THE MASK 1961

 PUT ON THE MASK !....PUT ON THE MASK !....PUT ON THE MASK !....

    Although they came kind of late to the game, for their first entry in the horror genre Canada came up with this interesting cult curio that is finally getting a nice release courtesy of Kino on Nov. 24. Directed by Julian Roth this 1961 feature while not technically a "3D movie" does contain several hallucinatory 3D sequences that are brought about by the characters putting on a creepy ancient mask. Movie patrons were given a cardboard replica of the mask and intoned during the course of the film to "Put on the mask !" (along with the characters in the movie) during the 3D sequences.
    There was a nice DVD released in Germany (with the 3D sequences intact) a few years back, but for the most part this has been represented by only an old VHS release from Rhino and a couple questionable quasi bootleg DVD. Fully restored with both anaglyph and actual 3D (as seen in the theatres), this is will be a pretty cool release.

DEMONOID : MESSENGER OF DEATH 1981

   

     Coming out Oct. 13 from Vinegar Syndrome is this 1981 Mexican/U.S. co-production which is one of the truly great cheesy horror films of the 1980's and one that back in the VHS days seem to show up in every mom & pop video store.
     Directed by Alfred Zacarias (who also responsible for the equally mind bending THE BEES from 1978) this features Stuart Whitman as a priest on the trail of a possessed hand unearthed from a cursed mine in Mexico.  Helping out Whitman is Samantha Eggar (who was just coming THE BROOD and the THE EXTERMINATOR) and Russ Meyer starlet Haji (FASTER PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL!) makes an appearance along with stuntman/third heavy on right (and member of the Sam Peckinpah stock company) Roy Jenson.
    To spice it up for the American market Jim Wynorski was hired to film a pre-credit sequence that featured some satanic ritual footage that had some back story for the processed hand (which during the course of the movie shows it self to be an expert at throwing craps in Vegas). Vinegar Syndrome has said the release will contain both the U.S. and International cuts of the movie along with some extras. Demonoid Diplomas were handed out to lucky recipients during the films initial run.

Happy Birthday Barbara Bouchet

    

     Born 71 years ago on this day in Germany, her family emigrated to the United States after WWII and settled in San Francisco where she become a regular on the KPIX Dance Party as teenager and later become actress.She started out in television with small roles and moved into movies such as IN HARMS WAY (1965) and CASINO ROYALE (1967) where she played Miss Moneypenny.
    In 1970 she moved to Italy and made a name for herself appearing in the exploding Italian exploitation market including BLACK BETTY OF THE TARANTULA (1971), the sleazy & delirious AMUCK (1972) with Rosalba Neri and THE LADY IN RED KILLS SEVEN TIMES (1972). In 2002 she had a small role in Martin Scorsese's GANGS OF NEW YORK. Here she is in Fernando Di Leo's excellent 1972 crime drama CALIBER 9 where she's plays the belly dancing girlfriend of a recently paroled convict who's at the center of a cache of missing mob money. Its one of the best examples of the Italian poliziotteschi genre (in addition Barbara looks stunning in it) and was just released in a spiffy new region B blu-ray from Arrow.

  

SLAUGHTER 1972

  

    Coming on blu-ray from Olive Sept. 22 is this 1972 blacksploitation action classic. After his parents are killed by the mob ex-green beret captain Jim Brown (only ever referred to by his surname of Slaughter) vows vengeance and after being recruited by the U.S. Government he goes on a one man rampage which leads to mob boss Dominic Hoffo (played by a weaselly Rip Torn).

    Directed by master drive-in director Jack Starrett (RACE WITH THE DEVIL & CLEOPATRA JONES) the film is anchored by Brown's commanding presence and also features Don Gordon (BULLITT), Cameron Mitchell (THE TOOLBOX MURDERS), Marlene Clark (BLACK MAMBA) and Stella Stevens (CLEOPATRA JONES AND THE CASINO OF GOLD). The nude lovemaking scenes between Brown and Stevens (who spends most of her time in various states of undress) caused quite a stir at the time of release.

Claudia Jennings News - TRUCK STOP WOMEN Coming To Blu-Ray

  

    Over at the Scorpion Releasing Facebook page Walter has been dropping some hints about a future release with everything pointing toward 1974's TRUCK STOP WOMEN. Starring Claudia Jennings and directed by Mark Lester (COMMANDO & BOBBIE JO AND THE OUTLAW) along with supporting cast including Lieux Dressler (KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS), John Martino (THE GODFATHER), Len Lesser (SEINFELD) and with that 70's drive-in badge of honor - a cameo by Uschi Digard.
   As Walter has mentioned that the search for quality film elements is still being worked on this will most likely be released later this year at the earliest. If I'm not mistaken this will be the blu-ray debut of Claudia and with the film being shot in 2.35 panavision the blu-ray will make all those dodgy cropped quasi bootlegs obsolete.

QUEEN OF BLOOD 1966

    Coming this later this year on blu-ray from Kino is A.I.P's 1966 space vampire classic QUEEN OF BLOOD. Directed by Curtis Harrington, this is one of several films that can looked upon as a precursor to Ridley Scott's ALIEN. Like he had done previously with VOYAGE TO A PREHISTORIC PLANET, Harrington used footage from a pair of Russian sci-fi film that had been purchased by Roger Corman (MECHTE NAVSTRECHO & NEBO ZOVYOT) and integrated the long shots and effects footage from these into his newly shot material.
    Featuring John Saxon, Basil Rathbone and a just before letting his freak flag fly Dennis Hopper along with a creepy performance by the Czech born Florence Marly in the title role. The plot concerns a space crew who picks up a alien life form in the form of Marly and begin a nightmarish voyage home. The film also features a cameo by Forrest Ackerman who as a result heavily promoted the film (along with Marly) in Famous Monsters

    Available previously from MGM through their MOD program this blu ray release is part Kino's (along with Walter Olsen over at Scorpion) ongoing deal with MGM for distribution of their A.I.P. & New World holdings - with hopefully more goodies to follow.

Let's Go To The Movies ....Two Nights Of Biker Flicks At The Drive-In !!

    

   Over at the Mahoning Drive-In in Leighton, Pa. coming up on Aug. 7 & 8 is something really cool -  two nights of classic 60's and 70's biker flicks (and best all they're from 35mm).  On Fri. the 7th is THE JESUS TRIP, THE LOSERS and CAIN"S WAY with the Sat. lineup being THE WILD ANGELS (Peter Fonda & Nancy Sinatra !) along with BORN LOSERS (Billy Jack kicks some biker ass) and THE GLORY STOMPERS. A fun time is pretty much guaranteed.

BLOOD AND LACE

    

   Along with the passel of other releases Scream Factory announced at this recently past San Diego Comic Con was was this 1971 shocker which is widely known as the "sickest PG film ever released".  Originally released theatrical by MGM and never before available on home video (there was evidently some rights issues to be cleared up) this has been a highly requested title.
   Melody Patterson (from F-TROOP) plays a young girl who after her prostitute mother has been beaten to death by a hammer is hustled off to a creepy orphanage overseen by Gloria Grahame (THE BIG HEAT) and Len Lesser (KELLY'S HEROES and Uncle Leo from SEINFELD). A fine example of sleazy 70's horror (along with a slight touch of humor) and a really great example of just what you could get away with in the 70's as far as ratings were concerned.

The LIZARD is Coming......

  

    Over on their Facebook page Mondo Macrabo has posted some exciting news in the form of a blu-ray release of Lucio Fulci's weird & trippy 1971 giallo A LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN.  Starring Florinda Bolkan (FLAVIA THE HERETIC & MACHINE GUN MCCAIN), along with psychedelic nightmares, LSD trips, sex orgies and bloody hallucinatory murders. Also with Stanley Baker and an appropriately weird & trippy score by Ennio Morricone (which has recently been released in a spiffy 2 CD set by Beat Records).
    The release date and special features are TBA, but it is coming later this year.

THE OBLONG BOX In HD

   

    For Halloween viewing this Oct., Kino has announced the release of A.I.P.'s THE OBLONG BOX from 1969. This was one of a quartet of intriguing horror films directed by Gordon Hessler that continued A.I.P.'s Poe series after the highly successful Corman films. Along with SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN and CRY OF THE BANSHEE from 1970 and 1971's MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE they all suffered cuts and edits by A.I.P in relation to sexual content and/or bloodshed along with running times and in the case of both CRY (at the times of its initial U.S. theatrical release)and SCREAM (upon its home video release) they were re-scored. Luckily (and surprisingly) they were all restored to Hessler's original vision by MGM for their much loved Midnight Movie series of DVD releases.
    Originally to be directed by Michael Revees (WITCHFINDER GENERAL), his tragic death before filming necessitated Hessler being given the directors reins. For that CRY OF THE BANSHEE has always been saddled with "it's not as good as Reeve's could have done". It has its faults with a rather dis-jointed script, but the MGM's DVD release of Hessler's original cut restores approximately 10 minutes of footage exercised (restoring some fleeting nudity and violence) and also puts various sequences back into his preferred running order.
   With only a fleeting reference to Poe's original short story, the plot concerns Victorian colonialism & a disfigured vengeful protagonist and is the first pairing of Christopher Lee and Vincent Price (although the only share one short scene together). Kino's upcoming release will feature a new HD transfer and more then likely will be the full directors cut.

More Barbara Steele On Blu-Ray

    Severin Films has announced the upcoming release on of this pretty cool Barabara Steele package on blu-ray. The main feature is Mario Caiano's 1965 Iralian horror classic NIGHTMARE CASTLE (aka FACELESS MONSTER & NIGHT OF THE DOOMED). Featuring a duel role by Steele as a pair of sisters, a score by Ennio Morricone (his first horror score), dungeons, candelabras, resurrected corpses and shadowy B&W photography by Enzo Barboni (DJANGO).  In addition if all that weren't enough, there's also Helga Liné lurking about.
   With even more Barbara Steele for your buck,  as bonus features there's also new 2K scans of CASTLE OF BLOOD and TERROR CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE, plus NIGHTMARE features an audio commentary by Barbara (who as the years go on seems to be getting more and more comfortable with her horror filmography) and historian David Del Valle.

Exchange Your Vows With Ilsa

   

    Dyanne Thorne of ILSA: SHE WOLF OF THE S.S. fame (along with HAREM KEEPER OF THE OIL SHEIKS, TIGRESS OF SIBERIA & WANDA THE WICKED WARDEN) is now in the wedding business in Las Vegas. An ordained minister (along with a Ph.D in Comparative Religion), she along with her husband and Ilsa series actor Howard Maurer, own and operate A Scenic Wedding which (an the name suggests) specializes in outdoor weddings in scenic locations. Speaking for myself, I can't think of anything cooler then to be married by Ilsa.
    Dyanne still does the occasional movie convention/autograph show and is truly one of the nicest and most sweetest ladies you could ever hope to meet. Hopefully one day we'll get a nice Ilsa box set on blu-ray.

  

Warner Hammer Blu-Ray For Halloween !!

  

  In some news that has been along time coming, Warner has finally announced the region A release of some of their Hammer titles on blu-ray for this fall. Coming out Oct. 6 is THE MUMMY (1959), DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE (1968), FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED (1969) and TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA (1970).  Although its missing the two linchpins (being 1957's CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN & 1958's HORROR OF DRACULA - which presumably will be released at a later date), the set has what is generally considered the best of the Frankenstein sequels along with two of the finer in the Dracula series - and of course THE MUMMY. It's interesting that the set only has one title (THE MUMMY) that was previously released on region B and in the case of TASTE, its always something special when we get more Linda Hayden in HD. The titles will also be available separately.
   Warner has been planning this release for some time and postponed the announcement from June 11 in respect to the passing of Christopher Lee.

DR. GOLDFOOT Is Coming To HD

    

    In a sure sign that we are truly living in the golden age of catalog releases (or perhaps the coming apocalypse) Kino has announced the release of both DR. GOLDFOOT AND THE BIKINI MACHINE (1965) and DR. GOLDFOOT AND THE GIRL BOMBS (1966) on blu for for later this year. Although it can never be argued that these are the high points of Vincent Price's career (or in the case of GIRL BOMBS director Mario Bava), they are however 90 min or so of mindless entertainment -and isn't that one of the reasons why we watch movies.
    Reportedly Vincent and Mario didn't get along too well during production on GIRL BOMBS and its a bit sad that this is their only collaboration, as its by far the lesser of the two films (which isn't really saying a lot for either film). It is however helped immensity by the presence of Laura Antonelli.

Happy (Belated) Birthday Nancy Sinatra ! - THE WILD ANGELS 1966

   

   A belated Happy 75th Birthday to Nancy Sinatra who was born on June 8. Here she is in Roger Corman's THE WILD ANGELS from 1966 co-starring with Peter Fonda, Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern. This is probably my favorite A.I.P. movie and Nancy looks great riding on the back of Peter's hog.