Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski: A Film Legacy

Amazon.com

The six-film Herzog/Kinski boxed set is a sleek compilation of a visionary cinematic collaboration. The history of cinema is dotted with great directors who have found an actor whose face, voice, and style capture that director's point of view: Josef Von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich; John Ford and John Wayne; Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro. In 1972, the German director Werner Herzog cast Polish actor Klaus Kinski in Aguirre, the Wrath of God--the result was perhaps the definitive film for both. Kinski had previously made almost 100 films, but his malevolent role--as a Spanish conquistador obsessed with finding gold--shot him into international stardom. Though Herzog and the volatile Kinski were at each other's throats through much of the filming, seven years later the director cast Kinski as the tortured vampire of Nosferatu, Phantom of the Night (a color remake of the silent horror classic) and the title character of Woyzeck, based on the classic expressionistic German play about a jealous, unstable soldier who murders his lover. Both films continued the Herzog-Kinski trademark of intense unflinching emotion and the palpable presence of the raw physical world.

In 1982, Fitzcarraldo carried this ethos to new heights as Kinski portrayed a man who, in order to bring grand opera to the depths of Peru, has a huge steamship hauled over a mountainside using ropes, pulleys, and human endurance. The mad ambition of the film matched that of its hero as Herzog repeatedly placed crew and actors at risk of their lives. Nonetheless, the love-hate relationship between the director and his star carried them into one last film, the uneven but still remarkable Cobra Verde, about a Brazilian bandit sent to Africa to reopen the slave trade. After Kinski's death in 1991, Herzog made a documentary, My Best Fiend, about their decades of collaboration; the result rivals their previous work as a testament to human extremity. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

WOW!.......2007-05-18

The quality of the DVDs is among the best. Picture and sound is great. I had only ever seen "Nosferatu" before getting the set. "Fitzcaraldo" has become one of my favorite all time movies since getting the set. The documentary "My Best Fiend" is wonderful.

Good Value.......2007-02-23

I already had two of the films in this set, "Nosferatu" and "Aguirre", so I looked into buying the others separately. Buying the set was less expensive, so that's what I did and gave the duplicates to the local library. I compared the disks before giving them away, and the ones in set were the same as the individual editions. Highly recommended for Herzog and Kinski fans.

BUY THIS!.......2006-03-03

I can't help but add my voice to the chorus of positive reviews for this set. It is without a doubt the most well put together dvd box set I have ever seen. Even the packaging is awesome. Whoever is responsible for the physical look of this collection should win a product design award or something. All the movies (except Woyzeck) have very entertaining and insightful herzog commentary and most of the movies have english tracks aswell. I'm not sure what restoration was done on these movies but they all look great! I would say that if you are thinking of buying any of these movies alone on DVD just go ahead and opt for the box set. Chances are, if you like and understand the Herzog aesthetic, you will love all of these movies! Cobra Verde, which I once thought was the weakest of the Herzog/Kinski efforts, has become my favorite upon multiple viewings. Could not have a higher possible recommendation!

Kinski, One Of The Greatest Actors Of His Generation?.......2006-03-03

I think that he is, his on screen presence is as powerful as any actor I have ever seen. From the dark ferocity, burning evil of Kinskis portrayal of 'Nosferatu'; without question he is the greatest 'vampire' to have ever graced cinema. To the manic depressive/shockingly haunting eyes of his portrayal of 'Woyzeck' his character in the films name-sake; indeed one of the most troubled yet somehow believeable characters seen on film.

Woyzeck versus Travis Bickle?....that would be an interesting answer.

Outstanding.

A Match Made In Hell.......2005-09-14

It is said that all drama stems from conflict and there was certainly no shortage of it between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski. Their relationship reminds me of a troubled romance that is doomed to eventually fall apart, but ignites with such passion when the two are together that it's more than worth the grief. One would expect an arrangement of this nature to result in one or two films before the rift became so great between director and actor that they could no longer tolerate one another. Yet, there exists an undeniable sense of brotherhood between these cinematic legends that underlies their artistic struggle.

I can't tell you how pleased I am to have this set after all these years. Including "My Best Fiend" in this set is absolutely essential for a complete appreciation of the unique relationship Herzog and Kinski shared. As has been mentioned before regarding the documentary, there is a sense of one-sided storytelling as Herzog lays out Kinski's many flaws. And, yes, one has to wonder just which man had the larger ego after hearing some of Herzog's rather polished explanations. While it would have been nice to have Kinski there to argue his side of the story, it's still a unique and fascinating look into the creative lives of two very different sort of men.

Of the films themselves, I'm most fond of Nosferatu and Woyzeck, but Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo are truly magnificent epics. I just have to find myself in a particular mood to watch the latter, where the former always hold my attention. In my opinion, Woyzeck is the most overlooked of the Herzog/Kinski collaborations. Certainly Cobra Verde is an inferior film, but it at least has a reputation. Considering Woyzeck was finished in just 18 days with only 27 cuts, I like to think of it as a little miracle.

I've seen Kinski in other films and I've seen works by Herzog without Kinski and it's clear to me that, with a few exceptions, their best work came when they worked together. So, do yourself a favor and pick up this set, then settle in for some intense viewing. And, whatever you do, don't pass on the documentary!

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Gettin' It
The best teen sex comedy in years!

Gettin' It (Unrated)
Starring: Trish Coren , Patrick Censoplano , Jessica Canseco , Cheryl Dent , and Sandra Staggs
Director: Nick Gaitatjis
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
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ASIN: B000RIWB20
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Customer Reviews:

Gettin' It.......2007-08-14

I just bought this title and it his hilarious! Talk about delivering on every punchline. You will laugh yourself silly. Although little known, the cast is exceptional. I highly recommend adding this to your inventory of teenage comedy's. It is a classic.

The best teen sex comedy in years!.......2007-07-23

I was lucky to see a preview of Gettin' It, and it is one very funny movie. Like most teen sex comedies, the hero, Silver, is unlucky in love, until a bit of mistaken identity leads the town to believe he has a two foot, well, lets just say he's all of a suddenly very popular with the ladies. The premise is simple enough, and the cast takes the script and runs with it brilliantly. Sandra Staggs is brilliant as Silver's confused and slightly overwhelmed mother, and Salvatore Crivelo is very funny as his Elvis impersonating father. Cheryl Dent is over the top hysterical as the black widow every teenage boy would like to meet, and Sajen Corona is perfect as the friend who will do anything to help his buddy get laid. The rest of the cast all shine, and by the ends of the film you cant help but cheer Silver on as he tries to win back the girl of his dreams. A very sweet, funny, sexy movie. If you liked American Pie or the 40 Year Old virgin, you'll love Gettin' It.

Fiend without a Face - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Fiend Without a Face
GOOD MOVIE BUT 35 BUCKS YOUR CRAZY
Criterion premium
"Colonel, I've lived in these backwoods all my life, and I can assure you there's no animal in these parts that could do that."
FIRST THERE WAS THE BLOB - - - THEN CRITERION BROUGHT US "FIEND WITHOUT A FACE"

Fiend without a Face - Criterion Collection
Starring: Marshall Thompson , Kynaston Reeves , Michael Balfour , Kim Parker , and Stanley Maxted
Director: Arthur Crabtree
Manufacturer: Criterion
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ASIN: B00004Z1FN
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Amazon.com

Fiend Without a Face contains one of the most indelible images to emerge from sci-fi/horror movies of the atomic age: malevolent human brains, creeping like caterpillars on spinal-cord tails, choking the life out of their helpless victims! If that weren't enough to make any genre enthusiast drool with sick delight, the movie's also got an above-average plot (as B-movies go) and made genre history as an international success, independently produced in England, set in Canada, starring an American (Marshall Thompson), with magnificently grotesque special effects created in Germany!

The mystery begins near an American Air Force base in Manitoba, where unexplainable deaths are somehow connected to the base's atomic reactor, which is being used to power an experiment in advanced long-distance radar. Thompson (who later starred in the TV series Daktari) plays Major Cummings, who discovers that the lethal monsters--slurping, unseen "mental vampires"--are actually the horrific byproduct of thought-control experiments conducted by hapless, retired professor (echoes of Forbidden Planet's "monster from the Id"). Once visible, the fiendish brains are everywhere, attacking our heroes from every angle (in a scene that may have inspired Night of the Living Dead), and sputtering puddles of blood when riddled by bullets. This climactic scene--a triumph of latex rubber fiends, eerie sound effects, and stop-motion animation--was a gory breakthrough in 1958, and it's still a worthy precursor to every gross-out monster movie that followed in its trendsetting wake. Beware the faceless fiends! --Jeff Shannon

Description

A scientist's thoughts materialize as an army of invisible brain-shaped monsters (complete with spinal-cord tails!) who terrorize an American military base in this nightmarish chiller, directed by Arthur Crabtree (Horrors of the Black Museum). This outstanding sci-fi/horror hybrid is a special effects bonanza, and a high-water mark in British genre filmmaking.

Customer Reviews:

Fiend Without a Face.......2007-06-25

"Fiend" succeeds admirably as a campy, diverting skin-crawler that channels the prevailing atomic anxieties of the 1950s. Crabtree's "Fiend" has a neat twist, though--the creatures are actually materializations of their creator's thoughts. Though decidedly gory for the time, this inventive, well-executed nail-biter proves you can indeed have too much brains.

GOOD MOVIE BUT 35 BUCKS YOUR CRAZY.......2006-12-08

THIS IS A GOOD MOVIE FOR SCIFI FANS BUT WHO IS THE GENIOUS WHO PRICES AT 35 BUCKS.GIVE ME A BREAK SHOULD BE 11.99 THANK YOU.

Criterion premium.......2006-11-01

"Fiend" was one of my favorite movies as a kid though I can now see that it is mostly boring, but with a pretty big payoff (for back then) of muck oozing brain monsters at the end.

I am writing this though as a complaint about Criterion securing the rights to films and then jacking up the price to $35. Given that other studios are producing DVD prints just as clean as Criterion is and charging - at most - $19, I can never bring myself to pay Criterion prices. All the more unfortunate for me as they have a # of titles that I would like to own.

To the reviewer that said "no one does it like Criterion", quality-wise, that is flat out wrong, price-wise, entirely true.

And a price tag of $35 on a movie like "Fiend" is truly absurd.

"Colonel, I've lived in these backwoods all my life, and I can assure you there's no animal in these parts that could do that.".......2006-07-27

I gotta figure doing PR for the gooberment's atomic energy program in the 1950s must have been one hell of an uphill battle as it seemed every other horror or science fiction thriller released in the day involved something either getting embiggened, shrunken, or just plain mutated and messed up in general, as depicted in this classic British made feature Fiend without a Face (1958), due to radiation derived from our relatively new found ability to smash them atoms. Directed by Arthur Crabtree (Horrors of the Black Museum), the film stars Marshall Thompson (It! The Terror from Beyond Space, First Man Into Space, "Daktari"), Kynaston Reeves (RX for Murder), and Kim Parker (Fire Maidens from Outer Space). Also appearing is Terry Kilburn (Swiss Family Robinson), Peter Madden (Dr. Terror's House of Horrors), and Stanley Maxted (Strange Awakening).

As the film begins we're at a U.S. Air Force base in Canada and we see a lone guard at night on the perimeter. After hearing some strange noises from the nearby woods followed by a blood curdling scream, the guard investigates and finds a corpse of a local man with a terror-stricken expression on his face. Major Jeff Cummings (Thompson) wants an autopsy performed on the deceased, but the man's sister, Barbara Griselle (Parker), is unwilling which causes problems as the local population isn't too keen on having an atomic powered military instillation in the area (there's quite a bit of fear about radiation). If that wasn't enough, there's also an issue with the experiments being performed at the base, those involving boosting radar capacity (to spy on those evil Reds) through the use of atomic energy in that every time they juice things up, there's a mysterious power drain...hmmm...anyway, after a couple more deaths, the rubes get even more antsy, and an autopsy reveals the victims perished as a result of being de-brained, i.e. having their brains sucked out of their heads. Eventually Jeff's investigation leads him to a reclusive, eccentric scientist in the area, one Barbara works for named Professor Walgate (Reeves), who's an authority on psychic phenomena with his current research involving thought materialization. Turns out the professor is involved with not only the bizarre deaths but also the mysterious power fades at the base's reactor, eventually spilling the beans and warning those in charge they must shut down the atomic plant immediately, as he's accidentally unleashed an invisible menace straight from a nightmare, one that feeds on atomic energy and apparently gray matter, and also has the ability to multiply and become more intelligent...crikey! Soon the town and the base are under siege, threatening not only the lives of everyone in the area, but also Jeff's chances to pitch woo at Barbara...

I enjoyed this film a lot as it has a tight story and wastes little time on extraneous material (the film runs about 74 minutes). One aspect of the story I really liked was how the creatures weren't actually a direct result of radiation, but more so a nasty by product of someone using atomic energy within his own fantastic experiments...it might sound like I'm splitting hairs here, but to better understand what I mean you really need to see the movie. We don't actually get to see the creatures until about an hour in, but when we do, it's worth the wait. I won't go too much into what they actually were or look like, but they're pretty hideous along with being very agile. The characters are fairly cut and dry, as are the performances. I thought most all the actors did well, and Marshall Thompson, who's got about the biggest forehead I've ever seen, seemed a suitable choice for the lead along with the beautiful Kim Parker, who left the biz not too long after the release of this film. I was kind of annoyed with the character of Professor Walgate, the guy ultimately responsible for the `ghastly business'...first off he steals power from the atomic reactor and subsequently screws up their experiments, then he creates something which escapes his control, ends up killing a whole mess of people and allows the blame to be directed elsewhere, and finally he himself nearly kills someone (inadvertently, so he later claims) who gets too close to his secret...once the beans are spilt, through an extensive expository sequence, he does seem to show remorse for his actions, but it seems like the remorse of someone who's only remorseful after being caught. Nice guy, huh? I suppose one could argue he eventually paid the price for his folly into the unknown, but for me his penalty was hardly equal to that which he wrought...my favorite scene in the film comes near the end, as a small group fortify themselves in the professor's home against an onslaught of creatures, one of those among the group the deputy mayor, who has a most excellent freak out one the creatures manage to get in...there was one aspect of the story that felt really screwy...near the end it's decided the only way to stop the horror is to shut down the atomic reactor. The problem I had was the method in which they decided to do so, which involved using high explosives. Now I'm no expert in atomic sciences, but it seemed to me they were taking a mighty big chance in doing what they did...if something like that was tried in real life I'd expect catastrophic results (does anyone remember a little thing called Chernobyl?). Ah well, the 1950s were a much simpler time in that things were generally more cut and dry, or so I'm assuming since I wasn't even alive back then. All in all this is a fun, better than average 1950s sci-fi horror flick, one that I'm glad I own and watch on a fairly regular basis.

This fully restored and remastered Criterion Collection DVD release of Fiend Without a Face features a very clean and sharp widescreen (1.66:1) transfer, one that exhibits the occasional minor flaw. The Dolby Digital mono audio comes through very well, with no complaints. There's a slew of extras including an audio commentary track with an informative interview between executive producer Richard Gordon and writer Tom Weaver, along with an illustrated essay on British science fiction and horror by film historian Bruce Eder, still photographs w/commentary, vintage advertisements and lobby cards, liner notes by Bruce Kerwin, and English subtitles. Also included are theatrical trailers for this film, along with others for The Haunted Strangler (1958), Corridors of Blood (1958), First Man into Space (1959), and The Atomic Submarine (1959).

Cookieman108

I feel I should mention things do get pretty gooey once the action really kicks in, so if you're squeamish, you've been warned...

FIRST THERE WAS THE BLOB - - - THEN CRITERION BROUGHT US "FIEND WITHOUT A FACE".......2006-03-12

FIRST THOUGHTS: FRIEND WITHOUT A FACE -- NO MISPRINT!

When I first saw the ad posters in the lobby of our neighborhood theatre in 1958 [or 59] at first glance I thought the posters read, "Friend Without A Face"! I was, in fact, just learning to read, but the grotesque images on the poster needed no words. Naturally, I returned to the theatre, and to my shock, surprise, and delight, found a little gem, very similar to "The Crawling Eye", that I had seen and enjoyed the year before.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Some invisible force is sucking the brains out of the local citizens who live near a secret air-force base. What they are doing is a secret, but it is no secret that a nuclear reactor is located on the base. The locals think that nuclear energy is somehow to blame.

THEN THE PLOT THICKENS: [warning- plot spoilers below]

First it's just one man, and no autopsy is permitted due to the family's wishes. Then it's a married farm couple, and the mayor too. Now the townspeople want the air force out of their town and pronto.

The second popular theory, that it's some "crazed soldier" from the base, yields nothing but still another casualty: this time it's the rugged loudmouth constable who returns to the town hall during an emergency meeting as a wailing zombie with a crazed-psycho look to him. His brains had been sucked out.

Finally, we get to closer to the truth as we discover what the retired professor Wingate has been up to. This is where the story starts to distinguish itself, and the special-effects are used to excellent effect when the creatures began to become visible!

Very similar in motives and appearances to "The Crawling Eye", these monsters are, but their source is not outer space. They are some kind of brain-sucking vampires that have been created by a combination of Dr. Wingate's experiments in materializing human thoughts, and the availablility of vast quantities of nuclear energy for them to tap, and thus become physically tangible, and fiendishly menacing to the human race.

AND LIKE ALL GREAT CULT CREATURE FEATURES:

We have a climax, where the creatures become visible, and attack the few remaining living people so that they [the creatures] can multiply. The ammunition for the few handguns is limited, and the options are few and risky. In the last 12 minutes of this film, an epic stop-action animation attack that is truly incredible, pushes this film to the top of the 1950s creature feature heap, right alongside "The Blob" and "The Crawling Eye".

-----*- THE CAST:

Kynaston Reeves - Prof. Walgate
Marshall Thompson - Maj. Jeff Cummings
Terry Kilburn - Capt. Chester
Michael Balfour - Sgt. Kasper
Gil Winfield - Dr. Warren
Shane Cordell - Nurse
James Dyrenforth - Mayor Hawkins
Kim Parker - Barbara Grizell
Peter Madden - Dr. Bradley
R. Meadows White - Ben Adams
Robert MacKenzie - Const. Gibbons

ABOUT THE DVD:

This Criterion Collection DVD is a huge improvement on the VHS that we all have had to endure prior to this release. Digitally remastered, and put into a semi-Widescreen format, this film looks about as good as it did when I first saw it 48 years ago and includes all the scenes in their entirety.

SPECIAL FEATURES: LESS THAN USUAL FOR CRITERION COLLECTION DVDs

--*- The commentary was OK, but not specific to the film, however, though somewhat relevant to the genre.

--*- The slide show was the "reel" treat among the features, and included alot of interesting, and educational [for interested parties] material about the "Fiend without a Face", and also many other British sci-fi/horror genre films of the 1950s. I believe it is referred to as, the "Illustrated essay on British sci-fi/horror filmmaking by film historian Bruce Eder".

--*- There was also a short interview/conversion about the film.

--*- Neat trailers of this film as well as some other popular cult films of the genre and era, such as, "The Atomic Submarine"!

--*- English subtitles are available and may be selected from the menu.

BOTTOM LINE: THIS IS A FUN FILM!

The early creature feature genre that melded sci-fi with horror reached its zenith with "Fiend Without A Face". Unlike most of Criterion's other DVD releases, this is not a great film. However, it is a classic representation of an artistically, and thematically superior creature feature genre film whose sole purpose was light entertainment. In this respect, there is greatness in this old B-film for many of us to again enjoy.

ALSO CONSIDER SEEING:

-----*- THE BLOB, 1958, Irvin Shortess Yeaworth, Jr. - Director
-----*- THE CRAWLING EYE, 1958, Quentin Lawrence - Director
-----*- THE TINGLER, 1959, William Castle - Director
-----*- THE KILLER SHREWS, 1959, Ray Kellogg
-----*- THE GIANT BEHEMOTH, 1959, Eugene Lourie - Director
-----*- THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS, 1953, Eugène Lourié - Director

Average customer rating:

smart, funny and so ridiculously great
Recommended for diehard fans only
Cult does not = clever
...Just the newest the latest & greatest by the King of Trash!
Tracey Ullman is a goddess!

A Dirty Shame (R Rated Version)
Starring: Tracey Ullman , Johnny Knoxville , Selma Blair , Chris Isaak , and Suzanne Shepherd
Director: John Waters
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
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ASIN: B000929UP0
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Amazon.com

When prissy, prickly Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) suffers a head injury during a traffic altercation, she's, er, revived by self-appointed sexual missionary Ray-Ray Perkins (Johnny Knoxville) and is transformed into an insatiable, take-no-prisoners sex maniac. Yes, it's a John Waters film. Yes, it's filthy. No, it's not as hilarious and sustained as you'd like it to be. It works for a while, though: Ullman, never a stingy comedienne, does everything Waters dares her to do without hesitation; words cannot describe the perversely sporting delight with which she mounts a water bottle during a round of "The Hokey Pokey" at an old folks' home. And there's some fun to be had when Sylvia's emancipation leads her Baltimore 'burb to new heights of ecstasy, freeing her large-breasted daughter Caprice (Selma Blair) while horrifying husband Vaughn (Chris Isaak) and her hardline mother Big Ethel (Suzanne Shepherd, hysterical) in the process. It's also packed with the standard cameos, the most satisfying of which is good old Patty Hearst at a Sex Addicts Anonymous encounter. But, for all the nasty, necessary glee, the movie feels inescapably been-there-done-that, and you can't help but wish this was 1972 and Divine was on hand to prowl for dog droppings. The most shocking thing about A Dirty Shame is how desperate and tiresome its anarchy becomes.--Steve Wiecking

Description

Are you ready for a movie that puts filth right where it belongs? Then get ready to laugh with A Dirty Shame--the latest raunchy riot from director John Waters (Hairspray). When a concussion awakens the carnal urges of Sylvia (Tracey Ullman), the people of Pinewood become pitted against each other in a battle of decency versus depravity.

Customer Reviews:

smart, funny and so ridiculously great.......2007-09-12

Sexually repressed Sylvia Stickles, played by Tracey Ullman, gets in a car accident and suffers a concussion. Enter Ray-Ray Perkins, played by Johnny Knoxville, another head injury person who is also a sex addict. Sylvia becomes a sex maniac and comes in contact with Ray-Ray and the other "apostles" of sex. Selma Blair plays Sylvia's daughter and another sex addict. They all join together to sexually liberate a small town.

Although some scenes fall flat, it is enjoyable and funny.

Recommended for diehard fans only.......2007-08-07

It's not one of John Water's best films, but if you are a serious fan of his work like me, then go ahead and see it for the sake of comparison. As for the NC-17 rating, it's fairly tame. There is one scene with a penis, but the special effects make it unrealistic.

I believe this best works are Polyester, Desperate Living, and Female Trouble. I wasn't terribly fond of Hairspray and Cry Baby, but I'm not a huge lover of musicals.

Cult does not = clever.......2007-05-10

For some reason the appellation of "cult" is meant to be synonymous with intelligence, insight or distinction. Certain reviewers have been convinced that this film is something of value. Look, I'm not claiming to be a seer, but judged on ALL criteria, there are no redeeming features in this film. It is horrible, base, juvenile and tedious. For some reason, cretin reviewers believe that objections are based on the sexual content of the film. NOT SO! Full-on porn would redeem this film, seriously. It is one of the low points for anyone with an "artistic" expectation or one in which they hope to be entertained. Vile and hideous. Dumb and several rungs lower than any other of Knoxville's efforts. And that's saying something.

...Just the newest the latest & greatest by the King of Trash!.......2007-02-23

This movie embodies all that is typical of a John Waters' film. It's campy, kitschy, tacky, and just darn downright funny--AWESOME! Naturally, as any fan would know, it takes place in the teamin' metropolis known as Baltimore--as virtually all his films do. Fans can expect appearances from some of the old Waters' crew including Mink Stole (my personal favorite) and a cameo by Patricia Hearst. The highly entertaining movie is backed up by a line of stars including the outrageously insane Johnny Knoxville, Tracey Ullman, Selma Blair and Chris Isaak. Suzanne Shepherd's character "Big Ethel" is also noteworthy. This has been the funniest John Waters movie in a while. I am a huge fan, and this movie just reiterates how great John Waters is! Rent or Buy it today for non-stop laughs! You won't be disappointed.

Tracey Ullman is a goddess!.......2007-02-20

Okay, if you don't know what John Waters' films are like, you'll probably hate this and think it's repulsive filth. If you're familar with his movies, and like them, then you'll enjoy this one as well. In my opinion, Tracey Ullman steals the show. There is one scene in particular where I was laughing so hard I was crying. It's at the old folks home...that's the extent of what I'll say about it. You just have to see it for yourself!

Average customer rating:

Klaus Kinski - My Best Fiend
Werner Herzog: Every grey hair on my head, I call Kinski.
Calling it a love-hate relationship doesn't do it justice
'People like Brando are just kindergarden compared to Kinski'.
"Impulsive. Unpredictable. Half-mad. He wasn't quite normal"

Kinski: My Best Fiend
Starring: Isabelle Adjani , Claudia Cardinale , Justo González , Mick Jagger , and Klaus Kinski
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
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ASIN: 6305970955
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Amazon.com

Most people associate the director Werner Herzog with the actor Klaus Kinski--but few know how twisted and enmeshed their relationship was. Though Kinski has made dozens of movies, he probably remains best known for the five he made with Herzog: Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Woyzeck, Nosferatu the Vampyre, Cobra Verde, and Fitzcarraldo. In this documentary/cinematic memoir, Herzog uses clips from these remarkable films, on-the-set footage, and personal recollections to create a portrait of Kinski as both a deeply passionate actor and a raving lunatic; it's hard to say whether he's defaming Kinski or being generous to this mercurial, erratic actor. There's no question that their relationship is fascinating; after their first movie (Aguirre, probably the best of their collaborations) they both described moments of wanting to kill each other--in fact, both agree that Herzog threatened to shoot Kinski at one point, though they differ on the details. Yet they went on to make four more movies, almost all of them under circumstances that would be difficult for the most serene personalities. My Best Fiend was inspired by Kinski's death, and probably the movie's weakest aspect is that we don't get Kinski's side of their friendship. But even though it's one-sided, it's still a remarkable portrait of two artists who were willing to go to extremes to capture their visions. Any fan of either will find this unique documentary indispensable. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Klaus Kinski - My Best Fiend.......2007-07-13

Astounding documentary captures this unusually temperamental pairing of two big talents, who both needed, and couldn't stand, each other. We see this from Herzog's side (Kinski had died several years before), but the rendering doesn't feel one-sided or cruel. Below all the mutual frustration and rage lies a core of mutual respect, even tenderness. A remarkable portrait that illustrates the extremes and dichotomies of human relationships.

Werner Herzog: Every grey hair on my head, I call Kinski. .......2007-03-03

The documentary made by Werner Herzog tells about the legendary love-hate relationship between the director who was ready to climb to Hell for his every movie and border-line insane genius actor Klaus Kinski who might have been one of the creatures from Hell that Herzog had to face. It is hard to imagine two people more different than Herzog and Kinski: "...stone and waves, the coldest ice and hottest flames have more in common, differ less" but they both were driven and obsessed artists. Famous for his wild and ferocious talent and temperament to match, Kinski was incredibly difficult to work with. He wrote about himself, "I am a wild animal born in captivity, in a zoo but where beast would have claws, I have talent". Kinski's talent was fully realized in five films that he made with Werner Herzog over a fifteen-year working period, starting with astounding "Aguirre, the Wrath of God" (1973), and then following with "Fitzcarraldo," "Nosferatu" (1979), inspired by Murnau's silent vampire classic; "Woyzeck" (1979), about a 19th century army private who seems mad to others because he looks and acts so differently from them, and "Cobra Verde" (1988). It is impossible to imagine any other actor starring in these films and they are without doubt the best Kinski ever made (and he made hundreds of films). Thanks to the Herzog's documentary we are able to learn what exactly went on behind the stunning images and unforgettable performances. According to Herzog, "people like Marlon Brando are just kindergarden comparing to Kinski. He is mad and unpredictable." They liked each other, they hated each other, and they respected each other at the same time making plans to murder each other. Kinski, who respected Herzog, and valued his friendship, confessed to the director that in his autobiography he would describe their relationship in not very flattering terms - otherwise, the crowd would not read it. Herzog recalls how they both would sit together at the bench after the shooting and discuss what Kinski would write in his book. I am curious if they discussed and agreed upon the following passage and if Herzog helped Kinski with some of the colorful metaphors: "I absolutely despise this murderous Herzog! Huge red ants should p**s into his lying eyes, gobble up his balls, penetrate his a**hole and eat his guts."

Even after watching the fascinating documentary, it is difficult to fully understand the relationship between two giants but as Herzog admits, the only thing that counts is what we see on the screen and what we see is amazing.

Calling it a love-hate relationship doesn't do it justice.......2007-02-27

Far from being a character assissination & chop job on Kinski (as some reviewers would claim), Herzog's film is as much as an examination of his own obssessive drive and (albeit, much lower key) madness as it is a look back at his relationship with one of the most (by general consensus) difficult & brilliant actors in the business.

Obviously, Herzog regards Kinski as being a nut...but he all but concedes that one would have to be crazy in one's own right to continue to work with such a man, again & again. It would be nice if Herzog would discuss, in a less oblique fashion, his own driving commitment (as evidenced in "Aguirre" and "Fitzcarraldo") which helped to cause this clash of megalomaniacs, but nonetheless, the examination is there for those discerning viewers who choose to see it.

Yes, it would be nice if Kinski could have returned fire, so to speak. It also would have been less frustrating if Herzog had discussed the reasons that he finally decided to end their collaboration after "Cobra Verde." However, in the end, we have to be satisfied with what we got. It is a fascinating little slice of film history worth watching.

'People like Brando are just kindergarden compared to Kinski'. .......2005-11-24

This above quote from Werner Herzog may shock a lot of film buffs, but it goes to show you just how extraordinary of an actor Klaus Kinski was. 'Kinski: My Best Fiend' is a eye-opening and touching look at two visionary artists. The German director Werner Herzog looks back on his experiences with Klaus Kinski. From the time Herzog was 13 years old, when he first met Kinski, to the time of the filming of their last film together, 'Cobra Verde', this documentary is often as haunting and eerie as Herzog's films themselves. They both had a love-hate relationship that carried on until Kinski's death. At the same time, both artist were in awe of each other. Both realized they had exceptional talent and knew they could not create meaningful, artistic work without each other.

"Impulsive. Unpredictable. Half-mad. He wasn't quite normal".......2005-04-23

This brilliant and compelling documentary was directed (and narrated) by Werner Herzog, one of the most creative and original directors of all time. The documentary focuses on one of the best actor/director teams in the history of cinema: Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski. They had an ofen violent love-hate "friendship", each one fueled by inner passions...and demons.

This documentary goes behind-the-scenes with some of Herzog's greatest masterpieces, like "Aguirre: the Wrath of God", "Fitzcarraldo", and "Nosferatu the Vampire", to tell how Herzog and Kinski fought and argued yet somehow managed to complete each of their films together. At one point Herzog threatened to shoot his "best friend" Kinski, and another time he contemplated firebombing Kinski's home. During the filming of "Fitzcarraldo", the native extras actually offered to kill Kinski, who was having many tantrums (one which was actually filmed and is shown in this documentary!), as a favor to Herzog. Herzog was surprised by the offer, and the native chief who made the offer was totally serious.

Yet despite their many violent confrontations, Herzog and Kinski were connected by their deep love of making meaningful movies. Although Klaus Kinski was undoubtably one of the toughest actors to work with, he was always capable (under Herzog's direction) of giving outstanding performances. Yes, Kinski was a little crazy, but so was Herzog (just was "Fitzcarraldo" for proof of that!), yet they were both artistic geniuses. This film also has interesting interviews with women who co-starred with Kinski, Claudia Cardinale and Eva Mattes that show how Kinski usually treated women much better than men.

With clips from his greatest movies accompanied by the beautiful music of Popol Vuh, this is an excellent tribute, if I can call it that, to Klaus Kinski. It is sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic, but always powerful. The final scene shows a kinder, more gentle side of Kinski that fans rarely get to see. This documentary is awesome, but I suggest you view the Herzog/Kinski films before watching this so that you'll have a better appreciation for this fine film. This is an absolute must for any fan of Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski!

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Fascinating Antique of '30s druggies!
"I've got the grandest headache medicine in the world."
The endless War on Drugs
Not worth it
Great

The Cocaine Fiends
Starring: Dean Benton , Lois January , Noel Madison , Sheila Manners , and Edward Phillips
Director: W.A. Conner , and William O'Connor
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008H2GF
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating Antique of '30s druggies!.......2007-03-29

I was fascinated by this low-budget effort to portray a story in which the usual innocents are lured into a life of depravity and drug addiction. My Alpha copy was often so scarred and battered and dark that it actually enhanced the ambiance of dreary hopeliness for the main characters. A game cast tries to buoy this effort up despite the low-budget sets and budget. The best scenes are shot at the Dead Rat Bar where we're entertained by two long-gone and forgotten vocalists who were probably on the fringes of Hollywood anyway. Another good sequence is the Opium Den where a drug-crazed sister finds her drug-crazed brother who, like her, has become "a hop-head." The performers do an outstanding job trying to delineate their roles and the passage of nearly 70 years makes you wonder whatever became of them and the making of this film. For instance, how were they chosen to be in the cast, who did their wardrobes, what did they discuss between scenes, what did they do after work? This movie follows the tradition of "Reefer Madness" and "Marijuana", providing us with a glimpse of what our great-grandparents may have watched at the Bijou during those early days of the 30s.

"I've got the grandest headache medicine in the world.".......2006-08-17

Producer Willis Kent, who specialized in westerners back in the day, switched gears late in his career focusing on the release of exploitive cautionary features, the stated intent being to warn an unsuspecting public of the evils of various illicit activities (I suspect his real goal was to capitalize on the public's fascination with luridness) as depicted in melodramatic features like Smashing the Vice Trust (1937), The Wages of Sin (1938), Mad Youth (1940), and this early entry titled The Cocaine Fiends (1935) aka The Pace That Kills. Directed by William A. O'Connor (Playthings of Hollywood, Confessions of a Vice Baron), the film includes Lois January (Society Fever), Noel Madison ('G' Men), Sheila Bromley (Playthings of Hollywood), Dean Benton (The Return of Chandu), Eddie Phillips (Death Valley Manhunt), Frank Shannon (Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe), and Lois Lindsay (Men Are Such Fools), a one time dance instructor who once taught Shirley Temple.

As the film begins we see a couple of mooks in a car trying to avoid capture by the police (seems the men are involved in peddling smack). The driver drops Nick (Madison) off at a roadside diner where he meets Jane (January), who runs the place with her mother. The police show up, Jane hides Nick (he feeds her a bit about being chased by highwaymen), and afterwards Nick comments on her agitated state, offering her some `headache' powder. Jane becomes enchanted with Nick and his big city ways, enough so to follow him to the asphalt jungle, the thought being the pair would get married. Time passes and Jane comes to the realization big city life isn't all its cracked up to be, as not only is she hooked on `headache' powders, but also a gangster's moll. During Nick's rounds, Jane sees her brother Eddie (Benton), working at a local drive-in, along with a woman named Fanny (Bromley), the latter a customer of Nick's. Fanny takes a fancy to Eddie, who has come to the city in search of Jane, and gets him hooked on Nick's fabulous `headache' powders. More time passes and we see Jane, discarded by Nick, has changed her name to Lil, and hophead Eddie and Fancy are shacking up in a flophouse on skid row, having both been fired from their jobs due to ugly rumors floating around about their personal lives. At some point a rich, young socialite named Dorothy (Lindsay) with a taste for the seedy side of things gets thrown into the mix (Nick's taken a real shine to her). Things between Eddie and Fanny sour seriously (she's been walking the streets to earn money to support his ever growing habit), Fanny's life takes a serious turn for the worse, and Eddie ends up in an opium den where he's found by his sister Jane aka Lil, who tries to convince him to kick the junk and go home. There's some goings on at a hoodlum hangout called The Dead Rat Café (seriously), including a couple of musical numbers followed by Dorothy being abducted (seems Nick is going to use her in a curious, i.e. lame-brained, scheme to take over the dope rackets), and things eventually come to a head as Jane tries to score some dough from Nick to help her hophead brother.

While The Cocaine Fiends doesn't have the frantic energy and dubious delights displayed in Reefer Madness (1936), probably the most well known of these early `cautionary' exploitation films, it does have its seedy, little, melodramatic charms. The performances are fairly goofy, and the dialog laughable, enough so to entertain most who take on the venture of watching tale of woe. There is some oddness here as producer Kent made a film in 1928 titled The Pace That Kills and used some of the footage in this 1935 version, which I guess is something of a remake. It's pretty obvious when the footage is used, as the story skews slightly, and said footage has a very different look than that which was shot in 1935. I did learn a number of things while watching this film, including the following...

1. If someone offers you `headache' medicine, especially the kind taken up the schnoz, you should probably pass.
2. Jane's about as gullible as the day is long, that is if there were fifty hours in a day.
3. Dames, unlike men, tip in smiles.
4. Making whoopee had a different meaning back in the day than it does now.
5. If Eddie was any greener he'd be broccoli.
6. The life of a dicarded gangster's moll is about as unglamourous as it sounds.
7. Apparently working at a drive-in diner back in the day was a real plum job.
8. Jane and Eddie's mother is optimistic to a fault, waiting for letters that never come.
9. Hopheads are unlikely to engage in correspondence (or personal hygiene, for that matter).
10. The Dead Rat Café, despite its repellant name and décor (including rodent themed wallpaper), seems to be doing a heck of a business.
11. Someone out there, at some point, made and sold wallpaper featuring abnormally large rats.
12. Eddie sure likes to say the word hophead.
13. An opium den isn't the best place to grab a little sack time.

One aspect missing was the actual usage of any cocaine. Whenever someone would use it, we'd be looking somewhere else. Heck, I don't think we even saw any cocaine in the film, other than that which was supposed to be concealed in small packets. There's a number of fairly entertaining sequences, but I think my favorite is when Nick, driving about town with Jane, pulls up to a school telling Jane some of his customers will be getting out soon. We don't see any transactions, but it does well to magnify the character's unmitigated rottenness, just in case anyone was unclear on the matter up until that point. As far as the actual story, things kind of bounce around between a number of characters as we witness the ruination wrought upon their lives by the vile, addictive devil powder, leading up to some interesting, albeit far-fetched, twists at the end. All in all not a bad film for its kind, and a decent complement to Reefer Madness, if you're the sort who enjoys these little exploitative nuggets of joy.

The fullscreen picture on this Alpha Video DVD release is very rough at times, as a good portion of the film is washed out, marked with signs of age, and missing numerous frames. As far as the audio, it starts off well, but deteriorates into various states of crumminess as the film progresses. While the video and audio are lacking, it's probably unfair to be overly critical as the film wasn't really the kind of feature someone would go through a lot of effort to preserve for some seventy odd years, so this is probably as good as it's going to get, without someone making a monumental investment in any restorative activities of which I'd doubt they'd see a suitable return. There are no extras on this disc, other than a video display showing the covers of other Alpha releases. One thing's for sure, the cover of the DVD here is certainly interesting and entertaining...

Cookieman108

The endless War on Drugs.......2004-08-02

There are certain people who love and collect these government sponsored movies from the 1930's. 'Reefer Madness' is the most famous of these ridiculous pictires, but there are other very good ones, Cocaine Fiends is one of them. All the plots in these movies are the same. A good person (usually a young female) is steered off the wayward path by a slick talking hustler with drugs to sell.

In Cocaine Fiends a young girl who runs a restaurant with her mother makes the mistake of hiding a 'dope peddler' from federal agents after a car chase. He offers her some 'headache powder' after the coast is clear. Next thing you know he's telling her she needs to be in the big city and can be in a show. Well her life goes pretty much downhill from there after she becomes a full blown cokehead.

These films are enjoyable for me. I find it odd how the 'Good ol' days' and 'Those Simple Times of Yesteryear', were as dangerous and decadant as today.

Not worth it.......2004-06-29

i was told this movie was great, very humorous, but it wasn't. there were a couple parts that were funny, but the quality is terrible (even for a movie made in 1935). it hasn't been cleaned up or repaired at all and it's very, very hard to see. it's not worth the money in the slightest.

Great.......2004-04-22

Ok the movie is excelent everybody is taking cocaine all the time. The girls are hoot and have good asses.... well the end is not that good cause everybody runs out of cocaine and they kill each other.... u know

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Sick stuff!
Vulgar, Disgusting, and Disturbing.
what goes on behind closed doors
Must be seen to be believed
A Buttgereit movie...What more can I say?

Schramm
Starring: Florian Koerner von Gustorf , Monika M. , Micha Brendel , Carolina Harnisch , and Xaver Schwarzenberger
Director: Jörg Buttgereit
Manufacturer: Barrel
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HXDWO6
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Customer Reviews:

Sick stuff!.......2007-03-09

Well now I think I've seen everything! This 1 hour film from Jorg Buttgeriet is just as sick as "Nekro" stuff and done on a more professional level. There are a couple of scenes that go further then anything I've ever seen, and I wont spoil for you but if you like his other flicks you will not be disappointed. Jorg Buttgeriet has now become one of my favorite directors. LONG LIVE EXTREME HORROR!

Vulgar, Disgusting, and Disturbing........2006-11-20

"Schramm" is a movie that got my attention in a video store, both with the cover and the back cover that exclaimed that it was similar to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, one of my favorite horror films. If you've seen Henry, you realize that there's actually a pretty big restraint on blood and gore. It's existent, but it's not that bad. The movie used atmosphere and Michael Rooker's performance to creep you out. Schramm goes up another level on that. In Schramm you get a no holds barred look at the life of a serial killer... And it's all done in 64 minutes, which makes it kind of impressive. This movie also is probably the truest account of what goes on behind a serial killers' door. Movies about serial killers show that they kill and, sometimes, why. But few films show the really dirty things about serial killers. This film gives us the self-mutilation, necrophilia, and sexual deviancy. The movie is in German and I got to praise the Germans for making a movie like this. I don't think an American director would touch this kind of material with a ten-foot pole. And if he did, he'd tone it down a lot. I, regrettably, don't remember the main characters name...But I know this. The movie begins with a newspaper headline that explains that the Lipstick Killer has died. He is, of course, our aforementioned killer. The movie works its way back from that. The prostitute that lives across the hall from him, whom he's actually good friends with, sets something off in his head that makes him begin to kill. In the movie, the body count is pretty low...But this is still very gory. One scene which is bound to make men who watch this cringe, involve the guy taking his d**k and pounding nails through it. There's also one of the most interesting and unique ideas I've seen. A disembodied vag**a with teeth. The movie suffers from a disjointed timeline. The movie's about an insane serial killer...But the look of the movie implies it's about a schizophrenic serial killer. The grainy, old movieish look the film has, however, also helps with the creepiness. This is not a "good" movie, but it's effective and does something that other movies about serial killers should do (instead of crap like Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Gacy, etc.). If you want to see a movie that frequently has you asking yourself "What the f**k?" This is a good movie for you.

GRADE: B-

what goes on behind closed doors.......2005-10-23

This is the best film of its kind since John McNaughton's 1986 art-film disguised as a slasher flick HENRY:PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER. The director, obviously working with a very small budget, shows complete mastery of his craft. This is a stunningly realized vision of murder and madness. Unlike American films (save for SCRAPBOOK) which ALWAYS de-sexualize serial killers, this film holds nothing back. It depicts the secret, ugly, sick acts that most serial killer films ignore or gloss over; i am talking necrophilia, ghastly self-mutilation and rape,among other things. This is most certainly NOT a film for anyone under 17 or anyone older with a sensitive disposition. But for those of you willing to take the trip, SCHRAMM is well-worth the time.

Must be seen to be believed.......2005-01-14

*Please note this low budget German art house film is just over an hour long.*
SCHRAAM is a quiet young man who lives alone in his apartment - his neighbour is a prostitute who accidentally helps fixates his fantasies (a pension for obscene sexual allure to inanimate objects) who decides to go on a violent killing spree. The film plays backwards in that in the opening sequence we learn that the `Lipstick Killer', Schraam, has been found dead in his home and everything plays backwards out from there.

SCHRAAM has to be probably one of the most upsetting experiences you will have watching an art house film. To be honest "Irreversible" made me cringe, "Last House on the Left" uncut was pretty heavy going, "Man Bites Dog" was a contemporary media play on snuff and even the awful "I Spit on Your Grave" had its shocking moments, but SCHRAAM manages to surpass them all by just delivering on your most hair raising nightmares at the worse possible time by cutting in minutes of slow tracking bliss suddenly followed up on by an unprecedented in your face sledgehammer of a horrific sequence, but never seems sleazy or gratuitous or goes outside of its art house appeal.

SCHRAAM is like "Begotten", the director's own "Nekromantik 1 + 2", Michael Haneke's "Funny Games" or Gaspar Noé "I Stand Alone" in that the concept of Hollywood horror is as far away as you can likely get and the budget so restricted that you could ultimately make a film like this if you had some fake blood and a nice 16mm camera. What makes SCHRAAM interesting is that there are a number of highly imaginative sequences done in this 1993 production that have been used in more modern productions, like Schraam's workout rotating camera sequence or the jump cuts that are now all too common in art house cinema.

SCHRAAM is actually banned in most places around the globe, although to be honest you have seen much more objectionable than this and it is arguable that films such as "Last House on the Left" and the awful "I Spit on Your Grave" are much more sinister in their presentation of the subject matter. SCHRAAM never deviates from trying to show this killer for what he is, sad, never glorifying what he does, murder, but filming it in such a way that it cuts you like a knife. The hammer and nails scene with a genital is certainly going to fling a lot of hands up to the eyes.

A very interesting art house serial killer movie than beats the pants off most offerings.

A Buttgereit movie...What more can I say?.......2004-09-16

If you interest in Buttgereit's movies,you know how he shows his charecters' minds and how he gets you in the story-Perfectly-.In this movie Buttgereit tells us the whole story from a serial killer's mind(The Lipstick Killer-Florian Koerner von Gustorf).A serial killer who is in love with his neighbour,a whore.(Monika M.)A serial killer who is rotting under schzophrenia.A serial killer who lives with endless hate,endless fear..There are many other things you can find in the story.If you buy this DVD you will also have some answers about Buttgereits' past and the roots of his movies at the Bonus material section.Just click on his other shorttime movie "Mein Papi"

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I am Peter Cushings number one FAN.
the flesh and the fiends aka mania
A true thriller blessed with amazing performances
Don't waste your time
Flesh and the Fiends

The Flesh and The Fiends
Starring: Peter Cushing , June Laverick , Donald Pleasence , George Rose , and Renee Houston
Director: John Gilling
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005KHJZ
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Description

Edinburgh, 1827. Two Irish immigrants hit upon the idea of selling the bodies of the recently deceased to eminent surgeon Dr. Robert Knox. Dr. Knox, knowing that experimental vivisection is the only way for medicine to make progress, forms an uneasy alliance with the self-styled body snatchers. But when their supply of corpses runs out, they decide to murder for their inventory. Knox, who has turned a blind eye, is forced to defend himself with all of his skill and intelligence as everyone closes in, condemning his controversial actions.

Customer Reviews:

I am Peter Cushings number one FAN........2007-01-10

This film is one of my favourite Peter Cushing films.Thank you for giving me the chance to watch it. I have been looking for a while and found it on Amazon.The film for me has a very spooky atmosphere, and all the cast were superb. Also it is a fact based film.

the flesh and the fiends aka mania.......2006-11-04

all way round fantastic! Cushing as his usual a-1 performance, donald pleasence outstanding, the two leads and the rest of cast two thumbs up!these type's of films are so enjoyable they belong in a time capsule. They sure don't make'em like this anymore.

A true thriller blessed with amazing performances.......2003-03-13

The Flesh and the Fiends is a thoroughly enjoyable horror thriller. With the impeccable Peter Cushing, sporting a disturbingly droopy left eyelid, playing the misguided Dr. Knox, Donald Pleasance giving an awe-inspiring performance as half of the murdering duo of Burke and Hare, and plenty of illegal traffic in dead bodies, this movie can hardly do less than succeed admirably. Dr. Knox is an instructor at a medical school in Edinburgh during the 1820s. The number of bodies available for dissection by his students, limited to the bodies of executed criminals, is much too low to satisfy him, so he turns to alternative means of acquiring specimens for study. He has no problem paying grave robbers for corpses, so long as they are fresh enough to be useful; in fact, he openly admits the improper solicitation of corpses, much to the dismay of the leading surgeons in town. Eventually, two shiftless vagabonds by the name of Burke and Hare come to realize that traffic in corpses offers them an unusual economic opportunity. When a lodger in Burke's apartment house passes away, he and Hare box her up and trade her in for several guineas. Since the doctor wants the freshest corpses possible, they set out to give him what he wants by murdering individuals and bringing them in almost immediately. Things start to go wrong when the pair murders the sweetheart of one of Dr. Knox's students, yet Knox remains steadfast in his dealings with the loathsome creatures. Murder will out, of course, and Knox must eventually face the music for his actions. This movie, while very good, is by no means perfect. June Laverick gets second billing in her role as Knox's niece, yet her character really serves no purpose at all in the story. Knox's assistant, beset early on with doubts and fears over Knox's acceptance of suspicious corpses, is never fleshed out and ends up behaving somewhat strangely in my opinion. Most of all, the ending (not the real climax, but the ending itself) is just plain weird and makes little sense to me in the context of the story.

Peter Cushing is always fantastic, but the real star of this movie is Donald Pleasance. Even though I knew the future Dr. Loomis from Halloween was in the movie, I quite frankly did not actually recognize him initially. His portrayal of Hare is simply incredible. His calm, assured manner is rarely breached, even in the midst of potential trouble, and his droll manner of explaining his dastardly activities makes of him one of the best truly evil villains I have ever encountered. He is almost capable of convincing anyone, especially his partner, that killing each victim is actually a kindness, for that person will surely be of more use on a dissecting table than he/she is in life. It's thrilling to watch this master criminal mind at work.

The Flesh and the Fiends has been unduly neglected over the years and has itself suffered the noxious wounds of the dissection table of the censors. It was quite graphic for its time (1959): one of the first scenes features a pale corpse being dragged out of a grave by its head, then the murders of Hare and Burke are shown more realistically than one might expect from a film of this particular era. Its bitingly realistic presentation of early 18th century life, complete with rowdy barrooms and miserable living quarters, along with its moments of unusually graphic violence, give the film a superb believability factor. In fact, the basic story of Burke and Hare is indeed a true one, which makes the horror qualities of this film even more affective than they already are.

For years, this movie has only been available in edited form, bearing the title of Mania in the U.S.; it has also been pawned off with the titles The Fiendish Ghouls as well as The Psycho Killers. The complete, 97-minute version of the movie is the one you want, so don't accept a copy of Mania and deny yourself six minutes of delightfully horrific entertainment. Despite the weird ending, this movie ranks among the best horror films of the 1950s and 1960s and stands as much, much more than a mere precursor for the later Hammer films starring the inimitable Peter Cushing.

Don't waste your time.......2003-02-07

I'm a huge fan of Peter Cushing and the genre...but this was a horrible movie. I have no idea what the people who gave this movie a good reveiw were smoking.

Flesh and the Fiends.......2002-01-27

Another marverlous performance by Peter Cushing as a doctor whose visions overshadow morality. This may be the best role Donald Pleasance ever had. Fresh bodies being more in demand and worth more in cash, Pleasance (Hare) and his partner Burke decide to "manufacture" a few bodies. The DVD contains the U.K. version and the more violent and adult (nudity) Continental version. If you like the Hammer Horror films, you will love this movie.

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Blier at his best!

Un, Deux, Trois, Soleil
Starring: Anouk Grinberg , Myriam Boyer , Olivier Martinez , Jean-Michel Noirey , and Denise Chalem
Director: Bertrand Blier
Manufacturer: Homevision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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