Holyywood Weirdness

THE LEGEND OF LYLAH CLARE-1968-A once famous director Louis Zarken (Peter Finch) decides to make his first film in 20 years using an unknown actress Elsa Campbell (Kim Novak) to star in a bio-pic of the ill fated Lylah Clare, a legendary actress from the 30's who died under mysterious circumstances. She also happened to be Zarken's wife and died on their honeymoon. Once again Zarken (who says things like "Happiness is a word for idiots. I haven't used it in years") becomes obsessed with his leading lady who sometimes appears to be possessed by the dead actress and talks with a German accent (or is she acting?). Coral Browne has a scene stealing role as a powerful columnist with a leg brace and Ernest Borgnine is great as the uncaring power crazy producer Barry Sheean ("I make movies, not films!"). Michael Murphy is his verbally abused son and Milton Selzer is a harried producer.

It's a weird movie that tries to show the depraved decadent side of Hollywood but does so in a stilted almost laughable style. Also with Gabriele Tinti, Valentina Cortese, Lee Meriwether, Ellen Corby and Dave Willock.

Director Robert Aldrich made this between THE DIRTY DOZEN and THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE. LYLAH also features Robert Cornwaithe, George Kennedy and Dick Miller in unbilled roles.

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The Devil's Bride Rides Out

THE DEVIL'S BRIDE-1968-Excellent black magic tale from Hammer features Christopher Lee as The Duc de Richleau, on the side of good for a change trying to save the soul of his deceased friend's son (Patrick Mower) from the evil Mocata (Charles Gray) and his circle of devil worshippers. Nike Arrighi is Tanith, another would be convert and after she dies Mocata wants to transfer her soul to a little girl. Even a winged angel of death makes an appearance. It's very well made by the great Terence Fisher but some might be disappointed by the very happy ending. Lee's serious tone keeps everything from falling apart but some of the characters act a little to hasty playing right into the villains' hands. Also with Leon Greene and Paul Eddington.

The screenplay is by Richard Matheson and based on an novel by Dennis Wheatley. 1968 was another busy year for Lee who also starred in DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE, CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR and THE BLOOD OF FU-MANCHU. Also known as THE DEVIL RIDES OUT.

"I shall not be back but something will..tonight..."

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From France

HIGH TENSION-2003-Two college students Marie and Alexia go to stay at Alexia’s family’s country home. At night a truck driving killer breaks in and slays the family taking Alexia hostage. Marie manages to evade the killer and sets out to get Alexia back. This is a violent and suspenseful French thriller but the POV camera work and climax are a cheat with several plot holes that made the whole thing disappointing (at least for me).

Director Alexandre Aja did the remake of THE HILLS HAVE EYES in the US 2 years later and made another remake PIRANHA 3-D in 2010.

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X-Prequel

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE-This is a kind of useless prequel to the first X-Men movie. It shows Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) as a child experiment and how he and his brother (Liev Schreiber) fought in many wars throughout history. In the modern age, a military colonel named Stryker (Danny Huston) forms a mercenary team with them a few other mutants. Eventually, Logan has enough and leaves. Later, bro Victor starts killing his ex-team mates and Stryker wants Logan to stop him. The weird climatic fight seems like a scene from a video game and Kevin Durand as The Blob was a bad idea. Patrick Stewart even shows up at the end. Also with Lynn Collins, Dominic Monaghan.

Director Gavin Hood (from South Africa) also made TSOTSI.

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Kind of A Sequel

CAPTAIN NEMO AND THE UNDERWATER CITY-1969-In this British sequel to Disney’s 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, Captain Nemo (Robert Ryan) has built an underwater city called “Templemere”. While roaming the sea in his submarine The Nautilus he and his crew rescue a group of people who’s ship was wrecked in a storm. Chuck Connors is a US senator who wants Nemo to share is fantastic technology with the world. Nanette Newman is the head strong female survivor with a small son. Bill Fraser (RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY) and Kenneth Connor (’ALLO ’ALLO) are two gold hungry brothers who provide comedy relief. Alan Cuthbertson is a claustrophobic engineer who starts trouble. It’s pretty boring and Ryan is fairly catatonic as Nemo. Luciana Paluzzi (THE GREEN SLIME) is Mala who provides the love triangle with Connors and Nemo’s jealous first mate (John Turner).

Director James Hill previously made BORN FREE (and it’s sequel) and A STUDY IN TERROR.

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Dr. Blood's Coffin

DR. BLOOD’S COFFIN-1961-Thrown out of medical school in Vienna for experimenting on human subjects, Dr. Peter Blood (Kieron Moore) returns to his small hometown which is being plagued by the robbery of medical supplies and the disappearances of locals. Actually Blood is responsible for the mayhem as he’s using the victims for his experiments in conquering death, keeping them prisoner in some caves. While covering his tracks he finds time to romance his father’s nurse (Hazel Court). When she rejects him, he raises her dead husband from his grave and is eventually destroyed by him. Ian Hunter plays Dr. Blood the elder and Kenneth J. Warren is the investigating police sergeant.

Director Sidney J. Furie made other horror movies (like THE ENTITY) but also helmed a variety of bigger budget films like THE IPCRESS FILE, LADY SINGS THE BLUES, GABLE & LOMBARD, IRON EAGLE and SUPERMAN IV:THE QUEST FOR PEACE. Screenwriter Nathan Juran directed ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMEN and HELLCATS OF THE NAVY! Nicolas Roeg is credited as camera operator.

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Rotten Cotten

THE HEARSE-1980-Jane (Trish Van Devere) goes to live at her late aunt’s mansion after an emotional divorce. Most of the townsfolk take an instant dislike to her. Joseph Cotton is the unfriendly real estate agent. A hearse seems to follow Jane around and after reading the aunt’s diary (she was involved in witchcraft) she begins to have weird dreams. She meets an urbane guy named Tom (David Gautreaux) and they have an affair but he has a secret. I’m not exactly sure what to make of the ending. With Donald Hotton as a strange reverend, Donald Petrie and Perry Lang. 

This was one of the last roles for the distinguished Cotton who was also in Michael Cimino’s infamous HEAVEN’S GATE the same year. Director George Bowers was also a film editor.

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There Are Several Movies By This Name. Here's One of Them...

SUPERSTITION-1982-This is a very weird low budget movie about a witch condemned to death in the 1700’s who seems to return to the present day to extract revenge on the descendents of the town where it happened. A police inspector (Albert Salmi) and a priest in street clothes (James Houghton) investigate. Many people are killed including a young kid and an older priest (Stacey Keach Sr.). An old woman who may be a witch keeps warning the priest about performing a ritual. In the end the priest must fight a clawed demon with a cross and everyone dies.

Director James W. Roberson was a cinematographer on many films and also made THE LEGEND OF ALFRED PACKER and THE GIANT OF THUNDER MOUNTAIN.
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