Category: Celebs

“Panama Hattie” (1942) starring Red Skelton, Ann Southern and Rags Ragland / Z-View

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Panama Hattie (1942)

Director:  Norman Z. McLeod, Roy Del Ruth, Vincente Minnelli

Screenplay: Jack McGowan, Wilkie C. Mahoney (as Wilkie Mahoney), Herbert Fields, Mary C. McCall Jr. (uncredited), Lillie Messginer (uncredited), Vincent Minelli (uncredited), Joseph Schrank (uncredited), based on the 1940 American musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Herbert Fields and B. G. DeSylva.

Stars: Red Skelton, Ann Sothern, Rags Ragland, Ben Blue, Marsha Hunt, Virginia O’Brien, Alan Mowbray, Dan Dailey, The Berry Brothers and Lena Horne.

Tagline: Swing as Ann Sings – Laugh as Red Clowns – Thrill to the Navy Stirring Battle-cry

The Plot…

Panama Hattie is Hattie Maloney, a nightclub owner/singer in the Panama Canal Zone.  Hattie has three Navy buddies, Red, Rags and Rowdy.  They want Hattie to perform at big party they are organizing.  Hattie is also getting ready to meet her fiancé’s young daughter for the first time.  Kitty-Belle, an Admiral’s daughter also wants to marry Hattie’s fiancé.  Oh, and Red, Rags and Rowdy think that they’ve discovered some Nazi spies.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Panama Hattie is all over the place.  But considering the movie was based on a play, brought to the screen with eight writers and three directors, it isn’t surprising.  There’s a little something for everyone if you’re looking for music, comedy and dancing.

I like Red Skelton and the under-rated Rags Ragland.  My favorite parts of the movie involve them.  As to the musical aspects, Virginia O’Brien has the best songs (especially about her getting drunk at the Savoy!), and The Berry Brothers the best dance.  Oh, and Lena Horne made her MGM film debut in this film.  Ms. Horne sings in a nightclub.  Her scene was easily cut (without effecting the plot) when the film was shown in the South.

This film was made during World War II and the entire cast joins to sing the final song about the US joining the fight.  The movie ends and immediately a card for War Bonds appears.

Panama Hattie (1942) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” (1982) directed by Carl Reiner, starring Steve Martin

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Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982)

Director:  Carl Reiner

Screenplay: Carl Reiner, George Gipe, Steve Martin

Stars: Steve Martin, Rachel Ward, Reni Santoni and Carl Reiner; archival footage: Alan Ladd, Barbara Stanwyck, Ray Milland, Ava Gardner, Burt Lancaster, Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Veronica Lake, Bette Davis, Lana Turner, Edward Arnold, Kirk Douglas, Fred MacMurray, James Cagney, Joan Crawford, Charles Laughton, Vincent Price, William Conrad, Charles McGraw, Jeff Corey, Brian Donlevy, Norma Varden, Edmond O’Brien.

Tagline: Laugh… or I’ll blow your lips off!

The Plot…

When Juliet Forrest’s (Ward) scientist father is killed in an auto accident, she hires Private Eye Rigby Reardon (Martin) to investigate.  Searching her father’s lab, Reardon finds two lists of names.  A mystery man wings Reardon and steals the lists.

More determined than ever to solve the case, Reardon will follow clues that lead him down mean streets, into dark alleys, searching for hidden truths, dealing with hard cases, low-lifes, doublecrossers and beautiful dames.  What Reardon discovers is a conspiracy that could be the end of the good-old-USA.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid is a film noir parody that seamlessly integrates characters/scenes from classic noir films into the new story.

Director Carl Reiner says that Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid is the favorite film that he’s directed.

The film is Costume Designer Edith Head’s last feature film and is dedicated to her. It was also the final film of film composer Miklós Rózsa who re-scored music from films he had worked on in the 1940s.

Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982) rates 4 of 5 stars

“My Gun is Quick” (1957) starring Robert Bray / Z-View

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My Gun is Quick (1957)

Director:  George White, Victor Saville (as Phil Victor)

Screenplay: Richard Collins, Richard Powell, screen story by Richard Powell, based on My GUN IS QUICK by Mickey Spillane

Stars: Robert Bray, Whitney Blake, Donald Randolph, Richard Garland, Fred Essler, Booth Colman, Pamela Duncan, Patricia Donahue, Peter Mamakos, Claire Carleton, Phil Arnold, George Cisar  and Jan Chaney.

Tagline: The High Society Dame Who Played It Lowdown And Dirty! – The Secretary Who “Worked” After Hours! – The Stripper Who Knew How To Tease! – The Blonde Who Left Her Bedroom Door Open!

The Plot…

Late one evening in a diner, Mike Hammer (Bray) strikes up a conversation with a young prostitute called Red.  When Red’s pimp comes in and begins to berate her, Hammer roughs the punk up and sends him on his way.  Feeling sorry for Red, Hammer gives her money for a bus ticket home.

The next day Hammer learns Red was killed in a hit and run.  A ring she was wearing was stolen.  Hammer begins to dig into the case and learns the ring was part of a cache of Nazi jewels stolen after the war.  Hammer makes it his business to discover Red’s killer and finds himself up against an American Colonel and other thugs looking for the jewels.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

My Gun is Quick is a low budget adaptation of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer.  Several actors have played Hammer in films/television including Mickey Spillane himself.  My favorite is Armand Assante in I, the Jury.

My Gun is Quick (1957) rates 2 of 5 stars

RIP: Nicky Katt

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It was announced today that Nicky Katt died on April 8, 2025.  No cause of death was given.  Mr. Katt was 54.

Nicky Katt began his career as a child actor.  As an adult Mr. Katt worked in both television and feature films.  It’s interesting that Nicky Katt’s best known television role was as a teacher on Boston Public, but in films he often played a heavy.  Mr. Katt was equally adept as a leading man or character actor.

Some of the television projects that feature Nicky Katt include: CHiPs; Fantasy Island; Father Murphy (2 episodes); Code Red; Herbie the Love Bug (5 episodes); Voyagers; Trapper John, M.D.; Quincy, M.E.; V (2 episodes); The Get Along Gang (7 episodes); CBS Schoolbreak Special; The Facts of Life; Lifestories; Dear John (2 episodes); Uncle Buck; Love & War; Knight Ride 2010; Double Rush; Friends; Kindred: The Embraced; Astoria; Boston Public (49 episodes); The Guardian (2 episodes); King of the Hill (3 episodes); Monk; Love Monkey; law & Order and Casual.

Some of Nicky Katt’s feature film appearances include: Underground Aces; Gremlins; The ‘Burbs; Sister Act; Dazed and Confused; The Cure; Strange Days; A Time to Kill; SubUrbia; Batman & Robin; One True Thing; The Limey; Boiler Room; Rules of Engagement; Way of the Gun; Waking Life; Insomnia; Secondhand Lions; School of Rock; Sin City; World Trade Center; Snow Angels; Planet Terror; Death Proof; The Brave One; The Dark Knight and Behind the Candelabra.

My favorite Nicky Katt role is in Way of the Gun. I enjoyed him in Boston Public and in so many films.  Some favorites include Boiler Room, Sin City and the Grindhouse double feature Planet Terror and Death Proof.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Nicky Katt’s family, friends and fans.

RIP: Ted Kotcheff

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Ted Kotcheff died on April 11, 2025, just three days after his 94th birthday.

Ted Kotcheff graduated from University College, University of Toronto, with a degree in English Literature.  When he was just 24, he joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.  He was the youngest director there.  Mr. Kotcheff directed Tiara Tahiti, his first feature film in 1962.  Although best known as a director, Ted Kotcheff branched out and did occasional writing, acting and producing.

Some of the television projects that feature Ted Kotcheff’s direction include: On Camera; Hour of Mystery; I’ll Have You to Remember; BBC Sunday Night Play (2 episodes); ITV Television Playhouse; Espionage; First Night (2 episodes); Drama 61-67; Armchair Theater (28 episodes); The Human Voice; ABC Stage 67 (2 episodes); The Desperate Hours; ITV Playhouse; Lights Out; Play for Today (2 episodes); Performance; Red Shoe Diaries (2 episodes); Borrowed Hearts; Buddy Faro; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (7 episodes).

Some of Ted Kotcheff’s feature films include: Tiara Tahiti; Life at the Top; Of Mice and Men; Wake in Fright; The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz; Fun with Dick and Jane; Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?; North Dallas Forty; First Blood; Uncommon Valor; Weekend at Bernie’s and Folks!.

My favorite Ted Kotcheff film is First Blood.  I had been a fan of David Morrell’s novel since it came out in paperback.  Sylvester Stallone was (and is) my favorite actor.  Ted Kotcheff at the helm made one of my all-time favorite films.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Ted Kotcheff’s family, friends and fans.

“Dawn of the Dead” (2002) directed by Zack Snyder / Z-View

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Dawn of the Dead (2002)

Director:  Zack Snyder

Screenplay:  James Gunn; based on Dawn of the Dead by George A. Romero

Stars: Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer, Jake Weber, Ty Burrell, Michael Kelly, Kevin Zegers, Lindy Booth, Jayne Eastwood, Boyd Banks, Inna Korobkina, Louis Ferreira, Bruce Bohne, Scott H. Reiniger, Tom Savini, Ken Foree and Matt Frewer.

Tagline: When there’s no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.

The Plot…

At the onset of a zombie apocalypse a group of diverse strangers take refuge in a mall.  In the group is a nurse, a cop, a married couple with a baby on the way, a tv salesman, a rich jerk and three mall security guards.  As the zombie horde outside the mall tensions rise.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This is Zack Snyder’s feature film debut.  He hit a homerun with his first at bat.

The introduction of the zombie apocalypse from Anna’s viewpoint is genius.  Escaping from the zombie in her house in the early morning to seeing helicopters, neighbors getting attacked, and then driving away from the madness into more chaos is perfect.

When Ana is driving down a highway there is a nod/Easter egg to Night of the Living Dead.  A truck crashes into a gas station/diner causing a big explosion.  In Night of the Living Dead Ben says he was in diner parking lot when a truck crashed into the gas pumps.

Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger and Tom Savini appeared in the original Dawn of the Dead and have cameos in this one.  One of the stores in the mall is named “Gaylen Ross”. Gaylen Ross was one of the stars of the original film.

Zack Snyder plays the last zombie seen at the end of the opening credits.

Scott Frank (Get Shorty) and Michael Tolkin (The Player) did uncredited work on the screenplay.

Be sure to watch through the credits!

Dawn of the Dead (2002) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Sisu” (2022) written & directed by Jalmari Helander, starring Jorma Tommila / Z-View

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Sisu (2022)

Director:  Jalmari Helander

Screenplay:  Jalmari Helander

Stars: Jorma Tommila, Aksel Hennie, Jack Doolan, Mimosa Willamo.

Tagline: Vengeance is golden.

The Plot…

World War II is in its last days.  Aatami Korpi lives a solitary life panning for gold in the wilderness.  Although a decorated vet who earned the nickname “the Immortal” because of suicide missions where he took out scores of enemy soldiers, Aatami is done with war.  Aatami’s entire family was killed while he was on an assignment.  Now he just wants to be left alone.

Aatami’s luck changes when he hits a vein of gold.  He fills two saddlebags full and heads for the nearest town.  Still in the wilderness, he encounters a platoon of Nazis.  They are heading back to the fatherland with scorched-earth orders.  When the Nazis discover Aatami has gold they decide to steal it.

Big mistake.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sisu is a lean mean action film that would be at home in the 80s.

Sisu (2022) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Unit 234” starring Don Johnson, Isabelle Fuhrman and Jack Huston – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Here’s a new trailer for Unit 234 starring Don Johnson, Isabelle Fuhrman and Jack Huston.  It looks like fun.

Deal me in.

US Release Date: May 9, 2025
Starring: Don Johnson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jack Huston
Director: Andy Tennant
Synopsis: After the discovery of an unconscious man in a locked unit, the lone employee of a remote storage facility must fight to survive the night.

“5 Minutes to Live” aka “Door-to-Door Maniac” (1961) starring Johnny Cash & Vic Tayback / Z-View

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5 Minutes to Live aka Door-to-Door Maniac (1961)

Director:  Bill Karn

Screenplay:  Cay Forrester

Stars: Johnny Cash, Donald Woods, Cay Forester, Midge Ware, Merle Travis, Vic Tayback, Norma Varden, Hanna Landy, Howard Wright and Ron Howard.

Tagline: Introducing JOHNNY CASH, America’s top-recording star, as a lusty, romantic, guitar singing powerhouse

The Plot…

Fred Dorella and cold-blooded killer Johnny Cabot have a fool-proof way to rob a bank.  Johnny will take the bank Vice-president’s wife, Nancy hostage.  If the bank’s VP gives Fred $70k, Fred will call Johnny who will release Nancy.  If the bank’s VP doesn’t turn over the cash, Fred will call Johnny who will kill Nancy.

What Fred and Johnny didn’t count on, is the bank’s VP having an affair.  If the crooks kill his wife, he’ll be free!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

5 Minutes to Live was rereleased in 1966 as Door-to-Door Maniac.

Cay Forester, the female lead, wrote the screenplay.

Johnny Cash (in his film debut) teamed with Vic Tayback (of the television comedy Alice fame) as the bank robbers.  Ronnie Howard who played Opie on The Andy Griffith Show plays the son of bank vice president.

If you enjoy low budget crime thrillers, then give 5 Minutes to Live a shot.

5 Minutes to Live aka Door-to-Door Maniac (1961) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Havok” directed by Gareth Evans, starring Tom Hardy, Jesse Mei Li, Timothy Olyphant & Forest Whitaker – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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We have the poster and trailer for Havok directed by Gareth Evans, starring Tom Hardy, Jesse Mei Li, Timothy Olyphant, Forest Whitaker.  Man, oh man, does this thing kick ass?

Deal me in.

No law, only disorder.

When a drug heist swerves lethally out of control, a jaded cop fights his way through a corrupt city’s criminal underworld to save a politician’s son.

Watch HAVOC, coming to Netflix on April 25.

“Reacher”: Season 3 (2025) starring Alan Ritchson, Maria Sten and Sonya Cassidy / Z-View

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Reacher: Season 3 (2025)

Directors: Sam Hill (Eps.1 – 2); Omar Madha (Eps. 3 – 4); Carol Banker (Eps. 5 – 6); Julian Holmes (Eps.7 – 8)

Teleplay: Nick Santora (Showrunner, Executive Producer, Writer – Ep. 1); Scott Sullivan (Ep. 2, 5, 8); Penny Cox (Ep. 3); Cait Duffy (Ep. 4); Cait Duffy & Michael J. Gutierrez (Ep. 6); Penny Cox & Lillian Wang (Ep. 7)

Starring: Alan Ritchson, Maria Sten, Sonya Cassidy, Johnny Berchtold, Brian Tee, Anthony Michael Hall, Daniel David Stewart, Ronnie Rowe, Caitlin McNerney, Simon Northwood, Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz, Milton Barnes, Mick Betancourt, Jim Annan, Andreas Apergis, Sebastian MacLean, Aleks Paunovic, Drew Nelson, Greg Bryk, Anousha Alamian, Stephen Bogaert and Olivier Richters.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Jack Reacher, an ex-Military Police Investigator, stops the kidnapping of Zachary Beck’s teenage son, Richard.  Beck’s business is a front for illegal gun sales.  Reacher brings Richard back to his father’s ocean-side mansion. After some questions and a quick background check, Beck offers Reacher a job.  This upsets Paulie, Beck’s giant security lead.  Reacher and Paulie take an instant dislike to each other.

Reacher doesn’t care about Beck’s illegal activities as much as getting to Beck’s boss, Quinn.  Years ago, Reacher killed Quinn (or so he thought) after Quinn killed one of Reacher’s friends.  Now Reacher plans to make sure Quinn is dead after he puts a bullet in his head.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was glad to see Frances Neagley played by Maria Sten brought back for season three.  I’m glad she’s getting her own show.

The anticipated fight between Reacher and the giant Paulie is well worth the wait.

Reacher: Season 3 is the best one yet.  Bring on Season 4.

“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (1963) directed by Stanley Kramer / Z-View

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It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

Director: Stanley Kramer

Screenplay: William Rose, Tania Rose

Stars: Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, Phil Silvers, Terry-Thomas, Jonathan Winters, Edie Adams, Dorothy Provine, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Jim Backus, Ben Blue, Joe E. Brown, Alan Carney, Chick Chandler, Barrie Chase, Lloyd Corrigan, William Demarest, Andy Devine, Selma Diamond, Peter Falk, Norman Fell, Paul Ford, Stan Freberg, Leo Gorcey, Sterling Holloway, Edward Everett Horton, Marvin Kaplan, Buster Keaton, Don Knotts, Charles Lane, Mike Mazurki, Charles McGraw, ZaSu Pitts, Carl Reiner, Madlyn Rhue, Roy Roberts, Arnold Stang, Nick Stewart, Sammee Tong, Jesse White, Jimmy Durante, Jack Benny, Paul Birch, Paul Clarke, Stanley Clements, Minta Durfee, Roy Engel, Nicholas Georgiade, Stacy Harris, Don C. Harvey, Allen Jenkins, Robert Karnes, Tom Kennedy, Harry Lauter, Ben Lessey, Bobo Lewis, Jerry Lewis, Tyler McVey, Eddie Ryder, Doodles Weaver, Lennie Weinrib and The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe DiRita).

Tagline: It’s the biggest entertainment ever to hit the Cinerama screen!

The Plot…

A car is racing down a remote California desert highway.  When the driver misses a turn and his car goes careening down a steep incline, drivers of four vehicles pull over to see if they can assist.  In the vehicles are five men and four women.  The men make their way down to find the driver of the crashed car barely alive.  With his dying breath, the man tells the group that he buried $350,000 of stolen money in Santa Rosita park under a big “W”.  The man then literally kicks the bucket.

The men and women discuss the dying man’s claim.  They then decide he wouldn’t waste his final minutes lying.  The group then begins to argue about how to split the money.  When they cannot come up with a way agreeable to all, they rush to their cars.  Each plans to get to the park, find the bury cash and keep it all!

Let the good times roll!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World was nominated for six 1964 Academy Awards, winning one.

  • Nominee for Best Music, Score – Substantially Original: Ernest Gold
  • Nominee for Best Music, Original Song: Ernest Gold (music), Mack David (lyrics) For the song “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World”
  • Nominee for Best Film Editing: Frederic Knudtson, Robert C. Jones, Gene Fowler Jr.
  • Nominee for Best Sound: Gordon Sawyer (Samuel Goldwyn SSD)
  • Nominee for Best Cinematography, Color: Ernest Laszlo
  • Winner for Best Effects, Sound Effects: Walter Elliott

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World features the film debut of Jonathan Winters.  It also contains Jimmy Durante’s final feature film appearance.  It also has ZaSu Pitts final feature film appearance.  She died just four months before the film’s premiere. The movie contains Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson’s final feature film appearance.

Harold Lloyd, Bud Abbott, Edward Brophy, Wally Brown, and George Burns were all offered roles, but declined.

Bob Hope was to be in the film, but his studio refused to allow it.

Don Rickles wanted to be in the movie, but was never asked.  Rickles would tease Stanley Kramer about this “snub” from then on.

Stanley Kramer didn’t ask Charlie Chaplin to appear since Chaplin was living in exile in Sweden.

Red Skelton was to film a cameo but salary demands led to it not happening.

Ernie Kovaks was to play Melville Crump, but Kovaks was killed in an auto crash before filming began.

Joe Besser (best known as one of The Three Stooges) was asked to play one of the garage mechanics, but as co-star of The Danny Thomas Show, he couldn’t get the time off.

The Three Stooges have a cameo as firemen which is a callback to their 1930 short, Soup to Nuts, where they played firemen.

If you’re of the right age, or a dedicated film fan, spotting all of the cameos is fun!

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is a classic.

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Catlow” (1971) starring Yul Brynner, Richard Crenna and Leonard Nimoy / Z-View

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Catlow (1971)

Director: Sam Wanamaker

Screenplay: Scott Finch, J.J. Griffith based on CATLOW by Louis L’Amour

Stars: Yul Brynner, Richard Crenna, Leonard Nimoy, Daliah Lavi, Jo Ann Pflug, Jeff Corey, Michael DeLano, David Ladd, Bessie Love, Robert Logan and Dan van Husen.

Tagline: Everyone Wants Catlow Dead and Buried

The Plot…

Catlow (Brynner) is a cattle rustler, a thief and the leader of a band of outlaws.  Now Catlow is heading to Mexico where he plans to steal $2 million in gold.  Marshall Ben Cowan (Crenna) a war buddy of Catlow has been hired by a group of ranchers to bring Catlow back to stand trial.  A bounty hunter named Miller (Nimoy) is also after Catlow.

Who will get Catlow before he gets the gold.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was in the mood for a good western.  Stars Yul Brynner, Richard Crenna and Leonard Nimoy were the reasons I settled on Catlow.  Sadly even their presence couldn’t save Catlow.  I tapped out after 39 minutes.  Quentin Tarantino called it one of the worst westerns made in the 70s.  I wouldn’t argue with QT.

Catlow (1971) rates 1 of 5 stars

“The Accountant 2” starring Ben Affleck & Jon Bernthal – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for The Accountant 2 have done their jobs.  I liked the original film and this one looks to be even better.

Deal me in.

Two brothers. One mission. Watch the new trailer for The Accountant 2. See the movie first in exclusive Tax Day screenings, April 15, and everywhere in theaters April 25. Get tickets now: accountant2movie.com

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) has a talent for solving complex problems. When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to “find the accountant,” Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), to help. In partnership with U.S. Treasury Deputy Director Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.