BLOG ENTRY # 13 ------------- Here at SUPERNATURAL THEATER
Two Bryan Edgar Wallace Krimis!
SECRET OF THE BLACK TRUNK, and STRANGLER OF BLACKMOOR CASTLE!
Edgar Wallace's son, Bryan followed in his father's footsteps in terms of mystery writing.
Not as prolific as Dad, but he had a good "who done it" career too.
When you watch any of the German mysteries based on books by Edgar Wallace,
or his son Bryan, you must suspend some belief.
They take place in or around London , England
But they are filmed in Germany
from Germany Thames .
Enjoy the strange plots, the jazzy music, the foreboding fog bound castles, 60’s fashions, the murky atmosphere, and the fantastic character actors.
So leave logic, and our current time behind.
So leave logic, and our current time behind.
Up first --------A talented knife thrower holds London in a grip of terror! Oh my!
Not to worry. Inspector Finch is on the job.
SECRET OF THE BLACK TRUNK
Starring JOACHIM HANSEN, the always lovely SENTA BERGER,
Hans Reiser, Leonard Steckel, Helga Sommerfeld, Elfriede Irrall,
Peter Carsten, and with comic relief expert Chris Howland
Produced by Artur Brauner for CCC, Berlin
Directed by Werner Klinger
Screenplay & story by Gustav Kampendonk, and Bryan Edgar Wallace
Music by Gert Wilden
German --- 1962
"Please....water" the criminal begs. "Answer me first, where does the Mescadrine come from?
Who is your supplier?"
The film opens with a businessman in London's Soho returning to his hotel room
wanting to check out, only to find his suitcases have already been packed for him.
wanting to check out, only to find his suitcases have already been packed for him.
Confused, he calls for the maid. "My bags are packed, has my bill been paid too?"
"Oh no..... not another!" she exclaims.
Apparently this has happened before in the neighborhood.
Apparently this has happened before in the neighborhood.
The staff rushes to get him out quickly to a waiting taxi cab.
We see a threatening knife in a black gloved hand. It's thrown with precision,
and hits the man's back as he's about to enter the taxi.
A crowd of onlookers suddenly appears.
We see a threatening knife in a black gloved hand. It's thrown with precision,
and hits the man's back as he's about to enter the taxi.
A crowd of onlookers suddenly appears.
One of them is a odd, curious man named Arnold Wickerly (Comic relief actor Chris Howland), with his tape recorder turned on.
"I've been in London for less than an hour, and I've already stumbled upon my first murder!"
A stranger on the street replies --- "Well that's London for you".
Dr. Bransby, an older doctor (Leonard Steckel) arrives and takes a peek at the fatal wound.
A bobby arrives to move people away from the body. Bransby exits with his medical bag,
and the victim's brief case.
A bobby arrives to move people away from the body. Bransby exits with his medical bag,
and the victim's brief case.
Ah Ha, the first clue? Don't worry, they'll be a whole bunch more.
Remember, this is a Wallace Krimi!
We get introduced to Inspector Robert Finch of Scotland Yard (Joachim Hansen). Wickerly turns out is Finch's visiting cousin from America, that has a crazy hobby. He's a Sound Hound, recording various sounds with his microphone on his tape recorder (Remember those?).
The Bobby tells Finch, about the missing case and Bransby.
Bransby's office is the next logical stop for Finch, and he now meets Susan Brown (gorgeous Senta Berger), the very lovely secretary for the doctor. She also becomes the movie's obvious love interest for the hero. Lucky guy.
Bransby's office is the next logical stop for Finch, and he now meets Susan Brown (gorgeous Senta Berger), the very lovely secretary for the doctor. She also becomes the movie's obvious love interest for the hero. Lucky guy.
Now the Secret of the Black Trunk is off and running.
Susan and Dr. Bransby. He is secretly wealthy, and wants to marry Susan.
Hey this is a German Krimi. She has to fall in love with Finch. That's the formula.
Insp. Finch explains the knife murders to his boss and assistant.
Bransby visits a sick patient that got his suitcase packed by the killer too.
The man wants to get out of England quick. Can you blame him?
So he's off to a waiting ship that's ready to sail. But he's not quick enough.
So he's off to a waiting ship that's ready to sail. But he's not quick enough.
The expert knife thrower hits his target at 50 yards.
The throwing knife in mid air. Believable effect? Remember, it's a fun, low budget flick.
London had a few victims of this luggage packing, knife thrower. Finch better get cracking and solve the killings quick. His boss is getting impatient. Aren't they always?
The victims had traces of a wild and sinister drug called mescadrine.
Don't bother looking it up, it only exists for this movie.
Finch wants some advice on knives & mescadrine, so he sees an friend named
Humphrey Curtis (Hans Reiser), who's also a famous criminologist.
As with many characters in these concoctions, Curtis does not show his true colors.
Moments before Finch's arrival, a two bit blackmailer tried to reveal Curtis' true identity.
Curtis can be tough when he needs to be.
The plot starts to go into a spin cycle, and the movie's running time goes fast.
Lots of red herrings!
More suitcases get packed. You know what that means.
More knives are perfectly thrown. Gee his aim is real good.
The killer is after anyone involved with the Mescadrine drug distribution.
Finch and Susan become an item. Wouldn't you fall for Senta Berger too?
Dr. Bransby has a double life. Doctor and drug manufacturer.
Plus he's a dirty old man going after Susan.
And he has two names, and two completely different identities. Wow, that's a cute trick.
Curtis has a lookout for clues, named Ponko (Peter Carsten). He's a wheelchair bound beggar that's around the action whenever it happens.
The FBI gives Finch some one's heroic and sad identity. Someone close to Susan.
Then Susan gets kidnapped! Go save her Inspector Finch!
We need a happy ending --- stat!
The FBI gives Finch some important facts. Susan and Finch are in love, but she misses her brother. He was killed working for the FBI.
Inspector Finch (played by Joachim Hansen) and the lovely Susan (Senta Berger).
Microphone in hand, Inspector Finch's visiting cousin, Arnold Wickerly is a "Sound Hound". His hobby is recording different sounds on his tape recorder.
The Sound Hound picks up an important clue to piece everything together.
So he is not the dork that you think. Comic relief, yes. Dork, no.
The Inspector, and his friend Humphrey Curtis will soon realize how this hobby can break
the Secret of the Black Trunk.
(Hans Reiser as Curtis, Joachim Hansen, and Chris Howland (as the comic relief Wickerly)
The criminologist Curtis has multiple lives too. He watches Susan from a far, not wanting to be nearby. He's hooked on the mescadrine drug too. Desperate to get a constant supply,
he even goes after the dealers.
he even goes after the dealers.
The handicapped beggar Ponko (Peter Carsten) keeps giving him clues.
Always at close range for Curtis selling his matches, cigarettes, and razor blades.
Ponko and Curtis are verrrrry important to the outcome of the story.
Ponko and Curtis are verrrrry important to the outcome of the story.
Curtis is hooked. Tired of buying a pill at a time, he goes to a nightclub owner that runs part of the drug operation for more. He's getting too close.
Sadly, Curtis gets his pretty dance hall girlfriend Lizzie involved (lovely Helga Sommerfeld). She warns him about his addiction.
Then one of her dancing addict girlfriends jumps off the roof.
Then one of her dancing addict girlfriends jumps off the roof.
In the last 20 minutes of the film, a few subplots all come together, so you don't feel cheated.
The drug gang goes after Lizzie and Curtis. Three thugs make Lizzie disappear. Poor Lizzie.
Curtis is thrown in the river. Lucky for him, Wickerly finds him.
Curtis is thrown in the river. Lucky for him, Wickerly finds him.
Dr. Bramsby's true identity is revealed after he kidnaps Susan. He also has strange relationship with his wacko niece Diana. She thinks she is the Blue Boy, from the old classic painting.
He wants to escape with both young women.
A big chase ensues through underground catacombs under a castle.
Curtis, Finch, and Susan find the underground lab for the Mescadrine, and of course,
finds the mastermind behind it all.
finds the mastermind behind it all.
Finally all the characters come together for the final accusation scene to wind up the finale.
And one final throw of the knife!
And one final throw of the knife!
More plot twists than 10 mysteries put together.
You won't figure out this ending!!! If you do.... you're a genius!
*****
MY RATING ---- B MINUS (Minus the knife victims)
Bransby (Leonard Steckel) with his weird niece Diana (Elfriede Irrall).
Finch & Curtis find the drug lab, and discovers the drug dealer's double life.
This was first shown on US New York
I was 11 at thetim e, and I first saw this film, The Avenger, and The Terrible People that I wrote about previously. Staying up to the wee hours of the morning on vacation was
really cool for a kid back then.
I was 11 at the
really cool for a kid back then.
Years later in the 1970 I began purchasing 16mm film prints. Beginning with short films, cartoons, and old TV shows, working my way up to feature films. In 1974, I bought my
first 12 Wallace titles including this one, and Strangler of Blackmoor Castle,
from a film dealer in
It turned out it was the exact film print I viewed on TV at 11 years old. The countdown leader film had a NY Channel 7, instead of the number 7.
Over the years, I had almost all the
krimis on film.
Over the years, I had almost all the
krimis on film.
By the early seventies, TV stations wanted color titles to broadcast, because color TV sales were booming. Black & White film seemed old hat. Even TV shows had “In Color” under the title (like“The Rat Patrol. In Color”).
TV companies wanted everybody to have the all new color TV models.
My parents' first color TV then, was a Sylvania 26" inside a big, heavy wood cabinet.
Then the short term film distributors and TV stations dumped literally tons of film prints at the tim e, and dealers got them for resale for collectors. About 70% of all films ever made have been destroyed by the film companies. Sad, huh?
Starting in the late 1980’s, two US tim e.
I’m happy my collecting contribution helped out.
I’m happy my collecting contribution helped out.
Now over in Europe , beautiful DVD’s are sold made from the original negatives.
Finally!
Finally!
Posters for the French/Dutch release above, and the German release below.
The eternally sexy Senta Berger. Past to recent time. Wow!!!!!!
The sultry Senta Berger had a long international film career.
153 film and TV credits to her name. She costarred with Robert Wagner in the pilot to
It Takes A Thief (titled The Magnificent Thief from 1967 filmed at Expo '67).
153 film and TV credits to her name. She costarred with Robert Wagner in the pilot to
It Takes A Thief (titled The Magnificent Thief from 1967 filmed at Expo '67).
Pretty Helga Sommerfeld played Curtis's girlfriend Lizzie. She starred in many Eurospy films and westerns in the 60's. Four pinup shots of Helga below.
French, Italian, and Spanish posters below.
Below a rare production shot of filming.
UP NEXT AT SUPERNATURAL THEATER---------Revenge from a weird, masked killer
with just nine fingers!
with just nine fingers!
THE STRANGLER OF BLACKMOOR CASTLE
THE STRANGLER WITH NINE FINGERS
THE STRANGLER WITH NINE FINGERS
Starring beautiful KARIN DOR, HARRY RIEBAUER,
Rudolf Fernau, Hans Reiser, Hans Neilsen, Richard Haussler, Walter Giller,
with Igmar Zeisberg, and Dieter Eppler.
Produced by Artur Braunner for CCC, Berlin
Directed by Dr. Harald Reinl
Music by synthesizer king, Oscar Sala
German --- 1963
German --- 1963
Lucius Clark is about to be knighted by the Queen of England
The almost Sir Lucius celebrates early at a dinner with friends in Blackmoor Castle
Outside the dogs are barking loudly. The butler Anthony tells the caretaker to quiet the animals. The caretaker sees a dark figure in the mists of the moor.
He investigates, only to be strangled by a masked attacker in the fog. The first victim.
After the party. Lucius is confronted by the Strangler complete with required black mask
and sinister voice.
He says a thief and murderer cannot be a knight of the realm.
The Strangler accuses Clark of the murder of Charles Mannings years ago, and
he wants the six million pounds of uncut diamonds that Clark stole.
Clark was a governor of Kimberly in Africa, and Mannings worked as his assistant.
The accusations are true. The Strangler says if he does not get the diamonds,
he will make Clark's life a hell on earth.
The Strangler lives up to that threat!
Lord Blackmoor (Walter Giller) lives in a high tower, because he rents the castle to
Lucius Clark (Rudolf Fernau), and his niece Claridge Dorsett (the ever popular,
lovely Krimi star, Karin Dor).
lovely Krimi star, Karin Dor).
They find the caretaker Tom’s corpse with the letter M carved in his forehead.
M for Mannings. That Strangler is clever.
The police also figure out from the neck marks, that the Strangler has only 9 fingers.
Claridge is a fresh newspaper reporter, along with her work partner Mike Pierce (Hans Reiser). She goes to call in the story to the newspaper, and Mike scares her
with black gloves around her neck.
Scotland Yard Inspector Cliff Mitchell (Harry Riebauer), and his assistant Watson are called in to solve the murder (as per mystery formula).
And also part of mystery formula, Cliff and Claridge fall in love. Awwww.
Claridge and he newspaper partner Mike Pierce (Hans Reiser)
questions Mitchell about the murders for a headline article.
Claridge and he newspaper partner Mike Pierce (Hans Reiser)
questions Mitchell about the murders for a headline article.
His butler Anthony (great character actor Dieter Eppler) not only takes care of Lucius, but he is a former ex-con diamond cutter.
He loves those rocks. I thought diamonds were only a girl’s best friend. Guess not.
Lucius has a fence, named Tavish, to sell the diamonds to. Tavish also owns a dive of a bar called The Old Scavenger Inn. Clark sends his gardener with a shipment to Tavish's bar.
The Strangler catches him halfway and decapitates him! Chop!!!! An M is carved in his head too.
The Strangler catches him halfway and decapitates him! Chop!!!! An M is carved in his head too.
He keeps the diamonds. An upset Tavish gets a box of sand.
Lucius gets ahead in the transaction.
Sorry, typo.
Lucius gets the head back.
Lucius gets the head back.
Don’t you worry, we have more strangulation, and yet another decapitation coming.
A motorcycle messenger from Tavish gets decapitated by the Strangler's wire across the roadway.
A motorcycle messenger from Tavish gets decapitated by the Strangler's wire across the roadway.
Cliff Mitchell and Watson question the snoopy telephone operator of the village.
"She sounds likes a blonde" he says after being questioned on calls to the castle.
Hey, he was right. Here comes sexy Judy!
That Strangler has an ace up his sleeve. His sexy wife, works as a bar girl for Tavish.
Her name is Judy (Igmar Zeisberg) or maybe one of her other aliases, like Lady L’Amour. So she gives him lots of info about fencing diamonds and Clark from hanging out with Tavish.
Cliff stays in the castle to investigate pretty Claridge further, I mean the murders.
While snooping around Clark ’s bookcases, he finds Clark's old love letters from the late Charles Manning’s wife Betty. Clark and Betty had a long term love affair.
She also had Clark ’s child. A boy with only 9 fingers. The same as Clark .
Like father like son. Traits like 9 fingers, and murder.
So the Strangler is really tormenting his real father.
So the Strangler is really tormenting his real father.
Like most krimi mysteries there’s enough plot for a couple of films.
He even thinks Claridge knows the whereabouts of the diamonds.
His diamond cutter may become a torture instrument!
Hurry Cliff, save Claridge.
Hurry Cliff, save Claridge.
And the thrilling finale takes place in the foggy, atmosphere soaked moors.
The Strangler drowns in the bog, and finally unmasked.
The final proof of his missing finger.
Spoiler ---- After being retrieved from Blackmoor, Judy cries over her drowned husband.
Spoiler ---- After being retrieved from Blackmoor, Judy cries over her drowned husband.
MY RATING ---- C PLUS (C it late night)
Easily available on DVD.
I acquired a film print of this title from the 12 film package I mentioned earlier, after the shelf life ended for the TV release.
Two video companies used my print to transfer from for VHS/DVD's.
Two video companies used my print to transfer from for VHS/DVD's.
It's a good one for late night viewing. Pure non think. Easy on the brain cells.
In the mid sixties, Strangler was constantly shown on New York's Channel 9. It was distributed by New York's own Walter Manley Enterprises. Manley released on TV many Eurotrash flicks like German mysteries including the Dr. Mabuse films, Sherlock Holmes, and Euro and Japanese Sci-Fi too. Later, he co-produced The Green Slime, and the
Italian Gamma space pictures.
Strangler did not have a theater release in the US. It went straight to TV stations.
Italian Gamma space pictures.
Strangler did not have a theater release in the US. It went straight to TV stations.
Karin Dor's most famous role, beautiful bad girl Helga in James Bond's You Only Live Twice.
She was a quick lover for 007, and a quick lunch for deadly piranha too.
She has had a long career in Euro films, and still loved by her fans today.
"Mr. Osato believes in healthy chest" says Helga. "Really" says Bond.
She has had a long career in Euro films, and still loved by her fans today.
"Mr. Osato believes in healthy chest" says Helga. "Really" says Bond.
Music composer Oscar Sala with an really early cool synthesizer score in this film.
Sala became known internationally for his bird sound effects in Hitchcock's The Birds.
Below, then husband and wife, Karin Dor and director Harald Reinl.
THANKS FOR READING
A BIG HELLO GOES OUT TO ALL MY READERS FROM -----
SUPERNATURAL THEATER!
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How cool is that???? I am amazed! It took a year.
People that love weird and obscure flicks are from all over the world!
Forget politics and politicians. Let's talk about old, corny movies !!!
People that love weird and obscure flicks are from all over the world!
Forget politics and politicians. Let's talk about old, corny movies !!!
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for comments, compliments, insults, profanities, questions, or what evers.
for comments, compliments, insults, profanities, questions, or what evers.
YOU CAN READ MY OTHER BLOG ENTRIES IN THE ARCHIVE (to the right).
REMEMBER, TO KEEP AN "EYE" OUT ---- THERE'S MORE
TRIVIAL TRIVIA TO COME.
READ BLOG ENTRY #14
TWO MORE EDGAR WALLACE FILMS
THE AVENGER and DOOR WITH SEVEN LOCKS !!!
Christopher Lee played a great Sherlock Holmes in
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE DEADLY NECKLACE!
Back to horror with the queen of Italian horror films,
Barbara Steele in CASTLE OF BLOOD!
Mario Bava was a great director ---- one of my favorites---- BARON BLOOD from 1972.
Fabuloussssss Euro-robbery film with a fantastic cast! Gary Lockwood and Elke Sommer--- great!
0SS-117 was a popular Eurospy. Kerwin Matthew here in Shadow of Evil.
Stewart Grainger was a cool Eurospy in TARGET FOR KILLING., aka How to Kill a Lady.
Still a MIA journalist from the Vietnam war --- Sean Flynn (Errol's son) played a cool Eurospy.
Two good ones. This was MISSION TO VENICE, plus Stop Train 349.
Two good ones. This was MISSION TO VENICE, plus Stop Train 349.
The great Anthony Hopkins was a cool Eurospy in 1970 in WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL!
Good enough to become a series of films!
Good enough to become a series of films!
Cool Eurospy Richard Harrison in SECRET AGENT FIREBALL. Check out my blog
on his film, MASTER STROKE.
on his film, MASTER STROKE.
Gerard Barray was a great French Eurospy, in BARAKA X-77, aka Baraka Sur 13.
A very obscure Eurospy film filmed in Thailand ---- 13 DAYS TO DIE!
aka. Secret of the Black Ruby.
Another Mario Bava super Euro favorite --- PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES.
The ultimate cheesy sci-fi---- THE GREEN SLIME, starring the lovely Luciana Paluzzi.
My favorite James Bond bad girl!
