Pulp International

vintage and modern pulp fiction; noir, schlock and exploitation films; scandals, swindles and news

THE HUNTERS AND THE PREY

They originally wanted to go on the lion safari but it was all booked up.

Horror Safari should be the title of a movie about Christmas shopping, but no such luck—it’s a jungle safari movie, alright. You see an Italian poster above, and an alternate version at bottom. It was released in Italy this month in 1982 with an English title, but was renamed Invaders of the Lost Gold for its international release in an attempt to channel Raiders of the Lost Ark. You’re worried already, no? You should be. We became intrigued by the film because we discovered it features softcore icon Laura Gemser, who we saw recently in Violenza in un carcere femminile. Her skin flicks are terrible, but here she’s featured in an ostensibly non-erotic role, so we had to take a flyer on it.

In a prologue segment, a Japanese platoon carrying twelve cases of gold through the Philippine jungle at the end of World War II is attacked by tribesmen. They’re decimated, but the three survivors hide the cases. Thirty-six years later a hard-bitten fortune hunter catches wind of a treasure map, and procures it through violent means. He assembles an expedition peopled by the likes of Stuart Whitman, Glynis Barber, Woody Strode, and about ten others. The producers might as well have put that last group in t-shirts with the words “body count” stenciled across the front, because the horror part of the safari has to do with the fact that the tribe from earlier is cannibalistic.

Gemser has dealt with cannibals before (in the amazingly bad but still somewhat entertaining Emanuelle e gli ultimi cannibali), but we must say she isn’t nearly as clever this time around. Nor is the movie itself. Though she’s down the cast list a bit Gemser gets plenty of screen time, which is nice, and those minutes include a skinny-dip (so much for non-erotic), but sadly, she’s a weak actress whether her clothes are on or off, and cannibals apparently don’t know the difference between flesh that gives pleasure and flesh that gives sustenance. We’ve done our duty, though, giving Gemser a chance in a non-sexploitation role. All we can say in conclusion is bring on the skin.

Italy, Japan, Philippines, Horror Safari, Invaders of the Lost Gold, Stuart Whitman, Edmund Purdom, Woody Strode, Harold Sakata, Laura Gemser, Glynis Barber, poster art, cinema, nudity, movie review

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Any kind of work is good work.


Probably needing no introduction, above, is Hawaii born actor Toshiyuki Sakata, who performed as Harold Sakata. We ran across this 1964 promo image on an auction site and had to share it. Sakata rose to fame initially as an Olympic weightlifter and professional wrestler, but was coaxed in front of the movie camera to play Oddjob in the film Goldfinger. He was one of Bond’s most formidable foes, fighting with brute strength and his deadly top hat, which had a razor sharp steel brim that could take the head off a marble statue. Unfortunately, that same hat led to his character’s demise when he was electrocuted inside Fort Knox. After that ugly death Sakata went on to amass more than thirty credits in cinema and television—a successful career by any measure. But he’ll probably always be best known as Oddjob.

Hawaii, Goldfinger, Harold Sakata, Toshiyuki Sakata, Sean Connery, James Bond, cinema
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HISTORY REWIND

The headlines that mattered yesteryear.

1961—Plane Carrying Nuclear Bombs Crashes

A B-52 Stratofortress carrying two H-bombs experiences trouble during a refueling operation, and in the midst of an emergency descent breaks up in mid-air over Goldsboro, North Carolina. Five of the six arming devices on one of the bombs somehow activate before it lands via parachute in a wooded region where it is later recovered. The other bomb does not deploy its chute and crashes into muddy ground at 700 mph, disintegrating while driving its radioactive core fifty feet into the earth.

1912—International Opium Convention Signed

The International Opium Convention is signed at The Hague, Netherlands, and is the first international drug control treaty. The agreement was signed by Germany, the U.S., China, France, the UK, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Persia, Portugal, Russia, and Siam.

1946—CIA Forerunner Created

U.S. president Harry S. Truman establishes the Central Intelligence Group or CIG, an interim authority that lasts until the Central Intelligence Agency is established in September of 1947.

1957—George Metesky Is Arrested

The New York City “Mad Bomber,” a man named George P. Metesky, is arrested in Waterbury, Connecticut and charged with planting more than 30 bombs. Metesky was angry about events surrounding a workplace injury suffered years earlier. Of the thirty-three known bombs he planted, twenty-two exploded, injuring fifteen people. He was apprehended based on an early use of offender profiling and because of clues given in letters he wrote to a newspaper. At trial he was found legally insane and committed to a state mental hospital.

1950—Alger Hiss Is Convicted of Perjury

American lawyer Alger Hiss is convicted of perjury in connection with an investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), at which he was questioned about being a Soviet spy. Hiss served forty-four months in prison, but maintained his innocence and fought his perjury conviction until his death in 1996 at age 92.

1977—Carter Pardons War Fugitives

U.S. President Jimmy Carter pardons nearly all of the country’s Vietnam War draft evaders, many of whom had emigrated to Canada. He had made the pardon pledge during his election campaign, and he fulfilled his promise the day after he took office.

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KISS AND TELL STORIES

We can't really say, but there are probably thousands of kisses on mid-century paperback covers. Here's a small collection of some good ones.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

Two Spanish covers from Ediciones G.P. for Peter Cheyney's Huracan en las Bahamas, better known as Dark Bahama.

DON GIOVANNI

Giovanni Benvenuti was one of Italy's most prolific paperback cover artists. His unique style is on display in multiple collections within our website.

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