To answer these trivia questions, please email me at scinema@earthlink.net.
Brain Teasers:
Which London born actress who appeared in an Italian film about ancient Rome and a Western shot in Spain died on January 27, 2023?
Bertrand van Wonterghem, George Grimes and Angel Rivera knew that it was Sylvia Syms.
Which film director, born in New Jersey, worked with Nina Foch, Anita Louise, Barbara Britton, Christopher Lee, Yvonne Furneaux, Pat Boone, Noelle Adam, Mario Girotti, Michele Mercier and Nicholetta Machiavelli?
Bertrand van Wonterghem and George Grimes knew that it was Henry Levin.
Complete the lyric: "I have looked in the faces __ __ ___ _______."
No one has answered this puzzler yet.
And now for some new brain teasers:
What actor, born in Portland, Oregon, who made many movies in Italy, stopped working in 1967 but finally died in 2007?
What actor, born in Santa Ana, California, wrote a novel about American actors working in Italy?
What actor, born in Lubeck, Germany, worked with directors Marvin J. Chomsky, Rainer Erier, Jurgen Goslar, Ferdinando Baldi, Giancarlo Santi, Mario Caiano, Dario Argento, Jess Franco and Michel Drach?
Name the movies from which these images came.
Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's frame grab of Lionel Stander, Alberto dell'Acqua and Nazzareno Zamperla in LA COLLINA DEGLI STIVALI, aka BOOT HILL.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
Bertrand van Wonterghem and Charles Gilbert identified last week's frame grab of the last Sylvia Syms in LE VERGINI DI ROMA, aka AMAZONS OF 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 Carla Gravina in L' ANTICHRISTO, aka THE ANTICHRIST, aka THE TEMPTER.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
No one identified the above photo yet.
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 Sound of 007 (2022) - Director Mat Whitecross seems intent to champion the music for NO TIME TO DIE as the culmination of 60 years of James Bond movie music, but proper respect for John Barry is given - even with a member of Duran Duran calling him a "dick". There are many interesting stories told, but many not told as well. Howcome Sheena Easton is interviewed, but we don't hear her Bond song? How come, though we hear a snippet of it, they don't mention the song "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"? Well, nothing is perfect, and the John Barry stuff is splendid.
Mildly enjoyed:
Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. "Jamie Chung, Cyndi Lauper and Danny Trejo" (2023)
Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. "Brian Cox and Viola Davis" (2023)
Did not enjoy:
30 IS A DANGEROUS AGE, CYNTHIA (1968) - Only at a time when the catch phrase was "Don't trust anyone over 30", would a movie about a man trying to accomplish all of his life's ambitions before he reaches that age make sense. Reportedly director Joseph McGrath had assisted on producer Walter Shenson's two Beatles feature films, so Shenson hired him to make this lame follow-up to Dudley Moore's hit film BEDAZZLED - but without Peter Cook. As in BEDAZZLED, Moore is constantly fantasizing; sometimes about being a famous composer and sometimes thinking he will succeed in getting married before he turns 30. He's having trouble writing a stage musical and he doesn't have a girlfriend, so he's got a lot to do in the six weeks before September 13th. Luckily, Suzy Kendall moves into the apartment next door. However, after he's won her heart, he finds that he can't concentrate on writing, so he takes off alone to Northern Ireland. Having completed his work. Moore returns to find that Kendall has moved back to Birmingham. Moore sets off to find her, but the producers need him back, so they send Private Detective John Bird to get him. Luckily, Bird reunites Moore and Kendall, she agrees to marry him and Bird drives them back to London for a wedding and an opening night. As bad as the play is, the newspapers report that it is an hit. The newspapers also report that a baby born in exactly nine months would be heavenly blessed, so Moore leaps into bed with Kendall. I greatly enjoy looking at Suzy Kendall, and that is the only pleasure I get from this movie. Even though McGrath was one of the directors on 1967's CASINO ROYALE, and would go on to make the dreadful THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN, no one had figured out that he wasn't funny yet - but zany was "in" during the 1960s. Co-writer and star Moore used the film to further showcase his musical ability by not only writing the score, but also performing a number of songs.
THE CURSE OF LA PATASOLA (2022) - Instead of La Llorona, aka The Weeping Woman, this film gives us La Patasola, or "The woman who haunts the jungle on one leg." An on-screen title tells us that the film begins in "Southern Colombia 19th Century". However, this isn't the origin of La Patasola. It's just another instance of the evil creature attacking a man about to have intimate relations with another man's wife. In present day, Najah Bradley tells the story from her home country of Colombia about an unfaithful wife, whose husband killed her children in front of her, and then chopped off one of the legs and left her to bleed to death. Since then she feeds like a vampire on unfaithful men. Co-writer, director and actor A.J. Jones then wonders if she lets the unfaithful women get away scottfree. No, she possess them. Here is another story illustrating of the dangers of two heterosexual couples going on a weekend camping and fishing trip. Jones is married to co-producer and actor (being "introduced") Gillie Jones, aka Gillie Fitz, aka Gillian Fitzgerald. Patrick R. Walker plans to propose marriage to Bradley on the trip, but, of course, she decides to have a fling in the forest with Mr. Jones. This leads to the appearance of La Patasola, even though they are in Florida and not Colombia. Limited locations and a small cast sounds like the perfect set-up for a low-budget flick. If only they had an entertaining script that would lend itself to compelling viewing. Luciana Faulhaber doesn't get much to do as the human form of La Patasola, but she gets top billing - possibly because she has a longer credit list than the other actors. For a movie in which people are menanced while camping, the end credits features an ironic statement: "Help us give back to the Friends of Lake Louisa State Park, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose vision is to promote public awareness of the environment, restore native habitats, and to bring people of all ages outside to increase mental and physical health."
HOUSE (1986) - I've avoided this movie for 37 years, but since it became a "cult" film that spawn three sequels, I figured I should give it a look-see. Probably inspired by POLTERGEIST, the film deals with an house into which a child is abducted. However, things soon get confused when the ghost of Richard Moll appears and he seems to be causing all of the supernatural manifestations in order to get revenge on William Katt for not killing him during the Vietnam War - thus allowing him to be taken by the NVA and tortured to death. What this has to do with Katt's Aunt Susan French hanging herself isn't explained - though I'm guessing that the house is malevolent, and it was Katt trying to write a memoir of his time during the conflict in Vietnam that conjured up Moll. In any case, the film begins like a standard scare film, but when George Wendt shows up as the next door neighbor. things start to get played for laughs. Possibly director Steve Miner misjudged how Katt's manic attempts to deal with the apparent supernatural was coming off, and the decision was made to pretend they intended it to be funny. In any case, the film is a mess, but it is possibly that mess which turned it into a "must see" for enough people to lead to HOUSE II: THE SECOND STORY, HOUSE III: THE HORROR SHOW and HOUSE IV: THE REPOSSESSION. Next year, 2024, a reboot is promised. Kaye Lentz appears as Katt's estranged wife, but doesn't get to do much. It is remarkable to realized that director of photography Mac Ahlberg is the same Swedish fellow who directed I, A WOMAN before coming to the United States and working as a D.P. on RE-ANIMATOR and BEVERLY HILLS COP III. How come there is no singer credit for the version of "You're No Good" heard in this movie?
THE MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES (1936) - H.G. Wells is credited with adapting his 1898 short story into a screenplay. Unfortunately, the resulting film is a rather slow-moving and unfunny "comedy". If you were wondering what Roland Young did before his success in TOPPER, this film might be of interest to you. Now that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has introduced Celestials, it is interesting to see director Lothar Mendes version of such beings in this film. Though not identified, two god-like beings - Torin Thatcher as Observer and George Sanders as Indifference, meet in Space to question Ivan Brandt as Player about the planet Earth. Brandt considers giving all of the inhabitants on Earth infinite power. The other two convince him to experiment with just one person. Brandt chooses Young and the film follows his mis-adventures of discovering his power. Naturally, with the good intention of making a better World, Young eventually destroys everything, but has the ability to give up the power and return to the time before he had the power. The god-like beings consider the results of the experiment, and Brandt decides to try a more subtle influence on humanity's future when the film ends. Ralph Richardson plays a military man who decides that he must kill a man who can perform miracles. George Zucco plays Richardson's butler. Ernest Thesiger is a vicar Young goes to for advice. Producer Alexander Korda had a better result the previous year with Wells' THINGS TO COME.
A MOUTHFUL OF AIR (2021) - With a sensitive performance by Amanda Seyfried, A MOUTHFUL OF AIR starkly portrays a woman suffering from depression, in particular postpartum depression. Writer/director Amy Koppelman originally told this story in her 2004 first novel, which reportedly was inspired by her own depression. Seyfried plays a writer of children's books, so there are many animated sequences, but the film is mostly close ups of Seyfriend looking anxious and depressed in spite of efforts to help her from husband Finn Wittrock, mother Amy Irving and therapist Paul Giamatti. Jennifer Carpenter also puts in an appearance. Koppelman fragments her story with both flights of fantasy and flashbacks that do not help the audience to understand what the film seems to be trying to explain. Giving the film an unresolved ending doesn't help either. Fans of WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY may get a kick out of the depressing version of "Pure Imagination" sung toward the finale.
THE RETURN OF BULLDOG DRUMMOND (1934) - I am only familiar with H.C. McNeile's 1920s literary hero from the 1960s version played by Richard Johnson in DEADLIER THAN THE MALE and SOME GIRLS DO - which was more inspired by the success of the James Bond movies than by the original novels. Movie versions of the McNeile stories began in 1922, with RETURN being the fifth and the only one starring Ralph Richardson as Drummond. Seeing Richardson as a man of action had a certain fascination, but writer/director Walter Summers failed to deliver a compelling film. Based on McNeile's novel THE BLACK GANG, this film showed Drummond as a vigilante leading a group of like minded men attempting to thwart arms manufacturers from creating a war scare in England in order to boost business. The villains have successfully murdered two leaders in the Peace Movement as part of their scheme. In real history, this movie was made when Winston Churchill couldn't get England to seriously strengthen its military against what he perceived as the growing threat from Germany. In this film, threats from abroad were just ploys by evil arms makers, so history has proven the political perspective of these filmmakers wrong. One of the more striking moments in the film came when Richardson threw his wife, played by Ann Todd, over an electrical fence in an escape attempt. As stated previously, there was a novelty in seeing Richardson as a man of action. Unfortunately, Todd didn't get to do much, but act in an intelligent manner to assist in her rescue - until she stupidly got herself recaptured. This was one of those movies in which the evil woman, played by Joyce Kennedy, wasn't really "dealt with" because of the good guys' chivalric diffidence toward women. The film would have gotten a few points if someone had shot her in the face. Meanwhile, director Summers went through a nasty court case in which he had to pay £500 in damages to an actress whom Summers coerced into doing a nude screen test and then didn't cast her in his film. The case was in 1934, but Summers was still working in 1939 and made THE DARK EYES OF LONDON with Bela Lugosi.
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Charles Gilbert watched:
SCOURGE OF THE BARBARIANS (1962) My wife was watching LOVE ME TENDER (Elvis' first movie) which impelled me to search and find this obscure Ken Clark film. Larry Anderson credited for describing on IMDb.
GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS (1954) B&W. Shown on Svengoolie Saturday night and Comet-tv the next morning.
GODZILLA VS. MONSTER ZERO (1965) Nick Adams.The following two I watched on Creature Features hosted by Vincent Van Dahl with cohorts Tangella and Mr. Livingston from Bodega Bay, California. www.creaturefeatures.tv
MOON ZERO TWO (1969) Roy Ward Baker directed this for Hammer. Stars American James Olsen as a ferry astronaut. The film setting is 2021 and references Ohioan astronaut Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon; same year as movie release. The moon's infrastructure progress in the film includes highly developed Moon City populated with a stylized citizenry. Catherine Schell and Adrienne Cori costar.
HANGAR 18 (1980) Space shuttle astronauts (Gary Collins and James Hampton) are being dragooned by operatives from the current presidential administration to prevent release of news about ET activity. A space collision had forced the alien craft to crash. An approaching election impels White House officials to squelch reports that may adversely affect re-election.
RED PLANET MARS (1952) B&W. Scientist couple Peter Graves and Andrea King (She was 7 years his senior) make radio contact with some occupant of Mars which shakes the world economy when the news is released. Extensive religious overtone eclipses its sci fi tenor. No trip to Mars, no aliens, no space ships.
Honey West episodes B&W:
Rockabye the Hard way #15 Honey (Anne Francis) and Sam (John Ericson) investigate a spy ring concerning truck drivers hauling secret weapons. Guest stars Vincent Beck and Joe Don Baker
A Nice Little Till to Tap #16 Honey poses as a teller to trap Anthony Eisley playing a sophisticated bank robber.
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Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed:
Gintama (anime) episodes 39 & 40
The files of young Kindaichi – season 1 – episode 1
El aventurero de Guaynas (1966, Joaquin Luis Romero Marchent)
Mildly enjoyed:
Flash Gordon’s trip to Mars (serial, 1938) – episodes 1 & 2
Willow – season 1 – episodes 7 & 8
None but the lonely (1944, Clifford Odets)
Did not enjoy:
Black Adam ( 2022, Jaume Collet-Serra)
Heiss weht der Wind (1964, Rolf Olsen)
Everything everywhere all at once (2022, Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert)
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David Deal Enjoyed:
WINGED MIGRATION (01)
STOP ME BEFORE I KILL (60)
NIGHT OF THE DAMNED (71)
DEATH ON THE FOURPOSTER (64)
M (51) - David Wayne plays the child murderer in Joseph Losey's remake of Fritz Lang's classic starring Peter Lorre in the role. Tough act to follow but this effort forges its own identity, being set in a desolate LA, and features a long sequence in the famed Bradbury Building. A deep cast will tickle the fancy of aficionados. Definitely worth a watch.
CJAMANGO (67) - Cjamango (Sean Todd AKA Ivan Rassimov) wins a bunch of gold in a card game and it is quickly stolen by El Tigre (Piero Lulli) and Don Pablo (Livio Lorenzon), and from there the triangle of double-crosses and murder takes shape. Toss in Mickey Hargitay as a mysterious stranger always hanging around and Helen Chanel for sex appeal. This wasn't bad as the villains are first rate, and Mickey and Helen add enough interest to please even the pickiest of fans.
THE DEVIL COMMANDS (41)
I KNOW THAT VOICE (13) - Fun documentary on voice actors.
PHANTOM OF CHINATOWN (40)
Mildly enjoyed:
VAMPIRE OF THE OPERA (64)
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Angel Rivera Mildly enjoyed:
"The Gladiator" (1938) This is the movie adaptation of the 1930 Philip Wylie novel, "Gladiator". Wylie's novel was said to be an inspiration to "Superman" creators Siegel & Shuster. The movie which stars Joe E. Brown (without his trademark yell) only uses the title of the book (adding the "the" to the title) and changes the premise of the book to Brown receiving powers from an injection. The only part from the book attempted in the movie are scenes of Brown on the football field. Wylie's dramatic take on a super human was turned into a comedy. Joe E. Brown of course is likeable and June Travis who plays Brown's love interest is comely. The humor is mildly amusing.
"Wednesday" (2022) the Netflix series, first episode: Cute take on the "Addams Family".
"Arthur"(1981) TCM was featuring a night of Dudley Moore movies the other day and I caught this one. It still makes me laugh!
"The Fabulous Baker Boys" (1989) Every time I see it, I find it still very enjoyable.
and of course various episodes of "Facts of Life"; Two and a Half Men"(The Charlie Sheen years); "Modern Family"; "Big Bang Theory" and "Young Sheldon".
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