Has anyone else seen this intriguing 5-part television series produced by Oscar Brazzi and starring his more well-reputed brother Rossano Brazzi?
It's a title that has fascinated me for a long time since - not just because it's a collaboration between the Brazzi brothers but also because Renato Polselli worked on the project as a production manager and the title song is sung by none other than Frank Sinatra! And unlike most Italian TV productions from this time it's actually in color, is nicely shot and has good production values - no doubt a result of it being a co-production with Germany and France.
I finally caught up with CORALBA through the (Italian language only) 2-DVD release by Fabbri Editori, who have been specializing in releasing Italian TV serials (so-called sceneggiati) and found it to be well worth seeking out. Rossano Brazzi stars as a wealthy doctor who is happily married to a beautiful, blonde and much younger wife (Valérie Lagrange), and who starts having a hard time when a mysterious blonde woman with big, black sunglasses starts relentlessly blackmailing him with a scandal from his past. In spite of big pay-offs, the mysterious woman refuses to leave the good doctor alone and so he decides to bring a gun when he is to meet her for a pay-off at a deserted house. Once he gets there, though, the doc finds the house seemingly abandoned. But when he goes to check the bathroom, someone slams the door shut behind him and locks him in. With no other way of getting out, the doc shoots the door open and then discovers a blonde woman lying face down on the floor - having apparently been killed by the shots he fired to break open the door. The doc panics and flees the scene but it doesn't take long before the cops come knocking on his door - telling him they've got a dead woman that they think is connected to him. He accompanies them back to the house where there is indeed a dead, blonde woman but it's not the blackmailer - it's the doc's beloved wife! Suddenly, the poor man finds himself the police's number one suspect and is caught in an intricate web of mystery and double-crossings.
While CORALBA is a tad to chatty at times, I have to say that on the whole, it is actually very engaging as it has a good story; attractive locations in Hamburg, Venice and Chamonix; super-funky costumes and decor; and a nice score. The international cast is top-notch too - with great performances by Brazzi as the long-suffering doc, the gorgeous Valérie Lagrange as his highly adored, dead wife, Glauco Mauri (the professor from DEEP RED) as the sympathetic cop on the case and the always wonderful Venantino Venantini as Brazzi's colleague, who soon turns out to be just as shady as he looks!
Most of the Italian sceneggiati are probably never going to see any sort of English-friendly releases as they probably wouldn't hold too much appeal to non-Italian viewers but CORALBA - being a co-production with Germany and France, and featuring a pretty solid international cast - is actually a very strong candidate for an English subtitled DVD. It's definitely worthy of some love!
So, has anyone else seen or even heard of this one? Or some other mystery/crime TV productions from Italy? These works are sadly quite neglected by most Euro-cult fans outside of Italy.
Anyway, here are a few screenshots to wet your appetites!
Well...where does one begin with a film like this? Obviously one I'm compelled to bring up, however, and get a discussion going about. You certainly couldn't discuss a flick like THE JAR (1984) with the closed-minded drones who post at a place such as the IMDB. Nope, they're havin' none of THE JAR over there. And that's what makes Cinema Nocturna special. We encourage it!
THE JAR is "experimental" to say the least. It's THE KINDRED on crack...somewhat. Directed by one Bruce Toscano (whom we've not seen hide nor hair of since), my girlfriend and I stumbled upon THE JAR one Summer afternoon; much like the central loner happens upon the title macabre giant jam mason nightmare in the film. I almost felt perplexed just holding the damn thing (a rarely seen pre-record on the Magnum Entertainment label).
Appropriately, coming courtesy of Nocturna International Limited Productions, THE JAR is for the most part a one man show - starring unknown Gary Wallace as central oddball, Paul. Unfortunately for him, a motor vehicle accident involving a delirious old timer carrying around a bulbous jar in a brown paper bag will be a random moment in time that becomes a literal mind-fuck of possession. Inside 'The Jar' lurks something not of this Earth. An almost parasitic alien possessor, immediately turning Paul's plain existence into a psychological attack coming straight out of the ghastly glass creature container itself and right into his psyche. Twisted hallucinations and unaccountable violence soon follow, as the visions forced into poor Paul and out for the viewers to see take us through most surreal depictions of war, sex, murder, unearthed decapitations, religious sacrifice and more unexplainable strangeness. THE JAR is a trip within a trip within a trip!
I'm definitely curious to see who else among the Nocturnites has seen this one? As I said, it was directed by Bruce Toscano, who didn't do anything following, leading one to believe that it quite possibly could have even been a student film.
However, leave it to yours truly to really dig deep into these obscurities and the wonderfully intriguing tales behind making them, as I intend to find out the answers to the above and more. I'm in the very early stages of planning something special surrounding THE JAR, in the possible form of another Devin Double Whammy EXCLUSIVE! I have vowed that 2010 WILL be the year of the exclusive here at Cinema Nocturna, and all eyes are focused from my end suddenly and happily on a hopefully soon to be, one of a kind piece profiling this Fellini-esque horror fantasy brain-spin - THE JAR.
In the meantime, as I work on tossing another iron into the red hot fire for the readers of CN, and to get those exclusive up close answers and inside looks we all enjoy - lets get some interesting conversation going here regarding the film itself. THE JAR is a picture, that if nothing else, evoked many things. From inevitable critical attack, to thought-provoking questions surrounding the ideas the film presents that some may be missing, and what it's all about; right through to the bizarre technical aesthetics, or lack thereof.
This is what Cinema Nocturna truly exemplifies; getting to the root of and at times entirely unearthing, uniquely one of a kind cinema like THE JAR and breathing new life into such films via discussion and behind the scenes investigation, as well as simply talking about what we did or didn't like about the viewing experiences themselves. I hope such will be the case with Bruce Toscano's THE JAR here.
This is opening up this weekend to a limited release and I must say with all the positive reviews out there on this, it certainly sounds like a must see! Directed by Adam Green and tells the tale of Three skiers are stranded on a chairlift and forced to make life-or-death choices that prove more perilous than staying put and freezing to death!
Well, some really great and very exciting news indeed! My good friend Chris Alexander has now taken on the top job at horror's top magazine Fangoria! Well deserving indeed! I'm sure he'll steer the battered ship in a new and much better direction to show that horror is not dead and of course that there is life in that mag!!
I'm hearing nothing but absolute praise for this new tribute like film to the Italian giallo! It's non-linear jagged transitions to the storyline and imagery are apparently quite lush and very intriguing! If this France/Belgium co-produced film is half as good as the trailer, man I can't wait to see this! Due March 2010!
I'm with you on SO SWEET SO DEAD Johan! Excellent giallo, can't wait to see it in a digital presentation. I've never dealt with Camera Obscura before...what are their releases like? Do you have a link at all for the disc?
One of my favorite C-level Italian journeymen to touch just about every genre, Tonino Ricci is certainly no stranger to fans of sublime Euro-drek. I personally have managed to score only three of his films thus far - but I'm fascinated by the man's filmography - which will no doubt fuel me to find more of his "visions" as 2010 goes on.
I have however, obtained copies of two of his rather fun 'White Fang' oriented, pseudo-Spaghetti Westerns; WHITE FANG TO THE RESCUE (1974) (ZANNA BIANCA ALLA RISCOSSA) and Ricci's later, BUCK AND THE MAGIC BRACELET (1999) (BUCK E IL BRACCIALETTO MAGICO).
WHITE FANG TO THE RESCUE in particular, is a great time for the avid Euro-cult lover, with an ultra-cool cast that includes Maurizio Merli, Henry Silva (playing another real sly prick here), Gisela Hahn, Donal O' Brien, Luciano Rossi, Renzo Palmer and Benito Stefanelli, among them. The latter, BUCK AND THE MAGIC BRACELET, is Ricci's far lighter and campier follow-up to his popular 1991 film, BUCK AT THE EDGE OF HEAVEN (starring David Hess and John Savage). It would also be his last to date (I'm assuming he is still alive by all accounts). Old favorites like Bobby Rhodes, and Ricci-regular, Conrad Nichols (aka. Luigi Mezzanotte...real name, Bruno Minniti) turn up for one last go in Ricci-land.
As well, I own a couple of prints of his Dominican Republic-shot crossover oddity, NIGHT OF THE SHARKS (1988) (LA NOTTE DEGLI SQUALI)...a mix between a JAWS cash-in (of which Tonino was no stranger to) and a crime flick. A nice later-eighties cast assembled here though as well, with American stalwarts, Treat Williams and the always jive, Antonio Fargas coming over to appear with Italian B favorites like John Steiner, Janet Agren (who doesn't stick around long enough), a sadly dying, Christopher Connelly (who by this time, was well into his cancer), Sal Borgese, and my good real life pal, Carlo Mucari. Crime kingpins chase around a disc with vital information on it while a massive Great White turns up every once in a while to chomp on someone. It is what it is, but I personally have always dug it, and the line-up doesn't hurt.
Aside from that though, I definitely need me some more Tonino Ricci. I've heard awesome things about his giallo/crime cross CROSS CURRENT (1971) (with Phillipe Leroy and Ivan Rassimov), with many folks stating it's his best work. I'd also love to see his bizarre sounding western, KID IL MONELLO DEL WEST (1973) (KID, TERROR OF THE WEST). Of course, there's his two post-nukers - RUSH (1983) and RAGE (1984) that I finally have to get my hands on as well. Long overdue with those, and a pair amongst only a very tiny bunch of Euro-post-apocalypse pictures left to see for me.
Okay guys, what are your thoughts on the films of the man otherwise known as 'Anthony Richmond'? There must be at least one other Tonino Ricci fan out there...
MILK MAID MIKO:GALACTIC CONCUBINE AGAINST THE SPECTRES OF SPACE
Title
MILK MAID MIKO:GALACTIC CONCUBINE AGAINST THE SPECTRES OF SPACE
Description
(2008/JAPAN/FRANCE) Review By-Paul Cooke
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(2008/JAPAN/FRANCE) Review By-Paul Cooke Director: Tour Drôle Starring: Yvette Minet, Izuzo Da Veld, Tok Igani, Simon Izzy & Christy Z Source : Theatrical Release Summer 2008
‘I’ll feast on your three gouged eyes as you spit roast in Hades!’’
Forget American Torture Porn this is Japanese Sado Sci-Vi Sex !. Sadistic Science Fiction, Violent Sex, no less !. In a distant galaxy a world called Krill is run by a male dominant society of Aliens imbued with above Human strength, and the attributes of three eyes and two sets of vertically aligned male genitalia. They propagate continuously with the female of the species to further the male supremacy. The gestation period to birth is just a one month cycle. If the child is female over ninety percent are eaten by the male in order to keep the hierarchy pure, with just a few allowed to mature into adulthood in order to fulfil a lifetime of child bearing. Legend is told amongst the Krillar that a Human astronaut once mated with a female untouched by Krill male. Rescued from death at birth, by a mysterious male sympathiser named Vorgil, a female Krillian descendent named Kylira is the forbearer to this legend. Set adrift in space with a female companion the child Kylira matured into adulthood, and although her companion eventually died as the years passed, she was eventually rescued from an endless foray into the vastness of space in the year 2072. The deep space Human astronaut bonded with the female, her form similar to that of the Earth woman, with the exception of a third eye !. The resultant copulation bore a female child, but no ordinary one as this newborn is a hybrid. Human in form with just the two eyes, the strength of the Krillar male and two reproductive organs. Dual vaginas !. Only once every hundred years is such a female born into the Krillian society, and full copulation by the double endowed Krill males it is said will bring forth the birth of male twins. Pure blood warriors to rule over the realm of Krill for the next one hundred years.
This is, however, no ordinary Krill female !. Raised by her mother with the knowledge of Krillian male tyranny and trained in the ways of combat by her Human father this is one female hybrid not to mess with. Her destiny is to one day return to the planet Krill and lead an uprising against the order of the male dominant society. This time though is her eighteenth birthday and with a universe littered with all manner of trouble upon neighbouring planets this is one teenager that wants to get out and kick Alien troublemaking ass !. Decked out in leather and sporting a waist dual holster for her laser hand cannons, and particle slicing bullwhip, she resembles a super sexy 21st century Spaghetti Western Alien variation of Indiana Jones. Amongst her not so visually evident talents is the ability to make the male gender ejaculate their semen as life enhancing sustenance through the super stimulating structure of her tongue. A cacophony of corrugated vessels line her tongue and sublingually she ingests the seminal fluid, the benefits of which enhance her strength and continually revitalise her entire hybrid physiology. Her fix is the elixir of man milk, her goal is to bring justice to the Galaxy, and her destiny is to return home a Queen. This then is Milk Maid Miko !.
Interestingly, and most welcomingly, as this is a curious Japanese / French co-production, the lead actress is a French hottie. The mouth wateringly sexy Yvette Minet stars as the titular Miko, under the compatriot Direction of Monsieur Tour Drôle. Fans of the French Horror / Fantasy flick ‘Bloody Mallory’ are in for a treat here as all the colourful pizzazz and sexy costumes of that hit are amplified with ‘Milk Maid Miko’. Clearly there is a good budget provided by the dual backers and it shows, along with the waving of any concern over the quite explicit sex and violence, as the target audience is without question Adult !. Tour Drôle uses all his skill as a controversial music video director to great effect here, and Miss. Minet oozes her sexual chemistry into the movie mix, leaving her on screen partners and watching audience out of breath, yearning for more !. Her black leather outfit fits to perfection, just as if it were licked onto her amazingly luscious body !. With the futuristic and Alien backdrop sets showcasing the high production values early in the film, it is of course the called into Action set pieces displaying Yvette Minet as Miko, setting about purging the galaxy of scum, that makes the purchase of a ticket worth its weight in gold. With her own super charged, super swift , heavily armoured, and fitted with state of the art weaponry, space cruiser - named appropriately Libertine - Miko is equipped head to perfect toe to bump ugly and drain Alien dreg dry.
The sex and violence comes fast and furious as Miko has many an encounter where she takes great pleasure in bringing pain to those deserving. One particular stand out scene sees Miko up against a male Krillar, one of many sent by the Krill high command to seek her out and bring her back to the home world, who wants to sample her goods before shackling her back to Krill. What this over confident and would be self indulgent Krillian paid mercenary does not anticipate, much to his detriment, is the strength equality and enhanced ability of Miko. The resulting encounter is swift in delivery, but painfully slow in execution !. Miko brings the Krillar to his knees in a deft display of martial arts moves and paralyses him with a variation on the Vulcan nerve pinch. Whilst still very much conscious Miko sets about separating the Krillian from one set of his dual reproductive organs. In graphic detail Miko uses a blade to castrate the Alien aggressor to show him how it is to be a human male !. She then in fluid popping close up gouges out each of his three eyes, and then proceeds to impale the twitching creature upon a spike, which she inserts in up through his anus and out of his blood spurting mouth !. Finally she places the still incredibly living Krillian upon a spit mount above a fiercely burning fire, and then gives the handle to turn the creature upon the spit to a curious looking old woman. The ancient old hag is one of only a small handful of survivors from a race that has through generations been hunted and killed for sport by the Krillian’s. Justice delivered and vengeance served as a dish spit roast hot !. Miko’s recreational way to unwind after a violent encounter is to hook up for a mutually pleasurable rendezvous with a gentle alien race, one that lives to give and receive orgasm !. Endowed with two vaginas herself who better to have as a sexual partner than a being that has two tongues !?. Yes indeed it can be done !. There is definitely something oddly satisfying, in a pleasurably guilty way, to witness a two tongued foray into the double delights of the female vestibules.
Miko is unsurprisingly a much yearned after space babe, and she has a dashing young potential beau that takes her fancy in the form of Captain Buck Buchanan, a Galactic Space Ranger from Planet Earth. Their paths occasionally cross and the interaction between them always involves helping each other out of a tight spot, and the delivery of some humorous dialogue. One scene has Captain Buck catching a quick glimpse of Miko stepping out of a sonic shower, and the reaction to seeing her uniquely stunning form is summed up perfectly as he mutters to himself ‘‘Babe you have more holes than Tiger Woods the thirds Pro-Am Invitational !’’. Classic future context analogy. Captain Buck Buchanan is naturally played by an American actor, most likely to cash in on a world wide general release at the multiplexes. Alien mutilation multiplies as Miko makes her rounds, and when her tongue sees action, craving the life enhancing seminal milk she desires, you can sense an entire audience of males literally ‘growing’ ever fonder of the delectable Miss. Minet.
There is so much style about this production that the ultra violence and envelope pushing on screen sexual play definitely calls for an NC17 rating, but even if released in some venues in an ‘R’ trimmed cut ‘Milk Maid Miko’ Must be seen !. This is high value, near hardcore, violent, Fantastical cinema at its finest. It’ll only take a ‘Minet’ to fall for the adult Miko and around another eighty to quietly express that feeling as often as you may desire, just don’t do a Pee Wee Herman if watching this at your local cinema !.