Cinema Arcana

Merry Xmas from Cinema Arcana!

2011-12-25T16:05:00.000-05:00

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Apologies for the lack of fresh content lately--I have a half-dozen articles sitting around in various states of completion, not to mention updates on my VHS Archives and Name that Movie Monday series--but the day-job has been kickin' my butt lately, and I've been finding it hard to muster up the energy by the time I make it home. Still, I appreciate everyone stopping by; I've at least been managing regular updates to the Upcoming Releases List! I hope you and yours all have an excellent holiday season. Fingers crossed for a saner 2012!

It's Name that Movie Monday! Challenge #28!

2011-10-10T22:22:00.003-04:00

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Welcome back to Name that Movie Monday!

It's time for Challenge #28 here at the ol' Arcana! Can you identify this week's mystery photo, scanned direct from The Holecheck Archives? If you think you recognize it, post a comment below. As the week goes on, if no one guesses correctly I'll begin adding some pretty useless hints. Easy, right?

Here ya' go -- good luck!

For a look at the still unsolved Challenge #27, click here. Ditto for Challenge #24! We also have quite a few unidentified Grab Bag photos, if you really want to show your stuff. And don't forget, our Upcoming Releases List (the best on the 'net) is updated, um... not as often as it should be the last few weeks, but stop by and preorder some cool stuff anyway!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The Return of Grab Bag! Mystery Photos #26-30!

2011-10-04T19:59:00.004-04:00

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

#26: FSW-9

Thanks to Eric Hoffman for figuring out which Mexploitation monstrosity this photo is from! According to him, "#26-FSW-9 looks like a shot from the first of the 'Aztec Mummy' films, Rafael Portillo's La momia azteca (1957) with the film's heroine Rosa Arenas on the slab about to be sacrificed by the mummy." The entire trilogy was released to DVD by BCI Eclipse, and even though the set is currently out of print, copies can be found on Amazon pretty cheaply.

#27: OK-3

#28: TDOF-52

#29: ZEX-35

The Hoff-man scores another! Thanks, Eric! "#29-ZEX-35, is from what got released here as The Electronic Monster (1958). Its original title in England was Escapement and was based on a novel by Charles Eric Maine. Before its final release, the film was going to be distributed over here as Zex, The Electronic Fiend or Zex, The Electronic Monster by Columbia. Hence the ZEX in the still number." Directed by Montgomery Tully and David Paltenghi, there's no DVD to my knowledge, but the old VHS from VCI can be found on Amazon.

#30: No Markings!

Like what you see? Be sure and check out our previous Grab Bag Photos, some of which are still unidentified. Speaking of which, Name that Movie Monday Challenges #27 and #24 are 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 updated, um... not as often as it should be lately (damn you, Amazon vs. CA!), but stop by and pre-order some cool stuff anyway!

The VHS Archives: Massimo Pirri's FATAL FIX (1980)

2011-09-28T19:44:00.001-04:00

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FATAL FIX

Massimo Pirri's Eroina (1980)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.

Catalog: MOG1015

Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 91:22
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Massimo Pirri
Year of Release: 1980
Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Helmut Berger, Corinne Clery, Karl Zinny, Roberto Caporali, Franco Citti

AKAs: The Tunnel, Heroin

Verbatim Box Synopsis

A hard hitting shocking story of today, a story which could have happened to anybody anywhere. A shocking, sensational expose of heroin-addiction in the inner city. A story of lost people and their struggle for survival in the twilight world of drug-abuse.

U.S. Mogul Communications sleeve!

Italian VideoService Europa sleeve!

French DEC sleeve!

Danish Video Media sleeve, courtesy of Nucleus Films' Marc Morris!

Looking for Fatal Fix on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

It's Name that Movie Monday! Challenge #27!

2011-09-19T20:18:00.000-04:00

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Welcome back to Name that Movie Monday!

It's time for Challenge #27 here at the ol' Arcana! Can you identify this week's mystery photo, scanned direct from The Holecheck Archives? If you think you recognize it, post a comment below. As the week goes on, if no one guesses correctly I'll begin adding some pretty useless hints. Easy, right?

Here ya' go -- good luck!

For a look at our last Challenge, click here. While you're at it, Challenge #24 is still unsolved, so click here to try your luck! We also have quite a few unidentified Grab Bag photos, if you really want to show your stuff. And don't forget, our Upcoming Releases List (the best on the 'net) is constantly updated, so stop by and preorder some cool stuff!

The VHS Archives: Bruce Le & Joseph Velasco's THE NINJA STRIKES BACK (1982)

2011-09-17T21:11:00.002-04:00

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THE NINJA STRIKES BACKS

Bruce Le & Joseph Velasco's Xiong zhong (1982)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: All American Video
Catalog: AAV103
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 83:55
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Bruce Le, Joseph Velasco
Year of Release: 1982
Country of Origin: France / Hong Kong
Stars: Bruce Le, Jang Lee Hwang, Harold Sakata, Bolo Yeung, Andre Koob, Dick Randall, Jean-Marie Pallardy
AKAs: Eye of the Dragon, Bruce Lee Fights Back

Verbatim Box Synopsis

Ninja... a name that conjures up dread, loathing and gut wrenching fear in all who have ever had the misfortune to cross their path. With death defying feats, a total disregard for everything human and their own very special brand of vengeance, Ninjas are a force to be reckoned with. Ninjas deal in DEATH, in any shape or form, be it slow torturous death, letting their victims scream themselves into a state of oblivion, or death can come like a streak of lightning... so fast that the victim's head goes on talking for seconds after being severed by the flashing blade. So, when the two greatest masters in the art of sudden death collide in combat, it becomes two death-dealing human fighting machines in the battle of the century.

U.S All American Video sleeve!

Dutch World Home / Centre Video Int. sleeve, originally scanned by "Harm"!

German UFA Video sleeve!

Italian Avo Film sleeve!

French Proserpine sleeve, taken from Nanarland!

Alternate French Proserpine sleeve, also taken from Nanarland!

Yet another alternate French Proserpine sleeve!

French TeleK7 sleeve, originally scanned by "Airbeez"! This was one popular movie in France!

Bonus ninja fight clip, uploaded by ChanWeiMan1828!

Looking for The Ninja Strikes Back on VHS? It's available on Amazon here. However, a better option is Media Blasters' anamorphic DVD, released in their RareFlix, Vol. 3 box set!

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: German Lorente's INSANITY! (1976)

2011-09-14T22:22:00.004-04:00

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INSANITY!

German Lorente's Striptease (1976)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1004
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 107:33
Print: 1.55:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Germain Lorente
Year of Release: 1976
Country of Origin: Spain
Stars: Terence Stamp, Corinne Clery, Pilar Velazquez, Fernando Rey, Veronica Miriel, George Rigaud
AKAs: Striptease

Verbatim Box Synopsis

Film director Alain (TERENCE STAMP) having tasted huge success with his first film is tortured by the pressures of a follow up. He is fascinated by the beauty of Anna (CORINNE CLEARY), and her life story gives him inspiration for a new film. His attraction for her turns to love, and from love to obsession -- an obsession that can only end in tragedy.

U.S. Mogul Communications sleeve!

U.K. VTC sleeve, courtesy of Nucleus Films' Marc Morris!

Looking for Insanity! on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Cannibalism Hinted! The Americanization of Rene Cardona's SURVIVE! (1975)

2011-09-12T22:07:00.001-04:00

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In 1972 a plane full of passengers, including a college rugby team from Uruguay, crashes into the snowy mountains of the Andes. Many passengers are dead, others are bloody and wounded. One player steps out onto the soft snow and sinks into oblivion. Another guy’s guts are spilling out, so med student Raul (Pablo Ferrel) pushes them back in. The survivors line up the many dead bodies in the snow. They frequently pray the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary,” and make the “sign of the cross.” There’s very little food. They burn their cash for warmth. The injured moan constantly and keep the others awake. After a few weeks, Raul says, "We each must decide if we live or die. The bodies in the snow can provide us with enough protein for a month." Another player: "We must do what we must do." Raul goes out to the bodies and tearfully slices off some fatty flesh from a dead guy. The survivors say the Rosary and line up to eat the gooey strips. One guy gags. Some gobble it. A guy forces it down his reluctant wife’s throat. One player refuses. ("I'd rather die!") Morale and strength pick up until an avalanche floods the plane and kills more people. The married guy makes the others promise that they won’t eat his now-dead wife. Some guy’s leg is black and infected so he slices into it with a razor and drains grey pus. Finally, the coach (Tintorera's Hugo Stiglitz) and two of the players stuff bags with shredded flesh and set out with makeshift goggles and boots to find help.

During Christmastime of 1975, the ambitious marketing genius Allan Carr was in Mexico promoting the movie Tommy for film producer/rock mogul Robert Stigwood. At a theater next to Carr’s hotel was a long line of people waiting to see something called Supervivientes de los Andes. Carr didn’t speak Spanish, but he was able to figure out that the crowd was buying tickets for a movie about a notorious 1972 plane crash that resulted in the snowbound survivors being forced to eat their dead fellow passengers.

Supervivientes de los Andes was a then-new epic directed by the tireless, 69-year-old Mexican exploitation legend Rene Cardona -- creator of bizarre worldwide hits like Santa Claus, Night of the Bloody Apes, and the “Santo” masked-wrestler movies. Rene Cardona, Jr. had produced the picture (entirely indoors) at the Churubusco studio in South America in early 1975. Second-unit long shots were filmed in the Colorado mountains. Despite the cheap production values and the laughably-fake snow, Supervivientes de los Andes turned out to be an efficient programmer with grisly images of spilling intestines, pus-oozing legs, and gooey human flesh getting sliced and gobbled. (A shaved pig was used for some scenes.)

Carr watched the film and thought it was terrible but he felt that a dubbed version would work in America. He convinced Stigwood to put up $500,000 to license worldwide, non-Spanish rights. Stigwood invested another $350,000 in Carr’s post-production. An English adaptation was written by acclaimed playwright Martin Sherman (Bent). Marshall M. Borden cut the new version. Many scenes (mostly those involving a search party) were dropped, others were tightened. The entire soundtrack was recreated from scratch. Veteran TV character actor Rudy Solari directed the new voices. Carr liked that the actors often had scarves over their mouths, which made the lip-syncing easier. Monotone narration was added. The sparse original score by Raul Lavista was replaced with one by Gerald Fried and recorded with a 50-piece orchestra. Footage from Disney’s In Search of the Castaways was licensed to enhance the lame avalanche sequence. Optical “haze” and “fog” were superimposed over the studio-shot sequences in an attempt to make the snow look more believable. Montages of black & white stills were placed at the film’s beginning and end. The new version ran 90 minutes. (The original was 112.) To mask the film’s pedigree, most of the Mexican cast and crew members’ names were buried at the end of the new closing crawl. (Only five of the over two-dozen actors were billed in this version.)

Stigwood saw the final result, now called Survive!, and hated it but he shared Carr’s box office enthusiasm until the film was turned down by every studio and distributor except American-International Pictures, who offered a weak deal. Executives from Paramount Pictures were the last to look at the film. They thought it was an embarrassment but they were desperate for something for their August 1976 slot. They offered Stigwood forty-percent of the profits and agreed to spend $850,000 on prints and ads.

Carr personally supervised the aggressive, in-your-face marketing campaign. Stigwood and Carr took a prominent “presentation” billing on the credits and ads. Some flesh-slicing and pus-draining was trimmed for an R rating. The lobby cards and promo stills included shots of the survivors drying the meat and eating it. The trailer ended with a freeze-frame of a knife cutting into flesh. All print and TV ads ended with: “CAUTION: The re-creation of the 1972 Andes plane crash and THE SURVIVAL SCENES may be too intense for young teenagers.” Carr told the press: “It’s the ultimate disaster picture. I hate to make a pun but the cannibalism is tastefully handled, almost as though it were a Catholic ritual…The audience for Survive! is the boys who want to have the girls grab them because they‘re so revolted by it all…The only thing that most people know about Mexican movies is Bunuel and Tijuana porno. This is something in between.”

Paramount opened Survive! on August 4 in 26 theaters. (The studio had originally planned to open Drum on that date until they dropped that Mandingo sequel.) Variety: “To say that Survive! is a disaster movie is not to categorize it but to describe it.” Roger Ebert: “Survive! is a fairly awful movie, but the essential heroism of its subject matter somehow emerges intact. That makes it a difficult movie to review you can’t just dismiss it with cheap shots, you have to deal with the fact that it does have an emotional impact. It’s not a good movie or even a very professional one, but it does respect its subject matter and so we have to also.” Frank Rich, New York Post: “a patently false snuff film that simulated the disembowelment of a woman for the audience’s erotic pleasure…The experience of sitting through it is so degrading it makes you want to rush home and take a shower.” (Carr sent roses to Rich after reading that review.)

Survive! grossed $250,000 the first week and was #13 on Variety’s chart. By the end of the month, it had grossed $3.5 million and was #2 on the chart. Paramount ultimately had 400 prints in circulation and the film was #1 for one week in September and in the top 10 throughout that month.

United Artists wasn’t happy about the attention that Survive! was getting. Carr: “They’re very upset with me, they’re real mad.” In 1974 UA had paid a hefty sum for the rights to the bestseller Alive, which told the same story (with the participation of the survivors), and had planned a big-budget movie. William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) wrote a treatment and fellow Oscar-winner John Schlesinger (Midnight Cowboy) was attached to direct, but the studio put their version on hold. (Paramount later teamed with Disney to finally make an Alive movie in 1993.)

Stigwood alone invested the entire capital needed to license and revamp Survive! but Carr was his 50% partner for discovering the movie and for supervising the re-editing and promotion. Carr’s final cut came to over $1 million. He used part of his new-found cash to purchase the movie rights to Grease and used his new-found clout with Paramount to set that musical up at the studio.

Although it was a major studio summer hit, Survive! almost immediately sank into obscurity. Today, it’s a mostly forgotten curio and probably not fondly remembered by most who were duped into seeing it in the summer of ‘76.

The ABC network broadcast a heavily-censored version in primetime in 1977. Thorn-EMI released the uncut Survive! on North American home video in 1982 and those tapes are now extremely scarce. Urban Vision released the uncut, original, Spanish-language Supervivientes de los Andes on region 1 DVD in 2003. Carr and Stigwood’s license on Survive! expired in 1996 and worldwide rights reverted back to the Cardona family. Paramount still has the elements for the American version in its vault. On October 11, 2011, VCI Entertainment will be releasing a DVD containing both the original Mexican version and the Allan Carr cut.

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Paul Talbot is the author of the books Bronson’s Loose!: The Making of the “Death Wish” Films and Mondo Mandingo: The “Falconhurst” Books and Films.

The VHS Archives: Jose Maria Elorrieta's FEAST FOR THE DEVIL (1971)

2011-09-10T21:32:00.003-04:00

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FEAST FOR THE DEVIL

Jose Maria Elorrieta's Las amantes del diablo (1971)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1032
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1987

Runtime: 88:47

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Jose Maria Elorrieta
Year of Release: 1971
Country of Origin: Spain / Italy
Stars: Krista Nell, Teresa Gimpera, Espartaco Santoni, Veronica Lujan, Ennio Girolami, Julio Pena, Carla Conti

AKAs: Feast of Satan, The Devil's Lovers

Verbatim Box Synopsis

A terrifying story of black magic, sorcery, devil worship, and the practise of evil satanic rites in a small coastal fishing village.

Maria, a nurse goes missing while on vacation and her sister Hilda sets out to unravel the strange mystery of her disappearance.

Hilda meets a strange character called Dr Nescu and falls in love -- Nescu always surrounds himself with beautiful young women and they all appear to be under the influence of a spell -- a strange and eerie cult force.

What evil lurks behind the huge castle gates? -- the home of strange Dr Nescu ... A movie that will shock you as it races to its deathly, demonic climax.

U.S. Mogul sleeve!

Greek Video Cronos sleeve, originally scanned by "Cinehound"! Be sure to visit his Cinehound Forums!

Italian Cinevideo Sleeve!

Argentinean Condor Video Home sleeve!

Never ones to let good art go to waste, Mogul used the same design for their 1987 U.K. release of Lamberto Bava's Macabre (1980). Thanks to Diary of a Genre Addict's Andrew Hawnt for the scan!

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

It's Name that Movie Monday! Challenge #26!

2011-09-05T22:44:00.012-04:00

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Welcome back to Name that Movie Monday!

It's time for Challenge #26 here at the ol' Arcana! Can you identify this week's mystery photo, scanned direct from The Holecheck Archives? If you think you recognize it, post a comment below. As the week goes on, if no one guesses correctly I'll begin adding some pretty useless hints. Easy, right?

Here ya' go -- good luck!

UPDATE:

Temple of Schlock's Chris Poggiali scores his fifth win and smashes the record books by liberating Joe Viola's The Hot Box (1972) in five minutes flat! It's a sweaty tale of four American nurses on duty in a South American clinic who end up captured by "The People's Army" and are forced to tend the medical needs of their followers. Slowly but surely our quartet begin to believe in The Cause, but not until they've all popped their tops.

Shot in the Philippines like most Roger Corman-produced jungle actioners, The Hot Box is a calculated melding of two of New World's most profitable genres: their Nurse series and their Women-in-Prison outings. Featuring the usual mixture of sexy girls (including exploitation favorites like Margaret Markov and Laurie Rose), stuff blowing up, and a politicized message from co-scripter Jonathan Demme, it's not quite as trashy as its campaign would lead you to believe, but it's still a fun timewaster for those with low demands.

Released to theaters by New World Pictures in May 1972, the film never quite reached the popularity of the outfit's similar offerings, especially the Pam Grier titles, but that's not really much of a surprise. (The MPAA lists RX: Revolution as an aka; has any paper surfaced under this title?) It hit VHS in 1986 courtesy of Embassy Home Entertainment, but its digital editions since have left a lot to be desired; both the E.I. Women in Prison Triple Feature from 2009 and Infinity's 2010 Roger Corman's Best of the B's: Escape from Prison utilize tape masters and are no real improvement on what came prior. Thankfully, the word on the streets is that Shout Factory will be doing the film up proper in 2012 as part of their Roger Corman's Cult Classics line; given their track record, this should prove to be the definitive release!

Newspaper ad courtesy of Fred Adelman's Critical Condition.

The VHS Archives: Angelo Pannaccio's HOLOCAUST 2 (1980)

2011-08-27T12:24:00.002-04:00

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HOLOCAUST 2

Angelo Pannaccio's Holocaust parte seconda: i ricordi, i deliri, la vendetta (1980)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: All American Video
Catalog: AAV112
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 77:17
Print: 1.78:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Angelo Pannaccio
Year of Release: 1980
Country of Origin: Italy
Stars: William Berger, Tina Aumont, Kai Fischer, Andres Resino, Gordon Mitchell, Marzia Damon
AKAs: Holocaust 2: The memories, delirium and the vendetta part two

Verbatim Box Synopsis

A series of vicious killings seem to have no connections; but as T.V. and the press report on the murders it is discovered that all of the victims were either former Nazi's or members of their families.

The story of a merciless vendetta ...... a group of vigilantes have banded together to track down those who had a part in the massacre of over six million Jews. We relive the horror and the paralyzing fear of those terrible days.

U.S. All American sleeve!

Danish Film-Lab sleeve, courtesy of Hans-Jorn Reimer and his Danish Ex-Rental VHS Appreciation Group!

Dutch Sunrise Tapes sleeve, courtesy of Cult VHS!

Alternate Dutch Sunrise Tapes sleeve, originally scanned by "anarkotiko21"!

Finnish United Film sleeve, taken from Ghoulson!

Italian Cinelux sleeve

Spanish MKM sleeve!

Some especially ridiculous scenes, compiled and uploaded by "R6dw6C"!

Looking for Holocaust 2 on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

The VHS Archives: Bruno Fontana's THE DIRTY SEVEN (1982)

2011-08-26T00:38:00.002-04:00

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THE DIRTY SEVEN

Bruno Fontana's La belva dalle calda pelle (1982)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: All American Video
Catalog: AAV102
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 92:23
Print: 1.66:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Bruno Fontana
Year of Release: 1982

Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Laura Gemser, Angelo Infanti, Gabriele Tinti, Giovanni Brusadori

AKAs: The Beast with Hot Skin, Emanuelle Queen of the Desert

Verbatim Box Synopsis

A party of commandos go on a dangerous mission to kill...

... two are killer, their captain is wounded and the rescue craft which was supposed to pick them up, shoots at them instead...

... betrayed, forsaken and hungry, filled with fear and despair, the survivors become brutes...

... A strange girl joins them. Sheila (LAURA GEMSER) is a fascinating and sensuous woman who agrees to lead them to safety; but instead she makes them betray each other.......

A picture full of HIGH SUPSPENSE and HUMAN DRAMA starring LAURA GEMSER, ANGELO INFANTI, GABRIELE TINTI written and directed by BRUNO FONTANA

U.S. All American sleeve!

Danish sleeve, originally scanned by "Diabolik"!

Argentinean Lucian Films sleeve, courtesy of Raro VHS!

French Cine Budget sleeve, taken from Nanarland!

French Delta Video sleeve, originally scanned by "fred932000"!

German VTD sleeve, taken from The Video Museum!

Alternate German VTD sleeve, taken from The Video Museum!

It looks like the All American artwork can be traced back to GO Video's UK cover for Apocalypse, the Untold Story! (Scan taken from The GO! Video Tribute Site!)

Looking for The Dirty Seven on VHS? It's available on Amazon here, though it's not the All American release. There's also a Simitar DVD available.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

It's Name that Movie Monday! Challenge #25!

2011-08-22T19:04:00.090-04:00

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Welcome back to Name that Movie Monday!

It's time for Challenge #25 here at the ol' Arcana! Can you identify this week's mystery photo, scanned direct from The Holecheck Archives? If you think you recognize it, post a comment below. As the week goes on, if no one guesses correctly I'll begin adding some pretty useless hints. Easy, right?

Here ya' go -- good luck!

UPDATE:

Congrats to reader "Paul" for identifying this mystery photo as Denis Heroux's The Uncanny (1977). I thought the image would be a little tougher to nail with half of Samantha Eggar's face hidden, but I guess it's hard to mistake those eyes!

The film itself is a Canadian attempt at aping the success British companies like Amicus had been having with the anthology format, bringing in plenty of that country's stars and some of their backers, too. Peter Cushing hosts as a writer pitching his newest research tome; one dedicated to the concept that cats have been exploiting mankind instead of the other way around. Seriously. What follows is a trio of supposed terror tales involving feline forces dooming a surprisingly loaded cast that includes, in addition to Eggar and Cushing, turns from Ray Milland, Donald Pleasance, John Vernon, Susan Penhaligon and more.

While bypassing theatrical play in the States (going direct to television airings on CBS), The Uncanny did hit screens in its financing countries; North of the border Astral handled the job, and across the pond Rank took charge. There was even a novelization issued in the U.K.! Receiving an '80s VHS release Stateside courtesy of Media Home Entertainment, the film never gained much of a following here, probably due to its lack of particularly exploitable content -- at the end of the day, it's still a flick about killer kitties, no matter what you do! No domestic DVD as of this writing, but there are imports available in Australia and Britain.

For a look at Challenge #24, still unsolved, click here. We also have quite a few unidentified Grab Bag photos, if you really want to show your stuff. And don't forget, our Upcoming Releases List (the best on the 'net) is constantly updated, so stop by and preorder some cool stuff!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Pedro Luis Ramirez' SCHOOL OF DEATH (1975)

2011-08-21T18:37:00.003-04:00

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SCHOOL OF DEATH

Pedro Luis Ramirez' El colegio de la muerte (1975)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: All American Video
Catalog: AAV109
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 89:37

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Pedro Luis Ramirez
Year of Release: 1975
Country of Origin: Spain
Stars: Dean Selmier, Sandra Mazarowsky, Norma Kastel, Carlos Mendy, Victoria Vera

AKAs: ?

Verbatim Box Synopsis

'School of Death'...

A spine tingling tale of horror.

Leonor and her boyfriend discover a series of horrifying events involving many victims at an orphanage.

Then Leonor, too, was chosen as the next victim of terror.

U.S. All American sleeve!

All American combo VHS sales sheet, courtesy of Fred Adelman's Critical Condition!

Spanish Video Future sleeve!

Spanish Select Video sleeve!

Looking for School of Death on VHS? It's not readily available, but there is a Sinister Cinema DVD-R here.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Javier Seto's MACABRE (1969)

2011-08-20T11:51:00.000-04:00

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MACABRE

Javier Seto's Viaje al vacio (1969)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.

Catalog: MOG1003

Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 85:13
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Javier Seto
Year of Release: 1969
Country of Origin: Spain / Italy
Stars: Larry Ward, Teresa Gimpera, Silvana Venturelli, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart
AKAs: Shadow of Death, Invisible Assassin, The Emptiness All Around

Verbatim Box Synopsis

The beautiful and cunning Denise hates her husband and wants him dead...

She falls in love with her husband's twin brother and together they plot the fiendish, chilling murder.

A story of lust, evil and hate!

U.S. Mogul sleeve!

Italian Cinehollywood sleeve, originally scanned by "jungle killer"!

Looking for Macabre on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Lucio Fulci's CONTRABAND (1980)

2011-08-18T21:30:00.003-04:00

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CONTRABAND

Lucio Fulci's Luca il contrabbandiere (1980)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1019
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1987
Runtime: 90:25
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Lucio Fulci
Year of Release: 1980
Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Fabio Testi, Ivana Monti, Guido Alberti, Venantino Venantini, Ajita Wilson, Marcel Bozzuffi, Romano Puppi

AKAs: Luca, The Smuggler, The Naples Connection

Verbatim Box Synopsis

The gang leader of a smuggling racket makes a miraculous escape from an ambush in which his brother is murdered. Meanwhile a traitor in his gang informs the authorities and their activity is curtailed.

All hell breaks loose and murder follows murder as rival gangs try to eliminate each other.

All action, fast-paced movie in the tradition of "The Godfather."

U.S. Mogul sleeve!

German VTD sleeve, taken from The Video Museum!

Alternate German VTD sleeve, also from The Video Museum!

Swiss SSV sleeve!

Dutch Eagle 6 sleeve, courtesy of Cult VHS!

Italian-language U.S. Centauro sleeve!

Argentinean International Television Film Distributors sleeve, courtesy of Raro VHS!

Alternate Argentinean International sleeve, also courtesy of Raro VHS!

Greek Diamond sleeve, again courtesy of Raro VHS!

Norwegian Video-Huset sleeve, courtesy of Dag-Johnny Elnes!

International trailer, uploaded by Blue Underground!

Notes (partially cannibalized from my old Mondo Digital review)

Fulci's sole crime actioner eschews the traditional cops vs. criminals set-up and instead spins a gruesome mobsters vs. mobsters scenario. Fabio Testi may be our hero, but he's also a ruthless killer who lays waste to several folks throughout the flick. Relying on the old "honor among thieves" credo, followers of spaghetti westerns, samurai epics and Hong Kong "heroic bloodshed" gun fu slaughterthons will find a comfortable familiarity with the general tone. Testi's good looks and cool demeanor add credence to his performance, and it's easy to believe someone with his charm could effortlessly climb the underworld ladder. The role occasionally harks back to the skills he honed as a stuntman, forcing Fabio to really earn his paycheck by ably jumping out windows and swinging from ropes, among other things. The supporting cast also presents a few surprises, with Euro-sex superstar Ajita Wilson popping up as a slutty gangster groupie and all-around badass Romano Puppo portraying a particularly mean-spirited hitman who wipes out half the cast. Lucio Fulci's workmanlike direction lacks the energetic staging someone like Enzo Castellari or Umberto Lenzi would have brought to the table and he instead opts to spoon out his usual specialty: wholesale carnage. That's right, gang, Contraband ranks right up there alongside Tulio Demicheli's Ricco as the goriest, most ruthless poliziotteschi Italy has to offer. Bellies are blown open, heads are demolished by gunfire and, in one of the more excruciating scenes in Fulci's oeuvre, a woman's face is blistered off with a Bunsen burner. Weak stomachs beware.

Shot from the end of November through December 1979 on location in Naples with some interior work done at De Paolis Studios in Rome, Fulci's effort started life under the title Vicious and was filmed as Mean Blood before eventually settling on Luca il Contrabbandiere (Luca the Smuggler). Distributed overseas as The Smuggler and The Naples Connection (presumably to capitalize on Marcel Bozzuffi's similar role in The French Connection), the outing was skipped over for domestic theatrical dates and didn't see U.S. shores until Mogul Communications' 1987 VHS release as Contraband. A nice rarity for collectors, the tape itself, while more or less uncut, left a lot to be desired with its cropped and fuzzy transfer. Additionally, the entire opening sequence was blacked out to showcase cheesy, computer-generated credits! Blue Underground's U.S. DVD thankfully rectifies this situation with an intact print that easily eclipses past presentations. Letterboxed at 1.85:1, their anamorphic transfer represents Sergio Salvati's unusually subdued and slightly soft-focus photography as accurately as can ever be expected. By no means a vibrant movie, there are still several colorful interludes (like the discotheque sequence) that reinforce what a nice makeover the film received here. A few instances of brief print damage still pop up, but they float right by and aren't worth fussing over. The mono soundtrack, while obviously limited, is also free of any problems and the noticeable hum that plagued other issues is mercifully absent. Recommended.

Additional Notes

Over at the Lovelock & Load forums, member "Pollanet" shared this fascinating bit of information: "In the book "Lucio Fulci - Il terrorista dei generi," unfortunately Italian-language only, my friend Paolo Albiero talks a lot about the unbelievable history of Fulci's Luca il contrabbandiere.

"Producer Sandro Infascelli died while Fulci was directing the film; Infascelli's wife didn't know what to do and almost had to abort the work. Unexpectedly, the smugglers decided to help her and finished producing the movie!

"Nothing in the film is faked; all the men and the craftsman are really Naples contrabands! Every night they gave a bag with money to Infascelli's widow to pay the production, and every day a part of them worked for Fulci as he directed.

"Fulci said that in all his career he never had as good a producer as the contrabands..."

Looking for Contraband on VHS? It's not readily available, but the aforementioned Blue Underground DVD can be had for pretty cheap!

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

The VHS Archives: Jean Luret's THE DAUGHTER OF EMANUELLE (1975)

2011-08-16T23:21:00.001-04:00

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THE DAUGHTER OF EMANUELLE

Jean Luret's La fille d'Emmanuelle (1975)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: All American Video
Catalog: AAV106
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 90:10
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Jean Luret
Year of Release: 1975
Country of Origin: Belgium / France
Stars: Lawrence Casey, Sarah Crespi, Greta Vayan, Macha Magall
AKAs: The Daughter of Emmanuelle, Pussy (No, seriously.)

Verbatim Box Synopsis

This is the emotional and evocative story of the daughter of Emanuelle. A daughter born out of wedlock after her father is critically wounded in Korea.

Some twenty years later the daughter is a top fashion model in Paris and as infamous as her mother.

The daughter falls in love with an older man returned to the city to try and recall his past. Emanuelle is devastated -- could this be the man that left her for Korea all of those years before.

U.S. All American sleeve!

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

It's Name that Movie Monday! Challenge #24!

2011-08-15T05:24:00.000-04:00

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Welcome back to Name that Movie Monday!

It's time for Challenge #24 here at the ol' Arcana! Can you identify this week's mystery photo, scanned direct from The Holecheck Archives? If you think you recognize it, post a comment below. As the week goes on, if no one guesses correctly I'll begin adding some pretty useless hints. Easy, right?

Here ya' go -- good luck!

For a look at our last entry, click here. All of our past Challenges have now been solved, but we still have quite a few unidentified Grab Bag photos, if you really want to show your stuff. And don't forget, our Upcoming Releases List (the best on the 'net) is constantly updated, so stop by and preorder some cool stuff!

The VHS Archives: Silvio Amadio's ALPHA CITY (1970)

2011-08-10T21:16:00.001-04:00

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ALPHA CITY

Silvio Amadio's Disperatamente l'estate scorsa (1970)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1040
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1987
Runtime: 83:33
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Silvio Amadio

Year of Release: 1970

Country of Origin: Italy
Stars: Paola Pitagora, Nino Segurini, Umberto Raho, Loris Bazzochi, Mirella Pamphili
AKAs: Desperately Last Summer

Verbatim Box Synopsis

As an ex-member of the security service he knows too much.

For a time they leave him alone in peace, but now they are after him again... He knows things he should not know.

Lisa, his girlfriend manages to warn him of the immediate danger and helps him escape.

They find his car in a ravine.

To all concerned, he is dead. In reality, he is safe, but...

U.S. Mogul sleeve!

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

The VHS Archives: Jose Maria Forque's FURY (1978)

2011-08-09T21:50:00.002-04:00

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FURY

Jose Maria Forque's La mujer de la tierra caliente (1978)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1026
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1987
Runtime: 76:43
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Jose Maria Forque

Year of Release: 1978

Country of Origin: Spain / Italy
Stars: Laura Gemser, Stuart Whitman, Pilar Velazquez, Gabriele Tinti, Paola Senatore
AKAs: Woman from the Torrid Land

Verbatim Box Synopsis

Two wild mysterious strangers cross paths in the primitive danger of the tropical jungle.

A young woman whose life has been nothing more than that of a prostitute. A man with so much to hide that nothing can unlock his past.

But as they begin their journey together, their deadly secrets are exposed as they grow closer and closer.

And soon trey are locked in a consuming, passionate affair.

As the stunning reality dawns, the action moves towards its final twist.

Their lives will never be the same again.

U.S. Mogul sleeve!

Looking for Fury on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

It's Name that Movie Monday! Challenge #23!

2011-08-08T19:39:00.003-04:00

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Welcome back to Name that Movie Monday!

It's time for Challenge #23 here at the ol' Arcana! Can you identify this week's mystery photo, scanned direct from The Holecheck Archives? If you think you recognize it, post a comment below. As the week goes on, if no one guesses correctly I'll begin adding some pretty useless hints. Easy, right?

Here ya' go -- good luck!

UPDATE:

I guess I’m just not making these hard enough!

Congrats to Todd Bridges, who ties things up at four by whipping Olga’s Dance Hall Girls (1966). This anonymously-directed fifth and final entry in George Weiss’ popular S&M-flavored series strays a bit from the blueprint laid by its predecessors, shifting the action to the suburbs where housewives are being pushed to boogie down with some shifty clientele. However, the gang’s true purpose is soon revealed as a front for a satanic cult specializing in human sacrifice! While certainly no classic, fans of NYC’s roughie movement will find some worth in Olga’s Dance Hall Girls. Audrey Campbell is sorely missed in the titular role, but at least sexploitation vet Larry Hunter shows up to keep the sleaze cranked to an appropriate level, and smaller roles are played with familiar faces like Linda Boyce and Uta Erickson. Plus, who can take umbrage at underwear catfights?

Gaining theatrical distribution in 1966 from sleaze merchants American Film Distributing Corporation, it received some surprisingly belated Canadian playdates as late as 1973 courtesy of Cinepix. Passed over for VHS release during the format’s boom years, it was considered lost until personal heroes Something Weird Video found the film’s original negative and issued it to tape in 1997. 2003 saw the Girls get a digital makeover on DVD as part of an Olga Triple Feature, partnered with earlier entries White Slaves of Chinatown and Olga’s House of Shame, which naturally comes highly recommended.

Practice your safe word, because more Olga-inspired posts are coming soon! Newspaper ad taken from TCM's Movie Morlocks.

For a look at our last entry, click here. All of our past Challenges have now been solved, but we still have quite a few unidentified Grab Bag photos, if you really want to show your stuff. And don't forget, our Upcoming Releases List (the best on the 'net) is constantly updated, so stop by and preorder some cool stuff!

The VHS Archives: Francisco Rodriguez Gordillo's THE ICEBOX MURDERS (1982)

2011-08-07T20:50:00.002-04:00

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THE ICEBOX MURDERS

Francisco Rodriguez Gordillo's El cepo (1982)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1013
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?

Runtime: 83:18

Print: 1.78:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Francisco Rodriguez Gordillo
Year of Release: 1982
Country of Origin: Spain

Stars: Jack Taylor, Mirta Miller, Claudia Gravy

AKAs: ?

Verbatim Box Synopsis

A young woman runs through long dark corridors trying desperately to escape... Nothing will stop the killer from reaching her neck in a deadly and violent grip.

Will she be the sixth woman to meet a violent and mysterious death?

There is no escape from the insane killer and his macabre web. A blood curdling chiller... Will she become just another body in the icebox?

U.S. Mogul sleeve!

Looking for The Icebox Murders on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Donald Farmer's DEMON QUEEN (1986)

2011-08-04T21:10:00.004-04:00

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DEMON QUEEN

Donald Farmer's Demon Queen (1986)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1037
Box Type: Clamshell

Year of Release: 1987

Runtime: 54:20
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Donald Farmer
Year of Release: 1986
Country of Origin: U.S.A.

Stars: Mary Fanaro, Clifton Dance, David Blood

AKAs: ?

Verbatim Box Synopsis

Lucinda (Mary Fanaro) is the ice cold, flesh eating, evil Demon Queen on a rampage of lust and terror.. a sinister demon assassin who brutally murders her victims one by one.

Jesse (Dennis Stewart) thinks he has escaped the bloody massacre but, for him is reserved the worst fate of all...

U.S. Mogul sleeve!

Seeing double?

How 'bout triple? Read on for some interesting details...

Notes

Mogul's 1986 Demon Queen release is one of the more recognizable examples of recycled VHS artwork in the format's history. For years it was thought the illustration was originally created for the 1982 British VTC issue of Umberto Lenzi's Nightmare City. However, Pre-Cert Video member "Hellochas" recently turned up the backstory behind this image. It turns out the painting is from fantasy artist Les Edwards, and was actually commissioned for the 1976 Corgi publication of Fred Mustard Stewart's book, Star Child. It was used again for its reissue, pictured to the right. Excellent work, "Hellochas"!

The original 12" x 8" gouache on board piece can be purchased from the artist's website for a measly $720. Prints are also available.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

The VHS Archives: Claude Mulot's CONTRACT TO KILL (1971)

2011-08-02T20:28:00.004-04:00

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CONTRACT TO KILL

Claude Mulot's La saignee (1971)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Imperial Video Corp.
Catalog: IVC112
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1983
Runtime: 83:00
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Claude Mulot

Year of Release: 1971

Country of Origin: France / Italy
Stars: Bruno Pradal, Charles Southwood, Gabriele Tinti, Ewa Swann, Patti D'Arbanville, Sydney Chaplin
AKAs: The Contract, The Mafia Contract, The Blood Letting

Verbatim Box Synopsis

What would you do if you walked into a room and saw two bullet-riddle bodies -- the killer still standing over them? THOMAS CHANARD runs for his life! He recognizes the murderer, GINO LONGUA, a prominent member of the New York syndicate, and he knows LONGUA will put out a contract on him --that he will be the next to die, if they find him. Where would you be safe if you were worth $30,000 -- DEAD. THOMAS runs home to the small French village he left two years ago -- to the girl he loved, but couldn't have.

There is no safety in the past. THOMAS is caught in a whirlpool of violence he can't control, that pulls him deeper into the emotional depths he has always tried to avoid.

The overwhelming reality of the contract builds to an unbelievably bloody climax which will leave the viewer breathless!

U.S. Imperial Video Corp. sleeve!

U.K. Nutland Video sleeve, courtesy of "movie-samurai"! Be sure to check out his Iver Film Services tribute site!

U.K. Shaftesbury sleeve, courtesy of MMTowns!

U.S. theatrical trailer, uploaded by "robatsea2009"!

Looking for Contract to Kill on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.

Investigate more titles with Project: IVC!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Nick Millard's GUNBLAST (1986)

2011-08-01T19:34:00.003-04:00

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GUNBLAST

Nick Millard's Gunblast (1986)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.

Catalog: MOG1014

Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 65:59
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Nick Millard
Year of Release: 1986
Country of Origin: U.S.A.
Stars: Marland Proctor, Christina Cardan, Uschi Digard
AKAs: ?

Verbatim Box Synopsis

He's loose again... and no one is safe!

Grant is an ex-convict just released from an eight year stretch in San Quentin. He gets involved in the twilight world of an international narcotics syndicate importing heroin into the United States.

The stakes are high and the risks are great in this hard-hitting powerhouse action thriller.

U.S. Mogul sleeve!

Danish V sleeve, originally scanned by "gorzelak"!

Looking for Gunblast on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Ken Wiederhorn's KING FRAT (1979)

2011-07-28T20:54:00.010-04:00

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KING FRAT

Ken Wiederhorn's King Frat (1979)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: All American Video
Catalog: AAV107
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 88:22
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Ken Wiederhorn
Year of Release: 1979
Country of Origin: U.S.A.
Stars: John DiSanti, Charles Pitt, Roy Sekoff, Robert Small

AKAs: King *@#!! Frat, Delta House, Campus King

Verbatim Box Synopsis

If you thought that 'Animal House' was funny just wait until you see the boys from Delta House in this wild and crazy movie. See the gang turn Yellowstone University into a disaster area. Perhaps what endeared Tommy to Delta was the feeling that beneath the scum, noise and smell there existed a rare and irresistable spirit of togetherness.

U.S. All American sleeve!

Italian Avo Film sleeve, originally scanned by "MaDDDin"!

U.K. Vipco sleeve, courtesy of Griff and his King *@#!! Frat Facebook group!

Swedish MDC Video sleeve, also courtesy of the FB Group!

Japanese Daei Video sleeve, again courtesy of the FB group!

Danish HemVideo Film / PolyGram sleeve, courtesy of Dag-Johnny Elnes!

Australian Prestige Video sleeve, again courtesy of Griff and his FB group!

Australian Apple-Den sleeve, again courtesy of Griff and his FB group!

Original U.S. theatrical trailer, uploaded by "bigblackcocks"! (If that doesn't get me some wrongly-directed Google traffic, I don't know what will!)

Notes

A few words on the film from upcoming Cinema Arcana contributor, Paul Talbot: "After Shock Waves, Weiderhorn was an editor then producer for CBS network news. He replaced the original director on King Frat. He was given 3 days to prep and read the script on the plane to Florida. The guy that plays the Belushi role in King Frat played the killer in Wiederhorn's Eyes of a Stranger. I snuck into a drive-in in '79 to see King Frat."

Looking for King Frat on VHS? It's available on Amazon here. You can also grab it on DVD from Code Red, double-billed with Cheering Section.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Michael J. Murphy's INVITATION TO HELL (1982)

2011-07-28T00:06:00.002-04:00

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INVITATION TO HELL

Michael J. Murphy's Invitation to Hell (1982)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Mega

Catalog: WV5002
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 41:25
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Michael J. Murphy

Year of Release: 1982
Country of Origin: U.K.
Stars: Becky Simpson, Joseph Sheahan, Colin Efford
AKAs: ?

Verbatim Box Synopsis

A beautiful young girl accepts an invitation to a party of a former college friend held at an isolated house in the country.

Unbeknown to her a dark evil force is lurking with it's walls -- controlling the lives of the other inhabitants.

Lured into their satanic web she discovers that she is to become a virgin sacrifice to quench the eternal lustings of the evil being.

Alone and powerless against her tormentor, in a struggle to survive she stumbles across the key to the malevolent force. Is it too late to use it and escape her Invitation To Hell?

U.S. Mega sleeve!

U.K. Scorpio Video sleeve!

U.K. Scorpio Video reverse sleeve!

DVD trailer, uploaded by Sarcophilous Films!

Looking for Invitation to Hell on VHS? It's available on Amazon here, though the picture listed is actually the Videoline release. Buyer beware! Anyway, you're much better off grabbing the Sarcophilous Films DVD; it features a new transfer, some extras and it's paired with Murphy's The Last Night to replicate its original U.K. VHS release!

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

It's Name that Movie Monday! Challenge #22!

2011-07-25T17:51:00.004-04:00

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Welcome back to Name that Movie Monday!

It's time for Challenge #22 here at the ol' Arcana! Can you identify this week's mystery photo, scanned direct from The Holecheck Archives? If you think you recognize it, post a comment below. As the week goes on, if no one guesses correctly I'll begin adding some pretty useless hints. Easy, right?

Here ya' go -- good luck!

UPDATE:

Congrats to Hysteria Lives' Justin Kerswell for naming Norman J. Warren's Terror (1978) as the mystery film of this week's challenge. Admittedly influenced by Argento's Suspiria, this supernatural-tinged slasher / giallo is one of the director's most enjoyable efforts, albeit a bit nonsensical. A confused tale of a film crew whose talent is getting ruthlessly slaughtered by an unseen assailant who may or may not have something to do with a longstanding family curse, it's basically nothing more than a set up for multiple gory setpieces, all stylishly lit and shot like all your favorite Italian horrors. And really, what the hell more do you want? Oh yeah, it's got nudity, too.

Released to U.S. theaters in 1979 by Crown International Pictures, the film made its way to home video in the '80s courtesy of VCI Entertainment and was later reissued by their United arm, both of which served the film pretty well. Crown's tape master was reused in 2004 for the film's digital debut from Rhino as part of their Horrible Horrors set, but shortly thereafter Terror hit U.K. DVD as part of Anchor Bay's recommended Norman Warren Collection. This version featured a new anamorphic transfer and a slew of supplements; the whole set is well worth seeking out if you're a fan of the director. In the U.S., the film was acquired by BCI Eclipse as part of their deal with Crown, who proceeded to release a nice print of it twice: once in 2006 paired with the shortened domestic print of Land of the Minotaur, and again in 2008 sharing space with a cut edit of Warren's Satan's Slave! Once the label folded, their catalog seeped over to Mill Creek, who stuffed the film into their Gorehouse Greats compendium in 2009. If all you're looking for is the film, this is a good and cheap alternative to the import set; copies can be picked up for peanuts nowadays! Though it's not a likely candidate, I'd love to see the film get upgraded to Blu Ray; its colorful palette would really be a pleasure to see in hi-def!

(Since this post was originally written, Scorpion Releasing have reissued Terror on DVD with some of the UK release's supplements, paired with an uncut version of The Devil's Men / Land of the Minotaur. It can be purchased from Amazon here.)

Newspaper ad courtesy of Fred Adelman's essential Critical Condition.

For a look at our last entry, click here. For the unbeatable Challenge #20, unsolved since December(!), click here. We also have quite a few unidentified Grab Bag photos, if you really want to show your stuff. And don't forget, our Upcoming Releases List (the best on the 'net) is constantly updated, so stop by and preorder some cool stuff!

The VHS Archives: Luigi Batzella's SS EXPERIMENT CAMP 2 (1977)

2011-07-22T01:08:00.007-04:00

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SS EXPERIMENT CAMP 2

Luigi Batzella's La bestia in calore (1977)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1018

Box Type: Clamshell

Year of Release: 1987
Runtime: 77:27

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Luigi Batzella

Year of Release: 1977
Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Macha Magall, Xiro Papas, Salvatore Baccaro, Gino Turini, Brad Harris, Brigitte Skay

AKAs: The Beast in Heat, SS Hell Camp, Horrifying Experiments of the SS Last Days, Nazi Holocaust

Verbatim Box Synopsis

A terrifying story of violence and madness set in a camp of re-inforced concrete and wire during World War II.

Some of the prisoners got out -- the lucky few -- and some of them didn't, those who didn't were left to suffer the isolation of the concentration camp and the ruthlessness of Hitler's elite band of Nazi guards.

This is the story of those who didn't escape. A story of the destruction of men and history and the Nazi pledge to shock and plunder.

U.S. Mogul sleeve!

U.S. Video City Productions sleeve!

U.K. JVI Video Films sleeve, courtesy of the Grindhouse Database!

South Korean NVC sleeve, originally scanned by "gialloboy"!

Danish Video Action / Videogram sleeve, courtesy of Hans-Jorn Reimer and his Danish Ex-Rental VHS Appreciation Group!

French Assaut Video sleeve, taken from Nanarland!

DVD trailer, uploaded by "Jewbo23"!

Though this tape isn't readily available, Media Blasters issued an excellent uncut DVD that is well worth picking up! Get it by itself, or in a Nazi Nasty triple-pack!

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

The VHS Archives: Valentino Orsini's MISSION CORBARI (1970)

2011-07-20T20:47:00.005-04:00

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MISSION CORBARI

Valentino Orsini's Corbari (1970)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Mega

Catalog: WV5004

Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 94:31

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Valentino Orsini

Year of Release: 1970

Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Giuliano Gemma, Tina Aumont, Frank Wolff

AKAs: ?

Verbatim Box Synopsis

One man against incredible odds.

This action-filled story concerns one man who would stop at nothing to win the struggle against the tyrannical jackboot rule of the Nazis. Hi name was Corbari.

U.S. Mega sleeve!

Italian SSV Video sleeve!

Swedish Trocab Film sleeve, originally scanned by "Jonas"!

Swedish Trix Videofilmer sleeve!

Danish Dana Sound Video sleeve, courtesy of Hans-Jorn Reimer and his Danish Ex-Rental VHS Appreciation group!

It's Name that Movie Monday! Challenge #21!

2011-07-18T17:45:00.005-04:00

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Welcome back to Name that Movie Monday!

It's time for Challenge #21 here at the ol' Arcana! Can you identify this week's mystery photo, scanned direct from The Holecheck Archives? If you think you recognize it, post a comment below. As the week goes on, if no one guesses correctly I'll begin adding some pretty useless hints. Easy, right?

Here ya' go -- good luck!

UPDATE:

Well, that didn't take long, did it?

Congrats to Doug Waltz for identifying Herschell Gordon Lewis' typically ludicrous bike-bitch epic, She-Devils on Wheels (1968). As their motto goes, "We don't owe nobody nothin' and we don't make no deals! We're swingin' chicks on motorbikes and maneaters on wheels!" Add in some splashy violence, groovy garage rock and hilariously quotable dialogue (including the legendary "Go fumigate yourself, craphead!") and you have a guaranteed night's entertainment.

Originally released to theaters ("in Blinding Color!" according to the promotional materials) by Mayflower Pictures, Inc., the film was later picked up by AIP as a co-feature for Billy Jack, of all things. What a night that bill would've been! At home, She-Devils on Wheels received a 1985 VHS release from World Video once its rights were bought up by Jimmy Maslon's Shock Films, who reissued it themselves in 1990 as part of their incredible 'Sleaziest Movies in the History of the World' series hosted by Joe Bob Briggs. Shock then worked out a deal with Something Weird Video, and that's where it's resided since. Their DVD looks great and comes with a fun commentary, stills collection, trailers and more, so get on the road!

For a look at our last entry, which has remained unsolved since December(!), click here. We also have quite a few unidentified Grab Bag photos, if you really want to show your stuff. And don't forget, our Upcoming Releases List (the best on the 'net) is constantly updated, so stop by and preorder some cool stuff!

The VHS Archives: Tonino Ricci's DAYS OF HELL (1986)

2011-07-16T16:20:00.002-04:00

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DAYS OF HELL

Tonino Ricci's I giorni dell'inferno (1986)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1012
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 87:49
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Tonino Ricci
Year of Release: 1986

Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Conrad Nichols, Werner Pochath, Richard Raymond, Steve Eliot
AKAs: The Afghanistan Connection

Verbatim Box Synopsis

A feeling of unease fills a guerilla camp in Afghanistan -- suddenly all hell breaks loose as the camp is savagely attacked by Russian military helicopters and air power, using chemical weapons causing death and destruction.

The scene shifts to Miami, Florida where a crack team of mercenaries are recruited to rescue Dr. Hunter and his daughter who are held captive by the enemy.

The four human fighting machines decide to enter Afghanistan by way of Iran and are immediately ambushed by unfriendly rebels...

The action is spectacular as the war-hardened mercenaries attempt the daring rescue leaving a devastating trail of destruction in their wake.

U.S. Mogul sleeve!

Argentinean Video Scope sleeve, courtesy of Raro VHS!

Swedish MDC Video sleeve, taken from Camp Movie Camp!

German Highlight Video sleeve, originally scanned by "Operazione Bianchi"!

French Empire Vision sleeve, passing itself off as a third entry in the same team's post-nuke Rush series!

Bonus clip, uploaded by "mirkoemayla"!

Looking for Days of Hell on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

The VHS Archives: Ernst Hofbauer's OFFICE GIRLS (1971)

2011-07-14T22:32:00.002-04:00

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OFFICE GIRLS

Ernst Hofbauer's Erotik im Beruf - Was jeder Personalchef gern verschweigt (1971)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Imperial Video Corp.
Catalog: IVC103
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1983
Runtime: 87:36
Print: 1.55:1 / English / No subs
Extras: Trailer for 2069: A Sex Odyssey

About the Film
Director: Ernst Hofbauer
Year of Release: 1971
Country of Origin: West Germany
Stars: Reinhard Glemnitz, Karin Field, Eva Berthold, Astrid Boner, Michael Schreiner
AKAs: Sex in the Office - What Every Boss Keeps Quiet!

Verbatim Box Synopsis

At last the naked truth, in this candid expose of the "sextra-curricular" activities at the office. Meet the most beautiful office workers you've ever seen, as they make their way to the top! You'll see sex at the corporate level exposed as never before. You'll have a "time and-a-half" viewing OFFICE GIRLS!

U.S Imperial Video Corp. sleeve!

Looking for Office Girls on VHS? It's available on Amazon here, if you've pulled enough overtime to afford it!

Investigate more titles with Project: IVC!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

The VHS Archives: Georg Tressler's 2069: A SEX ODYSSEY (1974)

2011-07-13T19:17:00.006-04:00

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2069: A SEX ODYSSEY

Georg Tressler's Ach jodel mir noch einen (1974)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Imperial Video Corp.
Catalog: IVC106
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1983
Runtime: 80:23

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Georg Tressler
Year of Release: 1974
Country of Origin: West Germany
Stars: Nina Frederik, Catharina Conti, Heidrun Hankammer, Alena Penz
AKAs: Space Girls, Venus Raiders

Verbatim Box Synopsis

A team of beautiful, sensuous astronauts are sent to the planet Earth to obtain male sperm which they must bring back to Venus since their population, consisting of females only, is in danger of becoming extinct without it.

The women capture unwary male subjects and soon discover the excitement of earth-style love-making. Will this science-friction work? ... Or will it be emission-impossible? Find all the answers as you view the funniest sci-fi sex comedy ever!

U.S. Imperial Video Corp. sleeve!

Australian K&C Video sleeve, originally scanned by "Howellsy1"!

Bonus, um.... pinball machine?! (For about 30 seconds I thought this was real, and my mind was blown. Then I read the fine print and my heart cried a little bit.) Created by the hilarious Evil Meatball vs. Cat!

Bonus trailer, uploaded by "geddoezz"!

Looking for 2069: A Sex Odyssey on VHS? Too bad, 'cuz Amazon don't have it. However, it's available on DVD as a double-feature with Run Virgin Run.

Investigate more titles with Project: IVC!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

The VHS Archives: Tony Malanowski's CURSE OF THE SCREAMING DEAD (1982)

2011-07-11T18:42:00.005-04:00

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CURSE OF THE SCREAMING DEAD

Tony Malanowski's The Curse of the Screaming Dead (1982)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1005
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 87:53
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Tony Malanowski
Year of Release: 1982
Country of Origin: U.S.A.
Stars: Steve Sandkuhler, Rebecca Bach, Judy Dixon, Mark Redfield
AKAs: Curse of the Cannibal Confederates

Verbatim Box Synopsis

The dead lie restless in their cold sleep, tortured souls waiting for the day they will walk the earth again. Tread not on their grave mounds. Leave them in peace lest you suffer "The Curse of The Screaming Dead".

U.S. Mogul sleeve!

Japanese TCC Video sleeve!

Australian Palace Explosive Video sleeve, courtesy of Pre-Cert Video!

Bonus trailer, uploaded by Troma, of course!

Notes

After I put posted this profile, I shot an email to Curse of the Screaming Dead actor / make-up artist / 2nd unit director Mark Redfield to see if he had any behind-the-scenes photos for some sort of addendum. He didn't, but he did give a lengthy response for me to publish; hopefully fans of the film will get a kick out of it!

"I don't have any photos--in fact, I was surprised by the photos that were unearthed for the chapter on Curse in the book 'Nightmare USA' by Stephen Thrower (an ENTIRE CHAPTER!--the mind boggles).

"This film will not die. Strangely, just before Thrower's book was published in 2007, there was a period where people came out of the woodwork wanting interviews and material on this film, and that's how Malanowski and I got back into contact after years of life taking us in different directions. A couple of years ago I acted in another film of Tony's films (he hadn't directed in decades, having been a working editor), an edu-ma-cational piece called The Battle of Bunker Hill. (No redcoat wearin' zombies innit tho...). He's come a long way, even if he went backward in time to do it...

"I love working with Tony, then and recently. For Curse, I was doing a play in college and had grown this beard for the part. Tony and Chris Gummer (the star of Curse) called me one day and told me to bring my make-up kit, 'cause they needed some zombies. Tony took a look at my beard and made me Captain. And that was that.

"Bunker Hill was a great experience, and is a very good film. Night and Day, as it were. Tony rustled up a great deal of production value, hundreds of extras for the battle scenes, and has put together a winning look at moment in American history. It's out on DVD now.

"And in the "you just never know" dept, another Curse co-star, Jim Ball, who since the halcyon days of fightin' zombies (he's the guy who returns the diary to me in Curse), has become a Minister, produced and directed a Christian film called Sins of the Fathers. It's not been released yet, but it's pretty good. In flashback scenes, I play a (what else?) ghost of a mean old man that may or may not be the root of all the problems in the story. Life takes us all down amusing and unexpected paths, doesn't it?

"I just looked at your blog, and have never seen the Clamshell art for that particular Australian edition. My little brother Eric will be pleased to discover that he made the cover!"

Thanks, Mark! Be sure to check out Redfield Arts for the latest updates on Mark's endeavors!

Looking for Curse of the Screaming Dead on VHS? It's available on Amazon here. Troma also issued it to DVD as Curse of the Cannibal Confederates.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

The VHS Archives: Miguel Iglesias Bonns' RAPE (1976)

2011-07-09T13:19:00.002-04:00

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RAPE

Miguel Iglesias Bonns' Desnuda inquietud (1976)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1029
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1987
Runtime: 76:53
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Miguel Iglesias Bonns

Year of Release: 1976

Country of Origin: Spain
Stars: Nadiuska, Ramiro Oliveros, Gil Vidal, Luis Induni
AKAs: ?

Verbatim Box Synopsis

Frank and Roger are shocked by the death of their friend Gene--who apparently has died of an unknown disease--and decide to investigate. They visit the old haunts of their friend and meet Maria, the girl Gene was in love with.

They soon discover that Maria has strange supernatural powers and the unexplainable mystery of Gene's death deepens.

What really happened to Gene?

Was he the victim of an evil force?

What is the mystery of the strange and beautiful Maria?

U.S. Mogul sleeve!

Puerto Rican Midwest Videofilms sleeve, courtesy of Jayson Kennedy's Basement of Ghoulish Decadence!

Spanish(?) IVS Video Main sleeve!

Spanish(?) Clemente Senior Video sleeve!

Looking for Rape on VHS? It's available on Amazon here, if you have money to burn.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Maman Firmansyan's HELL HOLE (1983)

2011-07-08T00:36:00.001-04:00

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HELL HOLE

Maman Firmansyan's Kawin kontrak (1983)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: All American Video
Catalog: AAV119
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 102:34
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Maman Firmansyan
Year of Release: 1983

Country of Origin: Indonesia

Stars: Gudi Sintara, Dicky Zulkarnaen, Lina Budiarty, Youstine Rais
AKAs: Escape from Hellhole

Verbatim Box Synopsis

A terryfying story where the syndicate kidnaps pretty girsl and sells them as "wife on contract". Should the girls refuse they are sent to "Hell Hole" where they endure the most brutal torture.

Some of the girls arrange an escape attempt and their ultimate aim is to annihilate the sadistic MG, the boss of the syndicate.

U.S. All American sleeve!

Puerto Rican Puerto Rico Productions sleeve!

Danish Video International sleeve, courtesy of Jack Jenson's Backyard Asia!

French Punch Video sleeve, taken from Nanarland!

German Best sleeve, taken from Video Museum!

Bonus trailer, uploaded by "moskamaijer"!

No tapes readily available, but if you just want to see the film there's a bootleg DVD from VideoAsia, paired with Jungle Virgin Force, available here.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Don Marshall's 3 WILD RIDERS (1971)

2011-07-06T22:53:00.005-04:00

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3 WILD RIDERS

Don Marshall's Cycles South (1971)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Imperial Video Corp.
Catalog: IVC111
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1983
Runtime: 87:55
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Don Marshall

Year of Release: 1971
Country of Origin: U.S.A.
Stars: Vaughn Everly, Don Marshall, Bobby Garcia

AKAs: Cycles South, The Great American Escape

Verbatim Box Synopsis

Three young Denver men, like most men their ages, spend most of their time drinking beer in a neighborhood tavern, watching TV and chasing girls. One day the realization sneaks over them that they're in a rut. To break the monotony in their lives, climb on their motorcycles, point them south, and head wherever fate may lead them. Every type of situation is encountered by the trio as they steam south, all the way to Panama. Roughriding across mountains and deserts, fording streams, jumping chasms, forging through thick jungles and riding tracks of a forgotten railroad, their odyssey is relieved by some fancy skiing outside Taos, skin-diving in Mexico after crossing the border at Juarez, and trying their hand at bullfighting. Director Don Marshall inserts plenty of humor as he unfolds his epic against matchless exotic scenery!

U.S. Imperial Video Corp. sleeve!

Australian Starbase Video sleeve, courtesy of Nucleus Films' Marc Morris!

Bonus clips, uploaded by "ATFFestival"!

Looking for 3 Wild Riders on VHS? It's available on Amazon here (assuming you're rich).

Investigate more titles with Project: IVC!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

The VHS Archives: Andrzej Kostenko & Karl Martine's CONFESSIONS OF A BLUE MOVIE STAR (1978)

2011-07-05T23:23:00.004-04:00

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CONFESSIONS OF A BLUE MOVIE STAR

Andrzej Kostenko & Karl Martine's Snuff (1978)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Imperial Video Corp.
Catalog: IVC107
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1983
Runtime: 79:03
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Andrzej Kostenko & Karl Martine
Year of Release: 1978
Country of Origin: West Germany
Stars: Christina von Blanc, Claudia Fielers, Roswitha Geuther, Robert Furch, Roman Polanski
AKAs: The Evolution of Snuff

Verbatim Box Synopsis

"All sexual taboos on the screen were broken and people think what can be the next step." With this statement Polanski introduces CONFESSIONS OF A BLUE STAR. This film, directed by his pupil Andrzej Kostenko, is a highly visual documentation on the making of porno films.

Amongst others, the film portrays the fate of Claudia Fielers, a beautiful young student and well known porn star. The fact that her naked body was seen by millions of people and every intimate action of hers projected to large screens the world over, caused her such anguish and despair that during the shooting of CONFESSIONS OF A BLUE MOVIE STAR she committed suicide. We see her talk to us and minutes later she is dead. The film also shows an hysterical actress, suddenly realizing how low she has fallen, attacking the director.

It is a shocking motion picture portrait of the people who make their living from these films both in front and behind the camera. What influences lively young women to perform carnal acts for public exploitation? What are these girls really like? For the inside story on the making of porno movies, don't miss CONFESSIONS OF A BLUE MOVIE STAR.

U.S. Imperial Video Corp. sleeve!

A clip from the infamous post-credits sequence (this movie's main claim to notoriety) which purports to show footage from an actual snuff film. Turns out the gore in question was actually then-unseen outtakes from Wes Craven's Last House on the Left! (Uploaded by CultMovieForums.)

Looking for Confessions of a Blue Movie Star on VHS? It's available on Amazon here (though it's not the IVC release).

Investigate more titles with Project: IVC!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Pierre Tchernia's THE DOWN-IN-THE-HOLE-GANG (1974)

2011-07-04T12:13:00.002-04:00

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THE DOWN-IN-THE-HOLE-GANG

Pierre Tchernia's Les Gaspards (1974)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Imperial Video Corp.

Catalog: IVC110
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1983
Runtime: 85:58
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Pierre Tchernia
Year of Release: 1974

Country of Origin: France

Stars: Michel Serrault, Philipe Noiret, Charles Denner, Michel Galabru, Gerard Depardieu
AKAs: The Holes

Verbatim Box Synopsis

This is an hysterical farce about a group of people who live in the catacombs below the streets of Paris. The Denver Post referred to it as "...one of the funniest movies of the year ... a gem not to be missed." The Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films named this the "Best Fantasy Film" of 1977. As the comedy unfolds the viewer will understand why this film has been favorably compared to both the "Pink Panther" films and the films of Frank Capra.

U.S. Imperial Video Corp. sleeve!

Looking for The Down-in-the-Hole-Gang on VHS? It's available on Amazon here. You can also get it on DVD here.

Investigate more titles with Project: IVC!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.