Week of September 17 - 12, 2022

 

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

Brain Teasers:

Which two Italian screenwriters, who worked on Westerns, were credited for the story on a movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Luciano Vincenzoni and Sergio Donati came up with the story for RAW DEAL, which producer Dino DeLaurentiis turned into an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.

What reason did James Mason give for making BAD MAN'S RIVER?

No one has answered this one yet.

To what fear did Lee Van Cleef admit before performing his first bed scene with an actress?

No one has answered this one yet.

Which Italian screenwriter, best known for working on Westerns, wrote and produced a film intended to rival JAWS?

Angel Rivera knew that it was Luciano Vincenzoni, who was hired by executive producer Dino DeLaurentiis to make ORCA. Dino also made KING KONG and THE WHITE BUFFALO. When STAR WARS hit big, Dino made FLASH GORDON and DUNE.

Which Italian director made a film with Isaac Hayes in Chicago?

Tom Betts, Bertrand van Wonterghem, Angel Rivera and George Grimes knew that it was Duccio Tessari with TOUGH GUYS, aka THREE TOUGH GUYS.

On which film directed by Sergio Leone did Antonio Margheriti handle miniature special effects?

Tom Betts, Bertrand van Wonterghem, Angel Rivera and George Grimes knew that it was GIU LA TESTA, aka DUCK YOU SUCKER, aka A FISTFUL OF DYNAMITE, aka ONCE UPON A TIME THE REVOLUTION.

And now for some new brain teasers:

What Dino DeLaurentiis production was shooting in Almeria, Spain, while Tony Anthony was making COMIN' AT YA!?

For what movie was the fort used in MASSACRE AT FORT HOLMAN, aka UNA RAGIONE PER VIVERE E UNA PER MORIRE, originally constructed?

Why was Giuliano Gemma billed as "Montgomery Wood" for his first Western?

Name the movies from which these images came.

Tom Betts, George Grimes and Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's frame grab of Luciano Rossi and Rada Rassimov from DJANGO IL BASTARDO, aka DJANGO THE BASTARD.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes and Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's frame grab of Anthony Steffen in AFRODITE, DEA DELL'AMORE, aka APHRODITE, GODDESS OF LOVE.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes and Angel Rivera identified last week's frame grab from LA MORTE VIENE DAL PLANETA AYTIN, aka SNOW DEVILS.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's frame grab of Chien Sun, Meng Lo and Alexander Sheng Fu in CHINATOWN KID.

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:

Highly enjoyed:

She-Hulk Attorney At Law episode five (2022)

Enjoyed:

THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013)

CAPTAIN AMERICA THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014)

Red Election season one episodes 1-6 (2012)

Mr. and Mrs. Murder episodes 1 & 3 (2013)

Did not enjoy:

Titans season two (2019)

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Charles Gilbert watched:

IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953) B & W. Highly regarded Jack Arnold sci-fi is short on production value especially when resorting to aliens taking on the form of earthling counterparts. Split screen is sub par.

IT'S ALIVE (1969) A cave in Arkansas is shooting location for this horror melodrama starring Disney alumnus Tommy Kirk. He helps a wayfaring newlywed couple who has become victim of a beer bellied sadist, harboring a goofy monster in the cave's murky pool. The most interesting part is the eerie flashback of the first woman being abducted. Half-star rating.

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David Deal Enjoyed:

THE GOOD DIE YOUNG (54) - Lawrence Harvey, John Ireland, Richard Basehart, and Stanley Baker, brought together by circumstance and all needing money rather badly, decide to rob a postal truck of 100K quid. It doesn't end well. Told in flashback, we learn each character's situation and motivation, which gives this atmospheric heist picture an edge. Combined with the leads' talents this is an enjoyable, solid entry.

THE DUKE (21)

THE AMAZING WORLD OF GHOSTS (78) - From 2007: This is nothing less than the holy grail of speculative documentaries. Truly a hypnotic wonder, this stream of consciousness journey is a treasure trove of nonsense, heretical gibberish, and laughable conjecture sure to amaze and amuse.  Granted the highest recommendation.

SYMPHONY FOR A MASSACRE (63) - Four men go in on a drug deal but one of them has designs for a doublecross. It doesn't end well. Excellent crime flick from Jacques Deray. High quality craft all around. Recommended.

THE BEATLES GET BACK PT 2 (22)

THE BLACK CAT (34)

Mildly enjoyed:

THE SCARLET COAT (55)

THE GAME OF DEATH (45) - This Robert Wise remake of The Most Dangerous Game is quite well done but doesn't have a very strong cast other than John Loder, who's very good here. Wise made The Body Snatcher the same year.

SUDDEN DANGER (55)

CALLING HOMICIDE (56)

CHAIN OF EVIDENCE (57)

FOOTSTEPS IN THE NIGHT (57)

NEUTRON VS THE MANIAC (64)

SANTO AND THE BLUE DEMON VS DRACULA AND THE WOLF MAN (73)

ENIGMA ROSSO (77)

SCHOOLGIRL REPORT 4 (74)

Did not enjoy:

DIRTY LITTLE BILLY (72) - Notoriously unpleasant telling of the early life of Billy the Kid (Michael J Pollard). I saw this in the theater when it came out, and 50 years later it hasn't become any more palatable.

THE GLITTER DOME (84) - World-weary cop James Garner and his messed up partner John Lithgow slog thru the Hollywood cesspool to find the killer of a studio head. HBO version of Joseph Wambaugh's novel feels ten years out of date; the gritty city scenes are rendered with an 80s gloss, Meanwhile, various sleaze elements are interspersed with the unconvincing personal lives of the barely functioning cops.

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Bertrand van Wonterghem Highly enjoyed:

The thin man (1934, W.S. Van Dyke)

Enjoyed:

Thor : love and thunder (2021, Taika Waititi)

Gyakkyô burai Kaiji (anime) – season 1 – episode 1

Gyeolhonbaekseo / Welcome to wedding hell – season 1 – episodes 1 & 2

Mildly enjoyed:

She-Hulk : attorney at law – season 1 – episodes4 & 5

L’hypothèse du tableau volé (1978, Raoul Ruiz)

Passe ton bac d’abord (1979, Maurice Pialat)

Did not enjoy:

Commando eliminator / Blood debts (1985, Teddy Page)

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Angel Rivera Watched and Mildly enjoyed:

Five Minutes to Live" (1961) starring Johnny Cash as a sexual deviant kidnapper. Cash and Vic Tayback hold a couple hostage. The husband works at a bank where Tayback is informing him that his wife will be killed if he does not give them the money. Cash is in their home holding the wife hostage ready to shot her, but not before he shows her how good a guitar player he is. He also sexually terrorizes her and makes her put on her sexiest outfit, which isn't much in terms of being sexy. Their son is played by young Ronnie Howard and he is instrumental in foiling the kidnapping. A curiosity for sure.

Look in Any Window" (also 1961) with Paul Anka as a peeping Tom with a mask terrorizing his neighborhood. While he is "looking in any window", his mother, played by Ruth Roman, is having an affair with next door neighbor, played by Jack Cassidy. There is lots of soap opera melodrama going on in Anka's neighborhood before the film reaches its conclusion and Anka gets the help he needs. Another curiosity piece.

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Week of September 10 - 16, 2022

 

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

Brain Teasers:

Which Italian screenwriter, who worked on Westerns, was the subject of a movie based on his autobiography?

Luciano Vincenzoni wrote his autobiography PANE E CINEMA, which director Claudio Costa made into the movie IL FALSO BUGIARDO, aka THE FALSE LIAR, in 2008.

Which two Italian screenwriters, who worked on Westerns, were credited for the story on a movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger?

No one has answered this one yet.

What reason did James Mason give for making BAD MAN'S RIVER?

No one has answered this one yet.

To what fear did Lee Van Cleef admit before performing his first bed scene with an actress?

No one has answered this one yet.

Which Italian stunt man/actor was born on May 15, 1934 in Rome?

Tom Betts, George Grimes, Bertrand van Wonterghem and Angel Rivera knew that it was Giovanni "Nello" Pazzafini.

And now for some new brain teasers:

Which Italian screenwriter, best known for working on Westerns, wrote and produced a film intended to rival JAWS?

Which Italian director made a film with Isaac Hayes in Chicago?

On which film directed by Sergio Leone did Antonio Margheriti handle miniature special effects?

Name the movies from which these images came.

George Grimes and Rick Garibaldi identified last week's photo of Angelo Infanti and Dana Ghia in CUATRO DOLARES DE VENGANZA, aka 4 DOLLARS OF REVENGE.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

Bertrand van Wonterghem identified last week's frame grab of Antonella Lualdi in ARRIVANO I TITANI, aka SONS OF THUNDER, aka MY SON THE HERO.

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

Bertrand van Wonterghem and Angel Rivera identified last week's frame grab of Tony Franciosa, John Steiner and John Saxon in TENEBRAE. 

Above is a new photo.

Can you name from what movie it came?

George Grimes identified last week's photo of Ching Lee and David Chiang in THE NEW ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN, aka TRIPLE IRONS.

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:

Highly enjoyed:

She-Hulk Attorney At Law episode four (2022)

Enjoyed:

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011)

THE AVENGERS (2012)

IRON MAN 3 (2013)

Mildly enjoyed:

Leverage: Redemption season one (2021) 

MUR MURS, aka WALL WALLS, aka MURAL MURALS (1981) - Possibly reacting to director Michelangelo Antonioni's 1970s film ZABRISKIE POINT which depicted Los Angeles as a forest of billboards, director Agnes Varda made this documentary showing Los Angeles as a collage of murals; painted walls not only expressing individual artists but also the character of the various neighborhoods. Varda made the effort to discover who painted what as much of the art was unsigned. Many artists talk about their work on camera and sometimes the models for the art appear next to the paintings. A good chunk of the movie shows the vibrant work done in East L.A. with much discussion of life in the "barrio". As I lived in L.A. when the film was made in 1980, I recognized some of the murals, and can attest to the director's lament that much of it has disappeared with new construction and neglect. Of particular interest is the work of Kent Twitchell whose murals "Strother Martin Monument" on Fountain Avenue and "The Freeway Lady" seen from the Hollywood Freeway were favorites of mine.

Did not enjoy:

 I WAS A TEENAGE ZOMBIE (1987) - This popped up on TCM so I decided to give it a look-see. When the Criterion logo appeared, I began to rack my brain trying to figure out "why". Having gotten through to the end, I can only guess that the "why" relates to the musicians who can be heard on the soundtrack: The Fleshtones, Violent Femmes, The Del Fuegos, Los Lobos, The Dream Syndicate, Marshall Crenshaw, Alex Chilton, The Smithereens, db's, The Waitresses, Ben Vaughn Combo, Bob Pfeifer, The Skunks and Brian Stanley. I'm guessing that the budget for music clearances was probably larger than the budget to make the film - though it has good color and the sound is in sync. It appears that director/editor John Elias Michalakis made this film after having some success with 1984's SPLATTER UNIVERSITY, with contributions from cast members George Seminara and Steve McCoy with "additional scenes and dialogue". The result was not funny, not scary but did feature a few "over the top" gory bits that are not convincing. This film seemed to end Michalakis' career, but Seminara went on to direct music videos, including a few by The Ramones. One of the few members of the cast that kept at a career was Allen Rickman, aka Allen Lewis Rickman, who went on to appear on Broadwalk Empire and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. If you've ever wanted to see a scene in which an undead drug dealer named Mussolini rapes a teenage girl - who has no exposed "naughty bits" - and kills her by lifting her legs over her head with blood spraying everywhere, then this is the movie for you.

THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE (1975) - This would seem to be a rather faithful remake of the 1946 movie, which was based on SOME MUST WATCH, the 1933 novel by Ethel Lina White. I thought the 1946 movie was pretty good and was almost a blueprint for the cinema of Dario Argento. Perhaps it was Argento's success which convinced producer Josef Shaftel to do a remake, but Peter Collinson seems to be the worst choice to direct it. Shaftel assembled a good cast - Jacqueline Bisset, Christopher Plummer, Gayle Hunnicut, Elaine Stritch and John Phillip Law, but nothing in the film works. 

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Charles Gilbert watched:

ENTER THE FAT DRAGON (1968) Sammo Hung Kam Po directs and stars in this comedy with a lady producer that was remade in 2020.

100 Years of Horror : Documentary (1996) Hosted by Christopher Lee

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David Deal Enjoyed:

THE SKELETON OF MRS MORALES (60) - Happy go lucky taxidermist Arturo De Cordova is driven to the edge by his shrewish wife, Amparo Rivelles, so he makes plans to kill her. Solid entry from Mexico that takes a blackly comic approach. Recommended.

SHE PLAYED WITH FIRE (57) - AKA Fortune is a Woman. By chance, insurance adjuster Jack Hawkins meets old flame Arlene Dahl at a client's house. When Jack suspects fraud, he says nothing since Arlene is implicated in the scheme. Shortly, things become complicated when her husband, Dennis Price, is found murdered. Twisty Brit thriller has style, and the plot unfolds so we don't know any more than Jack. Clever and fun with a solid cast.

THE BEATLES GET BACK PT 1

EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS (56)

Mildly enjoyed:

APACHE UPRISING (65) - Rory Calhoun and Arthur Hunnicutt end up riding shotgun on a stage to Lordsburg, a stage that carries two nogoodnicks (DeForest Kelly and Gene Evans) who plan to meet up with John Russell at a way station and kill everyone for the money on board. Another adequate A.C. Lyles production that features Lon Chaney as the hard drinking stage driver.

THE LAST DAY (75) - Ex-gunman Richard Widmark lives a peaceful life in Coffeeville until the Dalton gang is seen heading his way to rob the banks in town. Somewhat faithful telling of the famous crime. Another A.C. Lyles production only this time it's for TV and instead of old-timers, the cast is full of young TV stars of the day like, Robert Conrad, Tim Matheson, Richard Jaeckel, and Loretta Switt. Not bad.

DIAL RED 0 (55)

THE FORGOTTEN ONE (89) - Writer Terry O'Quinn buys an old house so he can do some writing. Turns out the house is haunted and he somehow plays a part in the ghost's past. Neighbor Kristy McNichol helps him figure it out. Atmospheric ghost story has its issues but is nicely done.

A DEAD ONE ON THE THAMES (71)

THE MONSTROUS DR. CRIMEN (53)

FRONTIER BADMEN (43) - Hotshot cattlemen Robert Paige and Noah Beery Jr break the mysterious cattle combine in Abilene and set up an independent buyer's exchange. The combine wants revenge. Exciting second-tier western features Lon Chaney as a hired gunman and has a heckuva stampede.

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Bertrand van Wonterghem Enjoyed:

The hired hand (1973, Peter Fonda)

On va manquer (short) (2018, Sabrina Ouazani)

Robert le Vigan, la cavale d’un maudit (doc) (2021, Bertrand Tessier)

Mildly enjoyed:

She-Hulk : attorney at law – season 1 – episode 3

House of the dragon – season 1 – episode 2

The lord of the rings : the rings of power – season 1 – episode 1

Pierre Palmade : 30 ans déjà (spectacle) (2021, Ybao Benedetti)

La mariée était en noir (1968 , François Truffaut)

Did not enjoy:

Le flambeau – season 1 – episodes 4 & 5

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Angel Rivera Watched and Enjoyed:

"Stargirl" Season Three--"Frenemies"--Chapters One & Two

"The Student Nurses" (1970) stars Elaine Giftos, who was popular in TV and movies in the Seventies; Barbara Leigh, who was known for being Steve McQueen's girl friend as well as dating Elvis Presley in the early seventies and who had been hired by Warren Publishing to drum up interest in their character, Vampirella and had publicity shots done wearing a Vampirella costume for a potential movie during the seventies. (Unfortunately no studio showed interest until Roger Corman's company produced a made for cable movie in 1996 with Bond girl, Talisa Soto, as Vampirella.) The film also featured Karen Carlson, one time wife of David Soul, as well as Reni Santoni. The film while having a fair amount of nudity, (male as well as female.) tries to have its characters in stories that were relevant for the time. Such as: abortions; revolutionaries; and social activism. Well worth a watch.

"Dos Pistolas Gemelas" (1966) stars Sean Flynn, son of Errol Flynn, just before he gave up his career as a European movie star to become a combat photojournalist in Vietnam. The film features a twin musical performing act known as: Pili and Mili from Spain as his co-stars. The film is mildly entertaining as a pseudo Spaghetti western (filmed in Spain, it uses the same sets that were used in "For a Few Dollars More" (1965/67) with musical numbers. Its almost as two movies. The scenes which show the twins are played mostly for comedy, while the scenes of Sean (when he is not with the twins) are more violent, but not bloody.

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