Monsters On Route 66!

"Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,--
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble."
-from Shakespeare's Macbeth

I've read about this episode of the vintage TV show Route 66 forever. It is a breezy Halloween episode titled "Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing" and brings together a trio of classic monster movie greats. Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, and Lon Chaney Jr. are the famous monsters in this one.

The premise is pretty weak really, as we find the trio trying to bring monsters to a new market, ostensibly television and they are debating whether the classics will serve or as Karloff argues a new horror is called for. The debate is pretty tepid with Lorre and Chaney going to great lengths to pitch for the classic approach. With the aid of Martin Milner, they eventually partner up to frighten a gaggle of secretaries who are attending a conference.

There's more, but what horror fans want to know is that Lon Chaney appears in several make-ups, beginning the show in the Hunchback of Notre Dame garb, switching briefly to the Mummy, and then spending a great deal of the show as the Wolfman. His face is actually only glimpsed in one scene. Lorre having no classic make-ups to refer to must use his considerable mug to bring effect and he does so masterfully. Karloff, the reluctant member of the trio eventually dons the classic Frankenstein make-up for a few scenes, apparently the last time the famous actor did so.

The clash of imagery with old monsters trying to scare folks in a modern hotel are interesting. This one is supposed to say something about fate, love and such given its titled is derived from Shakespeare's Scottish play, but the subplots about women, men and some malarkey about love and whatnot are pretty confusing. Karloff does give a heartsick young woman a sweet speech about the nature of love at one point, but I'm still confused about how this all ties up.

But while they are trying to make the whole thing tie up it really just ends with each of the great actors getting a send off deserving of his status.

The show is diverting, the old actors are fun, but it's only as a curiosity that I can recommend this one, but I do recommend it.

Here's the episode in four parts.









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