Confession time…I’ve always had sort of a soft spot for Bert I. Gordon, ever since wasting perfectly good allowance money to catch 1976’s The Food of the Gods in a theater (yes, I’m that old). While he’s never been considered a great director, those endearingly tacky monster movies from the ‘50s were always a lot of fun…frequently at their own expense. Just ask the Mystery Science Theater guys, who riffed at least a half-dozen of his films.
But considering the budgets he was working with, Gordon’s movies were pretty well assembled and almost always reflected unbridled enthusiasm and confidence. When silly sci-fi and flaky fantasies were no longer paying the bills, Gordon tackled more adult fare with the same fervor, such as 1972’s The Mad Bomber, arguably the craziest film on his entire resume. From a narrative and technical standpoint, it might also be his most accomplished.
Make no mistake, though…this is a sleazy, exploitative slab of grindhouse cinema under the guise of a police procedural. However, there’s also a little demented genius in the basic concept, that of disgruntled serial bomber William Dorn (Chuck Conners), who targets those he blames for ruining his life. Hardnosed detective Geronimo Minelli (Vince Edwards) suspects there was a witness to the most recent bombing. The problem? That witness is a serial rapist currently at-large in the city.
So to stop the bomber, Minelli must first catch the rapist, George Fromley (Neville Brand), which he eventually does after a lengthy sting operation. But Fromley ain’t interested to cooperating, at least until Minelli puts a gun to his head. In the interim, we see Dorn stalking the streets clutching his bag of bombs, occasionally stopping to berate others for their rude or offensive behavior. From the very first scene, Dorn is established as unhinged and intimidating, ready to snap at the slightest provocation. And as played with over-the-top gusto by Connors, we buy it. During these sequences, the film is simultaneously creepy and amusing.
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| "This wouldn't have happened in I was still a Rifleman." |
Elsewhere, The Mad Bomber has its share of implausibilities, goofy dialogue and leering, gratuitous female nudity. At the same time, it’s efficiently directed, well shot and makes effective use of L.A. locations. This ain’t gonna make anyone forget Dirty Harry, but the basic story is interesting and some of the action and violence belies its tiny budget. This includes a spectacularly gory scene showing how thoroughly dynamite can rearrange the human anatomy…a scene that would make Tom Savini proud.
From a historical perspective, The Mad Bomber is certainly a product of its time, both aesthetically and in terms of content, being a bit too rapey to be viewed as anything but ‘70s-era exploitation. Still, the premise is solid and, as usual, Mr. B.I.G. makes the most of his limited resources. On Blu-ray for the first time, Severin Films has given this largely forgotten film a nice restoration and thrown in some interesting bonus features.
EXTRA KIBBLES
TV CUT OF THE FILM
FEATURETTES - Patricia Gordon Remembers Her Father features the director’s daughter in an audio interview, where she reflects on his career with plenty of charming anecdotes; To Be in the Moment is an interview with actress Cynthia MacAdams, who’s featured in a small role as dorn’s ex-wife; On the Trail of The Mad Bomber shows various filming locations, then and now.
BERT I. GORDON INTERVIEW - Not quite an audio commentary, this is a feature length audio interview that plays along with a cut of the film.
AUDIO COMMENTARY - By author Kier-La Janisse and bomb squad detective Mike Digby.
ISOLATED SCORE
TV SPOTS - One for each title the film has been released with.
SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET - Includes photos and an essay, The Mad Bomber Story, written by Andy Turner.
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