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...
(2007/ITALY)DIRECTED BY-ANDREA MOLAIOLI/STARRING-TONI SERVILLO, VALERIA GOLINO, NELLO MASCIA, and FABRIZIO GIFUNI./SOURCE-MEDUSA ENT. DVD ( PAL R2 / 91 MINS / 2007)
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(2007/ITALY) aka La Ragazza del Lago REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-ANDREA MOLAIOLI STARRING-TONI SERVILLO, VALERIA GOLINO, NELLO MASCIA, and FABRIZIO GIFUNI. SOURCE-MEDUSA ENT. DVD ( PAL R2 / 91 MINS / 2007)
The directing debut from Italian Andrea Molaili. A mystery/thriller or better known to many circles,a giallo. Though not the usual serving of this unique Italian thriller, one aspect being that there is but only one victim or death. The vision is what drives this film's gears. Artistic in every sense of the word, from lush settings, to carefully constructed transitions and a well structured storyline. All these encase a superb array of acting on all levels as well. Though our story is slow to the occasion, it does work out it's tortoise state with it's style and flair.
Packed with great character descriptions and backgrounds, especally the lead played by Toni Servillo. Every small town has it's secrets, ones that no mater how much it is needed for them to come out to solve a case, many of them remain hidden until they are stumbled upon. Each character in THE GIRL BY THE LAKE is shown with their baggage, as this along with the mystery of the girl's death are the vitual ingredients that make the storyline flow with seeming perfection.
The story opens with a small girl who is on her way home, when she is picked up by a local who is known for his mental challenges and a father who is confinded to a wheelchair. When the little girl goes unseen for hours by her mother, the small town erupts in fear. Big city inspector comes at the request in solving the disappearance of the girl. With a storke of relief, the girl is safe, but she carries a distrubing tale of another girl sleeping by a local lake. Investigating this strange story turns up the dead body of a local girl lying by the exact lake. Drowned and placed in a peaceful sleeping posture, though striped of her clothes. The inspector begins the long road into solving this very unusual case.
THE GIRL BY THE LAKE, was well recieved by many critics when it showed at Venice Film Festival in late 2007. It also managed to win many Italian Oscars, I believe 10 in total including best picture. The film itself is based upon the Norweign crime novel written by Karin Fossum, and it shows in the film as well. Though the setting maybe Northern Italy, the lake and valley in which the film is based around gives that Norweign flavor. The film was shot on location in and around Venezia Giulia, Italy.
The Medusa DVD, is absolutely and must see. Though primarily only in Italian audio with the exception of English subtitles with the main feature. Both audio and visually this film is stunning and the DVD upholds this in the tranfer. If you know you're Italian, then you will enjoy the disc's special features which include the making of THE GIRL BY THE LAKE, as well as photo galleries, and trailer along with other interesting additions. A great addition to this already rich genre of the giallo, if you lov these films, this is certainly one not to miss!
THE GIRL BY THE LAKE aka La Ragazza del Lago
The directing debut from Italian Andrea Molaili. A mystery/thriller or better known to many circles,a giallo. Though not the usual serving of this unique Italian thriller, one aspect being that there is but only one victim or death. The vision is what drives this film's gears. Artistic in every sense of the word, from lush settings, to carefully constructed transitions and a well structured storyline. All these encase a superb array of acting on all levels as well. Though our story is slow to the occasion, it does work out it's tortoise state with it's style and flair. 
ts, ones that no mater how much it is needed for them to come out to solve a case, many of them remain hidden until they are stumbled upon. Each character in THE GIRL BY THE LAKE is shown with their baggage, as this along with the mystery of the girl's death are the vitual ingredients that make the storyline flow with seeming perfection. 
