During the right-wing dictatorship of the awful Generalissimo Francisco Franco the filmmakers in Spain had to be extra imaginative to make their movies come true. One of the rules from the censors was that the films must be set either in historical times or in another country, that's why every Spanish genre movie from this time is set in Germany, England, France... whatever stock footage they had in the storage at the moment. Or just somewhere at the countryside in some eastern European country, which could be shot everywhere.
When Franco died in 1975 it became easier to make the films they wanted to make and in 1983 Naschy shot Panic Beats in one of the general's luxury villas. He closed the circle there. But lets go back to 1971. The giallo craze in southern Europe was still huge and the Spainards wanted in on the market. Seven Murders for Scotland Yard is one of several "Spanish Giallo" movies made, often with Naschy involved as an actor. This might also be the best one. Not because it's a smart flick - it's not - but because it's so damn entertaining.
Naschy plays a former trapeze artist, no an alcoholic living in the seedy slums of London together with his girlfriend. It's not a happy relationship and it just gets worse when she's killed by a serial killer imitating the crimes of Jack the Ripper! Naschy is the first suspect and when the murder toll raises Naschy desperatly tries to keep away from the cops, because he's innocent - or is he?
Seven Murders for Scotland Yard is an excellent example of a cheap, gritty, gory Spanish thriller. It reminds me a lot of some old Edgar Wallace film, but with a lot more graphic violence and nudity. The mystery itself is nothing to brag about, but there's a lot of bloody murders, violence, sleaze and a lot of awesome shots of the sex club districts in London during the time - all is stock footage of course, very little seem to have been shot in London with the actors. But that's cool, it just gets more exploitative!
It could be an excellent double feature together with French Sex Murders, but I'll say this is the better film. It looks better, even if it has a cheap porn-style look over many of the interior shots - probably a result from a very fast shooting schedule, but José Luis Madrid craftman-like directing makes up for the faults of the film. As usual Naschy steals every scene he's in. What's a bit surprising is that he doesn't seem to want to find the killer himself - he's just hiding and waiting for the cops to do their job. This could have been boring and takes away some of the tension, but Naschy is so entertaining and cool that I'll forgive this screenwriting weakness.
Seven Murders for Scotland Yard is a very trashy and cheap thriller, which also makes it one of my favorite Naschy films. I like the grittiness, the cheapness of the show. It feel closer to the reality. It's not so damn beautiful... without getting realistic. It feels like I'm there, prowling the streets, chasing the limping Naschy, wearing a trenchcoat, a big mustache and a loaded gun ready to deliver cheesy lines of dialogue.
So you want to see this film? I hope so! It's out on a surprisingly good quality grey market DVD from Televista. Anamorphic widescreen, probably sourced from a very old beta master. It's not VHS quality anyway, but far from being stellar. It's good enough until someone actually releases it for real.
"During the right-wing dictatorship of the awful Generalissimo Francisco Franco the filmmakers in Spain had to be extra imaginative to make their movies come true. One of the rules from the censors was that the films must be set either in historical times or in another country, that's why every Spanish genre movie from this time is set in Germany, England, France... whatever stock footage they had in the storage at the moment. Or just somewhere at the countryside in some eastern European country, which could be shot everywhere."
I didn´t know but it doesn´t come as surprise to me.....I mean, just look at Machete Maidens Unleashed!(2010), Corman goes to the Philippines(by then a dictatorship under Marcos) and makes exploitation films about mostly rebels overthrowing......dictators!
The irony....
"The mystery itself is nothing to brag about, but there's a lot of bloody murders, violence, sleaze and a lot of awesome shots of the sex club districts in London during the time - all is stock footage of course, very little seem to have been shot in London with the actors. But that's cool, it just gets more exploitative!"
Hell yeah!
Sounds great....
"Seven Murders for Scotland Yard is a very trashy and cheap thriller, which also makes it one of my favorite Naschy films. I like the grittiness, the cheapness of the show. It feel closer to the reality. It's not so damn beautiful... without getting realistic. It feels like I'm there, prowling the streets, chasing the limping Naschy, wearing a trenchcoat, a big mustache and a loaded gun ready to deliver cheesy lines of dialogue."
The grittiness is what I like in old grindhouse/exploitation films.
And using the Ripper myth at same time....
Good review and thanks Fred.
Posted by: Megatron | May 01, 2013 at 13:44
Thanks!
It's a very competent and trashy thriller. You need to start watching Naschy films, Megatron!
Posted by: Fred Anderson | May 01, 2013 at 14:36
Fred: Yeah...I do.
Posted by: Megatron | May 01, 2013 at 18:12