I highly recommend Mirek Lipinski's engaging, expertly written, smartly laid out and handsomely illustrated 'zine KRIMI CORNER. It's the only current US publication I am aware of which focuses exclusively on these German Edgar Wallace films which were very popular in Europe during the 1950s and 1960s. These are crime films with horror elements based on the works of Edgar Wallace and his son Bryan. They were mostly produced by the Rialto company and Artur Brauner's CCC. Jess Franco worked in this genre several times with Brauner's backing, lensing the THE DEVIL CAME FROM AKASAVA with Soledad Miranda (1970) and DER TODESRACHER VON SOHO (1971) based on Bryan Edgar Wallace stories. Franco himself has amusing cameos in both titles.
These German krimis, of course, strongly influenced the Italian gialli of the 1960's onward both in terms of style, casting and atmosphere, like Mario Bava's BLOOD AND BLACK LACE and Dario Argento's THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE (1970). In issue n. 1 Mirek explains the origins of the genre, profiles Edgar Wallace and provides a helpful checklist of Rialto produced krimis. There are also informed reviews of two krimis released by Retromedia on DVD. I'm hoping he'll take a look at the Jess Franco krimi titles and the related German DR MABUSE films in future issues. If you are a fan of these films or want to learn more about them this is a must have.
Checks, money orders and well-hidden cash should be sent to M. Lipinski, P.O. Box 2398, New York, NY 10009
BTW, if anyone has a copy of DER TODESRACHER VON SOHO/THE DEATH AVENGER OF SOHO/DEATH PACKS A SUITCASE they would be willing to make a trade for please contact me asap. Thanks...
BTW, if anyone has a copy of DER TODESRACHER VON SOHO/THE DEATH AVENGER OF SOHO/DEATH PACKS A SUITCASE they would be willing to make a trade for please contact me asap. Thanks...
(C) Robert Monell, 2007
