Going Mad

 

 (goodreads.com)

SOFI-1968-This is a one man filmed version of the Gogol story “Diary Of a Madman”. From his dingy cellar living quarters, a nameless clerk (Tom Troupe) writes in his diary (with overdubbed thoughts) and speaks directly to the camera, ranting about his menial job, the disrespect he must endure and his infatuation for his boss’ daughter. Occasionally he talks to a puppet. He goes madder with each scene and imagines he’s the son of the king of Spain. Later he's put in an asylum and believes all human noses are on the moon. Nice tour de force acting. 

 (themoviedb)

The director Robert Carlisle was the sfx editor on IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE (1958)!

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What Did She Say?

 

 (imdb)

THE CASTLE-1997-If you're familiar with the novels and short stories of Czech writer Franz Kafka you might enjoy this long authentic adaptation of his famous unfinished novel. K (Ulrich Muhe), a land surveyor is summoned to a town possibly for a job but can make no headway with the mysterious bureaucracy of The Castle. Be in for a surprise if you don't know how the novel ends because this Austrian production ends the very same way. I think the makers of Blair Witch saw this! It was directed by Michael Hanneke for Austrian TV. He later made THE PIANO TEACHER and TIME OF THE WOLF.

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Jack London

TO BUILD A FIRE-1969-Very good but depressing UK adaptation of Jack London's short story of the same name. A doomed man (Ian Hogg) tries to cross snow bound mountain in -70 degree weather with only his dog. It doesn't turn out the way he expected. Orson Welles narrates. Writer/director David Cobham made many documentary shorts before this.

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