July 15 - 21, 2023

 

 

To answer these trivia questions, please email me at scinema@earthlink.net.

Brain Teasers:

Can you name two American actors who were needed to replace Klaus Kinski in two different Italian Westerns?

Tom Betts knew that Dan Vadis replaced Kinski on UN UOMO, UN CAVALLO, UNA PISTOLA, aka THE STRANGER RETURNS. 

Richard Harrison replaced Kinski on ACQUASANTA JOE, aka HOLYWATER JOE.

Which French actress was under contract to Jean Pierre Melville, but asked out of the contract in order to work with other producers, including the makers of Italian Epic movies?

No one has answered this one yet.

Which German actress made only one Italian Western, but is still working steady on German TV? 

George Grimes and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was Iris Berben.

Which Spanish actress worked with directors Don Siegel, Fernando Cerchio, John Berry, Nicholas Ray, Eloy de la Iglesia, Jose Antonio de la Loma and Charlton Heston?

George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was Carmen Seville.

And now for some new brain teasers:

Which Italian actor, born in Milan, made 5 Westerns with director Sergio Corbucci?

Which Western, directed by an Italian, starred three French performers?

Which Italian actor worked with directors Anton Giulio Majano, Nanni Loy, Vittorio Sala, Sergio Corbucci, Francis Ford Coppola and Marco Vicario?

Name the movies from which these images came.

George Grimes and Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's frame grab of Iris Berben in VAMOS A MATAR, COMPANEROS.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's photo of Jean Sorel, Adriano Cornelli and Ilaria Occhini in L'UOMO CHE RIDE, aka THE MAN WHO LAUGHS.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

No one has identified the above photo yet.

Can you name from what movie it came?

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I am interested in knowing what movies you have watched and what you enjoyed or not. So please send me an email at scinema@earthlink.net if you'd like to share. Here's what I watched last week:

Enjoyed:

Doc Martin series eight (2017) - As with The Big Bang Theory, the show runners finally realized that having the main couple always on the verge of breaking up was annoying, so now we see them trying to make it work. 

Indie Sex: Extremes (2007) - Remember when the Independent Film Channel used to have programming related to Independent Films? They also used to make original programming like a series exploring issues of Sex In Movies. This installment explored fetishism in mainstream films - years before 50 SHADES OF GREY kind of killed the issue. Also the trend to have unsimulated sexual activity in non-pornographic films.

Indie Sex: Teens (2007) - This program seems to think that movies about teenagers having sex began with SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS in 1961. Did they not see 1959's  A SUMMER PLACE? I did, and I'm still pissed at the song in GREASE - "Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee. Lousy with virginity." Have they not seen A SUMMER PLACE?

Indie Sex: Censorship (2007) - This is a pretty good rundown on the attempts to control the portrayal of sex in American movies.

Dinner for Five (2005) - Kevin Smith guest hosted a roundtable chat with J.J. Abrams (before he took over Star Wars), Mark Hamill (before he returned to Star Wars), Jason Lee (after he did the voice of the villain in THE INCREDIBLES) and Stan Lee (before IRON MAN started the MCU). Remember when the Indepdent Film Channel used to have interesting programming?

McCartney 3 2 1 (2021) - There are plenty of clips during these 6 half hour chats between Paul McCarthney and Rick Rubin on Hulu.

Stan Lee (2023) - One of the most enjoyable elements of this Disney + documentary is the images of how the super heroes looked in their original comic book incarnations. And the playing of the Merry Marvel Marching Society flexidisc.

Mildly enjoyed:

Doc Martin series six (2013) - There's a lot that I enjoyed in this season, but I am really tired of Louisa expecting Martin to perform socially without her really telling him what she expects him to do, and then once again threatening to leave. And the season finale being turned into a "race against time" is irritating. And so is making PC Penhale the object of physical humor.

Doc Martin series seven (2015) - The Doc and Louisa are living apart most of this season, which is irritating, but at least the attempt at couple's therapy helps Louisa to realize that she must accept that she is part of the problem.

                                                        

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Charles Gilbert Watched:

MAN FROM CAIRO (1953) B&W. George Raft mixes it with familiar future peplum stars in a tale of intrigue set in Algiers. He seems a bit too old for romance with Gianna MariaCanale. I had expected a bigger role for Massimo Serato. Mino Doro proves to be the heavy.

SORRY, WRONG NUMBER (1948) B&W.  Quirky melodrama with Burt Lancaster as husband of an invalid heiress (Barbara Stanwyck) who overhears a murder plot on the phone. Fraught with flashbacks that only complicate. No happy ending.

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David Deal Enjoyed:

THE BLACK PIT OF DR. M (58)

THE BRIDES OF DRACULA (60)

MAKING APES (19) - Documentary on the makeup artists who created the masks for The Planet of the Apes.

HELVETICA (07)

THE TERROR (63)

Mildly Enjoyed

THE STONE FLOWER (46) - In old Russia, a young malachite sculptor becomes entranced with seeing the fabled stone flower inside of Copper Mountain. Trouble is, anyone who sees it can never escape its beauty, and becomes enslaved by the mistress of the mountain. Another magical film from director Aleksandr Ptushko (The Sword and the Dragon [Ilya Muromets], The Day the Earth Froze [Sampo], etc.) This takes nearly an hour to really get going but the visual interest is there from the beginning, capturing the feel of a fairy tale.

THE CREEPER (48)

Did Not Enjoy

THE LONG ARM OF THE GODFATHER (72) - A none-too-bright, low level gangster (Peter Lee Lawrence) robs his boss (Adolfo Celli) of a shipment of guns with plans to sell them to some Arabs for big bucks. Things don't work out. Nardo Bonomi's neo noir is a by-the-numbers crime film with very little to recommend it. It has a ruddy look and the only halfway appealing character is moll Erika Blanc, who is mistreated as usual. Skip it.

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Angel Rivera Enjoyed:

"Knights of the Round Table" (1953) MGM's Colorful version of Arthur legend with Robert Taylor as Sir Lancelot and Ava Gardner as Queen Guinevere. Lots of old fashioned sword fights. No magic like in "Excalibur"(1981), but still a visual delight.

"The Moon is Down" (1943) A Norwegian village is defiant to the Nazi bastards who have come to occupy their little village. A must see movie based on a Steinbeck novel.

"My Man and I" (1952) Ricardo Montalban is a Mexican immigrant who has just become a US citizen. Goes to work for Wendell Corey who decides to cheat Ricardo out of his hard earned pay. But Corey might also be a little bit jealous of the attention his wife, Claire Trevor is paying Ricardo who works the field shirtless. As Ricardo tries to get his pay thru legal means, he has time to help out Shelly Winters, an alcoholic bar girl. A very satisfying and interesting ending.

"Three Outlaw Samurai" (1964) for any one who likes Chambara.

"Mr. Mom" (1983) Great performances by Michael Keaton and Ann Jillian. The technology is a little dated, but after all the film was made in the eighties. Another document of its time.

"American Masters: Waterman--Duke: Ambassador of Aloha" (2022) Interesting documentary about swimming and surfing legend, Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku.

Mildly enjoyed:

"Helen of Troy" (1956) Italian actress Rossana Podesta stars as "the face that launched a thousand ships." She also played Princess Nausicaa in Kirk Douglas' "Ulysses"(1954). Here she shows little chemistry with her Paris, played by Jacques Serna; almost prettier than Podesta. As the film was directed by Robert Wise, there are some interesting scenes.

"Sodom and Gomorrah" (1962) Stewart Granger and dozens of desert scenes. The female cast is very interesting and includes: Pier Angeli; Scilla Gabel; Anouk Aimee; Claudia Mori and Rossana Podesta.

"Dolemite" (1975) Seventies time capsule. Unfortunately some bad attitudes about prejudice still prevail'

"Bloody Mama" (1970) Shelly Winters is Ma Barker. Robert De Niro, Don Stroud, Robert Walden and Clint Kimbrough are "Ma's boys". Depression era action made to cash in on popularity of "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967)

"Flareup" (1969) Raquel Welch is a go-go dancer on the run from demented Luke Askew who is trying to kill her. James Stacy is in there too as Raquel's love interest. Stacy co-starred with Welch in her first featured role in "A Swingin' Summer" (1965)

"Showdown" (1973) Dean Martin and Rock Hudson are childhood friends who end up on opposite sides of the law. Susan Clark is the woman in the middle. Hudson, now a sheriff, has to track down his old pal, Martin for train robbing. Has some interesting plot twists and interesting ending.

"Ladies of the Chorus" (1948) One of Marilyn Monroe's earliest roles. Here Marilyn sings "Every Baby Needs a Da Da Daddy". Mostly for Marilyn fans of which I am one.

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Bertrand van Wonterghem Highly enjoyed:

Asteroid city (2022, Wes Anderson)

Enjoyed:

Guardians of the galaxy- vol 3 (2022, James Gunn)

Carry on Jack (1963, Gerald Thomas)

The avengers – episode “Two's a crowd” (1965, Roy Baker)

Der Frosch mit der Maske (1959, Harald Reinl)

The invaders – episode “Valley of the shadow” (1967, Jesse Hibbs)

Mildly enjoyed

Scary movie (2000, Keenen Ivory Wayans)

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