ELISA MONTES/LA ISLA DE LA MUERTE/MEL WELLES/JESS FRANCO

One of my favorite European genre actresses of the 1960s was Elisa Montes, seen above in Mel Welles' delirious European Trash Cinema vampire tree opus, LA ISLA DE LA MUERTE (1967). The spectacular cast includes the great Cameron Mitchell (BLOOD AND BLACK LACE) as master gardener Baron Von Weser and such Jess Franco alumni as Ricardo Valle (Morpho in GRITOS EN LA NOCHE) and Mike [Miquel] Brendell (EL LLANERO, DEATH WHISTLES THE BLUES). Ms Montes also appeared in Franco's 99 MUJERES, THE GIRL FROM RIO (both 1969) and DER TODESRACHER VON SOHO (1972). She's always quite charming, sensual and seemingly full of barely repressed emotions. Ms. Montes was also in several sword and sandal films in the mid 60s as well as such Spaghetti Westerns as TEXAS ADIOS (1966).

I've only been able to see a hideous, blurry color faded cropped 1.33:1 version of this Techniscope production (shot by the great Cecilio Paniagua (LISA AND THE DEVIL). I get the feeling that it's much more impressive when seen in proper format via a decent print. The vampire tree, with its drolling sprouts and thirsty, searching vines unleashes a memorable torrent of blood in the last scene, a virtual crimson rain. I would like to know if anyone has seen or owns a decent, 2.35:1 print of this film. 

I got to briefly connect with the late Mel Welles (1924-2005) via email just before he died and thanked him for his highly amusing, indelible portrayal of the flower shop owner Gravis Mushnik in Roger Corman's THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS  (1960), which also revolved around a flesh eating plant! His performance in that B-classic was one of the delights of my youth.