What is known about The Mini-Killers/Diadem?

Dandy Forsdyke · Post by **Dandy Forsdyke** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 8:59 pm

Jasper Groat wrote:Somebody sent me some information today about a soundtrack single. If I get the time I'll add it here.

Is this it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY4f5JSe ... re=related

ischtar · Post by **ischtar** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:52 am

I wonder if this is a mini-killer episode.

Der goldene Schlüssel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiKIVsi75S4

Dandy Forsdyke · Post by **Dandy Forsdyke** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:15 am

The Mini-Killers, Das Diadem (The Tiara) and Der Goldene Schlüssel (The Gold Key) were all individual Super-8 films but yes, pretty much part of a 'set'.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:40 pm

The Golden Key is the opening section of Das Diadem, refilmed in colour (obviously at more or less the same time as the B/W was filmed). Nothing to do with Minikillers.

Dandy Forsdyke · Post by **Dandy Forsdyke** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:20 pm

I stand corrected then.

I was going by this

http://www.dianarigg.net/htmldir/transc ... .1969.html

.. reprinted from Bravo magazine with direct quotes about the project from Diana Rigg.

... Later during dinner in a small fish restaurant, Diana tells me about the movie she is shooting here in Spain for the German 'accentfilm', while she's eating gazpacho soup and prawns: "It's an 8mm - a detective story. I'm playing a nosy journalist who finds out about an international gang of drug dealers. They smuggle their substances by hiding them in dolls who are little killers. The poison comes out of their eyes. That's where the title 'Minikillers' comes from."

Anyone can get the movie to play at home on a projector. The color version is 30 minutes long and has sound. The black and white version includes two separate silent episodes."

130,000 copies of the other two mini-thrillers, 'The Golden Key' and 'Das Diadem' Diana has shot, have been sold in department and specialty stores already. They've been a huge success!

Minikillers will be available in August, and the Americans, sensing the success, have already bought the license to sell them.

The contract Diana signed with 'accentfilm' says 'more than 6 movies'.

"The salary is not less than what I got for the James Bond movie 'On her Majesty's Secret Service'", Diana admits. She got 560,000 for the Bond film!

mousemeat · Post by **mousemeat** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:38 pm

Dandy Forsdyke wrote:The Mini-Killers, Das Diadem (The Tiara) and Der Goldene Schlüssel (The Gold Key) were all individual Super-8 films but yes, pretty much part of a 'set'.

super 8mm with sound ???

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:49 am

Dandy Forsdyke wrote:I stand corrected then.

I was going by this

http://www.dianarigg.net/htmldir/transc ... .1969.html

They were issued as separate titles (I know, Alys and I have them on film) but it looks like a bit of a cynical ploy to get punters to buy Diadem twice, although as I say, Golden Key is colour (or at least the print we have is).

There is a huge amount of misinformation, speculation and assumption on the net about the history these films and I am working on a feature which will give a more accurate history, for Declassified.

I think they're rather fun, if in Diadem/Golden Key's case, rather poorly made. Minikillers, on the other hand, is well-shot and directed and is really rather cool!

Dandy Forsdyke · Post by **Dandy Forsdyke** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 9:20 am

The Bravo magazine feature is interesting as I think this is the only time Diana Rigg has ever mentioned these films.

Seems these were, either partly or wholly, made for the home projector market. I remember you could get Universal horror, Laurel & Hardy and even Avengers episodes - quite expensive though.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 11:39 am

They were wholly made for the home projector market. The quote from one of the actors about them being made to be played at filling stations in Germany has been pretty much debunked as a misremembrance on his part.

And yes, the Bravo interview and a couple of other pieces I've found or have kindly been sent are quite helpful!

Dandy Forsdyke · Post by **Dandy Forsdyke** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:57 pm

I do have them on VHS, but I was watching a few on YT and there was a comment from one disappointed viewer that these weren't Diana Rigg's secret porn films.