$11.99
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
AND THE MONSTERS
(aka TOM THUMB and LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD,
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD MEETS THE FUNNY FUNNY MUNSTERS)
(1964), Color/Scope, 82 minutes
Distributed by Trans-International Films
Presented by K. Gordon Murray
Produced by K. Gordon Murray
Directed by Manuel San Fernando
Sound Editing: J.R. Remy
Assistant Editor: Charles Gaunci
Sound Engineer: Thomas Finucane
original production:
CAPERUCITA Y PULGARCITO
CONTRA LOS MONSTRUOS
(Tom Thumb and Red Riding Hood Vs. The Monsters)
(1962), Mexico, Color/Scope, 85 minutes
a Peliculas Rodriguez, S.A. production
filmed at Churubusco-Azteca Studios, Mexico
prints by Pathe
Directed by Roberto Rodriguez
Supervising Producer: Manuel Rojeda
Screenplay: Fernando Morales Ortiz, Adolfo Torres Portillo, Roberto Rodriguez
Story: Fernando Morales Ortiz, Adolfo Torres Portillo
Adaptation: Sergio Magana Esquival (as “Sergio Magana”)
Music Composed and Directed by: Raul Lavista
Songs: Fernando Morales Ortiz
Music Supervision: Galdino Samperio
Cinematography: Rosalio Solano (as “Rololio Solano”)
Camera Operators: Urbano Nazquez, Hugo Velasco
Assistant Cameraman: Antonio Solano
Production manager: Ricardo Beltri
Assistant Director: Carlos Villatoro
Special Effects: Leon Ortega
Special Optical Effects: Benavides
Editor: Jorge Bustos (as “Jose Bustos”)
Sound: James L. Fields
Dialogue Coach: Ernesto Caballero
Supervising Editor: Raul Portillo Gavito
Set Design: Carlos Arjona
Production Design: Roberto Silva
Titles: Eduardo Mendoza
Costume Design: Bertha Mendoza Lorez
Costume Design: Concepcion Lopez
Voice of “el Zorillo”: Eugenia Avendano
Make-up: Armando Meyer
Script Supervisor: Antonio Mendoza
Hair Stylist: Sara Maza
Actors Delegate: Francisco Ledebma
Cast Supervisor: Joaquin Garrido
Cast: Maria Gracia (Caperucita/Little Red Riding Hood), Cesaro Quezadas (Pulgarcito/Tom Thumb), Jose Elias Moreno (the friendly red-headed Ogre), Manuel “Loco” Valdes (el Lobo Feroz/the Ferocious Wolf), Rafael Munoz/el Enano Santanon (el “Zorillo”/Stinky the Skunk), Ofelia Guilmain (the Queen of Badness), Armando Gutierrez, Miguel Inclan Jr., Alfredo De Soto, Elvira Lodi, Magda Donato, Quintin Bulnes, Elba Eugenia Migoni, Manuel Vergara “Mamber”, Humberto Dupeyron, Ruben Marquez, Perro “Doncel”
this is a special restored edition of LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AND THE MONSTERS, beautifully transferred with color and detail never seen before. DVD-R comes packaged as shown in red DVD case, wrapped in plastic!
Description
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AND THE MONSTERS is a treasure of dark fantasy. If K. Gordon Murray had released only this one film during his entire career, his status as cult film god would be secured. As it is, this amazing, stupefying film stands as the shining jewel in Murray’s crown as “King of the Kiddie Matinee”.
Of course, much credit must be given to the original production. CAPERUCITA Y PULGARCITO CONTRA LOS MONSTRUOS is more bizarre, imaginative, harrowing and grotesque than any other film ever made expressly for children. The hybrid of wacky fairy tale and gothic horror movie has never been done as successfully as in this stunning film. Played almost entirely like a horror film, with scenes that still shock and unnerve today, this amazingly grim fairy tale must have scared the pants off of little Mexican kids during its original release.
As Murray saw fit to release this unique bizarrity in the United States, adding his own trademark touches, we have a masterpiece twice over.
The very opening of this film is hair-raising, as scary shots of a fog-bound haunted forest play while a clearly nervous narrator speaks of the evil forces that rule the world.
The almost entirely studio-bound production has an eerie, claustrophobic look which greatly enhances its gloomy ambience.
The assortment of monsters here is a veritible catalog of monster movie icons: witch, carrot monster, Frankenstein monster, ogre, vampire, robot, skeletons, man-eating plant, dragon, animal people.
These monsters range from cartoony to highly effective, and some are surely straight out of Mexican horror film productions. The Frankenstein monster is pretty cool, as is the Vampire, and the animal people, although obviously just out-of-work wrestlers in expressionist fright masks, are quite disturbing.
Atrocities include hanging, attempted drowning, torture, attempted poisoning, bondage, occult rituals, prayers to the devil, etc.
Among myriad disturbing sequences is one in which the Queen of Badness turns all of the villagers into squeaking white rats and goofy howling chimps.
One might call this film the ultimate evil fairy tale, a macabre, grotesque thrill-ride for traumatized, dysfunctional kiddies in possibly the most odd permutation of genres ever concocted.
As if the original film wasn’t dark and wacky enough, Murray’s consciously creepy dubbing makes LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AND THE MONSTERS a hair-raising apocalypse milestone for children of all ages.
The songs themselves are absolutely mind-boggling; out-of-tune, out-of-sync, and with surreal lyrics.
Little Red Riding Hood, Stinky the Skunk and the Ferocious Wolf all reprise their roles from the two earlier Red films; here, Wolfie’s transformation from beast to society’s scapegoat is complete; from being evil, he becomes the pawn of evil!
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AND THE MONSTERS is an indelible experience, an over-the-top abomination without peer. We can only be thankful that Murray saw fit to bring this horror film for kiddies to our shores; it changed the complexion of the American cultural landscape forever.
COMMENTS:
* Possibly to minimize the horror-film aspects of this hard-sell product, more likely to cash in on the popularity of the then-new TV series THE MUNSTERS, Murray sent out some prints of this heinous mindbender with the alternate title of LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD MEETS THE FUNNY FUNNY MUNSTERS.
* The Queen of Badness’s killer robot is the same costume used in THE ROBOT VS THE AZTEC MUMMY.
* According to AFI, LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AND THE MONSTERS had its US premiere in Maryland on February 2, 1965.
* (effective 05-01-03) After a very brief window of availability, this long-sought K. Gordon Murray title is once again out of print, due to international copyright issues. Used video tapes of this title may be found on online video dealers and auction sites. Stay tuned for further developments!
-Rob Craig
In a blighted wasteland ruled by an evil witch-queen, an ogre and a wolfman have been sentenced to death by their fellow monsters, for being too goodly. Their only hope lies in being rescued by a terrified Red Riding Hood, her loyal dog, the brave Tom Thumb and Stinky the Skunk.
Half of the film is the zany and convoluted antics of the imprisoned ogre and wolfman, battling one another and their guards to stave off execution and hunger. Meanwhile, after having their families turned into dancing monkeys and white rats, the pint-sized rescuers sneak and battle their way through wicked forests and all manner of monsters, ghouls, witches, a dragon, a vampire, Frankenstein and even a killer robot to save their doomed pals. Goodness ultimately prevails and our strange group, now united, defeats the evil witch-queen, saving everyone and returning all to normal.
This is an epic fantasy adventure, in the spirit of “The Wizard of Oz”, “Pufnstuf” or “Return to Oz”. The overall vibe is rather low-budget, but with a vast array of masks, costumes and sets, in the brightest of colours. The acting is deliberately outlandish, making it very watchable for kids, with some truly funny scenes and campy musical numbers. I found it delightfully weird and would definitely recommend it, especially for kids and those young at heart.