DVD Collectors Online

Blood and Black Lace, a review by Danae Cassandra

Blood and Black Lace (Sei donne per l'assassino)
Year of Release: 1964
Directed By: Mario Bava
Starring: Cameron Mitchell, Eva Bartok, Thomas Reiner, Ariana Gorini, Dante DiPaolo
Genre: Horror, Crime, Suspense/Thriller

Overview:
The Christian Haute Couture fashion house is a home to models... and backstabbing... and blackmail... and drug deals... and MURDER.

Having established a template for the giallo with The Girl Who Knew Too Much, Mario Bava set about cementing its rules with Blood and Black LaceBlood and Black Lace afresh and offers newcomers the ideal introduction to a major piece of cult filmmaking.

My Thoughts:
I've just started watching giallo films, and this reinforces my thus-far enjoyment of the genre. This is certainly a beautiful film. Bava has an eye for gorgeous visuals, with a rich color pallette, interesting use of light and shadow, and inventive and wonderful camerawork.

The technical aspects of the film are so good that it's a shame the characters are underdeveloped. The viewer doesn't care about any of the victims, nor do we really root for the police to solve the crimes. I found myself detached from the characters, instead absorbed in the beauty of the film. The story is good, and Bava skillfully takes you from kill to reveal to twist, but I didn't care about anyone.

That aside, this is a beautiful, influential film, and anyone interested in giallo, or in slasher films (of which this is considered the prototype) should definitely see it.

Watched For: Hoop-tober 3.0, Horror/Halloween Challenge 2016, Scavenger Hunt 19

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3.5/5

Horror/Halloween Challenge Films: 36/52

(From Horror/Halloween 2016 Challenge on October 25th, 2016)

All-American Co-Ed, a review by Danae Cassandra

All-American Co-Ed
Year of Release: 1941
Directed By: LeRoy Prinz
Starring: Frances Langford, Johnny Downs, Marjorie Woodworth, Noah Beery Jr.
Genre: Comedy, Musical

Overview:
All-girl school Mar Brynn tries to get more pupils and publicity by making fun of the Quincton college. For revenge, the boys there sent Bob Sheppard to Mar Brynn, dressed as a girl, to give them a slight scandal. But he falls in love with Virginia, the girl who is putting on a show there. Now Bob has the problem of getting revenge for Quinceton and not loosing his girl, especially when Quinceton hears about his relationship and decides to sent him support...

My Thoughts:
Toss some drag, terrible female impersonation, a bit of romance, and a lot of innuendo in the script and you actually get a funny comedy.  I chuckled several times.  It's no great cinema, but unlike the other films I've watched in the Mill Creek set this is part of, the actors and script aren't the weakest part.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 2.75/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 22nd, 2016)

"Due South" marathon, a review by Rick

Pilot
A great way to set up the series I believe. Paul Gross (Fraser) and David Marciano (Ray) do a really good job of setting up their characters. Many shows it take a few episodes (or more) before the actor is truly believable as their character, but not these two.

Great scene at the airport where he is waiting for a cab... but keeps letting other people go 1st. I am looking forward to the rest of the series (even though I watched it in January. Having been born just outside of Chicago (where the story takes place) makes watching a bit more fun.

Rating

Free Willie
So, is he really this naive or is he just that nice and believe in his fellow man that much... I believe it's the later. His faith in people is so over the top it's laughable really, but in the end he usually turns out to be right about those people.

They do a good job with Fraser in regards to setting up where he will live. Obviously living where he does is a great set up for some side stories of his do-gooding.

Rating

Diefenbaker's Day Off

The funny part about this episode is Diefenbaker's story isn't the main story, not that you would guess that from the title. I recognized Madolyn Smith (the reporter) from the movie Funny Farm (with Chevy Chase). Not by name of course - IMDB helped with that. As I recall many guest stars in this show are recognizable from other movies/tv shows. Unfortunately Pete she doesn't come back (as I remember). There are others though

You begin to get a sense of just how smart Fraser is in this episode. When he described how he knew the girls father was a boxer it was a bit much really... but it all goes to helping show just how different Fraser is from everyone else. I got a kick out of the boxing scene too.

Rating (only because you would think by the name the episode would have had more of the wolf in it.


Speaking of guest stars... I've already watched the next episode. Guest star Leslie Nielsen as "Buck Frobisher" 

(From "Due South" marathon on June 27th, 2009)