"Life is an obscure hobo bumming a ride on the omnibus of art."
A well known but still really great beatnik movie, Roger Cormans Bucket of Blood (1959).
An inept beatnik coffee house waiter named Walter Paisley dreams of being an artist so he will be accepted by his peers. When he accidently kills his landladies cat and has to cover it up by turning it into a sculpture , he becomes the celebrated artist he has always dreamed about. The only problem is that he has to keep killing in order to maintain his status as master sculptor.
Dick Miller (Walter Paisley) appears in quite a few of Cormans films but , I think he really shines here, it's a shame he didn't get too many leading roles. The movie has some really great scenes and the use of lighting in the end, when the reality of the situation begins to dawn on everybody and the chase begins, is really superb. Also has a great jazz score by Fred Katz. Definitly recommended.
"For all there is comes through the eye of the artist."
"What's it called ?"
"Dead cat...?"
"Dead cat ? That's what it's called ?"
"Sure."
"Well, it sure looks dead enough."
"Hey pops, what's happening ?"
"They're makin' a big scene for Walter."
"Who'd he shoot ?"
"He made a cat."
"Sing, go down, you murderer, go down."
"I saw a statue once called 'The Third Time Phyllis Saw Me, She Exploded'"
"Now what kind of a statue was that ?"
"I don't know, it was made out of driftwood and dipped in floric acid...very wild."
"Murdered Man"
"Why is the busboy sitting here ?"
"I'm not the busboy any more."
"How's this pose ?"
"uhh That's fine, that's very good. Just stay like that."
"More champagne, your majesty ?"
"Hear hear."
"where, where ?"
"There, there."
"Walter Paisley is born !"
"Extra Extra. Read about the man who got cut in half."
The chase
"I'll hide where they'll never find me."
"I suppose he would have called it Hanging Man...his greatest work."
Now watch the whole movie right here!
