I had a dear friend that suddenly left high school. I was saddened to learn that she had a nervous breakdown. She was so full of life and vitality on the outside but inner demons were destroying her on the inside. Such a serious subject when it comes to mental disorders. Now on to frivolous matters. I watched this 50's schlock Horror Movie entitled "The Unearthly" on Chiller one Saturday eve. It had all the typical components of that genre. The leading lady The evil Doctor the burly brawny assistant and Male protagonist and the sacrificial best friend . Dr. Charles Conway (John Carridine) runs a sanitarium for mentally stressed people; i.e., Depression anger management and schizophrenia. In reality the rest home is only a front for Dr. Conway who covertly is experimenting with an artificial gland that inserted into a human subject should produce eternal life. With the help of assistant Dr. Sharon Gilchrist ( Marilyn Buferd) and Butler/groundskeeper massive bald servant Lobo (Tor Johnson), The evil Doctor has plans for his patients who reside on his estate. Associate Dr. Wright (Roy Gordon) constantly sends would be patients to Dr. Conway thinking they will be cured over time with rest and therapy when in truth the evil Conway does experimentation on his subjects with horrible results. One of his failures is Harry Jedrow who is disfigured and can bearly move siting in a catatonic states in his basement.. Jedrow's sister keeps hounding Dr. Wright for information on her brother's whereabouts.. Enter our next subject the lovely Grace Thomas (Allison Hayes) who has depression issues. She meets her fellow patience . The Lovely Natalie (Sally Todd) and the angry who would flip on a dime Danny (Arthur Batanides). One night Lobo picks up a would be prowler and brings him to Dr. Conway. Dr. Conway deduces that it's the escaped convict Frank Scott (Myron Healy) who was reported in the newspapers as on the lamb. Instead of reporting him to the authorities Conway makes him take part in his experiments. The movie has a nice and even flow to it without run on dialogue. Tor Johnson has a speaking role and for once Myron Healy plays a "Good Guy" part instead usual antagonist. Allison Hayes plays a soft sweet woman who is anything but what she claims to be. Sally Todd is her usual drop dead gorgeous self but is the sacrificial lamb. But I've told enough. The movie does have surprises in store for all who view. I just enjoyed seeing all my Horror stars from that bygone era assembled in this picture.
Review of The Unearthly
