During the fall 2014 i watched 13 (all i have) films directed By italian horror maestro Lucio Fulci. Iīd only seen two before this marathon so it was about time to do this i would say
These are the films i watched:
Donīt Torture a Duckling (1972) Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979) The Naples Connection aka Contraband aka The Smuggler (1980) City of the Living Dead aka The Gates of Hell (1980) The Black Cat (1981) The Beyond (1981) The House by the Cemetery (1981) New York Ripper (1982) Manhattan Baby (1982) Conquest (1983) Murder Rock (1984) The Devil's Honey (1986) Zombie Flesh Eaters 2 (1988)
I had so much fun during the marathon and truly enjoyed watching the films. I have my own favorites but what about you guys? What do you think of the man and his films? I believe that Johnny has a big collection
A Zombie wrestling with a shark? Fulci didnīt like this part too much but damn itīs one entertaining scene Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
I actually like Fulci's giallo films over his wildly popular gore and grue films. My favorites are Lizard in a Woman's Skin, Don't Torture a Duckling, and The Psychic (a/k/a Seven Black Notes in the Key of Death). It's not that I dislike the others--Zombie certainly is a lot of fun, and House by the Cemetery has its moments--but I prefer the films where you can see early on that Fulci was quite a fine director. His later output was much more inconsistent. Oh yeah, I think The Beyond is waaaaay overrated.
Posted by Helen_S (Member # 5804) on :
What he said ^ Posted by Johnny Roarke is reckless (Member # 9826) on :
Lucio Fulci ? .. Never heard of him !
Nah, who am i kidding.. nobody's gonna fall for that !
Well, basically my addiction for collecting European horror started with Fulci and Argento. Although they were working in the same country and within the same genre, there are two very important differences between the two : Fulci never got the recognition Argento achieved, and he never got to work with a decent budget.
Mostly known for his on-set agressive temper and raging behaviour he didn't exactly make too many friends within the industry, and ended up isolated, embittered, broke, and in bad health before he passed away in '96. He wasn't exactly dealt with the luckiest cards in life though, which might explain his difficult behaviour.
Fulci started out as an art critic, and in his early movie-making career he mainly focussed on directing comedies. After his wife committed suicide, and shortly after also the loss of a daughter in an accident, his movies shifted into darker territory.. much darker !
Don't Torture A Duckling probably stands out as his crowning achievement, with many of Fulci's own personal trauma's absorbed into the movie. Guilt, injustice, and a profound hatred towards the catholic church, not to mention early examples of extreme violence which would later become a trademark. All these things seem to come together in the graveyard scene with Florinda Bolkan, still as powerful today as it was over 40 years ago. But the context in which this scene takes place is essential. It's not merely there for shock value.
As for my own collection.. yeah, i have many of his films, lots of them in numerous different versions, including rare imports from all over the world, and i still keep an eye out for the ones that are still missing.
Instead of me bragging about my own collection, there's something else i'd like to say though, which may put things in a whole different light for those criticising Fulci's work. It's a direct quote from screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti, as printed in Stephen Thrower's marvelous book Beyond Terror ; The Films Of Lucio Fulci :
,..Poor Lucio, he was right to be angry. He worked in the worst conditions. He had less and less money to do his movies and was forced to do anything in order to work. I think that Lucio was the greatest, his mastering of technique was almost unique. But he came to horror late in his career. Fulci had to start with a small producer, small distribution, and small budgets. He used to claim he had two million dollars for a certain movie because he was ashamed of his microscopic budgets. Had he said the truth about the miracles he made with nothing, he would probably have been held in much greater esteem..'
Lucio Fulci 1927 - 1996
[ 20. March 2015, 05:45: Message edited by: Johnny Roarke is reckless ]
Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
Well said! A fitting tribute to the legend!
Posted by Johnny Roarke is reckless (Member # 9826) on :
Coming november 20th, German import :
One blu-ray, two dvd's, the CD soundtrack, packaged in a leather-bound 84 page book !
Price : Over 100 euro's !
Someone, please hold me back.. Anyone..
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
This time i have to say it: You donīt need this one! Seriously, 100 euros...
Posted by Johnny Roarke is reckless (Member # 9826) on :
But.. but.. but.. It's Fulci !
Yeah, you're probably right though.. Posted by Helen_S (Member # 5804) on :
Oh my gosh, that is gorgeous!!!
Posted by Johnny Roarke is reckless (Member # 9826) on :
Yes, it is ! Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Helen, do not encourage him!
Posted by Johnny Roarke is reckless (Member # 9826) on :
By the way, that awesome Stephen Thrower book Beyond Terror ; The Films Of Lucio Fulci (originally published in 1999) comes out later this month as well, in a revised and updated version with a mass of new colour illustrations (as it's been announced on the publisher's website FAB Press) !
Helen, aTomiK.. you need this book ! Just trust me on this. It's really one of the best books i've ever seen !
[ 05. November 2015, 08:43: Message edited by: Johnny Roarke is reckless ]
Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
I agree! The Don't Torture a Duckling Bluray set is beautiful as is the cover to Beyond Terror. While I am not the huge Fulci fan that you guys and Helen are, I may have to look into picking up the book at least. The stuff from FAB Press is wonderful. Their Last House on the Left book may be my favorite book devoted to a single film ever. It's incredibly comprehensive and well written, but not overwritten in that dusty faux-scholarly way like the film books published by McFarland or Scarecrow. Those are usually somebody's master's thesis pawned off as a film book. Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
Never heard of him but he does look like an angry man.
Posted by Johnny Roarke is reckless (Member # 9826) on :
Coming in february :
Loaded with extra's too !
Hail to Mondo Macabro ! Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
I dunno what movies my old man used to watch but he had a really weird taste in movies. This reminds me of some film that he used to watch years ago. I can't remember anything about it other than there being snake men or perhaps lizard men in the movie.
Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
A Lizard in a Woman's Skin is Fulci's best, along with Don't Torture a Duckling. That Pete Toombes at Mondo Macabro has great taste.
Posted by Johnny Roarke is reckless (Member # 9826) on :
Didnīt like Manhattan Baby much. Itīs a pretty dull film so the clumsiness of acting and dialogue stick out. MB also lacks gore and nudity (Cinzia de Ponti looks amazing but no shower scene )
The film includes few cool images though and the theme tune composed by Fabio Frizzi is fantastic.
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