Der Teufel kam aus Akasava (1971)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Jesus Franco

Writers:

Paul André (writer)
Ladislas Fodor (writer)

Release Date:

5 March 1971 (West Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A mineral is discovered which can turn metal to gold or humans into zombies. When the mineral is stolen, secret agents are sent in to get the mineral back! |

Plot Keywords:

Nude With A Gun | Female Nudity | Nudity | Shower Scene | Grindhouse

Cast

Fred Williams	...	Rex Forrester
Soledad Miranda	...	Jane Morgan (as Susann Korda)
Horst Tappert	...	Dr. Andrew Thorrsen
Ewa Strömberg	...	Ingrid Thorrsen (as Ewa Stroemberg)
Siegfried Schürenberg	...	Sir Philip
Walter Rilla	...	Lord Kingsley
Paul Muller	...	Dr. Henry
Blandine Ebinger	...	Lady Abigail Kingsley
Howard Vernon	...	Valet Humphrey

Also Known As:

El diablo que vino de Akasawa (Spain)
Hüter des Steines (West Germany) (original script title)
The Devil Came from Akasava

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

West Germany | Spain

Language:

German

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:12 (re-rating) (2006) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain

Company:

Central Cinema Company Film (CCC)

Soledad Miranda's face and presence are hypnotic, and when combined with the ultra groovy score, man, that's all you need to know!

I've seen close to twenty Jess Franco movies now and my all time favourites are 'Eugenie De Sade' and 'Vampyros Lesbos', both of which starred the stunningly beautiful Soledad Miranda. Miranda acted in both movies using the pseudonym Susann Korda and died tragically in 1970 before 'Vampyros Lesbos' was released. 'The Devil Came From Akasava' is another Franco movie from this period, and while it isn't as good as the aforementioned it's still highly recommended viewing if you're a Franco fan. It's based on an Edgar Wallace thriller and the plot concerns a missing scientist, Professor Forrester (Angel Menendez) who has allegedly discovered The Philosopher's Stone, that is, a mysterious radioactive mineral which can turn objects into gold. Miranda plays Jane Morgan, a British Secret Service agent who is sent to Akasava posing as an exotic dancer. When she tries to uncover the whereabouts of Forrester and his discovery she finds herself embroiled in a confusing situation where nobody is what they appear to be. The plot isn't what makes this movie so bewitching. It's very Bond lite, and similar territory to Franco's earlier 'Sadisterotica'. What makes 'The Devil Came From Akasava' a pleasure to watch is Soledad Miranda's beauty. Her face and presence are hypnotic and when combined with the ultra groovy score (chock full of fuzz guitar, electric sitar, harpsichord,etc.), man, that's all you need to know! Miranda steals every scene she's in, but the supporting cast includes Ewa Stromberg, who co-starred in 'Vampyros Lesbos', Fred Williams, Horst Tappert, Franco regulars Paul Muller and Howard Vernon, and Franco himself as Tino Celli. I can't say that this is Franco's best movie, but it's as entertaining as all hell, and a pretty good introduction to his amazing output (180+ movies!).