Blue witch nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) is a type of flowering plant belonging to the Solanaceae family. It is also commonly known as bittersweet, climbing nightshade, or woody nightshade. This plant is native to Europe and Asia, but it can also be found in North America, particularly in moist habitats such as riverbanks, forests, and wet meadows. Blue witch nightshade is a perennial vine that can grow up to 6 feet in height. It has thin, trailing stems that can twine around other plants or structures for support. The leaves are oval-shaped with pointed tips, and they are arranged alternately along the stem.
Language: 1/10—I didn’t catch anything objectionable, so the 1 is here as a cushion
Here, the part is played by Kathleen Crowley, who was in her fair share of B movies and Westerns, including The Rebel Set, Target Earth, Female Jungle, and Maverick. Entire family Yes though only older kids will appreciate the deliberate pacing and subtlety Run time 79 minutes Black-and-White Studio Distributor Kino Lorber Aspect ratio 1.
The leaves are oval-shaped with pointed tips, and they are arranged alternately along the stem. The flowers of this plant are purple or blue-violet, with five petals fused together to form a bell shape. They bloom from June to September and are followed by small red berries that resemble cherry tomatoes.
Family Home Theater
A week ago, if you had asked me to name a Western that bridged genres and included vampires, I would have said, “I know, I know: Billy the Kid vs. Dracula!” That 1966 movie is famous for being so absolutely awful that it’s not even laughably bad—an insipid film that’s only known for the blending of genres that everyone thought unique. But a few days ago I became aware of another vampire Western—Curse of the Undead—and it turns out that this black-and-white 1959 film was really the first vampire Western.
What’s more—and here’s the shocker—it’s not a silly movie that takes itself seriously, thereby setting itself up for an audience that likes campy films, films that are wink-wink so bad that they’re kinda good. You need to know this, so you won’t look at the cover art and think, Oh, we’re going to have so much fun making fun of this rotten film. It’s not rotten and it’s not campy. Writer-director Edward Dein, who would go on to direct Robert Conrad in three TV series (Hawaiian Eye, The Wild Wild West, The Black Sheep Squadron), plays this absolutely straight. It’s a surprisingly good drama that treats vampires a little less like Universal monsters and more like what legend says they were. If it were shorter, it might pass for an episode of The Twilight Zone, and tonally it’s very much like the classic monster movies that Universal cranked out in previous decades.
To make the Western aspect work, it helps that one of the stars is Eric Fleming, who played Gil Favor on the highly respected Rawhide (think Blues Brothers!) TV series and also appeared in several episodes of Bonanza, that other long-running TV Western. In this vampire Western, Fleming plays Preacher Dan. Somebody has to have a cross, right?
One of the other stars is John Hoyt, who appeared in such TV Westerns as The Virginian, The Big Valley, Laredo, Wagon Train, Have Gun – Will Travel, Maverick, Laramie, The Rifleman, Death Valley Days, and Union Pacific. All of those Westerns were popular because they were aimed at adults. They were serious dramas and not just Saturday morning formulaic shoot-‘em-ups.
In this film, even the vampire—Michael Pate—worked in TV Westerns that were played for drama, not laughs, including shows like Zane Grey Theater, Maverick, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Sugarfoot, and Broken Arrow. These guys knew how to play cowboys, and it’s both surprising and refreshing that the vampire in Curse of the Undead doesn’t transform into a bat, doesn’t say “I vant to suck your blood,” and doesn’t behave like he just got in from Transylvania. He looks and acts like the kind of gunslinger you’d encounter in the Old West: dark and menacing as a coiled rattlesnake ready to strike.
There’s always a ranch or town boss in a Western who’s the villain, but when there’s a vampire gunman in town any villain is going to seem soft by comparison—even someone like Bruce Gordon, who played Frank Nitti in the old Untouchables TV series and also appeared with Vincent Price in Tower of London. And there’s always a damsel in distress, a delectable morsel-in-waiting in every vampire movie. Here, the part is played by Kathleen Crowley, who was in her fair share of B movies and Westerns, including The Rebel Set, Target Earth, Female Jungle, and Maverick.
If you look at Amazon you’ll see that people who bought an earlier VHS version of the film complained about the quality. Well, there won’t be any complaints about the brand new 2K master used to create this Blu-ray, with a sharp picture that helps to showcase the low-contrast lighting and the creepy elements, so that it almost feels like it came right out of Universal’s famed monster series. Except this one doesn’t have a monster. Drake Robey (Pate) is a mysterious stranger who wears black and a grimace and presents himself as a hired gun. There’s an outbreak of young girls getting mysterious ill, crazy, and dead—in that order—and no one in town suspects this stranger, who lurks the way Universal monsters lurk. No one except Preacher Dan, that is. It might be the only logical flaw in the screenplay by Dein and his wife, Mildred, which presents viewers with not just a classic monster pic but a classic triangle as well, between Dan, Drake, and Dolores. (Triple D? It even sounds like a Western!).
Kino Lorber brought in a big gun to handle the audio commentary: Tom Weaver is one of the leading scholars of the horror genre, especially the Universal horror films from the ‘30s and ‘40s. The author of 35 books, he knows his stuff, and his commentary is well worth a listen. It’s one of the better ones.
Clearly the Universal Monster Pictures were of a particular time, because this one, though very much in the same mold, lapsed into obscurity while the films from earlier decades are regarded now as classics. Maybe it was a little too realistic for classic monster movie fans; maybe Drake just isn’t enough of a monster; or maybe it just came along a decade too late.
Entire family: Yes (though only older kids will appreciate the deliberate pacing and subtlety)
Run time: 79 minutes (Black-and-White)
Studio/Distributor: Kino Lorber
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Featured audio: DTS 2.0
Bonus features: B
Trailer
Amazon link
Not rated (would be PG for some violence and themes of death)
Language: 1/10—I didn’t catch anything objectionable, so the 1 is here as a cushion
Sex: 1/10—Same thing here, just an innocent kiss or two
Violence: 4/10—Pretty nocturnally innocuous, with most of the action off-camera
Adult situations: 4/10—The whole vampire preying on girls and girls acting crazy and screaming before they’re found limp and lifeless can be unsettling, though brief and the real action is off-camera
Takeaway: The trailer pretty much captures the tone and essence of the film, which is surprisingly straightforward
Although blue witch nightshade is an attractive plant, it is considered poisonous. All parts of the plant contain solanine and other alkaloids, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and drowsiness if ingested. The berries are particularly toxic, and their bright color may attract children or pets. It is advised to handle this plant with caution and avoid ingesting any part of it. Despite its toxicity, blue witch nightshade has been used in traditional medicine for various purposes. The plant's berries were sometimes used to treat skin conditions, including warts and eczema. In addition, some cultures believed that the plant had magical properties and used it in rituals or as a protective charm against evil spirits. In modern times, blue witch nightshade is primarily grown as an ornamental plant in gardens. Its delicate flowers and colorful berries add aesthetic appeal to landscape designs. However, due to its invasive nature, it can become a nuisance in some areas. It spreads quickly and outcompetes native vegetation, crowding out other plants and disrupting natural ecosystems. Overall, blue witch nightshade is an interesting plant with both toxic and medicinal properties. While it should be handled with caution, its beauty and historical significance continue to make it a popular choice for gardens and landscapes. Care should be taken to prevent its spread and potential harm to local ecosystems..
Reviews for "The Historical Importance of Blue Witch Nightshade in Traditional Medicine"
1. John Doe - 2/5 stars - I really wanted to like "Blue Witch Nightshade" because I'm a fan of the author's previous works, but this one just fell flat for me. The plot was confusing and felt disjointed, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters. The pacing was also off, with some parts dragging on while others seemed rushed. Overall, I found myself struggling to stay engaged and ended up feeling disappointed.
2. Sarah Johnson - 1/5 stars - "Blue Witch Nightshade" was a complete letdown for me. The writing style was choppy and filled with cliches, making it difficult to become immersed in the story. The characters lacked depth and the dialogue felt forced. The world-building was weak, leaving me with more questions than answers. I was really hoping for a captivating and unique read, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver.
3. Emily Smith - 2/5 stars - I have to admit, I was excited to dive into "Blue Witch Nightshade" based on all the positive reviews I had read. However, I found myself struggling to get through it. The plot was predictable and lacked originality, and the characters felt one-dimensional. The writing also didn't captivate me, as I found it to be overly descriptive without adding much substance. Overall, this book was a disappointment and didn't meet my expectations at all.