November 9 - 15, 2024

 

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

Brain Teasers:

Which Italian actress made her last appearance in a movie directed by her son?

Bertrand van Wonterghem, Angel Rivera, George Grimes and Charles Gilbert knew that it was Sophia Loren in LA VITA DAVANTI A SE, aka THE LIFE AHEAD, directed by Edoardo Ponti.

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.?

Bertrand van Wonterghem, George Grimes and Angel Rivera knew that it was Sophia Loren in HELLER IN PINK TIGHTS.

Which Italian actress, who became an international star, worked as an uncredited extra on QUO VADIS (1951)?

Bertrand van Wonterghem, Angel Rivera, George Grimes and Charles Gilbert knew that it was Sophia Loren.

And now for some new brain teasers:

In which Italian Western did Mimmo Palmara hold a knife to Sandra Milo's throat?

Which Italian actor worked with Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Lee Van Cleef, Kirk Douglas and Richard Harrison?

By what name is Robert Kent better known?

Name the movies from which these images came.

Bertrand van Wonterghem, George Grimes and Rick Garibaldi identified last week's photo of Anthony Steffen, Arturo Dominici, Frank Brana, Armando Calvo, Eduardo Fajardo and Miguel del Castillo in UNA BARA PER LO SCERIFFO, aka A COFFIN FOR A SHERIFF.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's frame grab of Edwige Fenech in SATIRICOSISSIMO.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's photo of Edwige Fenech in NUDE PER L'ASSASINO, aka STRIP NUDE FOR YOUR KILLER.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

No one has identified the above 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:

Mildly enjoy:

GLASS ONION, aka GLASS ONION A Knives Out Mystery (2022) - I guess director Alfred Hitchcock's STAGE FRIGHT was the first movie that faked out the audience by having flashbacks which turned out to be lies, and writer/director Rian Johnson takes it further by having most of the characters here be liars. I don't much like who-dun-its, but writer/director Rian Johnson laced this one with enough humor to keep me going. He assembled a terrific cast with Daniel Craig and Janelle Monae being especially fun with an awesome production design by Rick Heinrichs, who also worked on STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER.

THE OUTFIT (1973) - This is an adaptation of the third of Donald E. Westlake's novels, written under the name Richard Stark, featuring the character of career criminal Parker. This is also the third movie based on the "Parker" novels in which the main character is not called "Parker". Here he is called Earl Macklin and is played by Robert Duvall. The plot is straightforward and fairly predictable. Duvall gets out of prison and is picked up by girlfriend Karen Black. He soon figures out that Black has set him up to be killed by an hired gun sent by "The Outfit", who has already killed his brother, Eddie. It is because of a bank job he pulled years ago which was a front for "The Outfit". It is kind of quaint to see this movie now and be reminded of a time when filmmakers didn't want to offend Italian-Americans by referring to "The Mafia". And casting Robert Ryan as the big boss gets one as far away from an Italian-American as you can get. Anyway, Duvall decides that if the bad guys pay him $250.000, he will call the matter over. They don't agree, so he starts to hit various operations run by "The Outfit" until they change their minds. He recruits his old buddy, John Don Baker, to assist in his string of crimes. Eventually, our heroes realize that they have to go after Ryan to end the war. John Flynn takes both the writing and directed credits on this, and he delivers an efficient thriller, which is rather unremarkable. There is some fun to be had with the supporting cast, including old-timers like Jane Greer, Timothy Carey, Marie Windsor and Elisha Cook, as well as younger performers like Richard Jaeckel, Sheree North, Bill McKinney and Joanna Cassidy. For some reason, Hollywood personalities James Bacon and Army Archerd also have minor roles.

Did not enjoy:

T'AMMAZZO!... RACCOMANDATI A DIO, aka I'LL KILL YOU... AND RECOMMEND YOU TO GOD, aka TRUSTING IS GOOD... SHOOTING IS BETTER, aka DEAD FOR A DOLLAR (1968) - I guess this was supposed to be funny, but it only succeeds in being annoying. John Ireland plays a gunman who can't stand noise. In the movie's first scene, he's trying to ask a bartender a question, but three ruffians start by jostling a young woman and then begin firing their pistols to make the old man, who attempted to come to her rescue, dance. Annoyed, Ireland shoots the three ruffians dead. George Hilton pretends to be a priest officiating at the funeral for Gordon Mitchell. As he is looking for Mitchell, Ireland is disappointed. Of course, Mitchell isn't dead. He and Hilton buried the stolen $200,000 in the grave with the idea that after Mitchell recovers from being gut shot, they'll dig it up and divide it. Meanwhile, Ireland finds Piero Vida who knows that Mitchell is alive and where he is hiding. Hilton sets off to find a doctor for Mitchell, but when he returns, Mitchell is gone. Convinced that Mitchell is getting the money without him, Hilton digs up the grave to find the money gone and Mitchell dead. Then follows a tedious series of incidents in which Hilton, Ireland and Vida cross and double cross each other for the money. At one point, the men seem to come to an agreement, and Ireland and Vida set off to be with the woman who loves them. Naturally, it turns out that it is the same woman, Sandra Milo, who then double crosses both of them. Eventually, banker Franco Ressel shows up with a gang including Mimmo Palmara. It turns out that the initial bank robbery was a scam planned by Ressel, who was supposed to divy up the money with Mitchell, Ireland and Vida. They all figure out that Milo has the money, and then Palmara decides to double cross Ressel. Finally there is some gunplay, but then Sheriff Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia shows up to confiscate the money. With the money returned to the bank, Ressel will not get the insurance money he wants and the others have to rob the bank again. Tito Carpi, Luciano Gregoretti and director/cinematographer Osvaldo Civirani get the credit for writing this, and they seemed to have gotten a substantial budget to make it. However, not only is the result not funny, it is tedious and dull. Angelo Francesco Lavagnino does provide an enjoyably tuneful music score. 

IL VENDICATORE MASCHERATO, aka THE MASKED AVENGER, aka GENTLEMEN OF THE NIGHT (1963) - Swashbuckling adventures set in Venice must have been appealing to Italian filmmakers, because they wouldn't have to build all of that fabulous scenery. When a wooden bridge was suddenly shown you just knew that it would be destroyed before the end of the movie. I was expecting it to be burnt up, but, instead, it was chopped down. In any case, GENTLMEN OF THE NIGHT, unfortunately, turned out to be less of a swashbuckling adventure, and more of an historical romance. Gastone Moschin was the Doge who began the movie explaining his philosophy. While a prisoner was being tortured, he explained that one can only rule with brutality. Walking beside the canal at night, Vanni Materassi talked to a friend about the need to overthrow the Doge. Soon they were set upon by a man in a dark cloak and mask showing a dagger, which gave him the power of the Doge to arrest them. Not surprisingly, the young men would rather fight with swords. Also walking beside the canal was Guy Madison, an officer who had just returned to Venice from the War. Leaping into the fray, Madison chased off the attackers, and then found that he had rescued his old friend, Materassi. Materassi invited Madison to a party, where our hero confronted Lisa Gastone. Gastone was Madison's betrothed, but she felt neglected by him going off to War, so she married the Doge. Madison was also reunited with Ingrid Schoeller, who was no longer the little girl he used to know. The film soon got bogged down with Madison still wanting Gastone, and she wanting him, while he developed an interest in Schoeller. who was desired by Senator Jean Claudio. Madison wanted no part in politics until the devious Claudio got Materassi thrown into prison where Materassi's own father, as the Chief Inquisitor, ordered Materassi tortured and garroted. Our hero swore revenge, but lost a scapular during his failed rescue. Knowing that Madison wanted to kill her husband, Gastone pleaded with him to change his plans, and when he refused, she denounced him to Moschin. Needless to say, Schoeller was devastated by Madison's arrest, and sought solace from Gastone. Gastone proved to be the pivotal character in this drama, torn between her duty to her husband and the love for our hero. Eventually, she would set him free from prison to participate in the action finale. Nino Lillo was credited as coming up with the story for this while Marcello Fondato did the screenplay. Director Pino Mercanti began his career in 1934 and had plenty of experience with this kind of film before GENTLEMEN OF THE NIGHT. Unfortunately, here he showed little inspiration, though Madison threw himself into the sword fighting scenes with vigor.

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Bertrand van Wonterghem Highly enjoyed:

Rouge western (doc) (2007, Eric Cherrière) – highly enjoyed the interviews but not enjoyed the fiction between the different interviews.

Enjoyed:

Mondays: Kono taimurupu, look joshi ni kidzuka senai to owaranai / Mondays : see you this week ! (2022, Ryo Takebayashi)

Tomei ningen to hae otoko / The invisible man vs the human fly (1957, Mitsuo Murayama)

Gangmaegang / Seoul busters – season 1 – episode 15

Exhuma (2023, Jang Jae-Hyun)

Mildly enjoyed:

Dolawayo ajeossi / Please come back, mister (2023, Shin Yun Seop) – episodes 10 to 16

Did not enjoy:

Attack of the mayan mummy (1964, Jerry Warren & Rafael Portillo)

Matalo ! (1970, Cesare Canevari)

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Angel Rivera Highly enjoyed:

"VAL LEWTON: THE MAN IN THE SHADOWS" (2007)

Interesting documentary about the man behind such classic horror films as: the original, "Cat People" (1942); "The Leopard Man" (1943); "The Seventh Victim" (1943); and "The Body Snatcher" (1945).

"RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES" (2011)

The best of the rebooted "Planet of the Apes" films. The film tells of how the planet of Men went on its way to becoming the "Planet of the Apes".

"DEADLIER THAN THE MALE" (1967)

A guilty pleasure, I watch and rewatch because it features two of the sexiest actresses of the sixties. Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina play two sadistic female assassins going around in different stages of undress and high fashion. They work for Nigel Green (who also played Nayland Smith in "The Face of Fu Manchu" (1965), here a kind of super criminal. All must face super investigator, Hugh Drummond played by Richard Johnson, who at one time was considered for the part of James Bond, but turned the part down. Although the character, Drummond had preceded 007, in his first appearance in literature; the film was made in the wake of Bondmania.

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Charles Gilbert watched:

FALCON OF THE DESERT (1965). Hero of the desert (Kirk Morris with uncharacteristic jet black hair) allies with Aldo Sambrell (in a propitious role) against evil usurping ruler Atatur (Franco Fantasia). It is revealed that he, Kirk, is the returning heir to the Emir that was assassinated. Robert Messina, departing from his largely stuntman work, gets a prominent role, with his brother Emilio, still active in a tavern fight. With Dina Loy. Tribal battles on horse and camelback are eclipsed by surprisingly literate script. 

TRUCKS (1997) USA-Canadian collaboration based on Stephen King story about old trucks coming to life to terrorize a southwestern town near Area 51. 

Mayday: Cerritos Crash.A DC-9 out of Mexico with 64 crew and passengers collides with a Cherokee private plane, three aboard, on August 31, 1986 near LAX. Both crash in Cerritos, California killing everyone involved plus 15 on the ground. From that investigation the FAA has since implemented the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), thus insuring no recurrance in America.

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David Deal Enjoyed:

AN ANGEL FOR SATAN (66)

BEETLEJUICE (88)

99 RIVER STREET (53) - John Payne is a frustrated ex-boxer trying to make ends meet by driving a cab. His wife leaves him for a jewel thief, and an actress he meets humiliates him in front of her theater troupe. Just when things couldn't get any worse, Payne's wife is murdered and he is the prime suspect. Phil Karlson's film noir is interesting in how it blends the perceptions of the audience with those of the characters and the "reality" of the story. Worth checking out.

THE MAN WHO CHANGED HIS MIND (36) - The perfect title for this British Boris Karloff mad doctor picture.

THE IRON GIANT (99)

THE SECRET OF THE BLUE ROOM (33)

Mildly enjoyed:

BANNING (67) - Golf hustler Robert Wagner is always looking for easy love and easier money amongst the country club set. Up to his chin in debt, he plans to keep his lofty lifestyle by using a little blackmail. It doesn't work. Meandering melodrama with generally unpleasant characters but it does have that 60's style in spades. Features Jill St. John, James Farentino, Guy Stockwell and a drunken Gene Hackman.

THE COMING OF SIN (78) - A lesser but not entirely unworthy softcore fantasy from Jose (Vampyres) Larraz.

THE PROJECTED MAN (67)

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