Week of February 29 - March 6, 2020

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

Brain Teasers:

Which Italian actor born in 1932 was not only often credited as the stunt arranger on films in which he appeared, but was also sometimes the director?

No one has answered this question yet.

Which Italian actor in both Sword & Sandal flicks and Westerns died on August 21, 2016 at the age of 76?

George Grimes knew that it was Mario Novelli.

What ancient historical figure was played by Alan Steel and Christopher Plummer?

George Grimes and Charles Gilbert knew that it was Commodus.

And now for some new brain teasers:

How is Ed Fury and Reg Lewis related to Steve Reeves' co-star Richard Sabre?

With which film producer did Robert Woods begin his Western career?

Which Hong Kong film director first met Richard Harrison as a driver employed by the Shaw Brothers studio?

Name the movies from which these images came.

George Grimes and Rick Garibaldi identified last week's photo from DOS HOMBRES VAN A MORIR, aka RINGO THE LONE RIDER.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

No one has identified the above frame grab yet.
Can you name from what movie it came? 

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab from L'OCCHIO SELVAGGIO, aka THE WILD EYE.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's photo from THE DELIGHTFUL FOREST.

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:

SID & JUDY (2019)

THE BALLAD OF RAMBLIN' JACK (2000)

Mildly enjoyed:

JAY & SILENT BOB REBOOT (2019)

JUDY (2019)

THE BRAIN EATERS (1958) 

Did not enjoy:

MA (2019) - At least this movie introduced me to Diana Silvers.

BOOKSMART (2019) - At least this movie reminded me of Diana Silvers.

WHEN A MAN RIDES ALONE (1933) - Tom Tyler played the Llano Kid, who rode up behind the stagecoach, transfered from his horse to the back of the stage, and then climbed up top inorder to pull a gun on the driver and the guard. "Throw off the gold shipment from the Cottonwood Mine." The Kid leaves the stage by jumping onto a low branch of a tree the coach speeds under, and then whistles to his horse to stand under the tree and he jumped into the saddle. Like Robin Hood, the Kid gave the gold to those who were swindled by the Cottonwood Mine operation - with a receipt! Even though the sheriff is out to catch the robber, he felt that the owner of Cottonwood, Slade, was getting what he deserved. 

THE BONNIE PARKER STORY (1958)

EL CHICANO (2018) - Who requested a Mexican-American Batman who kills with an Aztec blade?

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David Deal enjoyed:

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (19)

BRIDES OF DRACULA (60)

Mildly enjoyed:

BLUEPRINT FOR A MASSACRE (67) - See The Eurospy Guide book for detailed review.

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Charles Gilbert watched:

THE MUMMY'S CURSE (1944) B&W. Referenced in Leave It to Beaver S02E18 'The Garage Painters'.  After reading Mark Twain's 'Tom Sawyer', Beaver states that the "dead cat in the cemetary Incident was better that THE MUMMY'S CURSE".

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Week of February 22-28, 2020

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

Brain Teasers:

Which Spanish actor who did Sword & Sandal and Westerns in Spain died in Mexico City at the age of 51?

It was Jorge Mistral.

What movie featured Barbara Eden, Reg Lewis and Rock Stevens?

George Grimes knew it was THE BRASS BOTTLE.

What was the unofficial remake of JOKO INVOCA DIO... E MUORI?

Tom Betts knew that it was LA LUNGA CAVALCATA DELLA VENDETTA, aka THE LONG RIDE TO VENGEANCE.

Which actor born in Tocuyito, Venezuela, went on to appear in both Italian Sword & Sandal flicks and Westerns?

Tom Betts and George Grimes knew that it was Jose Torres.

And now for some new brain teasers:

Which Italian actor born in 1932 was not only often credited as the stunt arranger on films in which he appeared, but was also sometimes the director?

Which Italian actor in both Sword & Sandal flicks and Westerns died on August 21, 2016 at the age of 76?

What ancient historical figure was played by Alan Steel and Christopher Plummer?

Name the movies from which these images came.

Tom Betts and Rick Garibaldi identified last week's frame grab of Anthony Freeman, aka Mario Novelli, in BALLATA PER UN PISTOLERO, aka PISTOLEROS, aka BALLAD OF A GUNMAN.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's photo of Richard Lloyd in GLI INVINCIBILI FRATELLI MACISTE, aka THE INVINCIBLE MACISTE BROTHERS.
Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came? 

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab from CONTAMINATION, aka ALIEN CONTAMINATION.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's photo of Sammo Hung in KUNG FU CULT MASTER.

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:

Mildly enjoyed:

American Masters "Mailer On Mailer" (2000)

FAST COMPANY (1979) - If this wasn't directed by David Cronenberg, I wouldn't have bothered watching it. But, it was a pleasure seeing Nicholas Campbell as a young man.

PARIS WAS A WOMAN (1995)

Midsomer Murders "They Seek Him Here" (2007)

Midsomer Murders "Blood Wedding" (2007)

Did not enjoy:

CARMEN, aka BIZET'S CARMEN (1984) - Director Francesco Rosi fails to make this opera film compelling to a non-opera fan.

CHINATOWN CONNECTION (1990) - Behind the name Bruce Ly, Yung Henry Yu attempted to have an American movie career in a flick co-starring Lee Majors II and Brinke Stevens. From the director of THE UNNAMABLE.

LAS LEANDRAS (1961) - Rosario Durcal was gorgeous, but not related to Rocio Durcal, who starred in a 1969 film with the same title - that was directed by Eugenio Martin.

THE WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T DIE, aka CATACOMBS (1965) - LES DIABOLIQUES may have inspired more awful movies than any other film in cinema history.

THE MAN WHO UNDERSTOOD WOMEN (1959) - Romain Gary's novel of an infuriatingly neurotic actress LES COULEURS DU JOUR is turned into a movie by Nunnally Johnson that wildly swings from slapstick comedy to romantic melodrama.

COUNTRYMAN (1982)

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David Deal enjoyed:

DATE WITH THE FALCON (41)

QUEEN CRAB (15) - The daughter of a scientist gives a growth hormone to crab.  Years later the giant crab lives in her pond and prowls the night dropping eggs.  Mayhem ensues.  Brett Piper's small town horror has the usual shaky acting, but the stop-motion effects and model work combined with low-rent CGI make for an appealing monster movie.

WAR OF THE PLANETS (65)

ELECTRA ONE (66) See The Eurospy Guide book for a complete review.

FARMAGEDDON (19)

Mildly enjoyed:

THE GOOD LIAR (19) - Helen Mirren falls prey to con man Ian McKellen.  Transparent from the beginning but it's fun to watch these two old pros work.

OPERATION HONG KONG (64) - See The Eurospy Guide book for a complete review.

SPECTRE (77) - See the Television Fright Films of the 1970s book for a complete review.

CODE NAME JAGUAR (65) - See The Eurospy Guide book for a complete review.

Did not enjoy:

DOCTOR SLEEP (19)

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Charles Gilbert watched:

BEYOND THE TIME BARRIER (1960) B&W. Robert Clarke produced and stars as a test pilot who flies a Convair Delta F-102 Dagger into space (?), traverses a time corridor, and lands on Earth in the year 2024. The world now has travailed a cosmic plague, sterilizing most of the survivors who haven't become mutant. Leaders and the hero surmise that he must reverse the flight, return to 1960 and prevent the global catastrophe.

THE COUNTERFEITERS (1948) B&W. Scotland Yard (John Sutton) teams with T-men to nab international counterfeiter Hugh Beaumont. Lon Chaney Jr. plays an annoying 'Lennie' - type thug. Scott Brady has a small role.

SEA BEAST (2008) CGI manfish creature comes ashore with offspring to feed on coastal residents. The menace eludes hunters like a family of Predators.

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Week of February 15 - 21, 2020

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

Brain Teasers:

Which Spanish actor who did Sword & Sandal and Westerns in Spain died in Mexico City at the age of 51?

No one has answered this question yet.

Charles Gilbert asks, "Which two American bodybuilders, who headlined Italian Sword and Sandal movies, had uncredited parts in an American film comedy with Barbara Eden the female lead?"

George Grimes knew that they were Reg Lewis and Rock Stevens.

Which Italian actor made six movies with Tony Anthony?

George Grimes and Tom Betts knew that it was Raf Baldassarre.

Which Italian Western directed by Antonio Margheriti was unofficially remade by director Amerigo Anton?

George Grimes knew that it was JOKO INVOCA DIO... E MUORI, aka VENGEANCE.

And now for some new brain teasers:

What movie featured Barbara Eden, Reg Lewis and Rock Stevens?

What was the unofficial remake of JOKO INVOCA DIO... E MUORI?

Which actor born in Tocuyito, Venezuela, went on to appear in both Italian Sword & Sandal flicks and Westerns?

Name the movies from which these images came.

Tom Betts, Charles Gilbert, Rick Garibaldi and George Grimes identified last week's photo of Claude Akins, Dennis Weaver and James Garner in A MAN CALLED SLEDGE.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Ida Galli in ERCOLE AL CENTRO DELLA TERRA, aka HERCULES AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD, aka HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD.
Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came? 

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Alessandro Momo and Laura Antonelli in PECCATO VENIALE, aka LOVERS AND OTHER RELATIVES.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's photo of Sammo Hung and Casanova Wong in WARRIORS TWO.

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:

Country Music "Don't Get Above Your Raisin'" (2019)

American Masters "Raul Julia: The World's A Stage" (2019)

American Masters "Loretta Lynn: Still A Mountain Girl" (2016)

IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)

Mildly enjoyed:

SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959)

Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr. "Harold Varmus, Francis Collins and Shirley Ann Jackson" (2020)

Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr. "Sigourney Weaver, Justina Machado and Amy Ryan" (2020)

American Masters "Charlie Pride: I'm Just Me" (2019)

2020 Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences Awards (2020)

BATMAN (1966)

PAPERHOUSE (1988)

Az én XX. századom, aka MY TWENTIETH CENTURY (1989)

MAMA CUMPLE 100 ANOS, aka MAMA TURNS 100 (1979)

Did not enjoy:

FAST-WALKING (1982)

EL PODER NEGRO, aka BLACK POWER (1975)

GRAFFITI BRIDGE (1990)

ARTIC FURY (1949)

A DOG'S PURPOSE (2017)

THE PAINTED DESERT (1931) - This film was known for Clark Gable's first screen appearance, but Bill Boyd was the star - before he became Hopalong Cassidy in 1935. Even though he's not Hopalong, Boyd was riding a beautiful white horse, but he didn't show up until 20 minutes into the flick. Cash Holbrook, played by William Farnum, and Jeff Cameron, played by J. Farrell Mac Donald, came upon a deserted camp and find an abandoned baby boy. Soon they came upon a water hole, which Cameron refused to leave. Taking the baby and the horses, Holbrook left his former partner behind in search of grazing land. Years later, Cameron won't allow Holbrook to water his herd on his land. The grown up baby Bill, played by Bill (not yet William) Boyd, decided that it was time to end the feud between the former friends. Bill found a rice mineral vein on Cameron's land and wanted his adopted father to bankroll the mining operation. Holbrook refused, so Bill took the scheme to Cameron, and he agreed to partner because he knew that it will anger Holbrook. The deadline on the bank loan was coming, and the mining operation had to deliver several tons of ore to the railroad. Was it the bank or Holbrook trying to ruin everything? No, it was Rance Brett, played by Clark Gable, who was jealous that Mary Ellen Cameron, played by Helen Twelvetrees, had fallen in love with Bill. Being a 1931 production, the filmmaking was rather crude and the script rather mundane, but it was very obvious that Clark Gable was the most impressive element of the movie.

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David Deal enjoyed:

HELVETICA (07)

MACHINE GUN MCCAIN (69)

Did not enjoy:

THE CORRUPTION OF CHRIS MILLER (73) - A cocky drifter stumbles into the unhappy life of Jean Seberg and her stepdaughter (former child star, Marisol).  Meanwhile, a mysterious killer is on the loose.  JA Bardem's schizophrenic giallo is a mix of psychological and physical terrors that hangs its hat on a couple of great set pieces.  The lesser known cast barely holds its own, and vague improprieties amongst the characters just muddle the situation.

THE CATS (68) - AKA I Bastardi.

THE DARK SLEEP (12) - An annoying woman moves into a house that contains a portal to another dimension.  Brett Piper's Lovecraftian horror film contains inventive worlds in the other dimension with low-tech, effective CGI and the ever-welcome stop-motion animation.

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Charles Gilbert watched:

SON OF KONG (1933) B&W. Cheesy sequel (by Willis O'Brien's own word) to his classic was rushed into production. During this time his estranged wife shot their two boys to death (one of them had been completely blind), and turned the gun on herself, but she lived another year.

One Step Beyond B&W S02E24 'The Mask'. A downed flyer near a shrine in the Sahara desert during WWII afterwards finds himself in the hospital bandaged about the face. Occasionally he makes sententious quotes out of character puzzling nurse and doctor. Removal of his 'mask' reveals an altered countenance that he's the reincarnation of ancient Egyptian royalty.

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