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MST3K 409 - Indestructible Man

Revision as of 07:06, 3 December 2014 by Dmitrioi (Message Wall | contribs) (→‎Obscure References)
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The Short

Synopsis

For the first part, see episode 406.

In this thrilling chapter, The Undersea City, Crash and Billy manage to escape being blown up. The crew attempts to escape back to the sub, but are captured by a group of Atlanteans, who mistake them for agents of Unga Khan. Unga Khan sends his agents to take the sub crew away from the squad of Atlanteans.

Information

Some folks say that Raymond Bernard, a.k.a. “Crash” Corrigan, got his nickname because he had the physical ability and willingness to do his own stunts. Other folks say that the nickname was invented by Republic Pictures’ publicity department, so that it would sound a bit like “Flash Gordon.”

The Movie

Synopsis

A violent criminal called The Butcher (Chaney) is executed and then brought back to life by a scientist using electricity. The Butcher becomes an invulnerable mute and seeks vengeance upon those who caused his execution. [1]

Information

  • The film's title card does not contain the word "the". The film is also known simply as "Indestructible Man".

The Episode

Host Segments

Prologue: Crow, Tom, Gypsy and Magic Voice have traded voices and the result is quite surreal.

Segment One (Invention Exchange): The Bots explain their trick. The Mads are supposedly having a party and mention a secret invention that is apparently wearable and has lots of catchphrases. Joel and the Bots show their Cereal Novels.

Segment Two: The Satellite of Love Any-Excuse-For-A-Parade Parade features the Undersea Kingdom! The parade goes horribly awry when Gypsy sneezes, causing the Tom Servo balloon to explode.

Segment Three: Joel explains to the Bots how pain is good. They then discuss what they'd do if they were indestructible. Joel's suggestions are less than inspiring.

Segment Four: Joel mimics the Lon Chaney eye squint, and receives the ridicule from the Bots. When the Bots take over, Joel ponders what he has wrought on the world.

Segment Five: Joel and the Bots sign the "No Cops & Donuts Joke Accord". In a coincidence, cops visit Deep 13 to deliver a noise citation for the party.

Stinger: The somehow less-than-Indestructible Man pathetically struggles to move a manhole cover

Other Notes

  • Joel's reference to Crow's "Little Billy" doll from Attack of the Giant Leeches hints at the impending Undersea Kingdom short.
  • During the SOL's portion of the Invention Exchange, Crow describes the Bret Easton Ellis novel American Psycho as "...controversial, yet all-but-forgotten". The novel would return to the popular consciousness after being adapted into a successful film starring Christian Bale in the year 2000.
  • In the first Host Segment, Dr. Forrester states that The Indestructible Man stars Casey Adams "...of Catalina Caper fame." This is not accurate. Dr. F is most likely confusing Casey Adams (who played Lt. Chasen, and who had also worked under the name "Max Showalter") with Del Moore, who played the similarly WASP-ish Arthur Duval in Catalina Caper.
  • Lon Chaney Jr. plays Hakur in the short “Undersea Kingdom” and stars in The Indestructible Man as Butcher Benton. This may be the only episode in which an actor appears in a prominent role in both the short and the feature.

Guest Stars

Obscure References

  • "Ooooh-ooooh, Monte Blue, that's a game for..."

Joel is parodying the Ozark Mountain Daredevils song "Jackie Blue".

  • "Unga Khan, Unga Khan, mad tyrant of Atlantis..."

A parody of the rap from the Chaka Khan song "I Feel For You".

  • "He actually looks like Jimmy Carl Black, doesn't he?" "The Indian of the group."

Jimmy Carl Black was the drummer for Frank Zappa's band The Mothers of Invention, and routinely introduced himself as "the Indian of the group" in reference to his Cheyenne heritage.

  • "It's The Bishop!"

"The Bishop" was a sketch from episode 17 of Monty Python's Flying Circus. The Bishop was depicted as a violent man of action, whose name was used as an exclamation by his surprised targets.

  • "Known for his anthologies!"

A reference to the "Norton Anthologies" published by W. W. Norton & Company.

  • "It's Averell Harriman!"

Averell Harriman was an American businessman and diplomat.

  • "Billy looks like William Frawley!"

Bald, heavyset actor William Frawley is best remembered for playing Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy.

  • "Regular Nina Totenberg, isn't she?"

Nina Totenberg is a correspondent for National Public Radio.

  • "It's Jim Henson's 'Birth of a Nation' babies."

​D.W. Griffith's silent film Birth Of A Nation is remembered for its innovative camera use, and its overt racism (the Ku Klux Klan are celebrated as heroes in the post-Reconstruction South).

  • "Ben Hecht!"

Ben Hecht was a prolific Hollywood screenwriter, beginning in the 1920s.

  • "Any relationship to Dick Cheney?"

Dick Cheney was the United States' Secretary of Defense at the time this episode aired. He later became Vice President under George W. Bush.

  • "...Absorbine Jr...."

Absorbine Jr. is a popular liniment used to soothe sore and tired muscles. The "junior" appellation comes from he fact that the initial Absorbine liniment was developed for horses.

  • "...And my co-host down on the parade route is Mary Frann."

The late Mary Frann was a co-star on the popular 1980s sit-com Newhart. She played Joanna Louden, wife of Dick Louden (played by Bob Newhart).

  • "...And the operator says, forty cents more..."

A line from the Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show song "Sylvia's Mother".

  • "Inspector Henderson and Captain Binghamton! Working together for your future!"

The two scientists who reanimate the Butcher had roles in two popular TV series - The Adventures of Superman and McHale's Navy.

Catchphrases

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