November 29 - December 5, 2025

 

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

Brain Teasers:

Charles Gilbert asks, "In an interview, what two other actors did Franco Nero say were offered the role of Django?"

George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that they were Mark Damon and Peter Martell.

Which Spanish actress was born in Almeria, Spain in 1938?

George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was Nieves Navarro.

Which American actor, who made Italian Westerns, committed suicide at the age of 43?

George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was Frank Wolff.

And now for some new brain teasers:

From which Italian Western came the song "Lonesome Billy"?

From which Italian Western came the song "Ringo Came To Fight"?

From which Italian Western came the song "Don't Lose Control"?

Name the movies from which these images came.

George Grimes, Bertrand van Wonterghem and  identified last week's photo of Nieves Navarro in EL ROJO.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

Bertrand van Wonterghem, Charles Gilbert and George Grimes  identified last week's photo of Loredana Nusciak and Gerard Tichy in I SETTE GLADIATORI, aka GLADIATORS SEVEN.

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 Richard Harrison in LE SPIE UCCIDONO A BEIRUT, aka SECRET AGENT FIREBALL.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of  Fu Sheng, Richard Harrison and Chi Kuan-Chun in MARCO POLO, aka THE FOUR ASSASSINS.

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:

The American Revolution (2025) - Most documentary mini-series by Ken Burns put me to sleep, but not this one. Co-directed by Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, the 6 part, 12 hour, series flew by with compelling information and new perspectives. Geoffrey C. Ward wrote many of the other Burns programs and he did a masterful job here. 

Mildly enjoyed:

BATTLE FLAME (1959) - Ever since 1984, when I started reviewing every film featuring Richard Harrison, BATTLE FLAME has been the "Holy Grail". No one had a copy of it, and no one had a clue where to find one. And then, this year, it popped up on YouTube. Unfortunately, the film is awful, but having found a copy gives is a little boost in the enjoyment factor. Harrison is listed eighth in the credits, but I couldn't spot him until about the 30 minute mark of this 74 minute movie. Once I spotted him, I realized that as just one of the Marines following Lt. Scott Brady, he could have appeared earlier but with just about everyone wearing an helmet and heavy winter clothing, I could easily have missed him. I recognized  him by his voice at about the 30 minute mark. Lester A. Sansom and Elwood Ullman are credited as writers on this, which seemed to have been fashioned to use available newsreel footage and perhaps some scenes from an unknown bigger budgeted movie. None of the dialogue scenes match the action footage, and all of them seem to have shot on a small sound stage. To tie all of this reused material, Sansom and Ullman - Ullman best known for writing Bowery Boys and Three Stooges movies - came up with a cliched love story about Brady falling in love with nurse Elaine Edwards. They both turn up in the Korean War, where she informs him that she is engaged to Dr. Richard Crane - right before she is to leave on a C40 cargo plane. More newsreel footage showing action occurs with Brady narrating. Then comes the news that the C40 plane crashed and that Edwards and her nurses have been captured by the Chinese. Of course, Brady and his men have to rescue them, but not before Chinese Major James Yagi behaves like a Japanese commander of a prisoner of war camp from a 1940s movie. Eventually, most of the Americans are being safely evacuated from the fighting when Dr. Crane meets Lt. Brady and says that he aught to punch Brady in the nose because Mary told him that she has chosen Brady. At this point Ullman seemed unable to resist putting in a slapstick scene involving a nurse with a strong Southern accent, and a Marine, also with a strong Southern accent, and some mistletoe. In addition to Richard Harrision following Brady, Robert Blake plays Cpt. Pacheco and has a much bigger role where he often isn't wearing his helmet and can easily be recognized. R.G. Springsteen proves that he could deliver a cheapo War film just as badly as he could deliver cheapo Westerns.

Did not enjoy:

THE LOVE MACHINE (1971) - Here's another movie that I've been avoiding for decades. After the great success of her novel VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, Jacqueline Susann became famous for her fictional portrayal of the behind the scenes sex of the rich and famous. VALLEY became a successful movie, so, of course, her next best-seller became a movie as well. Dionne Warwick, who had a big hit with "(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls", came back to sing two songs, "He's Moving On" and "Amanda's Theme". Like the movie of THE LOVE MACHINE, the songs fizzled. Unlike VALLEY, MACHNE featured a man as the central character, and perhaps John Phillip Law wasn't as much of a sex symbol as Columbia Pictures thought. Appearing on a local TV newscast, Law is noticed by Dyan Cannon, the wife of network head Robert Ryan. She convinces Ryan to bring Law into Prime Time, against the wishes of the head of Prime Time, Jackie Cooper. Meanwhile, Law is bedding a number of different women, and seems incapable of making any kind of emotional attachment to any of them. Not surprising, Law begins to bed Cannon, so that after Ryan is laid up from an heart attack, she puts Law in charge of the network. The only person that Law seems capable of any meaningful relationship is David Hemmings, an homosexual photographer. After Hemmings cleans up after the suicide of a model that Law  turned aside, Law asks the man if there is anything that he wants. Hemmings wants an inscribed "slave bracelet", which Law says he can't buy, but that Hemmings gets the okay to buy it himself. Ryan recovers his health and begins to see that Law is a problem. When gossip begins asking if Law is "AC/DC" regarding his relationship with Hemmings, Cannon instigates a brawl when she finds the "slave bracelet". The film ends ambiguously with all of the main characters leaving the Beverly Hills Police Station without giving the Press any statement. Law appears to walk away from Los Angeles, and is finally seen walking in front of the New York City skyline. Did he quit his job? Did he get fired? Did he find some other job? Was there a scandal? Dionne Warwick informs us that "Robin Stone... he's moving on." Will Stone ever resolve his inability to feel love? Reportedly, Brian Kelly was to play the main role, but he had a near-fatal motorcycle accident prior to production. Law replaced him, and had to wear the already made costumes, which didn't really fit him. I didn't notice that. The only thing that I really noticed is a scene where Law is taking a nude shower with twin women, and they turn out to be the future stars of Hammer's TWINS OF EVIL - Mary and Madeline Collinson!

MAUVAISE GRAINE, aka BAD SEED (1934) - Born in Austria in 1906, Billy Wilder went from being a tabloid reporter in Berlin, to being a screenwriter in 1929. After Adolph Hitler came to power in 1933 Germany, Wilder moved to Paris and directed his first movie with fellow emegree from Austria/Hungary Alexander Esway. Pierre Mingand is the spoiled son of a respected physician who relies on his expensive car to pick up girls. After setting a date with Danielle Darrieux, Mingand goes to his father to borrow money. He walks in just as his father sells the expensive car, hoping that this will teach his son that he needs to get a job to earn the money he is so eager to spend. Worried about showing up for the date without a car, Mingand sees a driver leave the keys in a car, and so steals it.  A gang of car thieves see Mingand steal the car, and so force him to drive to their illegal garage. It turns out that Darrieux is part of the gang, as is her brother Raymond Galle. Not wanting to go back to his father's house, Mingand moves in with the brother and sister and joins the gang. Our hero soon annoys Michel Duran, the leader of the gang, because he isn't as willing to go along with the boss' orders. Eventually, Mingand plans to take a boat to Casablanca with the brother and sister, but a police raid ruins his plans. The screenplay by Jan Lustig, Wilder, Max Kolpe and Claude-Andre Puget injects some humor into the crime melodrama, but not enough to make the film compelling. 

PICTURE MOMMY DEAD (1966) - When I think of the film work of Bert I. Gordon, I sometimes wonder how he felt about making movies for over 30 years and never making a good one. But then I remember that I like THE MAGIC SWORD. Anyway, PICTURE MOMMY DEAD finds Gordon turning away from "Big Bug" movies and making a psychological horror movie like William Castle. Bert cast his daughter Susan in his 1958 film ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE, and she worked fairly steadily since - mostly on TV. PICTURE was her last feature film, though she made her fourth, and final, appearance on My Three Sons after it. She married Avraham Aviner in 1977. They had six children, before she died on December 11, 2001 of tyroid cancer. The film begins with Zsa Zsa Gabor lying dead on the floor. Hands come into frame to take a jeweled necklace off her before the flames which had already spread all around the bedroom catch her dress on fire. Three years later, Susan's father, Don Ameche, picks her up from a convent asylum where she had been staying. Ameche introduces Susan to her new mother, Martha Hyer, who had been her governess while Zsa Zsa was alive. When they get home they are greeted by Uncle Maxwell Reed, whose face has the burn scars from his effort to put Zsa Zsa out years ago. Also there is the disagreeable Lawyer Wendell Corey who insists on informing Susan the contents of her mother's will. The film fills its running time with Susan hallucinating Zsa Zsa as well as incoherent flashbacks. Finally, the film settles down to Hyer and Reed plotting against Ameche. They hope to find the missing necklace, which will provide them with the money they desire. Did they kill Zsa Zsa? Does Susan know where the necklace is? Was Ameche "stepping out" on Zsa Zsa with Hyer? It all comes to a rather twisted conclusion that isn't very satisfying.

WICKED PART 1 (2024) - I saw the 1939 film THE WIZARD OF OZ during a theatrical revival in the 1970s and didn't much like it. I have not read any of the 14 novels written by L. Frank Baum, nor have I read any of the 8 novels Gregory Maquire wrote which inspired the Broadway musical WICKED. The idea that a rehabilitation of The Wicked Witch of The West was necessary seemed bad to me, almost as bad and making Dracula an hero in 1992's BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA. So, the future "wicked witch" was the product of an unloved childhood because her mother had been drugged and was made pregnant by a traveling salesman. The drug resulted in the "witch" being green, so she was shunned by all about her. When her wheel-chair bound younger sister was accepted in the very Hogwarts-like Shiz University, the "witch" unexpectedly reacted with magical powers to the ridicule of the students. This brought her to the attention of a Dean of Socery Studies, who saw in her someone who can be used by the fraudulent Wizard to oppress the populace - especially the learned animals that can speak. The "wicked" used the sacred Grimmerie spell book, which only she can read, to fly away at the end of part one. WICKED started with all we knew about The Wicked Witch of the West from the 1939 movie, that she was killed when an house fell on her. Glinda the Good appeared to help celebrate the death of the "wicked", and ended up telling the story of how they knew each other - which made up the main body of the film. From the first time Glinda met the "wicked", Glinda was hateful to the heroine of the story. All of the other students at the school were equally as hateful. Soon, we found out that only the animal teachers at the school weren't hateful, so when the "authorities" dragged them off to be in cages, I was having a miserable viewing experience film. Of course, Glinda was going to have a "character arc" and become "wicked's" ally, but I found no pleasure in seeing the expected plot unfold. All of the elaborate dance sequences were unenjoyable as was the music. Will WICKED PART 2 change my attitude?

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David Deal Enjoyed:

THE TRAP SNAPS SHUT AT MIDNIGHT (65) - Refer to the Eurospy Guide for this entry in the Jerry Cotton series. Hint: it's one of the funnest, in my opinion.

THE TESTAMENT OF DR. MABUSE (62) - I'm really enjoying the Blu-ray set from Eureka!

THE INSATIABLES (69) - Would be nice to see a decent presentation of this Euro potboiler.

THE WITCH (66) 

THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE (61)

LE DEUXIÈME SOUFFLE (66)

Mildly Enjoyed

THE SON OF MONTE CRISTO (41) - Yet another version of the Scarlet Pimpernel that Louis Hayward played many times. My fave version is Edgar G. Ulmer's The Pirates of Capri (49). Also if I want to see George Sanders, I'd rather watch a Saint or Falcon flick where he's not a bad guy.

CROSSING THE BRIDGE (06) - Interesting documentary on the music being produced in Istanbul from all types of musicians in 2006.

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Angel Rivera  Highly enjoyed:

"CAT BALLOU" (1965)
Saw a video on the behind the scenes making of this film. First did not know that the original choice for the role of Cat Ballou was Ann-Margret whose manager turned down the role for Ann without her knowing, and she has stated that had she known, she would have accepted the role. Also that Kirk Douglas and/or  Dick Van Dyke were the original choices for the Lee Marvin role. Then I pulled out my copy of the film. Lee Marvin still gives an Oscar winning performance. Jane Fonda looks great and also gives a great performance.  Stubby Kaye and my all-time favorite singer, Nat King Cole are amusing in their roles of "troubadours" moving the plot along as a form of Greek chorus! Still entertaining, especially Lee Marvin's "drunken" reaction at the funeral of Cat Ballou's father.

"TOP HAT" (1935)
Possibly my favorite of all the Astaire and Rogers films with some of my favorite songs from these movies, "No Strings (I'm Fancy Free)"; "Isn't This a Lovely Day" and "Cheek to Cheek". Watching the dancing between the two stars makes me wish I were a better dancer. Great fun for fans of the genre.

"KING KONG" (1933/2005) [Colorized Version], 
One of my all-time favorite movies, especially to watch now as a traditional Thanksgiving movie. (I forget which channel, but 'King Kong" along with some other movies were shown as a Thanksgiving treat back when I was a kid.) Great music! Fay Wray looks great and gives a winning performance as the object of Kong's ardor. (Amazing he doesn't eat her!) The stop-motion effects still look great and make the film a great and memorable experience. 

Enjoyed:

 "BABES IN TOYLAND" (aka "March of the Wooden Soldiers") (1934/2006) [Colorized Version]

I pulled out my copy because it is Thanksgiving and it has been awhile since I have watched it.  I remembered all the songs which even though they are operatic are still enjoyable. The antics of Laurel and Hardy, even though I am not a great fan of theirs, in this instance, are spot on. And the wooden soldiers marching; done in stop-motion animation, with that great march music behind them are simply a joy to watch. Still great holiday fun.

Mildly enjoyed:

"HERE COME THE BRIDES" (1968-1970) S1, E25 "Marriage, Chinese Style"
Just read that the great Bruce Lee had a guest star role and found that cable channel FETV is airing the series I thought I would catch it. Lee who had just had his series, "The Green Hornet" cancelled guest stars as a Chinese immigrant who just wants to be "American" doesn't pick up the bride he  is supposed to marry when she arrives at the dock. Enter Bobby Sherman, who rescues the girl from being sold by the ship's captain. She becomes a problem when every one thinks he bought her for himself. Bruce Lee does not use any of his Kung Fu knowledge and is mostly wasted in this episode, but he does end up with the Chinese bride. (Almost the same way Mako ended up with his Japanese bride in an episode of "F Troop".)  I used to watch "Here Comes the Brides" when it aired back in the sixties, but only have vague memories of it. It is entertaining mostly as a curiosity piece.

"THE KARATE KILLERS" (1967)
The sixth "Man from U.N.C.L.E." movie has a lot of great looking female guest stars like Diane McBain and Jill Ireland both in different forms of undress. (McBain supposedly naked and Ireland in a two piece outfit showing off her great and curvy figure.) A lot was made of the fact that Joan Crawford was returning to film a project at MGM Studios were she once reigned and where the Man from U.N.C.L.E. series was filmed. She is on screen for what can be called a glorified cameo and doesn't even have any scenes with our heroes, but the producers get to use her to help promote the film. The pop group, "Every Mother's Son" performs their only  top forty hit, "Come On Down to My Boat", a song that made it to  number six on the pop charts in 1967, in the movie, mainly because they were managed and signed to the MGM label. The plot revolves around a scientist who can make gold from salt water. THRUSH in the form of Herbert Lom wants the formula. The scientist who dies mysteriously before he can give U.N.C.L.E. the formula, gives it piecemeal to his daughters of whom McBain and Ireland are two. The scientist's real daughter (McBain and Ireland are step-daughters) is Kim Darby of the original "True Grit" (1969) fame. She and our heroes are trying to get the formula from each of her step-sisters before Lom does. Also in the cast are: Telly Savalas, Terry-Thomas and Curt Jurgens as love interests for the different step-sistgers. Danielle de Metz is also in there as a step-sister. Lom beats the U.N.C.L.E. agents in getting the formula, but just as it looks he has won Solo ans Illya manage to blow up the gold making machine, leaving Lom as a slightly gold covered corpse. All of Darby's "sisters" marry their prospective love interests and the men from U.N.C.L.E. have thwarted the plans of the evil THRUSH organization once again.

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Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed:

Cover up (1949, Alfre E. Green)

Alias Smith & Jones – episode «The girl in boxcar #3» (1971, Leslie H. Martinson)

Mildly enjoyed

Desert gold (1936, James P. Hogan)

Untamed frontier (1952, Hugo Fregonese)

Cô dau dai chien / Battle of the brides (2011, Victor Vu)

The invaders – episode «Task force» (1967, Gerald Mayer)

Did not enjoy:

All the president's men (1976, Alan J. Pakula)

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Charles Gilbert watched: 

Gunsmoke S09E22 "The Kite". Little Letty Cassidy (child actress Betsy Hale) witnesses the shooting death of her mother in their prairie home while Pa is away. Festus and Mathew take her into protective custody until the killer (Lyle Bettger) is apprehended.

Wagon Train S0803 "The John Gillman Story". Betsy Hale appears in this, too, as a fey orphan smitten by outlaw Bobby Darin in the titular role. She dies in his arms at the end.

Big Valley S02E23 " Brother Love". Robert Goulet plays an itinerant preacher whose consorts (Strother Martin and Gavin McLeod) feign handicaps for the fraud of 'faith healing'. Audra falls for his charms. Gavin McLeod and his wife appeared regularly on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) later in his retirement.

INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER (1965) The second movie where Ghidrah the three headed monster appears. But the battles with Godzilla and Rodan take a back seat to the cosmic imperialistic threat from aliens of planet X. Nick Adams gives some life to the film.

JUDAS TOMA TUS MONEDAS aka WATCH PUT GRINGO! SABATA WILL RETURN. (1972) Rather bland oater with George Martin and Daniel Martin in opposition while seeking a stash of gold that Fernando Sancho has hidden. With Rosalba Neri.

THE BLANCHVILLE MONSTER (1963) B&W. Derived from Edgar Allen Poe stories, this horror tale is set in an old dark castle inhabited by Roderic de Blanchville (Gerard Tichy). His sister (Ombretta Colli billed as Joan Hill) arrives from college to find their father is mysteriously locked up in the tower. Helga Line playing the housekeeper is another loan from the peplum genre as is the doctor Leo Anchoriz. 

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea "The Fossil Men" S3E18. Impressive 'rock' suits are employed for the actors playing a menace to the Seaview crew. They view their transmogrification from humans to granite monsters as a fountain of youth.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea "The Mermaid" S3E19. The mermaid wasn't a threat so they added another green slimy humanoid to attack the crew.

Thanksgiving Day Spaghetti Westerns on Grit-tv. First time viewing for all three:

NAVAJO JOE (1966)

REASON TO LIVE, REASON TO DIE (1972)

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1968)

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