To answer these trivia questions, please email me at scinema@earthlink.net.
Brain Teasers:
Which Spanish actor, who made both Westerns and Sword & Sandal movies, was born in 1916 and died in 1990?
George Grimes, Bertrand van Wonterghem, Angel Rivera and Tom Betts knew that it was Fernando Sancho.
Which Spanish actor, who made both Westerns and Sword & Sandal movies, was born in 1903 and died in 1982?
George Grimes, Bertrand van Wonterghem, Angel Rivera and Tom Betts knew that it was Jose Nieto.
In what movie did Gerard Tichy play Jeffrey Hunter's step father?
George Grimes, Bertrand van Wonterghem, Angel Rivera and Tom Betts knew that Tichy played Jospeh in KING OF KINGS.
And now for some new brain teasers:
Which Spanish actor was promised the role of Tuco in THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY if Eli Wallach said no?
Which American actor did Gordon Mitchell think was going to be his co-star in BRENNO IL NEMICO DI ROMA before he found out that it would be Tony Kendall?
Which American actor thought he would co-star with Steve Reeves in ROMOLO E REMO before Gordon Scott was cast?
Name the movies from which these images came.
George Grimes, Tom Betts, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's photo of John Philip Law in DA UOMO A UOMA, aka DEATH RIDES A HORSE.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
George Grimes identified last week's photo of Charlotte Rampling in IL PORTIERE DI NOTTE, aka THE NIGHT PORTER.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
George Grimes and Angel Rivera identified last week's photo from THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN, aka THE MASTER KILLER.
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:
Enjoyed:
VENOM: THE LAST DANCE (2024) - Having been a screenwriter on the previous two VENOM movies starring Tom Hardy, Kelly Marcel was given the chance to direct this one. When we meet Rhys Ifans as a fellow taking his family on a road trip to see "Area 51", he engages everyone in a sing-along with David Bowie's "Space Oddity". At that point the movie had me as a fan. This was followed by a snippet of Cat Stevens' "Wild World", another favorite. I was quite surprised to find myself emotionally moved by how the story played out. And I very much enjoyed seeing Juno Temple and Chiwetel Ejiofor in the cast.
Did not enjoy:
THE FILE OF THE GOLDEN GOOSE (1969) - I fell in love with Hilary Dwyer in WITCHFINDER GENERAL, aka THE CONQUEROR WORM, and was always looking to see her in something else. Among the disappointments in THE FILE OF THE GOLDEN GOOSE is that her character is killed soon after being introduced. Reportedly a reworking of 1947's T-MEN with John C. Higgins getting screenwriter's credit for both films, FILE plays almost like an episode of TV's Dragnet with Patrick Allen providing a lot of narration. Blacklisted Hollywood actor Sam Wanamaker moved to England and established himself in theatre, becoming most famous for recreating Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. He eventually became a director, first on television and then on feature films. FILE was his first movie and I saw it when it first came out. I didn't much like it or his follow up THE EXECUTIONER. I didn't much like SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER either, but I figured to give FILE another look when it played on TCM. The only pleasure I found on the re-watch was seeing the British supporting players. Charles Gray became a favorite with THE DEVIL RIDES OUT, aka THE DEVIL'S BRIDE, and here he seems to be preparing for THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. I knew I had seen Edward Woodward before I saw THE WICKER MAN for the first time, and now I know from where. Adrienne Corri was a familiar face from many films like THE VIKING QUEEN. The film did make good use of location work around London.
WILD ORCHIDS (1929) - With Synchronized music and sound effects, WILD ORCHIDS came out just as the "silent" era was being replaced by "soundies". The dialog is all seen in intertitles. Based on the novel HEAT by John Colton, this movie tells the usual story of an older businessman, Lewis Stone, married to a younger woman, Greta Garbo. They take a ship to Java so that Stone can invest in tea plantations. Garbo thinks of the trip as a second honeymoon, but the husband is neglectful. Also on the boat is Prince Nils Asther, who immediately shows an interest in Garbo. Garbo is horrified when she sees Asther beat his servant, but she doesn't tell Stone. Asther seeks out Stone and invites he and Garbo to stay at his home in Java, which horrifies the woman, but she keeps silent because her husband thinks that this is business. Eventually, Asther invites Stone and Garbo on a tiger hunt. By this time, Stone has become convinced that Garbo is being unfaithful with Asther, so he sabotages the Prince's gun. When the Prince raises his gun to shoot Stone, he suddenly realizes that he can't defend himself from the approaching tiger. Garbo realizes what her husband has done, and rushes to stop the hunt. She is too late to prevent the Prince from being mauled by the tiger, and then the husband kills the animal. Stone is horrified that Garbo has found him out, and she is furious that he would think she was unfaithful. Luckily, the Prince isn't dead, and when the doctor states that Asther will recover from his wounds, Stone sets out to return home alone. However, his faithful wife is already in the car ready to go home with him. Sidney Franklin is the credited director.
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Angel Rivera Highly enjoyed:
"JOURNEY TO SHILOH" (1968)
A story about seven young men who are off to join the Confederacy at Richmond in its war against the Union during the US Civil War, and end up at the battle of Shiloh, Tennessee. Of interest are the actors who play the seven young men as each one would have varying success in their careers. I first saw this film when it was released back in 1968, when it first premiered and at the time the only actor I was familiar with was Paul Peterson, as I knew of him from his role in the "Donna Reed" Show. Of the main lead, James Caan, I didn't know him at all. This film would be years before he would be immortalized as "Sonny Corleone" in "The Godfather" (1972). At the time of this film , he was probably best known for his role in the Howard Hawk film "El Dorado" (1966) opposite John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. The other actors in the film were: Michael Sarrazin, probably best known at the time for his role opposite George C. Scott in "The Flim-Flam Man"(1967); the aforementioned Paul Peterson; Don Stroud, who would go on to costar opposite Clint Eastwood in "Coogan's Bluff" (1968) and play one of the Crickets in "The Buddy Holly Story" (1978); Michael Burns, a popular teen-age actor best known for various teen-age character roles; Jan-Michael Vincent, who would gone on to gain fame for the TV series, "Airwolf" (1984-1987) as well as numerous other roles. Another actor who would make it big after his role in this movie was Harrison Ford. I guess you all know what happened to him. Beside a great theme song (based on the song, "The Yellow Rose of Texas") which is used to advance the narrative of the plot of the film, the film depicts how each of "the seven boys from Texas"would meet their fates. Given the time the film was released, it was probably meant as an allegory for the Viet Nam conflict which was raging at the time. The film also showed the truths about the conflict between the states that the characters had only heard about. A recommended film.
A story about seven young men who are off to join the Confederacy at Richmond in its war against the Union during the US Civil War, and end up at the battle of Shiloh, Tennessee. Of interest are the actors who play the seven young men as each one would have varying success in their careers. I first saw this film when it was released back in 1968, when it first premiered and at the time the only actor I was familiar with was Paul Peterson, as I knew of him from his role in the "Donna Reed" Show. Of the main lead, James Caan, I didn't know him at all. This film would be years before he would be immortalized as "Sonny Corleone" in "The Godfather" (1972). At the time of this film , he was probably best known for his role in the Howard Hawk film "El Dorado" (1966) opposite John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. The other actors in the film were: Michael Sarrazin, probably best known at the time for his role opposite George C. Scott in "The Flim-Flam Man"(1967); the aforementioned Paul Peterson; Don Stroud, who would go on to costar opposite Clint Eastwood in "Coogan's Bluff" (1968) and play one of the Crickets in "The Buddy Holly Story" (1978); Michael Burns, a popular teen-age actor best known for various teen-age character roles; Jan-Michael Vincent, who would gone on to gain fame for the TV series, "Airwolf" (1984-1987) as well as numerous other roles. Another actor who would make it big after his role in this movie was Harrison Ford. I guess you all know what happened to him. Beside a great theme song (based on the song, "The Yellow Rose of Texas") which is used to advance the narrative of the plot of the film, the film depicts how each of "the seven boys from Texas"would meet their fates. Given the time the film was released, it was probably meant as an allegory for the Viet Nam conflict which was raging at the time. The film also showed the truths about the conflict between the states that the characters had only heard about. A recommended film.
Enjoyed:
"THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE" (1969)
Listening to the theme song from "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" ("Jean") on the radio and hearing of the death of Maggie Smith, who won an Oscar for playing Miss Brodie and seeing that the film was airing on one of the cable channels and I had never seen it, I thought I would catch it. First of all, on first viewing it reminded me of that movie with Julia Roberts, "Mona Lisa Smile"(2003) about a teacher at an all girls school. Except that movie features a teacher with young women, whereas "Miss Brodie" deals with young girls on the cusp of puberty. Miss Brodie is a semi-interesting character especially for the time and place when the picture is taking place: the mid 1930s at Edinburgh, Scotland. (The Roberts film takes place in the mid 1950s at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, USA) Unusual for the times Miss Brodie espouses admiration for men like Mussolini and Franco, both Fascist leaders of their respective nations. She also has a very messy romantic life as she had an affair with one of the married professors at her school and is now romantically involved with another male teacher at her school who is a "very nice man", but nowhere near as dashing as her former lover. The film follows her life as she influences the young girls in her charge. Maggie Smith gives a bravura performance. The film has a quality that leaves one wondering about the influence Brodie has on her students as all does not turn out well. But is still worth a viewing.
Listening to the theme song from "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" ("Jean") on the radio and hearing of the death of Maggie Smith, who won an Oscar for playing Miss Brodie and seeing that the film was airing on one of the cable channels and I had never seen it, I thought I would catch it. First of all, on first viewing it reminded me of that movie with Julia Roberts, "Mona Lisa Smile"(2003) about a teacher at an all girls school. Except that movie features a teacher with young women, whereas "Miss Brodie" deals with young girls on the cusp of puberty. Miss Brodie is a semi-interesting character especially for the time and place when the picture is taking place: the mid 1930s at Edinburgh, Scotland. (The Roberts film takes place in the mid 1950s at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, USA) Unusual for the times Miss Brodie espouses admiration for men like Mussolini and Franco, both Fascist leaders of their respective nations. She also has a very messy romantic life as she had an affair with one of the married professors at her school and is now romantically involved with another male teacher at her school who is a "very nice man", but nowhere near as dashing as her former lover. The film follows her life as she influences the young girls in her charge. Maggie Smith gives a bravura performance. The film has a quality that leaves one wondering about the influence Brodie has on her students as all does not turn out well. But is still worth a viewing.
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David Deal enjoyed:
SOMEWHERE IN BERLIN (46) - War-torn Berlin. The local kids play army with contraband fireworks and have complicated relationships with the adults in their lives. When one of the boys' father returns from the war, depressed and despondent about starting over, it triggers a renewed interest in the lives of all involved. One of the first of the "rubble films" shot in the decimated Berlin after WWII. Fascinating, not only for the milieu of destroyed buildings but in the destroyed and nearly destroyed lives of the inhabitants. Highly recommended.
FROM HELL TO TEXAS (58)
GUNFIGHT AT RED SANDS (63)
LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD (60)
THE CRAWLING EYE (58)
HERCULES UNCHAINED (59)
TALES FROM THE CRYPT (72)
THE MAD GHOUL (43)
Mildly enjoyed:
THE SECRET OF MONTE CRISTO (60)
CAPITAINE SINGRID (68) - Agent Elga Andersen helps to foil the take-over plans of a small African country by a group of mercenaries led by Robert Woods. Woods falls for his real-life sweety Andersen which helps the mission immensely. Director Jean Leduc seems to have little flair for this type of material, shooting it in a dull, by-the-numbers fashion. Deserved of its obscurity.
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Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed:
The renegade / Black' 47 (2018, Lance Daly)
And now for something completely different (1971, Ian McNaughton)
The wild wild west – episode «The night of fire and brimstone » (1968, Bernard McEveety)
The invaders – episode « The captive » (1967, William Hale)
Mildly enjoyed:
La cloche tibétaine – épisode «Le piège » (1974, Michel Wynn & Serge Friedman)
Circus world (1964, Henry Hathaway)
A scandal in Paris (1946, Douglas Sirk)
Siege at red river (1954, Rudolph Maté)
Did not enjoy:
Raging bull (1980, Martin Scorsese)
A double tour (1959, Claude Chabrol)
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