Episode 9 of THE TRAIL OF THE OCTOPUS, The Chained Soul, is missing, presumed lost! Although the DVD provides a handy plot synopsis for those interested, I can’t be bothered producing a precis of that — a synopsis of a synopsis seems like a waste of whatever my talents may be said to be. So I didn’t bother reading it either — from now on, I’m as much in the dark as you are.
I’ll just say that Carter Holmes was NOT shot dead at the end of Chapter 8, and at the end of Chapter 9 he’s in mortal peril again, as his sweetie Ruth, possessed by the soul of the vamp Zora, raises a dagger over his back.
Continued next Wednesday.
Another saga came to a close last week, as I finally took possession of two copies of the Pierre Etaix box set from Criterion. I write a jumbo essay for this one, and was eager to see the thing in its final physical form. Unfortunately, FedEx chose to leave the parcel with my neighbour several doors down, a man I had never met, and who never seemed to be in when I called. Then it appeared that the police were also anxious to make his acquaintance — perhaps he had also received a parcel intended for them.
But I finally did catch the muscular and vested gentleman at home, and he was charm itself, proving that you can’t judge a book by its cover, or its criminal record. The most exciting part of the adventure was opening my package and finding the Etaix article illustrated with Etaix’s own drawings, painting, posters, plus stills. It makes for a beautiful object, and I highly recommend picking one up.
What else? Oh yes, limericks! Evelyn Ankers is a gift to the lyrically inclined, and otherwise we’ve been singing the non-praises of GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN. Don’t forget to check out the rest of this heap of severed lims.
And this just in — new NATAN coverage. A few inaccuracies, but that’s to be expected…
shadowplay 