“Spartacus” (1960) directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, Tony Curtis and Woody Strode / Z-View

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Spartacus (1960)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Screenplay: Dalton Trumbo; based on SPARTACUS by Howard Fast.

Stars:  Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, Tony Curtis, John Ireland, Herbert Lom, John Dall, Charles McGraw, Harold J. Stone, Hume Cronyn, Richard Farnsworth and Woody Strode.

Tagline: They trained him to kill for their pleasure. . .but they trained him a little too well. . .

The Plot…

Spartacus, a Thracian slave, is so rebellious that he is sentenced to die.  Before the execution is carried out, Lentulus Batiatus buys Spartacus. Batiatus trains former slaves to become gladiators.  These gladiators will die fighting each other to provide entertainment for rich and powerful Romans.

Spartacus’ rebellious ways continue at the school for gladiators.  Pushed to his limit, Spartacus fights back against one of his oppressors.  To his (and everyone’s surprise) the other gladiators-in-training join in Spartacus’ revolt.

Spartacus and his well-trained gladiators move from village to village freeing slaves along the way.  Most freed slaves join the rebellion.

Rome is worried.  The slave uprising must be put down.   So the most powerful army in the world turns its sights on Spartacus.  The revolt must be crushed!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Spartacus was nominated for six 1961 Academy Awards and won four…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture – Alex North
  • Nominee for Best Film Editing – Robert Lawrence
  • Winner for Best Costume Design, Color– Valles, Bill Thomas
  • Winner for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color – Alexander Golitzen, Eric Orbom, Russell A. Gausman, Julia Heron
  • Winner for Best Cinematography, Color – Russell Metty
  • Winner for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Peter Ustinov

Anthony Mann was the original director of Spartacus.  Creative differences between Mann and Kirk Douglas led to Stanley Kubrick coming on as director.  The salt mine locations were the only Mann directed scenes to make the final cut.  Ironically, Douglas and Kubrick also had major creative differences.

A few years after the release of Spartacus, Anthony Mann directed Kirk Douglas in The Heroes of Telemark.

Stanley Kubrick disliked the working conditions of this film.  It is the only “work-for-hire” credit on his resume.  On every other Kubrick film, he had complete control.

A scene cut for the original release was restored in 1991.  It is the scene where Marcus Licinius Crassus (Sir Laurence Olivier) attempts to seduce Antoninus (Tony Curtis) using inuendo of snails and oysters.  The original soundtrack was lost.  Curtis re-recorded his lines.  Since Olivier had died, Anthony Hopkins (who was known to imitate Olivier’s voice) was brought in to re-record Olivier’s lines.  Hopkins is thanked in the updated credits

The 1991 restoration contains exactly four additional minutes of footage than the original release.  Two minutes are the famous “snails and oysters” scene with the additional two minutes going to the overture, intermission, and exit music.

Kirk Douglas said that he made Spartacus because he was turned down for the lead in Ben-Hur.

I was surprised to see Hume Cronyn as a gladiator!

Spartacus is a classic.  A film everyone should see.

Spartacus (1960) rates 5 of 5 stars.

Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa by Gagnu!

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Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa by Gagnu!

“It really don’t matter if I lose this fight. It really don’t matter if this guy opens my head, either. ‘Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody’s ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I’m still standin’, I’m gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren’t just another bum from the neighborhood.” – Rocky Balboa

A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE by Jordan Harper / Z-View

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A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE by Jordan Harper

First sentence…

He tells them, “This place is a crime.”

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Jake Deal makes his living live-streaming nightly from L.A.’s dark, dangerous, crime-ridden hot spots. Jake takes his subcribers “live” to scenes of murders, crimes in progress, or whatever location that needs a police response. Jake’s car is loaded with a police scanner, cameras, wifi, and more. Jake planned to livestream the locations of the LA Ripper, a serial killer still on the loose.  That changed when Jake was hired to follow and compile dirt on a list of powerful and influential folks.

Doug Gibson is a lawyer for the common man.  Gibson’s clients are the under-served, the poor and the powerless.  So you can imagine Gibson’s surprise when Eric Alger contacts him. Alger needs a defense attorney and wants Gibson.

Eric Alger became rich as the producer of tween television shows.  Alger became even richer with his behind-the-scenes sex trafficking of youngsters.  He also served as a conduit to others with similar tastes.  Now Alger is behind bars.  Alger says if he’s not released, he’s going to name names.  If he’s going down, he’s taking rich and powerful sex deviants (like himself) with him.

Kara Delgado works for an underground concierge that gets the super-rich whatever they want. It could be the location for a private sex party, drugs, men, women, whatever the customer wants and can afford.   When Kara’s best friend goes missing and her apartment is scrubbed clean, Kara decides to investigate.

When Eric Alger is found dead in his jail cell, Jake, Doug and Kara’s paths cross.  Now they’re on the wrong side of powerful people with the money and contacts to make them disappear… and perhaps even the LA Ripper.

+++

Jordan Harper has another winner. A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE is a great follow-up to EVERYBODY KNOWS and gets my highest recommendation.

Rating:

“Kiss Me Deadly” (1955) directed by Robert Aldrich; starring Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart and Juano Hernandez / Z-View

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Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

Director: Robert Aldrich

Screenplay: A.I. Bezzerides, Robert Aldrich (uncredited); based on KISS ME DEADLY by Mickey Spillane.

Stars:  Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart, Juano Hernandez, Marjorie Bennett, Strother Martin and Jack Elam.

Tagline: Blood red kisses! White hot thrills! Mickey Spillane’s latest H-bomb!

The Plot…

Driving home late one evening, Mike Hammer nearly runs over a woman in the middle of the road.  She’s barefoot and wearing just a trenchcoat.  Hammer stops.  The woman is running from someone but doesn’t say who.

Hammer gives her a lift, but soon thugs catch up to them.  The last thing Hammer hears is the woman’s scream.  When he wakes up, he’s in the hospital.  The goons killed the woman, then threw her and Hammer’s unconscious body in the car before pushing it over the cliff.

Hammer believes whatever the woman was involved in was “something big”.  Plus he wants payback.

Hammer’s going to get answers he couldn’t have imagined and find himself the target of a crime syndicate after the result of a top secret government experiment.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although based on Mickey Spillane’s novel of the same name, the film makes changes to Hammer as well as the plot.  In the film, Hammer is a sleazy LA PI who never uses a gun; instead of a fearless NY private eye.   In the film, Hammer finds himself in international intrigue with a suitcase containing stolen atomic material.  In the book, Hammer is up against the Mafia after a suitcase of heroin.

Kiss Me Deadly features Cloris Leachman’s first theatrical film role.

The haunting ending will stay with you long after the film ends.

Kiss Me Deadly (1955) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Day of the Fight” (1951) directed by Stanley Kubrick / Z-View

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Day of the Fight (1951)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Narration:  Robert Rein

Stars:  Walter Cartier, Vincent Cartier.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Day of the Fight is a sixteen minute short.  It begins with a brief history of boxing and then follows professional middleweight boxer Walter Cartier from morning through his main card fight.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Walter Cartier was not only a professional boxer, but a professional actor as well.  He is best known for his role as Private Claude Dillingham on The Phil Silvers Show.

Stanley Kubrick can be seen as the camera operator.  It cost Kubrick $3,900.00 to make this short and he sold it to RKO for $4,000.00.

House of Numbers (1957) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Big Trouble in Little China” Alt Poster by Michael Rogers!

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Check out this alt poster for Big Trouble in Little China by Michael Rogers.

” When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol’ Jack Burton always says at a time like that: “Have ya paid your dues, Jack?” “Yessir, the check is in the mail.”” – Jack Burton

“Nocturne” starring Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz, and Stephen Graham – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer to Nocturne starring Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz, and Stephen Graham are here!

Deal me in.

Catching a killer means crossing the line.

Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz, and Stephen Graham star in Nocturne, premiering October 30 on Apple TV.

When does Nocturne premiere?
Nocturne premieres October 30 on Apple TV.

Where can I watch Nocturne?
Watch Nocturne on Apple TV.

Who stars in Nocturne?
Nocturne features Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz, Stephen Graham, Rory Culkin, Poorna Jagannathan, Bill Camp, Chrissy Metz, Gary Carr, and Landon Valentin.

What is Nocturne about?
In Nocturne, when a victim of notorious serial killer Jurek Walter unexpectedly turns up alive, detective Jonah Lynn races against time to find the one person still missing, while his protégé Saga Bauer goes undercover to get answers from the killer himself.

What genre is Nocturne?
Nocturne is a crime thriller.

What are other shows and movies like Nocturne?
Shows and movies similar to Nocturne are Black Bird, Lucky, and Presumed Innocent.

“Tulsa King” Season 4 – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

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Tulsa King Season 4 premieres October 16, only on Paramount+.

Dwight fights to legitimize his empire and protect his crew as corrupt politicians, dangerous new enemies, and a crushing personal loss hit from every direction. However, every hard-won gain comes with even harder truths: about loyalty, leadership and the cost of ambition. Each move drags Dwight deeper into the street instincts he left behind in New York – turning Tulsa into a battleground and Dwight into the one threat no one can afford to underestimate.

 

“Red Dawn” (1984) directed by John Milius; starring Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, Ron O’Neal, William Smith, Frank McRae, Lane Smith and Powers Boothe / Z-View

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Red Dawn (1984)

Director: John Milius

Screenplay:  Kevin Reynolds, John Milius; story by Kevin Reynolds

Stars:  Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, Ron O’Neal, William Smith, Frank McRae, Lane Smith and Powers Boothe.

Tagline: In our time, no foreign army has ever occupied American soil. Until now.

The Plot…

The United States is surprised by a sneak attack.  The combined forces of the Soviet Union, Cuba and Nicaragua did the unthinkable.  Foreign paratroopers land across the midwest.  One groups touches down outside the small town of Calumet, Colorado.  The invaders come in blasting.

A group of teenagers, with a small amount of supplies and weapons escape into the mountains.  From their vantage point, they see their town taken over and learn that the World War III has begun.

As supplies run low, they learn that the war is raging.  The US military responded and turned back the advancement of foreign powers.  There is a current stalement and the nearest safe zone is 40 miles away.

When a couple of soldiers accidentally come across a few of the teens, they respond by killing the foreign fighters.  When the invaders discover their dead comrades, they respond by executing several townsfolk.

The teens decide they are through with just hiding.  They launch guerilla attacks on the invaders. They leave “Wolverines” signs behind after each attack. The Wolverines are surprisingly successful.  Word spreads and provides hope to the oppressed.  The leaders occupying the town decide that the  Wolverines must be caught and executed.

As World War III rages, what chance of survival do a ragtag group of teens have against the combined invading armies of three countries?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Red Dawn was the first film released with a MPAA PG-13 rating.

In the original screenplay there was a love story subplot between Jed (Patrick Swayze) and Toni (Jennifer Grey).  The subplot was cut. Swayze and Grey later appeared as lovers in Dirty Dancing.

A love scene between Lea Thompson and Powers Boothe’s characters was cut after preview audiences found the age difference uncomfortable.

Red Dawn features Charlie Sheen’s feature film debut.

I saw Red Dawn when it was first released.  I was a first year teacher.  The scene of the invading paratroopers landing outside the school was chilling.  I’ve watched the film several times over the years (and recently) — it still provides chills.

Red Dawn (1984) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Hulk Hogan: Real American (2026) / Z-View

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Hulk Hogan: Real American (2026)

Director: Bryan Storkel

Stars:  Hulk Hogan, Linda Hogan, Jimmy Hart, Jessie Ventura, Vince McMahon, Gene Okerland, Nick Hogan, Bruce Prichard, Bret Hart, Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhoads, Kevin Nash, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, Ric Flair and Paul Levesque.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Hulk Hogan: Real American  documents Terry Bollea’s (Hulk’s real name) life…

  • from before his entry into professional wrestling
  • his early days trying to find his way
  • his rise to become the biggest star in professional wrestling
  • to a Hollywood leading man
  • to a wrestling veteran no longer a fan favorite

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hulk Hogan became a wrestling star so big, it can truly be said that he took sports entertainment to levels it had never achieved.

I attribute a lot of Hulk Hogan’s popularity to his role as Thunderlips in Rocky III.   This brought Hogan to the attention of millions of people who never watched wrestling.  It’s also interesting to note that Hogan and Mr. T (another co-star in Rocky III) headlined Wrestlemania 1.

Hulk Hogan’s daughter refused to participate in this documentary.  She and her father were estranged.

Hulk Hogan: Real American (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars.