To answer these trivia questions, please email me at scinema@earthlink.net.
Brain Teasers:
What decision did Mark Forest make that he later felt ruined his movie career?
After making LA VENDETTA DI ERCOLE and MACISTE NELLA VALLE DEI RE, Mark left Italy for a rest. This resulted in producers seeking other bodybuilders to star in new productions. When he returned to Italy, he found that demand for his services wasn't as great as it had been.
Which actor agreed to make an Italian Western as long as he didn't have to talk?
Tom Betts and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was Jean-Louis Trintignant for IL GRANDE SILENZIO.
By what name is Bob Robertson better known?
Tom Betts, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it is Sergio Leone.
By what name is Mara Fiè better known?
Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it is Gloria Milland.
And now for some new brain teasers:
Which Italian Western star was born in the Brazilian embassy in Rome?
Which British director was the first to make a Western in Spain?
Which Italian Western climaxes with the hero facing his own son for the final showdown?
Name the movies from which these images came.
Tom Betts, Bertrand van Wonterghem and Charles Gilbert identified last week's frame grab of Dan Vadis in UN UOMO UN CAVALLO UNA PISTOLA, aka THE STRANGER RETURNS.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
Angel Rivera and Charles Gilbert identified last week's frame grab of Ornella Vanoni in ROMOLO ET REMO, aka DUEL OF THE TITANS.
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?
No one identified that above 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:
EMMA (1972) - What I enjoy most about these older BBC-TV productions is that they tend to include more of the original souce material than the more streamlined modern versions. While this sometimes results in slower paced productions, it, as with this one, can yield a fuller portrayal of the characters and situations. With interiors shot on videotape and exteriors shot on 16mm, this six-part show doesn't skimp on the many scenes of the story, but isn't as beautiful as the feature films or even more recent TV productions. Also not conventionally beautiful are the actors, who perform their roles very well. I'm not familiar with Doran Godwin who plays Emma, and have only seen John Carson as a villain in THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES or as stuffy types in TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA and CAPTAIN KRONOS: VAMPIRE HUNTER. I'm not sure how often he got to play romantic scenes, but he proves to be surprisingly moving as Mr. Knightley. Denis Constanduros is credited as the writer of this, and John Glenister as director.
NATALIE WOOD WHAT REMAINS BEHIND (2020) - Veteran movie documentarian Laurent Bouzereau teamed up with Natasha Gregson Wagner for this heartfelt portrait of Natasha's mother filled with wonderful archival and home movie footage. Mia Farrow's participation in this is perhaps the most positive thing I've seen regarding her since her appearance in ARTHUR ET LES MINIMOYS in 2006.
Mildly enjoyed:
EMMA. (2020) - Jane Austen famously wrote that she intended that her heroine would be someone "no one but myself will much like." Writer Eleanor Catton and director Autumn de Wilde seem to have taken that idea as their "raison de guerre" and made Anya Taylor-Joy, at first, rather unlikable. Emma has always been class conscious and self-centered, but normally performers layer their portrayal with charm and humor. These filmmakers adopt a satirical attitude towards the material surrounding the main characters with an platoon of servants and giving them very grand country houses. The 1996 TV version written by Andrew Davies emphasized servants more so than most adaptations, but this version even has Emma and Mr. Knightley being dressed by others. Portrayed by Bill Nighy, Mr. Woodhouse is not only an hypochondriac, but also demanding to be waited on by servants. It really made me appreciate the 2009 TV version in which writer Sandy Welch included an opening narration explaining Mr. Woodhouse's constant fear of illness and death because of the sudden death of Emma's mother. I also miss most portrayals that emphasize our heroine affection for her father, and the comfort they both get from Mr. Knightley's frequent visits. It isn't until the Ball scene, halfway through the film, that we begin to like Emma and Mr. Knightley because of their concern for Harriet Smith. At this point, these filmmakers suddenly drop the satirical tone to go almost full romantic, with our heroes obviously becoming smitten with each other. The scene on Box Hill is played more melodramatically than usual, but most of the rest of the story is told as usual - except for Emma's nose bleed when Knightley asks her to marry him. Those who feel that Robert Martin doesn't usually get enough screen time will love that these filmmakers do give him more than usual. Johnny Flynn plays Mr. Knightley. In addition to showing us his naked backside while being dressed, Flynn also sings the song "Queen Bee", which he also wrote, during the end credits. Call the Midwife fans may enjoy seeing Miranda Hart as Mrs. Bates, while Sherlock fans may enjoy seeing Rupert Graves as Mr. Weston. Note that the filmmakers decided to add a "period" to the title, and that Taylor-Joy's nosebleed was real.
MIRROR MIRROR (2012) - As enchanting as Lily Collins is as Snow White, this film feels a bit flat, even with Julia Roberts as the evil Queen. The screenplay credited to Marc Klein and Jason Keller, from a story by Melisa Wallack, seems to have been partly inspired by TIME BANDITS. Unfortunately, director Tarsem Singh is no Terry Gilliam with disappointing pacing and inventiveness.
Did not enjoy:
CLEAN AND SOBER (1998) - The publicity for this movie suggested that it was about addiction and recovery. It turned out that the movie was a romantic melodrama with drug addiction and recovery as a back drop. Michael Keaton and Kathy Baker deliver strong performances, but the script credited to Tod Carroll and the direction by Glenn Gordon Caron hit the predictable notes and finish with a predictable ending.
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Charles Gilbert watched:
Outer Limits B&W.
"The Human Factor" At an Arctic military post the mentally unhinged Major Brothers (Harry Guardino) is delivered to Dr. Hamilton (Gary Merrill) for evaluation. An unorthodox experiment in electro encephalopathy causes their minds to switch bodies, during a power surge (snow avalanch) giving the treacherous patient the upper hand threatening the entire outpost. Sandy Kellerman plays the good doctor's assistant who helps him restore mind/ body identity.
"The Bellero Shield" S01E20 Sandy Kellerman in this one, too, plays the ambitious wife of scientist Bellero (Martin Landau) who seeks approval from his corporate captain father. Carelessly on their lab. she materizes an alien by aiming a lazer at a bottle of champagne. The white being possess the technology to inyermittenly shield itself from harm. She schemes to take it for herself
MACISTE, AVENGER IF THE MAYANS (1965) Kirk Morris is Machiste again in a rehash of two Guido Malatesta films melded anachronistically. Newer footage blends well, though, with Luciano Marin and Andre Aurelli donning the same wardrobe without continuity looking "patched" There's introduction of a giant called Goliath (actor is referred to as Koloss) that makes viewing worthwhile. I always considered the earthquake, falling rock effects impressive.
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David Deal Enjoyed:
THE DESPERATE MAN (60) - Reporter Conrad Phillips goes on holiday to south east England, and while there makes the acquaintance of fellow reporter Jill Ireland who is there chasing down another mystery that quickly embroils the two in stolen jewels and murder. Fun little Brit thriller shot on location also features Charles Gray in a slithery cameo.
LE CERCLE ROUGE (70)
WARLOCK (59) - The town of Warlock is regularly terrorized by a local gang that includes troubled Richard Widmark who doesn't agree with the gang's hooliganism. Meanwhile, the town hires a gun (Henry Fonda) and his partner (Anthony Quinn) to clean things up. It gets complicated when the town figures out the cure is worse than the disease and Widmark leaves the gang to become the official law in town. Edward Dmytryk's heavily-plotted "adult" western boasts a deep cast that includes Dorothy Malone who has eyes for Widmark. The complex relationships of the characters really make this beautifully-shot oater a solid classic.
THE DEVIL'S AGENT (61) - See The Eurospy Guide book for a complete review of this early entry.
THE SECRET PARTNER (61)
X THE UNKNOWN (56)
MELODIE EN SOUS SOL (62) - Career criminal Jean Gabin, fresh out of the slammer, goes for one more nervy heist; robbing a casino on the Riviera. He recruits a talented but untrustworthy youth, Alain Delon, to pull off the job but things don't go as expected. Henri Vernuil's near classic is well worth your time. The failed heist is a crime staple and this hits all the right notes.
Mildly Enjoyed:
DEATH SMILES ON A MURDERER (72)
HIGH TIDE (47) - Feisty newspaper editor Lee Tracy and Don Castle, the investigator he hired to put down a hostile takeover by the local crime lord, lie trapped in the wreckage of their vehicle on a California beach waiting for the tide to come in and finish them off. Told in flashback, this twisty crime thriller from Monogram is entertaining enough in its hardboiled way.
THE DEVIL STRIKES AT NIGHT (57) - Serial killer Mario Adorf is quietly running rampant in WWII Germany. When the obviously innocent Werner Peters is arrested for one of Adorf's murders, detective Claus Holm gets on the trail of the real killer. Adorf does a great job here as the mentally deficient but prolific killer but the focus is on Holm as he unravels the mystery. Unfortunately, politics gets in the way of justice in this thoughtful thriller based on a true story. A good and interesting movie from Robert Siodmak that was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Oscar.
THE MYSTERIOUS DR. FU MANCHU (29) - After his children are killed in the Boxer Rebellion, Fu Manchu (Warner Oland) vows to take revenge on all the British officers who quelled the Asian horde. Using hypnotism on a young white girl in his charge, Fu's plan works well until his final target, Neil Hamilton, falls in love with the girl. Creaky yellow peril number suffers some from silent-style acting but will satisfy those who go for this stuff. This is the first in a Oland/Fu trilogy. Next up is 1930's The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu.
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Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed:
Le tempestaire (short) (1947, Jean Epstein)
Santiago (1956, Gordon Douglas)
Fury at Furnace Creek (1948, H. Bruce Humberstone)
Mildly enjoyed
Umbrella academy – season 3 – episodes 1 to 5
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Angel Rivera Enjoyed:
The 2018 Netflix documentary, "This Changes Everything" about how women are treated in the movie business; especially woman directors.
Mildly enjoyed:
The 1971 version of "Murders in the Rue Morgue" which starred Jason Robards Jr.; Herbert Lom and a 25 year old Christine Kaufman.
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