Femmes Fatales

April 24 2025

HUMAN RESOURCEFULNESS

When it came to lingerie she had to draw the line.

This seems like a good pairing with the above post. We’ve read that during World War II, when silk and nylon production were diverted for the making of parachutes, nets, and other items, some women wore liquid stockings. Basically, this was a type of make-up for their legs that gave the illusion of hosiery, and those who wanted to go a step further drew on seams with eyebrow pencils. Austrian actress Nadja Tiller takes that idea the next logical step by drawing on the world’s flimsiest undies. We’d personally be pretty jazzed if we found this drawn on under someone’s clothing. We mean just for a change of pace.

Tiller appeared in list of films and television shows long enough to weave into fabric and make real underwear. Something like one hundred credits, we think. Nearly every one of those films were made in Europe, but she starred in at least one English language film—1959’s The Rough and the Smooth, directed by Robert Siodmak of The Killers and Criss Cross fame. While those are seminal noirs, The Rough and the Smooth seems to be more of a romance. Well, maybe we’ll dig into her German language output and see if there’s anything crime related hiding there.

Austria, The Rough and the Smooth, Nadja Tiller, Robert Siodmak

Femmes Fatales

November 8 2024

PERSONAL DEFENSE

I keep hearing that smash Bergers are all the rage, so I decided I needed a little protection.

This shot of Austrian actress Senta Berger was made to promote the television show The Man from U.N.C.L.E., in which she featured during a 1964 episode titled, “The Double Affair.” We’ve visited with Berger a lot, but a particularly nice pair of shots is here. For our many non-U.S. readers, a “smash burger,” which has exploded in popularity, is a hamburger pressed flat from a ball of meat onto a flattop grill and cooked until it has crispy edges. We’ll take our medium rare Wagyu burgers any day of the week.

Austria, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Senta Berger, television

Femmes Fatales

September 20 2024

THE RED END OF THE SPECTRUM

Ann-Margret demonstrates the principle of addition by subtraction.

Above: a really nice oversaturated 1965 shot, minus all colors except red and adjacent shades, of Swedish star Ann-Margret, scanned from the West German/Austrian magazine Party. In the true-color images from this session the background is more burgundy, the faux fur blanket is in the purple-gray range, and Ann-Margret’s skin is a normal hue. But she’s still red hot in every frame. This was made as a promo for her 1965 movie Once a Thief.

Sweden, Germany, West Germany, Austria, Party Magazine, Once a Thief, Ann-Margret

Femmes Fatales

May 5 2024

HER AIM IS TRUE

With her new progressive lenses she can finally shoot accurately near and far.

Austrian actress Hennelore Auer sees with new clarity exactly who she plans to ventilate in this fun promo photo made for her 1968 spy flick X: Drei blaue Panther, aka Kill Panther Kill. She acted in more than thirty films, mostly in West Germany, between 1960 and 1972, including Kommissar X – Drei goldene Schlangen, aka Three Golden Serpents, and Willy, der Privatdetektiv. This image came from the West German film magazine Film Kurier.

Austria, West Germany, Film Kurier, Kommissar X: Drei blaue Panther, Kill Panther Kill, Willy der Privatdetektiv, Kommissar X - Drei goldene Schlangen, Three Golden Serpents, Hannelore Auer

Vintage Pulp

February 17 2024

ENTER THE SUPERDRAGON

The name's Cooper. Brian Cooper. What—you were expecting some other secret agent?

The Italian spy thriller New York chiama Superdrago, which we had a chance to watch during our little break last week, was known in English as Secret Agent Super Dragon, and is another in a spate of hipster spy movies that came in the wake of James Bond’s massive cinematic success. It premeired in Italy today in 1966. Three of its promo posters were painted by the great Sandro Symeoni, and while the above example is also attributed to him on some websites, that’s incorrect. It’s really by Enrico de Seta. Or said to be by one long-running online poster vendor. We’re not actually sure about that because the signature doesn’t look like his, but who are we to argue with the experts?

In the film, Ray Danton plays a retired agent codenamed Super Dragon—civilian name Brian Cooper—who’s roused from his yogic meditations and drawn back into the spy game when a friend dies in a suspicious auto accident that may be related to previous strange deaths. The clues lead from a U.S. college town to Amsterdam (because what kind of spy movie would it be without some globetrotting?), and into the lissome arms of fellow spies Margaret Lee and Marisa Mell (because what kind of spy movie would it be without hotties à la carte?). Between romances Danton learns that the plot revolves around the untraceable drug synchron-2. Purpose: unknown (but don’t be shocked if it’s to do with world domination).

Few of these Bond knock-offs are sufficiently budgeted or technically proficient enough to result in good final products. Whether you like them has to do with nebulous factors. In this case, we thought Danton’s unctious self-entitlement and blasé approach to world saving were funny. We loved when one of his many assailants swallowed cyanide, Danton said, “I’d better get rid of him,” then dumped the corpse out the nearest window. Cue sound effect of splashing water. New York chiama Superdrago is a bit camp without being a satire, and just poorly written enough to provide a few laughs without being a total screenwriting train wreck. But don’t pretend we said it’s actually good.

Italy, Austria, New York chiama Superdrago, Secret Agent Super Dragon, Ray Danton, Margaret Lee, Marisa Mell, Jesse Hahn, Jess Hahn, Carlo D'Angelo, Solvi Stubing, Enrico de Seta, cinema, poster art, movie review

Intl. Notebook

July 1 2023

SAUSAGE FEST

How many can you consume in one sitting?

Above are lovely photo-illustrated covers of Wiener Magazin published in Austria during the 1950s. Some of the celebrities pictured are unknown to us. We’ve placed those last. The others are, in order, Joan Collins, Jayne Mansfield, Mitzi Gaynor, Ava Gardner, Anita Ekberg, Lilanne Brousse, Mamie Van Doren, and May Britt. These are to whet your appetite. We have a couple of full issues we’ll show you later.

Austria, Wiener Magazin, Joan Collins, Jayne Mansfield, Mitzi Gaynor, Ava Gardner, Anita Ekberg, Lilanne Brousse, Mamie Van Doren, May Britt, magazine art

Vintage Pulp

December 16 2022

SERIAL HUSBAND

Some love lasts forever. Other times it doesn't survive the wedding night.

Another of the movies we watched recently was Bluebeard, a castle and dungeon-style, quasi gothic horror flick about a folk tale character who murders a series of wives. Its Spanish poster was the best of those we saw, and we chose today to share it because the film premiered in Spain today in 1974, after opening in the U.S. two years earlier.

This piece was painted and collaged from photos by Francisco Fernández Zarza-Pérez, also known as Jano, now a regular visitor to Pulp Intl. Just for the sake of it, we’ve also included the U.S. poster at right (or above if you’re on a mobile device). You can see that it’s built fully around a photo-illustration, and while it’s interesting, we thought Jano’s work had a little more merit.

Bluebeard stars Richard Burton, who’s supposed to be a great actor, but we have to admit we’d seen exactly zero of his acclaimed movies up to this point. He was a Shakespearean stage guy who transitioned to Hollywood in similar type roles, and being decidedly non-pulp in style, we’ve highlighted none here. He later made a couple of war movies, though, as well as the overbudget epic Cleopatra, and we might get around to those. Going on the example presented by Bluebeard, however, you’d have to conclude that he’s a hack. Those who know more than us say that by the 1970s heavy drinking had impaired both his judgment and skill.

You’d think that a famous folk tale would provide a trove of potential cinematic possibilities to sift through, but Bluebeard is uninspiringly written, and the direction—from film noir vet Edward Dmytryk—presents little evidence of engagement with or inspiration by the material. The women Bluebeard murders are played by Karin Schubert, Nathalie Delon, Virna Lisi, sexy nun Raquel Welch, Marilú Tolo, Agostina Belli, and Joey Heatherton—not neccsarily in that order—plus Sybil Danning makes an appearance. Heatherton has the key role as Anne, the wife who elicits a confession from a psychologically tortured Bluebeard as to why he kills.

And the reason? Dude can’t get it up. Therefore, in the era before little blue pills, as a prominent member of Austria’s post-World War I patriarchal society, Bluebeard murders to keep his limpness secret. You’d think dying wives would destroy his matrimonial suitability, but at

a certain point we suppose money papers over all flaws. Rich or not, though, never marry a guy who sits around with a raptor on his shoulder. And speaking of hunting, we should warn the kind-hearted that there’s an extended hunting sequence in Bluebeard, and the animals are killed for real, in detailed action. We’re talking several rabbits, a number of birds in flight, a couple of foxes, a boar, and a deer.

Based on what we’ve written so far, you might think we’re not recommending Bluebeard, but not so fast, friends. The female cast—to state the obvious—comprises some of the loveliest actresses of the era, and in diverse ways. Welch is sculpturally flawless, Lisi is ethereally beautiful, Toló is broodingly dark, and Heatherton, whose resting face is ingenuous and slightly open-mouthed as if she’s always concentrating on a problem, can only be described as luscious. She also has one of cinema’s all-time greatest hairdos. Is it pervy to say you should watch a movie solely for the beauty of its actresses? Probably—but it’s the truth. The filmmakers must have agreed, because they published lots of nude production stills, when in fact the film has less skin. See below.

Spain, Austria, Bluebeard, Richard Burton, Karin Schubert, Nathalie Delon, Raquel Welch, Marilú Tolo, Joey Heatherton, Virna Lisi, Agostina Belli, Sybil Danning, Edward Dmytryk, Francisco Fernández-Zarza Pérez, Jano, poster art, cinema, horror, movie review

Femmes Fatales

November 28 2022

RETRO VISION

If only you could see the world the way I see it.

Above: an amazing shot of Austrian actress Marisa Mell made while she was filming the Italian drama Una sull’atra, aka Perversion Story in 1969.

Austria, Una sull’atra, Perversion Story, Marisa Mell

Femmes Fatales

September 21 2022

INTERGALACTIC FASHION

If you think this looks ridiculous you should see my winter wardrobe.

Austrian actress Sybil Danning has a lot of promo images with guns, both realistic and fake, due to her appearance in several over-the-top action movies, including 1984’s Euer Weg führt durch die Hölle, aka Jungle Warriors, 1983’s Chained Heat, and 1980’s Battle Beyond the Stars, for which she shot the above photo. All of those films have attained cult status of varying levels, but the latter is amazing because of the people associated with its production. Its stars included respected actors Robert Vaughan and George Peppard, its screenplay was written by John Sayles, its efx were helmed by James Cameron, and its driving force was schlockmeister supreme Roger Corman. We may take a look at it a bit later, but in either case Danning will return.

Austria, Battle Beyond the Stars, Chained Heat, Euer Weg führt durch die Hölle, Jungle Warriors, Sybil Danning, Roger Corman, Robert Vaughan, George Peppard, John Sayles, James Cameron, sci-fi

Vintage Pulp

May 12 2022

AN EXTASE TRIP

Pack light and leave your inhibitions behind.

This poster was made in Liege, Belgium for the romantic drama Extase, starring Austro-Hungarian beauty Hedy Lamarr. Based on a novel by the Vienna born author and actor Robert Horký, the film opened in Belgium today in 1933, after having premiered in then-Czechoslovakia as Ekstase in January of that year. It isn’t a pulp style film, but it’s significant, which is why we had a look. It’s about a young upper class woman in an unfulfilling marriage who solves that problem by acquiring a sidepiece in the form of a worker played by Aribert Mog. This results in some steamy moments and—some viewers say—the first orgasm ever depicted onscreen. “Some viewers” are right. There’s no doubt. In the midst of a nocturnal tryst Mog’s head and torso slide off-frame, as Lamarr breathes more and more heavily before finally grimacing in lovely fashion and snapping her string of pearls.

Yeah, this is hot stuff for 1933. And we thought everyone was having a great depression. Shows what we know. If the title Extase doesn’t tell you what’s going on, consider the fact that Hedy’s character is named Eva, and Mog’s is named Adam. It’s that kind of movie. In a way, an orgasm was inevitable. Lamarr also captures moviegoers’ attention with a nude swim and sprint through the fields that occurs about twenty-eight minutes in. Why’s she running around starkers? Her mare Loni decides to get herself some equine action and abandons Hedy—taking her clothes along for the ride. Always make sure to tie your mount to something, especially when it’s horny. Lamarr really is naked in the scene, too, which few modern performers would do in this age of new puritanism. It’s thanks to this run through the wild that she meets Mog, the eventual master of her clitoris, if not her heart.

Extase isn’t a silent film, but it’s close. There’s a lot of orchestral music and only a dozen or so sections of dialogue. Even so, it’s very watchable. The visuals tend to be laden with meaning in films such as these, but some scenes require no interpretation at all, like the bit where a couple of horses mate (not Loni and her love, sadly). They don’t show it of course, but the crash zoom of a mare’s backside from the point-of-view of the stud horse gets the idea across with remarkable subtlety—not. It was hilarious, actually. But hey—even horses feel extase, because it’s just a natural thing, see. On its own merits we’d call Extase more of a curio than a cinematic triumph, but it certainly achieves what it sets out to do, and that’s success of a form, even if it would be forgotten without the orgasm. But that’s often true, isn’t it?

Loni! Come back, you stupid horse! That jumpsuit doesn’t even fit you!

Why hello, lovely naked creature.

You rude beast! Try taking a picture. It’ll last longer.

Already done. With my mind. Deposited you right in the spank bank.

Bank— What? Spank what? Oh, never mind. Give me my clothes.

Objectify me, will you? Two can play that game. Duh… nice package! Duh… I’m an idiot!

Thanks. And you’re not an idiot—many women agree with you about my package.

No, I’m objectifying you, like you did to me.

Like a sex object. I understand. That’s cool. I love sex.

No, I mean I’m debasing you via the reduction of any unique and admirable qualities you might have down to the purely phy— Oh, forget it! You’re too dumb to understand.

Oh… oh… oh! It’s true he lacks… formal education…

But he sure knows how… to make a girl… SNAP HER PEARLS!

*sigh*

Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Austria-Hungary, Ekstase, Extase, Hedy Lamarr, Hedy Kiesler, Aribert Mog, Zvonimir Rogoz, Robert Horký, poster art, cinema, movie review

ABOUT

EMAIL

LEGAL

SEARCH PULP INTERNATIONAL

PULP INTL.
HISTORY REWIND

The headlines that mattered yesteryear.

November 15

1920—League of Nations Holds First Session

The first assembly of the League of Nations, the multi-governmental organization formed as a result of the Treaty of Versailles, is held in Geneva, Switzerland. The League begins to fall apart less than fifteen years later when Germany withdraws. By the onset of World War II it is clear that the League has failed completely.

November 15

1959—Clutter Murders Take Place

Four members of the Herbert Clutter Family are murdered at their farm outside Holcomb, Kansas by Richard “Dick” Hickock and Perry Smith. The events would be used by author Truman Capote for his 1966 non-fiction novel In Cold Blood, which is considered a pioneering work of true crime writing. The book is later adapted into a film starring Robert Blake.

November 13

1940—Fantasia Premieres

Walt Disney’s animated film Fantasia, which features eight animated segments set to classical music, is first seen by the public in New York City at the Broadway Theatre. Though appreciated by critics, the movie fails to make a profit due to World War II cutting off European revenues. However it remains popular and is re-released several times, including in 1963 when, with the approval of Walt Disney himself, certain racially insulting scenes were removed. Today Fantasia is considered one of Disney’s greatest achievements and an essential experience for movie lovers.

November 12

1912—Missing Explorer Robert Scott Found

British explorer Robert Falcon Scott and his men are found frozen to death on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica, where they had been pinned down and immobilized by bad weather, hunger and fatigue. Scott’s expedition, known as the Terra Nova expedition, had attempted to be the first to reach the South Pole only to be devastated upon finding that Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen had beaten them there by five weeks. Scott wrote in his diary: “The worst has happened. All the day dreams must go. Great God! This is an awful place.”

November 12

1933—Nessie Spotted for First Time

Hugh Gray takes the first known photos of the Loch Ness Monster while walking back from church along the shore of the Loch near the town of Foyers. Only one photo came out, but of all the images of the monster, this one is considered by believers to be the most authentic.

November 12

1969—My Lai Massacre Revealed

Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh breaks the story of the My Lai massacre, which had occurred in Vietnam more than a year-and-a-half earlier but been covered up by military officials. That day, U.S. soldiers killed between 350 and 500 unarmed civilians, including women, the elderly, and infants. The event devastated America’s image internationally and galvanized the U.S. anti-war movement. For Hersh’s efforts he received a Pulitzer Prize.