April 19 - 25, 2025

 

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

Brain Teasers:

Which Italian actress married a film director and moved to Brasil where they made two movies? They eventually moved back to Italy for most of their careers.

No one has answered this question yet.

Which Italian actress retired from the screen at the age of 37 and eventually died at the age of 81?

No one has answered this question yet.

Which American actor, who made Italian Westerns, got the first close up in Clint Eastwood's HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER?

Tom Betts, Bertrand van Wonterghem, Angel Rivera and George Grimes knew that it was Walter Barnes.

By what name is THE WILD AND THE DIRTY better known?

Tom Betts, George Grimes and Angel Rivera knew that it was JOHNNY HAMLET, aka QUELLA SPORCA STORIA NEL WEST.

By what name is Chip Corman better known?

Tom Betts, Bertrand van Wonterghem, Angel Rivera and George Grimes knew that it is Andrea Giordana.

And now for some new brain teasers:

Can you name three filmmaking members of the Girolami family?

Which member of the Girolami family once came to the U.S. hoping to make a film which Richard Harrison was going to produce?

What happened to a film that Richard Harrison and John Steiner were going to make in Mexico?

Name the movies from which these images came.

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab on Patrizia Valturri and Tomas Milian in SE SEI VIVO SPARA, aka IF YOU WANT TO LIVE, SHOOT, aka DJANGO KILL!

Can you name from what movie it came?

Bertrand van Wonterghem, George Grimes and Angel Rivera identified last week's frame grab of Piero Lulli, Alfio Caltabiano and Erno Crisa in MACISTE, L'EROE PIU GRANDE DEL MONDO, aka GOLIATH AND THE SINS OF BABYLON.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

No one correctly identified the above photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Gordon Liu Chia-hui in THE 8 DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER.

Above is a new photo.

Can you identify 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:

Highly enjoyed:

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season five (2023)

Enjoyed:

RUGGLES OF RED GAP (1935) - Has Zasu Pitts been the romantic lead in any other films? She is quite charming here opposite Charles Laughton as a generational British Svalet suddenly won in a poker game to an American oil man from Out West. While intended by the oil man's wife to be a status symbol to her snooty friends, Laughton is treated as an equal by her husband, and after reading Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, he decides that he doesn't want to be a servant anymore. Directed by Leo McCarey, RUGGLES OF RED GAP is a lot of fun.

Mildly enjoyed:

NEW FACES (1954) - This is a movie version of LEONARD SILLMAN'S NEW FACES OF 1952, which ran on Broadway for nearly a year. A musical revue with sketches, the show is credited with launching the careers of Paul Lynde, Eartha Kitt, Alice Ghostley (of Bewitched), Robert Clary (of Hogan's Heroes) and Carol Lawrence as well as writer Melvin (aka Mel) Brooks. I hope Brooks had nothing to do with the "Trip to Africa" monologue because it is awful. Eartha Kitt is the only person "of color" and she easily is the star of the show doing such signature tunes as "Santa Baby" and "Monotonous". The makers of the movie decided to add a back stage plot, which isn't very good, in an effort to bring coherance to a series of unrelated songs, dances and sketches. Unfortunately, the copy that I watched was a pan&scan TV print which didn't properly capture the dance numbers staged for the Cinemascrope screen. Lucien Ballard is the director of photography with Harry Horner listed as the film director with John Beal credited with directing the sketches.

Did not enjoy:

EXPERIMENT IN TERROR (1962) - When I was a kid, I loved the Peter Gunn TV series, and I thought THE GREAT RACE, SHOT IN THE DARK and THE PARTY were three of the funniest movies ever made. All of these were the products of producer/director Blake Edwards. Something changed when I saw Edwards' GUNN and I've hated everything he did after that - including DARLING LILI, WILD ROVERS and all of the PINK PANTHER sequels. Later on I saw BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S and I hate that too. As I am currently reading Stefanie Powers' autobiography ONE FROM THE HART, I decided to watch her big screen break, EXPERIMENT IN TERROR. I didn't much like this movie either. Based on the novel OPERATION TERROR written by "the Gordons" (husband and wife Gordon & Mildred Gordon), the film concerns a psychopath, Ross Martin, threatening violence against a bank teller, Lee Remick, or her sister, Stephanie Powers, unless she brings him $100,000 from the bank. John Ripley is a FBI character created by the Gordons for a number of their novels, and here he's played by Glenn Ford. When the film begins and Remick drives home past a sign reading "Twin Peaks", I began to wonder if this movie inspired David Lynch in his concocting his TV series. The fact that the villain is named "Red" Lynch also aroused my curiosity, and I am convinced that Ross Martin's performance here helped him to get the role of the master of disguise secret agent in The Wild Wild West. This film shot extensively around San Francisco, and the climax takes place at night at Candlestick Baseball Park. Was this film an influence on director Don Siegel when he shot DIRTY HARRY at Candlestick? After the villain is shot in both films, we get the view from an helicopter pulling up and away from the Park. However, in DIRTY HARRY, the shot comes about in the middle of the film, not at the end.

MURDER ELITE (1985) - It was a good idea. After Hammer Films gave up making feature films, frequent Hammer director Freddie Francis's son, Kevin, decided to take up the baton and continue the race in making British Gothic movies under the name of Tyburn Productions. Unfortunately, even though he often hired Hammer personnel, every feature film he produced flopped. And for a good reason: they were all bad movies. When Hammer made a comeback making shows for television, Tyburn gave that a try with MURDER ELITE, even importing Hollywood star Ali MacGraw to boost the sellabilty. Unfortunately, the product was again bad. Ali MacGraw has recently returned to her late father's farm which has been managed by her sister Billie Whitelaw. MacGraw wants to sell the property, and to take Whitelaw's husband, too. Naturally, MacGraw and the husband decide to murder Whitelaw and make it look like the work of the knife-wielding maniac plaguing the area. If you're seen TWISTED NERVE, then you know that former heartthrob Hywel Bennett, playing a stable-boy, is likely the maniac, and that there's certain to be an unsatisfying twist ending. The best part of this production is that James Bernard did the music. If only the film deserved his talent.

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David Deal Enjoyed:

PRINCE VALIANT (54)

THE FORBIDDEN ROOM (77) - AKA Anima persa. A young artist goes to study in Venice, moving in with his uncle (Vittorio Gassman) and aunt (Catherine Deneuve) who live in a decaying mansion off the grand canal. He soon discovers that his uncle's brother is a raving madman who is locked in a room in the attic. What mysteries lie in wait? Dino Rissi's Gothic mystery is a beautifully photographed study of the walls and lies that surround this family seemingly lodged in the past, never to escape. The famous city in winter, where these characters are always alone, is the Venice of dreams. Or nightmares. Recommended.

NIGHT TRAIN (59) - AKA Pociag. Circumstance places strangers, a man and a woman, in an overnight train compartment. Neither is very forthcoming with personal information and there are hints of disturbing histories. When the police board the train and arrest the man for murder, questions only grow. Polish character study takes the form of a mystery with plenty unsaid and more revealed. Very nice photography and an interesting soundtrack make this a curious and worthy watch.

CRACK IN THE WORLD (65) - From 2010: "50's style sci-fi updated for a 60's Jonny Quest feel.  This disaster flick moves like lightning - it has to in order to outpace the cracks in the plot.  Fated, mad doctor Dana Andrews goofs and pretty much destroys the world in the name of science, while young, smarter Kieron Moore flies around in a helicopter and steals Dana's wife.  Great fun, an overlooked gem."

SYMPHONY FOR A MASSACRE (63)

LAST OF THE VIKINGS (62)

INCUBUS (65)

DJANGO (66)

THE CYNIC, THE RAT, AND THE FIST (77)

RUSHMORE (98)

THE INVISIBLE AGENT (42)

HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (59)

DIABOLICAL DR. Z (66)

THE FOX WITH A VELVET TAIL (71) - From 2006: "Jean Sorel, Tony Kendall, and Rosanna Yanni in a twisty mystery shot on the Cote d'Azur with tunes by Piero Piccioni. You shouldn't need more inducement than that."

WEREWOLF IN A GIRL'S DORMITORY (63)

AMER (09) - From 2012: "An homage to the giallo and the filmmakers who engender the form tells the story of a twisted girl who grows up to kill!  The giallo conventions are here stripped down to the barest storytelling elements (very little is spoken) and embellished with stylistic excess.  There is much to be enjoyed by giallo aficionados with a glass of absinthe in hand."

THE MUMMY'S TOMB (42)

Mildly enjoyed:

VAMPIRE GIRLS (67) - AKA Las Vampiras. Masked Mexican wrestler Mil Mascaras takes down a nest of female vampires led by none other than John Carradine. Torch fights, modern dance numbers, Carradine hamming It up, and Mil Mascaras changing his mask for almost every scene (he flies a plane too!), are a small portion of the entertainments to be found here. A strange and lively concoction from south of the border.

DANCE OF DEATH (60) - From 2010: "Felix Martin is officially Simon Templar, the Saint, in this stylish French adaptation of a Leslie Charteris crime thriller.  The Saint is hired by a millionaire whose life is threatened by the gang of a mobster he circumstantially helped the cops kill.  It's much more complicated than that and features not one but three beautiful suspects.  There's plenty of gothic atmosphere including a scene where Templar is trapped inside a tomb in old Paris cemetery, and a grisly murder by car radiator fan.  Martin lacks the suavity of Roger Moore but the film is none the less for it."

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Angel Rivera  Mildly enjoyed:

"STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS" Season 1; Episode 2: "Children of the Comet" (2022)
While this reboot of the original "Star Trek" pilot which featured Captain Pike was of interest to me; the differences from what I know of "Star Trek"took some getting used to. Pike is seen as a strong leader, but also tragic as he is sort of aware of the tragic fate which awaits him. Also characters who would turn up on Captain Kirk's Enterprise, show up here as younger versions of the way we know them from the original series. This episode introduces a younger version of Uhura as a "cadet" assigned to the Enterprise. She tackles the predicament the Enterprise finds itself in and proves herself worthy of her position on the Enterprise. Her character is more in keeping with the way Uhura was portrayed by Zoe Saldana in the Star Trek reboot movie from 2009, than on the original series where she was portrayed by Nichelle Nichols.

Did not enjoy:

"THE WILD PARTY" (1975)
TCM schedule showed they were going to air "The Wild Party" (1975). As it was a movie featuring Raquel Welch, which I had never seen, I thought I would give it a  view. First Raquel looks great in it. She even gets to sing and dance in the movie. The film which takes place in 1929, was supposed feature a character who was described as a "Fatty Arbuckle" type portrayed by James Coco. The "wild" party was thrown to facilitate a business deal for Coco whose career as a silent film comedian was in need of a comeback. At the party, Coco's latest film was to be shown and film executives who had been invited would hopefully be interested in buying and distributing the film. Raquel plays Coco's mistress. Since the film had a character supposedly based on Arbuckle, I thought the film was going to be a recreation of the scandal that ended Arbuckle's career. While the film recreated the era when movies were transitioning from "silents" to "talkies" and Hollywood was known for its decadent parties, it was not based on Arbuckle's tragedy. Unfortunately while the film played, I kept looking at the time to see when the movie would end. A different tragedy unfolds and we are left with a different tale. The performances of all the actors are good. Other actors, well known at the time of its release, are: David Dukes, Perry King, Royal Dano, and Tiffany Bolling. The film was a Merchant Ivory Production released thru AIP and directed by James Ivory. The film is well made, but it takes too long to get to its point. So while I liked parts of it, as a whole I did not.

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Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed: 

The salt of the earth (1953, Herbert J. Biberman)

Walk don't run (1966, Charles Walters)

Motor psycho (1965, Russ Meyer)

The Saint – episode « The talented husband » (1962, Michael Truman)

Urutoraman : kûsô tokusatsu shirîzu / Ultraman (1966) – episodes 11 to 13

The invaders - episode “Labyrinth” (1967, Murray Golden)

The avengers – episode “Quick-quick slow death” (1965, James Hill)

Mildly enjoyed: 

Ten wanted men (1954, Bruce H. Humberstone)

King go forth (1958, Delmer Daves)

La notte degli squali (1988, Tonino Ricci)

Pandora and the flying dutchman (1950, Albert Lewin)

Did not enjoy:

Le saut de l'ange (1971, Yves Boisset)

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April 12 - 18, 2025

 

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

Brain Teasers:

Which Italian actress decided to retire from the screen after she married, but found herself drafted into playing roles in her director husband's movies?

George Grimes knew that it was Lorella De Luca.

Which Italian actress married a film director and moved to Brasil where they made two movies? They eventually moved back to Italy for most of their careers.

No one has answered this question yet.

Which Italian actress retired from the screen at the age of 37 and eventually died at the age of 81?

No one has answered this question yet.

And now for some new brain teasers:

Which American actor, who made Italian Westerns, got the first close up in Clint Eastwood's HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER?

By what name is THE WILD AND THE DIRTY better known?

By what name is Chip Corman better known?

Name the movies from which these images came.

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab from QUELLA SPORCA STORIA NEL WEST, aka THAT DIRTY STORY OF THE WEST, aka JOHNNY HAMLET.

Can you name from what movie it came?

Bertrand van Wonterghem and Angel Rivera identified last week's frame grab of Gordon Scott in MACISTE ALLA CORTE DEL GRAN KHAN, aka SAMSON AND THE SEVEN MIRACLES OF THE WORLD.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's photo of Lorella De Luca kissing Vittorio De Sica in PADRI E FIGLI..., aka FATHERS AND SONS, aka A TAILOR'S MAID.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes and Angel Rivera identified last week's frame grab of Hiroyuki Sanada and Conan Lee in NINJA IN THE DRAGON'S DEN.

Above is a new photo.

Can you identify 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:

SEVEN CHANCES (1925) - Buster Keaton took Roi Cooper Megrue's 1916 play and turned it into a marvelous visual experience. After spending a year not being able to tell his sweetheart Ruth Dwyer that he loves her, Buster and his partner find themselves facing financial ruin. A lawyer tracks Buster down to inform him that his grandfather left him seven million dollars if he has married by 7pm on his 27th birthday. When Buster tells Dwyer that he has to marry someone by 7pm that day, she turns him down because it sounds like he's not interested in her personally. With his partner, Buster goes to the country club where he identifies seven women there that he knows. After the strikes out with these seven chances, the partner takes out an ad in the newspaper saying that a man needs to marry by 7pm in order to inherit seven million dollars. Needless to say, and army of single women descend on the church. Will Buster be able to escape the onslaught and convince Dwyer to finally say "yes"? Reportedly, the opening scenes of the film were shot with the early Technicolor process, but I've only seen it in B&W.

ONE WEEK (1920) - Buster Keaton and Sybil Seely are newly weds who are gifted a "kit house". An old boyfriend of Seely sabotages the kit by altering the order in which the kit is to be assembled. It takes a week for the house to be assembled - and then a storm hits. Hilarity ensues.

THE WALLS OF HELL (1964) - Three War films had a great impact on me as a kid. HELL IS FOR HEROES remains the best of the films, but THE WALLS OF HELL holds up pretty well. Based on the true story of an attempt by American and Filipino soldiers to rescue thousands of civilians being held by suicidal Japanese soldiers in the ancient Spanish walled city of Intramuros inside the city of Manila, THE WALLS OF HELL  As much of the film takes place in the tunnels under the city, it achieves an eerie atmosphere which makes it unique in World War 2 dramas, which usually take place outdoors. Perhaps wisely, directors Gerado de Leon and Eddie Romero don't fill a lot of time with dialog. The action is very gritty and almost non-stop, which would have greatly appealed to this seven year old, who hated War movies that paused the action for some silly love story.

Mildly enjoyed:

MY WIFE'S RELATIONS (1922) - Buster Keaton inadvertenly finds himself married to Kate Price, but tries to fit into her brutish family. 

POSSE FROM  HELL (1961) - Clair Huffaker was the author of many Western movies, and the quality of the final product seems to vary with the talent of the directors. When teamed with Don Siegel he got FLAMING STAR. Here he got Herbert Coleman, who does little to keep the movie from becoming a talk fest filled with cliches. The villains are played by Vic Morrow, Lee Van Cleef, Charles Horvath and Henry Wills, so they prove formidale to hero Audie Murphy. I was unaware of Zohra Lampert until I saw 1971's LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH, so to see her ten years younger here is a pleasure. John Saxon does a good job as the bank teller who is ill-suited to be in a posse, but proves himself to be better than he thought.

SPACE PROBE - TAURUS (1965) - Leonard Katzman was a producer on TV's Route 66 for years before he wrote and directed this feature film. Produced by Burt Topper, the film had only the tinest of budgets. I enjoy old B&W movies about space exploration, but none of the scientific stuff here is convincing. And the attempts at character development is also poor. And they had to throw in a love story! Here is another old movie that shows that reality is disappointing. This movie takes place in year 2000 and the U.S. is sending manned space ships beyond "Earth's universe" looking for a planet that can sustain Earth life.

Did not enjoy:

FOLLOW THE BOYS (1963) - Wives and sweethearts of Navy men head to France and Italy to spend time with their love ones. Connie Francis sings a number of tunes, none of which are memorable.

LOOKING FOR LOVE (1964) - After providing the singing voices for Tuesday Weld in ROCK, ROCK, ROCK!, Freda Holloway in JAMBOREE, and Jayne Mansfield in THE SHERIFF OF FRACTURED JAW, Connie Francis got an on-screen supporting role in WHERE THE BOYS ARE. The title tune for that flick joined her other hit records, so she was asked back for the follow up flick FOLLOW THE BOYS. In 1964, producer Joe Pasternak decided to give her the lead role in the very silly LOOKING FOR LOVE which reunited her with Jim Hutton. Feeling that her singing career is going nowhere, Francis leaves showbiz to the consternation of her roommate Susan Oliver. Looking for love, Francis is smitten by seeing Jim Hutton, but he doesn't notice her because she is so short. Oliver invites Hutton over to a party where she and Francis live so that the two can meet. Hutton finds the "Lady Valet" on which Francis made to hang her clothes to be a potential business opportunity and gets her on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson to sell the product. When Johnny hears that she originally wanted to be a singer, he requests that she sing on his show. Pulling her musician friend Joby Baker on stage with her, Francis proves to be a success. Francis enjoys having Hutton's attention, but ignores Joby Baker's affection because he is only a musician. Trying to decide on whether to take her career seriously or plan to be married, Francis trusts that if she hears bells when she kisses a man, that would be the man for her. She doesn't hear bells when she kisses Hutton, so she prepares to fly to Las Vegas for a job. Oliver arranges for two stewardesses and manager Jesse White to have bells at the ready when she sets up Francis to kiss Baker while Oliver kisses Hutton. They all hear bells, but it turns out that the ringers were still waiting for their cue. Oliver tells Francis that Baker is planning to be a doctor, which satisfies our heroine that he is a good catch. Fellow WHERE THE BOYS ARE castmates George Hamilton, Yvette Mimieux and Paula Prentiss make cameos as does Danny Thomas. Francis performs seven songs in this flick, none of which are memorable. LOOKING FOR LOVE failed at the box office, so a second followup to WHERE THE BOYS ARE was made called WHEN THE BOYS MEET THE GIRLS. That flick ended Francis' movie career.

THE MAZE (1953) - Maurice Sandoz's story got turned into a screenplay by Daniel Ullman and produced in 3D. Perhaps inspired by what director and designer William Cameron Menzies had achieved on a low-budget with INVADERS FROM MARS, producers Richard Heermance and Walter Mirisch hired him for the project. But Menzies can do little with the story of a fiancee and her aunt trying to discover the mystery behind Richard Carlson and his creepy Scotish castle. It is amusing that the filmmakers try to make a scientific explanation for the master of the castle turning out to be a 200 year old frog because he was born before he had advanced past the amphibious embryonic stage.

WILD ON THE BEACH (1965) - Low budget filmmaker Maury Dexter had previously tried to cash-in on the success of BEACH PARTY with SURF PARTY, and this was his second attempt. There's a lot of music, but the only worthwhile tune is by Sonny & Cher doing "It's Gonna Rain". Dexter even fails to give Sherry Jackson a chance to show her beauty. Dexter's next movie, a Western shot in Spain called OUTLAW OF RED RIVER, was better.

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David Deal Enjoyed:

THE BECKETT AFFAIR (66) - Please refer to the Eurospy Guide.

BESOKARNA (88) - AKA The Visitors. An ad man, his journalist wife, and their two kids move into a house in the country. They have over-extended themselves financially, and there is discord in the house. Soon strange things start happening. When the ad man sees a magazine offering help with the occult, he takes advantage, hiring a ghost-hunter. Swedish slow-burn take on the haunted house story, doesn't go for the obvious, sticking closer to the effects on the family. Eventually, of course, all hell breaks loose but the ride there is - perhaps a bit long - but rewarding.

PLEASURES OF THE FLESH (65) - A man, upon learning of a friend's daughter's molestation, determines to kill the perpetrator. So he stealthily throws the rapist off a night train. He learns later that he was seen and is blackmailed; in order to prevent exposure to the police he must keep 30 million yen that his blackmailer embezzled for the five years that crime will land him in prison. Four years in, our hero decides to spend the money over the next year on wine, women, and song. A fascinating and visually interesting Japanese film on the weaknesses of the human spirit and the comeuppance that must be faced.

THE AWFUL DR. ORLOF (62)

TWO O'CLOCK COURAGE (45)

THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (42)

Mildly enjoyed:

TELESM (87) - AKA The Spell. A pair of newlyweds are forced off the road on their wedding day, and they must take shelter at a nearby creepy castle which is occupied by an old man who, significantly, lost his bride on their wedding day. It would seem the ghost of his wife still inhabits the castle, and soon the young bride disappears within its labyrinthian walls. Gorgeously photographed period Iranian horror clearly inspired by the Western Gothics of Hammer and Roger Corman.

ILYA MUROMETS (56)

DEAD MEN RIDE (70)

PSYCHO LOVER (70)

CENTERFOLD GIRLS (74)

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Angel Rivera  Highly enjoyed:

"THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT" (aka "THE CREEPING UNKNOWN") (1955/6)

After watching a documentary about the British sci-fi series of TV serials and movies about Prof. Quatermass, I rewatched this classic sci-fi/horror movie. Well done and very atmospheric. The film tells the tale of the return of a manned rocket ship launched from Great Britain and its landing, with a single survivor to horrific consequences. Based on a popular TV serial aired on British TV in 1953, the film stars American actor, Brian Donlevy as Prof. Quatermass, leader of an agency that launched the rocket into space and brought it back. Only to learn that of its three man crew, only one has survived.  The survivor unbeknownst to all involved has been infected with a deadly virus that slowly transforms him into a hideous large blob-like creature that kills and absorbs anything and any one it comes in contact with. Val Guest, its director keeps the pace of the film moving while we watch the unfortunate astronaut transform into the monstrous creature. A must see for fans of classic British sci-fi and horror.

Enjoyed:

"THE QUATERMASS PHENOMENON/ A BRITISH SCI-FI LEGACY" (2024)

Interesting documentary providing a history of the TV serials and films that feature this sci-fi character, Prof. Quatermass, who rivals Britain's own Doctor Who serials and films. Can be seen on YouTube for those interested.

Mildly enjoyed:

"RETURN OF THE SEVEN" (aka "RETURN OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN" (1966)

After viewing the original "Magnificent Seven" and its inspiration "Seven Samurai", I decided to watch the sequels of  "M7". Yul Brynner returned as the leader of the seven with Robert Fuller of "Laramie" fame (TV western series from 1959 to 1963) and "Emergency" (TV series from 1972-1977) as his second in command. This time a team of seven is created to help save  their  comrade, "Chico" (here portrayed by Spanish actor, Julian Mateos, replacing Horst Buchholz of the original seven) who has been abducted with other villagers by a mad Mexican rancher who wants to use the captured men as slave labor to build a town and church to honor his dead sons. Brynner enlists the aid of a new bunch of "Magnificent Seven" which includes character actors, Claude Akins and Warren Oates. The film while not as memorable as the original, has more sex and violence than the original. 

"THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN RIDE" (1972)

Lee Van Cleef takes over the role originated by Brynner and provides one of his usual dependable performances. (Van Cleef is a good stand-in for the Magnificent leader as he and Brynner both have a role in common. They both played "Sabata".) In this one Van Cleef after becoming a U.S. marshal and losing his bride, who is raped and murdered by some outlaws, takes up the cause of his friend, Ralph Waite of "The Waltons" TV show fame (1972-1981) and defends a town full of women. (Their men have all been murdered by the bandidos.) To help him Van Cleef enlists the aid of Michael Callan (probably best remembered as Jane Fonda's love interest in "Cat Ballou" (1965),as a newspaperman who wants to write the story of Van Cleef's life, but also turns out to be handy with a gun; and some prisoners who  join Van Cleef for their pardons. (Shades of  "The Dirty Dozen" (1967) Among the "prisoners" are: James B.Sikking of "Hill St. Blues" fame (1981-1987); and Luke Askew, probably best remembered as the hippie hitchhiker who leads Billy  and Wyatt to the hippie commune in the classic, "Easy Rider" (1969). Also receiving a featured billing is Stephanie Powers as one of the women of the small town Van Cleef defends, ending up as Van Cleef's woman after the "Seven" vanquish the bandidos. (Ralph does not end up as one of the Seven as his character is killed off early, but not before he avenges the murder of Van Cleef's wife.) Also in the film is use of the "magnificent" Elmer Bernstein score. Unlike the original film which was filmed in Mexico and the two previous sequels which were filmed in Spain; this one was filmed entirely in the U.S. The film also has more sex and violence than the original. 

Did not enjoy:

"GUNS OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN" (1969)

The second sequel which I tried to like, but its plot is too convoluted having the seven fight to  free a revolutionary played by Fernando Rey who is held captive by a sadistic Mexican colonel portrayed by Michael Ansara, probably  best remembered as Apache chief, Cochise in the TV western, "Broken Arrow" (1956-1958) (Itself an adaptation of the James Stewart western, "Broken Arrow" (1950). Also in the film is George Kennedy, who I believe was miscast in the Yul Brynner role,as leader of the Seven,  cast after Brynner decided not to return to the role. (Kennedy was better suited as the sheriff chasing after Dean Martin, Raquel Welch and James Stewart in the western, "Bandolero!" (1967) This film also features the debut of football star turned actor, Bernie Casey. The first African-American to be featured in a Magnificent Seven film. The film also features more sex and violence than the original. All the sequels feature the same Elmer Bernstein score used in the original, but to less effect, I feel.

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Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed: 

War arrow (1953, George Sherman)

The avengers – episode « The thirteenth hole » (1965, Roy Ward Baker)

The strange love of Martha Ivers (1946, Lewis Milestone)

When the redskins rode (1951, Lew Landers)

Pochi dollari per Django (1966, Leon Klimovsky)

Mildly enjoyed: 

The new adventures of Wonder Woman – episode « Knockout » 

(1977, Seymour Robbie)

Désirée (1954, Henry Koster)

The goonies (1985, Richard Donner)

Cran d'arrêt (1970, Yves Boisset)

Did not enjoy:

Zombie king and the legion of doom (2003, Stacey Case)

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