THE 14 AMAZONS (1972) – This often-overlooked Hong Kong martial arts film was directed and written by Cheng Kang and produced by the iconic Shaw Brothers studios. The 14 Amazons is a female-centric take on China’s historical Yang Family, many of whom were accomplished generals over the centuries.
Obviously, embellishments and outright myths have mixed in with whatever the real stories of the Yang generals may have been. During the past thousand years or so countless novels, plays and operas have been produced about this family, their deeds and their intrigues.
Believe it or not, The 14 Amazons was one of the first modern-day big-screen productions about the storied Yangs and takes a unique approach. Many of the previous adaptations of the saga led up to the valiant and/or tragic death of one of the Yang generals in battle or otherwise.
This 1972 film starts out with the death of one of the Yang men and proceeds from there. By this point there are so few male Yangs still alive that the wives, sisters, and other female relatives of the late hero band together and set out for revenge.
Political corruption prevents the Yang women from getting the Emperor’s okay to use the Imperial Army, so they decide to handle things themselves. The ladies pointedly ignore insults like “This fight wouldn’t be a job for women. It’s a task for generals!” and go into action. Continue reading
ANOTHER WORLD (1873) – This highly detailed account of life in Montalluyah (“God’s own city”), the capitol city of Mars, was written by British author Benjamin Lumley under the pen name Hermes. The book is presented as excerpts from historical accounts, including a biography of the Great Martian Reformer Tootmanyoso. 
THE MASTER MYSTERY (1918-1919) – The first film footage of Harry Houdini performing his stage act dates to 1907, but it wasn’t until this 15-part serial that he hit the big screen in a series of adventures. Chapter One of The Master Mystery debuted on November 18th, 1918 and starred Houdini as a federal agent named Quentin Locke. 
Every cliffhanger ending for the chapters of the serials involves a deathtrap which Houdini escapes from at the start of the following installment. 
For obvious reasons I held off a day before posting this item about the very odd incident on September 11th, 1911. 
INDIANA WESLEYAN CONQUERS DIVISION ONE – Each year plenty of NAIA teams upset higher division opponents and sometimes a few will even topple Division ONE teams. The INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS welcomed D1’s VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY BEACONS yesterday. After a scoreless 1st Quarter, the Wildcats went up 17-7 by Halftime, then had to hold on against a Beacons rally to cement the Upset 24-22. 
NORTHWESTERN (IA) ALSO TAKES DOWN D1 – Not to be outdone, the NAIA’s NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS stunned their hosts the DRAKE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS. The Bulldogs led 14-10 at the Half and 14-13 to end the 3rd Quarter but the Red Raiders tied it up 21-21 in the 4th. In Overtime, NC won out 27-24. 
ARIZONA CHRISTIAN TOPPLES DIVISION TWO – Speaking of the NAIA downing D2 teams, the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM played host to the FORT LEWIS COLLEGE SKYHAWKS. The Firestorm completely dominated the Skyhawks, leading them 14-3 at the break enroute to a 49-25 smackdown victory. 
NOVA Vol 1 #1 (September 1976) 
DOWN GOES NUMBER FIVE – The 15th ranked EMPORIA STATE HORNETS paid a visit to the number 5 team in the nation – the NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS. The Bearcats were up 7-6 in the 1st Quarter but the Hornets went on top 13-7 by Halftime. From there Emporia State outscored Northwest Missouri State 20-6 for a 33-13 triumph. 
FOUR QUARTERS WEREN’T ENOUGH – This game pitted the SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY MULERIDERS against their hosts the EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY TIGERS. A scoreless opening Quarter was followed by a 17-0 Tigers advantage at the Half. The Muleriders rallied after the break, forcing Overtime with a 17-17 deadlock to end the 4th Quarter. In the extra session SAU won 24-17. 
Over the years, Balladeer’s Blog has reviewed several of Jorg Buttgereit’s envelope-pushing, taboo-breaking horror films. Because I review everything from the extreme fringes like Buttgereit (at left) to mild, even family-friendly items let me offer a warning for readers who don’t like extreme violence or extreme concepts. If you fall into that category, please DO NOT look up my long-ago reviews of Jorg’s most notorious films and then blast me because the subject matter appalls you. I am giving fair warning about what they’re like. 
CAPTAIN BERLIN: RETTER DER WELT (1982) – Buttgereit was only 18 when he made this 10-minute short film. He wrote, directed and played the title superhero with Bela B. from the German punk band Die Ärzte co-starring as Mister Synth. This work about West Berlin’s only superhero fighting a monster from outer space is of interest only because of Buttgereit’s and Bela’s involvement. 
Decades later, Buttgereit would revive the Captain Berlin character in one of his stage show-radio show hybrids, titled Captain Berlin versus Hitler. That production – which I will review at some point in the future – was eventually filmed and released to theaters and on dvd. 
HORROR HEAVEN (1984) – Jorg starred as an old-fashioned Horror Movie Host introducing several horror shorts of his own making in this 24-minute project. Buttgereit structured it as a salute to Boris Karloff but with some gore thrown in. 
OF ANTICHRIST AND HIS RUIN (1692) – Last week Balladeer’s Blog reviewed John Bunyan’s often neglected work 
