To answer these trivia questions, please email me at scinema@earthlink.net.
Brain Teasers:
Which American body builder who worked in Italian films was also an airplane pilot?
It was Reg Lewis.
What film credited to director John Sturges in the U.S., is credited to Duilio Coletti in Italy?
George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was VALDEZ IL MEZZOSANGUE, aka VALEZ THE HALFBREED, aka CHINO, aka THE VALDEZ HORSES.
What film credited to director Burt Kennedy in the U.S. is also credited to Niksa Fulgosi in the IMDb?
George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was LA SPINA DORSALE DEL DIAVOLO, aka THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE, aka THE DESERTER.
What film credited to director Andre De Toth in the U.S. is credited to Primo Zeglio in Italy?
George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was MORGAN IL PIRATA, aka MORGAN THE PIRATE.
And now for some new brain teasers:
Which Oscar winning American actor, who made an Italian Western, was quoted by Liz Smith as saying that he didn't drink water because "fish fuck in it"?
Which Italian Western is frequently thought to be the inspiration for HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER?
Which Italian Western is frequently thought to be the inspiration for JOE KIDD?
Name the movies from which these images came.
Bertrand van Wonterghem, Angel Rivera and George Grimes identified last week's photo of Charles Bronson in CHINO, aka THE VALDEZ HORSES, aka VALDEZ IL MEZZOSANGUE, aka VALDEZ THE HALFBREED.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
George Grimes, Bertrand van Wonterghem and Angel Rivera identified last week's frame grab of Cameron Mitchell in CAESAR THE CONQUEROR.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
George Grimes, Angel Rivera and Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's photo of Cameron Mitchell in, GLI INVASORI, aka THE INVADERS, aka ERIK THE CONQUEROR.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
George Grimes identified last week's photo from BRAVE ARCHER II.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
**********************************************************************
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:
United States of Tara season two (2010)
William Wyler: Forty Takes Willy (2024) - While William Wyler is often thought of as another German Jew who came to Hollywood escaping the Nazis, he actually came over in 1920 to work for his relative Carl Laemmle at Universal Pictures. This charming documentary charts his career from silent films to being the most Oscar honored director in Hollywood. I was a bit peeved that the film didn't mention THE WESTERNER, THE COLLECTOR or HOW TO STEAL A MILLION, but it runs under an hour so that's reasonable.
Mildly enjoyed:
A&E Biography "The Dupont Family" - Do you remember when Biography was so popular on the A&E Network, that it was spun off to become The Biography Channel? Now old episodes are airing on Story Television. Anyway, I watched in this program on The Duponts because Pierre S. du Pont III financed Samuel Bronston is creating Bronston's motion picture empire in Spain in the 1960s. Unfortunately, there was no mention of Bronston in this program.
A&E Biography "William S. Paley" - My interest in Paley stems from the FX mini-series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (2024) which featured Naomi Watts as Paley's second wife Babe. While this documentary focused mainly on Paley as an innovator in the creation of the Columbia Broadcasting Network, it made some brief mention of his love life. There was no mention of Slim Keith, whom the mini-series depicted as cheating with Paley while Babe was dying of cancer.
Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words (2025) - Like the stuff Paddy Cheyefsky wrote, this documentary takes itself very seriously, even in its humorous moments. It also reveres NETWORK too much, over the films that I find more interesting, including THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY, THE HOSPITAL and ALTERED STATES. In particular, I wished the film had spent more time on the problems Chayefsky had with Ken Russell's version of his screenplay.
****************************************************************
Angel Rivera Highly enjoyed:
"HAWAII" (1966)
TCM was showing a retrospective of Julie Andrews' films and "Hawaii" was one of them. Since I had read the book and it had been many years since I had seen the movie I decided to watch it. It still held well, especially the performances of its main leads; Max von Sydow, Julie Andrew and Richard Harris. The film also featrues performances by Torin Thatcher, Gene Hackman, Carroll O'Connor, and Michael Constantine. It was even better than I remembered as I didn't remember it as such an epic spectacle. I think it still held up well.
TCM was showing a retrospective of Julie Andrews' films and "Hawaii" was one of them. Since I had read the book and it had been many years since I had seen the movie I decided to watch it. It still held well, especially the performances of its main leads; Max von Sydow, Julie Andrew and Richard Harris. The film also featrues performances by Torin Thatcher, Gene Hackman, Carroll O'Connor, and Michael Constantine. It was even better than I remembered as I didn't remember it as such an epic spectacle. I think it still held up well.
Mildly enjoyed:
"BAD SHABBOS" (2024)
A dark comedy about a Jewish guy and his Catholic fiancee who are getting together to have her parents join his family for a traditional Jewish holiday dinner and something unexpected happens that will test the family's resolve when things go horribly wrong. Has an interesting ending with some comedic turns along the way.
"WAR HUNT" (1962)
While watching a "20/20" special on the late Robert Redford, it was mentioned that this was his film debut. "War Hunt" is an unusual war film (or anti-war film), which also happens to be the film debuts of Tom Skerrit and Sydney Pollack, as an actor before he became a director. The film takes place near the end of the Korean war. It stars John Saxon, playing against type who leaves his platoon at night and goes alone into enemy territory wearing dark makeup and dark camouflage apparel to kill the enemy with the full knowledge of his commanding officer because he always brings back useful intel. Redford is the new recruit who is warned to steer clear of Saxon, who appears slightly unhinged. Gavin McLeod (pre-"Mary Tyler Moore" & pre-"Love Boat") is also on hand as another soldier. There is also a Korean orphan nicknamed "Charlie" whom Saxon kind of looks after. Redford also takes an interest in Charlie. During a fire fight, Saxon notices Redford pull back, a little overwhelmed by the oncoming enemy; branding him a coward in Saxon's eyes. Redford gets separated from his platoon. But after receiving a wound, regains control of his senses and after killing an enemy soldier is able to make his way back to his fellow soldiers. After an armistice is called Saxon still goes out again in camouflage; this time taking Charlie along. Redford notices this and sets out to interfere with Saxon out of concern for Charlie. The ending is a little shocking, but is still satisfying.
A dark comedy about a Jewish guy and his Catholic fiancee who are getting together to have her parents join his family for a traditional Jewish holiday dinner and something unexpected happens that will test the family's resolve when things go horribly wrong. Has an interesting ending with some comedic turns along the way.
"WAR HUNT" (1962)
While watching a "20/20" special on the late Robert Redford, it was mentioned that this was his film debut. "War Hunt" is an unusual war film (or anti-war film), which also happens to be the film debuts of Tom Skerrit and Sydney Pollack, as an actor before he became a director. The film takes place near the end of the Korean war. It stars John Saxon, playing against type who leaves his platoon at night and goes alone into enemy territory wearing dark makeup and dark camouflage apparel to kill the enemy with the full knowledge of his commanding officer because he always brings back useful intel. Redford is the new recruit who is warned to steer clear of Saxon, who appears slightly unhinged. Gavin McLeod (pre-"Mary Tyler Moore" & pre-"Love Boat") is also on hand as another soldier. There is also a Korean orphan nicknamed "Charlie" whom Saxon kind of looks after. Redford also takes an interest in Charlie. During a fire fight, Saxon notices Redford pull back, a little overwhelmed by the oncoming enemy; branding him a coward in Saxon's eyes. Redford gets separated from his platoon. But after receiving a wound, regains control of his senses and after killing an enemy soldier is able to make his way back to his fellow soldiers. After an armistice is called Saxon still goes out again in camouflage; this time taking Charlie along. Redford notices this and sets out to interfere with Saxon out of concern for Charlie. The ending is a little shocking, but is still satisfying.
******************************************************************
Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed:
Rider clear of Diablo (1954, Jesse Hibbs)
Not the 9 o'clock news (1979) - episodes 1 & 2
Mildly Enjoyed
Palabre (1970, Emile Degelin)
Border river (1954, George Sherman)
I misteri di Parigi (1957, Fernando Cerchio)
Mozambique (1964, Robert Lynn)
Did not enjoy:
Seminole uprising (1955, Earl Bellamy)
******************************************************************
