To answer these trivia questions, please email me at scinema@earthlink.net.
Brain Teasers:
Who gave Gordon Mitchell a place to stay when he first arrived in Rome?
It was Richard Harrison.
Which American stand-up comedian began as a playwright with a music show about Dean Reed?
Tom Betts, George Grimes and Angel Rivera knew that it was Lewis Black with the play THE CZAR OF ROCK AND ROLL.
Which Italian Western had Union soldiers, after the Civil War, returning pistols to ex-Confederate prisoners with the guns' barrels sawed off?
Tom Betts knew that it was UN DOLLARO BUCATO, aka ONE SILVER DOLLAR, aka BLOOD ON A SILVER DOLLAR.
Which gold medal Olympic decathlon athlete starred in an Italian film about Greek mythology?
Tom Betts, Charles Gilbert, Bertrand van Wonterghem, George Grimes and Angel Rivera and John Black knew that it was Bob Mathias.
And now for some new brain teasers:
By what name is Marlon Sirko better known?
By what name is Sergio Ciani better known?
By what name is Albert Waterman better known?
Name the movies from which these images came.
Tom Betts, Bertrand van Wonterghem and George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Alberto Dell'Acqua and Peter Lee Lawrence in KILLER CALIBRO 32, aka 32 CALIBER KILLER.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
Charles Gilbert and Angel Rivera identified last week's frame grab of Wandisa Guida in ERCOLE CONTRO ROMA, aka HERCULES AGAINST ROME.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
Bertrand van Wonterghem and George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Alberto Dell'Acqua and Karin Well in QUEL POMERIGGIO MALEDETTO, aka THE PERFECT KILLER.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
No one identified that above photo of Wang Lung Wei in COWARD BASTARD.
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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:
World War II with Tom Hanks (2026)
LE FATICHE DI ERCOLE, aka THE LABORS OF HERCULES, aka HERCULES (1958) - Reportedly, European children were raised on the ancient Greek and Roman myths of gods and demigods, but anyone who went into this movie expecting it to closely follow the story of Hercules as retold over the centuries, must have been very confused. While the makers of this film used some of the names and incidents from the myths, they completely redid the story into a rather conventional adventure film. And the plot was actually the story of Jason and the search for the Golden Fleece. The titular hero was introduced at the beginning of the film, but, by the midpoint, he was a supporting player in another character's story. However, the image of Steve Reeves as Hercules obviously became the most remarkable element in this film. When I saw this movie in a theater as a kid, I was completely enraptured by its visual splendor - and it impacted my entire life. In 1963, British and American moviemakers came out with JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, which also fiddled with Greek mythology, but improved on the visual effects of the story thanks to stop motion animation by Ray Harryhausen. However, the 1963 film did not have the cinematic impact of the 1958 film directed by Pietro Francisci. Many credit much of the impact of the 1958 film to Francisci's collaborator Mario Bava, who also collaborated on the sequel ERCOLE E LA REGINA DI LIDIA, aka HERCULES UNCHAINED. When Francisci returned to the character a third time without Bava and Reeves, with 1963's ERCOLE SFIDA SANSONE, aka HERCULES, SAMSON AND ULYSSES, the result seemed to confirm the importance of Bava and Reeves to the impact of director Francisci's work. Did the filmmakers add Ulysses to the story because of the success of the 1954 film ULYSSES? Certainly they added Hercules toppling the facade of the palace because of the success of the 1949 film SAMSON AND DELILAH.
Mildly enjoyed:
MOANA (2016) - While Polynesians may welcome the "Disney Princess" treatment given to their culture, those of us who are rather tired of that formula might find watching this hard going. I did.
RENFIELD (2023) - Reportedly the idea of doing a comedy involving Dracula but focusing on Renfield was comic book creator Robert Kirkman's, which was turned into a screenplay by Ryan Ridley. Many of the elements were inspired by the 1931 DRACULA starring Bela Lugosi, but with a number of radical departures. So, Renfield's delusion that eating insects will make him immortal has been changed into it giving him supernatural powers similar to his vampire master. And Dracula's power now includes blood that can bring back the dead, but sunlight can now cause him to burst into flames - as if he's on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Well, as the film unspools, one gets used to changes in the lore of the undead. But sticking this mess into the world of cops vs. gangsters in New Orleans suddenly brings in kung fu, and gun fu, fighting in the Hong Kong style. Turning Renfield into a super hero is another head spinning element. The cast gives everything a lot of fun, with Nicholas Hoult as Renfield, Nicholas Cage as Dracula and Awkwafina as the cop obsessed with bringing to justice those responsible for the murder of her father. Chris McKay, who worked on many episodes of Robot Chicken, directed.
Did not enjoy:
ANOTHER 9 1/2 WEEKS, aka LOVE IN PARIS (1997) - I didn't much like 9 1/2 WEEKS, so I didn't expect to much like this sequel. But I like looking at Angie Everhart so I had some hope. Director Anne Goursaud gave me a better look at Alyssa Milano in her first two efforts as a director: EMBRACE OF THE VAMPIRE and POISON IVY II: LILY. Erotic drama played out against glamorous European locations was done better by Radley Metzger in the late 1960s with CAMILLE 2000 and THE LICKERISH QUARTET. Mickey Rourke is the only participant from the 1986 movie, but he can't evoke much sympathy as a very wealthy man unable to satisfy his sexual kinks.
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Angel Rivera Highly enjoyed:
"LI'L ABNER" (1959)
Leslie Parrish, Julie Newmar, Stella Stevens! Likeable music. Loads of fun.
"HERCULES" (Avco Embassy Television print DVD) (1958/9)
I like the voice dubbing on this version better than the letterbox version.
"HERCULES" (Letterbox format print) (1958/9)
Letterbox looks good, but I don't like the actor dubbing Steve Reeves!
'HERCULES UNCHAINED" (1959/60)
Liked that song! Sergio Fantoni plays an over the top villain that is enjoyable to watch. Steve Reeves does the "Samson" bit when he literally brings down the house.
"HERCULES AND THE PRINCESS OF TROY" (1965)
You get to hear Scott's real voice. Too bad it didn't make it as a series.
Enjoyed:
"HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN" (1964)
Not bad sword and sandal film with a great performance from Alan Steel. Jany Clair plays another beautiful, but ill fated female.
Mildly enjoyed:
"LI'L ABNER" (1940)
Mildly amusing. Especially the Sadie Hawkins Day race ending.
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David Deal Enjoyed:
GINGER SNAPS (00) - Teen sisters Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) and Brigitte (Emily Perkins) are out one night when Ginger has her first period. The smell of blood draws a beast to attack her. They escape and the beast is hit by a car and killed. As the days before the full moon go by, Ginger is starting to change; physical changes like growing hair on her body and a tail too, and emotional changes like becoming very sexually active. Brigitte confides in the local weed dealer who hit the beast with his car that first night, and they concoct a plan to reverse Ginger's transformation before the full moon. Excellent Canadian production is top notch in all categories; looks great, good acting and direction, even the music is supportive without calling attention to itself. Drawing a parallel between the journey into womanhood and the inescapable fate of a curse is an interesting take on lycanthropy. Recommended.
AT SWORD'S POINT (52) - If you like swordplay-type stuff, you will like this. Great cast, very fun.
OSS 117 IS UNLEASHED (63) - Once again I direct you to the Eurospy Guide, even though I didn't write this particular review.
LATE PHASES (14) - Blind Army veteran Nick Damici moves into a retirement community. That night his neighbor is attacked and killed in her house by a creature. The beast then comes to Nick's but his seeing eye dog attacks and scares it away but dies in the process. After hearing that it was a full moon and that there have been other attacks every month, Nick prepares to fend off a werewolf in a month's time. This is a clever and interesting monster movie that throws curve balls but never cheats the viewer. A few lapses in logic do not deter from the entertainment value here. Highly recommended.
TARGET FOR KILLING (66) - Check the Eurospy Guide of course.
WOLVES (14) - Unbeknownst to him, star high school quarterback Lucas Till carries the werewolf gene. When one night he turns and kills his parents, he hits the road looking for answers. Till ends up in a town called Lupine Ridge, where he meets his destiny. Another fun Canadian were-movie (see Ginger Snaps above) worth seeking out. Features Stephen McHattie, and Jason Momoa is the bad guy.
NOWHERE TO GO (58) - George Nader escapes from a London prison with the help of an accomplice on the outside. While he lays low we find out via flashback what put him in there. He duped an old lady out of her coin collection and stashed the proceeds in a safe deposit box. Fully expecting to be caught, he figured he would do five years but instead he was sentenced to ten. Out early he intends to collect but things don't go his way. Big time. Seth Holt's film noir looks great and has a cool jazz score by Dizzy Reece. It's 15 minutes too long but Nader's journey to hell is solid entertainment. It was Maggie Smith's film debut as the rich girl who falls for Nader.
THE FALCON IN MEXICO (44)
THE SAINT'S DOUBLE TROUBLE (40)
THE BLACK SCORPION (57)
CITY OF THE DEAD (60)
Mildly enjoyed:
TAKE AIM AT THE POLICE VAN (60) - From 2024: "When a police van is attacked and two prisoners are killed, one of the guards is punished with suspension for negligence. The guard (Michitaro Mizushima) decides to track down the killers. Director Seijun Suzuki (Branded to Kill) displays some of his skills here that would earn him an eventual firing from Nikkatsu studios. There's enough here to interest the casual viewer and more to interest the afficionado."
Did Not Enjoy
LA BANDA DEL TRUCIDO (77) - AKA The Rascal's Gang, Dirty Gang, Destruction Force. No matter what you call it, Stelvio Massi's half-hearted, half-breed cop thriller was not worth the time to watch - in my opinion. Luc Merenda's commissioner seems tired and uninvolved. On the other hand, Tomas Milian, who wrote his own scenes, could be in a different, annoying movie altogether, and I wish he had been. Its good points are a familiar cast and a plethora of J&B bottles.
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Bertrand van Wonterghem Highly enjoyed:
Targets (1967, Peter Bogdanovich)
Enjoyed:
Red Rock West (1992, John Dahl)
Mildly enjoyed:
Sarati le terrible (1937, André Hugon)
Scacco alla mafia (1968, Lorenzo Sabatini)
Did not enjoy:
Les anges noirs (1937, Willy Rozier)
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Charles Gilbert watched:
HERCULES AGAINST ROME (1963) A completely different dubbing crew than the McNamara group was employed to anglicize the script. All the voices sounded like college age twenty year olds, even when voicing over the elder actors.
I just spotted Bob Mathias costarring with Keenan Wynn in a short-lived TV series titled The Troubleshooters.
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John Black enjoyed:
I liked THE ODYSSEY (2026) a bit more than Angel Rivera did but agree that it's no masterpiece. Of later peplum films, I prefer TROY.
At least, THE ODYSSEY seems to be influencing the release of some other Greco films on 4K or Blu-ray, such as GIANT OF MARATHON (Blu-ray), TROY (4K UHD), and possibly the rumored CLASH OF THE TITANS (1981) in 4K UHD.
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