Although Jones appears to be Updike's choice for the position, his confirmation becomes questionable after he takes possession of an ancient coin uncovered in an archeological dig by a former student and starts behaving strangely. The fanciful premise takes place in the imagery setting of Saracen Valley College in California where Jonathan Jones (Tom Poston), professor of Ancient Eastern Languages, is being considered by Dean Joshua Updike (Cecil Kellaway) as the new Dean of the Language Department along with his rival, professor Horatio Kellgore (Jim Backus). Zotz! (1962) was based on a 1947 novel by former naval captain Walter Karig, screenwriter of the Victory at Sea TV series and author of three Nancy Drew novels under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. He wanted to do a whimsical comedy-fantasy but had some reservations about how his fans would respond. ![]() Yet, after making six highly profitable films in a row in that genre, he decided to try something different after Mr. William Castle, the B-movie mogul who built his empire on the clever and outlandish promotions of such films as Macabre, House on Haunted Hill and The Tingler, is best known for his gimmicky horror films. Somewhat relieved, Jonathan returns to college, where he wins both Virginia and the academic post. In the struggle, the coin rolls into the street and disappears into a sewer just as help arrives. He frees them and uses his powers to thwart the attempts of the spies to take the coin from him. Jonathan goes along with the spies but tricks them into returning to the office building where Cynthia and Virginia are bound. Khrushchev orders Communist agents to kidnap and threaten to kill Cynthia and Virginia if Jonathan does not reveal his secret to them. He finds that the American military are also skeptical of the coin's properties, but the Russians are not. Kroner of his sanity, he brings his magic coin to the Pentagon. Jonathan's rival for the post of Dean of Languages, Horatio Kellgore, is quick to take advantage of the situation. Dean Updike suspects that Jonathan is in need of psychiatric treatment and arranges an appointment with Dr. His preoccupation with the coin brings about a number of unusual occurrences, one of which leads to meeting Virginia Fenster, a colleague of whom he becomes enamored. By pointing his index finger he can inflict pain by uttering the word "Zotz!" he can create slow motion and by employing both techniques at once he can cause death. ![]() Jonathan discovers that the coin holds magic powers for its bearer. Jonathan Jones, Professor of Ancient Eastern Languages at Saracen Valley College in California, lives with his niece, Cynthia, who receives an ancient coin from one of Jonathan's former students, now on an archeological dig.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |