The Lash of the Penitentes
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£22.00
FORBIDDEN FRUIT: THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE EXPLOITATION PICTURE Volume 9
Exploitation films were often ripped from the most sensational headlines of the day, and few headlines were as scandalous as those reporting a murder within the community of a masochistic religious cult in northern New Mexico. Los Hermanos Penitentes celebrated Lent by enacting elaborate tableaus of flagellation, self-mutilation, and crucifixion. Envisioning the box-office potential of such a spectacle, cinematographer Roland Price (Marihuana: Weed With Roots in Hell) shot several reels of footage of the rituals, then teamed with producer Harry Revier (Child Bride) to fashion a murder mystery around the documentary material. For years, The Lash of the Penitentes flourished on the exploitation circuit, sometimes with new footage cut into the feature (and most notoriously: the trailer). Usually circulated in an abbreviated 35-minute version, this Kino Classics edition was restored from film elements preserved by the Library of Congress, and represents the uncensored 48-minute cut: The Penitente Murder Case.
| Format | |
| Format | Blu-Ray |
| Film | |
| Year | 1936 |
| Rating | 15 |
| Director | Harry J. Revier, Roland Price |
| Starring | Marie DeForrest William Marcos Victor Justi Josef Swickard Jose Rubio Billy Bletcher |
| Country | USA |
| Label | Kino Classics |
| Region / TV Standard | Region 0 |
| Language | English |
| Subtitles | English SDH |
| Running time | 48 mins |
| Aspect ratio | 1.33:1 |
| Case type | Standard |
| Extra features | The Penitente Murder Case (the complete, uncensored, 48-minute cut) The Lash of the Penitentes (the censored and condensed 35-minute version) Audio commentary by series curator Bret Wood Trailer gallery |
