One of the most famed and prolific novelists of the early 20th century, the English author Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was first adapted to film in the silent era and, although uncredited, wrote the screenplay for King Kong. Wallace's fame has never wavered in Germany, where a second wave of adaptations of his Kriminalroman (crime novels) became one of the most beloved and successful film trends of the 1960s. These Krimis not only inspired domestic imitators, but also predated and heavily influenced the Italian giallo genre. Despite seeing significant US television play through the 1970s, these films have remained obscure outside of Germany. Vinegar Syndrome Labs is delighted to finally present a selection of early Krimis restored with both their original German and English dub tracks.
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A group of dysfunctional family members comes together at Marks Priory in Scotland for the reading of Lord Lebanon's will, all with hopes of inheritance, but soon a major storm isolates them at the castle. No matter, as the final will may only be unsealed after they spend six days and six nights together. But after the first night, one of them is found strangled by a distinctive scarf around their neck. It's left to the family lawyer to sort out what's happening as the bodies keep dropping, which keeps the castle's dutiful butler quite busy. Starring Heinz Drache (Circus of Fear), Corny Collins (Kill, Panther, Kill!), Klaus Kinski (Nosferatu the Vampyre), and Gisela Uhlen (The Marriage of Maria Braun).
DAS INDISCHE TUCH (THE INDIAN SCARF) - (1963, 87 min, 2.35:1)
sound options: Original German language with newly translated English subtitles & an English dub
directed by: Alfred Vohrer
starring: Heinz Drache, Corny Collins, Ady Berber, Eddy Arent, Gisela Uhlen, Klaus Kinski, Siegfried Schürenberg, Hans Clarin
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Notorious underworld snitch The Squeaker is known for both ruthlessness and strict anonymity. The killing of a man who tried to reveal The Squeaker's identity sets into motion Inspector Elford and Sgt. Lomm, both puzzled by the bizarre snakebite punctures on each body, as the bodies quickly pile up. They meet an exotic animal importer who recently lost a deadly black mamba. As local journalists make quick work of the salacious story, a particularly suspicious mute animal handler draws their interest. Starring Heinz Drache (The Brides of Fu Manchu), Barbara Rütting (Operation Crossbow), Klaus Kinski (For a Few Dollars More), and Agnes Windeck (The Hunchback of Soho).
DER ZINKER (THE SQUEAKER) - (1963, 89 min, 2.35:1)
sound options: Original German language with newly translated English subtitles & an English dub
directed by: Alfred Vohrer
starring: Heinz Drache, Barbara Rütting, Eddy Arent, Klaus Kinski, Agnes Windeck, Günter Pfitzmann, Jan Hendriks, Siegfried Schürenberg
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When shrewd criminal Joe Legge emerges from the past to blackmail the esteemed Sir Marney, he can only turn to ace London private eye Johnny Gray for help. Gray zeroes in on a seamy Soho nightclub called the Highlow, where Legge seems to be planning a complicated heist. All of a sudden, women connected to the club begin to die in horrific razor-slashing murders. It seems as if the answer lies in the private rooms above the club, specifically Room 13. Starring Joachim Fuchsberger (What Have You Done to Solange?), queen of the Krimi Karin Dor (You Only Live Twice), Walter Rilla (Day of Anger), and Richard Häussler (The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle).
ZIMMER 13 (ROOM 13) - (1964, 89 min, 2.35:1)
sound options: Original German language with newly translated English subtitles & an English dub
directed by: Harald Reinl
starring: Joachim Fuchsberger, Karin Dor, Walter Rilla, Richard Häussler, Kai Fischer, Hans Clarin, Benno Hoffmann, Wolfgang Wahl
