BLOG ENTRY # 14 ---- Here at SUPERNATURAL THEATER, your place for obscure & strange films, two more classic EDGAR WALLACE films are featured!
THE AVENGER, and THE DOOR WITH SEVEN LOCKS!
DELIGHTFULLY RIDICULOUS MURDER MYSTERIES made in Germany.
DELIGHTFULLY RIDICULOUS MURDER MYSTERIES made in Germany.
Kriminal films (aka Krimis) are still popular 50 years after being filmed.
Loyal fans around the world still luv'em!
They don't make 'em like this any more!
Thank you for reading. Readership now from 113 countries around the world!
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Loyal fans around the world still luv'em!
They don't make 'em like this any more!
Thank you for reading. Readership now from 113 countries around the world!
***
This film series opens -----
Machine gun shots rang out, the bloody bullet holes appear, and Edgar Wallace is spelled out.
The soundtrack voiced --- "Good evening. This is Edgar Wallace speaking".
Up first ---- THE AVENGER
Beheading, blackmail, a foggy castle, pretty damsels, underground tunnels, swords sharp as razors, and a servant that's half man, half animal!
You can never say Edgar Wallace is not original.
THE AVENGER
Starring HEINZ DRACHE,
Ina Duscha, Siegfried Schurenberg, Benno Sterzenbach,
Al Hoosman, Lugwig Linkmann,
Al Hoosman, Lugwig Linkmann,
with Ingrid Van Bergen, and with Klaus Kinski
Directed by Karl Anton
Produced by Kurt Ulrich
Based on the novel The Hairy Arm, by Edgar Wallace
Large gates open, and a black antique sedan pulls away, on a dark,
foggy night outside of London
hoping the box is worth something.
hoping the box is worth something.
They discover a severed head inside.
The victim is identified as
Francis Elmer, a member of Special Branch.
His superior, Major Staines (Siegfried Schurenberg) calls upon agent Michael
Brixan (Heinz Drache) to investigate. In a typewritten note found, the killer
calls himself, the Benefactor. Also a couple of individual keyboard letters
type off line, and an antique typewriter was used.
And the Benefactor has murdered before. A few boxes with heads
enclosed,
where found scattered around London
Elmer previously contacted a niece in the area, Ruth Sanders (Ina
Duscha), that was hired as a movie extra, in a costume drama being filmed in a
village outside London
So off to the film location, Brixan goes.
Brixan and Ruth in a MGTF sportscar. Now a real classic.
Brixan not only meets the pretty Ruth Sanders, but some strange
characters too.
Here are the red herrings, and suspects for The Avenger ----
The movie director Jack Jackson --- Seems to know too much.
The movie star Stella Mendoza (Ingrid Van Bergen) --- Is she a schemer,
or victim ?
Lord Henry Longvale (Ludwig Linkmann)--- He lends out his castle to the film company.
Crazy old man hung up on his ancestry?
Crazy old man hung up on his ancestry?
Laurence Voss (Klaus Kinski) --- A criminal script editor, blackmailer?
Sir Gregory Penn (Benno Sterzenbach) --- A total weirdo. Penn lived in
the South Pacific way too long. Dancing slave
girls, a sword collection, plus a servant that seems part animal,
weirdly named Bhag.
Penn is one strange guy.
weirdly named Bhag.
Penn is one strange guy.
Lord Henry Longvale, an old nut case that's obsessed with his family history.
Klaus Kinski, one of Euro flicks great character actors,
plays Lawrence Voss, a weirdo blackmailer.
He's in cahoots with the killer, & winds up getting separated from his body.
plays Lawrence Voss, a weirdo blackmailer.
He's in cahoots with the killer, & winds up getting separated from his body.
Stella Mendoza (Ingrid Van Bergen) despises the young Ruth Sanders taking over her part.
The film director discovers a clue for Brixan in film shot that day. They see the face of a pretty South Pacific dancer that is being held prisoner at Sir Gregory Penn's castle.
We soon meet one of the weirdest characters in all of film history ---- Bhag!
Half man, half animal. The servant and hunter for Penn.
Bhag attempts to kidnap Ruth, attacks Brixan, but becomes a pivotal character in the finale.
The film director discovers a clue for Brixan in film shot that day. They see the face of a pretty South Pacific dancer that is being held prisoner at Sir Gregory Penn's castle.
We soon meet one of the weirdest characters in all of film history ---- Bhag!
Half man, half animal. The servant and hunter for Penn.
Bhag attempts to kidnap Ruth, attacks Brixan, but becomes a pivotal character in the finale.
The first half of the movie starts out slow, but the finale just zooms
in the last half hour. Ruth gets kidnapped, a hunt by the beast Bhag, hidden
underground labyrinths, and
finding an ancient French guillotine that works just like new ----
finding an ancient French guillotine that works just like new ----
all are part of the exciting and strange finale.
Just what you would expect in an Edgar Wallace Krimi!
The Avenger movie kept all the weirdness of Wallace’s original book, The Hairy Arm, later renamed The Avenger.
The heads in boxes, the half animal man servant, the characters with
hidden agendas, a fog bound castle, the pretty heroine needing rescue from a
Special Branch agent--- it’s all there from the novel.
The filming treatment sadly was just standard. The good character
actors save it and keep the movie moving along. Director Karl Anton did not
create the exciting verve or style other directors at the tim e
did, like Jurgen Roland, or Harald Reinl.
Director Alfred Vohrer became the king of directing krimis soon after this was
made.
He directed the Door With Seven Locks written about in this blog.
He directed the Door With Seven Locks written about in this blog.
It’s a good old fashioned murder mystery good for a late night viewing.
As I mention, it's easy
on the brain.
It's time for popcorn.
It's time for popcorn.
My Rating ---- B Minus (Minus the heads)
This was another title that never got a theater release in America US
As I have talked about with a few other films, I saw this one too on
the Best of Broadway TV showings on New York’s Channel 7 back in 65 being shown
at 1 am.
I loved watching this on late night TV as a kid. The creepiness was
magnified by the
late viewing hour.
late viewing hour.
Years later in the early 1970's, I acquired the 16mm film print used on Channel 7 in a
package of 12 Edgar Wallace titles.
package of 12 Edgar Wallace titles.
Beginning in 1989, two video companies used my film print to
transfer from to make VHS, later DVD’s, and are still being sold today.
This would have been a lost film for a long tim e.
Finally last year, DVD’s in Europe released mastered from the original negatives.
Edgar Wallace looking good!
Edgar Wallace looking good!
The two lovely stars, Ingrid Van Bergen and Ina Duscha pictured.
Up next here at Supernatural Theater----
Man, this is one strange movie!
THE DOOR WITH SEVEN LOCKS
Starring HEINZ DRACHE,
Sabina Sesselmann, Pinkas Braun, Jan Hendricks,
Siegfried Schurenberg, Ady Berber, Gisela Uhlen, Werner Peters
with Eddi Arent,
and Klaus KInski
Directed by ALFRED VOHRER
Produced by Horst Wendlandt
Based on the novel of the same name by Edgar Wallace
Music by Peter Thomas
German --- 1962
German --- 1962
Here comes another weird Edgar Wallace story!
The formula always works!
A creepy castle, dark tunnels, weird killers, lots of fog, Scotland Yard,
a damsel in distress, are always present. This tim e,
add a sick scientist with genetic experiments,
then add, one of his results become a sicko killer,
and then on tap of that, add a lost hidden vault!
Mix them all together and you have one strange flick --- The Door With Seven Locks!
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The familiar actors--- Siegfried Schurenberg as Sir John, Heinz Drache as Inspector Martin, and lovable comic character Eddi Arent as Holmes.
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The familiar actors--- Siegfried Schurenberg as Sir John, Heinz Drache as Inspector Martin, and lovable comic character Eddi Arent as Holmes.
A priest is poisoned at the London train station.
An attempt is made to revive him, by a weird doctor who says it is probably a heart attack.
He more interested in the key on a long chain, attempting to grab it. The policeman at the scene puts the priests' items together for the police. The doctor is upset he didn't get the key,
and disappears in the crowd.
and disappears in the crowd.
Scotland Yard has another key from another previous victim. Is this a pattern?
Inspector Richard Martin of Scotland Yard is the investigator to solve the murders, and the meaning of the keys. An old criminal friend, Feenie (played by our favorite Klaus Kinski)
stops by Martins's apartment scared for his life.
Feenie is an expert safe cracker and thief that has known Martin for some time, professionally.
Feenie says he was hired for a big job to crack a huge safe that has seven locks, but he felt if
he opened the safe, his life would end. So he got out of there fast.
Martin wants him to stay there till he gets back. Sadly, a huge scary killer named Giacco
breaks in, and murders him (played by another familiar actor Ady Berber, pictured below).
Now get it, 7 keys for 7 locks?
A crooked lawyer Havelock, tells Martin that young Lord Selford is returning for an inheritance. Martin meets a distant relative of Selford named Sybil Lansdown
(pretty Sabina Sesselmann).
Of course she has to be the love interest for Martin because that's always part of the plot wheel of Wallace mysteries. Sybil has a key too.
Martin's getting closer to all the keys for that safe, that's hidden somewhere at
Selford Manor castle.
The plot thickens.
(pretty Sabina Sesselmann).
Of course she has to be the love interest for Martin because that's always part of the plot wheel of Wallace mysteries. Sybil has a key too.
Martin's getting closer to all the keys for that safe, that's hidden somewhere at
Selford Manor castle.
The plot thickens.
Pinkas Braun plays the evil Dr. Staletti, who performs sick genetic experiments.
Staletti also committed the first murders.
Martin meets up with him at Selford Castle. He finds out about Staletti's past too.
Staletti also committed the first murders.
Martin meets up with him at Selford Castle. He finds out about Staletti's past too.
Another crooked character, Tommy Crawler (Jan Hendricks below) finds out the mutated Giacco is really his long missing brother Peter. Staletti's proud of producing a mutated freak.
Two more crooks, a shady couple, the Cody's ---Gisela Uhlen tells Werner Peters to go
after the keys for the safe.
after the keys for the safe.
The powerful scary living science experiment named Giacco strangles him.
And brings their key to Staletti. He's after the safe too.
And brings their key to Staletti. He's after the safe too.
Giacco captures Sybil, and Tommy and puts them deep in the Selford castle.
Now for the finale, Staletti shows the frightened Sybil pictures of his previous sick experiments, and now wants to work on Tommy, and her too.
A favorite childhood song with childhood memories saves the day.
Giacco now remembers his brother! Will he now help, and save Sybil and Tommy?
The Door with Seven Locks is found. What's inside????
With Inspector Martin, they are ready to open the Door With Seven Locks !!!!!
What's inside??????
The Door with Seven Locks went straight to US television, with no theater release.
It played very well in Europe, along with the other Edgar Wallace Krimis.
The 16mm film print I had in my collection was used to transfer from, for two video companies in America back in 1989 and 1996 originally for VHS, nowadays DVD's.
Just recently, Europe has a beautiful DVD transfer from the original negatives. Wow.
My Rating -------- B Minus
This was Alfred Vohrer's second Wallace film, after Dead Eyes of London.
He was the director that put these in the limelight. He strengthened the formula, by using better photography, jazzier music, quickened the pacing, and the visual style that we now know as the Wallace Krimi.
This was Alfred Vohrer's second Wallace film, after Dead Eyes of London.
He was the director that put these in the limelight. He strengthened the formula, by using better photography, jazzier music, quickened the pacing, and the visual style that we now know as the Wallace Krimi.
It's worth a late night view, with hot popcorn, and a nice drink in your hand.
You just get addicted to watching all of the Wallace's!!!
The lovely Sabina Sesselmann.
The lovely Sabina Sesselmann.
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YOU CAN READ MY OTHER BLOG ENTRIES IN THE ARCHIVE (to the right).
COMING SOON to SUPERNATURAL THEATER
BLOG ENTRIES on the FOLLOWING FILMS BELOW !
These are really obscure. Good, but rare!
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Here's a rare one ---- 13 DAYS TO DIE! Eurospy with Horst Frank.
Find this one, CYD CHARISSE and HUGH O"BRIAN in ASSASSINATION IN ROME.
THE BURGLARS with one of the best car chases! Belmondo at his best.
A rare mystery CARPET OF HORROR, with Joachim Fuchsberger.
He lost the bet with Edgar Allan Poe ----- CASTLE OF BLOOD
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE DEADLY NECKLACE
Famous FBI agent Jerry Cotton. Played by George Nader.
MARISA MELL and JOHN PHILLIP LAW -----DANGER DIABOLIK
DEATH IS NIMBLE....DEATH IS QUICK ---- One of the great
KOMMISSAR X FILMS.
YOU CAN'T HAVE THE EDGAR WALLACE'S WITHOUT WRITING ABOUT
DOCTOR MABUSE !!!!
"I have only one lord and master.....Dr. Mabuse"
One really rare one --- A LOTUS FOR MISS QUON.
MAN ON THE SPYING TRAPEZE ----Jerry Land Eurospy
PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES
RED DRAGON ---- Eurospy
SEE YOU SOON !