Category: Celebs

“Out of the Past” (1947) directed by Jacques Tourneur, starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and Kirk Douglas / Z-View

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Out of the Past (1947)

Director: Jacques Tourneur

Screenplay: Daniel Mainwaring based on Build My Gallows High by Daniel Mainwaring

Stars: Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming, Richard Webb, Steve Brodie, Virginia Huston, Paul Valentine and Dickie Moore.

Tagline:  A MAN – Trying to run away from his past… A WOMAN – Trying to escape her future!

The Plot…

Jeff Markum (Mitchum), a private eye, is hired by an underworld figure named Whit (Douglas).  Whit wants his girl back.  She shot him and stole $40,000.  Whit doesn’t care about the money, he just wants Kathie back.  Whit promises no harm will come to Kathie (Greer).  He loves her.  Whit says Markum will understand once he meets Kathie.  Money is no object.  Kathie could be anywhere in the world, but Whit trusts Markum will find her and Whit will pay for it.

Markum catches up with Kathie in  Acapulco.  She is beautiful. There’s a mutual attraction between Markum and Kathie.  Kathie admits she shot Whit, but denies taking his money.  Markum doesn’t contact Whit.  As the days (and nights) drag on, Markum and Kathie decide to run away together.

They know that Whit will send someone to find them…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Much of Out of the Past is told in flashback that brings us up to speed and then the story is carried forward.  This storytelling device is effectively used.

Out of the Past is a classic for many reasons:

  • Director Jacques Tourneur is at the top of his game.
  • Mitchum was born to play these kinds of roles.
  • Jane Greer is excellent as the good girl/dangerous dame.
  • Kirk Douglas had only played supporting roles up to this point in his career.  I cannot think of a better actor for the role of the rich, confident man who always gets what he wants.
  • Steve Brodie plays Mitchum’s PI partner who turns out to be not much of a partner.
  • Paul Valentine is impressive as Douglas’ right hand hood.
  • Out of the Past is as noir as it gets.  There are tough guys, beautiful but dangerous dames, multiple double crosses, murders, and a shocking ending.  I love this movie more with each viewing.

Out of the Past (1947) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Stormy Weather” (1943) starring Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, The Nicholas Brothers & Dooley Wilson / Z-View

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Stormy Weather (1943)

Director: Andrew L. Stone

Screenplay: Jerry Horwin, Seymour B. Robinson (story), Frederick J. Jackson, H.S. Kraft (adaptation)

Stars: Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Fats Waller, The Nicholas Brothers, Dooley Wilson, and Matthew ‘Stymie’ Beard.

Tagline:  If you like good singing, dancing and fun you are sure to get your money’s worth from this picture! We heartily recommend it as a cure for “the blues.”

The Plot…

Through a series of flashbacks Bill Williamson (Robinson) tells the story of his life from his return from fighting in World War I to being a respected performer.  He tells of the struggle to get started and all of the ups and downs along the way… and of meeting the love of his life, the talented performer Selina Rogers (Horne).

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Bill Williamson’s story is the fictionalized account of Bill Robinson’s life.  The character played by Lena Horne was created for the movie.  Although it is Bill Robinson’s story, Lena Horne got top billing.

The flashback aspect of Bill talking to some children and then fading to scenes he’s describing took me out of the story and reminded me each time, we’re watching a movie.

My favorite scenes (other than the performances) occur early in the film when Bill and his buddy, Gabe (Wilson) are just back in the states from the war.  Gabe is broke, but trying to impress a girl and things keep getting worse and worse as he convinced her money is no object and she believes him!

As to the performances, they are the reason to watch the film.  Performers include Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Fats Waller (in his final film; Waller died at the age of 39, before the year was out), The Nicholas Brothers, Dooley Wilson and Cab Calloway.

Stormy Weather (1943) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Justified: City Primeval” – The Season 1, Episode 7 Trailer – “Showdown” is Here!

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Raylan and Mansell show down. Watch new episodes of Justified: City Primeval Tuesdays on FX. Stream on Hulu.

Starring Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis and Boyd Holbrook. Raylan Givens left the hollers of Kentucky and is balancing life as a U.S. Marshal with being a part-time father. A chance encounter sends him to Detroit and on a collision course with a violent sociopath and a formidable defense attorney.

“Billy Jack” (1971) written and starring Tom & Delores Laughlin, directed by Tom Laughlin / Z-View

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Billy Jack (1971)

Director: Tom Laughlin as T.C. Frank

Screenplay: Tom Laughlin (as Frank Christina), Delores Taylor (as Theresa Christina)

Stars: Tom Laughlin, Delores Taylor, Clark Howat, Richard Stahl, Howard Hesseman, Bert Freed and Kenneth Tobey.

Tagline:  When you need him, he’s always there!

The Plot…

Jean Roberts (D. Taylor) runs Freedom School, an educational center for troubled youth outside a small southern town. Most of the town thinks that the school is full of Indians, liberal hippies and dangerous kids.  Jean is in love with Billy Jack (T. Laughlin).  Billy Jack is half white, half Navajo.  He’s a former Green Beret, Hapkido master who struggles to keep his temper in control.

When a busload of Freedom School students go into town, they attract the attention of Bernard Posner and his big, dumb friend, Dinosaur.  Posner and Dinosaur follow some of the kids into an ice cream shop.  The shop owner refuses to serve the kids because they aren’t all white.  When Posner is put in his place by one of the girls he was flirting with, he humiliates the kids.  Dinosaur knocks the wind out of one of the boys just as Billy Jack enters the shop.

Posner yells for someone to go get his dad who is one of the town’s corrupt bigshots.  Billy Jack makes sure the kids are okay… he then proceeds to teach Posner and Dinosaur a painful lesson.

This of course puts Billy Jack at odds with Posner Sr. and his corrupt cronies.  This will not end well.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Billy Jack is a success due to Tom and Delores Laughlin’s determination.  They wrote the screenplay, he directed it and supported the slow roll release that saw Billy Jack become a pop cultural phenomenon.  Many of the actors in Billy Jack had never acted before.  Billy Jack was made for approximately $800,000 and earned $32.5 million in the US and $98 million worldwide.

The Billy Jack character first appeared in Born Losers (1967) also starring and directed by Tom Laughlin.

Delores Taylor received a Golden Globe nomination as Most Promising New Actress.

Bong Soo Han was Tom Laughlin’s body double.  Han was a Hapkido master and choregraphed the fights.

Billy Jack features so many memorable scenes and dialogue…

I love to revisit Billy Jack and Born Losers to bring back a great period of my youth (and to enjoy a couple of fun films).

Billy Jack (1971) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Mighty Joe Young” (1949) / Z-View

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Mighty Joe Young (1949)

Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack

Screenplay: Ruth Rose from a story by Merian C. Cooper

Stars: Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Robert Armstrong, Mr. Joseph Young, Frank McHugh, Douglas Fowley, Nestor Paiva, Regis Toomey, James Flavin, Primo Carnera, Karl ‘Killer’ Davis, William ‘Wee Willie’ Davis, Man Mountain Dean, Richard Farnsworth, Phil Olafsson, Henry Kulky, Ivan Rasputin, Sammy Stein, Irene Ryan and Sammy Menacker.

Tagline:  Striking! Startling! Staggering!

The Plot…

The year is 1937.  Jill Young is an eight year old living on her father’s small estate in Africa.  Jill is in the front yard when two Africans pass by carrying an orphaned baby gorilla.  Jill makes a trade and becomes the owner of the infant gorilla.

Twelve years pass.  Max O’Hara (Armstong) has organized an African safari to capture lions for his nightclub show.  Greg (Johnson) is a cowboy who leads the group capturing the beasts.  They are about to leave when they spot a giant gorilla.  Max and Greg try to capture the huge ape but they only end up angering it.  Jill shows up and calms her now grown gorilla.

Soon enough Max convinces Jill if she comes to Hollywood with her giant ape, they will become famous with everything money can buy.

What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Mighty Joe Young won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects!

I first saw Mighty Joe Young when I was a child.  I loved it then,  I’ve rewatched it several times over the years and I still love it.  How could you not?  It has a misunderstood monster (Joe), lions fighting Joe, cowboys!, a test of strength between 10 strong men and Mighty Joe, a love story, and redemption.

The strong men who try Mighty Joe in tug of war include former world heavyweight boxing champion Primo Canera and nine professional wrestlers.  One of them was Sam Menacker.  I knew Mr. Menacker because he was the color commentator for professional wrestling in Indiana.  Menacker was a former wrestler himself.  I thought it was so cool to a young Slammin’ Sammy Menacker in a movie!

This was the first film to feature Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion animation effects.

Mighty Joe Young (1949) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Point Break” (1991) directed by Kathryn Bigelow, starring Patrick Swayze & Keanu Reeves / Z-View

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Point Break (1991)

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Screenplay: W. Peter Iliff from a story by Rick King, W. Peter Iliff

Stars: Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Lori Petty, John C. McGinley, James Le Gros, John Philbin, Bojesse Christopher, Julian Reyes, Daniel Beer, Chris Pedersen, Anthony Kiedis, Lee Tergesen and Christopher Pettiet.

Tagline:  27 banks in three years. Anything to catch the perfect wave!

The Plot…

Johnny Utah (Reeves), a rookie FBI agent, is assigned to a task force assembled to bring down a gang of bank robbers dubbed “The Ex-Presidents”.  They earned their nickname because each member of the crew wears the mask of, you guessed it, an ex-president.  The Ex-Presidents have successfully hit 27 banks over a period of three years.  They leave few clues and are in and out within 90 seconds.

The leader of the FBI task force, Pappas (Busey) believes that the Ex-Presidents may be surfers.  Pappas gets clearance for Utah to go undercover.  Soon Utah befriends a charismatic surfer named Bhodi (Swayze).  Bhodi’s crew distrusts Utah at first, but begins to warm to him when they see he’s as much of an adrenaline-junkie as they are.  As their friendship develops, Utah begins to suspect Bhodi and his crew are the Ex-Presidents.  Loyalties are about to be tested…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Patrick Swayze did his own skydiving and surfing for the film.

Point Break was Keanu Reeves first action movie.  Kathryn Bigelow wanted Reeves for the Johnny Utah role.  The studio wanted a higher profile star.  Stars considered included Johnny Depp, Val Kilmer, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen and Matthew Broderick.

Kathryn Bigelow’s next feature film following Point Break was Strange Days which is another excellent film!

Point Break (1991) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Red River” (1948) directed by Howard Hawks, starring John Wayne & Montgomery Clift / Z-View

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Red River (1948)

Director: Howard Hawks

Screenplay: Borden Chase, Charles Schnee based on The Chisholm Trail from The Saturday Evening Post (1946) by Borden Chase

Stars: John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Joanne Dru, Walter Brennan, Coleen Gray, Harry Carey, John Ireland, Noah Beery Jr., Paul Fix, Hank Worden and Mickey Kuhn.

Tagline:  In 25 Years, Only Three! “The Covered Wagon”, “Cimarron” and now Howard Hawks’ “Red River”

The Plot…

Thomas Dunson (Wayne) wants to start a big cattle ranch in Texas.  He plans is to travel there with his friend, Nadine Groot (Brennan).  Once Dunson has the ranch up and running he will send for his fiancée, Fen (Gray).  Although Fen wants to ride with Dunson to Texas, he tells her she should stay with the slower but safer wagon train.  

That night Dunson and Groot are attacked by Indians.  They fend off the attack and on one of the dead Indians Dunson finds a bracelet he had given to Fen.  Dunson and Groot discover that the wagon train was wiped out.  The sole survivor being a young boy named Matthew.  Dunson adopts the boy and they head to Texas.

Fourteen years pass, Although the ranch has been successful, unless Dunson can sell his herd, he will lose everything.  He decides on a massive cattle drive that will cover hundreds of miles through badlands.  As the group makes their way things go wrong.  They face stampedes, gunfights, thievery and more.  With each setback, Dunson becomes more tyrannical. When Dunson threatens to kill any man that attempts to quit the drive, Matthew has had enough.  If Matthew challenges Dunson’s authority, one of both may die.  But enough is enough.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Most people don’t realize that Red River was the feature film debut of Montgomery Clift.  Red River was filmed before, but released after The Search.

Red River is Howard Hawks first western!

This is the only movie to have both Harry Carey and his son in the cast.  Sadly, they had no scenes together.  This was Harry Carey’s final film.  He died before Red River was released.

John Wayne and Montgomery Clift did not care for each other off screen.  Their politics were diametrically opposed.  Wayne thought Clift wasn’t manly enough.  Clift that both Wayne and director Howard Hawks worked too hard at being macho.  Still, the team created a classic western by putting those thoughts aside and doing the work.

Some folks nitpick that Clift wouldn’t last long in a fight with John Wayne, but they often forget Wayne’s character had been shot prior to the fight.  If I were to pick a nit, I might say that the film’s resolution comes too easily.  But Red River is too good a ride to complain.

Red River (1948) rates 5 of 5 stars.

Sly Stallone as Jack Carter by Gary Shipman!

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Gary Shipman is a self taught artist and writer.  Shipman has been nominated for Eisner, Harvey and Russ Manning awards.  When I saw that Gary Shipman was regularly doing sketchcard (and other) commissions on WhatNot, I decided to try to get one.  As you can see above from Shipman’s riff on Sly Stallone as Jack Carter, I succeeded.  And he nailed it.  Look for more Gary Shipman art here in the near future!

You can see more of Gary Shipman’s art at his webpage, his Instagram page and on his Whatnot stream.

“Let Me In” (2010) directed by Matt Reeves, starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Grace Moretz & Richard Jenkins / Z-View

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Let Me In (2010)

Director: Matt Reeves

Screenplay: Matt Reeves based on Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Stars: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Cara Buono, Elias Koteas, Dylan Kenin, Chris Browning, Ritchie Coster and Dylan Minnette.

Tagline:  Innocence dies. Abby doesn’t.

The Plot…

Owen is having a bad year.  His recently divorced parents don’t have much time for him.  He has no friends and is being bullied at school.  Then one winter evening he meets Abby.  She’s twelve, too.  Abby is strange, but nice.  Abby lives with her dad in an apartment across the way. Abby doesn’t go to school.  Each evening Owen talks to Abby before he has to go in for the night.  Although the bullying at school is getting worse, Owen and Abby are starting to like each other more than friends.

What nobody knows is Abby is a vampire.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Let Me In is a remake of Let the Right One In, a 2008 Swedish film directed by Tomas Alfredson with a screenplay by John Ajvide Lindqvist based on his novel LET THE RIGHT ONE IN.

Matt Reeves directed Cloverfield before taking the helm of Let Me In.  He would go on to direct Dawn of the Planet of the Apes; War for the Planet of the Apes; and The Batman.  I thought Cloverfield was good, Dawn and War for the Planet of the Apes, very good and The Batman, even better.  Let Me In may be my preference of all of his films.

Stephen King called Let Me In his favorite film of 2010 and named it “The best American horror film in the last twenty years.”

Matt Reeves deserves much of the credit for the success of Let Me In.  He creates moody scenes that he lets play out.  There are special effects but they are used sparingly and effectively.

Kodi Smit-McPhee was an excellent choice to play Owen.  Chloë Grace Moretz is perfect as Abby, the vampire who has been 12 for a very long time.  Richard Jenkins was a surprising choice to play “father”.  I loved the suspense of his scenes when he went out at night alone.  Dylan Minnette made a great bully.

I put off watching Let Me In for a long time because of the kid being bullied and girl who is a vampire story made me think it’d be more for teenagers.  I was wrong.  I look forward to repeated viewings of Let Me In (and I plan to seek out Let the Right One In).

Let Me In (2010) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Blade Trinity” (2004) starring Wesley Snipes, Ryan Reynolds & Jessica Biel / Z-View

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Blade Trinity (2004)

Director: David S. Goyer

Screenplay: David S. Goyer based on a character created by Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan

Stars: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Parker Posey, Ryan Reynolds, Dominic Purcell, Jessica Biel, John Michael Higgins, Paul Levesque, Françoise Yip, Michael Anthony Rawlins, James Remar and Patton Oswalt.

Tagline:  He’s fought the forces of darkness alone…until now.

The Plot…

When Blade (Snipes) is captured by the police, Hannibal King (Reynolds) and Abigail Whistler (Biel) rescue him.  They then recruit Blade to join them in their efforts to wipe out all vampires. Blade learns that the Vampire Nation has reawakened Dracula (the original vampire) and they plan to use Dracula’s blood to increase the powers of all vampires, Blade joins Hannibal and Abagail in a fight to save the human race.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

After recently watching Blade II (which I love), I decided to give Blade Trinity another viewing.  It wasn’t as good as I remembered and then I had rated Blade Trinity 3 of 5 stars.  I think my lower rating is due to Ryan Reynold’s snarky comments.  They may have seemed fresh when I first saw Blade Trinity, but it seems that’s what Reynolds does in every role.  It’s grown stale for me.

From all reports the production of Blade Trinity didn’t go well.  Snipes was reportedly upset with choices Goyer was making.  Snipes also felt that too much time was given to Reynolds and Biel at the cost to Blade.  I agree.

Blade Trinity (2004) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Justified: City Primeval” | Season 1, Episode 6 Trailer – Adios

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A botched kerfuffle sends Raylan’s pursuit of Mansell into chaos. Watch new episodes of Justified: City Primeval Tuesdays on FX. Stream on Hulu. Subscribe now for more Justified: City Primeval clips: http://bit.ly/SubscribeFX

| Visit Official Site https://fx.tv/JCP

Starring Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis and Boyd Holbrook. Raylan Givens left the hollers of Kentucky and is balancing life as a U.S. Marshal with being a part-time father. A chance encounter sends him to Detroit and on a collision course with a violent sociopath and a formidable defense attorney.

RIP: Robbie Robertson

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Robbie Robertson, born Jaime Royal Robertson, died yesterday from prostate cancer.  Mr. Robertson was 80.

Robbie Robertson began playing in singing groups that he formed right out of high school.  His most famous group, The Band, served as opening act for Bob Dylan before going on to become one of the most influential groups of the era.  The Band made the cover of Time magazine in 1970 due to their impact.  Eric Clapton loved their music so much that he offered to join their group.  His offer was politely refused.  While in The Band, some of the songs Robbie Robertson wrote included  “The Weight”, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”, and “Up on Cripple Creek”. 

Robbie Robertson would go on to have a solo career.  He also branched out into film as an actor, soundtrack composer and producer.  Mr. Robertson shared many collaborations with Martin Scorsese including The Last Waltz (1978), Raging Bull (1980), The King of Comedy (1983), Casino (1995), The Departed (2006), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), The Irishman (2019), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).

Robbie Robertson is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame along with other members of his group, The Band.

In 1980, Robbie Robertson co-wrote and co-starred in Carny with Jodie Foster, Gary Busey, Meg Foster, Kenneth McMillan, Elisha Cook Jr., Tim Thomerson, Bill McKinney, Bert Remsen and Craig Wasson.  I saw Carny back in 1980 and really enjoyed it.  I felt it was very underrated.  Had he wanted to, Robbie Robertson could have had a career as an actor.

Robbie Robertson, along with his son Sebastian, and friends Jim Guerinot and Jared Levine co-authored Legends, Icons and Rebels: Music That Changed the World.  Mr. Robertson wrote Hiawatha and the Peacemaker with illustrations by David Shannon.  Mr. Robertson also wrote his autobiography Testimony.

Our thoughts and prayers go our to Robbie Robertson’s family, friends and fans.

“Psycho” (1960) directed by Alfred Hitchcock / Z-View

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Psycho (1960)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Screenplay: Joseph Stefano based on Psycho by Robert Bloch

Stars: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Simon Oakland, Frank Albertson, Patricia Hitchcock, Vaughn Taylor and John Anderson.

Tagline:  The picture you MUST see from the beginning… Or not at all!… For no one will be seated after the start of… Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest shocker Psycho.

The Plot…

Marion Crane (Leigh) in a moment of weakness steals $40,000.00 from her boss.  She packs her bags and heads off to meet her lover (who has no idea of what she has done).  It’s a long drive so Marion decides to spend the night at the Bates’ Motel.  The motel is located off the main road in a remote location.  There’s no one else staying there.  The place is run by mild mannered Norman Bates who takes care of his invalid mother who lives in the house on the hill.

She should be safe for one night…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

After reading the Robert Bloch novel, Hitchcock bought the rights to the book and lobbied Paramount Pictures to get the film made.  The studio didn’t have faith in the material.  They agreed to a small budget ($800,000) if Mr. Hitchcock would defer his salary ($250,000) and instead take 60% of the gross.  It worked out well since Hitchcock ended up making about $15 million!

I love that the movie starts out as a crime film and turns into a horror movie.  What other movie has the “lead” actress killed off about an hour in?  The top billed actor, Anthony Perkins, doesn’t even appear until about 30 minutes into the film.

Hitchock loved the score by Bernard Herrmann so much that he reportedly doubled Herrmann’s salary.  Hitchcock also planned to have the shower scene appear as a silent sequence.  After seeing it with the score Herrmann created, Hitch decided it worked better with music.

Anthony Perkins gives a master class in acting when questioned by Martin Balsam.

Simon Oakland shows up for one scene and it’s impact reminded me of Alec Baldwin’s in Glengary Glen Ross.

Psycho is another of Alfred Hitchcock’s classics.

Psycho (1960) rates 5 of 5 stars.