Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (1972)

 

In the 16th century, the ruthless and insane Don Lope de Aguirre leads a Spanish expedition in search of El Dorado.

Arguably, Werner Herzog's greatest masterpiece, this a hypnotic, almost surreal tale of a downward spiral into an unknown void, full of breathtaking images and sequences and a diabolically intense performance by Klaus Kinski.

Halliwell****: "Absorbing conquistador melodrama, vividly assembled and impossible to forget."

Maltin***1/2: "Powerful, hypnotic tale...Dream-like film...Kinski is perfect as the mad Aguirre." 

Android (1982)

 

A strange doctor secretly experiments with androids on his space station. His assistant is Max, a curious android who wants to see the world and meet a girl. Criminals hide on their station and soon violence erupts.

From memory: Low budget, butt neatly assembled sci-fi drama is mildly entertaining with a slightly silly android coming-of-age story; Klaus Kinski, of course, is always worth the watch.

Halliwell*: "Cheaply made,but a bobby-dazzler science fiction addicts." 

Maltin***: "Entertaining sci-fi story...Charming, quirky ultra-low-budget film made on leftover sets from Roger Corman's BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS."

Fitzcarraldo (1982)

 

The story of Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald, an extremely determined man who intends to build an opera house in the middle of a jungle.

From memory: Werner Herzog's magnum opus is a massive and powerful film, it's story of a Gargantuan and nearly mad project clearly references to the making of this work itself, captured in breathtaking pictures and set pieces, and with Klaus Kinski in a role that is obviously the culmination (and summation) of his career.

Halliwell****: "A strange and brilliant film centring on the hero's successful attempt to drag his massive boat from one river to another."

Maltin****: "Vivid, fascinating portrait...Astonishing and captivating movie, in spite of its length; admittedly not to everyone's taste."

 

Buddy Buddy (1981)

 

During a high profile Mafia testimony case in California's Riverside County, a hired killer checks into a hotel room near the courthouse, while his depressed next-door neighbor wants to commit suicide due to marital problems.

From memory: Although this remake of L'emmerdeur is directed by Billy Wilder and presents the otherwise always irrepressible Matthau/Lemmon team, it's a tired and disappointingly unfunny comedy; even Klaus Kinski in a supporting role as an unsympathetic doctor can't help enliven the story.

Halliwell (no star): "Painful remake of the French L'Emmerdeur...Lugubriously funny at times, but generally much less attractive than the original." 

Maltin***: "Modest black comedy...A simple farce, played to perfection by Lemmon and Matthau..."

Woyzeck (1979)

 

Franz Woyzeck is a hapless, hopeless soldier, alone and powerless in society, assaulted from all sides by forces he can not control.

From memory: Werner Herzog's adaptation of Georg Büchner's classic play was filmed an d cut in 18 days, and the quick-shot production does show in the minimalist settings, but Klaus Kinski's intense, over-heated performance remains quite memorable.

Halliwell**: "Deft, swift tragedy of a fragmented play, with a powerful performance from Kinski as a man trying to exist in a world he cannot comprehend."

Maltin**1/2: "Minor Herzog..."

 

 

 

Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht (1979)

Count Dracula moves from Transylvania to Wismar, spreading the Black Plague across the land, and only a woman pure of heart can bring an end to his reign of horror.

From memory: Typical for Werner Herzog, this adaptation of the vampire tale is visually more than stunning and is darkly atmospheric, but slow-paced and a bit boring; Kinski, Adjani and Ganz are perfectly cast in their respective roles.

Halliwell*: "Despite the star's splendidly loathsome appearance, the overall is no improvement, and the colour in the English prints is quite dreadful."

Maltin***1/2: "Spooky, funny, reverent remake of F. W. Murnau's vampire masterpiece should please Dracula fans of all persuasions. Kinski is magnificent as the good Count, and Adjani's classic beauty is utilized to the hilt."

Madame Claude (1977)

Madame Claude, a well connected Parisienne with dark past, runs a network of high-class call girls.

Lackluster erotic drama that only seems to criticize a corrupt high society; the sex scenes are simply attachments with hardly any signification to the plot.

Klaus Kinski

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_Kinski

Prega il morto e ammazza il vivo (1971)

After a gang robs a bank, it hires a mysterious man to guide it across the Mexican border in return for half of the loot.

Unusual and remarkable spaghetti western is more psychological drama than a shoot-em-up; the first half may have inspired Tarantino's The Hateful Eight.

Due volte Giuda (1969)

A wealthy amnesiac becomes aware of a con man's attempts to kill off his family and separate him from his estate.

Stylish, above-average Spaghetti Western that unfolds its story like an antique Greek drama.

Our Man in Marrakesh (1966)

One of six travellers who catch the bus from Casablanca airport to Marrakesh is carrying $2 million to pay a local operator to fix United Nations votes, but which one?

Lame and outdated (and not so funny) espionage spoof, which only has the exotic locations to its merit.

Halliwell (no star): "Thin comedy-thriller with exotic locations."

Maltin**1/2: "...OK spoof; good location shooting."

Per qualche dollaro in più (1965)

Two bounty hunters with the same intentions, team up to track down a Western outlaw.

In many aspects a continuation and expansion not just of the first entry of the Dollar trilogy, but also of the Spaghetti western catalogue, highly stylzed and full of grim humour, but its ending drags on a wee bit too long.

Halliwell**: "Vague, inflated, sometimes good-looking sequel to A Fistful of Dollars, with customary violence and predictably mean performances."

Maltin***: "Slightly draggy but still fun; don't miss the scene where Van Cleef strikes a match on the back of Kinski's neck! Trademark atmospheric score by Ennio Morricone."

Psycho-Circus (1966)

A circus becomes the location for stolen loot and murder.

[aka Circus of Fear]