February 1 - 6, 2025

 

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

Brain Teasers:

Can you name two Italian Westerns for which new title songs were added for U.S. release?

1) John Ireland had the U.S. rights to LA SFIDA DEI MACKENNA. He had the film re-cut, retitled AMEN, and added an opening theme song.

2) When AMICO, STAMMI LONTANO ALMENO UN PALMO was released in the U.S., the title was changed to BEN AND CHARLIE and the theme song "Let It Rain, Let It Pour" was replaced by "The Ballad of Charlie and Ben".

In which Italian Western does everyone kill each other over a bag of gold, but we never get to see the contents of the bag?

No one has answered this one yet.

Which Italian Western ended with the hero murdering an unarmed man with a sword?

No one answered this question yet.

Which Italian director used the name Albert Cardiff?

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

Which Spanish actress worked with directors Pierre Gaspard-Huit, Giorgio Capitani, Mario Caiano, Maury Dexter, Fernando Cerchio and Ferdinando Baldi?

George Grimes and Bertrand van Wonterghem knew that it was Elisa Montes.

By what name is director Ted Kaplan better known?

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

And now for some new brain teasers:

On what Italian Western did Stefan Grossman contribute a vocal performance?

What was the first Italian Western for which Gianni Ferrio compose the music?

For which Italian Western did Rodd Dana sing the theme song?

Name the movies from which these images came.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

Bertrand van Wonterghem, Charles Gilbert and  George Grimes identified last week's photo of Giorgio Ardissan and Ely Drago in ERCOLE AL CENTRO DELLA TERRA, aka  HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

Bertrand van Wonterghem and George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Mary Arden in SEI DONNE PER L'ASSASSINO, aka BLOOD AND BLACK LACE.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

John Grace identified last week's frame grab of Liu Chia-hui, aka Gordon Liu, smashing Conan Lee against a wall in TIGER ON BEAT.

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:

Taylor Tomlinson "Quarter-Life Crisis" (2020) on Netflix

Mildly enjoyed:

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. "Sharon Stone & Chrissy Teigan" (2024)

Did not enjoy:

DEAR SANTA (2023) - So, Bobby Farrelly of the Farrelly Brothers decided to make a family friendly Christmas movie. Unfortunately, it is not funny. 11 year old Robert Timothy Smith has moved to a new town where his parents are fighting all of the time and when he tries to talk to a girl at school, he gets threatened by another boy. So he writes a letter to Santa Claus, thinking that it can't hurt. However, he misspells the letter as "Dear Satan" and demonic Jack Black shows up, offering him three wishes in exchange for his soul. As much as Black tries to tempt him with greed and lust, Smith wants to be a good boy and help people, so in the end the real Satan, played by an uncredited Ben Stiller, rules that the boy will keep his soul. And it seems that Black can no longer be a canidate to become a real Demon. Does he become an Angel? He at least sits as one on the top of the Christmas tree. Keegan-Michael Key plays a psychologist Smith's parents turn to for help when Smith starts acting weird and Post Malone appears as the wish fulfilled to take a girl to a concert.

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF FLIGHT 412 (1974) - This NBC World Premiere Movie supposedly shows how U.S. Military Intelligence works to cover-up Air Force sightings of UFOs. The reason? Because they are too afraid to deal with something that they can't explain. A plane load of familiar actors: David Soul, Greg Mullavey and Robert F. Lyons - along with the obscure Black guy Stanley Bennett Clay (celebrated for writing and directing the movie of his play RITUAL in 2000), report seeing two Marine Corp. jets disappear. They are quickly told to land at a deserted air field when Guy Stockwell sets about trying to convince them that what they saw was just their imagination. Col. Glenn Ford wants his men back, and has to go around official channels to finally find out where they are. Major Bradford Dillman comes along with Ford, but soon agrees to cooperate on the cover-up. Eventually, Ford goes to General Kent Smith who informs Ford of the Pentagon policy to not reveal that they are dealing with something that they can't explain. George Simpson and Neal R. Burger are credited with writing this conspiracy story which former actor and veteran TV director Jud Taylor helmed. 

Richard Wagner SIEGFRIED (1990) - Back in Octorber 1997, Mike Eustace decided to do an article for Spaghetti Cinema #68 on the movies based on the Norse/Germanic legends of Siegfried and the Ring of the Niebelungen. Included were director Fritz Lang's 1924 silent films DIE NIBELUNGEN: SIEGFRIED and DIE NIBELUNGEN: KRIEMHILD'S REVENGE, director Harald Reinl's 1966 two-part remake, not to mention 1971's SIEGFRIED UND DAS SAGENHAFTE LIEBESLEBEN DER NIBELUNGEN, aka THE LONG SWIFT SWORD OF SIEGFRIED, director Giacomo Gentilomo's 1958 SIGFRIDO, and director Emimmo Salvi's 1965 IL TESORO DELLA FORESTA PIETRIFICATA, aka TREASURE OF THE PETRIFIED FOREST. I was inspired by his article to tackle the operas by Richard Wagner. It has taken me about 26 years to get around to watching The Metropolitan Opera production on Deutsch Grammophon VHS, and it has convinced me that despite the spectacular stagecraft shown, 4 hr and 13 minute operas were designed to make me go to sleep. If I was a German speaker, would I find the liberto as poetic as Wagner seemed to believe it to be? Oddly, for such a famous opera, it isn't until about three hours into the show that I found some music appealing. It is mostly an instrumental piece as Brunnhilde awakens. As familiar as I am with the story from the movie versions, Wagner's story seems very weird. Wotan, aka Odin, appears as The Wanderer, and he seems to have orchestrated the entire story knowing that it will lead to the end of the Gods and the fall of Valhalla in the next opera GOTTERDAMMERUNG. Brunnhilde is the daughter of Wotan and Erdo, who disobeyed Wotan and was put into a deep sleep, ala Sleeping Beauty. Siegfried doesn't bathe in the blood of the dragon he killed. Instead, he tasted the blood which allowed him to understand a bird whose song told him about Brunnhilde. Oddly, the design for The Dragon isn't a giant reptile, but something akin to Cthulhu. After 4 hours and 13 minutes, the opera ends with Siegfried convincing Brunnhilde to give up her maiden warrior persona and be a woman to him. Sheesh, couldn't they have done this whole thing in under two hours?

Wagner GOTTERDAMMERUNG Bayreuther Festspiele Barengoim/Kupfer (1992) - At 270 minutes, this production of the fourth of Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen musical dramas on Teldec Video has one spectacular musical moment - Siegfrieds Trauermusik, aka Siegfried's Funeral March, which director John Boorman used effectively for King Arthur's funeral in the movie EXCALIBUR. A couple of times before this, one could hear snippets of The Ride of the Valkyries, but it never becomes the full piece, which belongs in the second of the Ring operas DIE WALKURE. Harry Kupfer is credited with the staging and direction of this production, and it is awful. Perhaps because the Bayreuther Festival has been performing this show since 1876, someone thought it to be a good idea to do this in more-or-less modern dress - though having the cast wheel out a number of television sets during the final moments as if they are watching this production on TV seems meaningless. Much of the production is performed on a very large and empty stage with the performers crossing and re-crossing the space without any purpose. And the final conflagration is incredibly anemic. Born in 1940, operatic tenor Siegfried Jerusalem performed Siegfried in both the New York Metropolitan Opera mentioned above and this production. I don't know enough about opera to venture an opinion of the singers skills, but very little of the music was enjoyable to me. As with his opera of TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, Wagner ruins the drama by introducing a love potion into the story, so that both Tristan's and Siegfried's betrayals are the results of villains' plots and not character flaws.

Richard Wagner DAS RHEINGOLD Bayreuther Festspiele (1980) - I had before watched this, a production of the first opera in the Der Ring Des Nibelungen series, but after finally seeing parts three and four, I found I had no memory of it. So, I popped this into the VCR for a rewatch. At only 162 minutes, this seemed like a comparative breeze. Let's see if I've got the story straight. The three Rhinemaidens have been charged by their dying father to guard their horde of gold, which lights the darkness of the water's depth. The trio enjoy teasing a Nibelung dwarf named Alberich, who longs for them to love him. The females do not think Alberich is a threat, because only one who forsakes love can steal their gold. In a rage, Alberich forsakes love and steals their gold. Meanwhile, the gods, led by Wotan (aka Odin), ponder how they will pay the giants, Fasoit and Fafner, for building their new castle, Valhalla. Wotan's wife, Fricka, wanted the castle hoping that a grand home will keep her husband from his desire to wander. Wotan trusted Loge (aka Loki) with making the contract with the giants. The giants want Fricka's sister, Freia, as payment. Wotan agrees being assured by Loge, being cunning, that he would come up with a substitute payment when the time came. Time as come and the giants want Freia. With Freia being taken away, the gods lose their eternal youth and vitality because Freia is the only one who cultivate the golden apples that they need. Loge tells about how he heard the lament of the Rhinemaidens wanting their gold back. From the stolen gold, Alberich has fashioned a ring which gives him power over the world. He has also forced his brother Mime, to make a helmet which allows the wearing to appear in any form desired. So, Loge convinces Wotan to descend into Nibelheim with him to steal the gold, the ring and the helmet. After they strip Alberich of everything he stole from the Rhinemaidens, Loge advises that everything be returned to water women, but Wotan has put on the ring and doesn't want to part with it. Alberich curses the ring saying that everyone will desire the ring, but possessing it will lead the wearer to destruction. The giants agree to ransom Freia for all of the gold and the helmet, but Wotan balks at giving up the ring. Finally, after it looks like Freia will not be freed without the ring being part of the ransom, the earth goddess, Erda (aka Joro) appears and warns Wotan of destruction if the doesn't give up the ring. Erda disappears and Wotan gives up the ring. In dividing up the treasure, Fafner and Fasolt fight over possession of the ring, with Fafner killing Fasolt. Wotan's son, Donner (aka Thor), summons a thunderstorm to clear the air, so that the gods can enter Valhalla. However, they soon hear the Rhinemaidens condemning them as false for not returning the gold to them. None of the music in this opera was appealing to me, but the stagecraft shown in this 1980 production was much more effective than what the 1992 production of opera #4 had. The guy who performed in the two operas featuring the character of Siegfried mentioned above, appeared in this under heavy make-up and stilts as the giant Froh. Famed French composer Pierre Boulez conducted the Orchester Der Bayreuther Festspiele for this production by Patrice Chereau supervisted by Wolfgang Wagner.

HOODLUMS (1980) - Born in 1939 in Vietnam to a French father and a Vietnamese mother, Christine Shapazian was working as a belly dancer at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas at the age of 13. Changing her name to Nai Bonet, she made a number of movies as a dancer and an harem girl before getting the role of a "biker chick" in DEVIL'S ANGELS in 1967. This was followed by supporting roles in THE SOUL OF NIGGER CHARLEY, THE SOUL HUSTLER and THE GREATEST with Muhammad Ali. She played Sheherazade in the "erotic comedy" FAIRY TALES in 1978. Reunited with director Harry Tampa, aka Harry Hurwitz, from FAIRY TAILS, Bonet co-wrote, co-produced and  starred in 1979's NOCTURNA. Seeming to have learned all that she needed to know, she co-wrote, co-produced and starred in HOODLUMS. Swedish director of I, A WOMAN, Mac Ahlberg, had come to the U.S. and mostly worked as a director of photography, particularly on NOCTURNA. Bonet hired him to direct HOODLUMS, which had just about none of the erotica of his Swedish movies. The story of a single mother working in a New York City night club inorder to afford to raise her daughter, HOODLUMS sees Bonet sometimes singing, but mostly just luring customers to the illegal casino in the basement. On stage can be seen "T" Life, Vicki Sue Robinson and Cissy Houston, pretty much performing entire songs. Bonet's boyfriend is the abusive club manager Tony Page, so it isn't surprising that when she meets nice guy Douglas Kerr, whose son is going to the same school as her daughter, she decides to make a life style change. When George finds out, he sends goon Peter Iacangelo to push Kerr infront of an oncoming train. Bonet wants to kill Page, but he's already trying to get away from Mafia boss Michael V. Gazzo, from whom he's been stealing money. Before Bonet can shoot Page, Dino Laudicina shows up with a shotgun. Put into the back of a limousine with Gazzo and Laudicina, it looks like Bonet is trapped in the life she wanted to leave. When this movie failed at the box office, Bonet decided to quit show business. Tony Page, who got the job in this film on the recommendation of friend GODFATHER PART IIs Gazzo, would go on to make two hit films in the next year: PRINCE OF THE CITY and Q: THE WINGED SERPENT. Unfortunately, he would die of cirrhosis of the liver in 1983. I did not recognize her, but this movie was the first feature film with Jean Smart, currently on Hacks.

 

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David Deal Enjoyed:

THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH (54) - Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, and Euro western star Craig Hill. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon.

ANDROMEDA NEBULA (67) - We don't have the complete version to view, apparently, but if you want cool looking Russian sci-fi this is worth a watch.

NIGHTMARE CASTLE (65)

THE SON OF SAMPSON (60)

THE HUNT (65) - AKA La Caza. Three old friends go rabbit hunting in the desert outside of Madrid. The assumptions and relationships built on yesterday soon turn to the hard realities of today in the unforgiving heat and the sense of impending, violent reckoning. A multi-leveled discourse not only on the Spanish psyche but on the human endeavor of living a true life. Highly recommended.

THE DEVIL'S AGENT (61) - Please refer to The Eurospy Guide.

MAU (21) - Documentary on visionary designer Bruce Mau. Highly recommended not only for those interested in or obsessed with design (like me), but also those curious about big thinkers in general.

NO. 2: STORY OF THE PENCIL (15) - That's right; the pencil. A practical and philosophical look at the pencil and its impact on civilization. This was interesting and the experts and enthusiasts interviewed were generally captivating. It was a bit long-winded, and the wall-to-wall soundtrack was tiring but overall a worthy watch.

THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (60)

ERIK THE CONQUEROR (61)

THE OSCAR (66) - Stephen Boyd is a rake, a cad who stumbles into movie stardom taking advantage of everyone he comes into contact with, and I mean everyone. Eventually he is served his just desserts at the moment of his, perhaps, greatest achievement. I read about this flick in the "Bad Movies We Love" book many years ago and it was worth the wait. This is bad, enjoyable cinema par excellence. Just the cast list is enough to tempt even the most shy of bad film enthusiasts. Recommended.

FANTASTIC VOYAGE (66) - Just to make it a Stephen Boyd double bill.

Mildly Enjoyed 

OBJECTIFIED (09) - This is a documentary on the designers of everyday objects, directed by the guy who did Helvetica (07). If this sort of thing interests you, it's worth seeing; but at least see Helvetica.

WILD ROBOT (24)

THE BODY OF MY ENEMY (76)

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Angel Rivera  Enjoyed:

"WHAT HAPPENED BRITTANY MURPHY?" (2021)
Interesting documentary about the life and death of young actress Brittany Murphy.

"FROM ROGER MOORE WITH LOVE" (2024)
While I was never a big fan of Moore's 007. (To me he was always the Saint, even though I only remember the opening of each show, when after he said his character's name, "Simon Templar", a halo would appear over his head). He was a popular Bond having appeared in seven different Bond movies. The documentary includes home movies of Moore and his family and friends; some celebrities, like Joan Collins and Christopher Walken.)  It also features an actor reading from what are stated to be his diaries and the actor is a soundalike for Moore. Let's one know what Moore really thought of his time as agent 007.  Also features behind the scenes footage from Moore's seven Bond movies. So even if you're not (much) of a Moore fan (as I am) it's still interesting. [The documentary covers his life and career before "The Saint" and right up to his last Bond film. Also shows off his sense of humor, which he added to his Bond to distinguish his Bond from Connery's] (I did like "Moonraker" (1979), mostly for its outlandishness."Bond In Space"; even though most other James Bond fans consider it among the worst Bond films of all time.)

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Charles Gilbert watched:

THE BROTHERS RICO (1957) B&W. Legitimate businessman Eddie Rico (Richard Conte), with a dubious past as an accountant for the mob, is summoned to Miami for a conference with his former godfather boss Kubik (Larry Gates). The syndicate wants him to locate his two younger brothers Gino and Johnny (Paul Piceni and James Darren) ostensibly to protect them, since they pulled a hit job. Eddie eventually realizes he's being duped. Look close to see his bedridden grandmother watching EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS playing on television while he is visiting his mother in the Big Apple. Probably a blooper since that movie was released a year before, and would not have gone into syndication that soon; but was a plug for Columbia Pictures also who produced this film.

MAN ON A STRING (1960) B&W. Russian-born Hollywood producer Boris Mitrov (Ernest Borgnine) is tailed by American security CBI when he brings his father to LA. They seek to recruit him for espionage targeting communist operative Colonel Vadja (Alexander Scourby)

CAGE OF EVIL (1960) B&W.  LA detective Scott Harper (Ron Foster), embittered for being passed over for promotion multiple times, becomes professionally corrupted when he falls for jewel thief's gal (Patricia Blair) in a case to which he's been assigned. Their flight from justice ends in a gun battle at customs in Mexico.

Wagon Train "The John Bernard Story" Robert Ryan plays a priest who befriends an ill indian youth (Perry Lopez) suffering from leprosy. 

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Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed: 

The mysterious doctor Fu Manchu (1929, Rowland V. Lee)

The hidden hand (1942, Benjamin Stoloff)

Up the chastity belt (1971, Bob Kellett)

Teurigeo / Unmasked (2024, Yoo Sun-dong) – episodes 3 to 5

Okura : meikyû-iri joken sousa / Okura : cold case investigation (2024) – episode 1

Mildly enjoyed:

Ray Bradbury's the martian chronicles – part 2 “The settlers” (1979, Michael Anderson)

Tarzan and the trappers (1958, Charles F. Haas)

The devil's mistress (1965, Orville Wanzer)

Did not enjoy:

The beast of Yucca Flats (1961, Coleman Francis) – hard to watch and really "one of the worst films ever made" -

La sorella di Ursula (1978, Enzo Miliani) - not a giallo but a pussy film... As we said in Belgium « te veel is te veel »

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