I love Lenzi's gialli offerings, or at least the one's I have experiences! I still need to see KNIFE OF ICE and A QUIET PLACE TO KILL. SPASMO and EYEBALL are some of my more favorite gialli viewings. Two very stylish yet, odd in nature but still very effective in the payoff!
It's been a long time since I first seen his SO SWEET... SO PERVERSE (1969), was that not just recently issued on DVD again??
I absolutely loved Freda's brilliant I VAMPRI! Now, what was the deal with Bava being uncredited for with this again? I know he had something to do with the overall direction, but what's the full story on that again?
Any opinions about this more recent giallo? I've heard some bad things but when I found it dirt cheap on eBay, I couldn't resist the temptation of picking it up. Figured I need to give some of the more recent horrer/thriller stuff a chance too. Still waiting for it to arrive and I'm not quite sure what to expect of it but at least it has a pretty good cast that includes famous transsexual Eva Robins from TENEBRAE (1982) and the good-looking Elisabetta Rocchietti, who has been cropping up in a lot of horror stuff like THE THREE FACES OF TERROR (2004), DO YOU LIKE HITCHCOCK? (2005) and THE LAST HOUSE IN THE WOODS (2006). Not to mention supporting roles by Florinda Bolkan and Franco Nero! Anyone here seen it?
Interesting looking film out of Italy with Irish/Spanish co-financiers. Directed by Italian SFX man Stefano Bessoni.
In the 1600s, long before the invention of photography, a scientist named Girolamo Fumagalli was obsessed with the idea of reproducing images. He discovered that by killing a victim and removing the victim's eyeballs, it was possible to reproduce on paper the last image imprinted on that person's retinas. He named this technique 'thanatography'. Today, the same kind of gruesome ritual and abominable crime recurs within the walls of an international school of cinema. -imdb.com
Also stars the daughter of Charlie Chapman, Geraldine Chaplin as well as her daughter Oona.
Well, it seems this is yet another Argento flick that is taking a beating in the review department. Even die hard fans are not too pleased with this outing. Anyhow, the PAL R2 DVD is now out via a Polish company that found it important to force the Polish subs!
Looks like this will be getting a UK release first via Arrow Films! I still haven't seen this, it was on my radar during last year's Midnight Madness during the Toronto Film Fest. The disc will be released March 15th..
I'd love to grab this, but for now I'm holding off on the Blu-Ray player for now, too unstable industry right now. Plus, the multi-region player are way too expensive!
IN THE SIGN OF SCORPIO (1977)/IN THE SIGN OF SAGITTARIUS(1978)
Sent by
SteveG.
REVIEWED BY-NICK FRAME DIRECTOR: WERNER HEDMEN IN THE SIGN OF SCORPIO (DENMARK/1977) CAST- OLE SOLTOFT, POUL BUNDGAARD, ANNA BERMAN and KARL STEGGER IN THE SIGN OF SAGITTARIUS (DENMARK/1978) CAST- OLE SOLTOFT, POUL BUNDGAARD, ANNA BERMAN and KARL STEGGER
The Film
Being of both Italian and Scottish parentage, I’ve been a fan of the delights of the sexy bawdy comedies that both countries have produced over many years. With Britain I suppose being infamous for the “Carry On” films made popular by Sid James and Kenneth Williams and Italy for producing a myriad of sexy comedy classics which were brought to the fore by Lino Banfi, Edwige Fenech and Alvaro Vitali to name but a few! However Danish sexy spy movies (with added very naughty scenes) were not even on my radar until these new releases by Smirk DVD fell into my lap!
In “Scorpio” we meet Agent 69 Jensen (Ole Søltoft) who is working undercover in a local health food shop. His superior upstairs informs him that he is to get a new mission and help protect a US CIA agent who is transporting a secret microfilm and to ensure the evil Scorpio (Karl Stegger) does not get his hands on it! Unfortunately, after a case of mistaken identity, an innocent guy, Andersen, is entrusted with the microfilm hidden in a bread role and subsequently all types of chaos ensues! This film really has to be seen to be believed, it’s genuinely funny, has engaging characters, lovely scantily clad girls and a game of pool that has to be seen to be believed. Also watch out for Anna Bergman (yes Ingmar’s daughter!) as Penny who plays very willing chamber maid, very different from her fully clothed role from UK TV show “Mind Your Language” and the “Sinful Dwarf” himself Torbin Bille as a midget karate expert!
In “Sagittarius” Agent 69 Jensen is now undercover in a hot dog stall until his boss calls on him as another international incident is underway! The Albanians have stolen some top secret blueprints and the Danish Secret Service must get their first at the expense of the Chinese and the Russians, however Agent 69 is as inept as ever and another agent Arnold is sent in his place with an equally useless sidekick Knud. Cue more hilarious shenanigans and cock-ups as the plot unravels! Perhaps not as clever or well constructed as “Scorpio” this is still lots of fun and very much worth tracking down especially for the fabulous eye candy on display, the girls do not waste time in losing their clothes. Much of the cast from “Scorpio” are here again with Torben Bille and Anna Bergman both back reprising their roles!
Directed by Werner Hedman and what both films have going for them is the inventive use of sex scenes yet they never feel tacked on for the hell of it. For a film to be both sexy and funny while keeping your interest should be applauded!
Transfer and Audio
Smirk DVD should be congratulated for the effort they have put in as the uncut 1:78:1 anamorphic transfers for two films this obscure are fantastic. Colours are bright and clear and there is no print damage at all, importantly flesh tones are perfect! Audio wise we have a clear DD Danish Stereo soundtrack that is clear with no pops or hisses and the English subtitles are good and have been very well translated.
Extras
The only extras on both discs are a stills gallery with some of the more arousing images from the films on display. A little disappointing but given their obscurity perhaps understandable!
Overall
If you are a fan of Eurotrash movies and Scandinavian girls, you could do worse than pick up these great little titles! A great effort from Smirk DVD and hopefully the rest of their releases will be just as enjoyable!
AGENT 69 JENSEN DOUBLE BILL
Being of both Italian and Scottish parentage, I’ve been a fan of the delights of the sexy bawdy comedies that both countries have produced over many years. With Britain I suppose being infamous for the “Carry On” films made popular by Sid James and Kenneth Williams and Italy for producing a myriad of sexy comedy classics which were brought to the fore by Lino Banfi, Edwige Fenech and Alvaro Vitali to name but a few! However Danish sexy spy movies (with added very naughty scenes) were not even on my radar until these new releases by Smirk DVD fell into my lap!
blueprints and the Danish Secret Service must get their first at the expense of the Chinese and the Russians, however Agent 69 is as inept as ever and another agent Arnold is sent in his place with an equally useless sidekick Knud. Cue more hilarious shenanigans and cock-ups as the plot unravels! Perhaps not as clever or well constructed as “Scorpio” this is still lots of fun and very much worth tracking down especially for the fabulous eye candy on display, the girls do not waste time in losing their clothes. Much of the cast from “Scorpio” are here again with Torben Bille and Anna Bergman both back reprising their roles! 
