classicsoncall Proving once again that I'll watch just about anything, I stumbled across this genre challenged film the other day and decided it merits a look-see based on the title alone. If the principals involved here were attempting to put together the worst film ever I think they came pretty close to succeeding. Yet it doesn't crack my Top Ten Worst Films of All Time, a dubious achievement since I could have made the call either way. So yes, there really are other movies out there that are worse.Since I'm not particularly a Country Western music fan, I had no idea what Ferlin Husky looked like so this was an interesting introduction. He's teamed here with Joi Lansing and Don Bowman in what can only be considered a spoof of the haunted house genre with it's attendant white sheeted ghosts and man in a monkey suit. At one point the flick turns into an espionage story of sorts, with an intriguingly titled spy ring called 'M.O.T.H.E.R.' - the Master Organization to Halt Enemy Resistance. They go up against what I would consider the unnamed 'Forces United to Combat Killer Elite Rebels', as the haunting specter of General Beauregarde would seem to suggest.The film was produced by the Woolner Brothers, a brother team I was unfamiliar with by name, but looking at their filmography, it includes "Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman", so that right there gives them some credibility. For whatever reason, the picture probably should have ended with Woody (Husky), Boots Malone (Lansing) and Jeepers (Bowman) riding off into the sunset with their rendition of 'We're on the Way', but then all of a sudden we're in the middle of a Nashville Jamboree. That was cool enough for featuring a very young Merle Haggard plus a couple other virtual unknowns, but it wasn't enough to save the film. My rating of the picture might have been even lower, but how can you do that to pros like Chaney, Rathbone and Carradine, so I give the film a point for each.

Rainey Dawn This is the worst film - maybe the worst ever filmed. It's horrible and I hate to say that about this film because three of great actors are in it: Rathbone, Carradine, and Chaney. I have not a clue as to why such fine actors in such a crappy movie but they are.I'm going to make a guess here as to the reason this film was made to begin with: Hammer films was pumping out some killer horror films and The Beverly Hillbillies TV series was very popular in 1967 as well as The Grand Ole Opry on TV. So, my guess is that the film makers wanted to sort of capitalize on the popularity of both horror and the country-western/bluegrass thus creating this bloody horrible film.Listen, I hate to bash movies but this film was so bad and unfunny that I had to keep fast-forwarding - watching a little bit then fast-forwarding again.The ONLY reason to watch this movie is if you like some of the older country-western-hillbilly type of music. Watch it if you like Merle Haggard or Ferlin Husky - otherwise you should pass on this film.1/10

bkoganbing A generation earlier country music stars the most prominent of them being Gene Autry got an outlet in films as B western singing cowboys. The B western having gone the way of the dodo bird for country stars to make it on the big screen they would have to find other outlets.Hillbillies In A Haunted House was the second of two films that country singer Ferlin Husky made as the same character, country artist Woody Wetherby, the first being Las Vegas Hillbillies. This time he and girl friend Joi Lansing and brain dead roadie Don Bowman are on the way to Nashville and stop at what they think is a deserted mansion. What it is though is the headquarters of enemy agents after a rocket fuel formula. A woman runs this spy ring played by Linda Ho and her three henchmen are Basil Rathbone, John Carradine, and Lon Chaney, Jr. three players who have acquitted themselves well in the horror film genre.All I can say is that mixing country music with Gothic horror must have stunk up the drive-ins from Saskatchewan to Nashville. I don't recall this film ever making it to New York City, but just as well it didn't. Rathbone, Carradine, and Chaney have the satisfied look of players whose paychecks have just cleared the bank and they're going through the motions. The spies have a pet gorilla around also for what is no discernible reason I can fathom other than to give Joi Lansing something to scream at. Now for country music fans there are a few interludes of some of the top C&W artists of the day like Husky, Molly Bee, Merle Haggard, Sonny James, etc. In fact the last fifteen minutes of the film is just these singers on stage doing numbers with no real attempt to give them background. Fans of the sounds from Nashville did well here, but quite frankly on the whole the film sank like the Titanic.What a comedown for Rathbone, Carradine, and Chaney.

bean-d "Hillbillys in a Haunted House" (1967) is somewhat of a sequel to "Las Vegas Hillbillys," reuniting some of the same "talent." Once again we have a paper-thin plot which is merely an excuse for a whole lotta country music singin'. Unfortunately, however, the plot here--that the hillbillies, on their way to Nashville, spend the night in a haunted house which is really a haven for international spies--is far more annoying than funny. The previous movie had so little plot that it was funny, whereas this movie has just enough plot to interfere since it's not developed. Also, I must admit that it was quite sad to see Basil Rathbone and Lon Chaney reduced to this silliness. Such terrible dialogue spilling out of the mouths of such considerable talents.