Films Without Families

The Maniacs

2008-09-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

d. Lucio Fulci
c. Italy
y. 1964

description:
"A minor comedy from Italian filmmaker Lucio Fulci (Zombi 2; L'Aldila), this anthology is of interest primarily to cult devotees for marking the notorious director's only collaboration with legendary "scream queen" Barbara Steele (La Maschera del Demonio). Lushly photographed and filled with popular comedians of the era (including Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia, who made several of their "Franco and Ciccio" comedies with Fulci), the film's sketches spotlight various manias. As might be expected, nymphomania gets an extended treatment, with all the requisite mugging, leering, and smarmy asides common to Italian comedies of the period, as well as a lengthy parade of songs, many scored by Ennio Morricone, and some international burlesque performers. Enrico Maria Salerno and Walter Chiari lead a cast which includes Lisa Gastoni, Gaia Germani, Umberto d'Orsi, and Raimondo Vianello." (AMG)

IMDB... 5.2 (15)
_AMG... n/a

size: 700MB
qlty: DVD
subs: ?

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Strongman Ferdinand

2008-09-14T08:42:00.001-07:00

d. Alexander Kluge
c. West Germany
y. 1976

description:
"Ferdinand Rieche (Heinz Schubert) was a policeman, but found the legal constraints of that profession too stifling. He gets into the business of protecting manufacturing plants and outfits and trains his men like a private army expecting an invasion. After his excesses prove too much for his bosses, he is fired, and Ferdinand takes his strong opinions back into public life." (AMG)

IMDB... 7.1 (34)
_AMG... 3.0 / 5.0

size: 1360MB
qlty: DVD
subs: yes

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Artists and Models Abroad

2008-07-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

d. Mitchell Leisen
c. USA
y. 1938

description:
"In this musical sequel to the highly successful Artists and Models, Jack Benny plays Buck Boswell, the leader of a troupe of performers who end up broke and stranded in gay Paris. To rustle up a little cash, he decides to produce a musical fashion show. Boswell hires an American father and daughter to perform because he thinks they too are impoverished. Things happen, and Boswell nearly loses his show until his two Yanks reveal that they are loaded." (AMG)

IMDB... 6.0 (31)
_AMG... 2.0 / 5.0

size: 940MB
qlty: VHS
subs: n/a

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The Boss

2008-07-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

d. Byron Haskin
c. USA
y. 1956

description:
"John Payne always felt that he delivered his best screen performance in The Boss. Set in the years following WW1, the story concerns a small-town veteran named Matt Brady (John Payne), whose brother, machine politician Tim Brady (Roy Roberts), arranges for Matt to get a cushy government job. When Tim dies, Matt takes over his operation, eventually assuming control of the entire state (which judiciously remains unnamed in the film). Though a successful power broker, Matt is unable to win the woman he loves (Doe Avedon), so he settles for another (Gloria McGhee) whom he treats atrociously. A falling out with his best friend/severest critic Bob Herrick (William Bishop) sets the stage for the ruthless Brady's inevitable downfall. Though all the names were changed to protect the guilty, audiences in 1956 were quick to perceive that the film was a thinly disguised attack on the Pendergast machine of Kansas City, Missouri. Coproduced and cowritten by John Payne, The Boss falters only in its overreliance upon anachronistic newsreel footage." (AMG)

IMDB... 7.2 (37)
_AMG... 2.5 / 5.0

size: 850MB
qlty: VHS
subs: n/a

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Yoshiwara

2008-07-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

d. Max Ophuls
c. France
y. 1937

description:
"This bit of elegant esoterica was Max Ophuls' only directorial effort for 1937. Japanese matinee idol Sessue Hayakawa made a long-overdue return to films as Yaamo, a humble Chinese coolie in love with the beautiful and aristocratic Kohana (Michiko Tanaka). Following her father's suicide, Kohana is reduced to working as a Geisha girl, and it is in this capacity that she meets Russian naval officer Serge Polinoff (Pierre-Richard Willm), who marries the girl and takes her back to his homeland. Now regarding Kohana as a traitor, Yaamo swears vengeance on both the girl and her Russian husband. At film's end, only Kohana is left alive, which in context is surprising indeed. The Japanese government issued a formal complaint about the content of Yoshiwara, but French moviegoers were not yet conditioned to take such things seriously, and the film was a hit." (AMG)

IMDB... 6.2 (27)
_AMG... 2.5 / 5.0

size: 1090MB
qlty: TV
subs: no

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The Lion Has Seven Heads

2008-07-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

d. Glauber Rocha
c. Brazil
y. 1971

description:
"This disturbing story of religious and political confusion in Latin America finds the CIA trying to infiltrate rebels loyal to a puppet government. A local guerilla fighter is tortured by a priest and his cronies who take sadistic pleasure in the torment of their victims. A blonde woman loyal to a shadowy operative is stripped naked, thrown in a cage and crucified by the sinful and sadistic spiritual scum. The guerilla eventually escapes to exact revenge on the enemy." (AMG)

IMDB... 6.9 (26)
_AMG... 2.5 / 5.0

size: 570MB
qlty: VHS
subs: ?

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Each Night I Dream

2008-07-08T21:42:00.001-07:00

d. Mikio Naruse
c. Japan
y. 1933

description:
"This silent feature by the esteemed Japanese director Mikio Naruse takes the form of a domestic melodrama. Sumiko Kurishima stars as Omitsu, a barmaid and single parent long-estranged from her irresponsible, out-of-work husband (Tatsuo Saito). When he suddenly returns without advance warning, she does anything and everything in her power to pull the pieces of her shattered family back together. Naruse employs heavy stylization to tell his story, including the repeated use of montage, a fractured chronology, and metonymical close-ups of characters' moving legs. When combined, these elements imbue the motion picture with much tension and a lingering sense of unease." (AMG)

IMDB... 7.9 (28)
_AMG... n/a

size: 480MB
qlty: VHS
subs: yes

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The Last Indian Attack

2008-07-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

d. Alcides Greca
c. Argentina
y. 1917

description:
"El Último Malón it is one of the early Argentinean silent films that has survived until today. It was the only film that was directed by Herr Alcides Greca, a man with many cultural interests as a journalist and writer and with other more useful interests as a lawyer and politician. The film depicts the revolt of the Mocovies, Argentinean Indians, in the city of San Javier in 1904. Herr Alcides Greca was a native of that city and thus his interest to tell the world what happened in his town." (IMDB Comment)

IMDB... 7.4 (6)
_AMG... n/a

size: 590MB
qlty: VHS
subs: n/a

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The Clown

2008-07-08T21:30:00.000-07:00

d. A. W. Sandberg
c. Denmark
y. 1926

description:
"The Clown, directed and co-written by A.W. Sandberg, is a remake of a 1917 film, also titled Klovnen, written and directed by Sandberg." (IMDB Comment)

IMDB... 6.5 (17)
_AMG... n/a

size: 1460MB
qlty: DVD
subs: no (Spanish)

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Carrot Top

2008-07-08T21:20:00.000-07:00

d. Julien Duvivier
c. France
y. 1925

description:
"A family is a group of people living under the same roof who cannot stand each other." So writes young François Lepic, nicknamed Poil de carotte (Carrot-top), in his school essay - and he gets soundly rapped on the knuckles by his teacher for it. But the poor boy is used to such abuse: at home his mother takes a vicious delight in maltreating him, his brother and sister torment him, and his father simply ignores him. Only the maid understands him and foresees the possible tragedy lying ahead." (Cine-Clasico)

IMDB... 7.2 (9)
_AMG... 2.5 / 5.0

size: 1360MB
qlty: DVD
subs: yes

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Moscow

2008-07-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

d. Mikhail Kaufman
c. USSR
y. 1927

description:
Silent feature by Dziga Vertov's brother, Mikhail. He was the cinematographer on Vertov's Man With A Movie Camera.

IMDB... 0.0 (0)
_AMG... n/a

size: 470MB
qlty: ?
subs: n/a

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Blind Justice

2008-07-08T14:44:00.000-07:00

d. Benjamin Christensen
c. Denmark
y. 1916

description:
"Directed by Benjamin Christensen, who would later become quite notable, this Danish silent film was a classic romantic melodrama about an escaped criminal who "steals" his own child from an orphanage before seeking refuge at a nearby manor home. The daughter of the house agrees to help him feed the child but the escaped prisoner is arrested once again. Paroled after 14 years, the reformed man learns that his child has been adopted by the same girl who once came to his assistance. Christensen played the escaped convict himself in this the only notable film from the now forgotten Dansk Biografkompagni ("Danish Biograph Company")." (AMG)

IMDB... 6.9 (27)
_AMG... 2.5 / 5.0

size: 1370MB
qlty: DVD
subs: n/a

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The Mysterious X

2008-07-08T14:38:00.000-07:00

d. Benjamin Christensen
c. Denmark
y. 1914

description:
"One modern critic termed this classic of the Danish silent screen, "a bad story translated into moving pictures with a visual energy that still commands respect." Directed by future Hollywood emigre Benjamin Christensen, Det Hemmelighedsfulde X told a sordid story of a navy officer (Christensen) falsely accused of being a spy and stubbornly refusing to hand over proof of his innocence in order to protect a philandering wife. An innovator, Christensen astounded audiences by filming the turning on of an electric light. Motion pictures were shot in natural sunlight in those days, and Christensen was forced to use trick photography. The set was draped with black cloth and Karen Sandberg, playing the adulterous wife, entered to "turn on the light." The camera was stopped while the cloth was removed and the actress remained still. When filming resumed, the set was bathed in light. Det Hemmelighedsfulde X, along with the Swedish Witchcraft Through the Ages (1922), led to a contract with Ufa in Germany and, in time, the invitation to Hollywood. Alas, Christensen's stay in America was, by and large, a disappointment, and he returned to his native country where he mainly directed programmers." (AMG)

IMDB... 7.9 (44)
_AMG... 3.0 / 5.0

size: 700MB
qlty: DVD
subs: n/a

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Fall of the Romanov Dynasty

2008-07-08T14:10:00.000-07:00

d. Esfir Shub
c. USSR
y. 1927

description:
"Soviet filmmaker Esfir Shub assembled this historical documentary, which uses newsreel footage (some show by Czar Nicholas II's own camera men) to depict the tummultuous events of 1912 through 1917, as the leadership of the Czar and the Russian aristocracy crumbles and Lenin rises to power in the wake of the Soviet Revolution." (AMG)

IMDB... 7.1 (38)
_AMG... 2.0 / 5.0

size: 700MB
qlty: ?
subs: n/a

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Impressions de la haute Mongolie

2008-06-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

d. Salvador Dali
c. West Germany
y. 1976

description:
"An elaborate yarn about a search for giant hallucinogenic mushrooms." (IMDB comment)

IMDB... 6.4 (23)
_AMG... n/a

size: 500MB
qlty: ?
subs: ?

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Identification Marks: None

2008-06-14T20:14:00.000-07:00

d. Jerzy Skolimowski
c. Poland
y. 1964

description:
"In this drama, a budding ichthyologist studies at a university to try to avoid the draft. At the last moment he then relents and enlists. He has only a few hours to organize his personal life before he must undertake basic training. He goes to his apartment; there he finds his sick dog and has it put to sleep. He then attempts to make love to a housewife, not his own. Finally he goes to the store where his own wife works and discovers that she is really a streetwalker. The young man attempts to prepare himself for spending the next two years in the military as he walks toward the train station." (AMG)

IMDB... 7.7 (37)
_AMG... 3.0 / 5.0

size: 570MB
qlty: Sat
subs: no

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Walkower

2008-06-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

d. Jerzy Skolimowski
c. Poland
y. 1965

description:
"An aging boxer makes a scant living as a prizefighter in this drama. A former college buddy helps the fighter get an engineering job. Still the lure of the ring is strong, and when the fellow learns that his factory has a boxing team, he eagerly signs up. During a major fight, he ends up winning when his opponent is a no-show. Later the late fighter arrives and demands half of the prize money as he was paid not to show up. The protagonist refuses to share and the two end up duking it out in the ring. The aging fighter is no match for the opponent and is badly beaten." (AMG)

IMDB... 8.1 (37)
_AMG... 3.0 / 5.0

size: 530MB
qlty: ?
subs: no

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Barrier

2008-06-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

d. Jerzy Skolimowski
c. Poland
y. 1966

description:
"This Polish drama chronicles the rebelliousness of the country's youth as it presents episodes from a young man's cross-country journey." (AMG)

IMDB... 7.4 (56)
_AMG... 2.5 / 5.0

size: 560MB
qlty: Sat
subs: no

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The Cossacks

2008-06-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

d. George W. Hill
c. USA
y. 1928

description:
"Based on a Leo Tolstoy novel, The Cossacks centers around Lukashka (John Gilbert), a young Russian man who has no interest in fighting, unlike the other Cossacks around him. Because of his cheery, peaceful ways, he is ridiculed by the others of his village, even though he is the son of Ivan the Ataman (Ernest Torrence), who is the toughest man there. Finally, even Lukashka's ladylove, Maryana (Renee Adoree), believes him a coward. The people of the village dress him up in an apron and throw grapes at him, and this causes him to snap. Lukashka becomes a fierce fighter, killing any Turks that come his way. Meanwhile, the Czar's messenger, Prince Olenin (Neil Neely) comes to town and decides to take Maryana for his own. But when he makes his way back to the capital with the girl, Lukashka kidnaps her. As for the Prince, he is killed by a pack of Turks. Although the set design and photography for this film were well-done, other aspects miss. George Hill directed most of the picture but Clarence Brown was brought in at the finish to clean it up -- Brown claims the film was a mess by the time he was assigned to work on it. Many of the subtitles are poorly written and are not fair descriptions of the action. One example that is especially -- and unintentionally -- hilarious: Gilbert's character is introduced with "He does not like the smell of blood. He is a chewer of sunflower seeds." Needless to say, Gilbert was unhappy with The Cossacks. While it received, for the most part, positive reviews, hindsight shows that it subtly marked the beginning of a downward spiral for the M-G-M silent star." (AMG)

IMDB... 8.2 (10)
_AMG... n/a

size: 700MB
qlty: ?
subs: n/a

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Pavoncello

2008-06-13T22:15:00.000-07:00

d. Andrzej Zulawski
c. Poland
y. 1967

description:
"In 1912, Szczebieniew, a rich and ailing old man, comes to Italy with his young wife, Zinaida. Bored with his company, she looks for amusement and casual affairs. Szczebieniew is aware of it but he hopes that at least this way she can bear him an heir. However, he makes sure that she is always accompanied by Emelianow, Szczebieniew's servant and confidant. One day, in a movie theater Zinaida meets Ernesto Fosca, a young Italian violinist. She asks him to give her music lessons. She doesn't conceal her affection for him and they end up spending a night together. In the morning, though, Emelianow tells Ernesto that it was all planned."

IMDB... 7.4 (10)
_AMG... n/a

size: 170MB
qlty: Sat
subs: no

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Story of Triumphant Love

2008-06-13T22:11:00.000-07:00

d. Andrzej Zulawski
c. Poland
y. 1967

description:
"One day Mucjusz and his friend Malaj visit the mansion of Fabiusz, an old time friend of Mucjusz. Their sudden arrival makes Fabiusz anxious because years ago Mucjusz was in love with his beautiful wife Waleria. The visitor, however, assures Fabiusz that during his wanderings he has met many other women and has forgotten his old flame. The master of the house offers for him to stay in the garden pavilion. At the party in their honor, while Mucjusz distributes gifts to everyone present, Malaj plays the charming "Song of Love." It's rumored that those who are in love can do unusual things while listening to this melody at night. To prove it Mucjusz pierces his chest with a stiletto and takes it out without a sign of pain. At night Waleria wakes up to the sounds of the charming song coming from the outside and goes to the pavilion. In their conversation Mucjusz confesses that he still loves her but he has leprosy."

IMDB... 5.7 (9)
_AMG... n/a

size: 180MB
qlty: ?
subs: no

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I'm an Elephant, Madame

2008-06-10T19:09:00.000-07:00

d. Peter Zadek
c. West Germany
y. 1969

description:
"Rull (Wolfgang Schneider) is in his last year at a classical German state school. Believing all authority figures are repugnant, he engages in a series of bizarre behaviors. He literally acts like a bull in a china shop, alienates his friends, loses his girlfriend and infuriates his teachers. When he paints a swastika on a wall of the Parliament building, he really gets in trouble. This film is based on the novel The Unadvised by Thomas Valentin. In the novel, the principle character was a hero, but he turns into an alienating buffoon in the celluloid version. Neither authority figures nor the counterculture is spared in this satire. Music is provided by Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground."

IMDB... 7.7 (26)
_AMG... 3.0 / 5.0

size: 700MB
qlty: DVD
subs: no

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Oriental Elegy

2008-05-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

d. Aleksandr Sokurov
c. Russia
y. 1996

description:
n/a

IMDB... 6.5 (39)
_AMG... n/a

size: 410MB
qlty: ?
subs: no (Italian?)

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Last Day of a Rainy Summer

2008-05-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

d. Aleksandr Sokurov
c. USSR
y. 1978

description:
n/a

IMDB... n/a
_AMG... n/a

size: 300MB
qlty: ?
subs: no

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Robert: A Fortunate Life

2008-05-23T16:24:00.000-07:00

d. Aleksandr Sokurov
c. Russia
y. 1996

description:
"Aleksander Sokurov brings the treasures of the Hermitage back into the light by making films about artists and their paintings. He has chosen the painter Hubert Robert, who spent a long time in Italy, and whose preference was for creating ancient ruined landscapes and naturalistic portrayals of times past. He was successful with the wealthy, who bought his works from him. The camera pans across the paintings while Sokurov speaks of a happy era, when the artist was at one with the spirit of the times, and agreed with the taste of his clients. Just how far removed from us this is, is shown by pictures of a "Nô" performance which are inter-cut on the screen. No words are necessary to describe what everybody knows today." (IMDB)

IMDB... 6.6 (32)
_AMG... n/a

size: 250MB
qlty: ?
subs: no (Italian?)

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