Jess Franco-Frank Sinatra Quiz

This is the last day of May 2008, the month which marked the 10th anniversary of the death of the legendary singer/actor Frank Sinatra in May 1998. I'm reminded of a tribute paid to him by Jess Franco in one of his films where a character is heard singing one of his biggest hits.

What Frank Sinatra song was this and what was the name of the film? Extra points if you can name the performer who sang the song in the film and the name of the character that performer played.

Hint: both the song and the movie are vintage mid-1960s.

Pre-order Jess Franco's DON QUIXOTE!

At this point IMAGE doesn't appear to have a set cover. Here are some previous DVD covers: Seen above is the previously released All Region DVD.


The cover for the R2 Spanish DVD of Jess Franco's DON QUIJOTE DE ORSON WELLES

The new IMAGE DVD can now be pre-ordered: http://www.amazon.com/Orson-Welles-Don-Quixote/dp/B0019M7KRY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1211931804&sr=1-4


The specs as they stand so far:

Don Quixote (B&W) (2008)

Starring: Welles, Reiguera Rating
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This title will be released on August 19, 2008.
Pre-order now
Product Details

Actors: Welles, Reiguera, Tamiroff
Format: Black & White, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
Language: English
Region: All Regions
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating:
Studio: Image Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 19, 2008
Run Time: 115 minutes


[Jess Franco's much maligned 1992 edit of the Welles project finally has an US DVD release in sight and can now be pre-ordered. Hopefully this release will actually happen this coming August 19th, barring any legal rights complications. I'll be especially interested in the video/sound quality, which on Spanish R2 DVD is very poor. The Spanish DVD is titled DON QUIJOTE DE ORSON WELLES, which is the onscreen title. Robert Monell]




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LE JOUISSEUR (1974)

Fred Williams as Roland, the World's Sexiest Man.

1974 104 MINUTES European Trash Cinema (U.S. import) DIRECTED BY CLIFFORD BROWN (JESUS FRANCO) WITH: FRED WILLIAMS, LINA ROMAY, BIGOTINI, WILLY BRAQUE, OLIVIER MATHOT, PAMELA SANFORD, MONICA SWINN, ANNA GLADYSEK, RAMÓN ARDID, VICTOR COSTA, VICTOR MENDÉS, SUZUKI, CAROLINE RIVIÊRE.

*An archived review which I've recently updated.

(a.k.a. ROLAND, L'HOMME LE PLUS SEXY DU MONDE; LE JOUISSEUR; DER SEX PLAYBOY)
A wealthy ex-playboy, Count Roland (Fred Williams) tires of married life to the sex guide magnate Barbara and decides to return to his old ways. He poses as a butler and becomes a servant to rich and beautiful women, but many complications ensue.

The title of this sly comedy of manners indicates Franco wanted to infuse this amusing trifle with a sense of irony. Roland may be handsome but as played by Williams behaves like a run-of-the-mill male model, albeit with a little more humor and liveliness than this usually dull actor musters in his other Francos roles from this period. Franco aims for the tone of a Howard Hawks screwball comedy, but verbal humor, not physical comedy, is more his forté. And as the only available videos on the U.S. mail-order circuit are in French, those unfamiliar with that language will miss the satiric barbs at male chauvinism and bourgeois arrogance.

As Roland's pudgy, mischievous manservant Malou, Bigotini, a familiar Franco actor who often worked as his assistant, just about steals the show from Williams. Most of the footage follows Roland as he seduces and is seduced by various women, and in an especially amusing scene, tries to avoid the advances of one husband who also happens to like men.

The cinematography looks unfocused, under lit and out of control (it may be my print)and the lack of any action other than sexual may bore those who are not Franco enthusiasts. One long sequence endlessly inter cuts Roland taking a literal roll-in-the-hay with Lina Romay. As usual, Franco does manage to find some interesting cubist/impressionist influenced compositions amidst the reckless mise en scene, like the opening credits sequence which examines the leafy canopy overlooking the boulevards of Paris from a skewed angle.

Reading the above after nearly a decade I will comment that although this film is very carelessly made and obviously done without adequate planning or budget, it does have its merits for the dedicated: a jazzy, catchy score by Andre Benichou gives the action a much needed boost; Harrison is just fine in the lead, imparting the right ironic tone and the handheld camerawork (the entire film appears to have been made without benefit of a tripod!) does manage a few coups amid the flurry of non-stop telezooms, like the sudden zoom into a Parisian movie marquee for Franco's 1972 LES ERANLESS (see the review here by typing the title into the blog's search engine) during a delirious tour of the Paris red light district shot from a moving car! And Bigotini flying over the rooftops of Paris checking out female sunbathers in his helicopter is priceless as is the ending in which a scruffy looking film crew suddenly appears, complete with cheap looking equipment and portable camera, shooting Roland and his wife as they take another roll in the way before zooming into the slate "A PHALLUS PRODUCTION: THE WORLD'S SEXIEST COUPLE"!

Although we don't want to take the comparison too far, LE JOUISSEUR can be seen as a way down-market anticipation of Francois Truffaut's THE MAN WHO LOVED WOMEN and certain Woody Allen films of that era.


(c) Robert Monell, 2008

CINEMATHEQUE FRANCAISE JESS FRANCO RETROSPECTIVE!

JESS FRANCO
Du 18 juin au 31 juillet

Considéré comme un des maîtres du cinéma d'épouvante espagnol, Jesús Franco a réalisé près de 200 films, souvent avec des budgets dérisoires, destinés essentiellement aux salles de quartier à partir du début des années 1960. Poète érotomane, c'est un expérimentateur fou et inspiré, volontiers libre adaptateur de Sade, qui adore aligner de longues et fascinantes séquences érotiques détachées de tout récit, tels de longs chorus mélodiques. [

Thanks to the Latarnia Forum Franco Lounge for posting the link to this.]

077 - OPERATION SEXY - JESS FRANCO - 1962 - 93’
Samedi 28 Juin 2008 - 15h00 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
LES AMAZONES DE LA LUXURE (MACISTE CONTRE LA REINE DES AMAZONES) - CLIFFORD BROWN (JESS FRANCO) - 1973 - 84’
Jeudi 10 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
THE BLOOD OF FU MANCHU - JESS FRANCO - 1967 - 82’
Dimanche 13 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - Version Allemande STF - 35mm
BLUE RITA (LE CABARET DES FILLES PERVERSES) - JESS FRANCO - 1977 - 77’
Mercredi 2 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
LES BRULANTES - JESS FRANCO - 1968 - 84’
Mercredi 9 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
CAMP EROTIQUE (CAMP D'AMOUR POUR MERCENAIRES) - JESS FRANCO - 1977 - 71’
Lundi 7 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
CARTES SUR TABLE - JESS FRANCO - 1966 - 94’
Lundi 7 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
THE CASTLE OF FU-MANCHU - JESS FRANCO - 1968 - 85’
Dimanche 13 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - Version Allemande STF - 35mm
LES CAUCHEMARS NAISSENT LA NUIT - JESS FRANCO - 1970 - 85’
Samedi 19 Juillet 2008 - 19h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VF - 35mm
CHASSE A LA MAFIA - JESUS FRANCO (JESS FRANCO) - 1963 - 101’
Dimanche 29 Juin 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
CHRISTINA PRINCESSE DE L'EROTISME / UNE VIERGE CHEZ LES MORTS-VIVANTS - JESS FRANCO - 1971 - 73’
CHRISTINA PRINCESSE DE L'EROTISME (UNE VIERGE CHEZ LES MORTS-VIVANTS)
Jeudi 24 Juillet 2008 - 19h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VF - 35mm
LA COMTESSE AUX SEINS NUS / LES AVALEUSES - J.P. JOHNSON (JESS FRANCO) - 1973 - 84’
LA COMTESSE AUX SEINS NUS (LES AVALEUSES)
Samedi 21 Juin 2008 - 14h30 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
LA COMTESSE PERVERSE / LES CROQUEUSES - CLIFFORD BROWN (JESS FRANCO) - 1973 - 72’
LA COMTESSE PERVERSE (LES CROQUEUSES)
Mercredi 23 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - 35mm
LE CRI D'AMOUR DE LA DEESSE BLONDE - JESS FRANCO - 1977 - 83’
Mercredi 23 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
CRIMES DANS L'EXTASE - FRANK HOLLMANN (JESS FRANCO) - 1970 - 73’
Vendredi 27 Juin 2008 - 21h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
LA CRYPTE DES FEMMES MAUDITES - JESS FRANCO - 2008 - 180’
Samedi 26 Juillet 2008 - 20h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - Vidéo
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
CUADECUC - PERE PORTABELLA - 1969 - 91’
Lundi 30 Juin 2008 - 17h00 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
ÇA BARDE CHEZ LES MIGNONNES - JESS FRANCO - 1967 - 90’
Jeudi 10 Juillet 2008 - 17h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VF - 35mm
DANS LES GRIFFES DU MANIAQUE - JESS FRANCO - 1965 - 87’
Jeudi 19 Juin 2008 - 19h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
LES DEMONS DU SEXE - CLIFFORD BROWN (JESS FRANCO) - 1972 - 104’
Jeudi 17 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
DES FRISSONS SUR LA PEAU (TENDRE ET PERVERSE EMMANUELLE) - J.P. JOHNSON (JESS FRANCO) - 1973 - 68’
Dimanche 27 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
DEUX SOEURS VICIEUSES - JESS FRANCO - 1977 - 84’
Samedi 19 Juillet 2008 - 21h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
DON QUIJOTE PAR ORSON WELLES - JESS FRANCO - 1992 - 116’
Lundi 30 Juin 2008 - 21h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
DR. WONG'S VIRTUAL HELL - JESS FRANCO - 1998 - 97’
Dimanche 20 Juillet 2008 - 15h00 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - Vidéo
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
DRACULA PRISONNIER DE FRANKENSTEIN - JESS FRANCO - 1972 - 82’
Mercredi 9 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
LES EBRANLEES / LA MAISON DU VICE - CLIFFORD BROWN (JESS FRANCO) - 1972 - 80’
LES EBRANLEES (LA MAISON DU VICE)
Dimanche 27 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - 35mm
ESCLAVES DE L'AMOUR / FRAUEN FÜR ZELLENBLOCK 9 - JESS FRANCO - 1977 - 75’
ESCLAVES DE L'AMOUR (FRAUEN FÜR ZELLENBLOCK 9)
Mercredi 30 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
EUGENIE - JESS FRANCO - 1970 - 84’
Lundi 23 Juin 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
LES EXPERIENCES EROTIQUES DE FRANKENSTEIN - JESS FRANCO - 1972 - 90’
Jeudi 10 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
FALSTAFF - JESS FRANCO, ORSON WELLES - 1965 - 114’
Mercredi 20 Février 2008 - 21h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
Mercredi 9 Juillet 2008 - 17h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
FEMMES EN CAGE (FRANCO) - JESUS FRANCO (JESS FRANCO) - 1975 - 81’
Dimanche 22 Juin 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
LA FILLE DE DRACULA - JESS FRANCO - 1972 - 81’
Samedi 28 Juin 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
LES GLOUTONNES / LES EXPLOITS EROTIQUES DE MACISTE DANS L'ATLANTIDE - CLIFFORD BROWN (JESS FRANCO) - 1973 - 87’
LES GLOUTONNES (LES EXPLOITS EROTIQUES DE MACISTE DANS L'ATLANTIDE)
Lundi 21 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
L'HORRIBLE DOCTEUR ORLOF - JESS FRANCO - 1961 - 86’
Jeudi 7 Décembre 2006 - 17h30 - SALLE JEAN EPSTEIN - VF - 35mm
Vendredi 20 Juin 2008 - 19h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VF - 35mm
LES INASSOUVIES - JESS FRANCO - 1969 - 81’
Jeudi 19 Juin 2008 - 21h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VF - 35mm
LES INFORTUNES DE LA VERTU - JESUS FRANCO (JESS FRANCO) - 1968 - 105’
Samedi 12 Juillet 2008 - 21h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
JACK L'EVENTREUR - JESUS FRANCO (JESS FRANCO) - 1976 - 95’
Vendredi 20 Juin 2008 - 21h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
LE JAGUAR - JESS FRANCO - 1963 - 90’
Mercredi 2 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
KILLER BARBYS VS. DRACULA - JESS FRANCO - 2002 - 90’
Vendredi 25 Juillet 2008 - 17h00 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - Vidéo
KISS ME MONSTER - JESS FRANCO - 1967 - 83’
Mercredi 16 Juillet 2008 - 19h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
LETTRES D'AMOUR D'UNE NONNE PORTUGAISE - JESS FRANCO - 1976 - 82’
Jeudi 26 Juin 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
LOS OJOS SINIESTROS DEL DR ORLOFF - JESS FRANCO - 1972 - 82’
Lundi 21 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
LES MAITRESSES DU DR. JEKYLL - JESS FRANCK (JESS FRANCO) - 1964 - 92’
Vendredi 27 Juin 2008 - 19h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
MARIQUITA, FILLE DDE TABARIN / LA BELLE DE TABARIN - JESS FRANCO - 1960 - 83’
MARIQUITA, FILLE DDE TABARIN (LA BELLE DE TABARIN)
Lundi 30 Juin 2008 - 19h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VF - 35mm
MIDNIGHT PARTY / LA PARTOUZE DE MINUIT - JESS FRANCO - 1976 - 75’
MIDNIGHT PARTY (LA PARTOUZE DE MINUIT)
Mercredi 16 Juillet 2008 - 21h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
LE MIROIR OBSCENE - JESS FRANCO - 1974 - 84’
Dimanche 20 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
NECRONOMICON - JESS FRANCO - 1967 - 84’
Mercredi 18 Juin 2008 - 20h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VASTF - 35mm
NEVROSE / LA CHUTE DE LA MAISON USHER - JESS FRANCO - 1983 - 92’
NEVROSE (LA CHUTE DE LA MAISON USHER)
Dimanche 22 Juin 2008 - 17h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VF - 35mm
LES NUITS BRULANTES DE LINDA / MAIS QUI DONC A VIOLE LINDA? - J.P. JOHNSON (JESS FRANCO) - 1973 - 70’
LES NUITS BRULANTES DE LINDA (MAIS QUI DONC A VIOLE LINDA?)
Lundi 28 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
LES NUITS DE DRACULA - JESS FRANCO - 1969 - 96’
Samedi 28 Juin 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
OPERATION LEVRES ROUGES - JESS FRANCO - 1960 - 96’
Dimanche 22 Juin 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
LE PENITENCIER DES FEMMES PERVERSES - JESS FRANCO - 1977 - 90’
Dimanche 29 Juin 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
PLAISIR A TROIS - CLIFFORD BROWN (JESS FRANCO) - 1974 - 76’
Mercredi 25 Juin 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - 35mm
LE PORTRAIT DE DORIANA GRAY - JESS FRANCO - 1976 - 76’
Jeudi 24 Juillet 2008 - 21h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
LES PREDATEURS DE LA NUIT - JESS FRANCO - 1988 - 99’
Samedi 12 Juillet 2008 - 17h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - 35mm
LES PUTAINS DE LA VILLE BASSE - WOLFGANG FRANK (JESS FRANCO) - 1975 - 83’
Mercredi 30 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
QUARTIER DE FEMMES - JESS FRANCO - 1972 - 91’
Dimanche 20 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
ROTE LIPPEN, SADISTEROTICA - JESS FRANCO - 1967 - 92’
Samedi 12 Juillet 2008 - 19h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
LE SADIQUE BARON VON KLAUS / LE SADIQUE - JESS FRANCO - 1962 - 95’
LE SADIQUE BARON VON KLAUS (LE SADIQUE)
Jeudi 26 Juin 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
LE SADIQUE DE NOTRE DAME - J.P. JOHNSON (JESS FRANCO) - 99’
Lundi 23 Juin 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
SHINING SEX / LA FILLE AU SEXE BRILLANT - DAN L. SIMON (JESS FRANCO) - 1975 - 92’
SHINING SEX (LA FILLE AU SEXE BRILLANT)
Lundi 28 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
SNAKEWOMAN - JESUS FRANCO (JESS FRANCO) - 2005 - 98’
Samedi 19 Juillet 2008 - 15h00 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
TENEMOS 18 ANOS - JESS FRANCO - 1959 - 91’
Mercredi 25 Juin 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - 35mm
LE TRONE DE FEU - FRANCO MANERA (JESS FRANCO) - 1969 - 95’
Jeudi 17 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VF - 35mm
VAMPIRE BLUES - JESS FRANCO - 1999 - 91’
Jeudi 31 Juillet 2008 - 19h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - Vidéo
Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans.
VAMPIRE JUNCTION - JESS FRANCO - 2001 - 94’
Jeudi 31 Juillet 2008 - 21h30 - SALLE GEORGES FRANJU - VOSTF - Vidéo
VAMPIROS LESBOS / SEXUALITE SPECIALE - FRANCO MANERA (JESS FRANCO) - 1971 - 89’
VAMPIROS LESBOS (SEXUALITE SPECIALE)
Samedi 21 Juin 2008 - 19h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 35mm
VENUS IN FURS - JESS FRANCO - 1969 - 87’
Samedi 21 Juin 2008 - 21h00 - SALLE HENRI LANGLOIS - VOSTF - 16mm




Here is the schedule from their site. Most of the titles will be projected in 35mm if all goes as planned. I'm especially interested in the run times for such titles as LA COMTESSE PERVERSE (72m; that would make it the shortest version, possibly Franco's original before Robert De Nesle forced him to add the comic framing scenes with Lina Romay and Caroline Riviere and some hardcore scenes; Alain Petit told me that this is the best version and a rarity, and 90m for EROTIC RITES OF FRANKENSTEIN, the longest listed run time of which I'm aware.) Hopefully, there will be some revelations here and it should be an interesting way to spend this coming June and July. See you in Paris!

IMAGE DVD: Franco's cut of Welles' DON QUIXOTE

From the IMAGE site:




Orson Welles' Don Quixote
ACTORS/ARTISTS: Francisco Reiguera, Akim Tamiroff
DIRECTOR(S): Orson Welles






SUB-GENRE: Drama
Year: 1992
Rating: Not Rated
CAT#: ID4150JQDVD
Country: Spain SRP: $24.98
Release Date: 08/19/08



LENGTH: 115 minutes
LANGUAGE: English
AUDIO FORMAT: Dolby Digital 1.0 L/R
DISCS: 1
FORMAT: DVD
ASPECT RATIO: 1.33:1

[It looks like Jess Franco's controversial version of Orson Welles' legendary unfinished project is finally going to get a US DVD presentation. No word on any extras but there has been some speculation on the wellesnet forum where I've been involved in a discussion about Franco and his involvement with Welles' CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (1965) and DON QUIXOTE. Some fans and most Welles scholars are very unhappy about what Franco did in post-production with the footage. But I think it's more good news than bad that it's getting a DVD release here. The footage Franco was given to work with was in very poor condition and I don't know if anything has been done to improve the results.]

John Phillip Law's Eurotrash Masterpiece...

John Phillip Law had a special talent for projecting a youthful masculinity with an other-worldly edge, especially in his roles as the blind angel in Vadim's BARBARELLA and the mysterious costumed fumetti super villain in Mario Bava's DIABOLIK. I remember first seeing him in THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING during its initial 1966 theatrical run when my parents took me to it because it seemed like a clean-cut comedy alternative to the horror movies I had been obsessively seeking out. Several years later I managed to catch BARBARELLA at the drive-in (definitely not a "family values" movie) and and he seemed to be sprinkled with superstar dust as he flew away with Jane Fonda. If he never achieved that status he was certainly what could probably be called a "cult" actor whose striking presence would front European genre films during the 70s and 80s in between supporting roles in mainstream US films.

I'm choosing to salute him on his passing last Tuesday with this brief appreciation and lurid video cover box for my favorite of his film performances, his out-of-the-park hit as the demented Van Gogh-obsessed painter Charles Saint-Simone in Sergio Bergonzelli's 1988 BLOOD DELIRIUM (DELIRIO SANGUE). This is a jaw dropping blending of LUST FOR LIFE, COLOR ME BLOOD RED with such value-added extras as necrophilia, human-flesh eating dogs, ghosts and Gordon Mitchell doing things you've never seen him do in his other European roles. Law is joyously over-the-top and you just can't keep from smiling while watching him let it rip as the mad artist who daubs human blood on his canvases with a lusty passion. He really seems to be enjoying himself in this classic of European Trash cinema. I wonder if he would want it to be remembered. But I remember it and how much I enjoyed him in it and always enjoyed his committed intensity in whatever film he happened to be in.

If you ever get a chance to catch BLOOD DELIRIUM (outside of grey market videos/DVD-Rs it has had a legit release on any US video format as far as I know, although there was a Greek video around) don't hesitate to indulge yourself. It's the kind of outre, under the radar Italian horror film which bobbed to the surface decades after it was made to the delight of connoisseurs of the truly bizarre.

I would also like to see another obscure JPL film, the 1977 Italian thriller L'OCCHIO DIETRO LA PARETE, which also doesn't seem to be out on US video. If anyone knows of any English language video versions available of this please note it in the comment area.

(c) Robert Monell, 2008

WANTED: ATTACK OF THE ROBOTS DVD!

The immortal Eddie Constantine in his signature role of Secret Agent Lemmy Caution pursues Anna Karina in Jean-Luc Godard's 1965 science fiction/noir/Eurospy classic, ALPHAVILLE. One of the templates for ATTACK OF THE ROBOTS...

Here's one of my archived reviews of Jess Franco's delightful 1966 Europsy spoof CARTES SUR TABLE, a French-Spanish co production featuring the legendary singer-actor Eddie Constantine. I've only seen it via a dub of a Video Yesteryear video (from an ancient, battered 16mm source) in its US English language export version, ATTACK OF THE ROBOTS. That version seems to be cut and the English language translation omits/obscures numerous Franco homages and in-jokes.



Here's hoping for a deluxe Eurospy double bill DVD of the two Eddie Constantine Eurospy adventures Franco made in 1966, CARTAS BOCCA ARRIBA and the more serious, sober RESEDENCIA PARA ESPIAS, in OAR, from good original elements and with multiple language track options.

(a.k.a. CARTAS BOCA ARRIBA; CARTES SUR TABLE; KARTEN AUF DEN TISCH; JAMES CLINT SFIDA INTERPOL)
Retired secret agent Al Pereria (Eddie Constantine) is called to action by his former employers to investigate the worldwide disappearance of people who share the Rhesus-0 blood type. One of the victims, musician Yves Barriel, is subsequently spotted on a beach in Alicante, Spain. Pereria arrives there as unsuspecting bait for the kidnappers, having been used by both his employers and Chinese agents as a means to infiltrate and destroy a secret group of politicians, scientists, and killers. Pereria learns these terrorists use an army of brainwashed assassins, controlled by radio signals via electronic receivers implanted in eyeglasses.
Pereria finds Barriel. A fight ensues and Al ends up with the glasses, which leads him to a seaside villa which is the headquarters of the scientist (Fernando Rey) who created the robots. Lady Cecilia Addington (Franciose Brion) attempts to seduce Al, but is killed by Rey. Then all hell breaks loose, as the robots turn on their creator as the Chinese attack the villa.



ATTACK OF THE ROBOTS is a Spanish-French co-production made by the same creative team responsible for THE DIABOLICIAL DR Z (1965). Both movies were given a tremendous boost by the imaginative screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere (who had worked for the great Luis Bunuel on many of his French productions). This perhaps explains the sarcastic French-style humor in ATTACK OF THE ROBOTS, which differentiates this from the more slapstick orientation of Franco's later Eurospy efforts (such as LUCKY THE INSCRUTABLE and KISS ME MONSTER). For instance, the opening assassination scenes include the murder of an ambassador and then a high church official, scenes that are staged with a slightly absurd, surreal touch which anticipates similar scenes found in future Carriere-Bunuel projects, THE MILKY WAY (1968) and THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE (1972).



ATTACK OF THE ROBOTS, though, is not an art house film in any sense of the term. It was Franco's attempt to establish himself as a commercial contender in the action-picture sweepstakes. The results are charmingly naive by today's standards, and the film was probably too dingy-looking (the low budget really shows) to make a dent in the international exploitation market, which was already glutted with spy movies.
Franco's producers apparently prevented him from making the action more sexy and violent, and the US ATTACK OF THE ROBOTS edits out some tame nudity. Also, the undistinguished black-and-white cinematography gives the film a flat, unappealing look (or it must may be the video of old 16mm print I've seen). Compare it to the bright, comic book-style frames of the eye-popping LUCKY THE INSCRUTABLE, filmed the following year.




Despite its flaws, ATTACK OF THE ROBOTS is one of the director's most consistently entertaining romps, due to the always droll Eddie Constantine, as well as above-average performances by Fernando Rey and Franciose Brion as the villains. They are enormously helpful in maintaining suspension of disbelief in light of the sometimes tacky sets and awkward action scenes. (Al's escape from Lee Wee's opium den is a typical, clumsily-filmed example. But it's a Jess Franco film and we expect confusion and technical mistakes, don't we.)


There are some neat science fiction sequences, briskly staged on obviously cut-rate but imaginative sets, involving the creation of the robots using a giant test tube thing charged with electricity. This device proves especially handy to our hero during the hecticly rendered final showdown. Jazz fans will find the big-band style score of Paul Misraki a warm bath of nostalgia.



RESENDENCIA PARA ESPIAS, another 1966 Eddie Constantine vehicle, which brought Franco to Istanbul for location shooting for the first, but not last, time, is also highly recommended. It's out on a watchable Spanish language DVD from DIVISA.

(c) Robert Monell, 1998-2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESS FRANCO!

The Way We Were: Forever Young in 1967...



Walking the lonely path as "El Sadico" in 1979...



Still at work in the 21st Century!




The mask...



The legendary smoker enjoying a cigarette...



With submarine friends in 1980...



The man in the mirror: as "the writer" in EXORCISM (1974)...



At Prayer in 1970...



What's he thinking?




The Professional...




Discoursing in the Golden Years....



As secret agent Tino Celli in 1970...



Interrogating Lina in 1977...


Many happy returns to Jess Franco on his birthday and may he have many more and give us many more of his special movies. After over 200 films, counting alternate versions, he's still in the midst of intensive production activities in his native Spain. Thanks for the memories, Jess. Here's a look at him and his films over the years...


(c) Robert Monell, 2008

Spanish DEMONIAC?

Have any of our Spanish or European blog readers acquired/seen this DVD? I'm curious about the exact content. Is this the 1974 EXORCISM/EXORCISME ET MESSE NOIRES* or the 1979 remix EL SADICO DE NOTRE DAME aka DEMONIAC (edited US variant, released by WIZARD VIDEO)? It could possibly be the hardcore variant, SEXORCIME (1975). This is not the Spanish Manga DVD, EL SADICO DE NOTRE DAME, which is the 1979 composite of EXORCISM with new scenes involving Jess Franco's character added. Or could this be yet another, unique cut?

Also any reports on technical specs/video/audio quality would be welcome. The artwork is rather fascinating and I've never seen any version packaged this way or under this title.

*Released on US DVD in 2001 by Synapse Films.

SHANGO/STEFFEN/FRANCO

A review with a vintage fotobusta for the 1969 Edoardo Mulargia Spaghetti Western SHANGO, LA PISTOLA INFALLIBILE is now up on CINEMADROME, just click on the link at the top of the sidebar at left and go to the most recent post on the 100 SELECT EUROWESTERNS folder.

Quiz Question: What did Jess Franco say in an interview about the prospect of directing Anthony Steffen in a Eurowestern? [Hint: He wasn't a Steffen fan]

DAS BILDNIS DER DORIANA GRAY (1976)

Enter a hushed parallel world of Sex and Death...


Strange shadows in empty rooms. A bleak mise-en-scene...


DAS BILDNIS DER DORIANA GRAY/DIE MARQUISE DE SADE/DIRTY DRACULA/EJACULATIONS:
SWITZERLAND/WG-1976, 76m.
I'm still looking for the non-hardcore version of this which Francesco Cesari says he has seen. I think this film would work a whole lot better without the distraction of the closeups mechanics of all that just as LA COMTESSE NOIRE (1973) works best without the hardcore footage, which really drags it out and down.

As with LA COMTESSE NOIRE Franco made this film as a hardcore female vampire film with the main character sucking the "essential liquids" from her victims and also as a version without the XXX action inserts. But I don't know of any version of DORIANA GRAY which has traditional vampire scenes of the main character sucking blood from her victims, as the EROTIKILL version of LA COMTESSE NOIRE has. This version was distributed by Force Video in the mid 1980s in the US and lasts just over 75 minutes and is cropped at 1.33:1, which takes much of its impact away.

Many critics have complained about the numerous out of focus shots and seeming technical "errors" in LA COMETESS..., like Lina Romay bumping into the camera lens during the credits sequence. But I find these moments part of the film's uniquely dreamlike quality. To paraphrase the late Henri Langlois, sometimes Franco's failings become his greatest strengths.


It opens with one of the most stunning images in Franco's extensive filmography and justs get better as it goes along. An almost dialogue-free film the impressionistic and low level sound mix is very appropriate to the theme. DORIANA GRAY tells the same story as LA COMTESSE NOIRE with the same characters but in a slightly different key. An lonely female vampire leading a life of quiet desperation in lavishly appointed isolation. Adding a Conradian "secret sharer" in Doriana's torment, her twin sister, separated at birth, who suffers hidden away in the clinic of Dr. Orloff. First seen in a mirror sing songing a macabre nursery rhyme Doriana's twin is one of Franco's most haunting creations, a pathetic creature, a sexually addicted victim of her predatory sister's erotic experiences. She thrashes about having the climaxes denied to Doriana, who telepathically, or somehow, transfers the orgasms to her imprisoned sister who is almost always seen either sexually stimulating herself in between Doriana's transmissions.

It's a world without love, only compulsive sexual behavior, frustration and screaming release for the sister. Punctuated by the cries of birds and set to the minimalist sitar score of Walter Baumgartner the film is clinical, remote and deeply disturbing. The reduced, but luminous, color scheme which lights the way to world of shadows is rigorously explored by Franco's drunken camera.

Designed in slate greys and eye popping pinks (Doriana's see-through robe), set within a castle perched above a jungle (Portugal, probably), much of the run time is taken up with Franco zooming in to study the architecture of the estate. The endless rains pour from the mouths of gargoyles onto the hard tile floors of the mansion while Doriana slowly walks through pillared patios and down long, mysterious hallways to her next deadly assignation. Like Irina Von Karlstein she dies in private bath evoking the last lines of T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land." It works as unique version of Wilde's THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, while evoking Ingmar Bergman's THE SILENCE and Kieslowski's THE DOUBLE LIFE OF VERONIQUE.

Having re watched the 2003 VIP DVD from producer Dietrich's ELITE FILMS, taken from original camera negs and superbly restored, I find it somewhat technically flawed with some motion glitches, unless there's been a replacement transfer since then.
The English language track grates due to distracting voice casting. I do wish for a new English subtitled NTSC disc which ideally would contain both the non-hardcore version as well as the XXX one.

1976 was a rather amazing years for Jess Franco in that he managed to turn out three of his best films, all in different genres (erotic vampire; nunsploitation; gore/true-crime thriller) and styles: DORIANA GRAY, LOVE LETTERS OF A PORTUGUESE NUN and JACK, THE RIPPER.

(c) Robert Monell, 2008