editor/writer Peter Normanton looks at the art of Henrique Alvim Corrêa, who did the original arm for the Belgium limited edition of ‘War Of The Worlds’ in 1906. If nothing else, it shows limited editions are not a recent thing. It’s always worth remembering that publishers of foreign editions also like to do something special. Unfortunately, it seems impossible to find a cheap copy.
I saw the film ‘The Manster’ (1959) some five years ago, mostly because of actor Peter Dyneley and not being able to mistake the voice of Jeff Tracy from ‘Thunderbirds.’ If memory serves, he did a British accent here. Writer Steve Kronenberg examines the entire film.
Writer Will Murray does the first part of ‘A Requiem For Charlton Horror,’ looking at their early horror titles with a selection of covers.
One film that is impossible to see is the 1927 film London After Midnight,’ directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney. Writer Roberto Barreiro explains the only print left was destroyed in the MGM Studios fire. It is rumoured that there might be a copy somewhere in Australia, but it is still elusive. Up until now, the only available images are photographs.
I have quite a collection of film novels, but not many in the horror genre. Writer Justin Marriott has a look at the 1970s tie-ins. What he neglects to cover is how short an interval the authors had to write them in and probably off an earlier script draft. We’ve seen that with the first ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Alien,’ so I doubt if it would be any different here. This article is useful because he points out who are behind the pen names and provides a checklist, which is a great asset.
Peter Normanton has a look at film ventriloquist dummies that have a will of their own. I think my first encounter was in ‘Dead Of Night’ (1945) when I saw it on TV. Hugo Finch getting up and walking at the end was probably my first scare that made me jump. His colleagues here also have a somewhat disturbing reputation. In earlier centuries, homunculi coming to life was also common, so I’m not surprised this carried on to modern day.
Writer Tim Leese has a look at the Hammer film, ‘The Gorgon’ (1964). I hadn’t realised that there were two actresses involved in the part. Although the snake effect wasn’t brilliant, I suspect at the time, people feared looking at her face in case they turned to stone.
Lastly, Peter Normanton looks at American comic books where ventriloquist dummies came to life. You do have to wonder why there are so few today, but I suspect people marvel at voice-throwing now, and cuddly dummies have reduced their menace.
Me hitting on most of the features in this edition shows how many have struck me. If you have an interest in classic horror, don’t miss getting this new mag.
GF Willmetts
July 2025
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page illustrated magazine. Price: $10.95 (US). ISSN: 2997-4-416X. Direct from them, you can get it for $10.95 (US)).
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_194&products_id=1808
