Help a brother out?

Updated on December 5, 2012 By Ken Begg 20 Comments


It won’t be until next November, so no rush. However, one of the B-Master roundtable subjects for next year (we’re set through May of 2014, actually) is French B-Movies. I’ve only done Zombie Lake that I can think of, and a short, dazed piece on Oasis of the Zombies back in the days where there was a separate Jabootu blog. Huh, I wonder how much content was on that? Not a lot, but I should see if I could dig it up.

Anyhoo, I’d REALLY prefer to stay away from Jess Franco or Jean Rollins, but if anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

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  • Beckoning Chasm

    Any particular genre? I know Jacques Becker did a bunch of gangster-crime movies, but since they starred Jean Gabin and were usually released by Criterion, I don’t know how “B” they would be. Also, Eyes without a Face with the same caveats. I’m unaware of any French monster movies…

  • Gamera977

    Wasn’t Wild, Wild Planet a combination French/Italian production? Or are you looking for a film that’s strictly French in origin?

  • Ken_Begg

    Well, the problem of course is that they have to be bad French b-movies. Otherwise I’d definitely review Jean Pierre Melville films, several of which I love. Or Rififi, since I love a good caper movie.

  • Ken_Begg

    Yeah, pretty much a French language film.

  • FEnM

    Would “Eyes Without a Face” work? I know it’s a French horror film, but I’m not sure it’s considered a “B” Movie.

  • Ken_Begg

    It probably is, but I prefer not to do a good movie.

    If I go that route, I might review the silent Fantomas movies. Heaven knows how much I adore the Mabuse films.

  • Was THE DIABOLICAL DR. Z French? Or was that German? That’s the only one I can think of right off.

    As to “Eyes Without A Face”/THE HORROR CHAMBER OF DR. FAUSTUS, why not just single out the Americanized version? I haven’t seen it myself, but there might be something there you can sink your teeth into.

  • Gamera977

    Ah, ok sorry. Just thought I’d throw that out there.

  • FEnM

    Yeah, I kinda thought it was a little too good for your purposes. Ah, well

  • Ken_Begg

    I appreciate it!

  • Flangepart

    Rififi, yeah. A caper flick that made me respect France. Well, they still think Jerry Lewis is a genius, non?

  • Beckoning Chasm

    A quick Google comes up with Le Jour et la Nuit (1997), a romance.

  • I nominate 1983’s OGROFF THE MAD MUTILATOR.

  • sandra

    Do Jean Rollin’s vampire movies qualify as Bs ?

  • Ken_Begg

    Yes, but they are so BOOOOOORING.

  • Ken_Begg

    Yeah, that and DEVIL STORY came out. They look a tad gory for my tastes.

    The Fantomas thing is growing on me, though. I love that stuff.

  • Ken_Begg

    Wow, what a cast! Sounds always, but I’m not sure my fellow B-Masters will approve it as a ‘b-movie.’

  • I did some checking, THE DIABOLICAL DR. Z is indeed a French film (and having seen it, it would be right up your alley with a giant robot spider-like operating table and mad science galore). But it’s also a co-production with Spain, so I guess that means it’s out of bounds for your purposes, right?

  • Erin

    Hmmm, I had plenty of suggestions until you said no Jess Franco or Jean Rollin. How about “Bloody Mallory”? Opinions are divided on whether it’s good or bad, but it’s definitely a B-movie.

  • Ken_Begg

    It’s not so much that as that I find Jess Franco even more boring than Jean Rollins. Which is saying something.