Look Who’s “Hitch Hiking” To Italy – For Work!

Yes, the photo above shows iconic Actors Franco Nero, David Hess and Corinne Clery all on their way to Italy to make a gritty 70’s shocker, and it’s the perfect fit for a terrific new blogathon I’m taking part in!

Gill and Kristina have launched a “Journey To Italy” blog-a-thon that highlights Actors who went to Italy to make films – just like Clint Eastwood did in the 60’s to make “A Fistful Of Dollars”, which made him a movie star!

It’s been done for decades: send the stars to Italy to make films…why? to save money!

Because filming in the United States would have been too expensive, the 1977 film”Hitch Hike” was shot in the mountains near the city of L’Aquila in central Italy. The plot says they are actually driving in Northern California – so the film’s Art Director created American-looking gas stations and signs!

Let’s take a look at this terrific 1977 shocker!

As you can see from this poster, the film was known as “Autostop Rosso Sangue” in Italy, which translates into “Hitchhiking Blood Red” – a very apt title!

In The Devil Thumbs a Ride, a short documentary about the film, Actor Franco Nero states that he became involved in the film because of Director Pasquale Festa Campanile. Nero was already in Germany filming a different movie in which Actor David Hess also had a small role – so the two headed to Italy to make the film.

Here’s the plot: Franco Nero plays an alcoholic Writer who plans a getaway in the California mountains with his wife – played by Corinne Clery.

They argue and argue until they make a big mistake: they pick up David Hess, whose car had broken down. They don’t realize he’s carrying $2 million in stolen money in his briefcase.

First, check out the wild trailer!

It turns out that Hess is a sadistic escapee from an institution for the criminally insane, and he is running from the law after robbing two million dollars with his partners. He takes the couple hostage and orders Eve to head to Mexico. They are soon stopped by two policemen and after Walter attempts to signal them by writing “SOS” on his matchbox, Konitz shoots them both.

Of course, it gets worse.

When the three stop for the night, Hess’s betrayed partners show up and kidnap the couple. We get some wild chase scenes and shootouts – and it climaxes with a fairly graphic rape scene, with Nero forced to watch…

Nero is always terrific, and brings a real gravitas to the role – but the breakout for me is Corinne Clery, who doesn’t need anyone else to have her plot her revenge.

In one of the most provocative scenes in the movie, as Hess gets ready to kill Franco, a completely naked Clery emerges from the trailer and shoots him dead with a hunting rifle!

This is a dark film, and I won’t give away the ending except to say there are more twists and turns to come.

Here is some interesting trivia about the film:

The film was released with other names as well, like “The Naked Prey” – as you can see, this title plays heavily on the sexual assault that occurs in the film.

The film’s opening credits claim the film is based on a novel called The Violence and the Fury by Peter Kane. However, trivia I found online says that the attribution is likely fictional, since no book by such an author is known to exist!

“Hitch Hike” is worth finding, a great example of a “grind house” film from the 70’s

I enjoyed taking part in this Blogathon, thanks to Gill and Kristina and their blogs, and you can find Gill’s entry here:

Also check out Kristina’s blog here as well!

 https://hqofk.wordpress.com

While I love this look at cult films that were shot in Italy, there are also films of the seventies known as “Euro-Sleaze” – as explained by our friend AI:

“Euro-sleaze” is a term used to describe European popular entertainment that is considered low-brow, vulgar, or immoral. It can also refer to old European co-productions from the 1960s and 1970s.

These films were made all over Europe, but usually made use of Eastern European locations like Hungary. Need an example?

Look at this cast! Richard Burton slumming it up with Joey Heatherton, Sybil Danning – and a Raquel Welch cameo as a sexy Nun!

The film was shot in Budapest – but guess what? Some of it was shot in Rome so it’s a fit for the blogathon – and what a wild wild film this is!

See the madness here:

Oh, and Burton didn’t have to go to Europe to make pure trash:

Yes, two years later he was starring with fellow movie legend Lee Marvin – AND OJ SIMPSON – in “The Klansman”, which is just as offensive as you think…see more here:

Thanks to Gill and Kristina for putting on this “journey to Italy” blogathon – again, check out their blogs for many more entries!

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Categories: 70's Cinema, Action Films, Cult Movies, Exploitation films, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Grindhouse, Italy, Movies, Obscure Movies, Pop Culture, Revenge Movies, Sexploitation Movies, Talent/Celebrities, True Hollywood Mystery

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