RIP: Eva Marie Saint

Eva Marie Saint died yesterday from natural causes.  Ms. Saint was 102.

Eva Marie Saint graduated from Bowling Green State University in Ohio where she studied acting.  While there Ms. Saint was a member of Theta Alpha Phi, the theater honorary fraternity.  She also earned the lead in the stage production of Personal Appearance.

Eva Marie Saint began her career as a page for NBC.  A role on the television show Campus Hoopla followed.  Eva Marie Saint appeared in Life Magazine twice before becoming a star.  The first time was in a photograph in an essay about television.  The second time Ms. Saint was profiled as a struggling actress trying to make it.

Eva Marie Saint began getting roles and good notices for her acting.  In 1954, Ms. Saint won the Outer Critics Circle Special Award for her Broadway role in The Trip to Bountiful.  In 1955, she nominated for her first Emmy Award for “Best Actress In A Single Performance” for her role on The Philco Television Playhouse production of Middle of the Night by Paddy Chayefsky. She won another Emmy nomination for the 1955 television musical version of Our Town.  In between, these two awards Eva Marie Saint co-starred with Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront.  This role won her the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Eva Marie Saint’s career spanned 75 years on stage, television and feature films.

Some of Eva Marie Saint’s television performances include: A Christmas Carol; Kraft Mystery Theater; The Chevrolet Tele-Theater; Lights Out; Suspense; Actor’s Studio (4 episodes); The Clock (3 episodes); Buck Rogers (3 episodes); The Prudential Family Playhouse (2 episodes); One Man’s Family (12 episodes); City Hosital; Man Against Crime; A Trip to Bountiful; The Web (2 episodes); Martin Kane, Private Eye (40 episodes); Studio One (3 episodes); Goodyear Television Playhouse (2 episodes); The Philco Television Playhouse (5 episodes); Producer’s Playhouse (2 episodes); The First Woman President; How the West Was Won (4 episodes); The Love Boat (2 episodes); Love Leads the Way; Fatal Vision; A Year in the Life (3 episodes); Breaking Home Ties; Moonlighting (6 episodes); American Masters; Titanic (2 episodes); Fraiser and The Legend of Korra (5 episodes).

Some of Eva Marie Saint’s feature film appearances include: On the Waterfront; A Hatful of Rain; Raintree County; North By Northwest; Exodus; All Fall Down; 36 Hours; The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming; Grand Prix; Superman Returns and Mariette in Ecstasy.

My favorite Eva Marie Saint roles are in On the Waterfront and North by Northwest.  She was so good in both (and everything she did).

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Eva Marie Saint’s family, friends and fans.

RIP Marjoe Gortner

Marjoe Gortner died on October 2nd from congestive heart failure.

Marjoe was born into a family that had a long line of preachers.  His father, Vernon Gortner, was a third-generation Christian revival preacher.  Marjoe’s name was a combination of the biblical names Mary and Joseph.  As a small child Marjoe had the ability to mimick adults.  They trained him in what to say and what gestures to make as his spoke.  Marjoe’s parents had him ordained at the age of four.  Marjoe became a hit on the revival circuit.

As an adult Marjoe came forward to decry his days as a child preacher.  Marjoe exposed the lies, fake “healing” items, and scams perpetrated on the unsuspecting public.  Marjo went so far to participate in Marjoe, an exposé documentary which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

The success of the documentary opened opportunities for Marjoe to act.  Marjoe began his acting career in 1973 with a role in the pilot for Kojak.  For the remainer of his career Marjoe acted on television and feature films.

Some of Marjoe Gortner’s television performances include: The Marcus-Nelson Murders; Barnaby Jones; Medical Center; Police Story (2 episodes); Viva Knievel; Laugh-In (2 episodes); Fantasy Island (2 episodes); The A-Team; Matt Houston; Streethawk; Otherworld; Airwolf; T.J. Hooker (2 episodes); Hotel; Half Nelson and Falcon Crest (17 episodes).

Some of Marjoe Gortner’s feature film appearances include: Earthquake; Bobbie Joe & the Outlaw; The Food of the Gods; Starcrash; American Ninja 3: Bloodhunt and Wild Bill.

I first became aware of Marjoe Gorter in the movie Earthquake.  He played a psycho Nationalguardsman.  His most famous role was probably in Bobby Jo & the Outlaw.  He played the outlaw and Bobbie Jo was played by a pre-Wonder Woman Linda Carter.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Marjoe Gortner’s family, friends and fans.

THE PROTECTOR by Arnold Schwarzenegger & James Patterson is Coming!

Arnold Schwarzenegger is teaming with James Patterson to co-author THE PROTECTOR.  Here’s the scoop…

The world’s bestselling author and the global icon, actor, former governor, and seven-time Mr. Olympia are co-authoring a new novel.

Father Viktor Brennan is a parish priest. He’s also The Protector.

At Saint Dominic’s in East Los Angeles, Father Viktor Brennan — a spiritual leader with a murky past — builds a soup kitchen, and a gym with a boxing ring. He is determined to protect his flock from both moral and physical harm, and to keep his new congregation safe from gang violence.

LAPD Detective Sandra Reyes’s beat covers the same local territory, and she’s strictly by the book. Reyes is keeping a wary eye on the new priest—and both she and Brennan are watching a kingpin known as Cera.

When an innocent victim is caught in murderous crossfire—and as revenge becomes a conversation with God—will good win out over evil?

THE PROTECTOR drops on October 4, 2027.  Pre-orders are available now.

Zablo is FIRST WULF by Chris Flick!

Here’s another gem from the vault.  It’s of me as a werewolf as visualized by Chris Flick.  Note the Stallone/Rambo reference.

Chris Flick is a professional illustrator, cartoonist, caricaturist, web and graphic designer.  He created the webcomic Capes & Babes featuring Roy the Werewolf.  All 1,200+ strips are available at capesnbabes.com. If you prefer hardcopies, Chris has collected the strips into trade paperback books and created three all ages coloring books available on Amazon.com.

Chris attends several conventions throughout the year where he primarily draws caricatures of people as werewolves and other monsters, sells mash-up posters, coloring books, stickers and so much more.

“The Last Run” (1971) starring George C. Scott / Z-View

The Last Run (1971)

Director: Richard Fleischer

Screenplay:  Alan Sharp

Stars:  George C. Scott, Tony Musante, Trish Van Devere and Colleen Dewhurst .

Tagline: In the tradition of Hemingway and Bogart.

The Plot…

Harry Garmes was a getaway driver.  And a good one.  But he left his life of crime years ago.  After his son died.  And his wife left him.  Now Garmes lives alone in a small fishing village in southern Portugal.

When Garmes is unexpectedly offered a job, he accepts it.  Garmes is to drive Paul Rickard, an escaped convict, across the border.  Garmes wasn’t expecting Rickard to show up with his girlfriend.

Or that he would fall for her.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Last Run had a troubled production.  The original director was John Huston.  Huston and George C. Scott repeatedly clashed.  Within a few weeks, Huston walked.  Richard Fleischer came on as director.  The original leading lady, Tina Marquand, was replaced with Trish Van Devere.  Despite these problems and more, the film finished one week and just $30,000 over budget.

Colleen Dewhurst and George C. Scott were married during the production of The Last Run.  Dewhurst completed her scenes and returned to the US.  As production continued George C. Scott and Trish Van Devere fell in love.  After filming completed Scott divorced Dewhurst and married Van Devere.

George C. Scott said he made this film because it felt like something Bogart would have done.  It does have an “old time” feel.

The Last Run (1971) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Rocky” 50th Anniversary Release Poster & Trailers are Here!

Sylvester Stallone and Rocky fans have to love the love that Rocky is getting for the 50th anniversary of the film’s release.  Check out these trailers as we get ready to see the original film back in theaters!

Struggling Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa has a chance to become a somebody when heavyweight champion Apollo Creed come up with the Bicentennial gimmick of fighting a sure-ringer and easily winning the bout himself. But someone forgot to tell Rocky, who trains earnestly. And in the climactic fight sequence, the “Italian Stallion” gets his wish: to go the distance…against all the odds!

Rocky 50 will also feature an exclusive look at the widely-anticipated biographical feature film, I Play Rocky, a Baha Fireside Production from Amazon MGM Studios and directed by Academy Award®️-winning director Peter Farrelly (Green Book, There’s Something About Mary), alongside an introduction from the I Play Rocky cast.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rocky, The Italian Stallion returns to the big screen worldwide this November.

Get tickets now for ‪@fathom_entertainment‬ screenings in the US from 7-11 November, featuring an exclusive look at I Play Rocky and limited-edition concession vessels at select participating sites: https://www.fathomentertainment.com/r…

UK & International screenings begin 6 November. Check local listings for tickets and showtimes.

Celebrate 50 years of an underdog legacy! Enjoy this look back at the most iconic moments from the Rocky and Creed film series, honoring five decades of heart, grit, and glory.

Rocky™ (1976)
Directed By: John G. Avildsen
Written By: Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith as Mickey
Rated PG
Rocky is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.

Rocky II (1979)
Written and Directed By: Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith as “Mickey”
Rated PG
ROCKY is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms

Rocky III™ (1982)
Directed By: Sylvester Stallone
Written By: Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith as Mickey
Rated PG
Rocky is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.

Rocky IV™ (1985)
Directed By: Sylvester Stallone
Written By: Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Brigitte Nielsen, Dolph Lundgren as Drago
Rated PG
Rocky is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.

Creed (2015)
Directed By: Ryan Coogler
Screenplay By: Ryan Coogler & Aaron Covington
Story by: Ryan Coogler
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Anthony Bellew
Rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality
CREED is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.

Creed II (2018)
Directed By: Steven Caple Jr.
Screenplay by: Juel Taylor and Sylvester Stallone
Story by Sascha Penn and Cheo Hodari Coker
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, with Phylicia Rashad and Dolph Lundgren
Rated PG-13 for sports action violence, language, and a scene of sensuality
CREED is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.

Creed III (2023)
Directed By: Michael B. Jordan
Screenplay By: Keenan Coogler & Zach Baylin
Story By: Ryan Coogler and Keenan Coogler & Zach Baylin
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad
Rated PG-13 for intense sports action, violence and some strong language
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.

“Platoon” written & directed by Oliver Stone; starring Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe and Charlie Sheen / Z-View

Platoon (1986)

Director: Oliver Stone

Screenplay:  Oliver Stone

Stars:  Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, Keith David, Forest Whitaker, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Mark Moses, Tony Todd, Dale Dye, Oliver Stone and Johnny Depp.

Tagline: The first casualty of war is innocence.

The Plot…

1967.  The Viet Nam war rages.  While most US soldiers are drafted, Chris Taylor volunteered for duty.  Taylor arrives in Viet Nam and finds himself in a Platoon under the command of a young and inexperienced Lieutenant named Wolfe.  Although Wolfe gives the final orders, it is the two battle-tested Sergeants, Barnes and Elias, that the men respect.

Staff Sergeant Barnes has a soul as scarred as his face.  Barnes is there to get the job done.  He is hard, even brutal…to the enemy as well as those soldiers under him.  To Barnes the only good gook is a dead gook. Sergeant Elias has compassion for his men and an understanding of his enemy.  Elias is more of a “hearts and minds” soldier.

Each Sergeant has members of the platoon that prefer their leadership.  A mission goes sideways.  Members of the platoon are killed.  Barnes incites and leads his men as they commit war crimes.

Taylor will have to make a choice.  Look the other way or take a stand.  Either decision could mark him for death.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Platoon was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won four…

  • Nominee for Best Cinematography – Robert Richardson
  • Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Oliver Stone
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Willem Dafoe
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Tom Berenger
  • Winner for Best Film Editing – Claire Simpson
  • Winner for Best Sound –  John Wilkinson, Richard D. Rogers, Charles Grenzbach, Simon Kaye
  • Winner for Best Director – Oliver Stone
  • Winner for Best Picture – Arnold Kopelson

Oliver Stone cast his leads against type.  Before Platoon Tom Berenger was usually the hero and Willem Dafoe the villian.  It worked.  Each man was nominated for an Academy Award.

When Jim Morrison (lead singer of The Doors) died, a Platoon script was in his possession.  Oliver Stone sent it to him in hopes that he would play Chris Taylor.

I saw Platoon when it was first released.  I thought it was good.  I went back a week later for another viewing and liked it much better.

Platoon (1986) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Neagley” Season 1 starring Maria Sten / Z-View

Neagley: Season 1 (2026)

Based on: Characters by Lee Child

Developed by: Nick Santora, Nicholas Wootton

Directors: Sam Hill (Eps.1–2); Gary Fleder (Eps. 3–4); Phil Abraham (Eps. 5–6);  MJ Bassett (Eps. 7–8)

Teleplay: Nick Santora & Nicholas Wootton (Ep. 1-2; 7-8); Adam Higgs (Eps. 3; 6); Kyle Long (Ep. 4); Lacey Herbert (Ep. 5)

Starring: Maria Sten, Greyston Holt, Adeline Rudolph, Jasper Jones, Matthew Del Negro, Damon Herriman, Rebecca Liddiard and Alan Ritchson

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Frances Neagley, an ex-Military Police Investigator, now works as a Chicago Private Eye.  When a childhood friend turns up dead, police rule it a suicide.  Neagley doesn’t believe it and starts to investigate.  Clues point to Echo Farm, a new age cult led by Lawrence Cole.

Neagley is sure Cole has sinister motives for creating Echo Farm.  But what?  And why was her friend murdered?  As Neagley digs deeper she becomes a target.  Neagley will learn too late that someone with money, power and influence is pulling Cole’s strings… and trying to eliminate her.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Maria Sten is perfect as France Neagley.

Dewey Crowe will always be my favorite character played by Damon Herriman, but he’s also great as Lawrence Cole.

I loved this season of Neagley.  However, I thought much of the decisions made by Keno at Echo Park were dumber than they needed to be.  With that said, I must also add that I do like the character.

The Frances Neagley personal subplot was a nice addition that added depth to the character.

It was cool having Alan Ritchson make cameo bookends in season one.

Bring on Season 2!

THE BOXER by Tom Reilly!

I’m a sucker for a good crime story.  Especially ones with a tough guy who refuses to bow down to mobsters.  Way back in 2019, I’d never heard of Tom Reilly (or seen his art).  I came across the pieces above and below and was SOLD.  I thought they were preview art for a new series.  I immediately e-mailed Tom to find out where/when I could purchase the series.

Tom wrote back to say, that there wasn’t one.  He created the art for himself… just toying around with ideas.  I asked Tom if he took commissions.  He did and so I requested Sly Stallone as Jack Carter teamed with Keanu Reeves as John Wick. (No surprise, right?).

Tom came through with a winner.  He also surprised me by gifting me the art above and below.  I was (and remain) blown away.  What a wonderful, kind thing to do.

Maybe someday Tom will return to the idea that sparked these drawings.  You just KNOW it would make for an awesome story.

“The Street Fighter” starring Sonny Chiba / Z-View

The Street Fighter (1974)

Director:  Shigehiro Ozawa

Screenplay:  Kōji Takada, Motohiro Torii

Stars:  Sonny Chiba, Yutaka Nakajima

Tagline: If you’ve got to fight…fight dirty!

The Plot…

Terry Tsurugi, a martial arts master, is approached by the Yakuza to kidnap Sari, a billionaire’s daughter.   Terry opts to instead protect her.

Now the forces of the Yakuza are gunning for Terry and Sari.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I wanted to see The Street Fighter when it was first released in 1974.  I couldn’t because it was rated X because of the violent fight scenes.  No one under 17 admitted.  I had just turned 16.  When I finally got to see The Street Fighter I was so disappointed.

Sonny Chiba is a legend among many martial arts fans.  To me his facial expressions/grimaces were over the top and even comical.

The Street Fighter (1974) rates 2 of 5 stars.

THE STEPS: A MEMOIR by Sylvester Stallone / Z-View

THE STEPS: A MEMOIR by Sylvester Stallone

First sentence…

On a dirt road leading to the sea, deep in the Pyrenees Mountains, I saw a sign.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Most everyone thinks they know Sylvester Stallone’s story.  He’s that famous.

The child raised by dysfunctional divorced parents.  The student expelled from twelve schools.  The young man who wanted to be an actor, but was rejected time and time again.  So incredibly determined to get just one shot that he turned to writing… and struck gold with a screenplay.  He created a story that producers wanted so much that they were willing to pay a small fortune for him NOT to star in it.  But Sylvester Stallone stuck to his guns.  He got his shot for less money, but a percentage of the profits.  Rocky was made and the rest is history.

Yeah, most everyone thinks they know Sylvester Stallone’s story.  And they do, if you’re just talking broadstrokes.  The amazing thing is that what we know just scratches the surface.

Until now.

Sly Stallone’s memoir THE STEPS is an unvarnished look at his life.  He takes us from his difficult birth in a charity ward (which left him with a partially paralyzed face due to an accident with forceps) to his international stardom thanks to Rocky.   Most Stallone fans know it wasn’t an easy journey.  It wasn’t.  But even his most ardent fans will be surprised by Stallone’s candor and the things we didn’t know.

THE STEPS is an easy read, even when the situations are tough.  Stallone’s writing style makes you feel as if Sly is sitting with you telling you stories of his life. (And if you get the audible version, he will be!)  Sly’s sense of humor comes through.  So does his determination.  Although THE STEPS isn’t a self-help book, there are lessons that Sly learned that can be adapted to one’s daily life.

I’ve been a Sly Stallone fan, and followed his career since Lords of Flatbush. Yet there’s so much in THE STEPS I didn’t know.  And even the things I did know, Sly discusses in greater depth.  THE MEMOIR is everything Sylvester Stallone / Rocky fans could want.

Hopefully Sly enjoyed the process of writing THE STEPS enough for him to take the story farther.  Who wouldn’t love to get Sly’s thoughts and behind-the-scenes stories on each project in his career?

THE STEPS by Sylvester Stallone gets my highest recommendation.

Rating:

“Icefall” (2025) starring Joel Kinnaman / Z-View

Icefall (2025)

Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky

Screenplay:  George Mahaffey, Steve Isles

Stars:  Joel Kinnaman, Cara Jade Myers, Danny Huston and Graham Greene.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Harlan, a loner, is on a remote frozen lake preparing to ice fish.  His plans change when he finds a case full of money. Harlan decides to keep the cash and sets out across the ice.

Ani, the local Game Warden, sees Harlan out on the ice and decides to see what he’s up to.

When the plane carrying the stolen loot went down, everyone on board died in the crash.  The transmitter on the case didn’t.   The thieves on the ground have been on a mission to retrieve the case of cash.

As Ani questions Harlan, the crooks show up.  A gunfight ensues.

Ani and Harlan barely escape into the wilderness with the criminals closing in.  Ani and Harlan are utnumbered and outgunned.

As the temperature drops so do their odds of survival.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Graham Greene has a small role and sadly it was his last feature film appearance.

Icefall can accurately be described as Cliffhanger Horizontal or Cliffhanger Lite.

Icefall (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars.

Sly Stallone is Rambo by Jim Ivey!

I was going through the vault and found this piece that Jim Ivey surprised me one day when I was visiting him.  Jim (and most of my other friends) liked to occasionally razz me about my admiration for Sylvester Stallone.

Jim was one of my oldest (in age and length of time) and dearest friends. Jim was the owner of The Cartoon Museum in Orlando, Florida, when I first met him. At the same time, Jim also worked as a syndicated cartoonist [The Thoughts of Man], a political cartoonist [The Orlando Sentinel], a publisher [CartooNews], teacher [UCF cartooning class] and comic book convention organizer [OrlandoCon]. Jim made a lot of life-long friends through these activities and I was one of them.

“The Last Outlaw” (1993) starring Mickey Rourke, Dermot Mulroney, Ted Levine, John C. McGinley, Steve Buscemi, Keith David and Paul Ben-Victor / Z-View

The Last Outlaw (1993)

Director: Geoff Murphy

Screenplay:  Eric Red

Stars:  Mickey Rourke, Dermot Mulroney, Ted Levine, John C. McGinley, Steve Buscemi, Keith David and Paul Ben-Victor.

Tagline: You’re looking at the face of a killer with nothing left to lose

The Plot…

After the Civil War a renegade band of outlaws terrorize frontier towns robbing banks. They are a former Confederate squad that decided to stay together after the war ended. Under the command of Graff and his second-in-command Eustis, the outlaws are deadly.

Things go south during a robbery.  Several members of Graff’s squad are shot as they ride out of town.  Just slightly ahead of the posse, the outlaws stop to assess injuries.  One of the team is badly wounded.  Graf is ready to put him out down, despite the man’s protest that he can ride.  Eustis intervenes.  Things quickly escalate.  Eustis shoots Graf off his horse as the outlaws ride away.

Graf is taken prisoner by the posse.  In order to save his life, Graf offers to help the posse bring down his former teammates.  They accept.

As Eustis attempts to lead the few remaining soldiers to safety, Graff and the posse close in with murderous intentions.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Keith David, Ted Levine, John C. McGinley and Steve Buscemi do a lot of the heavy lifting.  They’re always good.

I’m usually a Mickey Rourke fan, but this role didn’t work for me.

The Last Outlaw could be subtitled Josey Wales Lite.

The Last Outlaw (1993) rates 2 of 5 stars.