To answer these trivia questions, please email me at scinema@earthlink.net.
Brain Teasers:
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?
Angel Rivera knew that it was NON ASPETTARE, DJANGO, SPARA, aka DON'T WAIT DJANGO... SHOOT!
In which Italian Western is a man killed because he wears both suspenders and a belt?
Angel Rivera and George Grimes knew that it was C'ERA UNA VOLTA IL WEST, aka ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST.
In which Italian Sword & Sandal movie is the king afraid of a man with birth mark?
Charles Gilbert wrote: "Perseus' mother Danae (Elisa Cegani) to Galenore (Leo Anchoriz) son of King Acreseus (Arturo Dominici), "He has three marks on his shoulder: it is the sign of Jupiter. When you are dying you will know he is my son." From MEDUSA AGAINST THE SON OF HERCULES.
For which Italian Western did Richard Harrison take over a role from Klaus Kinski?
Angel Rivera knew that it was HIS NAME WAS KING.
And now for some new brain teasers:
In which Italian Sword & Sandal movie is the king afraid of a man missing a shoe?
In which Italian Western does a bounty killer toting a body stop for coffee from a stranger only to find out that the stranger is the body's son?
In the U.S. version of which Italian Western does the hero die, but in the Italian version he lives?
Name the movies from which these images came.
George Grimes identified last week's frame grab from C'ERA UNA VOLTA IL WEST, aka ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
Charles Gilbert and George Grimes identified last week's photo of Conrado Sanmartin and Lea Massari in IL COLOSSO DI RODI, aka THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Robert DeNiro in C'ERA UNA VOLTA IN AMERICA, aka ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA.
Above is a new photo.
Can you name from what movie it came?
George Grimes identified last week's photo of Jet Li in SWORDSMAN II, aka THE LEGEND OF THE SWORDSMAN.
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:
NINOTCHKA (1939) - Bela Lugosi fans will have to wait over 100 minutes before the star appears in his one scene. Until then, you'll have to be satisfied by a charming romantic comedy featuring Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas. Set before the onslaught of what would be called World War 2, this film takes place in Paris, where three representatives from the Soviet Union arrive with the intention to sell jewelry once owned by White Russian Grand Duchess Ina Claire. Claire's paramour, Count Melvyn Douglas, comes up with the idea to delay the sale with a court injunction. Unhappy that the transaction hasn't been done, the Kremlin sends special envoy Greta Garbo to investigate. Garbo and Douglas "meet cute" trying to cross a street outside the hotel, with Douglas offering to help the beautiful woman to see the Eiffel Tower. Garbo realizes that Douglas is flirting with her, and even agrees to go to his home. In what seems to be what is called the "Lubitsch touch", it becomes subtly apparent that the Soviet woman has no qualms about having sex with the man, but, of course, circumstances intervene. Determined to get the Soviet woman to laugh, Douglas continues to pursue her until he accidentally falls down in a restaurant. After she laughs, Garbo relaxes to expose her feminine side, which makes Claire jealous. So much so, that Claire offers to resolve the holdup regarding selling the jewels if Garbo heads back to Moscow on the next flight. Of course, Douglas tries to follow, but the Soviets won't give the Count a visa and all of his letters to her are censored. Garbo's report on the behavior of the three representatives while in Paris saves them from disciplinary action. So, Moscow sends them a new mission to Turkey, and of course, Garbo is sent after them when they fail. It turns out that Douglas is behind the three men's failure, and it is part of his plan to get Garbo out of the U.S.S.R. and back into his arms. Hungarian writer Melchior Lengyel is credited with the original story for NINOTCHKA, with Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder and Walter Reisch credited with the screenplay. Producer/director Ernst Lubitsch is rumored to have rewritten much of the script with very positive results.
PAINKILLER JANE (2005) - In 1995, Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada's comic book was published by Event Comics. As the property changed publishers, so did elements of the series. When Universal & MGM Television got the rights to do a movie for the Sci-Fi Channel, just about everything except the title changed. Originally intended as a "back door" pilot for a series, the original TV movie ended with a cliff hanger that was never resolved, because when Sci-Fi did the series in 2007, they started from scratch again. John Harrison, who was partly responsible for Sci-Fi's Frank Herbert's DUNE, gets script credit for this 2005 version along with Don Keith Opper. Director Sanford Bookstaver delivered an exciting production, which featured a cast filled with Canadian favorites like Emmanuelle Vaugier, Richard Harmon - who would go on to be on Continuum, Venus Terzo from Da Vinci's Inquest and Callum Keith Rennie from Battlestar Galactica.
Mildly enjoy:
JOHN PAUL JONES (1959) - When producer Samuel L. Bronston is mentioned, people tend to think of the massive productions he made in Spain starting with KING OF KINGS in 1961. But after arriving in the U.S. from Europe in 1937, he worked to become an independent movie producer. HIs most noteworthy film in the beginning was 1945's A WALK IN THE SUN. Leaving Hollywood, Bronston took over a project the Knights of Columbus had planned and made 26 documentaries about the Vatican. A film about John Paul Jones had long been wanted in Hollywood. In 1939, Warner Bros. purchased Clements Ripley's biographical novel, but the project fell through. Samuel Bronston took up the challenge in 1946, and spent nine years raising the financing. At the time, American companies could not bring their profits from Europe into the U.S., so the Rockefeller family, the Dana family, the Du Pont family, the Stern family, Ernest A. Gross, General Motors, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, Time Inc. and Eastman Kodak agreed to let Bronston use their funds frozen in Europe. Partnering with Suevia Films, Bronson had much of the movie shot in Spain. John Farrow directed, what would become his last film before he died in 1963. Made with the cooperation of the U.S. Navy, the movie starts off with a long sequence showing sailors boarding a modern ship as the
narrator explains how many of the current traditions date back to the time of John Paul Jones. The biographical part of the film begins with English soldiers breaking up a festival in Scotland saying that the playing of the bag pipes is forbidden. Our hero, as a young boy, throws an egg and hits an officer in the face. Talking with his family, the boy expresses his desire to go to sea. A montage follows, showing his progress to becoming Captain Robert Stack. The narrator explains how Stack once worked on a slaving ship, but swore to never do that again. When his current crew tried to mutiny, Stack shoots and kills one. Told that he will have to be locked up, probably for a year, before a trial could be held, Stack is advised to go and visit his brother in Virginia. He is also advised to change his name - adding "Jones". Stack arrives in Virginia only to discover that his brother died, but left him a sizeable legacy. He meets and befriends Patrick Henry, played by Macdonald Carey, who invites him to a ball. At the ball, Stack is enthralled by Dorothea Danders, played by Erin O'Brien. In an effort become a respectable gentleman, Stack rejects going back to the sea and tries to settle down as a plantation farmer, who will not own any slaves. This new plan does not work as O'Brien's father still won't allow him to see the daughter. After the war for Independence begins, Stack decides to go back to the sea, but America doesn't have a Navy. After butting heads with the Continental government, Stack finally puts together a ship which proves very effective in taking supplies from the British ships in the blockade. Eventually, Stack is tasked to deliver the information to Benjamin Franklin, played by Charles Coburn, in Paris of the collonial's success in battle. Coburn introduces Stack to Aimee de Tellison, played by Maria Pavan, but, again, Stack can not romance her as she is an aristocrat. From what I understand, most of the battle information in the film is correct, climaxing with the fight with the British frigate Serapis, commanded by Captain Pearson, played by Peter Cushing. As Cushing is winning, he asks Stack if he wants to surrender. This is when Stack says his most famous line, "I have not yet begun to fight." Circumstances change, and Stack wins the battle, but has everyone transfer over to the Serapis as his own ship is sinking. After the War of Independence is over, Stack gets a commission with the Russian Navy and meets Catherine the Great, played by Bette Davis.In the movie, Stack begins to succumb to fatigue and illness and dies back in Paris with Pavan by his side. According to what I've read, John Paul Jones was kicked out of the Russian Navy after he was charged with raping a teenage girl. This is not mentioned in the movie, which ends with the narrator extolling the virtues of honor for Naval Officers marching at the U.S. Naval Academy. Farrow delivered a well paced conventional biography of an American hero which may not be historically accurate but is an easy watch. For fans of movies made in Europe, you can see Georges Riviere, Frank Latimore, Eric Pohlmann and Bruce Cabot in minor roles. Reportedly John Farrow put his daughter Mia in this movie, but I didn't see her.
THE COCA-COLA KID (1985) - In 1985 Greta Scacchi was a wonder to behold. She had nude scenes in everything I saw her in, even the made for TV movie THE EBONY TOWER starring Laurence Olivier. I wondered if she had it in her contract that she had to be nude in everything. Well, ten years later in movies like JEFFERSON IN PARIS and EMMA, she wasn't asked to take her clothes off anymore, for which she expressed gratitude and I expressed regret. In any case, she is quite charming in this film based on two short stories - "The Americans, Baby" and "The Electrical Experience" - by Frank Moorhouse, who also gets credit for the screenplay. Serbian director Dusan Makavejev gained a world wide reputation from his work in what has been called the Yugoslav cinema "Black Wave" of the late 1960s and early 1970s, including W.R. MYSTERIES OF THE ORGANISM. When he attended the Sydney Film Festival in 1975 with SWEET MOVIE, Makavejev was given a copy of the Moorhouse book by David Stratton. In 1981, Makavejev released MONTENEGRO, which many considered a more conventional movie than his previous efforts. 1985's THE COCA-COLA KID is considered to be his most accessible to a mainstream audience, but even so it often seems deliberately obscure. The film begins with a long disclaimer about how the moviemakers did not get the cooperation of the Coca-Cola company to make this film. Eric Roberts is a mysterious but productive troubleshooter for the Coca-Cola company who believes that Coca-Cola not only brings America to the world, it is a force for unifying everyone in the world. In Australia he finds that there is a section of the country that does not carry the beverage, and he sets out to change that. He finds out that Anderson Valley is owned by Bill Kerr, who, as a youth, fell in love with the woman who adorned the Coca-Cola ads. He tracked her down, married her, and then after she gaving him a daughter, she killed herself. Since then, he created his own factory making his own soda. Meanwhile, Roberts becomes convinced that the woman assigned as his secretary, Scacchi, is unstable and fires her. However, Scacchi's young daughter, Rebecca Smart, takes a liking to Roberts and bakes him a box of cookies. At one point, Roberts is trying to get a new commercial jingle that has that Australian sound. The recording session is run by Tim Finn, possibly after the break-up of Split Endz. Finn wrote a number of songs used in the movie. Reportedly, Makavejev' way of working was considered baffling to the Australian film crew, so Denny Lawrence was brought in as a co-director. He was also credited with "additional ideas".
THE UNDYING MONSTER, aka THE HAMMOND MYSTERY (1942) - After their success with THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES in 1939 (starring Richard Green, but introducing Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson), 20th Century Fox must have been looking for something similar and came upon THE UNDYING MONSTER: A TALE OF THE FIFTH DIMENSION, published in 1922 and written by Jessie Douglas Kerruish. Rather than spooky moors, UNDYING is set on a cliff side mansion by the sea. Lillie Hayward is credited with the screenplay and the direction is credited to John Brahm. Brahm was born in Germany, but came to Hollywood in 1937 to escape the Nazis. His most famous work would come after UNDYING with two films starring Laird Cregar - 1944's THE LODGER and 1945's HANGOVER SQUARE. This maybe the earliest film to use Spectrum Analysis in order to solve a mystery, and the film almost seems to be setting up James Ellison as Robert Curtis and Heather Thatcher as Christy as the stars of a series rivaling Holmes & Watson - who had moved over to Universal Studios. Unfortunately, such a series never happened, possibly because Kerruish never wrote a follow-up with those characters. Is there a monster behind the Hammond Family Curse? Who does Dr. Bramwell Fletcher suspect of having lycanthropy - and why do the filmmakers withhold that information until very close to the film's end? Is Heather Angel the only actor to have carried over from BASKERVILLES? She would go on to appear in 1944 LIFEBOAT directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Perhaps the most interesting thing about UNDYING is seeing Charles McGraw looking cleancut and speaking with a kind-of English accent in a small role. When James Ellison made seven Westerns in 1950, he was billed as "Jimmy 'Shamrock' Ellison"
THE VICTIM, aka LIGHTNING KUNG FU (1980) - After years building a reputation for excellent fight choreography, Sammo Hung got a director's credit for THE IRON FISTED MONK in 1977, which many feel is the first "Kung Fu Comedy". Four directoring credits later, he is still mining Kung Fu Comedy, but with a star like Chia-Jen Liang, who became a fan favorite with THE THUNDERING MANTIS, how could he not use the actor's ability to express unbridled rage? The mixture of a rather silly plot with slapstick comedy and hardcore kung fu does not result in a cohesive film, but there is no denying that the intricate and inventive martial arts on display is fascinating. If jumping from tragedy to comedy with a few plot twists thrown in, before an head-spinning ambiguous ending sounds like too much to endure, then perhaps THE VICTIM is not for you. Here, Hung tosses in a scene which could prefigure his next project - ENCOUNTER OF THE SPOOKY KIND. The question of how his character and the bad guys know the popular image of Count Dracula, and from where did his character get the clothes to pull off the impersonation just gets in the way of the joke.
Did not enjoy:
ALICE GOODBODY (1974) - Sharon Kelly (aka Colleen Brennan) proved to be a wonder to behold in THE DIRTY MIND OF YOUNG SALLY. Unfortunately, director Tom Scheuer (aka Tom Sawyer) doesn't showcase the actress as well here, though the premise is promising. Wannabe movie star Kelly is lured into working on a rock musical movie about Julius Caesar, but suffers accident after accident every time the director calls for "Action". Even in bandages or plaster casts, Kelly is still able to do "casting couch" duties, so she keeps getting brought back to the set, to have yet another mishap befall her. Unfortunately, this film just isn't funny, and, as I said, Kelly isn't shown at her best.
AMERICAN FLYERS (1985) This plays like a cross between BREAKING AWAY and BRIAN'S SONG. As her husband died of a cerebral aneurysm, Janice Rule is understandably concerned about her two sons. The oldest, Kevin Costner, moved away, became a sports physician and has a girlfriend, Rae Dawn Chong. The younger, David Grant, still lives at home. Costner keeps tabs on his brother, and seeing that he is doing poorly at school, he comes home to St. Louis for a visit. Costner argues with Rule about the need for Grant to finally move out and start his own life. Towards that end, Costner, who is also a professional cyclist, demands that Grant join him in the grueling "Hell of the West" bicycle race. Along the way, Grant picks up a girlfriend in the beauteous form of Alexandra Paul. During the race, it is Costner who turns out to have the aneurysm. Ill, Costner inspires Grant to win the race. Meanwhile, Rule joins them at the finish line for a group hug. Screenwriter Steve Tesich won the Best Original Screenplay for BREAKING AWAY, so it is not too surprising that he hoped to recreate that success. Director John Badham had a huge success in 1977 with SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, and had just made WAR GAMES before doing AMERICA FLYERS. His next project was SHORT CIRCUIT. Also in the movie is future director Luca Bercovici, Robert Townsend, John Amos and, in a small role, Jennifer Grey two years before DIRTY DANCING.
COCOON (1985) - Reportedly, the executives at 20th Century Fox hated ROMANCING THE STONE and so fired director Robert Zemeckis, who had been doing pre-production on COCOON for a year. That, or course, was before ROMANCING became a big commercial and critical success. I guess they thought that director Ron Howard, who had just had a big hit with SPLASH, was a better bet. Who knows if Zemeckis would have delivered a better film, which just seems that writers David Saperstein and Tom Benedek were just trying to give Fox their version of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, mixed with a touch of E.T. If Columbia hadn't passed on E.T., they wouldn't have had to make STARMAN in 1984. In any case, COCOON mixed two stories rather awkwardly. One is about aliens from outer space trying to retrieve 20 fellows left behind 10,000 years ago. The other is about residents in a retirement community. When it turns out that three elderly men who sneak into the swimming pool for a house that the aliens have purchased during their stay, and into which they are collecting the cocoons of their old fellows, has rejuvenating properties, most of the senior citizens break into the pool. By doing this, they drain the life properties preparing the coccoons for the travel back to outer space, even killing one. The leader of the alien mission, Brian Dennehy, then decides to reward the senior citizens by taking a boat load of them to his planet where they will never die. The most sensible of the senior citizens says goodbye to his grandson, but the young man is so distraught at losing his grandfather, he ends up telling his mother - which initiates an effort by the local police to stop the elderly from leaving. So, we get a pointless action piece with racing police cars, boats and helicoptors, until the aliens lay down a tremendous fog to cover up their escape. Later, those left behind hold a memorial service thinking that the boat load of old people died in a reckless event. While it is fun seeing old stars like Don Ameche, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Jack Gilford, Maureen Stapleton and Gwen Verdon playing along side younger performers like Wilford Brimley and Steve Guttenberg, you can't help but wish that they had better material. Director Howard made the production a bit of a family affair by including brother Clint and father Rance in the cast. Reportedly, Howard's wife Cheryl and mother Jean also appear. Linda Harrison is reportedly in this movie, but I didn't recognize her.
ITALIAN STALLION, aka THE PARTY AT KITTY AND STUD'S, aka THE PARTY AT KITTY AND STUD'S PLACE (1970) After the success of ROCKY in 1976, someone noticed that the male lead in an old softcore sex film was Sylvester Stallone, so the old film was dusted off and adult film director Gail Palmer was featured in a prologue saying that the film had been re-edited for General Audiences. This implied that the original film had been hardcore, but that implication has proven to be false. However, when a hardcore version was released on DVD, it proved to have new footage inserted not featuring any of the original cast. The producer, director and writer's credit is given to Morton Lewis, and I wonder if the voice over narration was part of the original film or added for the re-release.If you like bushy female pubis, you may enjoy this film as most of the female cast is attractive. After beating his woman with a belt, which turns her on, Stallone posts a notice on a bulletin board inviting people to come to a party. Not surprising, the party turns into an orgy which ends when everyone falls down exhausted.
MUSTANG, aka MUSTANG: THE HOUSE THE JOE BUILT, aka MUSTANG HOUSE OF PLEASURE (1977) - The most interesting element of this documentary about Joe Conforte and the legal brothel in Sparks, Nevada, called The Mustang Ranch is that Carmine Coppola did the music. Obviously made before Conforte fled to Brazil in 1980 to escape F.B.I. arrest for tax evasion and bribery convictions, Conforte is shown as an advocate for the legalization of prostitution. Unlike the HBO series Cathouse, MUSTANG does not show the whores in action with clients, but does feature a number of interviews with clients and whores - some of which are surprisingly downbeat. Director Robert Guralnick followed this with THE LOOK and PORTFOLIO, documentaries about female fashion models like Carol Alt and Paulina Porizkova. How he went on to become the Executive Producer of THE PUNISHER in 1989 starring Dolph Lundgren must be an interesting story.
SWINGING SKI GIRLS (1975) - Behind the credit Don Trendall, is pornographer Bob Vosse. It would seem that in 1975, we wasn't quite ready to go full hardcore so he did two flicks in which the performers are incredibly convincing in having intercourse, but the filmmaker doesn't have any shots to put this into the hardcore category. SWINGING SORORITY uses some of the same performers as SKI GIRLS, and, on the plus side, the females are attractive. As far as the screenplay - SKI GIRLS has a running joke about a topless bar that has the only shower in the resort. It seems that only young females want to use it, and the bar owner has a peephole. He advises that if the hot water stops, that the bather should pound on the wall. The owner enjoys watching the young women react to the water suddenly becoming freezing cold. When she bangs on the wall, he goes into the bathroom saying that he will help warm her up. Beginning in 1985, Vosse tried to capitalize on the success of DEBBIE DOES DALLAS with a series of films: DEBBIE DOES 'EM ALL, DEBBIE GOES TO COLLEGE, DEBBIE DUZ DISHES, DEBBIE CLASS OF '88', DEBBIE GOES TO HAWAII, DEBBIE FOR PRESIDENT, DEBBIE CLASS OF '89 and THE OTHER SIDE OF DEBBIE. Then he made a number of SHE-MALE videos. He's got 89 credits on the IMDb.
MAFIA VS. NINJA (1985) - After winning the 1978 Tae Kwan Do championship in Taiwan, Alexander Lou started making movies. His early films like KUNG-FU COMMANDOS and SHAOLIN TEMPLE AGAINST LAMA, indicated that Lou was a strong screen presence and an able participant in fight scenes. Unfortunately, when ninja movies came into vogue, the quality of his movies dipped precipitously. Here he aligns with Chinese gangsters against foreign gangsters who employ oddly dressed ninjas. One can't help but wonder as our hero is being attacked by guys with swords, why doesn't he pick up a sword to fight back? While there is plenty of action, there is virtually no drama.
THE MURDERER AND THE PROSTITUTE (1982?) - Sometimes one would find a Japanese movie hidden among the usual Kung Fu films released on Ocean Shores Home Video. While the dialog was subtitled in English, the credits weren't. Also, the English title slapped on this movie doesn't match the contents of the film, so I haven't a clue as to how to find out more information. A low-budget Japanese sex film, it tells the story of two young thugs trying to make money. They find the missing daughter of a rich family, but as she is only 17, one of them can't resist raping her - even though her boyfriend is tied to her. One meets a woman who wants to have sex with two men only to discover that she is a prostitute and she expects them to pay her after the act. Mimi, an innocent bar girl, keeps hearing them talking about their nefarious efforts and volunteers to join them. They want to catch a Boss on film "date raping" a young woman, which they succeed in doing. Unfortunately, the Boss' minions locate and murder Mimi - and then rape her dead body. The two guys want revenge, but they are over-powered by the Boss' two bodyguards. One guy escapes, while the other succeeds in stabbing the Boss to death after being fatally stabbed by one of the bodyguards. The dying guy finds the other guy hiding, and the two begin dancing in the narrow street to celebrate. "I'm going to Mimi," the one fellow says before collapsing. This is hardly the sort of film which shows up at film festivals.
TORNADO OF PEARL RIVER (1974) - Evil foreigners are forcing themselves on China, and when anyone objects, they are shot dead. Workers at a ship dock realize that the cargo they are to put aboard a ship heading to Canton is rifles designed to put down the patriots there. The leader of the dock workers calls for a strike, so the traitorous bosses bring in strike breakers. One of the strike breakers is Tan Tao-Liang (aka Delon Tam). It takes an hour of the film's running time before our hero figures out who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. While Tan's high-kicking martial skill is fun to watch, one can't help but wonder why, with all of the firearms available, why no one is using a gun.
TRUCK STOP WOMEN (1974) - Lieux Dressler runs a truck stop operation, that is partly a brothel, but mostly for hijacking loads. Daughter Claudia Jennings wants to take over the operation, and some mobsters want to help her. Paul Deason is credited with the story and director Mark Lester shares screenplay credit, but it is hard to believe that either of them put much thought into it. There are a number of car and truck stunts as well as some shoot-em-ups, but none of it is very interesting. Jennings takes off her top as a prelude to a bed scene under covers.
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David Deal Enjoyed:
THE CURSE OF THE CRYING WOMAN (63) - From 2006: "Mucho Gothic atmosphere in this Mexican classic. It goes over the top with the horror elements and although the ending seems stretched out, I still give it a thumbs up."
THE BIG SLEEP (46) - I lost the plot again. Maybe I shouldn't watch it late at night.
PROBE (72) - You have to be a certain age to appreciate this pilot for the Search television series.
MY FAVORITE WIFE (40) - Irene Dunne was a natural, and this is her movie.
RAIDERS OF THE SEVEN SEAS (53) - From 2020: "John Payne is the famous pirate Barbarossa who terrorizes the Caribbean and romances Donna Reed. Fun, old-school adventure with a budget and a good cast."
THE DEATH RAY OF DR. MABUSE (64)
BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM (93)
BODIES, REST & MOTION (93)
ROOM 13 (63)
DEATH TRIP (67) - See the Eurospy Guide for a review of this Kommissar X entry.
BLOOD ON THE MOON (48) - Recommend this Robert Wise noir western.
Mildly Enjoyed
THE CRIMES OF THE BLACK CAT (72)
THE UNNATURALS (69) - From 2016: "A small group of travelers is stranded in a storm and takes refuge with a medium and her son. Terrible secrets are revealed. Not a film the younger set would embrace but this is one of Antonio Margheriti's most visually elegant films; a claustrophobic and sexualized Gothic tale of retribution. Joachim Fuchsberger, Marianne Koch, Dominique Boschero, and Luciano Pigozzi."
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Angel Rivera Enjoyed:
"TROY" (2004)
A film directed by Wolfgang Petersen. loosely based on Homer's "Iliad" and Quintus of Smyrna's "Posthomerica". In this version (Spoiler alert) Paris (Orlando Bloom) lives to avenge his brother Hector (Eric Bana) who was slain by Achilles, by shooting and wounding Achulles (Brad Pitt) in his heel with an arrow. Agamemnon (Bran Cox) is killed by Briseis (Rose Byrne). Well acted and a well launched epic with outstanding performances by Pitt and Bana.
"A GRAMMY CELEBRATION OF LATIN MUSIC" (2025)
Different Hispanic performers such as Carlos Santana; Gloria Estefan, Selena Quintanilla and Linda Ronstadt are honored and remembered as Grammy winners and influences to modern music in filmed appearances and live performances.
"AMERICAN MASTERS: STARRING DICK VAN DYKE" (S39, E7--12/12/2025)
The actor and comedic performer is honored and his life and accomplishments are recognized in this documentary as this documentary honors on his reaching his 100th birthday. His many talents, especially his dancing skills and acting chops are showcased in the many projects he starred in. Such as the Broadway musical and film, "Bye, Bye Birdie"(1963); the film "Mary Poppins" (1964) and of course the "Dick Van Dyke show"(1961-1966). His battle with alcohol is mentioned as he tackled the role of an alcoholic in the 1976 TV movie, "The Morning After". Also his beginnings as a mime are covered as well. All in all an amazing talent as he reaches a major milestone
"CBS NEWS: ROB REINER: SCENES FROM A LIFE" (12/21/2025)
The tragedy of the death of Rob Reiner is made even more clear as this TV special looks back on his many accomplishments as an actor and especially as a director. Among his many films as director are: "Stand by Me" (1986); "The Princess Bride" (1987); "When Harry met Sally" (1989); "A Few Good Men" (1992) among many others. Such a diverse amount of work. He will be missed.
Did not enjoy:
"MARTY SUPREME" (2025)
Timothee Chalamet who just recently portrayed Bob Dylan in "A Complete Unknown" (2024) stars here as Marty Mauser whose only dream is to become a champion table tennis player at which he will stop at nothing to become. His character is not very likable and not to give much away he is rotten to some of the people who care about him and he uses people as he sees fit to accomplish his goal. Of note in the film is Gwyneth Paltrow who looks great in the film.
A film directed by Wolfgang Petersen. loosely based on Homer's "Iliad" and Quintus of Smyrna's "Posthomerica". In this version (Spoiler alert) Paris (Orlando Bloom) lives to avenge his brother Hector (Eric Bana) who was slain by Achilles, by shooting and wounding Achulles (Brad Pitt) in his heel with an arrow. Agamemnon (Bran Cox) is killed by Briseis (Rose Byrne). Well acted and a well launched epic with outstanding performances by Pitt and Bana.
"A GRAMMY CELEBRATION OF LATIN MUSIC" (2025)
Different Hispanic performers such as Carlos Santana; Gloria Estefan, Selena Quintanilla and Linda Ronstadt are honored and remembered as Grammy winners and influences to modern music in filmed appearances and live performances.
"AMERICAN MASTERS: STARRING DICK VAN DYKE" (S39, E7--12/12/2025)
The actor and comedic performer is honored and his life and accomplishments are recognized in this documentary as this documentary honors on his reaching his 100th birthday. His many talents, especially his dancing skills and acting chops are showcased in the many projects he starred in. Such as the Broadway musical and film, "Bye, Bye Birdie"(1963); the film "Mary Poppins" (1964) and of course the "Dick Van Dyke show"(1961-1966). His battle with alcohol is mentioned as he tackled the role of an alcoholic in the 1976 TV movie, "The Morning After". Also his beginnings as a mime are covered as well. All in all an amazing talent as he reaches a major milestone
"CBS NEWS: ROB REINER: SCENES FROM A LIFE" (12/21/2025)
The tragedy of the death of Rob Reiner is made even more clear as this TV special looks back on his many accomplishments as an actor and especially as a director. Among his many films as director are: "Stand by Me" (1986); "The Princess Bride" (1987); "When Harry met Sally" (1989); "A Few Good Men" (1992) among many others. Such a diverse amount of work. He will be missed.
Did not enjoy:
"MARTY SUPREME" (2025)
Timothee Chalamet who just recently portrayed Bob Dylan in "A Complete Unknown" (2024) stars here as Marty Mauser whose only dream is to become a champion table tennis player at which he will stop at nothing to become. His character is not very likable and not to give much away he is rotten to some of the people who care about him and he uses people as he sees fit to accomplish his goal. Of note in the film is Gwyneth Paltrow who looks great in the film.
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Bertrand van Wongerthem Enjoyed:
Mildly enjoyed:
Did not enjoy:
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Charles Gilbert watched:
COLOSSUS OF RHODES (1961)
Colossus of Rhodes:Sergio Leone's Unsung Epic. The host at Youtube's 'Cereal at Midnight" praises the legendary director of spaghetti westerns for his contribution as director of an early peplum. He also promotes the book HEROES NEVER DIE authored by Barry Atkinson which covers all the Italian peplum movies.
INVASION OF THE VAMPIRES (1963) B&W. Mexican horror involving a young doctor's search for the plant that serves as an antidote for vampirism. He concocts an acid from the mandragoras plant which, coincidently, grows near the estate of the infected Baron Frankenhausen, the head vampire who is bent on conquering the world. The giant bat he turns into attacks the doctor and suffers impalement, giving opportunity for the doctor to test the serum. The injection produces the cure, leaving the "patient" with a normal demise, and in turn causes other resurrected vampires nearby to the same release of their affliction.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea S2E01 "Jonah and the Whale" An imperious Russian female scientist (Gia Scala) and Admiral Nelson (Richard Basehart) get swallowed by a whale while exploring the ocean in the Seaview's diving bell.
SAMSON IN THE WAX MUSEUM ,(1963) B&W. The masked Mexican professional wrestler investigates strange occurrences at a wax museum run by a handsome survivor of German concentration camps at Aushwitz and Dachau.
Wagon Train "The Nancy Styles Story" Deborah Walley guest stars as the spoiled daughter of the mogul that owns several wagon trains including that helmed by wagonmaster Chris Hale (John McIntire).
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