The VHS Archives: Alan Birkinshaw's INVADERS OF THE LOST GOLD (1981)

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INVADERS OF THE LOST GOLD

Alan Birkinshaw's Horror Safari (1981)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: All American Video

Catalog: AAV101

Box Type: Clamshell

Year of Release: ?

Runtime: 87:26 (86:18 + music)

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Alan Birkinshaw

Year of Release: 1981

Country of Origin: Hong Kong / U.K. / France

Stars: Stuart Whitman, Edmund Purdom, Woody Strode, Harold Sakata, Laura Gemser, Glynis Barber

AKAs: Raiders of the Lost Gold, Greed, Horror Safari, Cannibal Safari, Safari of No Return, No Return

Verbatim Box Synopsis

Deep in the jungle of the Philippines an expedition makes camp for the night. Ten greedy people start out, but only two are to return.

The lust for gold, power and wealth drives men to madness and murder. A group of Japanese soldiers in the occupied Philippines, escorting a huge consignment of gold are attacked by natives and headhunters.

The three commanding officers hide the gold deep in a cavern, kill the porters and hide as their men are massacred.

They vow to return for the gold when the war is over...

A terrifying story of Lust and Love... Life and Death..

Ten greedy people on a safari of no return.

U.S. All American Video sleeve! (Sun-faded all to Hell...)

What it's supposed to look like! Thanks, Earl Summerfield!

U.S. All American Video reissue sleeve!

Belgian Variety Video sleeve, courtesy of Cult VHS!

Danish Filmco(?) sleeve, courtesy of Hans-Jorn Reimer and his

Danish Ex-Rental VHS Appreciation Group!

Danish Filmco sleeve, again courtesy of

Hans-Jorn Reimer and his DEVAG!

Swedish Video Klubben Manedens Film sleeve,

courtesy of Rolfens DVD!

German Pront-Video sleeve!

German Action Video sleeve!

Dutch Omega Video sleeve, originally scanned by "petcor80"!

Spanish Rompeolas Film and Video sleeve, courtesy of Mondo VHS!

15-second video promo, uploaded by "johnhuston1"!

The opening massacre, uploaded by "vincentneo88"!

Looking for Invaders of Lost Gold on VHS? It's not readily available, but there was a brief DVD issue from Crash Cinema's short-lived non-kung fu line, Mondo Crash.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

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

© 2013 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

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

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

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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.

Project Mogul: Chia Chun Wu's FIST OF DEATH (1982)

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FIST OF DEATH

Chia Chun Wu's Shuang bei (1982)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1034
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1987
Runtime: 88:16

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Chia Chun Wu
Year of Release: 1982
Country of Origin: South Korea / Taiwan
Stars: Hwang-ki Baek, Jackie Chang, Shan Chen, Eagle Han
AKAs: Jackie and Bruce to the Rescue

Verbatim Box Synopsis

Our story opens with two arch-rival gangs who start out as bitter enemies.  The leaders decide to fight to establish who will be the new leader.  Jackie and Bruce meet on the combat stage and fight to a ferocious draw.  Afterwards they become good friends and join forces to collectively combat the forces of evil.

After Bruce Lee's untimely death, Tom Lun, the star of 'Fist of Death', was chosen to finish 'Game of Death' by Golden Harvest.  The movie also stars Jackie Chang who is famed for use of acrobatics to foil his enemies.

U.S. sleeve!

Looking for Fist of Death 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: Bruce Le's GYMKATA KILLER (1980)

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GYMKATA KILLER

Bruce Le's Challenge of the Tiger (1980)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: All American Video
Catalog: AAV110
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: ?
Runtime: 88:26
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Bruce Le
Year of Release: 1980
Country of Origin: Italy / USA / Hong Kong

Stars: Bruce Le, Richard Harrison, Nadiuska, Brad Harris, Bolo Yeung

AKAs: Challenge of the Tiger, Seize the Formula

Verbatim Box Synopsis

When a mysterious doctor is brutally murdered in Spain, it seems just another case for the local police.  But when it is discovered that a secret formula, capable of exterminating the entire human race, has been stolen by the murderers, the CIA are immediately notified.  Officer Huang Lung is given the task of tracking down the terrorists before they can hold the world to ransom.  His dangerous mission takes him from Europe to the rat infested slums of Hong Kong, where rival gangs of Viet-Cong and Chinese take on the Challenge of the Tiger.  It's a race against time and Huang Lung meets out his own brand of justice, only to be met with bigger and greater dangers around every alley way.

U.S. All American Video sleeve!

 U.K. Stablecane Home Video sleeve!

Dutch PRO Video sleeve, originally scanned by "Harm!"

Bonus trailer, uploaded by "OurManInHavana"!

Notes

Another one of my favorite finds, it's movies like this that kept me buying every oddball tape I could get my hands on.  From its opening sequence, where Richard Harrison plays tennis with two topless chicks in slow motion while an incredibly infectious funk song jams in the background, to its kung fu bullfight finished with x-ray animation, to its berserk sperm-killing plotline that might as well have stepped out of an Arizal film, there's something here to put a smile on anyone's face.  When Mondo Macabro first told me they were grabbing some films from Dick Randall's estate I practically begged them to pick this one up.  Happily, they were already on the case and unleashed a great looking, properly framed release paired with the insane Filipino midget spy flick, For Y'ur Height Only.  Highly, highly recommended.  Screenplay by Poon Fan!

Producer Dick Randall relaxes with stars Bruce Le and Brad Harris.  (Photo courtesy Bamboo Gods & Bionic Boys' Andrew Leavold.)

Looking for Gymkata Killer on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.  Mondo Macabro's excellent, must-have DVD is 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.

Project Mogul: Mircea Dragan's THE POSEIDON EXPLOSION (1973)

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THE POSEIDON EXPLOSION

Mircea Dragan's Explozia (1973)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: All American Video

Catalog: AAV111

Box Type: Clamshell

Year of Release: ?

Runtime: 83:39

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Mircea Dragan

Year of Release: 1973

Country of Origin: Romania

Stars: Radu Beligan, Gheorghe Dinica, Toma Caragiu

AKAs: S.O.S. Poseidon

Verbatim Box Synopsis

The S.S. POSEIDON, abandoned and on fire, is discovered by a passing ship.  Crew members board the ghostly, stricken vessel and bring it near to shore, only to discover that she is carrying a massive cargo of explosive- enough to blow the entire port.  There is no alternative; it is now a race against time to get the ship out into open sea again beofre the inevitable, huge explosion.  It is a time for some remarkable heroics...

U.S. sleeve!

Looking for The Poseidon Explosion on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.  If that's not good enough, it's available in the Grindhouse Experience, Vol. 2 collection.

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 #14!

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Welcome back to Name that Movie Monday!

It's time for Challenge #14 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?

(And forgive the lack of non-Challenge posts lately; I had one lined up for the weekend, but Blogger was kinda being a dick. Fear not, there'll be posts aplenty soon enough; I currently have four interviews in the works, two random articles, a few top ten lists and some rare behind-the-scenes stuff I think you guys will dig.  Stay tuned!)

Anyway, here ya' go -- good luck! (And could my still get any more beat up?)

UPDATE:

Kudos to Chris Poggiali (Temple of Schlock) for making it a hat trick (our first!) by identifying William L. Rose's Girl in Room 2A (1973). Ostensibly a giallo following the demented goings-on at a way-out boardinghouse, it's usually derided for being slow or nonsensical, but when has that ever bothered us?  For the less-demanding viewer, there's plenty of fun to be found here.

Girl in Room 2A is probably most notable for its oddball mutt pedigree.  Filmed in Italy with an Italian crew, the director is actually an American known to Something Weird followers for his '60s New York-based roughie work like Rent-A-Girl and the Olga series. Production duties were shared with notorious exploitation producer Dick Randall. The cast is a hodgepodge of Eurotrash perennials, including Daniela Giordano, Brad Harris, Karin Schubert and even a small role for Rosalba Neri!

Joseph Brenner Associates, Inc. gave the film a domestic theatrical release in 1975, and, like most of their holdings, it was issued to VHS by Prism Entertainment in 1985. Unfortunately for fans, that's pretty much it.  It hit theatres in Italy under its original handle La Casa della Paura, but I don't think this version ever made it to video.  There are clips on Youtube containing Japanese subtitles, but I've never come across that edition (nor seen a cover scan!) and I'm not sure if it's any different than what JBA presented Stateside. I was hoping Mondo Macabro would issue it on DVD as part of their Dick Randall Collection, but was told Spectacular Trading doesn't hold the US rights. I guess all is we can do is wait and hope that someday everything will get sorted and we'll get a proper release!

Here's the trailer, not exactly safe for work. (Did Brenner's crew make the best trailers or what?  Eyeball, Beyond Erotica, Torso, Because of the Cats... someone needs to make a custom comp of these suckers!)

(Since this post was originally written, Mondo Macabro did sort out Girl in Room 2A for DVD.  It can be purchased from Amazon here.)

Poster art courtesy of Wrong Side of the Art.  The newspaper ad, as usual, was swiped from Fred Adelman's excellent Critical Condition.  I should probably start paying these guys royalties.

For a look at last week's entry, click here. And don't forget, our Upcoming Releases List (the best on the 'net) is constantly updated, so stop by and preorder some cool stuff!

© 2010 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.