May 11 - 17, 2024

 

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

Brain Teasers:

What was the original Italian title for COLOSSUS OF THE STONE AGE, aka LAND OF THE MONSTERS?

Tom Betts and Angel Rivera knew that it was MACISTE CONTRO I MOSTRI.

By what name is actor Red Carter better known?

Tom Betts and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was Giovanni "Nello" Pazzafini. Bertrand also noted that Ettore Manni used the name for AMICO MIO... FREGA TU CHE FREGO IO, aka ANYTHING FOR A FRIEND and SI PUO ESSERE PIU BASTARDI DELL'INSPETTORE CLIFF?, aka MAFIA JUNCTION.

What grandson of an American millionaire appeared in a Robert Woods Western without credit?

Tom Betts knew that it was J. Paul Getty III who was portrayed in ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD by Charlie Plummer and Harris Dickinson in the TV mini-series Trust. The movie in which he appeared with Robert Woods was UNA COLT IN MANO AL DIAVOLO, aka COLT IN THE HAND OF THE DEVIL.

And now for some new brain teasers:

Which Italian cinematographer who became a director died at the age of 59 in 1976?

Which Italian actor was born in 1938, made four Westerns, and died at the age of 64 in 2003?

Which American actor, born in 1947, began his film career in Italy in 1969, made three Italian Westerns and is still alive?

Name the movies from which these images came.

No one identified the above frame grab of J. Paul Getty III with Robert Woods in UNA COLT IN MANO AL DIAVOLO, aka COLT IN THE HAND OF THE DEVIL.

Bertrand van Wonterghem and Angel Rivera identified last week's photo of Anthony Quinn in ULISSE, aka ULYSSES.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

No one has identified the above picture yet.

Can you name from what movie it came?

Bertrand van Wonterghem and Angel Rivera identified last week's frame grab of Michelle Yeoh and Jackie Chan in POLICE STORY III: SUPERCOP.

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:

Bob (hearts) Abisola (2024) - This show will be missed after five good seasons.

Icons Unearthed: STAR WARS (2022) - A six part series on the making of the six George Lucas STAR WARS movies. There is a wealth of behind-the-scenes material in these programs with a witty narration which imparts information in an highly enjoyable way. With no apparent participation by George himself, the program seems to have only been possible after Lucasfilms had been sold to Disney. One of the goals achieved by the programs is recognizing the invaluable contribution to the first three films by George's ex-wife Marcia. While there is a mention of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and HOWARD THE DUCK, the filmmakers seem to feel it unnecessary to mention that Warwick Davis of RETURN OF THE JEDI went on to star in WILLOW, and that fans revolted when RETURN was originally announced as REVENGE OF THE JEDI. "A Jedi does not seek revenge," cried the fans.

Icons Unearthed: MARVEL (2023) - I could only find the first episode of this series on YouTube and it wet my appetite to see it all. Starting with the creation of the comic books by Martin Goodman, the program is mostly interested in the effort to get movies made. The TV shows and animated series are mentioned - though The Incredible Hulk show is only briefly shown even though Lou Ferrigno gets to make a comment or two, but it is the ownership stories that take up most of the hour. Finally, BLADE is a hit movie and the episode ends with the rise of Kevin Feige.

Unsung "Best In Black Entrepreneurs" (2024) - Profiles of: Magic Johnson - LeBron James - Cathy Hughes (the chairperson of TV One, the channel that airs Unsung) - Rihanna - Berry Gordy - Tyler Perry - Annie Turnbo Malone - Madam C.J. Walker - Oprah Winfrey - Russell Simmons - John H. Johnson and Jay-Z & Beyonce.

Unsung "Best In Black TV Trailblazers" (2024) - Profiles of: Diahann Carroll - Tracee Ellis Ross - Arsenio Hall - Robin Roberts - Regina King - Laverne Cox - RuPaul - Nat King Cole - Steve Harvey - Flavor Flav and Sammy Davis Jr.

Mildly enjoyed:

Midsomer Murders "The Witches of Angel Rise" season 22 episode 6 - An athiest kills spiritual advisors because they keep trying to help him with the grief over the death of his girlfriend by saying that she's happy "on the other side".

Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism In Hollywood (2019) - The center piece of this documentary is the internment of Japanese Americans during World War 2. Tamlin Tomita is interviewed, but I guess they couldn't get George Takei, who actually was interned. While the filmmakers complain about Christopher Lee playing Fu Manchu, there is no consideration on how the U.S. government were able to separate Japanese Americans and Chinese Americans at that time. Nor is there mention of Chinese American actors working in Hollywood during World War 2 playing "dirty Japs". Again there is criticism of the Charlie Chan movies, with no mention of the Mr. Moto movies. And while we get Sessue Hayakawa branding a white woman in director Cecil B. DeMille's THE CHEAT, there is no mention of Richard Bartheimess dying for love in D.W. Griffith's BROKEN BLOSSOMS. How can you make a program about the changing attitudes in Hollywood towards Asians without mentioning Bruce Lee?

Did not enjoy:

DEATH RACE BEYOND ANARCHY (2018) - In 2008, writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson took a break from making RESIDENT EVIL movies to reboot DEATH RACE 2000. Dropping the time designation, Anderson changed the cross country race of the original to something more like ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK with everything happening inside a very large prison BEYOND ANARCHY is the fourth film in the new series, and they promise it is the last. A throwback to "car crash cinema" - which I guess is now current again with the FAST & FURIOUS films, BEYOND ANARCHY returns to the privatized prison called the Sprawl, where the Death Race has become a very popular viewing and gambling event on the "Dark Web", particularly for Mexican crime boss Danny Trejo. The masked driver Frankenstein rules the Sprawl, but allows competitors to challenge his rule with the Death Race. The corporation running the prison feels that the Death Race makes them look bad, and so they send in an attack squad to kill Frankenstein. However Trejo has smuggled enough automatic weapons into the Sprawl that the attack squad is massacred. Black Sails and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. actor Zach McGowan is dropped off in the prison by helecoptor, with a number of other convicts, including Yennis Cheung. McGowan is told to meet fellow convict Danny Glover, who sees him as a potential competitor with Frankenstein. After winning a series of qualifying death matches, McGowan is allowed to join the Death Race - even though Frankenstein outs him as an assassin sent by the corporation to kill him. There are a lot of speeding cars and explosions and hand to hand fights which are all well executed in Bulgaria, but ultimately dull. There is no explanation given as to  why all of the female convicts look like fashion models who love to pole dance. If they killed all of the less attractive female convicts might have provided some explanation, or is there an intended message that all beautiful women are criminals? Don Michael Paul directed while Roger Corman maintained his Executive Producer credit.

HOT ROD GANG (1958) - John Ashley is an aspiring rock 'n' roll singer and hot rod enthusiast, but he has to keep those things secret for fear of losing his chance to inherit his father's estate. An envious car thief decides to thwart Ashley's ambitions and frames him by filling his car trunk with automobile hub caps. Luckily, his elder female relatives are on his side with the family, and when the cops realize who the real criminal is, Ashley is able to chase him down with a hot rod race and bring him to justice. Interestingly, Gene Vincent is billed among the actors, and when he performs, the billing reads "Gene Vincent and Group" rather than Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps. Ashley sings two songs, while Vincent gets four. An American International Pictures production, the film sports that talents of writer Lou Rusoff, cinematographer Floyd Crosby and music composer Ronald Stein. Unfortunately, none of their work shines with this low-budget effort, which was directed by Lew Landers. The best part of the movie is at the end when an on-screen title reads "This story is true - only the facts have been changed..."

 

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David Deal Enjoyed:

WINNETOU I (63)

CORRIDOR OF MIRRORS (48) - From 2005 "Terence Young's dreamy, gothic romance is a hard flick to classify. It's definitely a study in obsessive psychosexual behavior. It is also beautifully photographed and, although flawed, is one of the most compelling films in my library. A forgotten gem, in my book."

MAD MAX, FURY ROAD (15) - Undoubtedly one of the best of its kind.

GOLIATH AND THE SINS OF BABYLON (64)

TRON (82)

THE FALCON OUT WEST (44)

CROUPIER (98)

THE DAY OF THE COBRA (80)

COLT .45 (50)

DREAM SCENARIO (23) - College professor Nicholas Cage suddenly starts showing up in people's dreams. He becomes a media sensation until the dreams turn dark, A curious study on fame, infamy, and redemption. One can sense why Cage was attracted to the material and the payoff is satisfying. Recommended,

Mildly Enjoyed

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (61)

A LONG RIDE FROM HELL (68)

EYE IN THE LABYRINTH (72)

STILETTO (69)

Did Not Enjoy

THE SCAVENGERS (69)

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Angel Rivera  Highly Enjoyed:

"THE FALL GUY" (2024)
New Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt film using title of Lee Majors' 1981-1986 TV show and his character's name, and basically nothing else from the TV show. Movie is basically an homage to the stunt personnel of the film industry. Well made with lots of stunts and well placed humor.

Enjoyed:

"THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON" (1958)
Haven't seen this since I was a kid and thought the makeup for the demon was the scariest thing I ever saw. The makeup is still impressive. Reverse of the Wolf Man who changes to a scary creature because of the full moon. This creature comes out due to the sun.

"INDESTRUCTIBLE MAN" (1956)
Lon Chaney Jr. becomes indestructible when he is brought back to life after he has been electrocuted. Similar to movie he did in the forties. ["Man-Made Monster" (1941)]. Low budget horror with Casey Adams (aka Max Showalter) as police detective hot on the trail of Chaney who is murdering the men who double crossed him.

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Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed:

Abigail (2023, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett)

Mildly enjoyed:

Ghostbusters: frozen empire (2023, Gil Kenan)

Shardlake – season 1 - episodes 1 to 4

 

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