Lord Brett

In my recent search for titles featuring Peter Dyneley I came across the title Strange Awakening, which is a Merton Park production starring Lex Barker and was written by the cult soho novelist Julian Maclaren Ross.

It would be really useful for a couple of things I'm working on if I could see this.

Has anyone come across it and is willing to trade?

Hanseat

Sadly not the film itself, but some stills and information.

Hanseat

No I'm not in Spain, dear, I'm in agony, that's where I am!

Lord Brett

Thanks, there's some really useful information there, particularly with regards to alternate titles.

I'm not surprised to find it's a German site - they went for 'Sexy Lexy' in a big way, and fortunately German is my second language.

Hanseat

Glad it was of some help to you.

Lex Barker certainly had star quality (I had such a crush on him as Tarzan, I must admit ) though sadly international stardom remained elusive. But at least he did find it in Germany, especially as "Old Shatterhand" in the very successful series of films based on the novels by Karl May. And he always appreciated it unlike Stewart Granger who earned a decent living from the same series but made quite clear that appearing in these films was actually beneath him.

Hanseat
P.S. Strange Awakening sounds like a really intriguing film. Now I am eager to find it, too, and that's all your fault.

No I'm not in Spain, dear, I'm in agony, that's where I am!

Lord Brett

Then my time here today has been worthwhile...

There's a terrific book about Lex published in Germany called Von Tarzan bis Old Shatterhand. Even if you don't speak German it's an absolute goldmine of high quality stills.

The Germans produce movie books of a much higher quality of publication than we do in the UK - their book about the Edgar Wallace movies is jaw-droppingly well made and written.

Hanseat

Yes, I know Christ's book and I agree, it is really good. There is another quite similar and equally good book by Arild Rafalzik, Lex Barker. Mr. Old Shatterhand - sein Leben - seine Filme, written with great insight and knowledge and again filled with brilliant photographs.

Germany recognized film as an art form pretty early on; which in turn meant that it merited serious study (that old German distinction between "high culture" and merely entertaining trash again ). There are some really good books around, though the first generation - mainly published by Rowohlt - are sadly lacking in pictures as serious studies do not need many pictures. On the other hand Rowohlt was among the first publishers to print in-depth monographs on film genres like the western, film noir and later even horror, as well as fairly decent biographies. Other publishers, like Moewig, are less scrupulous, and most of their books are badly researched though colourfully illustrated quickies aimed at a rather undemanding audience; but, that said, even among their books you can find the odd hidden gem, written by someone who really knows his or her subject. The same holds true for biographies, especially about actors and actresses, as they are more often than not produced purely for the fast-selling celebrity cult market and the quality depends almost entirely on the talent and thoroughness of the individual author.

It is certainly a sign of Germany's appreciation for Barker that he has at least two excellent biographies as well as a handful of rather decent ones dedicated to him.

Hanseat

No I'm not in Spain, dear, I'm in agony, that's where I am!

Grebmoolb

I've. W/Lex Barker & Peter Dyneley. PM Me.
Sid B.

dicky2006

This film was directed by Montgomery (Geoff) Tully one of the regular directors employed at Merton Park. This film has location filming in France and when I was in contact with GT about 20 years ago he told me it was one of the happiest and best films he made for them. He stopped working at MP and made quite a few films for Maurice Wilson at Grand National including Third Alibi with Laurence Payne. A very kind gentleman.
Hope this is of interest.

JohnB_Toronto

I have an NTSC copy - moderately good quality. PM me if you'd like to trade.