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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Don't Look in the Grab Bag! Mystery Photos #96-100!

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

#96: 6823-6
"John Connor" terminates this mystery by picking out Antonio Margheriti's The Young, the Evil and the Savage (1968)! Alternately released as both Schoolgirl Killer and Naked You Die, this early giallo plays a bit tamer than what came later, but it's still a sordid girls' school-set thriller with plenty of familiar elements for fans of the genre. Dark Sky offer a nice DVD, if you feel like doing a little homework of your own. 

#97: HK-36
Thanks to Euro Fever's Johan Melle for spotting Kitty Swan and Franco Nero in (the other) Franco Prosperi's Hired Killer (1966)! Originally titled Tecnica di un omicidio (Murder Technique), the film follows Robert Webber as a professional hit-man who flies from New York to Paris to eliminate some mob competition -- and kill the man who murdered his brother. Soon there's twists and turns, mistaken identities, mistrust and more. This actually sounds like a pretty good flick; a shame the only available source seems to be the expensive Japanese DVD from First Trading. (See also: #95.)

#98: D-951-37

#99: 5151-13
Thanks to Marito for the assist in identifying Marco Vicario's Man of the Year (1971)! Originally titled Homo Eroticus, this Italian sex comedy stars Lando Buzzanca as a goofball whose third testicle makes him irresistible to every woman that crosses his path. I just can't make this stuff up! Lucky for the viewer, said women include a who's who of Eurotrash hotties -- Sylva Koscina, Femi Benussi, Ira von Furstenberg, Shirley Corrigan, Brigitte Skay (pictured above), Simonetta Stefanelli, etc., etc. How have I never heard of this before? DVDs exist in Japan and Spain, but if you're wanting an English-friendly release, you'll have to go for the old Hal Roach Studios VHS tape

#100: No Markings!

Like what you see? Be sure and check out our previous Grab Bag Photos, some of which are still unidentified. 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!

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

The VHS Archives: Brad Grinter's FLESH FEAST (1970)

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FLESH FEAST
Brad Grinter's Flesh Feast (1970)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: World Video Pictures, Inc.
Catalog: WV1028
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 70:33
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Brad Grinter
Year of Release: 1970
Country of Origin: USA
Stars: Veronica Lake, Phil Philbin, Doug Foster, Harry Kerwin
AKAs: Time for Terror, Flesh Hunger

Verbatim Box Synopsis
A secret laboratory, located in the basement of a Miami Beach mansion, is the centerpiece of this grisly shocker. Ghastly, youth restoration experiments, using flesh-eating maggots, are being conducted under the supervision of Dr. Elaine Frederick. 
Horror and hysteria mount, and a surprise ending finally reveals the real motives of the attractive lady doctor!
Terror and Vengeance at its ultimate!

 U.S. World Video Pictures, Inc. sleeve!

U.S. GWN Video sleeve, courtesy of Earl Summerfield! Like most of the company's releases, their art is stolen from unrelated sources -- this time combining an H.R. Giger Alien design with the unidentified inner face. (I feel as though I recognize the image, but can't quite place it. Anyone know where it originates?)

U.K. Intercity Video Distributors Limited sleeve, courtesy of It's Only a Movie!

Original theatrical trailer, uploaded by "brujaria"!

Looking for Flesh Feast on VHS? It's available on Amazon here. If you just want to see it, you can also get a VHS-quality cheapo DVD, paired with William Girdler's Three on a Meathook. The last I heard, Something Weird Video have the negative to Flesh Feast, but don't have the rights to release it. Let's hope they get it sorted out eventually!

Investigate more titles with Project: WORLD!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

The VHS Archives: Bob Clark's DEATHDREAM (1974)

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DEATHDREAM
Bob Clark's Dead of Night (1974)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Gorgon Video
Catalog: MP3054
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 88:03
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Bob Clark
Year of Release: 1974
Country of Origin: Canada
Stars: Richard Backus, John Marley, Lynn Carlin, Anya Ormsby, Jane Daly
AKAs: Death Dream, Dead of Night, The Night Andy Came Home, The Dead Walk, The VeteranDeath Behind the Door, Blood Lust

Verbatim Box Synopsis
Imagine the horror of a family receiving the news that their son was killed in action while fighting in Vietnam. Now imagine what happens when the young man returns home. The result is initial joy, followed by a creeping terror as local women are ruthlessly murdered in the night, their bodies drained of all blood! Now imagine the ultimate horror -- a father, played Academy Award winner John Marley, who realizes his only son is a murdering vampire!
Can he bring himself to drive a stake through the heart of his only child? The answer to that lies in one of the most shocking climaxes you will ever see. A well crafted thriller with special make-up effects by Tom Savini (Creepshow, Dawn of the Dead), Deathdream is the stuff that nightmares are made of. 

U.S Gorgon Video / MPI sleeve! 

Original U.S. Gorgon Video artwork, recently unearthed by MPI!

Japanese Victor sleeve! 

U.K. Intervision Video Limited sleeve, taken from Critical Condition!

U.K. Exploited sleeve, courtesy of It's Only a Movie

Dutch Video for Pleasure sleeve, originally scanned by "brucecampbell"! 

Dutch WM Video sleeve, courtesy Hans-Jorn Reimer and his Danish Ex-Rental VHS Appreciation Group!

Swedish Mac Video sleeve. originally scanned by "videohunter"! 

Danish Krone Video sleeve, also from Critical Condition!

Finnish Wolftracks KY sleeve, courtesy of Joe Spina!

French Fantastic Video / RCA sleeve, originally scanned by "anarkotiko21"! 

French GCR Distribution sleeve, originally scanned by "ROTOR"!

German Skyline Video sleeve, courtesy of Monster Brains

Spanish Crown Films & Home Video sleeve!


Theatrical trailer, uploaded by Blue Underground!

Looking for Deathdream on VHS? It's available on Amazon here. There's also a nice special edition DVD available from Blue Underground.

Investigate more titles with Project: MPI!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Grab Bag Conspiracy! Mystery Photos #91-95!

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

#91: No Markings!

#92: 384-12
Both Naschy.com's Mirek Lipinski and comic artist Neil Vokes recognized Howard Hawks' Land of the Pharaohs (1955), an old-style Hollywood Cinemascope epic chronicling the build of the Great Pyramid of Egypt. Stars Jack Hawkins and a 22-year-old Joan Collins headline a literal cast of thousands, with supporting turns from Sydney Chaplin and Dewey Martin. Long unseen in its original ratio, Warner finally released a nice DVD as part of their condescendingly-titled Cult Camp Classics: Historical Epics box, packaged with Sergio Leone's The Colossus of Rhodes (1961) and Richard Thorpe's The Prodigal (1955).

#93: CP-ASP-43 © 1971 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
Thanks to Oh, The Horror's Josh Gratton for finding Henry Jaglom's A Safe Place (1971)! Tuesday Weld stars in this experimental "New Hollywood" effort, searching for a way to keep her hippie roots true in a world that's changing around her. Jack Nicholson shows up as a new love interest, and Orson Welles is apparently a magician from her youth. Criterion have issued it as part of their America Lost & Found: The BBS Story collection, alongside its studio-mates Five Easy Pieces, Easy Rider, The Last Picture Show, The Monkees' Head, The King of Marvin Gardens, and Drive He Said. I think it's the singular film included I haven't watched yet!

#94: VER-8

#95: HK-19
Turns out this photo belongs to (the other) Franco Prosperi's Hired Killer (1966)! Originally titled Tecnica di un omicidio (Murder Technique), the film follows Robert Webber as a professional hit-man who flies from New York to Paris to eliminate some mob competition -- and kill the man who murdered his brother. Soon there's twists and turns, mistaken identities, mistrust and more. This actually sounds like a pretty good flick; a shame the only available source seems to be the expensive Japanese DVD from First Trading. (See also: #97.)

Like what you see? Be sure and check out our previous Grab Bag Photos, some of which are still unidentified. 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!

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

The VHS Archives: Mario Mancini's FRANKENSTEIN '80 (1972)

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FRANKENSTEIN '80
Mario Mancini's Frankenstein '80 (1972)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Gorgon Video
Catalog: MP3057
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 85:27
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Mario Mancini
Year of Release: 1972
Country of Origin: Italy
Stars: Gordon Mitchell, Xiro Papas, John Richardson, Renato Romano, Dalila Di Lazzaro
AKAs: Frankenstein 80, Frankenstein 2000, Midnight Horror, Mosaico, The Orgies of Frankenstein

Verbatim Box Synopsis
Once again we feel the maniacal terror of resurrected, restructured flesh.
But this time our monster wants more than life - he wants women and he wants them bad.
Driven by the pressure in his head and his loins Frankenstein '80 leaves a trail of bloody women and baffled authorities.

U.S. Gorgon Video / MPI sleeve! 

German VPS Video sleeve, originally scanned by Nello Pazzafini! 

German VPH squarebox cover, courtesy of Stefan Moberg!

French Cine Video Distribution sleeve, originally scanned by "ROTOR" at Nanarland

French Space Video sleeve, also scanned by "ROTOR"! 

French Cine 7 sleeve, taken from Nanarland!


Badass German trailer, uploaded by "horrorfictionmovies3"!

Looking for Frankenstein 80 on VHS? It's available on Amazon here. There are also bootleg DVDs available if you just want to see it. 

Investigate more titles with Project: MPI!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Friday, July 13, 2012

The VHS Archives: Michael Stanley's ATTACK OF THE BEAST CREATURES (1985)

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ATTACK OF THE BEAST CREATURES
Michael Stanley's Hell Island (1985)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: World Video Pictures, Inc.
Catalog: WV1078
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Michael Stanley
Year of Release: 1985
Country of Origin: USA
Stars: Robert Nolfi, Julia Rust, Robert Lengyel, Lisa Pak
AKAs: Hell Island, Beast Creatures

Verbatim Box Synopsis
A terrible storm at sea turns an ocean liner's luxury voyage into a nightmare!
Those lucky enough to survive the sinking ship soon find themselves stranded on an uncharted island. A living hell breaks loose when the survivors encounter gruesome, flesh-eating Beast Creatures!
... An exceptionally unique sci/fi-horror movie!

U.S. World Video Pictures sleeve!

German Rebell Video sleeve, courtesy of Critical Condition!

Australian Seven Keys Video sleeve, courtesy of VHS Wasteland!


Newspaper article from The History of Lordship!


An especially awesome attack sequence, uploaded by "sporkwizz"!

Looking for Attack of the Beast Creatures on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.

Investigate more titles with Project: WORLD!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

The Grab Bag Factor! Mystery Photos #86-90!

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

#86: WBN-11

#87: COS-3

#88: 6009-55

#89: VB-15
Naschy.com's Mirek Lipinski knows his gothic Eurohorrors, and quickly ID'd Renato Polselli's The Vampire and the Ballerina (1960)! A group of photogenic dancers (reportedly including a young Femi Benussi?) get trapped in a castle and are menaced by the titular ghoul. Periodically things are interrupted by cheesecakey jazzercise routines, much to the audience's delight. It's currently a little tough to get this one; most copies are sourced from '90s cable screenings, but there was a more recent Italian-only DVD from NoShame that provided a visual upgrade. I'm sure some entrepreneuring fan has created a composite by now. (See also: #111.)

#90: NEO-6

Like what you see? Be sure and check out our previous Grab Bag Photos, some of which are still unidentified. 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!

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.