A company called One 7 has just announced a couple of DVD releases for May 6th with one of them being 1972’s REAL DECAMERON. Starring Rosalba, this was released under a variety of titles including TALES OF VITERBURY & THE SEXBURY TALES and was one of many (with most being painfully unfunny) Italian sex comedies that flooded the international markets during the 1970’s (with many of them having DECAMERON in the title after Pasolini’s huge hit in 1971).
Based upon a series of novellas published in 14th century Italy by Giovanni Boccaccio, they were a series of short love stories told by a group of people taking refuge in villa to escape the Black Death (with the movie versions no doubt playing up the more bawdy aspects in the form of undressed Italian starlets). It’s advertised as being presented 1:85 and widescreen. The above screen caps of Rosalba in the film are from an Italian TV broadcast which was obtained from Cinemageddon (and they do illustrate some definite ..."highlights" of the plot).
The other DVD being released is a LA MALDICION DE LA BESTIA (CURSE OF THE BEAST). One of the Paul Naschy Waldemar Daninsky wolfman films, it was originally released in 1971 and is also known as WEREWOLF AND THE YETI & NIGHT OF THE HOWLING BEAST (although this DVD release looks to be simply titled WEREWOLF). One of the more gorier & nudity filled entries in the series mixing in pirates (!), vampire women (!!) and best of all a yeti (!!!) with the Spanish Pyrenees mountains filling in for the Alps.
Although depending on their presentation these might both be welcome releases, however the legality of the WEREWOLF DVD has been called in to question on several internet forums and there are rumors that it's simply going to be a “borrowed” transfer from a recently released Spanish DVD.
I think the owner of one 7 is BIll Knight of Midnight Video. I'm guessing all his titles are bootlegs. The only Spanish DVD of NIGHT OF THE HOWLING BEAST I am aware of was the Tri Pictures release and it was a clothed version. I tried ordering it along with a stack of restored Naschy Spanish discs a few years back and that title was the only one I couldn't get. Most likely, one 7 will use the upcoming Artus DVD from France as the source.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool news about Artus doing NIGHT OF THE HOWLING BEAST (even if it won't be English friendly). I had heard they were doing HUNCHBACK OF THE MORGUE also, so this is good news.
DeleteI've picked up a couple of the of the Tri Pictures ones and luckily got all the BCI discs when they were available. I know a few of the BCI ones had some problems, but I thought they did a pretty good job overall (plus you could buy them locally at Best Buy).
I've read that Victory Films is asking an insane amount of money for the rights to do English friendly versions of the stuff they own, so don't know if we'll ever see these again over here - although there was rumors last year of KIno/Redemption picking them up.
What would you say is your favorite Rosalba film?
ReplyDeleteHey Rob !
DeleteMost likely LADY FRANKENSTEIN or TOP SEDUCERS - or maybe DEVIL'S WEDDING NIGHT or AMUCK.....it's so hard to choose.....
I do love Lady Frankenstein. It was my first film with her in it. Havent seen the others you mentioned yet, but Top Seducers is high on my list.
DeleteI think the only Rosalba film I've seen is still Lady Frankenstein... I really must rectify that... Devil's Wedding Night and Amuck are two I've been eager to see for a while anyway so will definitely hunt them down now.
ReplyDeleteAnd I know of Curse of the Beast via the title Werewolf and the Yeti due to its inclusion on the infamous UK video nasties list... didn't realise it's a Naschy film though, but guess I wouldn't have done as I wasn't hip to him when I first heard about it... Does sound like a riot!
I've only got Lady Frankenstein and The Devil's Wedding Night under my belt - but Rosalba is on my radar now - thanks to this blog!
ReplyDelete