25.2.23

doctor faustus (1967)

"Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it."
AKA Dr. Faustus
Faustus (Richard Burton) is a scholar studying for his doctorate, and his insatiable appetite for knowledge and power takes him down the dark path of necromancy. He uses his knowledge to summon up Mephistopheles (Andreas Teuber) and bargains his soul away to be able to live twenty-four more years.
A basic re-write of the Marlowe play, with some cameo appearances of Elizabeth Taylor to try and liven up proceedings.

shadow of the hawk (1976)

"Evil is around us."
Mike (Jan Michael-Vincent) is plagued by visions of a powerful evil spirit, and when his grandfather, a native American Shaman, Old Man Hawk (Chief Dan George) turns up unexpectedly asking to be taken home, Mike is pursuaded to reluctantly journey to their ancestral village. With a reporter (Marilyn Hassett) tagging along, Hawk reveals he is in a spiritual battle with an evil sorceress and Mike is drawn into the ancestral curse.
Atmospheric road movie thriller, that loses its way after a while.

24.2.23

the specialist (1969)

aka Gli specialisti. Drop Them or I'll Shoot.
"No son-of-a-bitch can kill me. I’ll be alright."
Hud (Johnny Hallyday) comes to town seeking revenge for the death of his brother, unjustly hanged accused of robbing the town bank. Things soon get complicated as the bank money is still missing, with plenty of suspects, and the added complication of El Diablo (Mario Adorf) a Mexican bandit also getting involved.
Not one of Corbucci's best, but livened up by the presence of French rock star Johnny Hallyday.