Sinister Cinema

Anna Magnani, Giulietta Masina. A harsh study about the grim realities of life in a non-coed, totally female prison environment. Story concerns a young girl who comes to prison and experiences the entire prison subculture. The inmates she befriends vary from big tough dangerous dames to smaller submissive ladies who are totally lost in prison life. Very exploitive, yet still a fascinating look at women's prison life. This is a damn good movie. Three stars by Leonard Maltin. 16mm.

Robert Clarke, Darlene Tompkins, Aranne Arden, Vladimir Solokoff, directed By Edgar G Ulmer. A jet pilot from the 20th century breaks through a time barrier in the sky to find himself on a post-World War III Earth, menaced by mutants and a deadly virus. 16mm.

Jesse Matthews, John Stuart, Beatrix Lehmann. A tad long-winded, but overall this is a fairly enjoyable, sometimes creepy British mystery thriller. Much of the action is centered about a spooky estate where a singer is forced to spend the night in order to claim her inheritance. The film's highlight is Lehman, who turns in one of the best-ever performances as a sinister housekeeper, even better than Harriet White in the Dr. Hichcock films. Matthew's last starring role. Plays like a horror film...

Harry Andrews, Yutte Stensgaard, Glyn Edwards, Kerry Nesbitt, Derrin Nesbitt. Wow! This terrific body-snatching thriller is a grisly horror film, yet also a marvelous, sexy black comedy. The best Burke and Hare film? Could be. Unashamed. Yutte is gorgeous, clothed or disrobed. Rated R for nudity and violence. Aka "Horrors of Burke & Hare." Color, 35mm.

Nadja Tiller, Jean Claude Brialy, Edith Scob. A strange film that deals with a number of weird subjects, including occultism, possession, family curses, etc. There's even a disappearing, reappearing body. An unusual, and very interesting foreign horror opus, dubbed int English. Based on a story by John D. Carr. 16mm. Upgraded 11-95.

Lurene Tuttle, Tris Coffin, Myrna Dell, Nelson Leigh, Don Grady. Tuttle plays the sadistic, killer "mommy" who leads her murdering pack of bestial sons through a series of robberies and murders. The gang's activities are chronicled from the dusty Midwest, to their last days hiding out in Florida. Perfect drive-in fare. From 35mm.

(Also released as, DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN) Michael Rennie, Karin Dor, Paul Naschy. Rennie is an alien mad scientist whose race is out to conquer Earth. From a castle in Transylvania he revives legendary monsters to help him carry out this insane scheme. Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolfman, and the Mummy all star. Don't confuse this with the Sam Sherman/Al Adamson drive-in classic of the same name!

Eddie Constantine, Richard Attenborough, Eva Bartok, Pier Angeli. Forget Alphaville, this IS the best Constantine film. Eddie's a tough sailor who's being flown back to the mainland for trial. Also on board is the sleazy snake who turned him in, played to the hilt by Attenborough. The plane is filled with many colorful characters: stuffy socialites, sexy playgirls, etc. During the flight, a fire erupts, injuring the pilot. Eddie is forced to land the plane near a remote island. After a hard...

Judith Dornys, Harold Lieb. The aged owner of an old gambling casino dies, making a young girl heir to his amassed fortune that lies hidden in a secret tomb. Under world members become the victims of greed--and the dread secret of the mysterious vault. 16mm.

Marisa Mell, Richard Conte, Anthony Steffen. Almost a horror film. A femme fatale worms her way into the mansion of a millionaire played by Conte. After disposing of him, she goes after his son. An interesting Italian, gothic thriller with a twisted, sardonic ending. From a nice color 35mm print.

Henry Fonda, Robert Ryan, Vittorio Gassman. Big-name cast compliments this epionage thriller that features Fonda as a non-American undercover agent who escapes from the Russians with vital intelligence secrets intended for U.S. intelligence chief, Ryan. Severasl inter-related episodes.

Dan Duryea, Gwen Watford, Isa Miranda. A great murder mystery. The only clue to a mad killer's identity is his shoes! The crime's only witness saw them while she was bent over picking something up. Duryea is fantastic as the "nice guy next door" who just happens to be a homicidal maniac. A great twist ending. A gem...highly recommended. From 16mm.