Very much for a long time, in the student's years, one my friend has called me and has asked to arrive urgently to it – he has started to look on video any film of horrors and to it it became madly terrible (it was absolutely atypical for it – in general pictures of a similar genre it did not frighten that, as it to them was indifferent). However he very much wished to look through this film, but alone could not. I have arrived. So for the first time I have got acquainted with a tape «the Seventh gate of the Hell» and with its director – Лучио Фульчи.
The godfather of low budget Italian films of the horrors abounding with frankly bloody and sadistic scenes, Лучио Фульчи was born in Rome on June, 17th, 1927. After the short period of time of study at medical institute (here, probably, whence at it love to смакованию details of killing of people!) and works as the art critic it arrives in Experimental school of cinematography of Lukino Visconti where receives the diploma of a script writer. Having tried (without special success) the forces on a field of documentary cinema, he starts to write scenarios for such geniuses of a world cinema, as Роберто Росселлини, Federiko Fellini, Марио Бава and the same Lukino Visconti. The whole 15 years Лучио Фульчи has worked a script writer for the known Italian director specialising on comedies, Стено.
After a marriage, realising sharp necessity to contain a family (not each scenario well was on sale), Фульчи devotes itself to film direction. Its first film became "Swindlers" of 1959 which, despite participation in it of the most popular Italian comedian Toto, has failed in hire. From this moment up to 1969 Лучио Фульчи basically removed comedies, occasionally "diluting" with their westerns and parodies to films about James Bonda. It is remarkable, what exactly Фульчи has opened road to Adriano Chelentano's big cinema («Children and the musical automatic machine» 1959, «Shouters before court» 1960, «Any strange type» 1963). In its tapes acted in film legendary Ex Неро («the Colt has sung about death» 1966), the known Italian pop singer the Mine («Shouters before court»), eminent Ernest Borgnajn («the Bullet for Сандоваля» 1969) etc.
Probably having got tired of an infinite stream of comedies, in 1969 Фульчи removes atypical for itself a psychological thriller with drama elements, its first experience in джиалло, «distortion History» (or «One on another») which makes some success at spectators. However this year has appeared for it very heavy – the most personal film in creativity of the director of "Beatrice Chenchi" (he named its "fine") about hypocritical and repressive essence of Catholic Church in Italy has caused 17 centuries an indignation storm in a press and among cinema-goers (in Russian variant the film was called "Inquisition"). Business even has reached that on the prime minister of a picture in the Great Britain slogans «Death to the director sounded!» . In addition to it wife Fulchi mortally sick of a cancer commits suicide. He very much takes hard this loss – quite probably, that persecution from critics along with personal tragedy have predetermined its further sharp transition from comedies to the gloomy Gothic films full of horrors and inhuman violence.
Really, after these hard blows of destiny Фульчи removes one of the most interesting thrillers-dzhiallo «the Lizard in a female appearance» (it is still translated as «the Lizard under a female skin», but it seems to me, that it too a literal translation) in which propensity of the director to the description of frank sadistic scenes already starts to be shown. So, in one of film episodes dogs have been shown mutilated, but still live, suffering from a pain. As a result of Фульчи has appeared before court on charge in cruel treatment with animals, and it was threatened with prison term. Only intervention of the master on special effects of picture Карло Рамбальди ("King Kong" of 1976, "Stranger", "Alien") which has brought one of models of dogs in court and has shown it in work, has convinced jurymen of innocence Фульчи. However, all the same the training for a new profession of the director in «the master of horrors» is in the seventies given to it hardly – it again removes spaghettis-westerns («Four arrow of the Apocalypse","the Silver saddle»), comedies and parodies («Эротоман», «Дракула in a province","My daughter-in-law»), even addresses to a screen version of classics of the world literature («the White Canine","Returning of the White Canine» - both with participation Ex Неро). Nevertheless, during the same period he creates two more severe джиалло - «do not torment the duckling» (known in Russia as «the Flour innocent») and «Seven notes in black» (or "Psychic"). « Seven notes in black », being a quite good psychological thriller, nevertheless has failed in hire, however« do not torment the duckling »till now it is considered one of the best джиалло not only Фульчи, but also the Italian cinema as a whole. In it still there is no description of bloody details of murders, but some scenes really shock. It is characteristic, that this film about the pedophile-murderer bossing in a countryside in the south of Italy as well as"Beatrice Chenchi"throws down a challenge of Catholic Church, has a sharp antireligious orientation (despite aversion of Catholicism, Фульчи asserted, that it« the doubting person in search of the God »). This tape also has got to« the black list »and had only the limited hire in the countries of Europe. In the USA it in general has been forbidden to display at cinemas.
Лучио Фульчи has entered into the Universe of film horrors promptly and effectively – in 1979 it has removed grandiose and, probably, the most dreadful film in the film career (its later picture «Seventh gate of the Hell» can be compared to it only, but about it later) "Zombie" (in Russia it is let out as «Devourers of a flesh»). In this tape the director has to the full given vent to the unhealthy imagination – except geysers of blood, an abundance of a decaying flesh and certificates каннибализма the scene (it was included into the annals of a world cinema) slow was most remembered (!!!) протыкания eyes a chip from the broken door which has been removed by a close foreshortening. Atmosphere of all-consuming fear is underlined by the surprising music Фабио Фрицци, written themes for many pictures Фульчи, - it чарующе beautiful and at the same time oppressing (by the way, almost in all films of the Italian directors of horrors magnificent music sounds is their "trade mark"). It is remarkable, that the idea of creation of this film belongs not Фульчи, and to the Italian producers who aspired «to give the worthy answer» to ingenious product of American film director George Romero «Dawn of dead persons» 1978. The answer has turned out more than worthy – many film fans consider, that tape Фульчи, despite the small budget, in many respects surpasses creation Ромеро. Itself Фульчи in this occasion has told: « It (Ромеро) live dead persons are the derelicts living on boondocks of a society. It is revenge outcast a life … «the Dawn of dead persons» is a political film, a great film, but differing from my "Zombie" ». Really,"Zombie"(or named still« the Zombie 2 »that in the Italian hire picture Ромеро in edition Дарио Ардженто left under the name"Zombie") shows horrors for the sake of horrors, cruelty for the sake of cruelty. In it there are no high ideas, the spectator does not have necessity to search for any latent sense. Probably it also was pledge of stunning international success of a film at the public who have got tired of abstruse and highly artistic pictures. Thus it is necessary to consider that fact, that in the majority of the countries"Zombie"it was shown in цензурированной to the version, that is the most bloody episodes have been cut out from it (the director's version to these is forbidden in some states, in particular in the Great Britain, Germany, Norway etc.) . The main thing is that "Zombie" has begun a new stage in creativity Фульчи, to a birth and formation stage «the Maestro of Horrors».
Since this moment talent Фульчи starts to develop as professional director of films of horrors – one behind another it removes inimitable on the cruelty and skill «the City of live dead persons» (or «the Hell Gate»), «the House on the brink of a cemetery», «the Black cat» (on Edgara Alan Po's products) and, at last, «the Seventh gate of the Hell» ("Afterlife") - in my opinion, the strongest and impressing film in a life of this remarkable director. In a filmland this tape deservedly is considered indisputable masterpiece Фульчи. Surprisingly, but it has been removed all for five weeks at the 12-sentry the working day. The film grasps the spectator from the first shots and any more does not release it for a minute up to a final caption. The same as also other pictures Фульчи, «the Seventh gate of the Hell» abounds with disgusting and dreadful scenes – tarantulas eat round the person of the person, a dog выгрызает to a drink of the mistress, a shot in an emphasis takes down half of face of the girl-zombie etc. However except these sickening episodes in a film it is masterful expectation something inexplicable and improbably terrible is forced classical «саспенс». I should repeat the laudatory words to music Фабио Фрицци – in this case it was not simply ideally entered in a picture outline, but also itself became one of key elements of atmosphere of incomprehensible horror. Фульчи spoke about «the Seventh gate of the Hell»: «I задумка was to make an absolute film. It is a film without a plot, in it there are no logicians, only – a train of images». In this tape, as well as in many other things products Фульчи (see above), eyes become the main object of violence – them squeeze out, they get out of eye-sockets etc. It explained it as follows: «Their (eyes) need to be destroyed first of all. Because they saw too much bad». The talented madman!
The statement will be unfair, that in the eighties Лучио Фульчи has completely devoted itself to horrors. He tested and in other genres – the futuristic science-fiction insurgent («Gladiators of 2072» - something an average between «Роллерболом» Нормана Джуисона and «the Running person» with Arnold Schwarzenegger), a fantasy ("Gain" - similarity «Конана – the barbarian» besides with unforgettable Арни), a gangster film ("Smuggler" - extremely bloody tape, on level of violence not conceding, and places even surpassing film horrors Фульчи). However these tapes have been is cool met by public, and Фульчи again comes back to the favourite films of horrors. It removes pictures «New York eviscerator», «the Child from Manhattan» (in Russia – "Afflicted"), «the Dancing death», «Honey of the Devil», "Enigma", «When Алиса has broken a mirror» (or «a death Touch»), «Row Phantoms», «the Zombie 3» (in Russia – «Devourers of a flesh 2». All specified films are much weaker than early masterpieces of horrors Фульчи, however all of them are quite good and are interestingly looked, behind an exception, unless «the Zombie 3» which, in my opinion, is the most worthless tape of the great maestro. This film acted in film on the basis of the ugly scenario which Фульчи with daughter Camilla unsuccessfully tried to improve. After five weeks of shootings on Philippines angry Фульчи has refused to film further, and the director's armchair was occupied not skilled, in its opinion, with Bruno Mattei known at us «the Hell of live dead persons». Public has mocked «at the Zombie 3» though, by and large, it was more qualitative than similar films about the zombie of those years of other directors. Simply Фульчи so has overestimated a lath of the products, as itself further could not jump over it (as later it justified itself(himself): « I have made this film because to me are necessary there was money … from time to time to me too it is necessary to eat ». Nevertheless, this film is considered creation Лучио Фульчи, instead of Bruno Mattei. It is necessary to tell some words and about« the New York eviscerator »which even for Фульчи is too naturalistic and sadistic film. Besides, in it a lot of rather frank sensuality that was not so characteristic for its creativity (certainly, as well as any Italian director's it supposed presence of the bared nature and unambiguous situations, however here it has surpassed itself(himself)). All aforesaid concerns and« Honey of the Devil », a film, according to Фульчи,« about despair and садомазохистских sufferings ».
In the late eighties Лучио Фульчи co-operated with the Italian TV – within the limits of a serial «Fatal houses» it has removed two films «the House with hours» and «the Lovely house of horrors» which, unfortunately, televiewers and have not seen – they have been forbidden to display because of presence of too intense and bloody scenes. By the way, the well-known politician of Italy Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister and one of the richest people of this country was the producer of this serial nowadays.
In the early nineties, the last in creativity Лучио Фульчи, it has removed four more films – «Демонию», «Voices from a next world","the Door in silence"and"the Cat in brains"("the Dreadful concert»). «The dreadful concert» in spite of the fact that was not last film Фульчи (it is removed in 1990), became a swan song of the director. In this enough to original picture Фульчи has played a leading role – itself (even the name has not been changed), the director of films of the horrors, suspected of a series of severe murders. The amusing fact – before Фульчи, as well as great Hitchcock, practically in each film appeared in an insignificant incidental role. «The dreadful concert» has incorporated the most known scenes of violence and murders from its early tapes, and also from "horror films" and джиалло other directors. Фульчи has explained occurrence of this picture the following in the image: « If the director of films of horrors is tormented by nightmares it should transfer them on the screen ». In second half 90th years he wished to picturize Gaston Leru's product« Wax mask », even has taken part in a scenario writing, however was not in time …
All life Лучио Фульчи was full of contradictions. Being at heart kind enough and ironic person (itself characterised «soft and weak»), on shootings turned to the tyrant, the rough and unsociable person who is "squeezing out" of actors all forces to a limit. Such differences of moods, probably, have been connected about long years by illness tormenting it – a diabetes.
Фульчи often criticised for a misogyny as in its pictures basically women were exposed a different sort to tortures and mockeries. It resolutely rejected similar charges, asserting, that has grown in a family where there were many women whom he always loved and respected. Besides at Лучио Фульчи there were two daughters – Антонелла and Camilla which he idolised. He spoke: «… I do not love women only in that case when they are not present nearby … Thanks to the voice and charm the woman it seems to more fragile. It is the most suitable victim for a predator. But it can be deceptive. From time to time the woman can be strong, the winner, even the criminal».
Фульчи very unfriendly concerned other directors of films of horrors (exceptions made only Марио Бава, David Kronenberg, Аристиде Массачези and Клайв Баркер). In particular, it openly criticised (in my opinion, it is absolutely groundless) the colleague on genre Дарио Ардженто. «Дарио Ардженто – the great handicraftsman considering with the artist while Hitchcock was the artist who considered itself as the handicraftsman» is was still its softest statement to Дарио. Nevertheless, Дарио Ардженто became the producer of last picture Фульчи «the Wax mask». He even has agreed to postpone film shootings almost for a year because of progressing illness Фульчи (after death Лучио Фульчи «the Wax mask» nevertheless has been removed Серджио Стивалетти, the master on special effects of many films Дарио Ардженто).
The official criticism did not love Лучио Фульчи, naming it «the good handicraftsman». Except excessive смакования bloody details of the murders appearing in its films, to it in fault the hobby for plagiarising was put. Really, many episodes from tapes Фульчи practically in all details repeat scenes from works of other directors (the corpse immured in a wall from «Seven notes in black», "is borrowed" from tape Ардженто "darkly red"; murder by a dog of the mistress from «Seven gate of the Hell» to identically similar scene from «Суспирии» again the same Ардженто etc.) . Even a known episode «a chip in an eye» from «the Zombie 2» (see above) can be compared to a scene of cutting of an eye from «the Andaluzsky dog» Luis Bunjuelja and El Salvador Distances! And such examples uncountable set. However art Фульчи has no anything the general with plagiarising – repeating in the products the moments from other films, introducing in them something personal, characteristic only for the creativity, it thus paid a tribute of respect to other talented directors, showed original continuity of films of horrors.
It is impossible to agree with statements of some domestic and foreign biographers Фульчи that lives it has spent last years in «inactivity and oblivion». On the contrary, Фульчи accepted active participation in the various international forums devoted to films of horrors, including conferences «the Week end of horrors» in New York organised by magazine "Фангория", a film festival «ФантаФестиваль» in Rome etc. Everywhere met him crowds of admirers, special displays of its films were devoted to it. In 1996, shortly before death, together with daughter Antonelloj he even has acted in film in a picture of friend Massimo Lavanini, a parody to films of horrors "Sik-about-patija". The interesting fact – Лучио Фульчи not so loved, when its pictures named films of horrors. It defined them as «fantastic films».
It is impossible to underestimate creativity Лучио Фульчи. It has brought the powerful contribution not only to development of a film aesthetics of horrors, but also a world cinema as a whole. Along with such talents as Марио Бава and Дарио Ардженто it by right it is possible to name «the Maestro of Horrors» without whom now it is impossible for itself to present modern motion picture arts. Фульчи spoke: «Cinema for me all. I live and I breathe films – I even eat them». Except direction Фульчи very much took a great interest in a jazz, in a youth often played music. He is an author of three books – autobiographical «Фульчи breaks a mirror», «My favourite monsters» and «Hunting for the fallen angels».
Лучио Фульчи has died on March, 13th, 1996. Even his death is covered by a certain veil of mystery – before laying down to sleep Фульчи for some reason has not accepted insulin (as it was the diabetic, before a dream the insulin prick was necessary for it). One began to put forward at once assumptions, that Фульчи has purposely died, others considered it as accident.
Лучио Фульчи always said, that our reality where is the more terrible and most awful than that it has ever removed.
At a writing of article the author was guided by materials of Internet site IMDB, books «Behind a gate» Чаза Балуна, "Spaghettis-horrors" Onions Пальмерини and Гаэтано Мистретта.
In 2003 the American company «Shriek Show» (company division «Media Blasters») has let out on первозонном DVD нецензурированную the version of a film of horrors «Flesh for the Beast» («the Flesh for the Animal»). As it was the first feature film «Media Blasters» (the truth, let out straight for house viewing, passing film service), preceded its release a wide advertising campaign: simultaneously some variants DVD – one already mentioned above, and also цензурированная and collection versions have been published; vests with the image of the demons appearing in a picture, and the book written on its plot extended. Besides, PR managers of this tape positioned it as a film reviving former traditions «еврошокеров» of 70-80th years, well-known classical «саспенсом», an abundance «расчлененки» and «обнаженки». As the director «Flesh for the Beast» American Terri West earlier specialising exclusively on a software-porno parodies to known "horror films" - «Sexual sixth feeling», «the Erotic witch from Blair 3», «Devilish school of lust» etc. has acted
The film of manufacture of Italy-France with unusual enough name «Baba Yaga» ("Woman Jaga" with an accent on the first letter) has been let out in нецензурированной versions on первозонном DVD by very good company «Blue Underground», specialising basically on releases of rare pictures and Italian «джиалло» 70-80th years. With the heroine of the Russian folklore this film has no anything the general – it is a free screen version «фуметти» (the Italian comics) "Valentina", created in the early seventies the architect from Milan Гуидо Крепаксом. Unlike the American comics focused in basic on children, «фуметти» Крепакса are intended only for adults (the truth, and in the USA since 80th years there were popular so-called «graphic short stories» - the severe comics calculated on adult public). In comics Крепакса it is a lot of sensuality, violence, садомазохистских scenes.
The film «The Sweet House of Horrors» («the Lovely house of horrors») Italian «the maestro of horrors» 
In June company Universal Pictures Rus has presented an excellent gift to film fans of Russia, having let out on DVD Stephen Spielberg's classical psychological thriller "Duel" («Duel»). This film which has been removed in 1971, became the first full-length picture двадцатичетырехлетнего the director (before it removed only episodes for television serials, including "Colombo", short tapes and amateur films). The scenario to it on the basis of the story was written by the known American author of science-fiction and mystical novels Richard Metison on which products successful films have been put many, including «the Improbable decreasing person», "Person-omega", «Where result dreams», «echo Echoes» (now under the novel of the writer «I – the legend» is shot the film with the same name with Uillom Smith is there will be already its third screen version). Leading role in "Duel" the magnificent actor Dennis Uiver unfortunately not known to our general public, but very popular in the USA (has executed «the harm Press», «Duel in Дьябло», a television detective serial «МакЛауд»). It is remarkable, that originally the film has been removed for the American TV, however thanks to the stunning success at spectators, in Europe it was already shown on the wide screen. Specially for the film theatrical version Spielberg has added some additional episodes, and as a result a picture which duration was 74 minutes, "has expanded" till one and a half o'clock (at us UPR has let out the full version). It is surprising, that a tape which has provided to Spielberg a way to the big cinema and which is considered till now many film critics one of its best films, it has been removed by it of all for 13 days. By the way, long before a dawn of an era DVD and licence video in our country, even in days of existence of the USSR, "Duel" showed on the Soviet TV on fashionable then the channel «2х2».
Company "Video service" has simultaneously afflicted and has pleased us with the recent release on DVD the American-Canadian film «the Population 436» («Population 436»). Has afflicted with that the release of this picture does not maintain any criticism – in it there is no original sound track, let alone any additions (in general the unattractive situation recently starts to develop – release by "Video service" [once I identified the name of this company with high quality] slipshod DVD becomes already the tendency getting menacing scales). And has pleased with that nevertheless has let out in Russia this very quite good, rather original mystical thriller (on a high-grade film of horrors it, on my deep belief, in any way does not pull). The founder of this tape is the director from Canada Michel Maksvell MakLaren, known on work in television serials, in particular in «Confidential materials» (some Russian reviewers annoyingly are mistaken, naming director Michael, thereby changing its sex). As a matter of fact, «the Population 436» became a debut the McLaren in the big cinema and, it is necessary to recognise, quite qualitative debut for the director - of "TV man".
In the end of May of this year company "Union" has pleased with release (the truth, without additions, but with an English sound track) very qualitative mystical thriller of Anglo-American manufacture to nobody known Australian (!) director Krejga Rosenberg (he has written also the scenario) "Twilight" («Half Light»). Unfortunately, in many countries this picture left at once on video, passing cinemas though she deserves большего. A film Moore after its three-year absence on screens has marked returning at big cinema Demi (before Angela Charli was its last tape «: Only forward» 2003). The picture differs magnificent camerawork, authentic game of actors and extremely "twirled" plot.