In this episode tennis player, Jimmy Pelton, has met a warlock named Anthos, who seems to have put a curse on him. When the gang meets up with Jimmy, they decide to investigate.
What really makes this episode stand out is the villain's plan. Instead of simply scaring people off, the Warlock seems to be playing mental games with this tennis player. Unlike many other episodes where we simply see a character get scared, here we get to actually get a look into how this affects Jimmy's mind. This especially shows during the tennis match. This episode also benefits from a wonderful sense of atmosphere. The early scenes with the gang at night in the fog are very effective. There is automatically a creepy vibe to these scenes. These scenes also benefit from some of the wonderful background art that makes Scooby mysteries of this era such a joy to look at. Also though this is not one of the funniest Scooby episodes, it did have some really good gags in it, even if those gags made me smile more than laugh. The mystery is also very well thought out and quite clever.
The only real problem with this episode is that the Warlock's design and voice are kind of bland and forgettable. This keeps him from becoming one of the more memorable Scooby-Doo villains. However his costume did appear in live action in the theatrical feature film, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004).
In this episode the gang goes to visit a friend of theirs who is working at the North Pole (no it isn't Santa Claus). However they find that he is missing and they are told that a giant snow beast carried him off.
There is a lot to love about this episode. Despite the gang having already meet snow monsters and the fact that they would often meet them again in the future, this episode gives its snow beast a very different and distinct feel that sets it apart from the previous and future snow monsters. This snow monster looks much more like a dinosaur and is much more massive in size. While not exactly scary, he definitely feels like a very imposing and like a massive threat to our heroes. This episode also benefits from some especially good humor. The slapstick with Scooby and Shaggy here is even better than usual and got quite a few good laughs out of me. However the comedic highlight of this episode is Scooby's crush on a sled dog. This little romance leads to some nice and very fun gags. The North Pole, while not quite unique considering the other snowy places the gang has visited, proves to be a good environment for a Scooby mystery and the inside of the snow cave leads to some truly wonderful background art. This great background art helps make this one of the most charming snow themed Scooby mysteries.
The only real problem with this episode is that the mystery is too easy to figure out because of a lack of suspects.
This is an excellent episode and does a wonderful job of showing just why I love Scooby-Doo! so much.
In this episode, the gang heads to Puerto Rico on vacation. On this vacation they run into the ghost of General Juan Carlos and before you can say "Jinkies" the gang has another mystery on their hands.
There is a lot to enjoy about this episode. It moves along at a very fast pace and is very fun to watch for every single second. The humor with Scooby and Shaggy is especially good in this episode, with the fishing scene and the bit with the pineapple as very bright spots. The lighting gag really made me laugh as well. This episode also has our gang visit quite a few different locations and each of these places features wonderful and very atmospheric artwork. The attention to detail in the castle scenes and the great use of fog in the outdoor scenes creates an incredible sense of atmosphere that gives this episode a wonderfully creepy feel. There is also a real sense of suspense in this episode due to the ghost actually trying to kill Scooby and Shaggy instead of just scaring them off. This suspense is also enhanced by having Scooby and Shaggy alone with the ghost, while the rest of the gang is somewhere else.
On the downside the ghost's design is rather bland and forgettable. This design also does not look ghostly enough and instead simply like a regular guy. This is however not enough to take away from just how much fun so much of this episode is.
In this episode the gang decides to go sailing. However a storm, leaves them stranded on a "deserted" island. Here they discover what appears to be a UFO and there are some skeleton men roaming the island. Could this be connected to the planes that have disappearing around the Bermuda Triangle recently? Looks like the gang has another mystery on their hands.
There is a lot to enjoy about this episode. The deserted island is a perfect setting for a Scooby-Doo! mystery. There is something inherently creepy about being stuck on a supposedly deserted island that might be haunted. Like all Scooby-Doo mysteries of this time period, this is helped by wonderful background art and use of lighting. This episode also has a great amount of suspense due to the fact that the gang is not just being chased and scared here but are in real danger. There is even a moment where Fred, Velma and Daphne are trapped and about to drown. The slapstick with Scooby and Shaggy is even better than usual here. The chase scene is quite funny and the early slapstick with Scooby fishing is excellent.
There are a couple problems with this episode though. One is that the design of the skeleton men looks like people in painted wet suits. While you can argue that that is exactly what it is (I don't think saying the monsters are fake is a spoiler for a Scooby-Doo! episode), there is no reason that that should be what they look like. This is a cartoon, and it could easily have used cartoon license to make the monsters look real, like the majority of other episodes do. Having them look fake takes away from the creepy atmosphere a little bit. The mystery is also very easy to solve as there really aren't that many suspects.
Live action versions of the skeleton men appear in the theatrically released movie, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004). The Bermuda Triangle would also play a major role in the direct to video movie, Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! (2006).
This may not be one of my favorite episodes but it is still a lot of fun.
In this episode, the Mystery Inc. Gang visit a Native American reservation to see Velma's Uncle Dave, who seems to have gone missing (Velma's relatives have a tendency to do that). While searching for what happened to him, Scooby finds a monstrously giant owl. At first the gang doesn't believe him but then they see him too. Before you can say "Jinkies" the gang has another mystery on their hands.
Like many of the Scooby episodes from the 1970's, this episode benefits from a wonderful sense of atmosphere. From the woods that the reservation is in the middle of to a creepy cave to a ship out in the middle of the sea, this mystery is full of spooky locations. Each of the locations features wonderful background art, that is incredibly detailed and simply wonderful to look at. This background art also gives the episode a real sense of spookiness. The humor in this episode is also quite good and much of the slapstick with Shaggy and Scooby is simply delightful. The mystery element is also excellent as there are multiple suspects (one named Red Herron (yes, this episode predates A Pup Named Scooby-Doo!)), all of whom would make perfect sense.
The only real problem with this episode is the giant owls themselves. Giant owls make for quite bland Scooby villains. Here they never feel really creepy, threatening or memorable.
Once you get past the monsters being kind of boring, this episode is a lot of fun with a good sense of atmosphere, humor and mystery.
Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Jesus in the Morning. This recording comes from the husband-and-wife duo's 1973 gospel album, In the Sweet By and By. This song has a very important message for all of us. Jesus shouldn't only be someone who we think about when we go to church or when we read our Bibles. Instead we should be spending personal time with Jesus all day every day and take him with us and talk to him no matter where we are and what we are doing. Jesus should not just be a part of our lives but he should be the driving force of our lives.
This is followed by Porter Wagoner with What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Despite being Joseph Medlicott Scriven's most famous composition, when he made a collection of his writings entitled Hymns and Other Verses it did not appear. It has been assumed that the reason for this is that he probably wrote it for his mother when she was sick and not for the public. It is believed that it is through his mother that the hymn reached the public. It first appeared in 1865's Social Hymns, Original and Selected credited as anonymous.
Then comes Connie Smith and Nat Stucky with Crumbs from the Table. This is from a 1970 gospel album the two country singers did together that is called Sunday Morning with Nat Stuckey and Connie Smith. This was the second album that the two made together. The first was 1969's Young Love. The idea to pair the two come from the record company, as both had recently had major hits and the company believed that their two voices would blend very well together.
Afterwards is The Monroe Brothers with their 1938 recording of When Our Lord Shall Come Again.
Next is Johnny Cash with He'll Understand and Say Well Done. This comes from John's second gospel album, 1962's Hymns from the Heart. This album, while still sounding like a Johnny Cash album has a much more traditional gospel sound than his first gospel album, 1958's Hymns by Johnny Cash.
Then comes Randy Travis with We Fall Down. This recording comes from his 2003 gospel album, Worship & Faith.
After comes Anne Wilson with a new song, Rain in the Rearview. Anne is still one of my favorite modern-day singers.
Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. . This hymn began with a man named Anthony Showalter. As a fan of gospel music and an elder in a Presbyterian church, he held many "singing schools" at various churches in the south. One day he received two letters from former students who were struggling after their wives had passed. To respond to these letters, Showalter consulted scripture. He came across Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." After reading this verse lyrics for a song chorus went through his head and he wrote down, "“Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.” After using this in the letters to his former students he sent this chorus to his friend hymnist, Elisha Hoffman. In the letter he also wrote, “Here is the chorus for a good hymn from Deuteronomy 33:27, but I can’t come up with the verses.” Hoffman then wrote the rest of the lyrics to which Showalter put to music. The hymn was published in 1887.
Next comes a message from Billy Graham.
Now for an episode of Gene Autry's TV show.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:6
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18:2-5
And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:16
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. Jeremiah 17:7
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Ephesians 1:3
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 3:27
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19:17
Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
Run Time: 12 minutes. Studio: Thanhouser Studios. Director: Lucius Henderson. Main Cast: James Cruze, Florence La Badie, Marie Eline.
It is October, meaning it is officially spooky season. Of course, for movie fans this time of year means a time to watch some of your favorite spooky films. While horror movies, wouldn't fully take off as a genre until the Universal monster films of the 1930's, there are still plenty of spooky themed movies from the silent era to explore. Some of these, like Nosferatu (1922) and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), have gotten the attention they deserve, others have unjustly gone overlooked. A delightful example of this is this 1912 adaption of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Everyone today is still familiar with the basic story. Dr. Jekyll is interested in separating the good and the evil that exists in the same person. So, he creates a drink that will do just this. After taking the drink his evil side manifests itself as a monster known as Mr. Hyde. As time goes on, Mr. Hyde starts to take over and become his dominant side.
This film may be a shock to movie fans who are used to modern horror movies. One of the reasons for this is that there are no real scares. The film seems less interested in scaring the audience than it is in simply telling the story. Mr. Hyde himself may have a creepy look, but he never jumps out at you and there is never a sense of dread over what he is going to do next. However, the main reason this film may seem strange to modern movie fans is because of its brevity. This is one of many short length literary adaptations that were made during this time period. These short films often simply featured only highlights of the story and often jumped from one to another. The result was a compact telling of a familiar story.
Despite this film being so drastically different from modern horror movies, it still holds up remarkably well today. Unlike many other literary adaptions of the time that require prior knowledge of the story, this film is self-explanatory. If you showed this to someone who had somehow never heard of the story, they would be able to follow along. This also makes the film work much better for those of us who are very familiar with the story. It creates a less fragmented and more complete feel. It is true that it can feel a bit rushed to our modern eyes but that does not mean that it is not effective. This film plays as mostly a tragedy of the consequences of playing God. While the characters are not as complex as they would be in later adaptions, it becomes very easy to emphasize with them and feel a basic emotional connection. This makes quite a few moments (especially the ending) quite emotionally effective. Because of all this the film also works quite well as a morality tale. It tells its message about not playing God effectively and in a way that never feels didactic.
This is also a very handsome film. While the special effects are basic, they are effective. You may be able to tell how they are done but there is never a moment when they take you out of the story. The way Mr. Hyde looks is also quite well done. While he would not be scary to a modern audience, he does have an effectively creepy look to him. The sets and costumes are also delightful to look at here.
If you are interested in watching this film, you can watch it below on YouTube.
