DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)

0 Kudo

Author	Comment
Adam Williams	DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	Lead	[-]
Posts: 243 (06/21/06 18:10:27) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None I'm surprised there are no threads dealing with this film, which was released the same year as LES YEUX SANS VISAGE and contains a mix of madness and poetry comparable with the Franju classic. Karen Kernke's performance as the hunchback-turned-beauty isn't as haunting as Edith Scob's faceless Christiane, but her eventual embrace of the psychotic Dr. Ood is chilling. The way the white sheet falls off her shoulder, as she talks to Dr. Ood after emerging from the three month surgical procedure, is one of the most disturbingly erotic scenes outside of a Jess Franco film. And who can forget the pathetic image of Michel Simon stiffly performing as a decapitated head begging for death? The way he shuts down after the plugs are pulled is so quick and relieving. Is anybody else in love with Ood's eyebrows?
Koukol 5	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#1	[-]
Posts: 2164 (06/21/06 19:46:39) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	This dvd is a "must have" from Alpha, while i would'nt put it in the same league as LES YEUX SANS VISAGE (not many films are imo) this film is very eerie. Much better than THE BRAIN THAT WOULD'NT DIE which is playing right now on Count Gore De Vols sight. While i usually don't like dubbing i thought that the muffled (somber)dubbing on this movie added to the strangeness.
Adam Williams	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#2	[-]
Posts: 243 (06/22/06 13:47:02) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	There's those eyebrows I was talking about. I don't mind the English dubbing of this film, but I would like to hear the original German track. Also, I suspect that we are not seeing the entire film on this Alpha DVD. Isn't there supposed to be some nudity in this? In other words, we need this film on a brilliant, uncut, multi-lingual DVD encased in a plastic Michel Simon head.
Koukol 5	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#3	[-]
Posts: 2164 (06/23/06 12:43:14) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Just watched this for the second time, what a great decapitated head movie. As far as the dubbing goes, what i liked was the deep voice that they dubbed for the head. It would be very strange to me if the original voice was'nt as deep. After the second viewing i realized it's the great score that adds so much to the eerie atmosphere. That and the severed head with all those tubes feeding off the tank of serum Z.
Melkes	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#4	[-]
Posts: 406 (06/24/06 06:50:25) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	This film is a little gem. I'd rate it among the best post silent era German horror movies. Unfortunately it's often regarded as some lower class cheesy kind of flick, perhaps in part due to the unbelievably dumb title. On the contrary, it is a well-made and atmospheric little horror movie. It manages to build up a certain tension and sadness, particularly in the bizarre scenes involving the severed head (for example his reaction when he first gazes upon his bizarre fate in the mirror, and again when Irene sees the head for the first time). The production design by Hermann Warm, art director and set designer of many important German silent movies, is another of the film's attributes adding to the look and claustrophobic feel of several scenes. Alpha's DVD is okay; standard video-like transfer. The English dubbing is acceptably done, although as usual dubbing is a serious detriment to any film's perceived quality. It really deserves a proper DVD release with original soundtrack. I wonder if Anolis or EMS ever had this title under consideration.
Melkes	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#5	[-]
Posts: 406 (07/16/06 10:28:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	*Quote:* Also, I suspect that we are not seeing the entire film on this Alpha DVD. I suspect you're right. According to German film databases the film is 96 min long while the Alpha disc runs 91 min. However it was shot in the 1.37:1 format so it should be close to original aspect ratio.
todmichel	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#6	[-]
Posts: 607 (08/13/07 12:10:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	There is a strange story about this movie. Michel Simon was, of course, one of the greatest French actors. He also had a very distinctive voice. Unfortunately, he didn't speak German, in any case not fluently enough, so he was dubbed for the original German version of this movie. When it was released in France (as "La femme nue et Satan", litterally "The Nude Woman and Satan" !), of course the French distributors wanted Michel Simon to dub his own character. But Michel Simon was victim of blood poisoning and treated in a hospital, as he was allergic to a colorizing of his beard for another movie, "Un certain Monsieur Jo". In fact he was "between life and death" for several months. So the French distributor was forced to employ another actor for the dubbing. But Simon has such a distinctive voice that the "actor" was in fact a well-known radio imitator, who could make "the Michel Simon" voice to perfection. And the result was... perfect. I'm quite certain that most of the audiences never saw the difference. It WAS Michel Simon's voice... but it was not coming from Michel Simon.
Koukol 5	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#7	[-]
Posts: 2164 (08/13/07 18:07:22) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Very interesting...I suppose that's part of the reason i find the dubbing so fascinating.
Adam Williams	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#8	[-]
Posts: 243 (08/13/07 18:58:43) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks for that information, todmichel. By coincidence I am just about to watch Simon in Julien Duvivier's PANIQUE tonight.
Melkes	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#9	[-]
Posts: 406 (08/14/07 23:24:08) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	People familiar with file sharing services might be interested in knowing that there is a version with the on-screen title Des Satans nackte Sklavin available, a West German re-release title. It's the full-length German languaged version in astounding quality. I don't know where it originates from but I'd guess it's a digital recording of a TV broadcast.
todmichel	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#10	[-]
Posts: 607 (08/15/07 00:04:01) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	It can be from a TV broadcast, you're right, as it was shown some months ago in one of the Canal Plus channels under the same title, but with the original French dubbing made in 1959 or 1960, when it was released as "La femme nue et Satan". So it's quite possible that this print was shown in other European countries as well.
Shadow Walker	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#11	[-]
Posts: 20 (02/13/08 04:41:47) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I thought this was a good film. Great atmosphere! I have been looking for a different print of it for a while with no luck. I actually downloaded the sinister cinema dvd from EZtakes to try and avoid the alpha print, but I am pretty certain they are both the same. If anyone finds a longer print, please let us know!
R T C Tim	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#12	[-]
Posts: 230 (02/14/08 14:08:11) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	As a Horst Frank fan (not the only one I hope), I really enjoyed this very rare leading role for the actor. I reviewed the Alpha disc a while back - The Head. A German DVD release would be ideal, with hopefully a full print (if one does exist) but very few of Wolf C. Hartwig's films have made it to DVD, except of course his infamous Schoolgirl Report series. --- Mondo-Esoterica.net - Cult DVD reviews from Hammer to Spaghetti Westerns.
Adam Williams	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#13	[-]
Posts: 243 (02/14/08 19:29:38) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	A very kind board member sent me a DVD-R of the French TV broadcast. It's fascinating to see this film in great quality and, I assume, uncut. I'll post further details when I get some time.
Koukol 5	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#14	[-]
Posts: 2164 (02/15/08 14:50:36) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	*Quote:* A very kind board member sent me a DVD-r... Hmmm...I wonder who that FRENCH person would be?
Gil Ray	Re: DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)	#15	[-]
Posts: 183 (02/15/08 20:03:50) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Love the French, myself! Gil

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Add Reply

Yuku free message boards

DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)

DIE NACKTE UND DER SATAN (a.k.a. THE HEAD, 1959)

Quick Reply