tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post7486293847806937544..comments2024-01-25T05:48:13.938-06:00Comments on Mad Mad Mad Mad Movies: The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein (1972): or, Creating a BDSMonsterThe Vicar of VHShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832137990485130735noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-1739826203575919982010-09-01T17:08:10.461-05:002010-09-01T17:08:10.461-05:00Blogger's new SPAM filter is working for me, b...Blogger's new SPAM filter is working for me, but not sure they have launched it for all blogs.Darius Whiteplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17950956139088139753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-40900847955848675252010-09-01T16:11:58.617-05:002010-09-01T16:11:58.617-05:00Yeah, I'm thinking it may be an actual person ...Yeah, I'm thinking it may be an actual person whose job it is to paste that stuff in with links to get past the comment verification thing. Been hit a few times the last couple of days. I have resisted turning on the "awaiting moderation" switch here, but if it keeps up I'll have no other option. :PThe Vicar of VHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06832137990485130735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-91995619226138140082010-09-01T13:15:00.117-05:002010-09-01T13:15:00.117-05:00Fucking Dick-Pill SPAMmers... Glad it got deleted ...Fucking Dick-Pill SPAMmers... Glad it got deleted or filtered, but still got to my mailbox. I hate those guys.Darius Whiteplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17950956139088139753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-79532918520017246042010-07-21T13:56:44.440-05:002010-07-21T13:56:44.440-05:00I'm in your back catalogue, scoping ur reviews...I'm in your back catalogue, scoping ur reviews.<br /><br />I so want to see this now. Running over to Netflix right away!Darius Whiteplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17950956139088139753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-74596296151300557822009-12-14T23:45:44.175-06:002009-12-14T23:45:44.175-06:00I'm firmly in the Genius camp when it comes to...I'm firmly in the Genius camp when it comes to Franco, but I'm totally a fanboy, and I know a lot of his movies are just not gonna work for most people -- Franco literally can not stop making movies, and he's more than happy to remake the same movie repeatedly (at least once guaranteed to be hardcore porn). I think, for me, the key to being a Franco fan is where your identification lies as a viewer -- if you identify with characters, it's gonna be a tough row to hoe, as his characters are basically wind-up toys built from id-centered impulses and eye candy. If your identification is with the director as storyteller, however, there's something to like in even his worst films (I'd personally put his Fu Manchu films in that category, which I'll just say DON'T), and as a lifelong fan of "How much awesome can you get out of the barest minimum of resources?" I'm more than happy to overlook the technical problems (of which there are many) of his films. I figure the truly great Franco films wouldn't be possible were it not for the fact that Franco really has no filter, and while there's a handful of films you can cherrypick and enjoy on their own I feel like he's very much a "whole trip" kinda filmmaker as opposed to a "greatest hits" type, and while I don't think Venus in Furs is his best film (and there's a *lot* I haven't seen, but my vote goes for Eugenie, but then I've got it *bad* for Soledad Miranda, and her presence in a film pretty much makes it a guaranteed fave) but it's definitely a good choice for giving Franco a fair chance, more so than The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein (which is definitely mid-level). Alejandro Jodorowsky once said (this might not be exactly right, but) "I have always been drawn to things I find interesting but do not understand", and that really captures my interest in Franco's films.dbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08610914455757359201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-57971436772687632972009-12-14T15:18:34.450-06:002009-12-14T15:18:34.450-06:00@cinemarchaeologist--thanks for all the wonderful ...@cinemarchaeologist--thanks for all the wonderful info! I'll definitely be delving into more of Franco's work, despite my mixed experience so far. As you say, at his best he's incredible--SUCCUBUS is a fantastic film.<br /><br />Thanks also for the explanation of the gypsy scenes. I still don't recall Lina ever interacting with anyone else in the movie, which is what made it feel like it wasn't really connected. Maybe she has a scene with Vernon at the end...I honestly don't recall. <br /><br />VENUS IN FURS is definitely next on my Franco list!The Vicar of VHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06832137990485130735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-79854438632184314372009-12-12T21:50:10.581-06:002009-12-12T21:50:10.581-06:00Franco is, indeed, a hack genius. At his worst, yo...Franco is, indeed, a hack genius. At his worst, you get something like OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES, my stock example of awful Franco for years, now (though, to be fair, it's really a composite film only partly made by Franco). At the top of his form, he can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the genre.<br /><br />The problems with EROTIC RITES mostly stem from the budget. Franco made a trilogy of "monster mash" movies back-to-back, and all of them were made for a few bologna sandwiches and a roll of quarters. The first (DRACULA, PRISONER OF FRANKENSTEIN) is all but unwatchable. EROTIC RITES is much better, with a lot of wild experimentation going on, and a lot of very memorable images, but still crippled by that nothing budget.<br /><br />(BTW, the purpose of the gypsy scenes was to set up the ending. Cagliostro is immortal because he reincarnates, and the gypsy was to be the vessel for his next coming. She has a conversation with an old gypsy woman at the end, after Cagliostro has done himself in, and it turns out the woman was one of his previous "mothers.")<br /><br />If you're going to watch VENUS IN FURS, you're on the right track in your journey to decide what Franco really is. If I was looking to make a believer of someone, I'd steer them toward it, and items like FEMALE VAMPIRE, A VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD, EUGENIE DE SADE, and (after you've seen more of his work) MACUMBA SEXUAL. Franco is a great big wonderful subject.cinemarchaeologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13507603255666191405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-56816318805531963842009-12-10T08:19:37.939-06:002009-12-10T08:19:37.939-06:00@The Duke--I imagine Bilbao could toss a gypsy a g...@The Duke--I imagine Bilbao could toss a gypsy a good distance; he appeared to be in great shape. Plus the final rampage after he dismounts his bride is fairly bombastic and exciting. Though he does lose large swaths of his body paint in the process. :)<br /><br />@Jami--you make a good point! I'd never really thought of that. Of course in the novel/early movies the idea was to give the monster someone "like him" so that he wouldn't be alone in his wretchedness; after that folks just took the ball and ran with it. Also, I can tell you've given this whole "world domination through monster stock" a great deal of thought...should we mortals be worried? ;)<br /><br />@Geo--I think "hack AND genius" is where I'll have to end up. He's like the little girl with the curly hair in the old song--when he's good, he's very VERY good, but when he's bad, he's absolute shit. (That was, of course the "too hot for the nickelodeon" version of the song lyric.) Also, I'm thinking I need to make contact with my librarian on a more personal level, IYKWIM...<br /><br />@Samuel Wilson--"compulsive creativity" is exactly the right phrase for Franco; he famously would start shooting a new picture sometimes before finishing the one he was ostensibly working on, or get bored with current projects and move on after a sloppy, perfunctory completion. Much like the Duke with his serving girls.<br /><br />I also like the assessment of his having to misfire several times before really hitting the target--much like the Duke with his serving girls. ;)The Vicar of VHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06832137990485130735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-52786271413520642962009-12-10T00:04:38.910-06:002009-12-10T00:04:38.910-06:00Vicar, ironically enough I have seen Vampyros Lesb...Vicar, ironically enough I have seen Vampyros Lesbos and I happened to like it. Then again I happened to like the rebellious-cannibalism finale of <i>Greta the Torturer/Ilsa the Wicked Warden </i>for the sheer barbaric wackiness of it. Geo is right to emphasize the on-and-off aspect of Franco's compulsive creativity. It's as if he had to misfire several times before he managed something really inspired. I guess that's why we keep looking for the good ones.Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-5230295415982899802009-12-09T18:37:25.626-06:002009-12-09T18:37:25.626-06:00As one of the many who has been equally frustrated...As one of the many who has been equally frustrated by Franco, I've come to the conclusion that the question of "Hack or Genius" just doesn't apply. It's "Hack AND Genius". And viewer beware.<br />Can't say this one blew me away, but I was impressed with Jess's conviction -- he created and stayed within the loopy logic his own outre world, and man, it was one nutty ride. <br />Kudos to you Vicar for making sense of it enough to cull a coherent synopsis out of the proceedings. Can't imagine what that says about you, but I won't go there. <br />Re: the "unclothed" scenes in the Image DVD extras (And BTW, who THE F*** is your librarian???) -- watching them I had the sense that by viewing the clothed, domestic version, I'd experienced only a sliver of the full-tilt Madness. <br />I hear there's a Trash Palace DVD-R of the unclothed release. As a rule I try to steer clear of bootlegs, but I have to admit, this one's high up on my X-mas list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-8920441137179620092009-12-09T16:32:51.385-06:002009-12-09T16:32:51.385-06:00Now the whole "build a bride" thing I ne...Now the whole "build a bride" thing I never got. If I was going to breed a monster I'd breed him to a human woman to get creatures that could pass for human but have the monster's powers. Find me a nice fertile blind woman who's also incredibly broke and would do anything to stay alive. Breed her to the monster. Raise the kids up and send them out into the world to breed with humans as well. Sure, the monster part would get diluted but they'd slowly spread to take over the world and the humans would never know....JamiSingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12756726189949304645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-75695701828652042792009-12-09T16:21:28.625-06:002009-12-09T16:21:28.625-06:00As usual, a superb review, dearest Vicar!
I like ...As usual, a superb review, dearest Vicar!<br /><br />I like the cut of this guy's jib. I mean, if <i>I</i> were building a Frankenstein-esque monster, mine would also be covered in metallic body paint and also go out and fetch fair maidens for me.<br /><br />Of course, I'd go the extra mile and make mine able to toss a witch and/or gypsy 50 yards without breaking a sweat...The Duke of DVDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04931606833969681610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-83742883508720990352009-12-09T16:12:03.961-06:002009-12-09T16:12:03.961-06:00@Trix--Welcome back! And if you manage to bust out...@Trix--Welcome back! And if you manage to bust out "wiggly Eurowang" in conversation before you go to your reward, consider yourself absolved! ;)<br /><br />@Samuel Wilson--If you haven't seen Franco's SUCCUBUS, that's really the best argument I've witnessed for giving him "genius" status. VAMPYROS LESBOS is good too, and I'm given to understand it might be right up your alley. ;) <br /><br />I've heard it argued that Franco's less-than-revered status could be a function of his manic prolificness--he made so MANY movies, the argument goes, that the percentage of not-so-good attempts overwhelms the smaller percentage of genuinely brilliant stuff. Next on my Franco watchlist is VENUS IN FURS, which people in the know tell me is another tic in the "genius" column, so we'll see.The Vicar of VHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06832137990485130735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-74433437364648454082009-12-09T16:03:15.986-06:002009-12-09T16:03:15.986-06:00Vicar, my own local library has Franco's Count...Vicar, my own local library has Franco's Count Dracula and The Bloody Judge, but I have to bow to your librarian's crazy courage in carrying such a title as this one. <br /><br />I'm ambivalent about Franco. I really liked <i>Two Undercover Angels</i> but <i>Kiss Me Monster</i> was so uninspired and has such an afterthought quickie quality to it that I haven't felt motivated to write a review. You review of <i>Erotic Rites</i> makes me sort of interested in seeing the film just to see if it gives me any fresh clues on what makes Franco tick. I guess that makes me an auteurist.Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032450846239938332.post-63338215641473489652009-12-09T13:04:35.497-06:002009-12-09T13:04:35.497-06:00Forgive me Vicar for I have sinned. It's bee...Forgive me Vicar for I have sinned. It's been a lifetime since my last confession... I mean comment. ;)<br />Actually, I felt compelled to stop in and thank you for my lunchtime reading pleasure. I've even filed "wiggly Eurowang" away in my dusty brain with the hopes I'll have at least *one* occasion to use it before I die. :)Trixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04432858158442749935noreply@blogger.com