Movie Ad of the Week: THOR THE CONQUEROR (1984)

We're as shocked as anyone that Cannon actually gave a theatrical release to THOR THE CONQUEROR, but here it is Oxford, AL on February 10, 1984. The umpteenth cheesy '80s Italian flick guilty of clonin' the barbarian, this one was directed by Anthony Richmond [Tonino Ricci] and stars Conrad Nichols [Bruno Minniti], the same duo that ripped off THE ROAD WARRIOR with the dopey one-two punch of RUSH (1983) and RAGE (1984). THOR is currently available on DVD for around $5.00 as part of Full Moon's Grindhouse Collection.

Movie Ad of the Week: DOCTOR BUTCHER, M.D. (1981)

U.S. Premiere - September 18, 1981 - Philadelphia, PA

Although the IMDb and other sources claim DOCTOR BUTCHER, M.D. made its U.S. debut in New York on May 7th, 1982, the Italian gorefest from Aquarius Releasing actually had its premiere almost eight months earlier, opening in 13 theaters in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area (and the Naamans Drive-In in Claymont, DE) on September 18th, 1981.

Cincinnati, OH (below) and Syracuse, NY (not pictured) on October 2, 1981. The second feature in both cities was NURSE SHERRI.

(Below) Hartford, CT - October 16, 1981

(Below) West Palm Beach, FL - October 23, 1981

(Below) Chicago, IL - November 27, 1981

(Below) Chicago Loop double bill - November 27, 1981

(Below) Green Bay, WI - December 11, 1981

(Below) Los Angeles, CA - March 5, 1982

Also: Miami, FL (October 30, 1981); Baltimore & Washington, D.C. (April 16, 1982)

Movie Ad of the Week: SWEET TEMPTATIONS (1983)

LES CHIENS CHAUDS/THE HOT DOGS (1980), a Canadian comedy written and directed by Claude Fournier and starring Harry Reems, was acquired for U.S. distribution by Bedford Entertainment and released as COPS AND OTHER LOVERS in April 1983. By the time it arrived in Indianapolis on September 16, 1983, the title had been changed to SWEET TEMPTATIONS.

Movie Ad of the Week: THREE-WAY LOVE (1977)

Something from Cannon titled THREE-WAY LOVE -- directed by Lewis Scott and starring Paul Paige, Janet Loncar, and Jennifer Stuart -- opened in Murphysboro, IL on June 24, 1977. It's actually LA RAGAZZA DALLA PELLE DI LUNA/THE GIRL WITH THE MOON SKIN (1974), a.k.a. SEX OF THEIR BODIES and THE SINNER, directed by Luigi Scattini and starring Ugo Pagliai, Beba Loncar and Giacomo Rossi-Stewart.