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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The VHS Archives: Chris Munger's KISS OF THE TARANTULA (1976)

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KISS OF THE TARANTULA 
Chris Munger's Kiss of the Tarantula (1976)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Gorgon Video
Catalog: MP3053
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 84:01
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Chris Munger
Year of Release: 1976
Country of Origin: U.S.A.
Stars: Suzanna Ling, Eric Mason, Herman Wallner
AKAs: Shudder, Death Kisses

Verbatim Box Synopsis
Little Miss Muffet has nothing on sweet little Susan. This pretty young thing has some most unusual pets -- a menacing horde of creeping tarantulas! Don't make Susan angry or you might just wake up one night and find a hairy, multi-legged vision of death crawling up your arm. Taking revenge on her enemies, Susan weaves a terrifying web of horror with the help of her arachnid friends. If bugs make you squeamish, then Kiss of The Tarantula will make you jump right out of your seat!

 U.S. MPI / Gorgon Video sleeve!

 Spanish Chapeau Video sleeve, originally scanned by "jabpc"!

 German Video Medien Pool sleeve!

 French CK Video sleeve!

Danish Dansk Video Film / HemVideo Film sleeve, courtesy of
Hans-Jorn Reimer! If you're on Facebook be sure to check out his 
Danish Ex-Rental VHS Appreciation Group!

Italian Juwel Video sleeve, taken from Xelluloid.com!


Theatrical trailer, uploaded by "Corey Obsession"!

Looking for Kiss of the Tarantula on VHS? It's available on Amazon here (though there's both Gorgon and VCI tapes available -- be sure to email the seller before purchasing!). The film was also issued multiple times on DVD by VCI: first by itself, then bundled with Don't Look in the Basement and Don't Open the Door, and most recently paired with Ruby.  

Investigate more titles with Project: MPI!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

The VHS Archives: Yi-Jung Hua's KUNG FU ZOMBIE (1981)

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KUNG FU ZOMBIE
Yi-Jung Hua's Wu long tian shi zhao ji gui (1981)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Ocean Shores Video Limited
Catalog: OS-303
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1986
Runtime: 78:05
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Yi-Jung Hua
Year of Release: 1981
Country of Origin: Hong Kong
Stars: Billy Chong, Lau Chan, Yeong-mun Kwon, Kang-Yeh Cheng
AKAs: ? 

Verbatim Box Synopsis
A strange and spooky adventure starring the Great Billy Chong and chock-full of wizards, zombies, black magic, and, of course, martial arts! These fantastic ingredients are stirred together in a giant cauldron and the result is a scorching, bubbling stew called Kung Fu zombie -- the most original and interesting Kung Fu film in years!

U.S Ocean Shores Video Limited sleeve! 

Alternate U.S. Ocean Shores Video Limited sleeve!
I checked this tape's runtime, and it's identical to my other release. I'm unsure which came first, or if they're concurrent. The box text and copyright are the same; however, the fax number listed is different -- and different from the rest of the Ocean Shores tapes I checked. Misprint?

Japanese Daiei Video sleeve, originally scanned by "ed209vscain"!

 Dutch Standard Video sleeve!

German American Video sleeve!

42nd Street marquee photo, courtesy of The Faces of Fu!

Rare trailer, uploaded by "15SteelCity"!

Looking for Kung Fu Zombie on VHS? It's available on Amazon here. There's also a cheapy DVD from Ground Zero. 

Investigate more titles with Project: Ocean Shores!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

The VHS Archives: Andy Milligan's LEGACY OF HORROR (1978)

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LEGACY OF HORROR
Andy Milligan's Legacy of Blood (1978)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Gorgon Video
Catalog: MP3064
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1985
Runtime: 82:54
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Andy Milligan
Year of Release: 1978
Country of Origin: U.S.A.
Stars: Elaine Boies, Marilee Troncone, Chris Broderick, Kathryn Capofari
AKAs: Legacy of Blood

Verbatim Box Synopsis
There was only one condition the three feuding Handley sisters had to meet in order to inherit their father's massive estate. They had to spend three days and nights in harmony at the family mansion on a private island, where they are met by the caretakers -- a sub-human male and his two sisters.
Almost immeditately they are subjected to sinister blood stains, strange symbolic ceremonial artifacts, and a series of ominous events which lead them to fear that occult forces are at work.
Soon, a reign of terror and death begins, finally revealing the sordid secret of Handley Mansion in a sudden, surprise twist. A strange and brutally haunting tale. 
THEY INHERITED ONLY Bloodshed & Madness

 U.S. Gorgon Video / MPI sleeve!

Misprinted U.S. Gorgon Video / MPI sleeve, courtesy of Earl Summerfield! The spine gives the catalog number of MP3065, when in fact it's release MP3064 -- a number verified on my scan above and on both physical tapes. I'm honestly surprised MPI bothered to print new covers and didn't just add a sticker (or leave it be). 

U.K. Replay Video / Video Programme Distributors United pre-cert sleeve, courtesy of It's Only a Movie!

Investigate more titles with Project: MPI!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

I Spit on Your Grab Bag! Mystery Photos #101-105!

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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 twenty-first batch is below; let's see what you've got!

#101: No Markings!
Euro Fever's John Melle solves this mystery by identifying Peter Baldwin and Evelyn Stewart in Michele Lupo's The Weekend Murders (1970)! An unusual, almost parodic giallo, the film plays out as an Edgar Wallace or Agatha Christie-styled thriller dealing with a family gathering centered around the reading of a will, and the bodies that pile up soon after. For years you could only see its tantalizing trailer, but Code Red eventually gave the film a needed rescue, issuing it on DVD -- though it's now OOP and getting silly money. (See also: #5.)

#102: KM-26 

#103: No Markings! 

#104: W.K.-3 

#105: VP-22
A big high five to reader Mike Mac, who somehow managed to sync this image up with a German poster for Sergio Grieco's The Violent Patriot (1958)! Vittorio Gassman headlines the story of true life Italian folk hero and military mercenary Giovanni De Medici aka Giovanni dalle Bande Nere (Giovanni of the Black Bands -- the film's original title). This tale finds him seeking revenge on the traitor who duped him into believing war was still raging, causing acts which could be considered... questionable. Long unavailable, Something Weird Video did eventually liberate this one as part of their "Historical Hellraisers" series. 

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, August 11, 2012

The VHS Archives: Pearl Cheung Ling's WOLF DEVIL WOMAN (1982)

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WOLF DEVIL WOMAN
Pearl Cheung Ling's Lang nu bai mo (1982)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Ocean Shores Video Limited
Catalog: OS-200
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1984
Runtime: 92:34
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Pearl Cheung Ling
Year of Release: 1982
Country of Origin: Taiwan
Stars: Pearl Cheung Ling, Sek Fung, Sek Ying, Wang Hsieh, Ho Hing-Nam
AKAs: Wolfen Ninja

Verbatim Box Synopsis
A young girl is taken from the devil's religion followers and raised in the wilderness of Cold Ice Peak. The girl is raised by the legendary White Wolf of a thousand years.
"Legend of Cold Ice Peak" is the story of the wolf / woman that grows up in the snowy wilderness of the Cold Ice Peak, her mysterious traits of beast and animal that become folklore.
Beautiful wilderness scenes make this unusual tale a fascinating look at man and nature.
Devil worshipers and the supernatural!

U.S. Ocean Shores Video Limited sleeve! 

U.S. Mandarin-language Ocean Shores Video Limited sleeve, courtesy of the sadly defunct Tales of a Bearded Movie Aficionado

U.S Trans World Entertainment sleeve!

Greek Olympic Video sleeve, courtesy of Mike Keel!

Bonus fan trailer, put together by Flash Legs Kung-Fu!

Looking for Wolf Devil Woman on VHS? It's available on Amazon here, if you make a lot more money than I do.

Investigate more titles with Project: Ocean Shores!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The VHS Archives: Michael Reeves' SHE BEAST (1966)

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SHE BEAST
Michael Reeves' La sorella di Satana (1966)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Gorgon Video
Catalog: MP3055
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 78:43
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Michael Reeves
Year of Release: 1966
Country of Origin: UK/ Italy
Stars: Barbara Steele, Ian Ogilvy, John Carlsen, Mel Welles, Lucretia Love
AKAs: The She-Beast, Revenge of the Blood Beast, The Sister of SatanThe Devil's Lake

Verbatim Box Synopsis
Burned at the stake in 18th century Transylvania, the diabolical witch, Vardella, lives again in the body of a beautiful young 20th century English girl who is travelling through Europe on her honeymoon. Nothing can stop Vardella's evil as her spirit transforms the pretty maiden into a hideous beast and spreads a trail of terror across the countryside. Can she be captured and the spirit exorcised? Or will the world never be safe from the horror that is The She Beast?

U.S. Gorgon Video / MPI sleeve!
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Spanish Rompeolas Film and Video sleeve, courtesy of Mondo VHS!

Original theatrical trailer, uploaded by Sinister Cinema!

Combo trailer with Dino Tavella's The Embalmer (1965), uploaded by MrPsycho313!

Looking for She Beast on VHS? It's available on Amazon here. There's also a really nice special edition DVD available from Dark Sky. 

Investigate more titles with Project: MPI!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

The VHS Archives: Sergio Martino's THE GREAT ALLIGATOR (1979)

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THE GREAT ALLIGATOR
Sergio Martino's Il fiume del grande caimano (1979)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Gorgon Video
Catalog: MP3056
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 87:59
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Sergio Martino
Year of Release: 1979
Country of Origin: Italy
Stars: Claudio Cassinelli, Barbara Bach, Mel Ferrer, Richard Johnson, Romano Puppo, Bobby Rhodes
AKAs: Alligator, The Big Alligator River, River of the Killer Crocodile, Sacred Beast of the Kuma

Verbatim Box Synopsis
Amidst the tropical paradise island, the legend of the Kuma tribe comes to life. The legend of The Great Alligator protected the Kuma tribe from the civilized world, and now the tiny island of paradise becomes the hunting grounds for this voracious killer. 
The Great Alligator paints a wild picture of bizarre tribal ritual set against plush resort surroundings. The two end up being a deadly mix as the dismemberment, doom and destruction mount in this nightmare of "legendary" retribution.

 U.S. Gorgon Video / MPI sleeve!

 U.K. Techno Film sleeve, taken from VHS Wasteland!

Japanese Teichiku Video sleeve, courtesy of Bill Knight!
Be sure to check out his rare VHS auctions!

 Dutch EVC / Concorde Video sleeve,
originally scanned by "djponey"!

 German UFA Video hardbox,
originally scanned by "Nello Pazzafini"!

 French Lumieres / Carrere Video sleeve,
courtesy of Agressions Animales!

 Argentinean Imavi International Video sleeve,
courtesy of Raro VHS!

 Spanish Park Home Video sleeve, also from Raro VHS!

 Spanish Metromedia Video sleeve, courtesy of Mondo VHS!

Italian CVR Realvision sleeve!

Italian-language Canadian Master Video Productions slipcase,
courtesy of VHShitfest's Dan Kinem!


International trailer, uploaded by DangerCinema!

Looking for The Great Alligator on VHS? It's available on Amazon here. There was also a nice special edition DVD available from NoShame Films, and a later, stripped-down reissue from Mya Communications.

Investigate more titles with Project: MPI!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.