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Gli intoccabili (1969)
Exciting and prime quality Italo crime thriller blessed with a great score by Ennio Morricone.
This mobster film titled ¨Gli Intoccabili¨ or ¨Machine Gun McCain¨ (1969) talks about a just-released gangster called Hank McCain played by John Cassavetes who is pitch-perfect and Britt Ekland has a big part in this suspenseful movie . As a tough criminal called Hank (John Cassavetes) goes out from prison (it was shot at San Quentin Prison without permits) , being received by his son . One time being released from jail , two-fisted criminal Hank hooks up with his son Jack , who has assembled a gang for one robbing . As they attempt to rob a Mafia-controlled casino in Las Vegas . Unbeknownst to Hank , Jack is also involved with a mobster (Peter Falk) who utilizes Hank as a pawn so he can gain control of Vegas territory that's ordinarily being run by the boss Don Francesco De Marco (Gabriele Ferzetti) ; at the same time , the latter is under orders of Don Salvatore (Salvo Randone) . In the meantime , Hank falls in love for a young woman called Irene Tucker (Britt Ekland) and marries her in a rapid wedding in Las Vegas .
This stirring film contains suspense , action , sharp-edged set pieces , thrilling situations and terrific performance by a plethora of known main actors as well as sensational supporting cast . A very moving plot with a misfit group planning a suspenseful heist . A realistic treatment glamorizes nothing and implicates the small-time thieves , capos , and big bosses . Including some car pursuits that were shot in two days without permits using rented automobiles . The movie is slickly narrated in original manner by means of various twists , red herrings , puzzles , jigsaw , in which the main protagonist has devised a daring plan that goes awry and it finally results to be a total disaster . The picture displays usual elements noir cinema like the fatalism and tragic fate , twisted intrigue and loser characters . But the movie belongs to John Cassavetes as the public enemy who earned the alias 'The Machine Gun MacCan' , also named Hank McCain who gets released from prison after serving twelve years for armed robbery . Montalvo realized for Paramount this ¨Machine Gun MacCan¨ along with ¨Grand Slam¨ that bear remarkable resemblance , both of them deal with spectaculars hold-ups . These films received great recognition and were widely appreciated by the international public , getting big box office . Filmmaker Montalvo usually worked with an international cast , and in Machine Gun MacCan reunites some of the best actors that worked in the sixties and seventies . John Cassavetes is the first among equals from extraordinary cast . The cluster of magnificent players give extraordinary interpretations . As exceptional acting by Peter Falk as volatile and ambitious mob capo Charlie Adamo , a ringleader marvellously incarnated by Gabriele Ferzetti , Tony Kendall as ruthless killer , Florinda Bolkan , Luigi Pistilli , Val Avery , Salvo Randone as Don Salvatore and there stands out Gena Rowlands , as a lovely ¨Femme Fatale¨ . Colorful cinematography in Techniscope , but a perfect remastering being necessary . Special mention for musical score by maestro Ennio Morricone who composes a rousing and sensitive score , including wonderful ballads , adding the catching song titled ¨the ballad of MacCan¨ sung by Jackie Lynton .
The motion picture was professionally directed by Giuliano Montalvo who realizes an adequate piece of film-making , though has some flaws and gaps . Montavo is a good craftsman whose films have been shown in several nations , and won various Festival Awards and Emmy Awards . Other prizes worldwide for cinematography , production design and costumes were received in his movies , throughout a long career . His beginnings were as a directing assistant , as he made the second unit of Pontecorvo's masterpiece ¨The Battle Of Algiers¨ . After having filmed for Paramount the heist movie ¨Ad Ogni Osto¨ (1967) and this ¨Machine Gun MacCain¨ in the US, then Montaldo went back to Italy to direct ¨Gott Mit Uns¨ or ¨The Fifth Day Of Peace¨ (1969). Montalvo's experience reveals a turning point in his work in the famous politic film : ¨Sacco E Vanzetti¨ , it stars Gian Maria Volonte and Riccardo Cucciolla , that participated in competition at Cannes Film Festival , where it won Best Actor 1971 and ¨Giordano Bruno¨ (1973) also starred by Volonte . These pictures were well acclaimed by the reviewers , achieved awesome critiques and great successes at various film festivals around the world . The theme of the Resistance underlined ¨L'Agnese Va A Morire¨ directed by Montaldo in 1977 . In 1980 the director engaged in the production of a television series about the exploration of ¨Marco Polo¨ with Ken Marshall that was filmed in Italy, the Middle East, Tibet, Mongolia and China ; being an international co-production with RAI, BBC and NBC . Other films he directed are ¨Circuito Chiuso¨ that was in competition at the Berlinale in 1978 , ¨Il Giocattolo¨ , ¨Gli Occhiali D'Oro¨ or "The Gold Rimmed Glasses", ¨Il Giorno Prima¨ or ¨Project¨ , ¨L'Industriale¨ , ¨Tempo Di Uccidere¨ or "Time to Kill" and ¨Demoni Di San Pietroburgo¨ or " The Demons of St. Petersburg" .
The Homesman (2014)
Moving and powerful Western , including strong drama along with impressive cinematography and emotive musical score
Riveting film about a spinster , a drifter and a peculiar promise , being slickly developed by actor-director Tommy Lee Jones . Starring Hilary Swank returns to the heights of a career that saw her win two Best Actress Oscars by the age of 30 . This is her most recent film , The Homesman in which she starred opposite Tommy Lee Jones , John Lithgow , Meryl Streep , James Spader , among others . Here Tommy Lee Jones's acting and direction are magnificent and remaining cast is pretty well , giving terrific performances . This above average film concerns about a pious , independent-minded woman called Mary Bee Cuddy (Hilary Swank) is assigned by the village priest (John Lightow) to carry three women (Miranda Otto , Sonja Richter , and Grace Gummer , Meryl's Streep daughter) who have been driven mad by pioneer life . They have to be transported across the country by a covered wagon . The two-fisted woman obstinately carries out the dangerous assignment and in turn employs low-life drifter George Briggs (Tommy Lee Jones) to assist her . She forces the drifter for to a journey across the plains to locate the risked destination . Both of whom are determined to find the paths , through the prairies plagued by savage Indians , until the easy civilization . This journey will bring forward the stark contrast between the values of two ways of life and the landscape transversed is both geographical and emotional .
This enjoyable film is a touching and violent Western drama with elevated cinematographic values . The movie realizes an awesome actors reunion , showing the different characters and explores their apprehension , ambitions , fears and circumstances . The two protagonists result to be a pair ¨Quixotes¨ who obstinately undertake a trip whose objective looks to fulfill a pledge by whatever means . The main character George Briggs , superbly played by Tommy Lee Jones, seems to be living resolutely in the past and while the brave spinster wishes to marry him and create a family . Support cast is frankly excellent such as Barry Corbin , William Fichtner , Evan Jones , Jesse Plemons , Grace Gummer , Miranda Otto , and Tim Blake Nelson-James Spader, this duo previously appeared in ¨Lincoln¨ along with Tommy Lee and Hailee Steinfeld's second western after her Oscar-nominated , breakout role in ¨True Grit¨ . And , of course , the great Meryl Streep in her third collaboration with Tommy Lee Jones following "A Prairie Home Companion" and "Hope Springs . Intelligent and thoughtful screenplay by Kieran Fitzgerald , Wesley Oliver and the same Tommy Lee Jones , based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout that was published in 1988 ; in fact , Paul Newman owned the rights for a time, and wanted to direct the film himself , after a number of scripts, he gave up . Sensitive and evocative musical score by Marco Beltrani (Red eye , The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada) . Special mention for glimmer and fascinating cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto he splendidly reflects the impressive outdoors from the filming locations : Lumpkin , Georgia , San Miguel County , Santa Fe , Oikay Owinger Pueblo , New Mexico . Much of the movie was shot on Tommy Lee Jones's own ranch .
The film is a nice co-production , being produced , among others , by the great producer and director , the French Luc Besson . The picture was compellingly directed by Tommy Lee Jones , being his theatrical directing debut ¨The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada¨ that won a deserved prize in Cannes , this film bears a remarkable resemblance to ¨The Homesman¨ , dealing equally with a dangerous journey plenty of contrasts , attacks and many other things . His only other directing credits were the TV movies ¨Good old boys¨ (1995) and ¨The Sunset Limited¨ (2011) with Samuel L Jackson and all of them starred by Tommy Lee Jones . ¨Homesman¨ rating : Better than average , though overlong and slow-moving . Well worth watching , it's a must see for Tommy Lee Jones enthusiasts
Gun Glory (1957)
Thrilling and decent Western drama about a gunslinger attempting to settle down to ranch life
Highly watchable Western about confrontation between cattlemen and homesteaders . This Western is a superior outing because it displays emotion , shoot'em up , brawls , intrigue , riding pursuits and many other things . It deals with Tom Early (Stewart Granger) , a gunfighter and card player returns home after thee years to find the town would rather not have him . In his farm Tom finds his surly son Tom Early Jr. (Steve Rowland , director's son) who lives alone . As the cattlemen led by Grimsell (James Gregory) threaten to destroy it by stampeding cattle through the farmlands . Early regains the town's respect when he stops a murderer from invading the town with his cattle herd . At the grocery Tom meets Sam , the shopkeeper grocer (Jacques Aubuchon), who humiliates his labourer Jo (gorgeous Rhonda Fleming) . As Tom is fighting to stifle the conflicts between homesteaders and cattlemen who hire gunfighters . In the meantime , it is developed a loving triangle between the daddy Tom , his son and a good girl (Rhonda Fleming) . At the end , Tom has to face various professional killers alone , after being abandoned to his fate by the gutless townspeople who disagrees with taking up weapons .
The movie gets Western action , shootouts , a love story , thrills and results to be quite entertaining . It's a medium budget film with good actors , technicians , production values and pleasing results . It's an exciting western with breathtaking gunfight between the brave protagonist Stewart Granger against the heartless James Gregory and his nasty hoodlums ; in addition , a stirring ending fight into a narrow pass , including explosion and a spectacular stampede . This movie is a lot of fun to watch . It's an acceptable story with a touch of peculiarity , some great characters , and an amazing music score . Here filmmaker Roy Rowland delivers a decently-paced film , however he could be counted on to deliver solid "B" pictures which, at MGM , were often better than most other studios' "A" pictures . Interesting as well as moving screenplay by William Ludwig and uncredited Ben Maddow , being based on novel: "Man of the West" by the prestigious Philip Yordan . The picture is a tale of justice , redemption and about a particular relationship between a gunslinger father and a grumpy son . The basic plot is typical classic Western fare , but what makes this movie stand out is its style . Nice acting by Stewart Granger as the relentless Pistolero turned farmer , he is the ultimate hero figure , his sheer presence overwhelming . This ¨Gun glory¨ seems to be one the most exciting of his long career . Although Granger was tops at Britain's box office during the Forties , he was taken by Hollywood and a whole group of Westerns and other posse of adventures , action movies to turn Stewart into an international star . Support cast is pretty well , such as Chill Wills as Preacher , James Gregory , Jacques Aubuchon and the young Steve Rowland who usually plays films directed by his father , Roy Rowland . Colorful cinematography in glamorous Technicolor , showing splendidly the spectacular outdoors . Adequate musical score by Jeff Alexander , including a wonderful theme song , being sung by the notorious actor Burl Ives .
The motion picture was well directed by Roy Rowland . Roy sharpened his directing chops at MGM with a series of shorts starting in the 1930s, then moved up to features in 1943 . Roy spent quite a bit of time at the studio, from 1943-51 and again from 1954-58 ; he had the good fortune to marry the niece of Louis B. Mayer and was the father of actor Steve Rowland . While not one of the studio's top-rank directors , he was a good professional who had a considerable success . Most were B-movies, but he occasionally handled such A-graders . His greatest hit was , of course , the fantasy movie titled The 5000 fingers of Dr T (1953) . Rowland made an action picture for independent release based on a Mickey Spillane "Mike Hammer" novel starring Spillane himself (Girl hunters (1963)) . He specialized in a variety of genres, including musicals : ¡Viva Las Vegas! (1956) The seven hills of Rome (57) , Two weeks with love (50) and dramas : Our wines have tender grapes 45 with Edward G Robinson (1945). He was also responsible for the tough, fast-paced Rogue Cop (1954), one of the few MGM films that could be considered "film noir" . Roy was a Western expert , as the last film he made at MGM was this "B" western with Stewart Granger, Gun Glory (1957) ; besides , he filmed Outriders with Joel McCrea , Bugles in the afternoon with Ray Milland and Many rivers to cross with Robert Taylor ; after which and then he traveled to Europe for a string of Spanish/Italian-made westerns such as Los Pistoleros De Casa Grande and Ley Del Forastero . His final film as director was a somewhat cheesy pirate movie (he was uncredited ; his Italian co-director Sergio Bergonzelli got sole credit) called El Tigre De Los 7 Mares and its sequel : Tormenta Sobre el Pacífico (1966) . He was associate producer on Nathan Juran's Spain-shot Western : Al Infierno, gringo (1969), after which he retired .
¿Dónde vas, Alfonso XII? (1959)
Romantic semi-biography about king Alfonso XII and his first wife Maria De Las Mercedes of Montpesier
Alfonso XII (Vicente Parra) was King of Spain , reigning from 1874 to 1885 , after a coup d'état restored the monarchy and ended the ephemeral First Spanish Republic . Having been forced into exile after the Glorious Revolution deposed his mother Isabella II (Mercedes Vecino) from the throne in 1868 , Alfonso studied in France . There he meets Maria De Las Mercedes (Paquito Rico) and he has a crush on her . His mother abdicated in his favour in 1870 , and he returned to Spain as king in 1874 following a military coup carried out by General Martínez Campos who proclaimed in Sagunto , Alfonso XII as King of Spain . Within a few days after Canovas del Castillo (Jose Marco Davo) took power as Premier , the new King , proclaimed on 29 December 1874 , arrived at Madrid , passing through Barcelona and Valencia and was acclaimed everywhere (1875) . Initially led by Canovas del Castillo as moderate prime minister , what was thought at one time as a coup aimed at placing the military in the political-administrative positions of power, in reality ushered in a permanent civilian regime that lasted until the 1931 Second Republic . Cánovas was the real architect of the new regime of the Restoration . In 1876 Alfonso signs the ¨Constitution of 1876¨ , and carries out a vigorous campaign against the Carlists , in which the young king took part , resulted in the defeat of Don Carlos and the Duke's abandonment of the struggle . He also terminated the Cuba War , as the victory over the New York-backed Cuban revolutionaries, and led to a huge backing both by insular and peninsular Spaniards of Alfonso as a wise and able King and Alfonso is nicknamed ¨the pacifier¨ . In 1885 , Alfonso died , just short of his 28th birthday, at the Royal Palace of El Pardo . He had been suffering from tuberculosis, but the immediate cause of his death was a recurrence of dysentery .
This is a historical flick plenty of drama , emotion , romance , luxurious sets and evocative moments . Being based on the successful play by Juan Ignacio Luca de Tena and screenplay by Manuel Tamayo and Baus . The film relies heavily on the love story between Alfonso XII and Maria De Las Mercedes and the obstinate opposition of his mother Isabel II until the ultimate wedding celebration . Mediocre interpretation from the main cast , usually telling marvelous things about Spain and the Spanish people , as Vicente Parra consolidates his uneven career in his most known role and ¨Tonadillera¨ Paquita Rico sings some catching as well as grandiloquent songs . Actors recite pompous sentences and empty words , including their lost looks . The support cast is pretty good , such as Tomas Blanco , Jesús Tordesillas , Mariano Azaña , Antonio Riquelme , Rafael Bardem , Xan Das Bolas , Erasmo Pascual , Ángel Álvarez and Felix Dafauce as Duque de Montpensier , Maria Mercedes's father . The main attraction of the film turns out to be the wonderful scenarios by the prestigious production designer Enrique Alarcón , being shot on location in the lush palaces from Royal Palace of Madrid , Palacio De La Granja De San Ildefonso and Palace of Aranjuez . Colorful and glamorous cinematography by the notorious cameraman Jose F Aguayo . At the end takes place a dramatic finale , following a second part titled ¨Donde Vas Triste De Ti¨ with similar artistic and technician team in which Alfonso married a much more distant relative , Maria Christina of Austria , daughter of Archduke Karl Ferdinand and Archduchess Elisabeth of Austria , being directed by Alfonso Balcázar and produced by Eduardo Manzanos Brochero.
The motion picture was professionally directed by a good filmmaker , Luis Cesar Amadori , here this craftsman blends popular as well as historical happenings . Amadori was an Italian-born former journalist and music critic who became a leading stage producer and dramatist , and , subsequently, writer-director of motion pictures in Argentina . Luis was manager in 150 theatrical spectacles . He debuts in ¨Puerto Nuevo¨(1936) co-directed by Mario Soffici . Amadori often used the pseudonym ¨Gabriel Peña¨ when he wrote his scripts . After the overthrow of Peron worked in Spain for a decade , for 1958 to 1968 he made 17 films , such as : 1965 Más Bonita Que Ninguna , 1964 El Señor De La Salle with Mel Ferrer , 1964 Como Dos Gotas Agua , 1963 La Casta Susana , 1961 Pecado De Amor , 1961 Alerta en el Cielo , 1960 Mi Ultimo tango , 1960 Un Trono para Cristy , 1959 Una Gran Señora , 1958 Una Muchachita De Valladolid . Most of them were vehicles of popular actresses as Rocio Durcal , Marujita Diaz , ¨Pili and Mili¨ and Sara Montiel with whom made his biggest success ¨La Violetera¨ (1958) .
Versailles (2015)
Pretty good TV series , lavishly produced , dealing with historical characters : Louis XIV , Philippe d'Orléans , among others
Based on historic deeds about intrigue and power-fight in Louis XIV court . This costumer movie is partially based on real events and starts in 1667 , with 28-year-old all-powerful king of France, Louis XIV . It toplines two rising British stars , Georges Blagden ("Vikings") in the role of Louis XIV and Alexander Vlahos in the role of Monsieur , the Sun King's enigmatic as well as gay brother whose couple is the scheming Chevalier , Evan Williams . His reign of 72 years and 110 days is the longest of any monarch of a major country in European history , he married Marie-Thérèse (Elisa Lasowski) and being son of Anne of Austria (Dominique Blanc) and Louis XIII (David Stanley) . It's developed in the court of Louis XIV who decides to build the greatest palace in the world - Versailles . This well-known monarch governed in domains where the sun never set ; as Louis continued his predecessors' work of creating a centralized state governed from the capital . We should have the same intelligence as this monarch and take advantage of the power of this story and of its marvellous renaissance background . He sought to eliminate the remnants of feudalism persisting in parts of France and , by compelling many members of the nobility to inhabit his lavish Palace of Versailles -formerly a hunting lodge belonging to Louis's father- , succeeded in pacifying the aristocracy , many members of which had participated in the Fronde rebellion during Louis's minority . However , his brother Monsieur Philippe d'Orléans (Alexander Vlahos) has for some time been relegated to a lesser role in the Court , due to the growing power of the King' most influential secretaries , Bontemps (Stuart Bowman) , Colbert (Steve Cumyn) and especially the security chief , the relentless executioner , Fabien Marchal (Tygh Runyan) . Meantime , the situation of France is threatened by Holland ruled under charismatic William of Orange (George Webster) , being the situation of Louis XIV extremely dangerous and delicate . In the meantime , Louis decides to construct a big palace at an inhospitable place , but drained Budget , affairs and political intrigues complicate things . Louis XIV is in constant conflict with his workers and those traitors who possesses privileged information can acquire immense fortunes . During Louis's reign , France was the leading European power and it fought three major wars : the Franco-Dutch War, the War of the League of Augsburg, and the War of the Spanish Succession . Then , a dark conspiracy and the harassing by William of Orange make Versailles an uncomfortable place .
This upscale epic drama penned by David Wolstencroft ("The Escape Artist") and Simon Mirren ("Criminal Minds" , ¨Third watch¨) , The 10-episode show was big budgeted , developed and co-produced by Canal Plus' original creation division . The series was in development for five years before the cameras started to roll . As of 2015, this is the most expensive television show ever produced in France . Despite being a largely French-financed project, the series was shot in English with an eye toward a larger international audience. According to costume designer Madeline Fontaine, the production required the making of about 100 key cast member costume , and about 200 mass-produced extras costumes. The Emmy Awards hosted an exclusive screening of the series pilot for its members during a board meeting in Versailles . Produced by Zodiak Fiction and Incendo , bowed onseries broke ratings record for an original drama on Canal Plus since 2013 .
This TV series recreates faithfully the historical facts , as long time us separate from the events are to narrate , but the shadows still hide from the public this great historic moment , and the significance of such deeds . ¨Versailles¨ TV series is filled with those lights and shadows , gathers such a very important known event recreated in the artistic frame called French Golden Age , characterized and inspired by the ideas of an absolutism realm . The series contributes to historical , artistical and cultural memory of an era , with a look back to the past , offering us an interesting adaptation on important events . This is a lavish budget but slowly-paced costumer and full of nudism and simulated sex with a good cast who gives nice interpretations , it has Georges Blagden as authoritarian King . Personality and charisma of George Blagden's portrayal as one of the most remarkable European kings that ever reigned . His wife Marie-Thérèse is well played by Elisa Lasowski and his homosexual brother Monsieur Philippe d'Orléans by Alexander Vlahos , and married to Henriette performed by Noémie Schmidt whose gorgeous beauty is difficult to resist . And Tygh Runyan as Marchal gives his big opportunity to really shine . Amira Casar gives a convincing character as astute and mean Béatrice . Stuart Bowman plays with enormous distinction as Bontemps , the incorruptible as well as cunning adviser . The rest of the supporting cast is nice , such as the gay lover Chevalier acted by Evan Williams , Anatole Taubman as traitor Montcourt , Lizzie Brocheré as the doctor Claudine , Sarah Winter as Louise and several others . The series is marvelously photographed throughout as well as written and directed . Extraordinary costume design accompanied by colorful cinematography filmed on location . As the costume team consisted of about thirty people , including the series' main designer, her auxiliary design team, stitchers and fitters . Luxurious sets make excellent use of real locations in Versailles and it has a look of a great TV production . ¨Versailles¨ has been greenlit by the French pay TV giant for a second season (the first is set in the year 1667) that takes place four years after the events in season one.
Le lunghe notti della Gestapo (1977)
A lousy representation in a nasty and disagreeable sub-genre , the Nazi-exploitation
This below-average and erotic 70s movie filled with sexual manipulation , perversion , humiliation , female nudity , and sleaze events ; being set at a Nazi mansion . This embarrassing film is filled with sexually-warped as well as rare characters , quirky sex in which the roles play various humiliating games with their victims , forcing them to execute suggested erotic games . It concerns about an illustrious group of German bourgeois industrialists scheme to overthrow Hitler by negotiating a peace treaty with England . 10 May 1941 Rudolph Hess , Secretary of the Nazi party , Hitler's chosen successor , number two in the Reich flies to England , it was a dramatic and disturbing escape . Disgraced , but dedicated Standartenführer SS Werner von Uhlandis (Ezio Miani) is accused for collaborating with Hess . However , being forgiven and he is assigned by Himmler to a complicated mission , to ferret out these deceitful dissidents , these middle-class people are the followings : Helmut Von Danzig (Fred Williams) , Erich Schwab (Luciano Rossi) , General Von Guderwal (Mike Morris) , among others . SS Werner must stop them before it's too late . Von Uhland recruits a group of gorgeous girls (Alessandra Palladino , Penalti , Francesca Righini , and several others) to seduce these traitors and undermine their conspiracy . Later on , the women being tortured and humiliated . At 3,30 a.m. on June 22 1941 , as the Schloss Grunewald massacre shattered the resistance of the German intelligentsia , Hitler launched the attack on Russia . The Nazi hierarchy created the most depraved society the world has ever known . At the end the film states : ¨The sleep of reason generates monsters¨.
Strange exploitation film by Fabio De Agostini dealing with obsession , perversion and strong tortures . This inferior Euro-sleaze effort criticizes the decadence of bourgeoisie in Nazi Germany and explores the perverse dialectic between power and sexuality , including amount of nudity , sex , and misogynistic degradation . It's also a convenient excuse to show beautiful and frequently naked European actresses being abused and sexually degraded . Slow-moving tale plenty of nudism , sexually charged mood-pieces , sadomasochism , sadistic tortures , surprising ending and an almost diabolic badness . A weird flick that contains drama , sadism , deprivation , copious naked scenes , some twisted events and a lot of characters mistreating girls due to their traumatic lives . This psycho-historical-erotic-drama revolves around several themes as physical possession , domination , humiliating games and sexuality . This dull and disturbing picture is well set in Germany , 1941 , where takes place the complex relationship among some characters and including a surprising finale . The film relies heavily on the relationship between them , and it does a little bit boring . The cast is really unknown , giving ridiculous acting , as Ezio Miani playing the Nazi officer Colonel Werner Von Uhland assigned by his superiors a twisted assignment , he is a dominating person who carries out the Himmler plans to discover the conspirators , Fred Williams who acted for Jess Frank in various films and Luciano Rossi who performed several Giallos and Spaghetti , usually in offbeat roles . Furthermore , an uncredited Tom Felleghy who also played various Spaghetti.
The picture belong to ¨Porno-Gestapo¨ genre also called ¨Nazi-sexploitation¨ , whose first representation was ¨Love Camp 7¨ (1970) by Lee Frost , and subsequently , the successful and strong ¨Il Portiere Di Notte¨ (1974) by Liliana Cavani , ¨Salo or 120 in Sodoma¨ by Pier Paolo Pasolini . And , of course , ¨Salon Kitty¨ (1975) by Tinto Brass that mainly began the popular series of Porno Gestapo in which ordinarily dealt with sexual practices of Nazi officers and ¨Ilsa , She Wolf of the SS¨ (1974) by Don Edmons and its sequels . Its commercial hit caused a real ¨boom¨ and succeeded a lot of knock-offs and imitations such as ¨La Svatica Nel Vientre¨(1976) by Mario Caiano , ¨Le Deportate Della SS¨ (1976) by Rino Di Silvestro , ¨Love Nazi¨ or ¨SS Lager 5¨ (1977) by Segio Garrone , L'ultima Orgia Del Terzo Reich¨ (1977) by Cesare Canevari , ¨La Bettia in Calore¨ (1977) by Ivan Katansky , "Private House of the SS" (1977) by Bruno Mattei , ¨Elsa Fraulein SS¨ with Malisa Longo , ¨SS Il Treno Del Piacere¨(1977) by James Gartner and finally ¨Senso 45¨ by Tinto Brass . If you're into this sort of stuff but can't handle the rougher WIP, Nunsploitation, or Nazi death camp movies, this one , Le Lunghe Notti Della Gestapo (1977) , might be for you.
Great Day in the Morning (1956)
Great , stand-out Western , perfectly acted and compellingly shot by a nice craftsman , Jacques Tourneur
¨Great day in the morning¨ is well starred by Robert Stack dealing with facing off between Union and Confederation . This excellent , meaty Western contains interesting plot , thrills , brawls , shoot'em up and turns out to be quite entertaining . This outstanding Tourneur Western balances action , suspense and drama . Set in Colorado territory , during the early days of the American Civil war (1861-1865) . Circa 1861 , a stranger Southerner named Owen Pentecost (Robert Stack) arrives in a town , Denver , (Colorado) where he takes on a real villain and falls in love for two women . There the powerful owner (Raymond Burr) gives him an opportunity to a big card game and our Southern gunslinger finds himself equally interested in the two local ladies . The former gunfighter turned hotel manager meets a motley group of characters : Ann Merry Alaine (Virginia Mayo) , one newly arrived from the East to open a dress shop , ¨The wildcat¨ (Ruth Roman) , when she couldn't outshoot a man she used other weapons , a Northern spy (Alex Nicol) and the relentless killer (Leo Gordon) who liked to play with lives . And of course , ¨The land baron¨ (Raymond Burr) , the owned the town hotel , hardware , lock , livestock and gun barrel . And Pentecost , then , has to make even more essential choices when , with the start of the Civil War , seeks justice and at the same time attempts to transport some supplies to Confederation . As the rebel sympathizer and two Northern spies -Col. Gibson (Carleton Young) , Captain Stephen Kirby (Alex Nicol)- are both after Colorado gold to help finance the Civil War . At the end takes place the bugle blast that echoed thru history , including a pretty spectacular pursuit between Union cavalry and Confederated wagons .
Rip roarin' and moving Western set in Denver in which a Southern adventurer turned hotel manager and gets into many problems . This grand Western in the tradition of ¨Red River¨ and ¨High Noon¨ contains an intelligent writing , emotion , violence , go riding , double crosses , crossfire and results to be quite enjoyable . It's a classic recounting about an upright man seeking justice and attempting to execute the Confederate purports , as he becomes one of a small minority in a strongly Unionist town . The public likes big Westerns and here to satisfy them is a big adventure , starring big box office favorites of the 50s , Virginia Mayo , Robert Stack , Ruth Roman , with the kind of high pitched excitement that pay off . The traditional story and exciting screenplay by Lesser Samuels being based on the novel written by Robert Hardy Andrews . Here filmmaker Tourneur gets a good Western by showing a great command of mood and atmosphere . Top-notch Robert Stack as Pentecost who finds himself the owner of a Denver hotel and becomes involved with two women , as well as magnificent Raymond Burr as a proud baron land who seeks vengeance . Support cast is frankly excellent such as Alex Nicol , Leo Gordon , Donald MacDonald , Carleton Young and Regis Toomey . Thrilling and atmospheric musical score by Leith Stevens . Colorful cinematography in Technicolor -photographed in Ansco Color by Pathe- by director of photography William Snyder .
This is another superbly powerful triumph from RKO and producer Edmund Grainger who brought other Westerns as Cimarron , The Sheepman , The Treasure of Pancho Villa , The Fabulous Texan and Wild Bill Hickok Rides . It is probably one of the best Western in the fifties and sixties . The motion picture was decently directed by Jacques Tourneur . Born in Paris , Tourneur went to Hollywood with his father , director Maurice Tourneur around 1913 . Jacques directed all kinds of genres , he was an expert on Noir cinema , such as the classic ¨Out of the past¨ and ¨Nightfall¨(1956) ; Suspense : ¨Experiment perilous¨(1945) , ¨Berlin Express¨ (48) , ¨The Fearmakers¨ (1958) ; Peplum : ¨The giant of Marathon¨ (60) ; Wartime : ¨Days of glory¨ (1943) and adventures as ¨Flame and the arrow¨ , ¨Timbuktu¨ , ¨Appointment in Honduras¨,¨Way of a Gaucho¨ , ¨Anne of the Indies¨, ¨City under the sea¨ ; but he was best known for his terror cinema with producer Val Lewton such as ¨Cat people¨ , ¨Leopard man¨, ¨I walked with a Zombie¨, ¨Night of demon¨ and an amusing horror/comedy : ¨The Comedy of Terrors¨. He went on to direct masterpieces in many different genres and in Western he made various films : The masterpiece titled ¨Canyon passage¨(1946) , ¨Mission of Danger¨ , ¨Frontier Rangers¨ , ¨Strange on horseback¨ (1955) , ¨Star in my Crown¨ (1956) with Joel McCrea , ¨Wichita¨(1955) equally with Joel McCrea as Wyatt Earp formerly to OK Corral duel and this one . He finally directed episodes of ¨Norhwest passage¨ (1958) titled Frontier Rangers , Fury River and Mission of danger . ¨Great day in the morning¨ rating : Well worth watching and it will appeal to Virginia Mayo fans .
La legge (1959)
Decent Dassin film in which an attractive girl becomes involved with wrong decisions to marry a poor engineer
This drama with brief touches of comedy deals with an unfortunate girl called Marietta (Gina Lollobrigida , though both , Carol Baker and Scilla Gabel , had been contacted to play Marietta's part) , servant of aristocrat Don Cesare (Pierre Brasseur) , she is a beautiful woman living in a Sicilian little town where people gather nightly in the tavern for the 'game of the Law' , selecting one by lot to boss and humiliate the others . Marietta , who is pursued by every male in town , is in love with Enrico (Marcelo Mastroianni) , an equally impoverished agricultural engineer . There are various love stories : the judge's wife (Melina Mercouri) chases Francesco (Raf Mattioli) , son of crime mobster Matteo , who is after Marietta . Meanwhile , local boss Brigante (Ives Montand) wants to make sure that his son Francesco doesn't get too involved with the unsuitable Lucrezia , the judge's wife . And Marietta wants engineer Enrico for a hubby , but he claims he's too poor to marry . Marietta then decides to rob herself a dowry from a tourist . Furthermore , there appears the Comissario (Vittorio Caprioli) and her lover Giuseppina (Lidia Alfonsi) , the Judge , Tonio (Paolo Stoppa) and other villagers (Franco Pesce) . All of them are living in a small fishing village near from sea . The whole events lead to disagreeable deeds with fateful consequences .
This film -in which illicit as well as interwoven passions abound- has comedy , drama , emotion , social habits but also contains some embarrassing situations . This ¨Dramedy¨ is pretty well , but sometimes results to be slow-moving and a little bit boring . Director Jules Dassin directs this predominantly romantic drama in which stands out themes about power excesses and various triangular romances that pervade in the Sicilian town . Sympathetic acting by the gorgeous busty Gina Lollobrigida who comes up with an unique way to get money for her dowry , robbing a lot of cash . She is the Bellezza of an Italian town , while Gina is the flame , Ives Montand is the fuse that sets them on fire . Secondary cast is frankly excellent , such as the French Pierre Brasseur and the great Melina Mercouri who co-starred opposite Jules Dassin in his film Never on Sunday (1960) , Rififi (1954) and Phaedra (1961) . In addition , it appears their son : Joe Dassin, who was a popular French singer in the 1960s and 70s . The picture packs an evocative cinematography shot on location in Carpino , Foggia , Apulia, Italy . Atmospheric and appropriate musical score by Roman Vlad .
The motion picture was professionally directed by Jules Dassin , though has some flaws and gaps . At his beginnings Jules became a stage actor and was a member of a Jewish troupe , as he played character roles in Yiddish . At that time , he joined the Communist Party of the United States , but left the party in 1939 , he said , disillusioned after the Soviet Union signed a pact with Adolf Hitler . He subsequently turned into filmmaker , Dassin's best directorial works for Hollywood include such a dated patriotic flag-waver titled Reunion in France (1942) with John Wayne , Joan Crawford ; a fantastic comedy titled The Canterville ghost (1944) , and criminal dramas as The brute force (1947) , starring Burt Lancaster ; The naked city (1948), one of the first police dramas shot on the streets of New York ; and Night in the city (1950) starring Richard Widmark as a hustler in London who is caught up in his own schemes . While he was assigned by producer Darryl F. Zanuck to make the film , Dassin was accused of affiliation with the Communist Party in his past . As Jules was in the ¨Black List¨ during McCarthy time . He left the United States for France in 1953 and struggled during his first years in Paris . He was not fluent in French , and his connections were limited and at his early stay had little success . At that time , the anti-Communist witch hunt in America was fading , and Dassin was accepted again . However , Dassin's low-budget film , Rififi (1955), famous for its long heist sequence that was free of dialog , (1964) , won him the Best Director Award at the 1955 Cannes Film Festival . Dassin received two Academy Award-nominations for directing and screen-writing for Topkapi , his greatest hit smash . Jules , finally , directed two failed movies as A dream of passion (1978) and A circle of two (1980)
La verbena de la Paloma (1963)
Fun adaptation based on famous Spanish 'Zarzuela' dealing with a little love drama between Julián, an honest typesetter, and 'chulapa' Susana
La Verbena De La Paloma (The fair of the dove) is an 1894 Zarzuela with a libretto by Ricardo De la Vega and music by Tomás Bretón . The work premiered in Madrid in 1894 and produced a great success for the authors , leading quickly to a debut in South America where it premiered the same year in Buenos Aires . This is the third cinematographic retelling , being exhibited in 1963 , realised by José Luis Sáenz Heredia , produced by Benito Perojo and Cesareo Gonzalez/Suevia Films ; it was starred by a great cast as Concha Velasco , Irán Eory , Vicente Parra y Miguel Ligero Rodríguez . Orchestra direction at charge of Gregorio García Segura, who had opportunity to add musicalization , a musical theme that was used in the final scene . The narrator of the film explains to us that the Madrid of today keeps its old structure . To confirm it , the film begins with a tale based on modern roles , but soon jumps 70 years back into the past and the plot follows the Spanish "Zarzuela" , the most known : "La Verbena De la Paloma" . It concerns about the beautiful brunette Susana (Concha Velasco) and her sister blonde Casta (Iran Eory) , who live with their aunt Antonia (Milagros Leal) , an old little matchmaker , flirt with the apothecary , Boticario Don Hilarión (Miguel Ligero) , a rogue old man who gets his hopes up , not realizing that the two girls just want to have fun playing with him . This game causes Julián's (Vicente Parra) jealousy , always staffed by maternal and adviser Señá Rita (Mercedes Vecino) . After some adventures in the festival , the old man is mocked and love triumphs between Julián and Susana .
It has a prologue and an epilogue in which the same director Heredia gives a praise about the classical characters , stating they are still alive along the time . The staging is very well achieved and we can watch some surprising sequences , as the fight between "Don Hilarion" and "Julian" and the splendid recreation of the old fairground . Lavish and nice production design by the prestigious Enrique Alarcón . Including unforgettable dances and immortal songs such as ¨Donde Vas Con Mantón De Manila¨... It has a superb cast that gets over-the-top performances . There stands out Concha Velasco who sings and dances magnificently and with great slickness . Special mention for Milagros Leal as grumpy , old spinster called aunt Antonia . And , of course , the great Miguel Ligero who steals the show as elderly pharmacist or ¨Boticario¨ , ¨Don Hilarion¨.
There are three cinematic versions of the ¨Dove Fair¨ . It was adapted for the cinema in 1921 by José Buchs . The first premiered in the Circo Price de Madrid , a silent film produced by Atlántida , and directed by José Buchs, it resulted to be a hit smash . This picture was even supported by the same Tomás Bretón . In the decade of the 1930s rekindled a deep interest for the ¨Género Chico¨. Being subsequently directed La Verbena De La Paloma (Paloma Fair) by a big production company , Cifesa , under direction by Benito Perojo (1935) . Made during the Spanish Republic , in black and white with some scenes in color, it was the first Spaniard picture to use Technicolor . It was starred by Raquel Rodrigo and Miguel Ligero . Both of them were shot in studio , while the 1963 rendition was partially shot in outdoors scenarios , being also produced by Benito Perojo and repeating Miguel Ligero . Furthermore , a TV version La Verbena De La Paloma (1996).
This Verbena De La Paloma was well directed by Jose Luis Saenz De Heredia . He was a controversial figure in Spain because of his strong and unabashed support of dictator Francisco Franco . At the beginning his career he was hired by Luis Buñuel , as executive producer , to direct ¨La Hija De Juan Simon¨ (1935) and ¨Quien Me Quiere a Mi¨ . During the Spanish Civil War , Jose Luis Heredia is detained but freed thanks to Luis Buñuel and Santiago Ontañon . Heredia directed various ¨Propaganda films¨ . It is well known the main title ¨Raza¨ written by General Francisco Franco under pseudonym : ¨Jaime Andrade¨ . As Jose Luis became the official filmmaker of the dictatorship , as he writes ¨Escuadrilla¨ (1941) . Posteriorly ,in the 40s , he directs several successful dramas : ¨El Escandalo¨ (43) based on Pedro Alarcón novel , ¨Mariona Rebull¨(1947) based on Ignacio Agusti book , ¨La Aguas Bajan Negras¨ based on Armanado Palacio Valdes , ¨El Destino Se Disculpa¨ based on Wenceslao Fernández Florez , ¨Don Juan¨ based on Don Juan Tenorio by Zorrilla , ¨Bambu¨ about the Cuba War and ¨¨Mies Es Mucha¨. In addition , a very good drama about Carlistas wars : ¨Diez Fusiles Esperan¨ . Heredia subsequently makes inferior comedies as ¨Grano De Mostaza¨, ¨Derechos De La Mujer¨ and ¨La Decente¨ . And various Manolo Escobar/Concha Velasco vehicles such as ¨Pero En Que País Vivimos¨, ¨Juicio De Faldas¨, Relaciones Casi Publicas ¨and ¨Me Debes Un Muerto¨. And other films for Paco Martínez Soria: ¨Se Armo El Belen¨, ¨Don Erre Que Erre¨. His greatest hits were ¨Historia De La Radio¨(1955) and this ¨La Verbena De La Paloma¨.
36 Quai des Orfèvres (2004)
Violent and amazing crime thriller jammed with intense drama , top-drawer performances and spectacular action scenes
Thrilling and intelligent cop thriller about police world , corruption and delinquency ; revolving around two detectives who try to solve a series of armored car robberies in the hopes of landing a promotion promised to whoever catches the perpetrators . A stylish , complex movie driven by two main characters . This exciting film contains action , violence , thrills , treason , suspense and plot twists . Top-notch thriller in which nothing is the way it seems , the atmosphere is already tense and the twists and turns are the best part of this movie . In other ways , it feels like a tribute to ¨Polar¨ genre or French Noir Cinema , full of attractive roles and edge-of-your-seat intrigue . The Police is frustrated by a dangerous band who carries out bold robberies , they are the most famous armed thieves of Paris . But their irresistible rise and sudden fall to be ended with a surprising arrest by a denouncement proceeded by an informer . Leo Vrinks (Daniel Auteuil) and Denis Klein (Gérard Depardieu) are two cops who take on a strong battle of wits . Both , Vrinks and Klein , seeking promotion , and the imminent departure of the superior boss (Andre Dussollier) sets the scene for them to compete for the vacant job . Klein , married to wealthy mistress called Hélène (Anne Consigny) , wishes a rapid work advancement and at whatever cost . Vrinks , encounter with a source , Hugo Silien (Roschdy Zem) , becomes involved with a killing . This meeting to be aware Klein , he then seizes the opportunity to up and manages for the detention of Leo . When Klein viciously involves Vrinks' spouse (Valeria Golino) the happenings go awry . Vrinks returns from prison and he has disowned nothing of his past , as he comes back into his former life and then emerges violence , chases , betrayal and relentless as well as inevitable vendetta .
Formula thriller filled with gritty intrigue , crisply edition , tension , suspenseful and lots of violence . It is a flick of interwoven lives structured in two protagonists , crossed by a web of suspense that is resolved in the last story in a surprising finale . Furthermore , a real description about the underbelly of the Parisian criminal world , including a ruthless gang committing a series of violent robberies . The flick revolves around tragic events become complex throughout the movie . The competition between them becomes increasingly hard and blurs the usual lines of ethic and morality , until there seems no difference between police and delinquents they pursue . This serious and truly original film with groundbreaking narrative results to be a fantastically intriguing story of ambition , corruption , deceiving and killing , being very well done , swiftly paced and including a twisted screenplay . The film was noteworthy for casting some of the finest actors in France . Exceptional acting by Daniel Auteuil as an unfortunate cop who executes a merciless vengeance and nice Gerard Depardieu as ambitious police with dark purports . Support cast is frankly good , such as Valeria Golino , André Dussollier , Roschdy Zem , Anne Consigny , Mylène Jampanoï and Daniel Duval as Eddy Valance , a good French actor who played several Noir flicks . And special mention for Mylène Demongeot who long time ago starred several films of all kinds of genres . The picture achieved big success , whose visa d'exploitation in France was #104874 , and it was nominated various prizes César and considered to be one of the best thrillers of the year in which you'll leave the cinema shaken and moved . Thrilling as well as evocative musical score by Erwann Kermorvant and Axelle Renoir who have composed successful films , both of whom elevate the emotion and the intensity of the scenes to new heights . Colorful as well as dark cinematography by Denis Rouden .
Olivier Marchal did a formidable job with ¨36th precinct¨ . Olivier then wrote the first draft of the interesting screenplay himself , and so on ; being helped by Franck Mancuso , Julien Rappeneau and Dominique Loiseau . Olivier is a notorious writer/director and he formerly was a police officer . As Olivier Marchal started taking acting lessons when he still was a police officer . He began his career in televisión , appearing in supporting parts or writing scripts for detective TV series . In 1989 when Yves Rénier resurrected his TV series Commissaire Moulin (1976) he became his partner as scriptwriter , series supervisor and sometimes actor . In 2000 he starred as Commandant Pierre Rivière in his own TV series "Police district" (1999) , written by novelist Hugues Pagan , himself also a former police officer . His films are usually played by same actors such as : Gerard Depardieu , Daniel Auteuil , Daniel Duval , Francis Renaud and Catherine Marchal . Olivier Marchal , a great actor/writer/director has directed sensational French thrillers , just like "36th Precinct" , ¨Gangsters¨ , ¨Diamond 13¨, ¨Mr73¨ and ¨Les Lyonnais¨ (2011) as good as this "36 Quai Des Orfèvres" (France original title) also titled "36th Precinct" (international title).