11 May, 2013

PAROXISMUS... The alternate version of VENUS IN FURS: [continued]

interview

In the previous blog about his curious Italian version of VENUS IN FURS I wanted to express my own personal reactions to this cut. Rather than a VIDEO WATCHDOG style comparison between this Italian version and the VIF we all know I plan do a series of shorter blogs on various aspects of both cuts, with some specific comparisons to come. First, the music.

The link at top left leads to a fascinating interview with Mike Hugg about his memories of composing and producing the music track for the original VENUS IN FURS.
 Maria Rohm as the object of desire in PAROXISMUS... PUO UNA MORTA RIVIVERE PER AMORE?

First and foremost BLACK ANGEL, as Jess envisioned it, was a love story steeped in the realm of jazz. Directly inspired by Chet Baker's observation that his own playing often transported him into a transcendent place. That element remains central in both versions.

Hugg states that he wrote the songs and the instrumentals were composed by him and Manfred Mann. But a lot of the music in the American cut came from other places, and there is still other music in the Italian version.

The film has always struck me as a unique musical-horror-fantasy on the themes of love and death. In a way all Jess Franco's films could be considered musicals, and he has described himself as a musician who makes films.
Manfred Mann, the popular Rock group which had a number of hit records in the mid 1960s before working on the soundtrack for VENUS IN FURS....

Stay tuned for further information and commentary on PAROXISMUS... the Italian version of VENUS IN FURS.

(c) Robert Monell 2013

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