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Episode 426 - Hop-Frog (Patreon)

Published:
2018-11-03 01:55:44
Imported:
2026-06
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POEVEMBER kicks off with the Edgar Allan Poe classic Hop-Frog!

Buy A Deep Horror That Was Very Nearly Awe by J.R. Hamantaschen now!

Special thanks to our reader, Bruce Green!

Next week: The Cask of Amontillado

Comments

Devin Morse

I first became acquainted with the concept of Hop-Frog when I saw the Roger Corman adaptation of The Masque of the Red Death in which someone dresses up as a gorilla and gets burned alive by "Hop-Toad." Regarding the recurrence of orangutans, the offending ape in The Murders in the Rue Morgue was also changed to a chimpanzee in a few films (such as Argento's Phenomena). I assume the filmmakers either discriminated against orangutans or simply recognized them for the lovable stoners they are. Anyhow, Hop-Frog is my favorite Poe story. It was adapted in 1992 by Julie Taymor as a made-for-TV short film entitled "Fool's Fire" (possibly the only way to make Poe's story more badass) with Michael J. Anderson, the groovy backwards-talking guy from Twin Peaks, playing Hop-Frog. James Ensor (Belgium's famous painter!) also made some really striking illustrations.

Mandy Reznor (She/It)

I was happily surprised to hear Unforgiven mentioned--it has to be my favorite Western. Alas, if only this tale had ended with Hop-Frog looking over the streets of the city--torch still in hand--and yelling "I'm coming out. Y'here me? I'm coming out! If anyone's out there when I do, I'll kill him! If anyone takes a shot at me I'll kill him, I'll kill his wife, I'll kill all his friends, and I'll burn his fucking house down!"

Ben Mund

Love the episode, as usual. Initially because of the high-quality of the "Poevember" pun, later because of the high quality of the Poe writing. Been trying unsuccessfully to crowbar story ideas into my suggestion for next month - "Decmember". I am as of yet unsuccessful. I feel as foolish as a morbidly obese obnoxious King who laughs at underlings' pain, but who probably would NOT laugh at the comic stylings of Frankenstein's Monster's topical comedy. Lame.

Hermagoras (pronounced HerMAgoras)

Loved this episode and the story. I think Poe draws from The Odyssey in the setup to the revenge. I recently read Emily Wilson's excellent translation of The Odyssey, and the scene where Odysseus gets revenge is very simiilarly set up. There's a ruse to get all the weapons out of the room (they're sent away to be cleaned) and the doors are all locked. Then there's a game -- as everybody knows, the contest to string the bow and shoot through some axe-heads. As in Poe, the people about to be slaughtered are disarmed both physically and psychologically by the distraction of the event.

Mandy Reznor (She_It)
>>16854136

"Decmember" is strong. There's bound to be enough weird tales about severed body parts and/or mutilation to make it work.

Billy

Something about Poe is synonymous with Christopher Lee's voice to me due to his narrations. I can't read a Poe story without Sir Christopher Lee's voice in my head lol

Steve

Plato's Stepchildren seems possibly inspired by this, to venture into Chris's other podcast.

Anonymous
>>16863846

It certainly would've been a more inflammable and appropriate ending to those putzes, but kirk wouldn't have gotten to do his inflammatory speech.

Andrew Trnacek

Bruce Green sounds a little like Vincent Price

Anonymous
>>16843152

Sweet fancy moses I just watched "Fool's Fire" on YouTube. The fact that other than Hop-Frog and Trippetta, the entire cast is human-sized puppets makes this something that would've made me poop myself if I saw it as a child.

Ilker Yucel (edited)

Comment edits

2026-09-10 01:00 BRUCE GREEN!!! <3
2018-11-06 16:45 BRUCE GREEN!!! <3

BRUCE GREEN!!! <3

Joseph Bromley

I LOVE Bruce Green. What a voice. Fantastic in 'The Ward', loved his story reading (was it 'From Beyond'?) - more from him please! x

Ethan Cordray

I'm so glad you mentioned the historical "Bal des Ardents" that certainly inspired this story. In the historical event, while King Charles VI was one of the dancers and near-victims, the idea for the performance was hatched by Huguet de Guisay, who was (according to chroniclers) infamous for both his wild sense of humor and for cruelly mistreating his servants. The burning was most likely an accident, caused by the king's brother the Duke of Orleans arriving to the party late and ignorantly bringing a torch into the hall (though some thought it was an deliberate act of attempted regicide, since King Charles was mentally ill and Orleans was next in line for the throne and might have been banging the queen...French history is wild, yo). Poe combines the characters of the king and de Guisay into a single reprehensible figure, and gives you somebody to cheer for in Hop-Frog and Trippetta. It's a great use of historical inspiration.

Heather Savino

Great episode. Bruce Green's voice is perfect for Poe. He sounds almost Vincent Price-like, which is high praise as I idolize VP. If you've never checked them out, I highly recommend the iClassics versions of Poe (and Lovecraft too). They are interactive, animated stories with music and sound effects that really bring the stories to life. Their version of Hop-Frog is terrifying.

Steven Vincent

I believe they are planning a big screen modern retelling of this classic Poe story which takes place in the world of famous DJ’s and wealthy nightclub moguls. The working title is “Hip Hop-Frog”

Rafe Ball

If Poe does claw his way out of the grave to pen a vicious tale in response to Chris’ comments, retaliate with a story where Poe gets buried alive at midnight by a drunk orangutan. That’ll see him off.

Clara Meath

I chuckle every time you employ the 'exotic lands' music. Somehow it's always so well suited to everything, from Poe to cannibals to Conan.

Jason Thompson

A bit random here, but... Hop-frog is from "some barbarous region" where there are orangutans... are we supposed to get the impression Hop-Frog and Trippetta are people of color? Of course I know Poe was personally racist so any intentional anti-racist message is highly dubious, but I wonder if there's an implication here.

Anonymous
>>17097262

I always thought they were Roma, don't know why, just seemed to fit the stereotype of court jester and petite beauty in a nineteenth century story.

Philip Cowan

Like most Poe stories, this just comes across as shallow. Nothing more than an unpleasant revenge story. I have to admit, The Tell-Tale Heart is more innovative and interesting, but nothing else I have come across by Poe is worth a fraction of the attention he gets.

nils hedglin

Anyone know if Wilum 'Hopfrog' Pugmire took his nickname from this story?

Anonymous

this one is actually way deeper than I thought when I read some literary criticism on it