THE WHITE REINDEER (1952)

Greg Goodsell has returned -- the film tonight in the Dungeon is THE WHITE REINDEER, Finland's most famous horror film! In spite of this cheerful poster, THE WHITE REINDEER has shape-shifting, themes of revenge, a lethal femme fatale and just a dash of vampirism thrown into the mix -- proceed at your own risk.

THE WHITE REINDEER is an unsung, elegant classic of international art horror! What is especially unsettling about this film is that a lot of it takes place in broad daylight against the white, snow-covered vistas in Lapland.

Here are the film's two lovebirds, Pirita (Mirjami Kuosmanen) and Aslak (Kalervo Nissilä). Say that ten times fast! Now, everything seems pert and hopeful, but believe you me, it all goes downhill very fast!

Aslak falls hard and fast for the charms of Pirita, the purtiest durn gal in his Lapland shepherd community -- but as we shall see -- Pirita has a dark, hidden side to her –

It turns out that she’s the illegitimate daughter of a witch who died in childbirth. In flashback, we meet her mother -- played by the same actress, taken in by those who pity her – where she gives birth and then passes away.

The two Laplanders get hitched in a boozy ceremony -- pledge their allegiance -- but if there weren't complications, there wouldn't be a movie now, would there?

Pirita waves goodbye to her beloved while he herds some reindeer to  market -- and things get might darn lonely out in snow-covered Finland!

Pirita enlists the aid of a local shaman to cast a love spell for her, but everyone knows that such backdoor deals NEVER turn out for the best! The shaman casts his "runes" -- and Pirita will get her wish -- but at a VERY heavy price!

Pirita goes to a ghastly shrine and is instructed to kill the first thing she sees -- which is, natch, a white reindeer.

She kills the poor defenseless thing! Don't worry, she'll get hers!

AHHHHHH! Pirita is transformed into the ghastly, accursed white reindeer of Finnish legend! Economically suggested by a negative of the film!

Pirita regrets her decision -- but it's too late now, sweet cheeks!

In the guise of the reindeer, Pirita lures the town’s shepherds to their deaths and drinks their blood!

Wracked with guilt, Pirita tries to undo the curse --

But -- BOO! Pirita has had a taste of blood and wants even more! The vampire fangs in this film are only glimpsed and seen twice. Do we see a hint of director Mario Bava in the lighting and composition? Mighty impressive, as Bava was a long way off from directing the year this was filmed, in 1952!

Pirita's husband begins to suspect the worst -- do we also see a hint of the angst swirling around in such features around this period such as INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, when we fear our loved ones because they are no longer what they used to be?

The couple then attend a wedding. Pirita as a newly blessed hell creature, is extremely uncomfortable. Gorgeous music heard in this scene. As I suggested to Eegah, I thought this feature would be a perfect fit for the Dungeon -- and he heartily agreed! Here's just a taste of the haunting theme!

A beautiful young woman rendered otherworldly and alienated. I see more than just a dash of Barbara Steele going on here as well. Finland is a pretty isolated country with a limited film industry, so maybe the Finns were prescient about the state of coming fantastic cinema.

After the white reindeer has killed several people, the townspeople work on weapons -- said hell beast can only be killed by "cold steel," i.e.  a spear fashioned without a furnace. The artisans in town get busy!

The hunters begin their quest to find the white reindeer as our heroine tearfully tries to hide in a snowbank!

In a last ditch attempt to reverse the curse, she returns to the shaman's house --

Too late! The evil sorcerer is as dead as a doornail! She's just going to have to ride this out to its deadly conclusion!

Transformed once again into the reindeer, Pirita leads her husband to a ravine in which he can land a fatal blow. This dovetails with some werewolf lore where the monster can only be killed by someone who loves them!

A tragic ending as Pirita dies for her transgressions and her husband is left with -- snow. Lots of it. But seriously folks, THE WHITE REINDEER calls to mind equal parts of Carl Dreyer and Igmar Bergman, as well as the future films of Canadian madman Guy Maddin! See this film at your earliest convenience.

UGETSU MONOGATARI / Daiei Studios - 1953

It's Friday at The Dungeon with Tabonga!.. We gots a complicated little tale from Japan from 1953, it's all about Genjurô, a family man, farmer and craftsman who travels the countryside selling his wares and makes a small fortune during the Japanese Civil Wars of the sixteenth century. Their village is attacked and looted, so, the families flee and survive, Genjurô decides to leave his wife and son on the bank of the river, promising to return in ten days, adventures ensue. This movie has a ton of titles!

Eegah!! sent over a sound clip with classic Japanese music for our earjoyment, sooooo, you can push the big red 'GO' button next to the atomic powered samurai sword, NOW, Rufus The Gnat! Here's a taste of... UGETSU MONOGATARI!

Here's Genjurô working pottery in his studio, making his items to sell, and, before the trouble.

After Genjurô gets separated from his wife and son and has to do whatever it takes to avoid the attackers as he flees their onslaught.

He sneaks up and hides under a house where he watches a samurai behead the owner!

If it isn't the samurais, he's being confronted by locals as he tries to make his way back home.

Finally, he gets back and greets his wife, who has been worried sick waiting for his return.

I just really dig this shot of this abode, that's all... Hey, make a story up if you like!

Genjurô's brother is killed during the siege, so, Genjurô vows to live his life in his honor.

Peace has returned, Genjurô, his wife and son continue to be productive in their beautiful setting... What's really great about this flick are all the amazing visual textures shown throughout the production! Tune in tomorrow when Virus Man will bring you a weird one, don't miss it, GOT IT?!!

A 001: OPERAZIONE GIAMAICA - Marcello Giombini - "Our Man In Jamaica" (1965)

No more dealing with impostors or impersonators, tonight's Dungeon Spy Feature is about Agent Double 01 and is appropriately titled "A 001: Operazione Giamaica" or "Our Man In Jamaica!" This poster kills, and it has nothing to do with the movie at all! Fantastico!!

So first things first, our man hasn't even got there yet, so let's try and find out why he's going! I don't usually spend a lot of time talking about directors, but I think it's worth noting something that might make "Our Man In Jamaica" just a little bit different from your standard Eurospy flick, and that is the fact that Mr. Mel Welles was the predominant director for the movie!  Mel of course, is a major Dungeon hero for his work on and in "Attack Of The Crab Monsters," "The Undead," "Rock All Night," "The Little Shop Of Horrors," and "She Beast" etc!

Our man who hasn't gone to Jamaica yet, is Larry Pennell as Agent 001 Alessandro Pennelli, or in the English version, Ken Stewart Agent 001! Larry Pennell was the character called Dash Riprock on "The Beverly Hillbillies," a suave movie actor who was quite attracted to Elly May! He was also in the "Outer Limits" episode called "The Mutant," and was Kemosabe in "Bubba Ho-Tep!" Larry just passed away a little less than a year ago!

"So what do you mean, you have a job? Last night you said you were a secret agent, and we were supposed to get married today!"

So Agent 001 has been called into the office to be given his new assignment, but he's still daydreaming about the action from the night before! Next stop............

....JAMAICA!!

I don't know who is singing that wild and fairly horrendous theme song, but the music credits go out to Marcello Giombini of "War Of The Planets," "Battle Of The Stars," and "War Of The Robots" fame and fortune!

This creepster dude is very intent on this dancer! In fact he's down right delusional!

So when 001 waltzes up to the bar, and the dancer ask him to buy her a drink, it really pisses off the creep because he thinks she's his girlfriend, and then all Hell breaks out!

Bad Brad Harris gives 001 a muchly unappreciated assist, because 001 prefers to fight his own fights!

By the luck of the draw, it just so turns out that I've ended up with two copies of "Our Man In Jamaica" so I'm going to give away one copy free, courtesy of  The Cult Action Team to the first person who leaves a comment with the correct answer to this question! Not in this movie, but in real life, what number 8 is Brad Harris quoted as saying that he believes is essential to good health?

The boss played by Wolfgang Kieling shows up, and tell his thugs to take the troublemaker into his office! Behind closed doors, it's now revealed that Wolfgang's character is indeed a special operative himself, and the whole thing was just a ruse, so the two could meet together and not cause suspicion! Wolfgang was in Hitchcock's "Torn Curtain," and I love this fact, on German "Sesame Street," Wolfgang was the voice of Bert!

001 is searching everywhere to try and catch up with his old pal Larry Peacock who has suddenly mysteriously disappeared!  Linda (The 1000 Eyes Of Dr. Mabuse) Sini is Signora Cervantes, an art collector and a known associate of Larrys, and she has a real cool pad, but she doesn't have any real answers!

I love this very short scene where these two streetwalkers come up and ask Mr. Bigshot for a ride in his fancy car, and 001 politely tells them that it's a rental!

Heading over to Larry Peacock's office, 001 finds a strange woman in his ransacked office, but it turns out to be Larry's sister, who is also looking for him! Marvelous Margitta (Zimmer 13) Scherr is Lana Peacock!

Lana finds what appear to be some doodles by Larry, but when it's turned upside down, it points at nothing but trouble at some place called Flamingo Bay!

A pensive 001 gazes out over the pool!

It's a fact that Brad Harris does all his own stunts!

Barbara Valentin is Signora Cervantes' secretary Gloria! "Yeah, she makes me feel all right, G L O R I I I I A!" -  Them. Barbara's first role ever was in 1959 as the dancing girl in "The Head!" She kept working right up to the time of her death in 2002! "Somebody's ringing the bell, open the door and let 'em in!"- Paul McCartney

Larry Peacock finally shows up, but he's in no condition to answer any questions, in fact, he's not even breathing, and it turns out that he has been electrocuted and was just left leaning up against the door bell!

It seems it would be almost inhumanly impossible to have a 60's spy movie without a miniature tape recorder of some sort!

In the end they try to pry more information out of 001 by hooking him up to some electric dreadlocks, but just like every time before, 001 is just too tough to give it up!

 Just so that you know he lived through the whole ordeal, here's a final shot of 001 and Lana together safe and sound and riding off into the sunset. "Our Man In Jamaica" is just one more movie in a long line of 60's spy flicks worth checking out, and speaking of checking out, I'm outta here!