Norman Reedus Gets Zombie-Pranked
What could be better than to see Norman Reedus zombie-pranked by fellow Walking Dead cast members?
Category: Celebs
Superman Guest Stars on “I Love Lucy”
George Reeves (as Superman) and Lucille Ball (from I Love Lucy) were the stars of two of the most popular tv shows from the 1950’s.
As a small child I enjoyed watching both shows in rerun in the 1960’s. My favorite episode of I Love Lucy, as you can imagine, was when George Reeves appeared as Superman.
The picture above is just one of 21 Wonderful Behind-the-Scenes Photos of “I Love Lucy“ posted at Buzzfeed.
The Sprawling, Obsessive Career of Fritz Lang
The Dissolve posted The Sprawling, Obsessive Career of Fritz Lang by Noel Murray. Murray has created a well-thought, well-written review of Lang’s career in film. It should be required reading for every Fritz Lang fan.
Facts About the Batman TV Series
Although the Batman tv series is close to 50 years old (!), it’s still popular and shown regularly throughout the world.
Neatorama recently posted Facts You Might Not Know About the TV Series Batman. If you read the piece, you’ll learn…
- Batman was originally conceived as a serious take on the cape crusader.
- Lyle Waggoner was up for the role of Batman.
- Batgirl was added in the third season to increase female viewers, but actually ended up increasing male viewership.
- Frank Sinatra was a big fan of the show and actually expressed interest in playing the Joker.
Click over if you want to learn even more!
Mitch Gerads is Expendable, Too!
That’s Mitch Gerads’ take on Sly as Barney Ross from the Expendables 2. I got this sketch at last year’s HeroesCon. It was my first time meeting Mitch as well as my first sketch from him. Hopefully it won’t be my last.
– Craig
“The Black Cat” Starring Karloff & Lugosi / Z-View
The Pitch: ”Hey, let’s take two of Universal’s biggest stars, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, and stick them in a horror movie that will end up being the #1 money-maker for Universal the year it is released. We can even name it “The Black Cat” after the Edgar Allan Poe story — even though the movie will have no real ties to it. What do you say?”
“Let’s do it!”
The Tagline: “Things you never said before or even dreamed of!”
The Overview: A young, newly married couple find themselves seeking refuge in a creepy mansion after the bus that they were traveling on crashes during a dark, stormy night. Along with the couple is Bela Lugosi playing a psychologist who was just released from a prisoner of war camp after 15 years. Lugosi led the couple to the mansion. He was going there to confront Karloff who Lugosi knows was a traitor who caused the death of thousands including Lugosi’s wife.
Karloff welcomes them in. On the surface he seems a genial host, but is actually a Satanist who plans to murder the young bride in a ritual. The movie has all the hallmarks of a 1930’s horror movie: big name stars, a mad scientist, an old dark house full of secret passages/rooms, the dead coming back to life, a strange manservant, revenge and more.
*** Beware – minor spoilers are found below ***
The Good
- Karloff and Lugosi in the first [and perhaps best] of their many on-screen team-ups.
- The overriding atmosphere of things being slightly off-kilter created through creative set design, costume choices and the physical appearance of Karloff and others.
- Playing chess for the lives of the newly weds.
- The banter between Karloff and Lugosi where what is said it subtext for the true meaning.
- Lugosi’s manservant is creepy, but loyal to the end.
The Bad:
- What Karloff has in his secret rooms below the house.
- Lugosi is the hero, but has there ever been a creepier one? [Like when he is caught touching the hair of the sleeping bride.]
- Being trapped in the house of a mad, Satanic murderer.
The Ugly:
- Lugosi’s fear of cats.
- What happens to people who are Satanic, traitors who steal the wives of their friends. [I’d hate to have to live in his skin.]
- What happens when it appears you are harming a man’s bride despite the fact that you’re saving her from a fate equal to, if not worse than death.
Rating:
The Inside Story of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”
If you’re a fan of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, you’ll want to check out Eddie Deezen’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit: The Inside Story.
If you do, you’ll learn…
- Why the title to Who Framed Roger Rabbit doesn’t end with a question mark.
- That before Bob Hoskins earned the starring role that Harrison Ford, Bill Murray, Sylvester Stallone, Robert Redford, Jack Nicholson, and Ed Harris were all considered. You’ll also learn who the comedian was that was never offered the role, but would have “happily taken on the role of Eddie.”
- The silly reason John Cleese didn’t get the role that ultimately went to Christopher Lloyd.
- Why Who Framed Roger Rabbit had the most cartoon characters from different companies in the same project, “yet Popeye, Tom & Jerry, Little Lulu, Caspar the Friendly Ghost, and the Terrytoon characters (except for Mighty Mouse)” didn’t make it into the film.
- And a whole lot more.
Source: Neatorama.
Arness and Curtis are The Thing!
That’s a rare shot of James Arness and Billy Curtis prepping for their roles in The Thing!
Source: ClassicHorrorTV.
Manny Aguilera’s Demolition Man
Manny Aguilera makes his second, but not last appearance in my Stallone Sketch Gallery with his take on Sly as John Spartan from Demolition Man.
I highly recommend Manny to sketch collectors. He’s fast, his prices are reasonable and he’s one of the genuine nice guys!. – Craig
20 Surprising Facts About “Die Hard”
Uproxx has posted 20 Surprising Facts About Die Hard that You Might Not Know.
My favorites were 6, 9 and 20.
“Farewell, My Lovely” – Pulp Writer, Jim Thompson’s Only Acting Role
I’m sure you’re aware that this version of Raymond Chandler’s classic Farewell, My Lovely has an all-star cast that includes Robert Mitchum, Charlotte Rampling, John Ireland, Sylvia Miles, Anthony Zerbe, Harry Dean Stanton. Jack O’Halloran, Joe Spinell, and Sylvester Stallone. Did you know that it also features pulp writer Jim Thompson in his first and last acting role!
Neal Adams’ Billy Jack
I was really sorry to hear about Tom Laughlin’s passing. His Billy Jack character really made an impact on me my generation.
So it was nice to come across this great Neal Adams’ cover painting of Billy Jack when I was cruising the web today.
Source: Steve Niles’ Tumbler.
R.I.P. – Tom Laughlin
Tom Laughlin’s family announced via his website that Mr. Laughlin passed away on Thursday. Mr. Laughlin was 82. Tom Laughlin was a writer, director, producer and actor.
Best known for his role as Billy Jack, Laughlin played the character in four films. Billy Jack was a half-white/half native American, former Green Beret solider looking for a peaceful way through life who more often than not found himself in violent situations not of his making.
Although Tom Laughlin has over 35 acting credits it was Billy Jack that made him an international superstar.
Laughin first played the role in the 1967 film The Born Losers. Billy Jack found himself the only person willing to make a stand against a violent motorcycle gang.
In 1971, Laughlin returned as Billy Jack in the film of the same name. This time out Billy Jack finds himself going against corrupt city officials, including cops as he tries to find justice for a rape victim and protect the students of the Freedom School.
The Trial of Billy Jack was released in 1974. After his release from prison Billy Jack returns to the Freedom School only to find things are worse than ever. Corrupt cops and politicians decide to put a permanent end to Billy Jack and the school.
In 1977, Billy Jack Goes to Washington received a couple of showings but was never given a widescreen release.
After the Billy Jack series Tom Laughlin starred in The Master Gunfighter and played a few small roles, but he never found another character that resonated with the viewing public like Billy Jack.
How could he? Billy Jack had become an American icon and Tom Laughlin was Billy Jack.
Tom Laughlin is survived by his wife of 60 years, Delores [who co-starred in the Billy Jack films], his three children, and his five grandchildren. His family has asked that in lieu of flowers or gifts, please make donations to: Friends of Pine Ridge in Tom’s honor or the Alzheimer’s Foundation in honor of Delores Laughlin.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tom Laughlin’s family, friends and fans.
Manny Aguilera Takes Us “Over the Top”
Manny Aguilera makes his first, but not last appearance in my Stallone Sketch Gallery with his take on Sly as Lincoln Hawk from Over the Top.
I highly recommend Manny to sketch collectors. He’s fast, his prices are reasonable and he’s one of the genuine nice guys!. – Craig
