Don’t Let the “Leech Woman” Latch onto YOU- Tonight!

Tonight on MeTV- an aging wife, mistreated by her hubby because she has the audacity to grow older, finds a way to restore her youthful beauty- at a terrifying cost! Beware of the "Leech Woman"!

In this 1960 film (which was supposedly made by Universal to fill out a double feature bill headed by "Brides of Dracula"), the aging and alcoholic wife of Dr Paul Talbot drops in at his office, only to again suffer the disdain that he has for her, since her beauty has faded with age and, quite possibly, her imbibing.Paul, coincidentally, has been doing research on slowing the aging process, and is getting nowhere- which may be why he's so nasty to his wife, and drops the bomb on her that he's ready to file for divorce!  As the poor wife June is  about to leave the office, an ancient looking old woman gives her a cryptic yet upsetting prediction- and , when the old lady visits the  doctor in his office, reveals that she isn't as old as she looks- she's actually older! She claims to have been brought to America as a slave over a hundred years ago! She gives him a demonstration of how she has achieved this amazing longevity- with a secret drug from her African homeland. She relates a story that there is a secondary substance which, when mixed with the  longevity drug, can actually reverse the aging process! The old woman, Mala, plans on returning to her homeland and the last of her people.

Paul runs some tests on the drug she left him a modicum of- and , realizing both she and the drug are legit, races home, where June and the couple's lawyer,Neil are discussing the possible divorce. However, Paul has suddenly had a change of heart- there will BE no divorce- June will accompany him on an expedition to find Mala's people, learn the secret of the youth-giving mixture, and restore June to her previous va-va-va-voom! Happy days are here again!...or are they?

Paul hires a somewhat sleazy guide to organize an expedition party and lead them to the dangerous sector of Africa where  the answers lie! Tempers flare again with Paul and June- but worse danger arrives when they are captured by members of Mala's tribe, the Nandi! It seems like they are soon to be sacrificed- when Mala herself  appears. She  is actually a tribal leader- and willing to let the captive group witness the secret of the mixture that will restore her youth. The tribe's tradition is that only women can undertake this transformation- and will have their youth back for a brief time- after which, they are supposed to commit ritual suicide! The shocking secret ingredient for the mixture- is pineal fluid from the brain of a male- which does result in said donor's death!

Seeing  Mala  use the secret formula, June suddenly realizes why her hubby wanted her to make the trip with him- it's no second honeymoon- he wants HER to be a guinea pig for testing the stuff's effects! She makes a vengeful choice- and is indeed transformed back into a young hottie!

After escaping from the tribe, and making a perilous journey back to the USA, June , keeping her transformation a secret, meets with the lawyer Neil and pretends to be her own niece. She is acutely aware that her youth is only temporary, and begins to head out on the prowl  for more unsuspecting male "donors" to keep her looking young- while ending their lives!

This strange story of rejuvenation and revenge stars Coleen Gray as the unhappy June- and Grant Williams, who we have just seen undergo his own transformations recently in "Incredible Shrinking Man" as her lawyer. We'll run down the rest of the cast, and treat you to our memorable hosting of a "Miss Zombie" pageant in Elgin, IL (complete with a "There She is, Miss America" type song), some pointers on prompting the use of stock footage, and more!

"Leech Woman" attaches itself to MeTV tonight at 10 pm eastern/pacific, 9 central, or check on your local listings (or at www.metv.com ) for time and channel where you are! Our Chicago viewers can catch another 40 winks with "Pillow of Death" at 11 am on our sister station, WCIU, the U!

Many thanks for all your best wishes on my anniversary of hitting the air as a horror host- and thanks to the many cool people  who braved the not-so-cool weather conditions  last Saturday to come visit with me at the Brauerhouse in Lombard, IL, for the Hardcore Hearse Club show! Watch for more upcoming appearances, including the usual big Flashback Weekend horror convention appearances coming up later this summer!

Let me wish all the dads a very happy Father's Day tomorrow - anybody can have a child, but not everyone can truly be a father. Thinking of my dad, who's now been gone for two Father's Days- and my "TV dad"- the original Svengoolie, Jerry G Bishop- and hoping those whose fathers have passed will take a moment to remember them as well.

Make sure you join us for "Leech Woman" tonight!