Some exteriors of this key Jess Franco title were filmed in West Berlin.
Martin Luther hospital is where Jess Franco's character comes to visit the dying Eugénie after viewing the snuff film reel in the opening scene. Letters on the facade have remained unchanged since the 1970s.
The hospital interiors were in typical Franco fashion represented by a rather anonymous hotel room.
The
spot where Albert Radeck criticises humanity's unwillingness to 'face a
dismal future' (as per the English-dubbed version ) doesn't exist anymore. The scene was filmed on an elevated bridge which has since been demolished. This memorable location can also be seen in the Fanco's earlier film Succubus/Necronomicon.
'Haus der Nationen' shopping centre in Berlin's Kurfürstendamm as seen in a 1960s photo. This is where the murderous Radecks (Paul Müller and Soledad Miranda) go window-shopping when they run into the nosy Attila Tanner, played by Jess Franco)
Access to this
terrace of the 'Haus der Nationen' shopping centre is blocked by an iron
gate now. Presumably in the past the terraces were open to visitors who
could stroll around past the shop display windows and enjoy the views of
the Church of Remembrance and the Kurfürstendamm. This level of the
shopping centre now houses a fitness club.
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche (Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church) as seen numerous times in the film.
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche today
Exact whereabouts of the Radeck residence (both exterior and interior) remain a mystery. According to some sources it's located on the outskirts of Berlin, while others maintain it used to be producer Robert de Nesle's property and is therefore to be found in France.
A favorite Franco film. Please consider compiling a tourist guidebook -- Madeira, Lesour's mill and these locations (fitness center notwithstanding perhaps)-- I want to make the tour someday! Gracias.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see your location reports continuing here. While the essays on Madeira and Lesoeur's mill lit the travel bug in me, I'm actually glad that Radeck's winter home is still undiscovered, preserving some Franco mystery for a while longer.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alex for the fascinating pictorial report. Great work!
ReplyDeleteIn his Eurociné documentary Christophe Bier reveals that at least some of Radeck's home interiors were shot at Lesoeur’s holiday villa outside Paris:
ReplyDeletewww.unpoppedcinema.blogspot.com/2014/07/eurocine-33-champs-elysees.html