Mondo movies
 

I got given a copy of the Mondo movie ADDIO ULTIMO UOMO and, having heard it described in one review as a 'circumcisionathon', I'm not sure I want to watch it.

A film with lots of cuts then? :)

:D

Sounds like uncomfortable viewing. I'm not sure I would want to watch it either!

Here is what one of the reviews on the IMDB says

Hardly a glowing endorsement but, from the content, I'm not sure why he says Deodato and Fulci fans would 'lap it up'. I can't see a correlation between their films and castration/female genital mutilation!

Well you know how it is, Nos - If your a fan of horror movies then that means you also get off on real life violence and mutilation.:rolleyes:

Not only do horror fans enjoy watching it, but they are much more likely to go out and do it for real!

They are.


I have loads of body parts in my basement from people I've tortured and killed.

I thought I was the only one who did that. It's probably more common than you think.

I'd say 99.9 % of the members of this forum do :nod:

SSSSSSHHHHHHH!! walls have ears and all that....:pound::pound:

Why would anyone want to watch something like that?

No idea, but there are people who regularly watch them.

oh, i "know" one guy in particular...he recommended i watch a doc about brazil's busiest mortician once:laugh::laugh:

Is that ORZOCO THE EMBALMER?

indeed it is, the 5 minute trailer was QUITE enough for this particular gorehound;)

You know when it comes to special effects I can handle any amount of gore or bad taste, but when you are talking about the killing and/or mutilation of real human beings or animals, how on Earth can anyone derive pleasure from that?

Sounds like a barrel of fun!

its on the tube of you.....but with your sensibilities, id give it a miss;);)

No idea. I'm surprised these films were even produced in the first place. They pretend to be serious documentary's but it's obvious to me that they are nothing more than exploitation films intended to do nothing more than shock.

I do think the films of Jacopetti and Prosperi do have a little more going for them but that doesn't mean I'd ever watch them again though. Once was enough.

They had no serious intention whatsoever, as you say Pete, and were produced in order to shock and court controversy; which I imagine they did. Mind you, I suppose that it the basis of all exploitation films.

I have both the English and the Italian versions of Addio Zio Tom and I think that, along with the recently released film of theirs on the Camera Obscura label, they are the only Jacopetti and Prosperi films that I have any wish to to see.

Yeah, it is the basis of all exploitation films but they (mostly) simulated their violence. Those crappy Mondo films just exploited real life pain and suffering for nothing more than a quick buck. It obviously worked though as their are loads of them.

Of course some of it was simulated - the man eaten by a lion in SAVAGE MAN, SAVAGE BEAST - but a LOT of it wasn't.

I do find J&P fascinating and, like I said, I think their films had more to them than just simple exploitation (aside from WOMEN OF THE WORLD). The cinematography on AFRICA ADDIO and GOODBYE UNCLE TOM is excellent and I think those two films need to be seen at least once. But only once.


This would make an interesting thread. Any chance the mods could take these posts and give them their own thread?

Mondo movies
 

As there isn't a designated thread, this is for discussing the merits (or otherwise) of Mondo films.

I'm not a fan of Mondo movies but I do find Jacopetti and Prosperi fascinating people who at least seemed to believe in what they were doing. Their films had more to them than just simple exploitation (aside from WOMEN OF THE WORLD) and should seen as serious documentary work. I think AFRICA ADDIO and GOODBYE UNCLE TOM should be seen at least once.

On the other hand you get other 'Mondo' filmmakers such as the Castiglioni brothers and Antonio Climati (who started off as cinematographer for J&P before turning director) who seemingly had no intention of creating a serious documentary and simply set out to make a cheap buck by exploiting real pain and suffering. Of course some sequences, such as the infamous scene showing a man being eaten by a lion in SAVAGE MAN, SAVAGE BEAST were simulated, the majority of them weren't. Also, unlike Jacopetti and Prosperi, Climati and Co didn't know when to stop and the films just got more and more unwatchable into borderline snuff.

Yes, exploitation films such as the Nazi death camp films, exploit real pain and suffering but it was/is all simulated, the filmmakers didn't stick a camera into some poor dying guys face.


Just my two cents - be interesting to see what others think. :)

I haven't seen many (if any) Mondo films, but have Mondo Cane (1 & 2) on my pile of unwatched discs which I really want to see and want to check out some of Jacopetti and Prosperi's films as part of my ongoing film education!

Bloody hell, when I made that last post there were no other posts in this thread!

I moved all related posts from the What films have you seen recently? thread to this one.

J&P's are the one's worth watching.

Blue Underground produced a documentary about them, which I have but haven't watched, called THE GODFATHERS OF MONDO which is supposed to be really good.

Thanks for the recommendation. I might pick up a copy next month and see if it gives me some pointers about the best place to start with their films.

You could try and get BU's Mondo Collection which includes: MONDO CANE 1 & 2, WOMEN OF THE WORLD, AFRICA ADDIO (both short US version and full uncut italian verison), GOODBYE UNCLE TOM (both US and full length cut) versions and GODFATHERS OF MONDO. It goes for a pretty sum these days though.

They were later released in smaller boxsets:

Shockumentary Collection 1: Mondo Cane 1 & 3 and Women of the World
Shockumentary Collection 2: Africa Addio (US cut), Goodbye Uncle Tom (US cut) and Godfathers of Mondo
Shockumentary Extreme Collection: Africa Addio (Full uncut version) and Goodbye Uncle Tom (full uncut version)

http://a.dv1.us/p1/092/070092-d0.jpghttp://a.dv1.us/p1/093/070093-d0.jpghttp://c.dv1.us/p1/097/088097-d0.jpg

I'll have a look around and where I can buy a copy and how much it would cost. You know your Mondo!

I can get one from Amazon.com Marketplace for £51.76. Good value? The cheapest at Amazon.co.uk is 80 quid, so it looks tempting.

There is a Korean boxset on ebay for just under £30 which has all the content from the BU box but I'm not sure if it has English subtitles for the directors cuts and documentary.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mondo-Cane...#ht_2797wt_905

Although I said I would try and not buy anything else this month, but I'm not going to let that one get away!

Well done Nos, I think you lasted about 3 hours before caving in, ha ha :laugh:

I knew it wouldn't be long, but I did say I'd try my best; seemingly my best isn't good enough!

Ha ha, I usually manage about 2-3 days, luckily I've got plenty of stuff to part with on ebay so my funds are always topped up :)

I've never watched a Mondo flick yet, but I must admit they're very low down on my priority.
My mate and I were toying with reviewing one for our podcast, but it's a case of where to begin?

Judging by previous posts Cane looks like the best starting point.

I just find real Mondo vile to be honest.
Anyone who enjoys watching real people and animals getting slaughtered, killed etc needs to be sent to a shrink :lol: