(308) FRENCHMAN'S GARDEN (1978) Excellent Paul Naschy rarity
4892DVD
original Spanish title EL HUERTO DEL FRANCES [The
Frenchman's Garden]
director: Paul Naschy [as Jacinto Molina]
starring: Paul Naschy · Maria Jose Cantudo · Agata Lys
· Jose Calvo · Silvia Tortosa · Yolanda Rios
Based
on a notorious true-crime story. In the early 20th Century, a Frenchman
named Juan Andrés arrives in the small town, Peñaflor, Province
of Seville. No one knows where he actually came from nor anything about
his past. Soon, Juan establishes himself as a moneylender. Within a short
time, he [and partner José Muñoz] transform his luxurious
house into a brothel/casino known as "The Garden." The establishment
caters exclusively to the wealthy - especially to rich men traveling from
one metropolitan area to another - but often, those visitors are never
seen nor heard from again.
Paul
Naschy plays
Juan Andrés with unique carefree abandonment [one of his all-time
best performances]; his partner is José Muñoz, flawlessly
portrayed by the grisly Spaghetti Western perennial José Calvo.
The female cast is exceptional. Julia Saly is Juan's wife Elvira [she
starred with Naschy in many films including INQUISITIONand PANIC
BEATS (Frantic
Heartbeats), while producing others (BEAST
WITH THE MAGIC SWORD, The Craving, et al)].
His prostitutes/lovers are Agata Lys, Yolanda Rio, Silvia Tortosa. Plus
there's also an ex-girlfriend (stunning Maria Jose Cantudo) who is catalyst
for destruction when she arrives pregnant.
Although
this film is extremely rare and seldom seen, it is one of Paul Naschy's
best ventures, as both an actor and director. Upon its theatrical release
- during Naschy's most prolific period - he chose not to include his name
in the credits as he didn't want the public to prejudge the movie based
on his string of hit werewolf films. He signed his real name [Jacinto
Molina] as the director.
A
Spanish film with optional ON/OFF English subtitles, fully uncut 93 minutes,
widescreen, encoded for ALL REGION, playable on any American DVD machine
Extras include selected Paul Naschy trailers.
Graphic Violence/Nudity/Prostitution/Sexual Brutality
intended for Mature Audiences
