Umberto Lenzi (1931 - )

Date of Birth: 6 August 1931
Place of Birth: Massa Marittima, Grosseto, Italy
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Also Known As: Bob Collins; Humphrey Humbert; Hubert Humphry; Harry Kirkpatrick; Doo Yong Lee; Bert Lenzi; Humphrey Longan; Hank Milestone

The Italian director Umberto Lenzi has earned an unfair reputation for being a gore-obsessed hack, cranking out mindless slabs of ultraviolence, and its a reputation largely earned on the strength of his sub-standard post-1980 work. His early productions however are a different prospect and suggest a genuine if minor talent at work.

Lenzi's love of cinema began early and by the time he started training to be a lawyer, he was already running a number of film societies while earning some extra money writing film reviews for local papers. The lure of the heady world of 60s Italian genre cinema proved to be much more to his taste than law and he soon abandoned his studies to take film-making courses at the famous Centro Sperimentale de Cinematografia. After a stint as a scriptwriter, he took up the cudgels as a director and, like many of his contemporaries, didn't show much of an affinity for any one genre, happily making pirate movies, spy thrilers, comedies and spaghetti westerns with the same enthusiasm. In the late 60s and early 70s, he dabbled in the then-popular gialli before making something of a name for himself as the creator of some particuarly brutal poliziotteschi films, often with actor Tomas Milian, the best being the astonishing Milano odia: la polizia non può sparare / Almost Human (1974) and Il cinico, l'infame, il violento / The Cynic, the Rat and the Fist (1977).

Also in the early 70s, Lenzi made what is generally regarded to be the first of the notorious Italian cannibal films, the relatively sedate Il paese del sesso selvaggio / Deep River Savages / Man From Deep River (1972) which beat Ruggero Deodato's Ultimo mondo cannibale to the screen by four years. Almost a decade later, Lenzi returned to the jungles for the widely banned Cannibal Ferox (1981) which pretty much sealed the fate of this particular sub-genre - although other Euro-cannibal movies were made, after Ferox and Deodato's Cannibal Holocaust (1979) there was little left to be said.

In some respects, Ferox also seemed to seal the fate of Lenzi's career. As the Italian film industry died, Lenzi found it increasingly difficult to turn up anything even remotely interesting to work on and soon fell into a cycle of cheap horrors, made-for-TV efforts and impoverished action movies in the Rambo vein. As the industry finally collapsed altogether, Lenzi was left high and dry and the 90s were lean years for this once prolific craftsman and by the turn of the millennium he had retired.

To dismiss Lenzi as a hack purely on the basis of his later work is to the man a disservice - he was never going to be in the same league as Bava, Argento or Freda and could often barely match Fulci, but at his best he was a consistently entertaining director whose 70s work still retain the power and impact of their first screenings.
KEVIN LYONS

* = television

1965
A 008, operazione Sterminio (script, (as Humphrey Humbert), director)
008 miehemme Kairossa - Finnish title
008: Operation Exterminate - US title
Heiße Grüße vom C.I.A. - West German title
Operación Exterminio - Spanish title
Vår man i Kairo - operation utrotning - Swedish title

1966
Kriminal (script, director)
La máscara de Kriminal - Spanish title

1969
Così dolce... così perversa (director)
Así de dulce, así de maravillosa - Spanish title
Kauhun hetket - Finnish title
Kiss Me, Kill Me – US title
Si douces, si perverses - French title
So Sweet... So Perverse

Orgasmo (script, director)
Orgasm - English language title
Paranoia – US title
Une folle envie d'aimer - French title

Paranoia (director)
A Beautiful Place to Kill
Una droga llamada Helen
A Quiet Place to Kill
Un tranquilo lugar para matar - Spanish title

Tarzán en la gruta del oro (script)
King of the Jungle - US video title
Tarzan djungelns härskare - Swedish title
Tarzan e os Piratas – Portugese title
Tarzan in the Golden Grotto - US title
Viidakon kuningas - Finnish title
Zan, King of the Jungle
Zan, re della giunglia

1972
Il paese del sesso selvaggio (director)
Deep River Savages
Man from Deep River
Mies syvästä joesta - Finnish title
Mondo cannibale
Sacrifice!

Sette orchidee macchiate di rosso (script, director)
Puzzle of the Silver Half Moons
Das Rätsel des silbernen Halbmonds - West German title
Seitsemän veristä orkideaa - Finnish title
Sette volti per l'assassino
Seven Blood-Stained Orchids
Le tueur à l'orchidée - French title

1973
Il coltello di ghiaccio (script, director)
Detrás del silencio - Spanish title
Knife of Ice
Silent Horror - US title

1974
Spasmo (script, director)
The Death Dealer – US title

1975
Gatti rossi in un labirinto di vetro (script, director)
The Devil's Eye
The Eye
Eyeball – US title
Labyrinth des Schreckens - German title
El ojo en la oscuridad - Spanish title
The Secret Killer
Wide-Eyed in the Dark

1980
Incubo sulla città contaminata (director, performer (news anchorman - uncredited))
L'avion de l'apocalypse - French title
City of the Walking Dead - US reissue title
Grossangriff der Zombies - West German video title
Invasion by the Atomic Zombies - English language title
Invasion de los zombies atómicos – Mexican title
La invasión de los zombies atómicos - Spanish title
L'invasion des zombies - French title
Nightmare
Nightmare City – UK / US title

Mangiati vivi (script, director)
Cannibal holocausto 2 – Argentinian video title
Doomed to Die
Eaten Alive
Eaten Alive by the Cannibals
Emerald Jungle
Fate tous zontanous – Greek video title
Lebendig gefressen - West German title
Mangiati vivi dai cannibali
To Ourliahto ton Kanivalon – Greek title
La secte des cannibals - French title
Vivos Serão Devorados – Brazilian title

1981
Cannibal Ferox (script, director)
Caníbal feroz - Spanish title
Lefki sarka sta dontia tous – Greek title
Make Them Die Slowly – US title
Die Rache der Kannibalen - West German title
Terreur cannibale – French video title
Los últimos canibales – Argentinian title
Woman From Deep River – Australian title

1982
Incontro nell'ultimo paradiso (director)
Adventures in Last Paradise – US video title
La figlia della giungla - alternative title

1983
La guerra del ferro – Ironmaster (script, director)
Er - Stärker als Feuer und Eisen - West German title
La guerra del hierro - Spanish title
La guerre du fer - French title
Ironmaster – UK title
Ironmaster, la guerre du fer - French title
Warrior - terässoturi - Finnish title

1986
La casa delle anime erranti (director) *
House of Lost Souls – UK / US title

1987
La casa 3 – Ghosthouse (script, director (as Humphrey Humbert))
La casa 3
Ghosthouse - Dutch / UK / US / West German title

1988
Nightmare Beach (script (as Harry Kirkpatrick), director (as Harry Kirkpatrick))
Kuolema kahdella pyörällä - Finnish title
Nightmare Beach - la spiaggia del terrore - Italian title
Pesadilla en la playa - Spanish video title
Welcome to Spring Break

Primal Rage (script (as Harry Kirkpatrick))
Animal Rage - German title
Animal rage - Hungarian title
Basic Terror - Swedish title
Pedon vaistot - Finnish title
Rage furia primitiva

1989
La casa del sortilegio (script, director) *
House of Witchcraft

Paura nel buio (script (as Humphrey Humbert), director (as Humphrey Humbert))
Fear In the Dark - English language title
Hitcher 2
Hitcher in the Dark
Return of the Hitcher - German video title

1990
Le porte dell'inferno (director) *
Gate of Hell
Hell's Gate

1991
Caccia allo scorpione d'oro (script, director)
Die Jagd nach dem goldenen Skorpion - German title

Demoni 3 (script, director)
Black Demons
Black Zombies

2002
Tales of the Contaminated City (performer (himself))

1958
Mia italida stin Ellada (director)

1961
Le avventure di Mary Read (director)
Hell Below Deck – UK title
Mary la rousse femme pirate - French title
Merten tiikerikissa - Finnish title
Piratenkapitän Mary - West German title
Queen of the Seas – US title

Io bacio... tu baci (assistant director)

Il terrore dei mari (assistant director)
Die Abenteuer der Totenkopfpiraten - West German title
Guns of the Black Witch – US title
Mustan noidan merirosvot - Finnish title
La terreur des mers - French title

1962
Caterina di Russia (script, director)
Catherine de Russie - French title
Catherine of Russia – US title
Katharina von Russland - Austrian title

Duello nella sila (director)
Duel of Fire - US television title
Einer gegen Sieben - West German title

L'invincibile cavaliere mascherato (script, director)
The Invincible Masked Rider – US title
Terror of the Black Mask
Terrore di masque di indio
Kavalier mit der schwarzen Maske - West German title

1963
Sandokan, la tigre di Mompracem (script, director)
Sandokán, el magnífico - Spanish title
Sandokan the Great – US title
Le tigre de Bornéo - French title

Il trionfo di Robin Hood (director)
Robin Hood - Der Löwe von Sherwood - West German title
The Triumph of Robin Hood – US television title
El triunfo de Robin Hood - Spanish title

Zorro contro Maciste (script, director)
Samson and the Slave Queen
Simson ja orjakuningatar - Finnish title
Zorro gegen Maciste - Kampf der Unbesiegbaren - West German title

1964
La montagna di luce (director)
L'homme du Bengale – French Belgian title
Jungle Adventurer – US television title
Temple of a Thousand Lights – US title

I pirati della Malesia (director)
Meute der Verdammten - West German video title
Los piratas de Malasia - Spanish title
Pirate of Malaya - Australian video title
Les pirates de Malaisie - French title
The Pirates of Malaysia
The Pirates of the Seven Seas
Die Schwarzen Piraten von Malaysia - West German title

Sandokan il Maciste della giungla (director)
Le temple de l'éléphant - French title
Temple of the White Elephants - US television title
Im Tempel des weißen Elefanten - West German title

L'ultimo gladiatore (director)
Empress Messalina Meets the Son of Hercules
Gladiatore di Messalina - alternative title
Der Letzte der Gladiatoren - West German title
Messalina Vs. the Son of Hercules – US title
El último gladiador - Spanish title
Viimeinen gladiaattori - Finnish title

1965
I tre sergenti del Bengala (script (as Humphrey Humbert), director (as Humphrey Humbert))
3 kersanttia Bengalissa - Finnish title
Adventures of the Bengal Lancers - US title
Söldner-Kommando Bengalen - West German title
Three Sergeants of Bengal – US title
Tres sargentos bengalíes - Spanish title

1966
Un milione di dollari per sette assassini (script, director)
1.000.000 dollar för 7 mord - Swedish title
King hetzt 7 Killer - West German title
Last Man to Kill
Ub millón de dólares por siete asesinos - Spanish title

Le spie amano i fiori (script, director (as Hubert Humphry))
El gran dragón, espía invisible - Spanish title
The Spy Loves Flowers – US title
The Spy Who Loved Flowers – US title

Superseven chiama Cairo (script, director)
Höllenhunde des Secret Service - West German title
Super 7 appelle le sphinx - French title
Super Seven Calling Cairo
Supersiete llama al Cairo - Spanish title

1968
Attentato ai tre grandi (script, director)
Les chiens verts du desert - French title
Desert Commandos – US title
Fünf gegen Casablanca - West German title

Il figlio di Aquila Nera (script)
Les fils de l'aigle noir – French Belgian title
La rebelión de los cosacos - Spanish title
Der Sohn des schwarzen Adlers - West German title
Son of Black Eagle - US television title

Una pistola per cento bare (director)
Ein Colt für 100 Särge - West German title
A Gun for One Hundred Graves
Pistol for a Hundred Coffins – US title
El sabor del odio - Spanish title
Yksi ase ­ sata hautaa - Finnish title

1969
La legione dei dannati (director)
Battle of the Commandos
La brigada de los condenados - Spanish title
Die zum Teufel gehen - West German title
Legion of the Damned

Tutto per tutto (director)
All Out – US title
Copperface – US title
Go for Broke
Gringo joue et gagne - French title
La hora del coraje - Spanish title
One for All – UK title
Zwei Aasgeier - West German title
Zwei Aasgeier auf dem Weg zur Hölle - West German title

1971
Un posto ideale per uccidere (script, director)
Deadly Trap
Dirty Pictures
Un lugar ideal para matar - Spanish title
Oasis of Fear – US title
Um Sítio Ideal para Matar - Portugese title

1973
Milano rovente (script, director)
Burning City - English language title
La guerre des gangs - French title

1974
Milano odia: la polizia non può sparare (director)
Almost Human – US title
Der Berserker - West German title
The Executioner – Dutch video title
The Kidnap of Mary Lou – US title
La rançon de la peur – French video title

1975
Il giustiziere sfida la città (director)
Bracelets de sang - French title
Final Payment – Canadian title
Flash Solo - West German title
One Just Man - English language title
Rambo's Revenge - US title
Syndicate Sadists – US title
Der Vernichter - West German video title

L'uomo della strada fa giustizia (script, director)
The Manhunt – US title
Un flic hors la loi - French title

1976
Con la rabbia agli occhi (producer)
Anger in His Eyes – UK title
Con la rabia en los ojos - Spanish title
Death Rage – US title
Höllenhunde bellen zum Gebet - West German title
L'ombre d'un tueur - French title
Tappava raivo - Finnish title

Napoli violenta (director)
Death Dealers – UK title
Operation casseur - French title
S.O.S jaguar: Opération casseurs - French title
Violent Protection – US video title

Il trucido e lo sbirro (script, director)
Free Hand for a Tough Cop
La mort en sursis - French title
Tough Cop
Le truand sort de sa planque - French title

Roma a mano armata (script, director)
Assault with a Deadly Weapon - US video title
Brigade spéciale - French title
Brutal Justice
Rome Armed to the Teeth
Tough Ones - English language title
The Tough Ones - Dutch video title
Die Viper - West German title

1977
La banda del gobo (script, director)
Brothers Till We Die - US video title
Échec au gang - French title
Die Kröte - West German title

Il cinico, l'infame, il violento (script, director)
The Cynic, the Rat and the Fist
Die Gewalt bin ich - West German title

Il grande attacco (script, director (as Humphrey Longan))
Battle Force
The Battle of the Mareth Line
The Biggest Battle – US title
Etulinja - Finnish video title
La grande bataille - French title
The Great Battle
The Greatest Battle
Die Große Offensive - West German title
Helvetti 1943 - Finnish title
Los jóvenes leones - Spanish title
Ökenråttornas revansch - Swedish title

1978
Da Corleone a Brooklyn (script, director)
Camorra - Ein Bulle räumt auf - West German title
Corléone à Brooklyn - French title
Från Corleone Till Brooklyn - Swedish video title
From Corleone to Brooklyn - US video title

1979
Da Dunkerque alla vittoria (director (as Hank Milestone))
Contro quattro bandieri
De Dunkerque a la victoria - Spanish title
De l'enfer à la victoire - French title
From Hell to Victory – US title
Helvetistä voittoon - Finnish title
Nur drei kamen durch - West German title

Scusi, lei è normale? (script, director)
Entschuldigen Sie, sind Sie normal? - West German title
Flotte Teens und der Staatsanwalt - West German title
Pardon!... Vous êtes normal? - French title
Perdone, señorita, ¿es usted normal? - Spanish title

1982
Cicciabomba (director)

Pierino la peste alla riscossa (director)

1985
I cinque del Condor (director)
Wild Team – US title
Hungrige Skorpione - West German video title

1986
Un ponte per l'inferno (script, director)
Bridge to Hell - West German title
Most do piekla - Polish title
Trésor de guerre - French title

1987
Striker (script)

Tempi di guerra (script, director)
Kommando Schwarzer Panther - West German title
Wartime - English language title

1990
Cop Target (director, performer (card player in casino - uncredited))
Dinero sucio - Spanish title

Detective Malone (director (as Bob Collins))

1992
Hornsby e Rodriguez - sfida criminale (director)

Mean Tricks (director)
Seita Criminal - Portugese title

1996
Sarayevo inferno di fuoco (director)

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009