The VHS Archives: Alfonso Brescia's REACTOR (1978)

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REACTOR

Alfonso Brescia's La guerra dei robot (1978)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1008
Box Type: Clamshell

Year of Release: ?

Runtime: 95:31
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Alfonso Brescia
Year of Release: 1978
Country of Origin: Italy
Stars: Antonio Sabato, Yanti Somer, Malisa Longo, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart, Patrizia Gori, Venantino Venantini
AKAs: War of the Robots, Cosmos Invasion, Stratostar

Verbatim Box Synopsis

A young space explorer embarks on the trail of two kidnapped scientists who have discovered the secret of eternal life. His ship is attacked by alien craft, hit and badly damaged, the crew have to land the ship on a nearby satellite ... There is more to his mission than saving the scientists and their formula ...

THEY'VE LEFT A GIGANTIC ATOMIC REACTOR ACTIVATED ON EARTH ... AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO STOP IT.

 U.S. Mogul Communications sleeve!

 U.K. ADB Video Distribution Pre-Cert sleeve, found at Rolfens DVD!

Danish Dana Sound Video Sleeve, originally scanned by Rare Cult Cinema!

French Horizon Home Video sleeve, found at Nanarland! 

French Dynasty Films sleeve, also from Nanarland! 

Japanese Funai sleeve, courtesy of Bill Knight!  Be sure and check out his rare VHS auctions!

U.K. sleeve, courtesy of VHS Wastleland! Reactor is one of a few films Mogul released on both sides of the pond. 

Bonus clip, uploaded by "brujaria"!

Looking for Reactor on VHS? It's not readily available, but Retromedia Entertainment did issue a 16mm transfer of it on DVD, paired with Brescia's War of the Planets, as The Italian Science Fiction Collection.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

Beyond the Valley of the Grab Bag! Mystery Photos #51-55!

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

 #51: LIfO-51C

 #52: VF(21-8)-29

 #53: FC-20

 #54: R-12

Temple of Schlock's Chris Poggiali recognized this still as belonging to Bickford Webber's The Runaway aka Runaway, Runaway (1971). The film stars William Smith as a detective trying to track down an AWOL teen who's been shacking up in a commune; naturally, LSD freak-outs and nude beach runs follow. It doesn't appear to have gotten a VHS or DVD release Stateside, though boots seem to be available. (See also: #109.)

#55: 67-26A

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 Challenge #24 is still open; I've since added a few worthless hints for frustration's sake. (Challenges #27 & #28 have been solved, but real life keeps interfering with real blog updates! Damn the Man!)

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.

The VHS Archives: Carlo Ausino's DON'T LOOK IN THE ATTIC (1982)

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DON'T LOOK IN THE ATTIC

Carlo Ausino's La villa delle anime maledette (1982)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1017
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1987
Runtime: 77:55
Print: 1.85:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Carlo Ausino

Year of Release: 1982

Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Annarita Grapputo, Beba Loncar, Jean-Pierre Aumont, George Ardisson,

AKAs: The House of the Damned, House of Cursed Spirits, The Evil Touch

Verbatim Box Synopsis

One day Elisa hears her dead mother's voice calling her to the attic.

She finds her mother's diary in which the terrible events that had occured in the house are explained...

... years pass and Elisa is still there, keeping watch over the house, making sure its tormented spirit sleeps in peace.

 U.S. Mogul Communications sleeve!

U.S. Mogul Communications sales sheet, courtesy of Bill Knight! Check out his rare VHS auctions!

Dutch CVD 16JAAR sleeve, also courtesy of Bill Knight! 

 Italian General Video sleeve!

Spanish A.L. Distribuciones sleeve, courtesy of Marito Almada!

French Horizon Home Video sleeve, originally scanned by "Remirador"!

Behind-the-scenes photo, originally scanned by co-producer Michele Peyretti!

Director Carlo Ausino, star Annarita Grapputo, and co-producer Michele Peyretti! 

Promo photo of actress Ileana Fraja, again scanned by Michele Peyretti! 

Against the title's wishes, are you looking for Don't Look in the Attic? The VHS is available on Amazon here. There's also a bootleg DVD from the hucksters at Televista if that's the way you want to go.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Carlos Puerto's DON'T PANIC (1978)

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DON'T PANIC

Carlos Puerto's Escalofrio (1978)
 
The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1039
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1987
Runtime: 79:31
Print: 1.44:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None
 

About the Film

Director: Carlos Puerto
Year of Release: 1978
Country of Origin: Spain
Stars: Angel Aranda, Sandra Alberti, Marianna Karr, Jose Maria Guillen, Luis Barboo
AKAs: Satan's Blood

 

Verbatim Box Synopsis

Don't PANIC ... a terrifying journey into a forbidden world.

And for two young people it is a journey that will twist and scar their minds forever.

The powers of darkness gather, and nothing can stop the orgy of devastation they will unleash.

Evil satanic rites. Human sacrifice. The ancient secrets of the occult.

And as their fear reaches its shattering climax, the horrifying final blow is delivered.

Don't PANIC ... pure evil.

 

 U.S. Mogul Communications sleeve!

 

For alternate VHS covers, check out our Satans Blood listing!

 

(Above cover courtesy of VHS Wasteland.)

In one of their more outrageous bait and switch jobs, Mogul appropriated their entire ad campaign from Ruben Galindo, Jr's ouija board possession slasher Don't Panic (1987)!  I imagine they must've thought they had a deal set for the film, promoted and solicited it, and then run into a snag on the home stretch.  Rather than cancel the title, they simply dusted off their Satan's Blood master and video-burned a new title card.  Viola!  New product!  The real version of Don't Panic can be found on BCI Eclipse's great Mexploitation set, Crypt of Terror: Horror from South of the Border, Vol. 1. 

While not readily available on VHS, Puerto's Don't Panic has been issued on DVD twice as Satan's Blood, once by Mondo Macabro and later by Scorpion Releasing. Both use the same master, but the Mondo Macabro release has more supplements.

 
Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!
 
For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!
 
© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Michele Massimo Tarantini's CRIMEBUSTERS (1976)

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CRIMEBUSTERS

Michele Massimo Tarantini's Poliziotti violenti (1976)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.

Catalog: MOG1025

Box Type: Clamshell

Year of Release: 1987

Runtime: 87:06

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Michele Massimo Tarantini

Year of Release: 1976

Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Antonio Sabato, Henry Silva, Ettore Manni, Silvia Dionisio

AKAs: Crime Busters, MKS 118

Verbatim Box Synopsis

CRIMEBUSTERS ... a movie packed with non-stop action, political intrigue and horrific violence.

Set in a terrorist torn Latin country, the head of a paratroop training team wages a one man battle to unravel the illegal activities of a multi-national armaments company. 

Is the company supplying terrorist squads?  As the investigation evolves blackmail, political manipulation and murder emerge as the film builds towards its stunning climax.  A story of kidnapping, espionage and government deceit. 

 U.S. Mogul Communications sleeve!

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

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

 Swedish VideoTapeCenter (VTC) sleeve, courtesy of Rolfens DVD!

 Spanish Video Distribuciones Valfer sleeve, courtesy of Exhumed Movies' Jose Antonio Diego Bogajo!

German Arcade Video sleeve! 

 UK VTC sleeve, originally scanned by "Inspector Tanzi"!

Greek MV sleeve, originally scanned by "monezza"!

Italian trailer, uploaded by "neverlando74"!

Looking for Crimebusters on VHS?  It's not readily available, but you can get the Italian-language import DVD here. (Warning: no English subtitles!) 

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

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

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.