'A Bell From Hell' DVD

Wow watched this last night and it was totally brilliant. I'd read reviews of it over the years and finally bought it (from Pacific DVD) - I was intrigued by the fact that the director, Claudio Guerín Hill had tragically died on the last day of shooting (was there a curse? laughs). It's a revenge story about a guy ('John', played by Renaud Verley) who is released from a mental institution who heads for home to reap revenge on his Aunt and her three daughters (for having put him there).

It had the feel of a giallo which was great, in fact the writer was Santiago Moncada, who gave us 'All the Colors of the Dark' and 'Hatchet for the Honeymoon', he also wrote 'Che fanno i nostri supermen tra le vergini della giungla?' (Supermen), but that's another story altogether!

There are genuine bits of on the 'edge of your seat' to be found here, after all John has worked in an abattoir to get some training... (actually I found the scenes of cattle being killed rather disgusting and reminiscent of Eloy de la Iglesia's 'Cannibal Man'). Viveca Lindfors plays John's evil, wheel-chair bound Aunt Marta, I say evil, I mean she has had him declared insane in order to steal his inheritance. John plays strange practical jokes that are frightening and hilarious at the same time - I love the bit where he pulls his eyes out.

The pathfinder DVD had special features, but they weren't special at all really, interviews and trailers are what I want! At least the film is nice and clear, even though I've read that pieces have been cut, I'm not too bothered.

While I'm here I might as well mention that I have also seen 'A Bullet For The General' ('¿Quien sabe?' directed by Damiano Damiani 1967) AND ('Companeros' ('Vamos a matar, compañeros' directed by Sergio Corbucci 1971). Both of these were DVD's from the 'Once Upon A Time In Italy' box-set (the chinese Anchor Bay rip-off one I got on ebay for about £11) The first one played fine but the second one I had lots of trouble with as the disc kept 'freezing' - well that will serve me right for getting cheapo DVD's I suppose. Anyway 'A Bullet...' was brilliant especially as it starred one of my favourite Hammer girls, Martine Beswick and Klaus Kinski as a bible thumping revolutionary. 'Companeros' was great too (having Franco Nero & Tomas Milian is usually a safe bet, apparently this was their first film together) Jack Palance is in it too as a joint smoking baddie with a hawk called 'Marsha', who once had to eat his wrist away to set him (Jack) free - nice.

Right - that's enough talk for one day.

Back from New York...

Well we are back home after a week in New York. Had a great time. I spent loads of money on DVD's, CD's, t-shirts, and toys - New York is one big shopping trip, after you've seen the usual sights there's not much else to do but go shopping, or eat yourself to death.

Went to the Guggenheim Museum (big disappointment - a huge mirrored installation by Daniel Buren obscures half of the fantastic winding stairwell - the other works were also of virtually no interest to me either, I mean, you can see a Kandinsky or Klee in any museum in the world and as for that wooden shed-radio...), later that day we went to the American Museum of Natural History which was totally brilliant and massive, I really enjoyed myself, as I always do looking at sea creatures. There was a butterfly conservatory too which was fun, though stiflingly hot. We had planned to go to the Aquarium at Coney Island, but looking at the entrance there was about 4 million school kids queuing, so we walked along the beach front looking at all the old fairground rides (you could really imagine old-time freak shows there).

Also saw the 'Little Boy: The Arts of Japan’s Exploding Subculture' at the Japan Society Gallery. Oh my god! It was SO brilliant, honestly was the best exhibition I have ever seen. Featured a wealth of Japanese toys, plus Hello Kitty, Godzilla, Gamera, and works by Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, Takano Aya and Tsubaki Noboru amongst others. I really want the book of dissected monsters! I actually got to see episodes of Ultra Seven too, which look amazing.

Went to a place called the Ritz Diner every morning for breakfast - so American! I have eaten enough eggs to last me a lifetime. Had supper in a contemporary Mexican restaurant one evening in Hell's Kitchen (it was called Hell's Kitchen too) - I had seared tuna for the first time and was really scared as it looked like sushi but was gorgeous. It's a great city if you're a vegetarian as the restaurants are so diverse (as are the city's inhabitants).

Found a great shop in Chinatown that David had recommended - it was full of San-x and Sanrio products. I bought loads of stuff way cheaper than they would be in London, yippee! Chinatown in NY makes ours look like a hamlet (and a small one at that).

In the evening we avoided trendy places and went to local bars full of regulars where the music played was hilarious/dreadful, I'm talking serious stadium rock. The multiple TV screens was the only downer, as you find yourself staring at them. Not being able to smoke wasn't as bad as I had imagined, everyone goes outside for a cigarette - still I think it's a shame, and I'm dreading the day (which is really soon) London does the same and bans smoking outright in bars and restaurants. I need a smoke with my beer!

Ah well, back at work now and at home I'm enjoying my DVD's. I bought both box-sets of 'Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected', Doctor Who - 'The Green Death', Two double-feature Midnite Movies, 'Abby', 'Godzilla - Tokyo S.O.S.', 'Logan's Run' and one of my favourite films ever... 'Dead Ringer' (which has two nice extra features, making a change for old movies).

Anyway I'm off as I'm starving.

'Lady in a Cage' DVD

Wow, watched this last night and it's got to be one of the best films I've seen in years. I'd read about it loads, being a 'hag film' lover (although Olivia De Havilland is hardly what I would call a hag). It was directed by Walter Grauman in '64 - I've never heard of him before and looking at imdb he hasn't done anything I've seen, shame.

De Havilland plays an upper-middle class woman living in luxury whilst doting on her (gay?) son. She's recently had hip problems (don't we all?) and is slightly incapacitated (walks with a stick). She has an elevator in her large house enabling her to get upstairs easily. However one day (during a sweltering 4th July holiday weekend, while her son is away) there is an electrical power cut whilst she is aboard her 'cage' (elevator). This leaves her trapped 9 feet above the floor. Her emergency alarm bell attracts a wino/thief who in turn arouses the suspicions of a gang of nasty petty criminals, lead by James Caan .

It's done in a kind of 'Baby Jane' style, but without the hysterics. I think back in the early sixties this film must have been quite shocking, James Caan plays a psycho-ish criminal with an unexpectedly nasty side. The torment poor Olivia goes through is relentless (and brilliant!) - this was a role Davis or Crawford could have done so easily. Essential viewing if you're into 'hag movies'... Shame the DVD didn't have any special features, not even a trailer, but you can't have everything. Wish, wish, wish the TV movie 'The Screaming Woman' (with De Havilland) would get a DVD release.

Most recent

Hi! Well as for a personal update, my sister has left her boyfriend, moved out and is sharing a flat in town. Total party girl again - she's been out on the beer almost every night since. I wish her SO much love and happiness as she is a total princess.

We went to a record fair at Olympia on Saturday, it was rubbish as usual. David and his mate Michael came to (who is always a laugh as he talks so loudly and I'm sure offends people in the process - good). Picked up a couple of CD's - 'Who's Afraid Of The Art Of Noise?' and a lounge library compilation entitled 'Soundsational'! Did find a Dead Or Alive sew on patch that is totally hideous/brilliant. Met David again in the evening and went to the 'Dovetail' and the 'Three Kings' in Farringdon. So I had the customary hangover on Sunday - suffered with horizontigo all day which forced me to watch hours of TV and DVD's...

We've booked our flight to New York and should be there this time next week. I'm very excited, so many DVD's and so little time. Might have to get a bigger rucksack to carry all my purchases in.

As for films I've watched, I've seen 'Run Man Run' ('Corri, uomo, corri' directed by Sergio Sollima '68) a great spaghetti western starring Tomas Milian. The film has lots of moments of comedy and the scenery is fantastic. Milian must have been a real hero in Italy during the seventies.

'The Incredible Hulk Returns' & 'The Trial of the Incredible Hulk' on a double disc set from Anchor Bay, which were kind of what I was expecting, nice extras on the discs - Lou Ferrigno comes across as a really nice bloke.

'Hercules The Avenger' ('La Sfida dei giganti' directed by Maurizio Lucidi '65) starring my second favourite peplum actor, Reg Park. I had thought the DVD was released by Image Entertainment and not Retromedia, so I was expecting a much better print, but at least I've been able to see it. It's basically a rehash of Mario Bava's 'Hercules in the Haunted World', with very similar story lines and sets - even the coloured lighting was bava-esque. The priestess at the temple has the best face of make-up ever!

'Son of Hercules in the Land of Darkness' ('Ercole l'invincibile' directed by Alvaro Mancori '63) starring Dan Vadis, this time sporting a beard. The print was (like all of the '50 Movie Sci Fi Classics' box set) totally shite, at times I couldn't even make out facial features on the actors. However, as a fan of peplum films, seeing a shit version is better than not seeing a version at all. All said, I did enjoy it, especially the scene where elephants are chained to Vadis and try to pull him apart.

'Blood Tide' (directed by Richard Jefferies '82) This was a really boring and rubbish horror film about an old greek myth of a sea monster. Star James Earl Jones really overacts and the way he speaks to the local greek people is appalling. This was another film in the '50 Movie Sci Fi Classics' box set and had an equally bad print as the last mentioned film. I usually love films set in and around the sea, but this really was crap.

'Grand Slam' ('Ad ogni costo' directed by Giuliano Montaldo '67) This crime-heist film was totally brilliant and starred Klaus Kinski, Janet Leigh and Robert Hoffmann. It's about a diamond robbery in Rio and the huge lengths the 'criminals' go to get them. The ending is superb (although I did see it coming). Another brilliant release from Blue Underground...

'The Girl From Rio' ('The Seven Secrets of Sumuru' directed by eurocult king Jess franco '69) Wow! Really liked this one, fantastic imagery and women with ace outfits. Shirley Eaton who plays Sumuru (or Sumatra as on this dub) gets to wear loads of different wigs whilst playing the queen of Femina, an island only for her and her female soldiers. George Sanders is in it, but looks a little lost (apparently committed suicide soon after in Barcelona) - actually Shirley Eaton gave up acting altogether after this, was there a curse? Anyway as with most of Mr Franco's films, this didn't make too much sense, but it was lots of fun. So many of his films in the sixties have scenes of women rolling about on the floor in a lacy body stocking, this was no exception. Hooray (again) to Blue Underground for releasing another great print - there's also a short featurette with Franco and Eaton.

Still making our way through the last of 'The New Avengers' series. The episode we saw last night has got to be one of the worst, some fat english bloke trying to be a ruthless chinese criminal and speaking in a slow gruff voice was hilarious. It was SO un-PC. Stuart Damon (Craig Stirling from 'The Champions') was in it briefly, which was nice.

Oh well, this is turning into an essay, I'm off.

Godzilla Vs. Hedorah DVD

Just had to mention that we watched this last night and it was SO excellent to see it in it's original (Japanese) language. This is one of my favorite Godzilla films as it's totally insane! The film features cartoons, multiple screens, a psychedelic discotheque full of hippies, great fight scenes between Godzilla and Hedorah, views of Mount Fuji and a brilliant soundtrack. As for Hedorah himself, my god, he is just brilliant, in all of his three forms. Loved it when Godzilla punches him and blinds one of his eyes.

After having sold all my Godzilla video's on ebay, this has made me even more determined to get all the other recent DVD releases. Next stop: Godzilla - Tokyo S.O.S.!