Of the two movies featured on this disk, Doctor of Doom rates a higher score if only because it was the film that set the standards for all the wrestling women vs. monsters sequels that followed. A mad doctor exerts his power over a hulking, ape-man assistant named Gomar who kidnaps women for brain experiments. When the operations fail repeatedly, one of the surgeon's minions concludes that the women's "IQs were extremely low....we'll achieve better results from a superior brain with a high IQ from a young and intelligent woman." But where can you find an intelligent woman? In the wrestling ring, of course. Pretty soon Gloria Venus and her tag team partner, Golden Rubi, are being stalked as the most logical choices for the next batch of experiments. Before the madness comes to an end, Gomar's brain gets transplanted into the body of one of Gloria's gal pals who is rechristened "Vendetta," and challenges our heroine to an arena death duel.
In a formula that would be copied repeatedly over several decades, wrestling sequences alternate with scenes of monster mayhem, resulting in a unique horror hybrid exclusive to Mexican cinema. There's no denying that Doctor of Doom is nuttier than a fruitcake, even without Murray's over-the-top English dubbing, and it's guaranteed to kill more brain cells than a six-pack. But if you're a confirmed horror fan, you'll sit transfixed in slack-jaw amazement at this south-of-the-border novelty. From the tacky sets (Gomar lives in a basement cell surrounded by storage crates, bric-a-brac and slabs of beef hanging from the ceiling) to the incongruous use of music (light cocktail jazz accompanies Gomar's abduction of the two female wrestlers), Doctor of Doom is unlike any American genre film you're likely to see. Among the long list of favorite scenes, however, one stands out. When a police inspector goes to the telephone to warn his almost deaf grandmother of a killer on the loose, he yells into the receiver at full blast, "GRANDMA DEAR, DON'T GO OUT TONIGHT!" Was this the original inspiration for the "News for the Hard of Hearing" skit with Garnett Morris on Saturday Night Live? In 1974, Doctor of Doom was remade as Night of the Bloody Apes (also available from Image Entertainment) though it's a much more explicit version with female nudity, rape scenes, and real heart transplant surgery footage.
The co-feature, The Wrestling Women Vs. the Aztec Mummy, is just as demented as Doctor of Doom and reunites most of the cast from the latter feature. This time around Gloria Venus and Golden Rubi are battling "The Black Dragon," an Asian archvillain who is killing off any archaeologist who stands in the way of a coveted Aztec treasure. Of course, the tomb in question carries a curse, one that involves a mummy named Xochitl. It's hard to decide which is more hilarious, the tattered, dissipated-looking mummy or the oversized rubber bat it transforms itself into during battles against the female wrestlers. And for eye candy, you've got the luscious Lorena Velazquez (Gloria) and Elizabeth Campbell (Rubi) in an ever-changing wardrobe of tights and leotards.
As usual, this Something Weird double feature comes with an overload of extra features, which total over 3 1/2 hours of viewing time. Among the highlights are an episode from the monster musical kiddie TV show, "Ghoul-A-Go-Go," an accompanying booklet, "The Wonder World of K Gordon Murray" by Charles Kilgore, Rob Craig and David F. Friedman, Chill-O-Rama trailers for Black Pit of Dr. M (1958), Little Red Riding Hood and the Monsters (1960) and other Murray releases. Although the snapper case claims that the two features are "digitally remastered," don't expect the Criterion Collection treatment. Both films have their share of visual imperfections and the black and white levels often look too soft but overall these defects won't detract from what is a fun viewing experience.
For more information about Doctor of Doom/Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy, visit Image Entertainment. To order Doctor of Doom/Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy, go to TCM Shopping.
by Jeff Stafford
