Pit Stop

 

 (imdb)

PIT STOP-1969-In the world of figure 8 stock car racing, race car arena owner Grant Willard (Brian Donlevy in his last role) hires reckless drag racer Rick Bowman (Dick Davalos; James Dean's brother in EAST OF EDEN) to drive his jaunty jalopy in their crazy dangerous races. His main rival is loudmouth Hawk Sidney (Sid Haig). After Rick beats Hawk in a race and has sex in hotel with Jolene (Beverly Washburn), Hawk takes a sledgehammer to Rick's car and beats him up but later they become partners and Rick has an affair with another racer's wife (Ellen McRae; later known as Ellen Burstyn). Despite some lapses in acting this isn't a bad little black and white low budget drama from Jack Hill two years after making the infamous SPIDER BABY (with Washburn and Haig).The year before PIT STOP he'd directed Boris Karloff in the US based scenes for a quartet of Mexican movies.

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Made In England

 

THE WOMAN THAT WOULDN'T DIE-1965-In England American Raymond Garth (Gary Merrill) is married to rich old bag Ellen Taylor (Jane Merrow) (it seems simply so she can have sex with him). He seems resigned to his fate until Ellen's young niece Alice (Georgina Cookson) comes to town. They begin an affair. Although Raymond makes plans with their chauffeur to do away with Ellen he gets a little over zealous and drowns her prematurely. He buries her in the garden shed. The chauffeur hires an actress to impersonate Ellen so it looks like she leaves town. Then he kills her and makes it look like a car crash. Now Ray and Alice are free to be together except after several strange occurrences, it seems like Ellen isn't dead. 

The result is guessable but the twist ending is good. 

WOMAN was known in England (where this was filmed) as CATACOMBS. It's kind of like a longer version of an “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” episode and was the directorial debut of German born Gordon Hessler who made THE OBLONG BOX in 1969.

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Couch Killer

 

THE COUCH-1962-A psychopath Charles (Grant Williams; THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN) under the care of a psychiatrist Dr. Jantz (Onslow Stevens in his last role) murders random victims at 7 pm and tips off the police before hand. He's screwy because he hated his father and made his older sister his mother substitute after mom died. Despite this he somehow romances the shrink's niece Terry (Shirley Knight). He lies to her about most everything and they plan to marry! He makes a fatal mistake though when he decides to kill the doc who doesn't die as planned. Charles disguises himself as a surgeon and wants to sabotage the surgery. Fortunately he cracks up before he can kill the doc who he believes is now his father. Disappointing conclusion but funny final scene. 

Hal Smith and Harold Gould have unbilled roles. Robert Bloch penned this psychological  drama from a story by Blake Edwards. Director Owen Crump didn't make many feature films.

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Der Golem!

THE GOLEM-1920-This famous German film, based on a legend is very dark and very fascinating. When the stars foretell an astrologer Rabbi Loew that there is danger in store for the Jews of Prague (as it turns out the King wants to expel them) he creates The Golem (director George Wegener), a clay statue brought to life by an ancient spell. It's power lies in the Star of David (with a name on it) attached to it's chest. He's very strong and sometimes child-like but mostly he seems bored. He's first used mainly as a servant chopping wood, carrying water and even going to market with a basket!

At The Rose Festival The Golem saves the king's life (who then rescinds his decree) while the Rabbi's daughter Miriam and the knight Florian have an affair. With the danger passed Loew decides The Golem isn't needed anymore (the clay fella seems to be getting a little to independent anyway) and plans to destroy him but a celebration delays the destruction. The Rabbi's assistant (who is sweet on Miriam) revives the creature to get jealous revenge on her secret lover. Things get out of control: Florian is thrown to his death, the astrologer's house burns down and Herr Golem hits the streets while dragging Miriam by her hair!). Some little children spell his doom at the end.

This was the third time actor/director Paul Wegener made a film based on the Golem legend but unfortunately the first two films are lost. This version was photographed by the great Karl Freund who later shot METROPOLIS. He later brought his talents to America (and directed THE MUMMY with Karloff and MAD LOVE with Peter Lorre). It must have had an impact on James Whale as there are many FRANKENSTEIN parallels.

Strangely, despite their involvement with mysticism the Jews of Prague themselves and their devotion to God are shown sympathetically yet Wegener stayed in Germany after the rise of Hitler and made propaganda films for the Nazis! He died in 1948.

This film by the way is in the public domain. Thanks again to Tony for getting me this!

For another review of Wegener:http://moviemeltdown.blogspot.com/2011/03/silent-magic.html

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