Ben Gazzara

  • Giuseppe Tornatore – Il Camorrista aka The Professor (1986)

    1981-1990CrimeDramaGiuseppe TornatoreItaly

    Gradually picking up dramatic steam as it moves through its 2 1/2 hour running time, this gangster film is loosely based on the career of one of Naples’ most sadistic crime bosses, Raffaele Cutolo. Here, the mobster (played by Ben Gazzara) is simply called “The Professor” and is first introduced in prison where he landed after murdering a stranger who was flirting with his sister. From prison he begins to move up the Camorra ladder when he recruits inmates to join him in bringing down the leading crime boss and has his sister pay off their families in return. Without ever leaving prison “The Professor” succeeds in replacing the ruling “don” but far from resting on his laurels he starts to wipe out his enemies and anyone whose loyalty might be in question. Still hampered by his incarceration, he finally escapes and joins forces with the Cosa Nostra and even begins to put major politicians in his pocket. It seems like nothing can stop him until a lone and much-benighted police chief (Leo Gullotta) enters the picture.
    Eleanor Mannikka
    New York TimesRead More »

  • Jack Garfein – The Strange One (1957)

    1951-1960DramaFilm NoirJack GarfeinQueer Cinema(s)USA

    Quote:
    Legendary actor Ben Gazzara made his feature film debut in The Strange One, recreating his Broadway role in Calder Willingham’s gripping “End as a Man”. Gazzara stars as Cadet Sgt. Jocko De Paris, a sadomasochistic bully in a Southern military academy who uses his magnetism and the school’s own military code to manipulate his fellow cadets and officers. When he engineers the expulsion of a hated rival, his reign of terror begins to unravel.Read More »

  • Philip Leacock – When Michael Calls (1972)

    1971-1980HorrorPhilip LeacockThrillerUSA

    Plot
    Helen keeps on receiving phone calls from a child, who claims being her nephew Michael – but Michael died 15 years ago…Read More »

  • Daniel Petrie – The Neptune Factor (1973)

    1971-1980AdventureCanadaDaniel PetrieSci-Fi

    Summary:
    When an underwater ocean lab is lost in a earthquake, an advanced submarine is sent down to find it and encounters terrible danger.

    Aboard the R/V Triton, the Project Neptune team is doing oceanographic research. Director Andrews (Walter Pidgeon) is trying to keep the research going in spite of opposition from Foundation Head Sheppard. Below on the ocean floor, in the Sealab, the team led by Hamilton is about to return to the surface when the Sealab is ripped loose from it’s moorings and sent careening into a trench. Trapped too deep for divers, the only chance is rescue by a new US Navy mini-sub, piloted by the arrogant Cdr Blake (Ben Gazzara) USN. Blake, Chief Diver MacKay (Ernest Borgnine), Diver Cousins & Dr. Jansen (Yvette Mimieux) (Hamilton’s fiance) dive in the mini sub to attempt the rescue of the trapped Hamilton & crew.Read More »

  • Tinto Brass – Ça ira, il fiume della rivolta (1964)

    Tinto Brass1961-1970DocumentaryItalyPolitics

    This is a compilation film consisting exclusivley of archive footage. Rather not the usual sort of film you get from Tinto Brass.

    Trivia from IMDB:
    “This film was scheduled for the second New York Film Festival (1964), but was withheld by authorities in Italy and thus deprived of a showing. In 1971, the film was re-titled and released in the USA as “Thermidor” (after the 11th month of the French Revolutionary calendar), with a new English narration, and with some attempt at updating made by its American distributor.”Read More »

  • Michael Crichton – Pursuit (1972)

    1971-1980DramaMichael CrichtonThrillerUSA

    A political extremist plans to spread stolen nerve gas in a city where a political convention is being held. Government agents are sent to catch him.Read More »

  • John Cassavetes – The Killing of a Chinese Bookie [108 minute cut] (1976)

    1971-1980CrimeDramaJohn CassavetesUSA

    Quote:
    The killing of a Chinese Bookie was released in 1976 after what Cassavetes
    described as a very rushed editing period. The film was a commercial failure
    and was pulled from the theaters after seven days. Two years later after the
    completion of Opening Night, Cassavets re-edited the film-cutting nearly
    thirty minutes-and re-released it in the version presented here.Read More »

  • Otto Preminger – Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

    1951-1960CrimeDramaOtto PremingerUSA

    Quote:
    In a murder trial, the defendant says he suffered temporary insanity after the victim raped his wife. What is the truth, and will he win his case?Read More »

  • Vincent Gallo – Buffalo ’66 (1998)

    Drama1991-2000ArthouseUSAVincent Gallo

    Quote:
    After being released from prison, Billy is set to visit his parents with his wife, whom he does not actually have. This provokes Billy to act out, as he kidnaps a girl and forces her to act as his wife for the visit.Read More »

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