To answer these trivia questions, please email me at scinema@earthlink.net.
Brain Teasers:
Which actress was born in Rome on January 16, 1944?
George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was Marilu Tolo.
Which actress was said to have been the only woman fashion designer Valentino had ever really loved?
George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was Marilu Tolo.
Which Italian actress ended her career with a TV miniseries directed by a British fellow who had been the film editor on the early James Bond movies?
George Grimes and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was Marilu Tolo in The Last Days Of Pompeii directed by Peter Hunt.
And now for some new brain teasers:
Which Italian actress made her last appearance in a movie directed by her son?
Which Italian actress made only one Western, which was produced by an Italian, but was written, directed and mostly starred Americans, and was shot in the U.S.?
Which Italian actress, who became an international star, worked as an uncredited extra on QUO VADIS (1951)?
Name the movies from which these images came.
George Grimes and Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's frame grab of Tomas Milian and Marilu Tolo in SE SEI VIVO SPARA, aka IF YOU LIVE SHOOT, aka DJANGO KILL!
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
George Grimes, Bertrand van Wonterghem and Charles Gilbert identified last week's frame grab of Marilu Tolo and Moira Orfei in IL TRIONFO DI ERCOLE, aka THE TRIUMPH OF HERCULES.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's photo of Lee Van Cleef and Marilu Tolo in COMMANDOS.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
No one has identified the above is photo.
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:
Highly enjoyed:
ELVIS'56 (1987) - This hour long documentary detailing the year that Elvis Presley became a star is fascinating. Alan Raymond and Susan Raymond brought together clips from his first TV appearances as well as little seen personal photographs to tell Presley's story, narrated by Levon Helm of The Band. This program clearly shows why Elvis was an important figure in entertainment.
Enjoyed:
ELVIS ON TOUR (1972) - I often get this confused with ELVIS: THAT'S THE WAY IT IS from 1970, but it is a better film, made by Pierre Adidge and Robert Abel, who previously made a film of Joe Cocker's 1970 U.S. tour MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN. Obviously the split screen visuals in director Michael Wadleigh's WOODSTOCK has an influence on ELVIS ON TOUR, which is not surprising as Martin Scorsese again worked here as a film editor.
FANATICAL: THE CATFISHING OF TEGAN AND SARA ((2024) - Erin Lee Carr made a compelling documentary about how someone posing on-line as Tegan Quin has damaged the lives not only of the musician but also many of her fans. Unfortunately, there is no satisfying conclusion to the investigation as to who is "Fake Tegan".
High Potential (2024) - I usually wait until a show has finished its season before mentioning it, and this show has only aired the first six episodes of their first season, but it is the most enjoyable new show I'm currently watching, so I felt compelled to tell everyone about it.
I Am Alfred Hitchcock (2021) - Joel Ashton McCarthy is credited as the director of this very thoughtful documentary on the master moviemaker. The difficulty Hitchcock had getting his first three British films released is news to me and makes up for all of the stories I know about him that weren't included.
Mildly enjoy:
Action Heroes of Movies & T.V. (1989) - The success of STAR WARS and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK revived interest in the serial movies of the 1930, 40s & 50s, so Sandy Oliveri and Film Shows Inc. put together a compilation of clips from those along with some clips from adventure T.V. shows that copied the serial asthetic. The print quality of some clips is rather poor, but are entertaining none-the-less.
Agatha All Along (2024)
Billions season four (2019)
Black Comedy In America season one episode three "70s Sitcoms" (2024)
Only Murders In The Building season four (2024)
Secrets of the Dead "The Civil War's Lost Massacre" season 22, episode 1 (2024)
Did not enjoy:
Batman and Robin (1949) - I've only seen the Goodtimes VHS of this 15 chapter serial, which reportedly is missing several minutes from the first episode. The Republic serial Spy Smasher is thought to be the best of the serials, and I saw it first in my recent viewings. I then watched Columbia Pictures' Atomic Man Vs. Superman. Batman and Robin, aka New Adventures of Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder, is made by the same people who did Atomic Man, but it is thuddingly dull. For all three serials, the capes on the heroes often get in the way of the stunt men's action and look stupid. While Atomic Man is kind of fun with many sci-fi gadgets used by Lex Luthor, B&R gives our heroes just about no gadgets and no explanation as to why they would want to run around in costumes when they are acting just like dime-store private detectives. The Wizard is the villain here and his gadgets look like early designs for what Atomic Man would use next year. Was every men in 1949 required to wear a Fedora hat?
LIBEL (1959) - Loaned out by Rank to De Grunwald Productions, Dirk Bogarde lumps this courtroom melodrama in with most of the films he did under his Rank contract as underwhelming. Under the direction of Anthony Asquith - whom the actor felt was an important teacher, Bogarde is quite good in what turns out to be three roles, but it doesn't rise above its origins as a 1934 play by Edward Wooll. In 1955, Olivia de Havilland had married a French man and moved to Europe, so she was around to make this British film, which also provided a small role for Robert Shaw. Fans of Paul Massie may enjoy his large supporting role.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1923) - I grew up seeing the 1956 version, which seemed to me akin to going to Mass. Later on, I began to see the 1956 version as a rather tawdry melodrama hiding behind conventional religious material. In any case, the original silent version by director Cecil B. DeMille was always something that I desired to see, just as the silent version of BEN-HUR was of interest. Both proved to be disappointing, though not without historic interest. The remarkable thing about the 1923 version of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS was that the story of Moses, or "Prologue" was only the first half of the movie. The second half of the movie was a modern tale, or "Story", about a mother trying to teach her two adult sons the moral necessity of following The Ten Commandments. One son understands, and the other son scoffs. The unbeliever seems to become a big success in the world, and even gets the girl that the good son fancies. Naturally, the unbelieving son comes to a melodramatically bad end, while the good son was there to offer hope to the girl he fancies - after a quick look at Jesus curing a woman of leporacy. The moral message was presented in an heavy handed manner, but with a certain sense of spectacle and energy.
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Bertrand van Wonterghem Highly enjoyed:
Night of the eagle (1962, Sidney Hayers)
Enjoyed:
The haunting (1963, Robert Wise)
Gangmaegang / Seoul busters – season 1 – episodes 13 & 14
Mildly enjoyed:
Goldface, il fantastico superman (1967, Bitto Albertini)
Fenomenal e il tesoro di Tutankamen (1968, Ruggero Depdato)
Tomei ningen arawaru / the invisible man appears (1949, Nobuo Adachi)
Did not enjoy:
Georgie & Mandy's first marriage – season 1 – episode 1
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Angel Rivera Enjoyed:
"BEAU BRUMMEL" (1954)
I caught this one on my favorite cable channel, TCM. I had heard about this film, but knew next to nothing about it. I was under the impression that a silent version was a success for Valentino, but found out later it was actually a success for John Barrymore. This version is a lavish MGM production starring Stewart Granger and Elizabeth Taylor. Now I had never been a big fan of either, but they were two of the best looking stars on the planet at the time. Brummel was a fashion plate in the 19th century and all the women were gaga over him. ("cause every girl crazy about a sharp dressed man.") Now Brummel, beside being "fashion plate" was also a political wit and his criticisms of the Crown bring him close to the Prince of Wales, the future King George IV played by Peter Ustinov. Ustinov is a surprise and nearly steals the show. (I had only known of Ustinov from his role in"Logan's Run'' (1976). So seeing a younger Ustinov was quite impressive.) Granger is also interesting in his role. (I knew of Granger mostly from his turn as Allan Quartermain in 1950s "King Solomon's Mines"). While not necessarily a fan of Taylor's, I had come to appreciate her in some of her early roles. She is stunning as the love interest of Brummel. The main story is of Brummel's friendship with Prince of Wales George and how they become almost like brothers until they have a falling out when Ustinov accuses Granger of deliberately giving the prince bad advise to further his own ends and not the interests of the Prince. While Taylor who is engaged to someone else, struggles with her growing feelings for Brummel. Brummel realizing that he has nothing to offer Taylor, since he has gathered large debts once he doesn't have the protection of the Prince, leaves her behind in England while he goes to France to avoid his creditors.Taylor then marries the man she was engaged to. Only on Brummel's death bed do Brummel and the Prince, now King reconcile. An interesting film with great performances by all.
Mildly enjoyed:
"SUPERMAN AND LOIS" (2024) Season 4; Episode 5: "Break the Cycle"
I am beginning to not like this version of Luthor who is nothing like the Luthors I have known from previous versions of Luthor. This episode is nothing but more filler until the series finale.
BTW,
I found what you watched interesting because I am a big chapter play fan and have both "Atom Man Vs. Superman" (1950) and "Spy Smasher" (1942) in my collection. While I have yet to give time to watch either, I remember the Spy Smasher serial from when its edited feature film version known as "Spy Smasher Returns"(1966) played on TV in the sixties. I have several books and magazines about serials and "Spy Smasher" is considered one of the better ones. Your comment about capes was interesting because while they may have looked good when drawn on paper; they are not really too utilitarian in reality. Just mention Adam West's problems with his Batman cape as an example. The thing about the twin, as you may have deduced was a mere device for the chapter when Spy Smasher is" killed", as Spy Smasher had no twin in the comics. And you were right about the stuntmen being the real stars as Republic Studios usually hired actors who resembled their stable of stuntmen. Even though, like Tom Tyler who portrayed the original Captain Marvel, star Kane Richmond could do many of his own stunts. And for kids every where, smashing furniture is action filled fun.
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Charles Gilbert watched:
VENGEANCE (1968 ) The western version of this title with Richard Harrison, Spela Rozin, Geoffrey Unger, and Alberto del Acqua. Similar to so many others.
DEMOLITION MAN (1993) Disappointing actioner with good guy cop Sylvester Stallone tracking societal menace Wesley Snipes in the year 2032 where Los Angeles has become the Utopian San Angeles as a result of peaceful urban sprawl. Conflict between the two began 40 years earlier and went into abeyance when both were preserved through cryogenics. The plot is heavy on quips alluding to nostalgic American culture. The only restaurant remaining is Taco Bell.
INVADERS FROM MARS (1953) Many familiar actor faces in this classic.
THE THREE SWORDS FOR ROME (1964) The pacifist policies of underage emperor Elagabalus, coached by his doting mother, has put three valiant centurions (Roger Browne, Mimmo Palmera, and Tony Freeman) out of a job. Upon being dismissed by General Mario Feliciani they wander to a small village and get into a brawl at the tavern. The fight takes them out into the street when a passing royal beauty (Lisa Gastoni) is amused by their antics. Temporarily arrested for the disturbance, ( brief stay in prison with a host of peasants included a scene where a baby is being breast fed; how did that get past the censors?) she later proposes their service for training her guards. A banquet in their honor features wrestling brothers Robert and Emilio Messina with whom Maximo (Roger Browne) defeats handily. Behind the scenes a scheme is being engineered by Philippe Hersent to overthrow the existing rulers by killing the king (Nerio Bernardi). Two of the heroic three are blamed and sentenced, as the third (Browne) appears traitorous by dallying with Lisa, but is just playing a ruse to reveal the treachery. The Persians and their king Artaxerxes ( Walter Brandi) get involved with the overthrow, and the Romans, in the end come to the rescue. Wikipedia and IMDb gets the character names mixed up.
BORN LOSERS (1967) Introduction to the Billy Jack character is the best of his four appearances as the ex Green Beret indian. Laughlin's wife Delores Taylor is credited with producing, and briefly appears on the street near the beginning. Quite lurid for mainstream audiences back then. Another American International Pictures - Nicholson & Arkoff release.
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David Deal Enjoyed:
CAVE OF THE LIVING DEAD (65) - I still like this modern German Gothic. Great atmosphere, if not an A-list cast. Would be a good bottom bill with Kill Baby Kill.
NIGHT STALKER (72) - Please refer to the Television Fright Films of the 1970s book.
THE VAMPIRE'S GHOST(45) - This genre-bending title has an "I Walked with a Zombie" vibe, if not the talent behind the scenes.
BRIAN ENO UNDER REVIEW 1971-1977 (11) - About halfway thru I realized I'd seen this before but kept watching because it's an insightful look at the artist's formative years.
NIGHT CHILD (75) - It's funny: whenever this Italian horror comes up my list, I wonder why I still have it. But then I watch it and I remember how entertaining and impressive it can be.
NEIL YOUNG UNDER REVIEW 1966-1975 (07) - Hadn't seen this documentary before and really enjoyed it, fan that I am.
BLACK BELLY OF THE TARANTULA (71) - This is a generic giallo with plenty of style, and an Argento-esque sense of nastiness, but is also solidly by-the-numbers in approach. Morricone's score helps.
CITY OF THE DEAD (60) - An old fave, this set-bound Gothic horror, delivers the goods with an atmospheric, dream-like quality, similar to that of The Haunted Palace.
LONE STAR (96) - I hadn't seen this in a while and it still impresses.
THE VAMPIRE LOVERS (70) - This has been described as one of the "Hammer waning" late-cycle Gothics from the soon-to-expire studio. It is, in the words of the scribe, "underwritten and overwrought" but it does provide some entertainment value.
KILL, BABY KILL (66) - No question, this classic is a top five Bava, if not a top three.
Mildly enjoyed:
WEREWOLF SHADOW (70) - There are other Paul Naschy movies I like better.
SLAUGHTER OF THE VAMPIRES (62) - I'm a fan of Dieter Eppler and it's fun to see him in the forefront but I wish this was a more accomplished film.
THE MAD MAGICIAN (54) - Frankly, this is an also-ran entry in the Vincent Price horror filmography.
THE PHARAOH'S CURSE (57) - I like movies about ancient Egypt and mummies but this has little to hang onto.
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