PLOT: Vicious gangster Vincent Canelli pulls off a daring prison escape just moments before going to the electric chair, taking with him Peter Manning – a bank robber and cop killer who was to die right after him. Taking several hostages along, they try to get their hands on the loot from Manning’s robbery to finance their escape from the country.Read More »
Hugo Fregonese
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Hugo Fregonese – Black Tuesday (1954)
Hugo Fregonese1951-1960Film NoirThrillerUSA -
Piero Pierotti & Hugo Fregonese – Marco Polo (1961)
Hugo Fregonese1961-1970AdventureEpicPiero PierottiUSAThe mightiest adventurer of them all! In this sumptuous sword-and-sandal feast, Rory Calhoun (Apache Territory, The Colossus of Rhodes) stars as Marco Polo, the legendary 13th-century explorer who journeys to China with the aim of expanding world trade. There he meets Princess Amuroy, amorously played by Yôko Tani (The Savage Innocents, Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World), and an old hermit who has just invented gunpowder. With this explosive new “magic,” Marco builds a special cannon and spearheads a rebellion against an evil warlord. Directed by Piero Pierotti (Hercules and the Masked Rider) with additional scenes by Hugo Fregonese (The Death Ray of Dr. Mabuse), it’s an epic, action-packed peplum adventure in sweeping CinemaScope and eye-popping Technicolor.Read More »
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Hugo Fregonese – One Way Street (1950)
1941-1950CrimeFilm NoirHugo FregoneseUSAPLOT: After stealing a gangster’s money and his girlfriend, a doctor heads for a small village in Mexico to hide out.Read More »
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Hugo Fregonese – Seven Thunders AKA The Beasts of Marseilles (1957)
Drama1951-1960Hugo FregoneseUnited KingdomWarThe British Seven Thunders was released in the US as Beasts of Marseilles. Set in 1943, the film stars Stephen Boyd and Tony Wright as escaped POWs Dave and Jim. Hiding out in Marseilles, the two protagonists battle over the affections of local gamine Lise (Anna Gaylor). When they find the time, Dave and Jim plan an elaborate breakout for the other POWs sequestered in the French port city. After an engaging opening, the film relies upon serial-like thrills and hairbreadth escapes to keep the audience awake. Stealing the show from the nominal stars are those grand old British troupers James Robertson Justice and Kathleen Harrison.Read More »
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Hugo Fregonese – Savage Pampas (1966)
1961-1970AdventureEuro WesternsHugo FregoneseSpanish cinema under FrancoWesternIn the late 1800s, an army captain tries to tame the open plains of Argentina, which are dominated by Indians and bandits. To help do this, the captain brings in a party of women to keep his soldiers happy.Read More »
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Hugo Fregonese – Mark of the Renegade (1951)
1951-1960ActionAdventureHugo FregoneseUSAAMG Overview:
by Hal Erickson
MGM’s Ricardo Montalban and Cyd Charisse were loaned to Universal for the Technicolor period piece Mark of the Renegade. Set in 19th-century California, the film stars Montalban as Marcos, in league with a band of pirates. Marcos falls into the hands of Don Pedro Garcia (Gilbert Roland), a despot who hopes to become dictator of California. Planning to force the cooperation of benevolent politico Jose De Vasquez (Antonio Moreno), Garcia orders Marcos to court De Vasquez’ comely daughter Anita (Cyd Charisse). It soon develops that Marcos is not the criminal he appears to be, and that he is dedicated to the vanquishing of the evil Garcia. Somehow, Mark of the Renegade finds an excuse for Cyd Charisse to perform a bewitching dance number.Read More » -
Hugo Fregonese – My Six Convicts (1952)
1951-1960ComedyDramaHugo FregoneseUSA -
Hugo Fregonese – The Raid (1954)
1951-1960Hugo FregoneseUSAWesternA group of confederate prisoners escape to Canada and plan to rob the banks and set fire to the small town of Saint Albans in Vermont. To get the lie of the land, their leader spends a few days in the town and finds he is getting drawn into its life and especially into that of an attractive widow and her son.Read More »