Showing posts sorted by relevance for query george nader. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query george nader. Sort by date Show all posts

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

LA CASA DE LAS MIL MUÑECAS - Carlos Camilleri - Don Black & Mark London - Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers - "House Of 1000 Dolls" (1967)

"House Of A Thousand Dolls" has too many bonus Dungeon elements in it for me to say anything bad about it! It's NOT the best movie ever made, but any fan of the genre or the characters involved should go on and jump in head first! So, as The Routers would say in 1962, "Let's Go!"

Just like these tourists, this freakin' movie was driving me nuts, and here's the reason why! When I was getting ready to write this, I was looking at the stills, and one of them was for the music credits, and a song called "House of a 1000 Dolls" performed by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers! Well, since I'm a recently converted apostle, expounder, and supporter of the Cliff Bennett experience, I couldn't figure out what was going on because I couldn't remember hearing a real song during the movie, so I went back and watched the whole thing again, and no song! So I was like WTF?! I went to IMDB, to see if anyone wrote about it and where the song was, and there was a review where a gal had written that the song wasn't on the VHS tape, and I guessed the copy I have has the same problem, so then I went on a search for the song by itself, and finally came up with this, I hope you dig it: "House of a 1000 Dolls" by the amazing Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers!

"House Of 1000 Dolls" has an amazing cast that includes Dungeon regular Maria Rohm as Diane! I don't know why, but I get Maria and Rosanna Yanni mixed up for some reason! I think it's the Jess Franco connection!

Next up is Dungeon Hero George "Jerry Cotton" Nader as Stephen Armstrong!

Welcome to Tangiers! Here's the bad news, this is one of the good guys!

Everybody knows good guys finish last, dead last in this case!!

The story revolves around Vincent Price as Hypnotist Felix Manderville, and Martha Hyer as his lovely assistant Rebecca! They work for the Mob and in their act, they disappear young women from around the world, and turn them into sex slaves in a high dollar brothel in Tangiers! You know, regular every day stuff!!

To get into the exclusive club, you have to have one of these stupid little dolls as kind of a pass key!!

Once inside the club, the patrons get a two-way mirror's view of the international bevy of beauties, aka, The Dolls!!

Look familiar? José Jaspe is the pimp/bodyguard/enforcer Ahmed! I'm sure you've seen him in one his other 121 roles in flicks like "Póker De Ases," or "A Stroke Of A 1000 Millions."

In Tangiers, they still celebrate the traditional annual event known as "The Ritualistic Burning of the Buick!"

The Dolls are a feisty bunch, and I'm not sure if this is her or not, but one of them, Caroline Coons, has become a very successful artiste, and at one time managed The Clash, and took photos used on Clash and Police records!

Every film like this has to have the seemingly incompetent police officer, and this one trying to hassle George Nader is Wolfgang Kieling as Inspector Emil! Wolfgang had a great career in German film, and in one of his few forays into Hollywood, he was Hermann Gromek in Hitchcock's "Torn Curtain!"

Two of the Dolls try a valiant escape to no avail except recapture and torture!

Martha Hyer's not a name you normally associate with the term psychotronic, but when you realize she was in everything from "Abbott & Costello Go To Mars," or "Pyro...The Thing Without A Face," to Bikini Beach," "First Men In The Moon," and "Picture Mommy Dead," you might want to give it another thought!

I just like this shot of Vincent Price, and this is still the anniversary of what would have been his 100th birthday as of the 27th of the last May!

You gotta know things are going to start getting ugly when they try and disappear George Nader's wife Marie, as played by Ann Smyrner! The Danish beauty had roles in some great Dungeon classics like "Journey To The 7th Planet, "Reptilicus," and "Kommissar X - Drei Gelbe Katzen!"

"The Queen of Hearts she made some tarts all on a summer's day; The Knave of Hearts he stole the tarts and took them clean away. The King of Hearts called for the tarts and beat the Knave full sore. The Knave of Hearts brought back the tarts and vowed he'd steal no more." - Lewis Carroll

I think this would be the only film that Vincent Price and George Nader appeared in together! That fact by itself is enough reason to seek out this movie!

Classic portrait of George Nader!!

Marie and Diane watch in horror as information is extracted from one of the other Dolls! Besides Caroline Coons, the gals fleshing out the cast and credited simply as "and the Dolls" are Andrea"The Cups Of San Sebastian"Lascelles, Ursula"Il Vostro Super Agente Flit"Janis, Karin"LSD Flesh Of Devil"Skarreso, Loli Munoz, Marisol, Jill Echols, Monique Aimé, Sandra Petrelli, Lara Lenti, and Francoise Fontages who never appeared in other films, and finally Kitty Swan who was in some real zingers like "Barbarella," "Deadlier Than The Male," and "Wild, Wild Planet!"

While George sorts it all out, I almost forgot that besides the killer theme song that was written by Don Black and Mark London and performed by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, the rest of the music in the film was by Modernist composer Carlos Camilleri who only had one other composing credit, "Sax Rohmer's The Castle Of Fu Manchu." Carlos went on to be the Professor of Composition at the Toronto Conservatory of Music, and ended his career as a Professor of Music at Malta University!

You know we don't normally do videos, but the first time I saw this, over at René Claude's blog Pour15 Minutes D'amour, I was blown away. To do a Beatles' cover "live" with horns, and knock it out, well, it's something everybody should see and hear at least once! Ladies and Gentlemen, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers!!!!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

THE MILLION EYES OF SUMURU - "She Rules A Palace Of Pleasure... For Women!" (1967)

Of all the movies we've really looked forward to seeing after spending uncountable hours trying to locate a copy, "The Million Eyes Of Sumuru" turned out to be one of the most disappointing of all, kind of like looking through your own armpit!

After seeing "The Seven Secrets Of  Sumuru" aka "The Girl From Rio" and writing about it a couple of years ago, I was hot to trot to see this one which was made two years earlier, but it sure wasn't worth the wait!

Now how could a movie like this possibly be bad? Maybe it's because Jess Franco directed the other one!

"The Million Eyes Of Sumuru" is rife with talent, pop culture, and beauty like Shirley Eaton, who was also Sumuru in "The Seven Secrets Of Sumuru,"  but honestly, I preferred her in that film, "Ten Little Indians," or even "Goldfinger!" Shirley was also in three of the 'Carry On' films, "Carry On Sergeant," Carry On Nurse," and "Carry On, Constable." She quit acting after making "The Seven Secrets Of Sumuru!"

Two Dungeon faves for sure, George Nader as Agent Nick West, and Frankie Avalon as Agent Tommy Carter both have roles that are completely unbelievable, and it's fair to say that it was meant to be that way, but it doesn't make it work any better! Their minds must have both been in a phone booth at the beach somewhere, because it seems like they just phoned in most of their lines!

All the most beautiful and dangerous girls in the world can't make it any better, and not even some music by the likes of the brilliant John Scott or Daniel White is going to do the trick!

George Nader is awesome in all the Jerry Cotton movies, but in this one he just seems surprised and perplexed, a gay man in a society ruled by women!

This is the kind of excitement I'm talking about! It just ain't happening!!

"Robot Monster" is a lot more adventuresome!

The tantalizing Maria Rohm was also in "The Seven Secrets Of Sumuru," and "Ten Little Indians" with Shirely Eaton!

More talent out the wazoo, Klaus Kinski as President Boong is one of the more interesting characters in this film!!

I swear to you, I honestly believe that his is how serious George Nader takes the whole thing, not one iota, and I'm not talking about the 9th letter in the Greek alphabet!!

"The Million Eyes Of Sumuru" is a Shaw Brothers production, so there is a big firefight at the end, and even Frankie has had it with the whole ordeal!

Not even the amazing actor Wilfrid Hyde-White is going to be able to save this mess! Here's my suggestion for any film buff, rather than seeking out "The Million Eyes Of Sumuru," just go back and watch Wilfrid in "Let's Make Love," with Marilyn Monroe, Shirley in "The Seven Secrets Of Sumuru" or "Ten Little Indians," Klaus in "Aguirre" The Wrath Of God," Maria in "The House Of 1000 Dolls" (with George Nader), Frankie in "Horror House" or any beach movie of your choice, and George in any, or all of the Jerry Cotton films!! This is one movie where the sequel is much better than the first one, at least that's my humble opinion!

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

NOWHERE TO GO - "Except Onto A Woman's Couch" (1958)

 
Tonight's Weird Wednesday presentation is a great British film from 1958 entitled "Nowhere To Go." This film is weirder than Hell, has some amazing cast members, and the camera work is well thought out for each and every shot!

"Nowhere To Go" is about a con man played by George Nader who escapes from prison, tries to pull of a big heist, fails, and consequently has "Nowhere To Go!"

As you can see, "Nowhere To Go" is a very stylish and atmospheric film.
 
Dungeon Super Hero George Nader is Paul Gregory. He's a predator!

George Nader's list of credits is about as amazing as anyone's in the outright strange but awesome category, and you can check it out for yourself by following this link!
Just a couple of prime examples are "House Of A 1000 Dolls," "The Million Eyes Of Sumuru," "The Human Duplicators," "Robot Monster," and all the Jerry Cotton movies.
 
So much is so strange about this film, from the camera angles to the really odd cuts, it will really keep you wondering!

Even people just walking down the street are interesting!
This was Director Seth Holt's first film!

In 1971 Seth Holt passed away at the age of 47 before his last film, "Blood Of The Mummy's Tomb," was completed!

In one of her earliest roles, Dame Maggie Smith has the role of Paul Gregory's potential significant other, Bridget Howard.
Magnificent Maggie is well known these days for her ongoing role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series of films, and she's still working today!

 George Nader is another actor I absolutely cannot believe doesn't have a star on the stupid Hollywood Walk Of Fame. My word, they should be ashamed! I could give a list of at least 100 people less deserving, that do have a star.

Paul Gregory is up to his ears in trouble, and it's getting to the point where he has zero allies!

All that, and we haven't even got to the real reason I wanted to watch this movie yet!
So how do you like the entertainment in this club? It was hard to get a good shot, but the main act is a blackbird balanced on a soccer ball rolling it around in a little ring.

And her she is, everybody's favourite vampiress, Andree Melly, as Rosa the cocktail waitress who brings Paul home to her flat for the night! As quirky as ever, Rosa doesn't like the bird. 
Around these parts, Andree's most memorable role is that of Gina in "The Brides Of Dracula."

Rosa has a cat that makes it difficult for Paul to get any rest.

When the law is on your tail, it's always best to head to the rooftops!

Believe it or not, Snoop Dog, Snoopy, and Snow White have stars on the HWoF, but not Maggie Smith. I really think it's time to rethink that whole project!

For being a con man, Paul Gregory respects the women who help him out, and even sleeps on the couch in Bridget Howard's home. Bridget has one of the most interesting doors to her bedroom I have ever seen.

Not riding off into the sunset, "Nowhere To Go" is not one of those kinds of films!
There's no happy ending here.

Last, but absolutely not least, "Nowhere To Go" has got a killer jazzy soundtrack by Jamaican-born  trumpeter Dizzy Reece, with help from tenor sax player Tubby Hayes. I wasn't really that familiar with these players, so when I first read the name Dizzy Reece, it really confounded me, and I just figured out why. When I was a kid, I used to watch a lot of baseball on TV, and one the most famous pair of announcers at the time were ex-players Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese. Yeah, I know Reese is spelled differently, but that's still pretty weird!
Here's a damn fine reason this film is so good!

Monster Music

Monster Music
AAARRGGHHH!!!! Ya'll Come On Back Now, Y'Hear??