måndag 24 november 2008

DEATH PROMISE

a.k.a Slumfighter (USA); Pay-Off Time (UK); Enter the White Dragon (Phillipines)

USA, 1977

Starring Charles Bonet, Speedy Leacock & Tony Liu

Directed by Robert Warmflash

EVC (Sweden); Fullscreen; English with swedish subtitles

DEATH WEEKEND

a.k.a The House by the Lake

Canada, 1976

Starring Brenda Vaccaro, Don Stroud & Chuck Shamata

Directed by William Fruet

Sweden Movie Ab (Sweden); Fullscreen; English with swedish subtitles; Uncut

Well-made, sleazy and surprisingly feminist canadian Last House on the Left-type exploitationer. Good stuff.

lördag 22 november 2008

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

a.k.a Syndens Spegel (Sweden video title)

USA, 1976

Starring Catharine Burgess, Jamie Gillis & Douglas Wood

Directed by Jonas Middleton

Max's Video (Sweden); Fullscreen; English with swedish subtitles

Unique, surreal Alice in Wonderland-porno/horror hybrid. A fascinating, intelligent and often pretty disturbing film, one of few XXX flicks you can watch as you watch a "real" film. Not with your girlfriend though... Recommended.

THE SIDEWALKS OF BANGKOK

a.k.a Les Trottoirs de Bangkok (original title); Brännpunkt Bangkok (Sweden video title)

France, 1984

Starring Yoko

Directed by Jean Rollin

Atlantic Video (Sweden); Fullscreen; French with swedish subtitles

onsdag 19 november 2008

DEVIL HUNTER

a.k.a Sexo Caníbal (original title); The Man Hunter (international); Mandigo Manhunter (USA); Jakten på Kidnapparna (Sweden video title)

Spain / France, 1980

Starring Al Cliver, Werner Pochath, Gisela Hahn, Ursula Buchfellner & Antonio Mayans

Directed by Jesus Franco

Continental Video (Sweden); Fullscreen; English with swedish subtitles

Demented jungle action. Not many agree but this is one of my Jess Franco favorites, really desperate low budget filmmaking at its funniest. This very rare tape is also a favorite. It's the longer Man Hunter-version, shorter than the Severin DVD though (but with better colors).

GHOST OF GUTS EATER

a.k.a Krasue Sao (original title)

Thailand, 1973

Starring ?

Directed by S. Naowaratch

Hb. Video-Film (Sweden); Widescreen; Thai with swedish subtitles

Utterly bizarre krasue (witches with flying heads... they're big in Asia) movie, at least filtered through my western eyes. With the worst flying head FX ever, some bungalow melodrama, giants, magic etc. I need to know, how the hell did this mega-obscure film get a video release in Sweden of all places!?

NIGHT OF THE DEVILS

a.k.a La Notte dei Diavoli (original title); Djävulens Natt (Sweden video title)

Italy / Spain, 1972

Starring Gianni Garko, Mark Roberts, Bill Vanders, Augustina Belli & Roberto Maldera

Directed by Giorgio Ferroni

Videce (Sweden); Widescreen; English language; Uncut version

Really nice eurohorror starring Gianni Garko, a variation of the eastern europe vampire myth of the Wurdalak, also a segment Mario Bava's episode horror Black Sabbath. I actually prefer this film to Bava's.

THE MAGNIFICENT GLADIATOR

a.k.a Il Magnifico Gladiatore (original title)

Italy, 1964

Starring Mark Forest, Marilù Tolo & Paolo Gozlino

Directed by Alfonso Brescia

Delta Video (Holland); Fullscreen; English with dutch subtitles

This video has the best homoerotic cover art i've seen, but the film is nothing special.

SPECIAL TRAIN FOR HITLER

a.k.a Train Spécial pour SS (original title); Love Train For Hitler (Europe); Hitler's Last Train (USA); Helltrain (international); Specialtåg för Hitler (Sweden video title)

France, 1977

Starring Monica Swinn, Frank Braña, Christine Aurel & Sandra Mozarowsky

Directed by Alain Payet

Macvideo/Cinehollywood (Sweden); Letterboxed; English with swedish subtitles

OK stiff Eurociné sleaze. Will dissapoint fans of those nasty italian nazi prison camp exploitationers. A very, very rare release.

GOLDEN NINJA WARRIOR

a.k.a Ninja Warrior (Sweden video title)

Hong Kong, 1986

Starring Richard Harrison, Donald Owen & Queenie Yang

Directed by Godfrey Ho & Joseph Lai

Columbus Film & Video / Hollywood Home Video (Sweden); Fullscreen; English with swedish subtitles


WOLF DEVIL WOMAN

a.k.a Lang nu bai mo (original title); Wolfen Ninja (USA)

Hong Kong, 1982

Starring Ling Chang & Feng Shih

Directed by Ling Chang

Ocean Shores Video (Hong Kong); Fullscreen; Cantonese with chinese and english (almost) subtitles

Amazing slice of horror/fantasy/kung fu madness! Beyond good or bad but 100% entertaining and one of the nuttiest movies I can think of... The "english" subtitles on this tape is damn near impossible to understand but it hardly matters.

tisdag 18 november 2008

BRENNUS, ENEMY OF ROME

a.k.a Brennio il Nemico di Roma (original title); Battle of the Valiant; Battle of the Spartans (UK)

Italy, 1963

Starring Gordon Mitchell, Ursula Davis, Tony Kendall, Massimo Serato & Andrea Aureli

Directed by Giacomo Gentilomo

Venus Video (Greece); Widescreen; English with greek subtitles

This peplum is just awesome! Worth tracking down only for Gordon Mitchell's electryfying portrayal of the ruthless gallic warlord of the title, but the rest is great too. More violent and darker in tone than any other pepla I can think of, even the kid hero dies. One of the best of its genre.

A THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS

a.k.a La Esclava del Paraíso (original title); Sharaz (Italy)

Spain, 1968

Starring Jeff Cooper, Luciana Puluzzi, Raf Vallone, Perla Cristal & Paul Naschy

Directed by José María Elorrieta

Quality Home Video (Greece); Fullscreen; English with greek subtitles


ATTACK OF THE NORMANS

a.k.a I Normanni (original title); Conquest of the Normans (USA)

Italy, 1962

Starring Cameron Mitchell, Geneviève Grad, Ettore Manni & Paul Muller

Directed by Giuseppe Vari

Inter-Ocean Video (UK); Letterboxed; English language

Not the best viking peplum but still pretty good. I wonder how Cameron Mitchell got typecast as a viking!?

THREE SERGEANTS OF BENGAL

a.k.a I Tre Serganti di Bengala (original title); Adventures of the Bengal Lancers (USA); Attack Fort Madras (Sweden video title)

Italy, 1964

Starring Richard Harrison, Wandisa Guida, Aldo Sambrell & Andrea Bosic

Directed by Umberto Lenzi

VTC (Sweden); Letterboxed; English with swedish subtitles

DEVIL'S CAVALIERS

a.k.a I Cavalieri del Diavolo (original title)

Italy, 1959

Starring Frank Lantimore, Anthony Steffen, Gianna Maria Canale & Andrea Aureli

Directed by Silvio Marcellini

Video Alsen (Greece); Fullscreen; English with greek subtitles

Poor swashbuckler with Frank Lantimore and lots of almost psychotically merry singing and dancing. Sometimes it's a pain watching these films...

måndag 17 november 2008

FIFTEEN YEAR OLD CAPTAIN

a.k.a Un Capitán de Quince Años (original title); Een Kaptein van 15 Jaar (Holland video title)

France / Spain, 1974

Starring Edmund Purdom, William Berger, José Manuel Marcos, Howard Vernon & Marc Cassot

Directed by Jesus Franco

VML (Holland); Fullscreen, French with dutch subtitles

Jess Franco + Jules Verne = two of my favorites, together at last! That's probably why I like this film even though it's generally considered cheap and boring shit even by Franco fans. OK, i'll give you that it's cheap but otherwise I think Franco has a pretty good feeling for simple, boys own Jules Verne-adventure... So shoot me.

CERVANTES

a.k.a Young Rebel (USA); Cervantes Äventyrens Man (Sweden video title)

Spain / France / Italy, 1967

Starring Horst Buchholtz, Gina Lollobrigida, Fernando Rey, Soledad Miranda & Francisco Rabal

Directed by Vincent Sherman

Wahlters Video (Sweden); Widescreen; English with swedish subtitles

ROBIN HOOD NEVER DIES

a.k.a Robin Hood Nunca Muere (original title); Robin Hood - Den Odödlige (Sweden video title)

Spain, 1975

Starring Joaquín Blanco, Emma Cohen & Charly Bravo

Directed by Francesc Bellmunt

Mariann Video (Sweden); Fullscreen; English with swedish subtitles

Interesting offbeat Robin Hood from Spain. Robin is "dead" for more than half the running time and there's some disguised political critism against the general Franco regime, I think. Well worth a look or two.

KING OF KONG ISLAND

a.k.a Eva, La Venere Selvaggio (original title); Eva, the Wild Women; Kong Island

Italy, 1968

Starring Brad Harris, Esmareldo Barros & Marc Lawrence

Directed by Roberto Mauri

Mariann Video (Sweden); Widescreen; English with swedish subtitles

THEY WERE CALLED THE THREE MUSKETEERS BUT THEY WERE FOUR

a.k.a Lo Chiamavano i tre Moscheretti... Invece Erano Quattro (original title); They Were Called the Three Musketeers ut They Were Four; Musketerernes Muntre Bedrifter (Denmark video title); Musketörernas Muntra Bedrifter (Sweden video title)

Italy, 1973

Starring Tony Kendall, Stan Cooper, Ettore Manni & Seyna Seytn

Directed by Silvio Amadio

Videoklubben (Denmark); Letterboxed; English with danish subtitles

From the director of Amuck and Smile Befor Death comes this bizzarre costume slapstick with nudity, toilet humor, swashbuckling and even some (bad) kung fu! I'm almost ashamed to admit I sort of like it.

söndag 16 november 2008

THE THIEF OF BAGDAD

a.k.a Il Ladro di Bagdad (original title)

Italy, 1961

Starring Steve Reeves, Arturo Dominici & Giorgia Moll

Directed by Arthur Lubin & Bruno Vailati

Embassy (Greece); Fullscreen; English language with greek subtitles

Good arabian fantasy. Reeves is perhaps not the most believable arab in the world, but his good as always. Plays a lot like a peplum, of course.

ZORRO THE REBEL

a.k.a Zorro il Ribelle (original title); Zorro - Rebellen (Sweden video title)

Italy, 1966

Starring Howard Ross

Directed by Piero Pierotti

VTC (Sweden); Letterboxed; English language with swedish subtitles

GOLIATH AND THE REBEL SLAVE

a.k.a Goliath e la Schiava Ribelle (original title); Godian the Glorious Avenger (Europe); The Tyrant of Lydia Against the Son of Hercules (USA)

Italy, 1963

Starring Gordon Scott, Ombretta Colli & Massimo Serato

Directed by Mario Caino

Lucifer Video Enterprises (Greece); Fullscreen; English language with greek subtitles

Nice Gordon Scott peplum. Videoprint is so-so (as often the case with greek tapes).

CONQUEROR OF CORINTH

a.k.a Il Conquistatore di Corinto (original title); The Centurion (USA); Erövrarna (Sweden video title)

Italy, 1962

Starring John Drew Barrymore, Gordon Mitchell, Geneviève Grad & Gianna Maria Canale

Directed by Mario Costa

VTC (Sweden); Widescreen; English language with swedish subtitles

COLONEL WOLODYJOWSKI

a.k.a Pan Wolodyjowski (original title); Eld och Svärd (Sweden video title)

Poland, 1969

Starring Tadeusz Lomnicki & Magdalena Zawadzka

Directed by Jerzy Hoffman

Hemvideo Film (Sweden); Letterboxed; Polish language with swedish subtitles

Impressive 17th century epic about the polish national hero Michel Wolodyjowski and fight against the tartar tribes. Good stuff.

KILMA, QUEEN OF THE AMAZONS

a.k.a Kilma, Reine de las Amazonas (original title); Amazondrottningen (Sweden video title)

Spain, 1975

Starring Eva Miller, Frank Braña & Claudia Gravy

Directed by Miguel Iglesias

Videofilm AB (Sweden); Fullscreen; English language with swedish subtitles

Kilma and her pack of amazons fights chauvenist pirates in this fun little film. Very PG stuff, don't expect any nudity or violence.

ALADDIN AND THE MAGIC LAMP

a.k.a Volshebnaya Lampa Aladdina (original title); Aladdin and His Magic Lamp (USA); Aladdin's Magic Lamp; Aladdins Magiska Lampa (Sweden video title)

Soviet Union, 1966

Starring Boris Bystrov, Dodo Chogovadze & Otar Koberidze

Directed by Boris Rystarev

Frekvensia GeTe (Sweden); Letterboxed; English language with swedish subtitles

Soviet fairy tale-fantasy film. Nothing too exiting but a colorful and reasonably entertaining adventure with some imaginitive FX. Badly dubbed in english.

GORDON, THE BLACK PIRATE

a.k.a Gordon, Il Pirata Nero (original title); Black Pirate; Pirate Warrior; Rage of the Buccaneers (USA); The Black Buccaneer (UK)

Italy, 1961

Starring Vincent Price, Ricardo Montalban & Liana Orfei

Directed by Mario Costa

Standard Video (Greece); Slightly letterboxed; English language with greek subtitles

One of the best pirate yarns Italy had to offer. With the always enjoyable Vincent Price as the slightly effeminate villian.

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS

a.k.a Uncas, El Fin de una Raza (original title); Fall of the Mohicans (USA); Den Siste Mohikanen (Sweden video title)

Spain, 1965

Starring Jack Taylor, Barbara Loy, Paul Muller & Daniel Martin

Directed by Mateo Cano

Cinehollywood / Macvideo (Sweden); Fullscreen; English language with swedish subtitles

Mildly entertaining western / adventure cheapie with lots of storming of forts, cowboys and indians (read: spaniards in silly wigs), heroic deeds etc. Good clean fun.

CORIOLANUS: HERO WITHOUT A COUNTRY

a.k.a Coriolano: Eroe Senza Patria (original title); Thunder of Battle

Italy, 1964

Starring Gordon Scott, Alberto Lupe & Rosalba Neri

Directed by Girgoi Ferroni

VCI (Greece); Fullscreen; English language with greek subtitles

Extremely dull peplum. Just a lot of boring talk, talk, talk...

tisdag 11 november 2008

THE EXECUTIONER OF THE SEAS

a.k.a Il Giustiziere dei Mari (original title); Avenger of the Seven Seas (USA)

Italy, 1961

Starring Richard Harrison, Michèle Mercier & Paul Muller

Directed by Domenico Paolella

Techno Films (Sweden); Letterboxed; English language with swedish subtitles

AMAZONS FOR TWO ADVENTURERS

a.k.a Dschungelmädchen für Zwei Halunken (original title); Che Matti... Ragazzi!!! (Italy)

Germany / Italy, 1975

Starring Robert Widmark, Wolf Godan, Rinaldo Talamonti & Raquel Ércole

Directed by Ernst Hofbauer & Fernando Orozco

Mr. Video (Greece); Widescreen; English language with greek subtitles

The title aside, this must be considered the first entry in the Three Superguys series (same characters, schtick, feeling etc.).

79 A.D

a.k.a Anno 79: La Distruzione di Ercolano (original titel); The Destruction of Heraculaneum (USA)

Italy, 1962

Starring Susan Paget, Brad Harris & Mara Lane

Directed by Gianfranco Parolini

Precision Video (UK); Fullscreen; English language

Long 131 min version.

THE BLACK TULIP

a.k.a La Tulipe Noire (original title)

France, 1964

Starring Alain Delon, Virna Lisi, Dawn Addams & Francis Blanche

Directed by Christian-Jaque

VCL (UK); Fullscreen; English language

French Zorro-type swashbuckler with a young Alain Delon.

DAWN OF THE PIRATES

a.k.a Vendatta di Tughs (original title); Dawn of the Pirates (UK video title); I Misteria della Giungla Nera (?)

Italy / USA, 1954

Starring Lex Barker, Fiorella Mari, Paul Muller, Jack Rex & Luigi Tosi

Directed by Gian Paolo Callegari & Ralph Murphy

EKO (UK); Fullscreen; English language

There are no pirates in this very boring and dated indian adventure. Great cover though. A pretty misterious title, I think this is the second part of the film I Misteria della Giungla Nera (1954).

CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER

a.k.a Il Sepolcro dei Re (original title); Faraos Förbannelse (Sweden video title)

Italy, 1960

Starring Debra Paget, Ettorio Manne & Erno Crisa

Directed by Fernando Cerchio

PZ Video Films (Greece); Fullscreen, English language with greek subtitles

måndag 10 november 2008

THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND OF CAPTAIN NEMO

a.k.a La Isla Misteriosa (Spain); L' Île Mystérieuse (France); L' Isola Misteriosa e il Capitano Nero (Italy); The Mysterious Island (USA); Den Hemlighetsfulla Ön (Sweden video title)

Spain / France / Italy, 1973

Starring Omar Sharif, Gérard Tichy, Gabriele Tinti, Rafael Bardem Jr., Jess Hahn, Rik Battaglia & Ambroise Bia.

Directed by Juan Antonio Bardem & Henri Colpi

Starbox/Select, selltape (Sweden); Fullscreen; English language with swedish subtitles

The excellent miniseries was also edited down to feature lenght.

DEVILS OF SPARTIVENTO

a.k.a I Diavoli di Spartivento (original title); Weapons of Vengeance (USA); Weapons of War; Arms of the Avenger (USA); Curse of the Haunted Forest; The Fighting Legions; Musketöörien Paluu (Finland video title)

Italy, 1963

Starring John Drew Barrymore, Michel Lemoine, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart & Scilla gabel

Directed by Leopoldo Savona

Harley Video (Finland); Widescreen; English language with finnish subtitles

THE CRAZY CRAZY JUNGLE ADVENTURE

a.k.a Im Dschungel ist der Teufel Los (original title)

Germany, 1981

Starring James Mitchum, Werner Pochath, Alexander Grill & Charles Comyn

Directed by Harald Reinl

Videofilm AB (Sweden); Fullscreen; English language with swedish subtitles

MASTER OF THE WORLD

a.k.a Fångarna på Albatross (Sweden video title)

USA, 1961

Starring Vincent Price, Hery Hull, Charles Bronson & Mary Webster

Directed by William Witney

Wahlters Video (Sweden); Fullscreen; English language with swedish subtitles

FLAG OF DEATH

a.k.a Il Pirata del Diavolo (original title); The Saracens (USA)

Italy, 1963

Starring Richard Harrison, Luigi Batzella, Walter Brandi & John Turner

Directed by Roberto Mauri

EVC (Holland); Letterboxed; English language with dutch subtitles

Despite the title and cover there's not that much pirate action in this mildly amusing adventure film. Future trash-maestro Luigi Batzella plays the bloodthirsty, christian-hating turk warlord Mahmud.

GOLIATH AT THE CONQUEST OF DAMASCUS

a.k.a Golia alla Conquista di Bagdad (original title); Goliath and the Arabs (Holland video title)

Italy, 1964

Starring Rock Stevens, Mario Petri, Helga Liné & Daniele Vargas

Directed by Domenico Paolella

Neon Video, selltape (Holland); Fullscreen; English language with dutch subtitles

NIGHT OF THE BLOODY APES

a.k.a La Horripilante Bestia Humana (original title); Gomar: The Human Gorilla; Horror and Sex

Mexico, 1969

Starring José Elías Moreno, Norma Laazreno, Arlos Lopez Moctezuma & Amando Silvestre

Directed by René Cardona

Panorama (Greece); Fullscreen; English language with greek subtitles; Uncut

The cover (surely one of the ugliest ever) is stolen from a mid-80s UK release of the Paul Naschy film Werewolf Shadow, with tape over the english text! Panorama = punk!

NIGHT OF THE BLOODY APES

a.k.a La Horripilante Bestia Humana (original title); Gomar: The Human Gorilla; Horror and Sex

Mexico, 1969

Starring José Elías Moreno, Norma Laazreno, Arlos Lopez Moctezuma & Amando Silvestre

Directed by René Cardona

IFS Video (UK); Fullscreen (OAR); English language; Uncut

GUNS AND GUTS

a.k.a Las Viboras de Piel (original title); God, Guns and Guts; Sheriffen fra Santa Fe (Denmark video title)

Mexico, 1974

Starring Jorge Rivero, Pedro Armendáriz Jr. & Rogelio Guerra

Directed by René Cardona Jr.

Westcon Home Video (Denmark), Widescreen; English language with danish subtitles

Violent and crude western with some odd attempts at humor.

SOS CONSPIRACION BIKINI

a.k.a SOS Bikini (Holland video title)

Mexico, 1967

Starring Julio Alemán, Sonia Furio & Sonia Infante

Directed by René Cardona Jr.

Eagle 6 (Holland); Fullscreen; English language with dutch subtitles

1960s fun with spies, models & absurd gadgets.

BEAKS: THE MOVIE

a.k.a El Ataque de los Pájaros (original title); Evil Birds (USA); Birds of Prey; Rovfåglar (Sweden video title)

Mexico, 1987

Starring Chrisopher Atkins, Michelle Johnson, Gabriele Tinti & Carole Connery

Directed by René Cardona Jr.

Jaguar Video (Sweden); Fullscreen; English language with swedish subtitles; Thought to be uncut

söndag 9 november 2008

ATLAS

USA, 1961

Starring Michael Forest, Barbara Morris & Frank Wolff

Directed by Roger Corman

Video For Pleasure (Holland); Letterboxed; English language with dutch subtitles

Ultra-rare promo (?) release. No labels on tape but it should be an original. Only color+lbx print I know of this cheap, fun peplum (the only "real" US-made peplum).

HERCULES AGAINST THE SONS OF THE SUN

a.k.a Ercole Contra i Figli del Sole (original title); Den Vilde och Den Grymme (Sweden)

Italy, 1964

Starring Mark Forest, Giuliano Gemma, Ann-Maria Pace & Ángela Rhu

Directed by Osvaldo Civirani

Pirate Video (UK); Letterboxed; English language

Hercules visits South America (!) in this absurd bottom-of-the-barrel peplum. One to avoid.