Directed
by Umberto Lenzi; Written by Alberto Cavallone
Original Italian title LA GUERRRA DEL FERRO
[The War of Iron]
director:
Umberto Lenzi (Humphrey Milestone) written
by: Alberto Cavallone
starring Sam Pasco · Elvire Audray · George Eastman ·
Pamela Prati (as Pamela Field) · William Berger
During
a hunt, the Mogo tribe leader is murdered by one of his own people,
an evil young tyrant named Vood. After getting banished by the tribe,
Vood wanders into a remote area of volcanic activity and there he witnesses
the natural formation of an iron bar. Using this weapon (and also armed
with the knowledge of knowing how to create it) Vood becomes mad with
power and begins a bloody mission to conquer all mankind... one tribe
at a time. His life-long rival, Ela from Mogo, embarks on a mission
against the insane warlord.
Umberto
Lenzi planned this film as a thinly veiled allegory of Hitler's rise
to power and he hired revolutionary filmmaker Alberto-Cavallone to write
the script. Mr Cavallone, who was working on his own cannibal/prehistoric
film at the time (FEMALE
BARBARIANS OF THE KON TRIBE), took the script into a more horrific
direction and Lenzi ran with it. Problems occurred when the staff realized
their leading man, Sam Rasco, was struggling with his role. He had been
a bodybuilder with no previous acting experience (in fact, this would
be his only 'legitimate' film as he delved into gay porn and
died a few years later from Aids). George Eastman - fresh from a series
of villainous characters in Joe d'Amato films, including his legendary
Grim Reaper role in ANTHROPOPHAGUS
- fit snugly into the film as lunatic Vood. As a result, most of the
movie was devoted to the villain, the true Ironmaster of the title,
causing a major disconnect from Lenzi's original concept.
The
two leading actress are especially noteworthy. This was the first starring
role in a feature film for Pamela Prati. She would go on to become an
erotic icon, headlining in a wide variety of cult films including SUKKUBUS,
REFLECTIONS
OF LIGHT, and the Lucio Fulci movie BLOOD
MOON. Her costar here, Elvire Audray, had made Sergio Martino's
thrillerMURDER
IN AN ETRUSCAN CEMETERY the
previous year; she would star in the jungle/cannibal film AMAZONIA
(White Slave) shortly after. Many European television series
followed. But, sadly, Ms Audray committed suicide at age 40 in France,
July 2000.
An
Italian film, in English language; widescreen format, uncut version (90
minutes),
DVD encoded for ALL REGIONS NTSC; extras include original trailer.
Graphic
Violence/Nudity/Extreme Gore/Animal Cruelty/Sexual Brutality
For Mature Audiences
