Comments on: Robots!

By: TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

TCM’s Classic Movie Blog — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:49:10 +0000

[...] serendipity a few weeks ago, my Morlock brother from another mother R. Emmett Sweeney wrote about lesser-known robots of the silver screen; this is by definition serendipitous because I find myself playing robot a lot [...]

By: medusamorlock

medusamorlock — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:21:15 +0000

I love all robots — not so much the CGI kind, but all the metallic clunkers — and especially like Houdini’s foe with the barrel ass. He’s really got junk in the trunk!

There is something silly and yet sinister about robots like this, or any robot. They are wonderful, and these early examples are sweet! I’m sure that Houdini, back in the day, would have sworn that we’d have commonplace robots walking around the streets everywhere in 2009, and we’ve only gotten as far as the Roomba!

Great post, RES!

By: moirafinnie

moirafinnie — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:20:36 +0000

These are great and what a nice, low-tech antidote to the hype surrounding summer releases. I saw Gene Autry in The Phantom Empire recently after scoffing at the existence of such an outlandish plot after a great friend sent me a copy. Needless to say, you’re right. Without Gene Autry, none of it would ever hold together. I’ll have to order that Harry Houdini Man vs. Robot movie now too.

*Sigh* So many awkwardly moving mechanical men, and so little time to laugh at them all with delight.

This was a great read and very informative. I don’t know what I get more entertainment out of–the lovely, cheesy, human scale art direction and special effects, the plots or the acting of all involved? Thanks for this new dilemma.