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Manos: The Hands of Fate

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Manos: The Hands of Fate
Theatrical release poster
Directed byHal Warren
Written byHal Warren
Produced byHal Warren
StarringHal Warren
Tom Neyman
John Reynolds
Diane Mahree
Edited byErnie Smith
Distributed byEmerson Film Enterprises
Release dates
November 15, 1966
Running time
74 min.
LanguageEnglish
Budget$19,000 (estimated)

Manos: The Hands of Fate, abbreviated Manos, is a 1966 American horror film written, directed, produced by and starring El Paso fertilizer salesman Hal Warren. It revolves primarily around a vacationing family who, after a long drive in the Texas desert, are trapped at a lodge maintained by a satanic cult, and their efforts to escape it. The film is best known for having been featured in a 1993 episode of the television comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000, a show based on the premise of mocking B-movies, which gave the film cult status.

Produced as a result of a bet, Manos was an independent production by a crew that had little or no background or experience in filmmaking and with a very limited budget at their disposal. Upon its theactrical debut, the film was critically slammed, and remained in obscurity until being "MST-ed". It has since gained infamy from being decried as one of the worst films ever made.

Production

File:Manosclapboard.jpg
An image from the inexplicibly unconnected plotline of the "Make-out couple", highlighted to show a failure to edit out the clapboard.

The film was originally created as a result of a bet by Warren with screenplay writer Stirling Silliphant that he could create a successful horror film on a very limited budget. Warren accumulated a small sum of cash, reportedly $19,000,[1] and hired a group of actors from a local theatre and modeling agency, promising a share in the film's profits due to his lack of funds to pay actual wages.[2][3]

Under the working title The Lodge of Sins, the movie was filmed in the summer of 1966 with a 16 mm Bell & Howell camera which had to be wound by hand and only filmed for 32 seconds, which is credited a possible explanation for many cases of the alleged "Choppy editing work" present in the final cut.[4] The Bell & Howell camera is incapable of double-system recording, and thus all sound effects and dialogue were dubbed later in post-production, reportedly by only three or four people including Warren.[2][5]

Early in production one of the actresses broke her leg, and Warren rewrote her role to have her make out in a car with an actor during the events of the entire film. The inclusion of these characters has been the focus of criticism for having no apparent connection to the main plot of the film.[2][6]

To portray the effect of his character Torgo being a satyr, John Reynolds constructed what is described as a metallic rigging worn under his trousers.[2][7] The effect conveyed by his work was to leave his character with oversized knees and difficulty walking.[8][9] Fake cloven hooves were also made by Reynolds for his costume, but they are difficult to see on screen, especially in the Mystery Science Theater version.[2]

Night time proved hard for Warren to work with (for whatever reason, Warren chose not to use the normal technique of shooting day-for-night). In many of the night scenes, the camera and lights attracted swarms of moths, which can be seen in the film's final production.[10] Also, in the scene in which the cops "investigate" Mike's gunfire, they could only walk a few feet forward, as there wasn't enough light to illuminate the scenery for a panning shot.[2][11]

Post production efforts were reportedly minimal, despite promises by Warren that any problems in the film would be fixed in later editing.[2][7][12] One of the more visible examples of this is a brief moment at the beginning of the film in which the clapboard is visible after a cut to the "make-out couple".[8][9] It is rumoured that the entire opening sequence, which consisted of the main characters driving around looking for their hotel for minutes on end with minimal effect on the plot, was the result of such neglet, as there were opening credits intended to be included at this stage which were left out.[11]

Reportedly, Warren's small crew became so bemused by his amateurishness and irascibility that they derisively called the movie Mangos, the Cans of Fruit behind his back.[2][7][11]

Plot

Template:Spoiler The film opens with footage of Michael (Warren), his wife Margaret (Diane Mahree), their young daughter Debbie (Jackey Neyman Jones) and their dog, Peppy, on a driving holiday, searching for the "Valley Lodge". There are also scenes in this sequence involving a teenage couple who are necking in a convertible. They are interrupted by a police officer, who tells them to move their car. In the meantime, Michael and his family finally reach a house which is apparently run on the behalf of someone called "the Master" by a bizarre, satyr-like person with an erratic, repetitive speech pattern named Torgo (John Reynolds). Michael and Margaret ask Torgo for directions to Valley Lodge; Torgo simply replies that, "There is no way out of here. It'll be dark soon. There is no way out of here." With this information, Michael asks Torgo to let him stay the night, despite objections from both him and Margaret. Torgo ultimately relents. Inside the home, the two visitors see a disturbing painting of a dark, malevolent-looking man and a black dog with glowing eyes. Torgo identifies the man as "the Master", who he describes as being away, but "not dead the way you know it."

Peppy then runs outside, barking continuously for a while, before falling silent. Michael investigates, retrieving a flashlight and revolver from his car. He discovers that the dog has been killed by an unknown force. When informed of this Margaret demands they leave, and Michael orders Torgo to put the luggage back in the car. Torgo does this, but has developed an attraction to Margaret. He confronts her, and crudely gropes her hair. He tells her that, although she is doomed to become yet another bride of the Master, he intends to keep her for himself. Margaret threatens to tell Michael of Torgo's advances, but Torgo convinces her not to say anything to her husband by promising to protect her. Michael then returns, unable to start the car. With the revelation that there are no phones at the home, Torgo brings the luggage back into the room.

The film returns to the teenage couple who were seen earlier. They are still petting, in the middle of the night, and are sent on their way by the same policeman as before, who is joined by his partner. The teenagers mention a second couple (Michael and Margaret) who they had seen driving on the road earlier.

File:Themaster.jpg
The Master awakens.

At the logde, Debbie leaves unexpectedly to search for her dog. A frightened Michael and Margaret find her carrying the dog from the painting. Debbie releases the dog and runs to her parents, who tell her to never run away again. The parents ask where she found the dog, and Debbie leads them to a tomb-like structure where "The Master" (Tom Neyman) and several women dressed in translucent night gowns, later revealed to be his wives, lie in slumber. In horror, the family runs back to the house, and Michael leaves to seek an explanation from Torgo.

Torgo ambushes Michael, knocking him out and tying him to a pole. Torgo then goes to the tomb himself, and begins fondling the wives and berating the sleeping Master, before returning to the house to sleep. The Master suddenly comes to life and wakes his wives, and a short argument over the fate of the family ensues. One faction of the Master's wives wants to sacrifice the family whole; another faction prefers to spare Michael's wife and daughter. The Master angrily stops the argument, and decides to sacrifice Torgo and his first wife to the film's mysterious deity and namesake, "Manos". He then makes his way back to the house to find Torgo. While the Master is gone, the women continue arguing over whether or not to kill Debbie, as well as who has the Master's favor. The argument soon degenerates into a fight, and the women wrestle in the sand for several minutes.

The Master confronts Torgo in the home, where he informs Torgo of his fate. Torgo offers some resistance, but ultimately succumbs to what appears to be a hypnotic spell by the Master. At the same time one of the Master's wives leaves the tomb, and appears to kiss and then slap the unconscious Michael. She then warns the Master of the unexpected brawl that has begun, and the two return with Torgo to the tomb. The Master stops the fight, and then has his first wife tied to a pole to be sacrificed. Torgo is then laid on a stone bed, where the wives subject him to what one El Paso reviewer likened at the time to "Torgo being massaged to death"[2][5]. This in itself does not prove fatal. The Master then evokes some mysterious power, severing and horribly burning Torgo's left hand. Torgo runs off into the darkness, his fate unknown. The Master then orders the family to be found. In a scene cut from the Mystery Science Theater airing, the Master also sacrifices his first wife.

Michael rejoins the family. They attempt to escape, but encounter a rattlesnake, which is rendered via stock footage.[2] Michael opens fire at the snake, which alerts the policemen who had been shown earlier. However, the policemen decide not to investigate the shooting, saying it could have come from "clear over in Mexico." Michael and his family decide to go back to the home, and barricade themselves in one of the rooms. The Master confronts them. Michael fires several shots into the Master's face, at point-blank range, but they have no effect. The screen fades to black, indicating that the Master has again applied his hypnotic power.

The film ends with a coda involving two girls, driving in a convertible. They become lost, and stop at the home to ask for directions. They are greeted by an entranced Michael. A number of jump cuts show us the fate of Margaret and Debbie: like the other wives of the Master, they sleep in the tomb, dressed in flowing white robes. The film concludes with Michael saying "I take care of the place while the Master is away," just as Torgo had done earlier. The production credits are superimposed over what Joel describes in the MST cut as outtakes from the film with the words "The End?" on the screen at the very end. Template:Endspoiler

Mystery Science Theater 3000

The film was featured in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 on January 30, 1993, in the final episode of season four, preceded by the second half of the short subject "Hired!" The "bots" used the long uneventful drive at the beginning of the movie to repeat the title of the movie numerous times, as there was yet to be any action to mock. During the breaks, Joel Hodgson and the "bots" mocked the film's opening sequence, debated whether or not Torgo should be considered a monster, and impersonated "The Master" and his dog. After the film had finished, the slow-moving Torgo, played by Mike Nelson, appeared at the "mads" lair to deliver a pizza two hours after it was ordered.[13][14] Torgo would also be featured in the later episodes Operation Double 007, Village of the Giants and Samson Vs. The Vampire Women.[15][16]

In addition, both TV's Frank and Dr. Forrester were depicted apologizing for showing the film, which even they had to admit was abysmal and went beyond their jobs of sending up bad movies, in the first and third break respectively. This was a rare, if not unique, occurrence.[13]

Widely considered to be one of the best, if not the best, episode of the series,[17][18] "Manos" has been released on DVD, both on its own and packaged in the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Essentials collection.[19][20]

Reaction

The film premiered on November 15, 1966, at the Capri Theater in Warren's hometown of El Paso, Texas. Warren arranged for a searchlight to be used at the cinema,[2] and for the cast to be brought to the premier by a limousine, in order to enhance the Hollywood feel of the event. Only a single limousine could be afforded, however, and as a result the driver had to drop off one group, then drive around the block and pick up another.[21] The premiere was also attended by numerous local dignitaries, including the Mayor and local Sheriff. Shortly after the film began, the audience began laughing at its poor quality and redundant dialogue. Humiliated, Warren and the rest of his cast made a hasty exit. The film ended to a mixture of laughter and applause. In light of the film's reception, Warren suggested that Manos might make a passable comedy if it was redubbed.[2]

The film was briefly distributed by Emerson Releasing Corporation, but reports that the only crew members who were compensated for their work in the film were Jackey Neman Jones and her family's dog, who received a bicycle and a large quantity of dog food respectively, would indicate that the film failed to break even financially.[2][12] Official box office figures for the film are presently unknown.

The MST3K version of the episode was released on a DVD in 2001.[19] A DVD of the original version of Manos has also been made available through Alpha Video,[22] who also released original versions of other "MST-ed" films including Teenagers From Outer Space[23]. Reportedly, Quentin Tarantino owns a rare 35 mm copy of the film and has stated that this film is his favorite "comedy".[11] In attempting to explain the film's appeal, the Los Angeles Times hypothesized, "After screening Manos for probably the 10th time, I've concluded it has to do with intimacy. Because it is such a pure slice of Warren's brain - he wrote, directed, produced and starred, and brooked no collaboration - Manos amounts to the man's cinematically transfigured subconscious."[24]

In early 2006 a Portland, Oregon theatre company, Last Rites Productions, did a play based on the story.[25] The company later that year did a production of another MST-ed film, The Brain That Wouldn't Die.[26]

Despite its newly gained cult popularity, the general opinion on the quality of the film remains much the same. The film consistently appears near the top of the Internet Movie Database's list of the 100 worst films ever made, as voted for by the site's users. As of April 23 2007 Manos is at #12, and has received more votes than any other film in the top fifty.[27] Manos also holds a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the one positive review posted for the MST3K episode rather than the film itself (which was described as "unwatchable").[28][29] The June 10, 2005 issue of Entertainment Weekly contained an in-depth article which also proclaimed Manos as "The Worst Movie Ever Made"[1]

The scene in which Debbie is dressed as one of the Master's wives has also attracted the attention of observers due to the implications of pedophilia.[9] The crew of Mystery Science Theater 3000 later included the scene in a list of the most disgusting things they had seen.[30] Further cynicism is directed at the fact that "Manos" is the Spanish word for "hands"; thus, when entirely translated into English, the movie's title is Hands: The Hands of Fate.[1][10][29]

Cast

File:HalWarrenDianeMahree.JPG
Diane Mahree as Margaret and Hal Warren as Michael.
  • Diane Mahree as Margret.
  • Jackey Neyman Jones as Debbie.
  • Tom Neyman as The Master.

Minor characters

  • The Master's Wives (played by Stephanie Nielson, Sherry Proctor, Robin Redd, Jay Hall and Bettie Burns).
  • "The Make-Out Couple" (played by Bernie Rosenblum and Joyce Molleur). Two teenagers who spend the entire film making out in a car. Their role in the film is unclear.
  • The Police Officers (played by William Bryan Jennings and George Cavender). Two police officers who spend the film attempting to get the "make out couple" to move their car. Near the film's climax, they make what appears to be a very half-hearted attempt to investigate the events at the lodge.

After Manos

Hal Warren attempted to pitch another script he had written called Wild Desert Bikers, but with the failure of Manos no one he approached showed any interest in producing it.[7] Attempts to turn the screenplay into a novel were equally unsuccessful.[18]

Reynolds committed suicide not long after the movie was made, reportedly either through a self-inflicted gunshot wound[21] or a drug overdose[7]. Some accounts claim he sffered from a drug addiction and according to Jackey Neyman Jones, Reynolds was usually quite high during filming.[2][12]

Rumors long claimed that other cast members had also killed themselves shortly after the release of the movie: Diane Mahree, the female lead; Sherry Proctor, one of The Master's wives; and Joyce Molleur, the female half of the "make-out couple." However, the makers of Hotel Torgo, a 2004 documentary about Manos, researched these rumors and found no obituaries or any other evidence to confirm them.

The IMDb has reported that the screen actor Benton Jennings is the son of William Bryan Jennings, who played one of the police officers.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Ross, Dalton. The Worst Movie Ever Made, 1. Entertainment Weekly, 2005-06-06. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Brandt, Richard. "The Hand that Time Forgot". Mimosa 18, 1996. Retrieved on 2006-08-17.
  3. ^ Ross, Dalton. The Worst Movie Ever Made, 2. Entertainment Weekly, 2005-06-06. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  4. ^ Walker, Albert. "Manos" The Hands of Fate recap, 1 The Agony Booth, 2002-08-25. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  5. ^ a b Ross, Dalton. The Worst Movie Ever Made, 4. Entertainment Weekly, 2005-06-06. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  6. ^ Rice, Forrest. Manos: The Hands of Fate. The Mad Movie Mofos, 2005-01-28. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  7. ^ a b c d e 424 - Manos, The Hands of Fate. Daddy-O's Drive-In Dirt. Retrieved on 2007-04-23.
  8. ^ a b Walker, Albert. "Manos" The Hands of Fate recap, 2 The Agony Booth, 2002-08-25. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  9. ^ a b c "Manos" The Hands of Fate. I-Mockery.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  10. ^ a b Manos, The Hands of Fate. BadMovies.org, 2003-03-30. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  11. ^ a b c d Trivia for Manos: The Hands of Fate. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2007-04-23.
  12. ^ a b c Brandt, Richard. Growing Up "Manos". Mimosa 30, August 2003. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  13. ^ a b SEASON FOUR: 1992-1993. Satellite News. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  14. ^ Michael J. Nelson TV Filmography. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  15. ^ SEASON FIVE: 1993-1994. Satellite News. Retrieved on 200-04-24.
  16. ^ SEASON SIX: 1994-1995. Satellite News. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  17. ^ Noise To Signal: MST3K: A Beginner's Guide
  18. ^ a b Ross, Dalton. The Worst Movie Ever Made, 5. Entertainment Weekly, 2005-06-06. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  19. ^ a b Mystery Science Theater 3000: Manos, The Hands Of Fate. DVDreview.com, 2001-11-19. Retrieved on 2007-04-25.
  20. ^ Henderson, Eric. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Essentials. Slant Magazine, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  21. ^ a b Ross, Dalton. The Worst Movie Ever Made, 3. Entertainment Weekly, 2005-06-06. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
  22. ^ Manos The Hands of Fate. Oldies.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-1.
  23. ^ Teenagers From Outer Space. Oldies.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-1.
  24. ^ Neil, Dan. "Why We Love Bad Movies". Los Angeles Times, August 7, 2005, p. I5.
  25. ^ Hallett, Alison. "Manos" The Hands of Fate. Portland Mercury, 2006-1-26. Retrieved on 2006-10-31.
  26. ^ Hallett, Alison. The Brain That Wouldn't Die! Portland Mercury, 2006-07-23. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  27. ^ IMDb Bottom 100. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  28. ^ Manos, The Hands of Fate (1966) Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  29. ^ a b Bracken, Mike. MST3K: Manos: The Hands of Fate. ToxicUniverse.com, 2002-02-01. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
  30. ^ The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Colossal Episode Guide. (Bantam Books: 1996), ISBN 0-553-37783-3.
  31. ^ Benton Jennings. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2007-4-4.
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