Author Archive: Retro

Originally Ungarische Rhapsodie, this opulent Erich Pommer production stars Lil Dagover, Dita Parlo, and Willy Fritsch. The latter is cast as Franz, a dissolute young Austrian Army officer who gets himself into an embarrassing situation with the worldly Camilia (Dagover), the wife of elderly Baron Barsody (Leopold Kramer). Franz is rescued from public disgrace by pretty Hungarian peasant girl Marika (Parlo), who puts her own reputation on the line in the process. Out of gratitude, he asks Marika to become his wife, which she does, thereby apparently “absolving” the hero of his previous peccadilloes. Julian Johnson wrote the English-language subtitles for this heaping helping of mittel-European schmaltz.

Scientific minds unite to save the planet when a rocketship hits the sun, sending an asteroid shower to earth, which causes tidal waves, earthquakes and extreme temperatures. English dubbed. Dir. Paolo Heusch

Three stories based on Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio’s legendary portrayals of bawdy medieval romance. Jourdan plays the author, who tells his tales to a group of willing women.The pleasant, lighthearted love story. Costuming is amazingly authentic. Many thoughtful touches, beautiful settings, historically correct outfits andaccessories make this a lovely and visually appealing film. Dir. Hugo Fregonese

Cuba, 1850. On a sugar-cane plantation, the master and his wife are happy: they are expecting a child, their slaves are quiet. But one night, as the full moon was rising, the sound of the drums blared in the air. Yambao, the grand-daughter of a sorceress killed 15 years ago, has come back – with her grand-mother’s spirit.

Franco Sereni, a captain of carabiniers, is dismissed from service for being the proponent of “the law of the gun”. He is asked to hold a private investigation of several cases of blackmailing wealthy women. Soon Sereni finds out that there is much more then just blackmailing.