What?

 

 

 (imdb)

THE WHIP AND THE BODY-1963-Kurt Menliff (Christopher Lee), a sadistic disowned son returns to his family because his brother Christian (Tony Kendall) is about to be married. Kurt's return doesn't sit well with his dad, The Count (Gustavo De Nardo). In fact, Christian is going to marry Kurt's ex-fiance Nevenka (Daliah Lavi) but Kurt blew it when he had an affair with a servant girl who later committed suicide. Kurt has come back to claim his birthright which he seems to think includes Nevenka. When two meet on the beach, he whips her and they have sex. Later Kurt is stabbed to death but it seems his ghost has come back for revenge. 

Great atmospheric photography by Mario Bava. An incomprehensible version titled "What!" used to play on local TV in the '70's. It's since been restored but the version I saw was dubbed (Lee's voice included).

 (imdb)

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Johnny & Ronny

FIVE MINUTES TO LIVE!-1961-Before he became "the man in black" and a country-western superstar, Johnny Cash made his film debut in this low budget melodrama. He plays psycho cop killer Johnny Cabot who is hired by a greasy hood (Vic Tayback, who narrates the tale) who hatches a plot to rob a bank by having the wife (Cay Forrester) of a bank VP (Donald Woods) held hostage in her home by Cabot. With this threat the VP is forced to hand over $70,000. The couple has martial problems (he wants to leave his wife for another woman) and their young son is played by future Academy Award winning director Ronny Howard (already a regular on TV's THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW). Cash is demented and sadistic while holding the wife hostage but does manager to croon the title theme once in a while.

Another country-western star Merle Travis (who co-wrote the theme with Cash) appears as Tayback's flunky. It's a weird little film with a interesting, funny climax involving Howard's character and a gabby neighbor (Pamela Mason). Director Bill Karn also made MA BARKER'S KILLER BROOD. Also called DOOR TO DOOR MANIAC.

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