Assignment Istanbul 1969 PG, 92 min. Genre: Action aka: The Castle of Fu Manchu
Director: Jesus Franco Cast: Christopher Lee, Richard Greene, Tsai Chin, Howard Marion-Crawford, Gunther Stoll, Rosalba Neri, Maria Perschy, Jose Manuel Martin, Werner Abrolat, Osvaldo Genazzani, Herbert Fux, Gustavo Re
In this "Fu Manchu" series film, the evil Fu Manchu (Christopher Lee) concocts another way to take over the world: he invents a machine that freezes sea water instantly. He needs help to complete the machine, so he kidnaps a noted scientist (Gustavo Re) as well as two heart doctors to conduct a heart transplant when the scientist has a heart attack. To the rescue comes Fu Manchu's nemesis, Scotland Yard Detective Nayland Smith (Richard Greene), in this terrible, low budget entry.
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Beyond the Law 1968 N/R, 91 min. Genre: Foreign / Western aka: Bloodsilver The Good Die First
Director: Giorgio Stegani Cast: Lee Van Cleef, Antonio Sabato, Lionel Stander, Bud Spencer, Gordon Mitchell, Ann Smyrner, Graziella Granata, Herbert Fux, Enzo Fiermonte, Adriana Facchetti
This spaghetti Western is fun. An outlaw (Lee Van Cleef) reforms and becomes Sheriff. When a shipment of silver arrives, the temptation is too much for him to resist.
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Eugenie...The Story of Her Journey Into Perversion 1970 X, 92 min. Genre: Foreign / Drama / Horror
Director: Jesus Franco Cast: Marie Liljedahl, Maria Rohm, Jack Taylor, Nino Korda, Herbert Fux, Paul Muller, Christopher Lee, Anney Kablan, Maria Luisa Ponte, Colette Giacobine, Uta Dahlberg
Teenager Eugenie (Marie Liljedahl) becomes the center of physical and moral abuse in this version of Marquis de Sade's "Philosophy in the Boudoir." Eugenie's father's (Paul Muller) lover, Madame de St. Ange (Maria Rohm), will have sex with him only if he allows Eugenie to come to the Madame's island mansion. Once there, Eugenie encounters sex games and drugs that totally corrupt her.
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Jack the Ripper 1976 R, 85 min. Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Jesus Franco Cast: Klaus Kinski, Josephine Chaplin, Herbert Fux, Lina(2) Romay, Andreas Mannkopff, Ursula von Wiese, Otto Dornbierer, Regine Elsener, Hans Gaugler, Olga Gebhard
Klaus Kinski takes on the role of a doctor who is also Jack the Ripper by night. This is a bloody, gory version as he dismembers London prostitutes–with bad dubbing to boot. Still, one of Franco's better efforts. Does that tell you anything about his other horror films?
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Lady Frankenstein 1971 R, 84 min. Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Mel Welles Cast: Joseph Cotten, Rosalba Neri, Paul Whiteman, Mickey Hargitay, Paul Muller, Renate Kasche, Herbert Fux, Lorenzo Terzon, Ada Pometti, Andrea Aureli, Joshua Sinclair, Richard Beardley, Petar Martinovitch, Adam Welles, Mel Welles
Dr. Frankenstein's (Joseph Cotten) daughter Tania (Rosalba Neri) continues the family tradition as she tries to create a man from body parts. Her reason differs from that of her father: she wants a man to fulfill her sexual fantasies.
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The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum 1975 R, 104 min. Genre: Foreign / Drama
Director: Volker Schlondorff, Margarethe von Trotta Cast: Angela Winkler, Mario Adorf, Dieter Laser, Jurgen Prochnow, Heinz Bennent, Hannelore Hoger, Harald Kuhlmann, Rolf Becker, Herbert Fux, Regine Lutz, Werner Eichhorn, Karl Heinz Vosgerau, Angelika Hellebrecht, Horatius Haberle, Henry van Lyck
Based on Heinrich Boll's novel, this is a film denouncing the German press and police as the story appeals for respect for human rights. The story evolves around Katharina Blum (Angela Winkler) who falls in love and, naively, lets her new lover, Ludwig (Jurgen Prochnow) spend the night. The next morning, he has disappeared, the police are at her door, and she is arrested. Too late, Katharina learns that her lover is a terrorist and traitor, and she will be the victim of persecution.
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Mark of the Devil 1970 R, 96 min. Genre: Foreign / Horror aka: Burn, Witch, Burn
Director: Michael Armstrong, Adrian Hoven Cast: Herbert Lom, Udo Kier, Olivera Vuco, Reggie Nalder, Herbert Fux, Gaby Fuchs, Johannes Buzalski, Michael Maien, Ingeborg Schoner, Adrian Hoven, Gunter Clemens, Doris von Danwitz
Witch hunter Count Cumberland (Herbert Lom) extracts confessions from his victims by sadistic means. His apprentice, Count Christian von Meruh (Udo Kier), has supported Count Cumberland but loses faith after rescuing Vanessa (Olivera Vuco) during a torture session to obtain her confession. This act of running afoul of Count Cumberland leads to the sacrifice of Christian at the hands of villagers. Of course, Count Cumberland escapes, which sets the stage for the sequel: "Mark of the Devil Part 2."
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Sonny and Jed 1972 R, 91 min. Genre: Foreign / Western aka: Bandera Bandits J & S: Criminal Story of an Outlaw Couple
Director: Sergio Corbucci Cast: Tomas Milian, Susan George, Telly Savalas, Rosanna Yanni, Franco Giacobini, Eduardo Fajardo, Herbert Fux, Laura Betti, Werner Pochath, Alvaro de Luna, Dan van Husen
Mean and violent Jed (Tomas Milian) robs the rich and gives to the poor in this spaghetti Western set in the Southwest. He takes on a partner, Sonny (Susan George), who wants to experience excitement–and she gets it. Meanwhile, the sheriff (Telly Savalas) is on their trail.
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| 1. Assignment Istanbul (1969) aka: The Castle of Fu Manchu
2. Beyond the Law (1968) aka: Bloodsilver aka: The Good Die First
3. Eugenie...The Story of Her Journey Into Perversion (1970)
4. Jack the Ripper (1976)
5. Lady Frankenstein (1971)
6. The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum (1975)
7. Mark of the Devil (1970) aka: Burn, Witch, Burn
8. Sonny and Jed (1972) aka: Bandera Bandits aka: J & S: Criminal Story of an Outlaw Couple
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