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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A Fistful of Grab Bag! Mystery Photos #21-25!

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Welcome back to the ol' Arcana for another round of Grab Bag Goodies!

As outlined in previous installments, I purchased a few hundred promotional stills that have had their title captions trimmed off. Some I recognize, most I don't. It's up to my faithful readership to help me decipher what they're promoting. Hell, solve enough of 'em and maybe I'll send you some of the duplicates I received!

For those not familiar with promo stills, they occasionally carry a helpful hint or two. Some are branded with a cataloging code of letters and numbers which usually signify an abbreviation of the title (sometimes a retitling) and, if you're especially lucky, maybe the year of release (not to be confused with year of production). And that's pretty much all we have to go on...

The fifth batch is below; let's see what you've got!

#21: ODN-22 

#22: No Markings!
This one's for Vincente Aranda's The Blood Spattered Bride (1972), a psychosexual and surreal Spanish shocker that remains one of my all time favorites. Currently available on DVD from Blue Underground, it was also added as a bonus feature on their superlative Blu of Harry Kumel's Daughters of Darkness (1971), though it really deserves the four-star treatment on its own.  Hopefully someday...

#23: 6323-35
Acclaimed artist Neil Vokes recognized this still as belonging to Mario Bava's classic anthology, Black Sabbath (1963).  Available on VHS and LD only in a reworked U.S. variant, the DVD age finally saw its original edit released to these shores, initially from Image Entertainment and later from Anchor Bay as part of their Bava Box or as a standalone disc.  Be sure and check out Neil's blog, That's All, Vokes!

#24: No Markings! 

#25: No Markings!
The Movie Geek speaks!  Marc Edward Heuck identified this shot from Bert I. Gordon's How to Succeed with Sex (1970), an early X-rated comedy chronicling a horny groom-to-be's futile attempts at bedding his future bride.  A how-to guide initially appears to be the answer, but only seems to work on everyone but her.  I've never seen the film, but it certainly sounds amusing enough.  I'm unsure of its domestic VHS history (I do know there are some overseas tapes), but I think I can safely say it's not on DVD anywhere.  Be sure to swing by Marc's blog, The Projector Has Been Drinking.

Like what you see? Be sure and check out Grab Bag Photos 1-5, 6-10, 11-15 & 16-20, some of which are still unidentified. Speaking of which, Name that Movie Monday Challenge #20 is still open; I've since added a few worthless hints for frustration's sake.

And don't forget, our Upcoming Releases List (the best on the 'net) is constantly updated, so stop by and pre-order some cool stuff! Sorry for my persistent grab-bagging in lieu of real posts; I'll try to get back in the bloggin' swing o' things soon and finish up our next In Search Of profile and the ever-tardy Mondo Digital Top Ten of '10 write-up!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Grab Bag Revenge! Mystery Photos #16-20!

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Welcome back to the ol' Arcana for another round of Grab Bag Goodies!

As outlined in previous installments, I purchased a few hundred promotional stills that have had their title captions trimmed off. Some I recognize, most I don't. It's up to my faithful readership to help me decipher what they're promoting. Hell, solve enough of 'em and maybe I'll send you some of the duplicates I received!

For those not familiar with promo stills, they occasionally carry a helpful hint or two. Some are branded with a cataloging code of letters and numbers which usually signify an abbreviation of the title (sometimes a retitling) and, if you're especially lucky, maybe the year of release (not to be confused with year of production). And that's pretty much all we have to go on...

The fourth batch is below; let's see what you've got!

#16: No Markings!
Thumbs up to "Ottobud" for identifying George McCowan's nature-goes-nuts romp, Frogs (1972).  One of the more ludicrous entries in the short-lived, much-loved subgenre, it was issued on a nice DVD in the format's early days by MGM, who managed to restore some of the more violent bits missing from previous domestic releases.

#17: TS-11
Turns out this photo (along with still #1) belongs to Graeme Ferguson's The Seducers (1962), a convoluted-sounding blackmail / psychological thriller released by Joseph Brenner Associates.  The film unfortunately doesn't appear to be readily available, though its trailer is on some old Something Weird compilations. Anyone seen it?

#18: No Markings! 

#19: No Markings! 

#20: No Markings!

Like what you see? Be sure and check out Grab Bag Photos 1-5, 6-10 & 11-15, some of which are still unidentified. Speaking of which, Name that Movie Monday Challenge #20 is still open; I've since added a few worthless hints for frustration's sake.
 
And don't forget, our Upcoming Releases List (the best on the 'net) is constantly updated, so stop by and pre-order some cool stuff! Sorry for my persistent grab-bagging in lieu of real posts; I'll try to get back in the bloggin' swing o' things soon and finish up our next In Search Of profile and the ever-tardy Mondo Digital Top Ten of '10 write-up!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.