What We’re Watching: Hillbillys in a Haunted House
The name basically says it all when it comes to Hillbillys in a Haunted House(1967). A group of entertainers, on their way to a Nashville jamboree, stop and spend the night at an old haunted mansion. Unbknownst to our singing trio, some bad guys are using the basement as a base of operations for stealing some sort of secret formula from the next town over. The villains include genre stalwarts John Carradine, Lon Chaney Jr. and Basil Rathbone. Why, even George Barrows (Robot Monster, 1953) is on hand as Anatole, the henchman gorilla.
Part horror/comedy and part musical, Hillbillys is essentially a mess. What little plot there is stops dead whenever it’s time for a song. Your enjoyment of the film will vary depending on your tolerance for old school country music. Still, there is a colorful, half-assed charm to the proceedings. Besides, it’s always fun to watch Joi Lansing do what she does best… looking pretty while lip-syncing badly. Below is a clip of one of Joi’s more surreal moments. Gowns, gowns indeed!
