Directed by Antonio Margheriti
Mar-ga-reeetay
That scene in Basterds referenced Margheriti and Enzo G. Castellari (whose real name is Girolami and he walks by in the background during the scene). Margheriti and Castellari were very similar directors because even though they were Italian filmmakers, almost all of their films were intended for export and filmed with the actors speaking English. Both loved zany camera angles like extreme low-and-high-angle shots, shooting through people's armpits, etc and both loved their slow motion, and both loved their explosions. Both directed a lot of turkeys throughout their careers (like STRIKER, SINBAD OF THE SEVEN SEAS, DEATH RAGE) but both were probably the most consistently good directors from Italy during the 60's-90's heyday. I have a mild preference for Enzo, though I think in the late 80's Margheriti's movies were generally better than Enzo's were at that time.
shareI always think Enzo had the upper hand on the action scenes, but my god, I love Margheriti’s use of models. They were quite subtle earlier on, like the bell tower in And God Said to Cain (1970). But, by the time the 80s rolled around they were gloriously ridiculous.
share>I love Margheriti’s use of models.
He's famous for that, right? I know less about Margheriti than about Argento and Fulci, his movies seem harder to locate.
Have you seen Killer Fish (1979)? The model usage is off the chart in that one. It’s one of those that you would think would only look convincing on a grainy VHS. But yeah, I’ve always associated him with the use of lots of models in his films. In fact, one of the craziest examples I can think of is in Code Name Wild Geese (1984) when Lewis Collin’s car travels upside down on the roof of a tunnel while being chased by the bad guys. The model effect is so atrocious that you have to clap in applause for it. :)
shareOne of Margheriti's most ridiculous highlights was the car-chase in ARK OF THE SUN GOD, but Bruno Mattei thought it was good enough to re-use in COP GAME. I think Margheriti's most miniature-filled films may have been CAR CRASH and JUNGLE RAIDERS. Raiders has a nicely lighter tone to it which makes the miniatures come off as comedic, as though you're watching TEAM AMERICA or something.
ALIEN FROM THE DEEP, though a very poor film, is enlivened a lot by his miniatures in the film, which are honestly mostly pretty good. INDIO 2 has a few scenes too where they cut back and forth from full-scale explosions to miniatures (like the rock slide) done so well that it's difficult to tell which is which.