Once Before I Die (1966)

[varangian]

I remember watching this thing, late at night probably, being frustrated the kid wasn't used to better advantage. Or maybe I was trying to cope with Richard Jaeckel with a shaved head - still looking great though. I think he was undervalued a bit as an actor. If Derek and BBoy are not right, they should be!

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The film is up on YouTube: Once Before I Die The moment Derek speaks of starts around 1:30:08

IMO, it's not quite as engrossing or erotic as the picture Derek paints but I can certainly see what inspired his arousing rendition.   Thanks Derek!

I remember so often filling in the blanks with my own fantasies in these kinds of films. Sometimes so much that if I ever saw them again, I'd be inevitably disappointed because those good scenes I "remembered" were no longer there!

I found this pic of Rod Lauren and have since envisioned this being his audition. A long day with endless takes of him getting it in the belly over and over and all of it on film. *sigh* Heh

You are certainly right about 'filling in' a bit - took me years to find an Italian film about Sebastian that I saw at about 9 and started me really down this road - I finally did, but the really good dialogue I could have sworn was in it - the centurion ordering his archers to shoot him only in the belly so he would suffer more and longer and then pointing at his navel with his short sword - well, it was not at all in the film. Actually I think the version I found was just cut! I didn't make all that up at the age of 9 - or did I?

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There's no question that I'm reading a lot into the scene, but I think the director's implication is pretty blatant: as he's being shot, he becomes aroused at the memory of Ursula, and appears to get more aroused at each succeeding bullet impact in his belly, of which there are six or seven, fired slowly, one at a time, until finally, his back arched, he goes through a series of orgasmic facial expressions.  To top it off, just as he collapses, there's an explosion nearby! A symbolic orgasm courtesy of the film and sound editors!
    I have a straight friend who I have recently been sharing cool death scenes with, under the pretext mostly of discussing the moviemaking aspects of staging and special effects, but he's aware enough to recognize an orgasm at the point of death, which you see a lot especially in Shaw Bros. martial arts films (how many of those have we seen where a barechested guy gets it in the belly and writhes around moaning until his back suddenly arches, all his muscles flex  and his whole body freezes, then collapses with a death orgasm moan?
Well I showed him this scene.  While it was going on he said "Wow, he's really taking it in the guts, huh?" At the end, without a bit of prodding from me, he stroked his dick through his pants and blurted out "well, he fucking jizzed all over his belly as he died!" and laughed.  So I don't think it's much of a stretch.
Of course I always have to add my "color commentary".  I'm the Howard Cosell of hot death scenes!
- Derek

Really wish the producers had sent you the money instead to direct this turkey! Well, maybe no in 1966.