This horror anthology has three prominent European directors – Roger Vadim, Louis Malle and Federico Fellini – each adapt an Edgar Allan Poe short story for the big screen, each starring top stars of the day.
“Metzengerstein” – directed by Vadim – features a beautiful but cruel medieval countess (Jane Fonda) who has a love-hate relationship with a black stallion – who, it turns out, is really her dead lover Baron Wilhelm (Peter Fonda).
Despite Fonda’s skimpy Barbarella-style outfits, this is the weakest of the three segments.
“William Wilson” tells the story of a sadistic Austrian army officer (Alain Delon) who is hounded by a mysterious man that shares his name and appearance, but none of his evil ways. Directed by Louis Malle.
Brigitte Bardot puts in a courageous performance as Giuseppina and the De Sadean climax in which she gets whipped for losing a game of poker is strangely fascinating.
“Toby Dammit” – directed by Fellini – features the titular jaded alcoholic English movie star (Terence Stamp) arriving in Rome to film a spaghetti western based on the life of Jesus Christ and attend a bizarre Italian version of the Oscars.
Haunted by visions of a young blonde girl playing with a ball who turns out to be the Devil, he goes on a drunken ride through Rome in a Ferrari. Based on Poe’s novel Don’t Wager Your Head to the Devil.
Metzengerstein
Contessa Frederique de Metzengerstein
Jane Fonda Countess’ Advisor
James Robertson Justice Friend of Countess
Françoise Prévost Baron Wilhelm Berlifitzing
Peter Fonda Le licier
Georges Douking Philippe
Philippe Lemaire Claude
Carla Marlier Hugues
Serge Marquand
William Wilson
Giuseppina
Brigitte Bardot William Wilson
Alain Delon Young girl on the dissection table
Katia Christine Hans
Umberto D’Orsi Priest
Renzo Palmer Wilson as a child
Marco Stefanelli University professor
Daniele Vargas
Directors
Roger Vadim
Louis Malle
Federico Fellini
Related Posts
Je T'Aime, Je T'Aime (1968) Returning to the subjects of lapsing time and unreliable memory that had informed all his earlier features, Alain Resnais harnessed…
Boston Strangler, The (1968) This is a suspenseful and - faint-hearted viewers take note - often disturbing re-creation of the crimes, capture and psychoanalysis…
Sabata (1969) This spaghetti Western is Italian moviemakers at their nonsensical niftiest and Lee Van Cleef at his bulletproof best. A mysterious…
Bliss Of Mrs Blossom, The (1968) Shirley MacLaine stars in this otherwise all-British comedy, written by Alec Coppel and Denis Norden and directed by Joseph McGrath.…
Sunday in New York (1963) Before she became a great star and Academy Award winner, Jane Fonda was a screen ingenue who sent a string…
Danger: Diabolik (1968) Based on a cult comic strip, this mix of fantasy and madcap criminality is directed with mischievous glee by horror…
Shivers (1975) David Cronenberg's first feature-length horror film may now look a little crude, but the obsessions that would colour his later…
Shag (1989) This coming-of-age comedy set in South Carolina in 1963 has a seductive charm that sneaks up on you. The slender…
“Metzengerstein” – directed by Vadim – features a beautiful but cruel medieval countess (Jane Fonda) who has a love-hate relationship with a black stallion – who, it turns out, is really her dead lover Baron Wilhelm (Peter Fonda).
“Toby Dammit” – directed by Fellini – features the titular jaded alcoholic English movie star (Terence Stamp) arriving in Rome to film a spaghetti western based on the life of Jesus Christ and attend a bizarre Italian version of the Oscars.
