Category: Celebs

“Back From Eternity” (1956) directed by John Farrow, starring Robert Ryan, Anita Ekberg and Rod Steiger / Z-View

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Back From Eternity (1956)

Director: John Farrow

Screenplay:  Jonathan Latimer; story by Richard Carroll; based on the film Five Came Back (1939) directed by John Farrow

Stars:  Robert Ryan, Anita Ekberg, Rod Steiger, Phyllis Kirk, Keith Andes, Gene Barry, Fred Clark, Beulah Bondi, Cameron Prud’Homme, Jesse White, Barbara Eden and Jon Provost .

Tagline: 30 MINUTES TO LIVE – Head-hunter Drums grew louder in the jungle and a condemned criminal held 9 lives in his hands.

The Plot…

A small passenger plane headed for Boca Grande is knocked off course by a violent storm.  Damage caused by the storm forces the plane to set down in a dangerous jungle inhabited by cannibals.

The passengers include the pilot Bill Lonagan, his co-pilot Joe Brooks, an elderly couple: Professor Spangler and his wife, a mobster transporting his boss’ young son, a sexy prostitute named Rena, a bounty hunter named Crimp and his prisoner, the murderer Vasquel, as well as Jud Ellis and his fiancée Louise Melhorn.

The pilots believe that they can repair the plane and make it flyable given enough time.  When the cannibal drums are heard, they realize time is running out.  The plane can fly, but will only carry five people.  But which five?

Prepare to begin boarding…. cannibals are coming!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Back From Eternity is a remake of the 1939 film Five Came Back which starred Chester Morris, Lucille Ball and John Carradine.  It was also directed by John Farrow.

Back From Eternity features the movie debut (although uncredited) of Barbara Eden as a college girl.

Jon Provost, who plays the mobster’s young son, would go on to fame as Timmy on the hit tv show Lassie.

I’m a huge fan of Back From Eternity and the original Five Came Back.

Back From Eternity (1956) rates 5 of 5 stars.

The Black Scorpion (1957) starring Richard Denning & Mara Corday / Z-View

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The Black Scorpion (1957)

Director: Edward Ludwig

Screenplay:  Robert Blees, David Duncan

Stars:  Richard Denning, Mara Corday, Carlos Rivas, Mario Navarro.

Tagline: Every horror you’ve seen on the screen grows pale beside the horror of “THE BLACK SCORPION”

The Plot…

An earthquake in Mexico gives rise to a new active volcano.  Geologists Dr. Hank Scott and Dr. Arturo Ramos are sent to ground zero to assess damage.  As they close in on the epicenter, they discover houses and cars destroyed but not from the earthquake or volcano.  Locals believe a demon is killing their cattle and causing the damage.

It’s not demons but prehistoric scorpions that now have a path to the surface.  These monsters are on the loose and hungry!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Willis O’Brien, who created the stop-motion effects King Kong (1933), supervised the special effects for The Black Scorpion.  Although working with a much smaller budget, most of this movie’s charm is from O’Brien’s work.

The giant trapdoor spider and enormous worm were models left over (and not used) from King Kong (1933).

If the sounds made by the giant scorpions sound familiar, give another listen to the sounds of the ants in Them!.

The Black Scorpion (1957) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“There is Only One BLADE. His Name is Wesley Snipes.” – Awesome Poster by Mark Levy!

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Now THAT is one bad ass Blade poster created by Nick Levy.  While I wasn’t a fan of the original Blade, I absolutely love Blade II.  Blade Trinity was good, but fell short of Blade II greatness.  With that said, I must agree with Nick Levy when he says…

There’s only one Blade. And his name is Wesley Snipes.

“Heart of the Beast” directed by David Ayer and starring Brad Pitt, J.K. Simmons, Anna Lambe – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Heart of the Beast directed by David Ayer and starring Brad Pitt, J.K. Simmons, Anna Lambe – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

Deal me in.

It’s not who you live for… It’s who you’d die for.

Watch Brad Pitt in the new trailer for David Ayer’s #HeartOfTheBeast – only in theatres September 25th.

After a harrowing plane crash, Special Forces officer James Belmont (Brad Pitt) and his combat dog, Odin, find themselves stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness. Together, they are forced into a brutal fight for survival against the elements.

From acclaimed filmmaker David Ayer, Heart of the Beast is an intense adventure thriller that explores the unbreakable bond between a man and his best friend as they face their greatest battle yet.

“What Women Did For Me” (1927) starring Charley Chase & Lupe Velez / Z-View

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What Women Did For Me (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  Reed Heustis

Stars:  Charley Chase, Lupe Velez, Eric Mayne.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charley has an unusual phobia.  He’s afraid of girls.  So of course he gets a job as a professor at an all-girls college.  Charley’s boss decides he will cure Charley of his phobia.

Let the hijinks begin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

What Women Did For Me is a 21 minute short.

What Women Did For Me features Lupe Velez’s film debut.

What Women Did For Me has a few funny moments, but overall didn’t work for me.  Your mileage may vary.

What Women Did For Me (1927) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Devil’s Cabaret” (1930) starring Eddie Buzzell / Z-View

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The Devil’s Cabaret (1930)

Director:  Nick Grinde

Screenplay: Edward Buzzell

Stars: Edward Buzzell, Charles Middleton.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot (beware of spoilers)…

Mr. Satan is upset.  His company, Satan & Company, located in Hades is losing too many human souls to heaven.  Satan then tasks his assistant, Howie Burns (get it? How he burns. <wink, wink>), to find a way to get more souls coming to Hades.  Burns promises his best to do his worst.

Burns creates a nightclub called The Devil’s Cabaret.  Burns then stands outside promising all who pass by, “a night of wild entertainment and hot jazz.”  Crowds flock to the show… now will they follow him afterwards?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Devil’s Cabaret is a Technicolor pre-code short.  It’s humorous, clever, entertaining and not a bad way at all to spend 16 minutes.

Edward Buzzell, who plays Howie Burns, also wrote the screenplay.

The Devil’s Cabaret (1930) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Catch & Release” (2006) starring Jennifer Garner, Tom Olyphant, Kevin Smith and Juliette Lewis / Z-View

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Catch & Release (2006)

Director: Susannah Grant

Screenplay: Susannah Grant

Stars:  Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olyphant, Kevin Smith, Sam Jaeger, Fiona Shaw and Juliette Lewis.

Tagline:  Life is messy…love is messier.

The Plot…

Just before they are to be married, Gray Wheeler’s fiancé, Grady Douglas dies.  After the funeral, Gray realizes that the house she and Grady were going to rent is too expensive for her alone.  Gray accepts the offer to move in with Grady’s friends Dennis, Sam and Fritz until she gets back on her feet.

It isn’t long before secrets that Grady was keeping start to become known.  Secrets that will change everything.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I watched this with my wife — her pick.  It was better than I expected.  Much of the charm of this film  is the cast – Jennifer Garner, Tom Olyphant, Kevin Smith and Juliette Lewis.

Catch & Release (2006) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Dog Stars” directed by Ridley Scott; starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin & Margaret Qualley – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

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Check out the poster and trailer for The Dog Stars directed by Ridley Scott; starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Allison Janney, Benedict Wong, and Guy Pearce.

Deal me in.

Fear the survivors.

THE DOG STARS, a Ridley Scott film, starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley, arrives in theaters August 28.

Based on Peter Heller’s captivating bestseller, “The Dog Stars” features a critically acclaimed ensemble, including Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Allison Janney, Benedict Wong, and Guy Pearce.

The screenplay is by Mark L. Smith, based upon the novel by Peter Heller, and the producers are Ridley Scott, p.g.a., Michael Pruss, p.g.a., Mark L. Smith, and Cliff Roberts, p.g.a., with Lily Brooks-Dalton, Brandon Scott Smith, Peter Heller, Aidan Elliott serving as executive producers.

The film tells the story of Hig (Jacob Elordi), a young pilot who, together with a military survivalist, Bangley (Josh Brolin), has carved out an efficient but isolated homestead in a brutal post-apocalyptic world. But when Hig receives a mysterious radio transmission, he ventures into the unknown in search of the hope and humanity he still believes exist.

“Tuner” starring Leo Woodall, Havana Rose Liu and Dustin Hoffman – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I don’t know how, but Tuner flew under my radar until someone posted about it on my forum (https://craigzablo.proboards.com/).  Tuner has a unique concept, an interesting poster, a good cast and a trailer that works.

Deal me in.

In #tuner, Academy Award-winning director Daniel Roher’s first narrative feature, Leo Woodall stars as a gifted young piano tuner whose heightened sense of hearing draws the attention of criminals, who see his talents as useful for opening safes as for tuning Steinways.

With his once-promising musical career over, he works across New York with his mentor Harry Horowitz (Academy Award-winner Dustin Hoffman), encountering a range of characters, including composition student Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu), with whom he forges an unexpected connection. Niki’s safecracking work threatens his budding romance with Ruthie and pulls him into increasingly dangerous territory. Blending romance, drama, and the taut suspense of a heist thriller, TUNER also features performances from Tony Award-winner Tovah Feldshuh, Jean Reno, and Lior Raz.

“Satan Met a Lady” (1936) starring Bette Davis, William Warren and Marie Wilson / Z-View

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Satan Met a Lady (1936)

Director: William Dieterle

Screenplay:  Brown Holmes; based on THE MALTESE FALCON by Dashiell Hammett.

Stars:  Bette Davis, Warren William, Alison Skipworth, Arthur Treacher, Porter Hall, Olin Howland and Marie Wilson.

Tagline: She recalled how three men met their death…searching for a treasure that had left a trail of blood through twelve centuries!

The Plot…

Detective Ted Shane has just returned to town. Milton Ames, Shane’s former partner reluctantly agrees to work with Shane again.  They parted ways since Shane, a lady’s man, once was romantically involved with Ames’ wife.  Shane has a paying client and money overrides hurt feelings.

A woman named Valerie Purvis wants to hire Shane and Ames to find a man named Farrow.  When both Ames and Farrow are found murdered, Shane realizes there is much more to this case than a missing man.

Shane is soon approached by Madam Barrabas and Kenneth, her slow-witted, trigger happy son.  They want  to hire Shane to find an 8th century jewel-filled ivory horn.  An English gentleman, Anthony Travers, wants to hire Shane to find it as well.  And don’t you know, that’s what Valerie is after too.

Shane, never one to turn down money, decides to play each against the other and accepts payment from all.  Shane’s charm and quick wit have always served him well, but this time he may be in over his head.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Satan Met a Lady is based on Dashiell Hammett’s novel THE MALTESE FALCON.  Screenwriter, Brown Holmes not only changed the title, he changed the names of the characters (including the lead), the sex of the main antagonist and the object everyone wanted.

Bette Davis hated the script and complained to studio head Jack Warner.  She said she would not do the film.  Warner promised Davis better scripts in the future and then suspended her without pay.  Reluctantly Davis agreed to the movie.  Unfortunately she hated the end result and often said it was her worst film.

I recently revisited Satan Met a Lady.  I enjoyed it much more than previous viewings.  I always liked the movie, but this time out liked it even more.  I think in the past I compared this adaption of THE MALTESE FALCON to Huston and Bogart’s take.  Obviously Satan Met a Lady suffered by comparison.  I was also influenced by Bette Davis’ feelings about the film.  This time out, I put past feelings aside and enjoyed a lighthearted 1930s comedy/mystery.

Much of my enjoyment of Satan Met a Lady came from Marie Wilson’s performance as the ditzy, sexy blonde assistant.

Satan Met a Lady (1936) rates 4 of 5 stars.