Lost and Hard-to-Find movies; the ones that got away in Movie of the Day Forum

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Lost and Hard-to-Find movies; the ones that got away

Author	Comment
Dave Sindelar	The Man Who Sold His Soul (to the Devil) (1943)	#1441	[-]
Jun 21 12 10:33 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The Man Who Sold His Soul (to the Devil) (1943) aka L'homme qui vendit son ame Directed by Jean-Paul Paulin Featuring Andre Luguet, Robert Le Vigan, Michele Alfa Country: France Company: Les Films Minerva Listed in Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits Volume 2 by Harris M. Lentz III Fantastic content: The devil's buying souls again. Commentary: You know, if you engage in a project like mine, you're going to see a lot of variations of the Faust story, or, as the case may be with this one, be made aware of their existence. Apparently, a banker makes a deal with the devil to make his bank succeed, and it does.. but the banker has to use his new-found wealth for evil. There's no votes for it on IMDB, but there's one user comment that makes it sound as if it's from a very recent viewing; in fact, it's dated from only last month. This might mean that it's only a very recent re-discovery, but I'm not quite sure yet, so I'm classifying its survival status as Unknown. Incidentally, I added the parentheses around the last three words because the original source that gave me this movie doesn't have those words, but every source I've seen afterwards has the full title, so I compromised a bit. Oh, Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence!
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Dave Sindelar	The Mystic Hour (1933)	#1442	[-]
Jun 21 12 10:55 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The Mystic Hour (1933) Directed by Melville De Lay Featuring Charles Hutchison, Lucille Powers, Montagu Love Country: USA Company: Progressive Listed in Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits Volume 2 by Harris M. Lentz III Fantastic content: A man dreams he murders a man, wakes up to find the other man dead. Commentary: My soul source for the fantastic content of this movie is the Don Willis guide. I tried reading the plot summary in The Motion Picture Guide, and was promptly confused by the description of what appeared to be a crime flick of sorts, though I saw no mention of the above plot element. Walt Lee consigns the movie to the exclusions section of his book, and the lack of votes on IMDB makes me wonder if this one is lost to the ages. I'm classifying its survival status as Unknown. Oh, Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence!
Dave Sindelar	Operation Apocalypse (1966)	#1443	[-]
Jun 21 12 11:18 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Operation Apocalypse (1966) aka Missione apocalisse, 087 missione apocalisse Directed by Guido Malatesta Featuring Arthur Hansel, Pamela Tudor, Eduardo Fajardo Country: Spain / Italy Company: Estela Films/Nike Cinematografica Listed in Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits Volume 2 by Harris M. Lentz III Fantastic content: Super weapon Commentary: What we have here is spyghetti. I'm not so much surprised that I can't find this movie as I am that this is the first movie from this particular subgenre that has totally eluded me so far. There were a number that gave me a lot of trouble finding them, but this one has proven truly obscure. The lack of votes on IMDB isn't promising, as is the lack of any good plot description from any of my usual sources. I'm classifying its survival status as Unknown. Oh, Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence!
doctor kiss		#1444	[-]
Jun 21 12 11:50 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	All five certainly EXIST, which is good news, even if they aren't all readily available! THE FINAL WAR (1960) exists in Japan, albeit with the caveat that the movie has become a 'holy grail' for many, so seldom has it been seen in recent decades. HER PANELLED DOOR (1950) exists on 35mm at the British Film Institute under its original title THE WOMAN WITH NO NAME. THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SOUL (1943) - that recent review on IMDb no doubt stems from the fact that French premium tv station Cine+ Classic added this title to its schedule in May 2012, showing the movie seven times over the course of the month. I can't imagine that no-one managed to record a copy! THE MYSTIC HOUR (1933) exists in the Renown Pictures archive in the UK under its British release title AT TWELVE MIDNIGHT; the company even maintains licensing rights for the UK and Ireland, should anyone wish to release it to dvd... OPERATION APOCALYPSE (1966) certainly seems to have gone into hiding in its Italian and English-language incarnations. However, the Spanish release version, as MISIÓN APOCALIPSIS, was released in the early days of home video on PAL Betamax format (!) in Spain, on the Major Video label. There's even a copy currently for sale online, if only anyone could play it (and wanted to pay EUR80/US$100 for the pleasure!): http://www.todocoleccion.net/beta-mision-apocalipsis-pamela-tudor-artur-hausel~x26461245 The title also showed up once on Spanish television in 2006, and the Spanish co-producer, Estela Films, retains a 35mm copy (and associated materials) in its Madrid archive, with dvd distribution rights once again available for this one. Last Edited By: doctor kiss Jun 21 12 11:53 PM. Edited 1 times.
rvoyttbots		#1445	[-]
Jun 22 12 8:37 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Say, Dave, you should PM August Ragone. He might be able to get you a copy of THE FINAL WAR. He posts under Hachigatsu and hangs out on the Japanese Giants folder. Last Edited By: rvoyttbots Jun 22 12 8:40 AM. Edited 1 times.
todmichel		#1446	[-]
Jun 22 12 11:29 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	"L'homme qui vendit son âme" (1943) is the correct title, but if this movie is sometimes called "L'homme qui vendit son âme au Diable", it's because it was the remake of a 1920 silent, directed by Pierre Caron, which had the longer title.
PhantomXCI		#1447	[-]
Jun 22 12 11:57 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	A 16mm print of HER PANELLED DOOR was on eBay last year. I considered bidding, but the opening price was too high. As I recall, it didn't sell.
Dave Sindelar		#1448	[-]
Jun 22 12 5:31 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks, everyone, for your comments on these. I've changed the statuses of all five to HARD-TO-FIND. The version of OPERATION APOCALYPSE available is not only out of my price range, but unplayable by me, so I can only hope it pops up in some other incarnation. I'll check with Hichagatsu and see if he has any info on FINAL WAR. Once again, thanks, everyone! Oh, Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence!
Rick		#1449	[-]
Jun 22 12 6:15 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I predict... if August actually comes up with a copy of THE FINAL WAR, his pm box is gonna get so full that Yuku is gonna tip over.
rvoyttbots		#1450	[-]
Jun 22 12 7:23 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Rick wrote: I predict... if August actually comes up with a copy of THE FINAL WAR, his pm box is gonna get so full that Yuku is gonna tip over. Lol If anyone could get a copy, it would be him.
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Andrew Kidd		#1451	[-]
Jun 22 12 7:41 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Dave Sindelar wrote: The Naked Witch (1967) aka The Naked Temptress Directed by Andy Milligan Featuring Beth Porter, Robert Burgos, Bryarly Lee Country: USA Company: Not sure Listed in Fantastic Cinema Subject Guide by Bryan Senn and John Johnson Fantastic content: Witch Commentary: There seems to have been a lot of controversy about this one over the years; there was a lot of contradictory information about directors, filming location, dates, etc. However, it appears that the understanding now is that there were two movies with the same title, one directed by Larry Buchanan (which is extent and which I've already covered in the regular part of this project), and this one by Milligan (which appears to be LOST, and which I'm classifying as such). I checked quite a few of my reference books, and I have yet to find one that lists the two movies as separate entities. I think I remember the film being mentioned in Jimmy O'Donoghue's Milligan biography THE GHASTLY ONE. It's likely that the film was destroyed for its silver content as were a number of other Milligan films, including THE DEGENERATES (a rare sci-fi film by the director, a post-apocalyptic version of his usual fare.) However, it received an unusually detailed write-up in the PSYCHOTRONIC VIDEO ENCYCLOPEDIA, and formerly "lost" Milligan films seem to have a habit of resurfacing, so who knows...we may receive a mixed blessing.
Dave Sindelar	Shadow of the Past (1950)	#1452	[-]
Jun 30 12 9:35 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It looks like things have run dry again, so I'm clearing out more unfindables from my hunt list. Shadow of the Past (1950) Directed by Mario Zampi Featuring Joyce Howard, Terence Morgan, Michael Medwin Country: UK Company: Mario Zampi Productions Listed in Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits Volume 2 by Harris M. Lentz III Fantastic Content: Ghost Commentary: Unfortunately, it's not a real ghost; the plot descriptions mention that it's actually a woman impersonating the ghost of her sister as part of a plot to find out who murdered her. I've found no proof that the movie is lost, but the lack of votes or user comments on IMDB, along with my inability to locate it, does make me unsure if this one still exists. I'm classifying the survival status as Unknown. Oh, Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence!
dcwillis9		#1453	[-]
Jun 30 12 9:48 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I don't know how I missed this one. In my copy of Reference Guide/Fantastic Films, I have a check beside it, but apparently the movie never got into my own list.
Dave Sindelar	The Unholy Wish (1939)	#1454	[-]
Jun 30 12 9:52 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The Unholy Wish (1939) aka Die unheimlichen Wunsche, The Sinister Wish Directed by Heinz Hilpert Featuring Olga Tschechowa, Kathe Gold, Elisabeth Flickenschildt Country: Germany Company: Tobis Filmkunst Listed in Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits Volume 2 by Harris M. Lentz III Fantastic content: Animal hide grants wishes Commentary: This is another adaptation of "The Wild Ass's Skin"; if I'm correct, at least one other version of this story entered my ones-that-got-away list some time ago. Once again, the lack of user comments or votes on IMDB makes me wonder if this one still exists, and I have no evidence that it does. I'm classifying its survival status as Unknown. Oh, Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence!
Dave Sindelar	Code Name: Heraclitus (1967)	#1455	[-]
Jun 30 12 10:11 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Code Name: Heraclitus (1967) Directed by James Goldstone Featuring Stanley Baker, Leslie Nielsen, Jack Weston Country: USA Company: Hovue Enterprises Listed in "Creature Features Movie Guide Strikes Again" by John Stanley Fantastic content: Man dies on the operating table, and is revived, but has his memories and emotions wiped out Commentary: Apparently, the man who is revived is deemed to be the perfect undercover agent due to his changes in personality, and is sent out on a case. I have to admit that it does sound like a fairly offbeat premise. The movie has one user comment on IMDB, though the person who made it admits that he hasn't seen the movie in years. It also has eighteen votes, but the premise is striking enough that I suspect that it may have stuck in the memories of the voters. I get some contradictory information on its history; supposedly, it was broadcast in two parts as part of Bob Hope's Chrysler Theater, but one source says it was first telecast after having been cut down to sixty minutes and then released uncut to theaters in Europe. At any rate, I can't find a copy, and I'm classifying its survival status as Unknown. Oh, Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence!
Dave Sindelar	The Dead, the Devil and the Flesh (1974)	#1456	[-]
Jun 30 12 10:30 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The Dead, the Devil and the Flesh (1974) aka Los muertos, la carne y el diablo Directed by Jose Maria Oliveira Featuring Carlos Estrada, Patricia Wright, Emiliano Redondo Country: Spain / Argentina Company unknown Listed in "Creature Features Movie Guide Strikes Again" by John Stanley Fantastic content: Ghosts Commentary: Apparently the ghost is of a man's wife who returns to haunt him with her sexuality. Put this way, it almost sounds like a comedy, but IMDB classifies it as Drama/Horror, and if I think about some of the Italian horror movies from the sixties, I can see how it might work in that way as well. The lack of votes or user comments on IMDB leads me to believe it hasn't been seen in ages, so I'm classifying its survival status as Unknown. Oh, Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence!
PhantomXCI		#1457	[-]
Jun 30 12 10:43 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Dave Sindelar wrote: The Unholy Wish (1939) aka Die unheimlichen Wunsche, The Sinister Wish Once again, the lack of user comments or votes on IMDB makes me wonder if this one still exists, and I have no evidence that it does. I'm classifying its survival status as Unknown. Yes, it does exist, and DVRs can be found, albeit with some difficulty. On a side note, this was the last gothic horror film to be produced in Germany until the early '60s.
Dave Sindelar	Death in Space (1974)	#1458	[-]
Jun 30 12 10:51 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Death in Space (1974) TV-Movie Directed by Charles S. Dubin Featuring George Maharis, Cameron Mitchell, Margaret O'Brien Country: USA Company unknown Listed in "Creature Features Movie Guide Strikes Again" by John Stanley Fantastic Content: Space travel Commentary: Apparently, the commander of a spacecraft passes through the airlock and vanishes. Was it murder or suicide? This is the kind of plot that might prove interesting, but my gut level reaction to it is that it's probably going to be pretty dull. And with a 4.9 rating on IMDB based on seven votes, it does appear that it may be on the dullish side. There's no user comments, so it might be that the votes are based on memory. I'm classifying its survival status as Unknown. Oh, Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence!
doctor kiss		#1459	[-]
Jul 1 12 1:34 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Dave Sindelar wrote: Shadow of the Past (1950) Directed by Mario Zampi Featuring Joyce Howard, Terence Morgan, Michael Medwin Country: UK Company: Mario Zampi Productions I've found no proof that the movie is lost, but the lack of votes or user comments on IMDB, along with my inability to locate it, does make me unsure if this one still exists. I'm classifying the survival status as Unknown. It hasn't turned up on television or at any other kind of public screening in decades, but it does certainly EXIST in the form of a 35mm print at the British Film Institute. The Dead, the Devil and the Flesh (1974) aka Los muertos, la carne y el diablo Directed by Jose Maria Oliveira Featuring Carlos Estrada, Patricia Wright, Emiliano Redondo Country: Spain / Argentina The lack of votes or user comments on IMDB leads me to believe it hasn't been seen in ages, so I'm classifying its survival status as Unknown. Long considered something of a 'holy grail' among fans of Spanish fantastic cinema, never having been on television or released on vhs/dvd, a print of this was finally located and shown at the Sitges Fantastic Film Festival in October 2011, and the screening was written up in detail in the January 2012 issue of Exhumed Movies magazine. So it EXISTS, and we can only hope that a dvd release might follow in the near future.
Dave Sindelar		#1460	[-]
Jul 1 12 2:51 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks, PhantomXCI and doctor kiss for your info! I'll update the master list with the new statuses. Oh, Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence!
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Lost and Hard-to-Find movies; the ones that got away