Calenture

I didn't really expect much of this one, as it had only attracted one reviewer (and no rating) but it kept me entertained. It's different inasmuch as the story centres around power-boat racing rather than cars. It's got a real sense of the time, a dastardly con artist (played by writer Renaldo), romantic difficulties, a rescue and of course a race. Seriously, what more do you want from a film of this period? Possibly the first reviewer is right in saying that parts are missing from the film; it's months since I watched it. A lot of these older movies do end quite abruptly. Naturally it's fallen into the public domain and isn't difficult to find online, so if you've a fondness for films of this age, possibly you'll enjoy it as I did. I'd rate it at 5.8.

Seriously, I kept starting awake from the sleep that this film had sent me into, and having to reverse the DVD to check what I'd missed.

I watch all kinds of films, pulp, schlock and highbrow, and usually I enjoy them on their own respective levels. I've enjoyed a few Mario Bava films. Black Sunday is a favourite. The costumes in Planet of the Vampires reminded me of Danger Diabolik, which I understand Bava directed uncredited.

Sadly, there's really no reason I can think of for anyone to watch this dreadful mess. The only hint of the Gothic splendour Bava brought to some of his best stuff is a giant skeleton which the spacemen find. I had high hopes of that, but it didn't actually do anything, just sort of the sprawled there... as you'd expect. Oh, and there was a bit of scenery that looked a bit like a petrified tentacle. But no-one actually seemed to notice it.

In the end, there was just a bunch of talking heads. Maybe he should have made a radio play from the script. But I think it would still have sent me to sleep.