The Bounty Killer (1967)

- El precio de un hombre
One of Tomas Milian's best performances, 13 December 2009

As far as Euro-Westerns go, The Bounty Killer has about as straight forward a plot as you'll find. Jose Gomez (Tomas Milian) is a prisoner being moved by coach to a new facility to await his death. The citizens of his hometown see him as something of a hero and want to help him out. Gomez's would-be love interest Eden (Halina Zalewska) slips him a gun at one of the stage's stops. But is Gomez the same man the townsfolk remember? Or, as bounty hunter Luke Chilson (Richard Wyler) warns, has Gomez changed and no longer deserving of their admiration? The locals are about to find out as Gomez and his gang with the bounty hunter hot on his heels are headed straight for their sleepy little town.

It's not perfect by any means, but for fans of Euro-Westerns, there's a lot in The Bounty Killer to enjoy. First, and most obvious, is Tomas Milian. I don't know how many of these Westerns he made, but this was his first. And quite honestly, it may represent his best acting performance. The multi-dimensions and facets he's able to give his character, Jose Gomez, is nothing short of brilliant. Even though he's an escaped prisoner, Gomez is a character we initially root for. But slowly, he changes. Toward the end of the film, Milian has transformed Gomez into the kind of ruthless killer that a hangman's noose is too good for. And his final moments on screen, all I can say is "Wow!" It's an incredible performance. As for the rest of the cast, they're all more than adequate with the familiar face of Mario Brega, the beautiful face of Halina Zalewska, and the steady, unflinching face Richard Wyler as anti-hero Luke Chilson. It takes a while for Chilson to grow on you, but once he does it's easy to appreciate the character. In fact, it takes a while for all of The Bounty Killer to grow on you. The film starts out slow (very slow in fact), but be patient – the payoff is worth the wait. Looking back at the film, the pacing director Eugenio Martin gives to The Bounty Killer is one of the movie's assets – culminating with a final act that features plenty of fight scenes, shoot outs, and various other killings. Not as graphic as some of the later Euro-Westerns, there's enough violence to keep most everyone happy. The Spanish country side is beautifully filmed and provides just the gorgeous dusty setting I've come to look forward to in these films. Finally, Stelvio Cipriani's score, though often repetitive, is rousing and memorable. Overall, it's a job well done.

8/10

The Great Diamond Robbery (1967)

- Colpo maestro al servizio di Sua Maestà britannica
This movie defines "undiscovered gem", 20 August 2009

I watched The Great Diamond Robbery last night and don't think I could have enjoyed it much more than I did. What a wonderfully entertaining, relatively unknown gem of a movie! I call it unknown because I can't find much at all on the internet on the film. In fact, even though my copy (and apparently several others who have seen the film) goes by the name The Great Diamond Robbery, you won't find that name listed on IMDb. Instead, you'll find it listed under either the name Colpo maestro al servizio di Sua Maestà Britannica or Master Stroke (to those of us more fluent in English). Whatever you call it, it's one very fun heist-type film that deserves a much wider audience.

As for the plot . . . well, I can't really go into the plot very much without giving away the movie's many surprises. Very briefly, Richard Harrison (in one of the most ironic roles ever) plays an actor in Spaghetti Westerns who is one day approached by a group of men offering him an acting job. He agrees to listen and discovers that this is no ordinary role. It seems that the actor bears a remarkable resemblance to Arthur Land, a top executive at the diamond exchange. These men want him to pose as Lang and help them steal a fortune in diamonds. I'll stop my plot description here as anymore would be too much. I'll just add that The Great Diamond Robbery features one of the most clever plots imaginable. There are more twists and turns, more red herrings, and more slight of hand than you'll see in a dozen other movies combined. Every time you think you've got things figured out, the plot throws you another curve. It's really an amazing piece of writing.

Beyond the plot, the cast is another big highlight. Richard Harrison was never better. I've seen him in Spaghetti Westerns, peplums, and other genre films, but I don't remember enjoying a performance from him as much as this one. Harrison is joined by a wonderful cast that includes genre regulars Adolfo Celi and Margaret Lee. Both are also excellent in their roles. Most of the rest of the cast, with the notable exception of Luciano Pigozzi, weren't as familiar to me, but all were very good. I have no complaints with the acting in The Great Diamond Robbery.

I could keep going and going with the superlatives. Solid direction from Michele Lupo, excellent locations and sets, real tension and suspense, terrific cinematography, and wonderful pacing – everything about The Great Diamond Robbery is perfect. One final highlight is the music. Francesco De Masi's score fits the film perfectly. The main theme is one of those pieces of music that will be in your head long after the film is over. I'd actually like to track down a copy – it's that good.

Overall, The Great Diamond Robbery (or Master Stroke or Colpo maestro al servizio di Sua Maestà Britannica) is one of those movies I always love to discover. I'm so glad I had the chance to watch it. I know it's wishful thinking, but I would love to see a good, legit R1 release. I'd snap it up in a heartbeat.

9/10

Operation Double 007 (1967)

Entertaining Euro-spy thriller with James Bond's little brother, 12 June 2009

If you're a fan of the Euro-spy movies made in the 60s, how can you not just love Operation Double 007? Using the success of James Bond as a model, those crazy Italians certainly made some crazy spy movies. This one stars Sean Connery's brother, Neil Connery (who plays a character cleverly named Neil Connery) as a plastic surgeon / hypnotist / lip reader. With tongue firmly in cheek, we also learn that Neil is the brother of a famous spy and, as his brother is unavailable, the government wants Neil to stand in and give them a hand. Before you can say Dr. No, Neil's up to his neck in beautiful women, a super-villain with a nuclear device, the obligatory henchmen, archers on horse back, gun fights, car chases, blind Arab rug-weavers, can-can dancers, explosions, underground lairs, and a Japanese woman kidnapped by the world's most vicious nun/nurse. Don't worry, it all makes sense in the end (well, sort of anyway). Besides, if there's a loose end here or there, who cares when you're having this much fun.

Joining Connery in the cast is a plethora of Bond vets including Daniela Bianchi, Adolfo Celi, Bernard Lee, and Lois Maxwell. It's a real treat to see them all in a different setting. In particular, it's great to see Lois Maxwell out from behind that desk she always sat at in the Bond movies. Here, she's not only gets out in the field, but she gets the chance to mow down baddies with a machine gun as well. Celi, always the bad guy in a movie like this, looks like he's having the time of his life. There's at least one scene where it's not hard to notice a small smile come to his face and you've got to wonder how close he came to losing it. But as much as I enjoyed both of these fine actors, I was particularly impressed with the work of Daniela Bianchi from From Russia with Love fame. In Operation Double 007, she gets to play both the good and bad girl, wear some over-the-top outfits, and look generally fabulous. It's a shame she didn't go on to do more after this movie. She had a definite screen presence about her.

There are some out there who want to label Operation Double 007 a "James Bond rip-off". It's not a rip-off, it's a parody – and a good one at that. Operation Double 007 was released the same year as the more famous Bond parody Casino Royale. The big difference is that Casino Royale is one big, bloated mess of a movie that's rarely funny. Operation Double 007, on the other hand, is a blast. In fact, and this may be blasphemous to some, but it's more fun than about half of the Bond movies. It's too bad it's never had a proper R1 DVD release so that more people might discover this movie. The only way I've seen the movie is courtesy of a DVD-R of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode on which it appeared. It's a great episode, but I would love to see a good release without the bots and their comments.

7/10

Battle Beneath the Earth (1967)

These guys are supposed to be Chinese?, 2 August 2008

It'll never be on my "favorites" list, but Battle Beneath the Earth is not a half bad way to waste away an hour and a half or so. The movie is beyond silly, but that's what makes it fun and entertaining. The plot involves a Chinese General named Chan Lu (Martin Benson) who has a plan to destroy the United States from below. Using his boring machine, he and his renegade army have dug several large tunnels below the North American continent that they plan to use to launch a nuclear attack. Armed with his own borer, Cmdr. Jonathan Shaw (Kerwin Mathews) leads an American expeditionary force to investigate and stop General Lu in his tracks.

Everything about this movie is utterly ridiculous. The plot, acting, and special effects are all ridiculous. The movie seems to have been made on a budget less than what a grande Starbucks might cost. I swear I saw our heroes go past the same stack of crates about a half a dozen times in their escape from the tunnels. And whose idea was it to use so many non-Asians in all the primary Chinese roles? These people look about as Asian as I do (which is not at all). Finally, the whole thing is shot in a style reminiscent of the 60s Batman television show with overly bright primary colors, poor and fake looking props, and weak staging in the action sequences. Still, it's all these factors that make the movie a blast. It might not work for everyone, but I enjoyed Battle Beneath the Earth. A 6/10 seems about right.

6/10

The Million Eyes of Sumuru (1967)

What a groovy movie!, 10 February 2008

Sumuru (Shirley Eaton) is a woman bent on world domination. Her plan is to have her army of women get close the world's most powerful men, kill them, and assume their power. But standing in her way are two secret agents – Agents Tommy Carter (Frankie Avalon) and Nick West (George Nader). They convince a couple of Sumuru's followers to come over to their side before leading a raid on her island. But will they get Sumuru?

The Million Eyes of Sumuru is just quirky enough for me to really enjoy it. It's the kind of movie you can't take seriously – you have to go with it. I just love these 60s spy-type movies with their armies of scantily clad women, secret island liars, and groovy secret agents. What an awesome time it was! And, the fact that The Million Eyes of Sumuru was shot in China with a cast that includes Eaton, Avalon, Klaus Kinski, Maria Rohm, and Wilfrid Hyde-White (of all people) only adds to the already bizarre feel of the movie. Movies like this may not be for everyone (just take a look at the IMDb rating), but for me their just too much fun.

I would love to see a cleaned-up, legitimate, Region 1 release of The Million Eyes of Sumuru. I'm convinced I would have rated the film higher than a 6/10 had I not been watching the MST3K version of the movie recorded off of Minneapolis public access television in the late 1980s. The Million Eyes of Sumuru deserves better than that.

6/10

Danger!! Death Ray (1967)

- Il raggio infernale
Bart Fargo!, 4 November 2007

Oh, those Italians and their James Bond rip-offs! While they sometimes have a bit of charm or interest to them, usually they're dull and lifeless. That's certainly the case with Danger! Death Ray. The muddled plot centers on a group of baddies kidnapping a scientist who has developed a "death ray". It's up to secret agent Bart Fargo to rescue the scientist, bust-up the group of bad guys, and, presumably, save mankind.

The problem with most of the James Bond rip-offs is a lack of money. The locations and sets in Danger! Death Ray cannot compete with the extravagant places visited by James Bond. You need money to film in those locations. The special effects are laughable. The submarine and helicopter scene was obviously filmed in a bathtub. Again, you need money for special effects. Add to that an incoherent plot, bad acting, poor dubbing, unimaginative cinematography, and uninteresting characters and you've got one bad movie. Finally, what kind of name is Bart Fargo! You can't take someone with a name like Bart Fargo very seriously. Say the name five times and see what happens.

I should point out that it's not all terrible. Danger! Death Ray does feature quite a snappy musical score. Even though it was endlessly repeated throughout the movie, the title theme is pure 60s fun. And, despite the film's many flaws, it's still a reasonably entertaining experience. And as I continually repeat, isn't entertainment what it's all about? A very enthusiastic 5/10.

5/10

Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1967)

Deathly Dull, 2 October 2007

Two country singers and their manager are on their way to Nashville when they decide to find a place to stop and spend the night. They find a deserted mansion that seems to nicely fit the bill. But this mansion may be haunted. And if it's not, it certainly is the hideout of a group of baddies up to no good. Will the country crooners make through the night to live their dreams in Music City?

What do you get when you mix a supposed haunted house, loads of country music, aging horror icons, and some ridiculous attempts at humor? In the case of Hillbillys in a Haunted House, you get this mess of a movie. To begin with, the "haunted house" is about as threatening looking as my neighbor's house. And by the time the spooks show up, who cares? I know I had lost interest long before any ghost made an appearance. And could the country music be any more dull? If I weren't already a non-fan of country music, I certainly would be after watching this movie. As I watched, I really felt sorry for Carradine, Chaney, and especially Rathbone. To have to appear in a disaster like this. If it weren't for Joi Lansing, I would have turned Hillbillys in a Haunted House off about halfway through. It's that bad!

1/10

Mars Needs Women (1967) (TV)

What Mars really needs is something more exciting than this!, 23 August 2007

The message coming from space is clear – Mars Needs Women! A genetic malfunction has lead to a shortage of Martian women capable of producing offspring. An exploratory force is sent to Earth to collect a few suitable specimens to be used in reproductive experiments on Mars. The Martian scheme is going as planned until the Martian leader named Dop begins to fall for an Earth woman. His infatuation with the woman puts the entire Martian plan in question.

Those crazy days of political incorrectness that were the 60s. It was a time when a movie about the abduction and rape of a group of women could be considered "family" entertainment. It was a time when a doctor specializing in space medicine was known first and foremost as a "stunning brunette". She even insists on calling herself a "pretty girl with a PhD". It certainly was a very different age.

For a movie that stars Tommy Kirk and Yvonne Craig, I was expecting something along the lines of an intergalactic beach movie. I expected something light-hearted and fun. Mars Needs Women couldn't be much further from fun if it tried. It's too serious for its own good. So instead of fun, the movie dishes up a heaping helping of boredom. The whole concept behind the movie is too silly to attempt to play it this straight. Everyone involved needed to lighten up. Had they done so, Mars Needs Women might not have been so terribly dull – and bad.

3/10

The Deadly Bees (1967)

I always think of bees when I'm looking for relaxation, 29 May 2007

Vicki Robbins (Suzanna Leigh) is a singer in bad need of a rest. Her doctor contacts his friend, Ralph Hargrove (Guy Doleman), with a farm on a remote island that promises to provide Vicki the relaxation she desperately needs. When Vicki arrives, she discovers that Mr. Hargrove raises bees. So when Mr. Hargrove starts acting suspiciously and people begin dying from deadly bee attacks, it's natural for Vicki to suspect her host. But is Mr. Hargrove behind the trouble on Seagull Island?

Given the names behind The Deadly Bees, it's understandable to hope, if not expect, something better than this. Even with Amicus Productions, Freddie Francis, and Robert Bloch involved with the movie, there are far too many problems to call The Deadly Bees "good". Three prime examples of the movie's many faults include:

- Special/Visual Effects – Most people tend to focus on the bee attacks when discussing the effects found in The Deadly Bees. And with good reason – they're bad. But the bee effects practically shine in comparison with the matte painting used as the background for the farm. In a word, it's pitiful. It wouldn't fool anyone.

- Characters – None of the characters involved with the plot are in any way likable. Even the films heroine, Vicki Robbins, hasn't got much going for her. And that makes it almost impossible to root for her or care what happens to her when she comes across as so unlikable.

- Plot – For a movie that throws one red herring after another at the audience, it's too easy to see the outcome of The Deadly Bees from a mile away. None of the many plot twists actually work. Only the incredibly dimwitted characters in the movie like Vicki Robbins would find the outcome mysterious in anyway.

There are more. I haven't even mentioned the unforgivably large plot holes or the ridiculous lapses in logic. But regardless of The Deadly Bees myriad of problems, I can't bring myself to rate the movie any lower than 6/10. Why? Despite itself, The Deadly Bees never fails to provide me with some degree of entertainment. Otherwise, how can I explain why I've now seen the movie at least three times? And, as I've always said, entertainment is the most important thing when it comes to movies and the reason I watch them.

6/10

Tony Rome (1967)

"We can't claim to be the town virgins and can't afford to be the town tramps.", 16 April 2007

Frank Sinatra does his best to bring the tough talking, hard drinking, womanizing detectives of the 1940s into the 1960s. Sinatra plays detective Tony Rome much like I would image Bogart would have had he been alive. Sinatra doesn't do much of anything that Bogart wasn't doing when he played either Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade. In fact, beyond the characters, there are other similarities. Much as Bogart had his falcon, Rome has his diamond stickpin. And just as Bogart was forever carrying Carmen Sternwood home after one too many, Rome seems to be always at hand to make sure the Kosterman daughter gets home safely. In a way, it's this familiarity that makes me enjoy Tony Rome more than I probably should. Realistically, I've probably overrated the movie. You're not going to find anything award worthy here and Sinatra is doing little more than playing Sinatra. But it is fun and I always have a good time watching it. The mystery surrounding the stickpin keeps my attention even after having seen the movie three times. And what more can you really ask of a movie. Other highlights for me beyond the plot include some really cool scenes of Miami in the 60s and Jill St. John in a bikini.

7/10

Creature with the Blue Hand (1967)

- Die blaue Hand
Very enjoyable krimi, 13 August 2006

I'm still relatively new to these krimis, but I rate Creature with the Blue Hand as one of the best I've seen so far. It's the story of man named Dave Emerson (Klaus Kinski) who has been committed to an asylum for murdering his family's gardener. Dave escapes and makes his way home (which is conveniently located a stones throw from the asylum) and attempts to convince anyone who will listen that he's innocent. But it's difficult for his family and Scotland Yard to believe Dave as the bodies begin to pile-up?

There's certainly plenty to enjoy in Creature with the Blue Hand – a crazy twin brother, a devilishly sinister medieval glove with retractable spikes, secret passageways, a mad doctor, and enough suspense to keep most fans happy. Creature with the Blue Hand is successful in creating that one ingredient necessary for a film of this type – atmosphere. The film has a nice pace to it and never seems to drag. The acting is hit or miss at best. Kinski gives a nice, restrained performance. The sets are amazing and far exceed the film's obviously limited budget. Even though the film is set in modern times, the sets would have been perfect for a period piece.

The DVD I watched also features an American cut of the film, re-titled The Bloody Dead. This version contains 15 or so minutes of added gore scenes filmed some 20 years after the original movie was made. I haven't watched it yet and, based on everything I've read, I probably never will.

7/10

Wild Rebels (1967)

"That square bugs me! HE REALLY BUGS MEEEE!", 21 July 2006

If you decide to watch Wild Rebels, don't expect anything deep and meaningful. If you're looking for a film that explores the relationships and structure of a motorcycle gang, Wild Rebels is the wrong movie. If you're looking for an expose on the breakdown of the American educational system and the problem of juvenile delinquency, Wild Rebels is the wrong movie. If you're looking for a movie that examines how undermanned rural police departments are when facing a well-financed, well-organized gang, Wild Rebels is the wrong movie. But if you're looking for an absurd movie filled with scene after scene of unintentional humor, horrendous acting, a paper-thin plot, and community theater style production values, Wild Rebels is the right movie.

Wild Rebels is the story of a down-on-his-luck stock-car driver named Rod Tillman (Steve Alaimo). After a fiery crash (which Rod walks away from completely unscathed despite having only a cotton pants and a London Fog style jacket for protection), Rod decides to give it up. With no plan for his future other than to wander aimless through the back-roads of the South, he stumbles on the Satan's Angels motorcycle gang (a gang being three of the stupidest guys to ever zip up a leather jacket and a woman they seem to share). This group of hoodlums spends their time terrorizing a rural town in Florida by committing such atrocities as stealing a newspaper from a neighbor's mailbox. These bumbling idiots need someone to act as their driver during some larger crimes they have planned. Apparently, these three Einsteins can only drive vehicles with two tires, not four. So they recruit Rod to perform feats of daring that only an experienced stunt driver would be capable of like keeping the car in the middle of a gravel road during a low-speed chase. Eventually, they hold-up a bank, get into the aforementioned low-speed chase, and have the lamest gun battle with the police ever put on film. I could go on forever, but you get the idea.

I hate the term "so bad it's good", but that seems to aptly describe Wild Rebels.

5/10

Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)

The Bride of Hammer's Frankenstein, 19 May 2006

This entry in Hammer's Frankenstein series finds Baron Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) continuing his experiments with the help of Dr. Hertz and his servant, Hans. The Baron is working on capturing a soul and placing it in another body. When Hans is accused of killing his girlfriend's father and put to death, the Baron has the chance to put part of his theories to the test by capturing Hans' soul. As chance would have it, Hans' girlfriend, Christina, commits suicide providing Baron Frankenstein a body for Hans' soul. While it seems the Baron has finally succeeded, his new creation, a combination of the wrongly accused Hans and grief-stricken Christina, is actually plotting and carrying out a series of revenge killings against those responsible for her father's death.

The differences between Frankenstein Created Woman and the other entries in the series should be quite obvious to anyone familiar with Hammer. The most obvious is the Baron's creation. Unlike the other films where Baron Frankenstein succeeds in creating a monster, here he has created a being capable of moving undetected throughout society. She's a beautiful woman adept at using her charms to help her ensnare her would be victims. She's bright, cunning, and deadly. It's quite the lethal combination.

Peter Cushing was never better. Cushing is such a pleasure to watch in most anything he did. He's a whirlwind of energy and never dull. In Frankenstein Created Woman, he's given more of an opportunity to show the human side of the Baron. He's allowed to actually be funny and show a sympathetic nature toward his creation. Yet he's completely focused and believable in the pursuit of his goals. Some of my favorite moments in the film involve the Baron's quips directed toward the rather addle minded Dr. Hertz. Thorley Walters couldn't be better as Dr. Hertz. He makes a perfect target for Frankenstein's barbs. The pair are a lot of fun to watch. Susan Denberg is more than adequate as the Baron's creation. It's a shame that she appears to have "burned out" so early in her career. She may not have been the greatest actress of all time, but I would have enjoyed the opportunity to see her in other films.

7/10

This Man Can't Die (1967)

- I lunghi giorni dell'odio
Lackluster SW, 5 January 2006

As far as Spaghetti Westerns go, I'd put This Man Can't Die on the dull side of the genre. It's not that the movie is particularly bad, but it lacks the brilliance and flash of some of the other SWs I've seen. Guy Madison does his best in the lead role, but lacks the on-screen charisma necessary to pull it off. With one notable exception, the rest of the cast isn't particularly good. The direction is uninspired and offers very few moments that I haven't seen before. There's just not much to get very excited about.

The cast exception I mentioned is Rosalba Neri. She's the one bright spot in this otherwise mediocre film. Unfortunately, her screen time is limited to less than 15 minutes. (Note: The IMDb page for This Man Can't Die is wrong. Rosalba Neri does not play Jenny Benson. Instead, she is the character Melin. I'm not sure how anyone could mistake Rosalba Neri for some guy named John Bartha as listed in IMDb's credits for the movie.)

4/10

The Ambushers (1967)

"What's the matter with a broad in the daylight?", 10 December 2005

This is not an exact quote, but I read somewhere on the internet that Dean Martin's portrayal of Matt Helm could make Perry Como look hyper. The Ambushers is a great example of this. Martin literally sleepwalks his way through this one. He's in very little hurry to get anywhere other than to the nearest bar. And, if you look close, you'll notice that Martin used a stunt double for even the most routine of actions. I suppose that if the activity involved anything more strenuous than lifting a glass of scotch, Dino wasn't up for it.

Even though I had a decent enough time watching The Ambushers, I can't rate it any higher because of some of the ridiculousness of the plot. A flying saucer? I'm sorry but I'm not buying it. And where did the writers dream up the idea that a man couldn't fly the thing because the electro-magnetism (or some such nonsense) was deadly to males? I realize that the Matt Helm movies are based in what is essentially an alternate reality, but come on. The implausibility of the whole thing really took away from my enjoyment.

The highlight of the movie for me had to be Senta Berger. Wow, what a woman! Some of the outfits she wears throughout The Ambushers (and really those worn by most of the female cast members) are just too much.

5/10

The College Girl Murders (1967)

- Der Mönch mit der Peitsche
Funky 60s Killer, 4 September 2005

There's a lot going on in The College Girl Murders. A mad scientist creates an almost undetectable poisonous gas. Before he can reap the rewards of his discovery, the scientist is killed by a hooded, whip-welding monk. After a co-ed is killed in a church by the gas, Scotland Yard is called in to investigate, but the killing continues. Who can stop this mad killer who seems to be able to come and go as he pleases in and out of the college?

What Works:

- The Killer. What's not to like about a killer who sneaks around wearing a vivid red KKK looking outfit, complete with red gloves. The white whip he carries and uses very effectively stands out nicely against the bright red gown. Although the idea of a killer in a flaming red, pointy-head outfit sneaking around a girl's school is fairly far-fetched, it's one of the more sinister looking costumes I've seen.

- Groovy 60s Music. I really would like to track down the title music to The College Girl Murders. It's got a jazzy, hip, 60s feel to it that I just loved.

- Bizarre Touches. Beyond the killer's red gown and hood, the movie features a sliding fireplace, a pit of alligators with a cage handing overhead, poison spraying bibles, a strategically placed mannequin, mini-skirts, go-go boots, and mile high hair. I would describe it as a cross between the 60s Batman TV show and an Italian giallo. The College Girl Murders is a real treat for the eye.

- The End. Let's just say that there are more twists than a mountain road. Just when you think the killer has been uncovered, here comes a twist…..and another….and another…and another.

What Doesn't Work:

- Chief Inspector Sir John. I know the guy was meant to be comic relief, but his buffoonish character has way too much screen time.

- Why Have Alligators? Previously, I mentioned the alligators in the pit. And while they are a nice touch, they serve very little purpose. Why go through all the trouble and not use them?

- Plodding Plot. Some of The College Girl Murders has no flow or rhythm to it. There are far too many moments throughout the movie when things come inexplicably to a screeching halt. Better pacing would have made this a much more enjoyable movie.

I haven't seen many of these German krimis but of the few I have seen (Phantom of Soho, Strangler of Blackmoor Castle, Dead Eyes of London) this may be my favorite. This one has a real funky feel to it that I really go into. Had the plot flowed a little better, I could have easily given The College Girl Murders a 7/10.

7/10

Waterhole #3 (1967)

Nice cast, but flawed movie, 14 August 2005

The plot in Waterhole #3 seems lifted straight from one of Leone's Spaghetti Westerns - a group of people search for stolen Army gold. Finding the gold doesn't prove to be too difficult. But hanging onto it certainly does.

Other than one major flaw, Waterhole #3 is a reasonably entertaining comedy/Western that's sometimes very funny and sometimes...well...a Western. While the story may not be very originally, most of the cast does does an excellent job. James Coburn and Carroll O'Connor work well together. I've become quite the fan of Coburn and in Waterhole #3, he doesn't disappoint. Although he appears to basically be playing himself, he's entertaining enough to watch. In contrast, O'Connor has never been a favorite of mine, but his "bad" sheriff routine really works.

The one major flaw I mentioned, however, kept me from completely enjoying Waterhole #3 and giving it a better rating. The flaw concerns the treatment of the sheriff's daughter who is basically raped by Coburn. I'm no prude, but there's just no place for this in a light-hearted comedy. And the fact that the her father, the sheriff, does nothing about it and even makes jokes with Coburn over what happened is out of place and out of line. A little sexual innuendo, a peck on the cheek, or Coburn making a pass at the daughter might have worked much better, but rape takes it way too far.

6/10

Hellbenders (1967)

- I crudeli
Another winner from Corbucci, 9 July 2005

Joseph Cotten is an ex-Confederate soldier who would like to see the South rise again. To finance such a venture, he and his three sons rob a Union convoy carrying $1 million. The money is placed in a coffin and disguised as the dead husband of Cotten's "daughter" - really just a woman he has hired to play the part of a widow in case they get stopped. The group will have to evade not only the Union Army, but also Mexican bandits, revenge minded Indians, a posse, and each other if they are to get home with the money.

After having seen Hellbenders, I'm convinced now more than ever that if it weren't for Sergio Leone, Sergio Corbucci would be the recognized master of the Spaghetti Western. Hellbenders fits nicely beside Corbucci's other genre masterpieces. It may not be as over-the-top as Django or as beautiful as The Great Silence, but in it's own unique way, it's almost as good. Hellbenders takes it's own sweet time telling its story, and that's a good thing. You really get to know the characters and develop feelings for them. The acting, whether it's the crazed brother Jeff (Gino Pernice), the sympathetic Claire (Norma Bengell), or the always entertaining Cotten, is as good as you'll see in this kind of movie. The ending is marvelous. It's got to be one of the most satisfying twist endings I've seen in a SW.

For those familiar with SWs, all I really need to say about the score is that it was composed by Ennio Morricone. That should be enough. The main theme is a trumpet-dominated mournful piece that grows in meaning throughout the film.

8/10

Deadlier Than the Male (1967)

Entertaining, 9 July 2005

Richard Johnson (of The Haunting fame) is Bulldog Drummond, a insurance investigator trying to uncover what happened to one of the planes his company had written a policy on. It's not long before anyone with information for him turns up dead. And most of the deaths "appear" to be accidents. Before you can say "Shaken, Not Stirred", Drummond is up to his neck in hired killers and a mad genius.

Deadlier Than the Male has a lot to enjoy. The 60s feel, Johnson's Drummond, Nigel Green, terrific locations, and the implausible yet wonderful gadgets and traps are all a delight. But my absolute favorite moments are those between the two hired henchmen (or should that be henchwomen or maybe even henchpersons) played by Elke Sommer and Sylva Koscina. There constant spats and barbed remarks are a riot.

There are a lot of bad Bond wannabes out there, this is one of the good ones.

8/10

Desert Commandos (1967)

- Attentato ai tre grandi
A different kind of war movie, 24 February 2005

Five Nazi commandos parachute into the Sahara and must make their way to Casablanca. Their mission: the assassination of Roosevelt, Chruchill, and Stalin. Along the way, the five face not only possible discovery by the British and American troops, but (as they are dressed as British soldiers) they also face the real possibility of being killed by German troops.

Before watching Desert Commandos, I had only seen some of Lenzi's thrillers - Seven Blood Stained Orchids being my favorite. Lenzi has always impressed me as a good story teller. Of his movies I've seen, all tend to use a straight ahead narrative style. Unlike many of his Italian peers who are criticized for being all style and no substance, I don't find that to be the case with Lenzi.

I enjoyed seeing a WWII drama told from such a different perspective. Because Lenzi presents the Nazi soldiers as normal guys who just happen to be fighting for the other side, it's easy to identify with their concerns and fears. The Nazis in Desert Commandos are more than the stern, no emotion robots as presented in most American war movies. As impossible as it seems, I actually found myself wanting to see these guys succeed. It makes for a very nice change of pace.

My biggest problem with the movie is the pacing during the first half. Almost all of the scenes consist of the soldiers stumbling through the desert. A little more action like run-ins with British or German soldiers might have made for a much better movie. But, once the commandos get near Casablanca, things pick up. The ending is really fantastic.

The copy of Desert Commandos I saw came on one of those double feature (with something called Ransom Money) $1 DVDs. While the transfer wasn't pristine, it's not bad for $1. The transfer, however, was Pan and Scan. A lot of information was cut from the sides of all of the scenes. For example, if you just looked at the title page before the movie starts, you would think you were watching a movie called Desert ommando. The "C" and "s" were completely cut off the screen.

6/10