Scanialara You won't be disappointed!

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Nigel P Directed by Jess Franco and produced by Harry Alan Towers, the Bloody Judge is none other than Christopher Lee, playing Christopher Lee playing imperious Judge Jeffries. The beautiful Alicia Grey (Margaret Lee) is brought before him, a woman of such beauty there is more than a note of appreciation that threatens to ripple Jeffries powdered wig before he condemns her to death. She is, like many others, accused of witch-craft. Why at that very moment, slimy Jack Ketch (the excellent Howard Vernon) is torturing some other poor blood-drenched beauty on the rack.Said with some justification to be inspired by 1968's powerful 'The Witchfinder General,' this is an involved and involving story concerning Alicia's sister played by Franco favourite Maria Rohm, another to catch the keen gaze of Jeffries. She is courting Harry Selton (Hans Hass), who falls foul of many powerful people including the vengeful Satchel (Milo Quesada sporting some convincing scarred make-up). Selton's father, the very powerful Lord Wessex (Leo Genn) is one of few people who threaten Judge Jeffries' power.Jeffries' unflappable veneer is occasionally exposed as being more brittle than initially apparent, and Lee plays the insecurities very well, despite his character quite rightly being labelled 'devil' by Mary Grey, Maria Rohm's most impressive character. In this, Rohm comes across as Franco's own Veronica Carlson. Carlson often exuded a style and composure which often elevated her from the characters she played for Hammer films – here, Rohm does the same.

Scott LeBrun Sir Christopher Lee is excellent in this period drama from legendary cult filmmaker Jess Franco. The setting is 17th century England, during a period of civil unrest. Lee stars as Judge George Jeffreys, a harsh and unforgiving character who tries various unfortunate people for such things as witchcraft and treason. He shows no favoritism, even going after Harry Selton (Hans Hass Jr.), the son of his associate Lord Wessex (Leo Genn), and Harry's beloved, Mary Gray (Maria Rohm). It's all in the name of indulging his political ambitions and sexual desires.Some Jess Franco fans will end up less than satisfied, as this isn't as utterly sleazy as much of Francos' 1970s output. Have no fear, though: there are a couple of torture scenes (albeit not nearly as graphic as what we would see today), a bit of female nudity, and one memorable scene of depravity. In this viewers' own humble opinion, this can rank right up there with Francos' best, as this is a slick and meticulous film, with fine production values, decent action scenes, and an exemplary cast. Considering its themes, it would make a fine companion piece with Michael Reeves' "Witchfinder General".Lee may not be playing a very nice guy, but he's extremely commanding as always, and we even get to hear some of Jeffreys' inner monologue, as he decides that the ends are justifying his means. The always wonderful Genn (who replaced Dennis Price) provides indelible support. Franco regular Howard Vernon, Milo Quesada, Margaret Lee, and Pietro Martellanza all help to add gravitas to the proceedings. And the ladies are quite lovely to look at, especially Rohm (another frequent player in the Franco filmography).This might not be to every Franco fans' tastes, but if one doesn't care too much for his trashier output, they're advised to seek this one out. The alternate title, "Night of the Blood Monster", does it no favors, as it makes it sound like it's a horror film, which it really is not.Eight out of 10.

Spikeopath Il trono di fuoco (AKA: The Bloody Judge) is directed by Jesus Franco and written by Anthony Scott Veitch and Peter Welbeck. It stars Christopher Lee, Maria Schell, Leo Genn, Hans Hass Jr., Maria Rohm and Margaret Lee. Music is by Bruno Nicolai and cinematography by Manuel Merino.Based on the real life Judge Jeffreys, the so called Hanging Judge who presided over what became known as The Bloody Assizes in Winchester 1685.Spaghetti horror with plenty of blood but nothing else. Christopher Lee was known to say this performance as the cruel Judge Jeffries was one of his best, you have to think he was bluffing by way of trying to be on the same planet as Vincent Price's turn as Matthew Hopkins in Witchfinder General two years earlier. Not that Lee is bad, far from it, he's the reason to watch this, it's just that he is planted in the picture for a number of scenes and everything else is spliced around him in hap-hazard fashion; and that's the uncut version as well!Ponderously paced and done on the cheap, it also comes off as tacky exploitation, where sex and glimpses of flesh serve for titillation, while exposition rules the day. It's a real hack job, aimlessly directed even. A battle scene stands out, but is at odds with the film, the costuming is smart, the set design equally so, and the colour photography decent. Yet the over riding sense of boredom and amateurism strips the film of any real entertainment factor. Apart from Chris of course, but even then we don't really get a great deal of him! 3/10

MartinHafer My review is based on the recent DVD release which is more explicit than the version released in theaters. However, both versions were rather explicit.I am not the most prudish person out there, so don't automatically think I am just a nut based on my summary. Saying the film is 'rather pornographic' is not something I say lightly and I am surprised that none of the other reviewers found this film offensive. But, in addition to having a lot of nudity (some very explicit), most of this nudity was sadistic in nature--showing women getting raped or being tortured. Woman after woman appeared in the film naked or semi-naked and drenched in blood while being brutalized. Now the film was about the evil abuses of the British courts in the late 17th century--so some brutality is inevitable. However, women are simply objects--objects to be brutalized for some voyeuristic fantasy.The film is about a particularly evil judge (Christopher Lee) who takes great delight in sentencing people to death and maltreatment. While he personally doesn't even see the results of his sentences, he knows what sort of atrocities his men do and he is completely indifferent. In addition, late in the film he rapes a comely prisoner--so he's obviously a pretty horrible person. Most of the film consists of either showing women being savaged or showing the 'good guys' in their crusade to rid the country of an incompetent king (James II) as well as his evil minions (including Lee).While this COULD have been a very good film (after all, it's a very important part of British history that's been mostly ignored in movies), it isn't. It is excessive and gross throughout. The actors appear to try their best with the material, but how can actors get noticed when the film has little plot (at times) and lots of drooling sickos molesting and beating women? Even if you are a fan of Christopher Lee (like me), I can't recommend the film. However, if you'd like a similar and not quite as excessive film, try watching Vincent Price's WITCHFINDER GENERAL (1968). While not exactly the same plot (it doesn't mention the transition from James II to William of Orange during the revolution, as it was set about 40 years earlier in history) and also a bit graphic, it is about an evil judge who delights in torture and rape to deal with witches...or pretty much anyone who doesn't do his bidding. And, fortunately, the film doesn't feel like a snuff film--like THE BLOODY JUDGE ("Il trono di fuoco").