(462) KILL THE POKER PLAYER (1972) a Giallo Spaghetti Western
4576DVD
Original
Italian title HAI SBAGLIATO...DOVEVI UCCIDERMI SUBITO! [You're Wrong...You Must Kill Me Now!]
also known as LAMUERTE LLEGA ARRASTRANDOSE [Death Arrives From
Behind]
also known as CREEPING DEATH
director: Mario Bianchi (as Frank Bronston)
starring: Robert Wood · Frank Brana · Nieves
Navarro (as Susan Scott)
· Ivano
Staccioli
By the early '70s,
Giallos had replaced the Spaghetti Western as Europe's major boxoffice
draw. This movie successfully combines the two genres. It's the story
of three men who viciously rob a bank and escape with a fistful of dollars.
The bodies of two are found in the desert - victims of snake bites - but
the third has since disappeared. He has assumed a new identity and is
hiding out in a border town. Enter Jonathan Pinkerton, an investigator
for Lloyds of London, searching for clues to the missing money and, of
course, the identity of the third gunman. Immediately, Pinkerton notices
that the town seems to be plagued with snake attacks. This leads him to
a herpetologist, Professor Torres, who claims snakes talk to him. There
are other suspects as well: Sheriff Burton, a saloon girl named Kate,
saloon owner Karl and town boss Clinton (played by perennial villain Ivano
Staccioli, best known for playing the commandant in Bruno Mattei Naziploitation
films WOMAN CAMP 119 and PRIVATE
HOUSE OF THE SS GIRLS).
Director Mario Bianchi
is the son of exploitation filmmaker Roberto Montero Bianchi (SLASHER
IS A SEX MANIAC) and began his career working as an assistant
director for his father. Mario - using the name Frank Bronston for his
Westerns - made 85+ movies under thirteen different pseudonyms between
1971 - 2001. His most famous films are REFLECTIONS
OF LIGHT (with Laura Gemser and Pamela Pratti), SATAN'S
BABY DOLL, THE
BLACK MAIDand VIOLENT
CITY. Mr Bianchi retired from the director's chair in 2001. Today
he lives quietly in a Rome suburb.
Actress Nieves Navarro
began her career with Spaghetti Westerns (including PISTOL
FOR RINGO and THE
BIG GUNDOWN). She changed her name to Susan Scott, response to
a suggestion from director Fernando Di Leo, while they were making EVIL
LOVE in 1969. A year later she starred in FORBIDDEN
PHOTOS OF A LADY ABOVE SUSPICION for filmmaker Luciano Ercoli.
Their union sparked an artist and romantic relationship. That motion picture
was followed by Ercoli's DEATH
WALKS IN HIGH HEELS and DEATH
WALKS AT MIDNIGHT in 1972. They also had a wedding the same year.
Their marriage lasted 45 years until his death in March 2015. In her late
70s, Ms Navarro now lives outside Rome in the family villa.
An
Italian film in English language; original widescreen format, 89 minutes,
ALL REGION NTSC, playable on any American machine; extras include theatrical
trailer
