Horror films aren’t only about vampires and goblins — Czech director Juraj Herz’s mind-chilling study of a Fascist opportunist communicates truths about aberrant psychology and Fascists, that audiences would never read in print. A bourgeois burner of cadavers leverages his Reich-useful trade into his own little warped empire of evil. Karl Kopfringl’s modus operandi hardly needs to change, to conform to Nazi standards — the elitist hypocrite already has both his family and employees passively accepting his sick ideas about cremation as the solution to all human ills. Cinematically brilliant, this late picture from the Czech New Wave is one of the best movies ever about conformists, collaborators, and assorted other ghouls.
The Cremator
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 1023
1969 / B&w / 1:66 widescreen / 100 min. / Spalovač mrtvol / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date April 21, 2020 / 39.95
Starring: Rudolf Hrusínský, Vlasta Chramostová, Jana Stehnová, Miloš Vognič, Zora Božinavá.
Cinematography: Stanislav Milota
Film Editor:...
The Cremator
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 1023
1969 / B&w / 1:66 widescreen / 100 min. / Spalovač mrtvol / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date April 21, 2020 / 39.95
Starring: Rudolf Hrusínský, Vlasta Chramostová, Jana Stehnová, Miloš Vognič, Zora Božinavá.
Cinematography: Stanislav Milota
Film Editor:...
- 4/28/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Everyday Noir in Prague: a one-of-a-kind Czech/Brit coproduction teams fine British actors with the home-grown star Rudolf HruSínský, and the result is neither murder nor mayhem, but a real everyday tragedy that might happen anywhere. The bright B&w images chart an unhappy illicit romance, and a petty crime with awful consequences.
90° in the Shade
All-region Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1965 / B&w / 2:39 widescreen / 91 min. / + second version Tricet jedna ve stínu 83 min. / Street Date September 23, 2019 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Anne Heywood, James Booth, Rudolf HruSínský, Ann Todd, Sir Donald Wolfit, Jirina Jirásková, Jorga Kotrbová, Vladimír Mensík.
Cinematography: Becrich Batka
Film Editors: Jan Chaloupek, Russell Lloyd
Original Music: Ludek Hulan
Written by David Mercer story by Jirí Mucha, Jirí Weiss
Produced by Raymond Stross
Directed by Jirí Weiss
(note: a Czech friend who long ago helped me with research for Ikarie Xb-1 advised me not to even Try spelling Czech with full diacritical remarks.
90° in the Shade
All-region Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1965 / B&w / 2:39 widescreen / 91 min. / + second version Tricet jedna ve stínu 83 min. / Street Date September 23, 2019 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Anne Heywood, James Booth, Rudolf HruSínský, Ann Todd, Sir Donald Wolfit, Jirina Jirásková, Jorga Kotrbová, Vladimír Mensík.
Cinematography: Becrich Batka
Film Editors: Jan Chaloupek, Russell Lloyd
Original Music: Ludek Hulan
Written by David Mercer story by Jirí Mucha, Jirí Weiss
Produced by Raymond Stross
Directed by Jirí Weiss
(note: a Czech friend who long ago helped me with research for Ikarie Xb-1 advised me not to even Try spelling Czech with full diacritical remarks.
- 9/14/2019
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
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