Missives From A Former Redhead

….many years ago
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The Doclopedia #1,944

Bonus One Shot Theme: Attack Of The Yellow Snowman

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Produced, directed and starring notorious filmmaker Jack Wanker, this movie was probably the pinnacle of his low budget career.

Filmed over a 15 day period in July of 1968, it had a budget of $90,000.00. This was twice both his usual budget and shooting schedule. The movie co-starred Wanker’s 3^rd wife, Dorothy Hooks, and featured Wanker regulars Bip Bipperson, Walter Loo and Patsy Noskowitz. Most of the film was shot near Big Bear Lake, California.

The plot involves a evil killer snowman brought to life by “Satan’s Urine”. Satan was played by Loo in what looks like a kid’s Halloween costume. Once brought to life by satanic piss, the snowman goes on a killing rampage, trying to kill 13 victims so Satan can return to earth. The creation scene was filmed in a medium shot with crushed Styrofoam substituting for snow. Satan also mentions that his piss, besides being deadly toxic, will keep the snowman from melting. This was a rare explanation for some plot hole in a Wanker film.

The rest of the 96 minute movie consists of the usual terrible acting and dialog as any Wanker movie. Wanker plays Detective Nick Cutter and Hooks plays Sister Mary Jane, an expert on Satan. The snowman is played by Wanker, Loo or Bipperson, depending upon the scene. The costume was made from a gorilla suit left over from “Curse Of The Death Ape”. It was pretty much just shaved down, spray painted white & yellow and padded with pillows. It mst have been hell to wear on the 95+ degree days of shooting.

The movie premiered on drive in screens on Halloween, 1968 and lasted about 2 weeks. Wanker made an estimated profit of $200,000.00, some of which he used on his next movie, “Bongo Beach Beast”.