Julia Meade, a theatrical, motion picture and television actress, is also well known as a frequent television and print commercial spokesperson.
Her Movies include Pillow Talk, in which Rock Hudson sings a song to her at the piano, Tammy Tell Me True with Sandra Dee, and ZOTZ!, which she stars in with Tom Poston. |
|
|
|
|
|
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
ZOTZ!
1962
A Columbia Pictures Production
Directed by William Castle
Based on the novel by Walter Karig
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
With:
Tom Poston, Julia Meade, Zeme North, Jim Backus,
Cecil Kellaway, Fred Clark, Margaret Dumont
Julia Meade stars as Professor Virginia Fenster in the 1962 Columbia Pictures production of ZOTZ! Like Virginia, Professor Johathan Jones (Tom Poston) is an ancient language expert. Jonathan discovers that a very old middle eastern coin that his niece, Cynthia, receives in the mail has incredible powers. Whoever has the coin can immobilize a person with pain by pointing at them. It can also slow time or kill by invoking the name of the god ZOTZ.
Jonathan discovers the powers as he first deciphers the inscription on the coin. By reading it aloud, he causes a sudden lightning storm to occur. He runs to close a window and there outside is Virginia, naked, having lost her clothes in a lightning strike (this actually does happen). He holds out his coat and she puts it on and comes in. He gives her some of his niece's clothes to change into, which she does as his back is turned. Julia seems to have had a lot of fun with these scenes!
Jonathan and Virginia, strangers at first, grow closer as the plot progresses. They teach at the same college. At a dinner for the retirement of the Dean, Jonathan causes havoc by releasing mice for an unsuccessful demonstration of the powers (he makes a mistake by not having the coin with him). Virginia is amused by it all, and puts on her geek glasses (think Buddy Holly) to watch him.
The college has Jonathan examined by a psychiatrist. But, defiant, he tries to give the secret to the U.S. government. The brass is not amused at the Pentagon, even as he manages a demonstration of it. He is dismissed as a lunatic.
But the coin and its powers are observed at the Pentagon by a Soviet spy. The Russians kidnap him, as well as Virginia and his niece. There is a tense scene where Virginia and Cynthia are bound and gagged and at the mercy of 'Igor', played by perennial bad guy Mike Mazurki. They are saved by Jonathan, and as they run out, Julia doesn't forget to grab her mink stole!
Although the ZOTZ coin is lost in the ensuing chase, the Pentagon is happy to congratulate Jonathan and his new wife...Virginia. The movie ends with them at the Lincoln Memorial, focusing on the inscription over the statue. An all American ending to a movie in which Julia first appears nude.
ZOTZ! employs some ambitious special effects for its day, including a "slow bullet" scene where Jonathan shouts "ZOTZ" and freezes a .45 slug in mid-flight (Matrix fans take note). Additional fun was provided during the film's original run when the theaters handed out plastic ZOTZ! coins as souvenirs. |
|
