February 8 - 14, 2025

 

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

Brain Teasers:

In which Italian Western does everyone kill each other over a bag of gold, but we never get to see the contents of the bag?

No one has answered this one yet.

Which Italian Western ended with the hero murdering an unarmed man with a sword?

Tom Betts knew that it was UNA RAGIONE PER VIVERE E UNA PER MORIRE, aka A REASON TO LIVE A REASON TO DIE, aka MASSACRE AT FORT HOLMAN.

On what Italian Western did Stefan Grossman contribute a vocal performance?

Angel Rivera knew that it was A MAN CALLED SLEDGE.

George Grimes and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was AMICO, STAMMI LONTANO ALMENO UN PALMO, aka BEN AND CHARLIE.

Tom Betts knew that the it was both A MAN CALLED SLEDGE and AMICO, STAMMI LONTANO ALMENO UN PALMO, aka BEN AND CHARLIE.

What was the first Italian Western for which Gianni Ferrio compose the music?

Angel Rivera, George Grimes, Bertrand van Wonterghem and Tom Betts knew that it was UN DOLLARO DI FIFA back in 1960.

For which Italian Western did Rodd Dana sing the theme song?

Angel Rivera, George Grimes, Bertrand van Wonterghem and Tom Betts knew that it was MASSACRO AL GRANDE CANYON, aka MASSACRE AT CANYON GRANDE, aka MASSACRE AT THE GRAND CANYON.

And now for some new brain teasers:

Which Italian actress, born in 1944, worked with directors Alberto Lattuada, Vittorio Sala, Pierre Gaspard-Hult, Giulio Questi, Christian Marquand and J. Lee Thompson?

Which Italian actress, born in 1937, worked with directors Marc Allegret, Pietro Francisci, Terence Young, Jose Ferrer, Don Medford, William Asher and Ferdinando Baldi?

Which Italian Western is thought to have been inspired by the Greek tragedy ORESTEIA by Aeschylua?

Name the movies from which these images came.

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Alex Cord in UN MINUTO PER PREGARE, UN ISTANTE PER MORIRE.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

Bertrand van Wonterghem and  George Grimes identified last week's photo of Giuseppe Mattei, (unknown), Mara Lane and Brad Harris in ANNO 79: LA DISTRUZIONE DI ERCOLANO, aka 79 AD: THE DESTRUCTION OF HERCULANEUM.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

Bertrand van Wonterghem and George Grimes identified last week's photo of Silvana Mangano in RISO AMARO, aka BITTER RICE.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab from THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI.

Above is a new 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:

Enjoyed:

DIE NIBELUNGEN, TEIL 1 - SIEGFRIED, aka WHOM THE GODS WISH TO DESTROY Part 1 (1966) - Now this is more like it. After 15 hours of Richard Wagner's ponderous opera cycle, a breezy 91 minute movie followed by an almost two hour conclusion was quite enjoyable. Gone are most of the references to Wotan and Valhalla, gone are the Rhinemaidens and twins who become lovers, gone is the idea that the dragon was a giant who used a magical helmet to turn himself into a monster to guard his gold. This story starts with court bard Hans von Borsody singing the song of the great hero Siegfried, played by Uwe Beyer, who forged a great sword and killed the dragon which was protecting the gold of the Nibelungen, a race of elves. Having tasted the blood of the dragon, Beyer heard a bird, which told him to bathe in the dragon's blood to make his skin invincible. Unfortunately, Beyer didn't notice that a tree leaf fell on his back, leaving a kind of Achilles' Heel vulnerability. Seeking the treasure, Beyer was attacked by Alberich, played by Skip Martin, the King of the Nibelungen. Beyer took from him an helmet which made the wearer invisible. Martin swore to become our hero's loyal servant, and warned him to not put on the ring found in the treasure for it would bring misfortune. The elf explained that the ring belonged to Brunhild the Queen of Iceland, played by Karin Dor, who was cursed to fall into a deep sleep surrounded by flames. Beyer decided to return the ring to Dor and awaken her. He did this and she bade him to stay with her in Iceland, but Martin convinced him to return and become the King of the Netherlands. Established as King, Beyer now seeks a wife, and has heard of the beautiful Kriemhild, played by Maria Marlow, the daughter of the virturous Christian King of Burgandy, Gunther, played by Rolf Henniger. Henniger is more than happy to have Beyer wed Marlow, especially after Beyer defeats a Saxon invasion. However, Henniger also seeks a wife, and knowing that Beyer knews Dor, he asks our hero to introduce the two of them. Seeing a ship approaching Iceland, Dor rejoices at the thought of Beyer returning, and is crushed when she finds out that he's hoping she'll marry Henniger. Dor proclaims that she can only marry a man who can best her with stone, spear and sword. Henniger knows that he is unable to match her in strength, so Beyer suggests that he'll put on the invisibility helmet and win the contests in which Henniger will pretend to compete. Defeated, Dor agrees to marry Henniger. but is obviously jealous when she sees how affectionate Beyer is with Marlow. Howevere, Dor still wears her chastity girdle, which Henniger will have to take off her inorder to make her his wife. Again Beyer puts on the invisibility helmet to help Henniger and Dor seems content to have been bedded. However, Marlow sees Beyer hide the chastity girdle in a trunk. Thinking that Dor is trying to steal away her husband, Marlow puts on the girdle to mock her in public. Realizing that she been deceived by not only Henniger but also by Beyer, Dor wants revenge. Henniger's kinman, Hagen, played by Siegfried Wischnewski, suggests that the only way to avoid scandal for is Beyer to die. He then convinces Marlow that he knows Beyer has a vulnerable spot and that if she sews a marker into his clothes, he could then better protect during the coming hunt. It isn't until after Wischnewski kills Beyer with a spear through his back, that Marlow realizes that she had been tricked. Over Beyer's dead body Marlow swears revenge on everyone involved in the hero's death. Austrian born director Harald Reinl had already proven  himself with the sucess of the Winnetou movies based on the books by Karl May. His wonderful eye for location photography is very evident here, especially when the production went on location to Iceland. His ability to tell a story clearly was also appreciated.

DIE NIBELUNGEN, 2. TEIL - KRIEMHILDS RACHE, aka KRIEMHILD'S REVENGE (1967) - This is more complicated than director Fritz Lang's 1924. Here, Marlow gives birth to Beyer's son before giving out gold to the populace to remind them that Wischnewski murdered Beyer. To stop this, Wischnewski steals the Nibelungen gold, and kills Martin when he tries to follow. Marlow accepts the wedding proposal of Attila the Hun, played by Herbert Lom. Wischnewski and Henniger agree with a plan to stop her on the road and kidnap her son to be placed in a monastery. The plan goes wrong and the baby is killed. Marlow continues on to Lom's palace, where she becomes a good wife and births a son. To celebrate the birth, Marlow invites her whole family to Lom's palace. Wischnewski suspects that it is a trap, but finally agrees to go, too. Marlow convinces Lom's brother, Sam Burke, to attempt an assassination of Wischnewski, but the villain is warned and kills Burke. Convinced by eye witnesses that Wischnewski acted in self-defense, Lom decides to forgive the death of his brother. At a feast held in the guest mansion, Lom is celebrating his son when Marlow's new plan of attacking the guests with an army happens. Wischnewski immediately responds by killing the baby, so Lom finally agrees to have all of the knights of Burgundy killed. Marlow is allowed to execute Wischnewski herself, and then she throws herself on a sword to end her agony. While I've gone into a lot of detail about this film's plot, I did not mention that among the Knights of Burgundy is Giselher played by Terence Hill. Marlow is crushed that she can not convince him, one of her brothers, to turn against Wischnewski. But as her brothers have all vowed to be loyal to fellow knights, they parish with the villain. As one character comments, "That's the price you pay for being loyal to a murderer." One element which makes director Harald Reinl's version of DIE NIBELUNGEN superior to Fritz Lang's is in the portrayal of the Huns. Lang shows them to be sub-human, while Reinl shows them to be a lot of Yugoslavian extras wearing false eyelids. And Lom brings a sense of dignity to his role.

Mildly enjoyed:

The Old Man (2022) - A 15 episode series on FX, The Old Man starts off terrifically with two episodes which I believe come straight from the Thomas Perry novel. Then the series bogs down into another familial drama about spies, which is at least better than Alias. Jeff Bridges leads a strong cast including John Lithgow, Alla Shawkat and Amy Brennerman with some nice support by Jessica Harper, Joel Grey and Janet McTeer. Unfortunately, the show did not get a third season, so it ends with a rather annoying cliffhanger.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: TRANSFORMANIA (2022) - I don't enjoy many animated feature films, but I get a kick out of the HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA series. 

PANIC IN THE YEAR ZERO! (1962) - This is the only film on which Ray Milland is credited as the director, and he reportedly had difficulty being both the star and the director. In any case, the resulting film isn't embarrassing, though making a surviving a nuclear attack story may seem wrong. Milland and his family (Jean Hagen, Frankie Avalon and Mary Mitchel) set on a fishing trip when behind him L.A. goes up in a mushroom cloud. Along the way they deal with price gougers and a trio of young thugs (Richard Bakalyan, Rex Holman and Neil Burstyn) interested in rape and murder. Joan Freeman is very appealing as a young woman rescued from the thugs. I saw the trailer for this movie when I was six years old, and I've never forgotten the anxiety it generated in me. 

Did not enjoy:

DIE WALKURE Longborough Festival Opera (2024) - This is #2 in the story of Richard Wagner's DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN, but it does not begin where the previous opera DAS RHEINGOLD ended. This begins with a tired and wounded stranger seeking shelter in someone else's home. The wife of the home greets him and bids him to tell her his tale of woe. He talks about being seperated from his twin sister and how his father fought to save a woman from a forced marriage. Eventually, it is revealed that he is Siegmund and she is Sieglinde. They are the twins, and she was forced to marry Hunding. Hunding comes home and eventually identifies Siegmund as the enemy of his kin with whom he will fight in the morning. Sieglinde drugs her husband with a sleeping potion, and eventually shows Siegmund the sword embedded in the ash tree, which only a great hero can pull out. Siegmund knows that the sword, named Nothung, was placed where he would find it when he needed it by his father. The twins proclaim their love for each other, "my sister and my bride", and they run away. At Valhalla, it is revealed that Wotan fathered the twins with a woman from the Volsung. Wotan's wife, Fricka, is angry that Wotan's twins have broken the laws of marriage and she demands that Wotan stop helping Siegmund and that he breaks Nothung, the sword he gave Siegmund. Wotan also fathered the eight women who are the Valkyries. The Valkyries have the job of guiding fallen heroes to Valhalla where they are building an army to fight a potential army created by Alberich if he gets back the ring. Wotan confesses to his Valkyrie daughter Brunnhilde, that he wants to find a hero who doesn't fear the gods and isn't in debt to them. He had hoped that Siegmund would be that hero, but now he orders Brunnhilde to see that Siegmund dies in the combat with Hunding. Brunnhilde appears before Siegmund and the sleeping Sieglinde. She informs the man that she only appears before a warrior is about to die and she offers to take him to Valhalla. When he is told that Sieglinde can not come with him, Siegmund rejects Valhalla saying that he would prefer going to Hell than be without her. Disobeying her father, Brunnhilde tries to help the twins, but Wotan appears and breaks Nothung, allowing Hunding to kill Siegmund. Brunnhilde takes Sieglinde to where the Valkyries are to the powerful music of "The Ride of the Valkyries". She hopes that her sisters will help protect Sieglinde and her from Wotan's revenge. They refuses, but suggest that Sieglinde goes East to where Wotan never goes. Knowing that she is pregnant with what Brunnhilde says will be the great hero the world has ever known, Sieglinde leaves. After a long conversation, in which Brunnhilde says that she knows that she disobeyed Wotan's order, but was true to the love she knew Wotan had for the Volsungs, Wotan punishes her by putting her into a deep sleep. When a mortal awakens her, all of her wisdom and power will pass to the man. To be certain that the mortal would be worthy of her, the sleeping Valkyrie will be surrounded by flames that only an hero who is unafraid can broach. DIE WALKURE is the opera featuring the tune that everyone knows, and is the best piece of music in all four operas. DIE WALKURE also best explains the entire story setting up the maturation of Sieglinde's son, Siegfried, who will seek out the ring which is guarded by the giant Fafner, who has transformed himself into a dragon to protect the gold and the ring. Siegfried does this deed in an effort to understand what fear is. He will be one to awaken Brunnhilde and finally betray her leading to Wotan's desire for an end to the "eternal" gods in GOTTERDEMMERUNG. It is not surprising that none of the movies based on these legends have ever followed Wagner's dramaturgy because it is overly complicated and ultimately unfulfilling.

 

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David Deal Enjoyed:

SOUND OF HORROR (65) - AKA El Sonido de la muerte. When the two halves of a treasure map are brought together, a group of the map's owners begins work in a cave located in Greece. What they find is an invisible, screaming monster that doesn't take to kindly to being awakened. This Spanish horror movie is certainly not great but it doesn't try to be; it's simply a low budget programmer with an interesting idea that it can't quite pull off. Still, I found it fun and engaging. Features early roles for Ingrid Pitt and Soledad Miranda.

BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (69)

DANGER TOMORROW (60) - When doctor Robert Urquhart accepts an out-of-the-way job, he and his wife Zena Walker take up residence in his boss's old house. Zena, who has a hidden history of second sight, has a vision of a man killing a woman in their attic. Is the house revealing its secrets or is she going out of her mind? Swift British thriller that has its tense moments, gloomy photography and doesn't balk at the supernatural angle.

THE BRUTALIST (24)

CULPABLE PARA UN DELITO (66) - Translates to "guilty of a crime." Burned out boxer Hans Meyer gets a call from a friend who says he's in trouble and they need to meet. Before his friend could tell Hans what the trouble is, he is murdered and it looks like Hans is guilty. Arrested for the crime, Hans makes his escape and vows to get to the bottom of this trouble. As Hans traces the clues that lead to stolen diamonds, the killer is following him and the bodies start to pile up. This late cycle Spanish "cine negro" noir has an usual lead in that Hans Meyer was from South Africa. Other that that, the cast is mostly familiar, it has good photography and score, and the film moves quickly. Hans really goes thru the ringer here, suffering multiple beatings and other insults, and the viewer feel sympathy for his plight. Not bad at all.

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE (63) - On the run for accidentally killing a man, Emrys Jones learns of his doppleganger and plans to impersonate him long enough to get away. Scuffling with the man, Jones accidentally kills him (!) but moves forward with his plan. Things go from bad to worse when he discovers that his lookalike was actually a Russian spy! Clever, fast moving British thriller that keeps everyone on edge including a local copper and Jones old girlfriend (Zena Marshall) who shows up. Features a couple of Hammer regulars George Pastell and Marne Maitland.

THE LONE GUN (54)

MALAGA (60) - Trevor Howard is double-crossed by Edmund Purdom after a jewel robbery. Trevor partners with Edmund's girlfriend (Dorothy Dandridge) to find the no-good Purdom and get their share. A British thriller with some unexpected depth, The developing relationship between Trevor and Dorothy is at the soul of this crime film. Recommended.

THE THING (82)

PIT AND THE PENDULUM (61)

THE MUMMY (32)

Mildly Enjoyed 

THE FRENCH DISPATCH (21)

DELTA SPACE MISSION (89)

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Angel Rivera  Mildly enjoyed:

"THE VISCOUNT" (1967)
Kerwin Mathews had been contracted to do three OSS 117 films. He had done two and after returning to France from the US, where he did a TV pilot that did not sell, he was going to do what he thought was the third with a name change. Haven't seen his other two OSS 117 films yet, but he seems to play this role some what convincingly. There is lots of action and lots of sexy girls. Well worth the viewing.

"ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN" Episode: "Flight to the North" (first aired, 10/01/1955)
A pre-"Rifleman" Chuck Connors as hillbilly, "Sylvester J. Superman" to the rescue. "Enuff", said!

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Charles Gilbert watched:

ROPE OF SAND (1947) B&W. Treasure hunter Mike Davis (Burt Lancaster) plans to retrieve diamonds he secreted in an Angolian desert now off limits to the public.

THE CORRUPT ONES (1967) Robert Stack and Elke Sommer in a Euro-spy type film about a search for Chinese treasure. Music by Georges Garvarentz who composed for the memorable ANTHAR L'INVINCIBILE.

RAGING TIDE (1951) B&W. Racketeer Bruno Felkin (Richard Conte), on the lam for a gangland murder, takes refuge on a fishing boat owned by humble captain Hamil Linder (Charles Bickford). Bruno is impressed with the old man's humanity. Alex Nichols plays son Carl Linder.

DO OR DIE (1991) Bush league actioner with Pat Morita playing a criminal megalomaniac who gauntlets a team of young special agents led by Erik Estrada. 

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Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed: 

Renegade Nell (2023) – episode 1

Teurigeo / Unmasked (2024, Yoo Sun-dong) – episode 6

Okura : meikyû-iri joken sousa / Okura : cold case investigation (2024) – episodes 2 to 5

Mildly enjoyed:

The fall guy – episode “The meek shall inherit Rhonda” (1981, Sidney Hayers) with Brett Halsey as guest star

Did not enjoy:

Kraven the hunter (2023, J. C. Chandor)

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