It's time to cue up some cool soundtracks as Spy Vibe hits the airwaves. I've teamed up with Cocktail Nation, that swinging show out of Australia, and every month I will be introducing one of my favorite spy films/series and talking about the music. Spy Vibers can now listen to Episode Two on Cocktail Nation, where I spotlight the Mod, Sp-Fi classic The 10th Victim (1965), starring Marcello Mastroianni and Ursula Andress. As many readers may know, the 1965 Elio Petri movie adaptation of Robert Sheckley's sory starred Ursula Andress and Marcello Mastroianni, and the film looms large here on Spy Vibe. Ever since I was a kid, I've been completely fascinated by the film's cocktail of groovy music, op art, pop art, space-age fashion, and modern design. I was even fortunate to be able to create the entire poster/still gallery to the Blu-ray edition from Blue Underground! It might not be Citizen Kane (or From Russia With Love), but the movie serves as an outstanding time capsule of the art and design scene in 1965. The 10h Victim sported a soundtrack by composer Piero Piccioni, who set out to create Jazz of the future for director Petri. Tune in to the show here. Info about Episode One featuring Danger Man here. Below: a selection of images illustrating the rich style of The 10th Victim. Enjoy! Some related 10th Victim posts: Elsa Martinelli Autodromo, 10th Victim Japanese edition, Future Listening, Set Countdown #5, Soundtrack, fashion, Fear and Fashion, Mods to Moongirls, German Edition, 10th Victim Photo.
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Fahrenheit 451 50th, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview:Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art.
A pair of rare, out-of-print cult movies are making their way to Blu-ray this summer: Remo Williams and Elio Petri's early Mastroianni classic, The Assassin! Two more reasons to pick up an all-region player (both editions are PAL format from England). Details below.
Remo Williams (1985) starring Fred Ward and Joel Grey (directed by 007 alum Guy Hamilton!), will be released on July 7th. From AmazonUK: "First they faked his death and gave him a new identity. Now
a top secret organisation is training a former New York cop to combat corrupt
forces operating outside of the law. His mentor, Chiun, is an ageing Korean
master of the martial arts who can run on water and dodge speeding bullets. Born on the pages of Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir s The
Destroyer series of men s adventure novels, Remo Williams was placed in the
capable hands of Bond director Guy Hamilton (Goldfinger, The Man with the
Golden Gun) for his big-screen outing. Fred Ward (Tremors) plays the trainee
assassin, with Academy Award-winner Joel Grey (Cabaret) occupying the role of
Chiun. With its classic set-piece atop the Statue of Liberty,
much-loved score by Craig Safan and a healthy sense of its own silliness, Remo
Williams: The Adventure Begins... offers up a cracking slice of mid-eighties
action. SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS: High definition digital transfer. Newly created and exclusive content including interviews with
cast and crew! Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned
artwork by The Red Dress. Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film and
more!
The Assassin (1961) starring Marcello Mastroianni and directed by Elio Petri (The 10th Victim, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion) will be released on June 21st. From AmazonUK: "Released within months of Fellini s La Dolce Vita and Antonioni
s La Notte, Elio Petri s dazzling first feature L Assassino also stars Marcello
Mastroianni, this time as dandyish thirtysomething antiques dealer Alfredo
Martelli, arrested on suspicion of murdering his older, far wealthier lover
Adalgisa (Micheline Presle). But as the increasingly Kafkaesque police
investigation proceeds, it becomes less and less important whether Martelli
actually committed the crime as his entire lifestyle is effectively put on
trial. Best known for Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion
and The Tenth Victim, Petri was one of the finest and yet most underrated
Italian directors of the 1960s and 70s. Highly acclaimed on its original UK
release but unjustly neglected since, L Assassino is a remarkably assured debut
from one of the cinema s sharpest chroniclers of Italian social and political
realities. Petri said that he wanted to reflect the changes wrought by the
early sixties, and to examine a new generation of upstarts who lacked any kind
of moral scruple. Arrow Academy is proud to present the first ever UK video
release of L Assassino in a gorgeous high-definition restoration created by the
Cineteca di Bologna. SPECIAL FEATURES: New 2K digital restoration from the Cineteca di Bologna. Uncompressed Mono 2.0 PCM Audio. Elio Petri and L Assassino, an introduction by Italian
cinema expert Pasquale Iannone. Tonino Guerra: A Poet in the Movies: Nicola Tranquillino s
documentary about the great Italian screenwriter. Theatrical Trailer. Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned
artwork by Jay Shaw. Booklet featuring new writing on the film by Elio Petri
expert Camilla Zamboni, plus a selection of contemporary reviews.
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: new Fleming books, SE Asian 007, Cumberbatch as Ian Fleming, Fleming Jamaica Book, Bond Japanese Editions, Fleming Chinese Edition, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50th, Ian Fleming: Mt. Demon Hell Japan, Collecting Fleming, Live and Let Die 60th, new poster announced, 007 Audio Books Update, Appropriating Bond Exhibit, Fleming Letters Mystery, The Goldfinger Variations, Double 007 Book Designs, Double 007 designs II, rare Ian Fleming edition, Book Design Dopplegangers, Turkish Bond design, Ian Fleming Letters, Erno Goldfinger, Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive.
Recent Spy Vibe posts: Bunny Yeager and Ursula Andress, Danger Mouse, Lost Avengers Episodes, Big Fun Toys, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Bruno Nicolai CD, Mother's Day (Avengers), Mod Fashion Dolls, Wild Wild West Blu-ray, Cold War Archie, New Avengers Comic, Ipcress File Blu-ray, Honor Blackman Tour, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, UNCLE Gun, The Saint books return, Spy exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton, DC Fontana Prisoner Video, Edward Gorey's 1960s, Ipcress File cinematography, 007 SOLO cover designs, Gloria Steinem and Denny O'Neil on MOD Wonder Woman, Win Scott Eckert interview, Siegel and Shuster's SPY, David McCallum: Son of Batman, Wonderwall comes to Blu-ray, Kevin Dart talks Ringo & Powerpuff Girls, Fu Manchu history panel, Mod Tales Interview, Atomic Art, Shane Glines Batman.
We conclude our week of rare books with two editions of Robert Sheckley's The 10th Victim. The 1965 Elio Petri movie adaptation starring Ursula Andress and Marcello Mastroianni looms large here on Spy Vibe. Ever since I was a kid, I've been completely fascinated by the film's cocktail of groovy music, op art, pop art, space-age fashion, and modern design. I was fortunate to be able to contribute the entire poster/still gallery to the Blu-ray edition from Blue Underground (on sale now for $12.49!). As we discussed in our tour of Japanese editions of James Bond and The Man From U.N.C.L.E., the leading publisher for mystery and Sci-Fi in the 1960s was Hayakawa. Hayakawa released The 10th Victim in 1967 with the company's trademark abstract painting motif on the cover. It appears that Kanamori Tooru supplied a design as well, but I have not been able to verify this. Kanamai's style tended toward classic Sci-Fi illustration, making images for properties like Star Trek, so I believe the abstract work below is by another artist. Sheckley's novel was translated by Tokiwa Shimpei (born in Iwate prefecture, for my fellow northerners). Another edition came out by Hayakawa in 1969, wrapped in an obi with photo stills from the movie. Story continues below.
Robert Sheckley's The 10th Victim is finally accessible as an e-book! Amazon just released it on April 1st, along with the author's Victim series. The original source material for the film was a 1953 short story, The Seventh Victim, included in the author's book Galaxy. Sheckley's film novelization came out in 1966. The 10th Victim movie was a perfect project for Robert Sheckley and Elio Petri. Both artists were interested in satire and social commentary, often shedding light on moral decay and society's chilling fascination with violence. The 10th Victim establishes a future where violent tendencies are channeled into games of death, and violence itself is marketed as entertainment. Modern audiences will recognize the trend in our own current popularity of reality shows, Battle Royale, The Hunger Games, and the flood of serial-killer anti-heroes. Sheckley's use of satire and fast-paced writing made his own commentary and narrative quite accessible and entertaining. The 10th Victim novel differs slightly from the movie. In this famous passage below, we do see the heroine dispatch her killer with a gun-bra bikini (one of the images that inspired Austin Powers). But Sheckley's action takes place in a trendy art gallery of wax dummies, rather than Petri's choice to place the killing in a sadomasochist club.
Excerpt: "One of the wax dummies on the far end of the line came suddenly and disconcertingly to life. The dummy whirled; it was Caroline, half clad, the upper half of her comely body concealed only by a strangely shaped metal brassiere reminiscent of the one worn by Wilma, the legendary wife of Buck Rogers. Caroline's was a more practical garment than that archetypical brassiere of yore; for as she faced the startled Hunter, each breast piece fired a single shot." The Victim novels are currently $3.99 on Kindle Amazon. German edition on Spy Vibe here. Related 10th Victim posts: Future Listening, Set Countdown #5, Soundtrack, fashion, Fear and Fashion, Mods to Moongirls.
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Bond Japanese Editions, Fleming Chinese Edition, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50th, Ian Fleming: Mt. Demon Hell Japan, Collecting Fleming, Live and Let Die 60th, new poster announced, 007 Audio Books Update, Appropriating Bond Exhibit, Fleming Letters Mystery, The Goldfinger Variations, Double 007 Book Designs, Double 007 designs II, rare Ian Fleming edition, Book Design Dopplegangers, Turkish Bond design, Ian Fleming Letters, Erno Goldfinger, Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive.
Recent Spy Vibe posts: U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, UNCLE Gun, The Saint books return, Spy exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton, DC Fontana Prisoner Video, Edward Gorey's 1960s, Ipcress File cinematography, 007 SOLO cover designs, Gloria Steinem and Denny O'Neil on MOD Wonder Woman, Win Scott Eckert interview, Siegel and Shuster's SPY, David McCallum: Son of Batman, Wonderwall comes to Blu-ray, Kevin Dart talks Ringo & Powerpuff Girls, Fu Manchu history panel, Mod Tales Interview, Atomic Art, Shane Glines Batman.
Our spotlight on rare book designs continues today with The 10th Victim by Robert Sheckley. As many readers may know, the 1965 Elio Petri movie adaptation starring Ursula Andress and Marcello Mastroianni looms large here on Spy Vibe. Ever since I was a kid, I've been completely fascinated by the film's cocktail of groovy music, op art, pop art, space-age fashion, and modern design. I was fortunate to be able to contribute the entire poster/still gallery to the Blu-ray edition from Blue Underground (on sale now for $12.49!). My collection includes many original materials from the US, France, Belgium, and Japan. It was only recently that I cast a wider net and found this cool paperback from Germany, where the film was called Das 10. Opfer. In addition to the book, collectors can find lobby cards and programs (see below) on the international market. Like tie-in products from other countries, the German materials focus on the erotic and sci-fi elements from the movie. If you haven't watched it, that's Ursula Andress in her silver gun-bikini!
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Fleming Chinese Edition, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50th, Ian Fleming: Mt. Demon Hell Japan, Collecting Fleming, Live and Let Die 60th, new poster announced, 007 Audio Books Update, Appropriating Bond Exhibit, Fleming Letters Mystery, The Goldfinger Variations, Double 007 Book Designs, Double 007 designs II, rare Ian Fleming edition, Book Design Dopplegangers, Turkish Bond design, Ian Fleming Letters, Erno Goldfinger, Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive.
Recent Spy Vibe posts: UNCLE Gun, The Saint books return, Spy exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton, DC Fontana Prisoner Video, Edward Gorey's 1960s, Ipcress File cinematography, 007 SOLO cover designs, Gloria Steinem and Denny O'Neil on MOD Wonder Woman, Win Scott Eckert interview, Siegel and Shuster's SPY, David McCallum: Son of Batman, Wonderwall comes to Blu-ray, Kevin Dart talks Ringo & Powerpuff Girls, Fu Manchu history panel, Mod Tales Interview, Atomic Art, Shane Glines Batman.
Start the weekend with a funky tune by Blur. I love the art direction for this rare Music is My Radar video, which features a retro TV talk-show format and some groovy Mod dancers reminiscent of The 10th Victim (Petri, Mastroianni, Andress/1965). Damon Albarn (Gorillaz) sings over a groove that really kicks into gear at about the 2min mark. The song was originally released on Blur: The Best Of (2000), but the video remained elusive for many years. After a long hiatus, the band reformed in 2008 and has continued to tour the world. The moving story of the reunion was captured in a documentary film called No Distance Left To Run. They released Blur 21 in 2012, a massive box set of remastered CDs, DVDs and LPs, to great acclaim. Blur recently headlined the 2012 Olympic Games concert in Hyde park. You can preview the set and learn about the band on The Blur App available for iPad and iPhone on iTunes. Music is My Radar video below, followed by a lobby card image from The 10th Victim of Mastroianni surrounded by Mod dancers. By the way, the Blu-ray edition of the film is currently only $16.49 on Amazon. The Spy Vibe collection was used for the entire stills/posters gallery on the disc. Now, here's Blur- Enjoy!
Recent Spy Vibe posts: The Goldfinger Variations, Mod Tales Interview, Kraftwerk returns to US, Beatles BBC on Fresh Air, Steranko S.H.I.E.L.D. Artist Editions, David Tennant's Ian Fleming audio books, Atomic Art, Modern Architecture LP, Julius Shulman, The Prisoner and Captain Scarlet, HMV returns to Oxford st w Beatles promo, Diego Fortunato and Verner Panton, Saturday Morning Cartoons, Assassination Bureau on DVD, new Young Bond series, new Beatles BBC album, new Hercule Poirot novel, Early Beatles image archive, Julie Newmar, Erno Goldfinger, Hitchcock tribute.
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Erno Goldfinger, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive.
Designer Diego Fortunato has launched his SIT Plastic Collection for Escofet. The plastic luminous furniture was featured yesterday on the Contemporist site: "SIT PLASTIC on their bench and CUBE formats, with and without backrest, are based on the idea of street furniture with a soft texture and rounded forms; comfortable but unidentifiable with any historic period." These light pieces have a certain minimalist vibe that could almost be new iChairs and iSofas. Fortunato's work also draws inspiration from smooth stones, and his portfolio includes images that resemble urban sandscapes. Undoubtably cool, but timeless? The contrast between the furniture in this image and the concrete-like surfaces bring to mind another designer's work from the 1960s.
I'm sure many Spy Vibers will link Fortunato's designs to the inflatable plastic furniture created by Verner Panton in 1960. If you didn't follow his work in the design world, you surely spotted his influence in Elio Petri's cult classic Sci-Spy film, The 10th Victim (1965), starring Marcello Mastroianni and Ursula Andress. I was fortunate as a collector to contribute the entire poster and stills gallery to the Blu-ray edition of the film! Spy Vibe's 10 Victim set design page here. Our complete Set For Adventure page here.
Recent Spy Vibe posts: David Tennant's Ian Fleming audio books, The Prisoner & Captain Scarlet, HMV returns to Oxford st w Beatles promo, Saturday Morning Cartoons, Assassination Bureau on DVD, newYoung Bond series, Peter Asher, Gerry Marsden tour, Elio Petri on Blu-ray, Sophia Loren, new Beatles BBC album, new Hercule Poirot novel, Beatles fall 2013 releases, A Hard Days Night cinematographer dies, Magic Christian on Blu-ray, Early Beatles image archive, Julie Newmar, Erno Goldfinger, Hitchcock tribute
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Erno Goldfinger, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address
The Criterion Collection's December lineup will include a rare cult classic by director Elio Petri, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970). Petri was known for exploring challenging themes regarding moral decay in modern society. In his classic The 10th Victim (1965), Petri called attention to the hunger for spectacle in a world that views violence as entertainment. This Sci-Spy tale of gladiators, starring Marcello Mastroianni and Ursula Andress, anticipated the rise of reality TV. As a collector of 10th Victim artifacts, I contributed the poster and still gallery to the Blu-ray edition. In Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, Petri examined moral decay and the abuse of power by the right wing by focusing on the transgressions of a high-ranking police official. In his modern spin on the Fall From Grace archetype, Petri showed how corrupt society can become when it values power and the status quo over individual responsibility. Where The 10th Victim captured the Mod design sensibility of 1965, Investigation drew on the stylish edge of Italian crime films and the avant-garde. Brutal at times, but fascinating. Score by Ennio Morricone. Available December 3rd on Blu-Ray and DVD.
From Criterion: "The provocative Italian filmmaker Elio Petri's most internationally acclaimed work is this remarkable, visceral, Oscar-winning thriller. Petri maintains a tricky balance between absurdity and realism in telling the Kafkaesque tale of a Roman police inspector (Gian Maria Volonté, in a commanding performance) investigating a heinous crime—which he committed himself. Both a penetrating character study and a disturbing commentary on the draconian crackdowns by the Italian government in the late 1960s and early '70s, Petri's kinetic portrait of surreal bureaucracy is a perversely pleasurable rendering of controlled chaos."
Special Features:
- New 4K digital restoration by the Film Foundation, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
- Archival interview with director Elio Petri, conducted by critic and filmmaker Alexandre Astruc
- Elio Petri: Notes About a Filmmaker (2005), a ninety-minute documentary on the director's career, featuring interviews with friends, collaborators, and filmmakers
- New interview with film scholar Camilla Zamboni
- Investigation of a Citizen Named Volonté (2008), a fifty-minute documentary about actor Gian Maria Volonté
- Music in His Blood, an interview with composer Ennio Morricone from 2010, conducted by film critic Fabio Ferzetti
- Trailers
- New English subtitle translation
- One Blu-ray and two DVDs, with all content available in both formats
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Evan Calder Williams and excerpts from a 2001 book by author and screenwriter Ugo Pirro
Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, Japanese fashion model and spy! The creator of Spy Vibe has written a novel called Elevator Girl, inspired by his love of Ian Fleming and based on newly declassified intel from the Cold War. More info at Whiton's website here. Recent Spy Vibe posts: Peter Asher, new Hercule Poirot novel, Beatles fall 2013 releases, A Hard Days Night cinematographer dies, Magic Christian on Blu-ray, Early Beatles image archive, Julie Newmar, Erno Goldfinger, Hitchcock tribute, Ian Fleming memorial, Emma Peel Megaset returns
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Erno Goldfinger, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address
