El mariscal del infierno

(1974 Devil's Possessed/ El mariscal del infierno DUBBED HORROR THRILLER/ HISTORICAL

A cross between "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and evil MacBeth starring Paul Naschy who was also credited as a writer as he plays the Baron, Gilles de Lancré allowing himself to be manipulated by his evil wife, Graciela (Graciela Nilson) upon listening to their alchemist's Sille (Mariano Vidal Molina) mythical way of using common peasants and farmers as a sacrifice toward his eternal life with hero, Gaston de Malebranche (Guillermo Bredeston) staging a rebellion. Low budget and does not offer anything new to the genre.

As part of a Mill Creek box set called Pure Terror, I expected this 1974 Paul Naschy film to offer up the excess of cheesy gore and gratuitous female nudity that one typically finds in many a Euro-horror of the era—except that this isn't a horror, more of a historical adventure (with more than a touch of Robin Hood about it), and as such delivers not nearly enough in the way of graphic violence, and absolutely no bare flesh.

The pedestrian plot sees Naschy playing power hungry Barón Gilles de Lancré, who, along with his wicked mistress Georgelle (Norma Sebre), turns to the dark arts to further his plans of becoming king, employing the services of an alchemist who uses the blood of virgins in his magic. Shocked by de Lancré's nefarious activities, valiant nobleman Gaston de Malebranche (Guillermo Bredeston) joins a band of partisans determined to put a stop to the wickedness.

Much of the film consists of poorly choreographed sword-fights, with a boring jousting competition, and extremely mild scenes of torture, while Naschy rants about the Philosopher's Stone and Ars Magna — all of which proves extremely tedious. There is some amusement to be had as de Malebranche repeatedly leaps onto a trampoline (hidden from camera) during a melee in a bar, and from a silly scene featuring an unconvincing severed head, but for the most part this is a very disappointing and instantly forgettable vehicle for Spain's premier horror star.

It's an adventure/action movie with sensationalistic scenes , Naif style and lots of blood , swordplay and witchery .Dark Ages , Gilles De Lancre (Paul Naschy) , former Mariscal of France , brave chief and courageous warrior is now a vengeful lord , helped by his nasty underling Sille (Mariano Vidal Molina) and his beautiful lover Georgel(Norma Sebre) . He falls into Occultist practices and spend his money looking the philosopher's stone by means of alchemy . A prisoner is beheaded and Gilles pronounces a curse against his enemies , meanwhile he continues a murderous rampage . Gilles longing for power and for his ambition on French crown , then he carries out criminal rampage . He commits ominous killings and injustices against his vassals . Gilles takes on Gaston of Malebranche who previously was under his command . As a valiant group of rebels (Guillermo Bredeston , Luis Induni) sheltered in woods -such as Robin Hood and his Merrymen- fight against the tyrant .

This terrifying exploitation picture displays adventures , fencing with bounds and leaps ,necromancy , grisly killing, satanism and lots of blood . B-entertainment with a fairly adventuring and horrifying story in which a prestigious Mariscal of France turns into craziness and undergoes a cruel slaughter . This tale about countrymen who are attacked by the malevolent knight begins well and grows more and more until a spectacular finale with duels and exciting fencing . Revolting, horrible scenes and nasty images take place on decapitation , and bloody murders with axes and arrows .The movie has a bit of ridiculous gore with loads of blood similar to tomato and is occasionally an engaging ¨sword and sorcery¨ movie full of thrilling sequences , witchery , beheading , and several other things . Sensationalistic and exaggerated performance of Paul Naschy or Jacinto Molina . It packs a colorful cinematography by Francisco Sanchez and atmospheric musical score . Filmed in location on Aldea del Fresno, Madrid, Belmonte, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha,Pelayos De la Presa, Seseña, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha, Talamanca del Jarama, Madrid, Spain. The late Naschy was a good professional , writing, filmmaking and acting about hundred titles , mainly in terror genre. ¨Marshall of Hell¨ is written by Molina along with 21 screenplays as ¨Mark of Wolfman¨, ¨Night of Walpurgis¨, ¨Vengeance of the mummy¨, ¨Licantropo¨, among them . He directed 13 films as ¨The Cantabros¨, ¨Return of Wolfman¨, ¨The Beast and the magic sword¨ and several others. Years later , Naschy goes back with a similar character named Alaric De Marnac role in the film titled ¨Horror rises from the tomb¨ and ¨Panic beats¨ that acted , produced , wrote and directed in his peculiar style . This Spanish-Argentinian co-production is regularly directed by Leon Klimovsky . Rating: 5,5 . The flick will appeal to Jacinto Molina fans and Euroterror buffs .

The picture is based on historical character Gilles De Rais , the actual events are the following : Rais served as a commander in the Royal Army, distinguishing himself by displaying reckless bravery on the battlefield during the renewal of the Hundred Years War. In 1429, he fought along with Joan of Arc in some of the campaigns waged against the English and their Burgundian allies. He was present with Joan when the Siege of Orléans . In his confession Gilles maintained the first assaults on children occurred between spring 1432 and spring 1433. The first murders occurred at Champtocé-Sur-Loire; however, no account of these murders survives. Shortly after, Gilles moved to Machecoul where, as the record of his confession states, he killed, or ordered to be killed, a great but uncertain number of children after he committed sodomy upon them. Forty bodies were discovered in Machecoul in 1437. Gilles' body-servant Étienne Corrillaut, known as Poitou, was an accomplice in many of the crimes and testified that his master hung his victims with ropes from a hook . Taking the victim down, Rais comforted the child and assured him he only wanted to play with him. Gilles then either killed the child himself or had the child slain by his cousin Gilles de Sillé, Poitou or another body-servant called Henriet. The victims were killed by decapitation, cutting of their throats, dismemberment, or breaking of their necks with a stick . Rais's prosecution would be on charges which included murder, sodomy, and heresy. The precise number of Gilles' victims is not known, as most of the bodies were burned or buried. The number of murders is generally placed between 80 and 200; a few have conjectured numbers upwards of 600. The victims ranged in age from six to eighteen and included both sexes.Execution by hanging and burning was set and Gilles and his two accomplices made their way in procession to the place of execution on the Ile De Biesse. There, Gilles addressed the throng of onlookers with contrite piety, and exhorted Henriet and Poitou to die bravely and think only of salvation. Gilles' request to be the first to die had been granted the day before. The brush at the platform was set afire and Rais was hanged. His body was cut down before being consumed by the flames and claimed by "four ladies of high rank" for burial. Henriet and Poitou were executed in similar fashion; their bodies however were reduced to ashes in the flames and then scattered.

Not the greatest film to remember Paul Naschy by.

Gaston (Guillermo Bredeston) is probably the worst swordsman I have ever seen. Zorro would be ashamed! His only salvation came as the competition was just as bad.

This film is described as adventure and horror. Forget the horror - there is none. No nudity, no blood, no monsters; just a Robin Hood adventure against an evil Baron (Paul Naschy) who wants to be King.

The main feature of the film was seeing Graciela Nilson, who only made four films in two years and disappeared to our regrettable loss. Where did she go?

Baron Gilles de Lancre (Paul Naschy) seeks out an alchemist in order to obtain the throne. Said alchemist agrees to help, but requires the blood of a young maiden.

After hurriedly obtaining and sacrificing the required lass, de Lancre awaits his new position.

Oh no!

It seems that before he can become Lord and Master, he must also get his mitts on the legendary Philosopher's Stone! In the meantime, he spends his time torturing and killing his subjects.

Much hocus pocus is employed, including the use of a rubber head in a bad wig as an oracle.

DEVIL'S POSSESSED is another fairly entertaining Naschy vehicle. He's always at his best when portraying eeevil, sadistic villains. Unfortunately, this movie contains several long stretches of dullness. Still, it's worth a viewing, especially for the Naschy fanatics out there...