April 20 - 26, 2024

 

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

Brain Teasers:

The English version of which Italian Western ends with the line "The Red and the Black"?

It is EL ROJO.

Complete the lyric: "She talks about a night without a ____."

No one has answered this one yet.

Which Italian/Spanish Western begins with someone trying to pry a gold tooth out of a dead man's mouth?

No one has answered this question yet.

How many films did Jess Hill make with Terence Hill?

George Grimes and Angel Rivera knew that it was five.

Complete the lyric: "You left to find a ___ __ ____."

No one has answered this one yet.

Can you name two Italian Westerns in which Franco Nero finds out that his brother has a different father from his?

George Grimes, Bertrand van Wonterghem and Rick Garibaldi know that it is TEXAS ADDIO and LE COLT CANTARONO LA MORTE E FU... TEMPO DI MASSACRO, aka MASSACRE TIME, aka THE BRUTE AND THE BEAST. In KEOMA his half brothers have the same father, but a different mother.

And now for some new brain teasers:

Ennio Morricone's orchestration for which Woody Guthrie song more or less inspired the sound of the Italian Western?

In which Italian produced Western does Chuck Connors play a chaplain who also happens to be the best dynamiter in the Army?

Can you name three movies in which Mimmo Palmara played a Native Amercian?

Name the movies from which these images came.

George Grimes, Rick Garibaldi and Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's photo of Franco Nero in LE COLT CANTARONO LA MORTE E FU... TEMPO DI MASSACRO, aka MASSACRE TIME, aka THE BRUTE AND THE BEAST.

Above a new photo.

Can you identify from what movie it came?

No one identified the above frame grab of Jeff Cameron about to die in IL GLADIATORE PIU FORTE DEL MONDO, aka COLOSSUS OF THE ARENA.

Bertrand van Wonterghem and George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Florinda Bolkan in NON SI SEVIZIA UN PAPERINO, aka DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung in ZU, WARRIORS FROM THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN.

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:

THE DESERTER (1972) - Like other Westerns produced by Dino de Laurentiis - A MAN CALLED SLEDGE and NAVAJO JOE - THE DESERTER feels like there was supposed to be more in the movie, but it got cut out. Why would Fauto Tozzi be cast and then be given no lines or story line? As in SLEDGE, scenes become condensed with multiple dissolves. It doesn't help that a proper home video release for this hasn't come out. The three that I've seen all seem to have originated from the broadcast on the USA cable network that I recorded decades ago. Most cut out the shot where John Huston kicks the dog and Albert Salmi says "Nigger". There was an effort to put the English soundtrack on a copy off Spanish TV, but the sync was often way off. In any case, this is one of many DIRTY DOZEN Westerns featuring an impressive group of actors, except for star Bekin Femhiu. Did someone suggest that Piero Picciioni should try writing a music score that sounded like what Neal Hefti did for DUEL AT DIABLO? I much prefer what Piccioni did for MINNESOTA CLAY. Sergio Leone was asked why his films didn't include Indians and he said that in Europe you can't find the faces that Native Americans have. Mimmo Palmara as an Apache leader - and it's not the first time he's played a Native American, certainly proves Leone's point.

DUNE PART TWO (2024) - My favorite version of the Frank Herbert novel is the Sci-Fi TV mini-series of 2000 and its sequel Children of Dune. Director Denis Villeneuve's version certainly has a larger scope, but also has some curious alterations to the story. Why withhold the birth of Paul's sister? I appreciate giving Feyd more screentime, and I am amazed at how this new version makes the Harkonnen even more disgusting than they were in the David Lynch movie even without the "heart plugs".

Unsung "Blaque" (2024) - As many times as I've seen BRING IT ON, it never occurred to me that the three young women always seen with Gabrielle Union were actually a singing group called Blaque. It is not too surprising that for all of their platinum album success, Blaque never caught my attention because they didn't make the kind of music that caught my attention, but their sometimes tragic tale is eerily similar to TLC's - particularly since Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez of TLC was a big supporter of their career.

Uncnsrd "Christian Keyes" (2024) - I had never before heard of this fellow, but the story of his childhood was so compelling that I was riveted to hear about his life. Considering how much entertainment I consume, it is remarkable that Keyes has had such a career of which I was completely unaware. I knew more about LisaRaye McCoy's career, and this episode changed the show's format by having her appear as an on-screen interviewer.

Uncnsrd "Leon" (2024) - Having seen THE FIVE HEARTBEATS and The Temptations - as well as Madonna's "Just Like A Prayer" video, I knew who Leon is. 

Mildly enjoyed:

Midsomer Murders "Happy Families" (2021) Season 22 Episode 3

Unsung "Stetsasonic" (2024) - I don't think I ever heard of these guys until this program.

Did not enjoy:

THE OMEN (1976) - Due to unusual circumstances, I ended up with a Chinese VCD of this with the title EXORCIST THE RETURN. Or, more precisely, EXOCIST THE RETURN. And it reminded me how much I hate this movie. Except for SUPERMAN, the films directed by Richard Donner are on my shit list - particularly this one. A cast this good should not be wasted on such material. That's what fledgling actors are for.

PLAYING DANGEROUS (1993) - I saw this movie on a Chinese VCD under the title HOME ALONE 8. A German scientist has a new formula which the bad guys want, so he faxes it to a Los Angeles phone number before destroying every copy he has of it. And just in time, for an assassination team breaks in and kills him. Dad George Shannon is out of the house with his wife Linda LoPorto, but his little boy, Mikey LeBeau, gets the fax, jumps on a computer, and figures out that it is something spectacular. Meanwhile, the daughter, Ali Patrick, is hoping to score with an eager young man in the bedroom, but he has to flee the house when the parents come home. The villainous Jack Skillmanj sends the assassination team to Shannon's house to get the fax, but even with his family being held hostage, LeBeau has the know-how to kill almost all of them one by one. Not surprising, screenwriters Sam Gottlieb and Rosalind Robinson fill the required running time with a lot of tedious dialogue, which director Lawrence Lanoff can't figure out how to make compelling. He also can't figure out how to get his cast to appear interesting. LeBeau and Lanoff made a sequel, PLAYING DANGEROUS 2, which seemed to convince LeBeau to leave acting. Lanoff got his start in making erotic thrillers under the name Lawrence Unger. Eventually, he went to work making videos for Playboy.

PRICE OF GLORY (2000) - For the most part, sports movies are not of interest to me - just as real sports aren't. Writer Phil Berger probably felt that the boxing milieu was a good setting for a drama about a Mexican American family, and director Carlos Avila was certainly able to pull together an impressive cast. Jimmy Smits, when he was played by a younger actor, seemed posed for a successful boxing career, but was brought up too fast and failed. With wife Maria del Mar, Smits had three sons, which he coached from a young age with the hope of making them champions. As they grew older, and child actors were replaced by Jon Seda, Clifton Collins Jr and Ernesto Hernandez, the boys came to the attention of boxing promoters Ron Perlman and Paul Rodriguez. Tensions exploded between the boys and their father as to the direction of their careers, with Hernandez being killed while struggling with a gunman who wanted to cripple him. Losing his confidence, Smits retreated to gardening until Seda and Collins Jr. realized that they needed his coaching skills in order for Seda to win a championship bout against Louis Mandylor. You can guess the ending and composer Joseph Julian Gonzalez made it obvious that the ending should be felt as uplifting.

PUSSYCAT, PUSSYCAT I LOVE YOU (1970) - I had heard this was awful, but I couldn't conceive how awful it was. WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT? was a comedy about a man seeking help from a psychiatrist because as much as he loved his financee, he found that he can't say "no" to women who throw themselves at him. Writer/director Rod Amateau attempted to make a similar movie this time about a man who was afraid of losing his hair going to a scalp therapist who was obsessed by the man's sex life. The man, played by Ian McShane, maybe an American playwright (Is he? McShane sure sounds British.), but since he was living in Rome, he had a wife, Anna Calder-Marshall, and a mistress, Beba Loncar. They feel that he still loved them because he lied to them every time he cheated on both of them with every woman he met. As McShane's character was so repulsive, it was hard to believe that women found him sexy and it was hard to believe that the filmmakers thought that an audience would like him. The only fun to be had with this movie was in spotting the bit players like Leopoldo Trieste, Katia Christina, Gaby Andre, Marino Mase, Veronica Carlson, Madeline Smith, Karin Schubert and Paul Muller. What was supposed to be the hilarious final chase occurred at Cinecitta Studios when the main cast suddenly interrupted a Western being directed by Maurizio Lucidi featuring Richard Harrison doing a showdown. This didn't happen until about a hour and twenty minutes into the film, and it lasted less than a minute. Soon, the main cast tried to getaway on a stagecoach which interrupted a swashbuckler showdown, featuring Alberto Dell'Acqua, and a medievil showdown. This was one of a number of bad comedies that came out around this time which thought that nonsensical situations and gags equaled "madcap". And that a lot of attractive women seemingly horny equaled "sexy". In this movie, it all equaled "lame". While Lalo Schifrin was allowed to sneak bits of Burt Bacharach's music from WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT? into his score, reusing the actual Tom Jones performance with Hal David's lyrics must have been too expensive, Schifrin got Gene Lees to help write a dreadful theme song called "Grove Into It" performed by Henry Shed. Schifrin was also able to use his theme to Mission Impossible for a gag involving McShane's electric typewriter self destructing. Oh, yeah. Severn Darden played the therapist and failed to be a substitute for Peter Sellers, with Joyce Van Patten as his combative wife. John Gavin played an Hollywood star who showed up to provide a plot.

 

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David Deal Enjoyed:

THE LADY IN BLACK (58) - Husband and wife private eyes visit friends who own an old sawmill in the boonies. Their timing is impeccable as the owners' secretary has just disappeared, and it's being blamed on the ghost of a local legend called, you guessed it, the lady in black. Soon bodies begin piling up with no resolution in sight. Fun Swedish mystery with plenty of atmosphere and interesting camera work by cinematographer Sven Nykvist.

MOON OF THE WOLF (72) - See the Television Fright Films of the 1970s book for a complete review of this werewolf story.

OPERATION DOUBLE 007 (67) - AKA Operation Kid Brother. See The Eurospy Guide for a complete review of this entertaining entry.

TENEBRE (82)

THE KILLERS (64)

LOST IN TRANSLATION (03)

THE INDIAN SCARF (63)

THE SHAKEDOWN (60) - Fresh out of the slammer, gangster Terence Morgan bankrolls a photography studio and modeling agency for Donald Pleasence. After hours, Morgan uses the studio for amateur shutterbugs to take naughty photos and more, which adds up to a blackmail racket. When the lovely Hazel Court enters the picture, Morgan's resolve begins to falter. A sharp and clever British crime saga that offers humor and pathos on its journey to the inevitable end of Morgan. Recommended.

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Angel Rivera Highly enjoyed:

"THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE" (1972)
Every time I see this film, it is always a pleasure to see five Oscar winners at work. In the main cast are: Gene Hackman, fresh off his Oscar win for "The French Connection" (1971); Ernest Borgnine (winner for best actor for "Marty" (1955); Shelley Winters (two time Oscar winner); Jack Albertson (Oscar winner for supporting actor (1968) and Red Buttons (1957 best supporting actor Oscar winner) . Also in the cast are the sexy Stella Stevens; and the lovely Carol Lynley; as well the then hot young actress, Pamela Sue Martin (just before she would take the role of Nancy Drew in the 1977-1979 TV show). Roddy McDowell also has a featured role without makeup. (He did this film in between his "Apes" movies.) A well done melodrama and disaster film.

Mildly enjoyed:

"OCTAMAN" (1971)

Came across this on some cable channel. Something called "Nightmare Theatre". Apparently a program showing low-budget horror/sci-fi movies. This one featured Kerwin Mathews and Pier Angeli in a south of the border  sci-fi/horror film about an aquatic monster (a man in an humanoid octopus suit designed by Rick Baker (the man who "played" "King Kong" in the 1976 Dino De Laurentiis  production).  The "Octaman" attacks and fights with a group of researchers in a swampy area where the scientists are studying the effects of radiation on the waters near a small fishing village in Mexico. Almost like a poor man's "Creature from the Black Lagoon", but bloodier. Mathews and Angeli also costarred in the OSS 117 spy film, "Shadow of Evil" (1964).

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Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed:

The old way (2022, Brett Donowho)

Murder my sweet (1944, Edward Dmytryk)

Mildly enjoyed:

The gentlemen – season 1 – episodes 5 to 8

Fallout – season 1 (8 epis)

Billy liar (1963, John Schlesinger)

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Charles Gilbert watched:

TIME TRAVELERS 1964 Three men (Phil Carey, Preston Foster, and Steve Frank) and a gal (Merry Anders) operating a time machine realize the viewing screen is also a portal to the future. They cross over in the year 2071,  and immediately are attacked by mutants of an apocalypse. Taking refuge in a cave they are confronted by a more civilized group living underground. A tour of their hosts' facilities reveals a factory creating automatons. The benevolent leader (John Hoyt) describes plans for the survivors to travel to another planet since the current one is doomed, but, alas,  there's no room aboard for the four new visitors. So they scramble to make an improvised portal to return to original spacetime. The finale is headspinning.  Director Ib Melchior included Peter Strudwick in the cast. This athlete was phyiscally challenged with no feet and deformed hands, and forewent makeup to play a mutant reject. Look for sci-fi writer Forest J. Ackerman on the automaton assembly line.

ISLAND OF TERROR (1966) Edward Judd and Peter Cushing are doctors investigating gruesome deaths on an English island that leaves victims boneless. They find creatures resembling bagpipes in a lab, apparently provenance for the big blobs, scooting along the floor, that duplicate when chopped with an ax. And they're multiplying rapidly. But the two docs find that a radiation source in Strontium 90 is effective in drying the menace out. Not before Peter gets his hand chopped off in the monster scuffle.

TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH (1949) B&W. Air Force general (Gregory Peck) assumes command of a squadron that flies B 17's over Germany at the end of WW2., when morale plummets. His semi tough whip crackin' produces results, but himself collapses in shock when attempting to board his ship at the last sortie. In a promo for this Gregory Peck declares this his best performance. Of course he had many more movie to make in his career.

MADAME SIN (1972) Evil Chinese mastermind (Bette Davis in heavy makeup) has her minions mentally program a British naval officer using an insidious 'brain machine'.  The son of an old lover (Robert Wagner who produced the film), and confidant of the commander, is coerced into kidnapping him briefly during a luncheon so as to carry out her plot and arouse no suspicion. He is then released, and returns to Polaris missile submarine operations now in jeopardy.

Outer Limits "Premonition" B&W. X15 test pilot (Dewey Martin)  crashes in the desert near base, and experiences a time rift that allows him to make preparations to save the life of his preschool daughter on the verge of being run over by a truck.

Cannonball tv first episode "Runaway truck" B&W. Paul Birch and William Campbell play truckers driving team in a 1954 GMC 950 "Bubblenose. Mike Malone's (Birch) family was different than the rest of the series. Ann Doran played his wife here, but the rest of the series was played by Beth Lockerbie.

 

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