The Undertaker and His Pals (1966)

THE UNDERTAKER AND HIS PALS (1966)
Article 3666 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 8-13-2011
Posting Date: 8-28-2011
Directed by T.L.P. Swicegood
Featuring Ray Dannis, Warrene Ott, James Westmoreland
Country: USA
What it is: Gore comedy

An undertaker and two restaurant workers combine forces to increase business. They form a biker gang that goes out and mutilates people, and then the undertaker gets the burial business while the restaurant workers use parts of the victims in their meat dishes.

According to IMDB, this movie got banned from a number of theaters until it was edited down to its present 63 minute length. In this form, it seems a little tamer than the usual Herschell Gordon Lewis movie of the period, and it’s more overtly comic. It’s bad, but it’s not quite as bad as I expected; some of the comedy works well enough to get by. Granted, it’s played a little too broad, but the undertaker’s business tricks are amusing; he charges a ridiculously low price and then ups the price with “extras”, and he also gives green stamps (seeing what his bare-bones funeral is like is a highlight). The acting is better than expected as well, though I’d hardly call it good. Yes, it’s tasteless and often stupid, but that’s no surprise. I’ve seen far worse.

1 Comment

  1. bofsensai's avatar

    Hi: Agreed (again) for as you put, reference, in a sort of Herschell Gordon Lewis type oeuvre; yet note, possibly a prior inspiration for, since its idea (the gore / surgical shown stuff) here predates his first ‘Gore’ offering by some five years! Plus, in any case, worth tolerating to watch for opportunity to see rare appearance of buxom Karen Ciral, (scantly clad / half dressed at that, too; plus, stay for her ‘credits’ pop up, too), as died relatively young (at 34, from a drunk driver impact.) On which, mechanics and, er, rigid inspired acting, you’ll also get to see the machinery of: contemporary ’64 / ’65 Triumph Bonneville motorbikes and a cool convertible Buick Wildcat in Harry’s car, too.

    Surely worth the time of sitting through entry!

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