To answer these trivia questions, please email me at scinema@earthlink.net.
Brain Teasers:
In which Italian Western did Mimmo Palmara hold a knife to Sandra Milo's throat?
Bertrand van Wonterghem and Angel Rivera knew that it was T'AMMAZZO!... RACCOMANDATI A DIO, aka DEAD FOR A DOLLAR.
Which Italian actor worked with Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Lee Van Cleef, Kirk Douglas and Richard Harrison?
Bertrand van Wonterghem, Angel Rivera and Charles Gilbert knew that it was Giuliano Gemma.
By what name is Robert Kent better known?
Bertrand van Wonterghem and Angel Rivera knew that it is Sandro Moretti.
And now for some new brain teasers:
Charles Gilbert asks by what name is Nick Anderson better known?
Charles Gilbert asks which character from the Bible was played on screen by Andrea Aurelli, Harry Guardino and Anthony Quinn?
What animated film, released by 20th Century Fox, used "The Ecstasy of Gold" by Ennio Morricone on the sountrack?
Name the movies from which these images came.
Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's frame grab of Giuliano Gemma in UNA PISTOLA PER RINGO, aka A PISTOL FOR RINGO.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
No one identified the above photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's frame grab of Lino Ventura in UOMINI DURI, aka TOUGH GUYS, aka THREE TOUGH GUYS.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
No one has identified the above photo.
It shows Elliot Ngok in COME DRINK WITH ME.
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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 CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO, aka LUPIN III: THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO (1979) - Kazuhiko Kato, aka Monkey Punch, created the manga Lupin III in 1967. In 1971, it inspired an animated TV series, which some fans complained was more "family friendly" than the original, and this, the fhird animated feature film, is like that. Hayao Miyazaki worked on the TV series and took over the production of CAGLIOSTRO, helping to make it a thoroughly enjoyable romp. After finding that the money he robbed from a casino was counterfeit, our hero and his team seek out the maker of the funny money. Soon he is more interested in saving the young woman who is being forced to marry the evil Count Cagliostro.
Off Camera with Sam Jones season five episode five: "Kristen Bell" (2016)
Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11 (2021)
ZACHARIAH (1971) - I saw this movie when it first came out and I couldn't make any sense of it. Watching it again, I couldn't help wondering what the filmmakers thought they were doing? Why did the producer of THE UGLY AMERICAN, DARK OF THE SUN and THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN decide to make "The First Electric Western" and to direct it as well? Reportedly writer Joe Massot was inspired when he joined George Harrison and John Lennon in India as they studied Transcendental Meditation under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. I guess the story of two friends who share the ambition to become famous gunfighters. realize that that ambition would mean that eventually they would have to fight each other only to finally come to terms with living a peaceful life as friends would be better. Reportedly, Massot also took inspiration from two novels by Hermann Hesse: SIDDHARTHA and NARCISSUS AND GOLDMUND. Right from the opening credits, cross cutting between John Rubinstein galloping an horse across the desert and the rock'n'roll instruments of The James Gang, the movie establishes that this is a rock'n'roll Western fantasy subsequently labeled an "acid Western". One has to wonder what writing contribution was made by The Firesign Theater - Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Phillip Proctor, though Dick Van Patten as a wagon and horse salesman would seem to be one. Part of my interest in seeing this movie again was that when I first saw it I wasn't a fan of The James Gang with Joe Walsh. They kicked off the proceedings with "Laguna Salada" and no one cared that they were playing electrical instruments without any kind of power source. Having gotten a pistol, Rubinstein and Don Johnson decided to become gunfighters and join The Crackers outlaw gang, played by Country Joe And The Fish, who rode into town and performed "We're The Crackers" in the saloon. They later on perform "All I Need" and "Poor But Honest Crackers". Fiddle playing Doug Kershaw showed up to perform "The Ballad of Joe Cain" which sent our heroes to seek out the fastest gunman in the land, played by Jazz Drummer Elvin Jones. Jones performed a drum solo after shooting a man dead. Also performing at Joe Cain's place is The James Gang with "Country Fever". When Rubinstein goes to be with Pat Quinn as Belle Starr, it was during a performance of The New York Rock And Roll Ensemble doing "Gravedigger". When Rubinstein discovered the tranquility of life in the desert with William Challee at a stagecoach station, White Lightnin' performed "Shy Ann". It was not a surprise to learn that this film flopped at the box office.
Mildly enjoy:
Black Comedy in America "The Best Man" (2024)
DARK PLACES (1973) - As Dr. Christopher Lee tries to rush to his patient inside an insane asylum, Robert Hardy is at Carleton Hobbs beside. Hobbs is presumed to have hidden two thousand pounds in his old house and Hardy is hoping to get the information before the old man dies.Hobbs says "in the wall" before passing on. Lee arrives too late. Herbert Lom is the executor of Hobbs' estate and accepts that Hobbs willed the house to Hardy. Lee's sister, Joan Collins, shows up to seductively suggest that Hardy hire her to help clean up the old house. Lee and Collins plot to try and scare Hardy away from the house, but odd things begin to happen that they didn't plan. Hardy begins to see flashbacks of Hobbs as a young man, in love with Jane Birkin, the governess of his two children. Hobbs' wife, Jean Marsh, and the two children are tormenting Birkin, so the governess suggests that Hobbs runs away with her. Hardy fears that Hobbs is taking possession of his body as these flashbacks become more intrusive as it reveals the murder of the children, the wife and the governess. Hardy wants to chuck it all and leave, but soon he is not in control anymore. Ed Brennan and Joseph Van Winkle are credited with the screenplay, which Don Sharp directs with a good sense of pace. At one point, Hardy disturbs a nest of bats, which looks about as realistic as what Sharp achieved in KISS OF THE VAMPIRE. The climax of the film is as expected, but getting there is kind of fun. Fans of Joan Collins may be disappointed that only Robert Hardy appears topless in this movie.
IL PLENILUNIO DELLE VERGINI, aka FULL MOON OF THE VIRGINS, aka THE DEVIL'S WEDDING NIGHT (1973) - With an ending seemingly stolen from DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES and/or CRY OF THE BANSHEE, THE DEVIL'S WEDDING NIGHT is sort-of fun if you like seeing Rosalba Neri getting naked. Reportedly, Mark Damon had the script by Walter Bigari, which he took to producer Franco Gaudenzi. Paolo Solvay, aka Luigi Batzella, was hired to direct and he rewrote the script. At some point, Aristide Massaccesi, aka Joe D'Amato, was brought in to do reshoots. The English language version was rewritten by Ralph Zucker and it made me wonder if all of the mentions of demons like Pazuzu were in the original Italian version. Book worm Mark Damon found information on the whereabouts of the Ring of the Nibelungen, and he tells his twin brother, unlucky gambler Mark Damon, that he must go to Castle Dracula to get it. Thankfully he had an ancient amulet that would ward off all evil. Well, gambler Damon took the amulet and got to Castle Dracula first, but lost the amulet when he spent the night at a nearby Inn with Francesca Romana Davila, aka Enza Sbordone.Coincidentally, brothers Damon arrived at Castle Dracula on the night when Countess Sara Bay, aka Rosalba Neri, used the ring to summon five local female virgins for sacrifice. She hoped to reincarnate Dracula in the body of the one of the Damons. Things got a little confusing when we saw Neri bathing in blood and making out on the floor with Esmeralda Barros in the middle of a scene during which bookworm Damon seemed to be drinking drugged wine and laughing hysterically - events which were not referred to after the sequence. Is that final shot suggesting that the filmmakers hoped to make a sequel? Vasil Kojukaroff provided the music score which was effective at times, and at other times distracting.
Michael Caine on Acting In Film (1987) - Among the "students" with whom Caine is working is Celia Imrie, who was already a veteran of minor roles in films like HIGHLANDER. She would go on to more prominent roles in the Bridget Jones films, CALENDAR GIRLS, WIMBLEDON, NANNY MCPHEE and THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL.
Did not enjoy:
CAIN'S CUTTHROATS (1971) - Reportedly this was originally released as CAIN'S WAY in 1970 with "documentary" footage comparing the murderous gang of former confederate soldiers to a modern day motorcycle club. That use of modern day material may justify the music score by Harley Hatcher, which sounds too contemporary for a story set just after the American Civil War. And the songs "Help Me" and "Times Were Hard When I Was Young" by "Juction", as well as "Going Back To Georgia" by Don Epperson don't help matters at all. Reportedly this film also went out with the titles THE BLOOD SEEKERS and JUSTICE CAIN. Many Westerns begin with a filthy gang ambushing a wagon of Union soldiers carrying a payroll. In CAIN'S CUTTHROATS, we get about five minutes of the bad guys waiting in ambush behaving badly -ie. picking noses - and yammering about nothing important. Eventually, the wagon comes into view and the gang kills everyone, but still continue to yammer. Hoping to use the payroll to raise an Army to continue the Confederate cause, the bad guys seek out their former Captain, Scott Brady. Brady is trying to live a peaceful life with his son and new wife, who used to be an "high yellow" servant to his wife who was killed during the war. Many Revenge Westerns have bad guys who kill our hero's wife and son, but in CAIN'S CUTTHROATS, those murders happen right in front of him - and the bad guys rape the woman before beating her to death. The villains think they've killed Brady, too, but John Carradine ambles along on his wagon and nurses Brady back to health. Carradine is a bible quoting Preacher who is also a bounty killer. Only needing a face to match to a wanted poster, Carradine cuts off the heads of outlaws and keeps them in a barrell of brine. So Brady and Carradine team up to get the surviving members of "Cain's Cutthroats", but writers Wilton Denmark, Ralph Luce and director Kent Osborne seem to think they're working on a character drama with a moral lesson, so this is fairly dialog heavy. Prior to CAIN'S CUTTHROATS, Osborne made the dune buggies vs. motorcycle flick WILD WHEELS. After this, he made WOMEN UNCHAINED, about modern day women who escape from prison heading to Mexico.
THE BOOK OF LIFE (2014) - For a film seemingly intended to celebrate the folklore of Mexico - which, of course, is the center of the universe, THE BOOK OF LIFE has only a sprinkling of Mexican flavor. But what do I know? I'm not Mexican. Director Jorge R. Gutierrez and producer Guillermo del Toro are Mexican, and if they feel okay using Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite, Ludwig van Beethoven's "Ode To Joy", Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 22, "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy", "Can't Help Falling In Love" and Verdi's Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile, whom am I to try and second guess them? A group of unruly students moan about going to another museum, when the tour guide takes them through a secret door to a section dedicated to Mexico with an emphasis on the "Day of the Dead". She shows them "The Book Of Life" which is filled with stories, and she tells them about how La Muerte, the female ruler of the Land of the Remembered, made a bet with Xibalba, the male ruler of the Land of the Forgotten about which of two boys will marry Maria Posada. Xibalba finds the Land of the Forgotten to be depressing, and he wants to switch places with La Muerte. Manolo is the son of a great bullfighter who wants to be a guitar playing singer. When Xibalba tricks him into being dead, Manolo has to leave the Land of the Remembered and go to the Land of the Forgotten. There he must face the combined spirits of all of the bulls that have been killed in the ring. Everyone wants him to perform the kill on the bull, but, instead, Manolo sings a song apologizing to all of the previously murdered bulls for their unwarranted deaths. This allows him to be returned to the land of the living, where he can help save his town from Chakal, the Bandit King. The rather eccentric design of the film seems intended to show off the beauty of Mexico, but I found it ugly. And I found the plot rather dull. The filmmakers assembled a rather star studded voice cast, but only Cheech Marin was instantly recognizable.
OLD DOGS (2009) - With the success of the 2000 film based on their screenplay, THE FAMILY MAN, writers David Diamond and David Weissman seemed to have become the go-to guys to deliver comedies that teach family values. With the success of the 2002 film VAN WILDER, director Walt Becker seemed to have become the go-to guy to deliver big laughs with a "wild & crazy" comedy. So, bringing those talents together with a big name cast including Robin Williams, John Travolta, Travolta's wife - Kelly Preston -, son - Sam Travolta - and daughters - Ella Bleu Travolta & Margaret Travolta, plus Matt Dillon, Bernie Mac, Ann-Margret, Seth Green, Justin Long, Dax Shepard and Luis Guzman should have been a good idea. It wasn't as this tiresome and predictable film proved. Having Rita Wilson playing a woman suffering from being cross-eyed was just one of the unfunny things to find here.
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Bertrand van Wonterghem Highly enjoyed:
Adéla jeste nevicerela / Adela has not had supper yet (1978, Oldrich Lipsky)
Enjoyed:
Sherlock Holmes and doctor Watson – episode «Acquataince» (1979, Igor Maslennikov)
Gangmaegang / Seoul busters (2023, Ahn Jong-yeon & Shin Joong-hoon) – episode 16
Yooryungeul jabara / Catch the ghost (2019, Shin Yoon Sub) – episode 1
Mildly enjoyed:
The severed arm (1973, Thomas S. Alderman)
Did not enjoy:
The brain machine (1972, Joy N. Houck Jr)
Just for the hell of it (1968, Herschell Gordon Lewis)
The tomb (1985, Fred Olen Ray)
The love butcher (1975, Mike Angel & Don Jones)
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Angel Rivera Highly enjoyed:
"MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER" (2024) An impressive documentary about the British film makers, Powell and Pressburger, whose studio: "The Archers" was responsible for such films as: "A Matter of Life and Death" (1946); "The Red Shoes" (1948); "Black Narcissus" (1947) and "Peeping Tom" (1960)
"WOMAN OF THE HOUR" (2023) A fictionalized account of serial killer, Rodney Alcala who become known as "The Dating Game Killer" after he won a spot on the TV show and won "a date" while he was on the midst of a murder spree. Directed by and starring Anna Kendrick of "Pitch Perfect" fame. Kendrick plays the woman who wins a date with Alcala, but declines to go on the date after speaking to him and getting an evil vibe from him. In the movie Kendrick and "Alcala" (played by Daniel Zovatto) go out for drinks after the taping of the show and there Kendrick's character gets a bad feeling about Alcala and tries to get away from him. She is almost caught by him, but escapes when a group of people pass nearby. Keeps the interest going as Zovatto plays the killer almost as likeable as a "Ted
Bundy". Alcala was also the topic of an episode of the news program, "48 Hours".
Mildly enjoyed:
"GODZILLA VS. MEGALON"(1973) A seventies Godzilla film when the monster's films were geared more towards little kids. Silly kiddies film with Godzilla teaming up to battle two "Bad" monsters with the help of a robot named "Jet Jaguar" who becomes giant monster size to be able to fight giant monsters. (The robot is obviously modeled after Japanese superhero, Ultraman). Cutesy, but not for everyone.
"SUPERMAN AND LOIS" (2024) Season 4 Episodes 6 &7 In the first of these episodes, Lex Luthor uses a device to create a red sun effect and he fights Superman whose powers have been temporarily taken from him by the red sun effect. But Luthor underestimates Superman and he is completely beaten by Superman without powers.
In episode #7, in this world Superman's secret identity is revealed to the world by Superman who is tired of lying to his friends and the rest of the world.Three episodes remain before the series finale.
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Charles Gilbert watched:
HERCULES VS. THE BLACK PIRATE (1964) Alan Steel sheds his shirt but retains his pants as he battles the wiles of the governor's aide de camp Rodrigo (Piero Lulli), and accomplice Black Pirate (Andrea Aurelli) who repulses at the abduction of a royal child (they always employ a woman to dub a child's voice, boy or girl). A new face for me was Elisa Mainardi, whom I thought was Wandisa Guida from afar. Alan's mannerisms remind me of Chuck Connors when he faces someone close: looks in the eyes and scans to the top of the head. He and Giovanni Cianfriglia wrestle bare chested for the court's entertainment.
THE SWORD AND THE CROSS (1958) Yvonne de Carlo is the leading character as Mary Magdalene smitten by Roman centurion Marcellus (Jorge Mistral) who rescues her from a raided caravan. She is torn with her love for him, and the relationship she has as mistress to the double -dealing Jew Hanan (Massimo Serato). The script syncretizes her with the Mary and Martha whose brother Lazarus was temporarily raised from the dead. De Carlo's husband Bob Morgan also appears.
THE BIG COMBO (1955) B&W. Noir with Cornel Wilde.playing police inspector Leonard Diamond obsessed with obtaining a conviction on the ruthless hoodlum Mr. Brown (Richard Conte). Lee Van Cleef and Earl Holliman are his henchman that he eventually turns on with a boxed gift of dynamite set off by a hand grenade when opened. Jean Wallace contributes to the scenery with her flawless countenance.
NEW YORK CONFIDENTIAL (1955) Unsettling to see Broderick Crawford as a top level mob boss of a national syndicate named Charlie Lupo buying off government officials. But his biggest worry is his fey daughter Ann Bancroft ashamed of him. Henchman Nick Magellan (Richard Conte) recruited from Chicago as hitman, stays on to serve Lupo, and to repair the boss's domestic woes with daughter Kate. In the end the hitman turns on his boss, and gets hit himself.
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David Deal Enjoyed:
THE SPIDER WOMAN (44)
THE FALCON IN MEXICO (44)
SPECIAL MISSION LADY CHAPLIN (66) - Please refer to The Eurospy Guide.
THE SAINT IN LONDON (39)
THE SMUGGLERS OF DEATH (59) - The second time I've seen this. It holds up as an interesting portrait of a small Czech border town where the soldiers and residents both have a sense of honor, if not the same values. Recommended.
GIANT OF MARATHON (59) - Bava's touch is evident throughout.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY (22) - Excellent documentary on the legendary session musicians who worked on some of the biggest albums of the 1970s. Highly recommended.
MYSTERY OF THE ETERNAL NIGHT (56) - A mysterious explosion on the ocean floor exposes irradiated plants that contain a new element, Atlantium, which could revolutionize medicine. The only man who can operate a new type of diving bell to harvest the plants has been exposed to the radiation and may die before the mission can be completed. The race is on. This compelling Russian science fiction film utilizes miniatures and other trickery, including a bit of stop-motion animation, to bring what is essentially a thriller to life. Fans of this sort of tale will enjoy it. In color.
DOWNFALL (04) - German film about the last days of Hitler (Bruno Ganz) and WWII. Based on the memoirs of Hitler's last secretary, this is a startling, engrossing look at the fall of the Third Reich in intimate terms. As an aside, I was just in Berlin and, on a walking tour, stopped at the parking lot that sits on Hitler's bunker today. There was a small plaque that explained the site without using the name Hitler. I thought it an appropriate ignominy.
Mildly enjoyed:
THE DIAMOND MACHINE (55) - When a scientist devises plans for a machine that produces diamonds, the FBI uses the opportunity to plan a trap for the criminals interested in it. They substitute an agent for the professor and send Lemmy Caution (Eddie Constantine) to Italy to wrap up the gang. Undistinguished yet likeable spy stuff with the charm of the star doing all the heavy lifting, and the bevy of leading ladies providing the eye candy.
THE HORROR OF BLACKWOOD CASTLE (67)
THE HAND OF POWER (67)
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