The Bloody Italiana Blog

RIP Gualtiero Jacopetti

2011-08-19T10:36:00.003Z

Gualtiero Jacopetti, co-director of Mondo Cane, died on Wednesday at his home in Rome.

Obituary here.

Rest in peace.

ROBERTO ROSSELLINI meets MARIO PFEIFER this Friday at MAD

2011-07-26T22:37:00.001Z

Rome, Open City teams up with Yet Untitled (>>Pieces of Nature<<) for an in depth look at cinema and society.

more info: here

Museum of Arts and Design, Columbus Circle, New York.

Cine Excess V

2011-05-18T18:02:00.002Z

Organised by Brunel University in London, Cine-Excess brings together global cult film icons with international scholars in an event that features international filmmaker discussions, a three-day academic conference and UK theatrical premieres and exclusive screenings.

The theme of this year’s Cine-Excess is “Subverting the Senses: The Politics and Aesthetics of Excess”, which examines the theme of the controversial cult image in its political, historical and aesthetic contexts. With the resurgence of critical interest in the 1980s “video nasties”, as well as a whole new generation of films being subject to state control, the cult image is now a crucial index between the censor and the censored.

Both Franco Nero and Ruggero Deodato will be discussing their prolific careers in relation to these wider social trends and tensions at the event. Cine-Excess V will also feature a screening of Deodato’s controversial classic, “Cannibal Holocaust”, which is being released on Blu-ray by Shameless Films later this year.

Date: 26th - 28th MAY 2011

@ Odeon Covent Garden, London

Cine-Excess, the annual International Conference on Global Cult Film returns to London at the end of May with Cine-Excess V – Subverting the Senses: The Politics and Aesthetics of Excess. The event will take place at the Odeon Covent Garden from Thursday, 26th to Saturday, 28th May and will be attended by Guests of Honour, Italian acting legend Franco Nero (Django; Keoma; Die Hard 2) and controversial cult director Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal Holocaust; The House On The Edge Of The Park).

Thurs 26th May

CENSORSHIP DEBATE: The House on The Edge of the Park. Panel discussion on the controversial film with the director, Ruggero Deodato, author Prof Martin Barker, Craig Lapper (senior examiner at BBFC). Chaired by the international authority on censorship, Brunel University's Julian Petley .

Time: 630pm -7.30pm Venue: Odeon Covent Garden, London
TRAILER
followed by:
CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (18) (world premiere of a newly edited version), which includes Q&A with director Ruggero Deodato

Time: 830pm - 11pm, Venue: Odeon Covent Garden
TRAILER
Deodato will also be signing copies of the new revised FAB Press book, 'Cannibal Holocaust and the Savage Cinema of Ruggero Deodato'

Fri 27th May
A QUIET PLACE IN THE COUNTRY (18) (1969), directed by Elio Petri and with Ennio Morricone soundtrack. Starring Franco Nero and Vanessa Redgrave. Franco Nero will introduce the film.
Time: 830pm - 11pm Venue: Italian Cultural Institute. Belgrave Square, London

Sat 28th May
FRANCO NERO ON STAGE followed by screening of DJANGO (1966) .
The legendary Italian actor talks about his career in films and introduces Sergio Corbucci's cult Spaghetti western, Django
Time: 430pm - 6pm Venue: Odeon Covent Garden

Franco Nero will also be signing copies of the new FAB Press book, 'Any Gun Can Play: The Essential Guide To Euro-Westerns' by Kevin Grant. Franco Nero has also written the foreward.

LIVE LIKE A COP, DIE LIKE A MAN (18) (1976)
Including a Q&A with the film's cult director Ruggero Deodato, who specially selected this film for the event.
Time: 9pm - 1130pm Venue: Italian Cultural Institute

The box office at both venues is now open for bookings

For Odeon Covent Garden - 0871 22 44 007

For Italian Cultural Institute - 020 7396 4406

Excellent Series on Video Nasties

2011-04-26T19:40:00.003Z

Just noticed a question that was posted a number of months ago on here regarding the Cannibal Holocaust videocast. The video was part of a number of casts that covered the video nasty films and the series can be found here.

http://www.youtube.com/user/lampyman101

Violent Italy

2011-04-25T22:45:00.002Z

Reverend Phantom has a new site. This time he is dealing with something pretty dear to our hearts with his take on Italian genre film. The site features Youtube hosted videocasts and can be found here: http://www.violent-italy.com/

CCC Radio Presents...Italian Action Exposure!

2011-04-23T19:26:00.003Z

Cult Cinema Corner Radio will be kicking back and discussing the Italian action cinema of the 60s, 70s and 80s with author/critic David Zuzelo!

Mr. Zuzelo is the author of Tough to Kill: The Italian Action Explosion Vol.1 and Ascension of the Blind Dead. He can also be found writing amazing cult/trash cinema articles on his blog, TOMB IT MAY CONCERN. His unique insights on the genre and recommendations will delight fans and listeners alike.

Broadcast on May 5th here: www.blogtalkradio.com/cultcinemacorner

The Secret of Real Cannibal Holocaust

2011-04-19T16:42:00.004Z

After much speculation on the net regarding Real Cannibal Holocaust and what was the original title David Z has revealed that it is in fact an English language sub of Guinea Ama aka Nuova Guinea, Isola dei Cannibali. This is the Mondo that provided a fair amount of footage to Bruno Mattei's Virus and was hitherto available on a German language DVD.

Info and screenshots are available from David's site TOMB IT MAY CONCERN >>>

The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh finally lands on UK DVD

2011-03-31T11:31:00.001Z

With the deleted No Shame release now going for silly prices, it's great to see there's now two versions to choose from; the recently released R1 disc from MYA under the Blade of the Ripper alternate title and, even better, a red-carpet-treatment PAL disc from Shameless, released this past Sunday.

Sergio Martino's first giallo, largely considered to be one of the very best films made within the genre, has never had a legitimate UK DVD release, so kudos to Shameless once again for making it available to a wider audience.

Special features are:

English audio and optional Italian with English subtitles.

All-new 20 minute interview with director Sergio Martino.

Introduction by director Sergio Martino.

Shameless Fact Track by Justin Harries.

Theatrical trailer plus complete Shameless Trailer Park.

Edwige Fenech bio presentation

Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi present: ROME - album release date 16th May.

2011-03-29T13:37:00.006Z

United by their shared passion for classic Italian film music, Danger Mouse and Italian composer Daniele Luppi created the ROME album over an intense songwriting period using vintage equipment and original musicians from films such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West. Every effort was made to replicate the recording practices of the 1960s/70s golden age.

Check out a trailer for ROME, including interviews with Danger Mouse, Daniele Luppi, Jack White and Norah Jones here:

Featuring vocals by Jack White and Norah Jones.

Cannibal Holocaust

2010-12-04T23:40:00.001Z

An excellent critique of the most notorious of the video nasties

Caribbean Basterds - Il Nuovo Film di Enzo G Castellari

2010-10-13T21:54:00.002Z

Caribbean Basterds è il film che segna il ritorno di Enzo G. Castellari dietro la macchina da presa a diciassette anni di distanza da Jonathan degli orsi. E' considerato simpaticamente "l'omaggio dell'omaggio", in quanto il titolo richiama l'ultimo film di Tarantino che a sua volta era un omaggio a Quel maledetto treno blindato (Inglorious bastards) dello stesso Castellari. I giudizi sono discordi ma la cosa grave è che come tutti i film di genere è stato distribuito malissimo e solo in pochi sono riusciti a vederlo. A Pisa, grazie alla "56a strada - libreria del cinema", sarà possibile vederlo lunedì 25 ottobre alle 21:30 al cinema Nuovo in Piazza della Stazione. Ma non è tutto: saranno presenti Vik C. Ryan (è uno pseudonimo, come usava ai bei tempi) e il Maestro Enzo G. Castellari in persona. Ad intervistare il Maestro prima della proiezione ci saremo noi di caniarrabbiati.it.
Link all'evento:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102263609841190

The Ripper Is Back In London

2010-10-13T21:48:00.002Z

New York Ripper is being screened in London on the 28th October at the Bread and Roses in Clapham. In association with Shameless Screen.

Caribbean Basterds Released

2010-09-07T10:47:00.004Z

The Wild Eye reports that Enzo G Castellari's Caribbean Basterds has finally been released in Italy further details here.

Those pesky Demons...

2010-08-25T22:13:00.000Z

If you're a fan of Argento and Bava Jr's Demons, then take a look at this.

Well I'm excited...

OST: Fenomenal e il tesoro di Tutankamen / Phenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankhamen – Bruno Nicolai

2010-08-07T13:46:00.004Z

Have your smoking jacket, bottle of J & B and cocktail shaker at the ready for this fun lounge soundtrack to Ruggero Deodato’s 1968 entry into the fumetti adaptation stakes.

Like many of Nicolai’s spy movie scores of the period, this one features sparse, upbeat jazzy arrangements for the most part, complemented perfectly by vocal work from I cantori moderni, the ensemble led by chief Sergio Leone soundtrack whistler and Killer Nun (1978) score provider Alessandro Alessandroni. Irresistibly cheesy and very, very 60s, it's guaranteed to put a spring into the step of anyone with as much as an ounce of style.

However, the standout track of the album is Sequence 9, featuring the great Edda Dell’Orso in the place of I cantori. It’s lush, beautiful and on a par with similar work by Bruno’s friend and mentor Morricone. If only it was a mite longer than 1 minute 41 seconds!

Like many of Nicolai’s soundtracks it does get a bit samey after a while, especially if left on for the bonus tracks, but this doesn’t detract from it being fantastic music to loaf about the house to. The trifling annoyance of not being able to get hold of a copy of the film itself is slightly offset by the fact that the general fan consensus seems to be that it isn’t very good. Perhaps it’s best to be left with the mental pictures that this little gem of a soundtrack evokes.

Orlando In For A Treat

2010-07-20T14:54:00.003Z

Those lucky enough to be in Orlando Florida on the 22nd of August are in for a major treat as the Enzian Theater is screening the one and only The Good, The Bad And The Ugly!!!!

1300 South Orlando Avenue
Maitland, FL 32751
Info Line: (407) 629-0054
Theater Offices: (407) 629-1088

Enzian is located 1/2 mile north of Lee Road on 17/92 in Maitland. From I-4, take the Lee Road exit and head east toward Winter Park. At the termination of Lee Road, make a left (north) onto 17/92 (also known as South Orlando Ave). Go 1/2 mile, under the train track overpass, and at the second traffic light (at Magnolia), you'll see the Enzian sign on the northeast corner of the intersection. Turn right at the light, then left into Enzian's parking lot.

Bank Of Italy In English

2010-07-18T07:06:00.003Z

This is pretty interesting, here is an English language trailer for Lucio Fulci's comedy How We Robbed The Bank Of Italy featuring an English language dub of the movie itself.

Wonder if the English language version still exists and if so if it will turn up one day.

OST: Gli occhi freddi della paura / Cold Eyes of Fear - Ennio Morricone

2010-07-17T13:43:00.004Z

For the amazing soundtrack for Castellari's Cold Eyes of Fear (1971), Morricone called on the services of Gruppo di Nuova Improvvisazione - the legendary avant garde and, as you can guess from their name, improvisational combo of which he was a founding member. Tortured trumpets, harsh guitars, plucked piano wires and meandering bass lines are instantly reminiscent of the maestro's work for The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970) and many other gialli of the period. Just to put the album on is to instantly immerse yourself in the strange and perverse world of that genre.

However, because of the experimental and improvised structure (or indeed non-structure) of the piece there is no sweetness and light in the form of a lush main theme featuring a breathy, sublime Edda Del'Orso vocal to break up the tension here. No, sir - with this one you're all alone in the dark. Gli Occhi... is an incredible, essential record, not only a classy soundtrack to a pretty decent film but also a classic of the experimental and free jazz genres.Take a journey into the darkness with Morricone today- if you're feeling up to it.

Massive respect and thanks to MorriconeRocks and Morricone1, the original uploaders of these video clips.

La polizia incrimina la legge assolve / The Marseilles Connection [1973]

2010-07-11T10:43:00.009Z

AKA High Crime

This piece of cinematic dynamite from Enzo G. Castellari is often credited, along with Stefano Vanzina’s La polizia ringrazia / Execution Squad (1972), with kick-starting the poliziotteschi cycle. It's also one of the best. Franco Nero is Vice-Commissioner Belli, a frustrated straighter-than-straight cop trying to rid the city of Genoa of organised crime once and for all.

After narrowly avoiding being killed in a car bombing, Belli heads straight to old-time mafia boss Cafiero (Fernando Rey of both French Connection films – utterly perfect in this role) who reveals that there’s a new, nastier criminal element in town, with connections that go right to the top. Belli’s every attempt to get to the truth is scuppered by one brutal gangland murder after another, culminating in the death of his superior, Commissioner Scavino (U.S. character actor James Whitmore – also brilliant here), on his way to deliver a dossier of evidence to the D.A., and finally of Belli’s estranged daughter (played by Castellari’s daughter Stefania Girolami).

Nero’s future as an action star was secured with this film – and quite rightly so. Although he could be (and has been) easily accused of over-acting here, it can’t be denied that that his supremely stressed-out performance supplies much of the driving force of the movie. And even in this near-apoplectic state he still remains one of the coolest actors who ever lived. Period.

An excellent supporting cast includes Sylvano Tranquilli as a corrupt captain of industry, Duilio Del Prete as his degenerate brother and Baba Yaga’s Ely Galleani as the latter’s shrewd moll. Also memorable in a non-speaking role as a particularly despicable hitman, is one (uncredited) Walter Patriarca – actually a busy art director, costume designer and production designer by trade, but also a familiar face to gorehounds as ‘Dr Dreylock’ from the opening scenes of Zombi Holocaust (1980). Also familiar to zombie-lovers will be the name of long-time Fulci collaborator Vincenzo Tomassi, whose snappy editing, along with a career-best soundtrack from Guido & Maurizio De Angelis, elevates La polizia incrimina… to another level entirely.

The film successfully tapped into the anger, fear and confusion of the Italian public at a time when car bombings, kidnappings, shootings and all manner of atrocities (some of which, it transpired, being actually state-sponsored) filled the national newspaper headlines – and was a huge success prompting a slew of imitations as a result. Nero's next film with Castellari would be the equally high quality Il cittadino si ribella / Street Law in the following year.

So Sweet So Dead (1972)

2010-07-11T07:59:00.001Z

A pretty nifty giallo that I have reviewed here.

Baba Yaga [1973]

2010-07-05T13:49:00.012Z

AKA Kiss Me, Kill Me, Baba Yaga - Devil Witch

This almost-giallo from Corrado Farina started out life in the pages of Guido Crepax’s sublime fumetti Valentina, and, along with Bava’s Danger: Diabolik (1968), remains one of the truest in spirit to the source material. Valentina (French actress Isabelle De Funes) is a hip socialite and glamour photographer in swinging Milan. Tottering home from a typically way-out party, she’s nearly hit by a limousine as she rescues a dog from the middle of the road. The owner (Caroll Baker in unconvincing old-age makeup) introduces herself as ‘Baba Yaga’ and tells Valentina that they were always destined to meet.

When she returns to her photography studio for a day of steamy but playful model work, it appears that the old woman has put some sort of hex on her; she can’t keep her mind on anything without drifting into bizarre and erotic fantasies (something that the comic Valentina does in every story anyway, witch or no witch) and it seems her camera is cursed, causing the deaths of a couple of her models. She is also given a creepily lifelike doll by Baba Yaga – a creepily lifelike doll that also happens to be lovingly dressed up in miniature S&M gear. A visit to the old witch’s crumbling gothic townhouse also reveals that Yaga has a bottomless pit in one of her rooms…

In many ways Baba Yaga is a bit of a mess. It’s a rather episodic and disjointed affair that doesn’t really know what it wants to be. This doesn’t stop it from being beautiful, however – as it is also one of the most elegant and pleasing embodiments of Italian trash cinema at its most divine. Farina’s film is perhaps not as brash and arresting as the work of some of our better known maestri, but it does leave its mark on the viewer.It’s the sort of film where the viewer feels that almost anything can happen, although this is compromised slightly by its relatively formulaic horror film type ending.

Despite not being the director’s first choices for the roles, De Funes and Baker carry the film well. De Funes’ Valentina seems a little more wide-eyed and innocent than Crepax’s but there’s no denying their resemblance. There’s also an enjoyable turn from Luigi ‘George Eastman’ Montifiori – it’s nice to see him doing well in the role of a sensitive leftist intellectual this time, a far cry from his roles in films like Rabid Dogs (1974) and Absurd (1981)! Also of note – and that’s a bit of an understatement – is one Ely Galleani, who also played Florinda Bolkan’s minxy younger sister in Fulci’s Lizard in a Woman’s Skin (1971) and worked with Bava on 5 Dolls for an August Moon (1970). Prepare for your TV screen to set on fire when she shows up in a role I’m not telling you here because I don’t do spoilers. Often.

Lounge god Piero Umiliani is on soundtrack duties for this one, providing a very groovy main theme – actually a track called ‘Open Space’ that kicks off his To-day’s Sound LP of the same year – and a contrastingly old-fashioned and romantic recurring piano theme. They both fit perfectly. On the whole, Baba Yaga is perhaps no great masterpiece but, if you’re anything like me, it’s one you’ll keep wanting to come back to.

GOBLIN-Profondo Rosso 2010

2010-07-01T14:18:00.001Z

Recorded live during rehearsals at Acquario Studio - Rome - May 2010 Shot, edited and directed by Luigi Pastore

Excellent!

Zombo Italiano: The Italian Zombie Film Movement, 1972 - 1985

2010-06-30T23:27:00.006Z

This July at New York Museum Of Arts And Design we get Zombo Italiano: The Italian Zombie Film Movement, 1972 - 1985 including screenings of Zombi, Zombi 2 and Let Sleeping Corpses Lie.

Tickets and information here.

Italian Horror Week

2010-06-30T23:12:00.001Z

It is Italian Horror Week at Bloodsprayer.com for more information click here.

Goblin To Play At Unsound Krakow 2010

2010-06-30T16:06:00.002Z

Italian legends Goblin are to play Unsound 2010, with members Claudio Simonetti, Massimo Morante, Maurizio Guarini, Bruno Previtali and Titta Tani included in the lineup.

More information here

Getting Back On The Road

2010-06-29T22:51:00.003Z

Just like Franco Nero, David Hess and Corrine Clery in Hitchhike it seems the Bloody Italiana team are finally getting on the road again. Thank you James for taking the initiative and getting this baby up and running. Plenty of Italian film related stuff on the way but how can we open without some theme music? So here is a song from the none too Italian Willie Nelson, it is good to be back!

Arrivederci hiatus

2010-06-27T14:51:00.004Z

Beginning in 2007 and coming to an end in 2009 with 225 posts to it's name. It's back. After long deliberation we've finally decided to reopen our doors here at Bloody Italiana. Once again adopting our less formal and more comedic approach to writing; goofs, trivia, light reviews and the alike.

We hope you enjoy reading our mad musings.