Umberto Lenzi (August 6, 1931 – October 19, 2017) was an Italian film director whose filmography encompassed a ranges of genres across a prolific career. Born in Massa Marittima, Tuscany, Lenzi studied law before enrolling at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome. As part of his studies, he wrote and directed the short film Ragazzi di Trastevere, based on Pier Paolo Pasolini's novel Ragazzi di vita. During this time, he worked as a film critic for the Centro's journal Bianco e Nero, and was an avid follower of both European and American films, favouring the work of directors John Ford, Raoul Walsh, and Michael Curtiz.
Lenzi's production career began as a location scout for the 1958 film Raw Wind in Eden; his directorial debut would come with 1961's pirate film Queen of the Seas. Lenzi worked across a broad variety of film genres, helming Spaghetti Westerns, gialli, spy films, war films, and poliziotteschi across his career. He was also an early figure in the cannibal boom as a result of his work on 1972's Man from the Deep River, along with later cannibal follow-ups Eaten Alive! (1980) and Cannibal Ferox (1981); these films would feature on the United Kingdom's "video nasties" list of banned releases. Although dismissive of his horror films and their cult following among fans, Lenzi believed that his work on genre films, and that of his peers in the Italian film industry, effectively bankrolled more artistic output from his compatriots.
Stylistically, Lenzi regularly made use of prominent close-up shots of his actors and employed zoom lens effects, but preferred to be seen primarily as a storyteller who was not heavy-handed with cinematic effects. Towards the end of his film career, Lenzi worked on foreign productions in the United States, including Welcome to Spring Break and Ghosthouse (both 1988), as well as directing a pair of television films for Reteitalia, La casa delle anime erranti and La casa dei sortilegi. He would continue to produce small-market films for a few years before retiring from film-making to become an author of detective fiction. Lenzi died at the age of 86, on October 19, 2017.
Filmography
YearItalian titleEnglish titleFunctioned asNotes Director WriterOther 1956 Ragazzi di Trastevere Short film 1961 1962 Duello nella silaDuel of Fire Triumphs of Robin Hood 1963 Caterina di RussiaCatherine of Russia The Invincible Masked Rider Zorro contro MacisteSamson and the Slave Queen Sandokan, la tigre di Mompracem Sandokan the Great 1964 Adventures of the Bengal Lancers Sandok, il Maciste della giunglaTemple of the White Elephant L'ultimo gladiatoreMessalina vs. the Son of Hercules Pirates of Malaysia 1965 008: Operation Exterminate Jungle Adventurer Superseven chiama Cairo Super Seven Calling Cairo 1966 KriminalKriminal Last Man to Kill The Spy Who Loved Flowers 1968 Go for Broke Pistol for a Hundred Coffins 1969 Orgasmo Paranoia Battle of the Commandos Così dolce... così perversa 1970 ParanoiaA Quiet Place to Kill 1971 Oasis of Fear 1972 Knife of Ice Sette orchidee macchiate di rossoSeven Blood-Stained Orchids 1973 Milano rovente 1974 SpasmoSpasmo Milano odia: la polizia non può sparare 1975Gatti rossi in un labirinto di vetroEyeball 1976 Napoli violenta Roma a mano armata Free Hand for a Tough Cop 1977 The Cynic, the Rat and the Fist Brothers Till We Die 1978 The Greatest Battle 1979 Contro 4 bandiereFrom Hell to Victory Scusi lei è normale? Da Corleone a Brooklyn From Corleone to Brooklyn 1980 Mangiati vivi! Eaten Alive! Incubo sulla città contaminata Nightmare City Actor; as "Reporter" 1981 Cannibal FeroxMake Them Die Slowly 1982 Incontro nell'ultimo paradisoDaughter of the Jungle 1983La guerra del ferro: Ironmaster Ironmaster 1985 The Wild Team 1987 Bridge to Hell Wartime 1988 Ghosthouse Nightmare Beach - La spiaggia del terroreNightmare Beach 1989 Cop Target Actor; as "Casino Patron" Paura nel buioHitcher in the Dark 1990 Hunt for the Golden Scorpion Hornsby e RodriguezMean Tricks 1991 Dèmoni 3Black Demons Black Cobra 4 - Detective MaloneDetective Malone 2000 House of Lost Souls Television film House of Witchcraft
Writer only +YearItalian titleEnglish titleDirector1961Domenico Paolella1962Slave Girls of ShebaGiacomo GentilomoGuido Zurli1968The Son of Black EagleGuido Malatesta1993Graffiante desiderioCraving DesireSergio Martino1988StrikerEnzo G. CastellariRage: Furia primitivaPrimal RageVittorio Rambaldi
Producer only +YearItalian titleEnglish titleDirector1976Con la rabbia agli occhiDeath RageAntonio Margheriti
Other credits +YearItalian titleEnglish titleDirectorNotes1958Raw Wind in EdenRichard WilsonLocation scout1960Apocalisse sul fiume gialloRenzo MerusiAssistant director1961Costantino il grande: In hoc signo vincesLionello De Felice1958Amore e chiacchiereLove and ChatterAlessandro BlasettiActor; as "Soldier on Train"
Notes
References
Bibliography
External links