Love, vampires and adventure

Press, 22 September 1987, Page 24

Love, vampires and adventure

Franco Nero stars in the “Romancing the Stone”-style adventure “Race to Danger” which is among the new releases from Showcase Video. With him in this Alrated romantic adventure is Barbara de Rossi, as a determined young actress who dreams of buying into a small, off-Broadway theatre. Nero’s character is an intelligent and slightly bizarre seaman, who dreams of buying a cafe bar in Tahiti. When they meet on the Amazon, they begin a wild, three-day adventure in search of money, diamonds and dreams. Running time is 96min. “Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary” is an addition to the shelf of vampire lore, this time set in Mexico. It stars Christina Ferrare, David Young, Helena Rojo and John Carradine. Showcase has warned that the 95-minute, Mrated video, is not recommended for the squeamish.

It is about a beautiful young American artist who has an irresistible impulse to kill. She falls in love with a young American, and fears that he may be her next victim.

Her father, who suffers from the same grotesque affliction, is pursuing her with a view to killing her. When one of her victims turns out to be an American Embassy employee, she finds the Mexican* police and the United States State Department are both on her trail as well.

“Witchfinder General” is another horror video,

restricted to persons aged 18 and over. It stars Vincent Price, lan Ogilvy, Hilary Dwyer and Patrick Wymark. It is set in England in 1645, during the Civil War, when a lawyer was able to travel through the countryside, torturing and executing those denounced by the superstitious villagers, for the going rate of three guineas a head.

“Rainbow — The Early Years of Judy Garland” is a 98-minute drama about the life of young Frances Gumm, who was to become the famous film star after catching the eye of Louis B. Mayer. The video, rated PG, stars Andrea McArdle, Piper Laurie, Martin Balsam, Don Murray, and Rue McClanahan from the television series “Golden Girls.”

Frances’s early life was shaped by a determined mother who steered her relentlessly towards Hollywood and ultimately, stardom.

Ethel Gumm, basically unhappy at home, took her three daughters away from their loving father, attempting to fend off the Depression by pushing them into show business. As the Gumms’ marriage became increasingly strained, Frances, who was devoted to her kind, passive father, grew more and more isolated and troubled. The act was noticed at the Oriental Theatre, renamed the Garland Sisters, and as Frances’s extraordinary gift became clear, her sisters left the act, and she alone shouldered the burden of child stardom.