To answer these trivia questions, please email me at scinema@earthlink.net.
Brain Teasers:
Which actress, born in the Congo in 1947, appeared in 8 Westerns shot in Spain?
Tom Betts, Angel Rivera and George Grimes knew that it was Dyanik Zurakowska.
Which actress, born in Argentina in 1938, appeared in 3 Westerns shot in Spain?
Tom Betts and George Grimes knew that it was Rosanna Yanni.
Which actress, born in Argentina in 1937, appeared in 7 Westerns shot in Spain?
Tom Betts, Angel Rivera and George Grimes knew that it was Perla Cristal.
And now for some new brain teasers:
Which actor, born in England in 1934, made 25 feature films for Italian and Spanish directors?
By what name is Robert Hampton better known?
By what name is Willy Pareto better known?
Name the movies from which these images came.
Tom Betts, George Grimes and Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's frame grab of Gordon Mitchell and Simone Blondell in ARRIVANO DJANGO E SARTANA... E LA FINE, aka DJANGO AND SARTANA... SHOWDOWN IN THE WEST.
Above a new photo.
Can you identify from what movie it came?
No one named the above photo.
Can you identify from what movie it came?
George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Adrienne LaRussa and John Bartha in director Lucio Fulci's BEATRICE CENCI, aka THE CONSPIRACY OF TORTURE.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
George Grimes identified last week's photo of Hiroyuki Sanada in director Yoji Yamada's THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI.
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:
1990 Independent Spirit Awards
1991 Independent Spirit Awards
1992 Independent Spirit Awards
Has anyone a copy of the 1993 ceremony?
1994 Independent Spirit Awards
1995 Independent Spirit Awards
1996 Independent Spirit Awards
1997 Independent Spirit Awards
Has anyone a copy of the 1998 ceremony?
1999 Independent Spirit Awards
2000 Independent Spirit Awards
2007 Independent Spirit Awards
2008 Independent Spirit Awards
2009 Film Independent Spirit Awards
2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards
Has anyone a copy of the 2013 ceremony?
Unsung "Bobby Caldwell" (2024)
Uncnsrd "Vivica A. Fox" (2024)
Shogun (2024) - I usually don't comment on a TV series until after the final episode has proven to fulfill or destroy the promise of the early episodes, but I so enjoyed the first three episodes of this new version that I'm noting it. I don't remember much about the version with Richard Chamberlain except that I think it was cheesy. If nothing else, this new series confirms that Hiroyuki Sanada has taken over the late Toshiro Mifune's status as the go-to Japanese actor for Hollywood productions.
Mildly enjoyed:
Söndagsbarn, aka SUNDAY'S CHILDREN (1992) - Ingmar Bergman often said that his career of directing for the theater in Sweden was his main occupation. Movie-making was only something he did in the summer time to keep his actors working, and he wrote scripts only to have something to film. The fact that his movies made him world famous wasn't the most important aspect of his career. In 1976, Bergman was arrested while working at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm and charged with tax evasion. While the charges were eventually dropped and the Swedish Government apologized, Bergman came close to having a breakdown and swore to never work in Sweden again. After making films in West Germany and Norway, Bergman returned to Sweden to make 1982's FANNY AND ALEXANDER, which he stated would be his last theatrical feature film. Bergman frequently commented on his unhappy childhood being the son of a Lutheran preacher whom his entire family lived in fear of his sudden and violent bursts of anger. In 1992, two scripts he wrote were produced. THE BEST INTENTIONS was originally made for TV and was directed by Bille August. SUNDAY'S CHILDREN was the feature film debut of Bergman's son Daniel, and indicated that Ingmar had begun to soften his feelings toward his late father. Beautifully photographed by Tony Forsberg, the film was slowly paced and began with the return of Henrik Linnros' father, Thommy Berggren, by train from an out of town Preaching job. Linnros was called Pu, which was the name Ingmar Bergman had as a child. All of the family were given the names of Bergman's real family, including older brother Dag, played by Jacob Leygraf, who seemed only interested in making Pu miserable. The languid opening of the movie introduced the story of a local suicide, which was then portrayed as a black & white Horror film, leading to various fantasy scenes involving ghosts and Pu's investigation of death. Awaken one night by hearing his father and mother in a tense conversation, Pu tried to comfort his father and agreed to go with him to another town where he would preach. The film suddenly shifted to 1978 when his father was near death. Per Myrberg played the adult Ingmar Bergman answering questions from his father about "What did I do wrong?" The dying father was given the contents of his late wife's safety deposit box, which contained the multiple diaries she kept since they married. Realizing that he never really knew the woman with whom he lived for over 50 years, the father wanted his son to help him to understand. The son told him that he couldn't offer forgiveness for the past, but hoped that they could be friends going forward. The film went back to the father and son's trip to the out-of-town preaching assignment, which seemed to be one of the writer's good memories of his time with his father. Daniel Bergman seemed to have learned his father's ability with actors, and the film featured marvelous performances by all. Best known as the male star of ELVIRA MADIGAN and JOE HILL, Thommy Berggren was incredibly touching in the complex role of Erik Bergman. Equally impressive was young Henrik Linnros.
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David Deal enjoyed:
300 (06)
KILL, PANTHER, KILL (67)
THE MOVIE MURDERER (70) - Professional arsonist Warren Oates is burning down buildings that are full of movies. Insurance investigators Arthur Kennedy and Tom Selleck (in his first movie) are going to get to the bottom of it. TV movie with quite the cast, showy cinematography, and an annoying counterculture filmmaker played by Severn Darden. With Jeff Corey, Robert Webber, Russell Johnson, and Elisha Cook Jr. Oates is always worth watching and he has a good role here.
BLACK TEST CAR (62)
MY HEART BELONGS TO DADDY (42) - Forced to take shelter in a snowstorm, pregnant Martha O'Driscoll and her cab driver Cecil Kellaway end up in Nobel prizewinner Richard Carlson's house where she has her baby. This triggers a slew of comedic episodes that end happily. Amusing comedy from Robert Siodmak invokes chuckles aplenty.
THE HOLDOVERS (23) - "If it wasn't for Oppenheimer…"
CROSS CURRENT (71) - from 2005: "Good Euro ambience flick with Philippe Leroy, Elga Andersen, Franco Ressel, Ivan Rassimov, and Rosanna Yanni, all of whom drink J&B and some of whom survive the nonsensical, twisty murder plot." NOTE: I'm giving up on my black market VHS copy. Is there even a DVD?
Mildly Enjoyed
MAN ACCUSED (59) - Ronald Howard is engaged to Carol Marsh, but when he's identified by a family friend as a jewel thief and murderer, things take a dark turn. Suspicions arise because Carol is about to receive a sizable stash of jewels from her father for her wedding. Small British mystery that is agreeable enough despite the unlikely events of the final act.
BREAKHEART PASS (75) - This murder train western doesn't have much of a reputation. It has the feel of a TV movie, and the story and characters have a vague uncertainty about them, but it is diverting and has a good cast.
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Angel Rivera Enjoyed:
"DEADLIER THAN THE MALE" (1967)
When Broccoli and Saltzman were casting for "Dr. No"(1962) one of their first choices was: Richard Johnson. Johnson turned them down, leaving the way free for Connery to take the role of James Bond. For any one who may be curious to see what Johnson would have been like as James Bond; look no further than 1967's "Deadlier than the Male"! The movie updates the character of "Bulldog Drummond" a gentleman adventurer. Originally a WWI veteran, for this movie Drummond is updated to a Korean War veteran who is now an insurance investigator. He has to determine who is responsible for several deaths which benefited an unknown business man. The business man played (spoiler alert) by Nigel Greene (who is better known for portraying Nayland Smith in the Christopher Lee/Fu Manchu movie, "The Face of Fu Manchu"(1965) and the villain in the Matt Helm movie, "The Wrecking Crew" (1968) He employs as his main assassins, two of the most beautiful international female stars of European films of the sixties. Namely: Elke Sommer, best known as the female protagonist of the second "Pink Panther" film, "A Shot in the Dark" (1964) and Sylva Koscina, best known as Iole, the love interest of Steve Reeves in his two "Hercules" films. The film also features Suzanna Leigh, also known for the Elvis Presley movie, "Paradise-Hawaiian Style" (1966) and the Hammer Production, "The Lost Continent" (1968). Johnson is alright as Drummond who has been updated to appear like a James Bond type, complete with fancy sports cars. knowledge of karate and judo and super cool with the ladies. Sommer and Koscina are very sexy looking in their outfits which include two piece swimsuits and evening gowns. The two female leads have a schtick where Koscina is always taking items that are not hers and usually belong to Sommer. This routine, done for laughs provides an interesting ending for the movie.
"DETOUR" (1945)
A classic of the genre known as film noir. Piano man Tom Neal loses his girl friend to ambition, as she leaves him to chase after the bright lights of Hollywood and stardom. Neal who is cash poor and misses his sweetheart immensely decides to hitchhike his way to Hollywood from New York City. He reaches Arizona where he is picked by a guy who accidentally dies, leaving our hero to go on the run as he is afraid no one, especially the cops will believe his "ride" died accidentally. Neal makes it to California where his troubles turn from bad to worse, when he picks up femme fatale Ann Savage. The film takes an almost fatalistic view of life and its circumstances as the protagonist begins to feel like his circumstances are out of his control which is why he ends up the way he does. Great little film done with style by director Edgar G. Ulmer, who is also known for the minor sci-fi classic, "The Man from Planet X".
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Charles Gilbert watched:
CRASH (1978) ABC Sunday Night Movie video captured from 1979 on Denver station features prime time viewing of CRASH (1978) starring William Shatner. Closely based on the true story of Eastern Airlines flight 401, an L 1011 heading for Miami from JFK in New York crashes into the Everglades with 100 passengers losing their life. Seventy-five were rescued. The viewing includes commercials like Polly Bergen selling Singer sewing machines, and Cliff Robertson hawking the new Mercury Marquis.
SOLOMON AND SHEBA (1959) King Vidor directs the follow up to the Old Testament story of the House Of David with Yul Brynner filling in for the fey Tyrone Power. The Queen of Sheba (Gina Lollobrigida) with flaring eyebrows, and grand entourage, visits the newly crowned King of Israel, after his father David (Findlay Currie) dies leaving the younger son chosen over the older vengeful Adonijah (George Sanders).
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