To answer these trivia questions, please email me at scinema@earthlink.net.
Brain Teasers:
In which French Western does the film end with the victim of rape killing one of the gang who raped her, but the one who did not participate in the rape?
It was UNE CORDE... UN COLT..., aka A ROPE... A GUN...., aka CEMETERY WITHOUT CROSSES.
Which American actor went to Italy to make a Western and brought along some authentic Colt .45s which he then rented to various productions?
No one answered this question yet.
Which actress became a star because of her dance in NEL SEGNO DI ROMA?
George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was Chelo Alonzo.
Which actress, born in Sweden in 1931, made Sword and Sandal, a Western, Horror and Art films in Italy?
George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was Anita Ekberg.
And now for some new brain teasers:
In which Western is Sergio Leone often cited as making a guest appearance, but he doesn't?
In which Italian produced Western does Sam Peckinpah make a guest appearance?
By what name is Guido Lollobrigida better known?
Name the movies from which these images came.
George Grimes and Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's frame grab of Brett Halsey (Montgomery Ford), Wayde Preston, Bud Spencer and Franco Borelli in OGGI A ME... DOMANI A TE!, aka TODAY TO ME... TOMORROW TO YOU, aka TODAY WE KILL, TOMORROW WE DIE.
Can you name from what movie it came?
Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's photo of Gloria Milland and Brad Harris in GOLIATH CONTRO I GIGANTI, aka GOLIATH AND THE GIANTS.
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.
Angel Rivera identified last week's photo of Keiko Tsushima in SEVEN SAMURAI.
Above is a new photo.
Can you identify 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:
Mostly occupied with housework, I only watched The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show, some episodes of Season Four of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, an episode of The Punisher, an episode of Profilage, aka The Paris Murders, an episode of Ghosts and an episode of George and Mardy's First Marriage.
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David Deal Enjoyed:
ONDATA DI CALORE (70) - AKA Dead of Summer. Morocco. Bored wife Jean Seberg tries to entertain herself in her modern apartment in the absence of her husband. It is extremely hot and her air conditioning is broken. The sandstorm outside is relentless. When she ventures out, her luck is all bad; her car gets stuck and her attempt to flee by plane fails. Back home she is visited by her doctor and eventually she unravels altogether when her secret is revealed. Arthouse fare from Nelo Risi, Dino's less successful brother. Antonioni is clearly an influence here, and this reminded me of Luigi Bazzoni's ethereal mysteries Footprints (on the Moon) and The Possessed but it is much less compelling. However, this won first prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival so draw your own conclusion. The cropped version online seriously compromises the film.
STRANGE LUCK: THE TALE OF BILL BLACK (23) - Documentary on the comic artist and entrepreneur. This is not a slick production but it is heartfelt.
GENOVA A MANO ARMATA (76) - AKA The Merciless Man. Ex-FBI man and current low-rent PI Tony Lo Bianco is hired by a doctor (Maud Adams) to investigate the kidnapping and murder of her father. She hopes to regain the enormous ransom paid. To make matters difficult, Tony is constantly harassed by cop Adolfo Celi who just plain doesn't like him and his methods, and perpetually beaten up by a gang headed by Howard Ross. To say this is going to be a tough case with lots of twisted loyalties is an understatement. Shot entirely on location in Genoa, Mario Lanfranchi's (Death Sentence) crime thriller has a different feel from its brethren of the time. It plays more like a classic film noir with Lo Bianco working his way thru a maze with many wrong turns. There is plenty of action but no real likeable characters. Still it's worth it even tho some of composer Franco Micalizzi's soundtrack will sound very familiar to fans of the genre. The online version I watched was in black and white which added to the noir feel.
THE INN ON DARTMOOR (64) - Inspector Heinz Drache goes undercover to discover how a dozen inmates have escaped from Dartmoor prison in the last three years. Each of the prisoners made it across the impassible moors to the titular inn, and hightailed it to Africa! How could this happen? Acceptable Edgar Wallace knockoff with music by Peter Thomas and several recognizable faces in the cast.
THE REBEL (80)
BECOMING KATHERINE GRAHAM (25) - Excellent documentary on the head of the Washington Post. She must be rolling over in her grave.
KOYAANISQATSI (83)
CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (72)
A WOMAN OF MYSTERY (57) - Dermot Walsh is a reporter for scandal rag Fact Magazine. He's assigned to dig into the suicide of a young woman and discovers a counterfeit ring and murder. This British thriller moves a good clip and uses voice-over narration in the film noir style. Pretty fun. Hazel Court is a secretary at the mag and Dermot's gal who gets involved in the action.
THE PASSENGER (75)
DAMES DON'T CARE (55)
Mildly Enjoyed:
IL BRACCIO VIOLENTO DELLA MALA (79) - AKA Killer's Gold. Robert Widmark (real name Alberto Dell'Acqua) is hired by mob boss Victor Israel to steal $4 million from a safe. Job done, several of Israel's men try to rob Widmark of the dough. He foils their plan and decides to keep the loot for himself. Sometime later, Widmark is captured by Israel and tortured to spill the whereabouts of the money, but, in true mob fashion, Israel's woman (Daniela Giordano) and two of his men kill Israel, and the four of them head to where the money's hidden. It doesn't end well. Sergio Garrone (Django the Bastard) was never a sure bet and this brutal thriller wears thin early what with the near-constant brutality, repetitive scenes, and lack of star power. To the good is Giordano in various states of undress and the last act that takes place in the photogenic Spanish countryside. This can be counted among the last gasp of the Italian crime thread.
MORIANERNA (65) - A mean old patriarch is hated by his relatives who all live with him an an old dark house. When he announces that he will give away his fortune to charity, he is doomed to die. A moody, Gothic Swedish whodunit where every character is capable of murder. This is slow going but has very gloomy photography and some surprising nudity for the time. Good ending.
EL CASTILLO DE LAS MOMIAS DE GUANAJUATO (73) - Pretty sure you can figure out the English title. In order to live, a mad doctor must have the hormones of people in pain. So, he raises the mummies of Guanajuato and charges them with kidnapping the local folk and putting them to torture. Luckily, there are three masked wrestlers (Superzan, Blue Angel, and Tinieblas) around to foil his plans. This is the third and last of the "Mummies..." trilogy and, while it does not have Santo or much in the way of talent behind or in front of the camera, it does have its oddball charms. Strictly for those with a taste for the bizarre and the inept. The score by Bernardo Serrano is occasionally cool but does not work very well here; it lacks the tension badly needed for the subpar action scenes.
IL SESSO DEL DIAVOLO - TRITTICO (70) - AKA Sex of the Devil - Triptych. Rossano Brazzi, his wife Maitena Galli, and his assistant Sylva Koscina head to Istanbul on holiday. They rent a villa on the Bosphorus that is supposedly haunted by the ghost of the previous owner, a sculptress who hung herself in a tree on the property. Before long strange things start to happen. Does the creepy housekeeper have some sort of supernatural hold over the group? One of a number of erotic thrillers being made at the time featuring nude scenes and spooky goings on. This one does have those ingredients but they aren't very compelling. Directed by Oscar Brazzi, Rossano's younger brother who didn't have a very good handle on the mix. Borderline entertaining.
Did not enjoy:
HAYTABO (71) - Biochemist Eddie Constantine stumbles upon the notes of a professor who believes he's discovered a sort of immortality using time travel. Eddie, intrigued, begins to search for the professor, whom he ultimately finds. A deservedly obscure art film from Ulli Lommel (the Boogeyman franchise) that will try the patience of most viewers. The photography is good but Eddie is the only one of the actors with any gravitas. There is a cameo by Rainer Werner Fassbinder that is not worth the wait. Eddie seems bemused by the whole thing.
SENZA SAPERE NIENTE DI LEI (69) - AKA The Unknown Woman. Philippe Leroy is an insurance investigator working on the case of the suspicious death of a policyholder. He begins following the daughter (Paola Pitagora) of the dead woman and ends up falling in love with her. An Italian mystery in the classic detective mold which takes the character study route as opposed to that of a thriller. That means there is more talking and less action until the downbeat ending. The Morricone score is a major asset.
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Angel Rivera Watched:
"THE CLOWN" (1953)
Red Skelton, one of my all-time favorite comedians, stars as a comedian who is trying to raise his son as a divorced single father whose career is in the slumps and is need of a comeback. Skelton shines in the role and brings the right amount of pathos with comedy. The character gets to make a comeback on a TV show highlighting his type of comedy. (Red Skelton had just started his own long running TV show when he did this film.)
"THE BIG COUNTRY (1958),
A great American western with a great cast. Stars Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Charles Bickford, Alfonso Bedoya, (of "We don't need no stinking badges" fame), Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Chuck Connors, and Burl Ives in his Oscar winning role. With direction by William Wyler. and a great musical score by Jerome Moross.
"HOTEL RWANDA (2004)
Powerful true life depiction of the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994. As true to the real story as possible. Powerful performances led by Don Cheadle as the manager of the Hotel des Mille Collines in Rwanda where thousands of refugees where protected from the genocide.
"I AM RAQUEL WELCH (2025)
Interesting documentary about one of the most beautiful actresses of her day. Every male who grew up in the sixties and seventies dreamed about this female.
"I AM LUKE PERRY (2025)
Documentary about likeable actor who was a heartthrob in the nineties due to his role as "bad boy" Dylan McKay on the TV series, "Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990-2000)
Red Skelton, one of my all-time favorite comedians, stars as a comedian who is trying to raise his son as a divorced single father whose career is in the slumps and is need of a comeback. Skelton shines in the role and brings the right amount of pathos with comedy. The character gets to make a comeback on a TV show highlighting his type of comedy. (Red Skelton had just started his own long running TV show when he did this film.)
"THE BIG COUNTRY (1958),
A great American western with a great cast. Stars Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Charles Bickford, Alfonso Bedoya, (of "We don't need no stinking badges" fame), Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Chuck Connors, and Burl Ives in his Oscar winning role. With direction by William Wyler. and a great musical score by Jerome Moross.
"HOTEL RWANDA (2004)
Powerful true life depiction of the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994. As true to the real story as possible. Powerful performances led by Don Cheadle as the manager of the Hotel des Mille Collines in Rwanda where thousands of refugees where protected from the genocide.
"I AM RAQUEL WELCH (2025)
Interesting documentary about one of the most beautiful actresses of her day. Every male who grew up in the sixties and seventies dreamed about this female.
"I AM LUKE PERRY (2025)
Documentary about likeable actor who was a heartthrob in the nineties due to his role as "bad boy" Dylan McKay on the TV series, "Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990-2000)
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Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed:
The southerner (1945, Jean Renoir)
Urutoraman : kûsô tokusatsu shirîzu / Ultraman (1966) – episodes 4 to 7
Carry on screaming (1966, Gerald Thomas)
Hound of the Baskervilles (1977, Paul Morrissey)
Le grand amour (1969, Pierre Etaix)
Mildly enjoyed:
Sledge Hammer ! - episode “To Sledge with love” (1986, David Wechter)
Prophecy (1979, John Frankenheimer)
Coup dur chez les mous (1956, Jean Loubignac)
Did not enjoy:
Talos the mummy (1998, Russell Mulcahy)
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