tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90257417233515007502024-03-13T11:12:37.836+00:00Hallo, hier spricht......A journey through Krimiland. Read all about the Teutonic fascination with Edgar Wallace, Bryan Edgar Wallace, Dr Mabuse, Jerry Cotton, Kommissar X, Father Brown or even Louis-Weinert Wilton and discover a world of hidden vaults, madmen in masks and bumbling butlers.Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-12100046516517100492024-03-13T10:58:00.004+00:002024-03-13T10:58:45.422+00:00Klaus Kinski - Ich bin so wie ich bin (Book review)<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuQqW6V7ZSsJ_jJ-d5exMcyfmhwfcrzj0JUzQ_LQTE7uRgo1j0VToubdRr5Hh8pHlB2cxWxWris9yvMkzw4a-13wZQ8OvYDXBM-k_PScxZfJAh3_izieVDudYsfn8xNLPCYpI5RG6KjXeB5B36hJj6FNVAveBiKPF73xzijNtlC1IqqRgGGBXierBSBs/s1000/Kinski%20-%20Ich%20bin%20so%20wie%20ich%20bin.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Klaus Kinski, book review" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="781" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuQqW6V7ZSsJ_jJ-d5exMcyfmhwfcrzj0JUzQ_LQTE7uRgo1j0VToubdRr5Hh8pHlB2cxWxWris9yvMkzw4a-13wZQ8OvYDXBM-k_PScxZfJAh3_izieVDudYsfn8xNLPCYpI5RG6KjXeB5B36hJj6FNVAveBiKPF73xzijNtlC1IqqRgGGBXierBSBs/w313-h400/Kinski%20-%20Ich%20bin%20so%20wie%20ich%20bin.jpg" width="313" /></a></i></div><i>Klaus Kinski - Ich bin so wie ich bin</i> (“Klaus Kinski - I’m just the way I am”) is quite possibly the best value film book I have ever discovered. <p></p><p>Last year I bought this for only €2.76 (plus international postage of about €5 to Ireland) from one of Amazon Germany’s market sellers. Up until very recently it was still available along that priceline though <a href="https://amzn.to/3wOxB9f" target="_blank">the same seller (MEDIMOPS)</a> that I also got my copy from and who is willing to ship internationally has recently raised the price to around the €15 mark but even at that price it is still a Must Have in my eyes.</p><p>This is for what they call the paperback version. The hardcover usually goes for considerably more but even the paperback version is not too far off from being a softcover coffee table book, not a standard sized paperback as one would expect from the description. </p><p>Published in 2001 by DTV this is a 288-page book that is also of interest to international movie fans with no German language skills as it is chock full of often lesser known photos tracing Kinski’s career from his start on the German and Austrian stage to his numerous film parts. </p><p>For those who only know Kinski as a film star, seeing nearly one half of the book dedicated to his theatre work, reciting, recordings etc. will probably come as a surprise but he was indeed first and foremost a serious classical actor, something that from an international point of view had never been that well reported. At one point in his career he had even played with the idea of opening his own theatre and his manic and excessive speech practises had become notorious. </p><p>The book collects essays from a variety of different authors like Georg Seeßlen about the different stages of his life and career as well as a reprint of a famous cover article by leading German news magazine <i>Der Spiegel </i>from as early as 1961. The book also quotes from Kinski’s letters to his first wife. </p><p>The emphasis of this book is very much on Kinski the actor. As such it leaves out most references to his private life. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctZIKlO3w7Bk6iB2jvnwFyQq7ECkFumleetKCg52gsz1Jq1uA6dr3wHoLa9h3RgmMaL3mlilth4d70bHShHHjhsWbaj8HpXwNICmrDUuGTi_gRF3RPPyXdktLkdiDC2ECTRPDftlUWgnvXbNJcLx0xni6l1coWo0Ur3bh6d11PU2c9n6HFZfBh6KguUs/s700/Spiegel%20Kinski.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Klaus Kinski, book review, Der Spiegel" border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="506" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctZIKlO3w7Bk6iB2jvnwFyQq7ECkFumleetKCg52gsz1Jq1uA6dr3wHoLa9h3RgmMaL3mlilth4d70bHShHHjhsWbaj8HpXwNICmrDUuGTi_gRF3RPPyXdktLkdiDC2ECTRPDftlUWgnvXbNJcLx0xni6l1coWo0Ur3bh6d11PU2c9n6HFZfBh6KguUs/w289-h400/Spiegel%20Kinski.jpeg" width="289" /></a></div>Something unknown to me was that prior to any acting success whatsoever Kinski had actually tried making it as an artist and in 1954 even had managed to get a gallery in Berlin to display his charcoal drawings but just two days prior to the opening managed to annoy the gallery owner so much that the grand opening ended up being cancelled on short notice. Kinski, seriously underweight and underfed, had visited the gallery owner at his apartment. The owner took pity on him and gave him a couple of sandwiches that Kinski then shared with the owner’s bull terrier. Despite being repeatedly told not to feed the dog, Kinski kept this up even more aggressively until he was told to leave and to forget about his exhibition. <p></p><p>Even when Kinski was an up and coming star of the German language stage, he was already prone to scandals and pretty much got fired from just about any theatre that had employed him. He broke stage conventions at the time by throwing kiss hands to an enthusiastic audience or argued excessively when he even heard the slightest murmur from them. </p><p>During stage performances he often changed the classic texts and got in trouble with Bertold Brecht’s wife and publishers over that whereas Schiller had no way to intervene. </p><p>These antics turned him into a Bête Noire for Classic Theatre but also highly successful especially with a younger slightly more rebellious audience. His one-man recitations are sold out. His LP recordings break all sales records for Spoken Word albums. There is traffic chaos at his first public signing and in 1958 he even enthrals an audience of a staggering 80.000 people during an open-air event. </p><p>And as much as he makes financially during that time, it is never enough to finance his life style which eventually brings him to a career in international cinema where he accepts roles based on the money he’ll make with them and only once more in 1971 returns back to the stage in a radical new interpretation of the New Testament that became notorious due to Kinski’s excesses and attacks on audience members.
The book highlights how very physically Kinski got involved in the Spaghetti Westerns in scenes that would usually require a stuntman and also points out that in contrast to his stage antics he never really "ruined" a film as such but was often commented upon for his professionalism. This was helped by the fact that he for the most part was never the star of the films and the "lesser" the director the more he could often shine.</p><p> A notable exception to all those points was of course Werner Herzog with whom by chance he had already shared an apartment house for a while when the director was still a teenager. (Of course Kinski ended up being thrown out of the house.) </p><p>Not just his behaviour but also his looks were quite transgressive carrying both male and female traits or looking both young and old. No wonder that he never quite fit into the Hollywood system with his later films but instead had his biggest success with his European roles. </p><p><i>Klaus Kinski - Ich bin so wie ich bin</i> is an amazing richly illustrated book and at the price this is currently still going for a worthwhile addition to any cult film aficionado's book shelf.</p><p>You can <a href="https://amzn.to/3wOxB9f" target="_blank">BUY THIS BOOK ON AMAZON GERMANY</a>. Please find below some sample images of it.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd8iHG4kL3PCoTKrf7Tw_m1uJT443Z9Qhn0QVG7BLqrev8Of6ptDMjcW5GhwwkCwbPrjPo-QDrmmEhn1EdKGhuScqiJoS1wnnuwiKE183eN8gjOzAvvqBB907MhgFI2Z_hCr7WlsYl8_snT6ge6idv9PIkW0JHLa1ZdOLEdXvYD_PSPMko1IPOrRD-Kk/s3094/20240313_101437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Klaus Kinski, book review" border="0" data-original-height="3094" data-original-width="1943" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd8iHG4kL3PCoTKrf7Tw_m1uJT443Z9Qhn0QVG7BLqrev8Of6ptDMjcW5GhwwkCwbPrjPo-QDrmmEhn1EdKGhuScqiJoS1wnnuwiKE183eN8gjOzAvvqBB907MhgFI2Z_hCr7WlsYl8_snT6ge6idv9PIkW0JHLa1ZdOLEdXvYD_PSPMko1IPOrRD-Kk/w201-h320/20240313_101437.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy4ewIGxaKb788Pj004_oLCYaCje_rDz5Cwcwsa15gYiXKCQ8jlaLT5ixfCnkqqE_9aDo_I4-Az9R_VO0eotS0XxPZ6uO0vmSx7WkGiKro3II4GZBUmUKSI1m69-tVYtFBvlVnIO7XozJmiA0YxULgOUb9ZBdOKFu0sSbadvLFervjwUULWyNy-qo0kw/s2792/20240313_101454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Klaus Kinski, book review" border="0" data-original-height="2792" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy4ewIGxaKb788Pj004_oLCYaCje_rDz5Cwcwsa15gYiXKCQ8jlaLT5ixfCnkqqE_9aDo_I4-Az9R_VO0eotS0XxPZ6uO0vmSx7WkGiKro3II4GZBUmUKSI1m69-tVYtFBvlVnIO7XozJmiA0YxULgOUb9ZBdOKFu0sSbadvLFervjwUULWyNy-qo0kw/w225-h320/20240313_101454.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZCAdSIiu9qLVg_Lt5A9hl5mTskoyIo4gjyeuyB_Hg6UK_mJC_P0gFbg5JVEgj_vkVRNJN9FBRR0f55sTRNunwOD7voZox23KI-WPGv-mPTzSFZCOlU0KQWAyPIfr3rYFdnPiT3e2lcwzUon8V4CJUCnsHyVygYLR5M9rNq-1VMvC-Iq9cLFswYReXbI/s2742/20240313_101645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Klaus Kinski, book review" border="0" data-original-height="2742" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZCAdSIiu9qLVg_Lt5A9hl5mTskoyIo4gjyeuyB_Hg6UK_mJC_P0gFbg5JVEgj_vkVRNJN9FBRR0f55sTRNunwOD7voZox23KI-WPGv-mPTzSFZCOlU0KQWAyPIfr3rYFdnPiT3e2lcwzUon8V4CJUCnsHyVygYLR5M9rNq-1VMvC-Iq9cLFswYReXbI/w229-h320/20240313_101645.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjap6oYwxN37MSE71kobE5YwO9jPIn6_QjlsBQZuM8WEaLUXW7AIciwWfttTlkUsUzyZB57jjcNgIs9ZU6_3wy0jCJpzHSMRsvuax-aFfIIFsIGz7nsusldIqYLVzUB3QLKojPl-XoZd8BQdnj0Jdkyi3v_T7rxCLuyGmc7cGzt8Cw1tOH0B7agPBWbIEo/s2669/20240313_101628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Klaus Kinski, book review" border="0" data-original-height="2669" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjap6oYwxN37MSE71kobE5YwO9jPIn6_QjlsBQZuM8WEaLUXW7AIciwWfttTlkUsUzyZB57jjcNgIs9ZU6_3wy0jCJpzHSMRsvuax-aFfIIFsIGz7nsusldIqYLVzUB3QLKojPl-XoZd8BQdnj0Jdkyi3v_T7rxCLuyGmc7cGzt8Cw1tOH0B7agPBWbIEo/w235-h320/20240313_101628.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozjRZ6mvokMtANDu5OS9EVIoNl61za1MT4W_mPZhhMaWGf0F_7Veu1uOJzXH1uLHx2YlSu4drUbU0SOXJhLnjhG9kqd_zfMDHp_EoUMbCZiFUOVS7TLJd3sohVvjWSms1YAlW5JmitJKeedMxCmY3meR753rnw3HMsvyFUdupvueLk1NKwTGzrPIAdrU/s2735/20240313_101711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Klaus Kinski, book review" border="0" data-original-height="2735" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozjRZ6mvokMtANDu5OS9EVIoNl61za1MT4W_mPZhhMaWGf0F_7Veu1uOJzXH1uLHx2YlSu4drUbU0SOXJhLnjhG9kqd_zfMDHp_EoUMbCZiFUOVS7TLJd3sohVvjWSms1YAlW5JmitJKeedMxCmY3meR753rnw3HMsvyFUdupvueLk1NKwTGzrPIAdrU/w229-h320/20240313_101711.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-22214662275824242722024-02-16T19:07:00.002+00:002024-02-16T19:16:57.475+00:00Guesting on THE BLOODY PIT OF ROD podcast<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBUXJL6aNrxuJ1FVODY3AScua5PhfQYeT8HxvUvQBSu9gu6vB7jQ_K483Mh49y6C3IQq-2Wxina6snxQ6JMXOY55DP3MzfhLzMSoS0EEvm4lGwG0LhFaJZ7d8_KpOTLTciP5GSXJLA5j0hE3kDqcHpSG_MU0U72z3ghqsy5-9r6vb3X5-5kKyG-Y6Jlg/s650/BPoR%2014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dr Mabuse, Bloody Pit of Rod, podcast" border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="650" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBUXJL6aNrxuJ1FVODY3AScua5PhfQYeT8HxvUvQBSu9gu6vB7jQ_K483Mh49y6C3IQq-2Wxina6snxQ6JMXOY55DP3MzfhLzMSoS0EEvm4lGwG0LhFaJZ7d8_KpOTLTciP5GSXJLA5j0hE3kDqcHpSG_MU0U72z3ghqsy5-9r6vb3X5-5kKyG-Y6Jlg/w400-h135/BPoR%2014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Seems like the 1960s Dr Mabuses have definitely become "my thing" as I have now also guested on <a href="https://pitofrod.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-bloody-pit-189-1960s-mabuse-films.html" target="_blank"><i>The Bloody Pit of Rod </i>podcast</a> in a 2+ hour episode to discuss this series of movies,<div><br /></div><div>Go check it out....<br /><p></p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="400" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=kz96h-156e5ea-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=c73a3a&size=300" style="border: none;" title="189 - Mabuse 1960's Films" width="100%"></iframe></p></div>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-55683173364371458602024-01-12T14:23:00.004+00:002024-01-12T14:25:53.044+00:00Sensational Sixties #10<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgric7XXbrlrZ3PHWttq0Tndnh89ddaR-ifiU_cjku114iE9Zj73JhbZWXoqVr3EIFQkctG3abkytGbqhOClIt9_SEKGx9ZMr-fYxvpNeDdRGrVOrWqwhQhJBgZ-L3VbKbvgycqPYjhEyce_oGNJVQ-ToiRtZIgUkmSiXD6ZZauIOfkOymk5D_F9jJ6aQs/s1000/407290693_10160700630925196_6856980429062521787_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sensational Sixties, Dr Mabuse, Fritz Lang, Lex Barker, Gert Fröbe" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="703" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgric7XXbrlrZ3PHWttq0Tndnh89ddaR-ifiU_cjku114iE9Zj73JhbZWXoqVr3EIFQkctG3abkytGbqhOClIt9_SEKGx9ZMr-fYxvpNeDdRGrVOrWqwhQhJBgZ-L3VbKbvgycqPYjhEyce_oGNJVQ-ToiRtZIgUkmSiXD6ZZauIOfkOymk5D_F9jJ6aQs/w281-h400/407290693_10160700630925196_6856980429062521787_n.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Proud as punch that I got my first article into SENSATIONAL SIXTIES #10.</p><p>My contribution focuses on the five Dr Mabuse movies of the 1960s not directed by Fritz Lang.</p><p>The magazine is a beauty and looking at the contents I find myself in the illustrious company of the likes of Kim Newman, Bruce G. Hallenbeck and Rachael Nisbet.</p><p>The magazine can be ordered via <a href="https://www.hemlockbooks.co.uk/Shop/category/51" target="_blank">Hemlock Books</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HooHkz-50a0" width="320" youtube-src-id="HooHkz-50a0"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-83764239238196478452023-12-12T11:25:00.002+00:002023-12-12T11:51:27.566+00:00MAELSTROM 01 - French fanzine dedicated to the Edgar Wallace Krimis<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jzOu8D_iKiUbLTlCTRv2SmGfH_JHpoW9stBauJ19sAYWPJpLcytFgFl0iliA6gzOX4_ugO6Or_BaXm9aaTgdmKyZxm0qE0fBCI_xz6nGaR4aVcTxNs4b0D4pLY83rQYG_wnxzl_UVlByrCq4lPY1R4bcvQJ8hyXRB6892B6fAq-mps4Q_iMjnxNda9I/s550/130312025817525971.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="389" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jzOu8D_iKiUbLTlCTRv2SmGfH_JHpoW9stBauJ19sAYWPJpLcytFgFl0iliA6gzOX4_ugO6Or_BaXm9aaTgdmKyZxm0qE0fBCI_xz6nGaR4aVcTxNs4b0D4pLY83rQYG_wnxzl_UVlByrCq4lPY1R4bcvQJ8hyXRB6892B6fAq-mps4Q_iMjnxNda9I/s320/130312025817525971.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /> I was just browsing through some old files on my laptop and happened to come across a PDF of <i>MAELSTROM 01 - numero spécial Edgar Wallace</i>, a richly illustrated 124-page French language fanzine covering all 32 Rialto Edgar Wallace Krimis.<p></p><p>Other than that it was published more than ten years ago in April 2013 I have no further info about this. It was clearly a one-off and I don't think there were even any other issues of this magazine created. The only thing I found online about this is <a href="https://medusafanzine.blogspot.com/2014/04/maelstrom-n1-special-edgar-wallace.html" target="_blank">this French language blog post</a> that had also provided a download link (long since expired). </p><p>To the best of my knowledge this zine had only ever existed as a free PDF for fans of this subgenre.</p><p>I have now uploaded this fanzine to <a href="https://archive.org/details/maelstrom1_202312" target="_blank">archive.org</a> to make this wonderful publication more easily accessible again. Even if you don't speak French, it is well worth exploring and an utter joy.</p><div><br /></div>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-47061918782097512732023-10-07T14:46:00.000+01:002023-10-07T14:46:23.132+01:00Rialto Wallace Top 5 - Guest Contribution by Douglas Waltz<p><i>This is the first in (hopefully!) a series of guest contributions about everyone’s favourite Krimis (Rialto, Wallace or otherwise) that I am hoping to publish here on this blog. </i></p><p><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/douglas.waltz" target="_blank">Douglas Waltz</a> has kindly agreed to start this off. </i></p><p><i>I first got to know Doug via the Euro Trash Paradise (ETP), a Yahoo Group - remember those? - dedicated to Eurocult productions of all kind. Long gone and deeply mourned by practically everyone who was involved in it, this was and will forever remain my favourite cinematic online hangout. Nothing that ever came in its wake, ever had the friendly and casual but also seriously well informed vibe that I encountered in this group and I am still in touch with many of its regular members. </i></p><p><i>It was there that I first learned that a) there are Krimi fans outside of Germany and other German language countries and b) that the non-availability of decent English friendly prints is by far the biggest drawback and hurdle for new fans of this genre. </i></p><p><i>Over the last couple of years Doug penned the series of <a href="https://amzn.to/3LSEdZ0" target="_blank">Monster Killer books</a>, fast quick reads about contemporary Monster Killer Morgan St. Cloud. Based on online reviews I seem to be the only person who actually ever reads those which really is a pity as they are so much fun and contain an incredible amount of world building packed into its short reading time. </i></p><p><i>His <a href="https://amzn.to/48Uweoa" target="_blank">Killer F**cking Squirrels</a> was another Must Read for me. </i></p><p><i>Doug is also a big fan of micro budget film making and when he doesn’t direct his own No-Budget oeuvres, he writes about film makers like the <a href="https://amzn.to/3Q7Xjgg" target="_blank">Polonia Brothers</a>. </i></p><p><i>On his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@dwaltzwriter6969/featured" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> he does his “Old Man Comic Book Reviews” or presents “The Basement of Baron Morbid”. </i></p><p><i>Doug, thank you so much for this article! </i></p><p><i>If anyone else would like to pen a few virtual lines about their favourite Krimis, please let me know. I really would love if we could create a little roundtable for other international Krimi-Fans. </i></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgs7JkQy1OejVGXtk3K2ezOc0EqDfqhTs0ZDhR5sAV9qzruecgUZR2EW1S6t0NYpoEEHoEmpjEjihsUNFaYL1JJbeSf9ZHYxaFO9VpPUhfr8ydWHbVzyAp1yDgR5COOklCfdKOn0GYw4e-QeXzNBwRV7Inr7ZtcVssLNTQzfJZrD_kCUmUE5eZr8WHALo/s2048/creature.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Creature with the Blue Hand, poster, Edgar Wallace, Rialto" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgs7JkQy1OejVGXtk3K2ezOc0EqDfqhTs0ZDhR5sAV9qzruecgUZR2EW1S6t0NYpoEEHoEmpjEjihsUNFaYL1JJbeSf9ZHYxaFO9VpPUhfr8ydWHbVzyAp1yDgR5COOklCfdKOn0GYw4e-QeXzNBwRV7Inr7ZtcVssLNTQzfJZrD_kCUmUE5eZr8WHALo/w240-h320/creature.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>When I was asked to make a list of my favorite Edgar Wallace films, well how could I refuse? My obsession with this particular sub genre of thriller came from the oddest place; the drive-in. You see New World Pictures decided to pair the film <i>Creature With The Blue Hand</i> with the John Ashley, Filipino film <i>Beast Of The Yellow Night</i>. <p></p><p>Two movies could not be more different and were a match made in Heaven. My young brain wrapped itself around the monstrous antics of John Ashley in the sweltering heat of the Philippines and, with my highly impressionable mind firmly in the tropics we shifted gears to what was, to me, the most amazing thing I had ever seen. </p><p> I was hooked. </p><p>Klaus Kinski as twin brothers, one good, the other a psychotic sweaty mess. An asylum filled with some of the most insane things you have ever seen. The giant plexiglass containers filled with snakes and rats designed to drive people mad. The evil head of the asylum. A kidnapping plot, which I would find more than once in other films in this list. </p><p>This movie was glorious. </p><p>Unfortunately, this was the 70s when I saw this. You saw movies at the theater. No VHS, no video stores.</p><p>That would come later and when it did, it was like opening Pandora’s Box. </p><p>Fortunately, for the world at large, we were all saved by a little business in Seattle called Something Weird Video and Mike Vraney was our savior. </p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeMnezEEHZ7fc6FIZDXtaMT3UFW063uk7kkfazk56mOhxQnT4NiMqkRFtV-CaAAmcFAUjU_OWBJyfG40CkBKhuNGa_Gp_5vZ5_Gjg8q5ke1oVQ93tD0c_tKpLojr86xzz08ydqTqc6po82LbyuKg2_4d6TVXN913q4c_ihDCcds-m-xN3P8X2OK9c13I/s1189/hunchback.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img alt="The Hunchback of Soho, poster, Edgar Wallace, Rialto" border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="868" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeMnezEEHZ7fc6FIZDXtaMT3UFW063uk7kkfazk56mOhxQnT4NiMqkRFtV-CaAAmcFAUjU_OWBJyfG40CkBKhuNGa_Gp_5vZ5_Gjg8q5ke1oVQ93tD0c_tKpLojr86xzz08ydqTqc6po82LbyuKg2_4d6TVXN913q4c_ihDCcds-m-xN3P8X2OK9c13I/w234-h320/hunchback.jpeg" width="234" /></a></div>So, <i>Hunchback of Soho</i> came next and it took some of what I had seen in <i>Creature With The Blue Hand</i> and cranked it up to 11. A woman flies to London to receive an inheritance and is immediately kidnapped and dragged off to a bizarre reform school where the girls do so much laundry. To make sure they have our attention we start with a half naked girl pursued down the dark streets of Soho by a massive hunchback who strangles her in a phone booth. The kidnapped girl is replaced by someone else. The school is also a front for a brothel where girls that get sick of laundry go to be hostesses at an underground casino. <p></p><p>This one cemented certain things for me in an Edgar Wallace film; loud music with an insane beat, hidden passages galore, secret communication devices in every nook and cranny of both the brothel and the school. You get double crosses, triple crosses, violence abounds and most of the cast are villains with zero moral fiber. </p><p>In other words; pure cinema magic. </p><span><!--more--></span><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTn5-Bngc-1mw_J6qkaeyHIzKr-1wggcEQH-ewOfH98VACmQ8yg2j0NSIq3sA9-PN-HXVTlogJIR-VVKMx9uucG_0qZhdBAXmyT5_LpoK-ThulTI67A9A_rFDmOcObdLSXvPn4o32RMbDiRqOnUHmgmBSoqTDvcmf5vKbRLEIwdQorXNYI-ODjdzhhWA/s781/monk.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="The Sinister Monk, poster, Edgar Wallace, Rialto" border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTn5-Bngc-1mw_J6qkaeyHIzKr-1wggcEQH-ewOfH98VACmQ8yg2j0NSIq3sA9-PN-HXVTlogJIR-VVKMx9uucG_0qZhdBAXmyT5_LpoK-ThulTI67A9A_rFDmOcObdLSXvPn4o32RMbDiRqOnUHmgmBSoqTDvcmf5vKbRLEIwdQorXNYI-ODjdzhhWA/w225-h320/monk.jpeg" width="225" /></a>Then <i>The Sinister Monk</i>, my first of many black and white Edgar Wallace films used the inheritance plotline where an old man changes his will on his death bed. Of course the lawyer never makes it back to town and soon the four siblings are plotting ways to bring the grand daughter who stands to inherit everything to the castle where they can try to coerce her out of her fortune. The youngest, Ronny tries the marriage angle and is just terrible at it. The older sister is trying to keep Gwendoline, the grand daughter safe from the others. </p><p>To make it fun we get the imposing figure of a masked monk with a huge, white leather bullwhip with a ball at the end designed to break people’s necks. The monk appears to be trying to save Gwendoline at every turn. </p><p>The whip gets plenty of use. </p><p> Honestly between that and the old man upstairs who makes death masks and the carrier pigeons that are followed by a helicopter to uncover a white slavery ring, there are just so many things going on here. And, before I forget, the young lady who protects herself with a squirt gun filled with sulphuric acid. </p><p>So many weird, wild and lovely things. </p><span><!--more--></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWIM5855Nb5rIM-lQ2XszRhNOkZz1s37_WRfyKQ_cCy74SSsOtN0DCLuF1CNgiO88V9lyy-OQ18SCpOiqxKRInSaSKhVjfq00Y5Lmjdoe0lN6JBxdUH0O8HEGDK388a5c4QhFUf0QC1ovd8dhTVb3jh41T60wSQjz4_0uMnBYP7hegntyNZjAfyKS-dg/s1291/abbot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img alt="The Black Abbot, poster, Edgar Wallace, Rialto" border="0" data-original-height="1291" data-original-width="642" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWIM5855Nb5rIM-lQ2XszRhNOkZz1s37_WRfyKQ_cCy74SSsOtN0DCLuF1CNgiO88V9lyy-OQ18SCpOiqxKRInSaSKhVjfq00Y5Lmjdoe0lN6JBxdUH0O8HEGDK388a5c4QhFUf0QC1ovd8dhTVb3jh41T60wSQjz4_0uMnBYP7hegntyNZjAfyKS-dg/w159-h320/abbot.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>From there we go on to <i>The Black Abbott</i> where while there is no kidnapping we do have a hunt for a treasure in an ancient castle. Two and a half tons of gold. Everyone in this one is just obsessed with money and lurking on the grounds of the castle is a man all in black dressed like an Abbott. No bullwhip this time around. He prefers to stab people in the back. A very young Klaus Kinski plays a suspicious butler who knows more than he’s letting on. We get so many double crosses and what feels like a quadruple cross that it gets a little hard to keep track. Say what you will about Edgar Wallace films but they demand your full attention. Blink and you’ll miss some important clue. <p></p><p> Other than Kinski we do get some repeat actors. My favorite would be Eddie Arent who plays the bumbling assistant inspector Horatio in this film. In The Sinister Monk he is a sweet butler who tends to be a little on the bumbling side. Arent is in a majority of the films mentioned in this article and just a consummate performer. <span></span></p><!--more--><p></p><p>Finally, I present you the film with the oddest name<i> The Squeaker</i>. Someone is using Black Mamba venom and an elaborate contraption to deliver a lethal dose to the base of the victim’s necks. Throw in Klaus Kinski as an odd caretaker of exotic animals that are stored in a huge building before they make their way to various zoos and circuses. It was great to see Kinski and the way he had with all of his charges. He crawls on the floor with turtles, makes sure to pet a grumpy camel and seems to be have the most joyous time in this role. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uq9LHlyvXtEaqmmKhd_Cqj08R21W3KSk_EsEQC9q7kcg9sLRrv7DB3zvqMjsGqP7ajWw5wvi_8fZmehmpeUaRxUnLQHd0acCPqulDreIwrHQrhMGXy_o_BSiToiyKDOpp520ZXaR_iK0It8nUDKmzm7e2bfmGKnIbSSKzji-XJeKagn8OOW63E9tNek/s906/squeaker.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Squeaker, poster, Edgar Wallace, Rialto" border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uq9LHlyvXtEaqmmKhd_Cqj08R21W3KSk_EsEQC9q7kcg9sLRrv7DB3zvqMjsGqP7ajWw5wvi_8fZmehmpeUaRxUnLQHd0acCPqulDreIwrHQrhMGXy_o_BSiToiyKDOpp520ZXaR_iK0It8nUDKmzm7e2bfmGKnIbSSKzji-XJeKagn8OOW63E9tNek/w226-h320/squeaker.jpeg" width="226" /></a></div>The casting for this one seems off because we have Eddie Arent being a silly newspaper reporter who reports to his superior, actor Siegfried Schürenberg who we are used to seeing as Sir John of Scotland Yard in the previously mentioned films. A role he would perform almost a dozen times in Edgar Wallace films. The Inspector isn’t portrayed by Harald Leipnitz, but Heinz Drache does a fine job and even has a running bit that he loves to smoke and never has a lighter. He plays that to the hilt in this film. <p></p><p><i>The Squeaker </i>makes the most of its settings and even does some interesting camera tricks. One of my favorite is the editor of the newspaper biting a carrot and the shot flips to the interior of an obviously mechanical mouth. So much fun! </p><p>One of the things that has given me such a fondness for these films is all of the actors that return time and time again. Schürenberg and Leipnitz as Sir John and The Inspector showing up at the scene of the crime with the same matronly woman portrayed by Ilse Steppat. And we always have the stoic butler played with perfection by Albert Bessler. </p><p>And more than once, the characters in the film acknowledge that they are in an Edgar Wallace film. </p><p>How could you not love this series of films? There are many more than the few mentioned here and I encourage you to seek them out for yourselves and have the same great time watching them as I did.</p><p><br /></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-72267589912999444072023-04-01T19:59:00.004+01:002023-04-01T21:45:22.308+01:00Die Nylonschlinge/Nylon Noose (1963) <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PPOr_wpByYC7cTcm5AG6vnlqqNlGLwQmoWvVIWnrKdjeF3yH891xiqKAn3y8zwqmLWr0iJHRKk8JAHJvsRHYQGLVuc6HDy_e42IGPepY4yMQVtEcCb2Ymu_WUmbvI0OICWOo3BeRxOL7zT9LYIg_iWrbafcvHwVKzj-iL1u-VqrpOxk55xFoiV08/s1465/MV5BNDlkMjU5NzAtMzM1Yy00NTY4LWE4NmEtNzEyNGY0YTljMzFjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTAxMDQ0ODk@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Die Nylonschlinge, Nylon Noose, Krimi, Helga Sommerfeld, Dietmar Schönherr," border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PPOr_wpByYC7cTcm5AG6vnlqqNlGLwQmoWvVIWnrKdjeF3yH891xiqKAn3y8zwqmLWr0iJHRKk8JAHJvsRHYQGLVuc6HDy_e42IGPepY4yMQVtEcCb2Ymu_WUmbvI0OICWOo3BeRxOL7zT9LYIg_iWrbafcvHwVKzj-iL1u-VqrpOxk55xFoiV08/w273-h400/MV5BNDlkMjU5NzAtMzM1Yy00NTY4LWE4NmEtNzEyNGY0YTljMzFjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTAxMDQ0ODk@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><i>When a Scotland Yard detective gets killed with a nylon noose in a seedy nightclub after incorporating the victim of a blackmail attempt, the few hints point to a shareholder meeting of an oil consortium in Elford Manor. Inspektor Harvey (Dietmar Schönherr) goes to investigate and soon discovers that one by one all the share holders receive blackmail notices and anyone not paying up is faced with the same gruesome death.</i> <p></p><p><br /> There's something to be said about journeyman directors, directors who never really truly shine but keep showing up and regularly produce watchable fare. </p><p> I generally have nothing but the greatest respect for those cinematic work horses. The downside, however, is that this type of director tends to rise and fall with the material and supporting talent that is given to them. </p><p>A true master may elevate average stories into something magnificent and even hide tremendous plot holes from the viewer. </p><p>A hack on the other hand highlights all those faults and amplifies them to the nth degree and thereby may come up with some involuntary entertaining results. </p><p>A journeyman? Well, they just plod along in that case and neither properly thrill nor entertain. </p><p>Rudolf Zehetgruber is exactly one such director. </p><p>In the two years of 1963/64 he shot a handful of standalone Krimis before directing two <i>Kommissar X</i> and other action movies and finally finding his calling in a series of Herbie clones about a VW superbug called Dudu in which he also played the leading role, a character called Jimmy Bondi. </p><p>Two of his films I have reviewed on this blog - <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/04/die-schwarze-kobrathe-black-cobra-1963.html" target="_blank">Die schwarze Kobra/The Black Cobra</a></i> (1963) and <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/12/piccadilly-null-uhr-zwolf-1963.html" target="_blank">Piccadilly Null Uhr Zwölf</a></i> (1963) - and the overall impression for me was mainly a very decided "Meh!"</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6kUBWzF0bTKS2lx8ElO4Te2N6Nc6lH0J_XngwweqP70kfUEVXEbAZ0SisXSnN_eXXzcgP4qPj-m-flpfoQOJExQ3iO1938GVmgIAAWETMpFx8AlRBDNIo-t3EfYErBeyxdX8ehYA_jVnZA3UBtFg_DYQEWYVF-WkhfFFY0kyazYNIerVRgOGOScA/s1545/MV5BZWU0NDY1NGItN2YyMi00MmQyLWJiYjgtODAyZDc5ZmVkYjQ1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjQxNDA4ODg@._V1_.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Die Nylonschlinge, Nylon Noose, Krimi" border="0" data-original-height="1545" data-original-width="1133" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6kUBWzF0bTKS2lx8ElO4Te2N6Nc6lH0J_XngwweqP70kfUEVXEbAZ0SisXSnN_eXXzcgP4qPj-m-flpfoQOJExQ3iO1938GVmgIAAWETMpFx8AlRBDNIo-t3EfYErBeyxdX8ehYA_jVnZA3UBtFg_DYQEWYVF-WkhfFFY0kyazYNIerVRgOGOScA/w294-h400/MV5BZWU0NDY1NGItN2YyMi00MmQyLWJiYjgtODAyZDc5ZmVkYjQ1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjQxNDA4ODg@._V1_.jpg" width="294" /></a><i> </i><i>Die Nylonschlinge/Nylon Noose</i> (1963) in all its averageness is probably the best of the lot as it does successfully incorporate some of the much loved tropes like secret passageways, catacombs and eccentric scientists. </p><p> <i>Nylon Noose</i> is a standalone Krimi and not based on any novel. </p><p> Produced by Erwin C. Dietrich, who in the 1970s would be in charge of a range of German sex comedies, it’s fairly statically filmed with only two actors more widely known for an International Krimi audience: Dietmar Schönherr and <a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2014/01/berber-ady-14-feb-1913-03-jan-1966.html" target="_blank">Ady Berber.</a> </p><p>Dietmar Schönherr (<i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2009/03/das-ungeheuer-von-london-citythe.html" target="_blank">Das Ungeheuer von London City/The Monster of London City</a></i>) carries off the role of the charming Inspector well. </p><p> And Ady Berber’s already imposing features are further disfigured by having his face covered in gruesome scars from an accident. His character is told to always stay out off sight from all the guests in the manor so as not to frighten them which explains why he is always seen lurking about in the catacombs or climbing up the outside walls as opposed to just enter the place through the front door. Ultimately he is, however, more of a gentle giant type with a heart of gold. </p><p>Individually there is a lot to be enjoyed in this production: We have an eccentric professor type (Gustav Kloster) who experiments on mummies for the secret to a prolonged life. We got creepy underground passageways and a bit more skin on show than normal for a film of its time. It is indeed the actresses that mainly remain in the viewers' memory: </p><p>Helga Sommerfeld (who can also be spotted in the two Bryan Edgar Wallace Krimis <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2009/03/das-geheimnis-der-schwarzen-kofferthe.html" target="_blank">Das Geheimnis der schwarzen Koffer/The Secret of the Black Trunk</a></i> (1962) and <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/06/death-match-phantom-vs-glass-eye.html" target="_blank">Das Phantom von Soho/The Phantom of Soho</a></i> (1964)) is the main female lead and love interest for Dietmar Schönherr’s character and one wishes she’d have more often been placed in prominent roles in those films. </p><p>Real life dancing sensation Laya Raki brings an exotic touch to the story by… playing an exotic dancer. Whenever the lights quickly go off during her performance, either money changes hands or someone gets killed, though it is never quite clear a) why the nightclub doesn’t get closed down with such a death count at this very moment and b) why from all the places in good ol’ foggy London Town it is this sleazy establishment that gets chosen all the time for this transaction. (Well, there are some possible hints about this towards the end but I’ll be damned if I understood them.) </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnR7pfYv7Lq7HnSXoGxoiS6J6IO_l0n331Hzu1L9jzNhoZCI8BKshbbcrKuKeyAoyC9ZSE-g1nH7XzubDUJzYG14xBwNH3mi_s2BFzEgY_YzGze3a4AT-uaixMvIPoE9SWlPqgb58DGUQ5NEuSlfRCNPw8-aLMHYamrQso12p-lfIcu31JSSn1hZhA/s500/s-l500.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Die Nylonschlinge, Nylon Noose, Krimi, Ady Berber" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="343" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnR7pfYv7Lq7HnSXoGxoiS6J6IO_l0n331Hzu1L9jzNhoZCI8BKshbbcrKuKeyAoyC9ZSE-g1nH7XzubDUJzYG14xBwNH3mi_s2BFzEgY_YzGze3a4AT-uaixMvIPoE9SWlPqgb58DGUQ5NEuSlfRCNPw8-aLMHYamrQso12p-lfIcu31JSSn1hZhA/w275-h400/s-l500.jpeg" width="275" /></a></div>And finally we have a wonderfully scheming pair of mother (Hedda Ippen) and daughter (Chris Van Loosen). The younger of the two even has no compunction about going after her mother’s Beau (Kurt Beck) who at one stage is being described as young, handsome and ruthless when to my mind he came across as middle-aged, bland and out of his wit. <p></p><p>The soundtrack is also of interest as it combines traditional swinging Krimi tunes with experimental sound effects. </p><p>So, it all sounds great. </p><p> And yet as a whole the film doesn’t really quite blend it all together all that well. Various of the narrative strands have little to nothing to do with the case and its solution which is indeed ultimately more than mundane and in contrast to some of the set pieces. </p><p>The direction is quite flat and lifeless and at times it feels as if they’re just ticking off a check list of motions to go through. We even have a bowler hatted comic relief (Denys Seiler) who actually really does nothing remotely funny and for the most part plays everything straight. </p><p>The remaining group of male supporting characters are all united in just being presented as being a very unpleasant bunch one and all that as a viewer one can’t ever hope that any one of them will remain alive. In one particularly head scratching and icky moment the uncle of Sommerfeld’s character (Gustav Knuth) is clearly hitting on his own niece which leaves Schönherr’s Inspector to comment that he really can’t blame him. As much as I am enamoured by Sommerfeld myself, I still draw a line at praising incest. </p><p>All in all this is a good but not a great production. </p><p> Though one of the lesser known Krimis, in contrast to other similar films the English dubbed version of this film is easily available but that cut runs six minutes shorter than the original. </p><p><b>WATCH IT IN GERMAN</b></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X2cstxEaCUY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><b>WATCH IT IN ENGLISH</b></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aC05PFXhIw4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p></p><p><b>BUY THE DVD</b></p><p> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=DE&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=hallohierspri-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=DE&placement=B00CRDCHBS&asins=B00CRDCHBS&linkId=4dd4449e37b2aea19adb1d4d88cecc44&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> </p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-66531980935088887892023-03-20T20:53:00.007+00:002023-03-20T21:33:49.968+00:0023, l'année de Marisa Mell<p> Yes, I know I pilfered Serge Gainsbourg's oeuvre for the title of this blog post but it really does feel as if 2023 will be the year where Marisa Mell will finally get her long overdue recognition... at least in her native Austria as there is a ton happening there right now.</p><p>Best known as Eva Kant in Mario Bava's <i>Danger: Diabolik</i> (1968), she also featured in scores of International productions as well as playing in <i><a href="https://letterboxd.com/film/secret-of-the-red-orchid/" target="_blank">Das Rätsel der roten Orchidee/Secret of the Red Orchid</a></i> (1962) and <i>Das Rätsel des silbernen Halbmonds/Seven Blood-Stained Orchids</i> (1972). She was one of the most stunning women of her time and yet her (ultimately tragic) life story had somewhat faded into oblivion. </p><p>Singer/Actress/Author Erika Pluhar wrote a beautiful German language book, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3Z3yiUL" target="_blank">Marisa</a></i>, about their friendship and Mirko Di Wallenberg kept the flame alive <a href="http://marisa-mell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">on his blog</a>, but other than that there was very little.</p><p>Not any more though....</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrAulimyTvhMq4jGYJ_xL3ho_sMsUwPvNBrU_85k0VHvnlOcGBYa88MYf62KfXzxnpep5Qm7pnO5b492tQB5EvnhNup-9g6ImYnEi4JlUFP6prNzGanp9eLkjYfQNyTxZ5j4snnPBWvcayHS2kYjNbJ8HZGe2nlF_Sxsx0eGZfDyH4ykP9Ia2X_uk/s960/Graz%20Museum.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Marisa Mell, Museum Graz" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="759" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrAulimyTvhMq4jGYJ_xL3ho_sMsUwPvNBrU_85k0VHvnlOcGBYa88MYf62KfXzxnpep5Qm7pnO5b492tQB5EvnhNup-9g6ImYnEi4JlUFP6prNzGanp9eLkjYfQNyTxZ5j4snnPBWvcayHS2kYjNbJ8HZGe2nlF_Sxsx0eGZfDyH4ykP9Ia2X_uk/w253-h320/Graz%20Museum.jpeg" width="253" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Mell's home town Graz honours her from March 16 - August 27, 2023 with the exhibition <i><a href="https://www.grazmuseum.at/ausstellung/magic-marisa/" target="_blank">Magic Marisa</a></i> in the Graz Museum.<div><br /><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUlsJwdZmMeIhs7epmyBjgTrSKdSvoDTC7zCjZxj7F_FI9HpPBNclB5xJYnDPkx2u9ZGRRDOQw0C3HSe63Wv8f93J1VjWe91bjqBcaQze_dFV37lJDSJVHK8f8Cwccobveby7UHXQpBrAv6A5ldW7ZLdL7ZNE4tF0kY6f7NV1ZThf6ff2hRX_uVa-/s3360/Retrospektive.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Marisa Mell" border="0" data-original-height="1584" data-original-width="3360" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUlsJwdZmMeIhs7epmyBjgTrSKdSvoDTC7zCjZxj7F_FI9HpPBNclB5xJYnDPkx2u9ZGRRDOQw0C3HSe63Wv8f93J1VjWe91bjqBcaQze_dFV37lJDSJVHK8f8Cwccobveby7UHXQpBrAv6A5ldW7ZLdL7ZNE4tF0kY6f7NV1ZThf6ff2hRX_uVa-/w400-h189/Retrospektive.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Parallel to this exhibition, the Film Archiv Austria in Vienna presents a <a href="https://www.filmarchiv.at/program/retrospective/marisa-mell/" target="_blank">retrospective of thirteen of her films</a> that cover the various stages of her career from March 30 - April 23, 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not yet gone live but there should also be an accompanying <a href="https://www.filmarchiv.at/news/digitorials/" target="_blank">Digitorial</a> available online soon.</div><div><br /><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBvH-XZUurvaeVVxvQaNhQbVYQfMSWUIOqM_eEiqAEDf7b5zv9umhhMMwQ4LUT_Fl0_E3CkdwA7RUP7UtDYVTyD4wyyJHFs4rQNP2TNxD0irVMcmFgeNht2q9uL7_f_1EzWwnqS03YY5e9GQrPNKObUax5d5Jas84xB2zsgwj8oHwQifetgTUfiTH/s960/Feuerblume%20TV.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Marisa Mell, Feuerblume" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="692" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBvH-XZUurvaeVVxvQaNhQbVYQfMSWUIOqM_eEiqAEDf7b5zv9umhhMMwQ4LUT_Fl0_E3CkdwA7RUP7UtDYVTyD4wyyJHFs4rQNP2TNxD0irVMcmFgeNht2q9uL7_f_1EzWwnqS03YY5e9GQrPNKObUax5d5Jas84xB2zsgwj8oHwQifetgTUfiTH/w289-h400/Feuerblume%20TV.jpeg" width="289" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>A new documentary for Austrian State television station ORF, <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23902426/" target="_blank">Feuerblume: Die zwei Leben der Marisa Mell</a></i>, will also soon be released.</p><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtYQ2VWA-o3LP8cMSM8rCJ9pmrnEslBPY1EOvsYTff6XweXY--f2WVtKXmUMxDo4SsxBois-hyCTIeFWmel2OZh-l_Yo2wzRrLi2JrG7nuz5IpgjbXFHBYuxZKCaScYIEpwV_CB37SZp9mMmIwl3cNHTM4wjJaorHfw9YNBH-npV4Na6M4-jDkybO/s500/Feuerblume%20Book.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="352" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtYQ2VWA-o3LP8cMSM8rCJ9pmrnEslBPY1EOvsYTff6XweXY--f2WVtKXmUMxDo4SsxBois-hyCTIeFWmel2OZh-l_Yo2wzRrLi2JrG7nuz5IpgjbXFHBYuxZKCaScYIEpwV_CB37SZp9mMmIwl3cNHTM4wjJaorHfw9YNBH-npV4Na6M4-jDkybO/w281-h400/Feuerblume%20Book.jpeg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Die Feuerblume - Marisa Mell</i> is also the title of a biography by André Schneider that <a href="https://www.bod.de/buchshop/die-feuerblume-andre-schneider-9783734767951" target="_blank">has just been released</a>. The book is a revised edition of a previous work that has long been out of print. </p><p>Like all the other projects here, it is a German language production though it does appear to contain 140 rare and often even previously unpublished photos and one can always hope that at some stage this as well as the documentary will be translated and available in an English friendly version for an International audience.</p><p>I am also hoping that for the exhibition and retrospective there will be a chance to get a hold of a catalog.</p><p>Either way, it's great to see such a renewed emphasis on a previously under appreciated star. </p></div></div></div>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-20974616871559065472023-03-19T10:01:00.001+00:002023-03-19T10:05:28.798+00:00Dead Eyes of London slideshow<p> I enjoyed creating my <a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2023/03/der-hexer-slideshow.html" target="_blank">first Krimi related slideshow on YouTube</a> so much that I decided to do a second one, this time dedicated to <a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2009/02/die-toten-augen-von-londondead-eyes-of.html" target="_blank">DIE TOTEN AUGEN VON LONDON/DEAD EYES OF LONDON (1961)</a>, Alfred Vohrer's Edgar Wallace-debut featuring a very experimental track by composer Heinz Funk.</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RQE9vZuK-KQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-79312919168671404962023-03-11T22:23:00.003+00:002023-03-11T22:26:18.938+00:00Two German Jack the Rippers<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jSbl10pkkp77913az19izN4_wkDlXLK_vddEosJJflss-tVDoJMbjY9GjIixhmf5rGJT59twk_0c3teEtgmQyaviI75oAaq7NRbEIpD0GPuYw2onqAXJeg1twykRb-hwt8YBAJA7mXROTrnxjUTNkMC7tBFcmHVR0l9gsaHgL9_WMRo38qo6YW07/s991/Lulu%20Poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lulu, poster, Nadja Tiller" border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="709" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jSbl10pkkp77913az19izN4_wkDlXLK_vddEosJJflss-tVDoJMbjY9GjIixhmf5rGJT59twk_0c3teEtgmQyaviI75oAaq7NRbEIpD0GPuYw2onqAXJeg1twykRb-hwt8YBAJA7mXROTrnxjUTNkMC7tBFcmHVR0l9gsaHgL9_WMRo38qo6YW07/w286-h400/Lulu%20Poster.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>I recently came across two little known German language productions from the 1960s that both feature Jack the Ripper. <p></p><p>Neither one is a traditional Krimi but both have elements of that genre that warrant an inclusion on this blog. </p><p> First up<i> Lulu/No Orchids for Lulu</i> (1962), a new adaptation of Frank Wedekind’s plays <i>Erdgeist/Earth Spirit</i> and <i>Die Büchse der Pandora/Pandora’s Box</i> and as such a remake of the classic silent movie <i>Pandora’s Box </i>(1929) with Louise Brooks. </p><p>In line with the original drama, a Jack the Ripper like character - he is never really named as such and though all the tropes are there the time period is wrong - is only introduced towards the end of this “burlesque tragedy” as a cipher for the rise and dramatic fall of the title character. </p><p>This Austrian movie is purposely theatrical and presented as a morality play, even down to having a narrator (a bald Charles Regnier who in real life was actually married to Frank Wedekind’s daughter Pamela) speaking into the camera and commenting on events in this movie. </p><p>When a teenage flower girl tries to steal Dr. Schön’s (O.E. Hasse) pocket watch, he takes her on Pygmalion style to make a lady out of her and eventually marry her off to an influential older medical officer (<i>Hogan’s Heroes</i>’ Leon Askin). Though not explicitly shown it is implied that he didn’t just introduce her to the ways of the world alone. </p><p>The first five minutes of this film are entirely without dialogue and instead filmed dreamlike through a blurry lens and underlined by cheerful music. We never see the face of the girl until we finally cut to her as an adult where she is shown to be portrayed by Austrian actress Nadja Tiller who would eventually appear in eleven movies by Rolf Thiele, the director of this movie. </p><p>All the men in her life project so much into her that throughout the film they all address her differently (Lulu, Nelly, Eva) and yet she eventually leaves a trail of dead husbands and destroyed lives behind her.</p><p> Lulu is portrayed as being both innocent but scheming, temptress and self destructive, Angel and Devil all in one. Her relationship with Hasse’s character bears traces of <i>The Blue Angel</i> and her rise and eventual downfall is mirrored in her appearance and the contrast to a portrait that was done of her by her second artist/husband (Sieghardt Rupp) and her being shaven haired after an escape in a coffin from a prison signals her downward slide. </p><p>Speaking of mirrors: They are ever present for her narcissistic glances. </p><p>Hildegard Knef plays an enigmatic Countess with more than just a maternal interest in Lulu who, to her own detriment, also succumbs to her destructive charms. </p><p> Also watch out for Mario Adorf as a sleazy acrobat, Rudolf Forster as a bum and the one constant companion of Lulu’s life from teenage years on and Herbert Fux in a bit part as a visitor to a nightclub.</p><p> Overall, <i>Lulu</i> is probably more interesting than genuinely good but definitely well worth a watch. It does appear to at one stage have seen an English language release as <i>No Orchids for Lulu</i> (a play on the then popular <i>No Orchids for Miss Blandish</i>) so there may be an English language version around out there somewhere. </p><p>In the meantime you can watch the original German version on <a href="https://youtu.be/Imu4kXma4wY" target="_blank">YouTube</a> (embedding on other websites is blocked so you need to visit the site directly).</p><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZdLtTiGAIH3G2WEbmjEx8rVHiu8jKikOFw9wDnTxfpv6RYEEzH5IgZX_rdYrzrCzz_7zHY9bspeaxUstr8rdYk6E5sXMsUJDWKI5MCATgZbsZiNS1z9w8WqKt_d3cviPNd-y7u8HL9pjsGve0xgokESBeRFzTTRLh1T4UljwzaabMzH-WwV6mQ6-/s1200/Der%20Mieter.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Mieter, The Lodger, Marie Belloc Lowndes, Pinkas Braun" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="849" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZdLtTiGAIH3G2WEbmjEx8rVHiu8jKikOFw9wDnTxfpv6RYEEzH5IgZX_rdYrzrCzz_7zHY9bspeaxUstr8rdYk6E5sXMsUJDWKI5MCATgZbsZiNS1z9w8WqKt_d3cviPNd-y7u8HL9pjsGve0xgokESBeRFzTTRLh1T4UljwzaabMzH-WwV6mQ6-/w283-h400/Der%20Mieter.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>Next up a production that is more overtly Ripper in nature but also at the same time not remotely as interesting. <p></p><p>Up until about a month ago I had never even heard about <i>Der Mieter </i>[tr. The Lodger] even though it stars Pinkas Braun in the title role. </p><p>This Austrian TV movie is an adaptation of Marie Belloc Lowndes’ <i>The Lodger</i> which had previously been adapted by Alfred Hitchcock as a silent movie and subsequently saw other versions featuring the likes of Laird Cregar and Jack Palance. </p><p>It is in fact a German language version of a script by Anthony Skene that had first been aired on July 25, 1965 as part of the third season of UK's <i>"Armchair Mystery Theatre”</i> with Charles Gray in the leading role as Quill, the mysterious lodger. This hour-long episode (as well as the series overall) has long been unavailable and it’s not even certain whether any of it has actually survived in the archives. </p><p>The anthology series was hosted by Donald Pleasance and we can get a glimpse of what this episode was like thanks to <i>Der Mieter</i> which aired on Austrian television on November 30, 1967 and was based on Skene’s script. </p><p>Unfortunately this adaptation is an absolute snoozer. Even in 1967 this must have felt like a very old fashioned, stage bound interpretation. It plays for the most part in one single room of the house where all the events get endlessly discussed with little to no camera movement or cuts. If ever we needed to know that "show don't tell" should rule, then this is it. Because all we get is "tell" which is a pity as Pinkas Braun, enigmatic villain in many a Krimi, could have made a very memorable Jack the Ripper, pardon, Azrael (as he calls himself in this version). </p><p>Whereas the Austrian version is scratching at the two hour mark (two endless long hours!), the much shorter British version sounds like it could have been more palatable. </p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rsDdFgr5sQE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><br /></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-63475812370909267562023-03-02T16:26:00.007+00:002023-03-02T16:31:17.420+00:00Der Hexer Slideshow<p> So just did a thing and uploaded a slideshow to YouTube with posters, lobby cards and promotional images for the Rialto Edgar Wallace Krimi DER HEXER aka THE MYSTERIOUS MAGICIAN based on Wallace's novel THE RINGER.</p><p>Hope you like. I may do more along those lines sometime in the future.</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YuZ3M_wT48I" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-24334613181353681762023-02-15T20:57:00.005+00:002023-02-15T21:04:12.441+00:00Der Mönch mit der Peitsche/The College Girl Murders (1967)<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k8CRdi3OpF912E6althpAWw2fSy0bqaBHjNwckt6H5jbU3uYZFRYtERaymuaCjnWDM7_1bKUDyhlzmqzMflUpF2o5Gd-zxv6Z1feq4YaqEBPyuqXGVWhrl9sNKmpvnC4BaMTqxWJ3SGdwASEB5p1mNbICzFYDFg7w8TVk27coCv8CEW99xrRoX-H/s1600/Il%20fantasma%20di%20Londra.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Italian poster for Edgar Wallace Krimi THE COLLEGE GIRL MURDERS aka DER MÖNCH MIT DER PEITSCHE" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1151" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k8CRdi3OpF912E6althpAWw2fSy0bqaBHjNwckt6H5jbU3uYZFRYtERaymuaCjnWDM7_1bKUDyhlzmqzMflUpF2o5Gd-zxv6Z1feq4YaqEBPyuqXGVWhrl9sNKmpvnC4BaMTqxWJ3SGdwASEB5p1mNbICzFYDFg7w8TVk27coCv8CEW99xrRoX-H/w288-h400/Il%20fantasma%20di%20Londra.jpeg" width="288" /></a></i></div><i>A series of murders, performed with the help of a newly developed poison and with the assistance of a convicted prisoner who regularly gets smuggled out of his prison cell, terrorises the girls in a boarding school. On top of that we also have a mysterious hooded monk with a whip who also goes on a killing spree on the grounds of that school. None of the murders seem to have an obvious motive but are orchestrated by a criminal mastermind based in the shadows of his secret underground lair. </i><p></p><p> Following the success of their <i>Der unheimliche Mönch/The Sinister Monk</i> (1965) just two years prior, Rialto decided to film yet another modern day movie featuring a strange monk only this time in full glorious colour. And rather than have Harald Reinl on the directing chair, Alfred Vohrer takes up the reins.</p><p> Rather than simply make this a remake as they had e.g. done with their <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2009/02/die-toten-augen-von-londondead-eyes-of.html" target="_blank">Dead Eyes of London</a>/<a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/07/german-lobby-card-set-for-der-gorilla.html" target="_blank">Gorilla Gang</a> </i>combo, this production is not really based on Edgar Wallace’s The Terror like the previous film but only carries over a few elements but is otherwise a totally new story by Herbert Reinecker (aka Alex Berg). </p><p>In actual fact at one point in the film Sir John (<a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2023/02/siegfried-schurenberg-january-12-1900.html" target="_blank">Siegfried Schürenberg</a>) and Inspector Higgins (Joachim Fuchsberger) reminisce about the similarities of these new events with the older case, thereby establishing a link within the Rialto Universe of Edgar Wallace films even though only Sir John had been a participant in the hunt for the Sinister Monk. Instead Harald Leipnitz as Inspector Bratt was in charge of the investigation then. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3xyC-QBt8E-9ictvv_kbJfeIGzHo4vMhMeb6PHmZuYnNwti3dcgSCu_7PVmjwic82fAFb8xxNJcUjJTJMSsGai7jGUxT0pj5rqDQa2chxETPqd7Fkwb5HpnUQgMXpeug7pS0Jwv4iGiMFnL56ilTAsQvTNJWxWzpOdNDKN-wjeqyM55p3ywCqu1Q/s1123/The%20College%20Girl%20Murder%20lobby%20card%2002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lobby card for Edgar Wallace Krimi THE COLLEGE GIRL MURDERS aka DER MÖNCH MIT DER PEITSCHE featuring Joachim Fuchsberger and Siegfried Schürenberg" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1123" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3xyC-QBt8E-9ictvv_kbJfeIGzHo4vMhMeb6PHmZuYnNwti3dcgSCu_7PVmjwic82fAFb8xxNJcUjJTJMSsGai7jGUxT0pj5rqDQa2chxETPqd7Fkwb5HpnUQgMXpeug7pS0Jwv4iGiMFnL56ilTAsQvTNJWxWzpOdNDKN-wjeqyM55p3ywCqu1Q/w400-h315/The%20College%20Girl%20Murder%20lobby%20card%2002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>And speaking of that universe: Fuchsberger returns back to the Rialto Wallace Krimi fold after a three-year break and this is now the second time after <i>Der Hexer/The Ringer </i>(1964), his previous Wallace, that Joachim Fuchsberger plays Inspector Higgins though all references to his character in the earlier film are eradicated, most notably his fiancée (played by Sophie Hardy) and Higgins himself appears to be way less flirtatious than in the earlier production. In the interim he instead seems to have developed that somewhat irritating habit of constantly chewing on something. Chewing gum perhaps that is meant to show him as a “cool” representative of a younger generation? </p><p>In the following year’s <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2010/07/im-banne-des-unheimlichenthe-zombie.html" target="_blank">Im Banne des Unheimlichen/The Zombie Walks</a></i> (1968) Fuchsberger would for the third and last time play an Inspector Higgins though it’s safe to say that all his Inspectors regardless of the name are generally variations on a theme. </p><p>In terms of the relationship between Sir John and Higgins, it is the usual comical interplay between the older buffoon and the younger hero. Sir John in this movie has taken up a recent interest in psychology much to the dismay of his subordinate who tries to prevent him from getting too enraptured in Freudian analysis. Truth be told though, it is actually often Sir John who discovers important clues when questioning suspects in a way that had been dismissed by his younger colleague. It kinda makes me long for some fanfiction in which Sir John is portrayed as the true misunderstood hero of the series. </p><p>Ilse Pagé returns for the second time as Sir John’s secretary Mabel Finley, a part she would regularly play for both Schürenberg’s character as well his successor Sir Arthur (Hubert von Meyerinck). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2x7afOad1Ke7DjXa9Ej81btdPXViyOMJ8XDVd-_BmYaM4fLQZs6W9Pc9QkzaMQZUYr2bq6kKsS_oqpA2mAWCwLAsfy7-_grSoYkTDI4SPbfLqLXmMBKDCkw6yAJZQWM8oJ-DZn_jp0l4lkuC9t3CiDtP7fLK5HKaqw5zm0_OpFZ1sgEThAYKfMsC/s1122/The%20College%20Girl%20Murders%20lobby%20card%2001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lobby card for Edgar Wallace Krimi THE COLLEGE GIRL MURDERS aka DER MÖNCH MIT DER PEITSCHE" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1122" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2x7afOad1Ke7DjXa9Ej81btdPXViyOMJ8XDVd-_BmYaM4fLQZs6W9Pc9QkzaMQZUYr2bq6kKsS_oqpA2mAWCwLAsfy7-_grSoYkTDI4SPbfLqLXmMBKDCkw6yAJZQWM8oJ-DZn_jp0l4lkuC9t3CiDtP7fLK5HKaqw5zm0_OpFZ1sgEThAYKfMsC/w400-h316/The%20College%20Girl%20Murders%20lobby%20card%2001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p> Like many a Euro Cult film, this is a movie that was produced for maximum effect and not for anything requiring internal logic. </p><p>There are many aspects of the plot that just don’t make a hell of a lot of sense. </p><p>Why e.g. go to the trouble of creating a brand-new poison that can’t be detected by smell or taste when it then requires overly complicated contraptions that leave a clearly visible liquid mess behind on the faces of the victims, the kind of fluids than in certain scenes of the movie actually look more like thin threads of spiderwebs? </p><p> Just who actually produces all the poison after the mad scientist who developed it hands over the one and only sample at the beginning of the film just to subsequently be quickly offed as the first victim of the monk? </p><p>And why is poison needed at all if we also have a murdering monk on the rampage? </p><p>A prestigious boarding school seemingly consists entirely of teachers that all have a dubiously suspicious past with no apparent vetting ever being done. Where else can you find ex-convicts and murderers or former circus artists in such distinguished pillar-of-society roles? </p><p>When the true motive behind the killings is revealed - no spoilers here - it does appear to be ridiculously elaborated for the intended outcome. </p><p> And this is just the cream of the crop of head scratchers this film has to offer. </p><p>So if you need to make proper “sense” of a film, then <i>The College Girl Murders</i> is likely not for you. </p><p>But then you would also miss out on a glorious piece of cinematic madness. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRWO5ICdh6caD4eOGOZ14TXKJak7iELTDGxdEjD-Pv4Yg_mK-afeVVoDUaEpbFKIHoQCi_kV1H1UK-2wHNSzkm-1_k3D21sV_e7IKYjVChPo7cUTmWlOdin9sE29BAEJUmlE3lmwe_h9UT5GlnQrsz0_fTTbbJq_XQ9dBxF-roG2fOxYJaeERUmdz/s1112/The%20College%20Girl%20Murders%20Lobby%20card%2003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lobby card for Edgar Wallace Krimi THE COLLEGE GIRL MURDERS aka DER MÖNCH MIT DER PEITSCHE" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1112" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRWO5ICdh6caD4eOGOZ14TXKJak7iELTDGxdEjD-Pv4Yg_mK-afeVVoDUaEpbFKIHoQCi_kV1H1UK-2wHNSzkm-1_k3D21sV_e7IKYjVChPo7cUTmWlOdin9sE29BAEJUmlE3lmwe_h9UT5GlnQrsz0_fTTbbJq_XQ9dBxF-roG2fOxYJaeERUmdz/w400-h319/The%20College%20Girl%20Murders%20Lobby%20card%2003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p> In true Grand Guignol fashion the film begins with an image of lab rats hovering one on top of each other before being gassed by a typical wild-haired mad scientist (Wilhelm Vorwerg). </p><p>In the first five minutes of the film we already have two murders and the film never lets off pace. </p><p>The eponymous hooded monk, dressed in a crimson habit and armed with his whip is clearly one of the if not THE most iconic villain in the Wallace universe. His black and white predecessor was already an imposing idea but seeing him stalk the school-ground at night in flashy red colour makes for a truly outrageous image. </p><p>The main villain’s underground lair protected by crocodiles and set seemingly underwater though in reality within an enormous aquarium looks stunning and is clearly reminiscent of the James Bond movies, especially of the later <i>The Spy Who Loved Me</i>. The villain himself lurks Dr Mabuse-like with the back towards his henchmen and speaks in an electronically changed voice through a loudspeaker and at opportune moments switches off the lights in his reception area to be even more obscured. </p><p> Including reptiles in his movies was one of Vohrer’s identifiable traits and a love for the grotesque permeates this film, especially when one of the henchmen holds a squirming rat in his hand in order to feed it to a snake. (I am not entirely certain that no animals were harmed during the production of this movie.)</p><p> Especially the night scenes are beautifully and moodily lit for greatest effect courtesy of cinematographer Karl Löb who next to directors Reinl and Vohrer needs to be highlighted as one of the most important artists to define the typical Krimi look. </p><p>The first girl that gets killed in a church after being handed a specially prepared bible containing a gadget blasting out the poison is a heavily bespectacled Ewa Strömberg in her first small role in a Wallace Krimi. Strömberg in the early 1970s would become one of Jess Franco’s muses in a handful of his films shot in very short succession before retiring from the film industry completely at a fairly young age. </p><p>Everything is over the top and everyone sweats like a pig when under pressure. Pretty much every character has some dirt on them and is therefore suspicious and the dynamics are quite often highly outrageous, especially in the case of a pervy older teacher (Konrad Georg) with a crush for some of the younger girls (first the murder victim and then the character played by Grit Boettcher). He is also seen to spy on some of them via underwater windows in a swimming pool and through the kind of removable peepholes in the walls of a girls dormitory that were seemingly everywhere in Krimiland. And yet, despite all this extremely creepy carry-on the girls in question do seem to welcome his attention and reciprocate!</p><p> And all of this is underlined by Martin Böttcher’s gloriously madcap and over-the-top soundtrack.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrZgJnwKmQEl9ywz0V33Qt1lMexLIeAEMw3jHqc1809DrMxKZ64Pf0MyyXBGe5P1hJeE6YoY0-FBaNzTatV0oROHLcpDLTJWWZ7Omgil5U4OWayCxWk1Bm9iKrk2uUBgd-_qGjhK73qQEJHzbct9oNDwpbs2ST7r3vQE-y001hPQIsat-3ptUOiN1/s1113/The%20College%20Girl%20Murders%20Lobby%20Card%2004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lobby card for Edgar Wallace Krimi THE COLLEGE GIRL MURDERS aka DER MÖNCH MIT DER PEITSCHE featuring Uschi Glas" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1113" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrZgJnwKmQEl9ywz0V33Qt1lMexLIeAEMw3jHqc1809DrMxKZ64Pf0MyyXBGe5P1hJeE6YoY0-FBaNzTatV0oROHLcpDLTJWWZ7Omgil5U4OWayCxWk1Bm9iKrk2uUBgd-_qGjhK73qQEJHzbct9oNDwpbs2ST7r3vQE-y001hPQIsat-3ptUOiN1/w400-h319/The%20College%20Girl%20Murders%20Lobby%20Card%2004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p> Following an unrelated supporting role in <i>The Sinister Monk</i> and a star making performance in the Karl May film<i> Winnetou und das Halbblut Apanatschi/Winnetou and the Crossbreed</i> (1966), <i>The College Girl Murders </i>was only Uschi Glas’ third feature film. </p><p> The following year she personified the ésprit of a confident independent young generation in the Nouvelle Vague inspired freewheeling cult classic <i>Zur Sache Schätzchen/Go for It, Baby</i> (1968) and “Schätzchen” would remain her well known nickname while she developed into the Nation’s Sweetheart over the years. Ultimately she would appear in a total of five later-day Rialto Wallaces. </p><p>In this film she plays the most prominent girl in the boarding school. Though it appears that together with the others she would clearly be too old to stay in one of those educational institutions, her character is meant to be 20 so it appears not to have been that unusual to have students remain until the age of 21.</p><p> Despite becoming most famous through a hip role, for the most part Glas through the course of her career became a representative of an inoffensive kind of conservative entertainment and even in this early role she appears quite precocious and despite her young age already very mumsy. She is maybe not the typical cheesecake one would expect in exploitation flicks around all-girls schools…. but then again surprisingly very few of the other actresses aren’t either. </p><p> Glas has her best parts here when interacting with Fuchsberger dressed up as the monk or while hanging captive in a cage over the crocodiles. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggI5_b2kNVx-OJa3n58yC1zX5um5wERguwI2mB5Zhf1a4HW8UZTAzp4TVoGDCWrYKVjHl2YuGIUZFiZrLz4vPNeSEMegz2hBzMqAvOBWpx9oTAnRJI2J1eheESqAfTya_y5ERi7qRHB0tC80Rfmk_qs5O4x3axTww_MUaorr2CDaOrkTnQvESZyd7Y/s1116/The%20College%20Girl%20Murders%20Lobby%20card%2005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lobby card for Edgar Wallace Krimi THE COLLEGE GIRL MURDERS aka DER MÖNCH MIT DER PEITSCHE" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1116" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggI5_b2kNVx-OJa3n58yC1zX5um5wERguwI2mB5Zhf1a4HW8UZTAzp4TVoGDCWrYKVjHl2YuGIUZFiZrLz4vPNeSEMegz2hBzMqAvOBWpx9oTAnRJI2J1eheESqAfTya_y5ERi7qRHB0tC80Rfmk_qs5O4x3axTww_MUaorr2CDaOrkTnQvESZyd7Y/w400-h318/The%20College%20Girl%20Murders%20Lobby%20card%2005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p> One of the most enjoyable, albeit head scratching aspects of <i>The College Girl Murders</i> is the entire prison subplot.
Siegfried Rauch plays an inmate who regularly gets smuggled out of and then back into the prison in order to commit murders with the help of a futuristic looking gun containing that poison. Initially reluctant to go that far he gets coerced into it by his cellmate (Narziß Sokatscheff). </p><p>It appears that pretty much the entire prison, inmates as well as staff, are in on it. </p><p>With one seeming exception, a Reverend (Rudolf Schündler), who when visiting Scotland Yard starts slapping bums as he is indeed an undercover member of the vice squad! </p><p>Also look out for other familiar faces such as Harry Riebauer, Tilly Lauenstein, Claus Holm, Jan Hendriks and the always memorable Günter Meisner. </p><p> When an “Ende” sign gets dropped into the aquarium to signal the end of the film, we return back to the familiar breaking of the forth wall. </p><p>The Rialto colour productions are often “trashier” than its black and white predecessors and quite commonly revisit familiar well established tropes even if they’re not outright remakes and <i>The College Girl Murders</i> is no exception. </p><p>Depending on your stance towards this kind of style-over-substance film making, this film may be considered either one of the highlights or the low points of the series. </p><p>Me? </p><p> I love it and it certainly ticks all the right boxes with its mix of Wallace meets James Bond by way of Dr. Mabuse. </p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xQkZdrlhnHI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </p><p><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=theworldofham-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0009OL8GW&asins=B0009OL8GW&linkId=4a4eb467c85db77bfcaffcb3f317fa2a&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=DE&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=hallohierspri-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=DE&placement=B01LYP1W0L&asins=B01LYP1W0L&linkId=42c253f5c2036c5a6f1f8bd40efe9c35&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=DE&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=hallohierspri-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=DE&placement=B09G3HP2YX&asins=B09G3HP2YX&linkId=986c8d118cd535fdfd89bfe5fe109c90&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-69644771997035521782023-02-09T14:53:00.004+00:002023-02-09T15:03:54.241+00:00Siegfried Schürenberg (January 12, 1900 – August 31, 1993)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BNQQ1bRD5ig0WNG7EwUiDeK9_e7niBpiFbZuBhG93Qw4dWusigEne-ObXRW7RvyF6LdzXBtMIl_cZC6r1XACx-XCYPf1jTQfJ8xDn7R6tJlp7TRQTayihLT9OSgR0tSXwIgpl7z5I20ELGxnK2cu4X0F_jcHBBq9Gg6sZYsLVWQrCi5-4tZUhSBG/s1385/Soho.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Siegfried Schürenberg" border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1385" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BNQQ1bRD5ig0WNG7EwUiDeK9_e7niBpiFbZuBhG93Qw4dWusigEne-ObXRW7RvyF6LdzXBtMIl_cZC6r1XACx-XCYPf1jTQfJ8xDn7R6tJlp7TRQTayihLT9OSgR0tSXwIgpl7z5I20ELGxnK2cu4X0F_jcHBBq9Gg6sZYsLVWQrCi5-4tZUhSBG/w400-h301/Soho.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Siegfried Schürenberg was one of Germany's most distinct character actors. Also known as a very versatile stage actor, his cinematic career spanned four decades from the early 1930s until the 70s. When German stunt legend Harry Piel decided to hire him as the leading man for <i>Der Herr der Welt [Master of the World]</i> in 1934, the film flopped tremendously as the German public was not willing to see a film directed by, but not starring their most popular action hero at the time. Schürenberg had to wait until the very end of his career to get his only other lead role, this time in a German sex comedy directed by Alfred Vohrer and also starring Eddi Arent: <i>Das gelbe Haus am Pinnasberg/The Yellow House in Pinnasburg</i>. </p><p>On top of a wide range of supporting parts Schürenberg was also a well known voice on German screens, having dubbed Clark Gable for the German release of <i>Gone With the Wind </i>and in a number of other productions. His distinct voice can be heard in the German version of hundreds of international productions including Hammer films such as <i>The Curse of the Werewolf</i>, <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i>, <i>Captain Clegg/Night Creatures</i> and <i>Frankenstein Created Woman</i> for which he not only provided Peter Cushing's voice but also that of Peter Madden.</p><p>Schürenberg is of course best remembered for his contributions to the Rialto series of Edgar Wallace Krimis. There he played Sir John, the series' most recognisable character, in 17 movies. On top of that he also played Sir Geoffrey Fielding in <i>Der Zinker/The Squeaker</i> and Sir Henry Hockbridge in <i>Das indische Tuch/The Indian Scarf</i> and appeared in two non-Rialto Wallace productions, <i>Der Rächer/The Avenger </i>and the two Jess Franco Krimis, <i>Der Teufel kam aus Akasava/The Devil Came from Akasava</i> and <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/03/german-lobby-card-set-for-der.html" target="_blank">Der Todesrächer von Soho/The Corpse Packs His Bags</a></i>. Schürenberg also appeared for Franco in <i>X312 – Flight to Hell</i>. </p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-69277837515587134872023-02-08T13:47:00.000+00:002023-02-08T13:47:02.516+00:00Fred Williams (*09 Feb 1938)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4BJTt7amb7nTd5duyUjrfZvPS7LZHEKbDag4GVR9nvuDWnwSy3ceT_0_mSLerVh9tAKnPi5KvZ2rUPrUQyieh8mTvcHjsiLy4LQ-c3JkQ4I463GPZcxddAdntoOQ9DcPLl9B_-eNgJ9SKB9GDHU1ZK59SlSsvyxxix45UoaAK-fSZYNF6bHT0Yaw/s1280/Devil%20Came%20from%20Akasava%20poster.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Poster for "The Devil Came from Akasava" by Jess Franco starring Fred Williams and Soledad Miranda" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4BJTt7amb7nTd5duyUjrfZvPS7LZHEKbDag4GVR9nvuDWnwSy3ceT_0_mSLerVh9tAKnPi5KvZ2rUPrUQyieh8mTvcHjsiLy4LQ-c3JkQ4I463GPZcxddAdntoOQ9DcPLl9B_-eNgJ9SKB9GDHU1ZK59SlSsvyxxix45UoaAK-fSZYNF6bHT0Yaw/w400-h225/Devil%20Came%20from%20Akasava%20poster.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Born in Munich as Friedrich Wilhelm Löcherer, Fred Williams studied to become a mechanical engineer but after being discovered by an Italian film producer in a bar in the swanky suburb of Schwabing he anglicised his name and started a career as an actor in Italian and European movies. </p><p>In <i>Angelique et le roy/Angelique and the King</i> (1966) Williams plays exiled Hungarian Prince Rakoczy who has assumed some kind of Robin Hood style role and saves Angelique (Michèle Mercier) from being raped by a Persian Bey. </p><p>Starting with <i>El conde Drácula/Count Dracula </i>(1970) where he played Jonathan Harker, good looking but somewhat uncharismatic Williams became one of Jess Franco’s regular stars in a series of his movies in the early to mid-1970s. Four of those were influenced by or may even be considered as the Krimi genre’s final breath and featured a number of the genre’s familiar faces: <i>Der Teufel kam aus Akasava/The Devil Came from Akasava</i> (1971), <i>She Killed in Ecstasy</i> (1971), <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/03/german-lobby-card-set-for-der.html" target="_blank">Der Todesrächer von Soho/The Corpse Packs His Bags</a></i> (1972) and the <i>La venganza del doctor Mabuse/Dr. M schlägt zu</i> (1972). </p><p>Williams seems to also have appeared in a number of the popular Italian photo-comics at the time, a topic for which he was interviewed for German TV station WDR in a 1973 documentary <i>Einmal wirst auch Du mich lieben – Über die Bedeutung von Heftromanen</i>. </p><p>His best known mainstream role was in the big budget war drama <i>A Bridge Too Far</i> (1977) where he appeared in a supporting role as an SS Officer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIBK4FzP_vkP9wsa6K38X7I4bBChHVS140UqtaKH270fFvERRW0tVqUWuPlTVelOc4GIrtXaO1L7b0h3derOxe8N061n3H4o8JaA98QHFNgs5HexlPsYmgyzXHmtlbq2D7I2lK-Ifbi0Io0MNZf_2U3KY4MRKFPCwNLtnt0KXZRufvdc8-qRmIMu4/s1122/Soho02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fred Williams" border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="886" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIBK4FzP_vkP9wsa6K38X7I4bBChHVS140UqtaKH270fFvERRW0tVqUWuPlTVelOc4GIrtXaO1L7b0h3derOxe8N061n3H4o8JaA98QHFNgs5HexlPsYmgyzXHmtlbq2D7I2lK-Ifbi0Io0MNZf_2U3KY4MRKFPCwNLtnt0KXZRufvdc8-qRmIMu4/w316-h400/Soho02.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-76454347812405281592023-01-11T20:58:00.000+00:002023-01-11T20:58:06.013+00:00More lobby cards for German Krimis<p> I just returned from a trip back to Germany and picked up two incomplete sets of lobby cards while over there.</p><p>First up seven lobby cards for Bryan Edgar Wallace film <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2009/03/das-siebente-opferthe-racetrack-murders.html">Das siebente Opfer/The Racetrack Murders</a> </i>(1964).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz0PieXF-6GW6H1nEJxu9WcdJoe1GlpF1lr3qJ55avth3PkyXhdWRqu26_5KlywK8RLSUAID_m-roeQjGHLeErqZUZja7Ogmzw-jM1nn6euvSTEKr5Z6ll7sqJOLguEEVF5cw9VjGIoVoHs6wsbfUXEI0Jv7uT8e1GGGcODfNRZm4krDizk04Ck04/s3000/1673467737047-c0652be6-95f1-4543-ae65-b4eff3cdf94f_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Racetrack Murders, Das siebente Opfer, Krimi, Bryan Edgar Wallace, lobby card, Ann Smyrner, Hansjörg Felmy" border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz0PieXF-6GW6H1nEJxu9WcdJoe1GlpF1lr3qJ55avth3PkyXhdWRqu26_5KlywK8RLSUAID_m-roeQjGHLeErqZUZja7Ogmzw-jM1nn6euvSTEKr5Z6ll7sqJOLguEEVF5cw9VjGIoVoHs6wsbfUXEI0Jv7uT8e1GGGcODfNRZm4krDizk04Ck04/w400-h300/1673467737047-c0652be6-95f1-4543-ae65-b4eff3cdf94f_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6o2Ccw7AU3ZueZcX77nWB5VkwGrg4xbqz7KKRiivCNbkuUXYtpuST6TANtycJ6fOK-SHj4FNVfh-8sQotdZ5_D8wrkoURv3b66nGV67gry6tjAaMacJIASMwxuJ95Wu8_zTKvjvzVXMTQThDYTmgZ93ZCwfPGW2Ojrxyx1kDHqOjBU5RmM6zMGH0/s3000/1673467820246-a136b7d0-6e5c-4d70-bbfb-c65ee5ea6613_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Racetrack Murders, Das siebente Opfer, Krimi, Bryan Edgar Wallace, lobby card, Ann Savo" border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6o2Ccw7AU3ZueZcX77nWB5VkwGrg4xbqz7KKRiivCNbkuUXYtpuST6TANtycJ6fOK-SHj4FNVfh-8sQotdZ5_D8wrkoURv3b66nGV67gry6tjAaMacJIASMwxuJ95Wu8_zTKvjvzVXMTQThDYTmgZ93ZCwfPGW2Ojrxyx1kDHqOjBU5RmM6zMGH0/w400-h300/1673467820246-a136b7d0-6e5c-4d70-bbfb-c65ee5ea6613_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FS50E8LVc4U5ZRsH0pTyZ6wLq-HStm5VNiRwgEgvy0yFcles-SqtaKK-Y1Wnd_gafhX0svX0GiaFQJoexlWozuyMqM70uK_z63iiHC_wUocwl08ybAO2YwMBFf4NfBIpwl3ldJOOZnAXTXKfxxWu624GRifVbHWwYUdSOtBi9cML3JQsbzBajUPX/s3000/1673467908943-db7900f4-d6de-4dca-9b3b-7e62de35da25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Racetrack Murders, Das siebente Opfer, Krimi, Bryan Edgar Wallace, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="2394" data-original-width="3000" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FS50E8LVc4U5ZRsH0pTyZ6wLq-HStm5VNiRwgEgvy0yFcles-SqtaKK-Y1Wnd_gafhX0svX0GiaFQJoexlWozuyMqM70uK_z63iiHC_wUocwl08ybAO2YwMBFf4NfBIpwl3ldJOOZnAXTXKfxxWu624GRifVbHWwYUdSOtBi9cML3JQsbzBajUPX/w400-h319/1673467908943-db7900f4-d6de-4dca-9b3b-7e62de35da25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjry_f8vTZks2RKe2lRBoEIAf3accM5yK4-URFMkRSgsIdEyjmNanNUpgvucgOAMSAwBiTleLFd4m3CqxS3azMfUWbFQxPofYPR8q-ri3t66YSwEtcP4FXxg1EnTdcD8kNblIOq0DpD-K0_DJbj1bJJQ0jfoQfOn0yymmRy0QY3fNYfvfI_dQJslX66/s3000/1673468131168-b78765c9-417b-4c06-bda9-d82366a41a1c_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Racetrack Murders, Das siebente Opfer, Krimi, Bryan Edgar Wallace, lobby card, Walter Rilla" border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjry_f8vTZks2RKe2lRBoEIAf3accM5yK4-URFMkRSgsIdEyjmNanNUpgvucgOAMSAwBiTleLFd4m3CqxS3azMfUWbFQxPofYPR8q-ri3t66YSwEtcP4FXxg1EnTdcD8kNblIOq0DpD-K0_DJbj1bJJQ0jfoQfOn0yymmRy0QY3fNYfvfI_dQJslX66/w400-h300/1673468131168-b78765c9-417b-4c06-bda9-d82366a41a1c_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNM5v4la1FO8jvUhk3oY8Kik14dHBnL1uUiSv5x7b1rFVh83YU6GQiwJ4LQ867DgPl8Mza3UgZeNTHSGgm-FKeekR9L1JMvYZKVCDeYVs20PR3gKH1t8cWRtREkvo4DfsT_URcG4c8IsoxgxKNlWxXRv0v7Yv7uzydOCJig8JGBn1iXkTHr-NnXTQ/s3000/1673468256252-a6215a55-2b8e-407d-90ce-47c5540c66c0_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Racetrack Murders, Das siebente Opfer, Krimi, Bryan Edgar Wallace, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNM5v4la1FO8jvUhk3oY8Kik14dHBnL1uUiSv5x7b1rFVh83YU6GQiwJ4LQ867DgPl8Mza3UgZeNTHSGgm-FKeekR9L1JMvYZKVCDeYVs20PR3gKH1t8cWRtREkvo4DfsT_URcG4c8IsoxgxKNlWxXRv0v7Yv7uzydOCJig8JGBn1iXkTHr-NnXTQ/w400-h300/1673468256252-a6215a55-2b8e-407d-90ce-47c5540c66c0_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXE2W7yEjdsR4nUd-VEWcwcTDtS2n3ZUlu1VKs_yudV0W1yMWUhmjCWU8AI_ai_FVFmqz27Wpk3lSAQXdFxc5tjOjhAlIallkqjoPAKVeXNzd1tzrUvemFl1KaMHv1md-Ya29SdklHv9SAeG0a1nDN2NIuZAFHrLbmisS6TankmuiLhTUV7H3dYyE/s3000/1673468410370-3b2f6565-245e-4ed6-bdf0-255813311bf4_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Racetrack Murders, Das siebente Opfer, Krimi, Bryan Edgar Wallace, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="2410" data-original-width="3000" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXE2W7yEjdsR4nUd-VEWcwcTDtS2n3ZUlu1VKs_yudV0W1yMWUhmjCWU8AI_ai_FVFmqz27Wpk3lSAQXdFxc5tjOjhAlIallkqjoPAKVeXNzd1tzrUvemFl1KaMHv1md-Ya29SdklHv9SAeG0a1nDN2NIuZAFHrLbmisS6TankmuiLhTUV7H3dYyE/w400-h321/1673468410370-3b2f6565-245e-4ed6-bdf0-255813311bf4_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QpreSZauLeierbhidXThkQPfeidIjB8dsrgHukot5l94ewhsLdH2SRfYbdnGxTKcFy_pjGDkM644kJ9xZkathH5lNuyXHJAp1rjjg5FkCKEZB7HiOodOryhFcRgCJ-cwvwwmSaOmTiLt6hlVtVetXxcprJOq2-wwlP3fm5ykvCXnUUo9jmLq2Ivj/s3000/1673468554698-42357fa3-41db-4e32-96d5-ed55db3088dc_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Racetrack Murders, Das siebente Opfer, Krimi, Bryan Edgar Wallace, lobby card, Trude Herr, Peter Vogel" border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QpreSZauLeierbhidXThkQPfeidIjB8dsrgHukot5l94ewhsLdH2SRfYbdnGxTKcFy_pjGDkM644kJ9xZkathH5lNuyXHJAp1rjjg5FkCKEZB7HiOodOryhFcRgCJ-cwvwwmSaOmTiLt6hlVtVetXxcprJOq2-wwlP3fm5ykvCXnUUo9jmLq2Ivj/w400-h300/1673468554698-42357fa3-41db-4e32-96d5-ed55db3088dc_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next up three lobby cards for <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/12/piccadilly-null-uhr-zwolf-1963.html" target="_blank">Piccadilly Null Uhr Zwölf</a></i> (1963).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLuiO0de1N62PNkve-p3RPY6qVu2cKgFnj8s-71pczWmRWpzH2R7elB9e30ykggvvUnHHPDZ5i2IEkc2FGt569gdSu-qnL3LJaqMyMO0omxScJ9ixQ77cEID_IOZ1mWPikQXq5lQlrthQorKhMaUcqbSIBbTU-qkbrN0tWEbR5gPU5XQbmfl1SD90/s3000/1673468748850-67d319d9-9ab6-4718-ad2e-1400c9545b55_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Piccadilly Null Uhr Zwölf, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="2382" data-original-width="3000" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLuiO0de1N62PNkve-p3RPY6qVu2cKgFnj8s-71pczWmRWpzH2R7elB9e30ykggvvUnHHPDZ5i2IEkc2FGt569gdSu-qnL3LJaqMyMO0omxScJ9ixQ77cEID_IOZ1mWPikQXq5lQlrthQorKhMaUcqbSIBbTU-qkbrN0tWEbR5gPU5XQbmfl1SD90/w400-h318/1673468748850-67d319d9-9ab6-4718-ad2e-1400c9545b55_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijo9SDQhJMRawjC9Ryt1OWorxLEk8TaTRch1eHGUnYVRm7N1b7L5cbq-eYKMGdG7fCBY7vjNftp4YlEEGtDYn7pVBgJK7feHgC-_q3CK8dxmEuen0QfkM_ddA1LKORtkOALECBtGqVKh-KzEqs2h-xBJgXpNWS6SQuAdupSw_kBorOTPMBIAkrjwc0/s3000/1673468813155-86ce612b-71ee-4aa6-b834-13bd75e9d415_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Piccadilly Null Uhr Zwölf, Krimi, lobby card, Ann Smyrner" border="0" data-original-height="2369" data-original-width="3000" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijo9SDQhJMRawjC9Ryt1OWorxLEk8TaTRch1eHGUnYVRm7N1b7L5cbq-eYKMGdG7fCBY7vjNftp4YlEEGtDYn7pVBgJK7feHgC-_q3CK8dxmEuen0QfkM_ddA1LKORtkOALECBtGqVKh-KzEqs2h-xBJgXpNWS6SQuAdupSw_kBorOTPMBIAkrjwc0/w400-h316/1673468813155-86ce612b-71ee-4aa6-b834-13bd75e9d415_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMY2ka4q5f4WE-msLF-qI6xWCYtZJzNyk6VNdon-Ex8_X-1DSUsiVFOPQvnhuR4d0ng_b6xsRtxwg9h0wSocm_3WrjaZZoBjKyV1jAhYnk81pMA1ioqDsg2GNL4-CD3klMP1c2FhX1CxvMzM58uKQm35jtONDtA36v5vf7-h3f0lX8Jf3WbFZK1CY/s3000/1673468868583-a055c0c8-fa25-4c35-9fa7-2a9a99bd9bb0_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Piccadilly Null Uhr Zwölf, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="2399" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMY2ka4q5f4WE-msLF-qI6xWCYtZJzNyk6VNdon-Ex8_X-1DSUsiVFOPQvnhuR4d0ng_b6xsRtxwg9h0wSocm_3WrjaZZoBjKyV1jAhYnk81pMA1ioqDsg2GNL4-CD3klMP1c2FhX1CxvMzM58uKQm35jtONDtA36v5vf7-h3f0lX8Jf3WbFZK1CY/w400-h320/1673468868583-a055c0c8-fa25-4c35-9fa7-2a9a99bd9bb0_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-55400677958619855132023-01-02T07:03:00.003+00:002023-01-02T07:03:49.787+00:00CULT CONNECTIONS - Edgar Wallace: Giant of Cinema<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilI3XVIEeWWkD8z23j-c7_wgMSYR44b0lyE9SfM90lI5PaEPKFrqrnEVK2IaMm9_EYBB6mun8UjI-YMGSS_LdWrot1FEfaUQePj3A5v4VjGy_y03hfdRnxJiCg3LJzRsNv9E804EBqTs1Il4XRqnQt5dNpswpWs1EXA5VvC9mLHGLgO3Zq6r51WEB-/s500/Cult%20Connections%20Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilI3XVIEeWWkD8z23j-c7_wgMSYR44b0lyE9SfM90lI5PaEPKFrqrnEVK2IaMm9_EYBB6mun8UjI-YMGSS_LdWrot1FEfaUQePj3A5v4VjGy_y03hfdRnxJiCg3LJzRsNv9E804EBqTs1Il4XRqnQt5dNpswpWs1EXA5VvC9mLHGLgO3Zq6r51WEB-/w200-h200/Cult%20Connections%20Logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>New Year, new me...<div><br /></div><div>Started 2023 with getting my podcast cherry popped and together with fellow guest Adrian Smith appeared on <a href=" https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/cult-connections-4273162/episodes/edgar-wallace-giant-of-cinema-159295714" target="_blank">CULT CONNECTIONS</a> to discuss three films adapted from (or at least inspired by) Edgar Wallace, one of them a Krimi: </div><div><br /></div><div>The Dark Eyes of London (1939) </div><div>Der Hexer (1964) </div><div>Five Golden Dragons (1967) </div><div><br /></div><div>Go check it out. The podcast is available on all your <a href="https://linktr.ee/cultconnections" target="_blank">favourite podcast providers</a>.</div><div><br /></div>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-45964200704706014972022-12-26T15:02:00.002+00:002022-12-26T15:02:38.471+00:00Tim Bergfelder: International Adventures<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4N4MIQz1LYJtRb3Y8FPaWhixIqPqpMnMx8XjkiRcgNi6cu_O9QS79cX3uL_jZeU_8cY_J6kjZQZ2ggr-kKAL6Ys5JE05ZMYVD6IA17LdiW4ZXzWEqO5TdHGWdG2rAhYTIDGQdyKJoW9KyhK4QUKEQdlxOEDlTrOZ0iRiGU2EDmm-RzVhLAiyFpXG/s587/BergfelderInternational.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4N4MIQz1LYJtRb3Y8FPaWhixIqPqpMnMx8XjkiRcgNi6cu_O9QS79cX3uL_jZeU_8cY_J6kjZQZ2ggr-kKAL6Ys5JE05ZMYVD6IA17LdiW4ZXzWEqO5TdHGWdG2rAhYTIDGQdyKJoW9KyhK4QUKEQdlxOEDlTrOZ0iRiGU2EDmm-RzVhLAiyFpXG/w273-h400/BergfelderInternational.jpeg" width="273" /></a></div>I first heard about Tim Bergfelder’s <i>International Adventures - German Popular Cinema and European Co-Productions in the 1960s</i> when reading Nicholas Schlegel’s excellent <i><a href="https://cinepunked.com/2022/11/07/book-review-german-popular-cinema-and-the-rialto-phenomenon-dark-eyes-of-london/" target="_blank">German Popular Cinema and the Rialto Krimi Phenomenon: Dark Eyes of London</a></i>. <i>International Adventures</i> makes a fantastic companion piece to Schlegel’s book as it provides the general cultural and business framework that Schlegel then focuses on specifically for the Krimi genre. Bergfelder includes a chapter on Krimis in his book but also includes Karl May and other adventure and genre movies as well as the wave of sex movies that started in the late 1960s. <p></p><p><i>International Adventures</i> is again an academic book so it’s not necessarily easy reading but it rewards the patient reader with a plethora of otherwise hard to obtain info. </p><p>It also generally doesn’t come cheaply though I managed to get my copy for a measly tenner during a special promotion on Book Depository so it may be worth setting up an alert for other similar promotions. (At the time of writing though it still can be obtained fairly cheaply... at least for my neck of the woods.) </p><p>Though the main focus is on the 1960s, the book also provides a wealth of info on the German film industry in the decades before and after, specifically the 1950s and 1970s. </p><p>In contrast to a lot of other film books, this work is not so much about the creation of individual films (i.e. directors, stars or individual reviews) but on film as a business. As such this book has a much bigger slant on the big business of production and distribution companies as well as their marketing and general societal shifts and sociological acceptance of film as a product. </p><p>One of biggest insights is how little Hollywood was of importance to German cinema goers up until the 1970s. Despite being faced with a potential avalanche of US productions after the end of WW2, Hollywood movies only on occasion featured in the Top 10 of the top grossing films each year. </p><p>Instead the (West) German audience favoured homegrown or European productions or even older German movies that were being re-released. Even the most popular stars then were rarely American but usually German or European. </p><p>Following an initial phase of more depressing <i>Trümmerfilme</i> (rubble films), more similar in line to Italian Neo Realism, the audience demanded more carefree entertainment to help them forget about their troubles so after an initial reluctance to support a new German movie industry, the Allies started granting permissions to build that industry back up from scratch, often with the assistance of de-nazified talents from the Hitler era or German writers and directors that had emigrated to Hollywood during the Third Reich and now gradually returned home. </p><p>One popular genre during the 1950s were the <i>Heimatfilme</i> (often saccharine weepies set in German and Austrian mountain ranges). It was often symptomatic that the most successful productions were set abroad or in past times. This was gradually helped by a complex system of European co-productions that ensured that the films could be produced at higher budgets and be guaranteed to also sell abroad. Looking at a lot of German films at the time, it does appear that Germany may not have welcomed US movies that much but instead still celebrated a newfound cosmopolitanism regardless as displayed in the settings the films are based in and the stars featured there. </p><p>The high time of those co-productions was during the 1960s and the author makes a very poignant claim that even ostensibly “German” films and series could not have been possible without this newfound cosmopolitan mindset. </p><p>A case in point are indeed the Krimis. The Rialto series of 32 Edgar Wallace productions e.g. started off as Danish-German co-productions and ended up as Italo-German Giallo/Krimi hybrids and in between also saw mutual deals with French and English companies. </p><p> And needless to say their plots were also not based in Germany but in an imaginary England full of clichéd but sympathetic aristocratic and eccentric characters, based on the works of an author who had long since fallen out of favour in his home country but had still remained popular in Germany. </p><p>Other similar productions would include the Mabuse, Jerry Cotton or Kommissar X movies. </p><p><i>International Adventures</i> features a lot of detail on the main business people behind distribution companies like Gloria (Ilse Kubaschewski) and Constantin as well as production companies such as Rialto (Horst Wendlandt) and CCC (Artur “Atze” Brauner) and even dives into some of the later bargain basement producers such as Wolf C. Hartwig’s Rapid. </p><p>The author even makes a highly unusual but valid point that Harry Alan Towers’ co-productions may even count as “German” genre films given their often significant financial and talent involvement from there and as some of his movies were released much earlier in Germany than in the UK. </p><p>He also highlights that Krimis and other German popular cinema usually tends to be reviewed from a typical Hollywood B-movie perspective, yet in their home country these were the most successful mainstream productions at the time so the traditional Anglo-American division of A and B pictures is just not suitable when analysing those films. </p><p>All in all, a lot of food for thought in this book (this review really only covered the broad surface) and I for one will often return back to it. </p><p><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=theworldofham-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1571815392&asins=1571815392&linkId=6f6240168e253d8f0d7b7e6bf6e0f40b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"> </iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=theworldofham-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=1571815384&asins=1571815384&linkId=7c2b10a4c6e37eea521a2e40a32611fa&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> </p><br />Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-6327670486242863332022-12-19T21:02:00.002+00:002022-12-19T21:05:39.905+00:00Ann Smyrner (03 Nov 1934 - 29 Aug 2016)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4iYAnc4bXxLIgzBvIlYzJ9CA1nH7dBpxJExdv5KOWU8ChSUGzwDKAnKEpLRB4voQbjYtuZ9CYBvRJ8G9lqCcX35DFvk-1riyFZMzTgTDKlCCoUfEZw4xGqDhbe_QdqXKktZknMUkt5poRyNyoKaTAsu8V_2De0dzidkMWc6FakimwzFRgpb_TP5xNQ/s3000/1671482359137-a3ccbc2e-5b7c-480e-a5f0-e38fe784fe06_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ann Smyrner, Postcard" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4iYAnc4bXxLIgzBvIlYzJ9CA1nH7dBpxJExdv5KOWU8ChSUGzwDKAnKEpLRB4voQbjYtuZ9CYBvRJ8G9lqCcX35DFvk-1riyFZMzTgTDKlCCoUfEZw4xGqDhbe_QdqXKktZknMUkt5poRyNyoKaTAsu8V_2De0dzidkMWc6FakimwzFRgpb_TP5xNQ/w266-h400/1671482359137-a3ccbc2e-5b7c-480e-a5f0-e38fe784fe06_.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Ann Smyrner is a familiar face amongst Krimi fans…. provided they are willing and able to dig deeper than just the series of Rialto Wallaces as she did not star in any of those but did instead featured in three other classic Krimis where for the most part she was predominantly cast as attractive eye candy next to the main male lead. <p></p><p> Smyrner is Adrian Hoven’s love interest in the Austrian standalone Krimi <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/04/die-schwarze-kobrathe-black-cobra-1963.html" target="_blank">Die schwarze Kobra/The Black Cobra</a></i> (1963). Directed by Rudolf Zehetgruber this film featured Hoven as an ex-con and also starred Klaus Kinski. </p><p>That same year Smyrner re-united again with Zehetgruber and Kinski for <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/12/piccadilly-null-uhr-zwolf-1963.html" target="_blank">Piccadilly Null Uhr 12 [Piccadilly Zero Hour 12]</a></i> (1963), another standalone Krimi, and again she plays the romantic interest for Helmut Wildt’s lead, yet another character who had spent time behind bars. </p><p>Both of those films are at best very middling productions and Smyrner ended up with her biggest and most interesting Krimi related role in<i> <a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/04/die-schwarze-kobrathe-black-cobra-1963.html">Das siebente Opfer /The Racetrack Murders</a></i> (1964), the final Bryan Edgar Wallace film of the 1960s. She quite literally played the lead role here as her character, part of a family of race horse owners who one by one get killed off, is revealed to become the seventh and final victim of this serial killer. In some of the scenes she is also clearly seen riding at one of the races. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1_IAr-9CZVgKAM6cl6lq9Qd5V39CujL4qzSSvlymHVxG3JMkc27Egr3rlzGOzII81GVyUW8IBNNNAfTh7zaoKba5zU33qXEJ32pebHCD8kYqA1EXCYHs1NLYpChSUZB17cr8arEiOKsSQlMar7K6XGjvsmj26uxXRUre4q8NsbRlzLT4yZsQQGW58Q/s480/Ann%20Smyrner%20Lilli.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ann Smyrner, Lilli" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="335" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1_IAr-9CZVgKAM6cl6lq9Qd5V39CujL4qzSSvlymHVxG3JMkc27Egr3rlzGOzII81GVyUW8IBNNNAfTh7zaoKba5zU33qXEJ32pebHCD8kYqA1EXCYHs1NLYpChSUZB17cr8arEiOKsSQlMar7K6XGjvsmj26uxXRUre4q8NsbRlzLT4yZsQQGW58Q/w279-h400/Ann%20Smyrner%20Lilli.jpeg" width="279" /></a></div><br /><p> Born in Denmark, Smyrner was raised in Aarhus where her parents were working at the theatre, her father as an actor, her mother a singer. </p><p>She started modelling as a teenager and visited the local drama school where she won an acting award at the age of 21 before moving to Munich. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJXpXEQVaBqpJVf2JFaRYkSrGvgkm7wcNCJF-lj3zFrPM5GFoQlXWnZBftX8JQMcP8mr7cw0eMMAFwE_PE1DAxQlKGuJsxsDZBhijop3vXJnx48u9jaT53gxM8NO3JuGPsyXWrSnlu5_KH5zrNie5gBe2UGyqCk4xNxs93f0X0WV7v9vxvh9-q5Su8g/s560/Ann%20Smyrner%20Die%20Schwarze%20Kobra.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Ann Smyrner, Adrian Hoven, Die schwarze Kobra" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="388" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJXpXEQVaBqpJVf2JFaRYkSrGvgkm7wcNCJF-lj3zFrPM5GFoQlXWnZBftX8JQMcP8mr7cw0eMMAFwE_PE1DAxQlKGuJsxsDZBhijop3vXJnx48u9jaT53gxM8NO3JuGPsyXWrSnlu5_KH5zrNie5gBe2UGyqCk4xNxs93f0X0WV7v9vxvh9-q5Su8g/w278-h400/Ann%20Smyrner%20Die%20Schwarze%20Kobra.jpeg" width="278" /></a></div>After a supporting role in a comedy, she straight away bagged her first lead in <i>Lilli - ein Mädchen aus der Großstadt [Lilli - a Girl from the Big City]</i> (1958). This film was based on a very popular tabloid cartoon about a quick witted call-girl. In actual fact the cartoon was so popular that it spawned a series of Lilli dolls which in turn <a href="https://www.messynessychic.com/2016/01/29/meet-lilli-the-high-end-german-call-girl-who-became-americas-iconic-barbie-doll/" target="_blank">inspired the creation of the Barbie Doll</a>.<p></p><p> Smyrner was chosen for the part after winning a highly publicised casting process and despite some fans of the character voicing concerns that such a German icon should not be played by a Danish actress with at the time just a rudimentary command of the German language. </p><p> Given that her voice was going to be dubbed, this didn’t seem to matter too much but regardless of it all, the film flopped. This, however, did not stop Smyrner featuring in a good number of lightweight fluffy German comedies in the subsequent years. </p><p>One of those comedies, <i>Frühstück im Doppelbett/Breakfast in Bed</i> (1963), first teamed her up with Lex Barker who played against type and in a supporting role in this star vehicle for German Dream Couple Liselotte Pulver and O.W. Fischer. Smyrner also appeared next to Barker in <i>Das Todesauge von Ceylon/The Death Eye of Ceylon</i> (1963) and <i>Code 7, Victim 5</i> (1964). </p><p>Smyrner and Barker were often seen together and throughout the 1960s Smyrner appears to have also become quite infatuated with a number of her other male co-stars. </p><p> Denmark is not exactly known for their Science Fiction B-Movies but in the early 1960s the country produced two of those and Smyrner starred in both of them: <i>Reptilicus</i> (1961) was the country’s only Kaiju film. Poul Bang shot the Danish version, Sidney W. Pink the English language one and Pink, a year later, also directed <i>Journey to the Seventh Planet</i> (1962) in Denmark. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi630xYfvUFptS2f_Hhbgh2ITrtSh7OppnPrxenEVN9g28RxLqk_7CALAEHiGwVg-dnke_KlfwXrYYkUg4C1JiPHuRb6_1kP_3gGHwetC25R0xVMEUGYDykxSlhBVQkdvBbzEtWQXhaYac-2X1FS5XwHgFMs0IbgFHIqySOKYUUdXQXO2nAxg-y5467qw/s1003/Ann%20Smyrner%20Reptilicus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ann Smyrner, Reptilicus" border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1003" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi630xYfvUFptS2f_Hhbgh2ITrtSh7OppnPrxenEVN9g28RxLqk_7CALAEHiGwVg-dnke_KlfwXrYYkUg4C1JiPHuRb6_1kP_3gGHwetC25R0xVMEUGYDykxSlhBVQkdvBbzEtWQXhaYac-2X1FS5XwHgFMs0IbgFHIqySOKYUUdXQXO2nAxg-y5467qw/w400-h319/Ann%20Smyrner%20Reptilicus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>During the 1960s Smyner moved away from the comedies and can be spotted in a range of different popular genres: </p><p> She featured in the second Kommissar X movie <i>Drei gelbe Katzen/Death is Nimble, Death is Quick</i> (1966), based on a German pulp series. </p><p>Another German pulp adaptation was <i>…4 ...3 ...2 ...1 ...morte/Mission Stardust</i> (1967), this time based on the immensely popular Perry Rhodan series that over the decades was going to become the longest running literary Science Fiction series of all times with currently more than 3200 issues and several spin offs to its name. </p><p>Smyrner can be seen in minor swashbuckler <i>L'uomo di Toledo/The Captain from Toledo</i> (1965), modern adventure film <i>Jagd auf blaue Diamanten/Diamond Walkers</i> (1965) or a Euro Spy comedy such as <i>Un killer per sua maestà/The Killer Likes Candy</i> (1968). </p><p>She also had a small part in <i>Angelique et le roy/Angelique and the King</i> (1966), the third part in an immensely popular series of adventure movies set in the time of Louis XIV and based on the novels of Anne Golon, and also featured in the Vincent Price movie <i>House of 1,000 Dolls</i> (1967). </p><p> Towards the end of the 60s and into the early 1970s, the quality roles stopped coming in and she was mainly asked to perform in soft sex films and bargain basement comedies in which she also occasionally appeared topless.
The first of those was <i>Das Go Go Girl vom Blow Up [The Go Go Girl from the Blow Up]</i> (1969), also featuring Eddi Arent and Fritz Wepper. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9Nfbn2EmQNb_36fYjirCqwSQi29Reg29SS3HFwWeQuvLue75Pt9mJMCJpVtHUbl-QhsmprBuwWbvsg8gxAn3R_eI95nYlGCT9BW38j3ByWludqsSAm6ZzUiJxu-DpxQO9M8QafqXd4pgy5W5cCFPUrUCYaeZqxSdE3lRIPiPDDKsVF962ADrhe6voQ/s500/Ann%20Smyrner,%20early%201970s.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ann Smyrner" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="396" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9Nfbn2EmQNb_36fYjirCqwSQi29Reg29SS3HFwWeQuvLue75Pt9mJMCJpVtHUbl-QhsmprBuwWbvsg8gxAn3R_eI95nYlGCT9BW38j3ByWludqsSAm6ZzUiJxu-DpxQO9M8QafqXd4pgy5W5cCFPUrUCYaeZqxSdE3lRIPiPDDKsVF962ADrhe6voQ/w316-h400/Ann%20Smyrner,%20early%201970s.jpeg" width="316" /></a></div> <i>Das gelbe Haus am Pinnasberg/The Yellow House on Pinnasberg</i> (1970) was directed by Alfred Vohrer. She had previously acted under him for <i>Mit 17 weint man nicht [One doesn’t Cry at 17]</i> (1960) but never appeared in any of his more famous Krimis. <p></p><p><i>Tante Trude aus Buxtehude [Aunt Trude from Buxtehude]</i> (1971) reunited Smyrner with director Franz Josef Gottlieb who had previously already directed her for <i>Das siebente Opfer/The Racetrack Murders</i> (1964). </p><p></p>At the time Ann Smyrner also appeared in roles for TV, most notably an episode of Robert Wagner vehicle <i>“It Takes a Thief”</i> (<i>The Beautiful People</i>, October 09, 1969) and the second episode of <i>“Der Kommissar”</i> (January 17, 1969), a series that was going to become one of Germany’s most famous TV Krimis and was developed and written by Herbert Reinecker who had also contributed scripts to several Krimis, most famously for <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2009/04/yugoslavian-film-poster-for-der.html" target="_blank">Der Hexer/The Ringer</a></i> (1964). <p></p><p>Her last feature film appears to have been little seen Italian Euro-Crime Thriller <i>Ore di Terrore [Hours of Terror]</i> (1971) about three escaped prisoners on board of a luxury yacht. </p><p> When asked about her films later on in life <a href="https://film.terrorverlag.de/events/ann/index.htm" target="_blank">she replied</a>: </p><p></p><blockquote><i>“You just went home and that was it. I'm also aware that a lot of the movies were just plain shit, but I was just a girl with a lust for life looking for fun, men and money. And I've enjoyed my life accordingly.”</i></blockquote><p></p><p> Disappointed about the way her career was going and following a stint in a hospital Smyrner found religion and in 1973 started studying theology and subsequently penned books and articles and held lectures about a variety of esoteric matters. </p><p>In the latter part of her life she lived in Benalmádena in Spain and had a long distance relationship with Danish journalist Ole Hansen who visited her once a month. </p><p>It is there that she died on August 29, 2016 at the age of 82.</p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-20470498048187051552022-12-01T15:21:00.004+00:002022-12-01T15:49:11.128+00:00Piccadilly Null Uhr Zwölf (1963)<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6iCHtsCQks7T4H2CEti4tGQZ5Py4qrOiP_9MOdOgFyvdeoKD7S7APiZp4HAcoRwv3phYLaZS5JterFcQvniX529hR8XG0h2j2-t5j2qCuZiuWrreow2WGV9cLbbEenK2j5aRondMjSQweGHGqJmh9zZRVmh8URYDYBnN76FfHo772BcQHbcvN3Zv/s1388/Piccadilly%20Italian%20Poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Piccadilly Null Uhr Zwölf, Francis Durbridge, Italian Poster, Klaus Kinski" border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6iCHtsCQks7T4H2CEti4tGQZ5Py4qrOiP_9MOdOgFyvdeoKD7S7APiZp4HAcoRwv3phYLaZS5JterFcQvniX529hR8XG0h2j2-t5j2qCuZiuWrreow2WGV9cLbbEenK2j5aRondMjSQweGHGqJmh9zZRVmh8URYDYBnN76FfHo772BcQHbcvN3Zv/w289-h400/Piccadilly%20Italian%20Poster.jpg" width="289" /></a></i></div><i>When Mike Hilton (Helmut Wildt) gets released from prison after eight years behind bars, he swears revenge on those responsible for it and vows to prove his innocence. He teams up with Jack Bellamy (Hanns Lothar), the policeman responsible for his capture at the time, who has now become an alcoholic and left the service. Hilton learns that his previous landlady has since passed away but in no time at all starts flirting with her niece (Ann Smyrner). Bellamy on the other hand gets financial assistance from his lover Della (Marlene Warrlich), a happy hooker with a heart of gold who gets killed by her pimp Lee Costello (Karl Lieffen) when she wants to leave the business. </i><p></p><p><i>Hilton’s former lawyer Sir Reginald Cunningham (Pinkas Braun) and the sadistic albino “Whitey” Skipper (Klaus Kinski) play a crucial role in Hilton’s thirst for revenge. </i></p><p><i>And then we also have a large inheritance, a client suffering a heart attack while visiting a callgirl, some dodgy mask play and a few confusing narrative strands more. </i></p><p><b> A German Noir…. kind of </b></p><p> Francis Durbridge (1912-1998) was for German TV what Edgar Wallace was to the cinema. </p><p>Wallace’s Krimis were incredibly successful at the box office but also saw a few less impressive TV adaptations at the time. And where Durbridge had resounding success on German TV screens, his oeuvre also inspired a lesser known German cinematic feature film. </p><p>Durbridge was one of the prime source authors for a series of incredibly popular TV mini series that were widely known as “Strassenfeger”, i.e. “street sweepers”, productions that when they were broadcast quite literally emptied the streets as practically everyone with a television set ended up watching it. </p><p>The most famous as well as notorious of those was <i>Das Halstuch</i> (1962), starring past and future Wallace veterans like Heinz Drache, Dieter Borsche, Horst Tapper, Albert Lieven and Margot Trooger, and based on Durbridge’s novel<i> The Scarf</i>. </p><p> This series was involved in a famous scandal when just the day before its eagerly anticipated final episode, comedian Wolfgang Neuss posted a large size newspaper advert in which he revealed the identity of the main culprit, a stunt that shook up the nation and resulted in him getting death threats and being branded a traitor to the country by the yellow press. </p><p> Though some sources claim that <i>Piccadilly Null Uhr Zwölf</i> (1963, translation: “Piccadilly, Zero Hour 12”) was based on a novel or story by Durbridge called <i>12 Past 12</i>, nothing under that title seems to exist and, similarly to the Bryan Edgar Wallace series, only the name of the author was employed to drum up interest in this production. The closest Durbridge came to being involved in this film was a discussion in London with producer Eberhard Meichsner at the height of the Profumo affair in which the two of them were throwing around some story ideas for a possible movie. </p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RQmNxYMvf8fs-bihrdwwXjGXelTPxgEEhUuyk5cQoVwmdb_qFurd_yZpVIGN16pGMqaqfQacww8i81h4QauS-2myTgik-z78MLK7zQpyFC30wqlObCU_cTy5vct9CbHn9CLW_BFy11V3o8Iir8gbof6MxdfPvL3t9JcIg1NYIV_Tr38B5mohvAlO/s1419/Piccadilly%20poster.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Piccadilly Null Uhr Zwölf, Francis Durbridge, Poster, Klaus Kinski" border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RQmNxYMvf8fs-bihrdwwXjGXelTPxgEEhUuyk5cQoVwmdb_qFurd_yZpVIGN16pGMqaqfQacww8i81h4QauS-2myTgik-z78MLK7zQpyFC30wqlObCU_cTy5vct9CbHn9CLW_BFy11V3o8Iir8gbof6MxdfPvL3t9JcIg1NYIV_Tr38B5mohvAlO/w226-h320/Piccadilly%20poster.jpeg" width="226" /></a></i></div><i><br />Piccadilly Null Uhr Zwölf</i> is in many ways an anti-Wallace. <p></p><p> Rather than focus on outrageously masked super villains, bizarre angles and Gothic moods, this production is much more realistic and in many ways even somewhat Noir with its classic tale of a man seeking revenge in gritty urban streets and its depiction of a policeman haunted by his past and reverting to alcoholism. </p><p>On paper (or: celluloid) this film has so much going for it. It’s very rare e.g, to see one of the leads being financially supported by their escort-girlfriend and then, when she is being threatened, forgetting about their promise to protect her in favour of some more booze in a local bar and thereby carrying some responsibility for her brutal murder. </p><p>And yet there is a total lack of tension. Director Rudolf Zehetgruber proves <a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/04/die-schwarze-kobrathe-black-cobra-1963.html" target="_blank">yet again</a> that even though his main cinematic output at the time were Krimis and thrillers, he missed more than he managed to hit.
The film just plots along without a genuine main, central mystery. Despite a variety of narrative threads there is a distinct loss of focus. It never even becomes quite clear what exactly happened eight years prior that led to Hilton’s incarceration and Bellamy’s descent into alcoholism. Indeed everybody and their mother seems to know that Hilton was innocent, so why did he need to spend that much time in prison? </p><p>All the other individual plot elements (the corpse of a man who hasn’t really died, several murders, an inheritance) just get listlessly thrown around and for the most part we never even get to see when yet another character gets killed. Instead, in its one single bit of comic relief we see a young boy (Ilja Richter, later to become presenter of <i>Disco</i>, Germany’s equivalent to <i>Top of the Pops)</i> discovering the bodies floating in the water and meticulously describing their state to a Bobby. </p><p> Oh, and the boy’s name? Edgar Wallace. (Har har!) </p><p> Though a lot of the advertisement for this production focussed on Klaus Kinski and Pinkas Braun, the actual lead actors, Helmut Wildt and Hanns Lothar, are virtual unknowns within the Krimi genre and not really able to carry the emotional weight and charisma required for what are essentially tragic and hardboiled roles. Especially Lothar as the alcoholic ex-cop looks genuinely out of his depth and is too dull and chinless to elicit any kind of interest in the viewer. </p><p>As such it is up to Kinski and Braun to instil any kind of interest in the production, a task they aimlessly master as usual. </p><p>Other more familiar faces in supporting roles include Ann Smyrner (<i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/04/die-schwarze-kobrathe-black-cobra-1963.html" target="_blank">The Black Cobra</a></i>, <a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2009/03/das-siebente-opferthe-racetrack-murders.html" target="_blank"><i>The Racetrack Murders</i></a>, <i>Kommissar X: Death Is Nimble, Death Is Quick</i>) as a photographer and Hilton’s love interest and Rudolf Fernau (e.g. <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2009/03/der-wurger-von-schloss-blackmoor.html" target="_blank">The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle</a></i>, <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2009/03/der-henker-von-londonthe-mad.html" target="_blank">The Mad Executioners</a></i>) as Inspector Craddock as well as Dieter Eppler and Albert Bessler. </p><p> Needless to say none of the scenes filmed in Berlin looks like anything resembling Piccadilly and the music by Russell Garcia (another person not genuinely associated with this genre) also just tootles along with little impact. </p><p>All in all there probably is a reason why this production never appears to have had an English language release. Kinski and Braun alone make this essential viewing but other than that this production could have been so very promising but ultimately just disappoints.
</p><p>TRAILER (in German)</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FX96uJO1BQM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p>FULL FILM (in German)</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FbLFJayTUJc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=DE&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=hallohierspri-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=DE&placement=B07QN28MZY&asins=B07QN28MZY&linkId=74aebe13b045d5f5541be737115f8b09&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-78381698105549560442022-11-08T09:17:00.000+00:002022-11-08T09:18:00.807+00:00Book review on CINEPUNKED<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbvxPp7qZOvfALY3NR9SZLaz1HUj4zAnX9ivQRCnMZtEcn8j8fjsuoE2Kwo_d5v9rILA4_oaPgR3wQ43sieFG0WcWrYBHpHi2B4GGJhnA9DQ2VroErWrx9l1P29mrYZc5FZ5yvZJNjl07X9Y7GNSAdcXTs5fbNYhjQnI_A-CMI0uJnTxcCDHeTmDU/s2432/Screenshot%202022-11-08%20at%2008.55.16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="2432" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbvxPp7qZOvfALY3NR9SZLaz1HUj4zAnX9ivQRCnMZtEcn8j8fjsuoE2Kwo_d5v9rILA4_oaPgR3wQ43sieFG0WcWrYBHpHi2B4GGJhnA9DQ2VroErWrx9l1P29mrYZc5FZ5yvZJNjl07X9Y7GNSAdcXTs5fbNYhjQnI_A-CMI0uJnTxcCDHeTmDU/w400-h130/Screenshot%202022-11-08%20at%2008.55.16.png" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p><a href="https://cinepunked.com/" target="_blank">CINEPUNKED</a> just published my review of Nicholas G. Schlegel's <i>German Popular Cinema and the Rialto Phenomenon: Dark Eyes of London</i>, the first full length English language book on Rialto's Edgar Wallace Krimis.</p><p><a href="https://cinepunked.com/2022/11/07/book-review-german-popular-cinema-and-the-rialto-phenomenon-dark-eyes-of-london/" target="_blank">Check it out</a> and while you're at it also explore <a href="https://cinepunked.com/category/podcast/" target="_blank">their podcast</a> and everything else they have happening right now.<br /></p><p><iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=theworldofham-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=1498570720&asins=1498570720&linkId=f4f48725b0f66f98668c27e9542267fe&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe> <iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=theworldofham-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon®ion=GB&placement=1498570720&asins=1498570720&linkId=b59c09b7900394a73e9d11c7a7a65567&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-52244805791521053792022-11-03T14:23:00.006+00:002022-11-03T14:26:47.346+00:00Der Würger vom Tower/Strangler of the Tower (1966)<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQkGolGXJxkHwC9N9OrQkadhcxbyfFU70yX55iOkZkZ8WxJxJb-W7Fv53w2YL5ePBhFuhmf9DcSv_gkgiJHNeQgwjhsTdp4LxKDyT4gr_2oZ7vfFIHgl--mc6Kra16QpHb8GORRCPUI7oyvD8_0WiMS8i4EL0hBsv6HvMQ_oMFVd7SORTPYgrJ7w0/s1028/Der%20Wu%CC%88rger%20vom%20Tower%20Poster.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Würger vom Tower, Strangler of the Tower, Krimi, Poster" border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQkGolGXJxkHwC9N9OrQkadhcxbyfFU70yX55iOkZkZ8WxJxJb-W7Fv53w2YL5ePBhFuhmf9DcSv_gkgiJHNeQgwjhsTdp4LxKDyT4gr_2oZ7vfFIHgl--mc6Kra16QpHb8GORRCPUI7oyvD8_0WiMS8i4EL0hBsv6HvMQ_oMFVd7SORTPYgrJ7w0/w304-h400/Der%20Wu%CC%88rger%20vom%20Tower%20Poster.jpeg" width="304" /></a></i></div><i>When a woman gets killed, suspicions are aroused that the “Strangler of the Tower” may be on the loose again, a serial killer who preferably strangled his victims in the vicinity of the Tower of London. A stolen emerald that forms part of a larger stone reported to have divine healing powers provides the first clue that the owners of the other pieces are now in danger as well. The murders are organised by a Secret Society in KKK style hoods that attempt to reunite all the existing emeralds. A mysterious book, long since out of print, about the history of the stone may provide the solution to the mystery. </i><p></p><p> <i>Der Würger vom Tower/Strangler of the Tower</i> (1966) is one of the lesser known Krimis. It’s a standalone entry not based on any literary source. Instead Swiss exploitation legend Erwin C. Dietrich, who also produced this film, wrote the script under the pseudonym “Michael Thomas”.</p><p> For director Hans Mehringer this would prove to be his one and only feature film. Mehringer would go on to focus exclusively on TV work.</p><p> No doubt about it, <i>Strangler of the Tower</i> is a fun film that at first glance ticks off all the right boxes: <a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2014/01/berber-ady-14-feb-1913-03-jan-1966.html" target="_blank">Adi Berber</a> as the brutish killer, a complex mystery, bizarrely masqueraded members of a secret society congregating in underground chambers, some innocent striptease scenes and less innocent whippings combined with a <a href="https://www.finderskeepersrecords.com/shop/bruno-spoerri-der-wurger-vom-tower/" target="_blank">superior jazzy soundtrack</a> by Swiss composer and electronic music legend Bruno Spoerri ensures that time passes in a breeze. </p><p>And yet, one also cannot shake off the feeling that something is often amiss and with just a few minor tweaks this could have been elevated from a passable time waster to an all time cult classic.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vjO6iHwRpNfC4iKNcVaTmzbfEnMapizJLKiuNzNmlW2NohbtT1lrdf25vlem6y6AYCcoIR-J5tpSYPSvGm4GQY_o0YRcGFv9AlraMRPARdUjY-b_YKZSHeNgi2VZYKNFp-DCG4M5jmrGJflHA4ejp_QdcjmgHeUwXKj-x-OZIpPacabB5cEGGic7/s768/Wu%CC%88rger%20vom%20Tower%20Soundtrack.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Der Würger vom Tower, Strangler of the Tower, Krimi, Soundtrack," border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vjO6iHwRpNfC4iKNcVaTmzbfEnMapizJLKiuNzNmlW2NohbtT1lrdf25vlem6y6AYCcoIR-J5tpSYPSvGm4GQY_o0YRcGFv9AlraMRPARdUjY-b_YKZSHeNgi2VZYKNFp-DCG4M5jmrGJflHA4ejp_QdcjmgHeUwXKj-x-OZIpPacabB5cEGGic7/w320-h320/Wu%CC%88rger%20vom%20Tower%20Soundtrack.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div> The film’s biggest drawback is its total absence of a proper protagonist. There are intriguing characters galore but none of them feature consistently enough to qualify as a passable hero (or even anti-hero) for the audience to identify with or root for. They sort of all just come and go from time to time until they vanish again.<p></p><p> The powers of Scotland Yard are primarily represented by Hans Reiser as Inspector Harvey, one of the least charismatic detectives in Krimiland.</p><p> Fresh from the first <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/05/kiss-kiss-kill-kill-german-film-program.html" target="_blank">Kommissar X - Jagd auf Unbekannt/Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill</a></i> (1966), Christa Linder here plays the daughter of the first victim who inherits her mother’s jewellery and quickly gets abducted and tortured in an underground cavern. Linder’s character is introduced as a potential leading lady but then disappears again for far too long.</p><p> Another potential heroine is played by Kai Fischer (from<i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2021/04/zimmer-13room-13-1964.html" target="_blank"> Zimmer 13/Room 13</a></i> (1964) and a small number of other Krimis). Her Grace Harrison is the prolific author of some popular crime novels, a kind of modern day Edgar Wallace. In a jibe to rival medium TV she tells a postman that writing “more than two books in a week is too tiring. Otherwise I’d be writing for television.”</p><p> Linder, Fischer and Ellen Schwiers (as Lady Trenton) make up a female triumvirate that is a joy to watch, even though each one of them is simply not given enough to do in this production to properly shine.</p><p> Their male counterpart is Charles Regnier in a double role both as a dubious jeweller and his louchy twin brother who lives an alcohol fuelled life on the run from the police after some dodgy business deals went wrong.</p><p> Released posthumously <i>Strangler of the Tower</i> would prove to be Ady Berber’s final film. He had passed away from cancer at the untimely age of 53 on January 03, 1966.</p><p> All those as well as a range of other characters ensure that the viewer is never bored, even though one would have wished there’d be more of an anchor character to focus on in a story that at times gets quite muddled up and borderline incomprehensible.</p><p> Special mention must go to the “Brothers of Poetic Justice” (“Brüder der ausgleichenden Gerechtigkeit, in the English dub: “Brothers in the Holy Order of Righteousness”), a most unfortunately named Secret Society with members who have no calms removing their hoods in front of witnesses when enraged. As secretive as they are, they also keep approaching rich sponsors in trying to convince them to sign over their possessions to them as if they were a registered charity. And then we even discover how badly they were manipulated by a truly raving madman!</p><p> This film is at times a mess but it’s a joyful and fast moving mess that is worth exploring once you already took some large sips of the regular Edgar Wallace drink and have also tasted some of the other better known copy cats. </p><p> Both the original German version as well as the English language dub are currently available on YouTube.</p><p>TRAILER</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SWtwfJbZW9E" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p>GERMAN VERSION</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bfdd6EjKOW4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p>ENGLISH VERSION</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4kUWcQL8KQc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=DE&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=hallohierspri-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon®ion=DE&placement=B00BU86500&asins=B00BU86500&linkId=4fde60ef82e735223b76680dcb6cc48b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe> <iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=theworldofham-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon®ion=GB&placement=B09CRNPVY2&asins=B09CRNPVY2&linkId=4ed8225401bf9204bcb96627f7ac73e9&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-30027146479184001722022-10-23T20:19:00.003+01:002022-10-24T01:00:58.313+01:00Spanish Film Posters<p> I recently ventured into the attic that swallows all and retrieved some of my film memorabilia: stuff that I hadn't seen in years, things that I forgot I had and then even collectibles that I can't even remember I ever bought like those three Spanish film posters.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJLJGA2RFz7bi0KzsxrmPkKVkcrTk7dFABKl5T3SvzlhnwaUkxN1b4th_0gSL5Z0dToFVxfUEYwT4vjpiNbZ1LKjHoyVlh3P13xSA73lDiOGrIOolsGFccNMbexNSR9_fyaZyKo8OTtGBLwRiH6OdGKSC0pIgDJiHsaCKscUe8dP37Lv49qhTXSR1/s1782/Im%20Banne%20des%20Unheimlichen%20ES%20Poster.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spanish Film Poster, Edgar Wallace, La marca del escorpión, The Zombie Walks, Im Banne des Unheimlichen, Siw Mattson" border="0" data-original-height="1782" data-original-width="1188" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJLJGA2RFz7bi0KzsxrmPkKVkcrTk7dFABKl5T3SvzlhnwaUkxN1b4th_0gSL5Z0dToFVxfUEYwT4vjpiNbZ1LKjHoyVlh3P13xSA73lDiOGrIOolsGFccNMbexNSR9_fyaZyKo8OTtGBLwRiH6OdGKSC0pIgDJiHsaCKscUe8dP37Lv49qhTXSR1/w266-h400/Im%20Banne%20des%20Unheimlichen%20ES%20Poster.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p><i>La marca del escorpión</i>, the Spanish version of the Rialto Wallace <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2010/07/im-banne-des-unheimlichenthe-zombie.html" target="_blank">Im Banne des Unheimlichen/The Zombie Walks</a></i> (1968).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAQBdnsEL4HcadgNmYxWh5dGzyQsMQTl4ZDSvgdq_bE7dVX-5dSzyl834m5n5yNOnaZ5E3YEVvZofeQmt2sg92G97OV5NWqzH5T82FioKsGWNlhDj9SV1VQ5fykzdwrIkY-fBTu2Z02fVadZLhCkKp57AyiUfEEO8ONl2TTRKE0TxOkRtQ2mcHSnV/s1782/Der%20Fluch%20der%20gelben%20Schlange%20ES%20Poster.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spanish Film Poster, Edgar Wallace, Joachim Fuchsberger, Der Fluch der gelben Schlange, La maldición amarilla" border="0" data-original-height="1782" data-original-width="1262" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAQBdnsEL4HcadgNmYxWh5dGzyQsMQTl4ZDSvgdq_bE7dVX-5dSzyl834m5n5yNOnaZ5E3YEVvZofeQmt2sg92G97OV5NWqzH5T82FioKsGWNlhDj9SV1VQ5fykzdwrIkY-fBTu2Z02fVadZLhCkKp57AyiUfEEO8ONl2TTRKE0TxOkRtQ2mcHSnV/w284-h400/Der%20Fluch%20der%20gelben%20Schlange%20ES%20Poster.jpeg" width="284" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Der Fluch der gelben Schlange</i> (1963) was released in Spain as <i>La maldición amarilla</i>. This is an adaption of Edgar Wallace's <i>The Curse of the Yellow Snake</i>. It was produced by Rialto rival CCC-Film and to the best of my knowledge has never been released in English.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QZdXovAM0wIXNS9DwN_nnE0g330FsSlBUMMd6cfmTWDNLqIB-6Yoj-T9k2u78d0tajOLqsqbnXx2ZTptW5wCVqxuHfMC5GL2MVbVNVjDKtU1Mw3eE507MIy7zGR64z8lxG52sE5qX1BfGL84wBOgLRoycnoGlzl7JteDT5cZ45EfYkFGhJyno-87/s1666/Der%20Mo%CC%88rderclub%20von%20Brooklyn%20ES%20Poster.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spanish Film Poster, Jerry Cotton, George Nader, Der Mörderclub von Brooklyn, Murderers Club of Brooklyn" border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="1111" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QZdXovAM0wIXNS9DwN_nnE0g330FsSlBUMMd6cfmTWDNLqIB-6Yoj-T9k2u78d0tajOLqsqbnXx2ZTptW5wCVqxuHfMC5GL2MVbVNVjDKtU1Mw3eE507MIy7zGR64z8lxG52sE5qX1BfGL84wBOgLRoycnoGlzl7JteDT5cZ45EfYkFGhJyno-87/w266-h400/Der%20Mo%CC%88rderclub%20von%20Brooklyn%20ES%20Poster.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And last but not least a Spanish film poster for Jerry Cotton film <i>Der Mörderclub von Brooklyn/Murderers Club of Brooklyn</i> (1967) aka <i>El club de asasinos de Brooklyn</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Looking at all those posters reminds me about all the films I still need to write about....</div><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-9107050825121707492022-07-25T20:19:00.005+01:002022-07-25T20:19:51.773+01:00Krimi Podcast Alert - The Bloody Pit of Rod<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuSsahC04Mw59iY96HKNTS-VU3RIfFFyQ5GAwITrh4Zi3dAeMvubqHUR_brNh3BRTYFFgC3eq-Jh9EsS9TXT87v0K16qIlycx_msx3GjptnTG0Zr2aSPVGuFJwwJsSw5JPx7hN1Pf0AJ9sKniD7TicU8gr2B_pQ6enmqCy2okA885lIDBfLPkZ1kj/s746/header_image_MistyLook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bloody pit of rod, krimi, the green archer, edgar wallace, podcast" border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="746" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuSsahC04Mw59iY96HKNTS-VU3RIfFFyQ5GAwITrh4Zi3dAeMvubqHUR_brNh3BRTYFFgC3eq-Jh9EsS9TXT87v0K16qIlycx_msx3GjptnTG0Zr2aSPVGuFJwwJsSw5JPx7hN1Pf0AJ9sKniD7TicU8gr2B_pQ6enmqCy2okA885lIDBfLPkZ1kj/w400-h101/header_image_MistyLook.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Over the last few years I had my ear to the ground and now seem to detect a remote rumbling sound that indicates that the German Krimi genre is slowly - ever so slowly - getting more recognition amongst International cult film admirers. </p><p>Case in point: <a href="https://rodbarnett68.podbean.com/e/153-the-green-archer-1961/" target="_blank">Bloody Pit of Rod's new podcast episode</a> dedicated to <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2009/02/der-grune-bogenschutzethe-green-archer.html" target="_blank">Der grüne Bogenschütze/The Green Archer</a></i> (1961) in particular and the Krimi in general.</p><p>For this episode Rod invited Nicholas Schlegel, author of the excellent <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3S2yTDO" target="_blank">German Popular Cinema and the Rialto Krimi Phenomenon: Dark Eyes of London</a>,</i> the recent (and first!) English language book on the subject.</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=4nbpu-75d96-pbblog-playlist&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=8bbb4e&font-color=&rtl=0&logo_link=&btn-skin=c73a3a&size=315" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="The Bloody Pit" width="100%"></iframe></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-71579417558601328372022-07-21T10:21:00.000+01:002022-07-21T10:21:22.546+01:00German Lobby Card Set for DER GORILLA VON SOHO/THE GORILLA GANG (1968)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxWvoE696sri43FseVr5F7gAUp-YU9R07WsSS-HK9hRn8Mg3dZLkNcNd_C9yaLj0EU-Ry3KNr2QRCU-FBlupwCwZdIY_0Q7g7qFHmvYv9nqPl7KfYStKVDjuPQA01yZcxdARI_Fg8EpRCgfZlM9Vjf5TXMl0fr0baafD9eeL1qmJKDX9fAPnpY2FS/s1346/Gorillagang.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, Alfred Vohrer, poster" border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxWvoE696sri43FseVr5F7gAUp-YU9R07WsSS-HK9hRn8Mg3dZLkNcNd_C9yaLj0EU-Ry3KNr2QRCU-FBlupwCwZdIY_0Q7g7qFHmvYv9nqPl7KfYStKVDjuPQA01yZcxdARI_Fg8EpRCgfZlM9Vjf5TXMl0fr0baafD9eeL1qmJKDX9fAPnpY2FS/w268-h400/Gorillagang.jpeg" width="268" /></a></div>A colour remake of Rialto’s own <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2009/02/die-toten-augen-von-londondead-eyes-of.html" target="_blank">Die toten Augen von London/Dead Eyes of London</a></i> (1961), again directed by Alfred Vohrer. <p></p><p> Though entire scenes and lines of dialogue are lifted almost verbatim and set design (e.g. the water tank) as well as certain directorial ideas (such as the reflections in a pair of dark glasses) look more than familiar, <i>Der Gorilla von Soho/The Gorilla Gang</i> (1968) eliminated the entire main plot line involving a gang of blind beggars. Instead of messages in Braille, the corpses now carry small dolls with African writing, leading Insp. David Perkins (Horst Tappert) and Sgt. Jim Pepper (Uwe Friedrichsen) with the help of Susan McPherson (Uschi Glas) to The Gorilla Gang whose main henchman operates in a gorilla costume right in the middle of London. </p><p> Which admittedly is pretty ridiculous even within the Edgar Wallace universe that thrives on masked villains. </p><p>The film also features nudity and a workhouse for young women replaces the home for the blind in the original. </p><p>Whereas <i>Dead Eyes of London</i> is a classic within this genre, <i>The Gorilla Gang</i> lacks any of that movie’s moodiness and mystery and replaces it with a brightly coloured mix of silliness that makes it fun to watch even though one would be hard pressed to call it genuinely good. </p><p> The investigating team of Perkins and Pepper would return in the next Rialto Wallace, <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2021/11/der-mann-mit-dem-glasaugethe-man-with.html" target="_blank">Der Mann mit dem Glasauge/The Man With the Glass Eye</a></i> (1968), <a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2022/06/death-match-phantom-vs-glass-eye.html" target="_blank">yet another remake (of sorts)</a>. In that film Sgt. Pepper would, however, be portrayed by Stefan Behrens.
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpn7eJsyzol--yty9eajm40nCv6-ADSqipFNo_dCSgy4RkIu5oKiQo1JRB1lE_ekHSfxlyuZiZAVKFVOW-gJWApXCmDoymT-uCw9ZwzLV0sqHH35Xw1Q-J2TPCdj1jKmz8U7OTqwnYxaqKlKvygIkWFHkQc9Mrb6TIQX5S_6ooLeMaftqhSelJyen/s1116/Gorilla002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="886" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpn7eJsyzol--yty9eajm40nCv6-ADSqipFNo_dCSgy4RkIu5oKiQo1JRB1lE_ekHSfxlyuZiZAVKFVOW-gJWApXCmDoymT-uCw9ZwzLV0sqHH35Xw1Q-J2TPCdj1jKmz8U7OTqwnYxaqKlKvygIkWFHkQc9Mrb6TIQX5S_6ooLeMaftqhSelJyen/w318-h400/Gorilla002.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_mg32chU1pn1RegLPOnAcLlg2H1wrDhULFqnqTneClFXjQX_OWl-rU0bHld96WyOpJwEETcURuxqBmuuI7KLlk1Fqm6Uw2QA3yJAkInwEx2r6If0ede1LNu3IXgCubf9v9f_yjs9u3eIBwAJIWeR9AbNwF089ecgB5ary-sKMNOOMb6KOFHRwtqU/s1118/Gorilla003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="886" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_mg32chU1pn1RegLPOnAcLlg2H1wrDhULFqnqTneClFXjQX_OWl-rU0bHld96WyOpJwEETcURuxqBmuuI7KLlk1Fqm6Uw2QA3yJAkInwEx2r6If0ede1LNu3IXgCubf9v9f_yjs9u3eIBwAJIWeR9AbNwF089ecgB5ary-sKMNOOMb6KOFHRwtqU/w318-h400/Gorilla003.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkd-j_uoUWWVBFtBlbkk7kre0dSpXc73y4lX445rd_T0apnR4ZmUQYX94pJKyolTUBH0u8eueB31FgxBe96fTkhJB7Ec7j2xqlYqVr1UU9YvByxadGwZaRT-Wf5IiDL3VoKHESZtSTd4T45RFZ1ckGeKS_IhNt7ci66cTXwJpc9rY3SHeiOuozC8Bh/s1112/Gorilla004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1112" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkd-j_uoUWWVBFtBlbkk7kre0dSpXc73y4lX445rd_T0apnR4ZmUQYX94pJKyolTUBH0u8eueB31FgxBe96fTkhJB7Ec7j2xqlYqVr1UU9YvByxadGwZaRT-Wf5IiDL3VoKHESZtSTd4T45RFZ1ckGeKS_IhNt7ci66cTXwJpc9rY3SHeiOuozC8Bh/w400-h319/Gorilla004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTI944is-5Dvn3yRK6PsOJco2H984qNdDEb3CmG2t9tXb6Fx8fcWU_HJwdNng1qBnapwFIM3A7WZe_kNeO_kc6OKtS7x71pRO0EPYS_vcCdVynuH5yS2dNx4o6pn5uT9EofMv7CjS_J_b6J6y89EzE2bwG7pvpvcSzKb8j39dLsmVNJr3DYDlDgt3/s1123/Gorilla005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1123" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTI944is-5Dvn3yRK6PsOJco2H984qNdDEb3CmG2t9tXb6Fx8fcWU_HJwdNng1qBnapwFIM3A7WZe_kNeO_kc6OKtS7x71pRO0EPYS_vcCdVynuH5yS2dNx4o6pn5uT9EofMv7CjS_J_b6J6y89EzE2bwG7pvpvcSzKb8j39dLsmVNJr3DYDlDgt3/w400-h315/Gorilla005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uWXmJh14GXjgspaWC-mJFAZkmHP5WkpzIv6BXMnWgWnllz4gwwQMoQKR2zw-u0Ld-fAIf408V4M5hdUU92CmqxgfYmW2zSBTFUoJ23rDOa4qfPLZIeu-YqfmH-9AgLoS9NbKu814PgJiRYce0MfUL5p1WsSAXroo2O7bQebo9SSm8leh4osAdLI2/s1122/Gorilla006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1122" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uWXmJh14GXjgspaWC-mJFAZkmHP5WkpzIv6BXMnWgWnllz4gwwQMoQKR2zw-u0Ld-fAIf408V4M5hdUU92CmqxgfYmW2zSBTFUoJ23rDOa4qfPLZIeu-YqfmH-9AgLoS9NbKu814PgJiRYce0MfUL5p1WsSAXroo2O7bQebo9SSm8leh4osAdLI2/w400-h316/Gorilla006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AvowaPfZ4Ya15T9cRABTMdJ9TUxyGqu7Y2sIb-_EiinoOzbQOwZh4B8jFLUoYqz57FWP3gtZmUz1bXJFZnR9XZvXD2ZPpIWsdfSKe3EA-oq5UIPGiwe_Z_5zd5wOu-aWc1i6QCJtbBB7GVilj6_e8J2VRjDrf7uZdy8sNiGPP5TU3v1qqqbW_ek9/s1116/Gorilla007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1116" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AvowaPfZ4Ya15T9cRABTMdJ9TUxyGqu7Y2sIb-_EiinoOzbQOwZh4B8jFLUoYqz57FWP3gtZmUz1bXJFZnR9XZvXD2ZPpIWsdfSKe3EA-oq5UIPGiwe_Z_5zd5wOu-aWc1i6QCJtbBB7GVilj6_e8J2VRjDrf7uZdy8sNiGPP5TU3v1qqqbW_ek9/w400-h318/Gorilla007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdutYrwShJa6qDwdTcwNNGJleydoiPj5twgIbHV5OXqLum7yaxopBq0N-L3vl2pP1MyPnLeGZoMA5P99eL5kqGevspXWRLPsdvrOcymvyRvBF2sZDIq9I0XN0kcC7vIhBifetQu0r5tkbhNgRpezsk3G-G4fgToMbNW5FYSc5wLifNUgNgAx46dY-/s1118/Gorilla008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1118" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdutYrwShJa6qDwdTcwNNGJleydoiPj5twgIbHV5OXqLum7yaxopBq0N-L3vl2pP1MyPnLeGZoMA5P99eL5kqGevspXWRLPsdvrOcymvyRvBF2sZDIq9I0XN0kcC7vIhBifetQu0r5tkbhNgRpezsk3G-G4fgToMbNW5FYSc5wLifNUgNgAx46dY-/w400-h318/Gorilla008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvvgeCj4OZuAeRRUxjr2bqT82eoIcgyPsLiW3356B4UfOPA1T-xbjc9MeZswXBr279Yt3h8qFdakg50HzR2sbNhjqXC_UyVUFyq66b3EXLUpXVCvilOooEa_D5hDKJ8jbkTeWLvJhWvIvLLsraz_c0WJd9Zjn2menkXTpIcCnI6kQeQpcE48UwvCt/s1120/Gorilla009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1120" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvvgeCj4OZuAeRRUxjr2bqT82eoIcgyPsLiW3356B4UfOPA1T-xbjc9MeZswXBr279Yt3h8qFdakg50HzR2sbNhjqXC_UyVUFyq66b3EXLUpXVCvilOooEa_D5hDKJ8jbkTeWLvJhWvIvLLsraz_c0WJd9Zjn2menkXTpIcCnI6kQeQpcE48UwvCt/w400-h316/Gorilla009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliM4hxUIxzLt0k0hYTYF8izdGje2p1KgxC7a8O_iUB7Is6bFfdydw2rVITIceEDO_M8C-GUM95HNVAzYaXlBKL8fbxBdZW3VMfZPlilsLQdFcRfXoE7XC16tkTo7h3XMesivew52HyB0amSfMQFqvbSTFAeMjRpbfhds823Od7ry_kg8G4S1RDvwn/s1112/Gorilla010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1112" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliM4hxUIxzLt0k0hYTYF8izdGje2p1KgxC7a8O_iUB7Is6bFfdydw2rVITIceEDO_M8C-GUM95HNVAzYaXlBKL8fbxBdZW3VMfZPlilsLQdFcRfXoE7XC16tkTo7h3XMesivew52HyB0amSfMQFqvbSTFAeMjRpbfhds823Od7ry_kg8G4S1RDvwn/w400-h319/Gorilla010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcY0H2xyCt0U9ruE9-0NyGyfr00nRbHPC_Jjey6nnhW3yx4RJRhwwjR13hIl6BPK1jH0-mA0g5XHAQK_FjHo0LlWy4WPP4F3_K5HBbxlX0IQ2qiUa8A5RKtqG9xiQVJf8EdbokGf1_BSNBUg3EAa-uJZJiCDCEXgXAGQQFhn20cN1tc-GbQjUgot0/s1114/Gorilla011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1114" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcY0H2xyCt0U9ruE9-0NyGyfr00nRbHPC_Jjey6nnhW3yx4RJRhwwjR13hIl6BPK1jH0-mA0g5XHAQK_FjHo0LlWy4WPP4F3_K5HBbxlX0IQ2qiUa8A5RKtqG9xiQVJf8EdbokGf1_BSNBUg3EAa-uJZJiCDCEXgXAGQQFhn20cN1tc-GbQjUgot0/w400-h319/Gorilla011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVHOiuksi9WijZA5sY9k9SxPAe6il70Ag6wIYUK0DQbFPFmnSHf6oa0HrDyg6srgTVx1_I-aE7GoGgUWMz9oqNhG1qIbB7v86U0xQdxys7daE4Yd3NEk4TvlZeV-pIBdr2BVhAwEvf3q2sQ6p_rx5E2gQi8K5uQI6H0ZbuNBkUsLeB_hjxLT07zbR/s1118/Gorilla012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1118" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVHOiuksi9WijZA5sY9k9SxPAe6il70Ag6wIYUK0DQbFPFmnSHf6oa0HrDyg6srgTVx1_I-aE7GoGgUWMz9oqNhG1qIbB7v86U0xQdxys7daE4Yd3NEk4TvlZeV-pIBdr2BVhAwEvf3q2sQ6p_rx5E2gQi8K5uQI6H0ZbuNBkUsLeB_hjxLT07zbR/w400-h318/Gorilla012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooTuaNuSvoVKpm5y8Bgo254bmVVVqKzc3h84tDMOa29L5WT32pb_OjnMMztUzm9JyQYy0gI2XUdJrLiG87EVWIWz_qT3CgiDcgCOXVzaoR3zORxC--OCzZUAG_rvFtQf0SqxBcbluY40J3tOFbt4xZz7d85kJFl5t1b3Zk3M-MdMOE6mD420Qv0n-/s1114/Gorilla013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1114" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooTuaNuSvoVKpm5y8Bgo254bmVVVqKzc3h84tDMOa29L5WT32pb_OjnMMztUzm9JyQYy0gI2XUdJrLiG87EVWIWz_qT3CgiDcgCOXVzaoR3zORxC--OCzZUAG_rvFtQf0SqxBcbluY40J3tOFbt4xZz7d85kJFl5t1b3Zk3M-MdMOE6mD420Qv0n-/w400-h319/Gorilla013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1118" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8J9tEZ2ZzxJoGc69wlFNvtoupW7iu4fQlFyCQijVXmCgs2XRPVWuQmY1y-57FB-uNnNKIyrvTaRPfwgEnKR5XF90KL7K7IxnYc0XRlh42uqsg1vg2zqJYmWxWy6aa9Bkf44KmDh9sFxkIBhpzaaw_CSbITGrm5_3tt_OYaY6qBeFYoktAKgAzSgm/w400-h318/Gorilla015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD34-CTHYQEap4QKbcDV4uF24o_oLm7_Jz-bZmbkDIcpmsuXGzFuM5Aipmz_ubRGGIo2EvPDI6YSitTI68Pr-q2nYSBx0viXTkqncyuZzjNgP86ENdX-o8wuGyn1j1loy1tbro7bthfMC1WMsy5-CHlwPPpTP1Vf4r7f1RTRzaqTCRgRR7eNpnDGCk/s1118/Gorilla016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1118" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD34-CTHYQEap4QKbcDV4uF24o_oLm7_Jz-bZmbkDIcpmsuXGzFuM5Aipmz_ubRGGIo2EvPDI6YSitTI68Pr-q2nYSBx0viXTkqncyuZzjNgP86ENdX-o8wuGyn1j1loy1tbro7bthfMC1WMsy5-CHlwPPpTP1Vf4r7f1RTRzaqTCRgRR7eNpnDGCk/w400-h318/Gorilla016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1106" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTCo4GRxzeEmzIY1DNm_x-JQ3rpboXljdzBOmfjXni85OQMeiW4pPgfNgfU0CBWxMKXWPHcxayfb3rzOUVIaqo_1XFEbB4-K8H50gX3aB2RTsosIIjpWCv46x7Xbd1ti2dBiBXH4oTWgYZeQhVyOcbZNlJ2WLDeONlt-MD6FaE43nYNtajPReHsD-/w400-h320/Gorilla018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzp2L1lvqaNnZ5nR2BDftzqZzx7f3t4lHh0zav5je84ya7WVvaBqbnka9p4ilnoeutEDN_ps_hPVZ0Xd1ZqHEJmxdhosFxOMMYxUhRpS8kxpPfvlIu79LkIzA9-prYnQ-cv8HT9qsrGLD-CueR7MCPLQFm7RKK7B1yKEyZSOSYwumLHl3R5vz46hv/s1113/Gorilla019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Der Gorilla von Soho, The Gorilla Gang, Edgar Wallace, Krimi, lobby card" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1113" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzp2L1lvqaNnZ5nR2BDftzqZzx7f3t4lHh0zav5je84ya7WVvaBqbnka9p4ilnoeutEDN_ps_hPVZ0Xd1ZqHEJmxdhosFxOMMYxUhRpS8kxpPfvlIu79LkIzA9-prYnQ-cv8HT9qsrGLD-CueR7MCPLQFm7RKK7B1yKEyZSOSYwumLHl3R5vz46hv/w400-h319/Gorilla019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-31445715656461405542022-06-08T20:52:00.001+01:002022-06-08T20:52:06.279+01:00Death Match: THE PHANTOM vs. GLASS EYE<p>In my recent review of <i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2021/11/der-mann-mit-dem-glasaugethe-man-with.html" target="_blank">Der Mann mit dem Glasauge/The Man With the Glass Eye</a></i> (1968) I wrote: </p><p></p><blockquote> <i>“</i>The Man With the Glass Eye<i> is one of those Wallace films that doesn’t even pretend to be based on any of his novels anymore. Its development, however, is probably way more interesting than a straight forward adaptation would have been as this is an example where a rival production from a different studio initially influenced by the success of the Rialto Wallaces in turn influenced a film in the original series back again.</i> </blockquote><blockquote><i>Ladislas Fodor, an author who had been very influential in creating the 1960s series of Mabuse movies, had also provided a screenplay for Artur Brauner’s CCC Film production </i>Das Phantom von Soho/The Phantom of Soho<i> (1964), allegedly based on Bryan Edgar Wallace’s novel </i>Murder by Proxy<i>, a book that does not, however, seem to exist. In his screenplay Fodor focused on a string of knife murders in London’s red light district, committed by a masked killer in revenge for the actions of a gang of drug and girl smugglers.</i> </blockquote><blockquote><i>
Which kind of is the entire premise of </i>The Man With the Glass Eye<i> as well! (Right down to the exact nature of the reason for the revenge.)</i> </blockquote><blockquote><i>For Rialto’s production Fodor supplied a treatment under the title “Die grausame Puppe” [The Cruel Doll]. His involvement went uncredited and his treatment was reworked by Paul Hengge whose name features in the credits of Rialto’s 28th Wallace movie.</i> </blockquote><blockquote><i>There is speculation as to whether </i>Phantom of Soho<i>’s screenplay may have simply been sold over to Rialto at the time. Whatever exactly happened remains unknown but the similarities between both movies is striking (and possibly a subject for a future blog post).” </i></blockquote><p></p><p> I have just rewatched <i>Das Phantom von Soho/The Phantom of Soho</i> (1964) so now thought it would be neat to have a little death match between those two movies to see which comes out the superior production. </p><p> Mind you, this is just a fun little exercise. Both movies are thoroughly enjoyable in their own right and get a thumbs up from me but this kind of exercise may help highlight some of the differences between the two rival series as well as how the Krimi genre ended up progressing over time. </p><p>I have come up with a number of categories under which I will have a quick look at the two movies before announcing the winner in each category. At the end of this post, I will count up those individual wins and announce the ultimate champion of this Death Match. </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdKTG991EIjdxySAhpqPiBGtk4W6IaFnlOPgcyUd3_yYinR0vX9t4aJIoGgDwxKRkhk6-B2bup8a9vix_eyrH-6n6B7hUPvrSfx3JDmToJYxZyTZ8TLYkAHpZYlnnIKOAwyomSRJXMqfi2RbTnmBFfEev0Y7mGhvD4_C47OzunJP8ox3eE4eTuFzi/s1394/Phantom%20Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Phantom of Soho, Bryan Edgar Wallace, Krimi" border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdKTG991EIjdxySAhpqPiBGtk4W6IaFnlOPgcyUd3_yYinR0vX9t4aJIoGgDwxKRkhk6-B2bup8a9vix_eyrH-6n6B7hUPvrSfx3JDmToJYxZyTZ8TLYkAHpZYlnnIKOAwyomSRJXMqfi2RbTnmBFfEev0Y7mGhvD4_C47OzunJP8ox3eE4eTuFzi/w144-h200/Phantom%20Poster.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>CONNECTIONS TO EDGAR WALLACE OR BRYAN EDGAR WALLACE <p></p><p><i>The Phantom of Soho</i> was not based on any book by Bryan Edgar Wallace even though it was advertised as being based on <i>Murder By Proxy</i>, a novel that does, however, not even seem to exist. </p><p><i>The Man with the Glass Eye</i> was not based on any book by Edgar Wallace and they didn’t even bother pretending that it was. </p><p>VERDICT: <i>Phantom</i> wins for pure Chutzpah. </p><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VpvAJzDqh2nxY2sQXakpb3FaNg1bQdBeE-_Zn99Rr0MCpb7ep5woDYasyCA8iT3_vhHIf11y0jiA-4XTDjrvQnvQA3NSQRztMERij34TK_GAG0WNgkCzWSi9aQB1rSNA-x8gr1wYbKBM-qoTK9bLBTtIMBD-iOj-0Gy269mJc2pCqyRLTmq1kJSL/s381/The_Phantom_of_Soho.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Phantom of Soho, Bryan Edgar Wallace, Krimi" border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="262" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VpvAJzDqh2nxY2sQXakpb3FaNg1bQdBeE-_Zn99Rr0MCpb7ep5woDYasyCA8iT3_vhHIf11y0jiA-4XTDjrvQnvQA3NSQRztMERij34TK_GAG0WNgkCzWSi9aQB1rSNA-x8gr1wYbKBM-qoTK9bLBTtIMBD-iOj-0Gy269mJc2pCqyRLTmq1kJSL/w138-h200/The_Phantom_of_Soho.jpeg" width="138" /></a></div>THE SCRIPT <p></p><p> Both films have the same general plot courtesy of Ladislas Fodor who is credited as the screenwriter for <i>Phantom</i> where he also added some nice meta discussions about Krimi novels when he makes one of the characters (played by Barbara Rütting) a successful writer of crime fiction. </p><p>For <i>Glass Eye</i> Paul Hengge is credited as the writer though the script was written based on a treatment by Fodor. </p><p>VERDICT: The true winner here is Ladislas Fodor who (from what we can tell) appears to have been paid twice for the same script idea so thumbs up for him. In terms of those two movies, however, <i>Phantom</i> wins the accolades for coming up first with the general idea for the plot. </p><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuInjAbCWO3dE80xZ8qAh8BGAo0whEtzUiES0DBCquDwzRMe7UIaD9b2Iirkiu_u4TzMI6L1iTjR4o0vGYWSfkxr-u9W689CZZ-VDdhUgISs-Ie4USm1Q-ql98mLLjneSdlMmn3PgrrHsPhwjmccJUI-s4Tl1VFbC039H-50z6PKLQwCC54kXiRGGh/s400/glass%20eye%20italy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Man With the Glass Eye, Edgar Wallace, Krimi" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="284" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuInjAbCWO3dE80xZ8qAh8BGAo0whEtzUiES0DBCquDwzRMe7UIaD9b2Iirkiu_u4TzMI6L1iTjR4o0vGYWSfkxr-u9W689CZZ-VDdhUgISs-Ie4USm1Q-ql98mLLjneSdlMmn3PgrrHsPhwjmccJUI-s4Tl1VFbC039H-50z6PKLQwCC54kXiRGGh/w142-h200/glass%20eye%20italy.jpeg" width="142" /></a></div>THE OPENING TITLE <p></p><p><i>The Phantom of Soho</i> emulates some of the black and white Rialto Krimis with its colour credits in an otherwise black and white film and a tip of the hat appearance by Bryan Edgar Wallace himself. </p><p><i>The Man with the Glass Eye</i> has Peter Thomas’ groovy score over flashing images of the neon lights of Piccadilly and Soho </p><p>VERDICT: <i>Phantom</i>’s credits are beautiful but the one in <i>Glass Eye</i> are truly infectious so the honour goes to that movie. </p><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggui5At9fYtPP4FFeY9gGZfTXxXgO43Po-kgH-FJ4_bGwDvuUjJY9C8otOf5t6fN23ySPN3_GbCahP5xq6U9FLdAy_Yd4zRIoh6ouUnXC-BEjexFjfIBn_X7Z0jUaAL2ipymkxhyR642tBfIC_V9TjdJy3rdBgtsMqSdpZ7I6MeTKGci-qjhrcsjmI/s787/glasauge%20deutsch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Man with the Glass Eye, Edgar Wallace, Krimi" border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="554" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggui5At9fYtPP4FFeY9gGZfTXxXgO43Po-kgH-FJ4_bGwDvuUjJY9C8otOf5t6fN23ySPN3_GbCahP5xq6U9FLdAy_Yd4zRIoh6ouUnXC-BEjexFjfIBn_X7Z0jUaAL2ipymkxhyR642tBfIC_V9TjdJy3rdBgtsMqSdpZ7I6MeTKGci-qjhrcsjmI/w141-h200/glasauge%20deutsch.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>THE LOOK <p></p><p><i>The Phantom of Soho</i> is very much in line with the classic look and feel of the Rialto series with its black and white scenes of nocturnal London. Franz Josef Gottlieb, the director, and Richard Angst, the cinematographer, in particular very much emulate the Alfred Vohrer Krimis when the film treats us to a number of odd angles, a look through a key hole and most impressively a scene in which we see a knife throwing performance from the perspective of the girl on the spinning wheel with the rotating camera swirling around ever faster until all is just a blur. </p><p><i>The Man with the Glass Eye</i> on the other hand is anything but in line with those early entries of the series and considerably more over the top with its intense scenes of Bavaesque inspired colours and its assortment of ever crazier attacks committed by a henchman wearing a giant egg shaped head mask, burly twin killers, eccentric curiosity shops, a performer in an Old Shatterhand costume and so much more. </p><p>VERDICT: <i>The Man with the Glass Eye</i> had me from the first minute of its Gialloesque vibes and just never let go. </p><span><!--more--></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH5NkR9FeW0jDwekKjP1T63isHlF4eBabbn6DOcKa3sSfInAciG2NQBjq8KkdTHLnVMtxKHKWzda4r6xHr9WX9f39-2PlFHh0O4fybA_LZD2O_wyKAgvTEHQxiAi6XqKOmHWBugsil3cT_T1PA24Ofk31RmgkBRyCI2kR6apgtubJ2whP3qgWJ8Pd/s449/das-phantom-von-soho-1964.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Phantom of Soho, Bryan Edgar Wallace, Krimi" border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH5NkR9FeW0jDwekKjP1T63isHlF4eBabbn6DOcKa3sSfInAciG2NQBjq8KkdTHLnVMtxKHKWzda4r6xHr9WX9f39-2PlFHh0O4fybA_LZD2O_wyKAgvTEHQxiAi6XqKOmHWBugsil3cT_T1PA24Ofk31RmgkBRyCI2kR6apgtubJ2whP3qgWJ8Pd/w141-h200/das-phantom-von-soho-1964.jpeg" width="141" /></a></div>THE MUSIC <p></p><p><i>Phantom</i> has Martin Böttcher, <i>Glass Eye</i> comes with Peter Thomas, both iconic Krimi composers, but <i>Phantom</i> also features the song “Soho” by Tanja Berg that surfaces repeatedly throughout the movie and will linger on for quite a while after viewing it. </p><p>VERDICT: Songs in Krimis are always the icing on the cake so <i>Phantom</i> is pitch perfect for this category. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpwLADKMKkFv2W1iJNNMvrL9TnS9QRji8wGbSgBqSFLXM9_jwKGIaXQe9h1_5naPvIfON4k-ZOQ7txexlGzgGRmumXkgCMre8vS-LR_pVLNDdNB_us9ZuucEbCCjdryWOjkLZNjjQF5a52E6N3tb8EqtjpGPknxw05iL4ezkOiDZXLbTJ8CJcFhKK/s3000/Double%20Bill.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Phantom of Soho, Bryan Edgar Wallace, Krimi" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="1986" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpwLADKMKkFv2W1iJNNMvrL9TnS9QRji8wGbSgBqSFLXM9_jwKGIaXQe9h1_5naPvIfON4k-ZOQ7txexlGzgGRmumXkgCMre8vS-LR_pVLNDdNB_us9ZuucEbCCjdryWOjkLZNjjQF5a52E6N3tb8EqtjpGPknxw05iL4ezkOiDZXLbTJ8CJcFhKK/w133-h200/Double%20Bill.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div>THE COMIC RELIEF <p></p><p><i> The Phantom of Soho</i> features a moustachioed Peter Vogel as Sergeant Hallam, an Eddi Arent copy. Unlike other Arent copies he did not go over the top with his acting and his performance is very much in line with that of the early Edgar Wallace Krimis and does indeed support the film. </p><p>At the time of filming <i>Phantom</i> Arent was still very much active in the Rialto series but when <i>The Man With the Glass Eye </i>was filmed he had already given his last “Auf Wiedersehen”. </p><p> As such <i>Glass Eye</i> is permeated with a lot of infantile silly humour (courtesy of Stefan Behrens as Sgt Pepper, Hubert von Meyerinck’s randy Sir Arthur and Ilse Pagé as Sir Arthur’s ditzy assistant) that sours the enjoyment of the film.</p><p>VERDICT: <i>The Phantom of Soho</i> wins this round for keeping the humour much more subtle and not overly distracting. </p><span><!--more--></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMuFe38tCiX2YztDZHB_Ca3GVvu4D8A7IokuzpKSRRVFWgmkiB_tKm8TaP_I1EMs7X-WUoUbELGAmDNqUyhwa5VgGElUR3dwZPdB1YKysHZOOQMDcPBGmHUvEw9I9ha8q6JV1f-AeCi8cruhV7sOD3mVefGTYhsX-9Bf7IR6Srr4SO_fy0Em3L5Ct/s700/7_GlassEye.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Man with the Glass Eye, Edgar Wallace, Krimi" border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMuFe38tCiX2YztDZHB_Ca3GVvu4D8A7IokuzpKSRRVFWgmkiB_tKm8TaP_I1EMs7X-WUoUbELGAmDNqUyhwa5VgGElUR3dwZPdB1YKysHZOOQMDcPBGmHUvEw9I9ha8q6JV1f-AeCi8cruhV7sOD3mVefGTYhsX-9Bf7IR6Srr4SO_fy0Em3L5Ct/w143-h200/7_GlassEye.jpeg" width="143" /></a></div>SCOTLAND YARD (apart from the comic relief characters) <p></p><p> Dieter Borsche is always a welcome sight in any film he appears in. His Chief Inspector Hugh Patton in <i>Phantom</i> is a routine performance down to the trench coat he is wearing but lacks the kind of energy that Joachim Fuchsberger would have brought to the role. </p><p> His superior, Sir Philip, is played by Hans Söhnker who also becomes a suspect when his absence during the investigation and his regular presence in the red light district is noted. Else, he also does not leave the kind of memory that otherwise (for good or for bad) Siegfried Schürenberg or Hubert von Meyerinck had become known for. </p><p>Hand on heart, <i>Glass Ey</i>e’s Horst Tappert is also a bit of a damp squib in comparison to other Krimi heroes but his Inspector Perkins appears to be a prototype for his long running lead in TV series <i>Derrick</i>. </p><p>VERDICT: Horst Tappert in <i>Glass Eye</i> wins this round entirely based on the influence his performance had on German TV history. </p><span><!--more--></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEMTJrUuWK_llTmHgJzle-f395m7FK8zmtArvcHrhDmJQ6FSdY8P3F4vqiPkB-ruuht3Ad4HMVjiiPQtZhvi8KAuQ2RF9pAg7AvQcndoJR3WdnZRgFQl1ta7K4JhwMazUNyv7WXTclnIDQQhNZucC_yWeSi2AyBsfVSZ5ajTpi1JkEi4kikTp0FWI/s627/fantome.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Phantom of Soho, Bryan Edgar Wallace, Krimi" border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="467" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEMTJrUuWK_llTmHgJzle-f395m7FK8zmtArvcHrhDmJQ6FSdY8P3F4vqiPkB-ruuht3Ad4HMVjiiPQtZhvi8KAuQ2RF9pAg7AvQcndoJR3WdnZRgFQl1ta7K4JhwMazUNyv7WXTclnIDQQhNZucC_yWeSi2AyBsfVSZ5ajTpi1JkEi4kikTp0FWI/w149-h200/fantome.jpeg" width="149" /></a></div>THE VILLAINS <p></p><p> The Phantom of Soho mainly features Grand Dame Elisabeth Flickenschildt (<i><a href="https://krimifilm.blogspot.com/2009/02/das-gasthaus-der-themsethe-inn-on-river.html" target="_blank">Das Gasthaus an der Themse/The Inn on the River</a></i>, <i>Das indische Tuch/The Indian Scarf</i>) as a seemingly wheelchair bound owner of a night club who hides her scarred face behind a veil. At her side we have the ever reliable Werner Peters who was omnipresent in 1960s Krimiland. </p><p>Though <i>The Man With the Glass Eye </i>is permeated with a whole range of bizarre killers and villains, none of them can be said to feature in a genuine leading role throughout the entire film. They’re all mainly characters in the organisation that for brief periods help move the plot forward. </p><p>VERDICT: Another “Thumbs Up!” for <i>Phantom</i>. </p><span><!--more--></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49CVSWAAcR5t1yP-SPf-BOpzla5xTNmIkcW71UpMiiVJgSW7hvPv0BuLLQx1xP5AKndQTJUTBgQZUWDf2OeERG7YKT4TFo2tOfAIhpFxtqxRXeNPJwgEqjVZDzargr3rH49R9fFCnIq_8ZnOblBjuAOZM0_3afAzZKE2QFLxLuEskHZc8R_BDxfwn/s480/filmbu%CC%88hne%20glasauge.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Man with the Glass Eye, Edgar Wallace, Krimi" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="322" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49CVSWAAcR5t1yP-SPf-BOpzla5xTNmIkcW71UpMiiVJgSW7hvPv0BuLLQx1xP5AKndQTJUTBgQZUWDf2OeERG7YKT4TFo2tOfAIhpFxtqxRXeNPJwgEqjVZDzargr3rH49R9fFCnIq_8ZnOblBjuAOZM0_3afAzZKE2QFLxLuEskHZc8R_BDxfwn/w134-h200/filmbu%CC%88hne%20glasauge.jpeg" width="134" /></a></div>THE LADIES <p></p><p>Barbara Rütting as a writer of Krimis observing the series of murders and Helga Sommerfeld as an endangered show girl are the two main female leads in <i>Phantom</i>. Apart from that we get a few short glimpses at other ladies of the night who would just about qualify as extras. </p><p>Karin Hübner in <i>Glass Eye</i> plays Rüttings counterpart. Instead of just one threatened showgirl we have at least half a dozen of them played by the likes of Christiane Krüger, Ewa Strömberg, Marlies Dräger, Iris Berben, Heidrun Hankammer and others. And nudity has also entered Krimiland. </p><p>VERDICT: <i>Glass Eye</i> wins the round by sheer numbers alone.</p><p><span></span></p><!--more--><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8xuWjF2Wkkcel2fvJGQaG7miSsjATI964JmodoM_RHPEdMWLN5QSZW56LemcYKaiGWp_Qwjf7fWpDMZFtlDHSCNByz9ys4kFAFKUEihJl73k8dlJyst72Z2wzdOTvhB-usA4v4CxTJ2T4QPfaNuQo4EMxXNUBkXGiwFK-ev_rttaYmi4V_5kia-p/s400/glass%20fr%20promo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Man with the Glass Eye, Edgar Wallace, Krimi" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="370" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8xuWjF2Wkkcel2fvJGQaG7miSsjATI964JmodoM_RHPEdMWLN5QSZW56LemcYKaiGWp_Qwjf7fWpDMZFtlDHSCNByz9ys4kFAFKUEihJl73k8dlJyst72Z2wzdOTvhB-usA4v4CxTJ2T4QPfaNuQo4EMxXNUBkXGiwFK-ev_rttaYmi4V_5kia-p/w185-h200/glass%20fr%20promo.jpeg" width="185" /></a></div>THE ENDING <p></p><p><i>The Phantom of Soho</i> does not just have one ending but three: the initial reveal that is genuinely surprising for first time viewers though also somewhat anticlimactic; the explanation at Scotland Yard that adds a nice little extra touch; the comic ending with Peter Vogel and Helga Sommerfeld that is totally unnecessary and has absolutely no real bearing to anything we had seen of the characters in the preceding hour and a half. </p><p><i>The Man With the Glass Eye</i> on the other hand has the same kind of surprise reveal but it’s presented in a way that is fully in line with the over-the-top madness of the film as a whole while at the same time being one of the very few climaxes in a Krimi that genuinely touches you at an emotional level.</p><p>VERDICT: <i>Glass Eye</i> by a mile. Yes, the twist reveal as such is pretty much identical but this is a gut wrenching finale that is genuinely rare for this genre. </p><span><!--more--></span><p> THE FINAL VERDICT </p><p>The numbers have now been counted. Silence in the audience please. Drum roll. We can now reveal the winner and it is…. </p><p>A draw! </p><p> Both <i>The Phantom of Soho</i> and <i>The Man With the Glass Eye</i> won five categories each and hand on heart, this is probably the fairest result as even by gut instinct I couldn’t clearly favour one over the other. Despite having a very similar plot, the two productions have totally different vibes and though I may give Kudos to <i>Phantom</i> for coming up with it all first, I also need to tip my hat off to <i>Glass Eye</i> for its wild colour schemes, bonkers murders and heart breaking denouement.</p><span><!--more--></span><p><b>The two movies' trailers to wet the appetite:</b></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tVOaqrlkxaQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><br /></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S_2gBorjAVE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Both films can currently be seen on this Krimi related YouTube channel:</b></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b32Da6VVsek" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><br /></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HrzQfg7R-y0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><br /></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025741723351500750.post-43535082718852861642022-05-06T10:32:00.000+01:002022-05-06T10:32:35.127+01:00Nicholas G. Schlegel: German Popular Cinema and the Rialto Krimi Phenomenon<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EascQbje5XVklAKfM3m3aFcy9zosvrJZNhwsy3uIQTIyr4BnEIiDFLfRnFaA_-ioq9-n7pPxa7jp1nDNOns31muAH_ZdqMrHaqqBlC-FWc5AL8DzHdjMQ0tvxhlxL5rINh2KvDn0wBppjwqRSycvVIhzq6OvghWmkiHNarXYbVKPxDpIVkP1KohN/s1024/German%20Popular%20Cinema%20and%20the%20Rialto%20Krimi%20Phenomenon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nicholas G. Schlegel, Krimi, Edgar Wallace, Rialto" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="647" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EascQbje5XVklAKfM3m3aFcy9zosvrJZNhwsy3uIQTIyr4BnEIiDFLfRnFaA_-ioq9-n7pPxa7jp1nDNOns31muAH_ZdqMrHaqqBlC-FWc5AL8DzHdjMQ0tvxhlxL5rINh2KvDn0wBppjwqRSycvVIhzq6OvghWmkiHNarXYbVKPxDpIVkP1KohN/w253-h400/German%20Popular%20Cinema%20and%20the%20Rialto%20Krimi%20Phenomenon.jpeg" width="253" /></a></div>Just finished reading Nicholas G. Schlegel's new book <i>German Popular Cinema and the Rialto Krimi Phenomenon</i>, the first full length English language book dedicated to the 32 films that make up the Rialto Edgar Wallace series.<p></p><p>A proper review will be published elsewhere (and then also announced here) but in short: This is a quintessential book for anyone even remotely interested in those films. It's an academic publication but in no way a dry read. The only drawback is its price which will be unaffordable for most but if you can make do without a few meals to pick up the required shekels to purchase this, do. Else, see if you could at least possibly get a loan of it from a public or university library.</p><p><iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=theworldofham-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=1498570720&asins=1498570720&linkId=6ff027a0b050b49b1b01390037cf64d8&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe> <iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=theworldofham-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon®ion=GB&placement=1498570720&asins=1498570720&linkId=7e917243972168765f876935e2455382&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe></p>Holger Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13359071414296803464noreply@blogger.com2