Hell's Bell

BELL FROM HELL-1973-Weird psychological drama from Spain about a guy named Juan (Renaud Verley; also in Visconti's THE DAMNED) who returns home after being released from an insane asylum. He wants revenge on his aunt (Viveca Lindflors) and her daughters who he believes had him committed because they wanted his inheritance. Before that however he works for a short time at a slaughterhouse where it seems to hint that John is planning something horrible for his relatives (before he leaves he says "I've learned enough"). He does some strange things like after he saves a girl from being raped by some hunters he pretends to be in a body cast and makes one of the hunters (Alfredo Mayo) hold his penis while he pisses. Later he pretends to pull out his own eyes and makes the hunter's wife faint. Some of Juan's actions do seem to infer that he may not have been crazy when he was committed and only became that way after his incarceration.

The finale involves a large bell tower which director Claudio Guerin Hill fell to his death from on the last day of shooting! This was too slow going, dark and confused for me though lots of people seem to view it as a classic. Christina von Blanc who was in Franco's A VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD is featured as one of the daughters.

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Black & White Hammer

THESE ARE THE DAMNED-1963-American vacationing in London Simon Wells (Macdonald Carey, a little too old for his role) is beat up by a gang of Teddy Boys. Although they all dress in leather jackets their leader King (Oliver Reed) wears a suit jacket. Somehow Simon winds up falling in love with King's sister Joan (Shirley Anne Field). While hiding from King on an island they come upon a group of children who are being used in a government experiment involving radioactivity.

This black and white thriller directed by ex-patriot American Joseph Losey (he'd gone to England after being blacklisted in the '50's) takes a little time to get started but is very effective and has an eerie climax. Also with Viveca Lindflors, Alexander Knox and James Villiers.

The above poster makes it seem like a horror film when it's actually a science fiction drama with some social commentary, This was a Hammer-Seven Arts co-production and the executive producer was Michael Carreras.

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