Coleman Francis, the poor man's Mr. Howell
Anthony Cardoza fought in the Korean War and became a welder after returning to the States. When his doctor advised him to stop welding or else he'd lose his eyesight, he decided to head out to California where he met up with Ed Wood and served as a producer on Night of the Ghouls. Wood's constant money issues grated on Mr. Cardoza, so he sought a partner who could work within a budget. He ran into Mr. Francis who was certain he could write, direct and star in his own projects with minimal budgets. They soon began working together on Coleman's famed "Trilogy of Error".
Anthony Cardoza, finally realizing he's in a Coleman Francis picture
Their first film together was The Beast of Yucca Flats. Starring the massive Tor Johnson, this movie was infamous for not being filmed with sound. A narrator fills the audience in on the so-called action, often with non-sequiturs like "Flag on the moon. How did it get there?" Meanwhile, the brutish Tor Johnson staggers around menacing people. It was a hellish slog, but the project's failure didn't faze this movie producing team, who would partner for two more films.
Time for audience go to bed!
Their next collaboration would actually feature the novelty of sound! Filmed without a narrator and utilizing technology in which the dialogue of the characters is synchronized to the action on screen, The Skydivers is nonetheless just as much a slog as Beast. Thoroughly reprehensible characters fill the screen as a jealous harlot tries to get revenge on a sleazy skydiving school proprietor and his helmet haired wife. Bizarrely, Coleman himself guns down the murderess, helmet hair drinks copious amounts of coffee and a curvy giantess dances around with slim hipped gentlemen who she swings around like rag dolls. Sound weird? That's Coleman Francis for you!
Okay, so am I imagining this or-?
The last film in the trilogy is Red Zone Cuba or Night Train to Mundo Fine. This film follows even more reprehensible characters as they attempt to overthrow Castro, commit senseless murders and wreak havoc across the hills above Valencia. This time, both Coleman and Anthony get starring roles as the sleazy "heroes". They do book a known celebrity this time- John Carradine, who slums it for a paycheck. He also croaks the theme song. Seriously.
"Now what was I supposed to tell you? Ah yes, write my check out to 'cash'."
Their trilogy complete, the production team disbanded. Mr. Francis reportedly became an alcoholic living on the streets, passing away of a heart attack in the 1970's, though Mr. Cardoza continues to insist that his old friend might have been murdered. Mr. Cardoza has retired.
