Mad Dog Coll (1961)iMDB Rating: 5.3 Date Released : 26 October 1961 Genre : Biography, Crime, Drama Stars : John Davis Chandler, Kay Doubleday, Brooke Hayward, Neil Nephew. Story of Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll, a notorious gangland killer in the 1930s." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Young neighborhood hoodlum Viccent Coll is attracted to music student Elizabeth. Their paths cross several times as the tries to climb to the top of the reckets on the bodies of his murder victims. Because of the pleasure he takes in killing, everybody but his mob and his moll, ex-stripper Clio, calls him "Mad Dog." He is hunted by both the police and gang leader Dutch Schultz on whom he has declared war.
Watch Mad Dog Coll Trailer :
Review :
i thought it was a good movie
I see no reason for whining about being inaccurate. Has anyone seen a movie lately that was accurate? For that matter has anyone seen a news broadcast that is accurate? I found this inaccurate movie very entertaining. I only gave it a 7 because i saw the movie many years ago and maybe it wasn't quite as good as i thought it was then. probably not, but i did switch brands of cigarettes to chesterfield kings for about 6 months, i don't guess i have to mention non-filtered as i don't believe any chesterfield cigarettes were filtered at the time. and yes, i do find stupid movies entertaining, i saw another about a blue butterfly, many years later, cant remember the name of it and have looked for it in vain. i have not seen many movies where the actor actually looked like the person he was portraying unless perhaps it was abraham lincoln. i have seen various actors portray mad dog, and the one in this movie is the closest my mind could picture as looking like him. who really cares anyway. its not like you have to identify him in court.
Atlas Against the Cyclops (1961)iMDB Rating: 4.8 Date Released : 14 April 1963 Genre : Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance Stars : Gordon Mitchell, Chelo Alonso, Vira Silenti, Aldo Bufi Landi Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Capys, la crudele regina di Sadok, erede di Circe, ha deciso di sacrificare all'ultimo dei ciclopi il piccolo figlio di Re Agisandro, ultimo erede di Ulisse. I guerrieri di Capys distruggono Coos, il villaggio di Agisandro, uccidendo quest'ultimo. Ma il ragazzo viene salvato ed affidato a Maciste. Il mitico eroe, benchè catturato, riesce a liberarsi ed a salvare dal feroce attacco degli uomini della perfida regina il piccolo e la madre di quest'ultimo.
Watch Atlas Against the Cyclops Trailer :
Review :
One of the more entertaining spear and sandal epics.
This film was retitled to ATLAS AGAINST THE CYCLOPS when it was released in the United States, but our hero is still called "Maciste" in the film. In this one Maciste battles an assortment of bad guys and monsters including the cyclops of the title. Maciste rescues an infant from the cyclops before he dispatches with the one eyed menace.
As far these spear and sandal epics go, this one isn't too bad. It has enough action to hold one interest. It isn't as "talky" as many of the other bigger budgeted entries in the genre. Flashback scenes from this film turned in up in the later Maciste adventure, THE WITCHES CURSE which started Kirk Morris. I would like to see this film in colour, but for some reason all video versions that I have found are in B&W.
Erik the Conqueror (1961)iMDB Rating: 6.1 Date Released : 12 June 1963 Genre : Action, Adventure Stars : Cameron Mitchell, Alice Kessler, Ellen Kessler, George Ardisson. In the 9th Century, two Viking children, separated since their early childhood with one raised by the British and the other by Vikings, meet after nearly 20 years as rivals as war breaks out between Britian and the Vikings for control of England." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
In the 9th Century, two Viking children, separated since their early childhood with one raised by the British and the other by Vikings, meet after nearly 20 years as rivals as war breaks out between Britian and the Vikings for control of England.
Watch Erik the Conqueror Trailer :
Review :
Viking Epic by Mario Bava A Winner!
ERIK THE CONQUEROR (aka THE INVADERS) was Mario Bava's second directorial assignment after his meteoric success with BLACK SUNDAY (aka MASK OF THE DEMON/LA MASCHERA DEL DEMONIO (1960). ERIK THE CONQUEROR is a tale of intrigue and treachery between Viking forces and the Anglo-Saxon defenders of the British Isles in the year 786 A.D. The story begins as two children are separated from each other during a fierce battle. One of the two is taken and raised by Queen Alice (the stately & beautiful Francoise Christophe) and the other child remains with his Viking people. Both bear tatoos which identify them as brothers. They grow up to face each other in battle but have been tricked by Rutford (a deliciously evil portrayal by Andrea Checchi), a scheming English noble who intends to take the throne he covets for himself. Art direction alone is dazzling with phospherescent hues of crimson, gold, emerald & cobalt blue. There are many macabre touches courtesy of Bava, and in an interview with noted film historian David Del Valle, Cameron Mitchell marvelled at Bava's mastery of trick photography and flawless cinematographic style. Mitchell gives one of his finest performances here as Aaron, the Viking and Giorgio Ardisson is splendid as Erik, his brother and King/defender of Britain. The golden, flaxen beauty of Alice & Ellen Kessler is used o good effect here as the eventual lovers of Erik and Aaron. A must-see for Bava worshippers and required viewing for epic aficionados!
Gunga Jumna (1961)iMDB Rating: 7.5 Date Released : 25 August 1966 Genre : Drama, Action, Crime, Musical Stars : Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Nasir Khan, Azra. Widowed Govindi lives a poor lifestyle in Haripur along with two sons, Gungaram and Jumna. While Jumna is studious, Gungaram is the opposite, but has a good heart and decides to use his earnings to ensure his brother gets a decent education. After her employer, Hariram, accuses Govindi of theft, their house is searched, evidence is found, she is arrested, the entire village bails her out, but the..." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Widowed Govindi lives a poor lifestyle in Haripur along with two sons, Gungaram and Jumna. While Jumna is studious, Gungaram is the opposite, but has a good heart and decides to use his earnings to ensure his brother gets a decent education. After her employer, Hariram, accuses Govindi of theft, their house is searched, evidence is found, she is arrested, the entire village bails her out, but the shock kills her. After her passing, Gungaram works for Hariram while Jumna goes to the city to study. During the course of his studies, he is forced to sell off all his belongings when Gungaram fails to provide him with any funds. He does continue to study, and after completing them becomes a police officer. He is then given his first assignment, which is none other than in Haripur itself, and it is here that he will be forced to confront Gungaram, who is now an ex-convict, jailed for theft, and now is the leader of a dreaded band of killer bandits. Watch what impact Jumna's presence will ...
Watch Gunga Jumna Trailer :
Review :
a Dacoit drama taking off from Hollywood Gangster films like Manhattan Melodrama (1934)
The film is a story of two bothers on opposite sides of the law, Ganga (Dilip Kumar) and Jamuna (Nasir Khan). Having been framed for a crime he did not commit by a Zamindar (Anwar Hussain), Ganga becomes a criminal living in the mountains with his girlfriend, Dhanno (Vyjayantimala). Jamuna, educated on Ganga's money in the city, becomes an upright police officer. When years later Ganga is about to become a father, he decides to return to the village but has to face his brother who shoots him down in the name of duty. Dhanno also dies in the gun battle.Ganga Jamuna is a Dacoit drama taking off from Hollywood Gangster films like Manhattan Melodrama (1934), and pioneered a widely copied action formula of two brothers on opposite sides of the law, most notably in Deewaar (1975). The most significant departure from the Hollywood stories is that the two protagonists here are brothers rather than buddies like in Manhattan Melodrama or kids who have grown up in the same block like Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) and what's more real life brothers Dilip Kumar and Nasir Khan play the protagonists! And like most of the films of this type, the focus and sympathy is totally on the good man who is forced by circumstances to turn bad. But having taken up a life of crime, his redemption, in spite of all that he has gone through, comes only with his death.
Directed by New Theatres old-timer Nitin Bose (though supposedly ghost-directed by Dilip Kumar), Ganga Jamuna is a well-structured and briskly paced film and was notable of the use of Bhojpuri dialect, which helps make the film refreshingly real and gives it a proper locale and geography. The performances by lead artistes Dilip Kumar and Vyjayantimala are faultless and full marks to the latter who in spite of her South Indian upbringing speaks the Bhojpuri dialect flawlessly. While Vyjayantimala deservedly won the Filmfare Award that year for Best Actress, shockingly Dilip Kumar lost out to Raj Kapoor for the Best Actor award, which the latter won for his production Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960).
The lyrics of the film also make use of the Bhojpuri flavor and Naushad's earthy music naturally does its work to enhance the film without thrusting itself too obtrusively on the attention of the audience. Nain Lad Gayin re (sung by Mohd. Rafi), Do Hanson Ka Joda and Dhoono Dhoondo re Saajna (both sung by Lata Mangeshkar) are particularly well tuned and were popular hits.
Ganga Jamuna is one of the few Indian films that enjoy legendary cult status and runs to packed houses even when released today.
Es muß nicht immer Kaviar sein (1961)iMDB Rating: 6.3 Date Released : 18 October 1961 Genre : Comedy, Thriller Stars : O.W. Fischer, Eva Bartok, Senta Berger, Geneviève Cluny." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
I saw the movie a long time ago. It is nothing like the actual book. I own the German, Dutch and English versions of this item (book that is) and am still looking for the movie. As intense as the book is, the movie displays the whole story with a funny undertone. Some might not like this, since the story is based on the actual life of a certain individual. It is one of the top movies coming from the German/French production houses that were active in the early 60's, and it is a must have for any movie collector.
Again, it is nothing like the book. But still, an extremely good story.
Erotica (1961)iMDB Rating: 4.4 Date Released : 14 July 1961 Genre : Comedy Stars : Sherry Knight, Bertha von Büstenhalter, Werner Kirsch, Charles G. Schelling." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Not much to say about this film ... was almost like a narrated Playboy magazine. You followed girls around and they got naked. Kind of a new idea for the time, today you wouldn't waste your time. Most memorable scene (perhaps the only one I can remember) two women lie in the sun in a secluded field and rub oil on each other after doffing their swimsuits. The camera more or less just stares at them. I dont even recall dialog - just narration. Must have cost at least $23.89 to produce. Still, it was an enjoyable experience for a young college student ...
Crooks Anonymous (1962)iMDB Rating: 6.2 Date Released : 1 April 1962 Genre : Comedy, Crime Stars : Leslie Phillips, Stanley Baxter, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Julie Christie. Forsdyke, a pathological petty thief subjects himself to a strict correction course run by a wealthy ex-con Widdowes and his Crooks Anonymous organization. Forsdyke's young and innocent girlfriend Babette, holds the hopes for his recovery and promises that she'll marry him if he'll reform. However, Forsdyke loses control when he's locked in a department store over Christmas." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Forsdyke, a pathological petty thief subjects himself to a strict correction course run by a wealthy ex-con Widdowes and his Crooks Anonymous organization. Forsdyke's young and innocent girlfriend Babette, holds the hopes for his recovery and promises that she'll marry him if he'll reform. However, Forsdyke loses control when he's locked in a department store over Christmas.
Watch Crooks Anonymous Trailer :
Review :
A very, very strange but funny Brit-Com.
Dandy Forsdyke (Leslie Phillips) is a career criminal who has no desire to work--just steal and lie his way through life. However, his girlfriend, Babette (Julie Christie), has no patience for his conduct even though she inexplicably loves him. So, she gives him an ultimatum- -either change and live a respectable and legal life or she's leaving him. Dandy is in a bind--he loves being a crook but loves the girl even more, so he vows to change. On his own, however, he hasn't a prayer of going straight so he enlists the help of a philanthropic organization-- Crooks Anonymous! C.A. is much like a drug or alcohol treatment program except that it treats thieves...but in the most unconventional way. I would say more about C.A.'s methods, but you just have to see them to appreciate them!
Later in the movie, Dandy has apparently changed--and certainly for the better. However, even with the help of C.A., what is Dandy to do when he's given the chance to do a nearly perfect crime with very little risk. After all, it drops right into his lap! Well, what happens next is also something you'll just need to see for yourself--and it's quite clever and funny.
I had a hard time deciding whether to score this o 7 or an 8--either way it's very original and quite cute. Well worth seeing.
Boys' Night Out (1962)iMDB Rating: 6.6 Date Released : 21 June 1962 Genre : Comedy Stars : Kim Novak, James Garner, Tony Randall, Howard Duff. Fred, George, Doug and Howie are quickly reaching middle-age. Three of them are married, only Fred is still a bachelor. They want something different than their ordinary marriages, children and TV-dinners. In secret, they get themselves an apartment with a beautiful young woman, Kathy, for romantic rendezvous. But Kathy does not tell them that she is a sociology student researching the sexual ..." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Fred, George, Doug and Howie are quickly reaching middle-age. Three of them are married, only Fred is still a bachelor. They want something different than their ordinary marriages, children and TV-dinners. In secret, they get themselves an apartment with a beautiful young woman, Kathy, for romantic rendezvous. But Kathy does not tell them that she is a sociology student researching the sexual life of the white middle-class male.
Watch Boys' Night Out Trailer :
Review :
reminiscent of an era
This movie is fun to watch. The morals, the clothing, the furniture, the suits, the hairstyles, the hats, the booze, the husbands and wives--are pure 1962. It captures, in a very exaggerated and silly way, an era in American society that will never exist again. It's a time capsule. That's what makes this film so vintage and enjoyable. It's a "sex comedy" without the sex--very popular in those days. It's amazing to think that only five years later, hippies and war protesters were making their mark on society, and films like "Easy Rider" were being created, changing the landscape of Hollywood and pop culture forever. So think of this film as a showpiece of how America was (in a highly exaggerated way) before we learned to question authority and discard many of the foolish rules and regulations we grew up with. Just enjoy it for what it is! It's fun to see Kim's apartment and her wardrobe is cool!
Bees Saal Baad (1962)iMDB Rating: 7.2 Date Released : 15 September 2011 Genre : Thriller, Musical, Mystery Stars : Biswajeet, Waheeda Rehman, Manmohan Krishna, Madan Puri. After a lusty Thakur rapes a young girl, she kills herself. Thereafter, the Thakur is killed by what the local people call the girl's vengeful spirit. Then the Thakur's son is also killed in a similar way. Thereafter the brother of the Thakur is also killed. The grandson of the Thakur, Kumar Vijay Singh (Biswajeet) returns from abroad to claim his ill-fated legacy. He is warned to stay away from ..." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
After a lusty Thakur rapes a young girl, she kills herself. Thereafter, the Thakur is killed by what the local people call the girl's vengeful spirit. Then the Thakur's son is also killed in a similar way. Thereafter the brother of the Thakur is also killed. The grandson of the Thakur, Kumar Vijay Singh (Biswajeet) returns from abroad to claim his ill-fated legacy. He is warned to stay away from the grounds that have killed his ancestors, but he intends to find out who or what is behind the killings, and hires a private detective, Gopichand Jasoos (Asit Sen). Kumar meets with Radha (Waheeda Rehman), the daughter of the local doctor, Ramlal Vaid (Manmohan Krishan), and both eventually fall in love. Then a man is found dead wearing the clothes of Kumar Vijay, and Kumar Vijay must now decide to stay away from his new residence, or continue to live there, and fear for his life everyday until death.
Watch Bees Saal Baad Trailer :
Review :
The hound of the Baskervilles in Chandangarh
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had penned several stories featuring Sherlock Holmes, the most popular detective character of the world. He had penned one full-fledged novel also featuring Holmes - The Hound of The Baskervilles which was first published in The Strand Magazine (serially) during 1901-02. This novel was the third one among the total four novels authored by Sir Doyle. The theme was the murders of a family by supposedly a supernatural hound which is after the lives of the Baskerville family males at Dartmoor, a foggy small town in England. Sherlock Holmes with his sidekick - Dr. Watson resolves the mystery behind the murders. It's said that some real life characters and real life incidents were the inspiration behind this novel which is considered a classic mystery.
However, today I am reviewing not the novel but a Hindi movie whose story is an adaptation from this novel only. It's Bees Saal Baad (1962) which is the debut movie of the chocolaty Bengali hero - Biswajeet starring opposite the ever-gorgeous and one of the most talented Bollywood heroines - Waheeda Rehman. The movie was a much-talked-about one when released and got popularized as a spine-chilling movie.
Since it's the Indian version of the story, the story is set in Chandangarh, a small foggy town containing a lethal quagmire also. According to its title - Bees Saal Baad (twenty years later), it starts with the arrival of the last beacon of the victim family of landlords - Kumar Vijay Singh (Biswajeet) twenty years later than the killing of his grandfather. It's said that the spirit of the girl raped by his grandfather is seeking its revenge from the males of the family. No sooner does Kumar arrives at Chandangarh, attempts start on his life as well. On one hand, he is busy in trying to resolve this mystery, on the other, he falls in love with Radha (Waheeda Rehman), the daughter of the local physician Ramlal (Manmohan Krishna). There are some other mysterious characters in the story, viz. Dr. Pande (Madan Puri), Mohan Babu (Sajjan), victim family's servant - Laxman (Dev Kishan) etc. Besides, whenever Kumar wanders in the town in the night to give the murderer an opportunity to kill him (so that he can catch him), he happens to hear a mysterious song - Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil. A funny detective, Gopichand Jasoos (Asit Sen) has also come over there in the quest of that murderer only. In the climax, the murderer is exposed and Kumar's life is saved.
I watched this movie after reading a lot about it and its spine-chilling scene which is of a murderous paw (containing very long nails) appearing on the screen behind the prospective victim. Well, it might have been spine-chilling when the people watched it on the big screen. I did not find it scary at all while watching it on TV. In fact, there is no horror in the movie despite its being called as a famous horror movie.
Now about the script and the narrative - in my considered opinion, the screenplay writer (Dhruva Chatterjee) and the director (Biren Nag) have faltered in giving the story of the legendary author the shape of an interesting Indianized suspense-thriller. They have not been able to create a freely flowing narrative which is able to keep the viewers hooked as is expected in a good suspense-thriller or murder mystery. The director has tried to cover the deficiencies of the storyline by comedy of Gopichand Jasoos and the romantic track of the young pair which contains some memorable songs. However he has succeeded in his effort only partially. Time and again the narrative starts boring the viewer when the track of the comedian detective intervenes the main track.
Still, the movie is worth a watch because of the brilliant on-screen chemistry of the lead pair of Biswajeet and Waheeda Rehman as well as the great music. Chocolaty hero, Biswajeet has done pretty well at least in the romantic scenes and songs. Waheeda Rehman not only looks innocently beautiful but she has acted well too. All others have done justice to the assigned roles. Especially the performance of Dev Kishan as the domestic servant, Laxman deserves a big hand.
Hemant Kumar has composed mesmerizing songs for the movie whose lyrics have been penned by Shakeel Badayuni. Hemant Da himself have sung the songs alongwith Lata. On one hand, we have his classic songs - Beqaraar Karke Hamen Yun Na Jaaiye and Zara Nazron Se Keh Do Ji; on the other, we have Lata's classic songs - Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil, Sapne Suhaane Ladakpan Ke and Aye Mohabbat Meri Duniya Mein Tera Kaam Na Tha. In fact, music is a very big face saving grace of this movie despite the fact that the songs block the flow of the mystery-based narrative.
Technically this black and white movie is quite good. Not by the script but by the light and sound effect, the director has succeeded in creating a suspenseful environment in the movie. The scenes picturized in semi-darkness are pretty impressive. Length of the movie could have been curtailed sufficiently because undue footage has been given to the character of Gopichand Jasoos and his activities. He generates less laughter more irritation.
Bees Saal Baad was a box office success when released perhaps due to the music, the romance and the hype related to the so-called horror in it. If remade by a skilled suspense-movie director, this script can be converted into an outstanding suspense movie. I recommend this movie to all the fans of Waheeda Rehman and Biswajeet. The audience of murder mysteries containing melodious songs will also like it for sure.
Another one of those multi segment multi star Italian sex comedies popular in the 60s featuring a cast of beautiful popular film stars of European cinema of the day. The best segment is the one on the train involving a soldier and a beautiful widow in the same compartment, hilarious BUT the film is blessed by the presence of the enchanting Miss Lilli Palmer, my personal favorite actress. Her segment is not the best but she is fabulous as usual. There is also the presence of the lovely Catherine Spaak, a shorter career than many of her contemporaries but she is nonetheless a European screen beauty of her era and very very sexy in a subtle way. Not a great film but more than a few chuckles.
La venganza de Don Mendo (1962)iMDB Rating: 7.1 Date Released : 19 February 1962 Genre : Comedy Stars : Fernando Fernán Gómez, Paloma Valdés, Juanjo Menéndez, Antonio Garisa." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
A movie adaption of the theater tragicomedy written by Pedro Muñoz Seca. An story of honor, traition and vengeance in the Spanish Midage. The film, shot with theatrical appearance, tells the story of Don Mendo (Fernando Fernán Gómez), who is traitioned by his lover Magdalena. She will marry Don Pero (Juanjo Menéndez) and sentences Don Mendo to death so he can´t tell the truth about their relationship. When Mendo sees the light and the traition of Magdalena, he can't talk because he gave her his word of honor of keeping secret all their affair. Then he swears to take vengeance on Magdalena. Helped by his friend Moncada, Mendo escapes putting a dead man in his place starting a new life as a minstrel. Later, in the court of King Alfonso (Antonio Garisa), all the characters of the history get together and the vengeance can take place.
The cast has great actors of the spanish theater an cinema of it's time, and the spirit of the original book is held. Some verses are omited and a few new ones are included to translate the theater to the movie.
The story is very, very funny. Continuosly shows games of words, decontextualizations, and references to the classics of the Spanish theater ("Romancero" and Golden Century) or Shakespeare (Hamlet), with a very well worked script thatr makes this one of the funniest theater works ever written and a funny film.
Der Traum von Lieschen Müller (1961)iMDB Rating: 7.2 Date Released : 19 December 1961 Genre : Comedy, Musical Stars : Sonja Ziemann, Martin Held, Cornelia Froboess, Helmut Griem." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
Der Traum von Lieschen Müller is the story of a young woman who works at a bank. Her job is mundane, and she wishes for something better in life. One evening, she falls asleep at work, and is transported to the world of her dreams, where she has unlimited wealth and can do whatever she wants. But will she find happiness? This film is similar in structure to The Wizard of Oz: the dream sequences are in color while the "real" world is black & white, and the people she meets in her everyday life reappear in new roles in her dream world. ("Lieschen Müller" is a German slang term for an average woman. Somewhere between "Susie Homemaker" and "Jane Doe.") Der Traum von Lieschen Müller is by no means a great movie, but it is a fun movie. The color sequences are reminiscent of the work of Frank Tashlin; that is, vivid and very much a product of their times. Director Helmut Käutner has a lot of fun with this film, using nearly every film trick in the book to tell the story. The sets and costumes are properly amazing, and the song numbers, while dated and a little corny, are enjoyable nonetheless.
If you feel like taking a trip back in time to the early sixties, this is an easy way to do it.
The Terror of the Tongs (1961)iMDB Rating: 5.9 Date Released : 15 March 1961 Genre : Adventure, Horror, Thriller Stars : Christopher Lee, Yvonne Monlaur, Geoffrey Toone, Marne Maitland Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
A secret society of Hong-Kong at the beginning of the century called "The Red Dragon Tong" kidnaps the captain of a ship in the harbour of Hong-Kong as he tries to detain the killers of his daughter. Because the secret society is very powerful it is not easy to free him from their hands.
Watch The Terror of the Tongs Trailer :
Review :
THE TERROR OF THE TONGS (Anthony Bushell, 1961) ***
Surprisingly, I quite liked this atypical Hammer offering, which is basically a companion piece to THE STRANGLERS OF BOMBAY (1960) – with the setting changed to 1910s China, and the vicious “thuggees” replaced with the equally murderous Red Dragon Tongs. As a matter of fact, one might say that the script for STRANGLERS served as a virtual template for this one – to which Hammer then assigned Jimmy Sangster, their in-house scribe, in order to apply the necessary alterations (though, in the long run, the former still emerges as the better picture of the two)! With this in mind, THE TERROR OF THE TONGS likewise thrives on violent acts (with the exploitation factor increased a notch in this case thanks to the compulsively sleazy atmosphere of taverns and opium dens) – and the hero, too, is eventually subdued to excruciating torture but saved at the last minute.
Interestingly, Christopher Lee’s role as the Tong leader anticipates his later Fu Manchu characterization – which he played in five low-budget outings (of gradually decreasing merits) throughout the second half of the decade. While the gaunt actor is always worth watching, here he seems to be acting through his voice alone – as his character is usually depicted sitting down and ordering his underlings about (even when finally cornered, he keeps a thoroughly calm demeanor)! Geoffrey Toone is an agreeable hero, being unusually brawny: he goes after the Tongs after they callously murder his teenage daughter; later, he saves slave girl Yvonne Monlaur from their clutches – the French actress (who was also in THE BRIDES OF Dracula and CIRCUS OF HORRORS both 1960) is a delightful presence in the film, even if her role seldom rises above that of the ‘servile Oriental’ stereotype! Supporting characters include a crippled beggar (played by Marne Maitland, who was also in STRANGLERS) who’s secretly organizing opposition to the Tongs – and has no qualms about exploiting Toone’s personal tragedy to this end!; returning from the earlier film, too, is Roger Delgado – who virtually replicates his part of the chief villain’s closest henchman!
Ultimately, THE TERROR OF THE TONGS looks very good in color and is generally pacy at just 76 minutes; by the way, director Bushell had himself been an actor – numbering genre roles such as the bland hero of THE GHOUL (1933) and the ill-fated snobbish Colonel in the QUATERMASS AND THE PIT (1958) TV serial among his resume'.
Square of Violence (1961)iMDB Rating: 7.1 Date Released : 26 July 1961 Genre : Drama, War Stars : Broderick Crawford, Valentina Cortese, Branko Plesa, Bibi Andersson." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
I am surprised that no one has commented it. This film was released by MGM in the USA, and also starring Broderick Crawford, here at his best.
Set in Italy, the story takes place in this very country, during WW2, where German occupation army ruled everything, just before the allied forces came, in 1944. Crawford plays here a doctor whose son has been shot by the Germans. Of course he has no more taste in life. He continues his work as a German officers' physician. One day, he throws a bomb just in the middle of German troops. Many soldiers and officers are killed. Some time later, the lead officer of the Nazis troops suspects the doctor to be the responsible of the explosion. He lets him know that he himself knows...Follow me?
That's here where the film becomes very interesting. The study of characters is awesome, Crawford terrific. Especially when the German officers takes many hostages in order to incite the bomb thrower to give himself up.
So the question is: Will Crawford give himself up or not?
The underworld chief, who is also Crawford's friend, is against his friend's surrender. Because he already knows that the Nazis will torture Crawford about his underworld "relationships"...
A very gripping movie, but also so depressing. Downbeat at the most. American studios would have never made such a film. Only released it, because Crawford's presence in this lost gem from Europe.
The Secret Partner (1961)iMDB Rating: 6.8 Date Released : 6 October 1961 Genre : Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller Stars : Stewart Granger, Bernard Lee, Haya Harareet, Hugh Burden." /> Movie Quality : HDrip Format : MKV Size : 870 MB
Very few crime films end on a tragic note, especially if the plot does not involve deaths and maiming. This is one such example. The last shot of the film--a long shot--of the protagonist walking alone arouses the viewers pity.
The film seems to infer that the bad guys remain bad and end up losers. Today such stories would seem sociologically incorrect to film. The plot of the film is rather good and would provide the viewer with his/her money's worth.
The last half hour of the film not only entertains but is quaintly philosophical. Haya Harareet's ("Ben Hur"'s Esther) character is a fascinating study of love for her husband and what she decides to do is even more poignant and elegant. Stewart Granger and Bernard Lee (M of the early James Bond films) perform well, but the ultimate heroes are the story writers (David Pursall and Jack Seddon) and the director Basil Deardon who make the film fairly above-average entertainment.
Pecado de amor (1961)iMDB Rating: 6.3 Date Released : 3 May 1962 Genre : Musical, Drama Stars : Sara Montiel, Reginald Kernan, Rafael Alonso, Gérard Tichy." /> Movie Quality : BRrip Format : MKV Size : 700 MB
Argentinean director Luis Cesar Amadori had no time to waste. His previous two films with Sarita Montiel (La Violetera & Mi Ultimo Tango) had been blockbusters all over the world and the public was clamoring for more, more, more; not to mention the producers who were willing to spend TEN times their usual budget on ONE Montiel vehicle.
Consequently, Amadori couldn't afford to be overly creative. With "Mi Ultimo Tango" he had shamelessly remade his 1939 hit "Caminito de Gloria" transforming the Libertad Lamarque vehicle to fit, lets say, Montiel's more carnal attributes ... and he had gotten away with it. For "Pecado de Amor" he avoided being so obvious but he still borrowed a lot from another of his Lamarque epics, this time it was "Madreselva" (1938).
Sara Montiel, at the peak of her beauty and talent, was ready for whatever her writer-director (or whoever) would throw at her and she bit into the story of a nun with a shady past as if it was her last meal. In religious habit or in expensive gowns by Schubert or Balenciaga she is a delight to watch, her personality dominating the screen from beginning to end captivating her audiences and moving them to laugh or cry. A lot has been argued about Sarita's acting and singing abilities but nobody can deny that the lady possesses star quality in spades.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the rest of the cast. Both leading men Reginald Kernan (whoever he is) and Mario Girotti, who later became a star of the Spaghetti Western genre as Terence Hill, walk through "Pecado de Amor" as mere shadows of Miss Montiel. The Eastmancolor photography is adequate for this kind of "plush melodrama" and the musical score by prolific composer Gregorio Garcia Segura serves the film very well, although I detect a certain influence of Rodgers & Hart's "My Funny Valentine" throughout the proceedings.
The dialogs by J.M. Arozamena are at times tacky but sometimes surprise us with some unexpected wit. Take the scene in which Kernan, as the stern father confronts his son Girotti in Montiel's presence. Girotti had been caught stealing from his dad in order to buy jewelry for Sarita. Kernan: I just wanted to meet in person "the motive" that has made you stoop so low.... Sarita:(as she walks away) I love family reunions, but "the motive" is leaving now!
"Pecado de Amor" is full of scenes like that and they add to the entertaining value of a film which pretends to be nothing more than good entertainment Of course, the real beef is in the songs which are enough to fill the soundtrack album. Particularly memorable are "El Pichi" (The Pimp) with Montiel dressed as a man surrounded by pretty chorus girls; Carlos Gardel's "El Dia Que Me Quieras"(The Day That You Love Me) sung passionately by Sarita to Kernan; "Sous Les Toits de Paris" (Under the Roofs of Paris) sung in French and Montiel as a Greek Goddess singing "Tinaine I Agapi" (What Is Love?) in Greek. Director Amadori could not resist the temptation of including his own tango "Madreselva" and Sarita does a good cover of it wearing her famous emeralds and diamonds necklace and earrings.
Critics who adore art cinema have always had a problem with Sara Montiel films. I don't. Cinema should be, before all, entertainment and stars have always played a big role in this. They have made the masses pay the admission and attend the cinema even when the films lacked "quality"... This is quite a contribution to an industry that could not have survived until now without box office sensations such as Miss Montiel.
Mad Dog Coll (1961)iMDB Rating: 5.3
