Comments on: Plan 9 @ 50

By: Andrew T, Smith

Andrew T, Smith — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:29:18 +0000

I completley agree with the statement that Plan 9 is not the worst film of all time and certainly not Wood’s worst.

The thing that always dazzles me about Wood films is how personal they are. I would even go so far as to call him an auteur, at least during his prime.

By: MovieWatcher

MovieWatcher — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:15:53 +0000

This is one of the bad movies that will keep you laughing all night, all because it wasn’t ment to be funny the director ment it to be serious, and the death of the old man who was first brought back, and his replacement that was shorter by two feet, and the fat man unable to get out of the grave, and! the many more fantasticly tarible things that make this movie just that much worse and that much funnyer. I think that the best part of this whole movie is the U.F.O’s that are attached to fish string wobling around and the man being told in the plane “don’t tell anyone about this” then the flight attendent walks in and asks whats happening, the the captin says come, look, theres a U.F.O outside the wondow.

By: M.X. Palidan

M.X. Palidan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:03:39 +0000

Thanks for the info. Since PLAN 9 was such a low budget I just figtured Wood & Company stuck to filming around L.A. Perhaps this explains why the central office of “The Church of Ed Wood” is in Sacramento, not Hollywood.

I correct myself about the script that was making the rounds back in the early 90′s. It was THE GHOUL GOES WEST, not THE GHOST GOES WEST.

Little is known of Kathy Wood after Ed died. We know she didn’t remarry and passed away in 2006. I knew a journalist in 94 who was researching her life for an article, but ran into roadblocks. He did track her down to living in a classic old Hollywood apartment in the Cahuenga/Yucca area, near where her and Ed lived for many years. She was very private and even after going through a mutual friend she refused an interview.

If anyone could help fill some of the blanks there concerning Kathy Wood it would contribute to the ongoing “Ed Wood Legend”.

As for “the worst film ever made”, PLAN 9 is far from that. I would nominate MESA OF LOST WOMEN(1953) starring Jackie Coogan as being in the top ten. Seeing that virtually unwatchable stink bomb on a big screen straight through one risks getting temporary or permenent eye damage!!

By: Richard Harland Smith

Richard Harland Smith — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:29:20 +0000

I often wonder where the “graveyard” exteriors in San Fernando were shot.

If I remember correctly, the cemetery was up in/around Sacramento, where Tor Johnson’s son Karl was a police officer. In fact, at the time of shooting (1956) the cemetery was in the process of being torn up to allow for building of something else, which is why Wood et al were allowed to film there. Karl Johnson also wrangled some official cop cars for the picture.

By: M.X. Palidan

M.X. Palidan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:53:11 +0000

[I accidently hit the "submit" buttom, so I'll finish up the above comment] — …but to Ed’s living places and bar hangouts. At that time I worked as a script reader for a medium size film company and his script THE GHOST GOES WEST was making the rounds. As I recall, with some rewrites it could have been an amusing film, but the company passed on it. Too bad someone else didn’t pick it up.

By: M.X. Palidan

M.X. Palidan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:47:54 +0000

I enjoyed the blog and all the responses. I lived and worked in Hollywood for years and visited where the interiors were shot(Western & Santa Monica werehouse)and quick city exteriors. Much has changed since Ed filmed there, but some is recognizable. I often wonder where the “graveyard” exteriors in San Fernando were shot. I’m sure there is either a shopping mall or an apartment complex there now. If anyone knows the exact locale, please post it.

When the movie ED WOOD came out in 1994, a number of people made “pilgrimages” to the Hollywood sites of not only Plan 9

By: Parker Benchley

Parker Benchley — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:09:20 +0000

Film critic Michael Weldon got it right, Plan 9 is not the worst movie ever made, but the most entertaining one you’ll ever see.

By: john august smith

john august smith — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:31:54 +0000

Fans of Plan 9 should try to see VooDoo Man/1943. John Carradine’s acting in this film makes Bela Lugosi look like John Barrymore.The plot if any think is more stupid.

By: morlockjeff

morlockjeff — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:33:42 +0000

In the spirit of a PLAN 9 anniversary celebration, I humbly submit a “what if” cartoon panel depiction of the first eight plans from outer space and why they failed -

go to this link

http://www.tcm.com/2008/underground/lostscenes.jsp and click on “view all lost scenes at the bottom” and then click on “see what’s inside” and FINALLY click on the title PLAN NINE FROM OUTER SPACE and you’ll see the first page.

By: franko

franko — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:39:08 +0000

I loved this movie as a kid and I still love it as a, well, “big” kid. I always thought the Medved boys were too full of themselves to have the right to criticize any film, and I believe their slamming of what today are beloved cult films has finally come home to bite ‘em on the ass. I know lotsa folks who recognize the name of Ed Wood but have no idea who the Medveds are. Poetic justice, imho.