Previous William Thomas Sherman Info Page postings, quotes, observations, etc.
www.gunjones.com
“Rush into madness and fire,”
say that we bring forward things plainly incredible; because the precepts about self-restraint wound their ears, which restrain them from their pleasures, to which they have given up their soul, together with their body. But those who, swollen with ambition or inflamed with the love of power, have bestowed all their efforts on the acquisition of honours, will not, even if we should bear the sun himself in our hands, believe that teaching which commands them to despise all power and honour, and to live in humility, and in such humility that they may be able to receive an injury, and if they have received one, be unwilling to return it. These are the men who cry out in any way against the truth with closed eyes. But they who are or shall be of sound mind, that is, not so immersed in vices as to be incurable, will both believe these things, and will readily approach them; and whatever things we say, they will appear to them open, and plain, and simple, and that which is chiefly necessary, true and unassailable...
~ Lactantius (c. 250–c. 325), Divine Institutes (Book VII, ch. 1)
Not so surprisingly, some miss the comedy and farce in what is after a romance or match made in hell. This final scene of "Dr. Phibes Rises Again" (1972) is movingly well done, though still laughable when one takes time to reflect on what it does or might represent.
Someone on YT commented: "You could say that this accurately symbolizes Vincent Price's and Robert Quarry's career at American International. You see back in the day, A.I.P. wanted to replace Vincent with Robert in their future horror films. There was a bit of a rivalry but the two stayed professional. Robert did get to play the title character in the Count Yorga films. but alias Vincent has already left his mark and has an everlasting legacy, while Robert was more or less forgotten by the mainstream."
There is some truth to this; however, instead of Phibes being represented by Price, more appropriately Phibes "on his way" represents where the movie business went and became after 1972; namely, and by and large, a junk factory, ostensibly run by an anonymous cadaver (a view, as many of you will already know, countless YT movie watchers and commentators routinely concur with.)
["Dr Phibes Rises Again-Finale"]
The question is asked: if Robert Quarry was such a talented and gifted actor (and he was), how and why was it more great roles and fame eluded him as much as they did? Though I would not speak as if I quite knew, my guess is that he was perhaps TOO independent minded and honestly outspoken to a degree that ruffled the feathers of some of the more powerful and influential in the movie business. That anyway is my impression. This book Cursed Horror Stars by Mark Iveson furnishes a much welcome review and biography of one of the last of the "I did it MY way" stars, and those of us who didn't already know of him outside some of his films will be charmed and edified to learn what an unusually perceptive, intelligent, yet also humorous and goodtime-charlie character that he was; though admittedly at times crass and vulgar in a manner and to a degree that some of us (myself included) would gladly have preferred was otherwise.
But for all his foibles and shortcomings at least and unlike so many in more recent times in the public spotlight, he was FOR REAL.
https://www.amazon.com/Cursed-Horror-Stars-Mark-Iveson-ebook/dp/B017HL9IWK
...Thus it comes to pass, that whatever is liable to destruction must have been produced. But everything which comes within the sight of the eyes must of necessity be material, and capable of dissolution. Therefore Epicurus alone, following the authority of Democritus, spoke truly in this matter, who said that it had a beginning at some time, and that it would at some time perish. Nor, however, was he able to assign any reason, either through what causes or at what time this work of such magnitude should be destroyed. But since God has revealed this to us, and we do not arrive at it by conjectures, but by instruction from heaven, we will carefully teach it, that it may at length be evident to those who are desirous of the truth, that the philosophers did not see nor comprehend the truth; but that they had so slight a knowledge of it, that they by no means perceived from what source that fragrance of wisdom, which was so pleasant and agreeable, breathed upon them.
~ Lactantius (c. 250–c. 325), Divine Institutes (Book VII, ch. 1)
...That man is sound, he is just, he is perfect. Whoever, therefore, has obeyed all these heavenly precepts, he is a worshipper of the true God, whose sacrifices are gentleness of spirit, and an innocent life, and good actions. And he who exhibits all these qualities offers a sacrifice as often as he performs any good and pious action. For God does not desire the sacrifice of a dumb animal, nor of death and blood, but of man and life. And to this sacrifice there is neither need of sacred boughs, nor of purifications, nor of sods of turf, which things are plainly most vain, but of those things which are put forth from the innermost breast. Therefore, upon the altar of God, which is truly very great, and which is placed in the heart of man, and cannot be defiled with blood, there is placed righteousness, patience, faith, innocence, chastity, and abstinence. This is the truest ceremony, this is that law of God, as it is called by Cicero, illustrious and divine, which always commands things which are right and honourable, and forbids things which are wrong and disgraceful...
~ Lactantius (c. 250–c. 325), Divine Institutes (Book VI, ch. 19)
New York Times best-selling book titles we're most eagerly wishing/waiting for/anticipating. But when?
* Life and Magic Amid the Shadows: The Memoirs of Mr. Magician
* My Story by Jehovah Jira
* The King of the Ghouls -- Tells all as told to Joe Rogan.
whom or whatever + (true and infinite) God = ?
When the Stoics attempt to uproot the affections from man as diseases, they are opposed by the Peripatetics, who not only retain, but also defend them, and say that there is nothing in man which is not produced in him with great reason and foresight. They say this indeed rightly, if they know the true limits of each subject. Accordingly they say that this very affection of anger is the whetstone of virtue, as though no one could fight bravely against enemies unless he were excited by anger; by which they plainly show that they neither know what virtue is, nor why God gave anger to man. And if this was given to us for this purpose, that we may employ it for the slaying of men, what is to be thought more savage than man, what more resembling the wild beasts, than that animal which God formed for communion and innocence? There are, then, three affections which drive men headlong to all crimes: (1) anger, (2) desire, and (3) lust. On which account the poets have said that there are three furies which harass the minds of men: anger longs for revenge, desire for riches, lust for pleasures. But God has appointed fixed limits to all of these; and if they pass these limits and begin to be too great, they must necessarily pervert their nature, and be changed into diseases and vices...
~ Lactantius (c. 250–c. 325), Divine Institutes (Book VI, ch. 19)
I had made a clip, of the sequence at approx. 57:58--1:07:28, which was uploaded to FB and YT, but it could not be aired for copyright reasons. Consequently, for such who MIGHT be interested, here's the whole and which you can navigate yourself to get to that pertinent part of the film.
["The Wizard of Mars (1965) | SCI-FI HORROR MOVIE | L. Frank Baum - Armando Busick - David L. Hewitt"]